Scottish Presbyterian

The Complaint and Testament of a Popinjay

David Lindsay (1490-1555) · 8,858 words · 39 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A05547.0001.001

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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

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This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

[illustration]
The complaynte and testament of a Popinjay
Which lieth sore wounded and may not die, till every man hath herd what he saith:
Wherefore gentle readers haste you y ^t he were out of his pain.

        Incipit prologus.
       
        _
        
         ••
        
        ppose I had ingyne angelical
       
         •
        
        ith sapience super salomonicall
       
         •
        
        not what mater put in memory
       
        The poetis old in style heroycall
       
        In breue subtle terms rethoricall
       
        Of euerylk mater tragedy and story
       
        So ornatly to their hie laude and glory
       
        Hath done indite whose supreme sapience
       
        Transcendeth fer, the dull intelligence.

        Of poetis now in till our vulgar tongue
       
        For why the bell of retorik is roung
       
        By Chaucer Goweir and Lidgate laureate
       
        Who dare presume these poetis till impoung
       
        Whose sweet sentence through Albion been soung
       
        Or who can now the werkes contrefate
       
        Of kennedy with termis aureate
       
        Or of dumbar whylk language had at large
       
        As may be seen in till his goldin targe

        Quintyne / Me
        
         •••••
        
        r /
        
         •
        
        wle / Henderson / Hay / & holland
       
        Though they been deed her libellis been lyuand
       
        Whilke to rehearse makes reders to rejoice
       
        Alas for one whilk lamp was of this land
       
        Of eloquence the flowyng balmy strand
       
        And in our Inglysshe rethoryk the roise
       
        As of rubeis the charbuncle been choice
       
        And as Phebus doth sinthea precell
       
        So Gawane douglase bishop of dunkell,

        Had when he was in to this lande on live
       
        Above vulgare poetes prerogatyue
       
        Both in practik and speculation
       
        I say no more good reders may descryue
       
        His worthy werkes in number mo than five
       
        And specially in the true translation
       
        Of Uirgyll whilk been consolation
       
        To cunning men to know his great ingyne
       
        As well in natural science as divine

        And in the court been present in this days
       
        That balletes breuis lustely and lays
       
        Whylkes to our prince daily they do present
       
        Who can say more than syr James Inglysshe says
       
        In ballattes farssis and in plesand plays
       
        But Culrose has his pen made impotent
       
        Kid in cunning and practik right prudent
       
        And steward whilk desiris a stately style
       
        Full ornate werkes daily doth compyle.

        Steward of lorn will carp right curiously
       
        Galbrayt kinloch when they liest them apply
       
        In to that art ar crafty of ingyne
       
        But now of late is stert up hastily
       
        A cunning clerk whilk writeth craftily
       
        A plant of poetes callid ballantyue
       
        Whose ornate werkes my wit cannot defyne
       
        Get he in the court authority
       
        He will precell Quintyne and kenedy.

        So though I had ingyne as I have none
       
        I wote not what to write be sweet saint Iohane
       
         〈…〉
        
        y in all the garth of eloquence
       
         〈◊〉
        
        nothing left but barayne stok and stone
       
        The polit terms / are pullid everyone
       
        Be these fornamid poetis of prudence
       
        And seeing I find none other new sentence
       
        I shall declare or I depart you fro
       
        The complant of a woundid papingo.

        Wherefore because my mater been so rude
       
        Of sentence and of rethorik denude
       
        To rurale folk my dityng been direct
       
        Fer flemit from the sight of men of gud
       
        For cunning men I know will sone conclude
       
        It dow nothing but for to be deject
       
        And when I here my mater been detract
       
        Than shall I swear I made it but in mowes
       
        To uplandish lassis whilk keepeth kye and yowes

Here endis the prologue
And begynnis the complant.

        Who clymmis to high {per}force his fete
        
         〈◊〉
        
        Express I shall that by experience
       
        If that ye please to here a pituouse tale
       
        How a fair bird by fatale violence
       
        Deuourid was and might make no defense
       
        Contrary the death so faileth natural strength
       
        As after I shall show you at more length

        A papingo right pleasant and perfect
       
        Presentid was to our most noble king
       
        Of whom his grace long time had great delight
       
        More fair of form I wote flew never with whing
       
        This proper bird he gave in governing
       
        To me whylk was his semple seruiture
       
        On whom I did my deligence and cure

        To learn her language artificial
       
        To play plat foot and whissill fought before
       
        But of her inclination natural
       
        She countrefeted all foulis less and more
       
        Of her corage she would without my lore
       
        Sing like the merle / and kraw like the cock
       
        Pew like the gled / and chant like the lauerocke.

        Bark like a dog / and kekill like a ka
       
        Blait like a hog / and buller like a bulle
       
        Gaile like a gock / and great when she was wa
       
        Clyme on a cord / sing laughe and play the fule
       
        She might have been a menstrell against youle
       
        This blissful bird was to me so pleasand
       
        Where ever I went / I bare her on my hand.

The description of her murnyng.

         And so befell upon a mirthfull morrow
        
         In to my garth I past me to repose
        
         This bird and I as we were wont afforowe
        
         Among the flowers fresshe fragrant & formose
        
         My vital spirit duly did rejoice
        
         When phebus rose and raise the cloudis sable
        
         Through bryghtnes of his bemes amiable

         Without vapoure was well purificate
        
         The temperat air soft sober and serene
        
         The erth by nature so edificate
        
         With wholesome herbs blue / white / reed / and grene
        
         Whilkis eleuate my spretis from the spleen
        
         That day Saturn nor Mars did not appere
        
         Nor Eol out of his cave durst not stere.

         That day perforce behooved to be fair
        
         By influence and course celestial
        
         No planet pressid for to perturb the air
        
         For Mercurius be moving natural
        
         Exalted was in to the trone triumphal
        
         Of his mansion unto the fyftene gre
        
         In his own souerayn sign of virginye

         That day did phebus plesantly depart
        
         From Gemini and enterid in Cancer
        
         That day cupido did extend his dart
        
         Uenus that day communed with Jupiter
        
         That day Neptunus hid him like a sker
        
         That day dame nature with gret besines
        
         Furth
         
          •••
         
         d flora to prove hir craftiness

         And retrograid was Mars in Capricorne
        
         And sinthea in sagittar assesid
        
         That day dame Ceres gods of the corn
        
         Full joyfully Johan vpland applesid
        
         The bad aspect of Saturn was appesid
        
         That day by Juno of Jupiter the Joy
        
         Perturbynge spretis caused to hold coy.

         The sound of birdis surmounted all the skies
        
         With melody of notis musical
        
         The balmy droppis of dew Tytan up dryis
        
         Hanging upon the tender twystis small
        
         The heavenly hewe and sound angelical
        
         Sik perfect pleasure prentid in my heart
        
         That with great pain from thens I might depart

         So still among the herbis amyable
        
         I did remain a space for my pastance
        
         But worldly pleasure been so variable
        
         Mixid with sorrow, drede and inconstance
        
         That found therein is no contynuance
        
         So might I say my short solace alas
        
         Was driven in dolour in a little space.

         For in that garth among the fragrant flowers
        
         Walkyng alone none but my bird and I
        
         Unto the time that I had said my hours
        
         This birde I set apon a branche me by
        
         But she began to clymbe right speedily
        
         And in that tree she did so hie ascend
        
         That by no way I might hir apprehend

          〈…〉
         
         de I said beware, mount not over hye
        
          •
         
         in time, perchance thy fete may fail
        
         Thou art right fat, and not well used to flee
        
         The greedy glede, I drede shall the assayle
        
         I will ascend {quod} she, chance what be chance me
        
         It is my kind to clym ay to the hyght
        
         Of fether and bone, I wote well I am wyght

         So on the highest lytell tender twyst
        
         With whynges displayde she sat full wantonly
        
         But Boreas blue a blast or ever she wyst
        
         Whylk brake the branch, and blue her sodeynly
        
         Down to the ground with many a careful cry
        
         Upon a stub she light on her breest
        
         The blood russhed out, and she cried for a priest

         God wote if than my hert was woe begone
        
         To se that foul flytter among the flowers
        
         Whylk with great mournyng gan to make her mone
        
         Now are come said she my fatale hours
        
         Of bitter death now must I suffer the shoures
        
         O dame nature I pray the of thy grace
        
         Lende me leisure to speak a lytell space

         For to complain my fate infortunate
        
         And bequeth my natural gere or I depart
        
         Seynge of all comfort I am desolate
        
         Alone except the death with his darte
        
         With awful chere ready to perse my heart
        
         And with that word she toke a passion
        
         Syne flatiynges fell and swapped in to swowne

         With sory hert persed with compassion
        
         And salt teres distelling from mynt eyne
        
         To hear that birdis lamentation
        
         I did approach under a hauthorne grene
        
         Where I might here and se, and not be seen
        
         And when this bird had swowned twice or thryse
        
         She gan to speak saying on this wise

         O false fortune why hast thou me begyled
        
         This day at morne who knew this careful case
        
         Uayne hope in the my reason hath exiled
        
         Having such trust in to thy feigned face
        
         That ever I was brought to the court alas
        
         Had I in forest flown among my feres
        
         I might full well have lived many years.

         Wyse and true counsel alas I did refuse
        
         Agayne reason using my appetite
        
         Ambition did so my hert abuse
        
         That Eolus had me in great despite
        
         Poetis of me hath mater to indyte
        
         Whylk clam so hye and woe is me therefore
        
         Not doubting that death durst me deuore.

         This day at morne my form and fetheren fair
        
         Above the proud pecok were prece land
        
         And now a caytyfe carrion full of care
        
         Bathing in blode down from my hert distelland
        
         And in my ear the bell of death been knelland
        
         O false world fy on thy felicite
        
         Thy pride, avarice, and immundicite.

         In the I se nothing been permanent
        
         Of thy short solace sorrow is the ende
        
         Thy false infortunate gifts been but lent
        
         This day full proud the morne nothing to spend
        
         O ye that doth pretend ay till ascend
        
         My fatale end have in remembrance
        
         And you defend from such unhappy chance.

         Whether I was stryken in ecstasy
        
         Or through a stark ymagination
        
         But it appeareth in my fantasy
        
         I herd this dolent lamentation
        
         Thus dullid in to desolation
        
         Me thought this bird did discriue in her manere
        
         Her counssall to the king as ye shall here.

Here begynnes the first Epistell of the papingo derect till her souerane lord king James the fifth.

         PRepotent prince pereles of pulchritude
        
         Glory / honor / laude / triumph / and victory
        
         Be to thy hie excellent celsitude
        
         With merciall dedis digne of memory
        
         Seyng Atropos consumed has my glory
        
         And dolent death alas must us depart
        
         I bequeth to the my true unfeigned heart

         To gidder with this cedull subsequent
        
          •
         
         ith most reverend recommendacyon
        
         I grant thy grace gettis many a document
        
         Be famous faders predication
        
         With many notable narracyon
        
         Be pleasand poetis in style heroycall
        
         How thou should guide thy seat imperial.

         Some doth deplore the great calamities
        
         Of diverse realms transmutation
        
         Some petiusly doth trete of tragedies
        
         All for thy graces informacyon
        
         So I intend without adulacyon
        
         In my barbarous rusticall indite
        
         Among others syr, somthynge for to write

         Souerayne conceive this syple similitude
        
         Of officeres serving thy segnory
        
          •
         
         ho guydes them well gettis of thy grace great gud
        
          •
         
         ho been iniust degraded ar of glory
        
         And cauncelled out of thy memory
        
         Prouiding syne more pleasand in their place
        
         Beleue, right so shall god do with thy grace

         Considering well thou been but officiare
        
         And va
         
          ••
         
         ell to that king incomparable
        
         haest the to please that puissant prince preclare
        
         Thy rich reward shall be inestimable
        
         Exalted hye in glory vnterminable
        
         Above archangels vertus and potestates
        
         Pleasantly placid among the principates.

         Of thy virtue poetes perpetually
        
         Shall make mencyon unto the world be ended
        
         So thou exercise thy office prudently
        
         In heaven and erth thy grace shall be commended
        
         Wherefore beware that he be not offended
        
         Whilk has exalted the to such honor
        
         Of this people to be a governor.

         And in the erth hath made such ordinance
        
         Under thy fete all thing terrestrial
        
         Are subject to thy pleasure and pastance
        
         Bothe foul and fish and bestes pastoral
        
         Men to thy service and women they been thrall
        
         Hawkyng / hunting / iustyng / and lawful amour
        
         Preordinate ar by god for thy pleasour.

         Maysters of music to recreate thy spirit
        
         With dauted voice and pleasant instrument
        
         Thus may thou be of all pleasure replete
        
         So that in thy office thou be diligent
        
         But be thou found sleuthfull or necligent
        
         Or else iniust in thine execution
        
         Thou shalt not fail divine punycyon.

         Wherefore seeing thou has such capacite
        
         To learn to play so pleasantly and sing
        
         Ryde horses / ryue speres with great audacite
        
         Shote with handbow crossebow and culuering
        
         Among the rest, syr, learn to be a king
        
         Prove on that craft thy pregnant fresh ingine
        
         Graunted to the by influence divine

         And seeing the diffinicion of a king
        
         Is for to have of people governance
        
         Adresse the, first above all other thing
        
         To put thy body to such ordinance
        
         That thy virtue thine honor may auaunce
        
         For how should pryncis govern great regions
        
         That cannot only guide their own persons.

         And thy grace would live right pleasantly
        
         Call thy counsel and cast on them the cure
        
         Theyr just decretis defend and fortefy
        
         Without good counsel may no prince longe endure
        
         Wyrke with counsel then shall thy werke be sure
        
         Chose thy counsel of the most sapient
        
         Without regard to blode, riches or rent

         Among all other pastyme and pleasure
        
         Now in thy adolescent years yenge
        
         Wolde thou every day study but half an hour
        
         The regiment of princely gouernynge
        
         To thy people it were a pleasant thing
        
         Theyr might thou find thy own vocation
        
         How thou should use thy scepture swerd and crown.

         The cronicles to know I the exhort
        
         Which may be mirror to thy majesty
        
         There shalt thou find both good and evil report
        
         Of every prince after his qualite
        
         Thoughe they been deed their deeds shall not die
        
         Trust will thou shalt be styled in that story
        
         As thou deseruest put in memory.

         Request that roy which rent was on the rood
        
         The to defend from deeds of defame
        
         That no poete report of the but good
        
         For princes days endures but a dream
        
         Seyng first king Fergus bare a diadeame
        
         Thou art the last king of five score and five
        
         And all ar deed and none but thou on live.

         Of whose number fyftye and five been slain
        
         And most parte in their own mysgouernaunce
        
         Wherefore I the beseech my souerayne
        
         Consyder of their lives the circumstance
        
         And when thou knowest the cause of their myschaunce
        
         Of virtue than exalte the sails on hye
        
         Trustynge to scape that fatal destenye

         Entreate every true baron as he were thy brother
        
         Which mon at need the and thy realm defend
        
         When sodeynly one doth oppress another
        
         Let justice myxed with mercy them amende
        
         Have thou their hearts, thou hast enough to spend
        
         And by the contrary, thou art but king of bone
        
         From time thine heres hettes be from the gone.

         I have no leisure for to write at length
        
         My hole intent unto thine excellence
        
         Decreassed so I am in wit and strenth
        
         My mortal wound doth me such violence
        
         People of me may have experience
        
         Bycause alas I was incounsolable
        
         Now mou I die a caytyue miserable.

Here beginneth the seconde epistle of the Papingo, dyrecte to her brether of the Court.

         BRether of court with mind precordiall
        
         To the great god hertely I commend you
        
         Imprent my fall in your memoryall
        
         Togyther with this cedull that I send you
        
         To preysse over hye I pray you not pretend you
        
         The vain ascence of court who will consydder
        
         Who syttes most hye, shall find the seat most slydder

         So ye that now been lansing up the ledder
        
         Take tent in time holding your fingers fast
        
         Who clymmeth most hye, most dynt hath of the wedder
        
         And leest defense against the bitter blast
        
         Of falls fortune whylke takes never rest
        
         But most redoubted daily she down thrynges
        
         Not sparing papes, emperors, nor kings.

         Though ye been mounted up above the skies
        
         And hath both king and court in governance
        
         Some was as hye whylk now right low lies
        
         Complaning sore the courts variance
        
         Theyr preterit time may be experience
        
         Whylk through vain hope of court did clyme so hye
        
         Syne wanted whingis when they wend best to fly

         Seyng ylk court been vntrust and transitorye
        
         Chaungyng as oft as wether cock in wind
        
         Some making glad and other some right sorry
        
         Formest this day the morne may go behind
        
         Let not vain hope of court your reason blind
        
         Trust well some men will give you lande as lords
        
         Whylkes would be glad to se you hang in cords

         I durst declare the miserabilite
        
         Of divers courts were not my time to short
        
         The dredfull change vainglory and vilite
        
         The painful pleasures as poetes doth report
        
         Somtyme in hope sometime in disconfort
        
         And how some men doth spend their youthed all
        
         In court, syne, endeth in the hospital.

         How some in court been quiet counsalours
        
         Without regard to common wealth or kings
        
         Castynge their cure for to be conquerors
        
         And when they been hye raised in their rings
        
         How change of court them dolefully down thrynges
        
         And when they been from their estate deposed
        
         How many of their fall been right well resioysed

         And how fond feigned fules and flatterars
        
         For small service opteyneth great rewards
        
         Pandars pikthankes custrouns and clatterars
        
         Loupes up from laddes, syne lyghtes among lords
        
         Blasphematours braggars and common bardes
        
         Somtyme in court hath more authority
        
         Than well learned doctors in diuinite.

         How in some court be barns of Belial
        
         Full of dissimuled painted flattery
        
         Prouokynge by intoxicate counsel
        
         Princes to hooredome and till hasardry
        
         Who doth in princes prent syk harlotry
        
         I say for me such pert prouocatours
        
         Sholde punissed be above all strong traitors.

         What trauars, trouble, and calamite
        
         Hath ben in court within this hundredth years
        
         What mortal changes, what myserite
        
         What noble men be brought upon their bears
        
         Trust well my friends follow ye mon your fears
        
         So seeing in court is no tranquilite
        
         Set not on it your hole felicite

         The court changeth sometime with such outrage
        
         That few or none may make resistence
        
         And spareth not the prince more than the page
        
         As well appeareth by experyence
        
         The duke of Rosey might make no defense
        
         Whylke was pertenand roy of this region
        
         But dulefully deuored in prison

         What drede, what dolour, had that noble king
        
         Robert the third from time he knew the case
        
         Of his two sons the dolent departynge
        
         Prince David deed, and James capityue alas
        
         Tyll true scottes men, whylk was a careful case
        
         Thus may ye know the court been varyand
        
         When blood ryall the change might not gaynstand.

         Who clam in court more hye and tryumphand
        
         Nor duke Murdok, while that his days endured
        
         Was he not great protector of Scotland
        
         Yet of the court he was not well assured
        
         It changed so his lange service was smured
        
         He and his sone fair walter without remeed
        
         Forfalted were, and put to dulefull deed

         Kynge James the first, patron of prudence
        
         Gem of angyne, and perle of polecy
        
         Well of justice, and floode of eloquence
        
         Whose virtue doth transcende my fantasy
        
         For to discryue yet when he stood most hye
        
         By false exorbitant conspyracyoun
        
         That prudent prince was pituously put down

         Als James the seconde, roy of great renoun
        
         Beynge in his super excellent glore
        
         Through rerheleffe shotyng of one great cannoun
        
         The dolent death alas did him deuore
        
         One thing there is, of whylk I marvel more
        
         That fortune had at him syk mortal feed
        
         Through fyfty thousand to wale him by the heed

         My hert is persed with pains for to paunce
        
         Or write that courts variacyon
        
         Of James the third when he had governance
        
         The dolour, drede, and desolacyon
        
         The change of court and conspiracion
        
         And how that cochrane with his company
        
         That time in court clam so presumptuously

         It had ben good those barons had been unborn
        
         By whom that noble prince was so abused
        
         They grew as did the wede above the corn
        
         That prudent lords counsel was refused
        
         And held him quiet as he had been inclused
        
         Alas that prince by their abusyon
        
         Was finally brought unto confusyon

         They clam so hye, and get such audience
        
         And with their prince grew so famylyar
        
         His germane brother might get no presence
        
         The duke of Albane, nor the erle of Mar
        
         Lyke banysshed men were holden at the bar
        
         Tyll in the king there grew syk mortal feed
        
         He flemit the duke, and put the erle to deed

         This cochrane with his caytyue company
        
         Forced them to flee, but yet they wanted tedders
        
         Above the hyelyders of Libanye
        
         They clam so hye tylt they lap over the ledders
        
         On Lauder brig syne kepped were in tedders
        
         Strangled to death, they got none other grace
        
         Theyr king captive, which was a careful case

         Tyll put in form that fate infortunate
        
         And mortal change perturbeth mine ingyne
        
         My wyttes ben weyke / my fingers fatigate
        
         To dyte or write the rancor ruyne
        
         The ciuyll war, the battle intestyne
        
         How that the sone with banner broad displayed
        
         Agayne the father in batayle came arrayed

         Wolde god that prince had been that day comfortid
        
         With sapience of the prudent Salomone
        
         And with the strength of strong Sampsone supportid
        
         With the bold oste of great Agamennone
        
         What should I wish remedy was there none
        
         At morne a king with ceptour sword and croun
        
         At even a deed deformed carioun

         Alas where is that right redouted roy
        
         That potent prince gentill king James the ferd
        
         I pray to Christ his saule for to conuoy
        
         One greater noble raygned not in erd
        
         O Atropos wary we may thy werd
        
         For he was mirror of humility
        
         Lood ster and lamp of liberalite

         During his time so justice did prevail
        
         The savage ylis trubled for terror
        
         Eskdaile emsdaile liddisdaile and anuerdaile
        
         Durst not rebel doutyng his dintis dour
        
         And of his lords had such perfect savor
        
         So forte shawe that he fered no fone
        
         Out through his realm he would ride him alone.

         And of his court through Ewrop sprang the fame
        
         Of lusty lords and lufsome ladyes yeng
        
         Triumphant tornays Iusting and knyghtly gain
        
         With all pastyme according for a king
        
         He was the glory of pryncely gouernynge
        
         Tyll through the ardent love he had to France
        
         Agaynst Ingland did move his ordinance

         Of Flowdon field the ruyne to reuolue
        
         O
         
          •
         
         that most dolent day for to deplore
        
         Inyn, for drede that dolour you desolue
        
         Shew
         
          •
         
         how that prince in his triumphant glore
        
         Destroyed was, what needs process more
        
         Not by virtue of the Englysshe ordinance
        
         But by his own willful mysgouernaunce

         Alas that day had he ben consolable
        
         He had opteyned laude, glory, and victory
        
         Whose petuous process been so lamentable
        
         Ine w
         
          •
         
         ll, at length it put in memory
        
         I never red in tragedy nor story
        
         At one journey so many nobles slain
        
         For the defense and love of their souerayne

         Now brether make in your remembrance
        
         A mirror of their mutabilities
        
         So may ye know the courts inconstaunce
        
         When princes been thus pulled from their sees
        
         After whose death whose strange aduersitees
        
         What great mysrule in to this region rang
        
         When our young prince couth neither speak nor gang

         Durynge his tender youth and innocence
        
         What sloth, what stelth, what murder & myschaunce
        
         There was naught elles but werkynge of vengeance
        
         In that court there range syk varyaunce
        
         Dyuers rulers, made divers ordinance
        
         Somtyne our queen reygned in authority
        
         Somtyme the prudent duke of Albanie

         Somtyme the realm was ruled by regentes
        
         Somtyme leeftenauntes ledars of the law
        
         Than reygned so money inobedientes
        
         That few or none of another stood in awe
        
         Oppression did so loud his bugle blawe
        
         That none durst ride but in the feyr of weir
        
         Iak vpland that time did mysse his meir.

         Who was more hye in honor eleuate
        
         Nor was Margarete our hye and mithty princes
        
         Such power was to her appropriate
        
         Of king and realm she was gouernores
        
         Yet came one change within a short process
        
         That perle preclare that lusty pleasand queen
        
         Long time durst not in the corut be seen

         The archebisshop of saint Androus James Beton
        
         Chancellar and primate in power pastoral
        
         Clam next the king / most hye in this region
        
         The ledder shook he lap and gat a fall
        
         Auctoritie nor power spiritual
        
         Riches frendiship might not that time prevail
        
         When dame Curia began to stere her tail.

         His high prudence prevailed him not a myte
        
         That time the court bare him syk mortal feed
        
         As presoner they kept him in despite
        
         And sometime wyst not where to hide his heed
        
         But disguysed like John̄ the reif he raed
        
         Had not been hope that bare him company
        
         He had been strangled by melancoly

         What cummet and care was in the court of France
        
         When king Francys was takin presonere
        
         The duke of Bourbon and his ordinance
        
         Deed at one stroke right balefully brought on bere
        
         The court of Rome that time ran all arere
        
         When pape Clement was put in strong preson
        
         The noble city put to confusion

         In England who had greater governance
        
         Nor their tryumphand courtly cardinal
        
         The common weal some says he did auaunce
        
         By equal justice both to great and small
        
         There was no prelate to him peregall
        
         Englysshe men saith, had he raygned long space
        
         He had deposed saint Peter of his place

         His pryncely pomp, nor papale grauite
        
         His palace royal rich and radious
        
         Nor yet the flude of superfluite
        
         Of his riches nor travail tedious
        
         From time dame Curia held him odious
        
         Preuayled him not nor prudence most profounde
        
         The ledder brake and and he fell to the ground

         Where been the doughty erles of douglas
        
         Whylkes ryally in to this region rang
        
         Forfayt and slain what needeth more process
        
         The erle of Marche was marchelled them amang
        
         Dame Curia them dolefully down thrang
        
         And now of late who clam more hye amang us
        
         Nor did archbald vmwhyle erle of angus.

         Who with his prince was more familiar
        
         Nor of his grace had more authority
        
         Was he not great wardeyn and chauncellar
        
         Yet whan he stood upon the highest gre
        
         Trustyng no thing but perpetuite
        
         Was sodaynly deposed from his place
        
         Forfayt and flemit, he gat non other grace

         Wherefore trust not in authority
        
         My dere brethren I pray you heartily
        
         Presume not in your vain prosperite
        
         Conferme your trust in god all hooly
        
         Syne, serve your prince with entier hert truly
        
         And when ye se the court been at the best
        
         I counsel you than draw you to your rest

         Where been the hye triumphant court of troy
        
         Of Alexandre with his twelve prudent peres
        
         Or Julius that right redoubted roy
        
         Agamemnon most whorthy in his weres
        
         To show their fine my frayed hert efferes
        
         Some murdered were, some poisoned petiously
        
         Theyr careful courtis disparsid dolefully

         Trust well m
         
          •
         
         friends there is no constant court but one
        
         Where Christ is king whose time interminable
        
         And high triumphant glory is never gone
        
         That quiet court mirthful and vmmutable
        
         Without varyaunce standith ay ferme and stable
        
         Dissimilance flatery nor falls report
        
         In to that court shall never get resort

         Trust well my friends this is no feigned fare
        
         For who that been in the extreme of deed
        
         The verite without doubt they should declare.
        
         Without regard to favor or to feed
        
         Whyle ye have time dere brether make remede
        
         Adue forever, of me ye get no more
        
         Besekand god to bring you to his glore

         Adue Edinburgh, you high triumphant town
        
         Within whose bounds right blythfull have I been
        
         Of true merchants the rote of this regiowne
        
         Moost ready to receive court king and queen
        
         Thy polecye and justice may be seen
        
         Were devotion wisdom and honest
        
         And credence tint, they might be found in the

         Adue fair Snadowne, with thy toures hye
        
         Thy chapel, ryall, park, and table round
        
         Maye, June, and July, would I dwell in the
        
         Were I a man to hear the birds sound
        
         Whylke doth again thy ryall rock redounde
        
         Adue Lythko, whose palayse of pleasaunce
        
         Myght be a patron in Portingale or France

         Farewell Falklande, the forteres of of Fife
        
         Thy polyte park under the lowmonde law
        
         Somtyme in the, I led a lusty life
        
         The follow dere to se them reke on raw
        
         Court men to come to the, they stand great awe
        
         Sayenge thy burgh ben of all burrowes vale
        
         Because in the they never get good ale

Here beginneth the commonynge betwyxte the Papingo and her Executours.

        THe pye p
        
         •
        
        rceyued the Papingo in pain
       
         •
        
        ed down and feigned him to grete
       
        Syster said he alas who hath you slain
       
        I pray you make provision for your spirit
       
        Go test your gere and you confess complete
       
        I have power by your contrition
       
        Of all your mysse to give you full remission

        I am saith he a channon regulare
       
        And of my brether pryour pryncipall
       
        My white rochet, my clean life doth declare
       
        The blake been of the death memorial
       
        Wherefore I think your goods natural
       
        Shold be submytted hole in to my cure
       
        Ye know I am a right holy creature

        The rauin came raupand when he herd the rare
       
        So did the gledde with money a petuous pew
       
        And feynedly they counterfeited great care
       
        Syster said they, your retchlesnes we rew
       
        Now best it is our just counsel ensew
       
        Seyng we pretend till hye promotion
       
        Religious men of great devotion

        I am a blak monk said the rutland rauine
       
        So said the gledde I am a cordilere
       
        And hath power to bring you quyk to heauin
       
        It is well known my conscience been full clear
       
        The blak bible prounce I shall perquere
       
        So till our brether ye will give some good
       
        God wate if we have need of lives food

        The Papingo said fader be the rood
       
        Howbeit your raiment be religious like
       
        Your conscience I suspect be not good
       
        I did perceive when preuely ye did pike
       
        A chykyn from a hen under a dyke
       
        I grant said he, that hen was my good friend
       
        And I that chekyn toke but for my teynde

        Ye know the saith by us men be susteynde
       
        So by the kyrk it is preordinate
       
        That spiritual men should live upon their teynde
       
        But well wote I ye been predestinate
       
        In your extreme to be so fortunate
       
        To have syk holy consultation
       
        Wherefore we make you exhortation

        Sen dame nature has granted you syk grace
       
        Leysure to make confession general
       
        Showe forth your sin in haste whill ye have space
       
        Then of your gere make a memorial
       
        Whe three shall make your feestes funeral
       
        And with great blysse bury we shall your bones
       
        Syne trentalles tuenty / trattle all at ones

        The rukes shall rair that men shall on them rew
       
        And cry commemoratio ammarum
       
        We shall gar chyckens chepe, and geslynges pew
       
        Suppose the gese and heanes shol
        
         •
        
        cry alarm
       
        And we shall serve secundum vsum Sarum
       
        And make you safe we fy
        
         •
        
        d saint Blase to borgh
       
        Cryand for you the careful corynogh

        And we shall sing about your sepulture
       
        Saint Mungoise matyns and the mekill creed
       
        And syne devoutly say I you assure
       
        The old placebo bakwart and the heed
       
        And we shall were for you the mournyng weed
       
        And though your spirit with Pluto were professed
       
        Deuoutly shall your dirige be adorest

        Fader said she your facound words fair
       
        Full sore I dreed be contrary to your deeds
       
        The wives of the village cries with care
       
        When they perseyue you move over their medes
       
        Your falls consayt both ducke and drake sore dredes
       
        I meruell shorthly ye be not ashamed
       
        For your defaltes being so defamed.

        It doth aborre my pore perturbed spryte
       
        To make till you ony confession
       
        I here men sayen ye be an ypocryte
       
        Exempt from the syse and the session
       
        To put my gere in your possession
       
        That will I not so help me dame nature
       
        Nor of my corps I will you give no cure

        But had I here the noble nyghtyngale
       
        The gentle iaye▪ the merle / and turtour terwe
       
        My obsequies and feestes funerale
       
        Order they woe
        
         •
        
        d with notes of the new
       
        The pleasand panne most angelik of hewe
       
        Wold god I were with him this day confessed
       
        And my deuyse duly by him addrest.

        The mirthfull mauis with the gay gold spynke
       
        The lusty larke would god they ware present
       
        My infortune forsooth they would forthynke
       
        And comfort me that is so impotent
       
        The swyft swallow in practyk most prudent
       
        I wote she would my bledyng stent belyue
       
        With her most virtuous stone restringitiue

        Counte me the case under confession
       
        The glede said proudly to the Papingo
       
        And we shall swear by our profession
       
        Counsel to keep and shaw it to no mo
       
        We the beseke or thou depart us fro
       
        Declare till us some cause reasonable
       
        Why we been holden so abhominable.

        By thy travel thou hast experience
       
        Fyrst being bred in to the orient
       
        Syne, by thy good service and diligence
       
        To princes made here in the occident
       
        Thou knowest the vulgare people's iugement
       
        Where thou transcurred the hot meridionale
       
        Syne, next the pole the plage septentrionale

        So by thy high ingyne superlatise
       
        Of all countries thou knowest the qualities
       
        Wherefore I the conjure by god of life
       
        The verite declare without in lies
       
        What thou hast heard be lands and by seis
       
        Of us kyrk men both good and evil report
       
        And how they judge shawe us we the exhort.

        Fader said she I caytiue creature
       
        Dare not presume with syk mater to mell
       
        Of your cases ye know I have no cure
       
        Demande them, wilk in prudence doth precell
       
        I may not pew my pains been so fell
       
        And also perchance ye will not stand content
       
        To know the vulgars people's iugement

        Yet will the death alyte withdraw his dart
       
        All that lies in my memorial
       
        I shall declare with true unfeigned heart
       
        And first I say to you in general
       
        The commone people says ye been all
       
        Degenerate from your holy primitiuis
       
        As testifyes the process of your liuis

        Of your perelese prudent predecessors
       
        The beginning I grant was veray gude
       
        Apostles, martyrs, virgyns, and confessors
       
        The sound of their excellent sanctitude
       
        Was herd over all the world by land and flude
       
        Planting the faith by predication
       
        As Christ had made to them narration

        To fortefy the faith they toke no fere
       
        Afore princes prechyng full prudently
       
        Of dolorous death they doubted not the dere
       
        The verite declaring fervently
       
        And materdome they suffered patiently
       
        They toke no cure of land, riches, nor rent
       
        Doctrine and deed ware both equiuolent

        To show at length their werkes were great wunder
       
        Theyr miracles they were so manifest
       
        In name of Christ they heled many hunder
       
        Raysyng the deed / and purgyng the possessed
       
        With peruest spirits which had been oppressed
       
        The crooked ran the blind men gate their eyen
       
        The defe men herd, the lyppres were made cleen

        The prelates spoused were with pouerte
       
        The days when so they florysshed in fame
       
        And with her companed lady chastity
       
        And dame devotion notable of name
       
        Humble they were semple and full of shame
       
        Thus chastity and dame devotion
       
        Was principal cause of their promotion.

        Thus they contynued in this life divine
       
        Ay till there raygnyd in Rome's great cite
       
        A potent prince whose name was Constantyne
       
        Perceyued the kyrke had spoused pouerte
       
        With good intent and moved of pite
       
        Cause of dyuorse / he fand betwyxt them two
       
        And parted them withouten words mo

        Syne shortly with a great solempnite
       
        Withouten ony dispensacyon
       
        The kyrke he spoused with dame properte
       
        Whylke hastily by proclamacyon
       
        To pouerte garte make narracyon
       
        Under the pain of persynge of her eyne
       
        That with the kyrke should no more be seen

        Sylvester that time was pape in Rome
       
        Which first consented to the marriage
       
        Of properte the whylke began to blome
       
        Takynge on her the cure with hye corage
       
        Devotion drew her till an hermytage
       
        When she considered lady properte
       
        So high exalted in to dignity

        O Sylvester where was thy discrecyon
       
        Whylk Peter did renounce, thou did recayf
       
        Androwe and John̄ did leave their possession
       
        Theyr shyppes, their nets, lines, & all the layf
       
        Of temporal substance nothing would they hayf
       
        Contraryous to their contemplacyon
       
        But soberly their sustentacyon

        John̄ the Baptyst went to the wyldernesse
       
        Lazarus, Martha, and mary Magdalaine
       
        Lefre heritage and goods more and less
       
        Prudent saint Paul, thought properte prophaine
       
        From town to town he ran in wind and rain
       
        Upon his fete, techynge the word of grace
       
        And never was subject to riches

        The gled said yet I hear nothing but good
       
        Procede shortly and thy mater auaunce
       
        The Papingo said fader by the rood
       
        It were to lang to show the circumstance
       
        How properte with her new alliaunce
       
        Grew great with child as true men to me told
       
        And bare two douthers goodly to behold

        The eldest daughter named was riches
       
        The seconde syster sensualite
       
        Which did encreace within a short process
       
        Preplesaunt to the spiritualite
       
        In great substance and excellent beaute
       
        These ladyes two grew so within few years
       
        That in the world ware none might be their peres

        This ryall riches and lady sensual
       
        From that time forth toke hole the governance
       
        Of the most part of the state spiritual
       
        And they again with humble obseruaunce
       
        Amorously their wyttes did auaunce
       
        As true lovers their ladyes for to please
       
        God wote gyf than their hearts were at ease

        Soone they forgot to study, pray, and preche
       
        They grew so subject to dame sensual
       
        And thought it but pain pore people for to teche
       
        Yet they decreed in their great counsel
       
        They would no more to marriage be thrall
       
        Trusting surely to observe chastity
       
        And albegyled quod sensualite

        Apperandly they did expel their wives
       
        That they might live at large without bondage
       
        At liberty to lead their lusty lives
       
        Thynkyng men thrall that been in marriage
       
        For new faces provoketh new corage
       
        Thus chastity they turn in to delight
       
        Wantyng of wives been cause of appetyte

The banyshyng of chastity.

         Dame chastity did steal away for shame
        
         From time she did perceive their puruyance
        
         Dame sensual one letter gart proclaim
        
         And her exiled Ytaly and France
        
         In England coude she get none ordinance
        
         Than to the king and court of Scotland
        
         She marked her wi
         
          •
         
         houten more demand

         Trustyng in to that court to get comfort
        
         She made her humble supplication
        
         Shortly they said she should get no support
        
         But boosted her with blasphemation
        
         To preestes go make you protestation
        
         It is, said they, many an hundred yere
        
         Sen chastity had ony enteres here

         Tyred for travel she to the preestes past
        
         And to the rulars of religyon
        
         Of her presens shortly they were agast
        
         Sayeng they thought it but abusion
        
         Her to receive so with conclusion
        
         With one aduyse decreed and gave dome
        
         They would receive no rebel out of Rome

         Sholde we receive that Romans has refused
        
         And banisshed England / Ytaly and France
        
         For your flattery than were we well abused
        
         Passe hens said they and fast your way auaunce
        
         Among the nunnes go seek your ordinance
        
         For we have made oath of fidelite
        
         To dame riches and sensualite

         Than patiently she made progression
        
         Toward the nunnes with heart syghyng full sore
        
         They gave her presens with procession
        
         Receyued her with honor, laude, and glore
        
         Purposyng to preserve her evermore
        
         Of that nouelles came to dame properte
        
         To riches and so to sensualite

         Whylkes sped them at the post right speedily
        
         And set one syege proudly about the place
        
         The selly nunnes did yield them hastily
        
         And humbly of their gylt asked grace
        
         Syne gave their bands of perpetual peace
        
         Receyu and them they kept open wyckettes wyde
        
         Than chastity would no longer abide

         So for refuge fast to the freres she fled
        
         Which said they would of ladyes take no cure
        
         Where is she now than said the greedy gled
        
         Not among you said she I you assure
        
         I trust she been upon the burrow mure
        
         By south Edynburgh and so full many menes
        
         Profest among the systers of the senes

         There hath she found her moder pouerte
        
         And devotion her own syster cordial
        
         There hath she found faith, hoope, and charity
        
         Togyther wich the virtuous cardinal
        
         There hath she founden one convent yet vnthrall
        
         To Sensualite nor with riches abused
        
         So quietly those ladyes been inclused.

         The pyote said, I dreed, be they assailed
        
         They will render them as did the holy nunnes
        
         Doubt not said she for they been so artayled
        
         They purpose to defend them with their gunnes
        
         Redy to shote they have six great cannouns
        
         Perseverance, constance, and conscience,
        
         Austerite, labor, and abstinence

         Tyll resist, subtyll Sensualite
        
         Strongly they been armed feet and hands
        
         By abstinence, and keepeth pouerte
        
         Contrary riches and all her false seruandes
        
         They have one bumbard brased up in bands
        
         To keep their port in mids of their close
        
         Whilk is called domine custodinos.

         Within whose shote, there dare no enemies
        
         Approche their place, for dreed of dyntes doure
        
         But night and day, they warke like besy bees
        
         For their defense reddy to stand in stoure
        
         And hath syk watchis on their utter toure
        
         That Sensualite with siege dare not assayle
        
         Nor come within the shot of their artayle

         The pyote said whereto should they presume
        
         For to resyst sweet sensualite
        
         Or dame riches wich rulers been in Rome
        
         Are they more constant in their qualite
        
         Than the captayns of the spiritualte
        
         Whylkes pleasandly withouten obstakle
        
         Has them reseyued in their habitakle.

         How longe trow ye, those ladyes shall remain
        
         So solitary in such perfection
        
         The Papingo said brether in certain
        
         So long as they obey correction
        
         Chosyng their heedes by election
        
         Unthrall to riches or to properte
        
         But as requires their necessity

         O prudent prelates where was your prescience
        
         That toke on hand till observe chastity
        
         Without austere life / labor / and abstinence
        
         Perseyued ye not the great prosperite
        
         Apperandly till come of properte
        
         Ye knew good chere, great ease, and ydelnes
        
         To lechery was moder and maystres

         Thou raues vnroked the rauyn said by the rood
        
         For to repreue riches or properte
        
         Abraham and Isaac / were rich and ay good
        
         Jacob and Joseph had prosperite
        
         The Papingo said, that is verite
        
         Ryches I grant is not to be refused
        
         Prouydyng alway it be not abused.

         Than made the rauen a replicacion
        
         Syne, said thy reason is not worth a myte
        
         As I shall prove with protestacyon
        
         That no man take my words in despyte
        
         I say the temporal princes has the wyte
        
         That in the kyrk syk pastors doth drouyde
        
         To govern souls that not them self can guide

         Longe time after the kyrke toke properte
        
         The prelates lived in great perfection
        
         Unthrall to riches or Sensualite
        
         Under the holy spirits protection
        
         Orderly chosynge by election
        
         As Gregore, Jerome, Ambrose, and Angustyne
        
         Benedict, Bernard, Clement, Clete, & Lyne

         Syk patient prelates entered by the porte
        
         Pleasynge the pepole by predication
        
         Now dyke lowpers, doth in the kyrk resort
        
         By symonye and supplicacyon
        
         Of patrons by their presentacyon
        
         So seely souls that been Christ's sheep
        
         Are given to hungry gormond wolves to keep

         No marvel is though we religious men
        
         Degenerat be and in our lives confused
        
         But sing and drink, none other craft we ken
        
         Our spiritual faders has us so abused
        
         Agayne our will they trukours been intrused
        
         Lay men has now religious men in cures
        
         Profest virgyns in keeping of strong hures

         Prynces princes, where been your hye prudence
        
         In disposition of your benefyces
        
         The guerdonyng of your courticience
        
         Is some cause of your great enormiteis
        
         There is one sort waytand like hungry fleis
        
         For spiritual cure though they be nothing able
        
         Whose greedy thrystes been insaciable

         Prynces I pray you be no more abused
        
         To virtuous men having so small regard
        
         Why should virtue through flattery be refused
        
         That men for cunning can get no reward
        
         Alas that ever a braggar or a barde
        
         An hoore master or a common hasature
        
         Shold in the kyrk get ony kind of cure

         Were I a man worthy to were a crown
        
         Ay when there vaked ony benefyse
        
         I should gar call a congregation
        
         Of principals of all the prelacyse
        
         Most cunning clerks of vniuersyties
        
         Most famous faders of religion
        
         With their aduyse make disposition

         I should dispone all offices pastorayles
        
         Tyll doctors of diuinite or iure
        
         And cause dame virtue pull up all her sails
        
         When cunning men had in the kyrk most cure
        
         Garlordes send their sons I you assure
        
         To seek science and famous schools frequent
        
         Syne, them promote that were most sapient

         Great pleasure were to here a bysshop preche
        
         A dean, or a doctor in divinity
        
         An abbot whylk couth well his convent teche
        
         A parsone flowyng in philosophy
        
         I tyne my time till wish whylk will not be,
        
         Were not the prechyng of certain begging freres
        
         Tint were the faith amange the seculeres.

         As for their prechyng {quod} the Papingo
        
         I them excuse for why they been so thrall
        
         Tyll properte and her dygne daughters two
        
         Dame riches and fair lady sensual
        
         They may not use no pastyme spiritual
        
         And in their hahytes they take syk delight
        
         They have renounsed russat and course white

         Clekande to them scarlot and cramosie
        
         With meneuer / martrik / grece, and rich armyne
        
         Theyr low hearts exalted are so hye
        
         To se their papal pomp it is a pyne
        
         More rich arraye is now with frenges fine
        
         Apon the braudryng of a bysshopes mule
        
         Nor ever had Paul or Peter again youle

         Seyng fair ladyes their cheyne may not escape
        
         Sensualite so such seed has in them sawne
        
         Less skathe it were with lycence of the Pape
        
         That ylk prelate a wife had of his awne
        
         Then se their bastards throughout the cōtrey blawne
        
         For as sone as they be comyn from the scules
        
         They fall to werke as they were common bules

         Pew quod the gled thou preches all in vain
        
         The secular folk has of our cases no cures
        
         I grant quod she yet men will speak again
        
         How ye have made an hundredth thousand hures
        
         Whylk{is} never had been were not your lychorus lures
        
         And gyf I lie hertely I me repent
        
         Was never byrd I wote more penitent

         Than she shroue her with devout countenance
        
         To that false gled wylk feigned him a frere
        
         And after he had enjoined her penance
        
         Full subtelly at her he gan inquere
        
         Chose you said he, whylk of us brethren here
        
         Shall have of all your natural gere the cures
        
         Ye know none been more holy creatures

         I am content quod the pore Papingo
        
         That ye frere gled and corby monk your brother
        
         Have cure of all my goods and no mo
        
         Seyng at this time frendsshyp I find none other
        
         We will be to you as true as till our mother
        
         Quod they and sware to fulfill her intent
        
         Of that said she I take an instrument

         The pyote said what shall my office be
        
         Ouerseer said she unto the other two
        
         She rowpand rauyn said sweet syster lat se
        
         Your hole intent for it is time to go
        
         The greedy gled said brother do not so
        
         We will remain and holden up her heed
        
         And never depart from her till she be deed

         The Papingo them thanked tenderly
        
         And said seeing ye have tane on you this cure
        
         Depart my natural goods equally
        
         That ever I had or hath of dame nature
        
         Fyrst to the howlot indegent and pure
        
         Whilk on the day for shame dare not be seen
        
         Tyll her I leave my gay galbert of grene

         My bright depured eyen as cristall clear
        
         Unto the back ye shall them both present
        
         In Phebus presens whylk dare not appere
        
         Of natural sight she is so impotent
        
         My burneshed beik I leave with good intent
        
         Unto the gentill petuous pellicane
        
         Tyll help to perse her tender hert in twane

         I leave the golk whylk has no song but one
        
         My musyk with my voice angelical
        
         And to the guse ye give when I am gone
        
         My eloquence and tongue rethoricall
        
         And take and dry my bones great and small
        
         Syne, close them in a case of euour fine
        
         And them present unto the fenix shine

         To burn with her when she her life renews
        
         In Arabie ye shall her find without fere
        
         And shall know her by her most heavenly hewes
        
         Gold, assure, gowles, purpour, and sinopere
        
         Hyr date is for to live five hundredth yere
        
         Make to that bird my commendation
        
         And als I make you supplication

         Seyng of my corps I have you given the cure
        
         Ye speed you to the court without tarrying
        
         And take my heart of perfect portrature
        
         And it prent unto my souerayne king
        
         I wote he will it close in to a ring
        
         Commend me to his grace I you exhort
        
         And of my passion make him true report

         Ye three my trypes shall have for your travel
        
         With lyuer and lunge to part equal among you
        
         Prayand Pluto the potent prince of hell
        
         Gyf ye fail that in his fete he fang you
        
         Be to me true though I nothing belang you
        
         Sore I suspect your conscience be to large
        
         Doubt not said they we take it with the charge

         Adue brether quod the pore Papingo
        
         To talking more I have no time to tarry
        
         But sen my spirit mon from my body go
        
         I recommende it to the queen of fary
        
         Eternally in to her court to tarry
        
         In wilderness among thyr holtes hore
        
         Than she included her heed & spake no more

         Plunged in till her mortal passion
        
         Full grievously she grypped to the ground
        
         It were to longe to make narracyon
        
         Of syghes sore with many stauke and stounde
        
         Out of her wound the blood so abound
        
         A compace round was with her blood made reed
        
         Without remedy there was nothing but deed

         And by she had in manus tuas said
        
         Extincted were her natural wyttes five
        
         Her heed full softly on her shulder she laid
        
         Syne yield the spirit with pains pungitiue
        
         The rauen began rudely to roug and ryue
        
         Full gormondlyk, his empty throat he fed
        
         Gate softly brether said the greedy gled

         Whyle she is hot depart her even among us
        
         Take you one half and reke to me another
        
         In till our right I wote no wyght dare wrang us
        
         The piot said the find receive the sother
        
         Why make ye me stepharne and I your brother
        
         Ye do me wrang syrgled I shrow your heart
        
         Take there said he the puddynges for thy part

         Than wot ye well my hert was wonder sayre
        
         For to behold that dolent departing
        
         Her angel fedders fleyng in the air
        
         Except the heart was left of her nothing
        
         The piot said this perteynes to the king
        
         Whylk till his grace I purpose to present
        
         Thou quod the gled shall fayll of thyn intent

         The rauyn said, god nor I rax in a rape
        
         And thou get this other to king or duke
        
         The piot said plain I not to the pape
        
         Than in one smedy I be smored with smuke
        
         With that the gled the piece caught in his cluke
        
         And fled his way the layfe with all their might
        
         Tyll chace the gled flew all out of my sight

         Now have ye heard this little tragedy
        
         The sore complaint, the testament & myschaunce
        
         Of this poor byrde, whylke did ascend so hye
        
         Besekyng you excuse mine ignorance
        
         And rude endyte, whylk is not to auaunce
        
         And to the queyre I give the commandment
        
         Make no repair, where poetes been present

         Because you been but rethoryk so rude
        
         Be never seen beside none other boke
        
         With king nor queen, with lord nor man of gude
        
         With cote unclean, claim kynred to some coke
        
         Stele in a nuke, when men liest on the loke
        
         For smell of smuke men will abhor to bere the
        
         Here I mensuer the, wherefor to lurk go lere the.

Here ends the complaint, & testament of the king of Scots Papinpo, compyled by David Lyndesay of the mount, and finysshed the .xiv. day of Decembre, in the yere of our lord. 1530

Imprynted at London in Fletestrete, at the sign of the Son, by John̄ Byddell. The yere of our lord. M.D.xxxviij.

CVM PRIVILEGIO.