Works
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A05537.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
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.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
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
The warkis of the famous and vorthie Knicht Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont, Alias, Lyoun King of Arms. Newly correctit, and vindicate from the former errouris whairwith they war before corruptit: and augmentit with sindrie warkis whilk was not before Imprentit.
The contentis of the buke, and what warkis ar augmentit, the next side sall show.
Viuet etiam post funera virtus.
JOB. VII.
Militia est vita hominis super terram.
Newlie Imprentit be IOHNE SCOT, at the expensis of Henry Charteris: and ar to be sauld in his Buith, on the north side of the gait, above the Throne.
CVM PRIVILEGIO REGALI. ANNO. DO. M.D.LXVIII.
THE CONTENTIS OF THIS BVKE FOLLOWING. (✿)
Ane Dialog betwix Father Experience and ane Courteour, of the Miserabill estait of the world: deuydir in four bukis, or in four Monarcheis.
The Testament and Complaynt of our Souerane Lordis Papingo, King James the Fyft.
The dreme, direct to our said Souerane Lord, whairin ar contenit,
The diuisioun of the eirth.
The descriptioun of Paradise.
The descriptioun of the Realm of Scotland.
And the complaint of the Commoun well of Scotland.
Ane exhortatioun to the Kingis grace.
The Complaint unto the Kingis grace, omittit in the Imprentingis of Rowen and Londoun.
The Tragedie of David Betoun Cardinal, and Archebischop of Sanctandrois.
The deploratioun of the death of Queen Magdalene.
Ane answer to the Kingis flyting, never before Imprentit.
The Complaynt and Confessioun, of Bagsche, ye Kingis auld hoūd, direct to Bawtie, and his Companyeonis.
Ane supplicatioun to the Kingis grace, in contemptioun of side taillis, and missellit facis.
Kitteis Confessioun.
The Iusting betwix James watsone, and John Barbour, familiar seruitouris to King James the Fyft.
VNTO THE GODLIE AND CHRIstiane Reidar, Henry Charteris, wischis grace, and piece from Jesus Christ our Saluiour. with the perpetual assistance of his halic Spirit.
IT is the common and accustomit manner (gentill reidar) of all thame whilk dost prohemiate upon ony other manis wark, cheiflie to travel about twa pointis. The ane is, to declare the properteis of ye Author, nocht only external, as his original, birth, vocatioun, estait, strenth, giftis of the body, substance, & manner of leuing: bot alswa internal: as the qualiteis, habits, & dispositiones of the mind, his ingyne, knawlege, wisdom, giftis of the Spirit, and all other verre wis whilk culled justly be knawin to have been in him. Bot seeing it is nocht monie yeiris past, sen it hes pleisit the eternal God, to call our Author, out of the miserabill and trubilsum calamiteis of this transiteric life, until his celestial joy, and heuinlie habitatioun, swa that the memory of him is bot as yet recent, & not out of the hartis of money yet leuand, to whom his haill manner of life was better knawin than unto me, I think it not greitlie neidfull to tarry the thairon, bot will remit the to learn it at yair mouthis. The other is, to declare his manner of writing, the vtili • ie of his warkis, & what fruit, profit, and commodity may ensew and follow to the diligent reidar and reuoluar of the samin. Nouther in this is it greitly neidfull to me to travel, seeing the samin may be mayest esilie & perfytelie knawin be his awin pen. For besydis the plesand and delectabill versiz, besy • i • the crafty and ingenious poetical inuentionis, besydis the fruitful and cōmodious Historyis, ba • th human and divine: baith recent and ancient: besydis the hailsum and notal • i • l counsellis & admonitionis to Princis, to Prelates, & to all estatis, what vice or iniquity rang in his days, whilk he did not cel • u • e? not only of the spiritual, bot alswa of the temporal estait? what verteous or commend a bill fact, hes he not praisit, and desyrit to be had in the dew honor, and honorabill estimatioun. Bot gif we fall consider and wey the time, when he did write the mayest pairt of thir warkis, being ane time of sa greit & blind ignorance, of manifest and horribill abhominationis and abusis: it is to be meruell it how he durst sa planelie inuey ag • nis the wycis of all men: bot cheiflie of the spiritual estait, being sa bludie, & cruel boucheouris. He never ceissit baith in his grave and merry materis, in cruis • & in bourdis: in writing, and in words to challenge and carp thame. It cūmis to my memory ane pretty trik, whilk sometime I have hard reportit of him. The Kingis grace, James the Fyft, beand on ane certain time accumpany it with ane greit nowmer of his Nobillis, & ane greit menye of Bischoppis, Abbottis and Prelatis standing about he quiklie & prettilie inuentit ane pretty trik to teine yame. He cūmis to the King, and after greit dewgard & salutationis, he makes him, as thocht he war to require sum wechtie thing of the Kingis grace. The King persauād, demandis what he wald have? he answeris: Schir, I have seruit your grace lang, & lukis to be rewardit as vtheris ar. And now your master Tailyeour at the pleasure of God is departit, whairfoir I wald desire of your grace, to bestow this lytil benefit upon me, as ane part of reward of my lang service, to mak me your master tailyeour. The King belenand in deed his tailyeour to be departit, says to him. Quhairto wald thow be my tailyeour? thow can nouther schaip nor few? he answeris. Schir, that makes na mater: for ye have geuin Bischoprikis and benefices to money standing heir about yow: and yet can they nouther teiche, nor preiche. And why may I not than asweill be your tailyeour, thocht I can nouther schaip nor sew: seeing teiching and preiching is na les requisite to their vocatioū, than sch • iping & sewing is to ane tailyeouris. The King incontinent persauit his consait, and leuch merilie thairat: bot the Bischoppis at sic bourding leuch never ane whit. Na les ernist and vehement was he aganis thame, in his fairsis and public playis, whairin he was verray crafty & excellent. Sic ane spring he gaif yame in the play, playit beside Edinburgh, in presence of the Queen Regent, and ane greit part of the Nobility, with ane exceeding greit nowmer of pepill, lest and fra. ix. houris afoir none, till .vi. houris at euin, where amangis money baith grave materis, and merry trikkis he brocht in ane Bischop, ane Persone, ane Freir, and ane Nun. deckit up in their papistical ornamētis, and manner of raiment. And thairefter brocht in King correctioun, wha reformand sindrie deformiteis in his Realm, passit to the trial of his Clergy. And find and thame to be altogidder Idiotis, unworthy of ony functioun ecclesiastical, decernit thame to be degradit of their digniteis, and spulyeit of their officis: whilk beand executit, & they denudit of their vpmaist garmentis, they war fund bot verray fulis, hypocrites, flatteraris, & nouchtie persons. Quhairby he signifyit to the pepill, that howsaeuer they war estemit of the world, they had nothing whairin they micht justly glory to be pastouris of Christis Kirk, and feidaris of his flock, bot only their outward ornamentis, and triumphant tytillis. Bot beand inwardly considerit, they wald be fund bot verray hyrelingis, enemeis to Christ, & deuoraris of his flock. This play did enter with sic grief in their hartis, that they studyit be all menis to be auengit thairof. Thay conuenit their provincial counsellis, they consultit how they suld best sustene thait kingdom inclynand to ruyne, whilk lairlie had gottin sa public ane wound: they yeid about to have his haill warkis condempnit, for heretical, and cessit not in Kirk and market, publictlie and priuelie, to rage and rayll aganis him, as ane Heretike. Bot to return to our purpose. Nochtwithstanding the birnand fire borne aganis him in their breistis, the hatreut cōsauit in their hartis, their puissance and power euin in that time, when they had the ball at their fute, when nouther Prince, nor other was abil to withstand thame, yet culled they never get power over this sempil man, nor haif ya •• harus satiat of him. Thay had their Canoun Lawis: they had the Municipal Lawis of the Realm, and actis of Parliament haldin be yat samin King, whame he seruit, with whon c • rom his youth up he cōuersit, that na man suld ressoun or call in dout the authority of their spiritual Father: that Imagis suld be honourit: that the liberty of hali • Kirk (as they namit it) suld be mantenit, and defendit. And gif ony war suspectit in ony heretical point, aganis the cōmandementis of this yair Kirk, incontinent they war cytit, they war apprehendit, and incarcerat in strang presoun: & finally they war cōpellit outher to abjure (whairthrow they remamt infamit all their days, nouther micht enjoy honouris, nor digniteis for their time) or ellis they behourt mayest cruelly suffer the fire. How cūmis it than, that this our Author being sa plane aganis thame, and as it war professit enemy to thame, culled eschaip their snairis, when vtheris in doing les hes cruelly perischit? Sum will think, because his writing was cōmounlie mixit with mowis, and collourit with crafty consaitis (as Chaucer and vtheris had done before) the mater was the mair mitigatt. Bot this cannot satisfy: for na mowis in sic materis culled mitigate their bludie breistis. Sum will think because he was continually in Court, and seruit the King, he was esilie ouersene. Bot in my iugement, that is the greiter cause of offense: namely to haif their vaniteis and wickitnes publischit in Court, and sicht of Princis Nouther culled this be saiftie to vtheris. M. Patrick Hammilto • Abbot of Feirn, being of the blood Royal, being ane man of greit literature, and of sic life, that the verray enemeis thame sellis war enforcit to commend and allow him. Ʒit did he nocht eschaip their malice, bot sufferit cruel death be fire. Robert Forester alswa gentilman on the samin manner was tormentit. And howbeit thir did cruelly perische, yet in all agis, and in all nations, it hes plesit God, of his greit mercy, to rais and steir up his Prophetis and seruandis, whame he hes michtilie preseruit, to repreif the generationis present of their vnrichteousnes: to utter and oppin to the pepill the corruptioun than regnand: and as it was aganis the Devil, and the world to testify his truth: to walkin thame out of their Ignorance. He steirit up the auld and ancient Doctouris, to impugn and stranglie confute all heresyis springand and rysand. Bo • thame at this present I will omit for brevity, & will speak rather somewhat sen corruptioun and superstitioun enterit amangis thame, whilk war rewlaris and Pastouris of the Kirk of God: sen they begouth to leif preiching of pure Christ, and to set up thame selfs: to conquers Realmis, prouincis, and cuntreis: to subdew Princis and Potestates: and finally to exalt thame selfs above all that is called God. In whilk days war money leirnit men, & godly Bischoppis in this cuntrir: as Seruanus, Columba, Aidanus, Finnanus, Colmannus, Leuinus, Bailus, and money ma, wha baith in this Realm, and in Ingland, did lang debell, and hald out the Romische superstitionis, and ceremoneis, as is at lenth contenit in the auld Historyis of Beda, and vtheris. He rasit up alswa in the days of Carolus Magnus, twa of our cuntrie men, baith of greit eruditioun and leirning, the ane called John, surnamit Mailrosius: the other Claudius Clemens. Thir twa passand out of Scotland, at command of King Achaius (as Boethius wrytis) to ye partis of France, come to Paris, and war the occasioun of the fundatioun of ye University of the samin, & sindrie vtheris, and war the first professouris of liberal sciencis in thame. Nouther ceissit they with ane Adelbertus ane Frencheman, and Bertramus, to inwey on ye stait of ye Kirk, than tendand and declynand fast to corruptioun, until Claudius, & Adelbertus war clappit in clois presoun, and John departit the cuntrie, & come in Ingland: where (as sum wrytis) at the perswasioun of certain Monkis, he was slain, be certain his awin discipulis, impaciēt of his admonitiones and correctionis. Efter thir when the sindrie • ectis of Freiris began to spring up, he raisit in France Builielmus de. S. Amore: Nigellus: Nicolaus, and Arnoldus de villa noua: in Italy ye Abbot Ioachimus Calaber: in Germany, Hildegardis ye Prophets with sindrie vtheris, whilk stranglie wrait aganis the superstitionis and Idilteth of the begging Freiris, and other abusis of the Clergy. And howbeit yair admonitiones culled not be hard, nor th •• r writing tane in gude part, bot utterly reiectit and despysit, yet war they not cūmit to that fury & rage, as to bruyle and scald wha sa ever suld speak aganis thame, bot cōtentit thame selves with presoun, or banischement of sic persons, as war contrarious to thame, degraiding thame of their digniteis and offices: and excommunicating thame out of their Kirkis. Bot when their iniquiteis was cūmin to maturity, God raisit up in Ingland, John Vicleif, wha scand the haill ecclesiastical estait, to be altogidder corrupt: the word of God, to be cūmit to neglect, and contempt: and mennis traditionis above it to be extollit: did mayest ernistlie teiche, and write ane huge nowmer of volumis and bukis aganis thame. Than was the beist vnquyetit of his resting sa • t, and began to rage and fret, to seek the death and destructioun of this pure mā. Bot all for nocht. The Lord did potentlie preserve him from yair snairis and girnis: and nothwithstanding all their fury, departit in the Lord in piece. And howbeit after death Rancour cōmounlie reissis, yet .xlj. yeiris after his with, ya • tuke up his banis and brint yame. Persewand alswa with mayest extremity all that adheirit to him, or did allow his doctrine. Thay brint the Lord Cobham, Schir Roger Actoū Knicht, Williame Thorpe, Williame Tayleir, Richard Howedē, John Clerdoun. Thay banischit Elenor Cobhame: they murderit in presoun John Astoun, Reginald Pecock Bischop of Chichester, with ane infinite noumber ma. Thair was na end in their fury. Quhill they war thus busy in Ingland, began John Hus, and Jerome of Braga to preiche in Boheme, men of sic leirning, and life, that they war in admiratioun euin to the verray aduersaris thame selfs, whairof remanis yet sufficient testimoneis written be Poggius, and vtheris of the Antichristiane menye. Thay beand cytit to the counsel of Constance, come upon ane saifconduct of Sigismundus the Empriour, than king of Boheme, present at the counsel: and their gaif ane resoun & declaratioun of their faith, and doctrine: fra the constant professioun whairof, when yai culled nocht be disswadit: they contrair the saifconduct, contrair all promises, cruelly brint thame. Satisfyand the Empriour, with this godly Law, of their awin forgeing, Quod nulla fides sit hereticis seruanda: Thair is na promise to be keipit to heretics. What fruit this gudelie Law hes wrocht, the battle betwix the Turk, and Lowes king of Vngarie, and Boheme, & the occasioun thairof where the said Lowes perischit, to the greit hurt of all Christianity, will declare: and money other histories alswa, whilkis for schortnes I omit. Now our Prelates laith to lie behind, willing to show yair gude service to ye holy Sait, apprehēdit heir in Scotland, Paul Craw, teiching the doctrine, whilk Vicleif & Hus had teichit, & maid ane Sacrifice of him in Sanctandrois. And findand the sawour of this Sacrifice fragrant and smelland they tuke the Vicar of Dolour, Freir Kelour, Symsone, Bawerage, kennedie, Stratoun, Bourlay, and money ma, wha because yai culled not allow yair vain superstitiones and Idolatries, express aganis the commandment of ye Lord their God war cuttit of be the fire. Thay had now lernit to dispute with fire & faggot, for our auld Bischoppis & Pastouris war decayit, whilk{is} war wont to be lampis, and as it war leidsternis, to all nationis adiacēt: from whom passit forth money lernit men to all cuncreis, to Ingland, France, Germany, Sa • one, Pruse, and other partis, as their Chronikillis testifyis, plantand and teichand the Christiane faith, & all godly sciencis. Bot now dull Asynis had ascendit to their rowmis, beand maryit with dame property, and riches, and fair lady Sensuality: and swa after ye rait of other Realmis, war becūmit Idil bellyis, Ignorāt blokkis, and dum doggis. Nouther war they Idill in Italy: their cruelly sufferit Thomas Rhedonensis the Carmelite. And in Florence the godly blak Freir, Hieronymus Sauoronola. Thus cōtinewand yair rage in all Realms, euin to the vttermaist of yair power, it pleisit ye merciful God, of his greit mercy, & fauourabill lufe towartis man, whereby he wald not haif man utterly to perische, to gif (as it war) lycht to the world: and that be reueilling of his word and Evangel, be the mouthis of his seruandis Luther, Bucer, Zwingli, Oecolampadius, Calvin, & money vtheris: be whom he hes discouerit yair cankerit corruptioun, & auld festur in sic sort, yat na mā (except he will be willfully blind) may not persaif ye vennome & fylth thairof. And yet hes ye mayest part of yir (how saeuer ye poweris of ye world hes been cōtrarious to yame) departie in ye Lord, in quietness. Now sum will say, thir war preicheouris, & Ministeris of the word, and had been sometime auoyntit schauelingis, mar • it with the beistis mark, and had maid defectioun from thame, whairfoir they persewir thame the mair scharplie and cruelly. Bot the Lord Cobhame, Robert Forester, Straitoun, wer nouther schauelingis nor preicheouris. Richard Mekinnis ane boy of .xvij. yeiris of age, brint in Lōdown, was na preicheour. The like Judgment sufferit Maistres An Askew, with money women, whilk yet war na preicheouris. Ʒit forther sum will object the equity of the time, whairin our Author leuit: that the power of the adversaries was restraynit, that they culled not rage and rin at riot at their liberty, and plesour, as they war wont. And yet ane lytill before his death they brint. M. George Vischart, and Adam Wallace Mariner. And schortlie after our Authouris death, they tuke the auld mā Walter Mill, and cruelly brint him: althocht fra that fire rais sic ane stew, whilk struke sic sturt to their stomokis, that they rewit it ever after. Than hes it not been seriousnes intermixit with iocunditie: it hes nocht been continual abiding nor serving in court, it hes nocht been blood royal, nor favor of Princes: nouther teiching nor preiching: nor equity of time, culled be protectioun to ony aganis sa cruel and feirs adversaries, of equal will, rage, and fury indifferently aganis all. It is rather the prouydence, the Judgment, the power, and the inmensibill favor, and mercy of God towartis his sanctis and elect: whilk vpō ye ane part, of his lufe towardis his chosin, to satisfy their thrist, & desire, whilk they had to be dissoluit, and to be with Christ, yat yai suld not be langer enforcit to behald ye wickit vaniteis of yis world: Partlie of his just Judgment, because the world was not worthy of thame, for it hes lufit mirknes rather yan licht, and delytit mair in leis yan in ye truth. And partly to manifest to all pepill ye cruel, bludie, & insatiabil hartis of ye memberis of Antichrist, ye pilleris of the malignant Kirk, he did (as it wer) gif ouir into yair handis, ye lyfis, ye possessionis, gudis, and whatsumeuer external thing yai had, to be maid mokking stokkis, & to be disponit at their liberty, and plesour. On the other pairt, to declare his michtie providence, and power, whereby he will not suffer ane hair of the heidis of his chosin to perische, but his permissioun: and to encorage his elect, seeing yat nouther gude nor evil can fall unto yame, by ye will of yair Father: he hes mayest michtilie manteynit yame, amāgis ye middis of yis malignant generatioun. This Judgment man we likewise haif of our David Lyndesay: to whom we will return, omittand the special abusis of the Clergy, for eschewing of prolixity, & tediousness, to be socht out of his awin warkis be ye diligent reidar. Now as he hes been scharp and vigilant in marking ye enormities of the spiritualitie, swa hes he not been negligent, nor sleuthfull in rebuking ye defaltis of ye temporalitie, and all estatis yairof. He hes not spairit King, Court, Counsalouris, Nobility, nor vtheris of inferior estait. And howbeit yai war not altogidder cūmit to sic corruptioun and fury, yat yai micht not beir mair equally, with general admonitionis and reprochis, yan the spiritualitie. Ʒit als lytill amendment followit in the ane stait, a • in the other. What laubouris tuke he, that the landis of this cuntre • micht be set out in Fewis, after ye fassioun of sindrie other Realms, for the incres of policy, and riches? Bot what hes he profitit? When ane pure man with his haill raice and offspring hes laubourit out yair lyfis, on ane lytill piece of ground, and brocht it to sum point and perfectioū: thā must the Lairdis brother, kinisman, or surname haif it: and ye pure man, with his wife, & babeis, for all yair trauellis, schot out to beg yair meit. He yat tuke lytill laubouris on it, man enjoy ye fruits, and cōmoditeis of it: he man eight up the sweet & laubouris of ye pure mannis browis. Thus the pure dar mak na policy, nor bigging, in cace yai big yame selfs out. Bot althocht men wink at yis, and ouirluke it, yet he sits above yat seis it, and sal Iuge it. He yat heiris ye sichis & complaintis of ye pure oppressit, sall not forever suffer it vnpunischit. What hes he alswa written aganis yis Heriald hors, deuysit for money pure man's hurt? Bot wha hes dimittit it? finally, what oppressioun or vice hes he not repreuit? Bot yir sall suffice for exempill. And gif he had leifit in yir lait days, what had he said, of ye unnatural murtheris: ye cruel slauchteris: ye manifest reiffis: ye continual heirschippis: ye plane oppressionis: ye lytill regard of all persons to ye cōmoun weilth: ye mantening of derth, to the universal hurt of the pure in transporting of victuallis forth of ye Realm, contrary to ye statutis yairof, for ye particular well of few, & hurt of money: the Importing of greit quantiteis of falls cunye, sklenderlie serchit, and lychtliar punischit: The multitude of Kirkis destitute of Ministeris throw the hail cūtry: The slaw administratioun of Justice, and fer les executioun: with all kind of impieteis (as it wer) publictlie, and frelie Regnād. Ʒit nochtyeles we luke for redress and reformatioun of all sic horribil deformiteis, at ye handis of sic rewlaris, as God hes, and sall strenthin with his Spirit, lychtin with ye pure word of his Evangel, endew with his feir (whilk is ye beginning of all wisdom) with sic knawlege, sic Judgment, and yeill, yat yai sall to yair vttermaist endeavor, auance, and set fordwart all Justice, and equity, and suppres all vice and iniquity: to ye glory of God: to ye auancement of his word: to ye edificatioun of his Kirk, and to ye confort, and quietness of yis trubillit, and afflictit common weilth. Quhilk God of his greit mercy, grant that we may schortlie se. Amen.
I have alreddie passit ye boundis of ane preface: yet ane thing restis to admonische ye (gentill reidar) of yir warkis following. The mait part of yame hes been sindrie times in sindrie places imprentit: as heir in Scotland, whilk yet war not sa correct, as neid requyrit. Thay haif been Imprentit in Rowen, bot altogidder sa corrupt and falls, that na man can be abill, to attain to the Authoris mind be yame. For besydis the wrang Ortographie, and falls spelling, the transpositiones of words, & lynis: yair is alswa sic defectiones, yat sumtymes will want twa, or three lynis in ane sentence: sumtymes als money abound, and be doublit.
Quhairthrow the myndis of honest men ar alienatit from reiding of sa fruitful warkis: youth is abusit and corruptit: the Author, and his warkis schamefullie blottit, and barbulyeit: the cūtry infamit: & sic personis as laubouris for just correctioun utterly discuragit, scand their lauboures, and trauellis sa haistelie yairefter to be corruptit, at the private appetite and gred • nes of certain godless Ignorantis: whilk in respect of yir greit hartis, deseruis na small punischement. Thay ar likewise laitlie Imprentit in Londoun, with lytill better succes than ye other. For yai haif gave about to bring th • me to ye southern language, alterand ye verse and collouris yairof, in sic placis, as yai culled admit na alteratioun: whairfoir ye native grace, and first mind of ye writer, is oftentimes peruertit And for ye Ortographie, transpositiones, and defectiones, they ar almaist common with the other.
Thus seeing this famous Author, and his notabill warkis to be sa velanouslie handillit, and sa miserabillie, and malicious • ie mankit, and alterat: we haif gane about, and takin sum trauellis, to vindicate yame from yir blottis, & corruptions: and to reduce, and bring thame to the native integrity, and first mening of ye writer. Quhilk shall be esilie persauit in ye reiding: bot mayest esilie, gif ony will confer this editioun with yame yat hes pre ceidit: whairin what difference is betwix right & wrāg writing, betwix correct, and vncorrect Imprenting shall be cleirlie seen.
Mair we haif cikit sindrie warkis of ye samin Author, whilkis hes not been before Imprentit: to ye intent, that na thing of sa Nobill ane writer suld perische, throw negligence or sieuthfulnes of this present age, bot suld be reseruit to ye fruit of all posteriteis following. And forther intendis (be ye help of God) to use ye like diligence, in all warkis of yis writer, whilkis fall heirefter, be ony menis, cum to our handis.
I will deteyne the na langer (gude Re • dar) from the warkis thame selfs: bot will commit the to the protectioun of ye Almychtie our God: ernistlie desyrand ye to call vpō him: yat he will rais and steir up money David Lyndesayis: yat will continually admonische baith Prince, and pepill of yair duty, and vocatioun, whairunto ye Lord yair God hes called yame: yat will rebuke, and repreif all sic defaltis, as shall be fund in yame: yat will commit to letteris, and write, ye honor, ye gloir, ye fame, and succes of verrew, and inbraceris yairol: The dishonor, ye schame, ye defame, and mischief of vice, and impiety, and enhanteris thairof.
To be notifyit, and maid knawin to all agis to cum: that it may be ane prik and spur to ye verteous and godly, to ga fordwart in all richteousnes, and equity: that it may be ane stay, and brydill to retain, & hald back ye wickit and ungodly from all wickitnes, and iniquity. To the intent: yat God may be glorifyit: his Kirk edifyit: and this common • eilth confortit, and quietit.
Ane adhortatioun of all estatis, to the reiding of thir present warkis. (✚) ☜
SEN that it is mayest worthy for to be
Lamentit, of euerilk warldlie wicht:
* To se the warkis of plesand Poetry,
To lie sa hid, and fylit from the sicht
Of those in heart, wha dost reiois aricht
In Vulgar tongue for to behald and heir
Vertew and vice disclosit, and brocht to licht,
In their richt collouris planelie to appeir.
Therefore (gude Reidar) haif I travel tane,
Intill ane volume now breiflie for to bring
Of David Lyndesay, the haill warkis ilk ane,
Knicht of the Mont, Lyoun, of Amis King.
Quha in our days now did laitlie King
Quhais pregnant practic, and whais ornate style
To be commendit be me, neidis na thing:
Lat warkis beir witness, whilkis he hes done compyle.
Thocht Gawine Dowglas Bischop of Dunkell
In ornate meter surmount did euerilk man:
Thocht Bennedie, and Dunbar bure the bell
For the large cace of Rethorik they ran.
Ʒit never Poeit of our Scottische clan,
Sa cleirlie schew that Monstour with his markis,
The Roman God, in whom all gyle began:
As dost gude David Lyndesay in his warkis.
Quhairin na stait he spairit, bot stoutlie schew thame,
How they haith God and man had sore offendit:
With fleschehukis of flattery be never clew thame,
Of whar degree sa ever they discendit,
Thair auld misde
•
d he prayit thame ay to mend it
Empriour, nor King, Duke,
••
rle, Prince, nor Paip,
Gif they to queil Christis flock yet still precendit:
Goddis Just Iugementis na way suld they eschaip.
With pretty problemis, and sentences mayest sage,
With plesand prouerbis in his warkis all where,
With staitlie storyis aggreing to our age,
With similitudis senielie he dost declare,
With well waillit words, wise, and familiar,
Of queynt conuoy, this joyous gem Iocound,
In till his bukis to speak he did nocht spair
Aganis all vyte, ay where it did abound.
Princes approach, cum Rewlaris in ane Randoun:
Reid heir ye Lordis of the meyner menye,
The end of hicht, your pride learn to abandoun.
Cum schameles schauelingis of Sathanis senye,
Rynnand in vice, ay still with oppin renye,
Of proud Prelatis reid heir the suddane fall:
Quha for to stoup yet did never deny,
Under the yock of him that creat all.
Cum teynefull tyrānis trimmilling with your trayne:
Cam nouchtie Newtrallis with your bailfull band:
Ʒe haif ane cloik now reddy for the rain:
For fair wether, ane other ay at hand.
Idol ateris draw neir to Burgh and land,
Reid heir your life at large, baith mair and min,
With Hypocrites ay slyding as the sand.
As humloik how of wit, and virtue thin.
Oppressouris of the pure, cum in till pairis:
Flatte raeis flok fordwart, for I hard tell,
Ʒe had ane saw richt sicker for all sairis.
Lawieris, and Scrybis, wha hes your saulis to sell:
Craftismen, and Merchandis, gif ye do mell
With fraud or falset, than I yow desire,
Reid in this buke, the speiche gif ye can spell,
What Just reward ye sall haif for your hire.
Amang the rest, now Courteouris cum hidder,
Thocht ye be skeich, and skip above the skyis,
Ʒit constantly I pray yow to consider,
In to this scrow, whar Lyndesay to yow cryis.
Cum all degreis, in Lurdanerie wha lyis,
And fane wald se of sin the feirfull fine:
And learn in virtue how for to vpryis
Reid heir this buke, and ye sall find it syne.
With Scripture, and with storyis natural,
Richelie replenischit from end till end.
In till this buke, wha list to reid, they sall
Find money lessoun largelie to commend
The braid difference whairm well may be kend
Betwene verteous and vicious leuing.
Lat us thairfoir our life in virtue spend,
Sen vice of mankynd is the haill mischeuing.
Lat Lyndesay now as he war yet on lyif,
Pas forth to lycht, with all his sentence hie:
Unto all men their duty to descryue
Quhairin they may ane lyuelie Image se,
Of his expressit mind in Poetry,
Prentit, as he it publischit with his pen.
That himself speak, I think it best for me.
Gif gloir to God, whilk gaif sic Giftis to men.
FINIS.
✿ The Epistil Numcupatorie of Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont Knicht, on his Dialog of the Miserabill estait of the world.
THow lytill quair, of mater Miserabill,
Weill aucht thow, couerit for to be with sabill
Renunceand grene, the purpur, reid, and white
To delicat men thow art not delectabill,
Nor yet till amorous folkis amyabill,
To reid on the they will haif na delight.
Warldlie pepill, will haif at the dispyte,
Quhilk fixit hes their heart, and haill intentis
On sensual lust, on dignity, and Rentis.
We haif na King, the to present alas,
Quhilk to this country been ane cairfull cace.
And als our Queen of Scotland heritour,
Scho dwellis in France, I pray God saif hir grace,
It war to lang, for the to rin that race.
And far langer, or that young tender flour,
Bring hame till us ane King and Governor.
Alas thairfoir, we may with sorrow sing,
Quhilk must sa lang remane, without ane King.
I not whom to thy simpilnes to send,
With cunning men from time that thow be kend,
Thy vaniteis na way they will auance,
Thinkand the proud sic things to pretend.
Nochtwithstanding, the straucht way sall thow wend,
To thame whilk hes the Realm in governance.
Declair thy mind to thame with circumstance.
Ga first till James, our Prince, and Protectour,
And his brother, our spiritual Governor,
And Prince of Priests in this natioun,
Efter Reverend Recommendatioun
Under their feit, thow lawlie the submit,
And mak thame humill supplicatioun,
Gif they in the find wrang narratioun,
That they wald pleis, thy faltis to remit.
And of their grace, gif they do the admit,
Than ga thy way, where ever thow pleisis best.
Be they content, mak reverence to the rest.
To faithful prudent Pastouris spiritual,
To Nobill Erlis, and Lordis temporal,
Obedientlie, till thame thow the addres,
Declairing thame this schort memorial,
How mankynd been to misery maid thrall.
At lenth to thame the cause planelie confess.
Beseikand thame all lawis to suppres,
Inuentit be mennis traditioun,
Contrair to Christis Institutioun.
And cause thame cleirlie for till understand,
That for the breking of the Lordis command,
His thrinfald wand of Flageliatioun,
Hes scurgit, this pure Realm of Scotland,
Be mortal weiris, baith be sey and land,
With money terribill tribulatioun.
That all thir weiris, this derth, hunger, and pest,
Was nocht, bot for our Sinnis manifest.
As holy Scripture makes mentioun,
Sodom, Gomor, with their Region and Roy,
Bot all war brint for their offensioun.
Jerusalem, that mayest tryumphand town
Destroyit was, for their Iniquity.
As in the Scripture planelie they may se.
Be sword and fire, derth, pest, and poverty,
Proceidis of Syn, give I can richt descryue,
For laik of Faith, and for Idolatry,
For Fornicatioun, and for Adultery
Of Princes, Prelatis, with money ane man and wyue.
Expell the cause, than the effect belyue
Sall ceis when that the pepill dost repent,
Than God fall flak his bow, whilk yet is bent.
Mak thame requeist, whilk hes the governance,
The Sinceir word of God for till auance,
Conforme to Christis Institutioun,
Without Hypocrisy or dissimulance,
Causing Justice hald euinlie the Ballance,
On Publicanis making punitioun.
Commending thame of gude conditioun.
That being done, I dout not bot the Lord,
Sall of this cuntrie haif Misericord.
Thocht God with money terribill effrayis,
Hes done this cuntrie scurge, be diverse wayis,
Be Just Judgment for our grievous offense,
Declair to thame, they sall haif merry days
Efter this trubill, as the Propheit says.
When God sall se our humill repentance,
Till strange pepill, thocht he hes geuin license,
To be our scurge, Induring his desire,
Will when he list, that scurge cast in the fire.
In mortal men, only thame till advance,
Bot principally in God Omnipotent.
Than neid they not, to charge the Realm of France,
With gunnis, galayis, nor other ordinance.
Sa that they be to God obedient.
In thir premissis, be they nocht negligent,
Display and Christis Baner, hie on hicht,
Thair enemyis of thame sall haif na micht.
Ga hence pure buke, whilk I haif done Indyte
In rural ryme, in manner of dispyte,
Contrare the warldis variatioun.
Of Rethorik heir I proclaim the quite.
Idolatouris, I feir, fall with the flyte,
Because of thame thow makes narratioun.
Bot cure thow nocht the Indignatioun
Ot Hypocritis, and falls Pharisience,
Howbeit on the, they cry ane loud vengeance.
Requeist the gentill Reidar, that the reidis,
Thocht ornate terms into thy Park not spreidis.
As they in the may haif experience.
Thocht barrane feildis, beiris nocht bot weidis,
Ʒit brutall beistis sweitlie on thame feidis.
Desyre of thame nane other recompense,
Bot that they wald reid the with patience.
And gif they be in ony way offendit,
Declair to thame, it shall be well amendit.
FINIS.
The Prolog of the Miscrabill Estait of the world. Betuit Experience, and ane Courteour. (✚)
MVSING
and meruelling on y
e
misery
Frome day today in erth whilk dots incres
And of ilk start y
e
instabilitie
Proceding of the wrestles besynes
What ō y
e
most part dost their mind addres
Inordinatlie, on boung
•
e Couetyce
Vain glore, dissait, and other sensual vice.
Bot tumbling in my bed, I might nocht lie
Quharetor I
••
ir forth, in a
••
May mornīg
Confort to get of my melancholy
Sumwhat afore fr
•
sche Phebus vprysing
Qu
•
are I micht heir, y
e
birdis sweitly sing,
In till an
•
Park I past for my pleasure
Decorit w
••
l, be craft of dame Nature.
Quhow I resauit confort Natural
For till discriue at lenth it war to lang
Smelling the holsum herbis medicinal
Quhate on the dulce, & balmy dew down dāg
Lyke Ortent perlis on the twistis hang
Or whow that the Aromatik odouris
Did proceid frō the tender fragrant flouris.
Or whow Phebus that king Etheriall
Swyftly sprang up in to the Orient
Ascending in his throne Imperial
Whose bricht and burial bemis resplendent
Iullminat all unto the Occident
Confortand every corporal Creature
Quhilk formit war, in erth, be dame Nature.
Whose donk impurpurit vestimēt nocturnal,
With his embrowderit mantill matutyne
He left in till his regioun aur
•
rall
Quhilk on him waitit when he did declyne
Towart his occident palice Vespertyne
And rose in habit gay and glorious
Brichter nor gold, or stonis precious.
Bot Cynthia the hornit nychtis queen
Scho lost hir licht, and led ane lawer saill
Frō time hir souerane lord that scho had seen
And in his presence waxit dick and paill
And over hir visage, kest ane mislie vaill.
So did Venus, the gods amorous
With Jupiter Mars, and Mercurius.
Richtso the auld Intoxicat Saturn.
Persauing Phebus, pour his bemis bricht,
Abuse the erth, than maid he no sudgcourne
Bot suddandlie did lose his borrowit licht
Quhilk he durst never show bot on the nicht
The Pole artick, Vrsis, and sterris all
Quhilk situat ar in the Septenttionall.
Tyl errand schippis whilkis ar y
e
souer gyde
Conuoyand thame upon the stormy nicht
Within there frostie circle did thame hyde
Howbeit that sterris have none other licht
Bot the reflex of Phebus bemis bricht
That day durst none in to the heaven appeir
Tyll he had circuit all our Hemispheir.
Me thocht it was ane sicht celestial
To seen Phebus so Angellyke ascend
In till his fiery chariot tryumphall
Whose bewte bricht, I culled not comprehend
All warldy cure an one did fro me wend
When fresche flora spread forth hir tapestry
Wrocht be dame nature queynt & curiouslie.
Depaynt w
t
money hundredth heuiulie he wis,
Glaid of the rising of there Royal Roy
With blomes brek and on the tender bewis
Quhilk did prouok mine heart to natural joy
Neptune that day, and Eoll, held thame coy
That men on far micht heir the birdis sound
Whose noyis did to y
e
sterrie heaven redound.
The plesād powne, prunyeād his fedrem fair
The mirthful Maueis maid greit melody,
The lusty Lark ascending in the air
Numerand hir natural notis craftelie,
The gay Goldspink, y
e
Merll richt merilie
The noyis of the nobill Nythtingailis
Redoundit throw y
e
mōtanis, meidis & vailis
Contempling this melodious harmony
Quhow euerilk bird, dressed thame for till advance
To salute Nature w
t
there melody
That I stude gaising halfling{is} in ane trance
To heir thame mak there natural obseruāce
So royallie, that all the roches rang
Throuch repercussioun of yair suggutit sang
I lose my time, alas for to rehers
Sic vnfrutteful and vain Descriptioun
Or wryt in to my raggit rural verse
Mater without Edificatioun
Considering whow that mine intentioun
Bene till deplore the mortal misereis
With continual cairfull Calamiteis.
Consisting in this wrechit vaill of sorrow.
Bot sad Sentence, suld have ane sad indyte
So terms bricht, I list not for to borrow
Of murning mater men bes no delight
With roustie terms tharefor will I write
With sorrowful sichis ascending frō y
e
spleen
And bitter teiris distelling from mine ene.
Without ony vane Inuocatioun
To Minerva, or to Melpomine
Nor yet will I mak supplicatioun
For help to Cleo, nor Calliope
Sic marrit Musis may mak me no supple
Proserpine I refuse and Appollo
And rychtso Euterpe, Jupiter, and Juno.
Quhilk{is} been to plesand Poetis conforting.
Quharefore, because I am nocht one of though
I do desire of thame no supporting,
For I did never strip ou Peruaso
As did the Poetis of lang time ago,
And specially the ornate Ennius
Nor drank I never with Hesiodus.
Of Grece, the perfect Poeit Souerane
Of Helicon the Sors of Eloquence
Of that mellifluous famous fresche fontane
Quhairfore I awe to thame no reverence
I purpose nocht to mak obedience
To sic mischeant Musis no Mahumetrie
Afore time vsit in to Poetry.
Rauand Rhamnusia, gods of despyte
Micht be to me ane Muse richt conuenable
Geue I desirit sic help for till indyte
This murning mater, mad, and miserable
I mon go seek ane Muse more comfortable
And sic vane superstitioun to refuse
Beseikand the greit God to be my Muse.
the hie heuīnis, w
t
all yair ornamētis
And without mater maid all thing of nocht
Hell, in myd Center of the Elementis
That heuinlie Muse to seek my hole intent is
The whilk gaif sapience to king Solomon
And of pure Peter, maid ane prudent Preichour
And be the power of his deite
Of cruel Paul he maid ane cunning teichour
I mon beseik right lawly on my kne
His hich superexcellent Majesty
That with his heuinly spreit he me inspyre
To write nothing, contrary his desire.
Quhilk was consauit be the holy spreit
Incarnate of the purifyit Virgen treu
That prince of pecr, most humil & mansweit
Quhilk under Pylate sufferit passioun
Upon the Cross, for our Saluatioun.
And be that cruel death, intolerabill
Lowsit we war from bandis of Belial
And mairatouer, it was so proffitabill
That to this hour, come never man nor sall
To the triumphant Joy Imperial
Bot be the virtue of that precious blood.
Quharefor in steid, of the mont Pernaso
Swiftlie, I fall go seek my Souerane
To m
•
nt Casuarte y
e
straucht way mon I go
To get ane taist, of y
e
most fresche fontane
That sors to seek my heart may nocht refrane
Of Helicon, whilk wes boith drip and wyde
Frō y
e
fresche fontane, sprang ane fam{us} flude
Quhilk redolet river, throw y
e
world rynnis
As crystal cleir, and myxit been with blood,
Whose sound abuse y
e
highest heuinnis dinnis
Al faithful people, purgyng frō thate sinnis.
Quharefor
•
I sall beseik his Excellence
To grant me grace, wisdom, & Eloquence.
And bath me w
t
those dulce & balmy strandis
Quhilk on the Cross, did spedilie out spring
Frō his most tender feit, and heuinlie handis
And grant me grace, to write nor dyte nothing
Bot till his hich honor, and loud loving
but whose support yair may na gude be wrocht
til his plesur gude work{is}word nor thocht
As thow did show thy hich power divine
First planelie, in the Cane of Galilee
Quhar thow conuertit called watter in wyne
Conuoy my mater till ane fructuous fine
And save my saying{is}, baith frō schame & syn
Tak tent, for now I purpose to begin.
Ane Dialog of the Miserabill Estait of this world, betuir Experience, and the Courteous &c. ✚☜
IN TO
that Pack I saw appeir
One agit man whilk drew me nei
•
Whose berd wes weil three quarter lāg
his hair dōn over his schulders hang
The whilk as ony snaw wes white
Quhome to behald I thocht delight
His habit Angellyk of hew
Of color like the Sapheir blew
Onder ane Holyne he reposit
Of whose presence, I was reiosit
I did him salute reuerentlie
So did he me richt courteslie
To sit down be requeistit me
Onder the schaddow of that tree
To saif me from the Sonnis heit
Amangis the floutis soft and sweet
For I wes weirie for walking
Than we began to fall in talking
I am (said he) Experience.
To give ane desolate man counsel
Ʒe do appeir one man of fame
And sen Experience been your name
I pray yow Father Venerabill
Geue me sum counsale confortabill?
I have (quod I) been to this hour
Sen I could ride ane Courteour
Bot now Father I think it best
With your counsel to leif in rest
And from thine forth to take mine eis
And quyetlie my God to pleis
And renunce Curiosite
Leuyng the Court, and learn to de.
Oft have I salit over the strandis
And trauellit throuch diverse landis
Boith south, and north, and eist and west
Ʒit can I never find whar rest
Doith mak his habitatioun
Without your supportatioun,
When I believe to be best eisit
Most suddandlie, I am displeisit
Frome troubill when I fastest flee
Than find I most aduersite
Schaw me I pray yow hartfullie
Quhow I may leave most plesandlie
To serve my God, of king is king
Sen I am tyrit for traveling
And learn me for to be content
Of quiet life and sober rent
That I may thank the king of glore
As thocht I had ane Millioun more
Sen euerilk Court been variant
Full of Inuy and inconstant
Mycht I but troubill leif in rest
Now in my age, I think it best
Thow art ane greit fule Sone (said he)
Ʒarning to have prerogatyue
Above all Creature on live
Sen Father Adam creat been
In to the Camp of Damascene
Mycht no man say unto this hour
That ever he fand perfect plesour
Nor never sall till that he se
God in his Deuyne Maieste
Sen mennis life been bot battle
All men begynnis for till de
The day of there Natiuitie
And Iournelly they do proceid
Tyll Atropos cut the fatal threid
And in the breue time that they have
Betuix there birth unto there grave
Thow seis what mutabiliteis
What miserabill Calamiteis
What troubill travel and debait
Seis thow in every mortal stait
Begyn at pure law Creaturis
Ascending syne to Senatouris
To greit Princis and potestatis
Thow sall nocht find in none estatis
Sen the beginning generally
Nor in our time, now specially
Bot tedious wrestles besynes
Prudent Father (quod I) alas
Ʒe tell to me one cairfull cace
Ʒe say that no man to this hour
Hes found in erth, perfect plesour
Without infortunate variance
Sen we been thrall to sic mischance
Quhy do we set so our Intentis
On Ryches, Dignite, and Rentis
Sen in the erth, been no man sure
One day but troubill till Indure?
And werst of all, when we leist wene
The cruel death, we mon sustene
Geue I your Fatherhede durst demand
The cause I wald fane understand?
And als Father I yow Implore
Schaw me sum troubill gone afore
That hering vtheris Indigence
I may the more have patience
Marrowis in tribulatioun
Bene wrechis consolatioun.
To the I sall mak answeryng.
Bot Ordourlie for to begin
This Miserie proceidis of Syn
Bot it war lang to be defynit
Quhow all men ar to Syn Inclynit
When Syn aboundantlie doth ring
Iustlie God makith punisching.
Quharefore greit God in to his handis
To dant the world, hes diverse wandis
Efter our evil conditioun
He makes on us punitioun
With hounger, derth and Indigence
Sum time greit plaigis, and pestilence,
And sum time with his bludy wand
Throw cruel weir be sey and land
Concluding all our misery
Proceidis of Syn, alluterlie.
The cause of this Fragillite
That we been all to Syn inclynd
In werk in word, and in our mind
I wald the verite wer schawin
Quho hes this seid amang us sawin
And why we ar condampnit to deed
And whow that we may get remede.
Men from felicite wer denudit
Vmwhyle of Paradyse possessor
Be whose most willful arrogance
Wes Mankynd brocht to this mischance
When he wes Inobedient
In breking Goddis Commandment
He lost that heuinlie plesand life
Eiting of the forbiddin tree
There began all our misery.
So Adam wes cause Radicall
That we been fragill Synnaris all.
Adam brocht in this Nattoun
Sya, Deith, and als Dampnatioun
Quho will say, he is no Synner
Christ says, he is ane greit lear
Mankynd sprang forth of Adamis loynis
And so after his qualite
All ar Inclynit Synnaris to be.
Bot yet my Son, dispare thow nocht
For God that all the world hes wrocht
Hes maid ane Souerane remede
To saif us boith from Syn and deed
And from Eterne dampnatioun.
Tharefore take consolatioun
For God as Scripture doth record
Hauyng of Man Misericorde
Send down his only Sone Jesus
Quhilk lichtit in ane Virgin treu
And cled his hich Diuinite
With our pure vy
•
e Humanite
He wesche us with his precious blood.
Throuch that Lord we sall raisit be
And euerilk man he sall releue
Quhilk in his blood do
•
th firm believe.
And bring us all unto his glore
The whilk throw Adam been forlore.
Without that we throw lark of faith
Of his Godheid incur the wraith
Salbe releuit from all mischeuus.
Schir gar me understand that term
•
Auailit nocht, my Sone (said he)
What Cherite been, that wald I knaw?
Quod he, my Sone that fall I show
And thy Nichtbour, but fenyeing
Do none Iniure, nor velanie
Quick faith, but cheritable werkis
Can never be, as wryttis Clerkis
More than the fire, in til his micht
Can be but heit, nor Sone but licht
Geue Cherite in to the failis
Thy faith, nor hope, nothing auailis.
The Devil hes faith, & trimmillis for dreid
Bot he wantis hope, and lufe in deed.
Do all the gude, that may be wrocht
But Cherite all auailis nocht
Quharefor pray to the Trinite
For till suport thy Cherite.
Now have I schawin the as I can
Quhow Father Adam the first man
Brocht in the world, boith Syn and Dede
And whow Christ Jesus maid remede
Quhilk on the day of Judgment
Sall us deliver from torment
And bring us to his lefting glore
Quhilk sall endure forever more.
Bot in this world thow gettis no rest
I mak it to the manifest.
Tharefore my Sone be diligent
And learn for to be patient
And in to God, set all thy traist
All thing sall than cum for the best.
Father I thank yow hartfullie
And heuinlie consolatioun
Makand yow supplicatioun
Geue I durst put yow to sic pyne
That ye wald pleis for to defyne
And gar me cleirlie understand
Quhow Adam brak the Lordis command
And whow throw his transgressioun
Wer punist his Successioun
To luke on the Diuyne Scripture
That History there thow sall nocht mis
And alswa sindrie cunning Clerkis
Hes done rehers in to there werkis
Of Adamis fall full Ornatly
Ane thousand times better nor I
Can write of that unhappy man,
Bot I sall do the best I can
Schortlie to show that cairful cace
With the support of Goddis grace.
Ane exclamation to The Redar, Twiching the writing of Vulgar, and Maternall Language. (✚)☜
GENTIL
Redar, half at me nō dispyte
Thinkand y
t
I presūpteously pretend
In vulgar tōng, so hie mater to write
Bot where I mys. I pray the, till amend
Til vnlernit, I wald y
e
cause wer kend
Of our most miserabill travel and torment
And whow in erth, no place been permanent
Quhowbeit y
e
diverse deuot cūnyng Clerkis
In Latyne tongue hes written syndrie bukis
Our vnlernit knawis little of there werkis
More than they do the raving of the rukis
Quharefor to Colyearis, Carteris & to cukis
To Iok and Thome, my ryme sal be directit
With cūnyng men, whowbeit it will be lactit.
Thocht every cōmoun may not be one Clerk,
Nor hes no Leid, except there tōng maternal
Quhy suld of god, y
e
maruello{us} heuinlie werk
Be hid frō thame, I think it nocht fraternal
The father of heaven, whilk wes, & is eternal
Nocht in to Greik, nor Latyne, I heir say.
He wrait the Law, in Tablis hard of stone
In there a win vulgare language of Hebrew
That all the Barnis of Israel everyone
Mycht knaw the law, and so y
e
same ensew
Had he done wryt, in Latyne or in Grew
It had to thame been bot ane sauirles Iest
Ʒe may well wit, God wrocht all for the best.
Aristotell, nor Plato, I heir sane
Wrait nocht there hic Philosophy natural
In Duche, nor Dence, nor tongue Italiane
Bot in there most ornat tongue maternall
Whose fame, and name dost regne {per}petuall
Famous Virgil, the Prince of Poetry
Nor Cicero, the flour of Oratrie.
Wrait not in Caldie language nor in Grew
Nor yet in to the language Saracene
Nor in the natural language of Hebrew
Bot in the Roman tongue as may be seue
Quhilk wes there {pro}per language as I wene
Quhē Romanis rang Dominator{is} in deed
The Ornate Latyne wes there proper leid.
I
•
the mein time, whē y
t
thir bald Romance
Ouer all the world had the Dominioun
Maid Latyne sculis, there glore for til auāce
That their language micht be over all cōmoun
To that intent, be my Opinioun
Traisting that their Empire suld ay endure
Bot of fortune, always they wer nocht sure.
Was maid be Goddis Maledictioun
When Babylon was beildit in Chaldee
Those beildaris gat none other afflictioun
Afore the time of that punitioun
Wes bot ane tōng, whilk Adā spak himself
Quhare now of toungis, their been three score and twelf,
Nochtwithstanding, I think it greit plesour
Quhare cunning men, hes languagis anew
That in there youth, be diligent laubour
Hes lernit Latyne Greik, and auld Hebrew
That I am nocht of that sort sore I rew
Quharefore I wald all bukis necessary
For our faith, wer in till our tongue vulgare
Till his Discipulis send the holy Spreit
In toungis of fire, to that intentioun
Thay beand of all languagis repleit
Throuch all the world w
t
words fair & sweet
Tyl every mā the faith, they suld forth show
In there a win leid, delyuerand thame y
e
law,
Tharefore I think one greit derisioun
To heir thir Nunnis, & sisteris nicht and day
Syngand and say and psalms and Orisoun
Not understanding what they sing nor say
Bot like ane stirling or ane Popingay
Quhilk lernit ar, to speak be lang usage
Thame I compair, to birdis in ane cage.
Rycht so Chyldren, and Ladyis of honouris,
Prayis in Latyne, to thame ane vncouch leid
Mumlād their matynis, euinsāg & yair houris
There
Pater noster, Ave,
and their
Creid.
It wer als plesand to there spreit in deed
God have mercy on me, for to say thus,
As to say,
Miserere mei Deus.
Sanct Jerome in his proper tongue Roman
The law of God, he trewly did translait
Out of Hebrew, and Greik in Latyne plane
whilk hes been hid frō us lāg time god wait
Unto this time, bot after mine consait
Had sanct Jerome been borne in till Argyle
In to Irische tōng, his buk{is} had done cōpyle.
Prudent sanct Paul doth mak narratioun
Twiching the diverse leid of every land
Sayand their been more Edificatioun
In five words that folk doth understand
Nor to pronunce of words ten thousand
in strange lāgage syne wait not what it menis
Vnlernit people on the holy day.
Solemnitlie they heir the Evangel soung
Not knawin what y
e
priest dost sing nor say,
Bot as ane bell, whē that they heir it roung
Ʒit wald the preistis in their mother tongue
Pas to the Pulpite, & that Doctrine declare
Tyll lawid people, it wer more necessary.
I wald prelatis and Doctouris of the Law
With us lauid people, wer nocht discontent
Thocht we in our vulgare tongue did knaw
Of Christ Jesus, the life and Testament
And whow that we suld keep commandment
Bot in our language, lat us pray and reid
Our Pater noster, Ave, and our Creid.
I wald sum Prince, of greit Discretioun
In vulgar language, plainly gart translait
The neidfull lawis, of this Region
Than wald there not be half so greit debait
Amang us people of the law Estait
Geue every man, the verite did knaw
We neidit nocht, to treit thir men of law.
Tyl do our nychtbour wrāg, we wald be war
Geue we did feit, the lawis punischement
There wald not be, sic brawlyng at the bar
Nor men of law, lop to sic Royal rent
To keep the law, give all men wer content
And ilk man do, as he wald be done to
The Iugis wald get little thing ado.
The Propheit David King of Israel
Compyld y
e
plesand Psalms of the Psaltair
In his awin proper tongue as I heir tell
And Solomon, whilk wes his sone and air
Did mak his buke, in till his tongue vulgair
Quhy suld not their saying, be til us schawin
In our language, I wald y
e
cause wer knawin
Lat Doctouris write there curio{us} questionis
And argumentis, sawin full of Sophistry
There Logic, and there hich Opinionis
There dirk Iugementis, of Astronomy
There Medecine, and there Philosophy
Lat Poetis show, there glorious ingyne
As ever they pleis, in Greik or in Latyne.
Bot lat us have the Bukis necessary
To common well, and our Saluatioun
Iustlie translatit, in our tongue Vulgare
And als I mak the Supplicatiou
•
O gentill Redar, have none Indignatioun
Thinkand I mell me with so hie matair
Now to my purpose fordwart will I fair.
The Creatioun of Adam and Eve. (✚)☜
QVhē God had maid y
e
heuinnis bricht
The Sone, & Mone, for to gyf licht
And be his Sapience Divine
The Planeitis in there circles round
Quhirlyng about with merry sound
Of whom Phebus was principal
Just in his Lyne Eclipticall
And gave be Diuyne Sapience
Tyll every Ster there Influence
With motioun continual
Quhilk doth endure perpetual
And farrest from the heaven Empire
The erth, the water, air, and fire.
He cled the erth, with herbis and treis
All kind of fischis in the seis
All kind of best, he did prepair
With foulis fleing in the air.
Thus be his word, all thing was wrocht
Without material maid of nocht
So be his wisdom Infinyte
All wes maid plesand and perfect.
When heaven, and erth & there contentis
Wet endit with there Ornamentis
Than last of all, the Lord began
Of moste vile erth, to mak the man,
Nocht of the Lily nor of the Rose
Nor Cyper tree, as I suppose,
Nother of gold, nor precious stonis
Of erth he maid flesche, blood and bonis
To that intent, God maid him thus
That man suld nocht be glorious
Nor in him self, nothing sulde se
Bot mater of humylite.
When man wes maid, as I have tauld
Bre
•
thand in him, ane lyflie spreit
When all thir werkis wer compleit
He maid man to his similitude
Precelland in to pulchritude
Dotit with giftis of Nature
Above all erdlie Creature
Syne plesandlie did him conuoy
To ane Region repleit with Joy
Of all plesour, whilk bair the price
And called erthlie Paradyce
And brocht be Diuyne prouience
All beistis, and birdis, till his presence
Adam did craftelie Impone
Ane special name till everyone
And to all thyngis material
He namit thame in special
Quhow he thame namit, yet been kend
And shall be to the warldis end.
In to that gardyng of plesance
Two treis grew, most till auance
Above all other, whilk bair the price
In middis of that Paradyce.
The one wes called the tree of life
The other tree, began our strife,
The tree to knaw botth gude and evil
Quhilk he perswasioun of the Devil
Began our misery and woe,
Bot lat us to our purpose go.
Quhow God gave Adam strait command
That tree to twiche nocht with his hand
All other fructis of Paradyce
He bad him eight at his deuyce.
Sayand, gyf thow eight of this tree
With dowbill death, than sall thow de
Tharefore I the command be war
And from this tree, thow stand a far.
Ʒit Father Adam wes allone
But company of ony one
Than thocht the Lord it necessar
Tyll him to create ane helpar.
God pat in Adam sic Sapour
That for to sleip, he tuke plesour,
And laid him down upon the ground
And when Adam wes sleipand sound
He tuke ane Rib, forth of his side
Syne fillit up, with flesche and hyde
And maid ane Woman of that bone
Fairar of form, wes never none.
Than till Adam Incontinent
That fair Lady, he did present.
Quhilk schortlie said, for to conclude
Thow art my flesche, my bonis, and blood.
And Virago, he called hir than
Quhilk is Interpreit, maid of man.
Quhilk Eve, efterwart was Namit
When for hir fault, scho wes defamit
Than did the Lord thame Sanctify
Saying Incres, and Multiplie
Be this, men suld leif all there kyn
And with there wyffis mak dwellyn
And for there saik leif Father and Mother
And lufe thame best, above all other
For God hes ordanit thame trewlie
To be two Saulis, in one body
My wit is walk for till Indyte
There heuinlie plesouris Infinyte
Wes never none erthlie Creature
Sen syne had sic perfect pleasure.
Thay had puissance Imperial
Above all thing material.
Als cunning Clerkis dost conclude
Adam precellit in pulchritude
Most Natural, and the fairest man
That ever wes sen the world began
Except Christ Jesus, Goddis Sone
To q
•
thome wes no comparisone
And Eve, the fairest Creature
That ever wes formit be Nature
Thocht they war naikit as they wer maid
No schame ather of other haid.
What plesour might ane man have more
Nor have his lady him before
So lusty, plesand, and perfect
Reddy to serve his appetyte.
Thay had none other cure I wis
Bot past there time, with Joy and blis
Wyld Bet
••
s did to thame repair,
So did the Fowlis of the air
With noyis most Angelical
Makand thame mirthis Musicall.
The fischis swemand in the strandis
Wet holelie at there commandis.
All Creaturis with ane accord
Obeyit him, as there souerane Lord.
Thay sufferit nother heit nor called
With every plesour that they wald.
Als to the death they wer nocht thrall
And rychtso suld we have been all
For he and all his successouris
Suld have possedit those plesouris,
Syne from that Joy material
Gone to the glore Imperial.
Thay had give I can richt discryue
Greit Joy in all there wyttis five
In heiring, seeing, gusting, smelling
Induring there delytesum dwelling
Heiring the birdis harmoneis
Taisting the fruetis of diverse treis
Smelling the balmy dulce odouris
Quhilk did proceid from fragrant flouris.
Seeing so money heuinlie hewis
Of blomes breking on the bewis
Of twicheing als they had delight
Of vtheris bodyis soft and white,
But dout, Induring that plesour
Thay luffit other Paramour
No marvel been thocht swa suld be
Considering there greit bewte
Als God gave thame command express
To multiply, and till incres
That there seid, and successioun
Mycht pleneis every Natioun.
I list nocht tatie till declare
All properteis of that place preclair
Quhow herbis, and treis, grew ay grene,
Nor of the temperat air serene
Quhow fructis Indeficient
Ay alike rype and redolent,
Nor of the Fontane, nor the fludis,
Nor of the flouris pulchritudis.
That mater Clerkis dost declare
Quharefor, I speak of thame na mair.
The Scripture makes no mentioun
Quhow lang they rang in that Region,
Bot I believe, the time wes schort
As diverse Doctouris dost report.
Of the Miserabill Transgressioun of Adam.
(Quod I) show me the circumstance
Declare me that cairfull cace
How Adam lost that plesand place
Frome him, and his Successioun
Quhow did proceid that transgressioun▪
When God the Plasmatour of all
In to the heaven Imperial
Did Creat all the Angellis bricht
He maid one Angel most of micht
To whom he gave preeminence
Above thame all in Sapience
Because all other he did prefer
Namit he wes bricht Lucifer
He wes so plesand and so fair
He thocht himself without compair,
And grew so gay and glorious
He gan to be presumpteous,
And thocht that he wald set his saith
In to the north, and mak debait
Agane the Maieste Deuyne
Quhilk wes the cause of his rewyne,
For he incurrit Goddis Ire
And banyst from the heaven Empire
With Angellis money one Legioun
Quhilkis wer of his opinioun.
Innumerabill with him there fell.
Sum lichtit in the lawest hell,
Sum in these did mak repair,
Sum in the erth, sum in the air
That most unhappy cumpany
•
At Father Adam had Inuye
Persauing Adam and his seid
The Serpent wes the subtellest
Above all beistis and craftiest
Than Satan, with ane falls intent
Did enter in to that Serpent
Imaginyng sum crafty wyle
Quhow he micht Adam best begyle
And gar him brek commandment,
Bot to the woman first be went,
Traisting the better to preuaill
Full subtellie did hir assaill
With facund words, falls and fair
He grew with hir familiar
That he his purpose micht auance
Beleuand in hir Inconstance.
What is the cause, Madame (said he)
That ye forbeir yone plesand tree,
Quhilk been but peir most precious
Whose fruct been most delycious?
I Nyll (quod sche) thate to accord
We ar forbiddin be the Lord
The whilk hes geuin us liberty
Tyll eight of every fruct and tree
Quhilk growis in to Paradyse,
Brek we command, we ar nocht wise.
He gave till us ane strait command
That tree to twiche nocht with our hand
Eit we of it, without remede
He said but dout, we suld be deed.
Beleue nocht that (said the Serpent)
Eit ye of it Incontinent,
Repleit ye sall be with Science
And have perfect Intelligence
Lyke God himself, of evil and gude.
Than haistelie for to conclude
Heiring of this prerogatyue
Scho pullit down the fruct belyue,
Throuch counsel of this falls Serpent
And eight of it to that intent,
And pat hir husband in believe
That plesand fructe give he wald preue
That he suld be als Sapient
As the greit God Omnipotent.
Think ye nocht that ane plesand thing
That we like God suld ever ring.
He heir and this Narratioun
And be hir solistatioun
〈◊〉
Mouit be prydefull ambitioun
He eight on that conditioun
The principal poyntis of this offense
War pride, and Inobedience
Desyring for to be Equall
To God, the Creator of all.
Alas Adam, why did thow so
Quhy causit thow this mortal woe?
Had thow been constant ferme and stabill
Thy glore had been Incomparabill
Quhare wes thy consideratioun
Quhilk had the Dominatioun
Of every leuand Creature
That God had formit be Nature
Tyll use thame at thy awin deuyse
Wes thow nocht prince of Paradyse?
Wes never man sen syne on live
That God gave sic Prerogatyue
He gave the strenth above Sampson,
And sapience more than Solomon,
Ʒoung Absalom in his time most fair
To thy beauty wes no compair,
Aristotell thow did precell
In to Philosophy natural,
Virgil in till his Poetry,
Nor Cicero in till Oratrie,
War never half so Eloquent
Quhy brak thow Goddis Commandment
Quhare wes thy wit, that wald nocht flee
Far from the presence of that tree?
Gaue nocht thy Maker the free will
To take the gude, and leif the evil?
Quhow micht thy forfalt be excusit
That Goddis commandment refusit
Throuch thy wyffis perswasioun
Quhilk hes been the occasioun
Sen syne, that money nobill men
Be the evil counsale of women
Alluterlie desiroyit been
As in the historyis may be seen.
Quhilk now we neid nocht till declare
Bot fordwart till our purpose fair.
When they had eitin of the fruit,
Of Joy than war they destitute
Than gan they boith, for to think schame
And to be naikit thocht defame
And maid thame Breikis of leuis grene,
That there secreitis suld nocht be seen.
Bot in the stait of Innocence
Thay had none sic experience
Bot when they war to Syn subiectit
To schame and dreid they war coactit
And in ane busk they hid thame cloce
Eschamit of the Lordis voice,
Quhilk called Adam be his Name
(Quod he) my Lord, I think greit schame
Naik it to cum to thy presence.
Thow had none sic Experience
(Quod God) when thow wes Innocent
Quhy brak thow my commandment.
Alas (quod Adam) to the Lord
The verite I sall record.
This woman that thow gave to me
Gart me eight of yone plesand tree.
Rychtso the woman hir excusit
And said, the Serpent me abusit.
Than to the Serpent, God said thus,
O thow Desauer venomous,
Because the woman thow begylit
Frome thine forth sall thow be exilit.
Curst and varyit sall thou be,
So sall thy seid be after the.
Cauld erth shall be thy fude also
And creipand on thy breist sall go
Als I sall put Enemite
Betuix the woman ever and the
Betuix thy seid, and womannis seid
Salbe continual mortal feid.
Quhowbeit thow hes wrocht thir myscheuis
It sall nocht be as thow beleuis
Sic seid shall be in woman sawin
That thy power shall be down thrawin,
Tredding thy heid that thow may feill
And thow sall tread him on the heill.
This was his promise, and mening
That the Immaculate Virging
Suld beir the Prince Omnipotent
Quhilk suld tread down that falls Serpent
Satan and all his company
And thame confound alluterlie.
Spak in the Serpent as ye tell
And beistis can no way syn at all
Quhy wes the Serpent maid so thrall?
I heir men say afore that hour
The Serpent had ane fair figour
And yeid straucht up upon his feit
And had his memberis all compleit
As vtheris beistis upon the bent.
To Satan, in this Miserie
Punist he wes, as ye may se.
As be experience thow may knaw
Expres in to the Commoun law
Ane man conuiteit for Bugre
The beist is brint, als well as he
Howbeit the beist be Innocent.
And so befell of the Serpent
It was the Feynd full of despyte
Of Adamis fall whilk had the wyte,
As he hes had of money mo
Bot till our purpose lat us go.
Than to the woman for hir offense
God did pronunce, this sore sentence.
All plesou
•
that thow had a sorrow
Sall changit be in lesting sorrow.
Quhare that thow suld with mirth and Joy
Have borne thy birth but pane or noy
Now all thy barnis sall thow bair
With dolour and continual cair,
And thow shall be for oucht thow can
Euer subiectit to the Man.
Be this sentence, God did conclude
Wemen from liberty denude.
Quhilk be experience ye may se
Quhow Quenis of most hie degree
Ir under most subiectioun
And sufferis most correctioun.
For they like birdis in till ane cage
Ar keipit ay under thirlage.
So all women in there degree
Suld to there men subiectit be.
Quhowbeit sum yet will strive for stait
And for the maistrie mak debait,
Quhilk gif they want, boith euin & morrow
There men will suffer mekle sorrow
Of Eve, they take that qualite
To desire Soueranite.
And than till Adam, said the Lord
Because that thow hes done accord
Thy will, and harknit to thy wife
Now sall thow lose this plesand life,
Thow wes till hir obedient
Bot thow brak my Commandment
Cursit and barren the erth sall be
Quhare ever thow gois till that thow de.
But laubour, it sall beir no corn
Bot Thrissil, Nettill, Breir, and Thorn,
For fude thow gettis none other beild
Bot eight the herbis upon the field,
Sore laubouring till thy browis sweet
Frome thine forth sall thow wyn thy meit
I maid the of the erth certain
And thow in erth sall turn again.
Than maid he thame Abilyement
Of skynnis ane raggit Rayment.
Thame to preserve from heit and cauld
Than grew there dolour money fauld.
Now Adam ar ye like till us
With your gay garment glorious?
To thame thir words, said the Lord
Than cryit they boith Misericord
When from that gairth with hartis sore
Banischit they wer forever more,
In to this wrechit vaill of sorrow
With daily laubour ewin and morrow
Efter whose dolorous departing,
The Lord gave Paradyse in keeping
Tyll ane Angel of Cherubin
That none sulde have entres tharein.
At the whilk entres he did stand,
With flammand fiery sword in hand,
To keep that Adam, and his wife
Sulde nocht taist of the tree of life,
For give they of that tree had preuit
Perpetuallie they micht hauelleuit.
So Adam, and his Successioun
Of Paradyse tynt possessioun,
And be this Syn Original
War men to Miserie maid thrall.
My Sone now may thow cleirly se
This world began with misery
With misery it doth proceid
Father (quod I) what kind of life
Led Adam with his lusty wife
Efter thait baillfull banising?
My heart hes yet compassioun
Quhow they went wandering up and down
Weiping with money loud alas
That they had lost that plesand place
In wilderness to be exyld
Quhare they fand nocht bot beistis wyld
Mannessing thame for till deuore
Quhilkis all obedient war afore.
Quhow Adam dwelt with mekle baill
In Mambet, in that lusty vaill,
Quhilk after was, the Iowis land
I l
•
st nocht tarry till discryue
The woe of Adam nor his wyne
Nor tell when they had Sonnis two
Cayn, and Abel, and no mo.
Nor whow cursed Cayn, for Inuy
Did slay his brother cruelly
Nor of thait murning, nor of there mone
When they but Sonnis wer left allone.
Abel lay slane upon the ground
Curst Cayn fleinit, and Vacabound
Nor whow God of his special grace
Send thame the thread Sone fair of face
Most like Adam, of flesche and blood,
Seth was his Name, gracious and gude
Nor whow blind Lameth, rakleslie
Did slay Cayn vnhappelie.
Adam as Clerkis dost discryue
Begat with Eve his woeful wyue,
Of Men Children, threttie and two
And of Dochteris alike also.
Be this thow may well understand
That Adam saw money ane thousand,
That of his body did descend
Or he out of the world did wend.
Compleit, nine houndreth and thretty year
And all his days war bot sorrow
Remembering boith euin and morrow
Of Paradyre the prosperity
And syne of his greit Miserie.
His heart micht never be reiosit
Remembering whow the heaven wes closit
Frome him, and his successioun,
And that be his transgressioun.
Efter his death, as I heir tell
His Saul discendit to the hell
And there remanit presoneir
In that Dungeoun, three thousand year
And more, so did boith evil and gude
Till Christ for thame had sched his blood,
Than be that most precious Ransoun
Thay wer delyuerit of presoun
I have declarit now as I can
The Miserie of the first man.
Quhow God Destroyit all Leuand Creaturis in erth for Syn, And Drownit thame be ane Terrible Flude, in the time of Noah. &c. ✚☜
PRVDENT
Father Experience
What was the cause God did destroy
All Creature in the time of Noah?
(Quhod he) I trimmyll for to tell
The cause been so abhominabill
And the mater so miserabill.
Bot for to show the Circumstance
Manifestlie of that mischance.
First I mon gar the vnstderstand
That those whilkis come of Sethis blood
Because they wer gracious and gude
Suld nocht contract with Caynis kyn
Quhilkis wer Inclynit all to Syn.
Tyll observe that commandment
Cayn past in to the Orient
With his wife, called Calmana
Quhilk was his awin Syster alswa.
Quhare his offspring did lang remane
Besyde the montane of Tatbane.
And Seth did lang time lede his life
With Delbora, his prudent wife
Quhilk wes his Sister gude and fair
In Damascene maid their repair.
In that countre of Sethis clan
Discendit money holy man
So lang as Adam wes leuand
The people did observe command
When he wes deed, and laid in ground
And people greitly did abound
And Cayn slane, as I have schawin,
And Sethis days, all over blawin
Seand the plesand pulchritude
Of the Ladyis of Caynis kyn
Quhowbeit they knew well it wes Syn
Opprest with sensual lustis rage
Dip take thame in to Marriage.
And so corruptit wes that blood
The gude with evil, and evil with gude.
Than as the people did incres
Thay did abound in wickitnes
As holy Scripture dost rehers
Quhilk I abhor, to put in verse,
Or tell with tongue, I am nocht a bill
The suthe been so abhominabill.
Quhow men, and women, schamefullie
Abusit thame selfs vnaturallie,
Whose foul abhominatioun
And uncouth fornicatioun
I think greit schame to put in write,
All that Paul Orose doth indyte.
Quhilk give I wald at lenth declare
It wer yneuch to fyle the air.
Greit Clerkis of Antiquiteis
Hes wryttin money true storels
Quhilkis as worthy to be commendit
Quhowbeit they be nocht comprehendit
At lenth in the Diuyne Scripture
Bot I sall do my besie cure
To take the best (as I suppose)
That mayest pertenis to my purpose,
And with support of Christ our king
I purpose to confirm nothing
Of the auld Hystoricience
Contrarious till his Excellence.
Quhowbeit that sum mennis Traditionis
Be contrair Christis Institutionis
Of thame thocht sum thing I declare,
Now lat us proceid forthermair,
And with ane Language lamentabill
Declare this mater miserabill.
Generit throw sleuthfull Idilnes
The Devil with all the craft he can
When he persauis ane Idill man
Or woman geuin till Idilnes
He gettis esilie entres.
And so be this occasioun
And be the Feindis perswasioun
The hole world universally
Corruptit was alluterlie.
For laik of virtuous Occupatioun.
For of Craftis, they had small usage
Of Marchandyce, nor lauborage,
The erth than wes so plentuous
Of fruce, and Spyce delicious,
The herbis wer so comfortabill
Delytesum and Medicinabill,
The Fontanis fresche and redolent
To laubouring they tuke little teut.
All manner of beistis at there plesour
Did multiply without laubour.
The time betwix Adam and Noah
To se the erth, it wes greit Joy
Plantit with precious treis of price.
Four famous Fludis of Paradyce
Ran throuch the erth in syndrie partis
Spreiding there branchis, in all airtis,
The watter was so strang and fine
Thay wald nocht laubour to mak wyne.
The fruct, and herbis, wer so gude
Thay maid no cair for other fude.
And so the people tuke no cure
Bot past there time at there plesour,
Ay findand new Inuentionis
To fulfill there Intentionis,
So that the Lord Omnipotent
That he maid man did him repent.
And schew until his seruand Noah
That he wald all the world destroy
Except himself, and his Meinye.
Alas (quod Noah) when sall that be?
Than said the Lord, sen thow so speiris
I sall prolong sax score of yeiris
Tarying upon there repentance
Or I fulfill my Just Sentence.
In the meine time, fall thow to wark
Incontinent, and beild ane Ark.
Quhilk Noah began Obedientlie
And wrocht on it Continuallie.
And to the people daily preichrit
To cry for grace, he to thame techeit.
And to thame planelie did declare,
That God his wand no more wald spair,
Bot on thame he wald wirk vengeance.
To Noah yet gave they no credence
And so they wer Incounsolabill
Vsing there lust abhominabill
And tuke his precheing in despyte
Ay following there foul delight
More and more, till that dulefull day
Quhilk all the world put in effray.
When Adam brak the Lordis command
Tyl agment his afflictioun
God gave his Maledictioun
Unto the erth, whilk wes so fair
That it suld barren be and bair
And without laubour beir no corn
Nor fruct, bot thrissill, breir, and thorn.
Now say ye, in the time of Noah
To se the erth, it wes greit Joy,
Plantit with fourtis gude and fair
The suthe of this, to me declare.
Thir saying is two, gar me consider
Quhow ye mak thame agre to gidder.
God maid that promise sickerlie
(Quod he) as Clerkis dost conclude.
Bot after when the furious Find
Distroyit the erth, alluterlie
Than come that promise sickerlie.
Eum siclyke as God gave command
Adam to twiche nocht with his hand
Nor eight of the forbiddin tree,
Geue he did so, that he suld de.
Quhowbeit he deit nocht but weir
Efter that day nine hundredth year.
Rychrso the Propheit Esayas
Say and the Barn, is till us borne
To saif mankynd whilk is forlorn,
As he had been borne Instantlie
Ʒit wes he nocht borne verily
Efter that saying money one year
As in the Scripture, thow may heir,
Is bot one hour, in Goddis sicht
Exemplis money, I micht tell
Wer it nocht tedious for to dwell,
Tyll our purpose, lat us proceid
Schawand the hicht, the lenth and breid
And qualite of Noyis Ark
Quhilk wes ane richt excellent wark.
Of Pyne tree maid bound well about
Laid over with pik, within and out
Iunit full cloce, with naillis strong
And wes three houndreth Cubitis long,
Fyftie in breid, thretty in hicht,
Thre Chalmeris Iunit well and wicht,
And euerilk loft, above ane other
Withoutin Anker, Air, or Ruther,
Ane richt Cubit, as I heir tell
Of mesour now micht been ane ell
In the mid side, ane dur there wes
For Beistis ane esie entres.
This Ack whilk was boith lang and large
Maid in the boddum, like ane Barge
Couerit with burdis well abufe
Most like ane house, with set on rufe,
Whose riggin wes, ane Cubit braid,
Quhatein there wes, ane wyndo maid
Sum says, weil be closit with Christ all cleir
Quharethrow the day lycht micht weil appeir
This work the more was to be prysit
Because be God, it wes deuysit.
Indurit well ane houndreth year.
Quhē Noah had done compleit this wark
God did him close, within the Ark,
With him his wife, and Sonnis three,
With there three wyfis, but mo menye.
And of all foulis of the air
Of euerilk kind enterit ane pair.
Rychtso two Beistis of euerilk kind
For why, it wes the Lordis mind
That Generatioun suld nocht faill,
Quharefore of Femell, and of Maill
Of euerilk kind wer keipit two.
Bot to rehers, mine heart is woe
The dolent Lamentatioun
That time of euerilk Natioun,
Say and alas ane thousand syis
When wynd, and rane, began to ryis.
The Roikis with reird, began to ryue
When ugly cluddis did ouerdryue
And dirkynnit so, the Heuinuis bricht,
That Sone, nor Mone, micht show no licht
The terribill trimling of erth quaik
Gart Biggingis bow, and Citeis sckaik,
The thounder raif the cluddis sobill
With horrible sound, Espouentabilli
The fyreflauchtis flew ouerthort the fellis
Thā wes there nocht, bot yowtis and yellis.
Quben they persauit, without remede,
All Creature, to suffer deed,
All Fontaris from the erth vpsprang
And from the heaven, the rane down dang
Fourty days, and forty nichtis
Than ran the Peple to the hichtis,
Sum clam in craigis, sum in treis,
And sum to the hichest montanis fleis
With more terror, nor I can tell
Bot all for nocht, the fludis fell
And wynd did rowt, with sic ane reird
That euerilk wicht, waryit his weird.
Cryand alas, that they wer borne
In to that Flude, to be forlorn.
Men micht no help mak to there wyifts
Nor yet support there barnis lyifis.
The fludis rofe, with so greit michtis
That they over couerit all the hichtis.
Thay micht no more there lyuis lenth
Bot swame so lang, as they had strenth,
And so with cryis Lamentabill
Endit there lyuis Miserabill.
Above montanis, that war most hie
Fyftie Cubitis rose the see.
Men may Imagyne in there mind
All Creature in to there kind.
Boith Beistis, and foulis in the air
In there maneir, maid mekle cair,
The fischis thocht thame evil begyld
Quhē they swame throuch the woddis wyld
Quhailis tumland amang the treis,
Wyld beistis swomand in the sen
•
Bi
•
dis with money pietuous pew
Efferitlie in the air they flew,
So lang as they had strenth to flee
Syne swattetit down in to the see.
No thing on erth, wes left on live
Beistis, nor foulis, Man, nor wyue.
God holelie did thame destroy
Except thame in the Ark with Noah,
The whilk lay fictand on the flude
Welterand amang the stremis woo
With money terribill effrayis
Remanit ane hundredth and fifty days,
In greit lang our, and heuines
Or wynd, or rane, began to ceis.
Sumtyme effectuouslie pray and,
Sumtyme the Beistis vesiand
For be the Lordis commadement
He maid prouisioun sufficient.
For Noah dwelt in that Ark but dout
Quhow at more lenth, in holy write
This dulefull history been Indyte,
And whow that Noah, gan to teiose
When Conductis of the heaven did close,
So that the Rane, no more discendit,
Nor the flude no more ascendit.
When be persauit the heuinnis cleir
Hasend forth Corbie Mesfingeir
In to the air, for to espy
Geue he saw ony montanis dry.
Sum says the Rauin, did forth remane
And come norht to the Ark again.
Furth flew the Dow, at Noes command,
And quben scho did persaue dry land
Of ane Olyue, scho brak ane branche,
That Noah might knaw the watter stanche,
And there no more, scho did sudiorne,
Bot with the branche scho did return,
That Noah micht cleirly understand
That fellown Flude, was decressand.
And so it did, till at the last
The Ark upon the ground stak fast
On the top of ane Montane hie
In to the land of Armenie.
And when that Noah had done espy,
Quhow that the erth began to dry,
Than dang he down the durtis all,
And lousit thame, the whilk wes thrall.
The foulis flew forth in the air,
And all the beistis pair and pair,
Past forth to seek there Pastorages.
There wes than bot aucht Personages
Noah, his three Sonnis, and there wynis
On erth, that left was with there lyuis,
Say and incres, and multiply.
God wat give Noah, wes blyith and glaid
When of that presone he wes fraid.
When Noah had maid his Sacrifice,
Thank and God of his Benefice,
He standing on mont Armenie
Quhare he the country micht espy
Ʒe may believe, his heart was sore
Seeing the erth, whilk wes afore
The Flude, so plesand and perfect
Quhilk to behald, wes greit delight
That now was barren maid and bair
Afore, whilk fructuous was and fair.
The plesand treis, beityng fructis
Wer lie and rewin up be the rutis,
The holsum herbis, and fragrant flouris
Had tynt boith virtue, and colouris
The feildis grene, and flurist meidis
Wer spulyeit of there plesand weidis,
The erth whilk first wes so fair formit
Wes be that furious flude deformit,
Quhare vmwhyle wer, the plesand planis
Wer holkit Glennis, and hie montanis
Frome clattring craigis, greit and gray
The erth was weschin quite away.
Bot Noah had greitest displesuris
Behaldand, the deed Creaturis,
Quhilk wes ane sicht richt Lamentabill
Men, women, Beistis, Innumerabill
Seyng thame lie, upon the landis,
And sum wer fleting on the strandis
Quhaillis, and Monstouris of the seis
Stickit on stobbis, amang the treis.
And when the Flude was decressand
Thay wer left weltering on the land.
Afore the flude, during that space,
The sey wes all in to ane place.
Rychtso the erth, as been decydit
In syndrie partis, wes nocht deuydit,
As been Europe, and Asia
Deuydit ar, from Africa.
Ʒe se now diverse Famous Ilis
Stand from the main land money mylis.
All thir greit Ilis, I understand
War than equal, with the ferme land.
There wes none sey Mediterrane,
Bot only the greit Occeane,
Quhilk did not spreid sic bullering strandis
As it dost now, ouirthort the landis.
Than be the raging of that flude
The erth of bertew wes denude,
The whilk afore wes to be prysit
Whose bewte than wer disagysit.
Than wes the Maledictioun knawin
Quhilk wes be God, till Adam schawin.
I reid whow Clerkis dost conclude
Induring that most furious flude
With whilk the erth wes so suppressed,
The wynd blew forth of the southwest
As may be seen be experience.
Quhow throw the watteris violence
The hich montanis in every art,
Ar bair forgane the southwest part.
As the montanis, of Pyreneis
The Alps, and Rochis in the seis.
Rycht so the Rochis greit and gray
Quhilk standis into Norroway.
The hichest Hillis in every art
And in Scotland, for the most part,
Throuch weltering of that furious flude,
The Cragis of erth warmaid denude.
Trauelling men, may consider best
The Montanis bair nyxt the southwest.
Quhow lang leuit Noah, after the flude.
(Quod he) in Genesis, thow may heir
The time of his greit punischement
And wes the best of Sethis blood.
And als he leuit after the Flude
Thre hundredth and fyftie yeiris
As the samyn Scripture witness beiris.
And wes or he Randerit the spreit
Nyne hundredth and fyftie yeiris compleit.
To show this history Miserabill
At lenth my wittis ar nocht abil.
And als my Sone, as I suppose
It langis nocht till our purpose,
To show whow Noyis Sonnis three
Gan to incres and multiply.
Nor whow that Noah, plantit the wyne
And drank till he wes drounkin syne,
And sleipit with his Membris bair,
And whow Cham, maid for him no cair
Bot leuch, to se his Father so
Quhowbeit his Brether wer richt woe.
Nor whow Noah, but Restrictoun
Gaue Cham his Maledictioun
And put him under Servitude
To Sem, and Japheth, that war gude.
Nor whow God maid ane conuenent
With Noah, to mak no punischement,
Nor be no Flude the people droun,
In sign of that Conditioun
His Rain Bow set in to the air,
Of diverse Heuinlie colouris fair,
For to be ane perpetual sing
Be Flude, to mak no punissing
This History give thow list to knaw
At lenth the Bibill sall the show.
The Secund buke Contening the Building of Babylon be Nimrod. And whow King Ninus began the first Monarchy, of there Idolatry. And whow Semiramis Gouernit the Empire, Efter hir Husband King Ninus.
FATHER
I pray yow to me tell.
Immediatlie after the flude
And who did first sched saikles blood
And who Idolarrie began?
(Quod he) I sall do as I can.
Worthy to put in memory
Tyll Nimrod began to King,
Quhilk wes the principal man of one
That beildar wes of Babilone.
That history Master wald I knaw
(Quod I) give ye the suthe wald show,
Thay beildit sic one strang Doungeoun?
Than said to me Experience
Those Questionis, at thy command.
Bot first Sone, thow mon understand
Of Nimrod, the Genealogy,
His strenth curage, and Quantite.
Quhowbeit Moses in his first Buke,
That history lichtlie did over luke,
Of him no more, he doth declare
Except he was ane strang Huntare
Bot vtheris Clerkis curious
As Orose doth, and Josephus,
Discryuis Nimrod at more lenth,
Boith of his stature, and his strenth,
This Nimrod was the fourt persoun
Frome Noah belyne discending down.
Noah generit Cham, Cham generit Chus,
And Chus Nimrod, the suthe been thus.
This Nimrod grew ane man of micht,
That time in erth, wes none so wicht.
He wes ane Giant, stout and strang
Pet force wyld beistis he down thrang,
The people of that hole Region
Come under his Dominioun.
No man there wes in all that land
His stalwartnes that durst ganestand.
No marvel wes thocht he wes wicht,
Ten Cubitis large, he wes of wicht.
Proportionat in lenth and breid,
Efferand to his hicht we reid.
He grew so greit and glorious,
So prydefull, and presumptuous,
That he come Inobedient
To the greit God Omnipotent.
This Nimrod was the principal man
That first Idolatry began.
Than gart he all the people call
And in that greit Conuentioun
Did propone his Intentioun.
My freindis (said he) I mak it knawin
The greit vengeance that God hes schawin,
In time of our fore Father Noah
When he did all the world destroy.
And dround thame in ane furious flude,
Quharefore, I think we suld conclude
Quhow we may mak one strang defense
Aganis sic watteris violence
For to tesist his furious Ire
Contrair boith to flude and fire.
L
•
t us go spy sum plesand field
Quhare one strang bigging we may beild,
One Cietie, with ane strang Dungeoun
That none Ingyne may ding it down,
So hich, so thik, so large, and lang
That God till us sall do na wrang.
It sall surmont the planetis semn.
That we from God may wyn the heaven.
Those people with one ferme intent
All till his counsel did consent
And did espy ane plesand plais
Hard on the flude of Euphrates,
The people there did thame repair
In to the plain feilde of Sinear,
Quhilk now of Chaldee beris the name
Quhilk did lang time flureis in fame.
There greit Fortres, thā did they found
And kaist till they gat souer ground.
All fell to work, baith man and Chylde
Sum holkit clay, sum brint the tyld.
Nimrod, that curious Campioun
Deuysar wes of that Dungeoun.
Na thing they spairit there laubouris
Lyke besy beis upon the flouris,
Or Emmettis traveling in to June
Sum under wrocht, and sum above,
With strang Ingenious Masonerie
Vpwart there work did fortify,
With brynt tyld stonis, large and wicht
That Tour they raisit to sic hicht
Abufe the airis Region,
And Iunit of so strong fassioun
With Syment maid of pick and ter
Thay vsit none other mortar.
Thocht fire or watter it assailit
Contrair that Dungeoun nocht auailir.
The land about wes fair and plane.
And it rais like ane hich montane.
Those fulische people did intend
That to the Heuin it suld ascend
So greit one strenth wes never seen
In to the world with man's ene.
The wallis of that work they maid
Two and fifty faldome braid.
One faldome than, as sum men says
Mycht been twa faldome in our days.
One man wes than of more stature
Nor two be now, thareof be sure.
Josephus baldis opinioun
Say and the hicht of this Dungeoun
Of large pasis of measure been
Fyue thousand, aucht score, and fourtene.
Be this rakning, it is full richt
Fyue mylis, and ane half in hicht.
Ane thousand pais, take for ane mile
And thow sall find it neir that style
This toure in compass round about
Wer mylis ten, withouttin dout,
About the Cetie of Staidis
Four houndreth, and four score I wis.
And be this noumer in compass
About three score of mylis it was,
And as Orosius reportis
There wes five score of brasin portis.
The Translatour of Orosius
In till his Cronicle wryttis thus,
That when the Son is at the hicht
At none, when it dost schyne mayest bricht
The schaddow of that hiduous strenth
Ser mile and more, it is of lenth.
Thus may ye Iuge in to your thocht
Geue Babylon be hich or nocht.
How God maid the Diuersite of Languagis, and maid Impediment to the Buildaris of Babylon.
THAN
the greit God Omnipotent
To whom all things been present
That wes, and is, and ever shall be
Ar present till his Maieste,
The hid secretis of man's heart
Frome his presens may nocht depart
He seand the Ambitioun
And the prydefull Presumptioun
Quhow thir proud people did pretend
Up throuch the heuinnis till ascend
Quhilk wes greit folie till deuyse
Sick one presumptuous interpryse.
For when they wer most diligent
God maid thame sick impediment
Thay wer constraynit with hartis sore
Frome thine depart and beild no more:
Sick Languagis on thame he laid
That none will what ane other said.
Quhare wes bat ane Language afore
God send thame languagis threscore.
At that time all spak Hebrew,
Than sum began for to speak Grew,
Sum Duche, sum language Sarazyne
And sum beget to we
••
Latyne.
The Master men, ga
••
to go wyld.
Cry and for treis, they brocht thame tyld,
Sum said bring mortar heir atonis
Than brocht they to th
•
me stokis and stonis.
And Nimrod there greit Campioun
Ran rage and like ane wyld Lyoun
Manassing thame with words rude
Bot never one word they vnderstude,
Afore they fand him gude and kind
Bot than they thocht him by his mind,
When he so furiouslie did flyte
Than turmit his pride in to dispyte.
So dirk Gelipsit wes his glore
Quben they wald wirk for him no more.
Behald whow God wes so gracious.
To thame whilk wer so outrageous.
He nother braik there leggis nor arms,
Nor yet did thame none other harms,
Except of toungis diuisioun
And for fynall conclusioun
Constraynit they wer for till depart
Ilk cumpanie in one syndrie art.
Sum past in to the Orient,
And sum in to the Occident,
Sum south, sum north, as they thocht be
••
And so there policy left waist.
Bot whow that Ciete was repairit
Heir after it shall be declairit.
Of the first invention of Idolatry. Quhow Nimrod compellit the Peple till adorn the Fire in Chaldea:
My Sone (said he) or we depart.
When Nimrod saw his purpose failit
And his greit laubour nocht auailit,
In manner of Contemptioun
Departit forth of that Region,
And as Orosius doth rehearse
He past in to the land of Perse.
And money one year, did there remane
And syne to Babylon come again
And fand huge people of Chaldee
Remanand in that greit City
That wer glaid of his returning
And did obey him as there king.
Nimrod his Name for till auance
Amang thame maid new ordinance:
Say and I think ye ar nocht wyis
That to none God makes Sacrifyis.
Than to fulfill his falls desire,
He gart be maid ane flammand fire,
And naid it of sic breid and hicht
He gart it birn botth day and nicht
Than all the pepill of that land
Adorit the fire, at his command,
Proste thit on kneis and facis
Beseik and there new God of gracis,
To give thame more occasioun
He maid thame greit perswasioun,
This God (said he) is mayest of micht
Schaw and his bemison the nicht.
When Son, and Mone, at baith obscure
His heuinly brichtnes dots endure.
When mennis memberis sufferis called
Fire warmis thame euin as they wald.
Than cryit the Peple at his desire
There is no God except the fire.
Or there was ony Imagerie
Began this first Idolatry.
At that time, there wes none usage
To
•
arue, nor for to paint Image.
Than maid he Proclamatioun
Quho maid nocht adoratioun
To that new God, without remede
In to that fire suld suffer deed.
I find no man in to that land
His tyranny that durst ganestand
Bot Abraham, and Aram, his brother
That disobeyit, I find none other
Quhilk dwell and war, in that country
With there Father calit There.
Thir brether Nimrod did repreue,
Sayand till him, Lord with your leave,
This fire is bot ane Element,
Pray ye to God Omnipotent
Quhilk maid the Heuinnis be his micht,
Son, Mone, and sterris, to give licht.
He maid the fischis in the seis
The erth, with beistis, herbis, and treis,
And last of all, for to conclude
He maid man to his similitude.
To that greit God give pryse and glore
Whose Ring induris evermore.
Than Nimrod in his furious Ire.
Thir brether boith kest in the fire,
Abraham be God he wes preseruit,
Bot Aram in the fire he steruit.
When There, hard his Sone wes deed
He did depart out of that stead,
With Abraham, Nachor, and there wyuis,
As the Scripture at lenth discryuis.
And left the land of Chaldea
And past to Mesopotamia,
And dwelt in Tharan all his days
And deit there, as the story says
The life of Abraham I suppose
No thing langis till our purpose.
In to the Bibill thow may reid
His verteous life, in word and deed.
Now to the, I have schawin the man
That first Idolatry began.
Of the greit Miserie And scathis that cummis of Weiris: And whow king Ninus began the first weiris, and straik the first Battle.
Declare to me or we depart
Quho first began thir mortal weiris
Quhilk euerilk faithful heart effeiris
And every policy down thrawis
Expres again the Lordis lawis?
Sen Christ our King Omnipotent
Left Pece in till his Testament,
Quhow dost proceid this cruelty
Aganis Justice, and Equire?
In land qubar ony weiris been
Greit Miserie there may be seen.
All thing on erth, that God hes wrocht
Weir, dost destroy, and puttis at nocht,
Citeis, with money strang Doungeoun
Ar brint, and to the erthboung down.
Virginis, and Matronis ar deflorit
Templis, that rychelie been decorit
Ar brint and all there Priests spulyeit,
Pure Orphelenis under feit ar fulyeit,
Money auld men maid Childerles
And money Childer fatherless,
Of famous Sculis the Doctryne
Baith Natural Science, and Deuyne,
And every virtue trampit down
No Reverence done to Religioun.
Strenthis destroyit alluterlie,
Fair Ladyis forsit schamefullie.
Ʒoung Wedowis spulyeit of there Spousis
Pure Lauboraris houndit frō there housis,
There dar no Merchand take on hand
To travel nother be sey nor land,
For boucheour{is} whilk dost thame confound.
Sum murdreist been, & sum ar dround.
Craftismen of curious Ingyne
Alluterlie put to rewyne,
The Bestiall reft, the Commonnis slane
The land but laubouring dost remane.
Of Policy the perfect warkis
Beildingis, Gardingis, plesand parkis,
Aliuterlie distroyit been,
Greit Grangis brynt there may be seen.
Ryches been turnit to pouerte
Plente in till penurite.
Deith, Hounger, Derth, it is well kend
Of weir, this is the fatal end.
Justice turnit in tyrrannie
All plesour in adversity.
The Weir allutetlie down thrawis
Baith the Civil, and Cannoun lawis
Weir, generis Murthour, and mischief,
Sore lamenting without relief.
Weir doth destroy Realms and Kingis,
Greit Princis weir to presoun bringis.
Weir, scheddis mekle saikles blood.
Sen I can say of Weir na gude,
Declare to me Schir give ye can
Quho first this Miserie began?
Ane schort Descriptioun of the Four Monarcheis. And whow King Ninus began the first Monarchy. ☜✚☜
OF
Weiris (said he) the greit outrage
Be ciuell, prydeful covetous kingi
•
Reuaris but richt of vtheris ringis.
Quhowbeit Cayn afore the flude
Wes first schedder of saikles blood,
Ninus wes first and principal man
Quhilk wrangous conquessing began.
And was the man withoutein faill
In erch, that straik the first battaill,
And first Inuentit Imagerie
Quhate throuch came greit Idolatrif.
We most knaw, or we forther wend
Of whom king Ninus did descend.
Ninus give I can right defyne
He wes from Noah, the fyft belyne.
Noah generit Cham, Cham generit Chus,
And Chus Nimrod, Nimrod Belus,
And Belus Ninus but lesing
Of Assyria the secund king.
And beildar of that greit Cite
The whilk was called Ninius
And wes the first and principal man
Quhilk the first Monarchy began.
What signifyis ane Monarchy?
Monarchy, been ane term of Grew
As when ane Province principal
Had hole power Imperial
Duryng there Dominationis
Abufe all kingis and Nattonis
One Monarchy, that men dost call.
Of whom I find four principal
Quhilk hes roung sen the world began.
First rang the Kingis of Assyrianis:
Secundlie rang the Persianis:
The Greikis thridlie, with swerd and fire
Perforce obtenit the thread Empire.
The fourt Monarchy, as I heir
The Romanis brukit money ane year.
Lat us first speak of Ninus king,
Quhow he began his Conquessing.
The auld Greik Historiciane
Diodorus, he wryttis plane
At richt greit lenth, of Ninus king,
Of his Empire, and Conqueissing,
And of Semitamis his wife
That time the lustiest on life.
It wer to lang to put in write
Quhilk Diodore hes done indyte,
Bot I sall show as I suppose
Quhilk mayest belangis thy purpose.
When Nimrod, Prince of Babilone
Out of this wrechit world wes gone
And his Sone Belus deed alswa,
The first King of Assyria,
This Ninus whilk wes secund king
Tryumphantlie began to ring,
And wes nocht satifyit, nor content
Of his a win Region, nor his rent,
Thynk and his glore for till advance
Be his greit people and puissance,
Throuch Pryde, Couetyce, and vane glore
Did him prepare to conqueis more.
And gatherit forth ane greit Army
Contrate Babylon, and Chaldee,
Quhare of he had ardent desire
Tyll June that land till his Empire,
Quhowbeit he had thareto no richt
Bot by his tyranie and micht,
Without in feir of God or man
His Conquessing thus he began.
His people beand in array
To Chaldea tuke the reddy way
When that the Babilonianis
To gether with the Chaldeanis,
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Hard tell King Ninus wes cummand
Maid proclamationis throuch the land,
That ilk man after there degree
Suld cum and saif there awin countre.
Quhowbeit they had no use of weir
Thay past fordwart withouttin feir,
And put thame selfs in gude order,
To meit king Ninus on the bordour,
In that time ye sall understand
There wes no harnes in the land
For till defend, nor till Inuaid,
Quharethrow more slauchter their wes maid
Thay faucht throw strenth of thate bodeis
With gaddis of Irne, with stonis and treis.
With sound of horn, & hidduous cry
Thay ruschit to gither ticht rudely,
With hardy heart, and strenth of handis
Tyll thousandis deed lay on the landis.
Quhare men in battle naikit been
Greit slauchter sone there may be seen.
Thay faucht so lang and cruelly
And with vncertane victory,
No man might Iuge that stude on far
Quho gat the better, nor the war.
Bot when it did approach the nicht
The Chaldeanis they tuke the flicht.
Than the king and his company
Wer richt glaid of that victory,
Because he wan the first battle
That strikkin wes in erth but faill.
And peceable of that Region
Did take the hole Dominioun.
Than wes he King of Chal
•
ea
A
•
swe
•
ll as of Issyria.
As for the King of Arabi
•
.
I
•
his conquest maid him supply
Of this yet wes he nocht content
Bot to the Realm of Mede he went.
Quhare Farnus king of that countre
Did meit him with ane greit Army.
Bot King Ninus the Battle wan,
Quhare slane wer money nobyll man.
And to that king wald give no grace
Bot planelie in one public place
With his seuin Sons, and his Lady,
Cruellie did thame Crucify.
Of that tryumphe he did Reiois,
Syne fordwart to the field he gois
Than conqueist he Armenia,
Perse, Egypt, and Pamphylia,
Cappadoce, Lide, and Mauritane,
Caspta, Phrigia, and Hyrcane,
All Africa, and Asia,
Except greit Inde, and Bactria,
Quhilk he did conques efterwart
As ye sall heir or we depart.
Now wald I or we forther wend
That his Idolatry wer kend.
Syue after that without sudiorne,
Tyll our purpose we sall return.
Quhow king Ninus Inuentit the first Idolatry of Imagis.
NINVS
one Image he gart maik,
For king Belus his Fatheris saik,
Mayest like his father of sigour
Of quantite and portratour.
Of fine Gold, wes that figour maid
Ane crafty Croun apon his heid,
With precious stonis in tokning
His father Belus wes ane King.
In Babylon he ane tempyll maid
Of crafty work, baith hich and braid,
Quharein that Image gloriouslie
Wes thronit up tryumphantlie.
Than Ninus gaif ane strait command
Tyll all the people of that land
Alsweill in till Assyria
As in Sinear, and Chaldia,
Under his Dominatioun
Thay sulde make Adoratioun
Apon there kneis to that figour,
Under the pane of forfaltour.
There wes na Lord in all that land
His soummonding that durst ganesiand
Than young and auld, baith greit and small
Till that Image they prayit all
And changit his Name as I heir tell
From Belus, to there gret God Bell
In that tempill he did devise
Priests for til mak Sacrifice,
Be consuetude, than come ane law
None other God that they wald knaw
And als he gaif to that Image
Of Sanctuary the Priuilege
For what sum ever tragressour
Ane Homicide, or Oppressor
Seand that Image in the face
Of there gilt gat the king's grace.
Wes there no more Idolatry?
Efter that this falls Idole Bell
Wes thronit up, as ye me tell.
The nouellis throuch the world they went
Quhow king Ninus, as I have said
Ane curious Image he had maid
To the whilk all his Natioun
Maid devote adoratioun
Than every Countre tuke consait
Thay wald king Ninus conterfait
When ony famous man wes deed
Sett up one Image in his steid
Quhilk they did honor from the spleen
As it Immortal God had been
Imagis sum maid for the nonis
Of fine gold, sum of stokis and stonis
Of silver sum, and Euer bone
With diverse names till eueryone
For sum they called Saturnus
Sum Jupiter, sum Neptunus
And sum they called Cupido
There God of lufe, and sum Pluto
Thay called sum Mercurius
And sum the wyndie Eolus
Sum Mars maid like ane man of weir
Enarmit well with sword and speir
Sum Bacchus, and sum Apollo
Of names they had ane houndreth mo.
When one Lady of greit fame
Wes deed, for till exalt hir name
Ane Image of hir portratour
Walde set up in ane Orator
The whilk they called there gods
As Venus, Juno, and Pallas,
Sum Cleo, sum Proserpina
Sum Ceres, Vesta, and Diana,
And sum the greit gods Mynerue
With curious colouris they wald carue
Amang the Poetis, thou may see
Of falls god's, the genealogy.
So thir abhominationis
Did spreid ouerthort all Nationis
Except gude Abraham, as we reid
Quhilk honourit God, in word and deed
For Abraham had his beginning
In to the time of Ninus king
Ninus began with tirrannie
And Abraham with humility
Ninus began the first Empire,
Abraham, of weir, had no desire
Ninus began Idolatry
Abraham in spreit and verity
He prayit to the Lord alone
Fals Imagerie, he wald have none
Of him discendit, I heir tell
The twelf Tribis of Israel
Thir pepill maid adoratioun
With humyll supplicatioun
Tyll him whilk wes of king is king
That heaven and erth, maid of na thing
Dede Imagis, they held at nocht
That wer with mennis handis wrocht
Bot the almychtie God of life,
My Sone now have I done discryfe
Thir questionis at thy command.
What wes the cause (schir mak me sure)
Idolatry did so lang endure
Outthrouch the warlde so generally
(Quod he) sum causis principal
I find in my memorial
First wes through Princis commandment
Quhilk did Idolatry invent
Syne singular profit of the Priests
Payntour{is}, Goldsmythis, Masonis, wrichtis
Thir men of craft, full curiouslie
Maid Imagis so plesandlie
And sauld thame for ane sumptuous price
So be there crafty Merchandyce
Thay wer maid riche abone measure,
As for the Priests, I the assure
Large profit gat ouerthort all landis
Throuch Sacrifice, and offerandis
And be there feigned sanctitude
Abusit money one man of gude,
The Priests of this Idol Bell
When Nebuchadnezzar King
In Babylon royallie did ring
Thir preistis the king gart understand
That Image maid be mennis hand
He wes ane glorious God of life
And had sic ane prerogatyfe
That be his greit power divine
Wald eight Beif, Muttoun, Breid, and wyne
And so the king gart every day
Afore Bell on his altar lay
Fourty fresche vedderis fat and fine
And sax greit Rowbouris of wicht wyne
Twelf greit Louis, of bowtit flour
Quhilk wes all eittin in one hour
Nocht he that Image deif and dum
Bot be the Priests all and sum
As in the Bibill thow may ken
Whose noummer wer three score and ten,
Thay, and there wyfis euerilk day
Eit all that on the Aulter lay
Than Daniel in conclusioun
Schew the King there abusioun
And of there subteltie, maid him sure
Quhow vnderneth the tempill flure
Throuch ane passage they come be nicht
And eight that meit with candill licht.
The King when he the mater knew
Thir preistis, with all there wyffis he slew
Thus subtellie the king was sylit
And all the people wer begylit
My Sone (said he) now may thou ken
Quhow be the Priests, and craftismen
And be there craftiness and cure
Idolatry, did so lang endure.
Behauld whow Ihone Boccatius
Hes wryttin workis wounderous
Off Gentilis supperstioun
And of there greit abusioun
As in his greit Buke thow may see
Of falls Goddis, the Genealogy
Of Demogorgon, in special
Fore Grandschir, till the Goddis all
Honourit amang Archadianis
And of the falls Philistianis
With there greit deuyllische god Dagon
With vtheris Idolis money one
Bot I abhor the truth to tell
Of the Princis of Israel
Chosin be God Omnipotent
King Solomon, as the Scripture says
He dotit in his lattrer days
His wantoun wyffis to compleis
He curit nocht God till displeis
And did commit Idolatry
Worschipping caruit Imagerie
As Moloch god of Ammonites
And Chamos, god of Moabites
Astaroth, god of Sydoniens
So for his inodediens
And fowll abhominatioun
Wer punist his successioun
His son Roboam, I heir tell
Tint the ten Trybis of Israel
For his Fatheris Idolatry
As in the Scripture thou may see.
FINIS.
Of Imagis vsit Amang Christin Men.
Behalde in every kirk and Queir
Throuch Christindome in Burgh and land
Imagis maid, with man's hand
To whom been geuin, diverse names
Sum Peter, & Paul, sum Ihone, & James
Sanct Peter caruit with his keyis,
Sanct Michael with his wyng{is} and weyis,
Sanct Katherine, with hir sword & wheill.
Ane Hynd set up beside sanct Geill
It war to lang, for till discryue
Sanct Francis with his woundis five,
Sanct Tredwall als there may be seen
Quhilk on ane preik hes baich hir ene,
Sanct Paul well payntit with ane sword
As he wald fecht at the first word,
Sanct Apolline on alter standis,
With all hir teith, in till hir handis,
Sanct Roche well seisit men may see
Ane byill new brokin on his thee,
Sanct Eloy he dost staitly stand
Ane new horse scho in till his hand
Sanct Niniane of ane rottin stok
Sanct Doutho borrit out of ane blok,
Sanct Androw with his Cross in hand,
Sanct George upon ane horse rydand,
Sanct Anthony set up with ane sow,
Sanct Bryde well caruit with ane kow,
With coistlie colouris fine and fair
Ane thousand mo, I might declare
As sanct Cosme and Damiane,
The Sowtaris sanct Crispiniane,
All thir on altare staitly standis
Priests cryand for there offerandis,
To whom we Commonnis on our kneis
Dois worschip all thir Imagereis,
In Kirk, in Queir, and in the closter
Prayand to thame our Pater noster,
In Pilgramage from town to town
With offerand, and with orisoun
To thame ay babland on our beidis
That they may help us in our neidis
What differis this declare to me
Frome the Gentilis Idolatry?
It gois richt neir thir samyn sortis
Bot we be counsel of Clargie
Hes lycence to mak Imagerie
Quhilk of vnlernit been the bukis
For when lauit folk upon thame lukis
It bringis to remembrance
Of Sanctis lyuis the circumstance,
Quhow the faith for to fortify
Thay sufferit pain richt pacientlie,
Seand the Image of the Rude
Men sulde remember on the Blude
Quhilk Christ in till his Passioun
Did sched for our Saluatioun,
Or when thou seis ane portrature
Of blyssit Marie Virgin pure
One bony Babe upon hir knee
Than in thy mind remember thee
The words whilk{is} the Propheit said,
Quhow scho sulde be baith Mother & maid.
Bot who that sittis down on their kneis
Pray and till ony Imagereis
With Orisone or offerand
Kneland with cap in to there hand
No difference been I say to thee
Frome the Gentiles Idolatry.
Rycht so of diverse Nationis
I reid the abhominationis
Quhow Grekis maid their deuotioun haill
To Mars to saif thame in battaill
Till Jupiter, sum tuke there vayage
To save thame from the stormis rage
Sum prayit to Venus, from the spleen
That they there luffis micht obtene
And sum to Juno, for riches
There pilgramage they wald addres.
So dost our coummoun populare
Quhilk war to lang for till declare
There superstitious pilgramagis
To money diverse Imagis
Sum to sanct Roche with diligence
To saif thame from the pestilence
For there teith to sanct Apolline,
To sanct Tred well, to mend there ene,
Sum makes offer and to sanct Eloy
That he there horse may well conuoy,
Thay ryn, when they have Iowellis tin
•
To seek sanct Syith or ever they stint,
And to sanct Germane to get remeid
For Maladeis in to there heid,
Thay bring mad men on fute and hors
And byndis thame to sanct Mongois cross.
To sanct Barbara they cry full fast
To saif thame from the thonder blast
For gude Nouellis as I heir tell
Sum takis there gait to Gabriel.
Sum wyffis sanct Margaret dost exhort
In to there birth thame to support
To sanct Anthony to saif the sow,
To sanct Bryde to keep Calf and kow,
To sanct Sebastiane, they ryn and ride
That from the schot he saif there side
And sum in hope to get there haill
Rynnis to the auld Rude of Kerraill.
Quhowbeit thir simple pepill rude,
Thynk there intentioun be bot gude,
Woe be to Priests I say for me.
Quhilk suld show thame the verity.
Prelatis whilkis hes of thame the cure
Sall mak answeir thairof be sure
On the greit day of Judgment
When no time beis for to repent
Quhare manifest Idolatry
Sall punist be perpetuallie.
Ane exclamatioun Aganis Idolatry.
IMPRVDENT
Peple, Ignorant & blind
Or what autentick Scripture can ye find
Lesum for till commit Idolatry
Quhilk been to bow your body or your kne
With devote humyll adoratioun
Till ony Idol maid of stone or tree
Geuand to thame offer and or oblatioun.
Quhy do ye give the honor laude and glore,
Pertenyng God, whilk maid all thing of not,
Quhilk wes, and is, and shall be ever more,
Tyll Imagis be mennis handis wrocht
O fulysche folk, why have ye succor socht
Of thame whilk cannot help yow in distress
Ʒit reasonably reuolf in to your thocht
In stok, nor stone, can be none holiness.
In the desert the people of Israel
Moses remanyng in the mount Synay
Quhilk they did honor as there god verray
Bot when Moses desceudit I heir say
And did consider there Idolatry
Of that people, three thousand gart he slay
As the Scripture at lenth dost testify.
In Babylon Idolatry repreuit
And wald not worschip there falls idol Bell,
The hole people at him wer so aggreuit
To that effect, that he suld be mischeuit
Delyuerit him to rampand Lyonis seuin,
Bot of that dangerous den, he wes releuit
Throuch mirakle of the greit God of heaven.
Behauld whow Nebuchadnezzar king,
In to the vaill of Duran, did prepare
One Image of fine gold, one m̄uallo{us} thing
As more cleirlie, the Scripture dost declare
To whom all people be proclamatioun
With bodyis bowit, and on there kneis bare
Rycht humillie they maid adoratioun.
Ane greit wounder, that day wes seen also
Quhow Nebuchadnezzar, in his Ire
Tuke Sidrach, Misach, and Abednago
Quhilk wald not bow there kne at his desire
Tyll that Idol, gart cast thame in the fire
For to be brynt, or he sterit of that stead
When he beleuit, that wet brynt bone & lyre,
Wes not cōsumit ane small hair of their hede
The Angel of the Lord wes w
t
thame seen
In that hate furneis passing up and down
In till ane rosie Gatth, as they had been
None spot of fire, distayning cot nor goun,
Nf victory they did obtene the croun
And wer to thame, that maid adoratioun
To that Idol, or bowit there body down
Ane witnessing of there Dampnatioun.
What wes the cause at me thou may demād
That Solomon vsit none Imagerie
In his triumphat Temple for till stand?
Of Abraham, Ysac, Jacob, nor Jesse,
Nor of Moses, there sauegard throuch y
e
see
Because God did command the contrary
Thay sulde not use sic superstitioun.
Behald whow the greit God omnipotent
To preserve Israel from Idolatry
Directit thame ane strait commandment
Thay suld nocht mak, none caruit Imagerie
Nother of gold, of silver, stone, nor tree
Nor give worschip till ony similitude,
Beand in heaven, in erth, nor in the see
Bot only till his Souerane celsitude.
The Propheit David, plainly did repreue.
Idolatry to their confusioun
In grauit stok, or stone, that did believe,
Declaryng thame there greit abusioun
Spekand in manner of derisioun.
Quhow deed Idolis be mennis hādis wrocht
Quham they honourit, with humill orisoun
Wer in the merket daily sauld and bocht.
The Deuillis feand the cuyll conditioun.
Of the Gentilis, and there unfaithfulness
For till agment, there superstitioun
In those Idolis, they maid there entres,
And in thame spak, as storyis dost express
Than men beleuit of thame to get relief
Askand thame help, in all there besynes
Bot finally that turnit to their mischief.
Traist well in thame, is none Divinity.
Quhē reik & roust, their fair color dost said
Thocht they have feit one fute they cā not flee
Quhowbit y
e
tempil birn above there heid
In thame is nother freindschip nor remeid
In sic figuris what favor can ye find?
With mouth & citis, & ene thocht they be maid
All men may see, they at dum, deif, & blind.
Quhowbeit yai fall down flatlingis on y
e
flure
Thay have no strenth there self to rais again
Thocht rattonis ouir yam rin yai take no cure
Howbeit they brek yair nek yai fell no pain
Quhy suld mē Psalms to thame sing or sane
Sen growand treis, that yeirly beris fruit
Ar more to praise, I make it to the plane
Nor cuttit stockis wanting baith crop & rute.
Of Edinburgh, the greit Idolatry,
And manifest abhominatioun,
On there feist day, all Creature may see
Thay beir ane alo stok Image throw y
e
toui
•
With talbrone, trumpet, schalme, & clarioun
Quhilk hes been vsit, money one year bigone
With preistis, and freris, in to processioun
Siclyke as Bel wes borne throuch Babylon.
Eschame ye nocht ye seculare preistis & freris
Till so greit superstitioun to consent?
Idolateris ye have been money yeris
Expres again the Lordis commandment.
Quharefor brether I counsale yow repent
Give no honor, to caruit stok, nor stone
Give laude and glore, to God Omnipotent
Allanerlie, as wisely wryttis Ihone.
Fy on yow Freiris, that vsis for to preche.
And dost affect to sick Idolatry
Quhy do ye nocht the Ignorant people teche
Quhow ane deed Image caruit of one tree
As it wer holy suld nocht honourit be?
Nor borne on Burgess backis up and down.
Bot ye show planelie your Hypocrisy
Qhen ye pas formest in processioun.
Fy on yow fosteraris of Idolatry,
That till ane deed stok dost sick reverence
In presens of the people, publikelie.
Feir ye nocht God, to commit sic offense?
I counsale yow, do yet your diligence
To gar suppress sic greit abusioun
Do ye nacht so, I dreid your recompense
Salbe nocht ellis bot clean confusioun.
Had sanct Frāces, been borne out throw y
e
tōn
Or sanct Dominis, thocht ye had not refusit
With thame, till have pa
••
in processioun
In till that case, sin wald have yow excusit.
Now mē may see, whow that ye have abusit
That nohill town, throuch your Hypocrisy,
The people crowis y
e
they may richt well vsit
When ye pas with thame in to company.
Sum of yow hes been quiet counsallouris,
Prouokand Princis, to sched saikles blood
Quhilk never did your prudent predecessouris
Bot
〈◊〉
like furious Pharisees denude
Of cheritie, whilk rent Christ on the rude
For Christis flok, without malice or Ire.
Conuertit fragill faltouris I conclude
Be Goddis world, without swerd or fire.
Give thy brother dosth oucht the till offend,
Than secreitlie correct him hand for hand
In freindlie manner, or thou forther wend.
Give he will nocht heir the, than mak it kend
Tyll one or two, be true narratioun.
Gyf he for thame, will not his mys amend
Declare him to the Congregatioun.
And give he yet remanis obstinate
And to the holy kirk Incounsalabill
Than like ane Turk hald him excommunicate
And with all faithful folk abhominabill,
Banising him, that he be no more abill
To dwell amang the faithful cumpanie
When he repentis, be nocht vnmerciabill
Bot him resaue again richt tenderlie.
Bot our dum Doctors of Diunitie,
And ye of the last fond Religioun,
Of pure Transgressouris, ye have no pity
Bot cryis to put thame to confusioun,
As cryit the Iowis, for the effusioun
Of Christis blood in to their hiruand Ire
Crucifige,
so ye with one vnioun
Cryis fy, gar cast that faltour in the fire.
Extolland your human traditioun
Contrar the Institutioun of Christ
Effeit ye nocht Divine punitioun
Thocht sum of yow be guds of conditioun
Reddy for to resaue new recent wyne
I speak to yow auld Boisis of perditioun,
Return in time, or ye tyn to rewyne.
Quhilkis did consent, to the Idolatry
Of wickit Ahab, king of Israel
Whose noumer wer four hundredth & fyftie,
Quhilkis honourit that Idol oppinlie
Bot when Elias, did preue there abusioun
He gart the people slay thame cruelly
So at one hour come there confusioun.
I pray yow prent in your remembrence.
Quhow the reid Freiris, for there Idolatry
In Scotland, Inglād, Spain, Italy, & France
Vpō one day, wer punissit pietouslie.
Behald whow your awin brether now laitly
In Duchelād, Inglād, Dēmark, & Noroway
Ar trampit down, with there Hypocrisy,
And as the snaw ar meltit clean away.
I meruell y
t
our Bischopp{is} think{is} no schame
To give yow freiris sick preeminence,
Till use there office, to there greit defame
Preching for thame, in oppin audience.
Bot michtane bischop eik til his awin expens
For ilk Sermon ten Ducatis in his hand,
He wald or he did want that recompens
Go preiche himself, baith in to burgh & land.
•••
ain to see gude Reformatioun,
From time we get ane faithful prudent king
Quhilk knawis y
e
truth, and his vocatioun
All Publicanis, I traist he will down thring
And will nocht suffer in his realm to ring
Corruptit Scrybis, nor falls Pharisience,
Agane y
e
truth, whilk plainly dost maling
Till that king cum, we man take patience.
Now fairwell freindis, because I cā not flyte
Quhowbeit I culled ye man hald me excusit
Thocht I again Idolatry Indyte,
Or thame dispyte that will nocht yet refusit,
I pray to God, that it be no more vsit
Amang the rewlaris of this Region.
That common people be no more abusit
Bot gif him glore, that bair the cruel croun.
Quhilk teichit us, be his divine Scripture
Tyll richt prayer, the perfect reddy way
As wryttis Matthew, in his sext Chepture
In what manner, and to whō we suld pray,
Ane schort compendious orisone euerilk day,
Most proffitabill, for baith body and soul,
The whilk is nocht directit I heir say
To John, nor James, to Peter, nor to Paul.
Nor to none other of the Apostlis twelf
Nor to no Sanct, nor Angel in the Heuin,
Bot only till our Father God himself
Quhilk Orisone it doth contene full euin
Most proffitabill for us petetionis seuin.
Quhilk we lawid folk, the
Pater Noster
call.
Thocht we say psalms, nine, ten or ellewin,
Of all prayer this been the principal.
Be resoun of the maker, whilk it maid,
Quhilk wes the Sone of God, our saluiour
Be resoun als, to whom it sulde be said,
Till the Father of heaven, our Creator,
Quhilk dwellis nocht in tempill nor in tour.
He cleirlie seis our thocht, will, and intent
What nedis us, at vtheris seek succor
When in all place, his power been present.
Ʒe Princis of the preistis, that sulde preche
Quhy suffer ye so greit abusioun
Quhy do ye nocht the sempill people teche
Quhow, & to whom, to dres their orisoun
Quhy thole ye thame, to ryn frō town to town
In pilgramage, till ony Imagereis
Hopand to get there sum Saluatioun
Prayand to thame, deuotlie on there kneis.
This wes the practik of sum Pilgramage.
Ouhen Fillokis in to Fife, began to fon
With Ioke, & Thome, thā tuke yai their vayage
In Angus, to the field chapel of dron
Than Kittok there als cadye as ane Con
Without regard other to Syn or schame
Gaue Lowrte leif, at laser to loup on
Far better had been, till have biddin at hame.
I have seen pas, one meruallo{us} multitude
Ʒoung men & women, flyngand on their feit
Under the form, of fenyeit sanctitude
For till adorn, ane Image in Loreit,
Money come with there marrowis for to meit
Committand there foul Fornicatioun
Sum kissit the claggit taill of the Armeit,
Quhy thole ye this abhominatioun?
Of Fornicatioun and Idolatry
Apperandlie ye take bot litill cure,
Seand the marvelous Infelicitie
Quhilk hes so lang done in this land endure
In your defalt, whilk hes the charge & cure
This been of truth, my Lordis w
t
your leave
Sic pilgramage hes maid money ane hure
Quhilk gyf I plesit, planelie I mcht preue,
Quhy mak ye nocht, the scripture manifest
To pure pepill, twiching Idolatry?
In your preching, why have ye nocht expressed
Quhow many Kingis of Israel cruelly
Wer puneissit be God, so rigorouslie?
As Jeroboam, and money mo but dout
War from there Realms rudlie rutit out.
Quhy thole ye under your Dominioun,
Ane crafty Priest, or fenyeit falls Armeit
Abuse the people of this Region
Onelie for there particular profeit?
And specially that Armeit of Laureit
He pat the Commoun pepill in believe
That blind gat sicht, & crukit gat there feit
The whilk that Palyard no way cā appreue
Ʒe maryit mē that hes trim wantoun wyffis
And lusty douchteris of young & tender age,
Quhois honesty ye suldel lufe as your lyfis
Permit thame nocht to pas in pilgramage
To seek support at ony stok Image,
For I have wittin, gude wemē pas fra hame
Quhilk hes been trappit with sic lustis rage,
Hes done return baith w
t
gret syn & schame.
Get up, thow slepis all to lang, O Lord.
And mak ane haistie Reformatioun
On thame whilk dost tramp dōn thy gracious word
And hes ane deidly indignatioun
At thame whilk makes true narratioun
Of thy Gospel, schawing the verity.
O Lord I mak thee supplicatioun
Support our faith, our hope, and Cheritie.
FINIS.
How king Ninus Beildit the gret City of Nineveh. And whow he Vincust Zoroastes the King of Bactria.
THIS
Ninus of Assyria King
When he had maid his Conquesing
To Beild ane City, he him dressed
Choosing the place, whare he thocht best
Quhare he had first Dominioun
In Assyria his awin Region
Thocht Assur as the Scripture says
And foundit that famous City
The whilk was called Niuiue
Bot as rehersis Diodore
Ninus that City did decore
So marvelous Triumphantlie
As ye sall heir Immediatlie
Upon the flude of Euphrates
Quhilk to behauld, greit wounder wes.
Ane houndreth and fyftie stagis
That City wes of lenth I wis.
The wallis ane houndreth fute of hicht
No wounder was thocht they wer wicht,
Sic breid abufe the wallis there was
Thre cartis might sydlingis on thame pas,
Four hundredth stagis, and four score
In circute but myn or more
Of towris about those wallis I wene
Ane thousand, and five houndreth been.
Of hicht two houndreth fute and more
As wryttis, famous Diadore.
The Scripture makes mentioun
When God send Jonah to that town
Outthrouch the City when he went
Thre days Iornay, till him it wes
The Bibyli says, it wes no les.
Of the building of Nineveh
For the agmenting of his fame
Ninus gart call it after his name.
When he that greit City had endi
•
To conques more yet he intendit,
And did depart from Nineveh
And rasit up ane greit Army
Of the mayest stalwart men and stout
Of all his Regionis round about,
In greit order tuke there Iornay
Towart the Realm of Bactria.
Of wicht fute men, I understand
He had seuintene hundredth thousand
Without horsemen, and weirlyke cartis
Quhome he ordourit in sindry partis
Quhilk till discryue I am nocht abill
Whose noumer been so vntrowabill.
Zoroastes, that nobill King
Quhilk Bactria, had in governing,
That prudent Prince, as I heir tell
Did in Astronomy precell
And fande the Art of Magica
With Natural Science money ma
Seand king Ninus on the field
Fordwarte he come, with speir and scheild.
Four houndreth thousand men he wes
In his Army there wes no les.
And met king Ninus on the bordour
Rycht vailyeantlie, and in gude order.
On the Vangarde of his Army
On thame he ruschit right rudelie.
And of thame slew as I heir say
Ane houndreth thousand men that day.
The rest that chapit war vnslane
To Ninus greit oist fled again.
Of that king Ninus wes so noyit,
He restit never till he distroyit
All hole that Region up and down
And from the king did reif the croun,
And maid the Realm of Bactria
Subiectit till Assyria.
And in that samyn land I wis
He tuke to Wyfe Semiramis.
Quha (as mine Auctour dost discryue)
Was than the lustiest on live.
That beand done without sudgeorne
Tyll Nineveh he did return
With greit tryumphe of victory
As mine auctour dost specify
Boith Occident and Orient
War all till him obedient.
It wald abhor the till heir red
The saikles blood that he did sched.
When he had roung as thou may heir
The space of three and forty year
Be and in his excellent glore
The dolent death did him deuore.
In what sort I am nocht certain
Sum Auctor says that he wes slane
And left till bruke his Heritage
One little Babe of tender age
Ʒoung Ninus wes the Chyldis name
Quhilk after flurischit in greit fame.
Sum says that be his wyffis treasoun
King Ninus deit in presoun,
As I sall show, or I hyne fair
Quhow Diodore hes done declare.
Of the wounderful Deidis of the Queen Semiramis.
NINVS
luffit so ardentlie,
Semiramis his fair Lady
There wes nothing scho wald command
Bot all obeyit wes fra hand
Scho seand him so Amorous,
Scho grew proud and presumptuous,
And at the king scho did desire
Fyue days to govern his Empire.
And he of his benevolence
Did grant hir that preeminence
With Sceptour, Crown, and Rob Royal
And hole power Imperial,
Tyll five days wet cum and gone
That scho as king suld regne alone.
Than all the Princis of the land
Duryng that time maid hir ane band
With bankat Royal merilie
Scho treatit thame triumphantlie
So the first day the people all
Come till hir service bound and thrall
Bot or the secund day wes gone
Scho tuke sick glore to regne allone
Be one decreit maid thame amang
The king scho put in presone strang
I reid well of his presonyng
Bot nocht of his deliueryng
Quhow ever it wes in till his flouris
He did of death suffer the schouris
And might nocht lenth his life one hour
Thocht he wes the first Conqueror.
Whose Conquessing for to conclude
Wes nocht but greit scheddyng of blood
Now have ye hard of Ninus King
Quhow he began, and his ending
Quhowbeit mine auctor Diodore
Of him haith wryttin mekle more.
Princis for w
•
angous conquessing
Doith mak oft times ane evil ending.
Thocht he had lang prosperity
He endit with greit misery.
Of king Ninus Sepulture.
THE
Queen ane Sepulture scho maid
Quhare scho king Ninus body laid,
Of curious crafty wark and wicht,
The whilk had staidis nine of hicht
And ten staidis of breid it wes
Diodore says it wes no les.
For aucht staidis one mile thow take
And there after thy noummer mak.
So be this compt, it wes full richt
One mile, and als ane staid of hicht
Except the tour of Babilone
So hich one werk, I reid of none.
Semiramis this lusty Queen
Considering what danger been
To have ane king of tender age
Quhilk micht nocht use no Vassalage.
Scho tuke one curageous consait
Think and that scho wald mak debait
Geue ony maid Rebellioun
Contrar hir Sone, or his Region,
Quhome scho did foster tenderlie
And kepit him full quietlie
Scho laid apart hir a win cleithing
And tuke the Rayment of ane King.
When scho wes in till armor dicht
Micht no man knaw hir be one knicht,
Scho vailyeantlye went to the weir
And to give Battle tuke no feir
Dantyng all Realms round about
That all the world of hir had dout
More fortunate in hir conquessing
Nor wes hir Husband Ninus king.
Babylon scho did fortify,
Templis and towris triumphandlie
So plesandlie did thame prepair
Quhilk in the erth had no compair
Quhowbeid Nimrod, of whom I spak
The hydduous doungeoun he gart mak
And of the City the foundement
To whom God maid Impediment.
Quhare Nimrod left there scho began
And put to wark money one man.
Of all the Realms round about
Of moste Ingyne scho socht thame out
Scho had wirkand with tree and stonis
Twelf houndreth thousand men at onis
Go reid the buke of Diodore
And thow fall find the noumer more.
On euerilk side of Euphrates
That nobill City beildit wes
And so that river of renown
Ran throuch the midpart of the town.
Ouerthort that tlude scho briggis maid
Of marvelous strenth boith lang and braid.
Thay wer five staidis large of lenth
On euerilk Brig scho maid one strenth.
The circuit as I said afore
Four houndreth staidis, and four score.
The wallis hicht wha wald discryue
Thre houndreth fute, three score and five.
Sax Cartis micht pas right esalie
Abufe the wallis of that City,
Sydlingis without Impediment.
Consydder be your Judgment
Geue those wallis wer hich or nocht
And also curiouslie wer wrocht
As Diodore hes done defyne
Quhilk doth transcend my rude Ingyne.
Of Babylon the magnificence
To whom ye walde give no credence
Geue I at lenth wald put in write
Quhilk Diodore hes done indyte.
Compare of Citeis find I none
Tyll Nineveh, and Babilone.
Frome Nineveh, in Assyria
Tyll Babylon in Chaldea.
Be Briggis plesandlie ye may pas
Upon the flude of Euphrates
Amang the fludis of Paradyce
This Euphrates may beir the price.
All warkis whilkis the Queen began
Transcendit the ingyne of man.
The proud Queen Penthesilea
The Princesse of Amazona
With hir Ladyis tryumphandlie
At Troy, whilk faucht so vailyeandlie
Nor yet the fair Madin of France
Danter of Inglis Ordinance,
To Semiramis in hir days
Wer no compare as bukis says.
Except triumphand Julius,
Strong Hannibal, or Pompeius,
Or Alexander the Conqueror
I find no greter weriour.
Wald I rehers as wryttis Clerkis
Hir wonderful and vailyand werkis,
It wer to me one greit laubour
And tedious to the Auditor.
What scho did in Ethiopia.
And in the land of Media
Beildand Citeis, Castellis, and Towris,
Parkes, and Gardingis of plesouris,
For the exalting of hir Name
And Immortal to mak hir fame
Of Iarcius, the hich Montanis
Scho gart ryue down, & mak thame planis,
Gret Orontes that Montane wicht
Twenty and five staidis of hicht
Tyll hir Palice to draw ane Loch
By fors of men, scho rave it throuch.
Had scho kepit hir Chastity
Scho mirht have been one A. per se.
When scho had ordourit hir Empire
Of Venus wark scho tuke desire
One secreit Mansioun scho gart mak
Quhare scho plesandlie might take
Ʒoung gentill men for hir plesour
The whilk scho vsit above mesour.
One man allone, micht nocht be abill.
To stanche hir lust insaciabill.
When scho wes satisfyit of one
Scho gart ane other cum anon
The lustiest of all the land
Come quietlye at hir command
When they at lenth had lyin hir by
Scho slew thame all richt cruelly.
When hir Sone come till age perfect
Of him scho tuke so greit delight
Scho causit him with hir to lie
Amang the rest richt quietlye.
Sum says throuch sensual lustis rage
Scho band him in to Marriage
And held him under tutorie
To vphald hir authority.
How the Queen Semiramis with ane greit Army, past to Inde, and Faucht with the king Staurobates. And of hir Miserabill end. (*)☜
QVHEN
scho had lang time leuit in rest
Because of diverse scho hard tell
How that the Inde Orientell
Precellit in greit commoditeis
As beistiall, cornis, and frutfull treis.
All kind of Spyce delitious,
Gold, Syluer, stonis Precious
And whow that plenteous land did beir
Corn, Frute, and Wyne, twice in the year.
With Oliphantis Innumerabill
In Battle wounder terribill.
Scho heirand this, and mekle more
Beleuand till agment hir glore
Gart mak strait Proclamationis
In all, and sindrie Nationis.
Schawand whow it wes hir desire
All Princis under hir Empire
In Egypt, and Arabia,
In Pers, in Mede, and Chaldea.
In Grece in Caspia, and Hyrcane
In Capadoce, Lidia, and Mauritane.
In Armenie, and Phrigia,
In Pamphilie, and Assyria,
That ilk Land after their degree
Sulde bring till hir ane greit Army
In all the gudelie haist they may
And melt hir in till Bactria
Declaring thame that hir intent
Was till pas to the Orient,
And make weir on the king of Inde.
From time they knew what wes hir mind
Than be there selfs ilk Region
Come fordwart with there Garnisoun
Tryumphandlie, in gude array
Tyll Bactria tuke the reddy way
And maid there Mustouris to the Queen
Bot sic one sycht was never sent,
In Battle ray so money one man
Atonis, sen God the world began.
Bot Spanye, France, Scotland, Ingland,
Ducheland, Denmark, nor yet Ireland,
Wer nocht Inhabite in those days,
Nor lang after, mine Author says.
Ethesias, he dost specify
The noumber of this greit Army,
Say and there come at hir command
Fute men, threttie houndreth thousand,
Of hors men montit galyeardlie
Fyue houndreth thousand veralie.
Ane houndreth thousand Cametlis wicht
On euerilk Cameill, raid ane knicht,
Prepairit till pas in to all partis
There wes ane hundredth thousand Cartis.
Two thousand bottis with hir scho caryis
On Hors, Camelis, and Dromodaryis.
Briggis for to mak scho did conclude
Ouerthort Indus, that furious flude,
Quhilk been of Inde, the outmaist bordour,
On the whilk flude, with richt gude order
Of hir Bairgis, scho briggis maid
Quhareon hir greit Oist saiflie raid.
Quhow sic ane marvelous multitude
Mycht be atonis, brocht to the field
Reddy to fecht, with speit and scheid.
Sum men will Iuge, this been ane fabill
The mater been so vntrowabil?
It may well be my Sone (said he)
His people gart noumer and tell
Be Joab, his chief Capitane
As holy Scripture schawis plane
Of fecht and men, in to that land
He fand threttene houndreth thousand.
Sen David, in that small countre
Mycht have rasit sic one Army.
To this Lady, it was no wounder
The whilk had greter Realms ane hunder
Nor Dauidis little Region
Thocht scho had money ane Legioun
Off men mo nor I tauld afore.
Tharefor my Sone, marvel no more
Staurobates, the king of Inde
Greitlie perturbit in his mind
Heiring of sick ane multitude
To make defense he did conclude.
And send ane Message to the Queen
Pray and hir Majesty serene,
That scho wald of hir special grace
Geue him Licence to leave in peace
Failye and of that thocht he suld des
That he sulde gar hir fecht or flee.
And till his God ane vow he maid
Geue no peace micht of hir be had,
And give he wan the victory
That he the Queen sulde Crucify.
At this bosting the Queen maid bourdis
Say and it sall nocht be no wourdis,
Sall gar me pas, fra my purpose
Bot michtie straikis as I suppose.
The Messinger schew to the King
Of hir presumptuous answering
Than Staurobates wise and wicht
Come fordwart like anenobill knicht
With money one thousand speir and scheild
Arrayit Royallie on the field,
Think and he wald his land defend
Or in the Battle mak ane end.
The Queen upon the other side
Full of presumptioun and of pride
Hir Baneris plesandlie displayit
With hardy heart, and vneffrayit,
Apon Indus, that famous flude,
Thay met, whare sched wes mekle blood,
In Bote, in Balingar, and Bargis,
The twa Armeis on vtheris chargis.
Semiramis the Battle wan
Quhare drowait and slane wer money one mā
So that the water of the flude
Ran reid myxit with man's blood
The king of Inde, with all his micht
Frome Indus flude he tuke the flicht
Till his chief City, he reteirit,
Quhare in his presens there appeirit
In Battle raye ane new Army
Of richt Invincible Cheualrie
With Elephantes, ane hiddous noumer
Quhilk efterwart maid mekle cummer.
Semiramis and hir cumpanie
In the mean time full cruelly
Distroyit the Bordouris of that land,
Tuke presonaris, ma than ten thousand.
Scho tuke ane curageous consait.
Greit Elephantis to contrefait.
Scho had ten thousand Oxin hydis
Weill se wit to gidder back and sydis
With mouth and nose, teith, eiris and eine,
Quick Elephantis as they had been.
Rycht well stuffit, full of stray and hay,
Quhare of the Indianis tuke affray.
Apon Camelis, and Dromodareis.
Those falls figuris with hir scho careis,
Sere Indianis, when they saw that sicht
Efferitlie they tuke the flicht.
For sic one sitht wes never seen
Geue natural beistis they had been.
The King himself, wes richt affeirit
Tyll he the verity had speirit,
And knew be his Exploratouris
Thay war bot fenyeit falls figouris.
Than manfullie like men of weir
Fordwart they come withouttin feir.
Richt so Semiramis the Queen
Qubilk for one man wes ay fyftene.
Thir two Armyis full cruelly
Thay ruschit to gidder so rudelie
With hydduous cry, and trumpettis sound
Till thousandis deed lay on the ground.
Semiramis had sic one noummer.
Tyll order thame it wes greit cummer.
Than the greit Elephantis of Jude
Richt strang and hardy of there kind
Ford wart they come, and wald nocht ceis
Ty
•
l throuch the middis of the preis
Of the greit Oist, they rudclie ruschit
That men and hors till erd they duschit.
Those fenyeit beistis withouttin spreit
Wer fruschit and fuilyeit under feit.
The king of Jude with curage kene
Met with Semiramis the Queen,
He rydand on ane Elephand,
Bot scho with him faucht hand for hand,
And gave the King so greit assay
That he wes never in sic affray
To straik at him scho tuke no feir
So well scho vsit wes in weir.
His strakis scho had bot little comptit
Wer nocht the king wes so well montit
Ather at other straik so fast
Tyll they wer tyrit at the last.
The King he thocht himself eschamit.
With one woman to be befamit,
And wes determit nocht to flee
Thocht in that Battle he suld dee,
As man the whilk disparit been
He rudely ran upon the Queen,
And throuch the arm gaif hir ane wound
Quhilk till hir heart gave sic one stound
That scho constranit wes to flee
Than all the rest of hir Army
When they persauit that scho wes gone,
Tyll Indus flude they fled ilk one.
The Queen ouerthort the flude scho raid
On briggis whilks wer of botis maid,
With hir ane sober cumpanie
Quhilk with hir fled affrayitlie.
The Indianis followit on the chais
Than on the Briggis come sic one preis
Of fleand folkis, whilk wes greit wounder
So that the Bargis brak in schonder.
Sum sank, sum down the river ran,
Than drownit there, money ane nobill man,
Quhilk wes greit pity till deplore,
As wryttis famous Diodore.
And finally for to conclude
Wes never sched so mekle blood
At one time, sen the world began
Nor slane so money one saikles man,
And all throuch the occasioun
And the prydefull perswasioun
Of this ambitious wickit Queen
Sick one wes never hard nor seen.
Staurobates the king of Inde,
Gretlye reioysit in his mind
Of this tryumphe and victory
Semiramis with heart full sorry
Seand sa money tane and slane
Tyll hir country returnit again,
Lamentand fortunis variance
Quhilk brocht hir to so greit mischance
Afore whilk wes so fortunate
And than of comfort desolate.
Hir Sone ane man of perfectioun
Considerand his subiectioun,
His liberty he did desire
That he micht govern his Empire,
Seand his Mother vicious
And with that so ambitious
As mine Auctor dost specify
He slew his Mother cruelly
What other cause, or Intentioun
I find no special mentioun.
Sum says to be at Liberty
Sum says, for hir Adultery,
None other cause I can defyne
Except Punitioun divine.
Of this fair Lady corageous
Behald the ending dolorous
Quhilk wes bot twenty yeris of age
When scho began hir Vassalage,
And rang tryumphandlie but weir
The space of two and forty year
When scho wes slane, scho wes three score
With yeris two, scho wes no more.
As Diodore, wrytis in his buke
His Cronicle, who list to luke.
Of this Lady I mak ane end,
Thynkand no way, I can commend
Wemen for till be to manlie
Nor men for till be womenlie.
For why, it been the Lordis mind
All Creature till use there kind.
Men for till have preeminence,
And women under obedience.
Thocht all women inclynit be
Tyll have the Soueranetie.
As this Lady, whilk wald nocht rest
Till scho hir Husband had suppressed
Till that intent that scho micht ring
Allone to have the governing.
Ladyis no way I can comend
Presumptuouslie whilk dost pretend
Till use the office of ane king
Or Realms take in governing.
Quhowbeit they vailyeant be and wicht
Going in Battle like ane knicht
As did proud Penthesilea
The Princes of Amazona,
In mennis habit aganis resoun.
Siclyke I think derisioun
One Prince to be effeminate
Of knichtlie corage desolate,
Neglect and his authority,
Throuch beistlie sensuality,
Accompanyit baith day and nichtis
With women more than vailyeant knichtis
Sic kingis I discommend at all,
Exempill of Sardanapall.
Howking Sardanapalus for his Vitious life, maid ane Miseravill end.
BETVIX
this Conqueror Ninus,
And sensual Sadanapalus,
I can nocht find no special story
Worthy to put in memory,
Except whilk I have done discryfe,
Of Semirame, king Ninus wife.
Bot I can find no gude at all
To wryt of king Sadanapall,
Quhilk wes the sext and threttie king
Belyne from Ninus discending,
At lenth his life for to declare
I think it is nocht necessary,
Because that money cunning clerkis
Hes him discryuit in there werkis
Quhow he wes last of Assirianis
Quhilk had the hole preeminans,
That time of the first Monarchy
In Cronicles as thow may see.
The last, and the most vicious king
Quhilk in that Monarchy did ring.
That Prince wes so effeminate
With sensual lust intoxicate,
He did abhor the cumpanie
Of his mayest nobill Cheualrie,
That he might have the more delight
Till use his beistlie appetyte
Conuersit with women nicht and day
And clothit him in there array
So that na man that him had seen
Culd Iuge ane man that he had been.
So in Huredome and harlatrie
Did keep him self so quietlie,
The Prencis of Assiriens
Of him they could get no presens.
Thus leuit he continually
Agane Nature Inordinatlie.
When to the Persis and the Medis
Reportit wer his vicious dedis
With the Rewlaris of Babilone
Thay did conclude all in till one
Thay wald nocht suffer for til ting
Abufe thame sic ane vicious king
Bot Arbaces, ane Duke of Mede
He darflie tuke on hand that deed.
Bot first he come to Nineveh
To see the king is Majesty
And till one of the kingis gard
He gaif ane secreit riche reward
Tyll put him in ane quiet place
Quhare he might see the kingis grace
And be unseen with ony wicht
Bot he saw nother king nor knycht
In till his Maisteris cumpanie
Except women allanerlie.
And as ane woman he wes cled
With women counsalit and led
And schamefullie he wes sittand
With spindle, and with Rock spinnand.
When Arbaces that sycht had seen
His curage rais up from the spleen
And thocht it small difficulty
For till depryue his Majesty.
Than rasit he the Persianis
With Medis and Babilonianis
Ennarmit well with speir and scheildis
Tryumphandlie they tuke the feildis
The King rasit Assirianis
To gyther with the Caldeanis
And thame resystit as they micht
Bot fynallie he tuke the flicht
To saif him self in Nineveh,
Than Segit they that greit City
Continuallie two year and more
As wryttis famous Diodore
Tyll that the flude of Euphrates
Arais with sic one furiousnes
Quhare throuch ane grett part of the tonn
Be violence wes doungin down.
Than when the king saw no remede
Bot to be takin or to be deed
As man disparit full of Ire
Gart mak ane furious flammand fire
And tuke his gold and Iowellis all
With Scepture, Croun, and Rob Royal,
With all his tender Seruituris
That of his Corps had greitest curis
To gidder with his lusty Quenis
And all his wantoun Concubenis,
And in that fire he did thame cast
Syne lap him self in at the last
Quhare all wer brynt in poulder small.
Thus endit king Sadanapall
Withouttin ony repentance
As may be seen be this sentence
Heir following, whilk he did indyte
Afore his death, in greit despyte
Quhilk is ane right ungodly thing
As ye may see, be his dyting.
Epitaphium Sardanapali.
CVM
te mortalem noris, presentibus exple
Delitijs animum, post mortem nulla voluptas,
Et venere, & caenis, & plumis Sardanapali.
Now have I schawin with diligens
The Monarchy of Assiriens
The whilk at king Ninus began
And endit at this my scheant man
And did endure withouttin weir,
Ane thousand, twa hundredth and forty year
As dost indyte Eusebius.
Reid him, and thow sall find it thus.
The thread buke Makand Narratioun of the Miserabill Destruction of the Fyue Citets, called Sodom, Gomorre, Seboim, Segor, and Adama, with their hole Region, and ane schort Descriptioun of the Secund, Thrid, and Ferd Monarcheis. With the Miserabill Destructioun of Jerusalem. And last of the Spiritual Monarchy. (*)☜
What notabil things yat befell
During the regne of Assiriens
Quhilk had so lang preeminens
I mene of other Nationis
Under their Dominationis?
(Said he) as storyis dost report
Induring this first Monarchy
Of Sodom, Gomorre, and their Region
As Scripture makes mentioun.
Whose people wer so sensual
In fylthie Synnis unnatural
The whilk in to my vulgar verse
My tongue abhorris to rehers
Lyke brutell beistis, by their myndis
Vnnaturally abuse their kyndis
Be fylthie stink and Lecherie
And most abominabill Sodomy,
As holy Scripture dost discryue
In that country wer Citeis five
Quhilk wer Sodom, and Gomorrah
Seboim, Segor and Adama.
Amang thame all, fund wes there none
Vndefylit, bot Loth allone.
Holy Abraham dwelt neir hand by
Quhilk prayit for Loth effectuouslie,
For God maid him aduertysment
That he wald mak sic punischement
To Loth two Angellis God did send
Hym from that fury till defend.
When the people of that Region
Saw the Angellis cum to the town
Transformit in to fair young men
Thay purposit thame for to ken
And abuse thame vnnaturallie
With there foul stink and Sodomy.
Of that gude Loth wes wounder woe
And offerit thame his Douchteris two
Thame at there plesour for till use
Bot they his Douchteris did refuse.
And than the Angellis be there micht
Those men depryuit of there sicht
And so perforce leit thame allone.
To Lothis lugeing when they wer gone
Thay him commandit haisteilie
For till depart of that City.
That foul unnatural Lecherie
Ane vengeance to the heaven did cry
The whilk did move God till sic Ire
That from the heaven Bryntstone and fire
With aufull thounding ranit down
And did consume that hole regioun
Of all that land chapit no mo
Except Loth, and his Douchteris two.
His wife wes turnit in ane stone
So wyfeles wes he left allone.
For scho wes Inobedient
And kepit no Commandment
When the Angel gaif thame command
Sone till depart out of that land
He monischit thame under greit pain
Never to luke bakwart again.
When Lothis wife hard the thoundring
Off flammand fire, and lichtning
The ugly cryis lamentabill
Of people moste Espouentabill
For none of thame had force to flee
Scho yarnit that sorrowful sicht to see
And as scho turnit hir anon
Scho wes transformit in ane stone.
Quhare scho remanis still this day
Off hir I have no more to say.
To show at lenth, I am nocht abill
That pietuous process lamentabill
Quhow Citeis, Castellis, Townis, & towris,
Villagis, Bastailyeis, and Bowris,
Thay wet all in to poulder dreuin,
Forrestis, be the rutis vpreuin.
There king, there Queen, and people all
Ʒoung and auld, brynt in poulder small
No Creature wes left on life
Foulis, Beistis, Man, nor Wyfe
The erth, the Corn, herb, fruit and tree,
The Babbis, upon the Nutise knee,
Rycht suddandlie in one Instent
Vnwarly come there Judgment
As it come in the time of Noy
When God did all the world destroy
For that self Syn of Sodomy
And most abhominabill Bowgrie
That vice at lenth for to declare
I think it is nocht necessary.
When all wes brint, flesche, blood & bonis
Hillis, valleyis, stockis, & stonis,
The countre sank for to conclude
Quhare now standis ane ugly flude,
The whilk is called the deed see,
Nixt to the countre of Iudee.
Quhois stinkand strandis blak as tar
The fleuour of it, men felith on far
In till Oroatius thow may reid
Of that countre the lenth and breid
Of lenth fifty mylis and two
And fourtene mile in breid also.
Loth of his wife was so agast
That he till ane wild montane past
Of company he had no mo
Except his lusty Douchteris two,
And be there prouocatioun
Allone in to that montane wild
His Douchteris boith he gat with child
For they beleuit in there thocht
That all the world wes gone to nocht
As it become of that Natioun
Thynkand that Generatioun
Wald faill, without they craftelie
Gar thate Father with thame to lie
And so they fand ane crafty wyle
Quhow they there Father micht begyle,
And causit him to drink wicht wyne
Quhilk men to Lycherie dost Inclyne
When he wes full, and fallin on sleip
His Douchteris quietlie did creip
In till his bed, full secreitlie
Prouokand him, with thame to lie.
And knew nocht whow he wes begyld
Tyll boith his Douchteris wer with child.
And bure two Sonnis in certain
Thay beand in that wild Montane,
Of whom two Nationis did proceid
As in the Scripture thow may reid.
In the whilk scripture thow may see
At lenth this woeful misery.
This misery become but weir
Frome Noyis flude, three houndreth year,
To gyther with four score and ellewin
As comptit Carion full ewin.
And after Noyis death I ges
Ane and forty year there wes
When Abraham was of age I wene
Four score of yeris, and nynetene
When this foul Syn of Sodomy
Was punisit so rigorouslie.
Greit God preserve us in our time
That we commit nocht sic ane crime.
Tedious it wer for me to tell
This Monarchy during what befell.
And wounderis that in erth wer wrocht
Quhilk to thy purpose langis nocht.
As whow the people of Israel
And of
••
are greit punitioun
Throuch Pharaois persecutioun.
Throuch the reid sey, with mekle Joy
Quhare king Pharaoh, richt miserably
Wes drownit with all his huge army.
Fourtie yeris in wilderness.
Moses that time as I heir say
Resauit the Law on Mont Sinai.
Led those people to Canaan.
Quhare Saull David, and Salomone
With Hebrew Kingis money one
Did richly regne in that country
Induring this first Monarchy.
The Sege of Thebes miserabill
Quhare blood wes sched Incomparabill
Of nobill men, in to those days
With vtheris terribill affrayis.
As whow the Grekis wrocht vengeans
Apon the nobill Troians
Because that Paris did conuoy
Perforce fair Helena to Troy
Quhilk wes king Menelaus wife
Quhare money one thousand lost there life.
That time the vailyant Hercules
Outthrouch the world did him addres,
Quhare he did money ane douchtie deed
As in his story thow may reid,
And whow throuch Deianeir his wife
That Campion did lose his life
In flammand fire full furiouslie
The death he sufferit cruelly.
That time Remus, and Romulus
Did found that City mayest famous
Off Rome standing in Italy
As in there story thow may see
Wald thow reid Titus Liuius
Thow suld find warkis wounderous.
Whose doucthie deidis ar well kend
And shall be to the warldis end
Thocht they began with cruelty
And endit with greit misery,
As been the manner to conclude
Of all scheddaris of saikles blood.
In Grece the ornate Poetry
Medicine, Music, Astronomy
Dutyng this first Monarchy began
Be Homerus, that famous man,
To gidder with Hesiodus
As diverse Auctouris schawis us.
It wer to lang to put in ryme
The bukis that they wrait in there time.
That Monarchy during whilk befell
As for gude Abraham, and his seid
In to the Bibill thow may reid
Quhow in this time, as I heir tell
Began the kingdom Spirituell
As I have schawin to the afore
Quharefor I speak of thame no more.
Ane schort Description of the secund, thread, and ferd Monarchy
That the nyxt Monarchy began?
As Cronicles hes done rehearse.
Prudent and full of Policy
Began the secund Monarchy.
For he wes the most godly king
That ever in Perse or Mede did ring,
Delyuerit from Captivity
The hole people of Israel
In to the time of Daniel.
The whilkis had been presoneris
In Babylon sewin score of yeris,
Tharefor God of his grace bening
Gaue him ane Divine knawleging,
During his time as I heir tell
He vsit counsale of Daniel.
Carion at lenth doth specify
Of his marvelous Natiuitie
And of his vertuus vpbringing
And whow he vincust Cresus king
With money other vailyeand deed
As in to Carion thow may reid.
Whose Successioun did endure
Tyll the tent king, thareof be sure.
Bot after his greit conquessing
Richt miserabili wes his ending
As Herodotus, doth discryue
In Scithia he lost his life
Quhare the vndantit Scithianis
Vincust those nobyll Persianis
And after that Cirus wes deed
Queen Tomyre hakkit of his heid
Quhilk wes the queen of Scythianis
In the dispyte of Persianis.
Scho kest his heid, for to conclude,
In till ane vessel full of blood,
And said, thir words cruelly
Drynk now thy fill, gyf thow be dry
Forthow did aye blood schedding thrist
Now drynk at layser gyf thow list.
Efter that Cyrus successoun
Of all the world had possessioun
Tyll Alexander with sword and fire
Obtenit perforce the third Empire,
Quhilk wes the king of Macedone
With vailyeand Grekis money one
In battle fell and furious
Vincust the mychtie Darius,
Quhilk wes the tent, and the last king
Quhilk did after king Cyrus ring,
As for this potent Empriour
Alexander the Conqueror
Geue thow at lenth, wald reid his ring
And of his cruel Conquessing
In Inglis tongue, in his greit buke
At l
•
nth his life, there thow may luke,
Quhow Alexander that potent king
Wes twef yeris in his Conquessing.
And whow for all his greit conquest
He leuit bot ane year in rest
When be his Seruand secreitlie
He poysonit wes full pieteouslie.
Lucane doth Alexander compair
Tyll thounder, or fyreflaucht, in the air
Ane cruel Planeit, ane mortal weird,
Doun thryngand people with his sweird.
Ganges that mayest famous flude.
He myx
•
t with the Indianis blood.
And Euphrates, with the blood of Pers
Whose cruelty for to rehers
And saikles blood, whilk he did sched
War richt abhominabill to be red.
Efter his schort prosperity
He deit with greit misery.
It wer to lang for to decyde it,
Quhow all his realms wer deuyde it,
Ay whill that Caesar Julius
When he had vincust Pompeius
Wes chosin Empriour and king
Abufe the Romanis for till ring.
That potent Prince, wes the first man
Quhilk the ferd Monarchy began
And had the hole Dominioun
Of euerik land and Region
Whose successouris, did regne but weir
Ouer the world money ane houndreth year.
Bot gentill Julius alas
Rang Empriour, bot little space.
Quhilk I think petty till deplore
In five Moneth, and lytill more
Be falls exorbitant tresoun
That prudent Prince wes trampit down,
And murdrest in his counsel house
Be cruel Brutus, and Cassius.
Efter that Julius wes slane
Did regne the greit Octauiane.
Of Empriouris one of the best
Duryng his time, wes peace, and rest
Ouer all the world, in ilk Region
As storyis makes mentioun.
And als I mak it to the plane
Duryng the time of Octauiane
The Sone of God, our Lord Jesus
Tuke mankynd of the Virgin treu.
And wes that time in Bethlehem borne
As Scripture makes narratioun
Of his blissit Incarnatioun.
Now have I tald the as I can.
Quhow the four Monarcheis began.
Bot in thy mind thow may consider
Quhow warldlie power been bot slidder.
For all thir greit Impyris ar gone
Thow seis there is no Prince allone
Quhilk hes the hole Dominiun
This time of every Region.
Reuaris to be of vtheris ringis
But ony right, or Iuste querrell
Quhairthrouch that they micht mak battle
And common people to dounthring
To this (said I) mak answering?
As I best can, and that richt sone
Thir monarcheis, I understand
Preordinat wer be the command
Of God, the Plasmatour of all
Vndantit people vicious.
And als for to be gracious
To thame whilk virtuous wer and gude
As Daniel hes done conclude
At lenth in till his Propheceis.
Quhow there suld be four Monarcheis.
His secunde Chepture, thow may see
Quhow after the first Monarchy
When Nebuchadnezzar King
Ane Image saw in his sleiping
With austeir luke, in hicht and breid,
And of fine pure Gold wes his heid,
His breist and arms of silver bricht
His wame of Copper, hard and wicht,
His loynis, and lymmis, of Irne riche strang
His feit of clay, Irne myxt amang.
Frome ane montane there come alone
But haud of man, ane mekle stone
Quhilk on that Figours feit did fall
And dang all down in poulder small.
Of whois Interpretatioun
Doctouris doth mak Narratioun
The heid of gold, did signify
First of Assirianis Monarchy.
The silver breist, they did apply
To Persianis, whilk rang secundly.
The wame of Copper, or of Bras
Thirdly to Grekis, compairit was.
His loynis, and lymmis, of Irne and steill
Clerkis hes thame compairit well
To Romanis, throuch there diligence
To have the ferd preeminence
Abufe all other Natioun
Be this Interpretatioun
The myxit feit, with Irne and clay
Did signify the letter day
When that the world, suld be deuydit
As efterwart shall be decydit
So Christ is signifyit the stone
Whose Monarchy sall never be gone,
For under his Dominioun
All Princis sall be strampit down
When that greit King Omnipotent
Cummis to his general Judgment.
His Monarchy than shall be knawin
As after shall be to the schawin.
And als the Scripture sall the tell
Quhow in the aucht of Daniel,
He saw in to his visioun
Be ane plane expositioun,
Quhow that y
e
Grekis, suld wirk vengeans
Upon the Medis, and Persiens.
Comparand Greikis, till ane Gait
With ane horn, fers, furious, and, hait
Quhilk slew the Ram, with hornis two
Comparit till Perse, and Mede also
And so be Daniel{is} Propheceis
All thir greit mychtie Monarcheis
The whilkis all other realms supprysit
Be the greit God, they wer deuysit
As he of Titus the Roman
Sone and air to Vespasiane
Maid him ane furious Instrument
To put the Iowis to greit torment.
Quhilk I purpose or I hyne fair.
Schortlie that process till declare.
Of the most Miserabill, And most terribill Destructioun of Jerusalem.
Induryng this Ferd Monarchy
The mayest Infortune that befell?
The most and manifest misery
Become upon the greit City
Jerusalem, when it wes suppressed
As storyis makes manifest.
Bot as the Scripture doth deuyse
First for the greit Idolatry
Quhilk they committit in Iowrie,
The honor aucht to God allone
Thay gave to Figuris of stock and stone.
Afore Christis Incarnatioun
Come this first desolatioun
Fyue houndreth yeiris, four score and ten
In Cronicles, as thow may ken,
Quhow Nebuchadnezzar king
That famous City did down thring
There King, with people money one
Brocht thame all bound to Babilone,
Quhare they remanit presoneris
The space of three score and ten yeris.
And that first desolatioun
Wes called the Transmigratioun.
Wes no man left in all there landis
Bot Purellis laborand with there handis
Till michtie Cyrus, king of Perse
As Daniel hes done rehearse,
Wes mouit be God, for till restore
The Iowis, whare that they wer afore.
Geue I neglect, I wer to blame
The last Sege of Jerusalem,
Whose rewyne wes most miserabill
And for to tell right terribill.
Wes never in erth, City nor town
Gat sic extreme destructioun.
The townis of Tyre, Thebes, nor Troy,
Thay sufferit never half sic noy.
The Empriour Vespasiane
He did deuyse that Sege certain.
Quhilk Christ spake on mont Olyueit
When he Jerusalem beheld
The teris from his eine disteld,
Seand be divine prescience
The greit destructioun and vengeance
Quhilk wes to cum on that City
His heart wes persit with piety
Sayand Jerusalem, and thow knew
Thy greit rewyne, sore wald thow rew
For nothing I can to the show
The verity thow will nocht knaw,
Nor hes in consideratioun
Thy holy visitatioun,
Quham gatherit I wald have to gidder
As errand scheip, been with there hirdis
Or as the Hen, gadderis hir birdis
Under hir wyngis tenderlie
Quhilk they refusit dispitfullie,
Quharefor sall cum that dulefull day
That no remeidie mak thow may.
Thy Doungeounis sal be dung in schonder
So that the world sall on the wounder.
Thy tempill now most triumphand
And as he said, so it befell,
As heir after I sall the tell.
The special cause of that myschance?
For schedding of the saikles blood
Of Prophetis whilkis God to thame send
And als because that they miskend
Jesus the Sone of God Souerane
When he amang thame did remane.
For all the myraklis that he schew
Maliciouslie they him misknew,
Thocht be his greit power divine
And be that self power and micht
To the blind borne he gave the sicht,
And gave the crukit men there feit
He healit all, and raisit the deed
Ʒit held they him at mortal feed
Thay did conclude that he sulde de.
Thay grew so boldin in there breistis,
The Scrybis, and Doctouris of the law
Of God nor man, whilk stude none awe.
On Christ Jesus to wyrk vengeans.
Rycht so the falls Phariseans
Ane Sect of fenyeit Religioun
Deuysit his confusioun
And send there seruandis at the last,
And with strang cordis they band him fast,
That none for blood might se his hyde
There wes nocht left ane penny breid
Vnwoundit from his feit till heid
In manner of Derisioun
Thay plet for him ane cruel Croun
Of prunyeand thornis scharpe and lang,
Quhilk on his heuinlie hede they thrang.
Syne gart him for the greiter lack
Beir his awin Gallous on his back
Tyll the vile place of Caluarie
Quhare money ane thousand man might see.
That Innocent they tuke perforce
And plat him backwart to the Cross
Throuch feit & hādis greit naillis they thrist
Tyll blood aboundantlie out brist
Without grunsching, cl
••
our, or cry
That pane he sufferit pacientlye.
And for augmenting of his greuis
Thay hangit him beiuix two theuis
Quhare men micht se the bludie strandis
Quhilkis sprang forth of his feit and handis
Frome thornis thristit on his heid
Ran down bullering stremis reid
In the presens of money one man
That blood Royal on roches ran.
Schortlie to say, that heuinlie King
In extrme dolour, there did hing
Till he said,
Consummatum est,
With ane loud cry, he gaif the gaist.
When he wes deed, they tuke one dart
And persit that Prince, outthrouch the heart,
Fra whame there ran, water and blood
The erth than trymlit to conclude.
Phebus did hyde his bemis bricht
That throuch y
e
world there wes no licht
The greit Veill of the tempill rave;
The deed men rais out of there grave,
And in the City did appeir
As in the Scripture thow may heir
Than Joseph of Arimathie
Did bury him, right honestlie.
On the thread day tryumphandlie
With his Descipulis in certain
Efter that to the heaven ascendit
Thir Iowis nothing there life amendit,
Nor gaif no credence till his sawis
As at more lenth, the story schawis
Bot cruelly they did oppres
All m
•
n, that Christis Name did profess
And persecutit money one
And Steuin they stonit to the deed.
Frome James the les they straik the heid.
This wes the cause in conclusion
Of there cruel confusioun
The prudent Iow Josephus says
That he mes present in those days,
And in his buke makes mentioun,
Quhow after Christis Ascensioun
The space of twa and forty yeris
Began those cruel mortal weris,
The secund year of Vespasiane
Quhare money, takin wer and slane.
Josephus plainly doth conclude
Wes never seen sic one multitude
Afore that time in to the town
Quhilk come for there confusioun
There greit Infortune so befell
That all the Princis of Israel
Conuenit again the time of Pace,
Bot till return they had no grace,
The bauld Romanis with there Chiftane
Titus the Sone of Vespasiane
There Army over Judea spread.
Than all men to the City fled
Beleuand there to get relief
Bot all that turnit to there myscheif.
The Romanis lappit thame about
That be no way they might wyn out
Sax Monethis did that Sege endure
Quhare lost wer money one creature
Quhilk there in misery did remane
Tyll they wer takin all and slane.
Duryng the time of this assailye
There meit, and drynk, and all did failye,
For there wes sic ane multitude
That thousandis deit for fault of fude
Necessity gart thame eight perfors
Dog, Cat, and Ratton, Ass, and Hors.
Riche men behuffit to eight there gold
Syne deit of hunger money fold.
Sic hunger wes without remeid
The quick behuffit to eight the deed.
The filth of Closetis money eight
To lenth there life they thocht it sweet.
The famous Ladyis of the town
For fait of fude they fell in swoun.
When they micht get none other meit
Thay slew there proper Barnis to eight
Bot all for nocht dispytfullie
Thair a win sowldiouris full gredilie
Reft thame that flesche most miserabill
And they with murning lamentabill
Thair wes the Prophecy compleit
As Christ afore maid narratioun
The day of his grym Passioun
When that the Ladyis for him murnit
Full pieteuslie he to thame turnit,
And said, Douchteris murne nocht for me
Murne on your awin Posterity,
Within schort time sall cum the day
That men of this Cietie sal say,
When they ar trappit in the snare
Blyst be the wame that never bare.
The barren papis, than they sall blis
That dulefull day ye sall nocht mis.
This Prophecy it come to pas
That day, with money loud allas
Sic sorrowful lamentatioun
Wes never hard in that Natioun
Seand those lusty Ladyis sweet
Deand for hounger in the streit,
There husbandis, nor their childring
Mycht give to thame no conforting
Nor yet releue thame of there harmis
Bot atheris deand in vtheris armis.
Efter this woeful Indigence
Amang thame rose sic Pestilence
Quhare in there deit money hounder
Quhilk till declare, it wer greit wounder.
And for final conclusioun
Those weirlyke wallis they dang down
Prince Titus, with his Cheualrie
With sound of troumpe Tryumphandlie
He enterit in that greit City.
Bot till declare I think pity
The panefull clamour horribill
Of woundit folk most miserabill
There wes nocht ellis, bot take and slay
For there might no man wyn away.
The strandis of blood, ran throuch the streit
Of deed folk trampit under feit
Auld Wedowis in the preis wer smorit
Ʒoung Virginis schamefullie deflorit.
The greit Tempill of Salamone
With money ane curious caruit stone
With perfect pinnakles on hicht
Quhilkis wer richt beautiful and wicht
Quhare in riche Iowellis did abound
Thay ruscheit rudelie to the ground
And set in till there furious Ire
Sancta Sanctorum
in to fire.
And with extreme confusioun
All there greit Dungeonis they dang down.
There bursin wer the boldin breistis
Of Bischoppis, Princis of the preistis,
There takin wes the greit vengeans
On falls Scrybis, and Phariseans.
All there payncit Ipocrisie
That time micht mak thame no supply
That day they dulefullie repentit
That to the death of Christ consentit
Thocht it wes out Saluatioun
It wes to there Dampnatioun.
The vengeance of the blood saikles
That day upon Jerusalem fell.
Bot tedious it wer to tell
The greit extreme confusioun
And of blood sic effusioun
Wes never slane so money ane man
At one time sen the world began.
The Iowis that day gat there desire
Quhilk they did ask in to there Ire
As been in Scripture specifyit
When Ponce Pilate the President
Said to thame, I am Innocent
Of the Iuste blood of Christ Jesus
Thay cryit, his Blude licht upon ws
And on our Generatioun.
Thay gat there Supplicatioun
That day, with money cairfull cry
There blood wes sched aboundantlye.
Josephus wryttis in his buke
His Cronicle who lift to luke
During that cruel Sege certain
Wer ellewin houndreth thousand slane
Of presonaris, well tauld and seen
Fourescore of thousandis, and sewintene.
Out of the land they did expel
All the people of Israel
And for there greit Ingratytude
Thay leave yet under Seruytude.
There is na Iow, in no country
Quhilk hes one fute of property
Nor never had withouttin weir
Sen this day fyuetene hundredth year.
Nor never sall, I to the show
Tyll that they turn to Christis law.
Sum says, that Iowis money fald
Wer thretty for ane penny sald,
As Judas said the King of glore
For thretty pennyis, and no more.
Efter that money wer myscheuit
Quhē novel{is} past, whow lāg they leuit
Apon there Gold withouttin dout
Thay slit their bellyis to serche it out.
The rest in Egypt, they did send
Presonaris to there lives end.
Titus tuke in his cumpanie
Greit noumer of the most worthy
With him to Rome he led thame bound
Syne cruelly did thame confound
His victory for till decore
And for Agmenting of his glore
Gart put thame in to public places
Quhare all folk, might behauld there faces
Syne with wild Lyonis cruelly
He gart deuore thame dulefullie.
This hie Tryumphand mychtie town
At Pasche, wes put to confusioun
Because that in the time of pace
Thay Crucifyit the King of grace.
Sum hes this mater done indyte
More Ornatlie than I can write
Quharefor I speak of it no more
Only to God be laude and glore.
Of the Miserabill end of Certane tirrannous Princis. And specially the Begynnaris of the Four Monarcheis. ☜(✚)
NOW
have I done declare at thy desyris
As thow demandit in to termis schort
And wha began, the principal Impyris
As Cronicle and Scripture dost report
Quharefor my Sone, I hartlie the exhort
Perfytlie prent in thy remembrance
Of this Inconstant world the variance
The Princis of thir four greit Monarcheis
In there most highest pomp, Imperialis
Traistyng to be most sure set in there seis
The fraudful world gaif to yaim mortal fall
•
is
For there reward, bot dirk memoriallis.
Thocht ouir y
e
world, they had preeminence
Of it they gat none other recompense.
For siclyke as the snaw dost melt in May.
Throuch the reflex of Phebus bemis bricht
Thir greit Impyris, right so ar went away
Gone been their glore, their power and there micht
Because yai wer reuar{is} w
t
out in richt
And blood scheddaris, full cruel to conclude
Richt cruelly tharefor, wes sched their blood.
Behald whow God, ay sen the world began,
Hes maid of tyrrane Kingis Instrumentis
To scurge people, and to keill money one man
Quhilk{is} to his law wer Inobedientis
Quhē they had done perfurneis his ententis
In dantyng wrangous people schamefullie
He sufferit thame be scurgit cruelly.
Euin as ye scule master dost mak ane wand
To dant and ding scolaris of rude ingyne
The whilkis will nocht study at his command
He scurgis thame, and only to that fine
That they suld to his true counsale inclyne
When they obey, and meisit been his Ire
He takis the wand, and castis in to the fire.
God of king Pharaoh, maid one Instrument
Quhilk wes the greit king of Egiptiens
His awin peculiar people to torment.
And finally, he with his greit Army
In the reid sey, thame drownit dulefullie.
Rycht so, of Nebuchadnezzar king.
God maid of him ane furious Instrument
Jerusalem and the Iowis, to down thring
Syne reft him from his riches and his rent
And him transformit in ane beist bru
•
ell
Seuin yeris and more, as wryttis Daniel
Alexander throuch prydefull tirrannie
In yeris twelf did mak his greit conquest
Ay scheddand saikles blood full cruelly
Tyll he wes king of kingis he tuke no rest,
In all the world, when he wes full possessed
In Babylon thronit triumphandlie
Throuch poysoun strang, decesit dulefullie
Duke Hannibal the strang Chartagiane
The danter of the Romanis pomp and glore
Be his power wer money one thousand slane
As may be red at lenth in till his story
At Cannas whar he wan the victory
On Romanis hādis y
e
deed lay on ye ground
Thre heipit Buschellis wer of ringis found.
Into that mortal battle, I heir sane
Of the Romanis, most worthy weriouris
By presonaris, wer forty thousand slane
Of whō there wes thretty wise senatouris
And xx. Lordis, y
e
whilk{is} had dene Pretour{is}
That deit to in defense of there cuntrie
And for till hald there land at liberty.
What reward gat this cruel Campioun
When he had slane so greit one multitude
And when the glas of his glory wes run?
Ane schamefull death, & schortlie to conclude
This been reward of all scheddaris of blood
For he gad sic extreme confusioun
He slew himself in drinking strang poysoun.
Behald the two most famous Campiounis
(That is to say) Julius, and Pompey
Quhilkis did conqueis all erdlie Regionis
Alsweill main land, as Ilis in the sey.
And to the town of Rome gart thame obey
For Pompeius subde wit the Orient,
And Julius Caesar all the Occident.
Bot finally thir two did strive for stait
Quhare throw three hundred .M. mē wer slane
Bot Pompeius after that greit debait
He murdreisit wes, the story tellis plane.
Than Julius wes prince and Souerane
Abufe the hole world, Empriour and king
Bot in to rest, schort time indurit his ring.
For within five monethis, & little more
Amyd his Lordis in the counsale house
He murdresit wes, what nedis process more?
As I have said, be Brute, and Cassius.
Gyf thou wald knaw, there dethis dolorous
Thou most at lenth, go reid y
e
Roman story
Quhilk hes this mater put in memory.
Gone is the goldin world, of Assirianis.
Of whom king Ninus, wes first & principal
Gone is the silver world of Persianis,
The Copper world of Grekis now is thrall
The world of Irne, whilk wes the last of all,
Comparit to the Romanis in there glore,
Ar gone rychtso, I heir of thame no more.
Now is the world of Irne myxit with clay,
As Daniel at lenth, hes done indyte.
The greit Impyris ar melted clean away.
Now is the world of dolour and despyte
I se nocht ellis, bot troubill infinyte
Quharefor my Sone, I mak it to the kend
This world I wat is drawand to ane end
Tokning{is} of derth, hounger, and pestilence,
With cruel weris, baith be sey and land
Realm aganis realm, with mortal violence
Quhilk signifyis, y
e
last day ewin at hand.
Quharefor my Sone be in thy faith constand
Raising thy heart to God and cry for grace
And mend thy life, while y
u
hes time & space.
The fifth Spiritual And Papal Monarchy.
Quhilk hes the world now at command,
As had the Kingis of Assirianis
The Persis, Grekis, or the Romanis
Quho hes now mayest Dominioun
Of euerilk land and Region?
That hes the principal Monarchy
Abuse the world universal
With hole power Imperial
As Alexander, or Darius
Or as had Caesar Julius
For Orient and Occident
To thame wer all obedient.
Nochtwithstanding, I find one King
Quhilk in till Europe doth ring,
That is the potent Pope of Rome
Impyrand over all Christindome.
To whom no prince may be compair
As Cannon lawis can declare.
All Princis of the Occident
Ar till his grace obedient.
For he hes hole power compleit
Boith of the body and the spreit
Quhilk never had no Prince afore
Except the michtie king of glore.
To Christ he is greit Lewtennand
In holy Peteris Sait sittand.
So he is of all kingis king
Quhilkis in to Europe now doth ring.
And as the Roman Empriouris
Having the world under there curis
Had Princis Knichtis, and Campionis
Rewlaris in till all Regionis
Vphalding there Authority
Vsing Justice and policy,
Rycht so this potent Pope of Rome
The Souerane king of Christindome
He hes in till ilk country
His Princis of greit gravity
In sum countries his Cardinalis
In there most precious apparaillis
Archtbischoppis, Bischoppis thow may se
Defending his authority.
With other potent Patriarkis,
Collegis full of cunning Clerkis.
Abbottis, and Priouris, as ye ken
Misrewlaris of Religious men.
Officialis, with there Procuratouris
Whose langsum law, spulyeis the puris.
Archedenis, and Denis, of dignity
Greit Doctouris of Divinity.
There Chantouris, and there Sacristanis
There Tresoureris, and there Subdenis,
Legionis of Priests Seculeris
Personis, Vicaris, Monkis, and Freitis,
Of diverse Ordouris money one
Quhilk langsum wer for till expone,
In syndrie habitis as ye ken
Different from other Christin men.
Fair Ladyis of Religioun
Professit in every Region.
Fals Heremitis, fassionit like the freiris
Proud parische Clerkis, and Pardoneris,
There Gryntaris, and there Chamberlanis
With there temporal Courtissanis
Thus all the world be land and sey
His Sanctitude they do obey
Nocht only his spiritual Kingdom
Bot the greit Empriour of Rome
And kingis of euerilk Region
That day when they resaue there crown
Thay mak aith of fidelity
Tyll defend his authority.
Moreover, with humyll reverence
Thay mak till him obedience
Be there selfs, or Ambassadouris
Or vtheris Ornate Oratouris.
Quho doth gant stand his Majesty
His Lawis or his Liberty
Or haldis ony Opinioun
Contrair his greit Dominioun
Other be way of deed or words
Ar put to death, be fire or swordis,
Sanct Peter stylit wes,
Sanctus,
Bot he is called,
Sanctissimus.
His style at lenth, give thow wald knaw
Thow most go luke the Cannon Law
Boith in the sixth and Clementene
His staitly style there may be seen.
There sall thow find, reid give thow can
Quhow he is nother God nor man.
What is he than, be your Judgment
Far from our Souerane Lord Jesus
And till his kind contratious.
Geue he be nother, what is he than?
That questioun will declare to the.
It dost transcend my rude Ingyne
His Sanctitude for till defyne
Or to show the authority
Pertening to his Majesty
So greit one Prince, whare sall thow find
That Spirituallie may lous and bind.
Nor be whame synnis ar forgeuin
Be they with his Disciplis schreuin
Quhame ever he bindis be his micht
Thay boundin ar in Goddis sicht,
Quhame ever he lousis in erth heir down
Ar lousit be God in his Region.
Als he is Prince of Purgatory
Delyuering saulis from pane to glory,
Of that dirk Dungeoun but dout
Quhame ever he plesis, he takis thame out
Our secreit Synnis every year
We mon show to sum priest or freir
And take there Absolutioun
Or ellis we get no remissioun.
So be this way, they cleirlie ken
The secretis of all secular men.
There secretis we knaw nocht at all
Thus ar we to thame bound and thrall.
What ever there Ministeris commandis
Most be obey it without demandis.
Quharefor my Sone, I say to thee,
This is ane meruelous Monarchy
Quhilk hes power Imperial
Boith of the body and the Saull.
Father (quod I) declare to me
Quho did begin this Monarchy?
That Empire gratiouslie began
Nocht be the fire, nor be the sword
And left in till his Testament
Money one devote Document
With his Successouris to be vsit
Thocht money of thame be now abusit
For Peter and Paul, with all the rest
Of there Brethren maid manifest
The law of God with true intent
Precheing the auld and New Testament.
Thay led there life in poverty
Deuotioun and Humylitie
As did there Master Christ Jesus.
And war nocht half so glorious
As there Successor now in Rome
Impyrand over all Christindome.
Efter the death of Peter and Paul
And Christis true Discpulisall
There Successouris within few
•
erris
As at more lenth, chare story betis
Full craftelie clam to the hicht
Frome Spiritual life, to temporal micht.
When did begin there temporal glore?
Or ever ane Paip gat ony land
Twa and thretty gude Paipis in Rome
Ressauit the Crown of Martirdome,
Bot nocht the Thrinfald Diadame
To weir three crounis they thocht gret schame
Tyll Sylvester the Confessor
Frome Constantine the Empriour
Ressauit the realm of Italy
Rychtso of Rome the greit City.
That wes the rute of there riches
Than sprang the well of welthines.
When that the Paip wes maid ane king
All Princis howit at his bidding.
This Act wes done withouttin weir
Frome Christis death, three hundredth year
Than Lady Sensuality
Tuke Lug
•
ing in that greit City,
Quhare schosensyne hes done remane
As there awin lady Souerane.
Than Kingis in till all Nationis
Maid Priests greit foundationis
Thay thocht greit merit and honor
To conterfait the Empriour
As did David of Scotland King
The whilk did found, during his ring,
Fyftene Abbayis, with temporal landis
Withouttin teindis, and offerandis
Be whose holy simplicity
He left the Crown in poverty
Now have I schawin the as I can
Quhow there temporal Empire began
Ascending up ay gre by gre
Abufe the Empriouris Majesty
So when they gat amang there handis
Of Italy, all the Empriouris landis,
Efter that in ilk country
Sprang up there temporalitie
With so greit riches and sic rent
That they gan to be negligent
In making Ministratioun
To Christis true Congregatioun,
And tuke no more pane in there preching
And far les travel in there teching
Changeing there Spiritualitie
In temporal Sensuality.
That there Empire sall lang endure?
(Quod he) there glore sall have ane end.
I mene there temporal Monarchy
Sall turn in till humility
Throuch Goddis word without debait
Thay sall turn to there first estait.
As Danselis Prophecy apperis
Thareto sall nocht be money yeris
Quhowbeit Chrstis faith, sall never faill
Bot more and more, it sall preuaill.
Thocht Chrstis true Congregatioun
Suffer greit tribulatioun.
Thynk ye there Empire may cum down
(Quod he) for Inobedience
Abusing the Commandment
Vsing there awin Traditioun
More than his Institutioun.
For Christ in his last conuentioun
Tyll his Discipulis gave command
That they sulde pas in every land
To teche and preche, with true intens
His law, and his commandment.
None other office, he to thame gave
He did nocht bid thame seek nor crave
Cors presentis, nor offerandis
Nor get Lordshippis of temporal landis.
Bot now it may be hard and seen
Baith with thine eris, and thine eine,
Quhow Prelatis now, in every land
Takis little cure of Christis command
Nother in to there dedis nor sawis
Neglecting there awin Cannon lawis
Vsing thame selfs contrarious
For the mayest part to Christ Jesus.
And till all people, of truth ane techeour
Ane Pope, Bischop, nor Cardidall
To teche nor preche, will nocht be thrall.
Thay send forth freitis, to preche for thame
Quhilk garris y
e
people, mok yame w
t
schame.
Richely in to no realm to ring
Bot fled temporal authority
As in the Scripture thow may see
All men may knaw, whow Popis ringis
In Dignity abufe all kingis,
Als well in temporalitie
As in to Spiritualitie
Thow may see be experience
The Popis princely preeminence.
In Cronicles give thow list to luke
Quhow Carion wryttis in his buke
Ane Notabill Narratioun
The year of our Saluatioun
Ellewin houndreth, and sex and fyftie
Pope Alexander presumptuouslie,
Quhilk wes the thread Pope of that name,
To Friderik Empriour did defame,
In Veneis that triumphand town
That nobill Empriour gart lie down
Apon his wame, with schame and lack
Syne tread his feit upon his back
In taikin of Obedience.
There he schew his preeminence
And Causit his Clergy for to sing
Thir words eftter following.
SVPER
Aspidem & basiliscum ambulabir:
That is, thou sal gang vpō the edder & the Coketrice.
And thow sall tread down the Lioun & the Dragoun.
Than said this humill Empriour
I do to Peter, this honor
The Pope answerit with words wroith
Thow sall me honor and Peter boith.
Christ for to show his humill spreit
Did wasche his pure Discipulis feit.
The Popis holiness I wys
Wyll suffer Kingis his feit to kys
Bot Christ Jesus, Saiffer of men
In erth had nochtane penny breid
Quhare on he might repose his heid.
Quhowbeit the Popis excellence
Hes Castellis of Magnificence.
Abbottis, Bischoppis, and Cardinalis
Hes plesand palices royallis
Lyke Paradyse, ar those prelatis places
Ihone, Androw, James, Peter nor Paul
Had few houses amang thame all
Frome time they knew the verity
Thay did contempne all property
And wer richt hartfully content
Of meit drynk, and Abuilyement.
Christ bure ane cruel crown of thorn
The Pope three Crownis for the no
•
is
Of gold, poulderit with precious stonis.
Of gold and silver, I am sure.
Christ Jesus tuke bot little cure
And left nocht when he yield the spreit
To by him self, ane wynding schei
•
.
Bot his Successor gude Pope
•
hone
When he deceisit in Auinione
He left behind him one tresour
Of gold and silver by mesour
Be one Iuste computatioun
Weill five and twentye Myllioun
As doth Indyte Palmerius
Reid him and thow sall find it thus.
Christis Disciplis wer well knowin
Throuch virtue, whilk wes be thame schawin
In special fervent cheritie
Greit patience, and humylitie,
The Popis floke in all regionis
Ar knawin best be there clippit crounis.
In to the Cane of Galilie
Quhare he be his power Diuyne
Did turn the water in to wyne.
And als cheisit sum Maryit men
To be his seruandis as ye ken
And Peter during all his life
He thocht no Syn, to have ane wife.
Ʒe sall nocht find in no passage
Quhare Christ forbiddith Marriage
Bot leifsum till ilk man to Marie
Quhilk wantis the gift of Chaistitie.
The Pope hes maid the contrar lawis
In his kingdom, as all men knawis
None of his preistis dat marie wyfis
Under no les pain nor their lie
•
is
Thocht they have Concubynis fyftene
In to that cace, they ar ouersene
What chaistitie, they keep in Rome
Is well kend over all Christindome.
Onto the Empriouris excellence
And Causit Peter for to pay
Tribute to Caesar, for thame tway.
Paul biddis us be obedient
To king's as the most excellent.
The contrar did Pope Selestene
When that his Sanctitude serene
Did crown Henry the Emprioure
I think he did him small honor
For with his feit he did him crown
Syne with his fute, the croun dang down
Sayand, I have Authority
Men till exalt to dignity
And to mak Emprioutis and kingis
And Syne depryue thame of there ringis.
Peter be my Opinioun
Did never use sic Dominioun.
Apperandlie be my Judgment
That Pope red never the New Testament
Geue he had lernit at that lore
He had refusit sic vane glore.
As Barnabas Peter and Paul
And rytht so Christis Discipulis all.
When Sanct Peter come till his house
Tyll worschip him fell at his feit,
Bot Sanct Peter with humyll spreit
D
••
rais him up with diligence
And did refuse sic Reverence.
The Angellis feit he wald have kist
Bot
〈◊〉
•
ic honor,
Say me I am bot seruitour
Rycht so thy fallow, and thy brother
Geue glore to God, and to none other.
Sic honor did refuse at all
In Listra, whare they wrocht greit workis
The priest of Jupiter, with his clerkis
And all the people with there auyce
Wald have maid to thame Sacrifyce
Of whilk they wer so discontent
That they there clothing rave and rent
And Paul amang thame rudely ran
Sayand, I am ane mortal man
Geue glore to God, of king is king
That maid heaven, erth, and everything:
Sen Peter and Paul vane glore refusit
With Popis why sulde sic glore be vsit.
Peter, Androw, Ihone, James, and Paul,
And Christis true Discipulis all
Be Goddis word there faith defendit,
To birn, and skald, they never pretendit
The Pope defendis his traditioun
Be flammand fire, without remissioun,
Quhowbeit men brek the law Diuyne
Thay ar nocht put to so greit pyne
For huredome, nor Idolatry
For Incest, nor Adultery,
Or when young Virginis ar deflorit
For sic thing men ar nocht abhorit.
Bot who that eitis flesche in to lent
Ar terriblie put to torment
And give ane priest happynnis to marie
Thay do him baneis, curs, and wary
Thocht it be nocht aganis the law
Of God, as men may cleirly knaw
Betuix thir two, what difference been
Be faithful folk it may be seen
Sic Antitheses money mo
I might declare whilkis I lat go
And may nocht tarry to compyle
Of lik ordout, the staitlie style.
The silly Nun will think greit schame
Without scho called be Madame.
The pure Priest think's he gettis no richt
Be he nocht stylit like ane knicht,
And called Schir, afore his name,
As schir Thomas, and schir Williame
All Monkis ye may heir and se
Ar called Denis, for Dignity
Quhowbeit his mother milk the kow
He man be called Dene Androw
Dene Peter, dene Paul, and dene Robart
With Christ they take ane painful part
With dow
•
ill clethyng from the called
Eirand and drinkand when they wald
With curious Countryng in the queir
God wat gyf they by heaven full deir.
My lord Abbot, richt venerabill
Ay marschellit vpmost at the tabill
My lord Bischop, most reverent
Set abufe Erlis in Parliament
And Cardinalis during there ringis
Fallowis to Princis, and to Kingis.
The Pope exaltit in honor
Abufe the potent Empriour.
The proud Persone I think trewlie
Heleidis his life right lustelie,
For why, he hes none other pyne
Bot take his teind, and spend it syne
Bot he is oblissit be resoun
To preiche until his Patichioun
Thocht they want preiching sewintene year
He will nocht want ane boll of beir.
Sum Personis hes at his command
The wantoun Wenchis of the land,
Als chay have gret prerogatyuis
That may depart ay with there wyuis
Without Diuorce, or summonding
Syne take ane other but wedding.
Sum man wald think ane lusty life
Ay when he list, to change his wyte
And take ane other of more beauty.
Bot Secularis wantis that liberty
The whilk ar bound in marriage
Bot they like Rammis in to there rage
Vnpissilit rynnis amang the yowis
So lang as Nature in thame growis.
And als the Vicar, as I trow
He will nocht faill to take ane kow
And vpmaist claith (thocht babis thame ban)
Frome ane pure selie housband man
When that he lyis for till de
Hauyng small barnis two or three
And his three ky withouttin mo
The Vicar moste have one of though
With the gray cloke, that happis the bed
Howbeit that he be puirlie cled.
And gif the wife de on the morne
Thocht all the babis lulde be forlorn
The other kow he cleikis away
With hir pure coit of roploch gray
And gif within twa days or three
The eldest Chyld hapnis to de
Of the thread kow, he will be sure.
When he hes all than under his cure
And Father, and Mother boith ar deed
Beg mon the babis, without remede.
Thay hald the Corps at the kirk style
And there it most remane ane while
Tyll they get sufficient souertie
For there kirk richt and dewitie
Than cummis the landis Lord perfors
And cleikis till him ane herield hors.
Pure laubouraris, waid that law wer down
Quhilk never wes foundit be resoun
I hard thame say under confessioun
That law is brother till Oppressioun.
My Sone I have schawin as I can
Quhow this fyft Monarchy began.
Whose gret Empire for to report
At lenth, the time been all to schort.
Ane descriptioun of The Court of Rome. *☜
Quhilk hes the Spiritual dominioun,
And Monarchy, abufe all Christindome
Schaw me I make yow supplicatioun?
(Said he) to Peter, & Paul, thocht yai succeid
I think they preue nocht that in to their deed.
For Peter Androw & John wer fischear{is} fine
Of men and women, to the Christin faith
Bot thai haif spread there Nec w
t
huik & line
On tentis riche, on gold, and other graith
Sic fisching to neglect, they will be laith
For why, yai haif fischit in ouerthort y
e
strandis
Ane gret part treuly of all tēporallandis.
With that the tent part of all gude mouabil.
For the vphalding of there Digniteis.
So been there fisching wounder proffitabill
On the dry land, als well as on the seis
There hery water, they spread in all countries
And w
t
their hois net, daily drawis to Rome
The most fine gold, that is in Christindome.
I dar well say, within this fifty year
Rome hes resauit forth of this Region
For Bullis & benefice (qubilk yai by full deir)
Quhilk my
t
full weil haif payit ane king{is} ransōn
Bot war I worthy for to weir ane croun
Priests suld no more out substance so cōsum
Sending yeirlie so gret riches to Rome.
In to there tramalt net, thai fangit ane fische
More nor ane whaill worthy of memory
Of whom yai haif had money dainty dische
Be whom they ar exaltit to greit glory
That maruelo{us} monstour, called Purgatory
Howbeit till us, it is nocht amiabill
It hes to thame, been veray profitabill.
Lat they yat fructeful fische eschaip their net
Be whom they have so gret commoditeis
Ane more fat fische, I traist they sall not get
Thocht they wald serche ouerthort y
e
occeane seis
Adew the daily dolorous Dirigeis
Selie pure preistis, may sing w
t
heart full sorry
Want they that painful palice Purgatory.
Fair weil Monkrie, w
t
Chanoun Nun & freir
Alas they will be lichtleit in all landis
Cowlis will no more be kend in kirk nor queir
Lat thai y
e
frutful fische eschaip there handis
I counsel thame to bind him fast in bandis
For Peter, Androw, nor John, culled never get
So profitable ane fische, in to their net.
There Merchandice, in till all Nationis
As prentit leid, there walx, and parchem ent
There pardonis and there Dispensationis
Thay do exceid sum temporal princis rent
As for there Monkis their chanounis & yale Freiris
And lusty Ladyis of Religioun
I knaw nocht whar to there office effeiris
Bot men may se there greit abusioun
Thay ar nocht like, in to conclusioun
Nother in to their words, nor there workis
To the Apostilis, Prophet{is} nor Patriarkis.
Gif presently thir Prelatis cannot preiche
Than lat ilk Byschop have ane Suffragane
Or successor, whilk can the people teiche
On there expensis yeirlie to remane
To cause the people from there vice refrane.
And when ane prelate, hapnith to deceace
Than put ane perfect preichour in his place.
Do they nocht so, on thame sall lie the tharge
Geuand unable men Authority
As who wald mak ane steirmā til ane barge
Of ane blind borne, whilk can no dainger so
Geue that schip droun, forsuth I say for me
Quho gaif that steirman sic commussioun
Suld of the schip mak restitutioun.
The human Lawis, that ar contrarious
And nocht conforming to the Law divine
Thay sulde expel, and hald thame odious
Quhē thai persaue, thame cū to no gude fine
Inuentit bot be sensual mennis Ingyne
As that law whilk forbiddis Marriage
Causing young Clerks birn in lustis rage.
But special grace, laubour, and abstinence
In till our flesche ay regnis till we starve.
That first Original syn, Concupiscence,
Quhilk we throuch Adamis Inobedience
Hes done Incur, and sall endure forever
Quhill that our soul and body death disseuer.
In Paradyce (as Scripture doth record)
In Galilie, right so I understand
Auld Law, & New, there to they do concord
I think for me, better that they had slepit
Nor till have maid ane law, and never kepit.
And of hir flesche, cled his Divinity,
Quhy half they done y
e
blisful band deiectit
In there kingdom, wald god it wer co
•
rectit
That yōng prelatis, micht marie lusty wyfis
And noche in sensual lust, to leid there lyfis.
Did nocht Christ these of honest maryit men
Aisweill as they that kepit Chaistitie
For to be his Discipulis as ye ken
As in the Scripture cleirlie thow may see
Thay keipit still there wyfis with honesty
As Peter, and his spousit brethren all
Obseruit Chaistitie Matrimoniall.
Quhow sum suld ryis in to the latter age
That frō the true faith suld depart and fall
And suld forbid the band of Marriage
Als thow sall find, in to that sam passage
Thay suld command from meitis till abstene
Quhilk God creat his people to sustene
Bot sen y
e
Pope our spiritual prince & king
He dost ouerse sic vices manifest
And in his kingdom, sufferith for to ring
The men be whom the verity been suppressed
I excuse nocht him self, more than the rest
Alas how suld we membris be well vsit
When so our spiritual heidis been abusit.
The famous ancient Doctor Auicene
Sayis whē evil rewme discendis frō y
e
heid
In to the membris, generith mekle pane
Without there be maid haistelie remeid
Quhē that called humor dōnwart dost {pro}ceid,
In Sennounis it causis Arthetica,
Rychtso in the handis cramp Chiragra.
Of Maledyis it generis money mo
Bot give men get sum Souerane preserve
As in the these Scyathica Passio,
And in the breist, sometime y
e
strang Caterue
Quhilk causis men richt haistelie to starve,
And Podagra, difficill for to cure
In mennis feit, whilk lang time dost endure.
So to this most triumphand court of Rome,
This symilitude, full well I may compair
Quhilk hes been herschip of all Christindome
And to the world ane evil exemplair
That vmwhyle was Lod sterre, & luminair
And the most sapient Sait of Sanctitude
Bot now alas bair of Beatitude.
Quhilk vmwhyle wes ane bricht Ierusalē
As planelie menis the Apostill Ihone
There most famous City, hes tint the fame,
Inhabiteris thairof there nobyll Name:
For why, they have of Sanctis Habitakle
To Simon Magus maid ane Tabernakle,
And horribill vaill of euerilk kind of vice
Ane laithlie Loch of stinkand Licherie,
Ane curssit Coue corrupt with Couatyce,
Bordourit about with pride and Symonie
Sum says ane Cistern full of Sodomy
Whose vice in special, gif I wald declare
It war yneuch, for till perturb the air.
Of truth the hole Christin Religioun
Throuch thame ar scandalizat and offendit,
It can nocht faill, bot there abusioun
Afore the Throne of God it is ascen
•
it
The plaigis of Ihonis Reuelatioun
Sal fall upon there Generatioun.
O Lord whilk hes the hartis of euerilkking
In to thy hand, I mak the Suplicatioun
Cōuert that court, that of there grace bening
Thay wald mak general reformatioun
Amang thame selfs, in euerilk Natioun
That they may be ane holy exemplare
Tyll us, thy pure lawit common populare.
Houngerit alas, for fault of Spiritual fude
Because from us been hid the verity
O prince, whilk sched for us thy {pre}cius blood
Kendle in us, the fire of Cheritie
And saif us from Eternal misery
Now laubouryng in to thy kirk Militant
That we may all cū to thy kirk triumphant.
The fourt buke makand mentioun of the death, Of the Antichrist, Of the General Ingement, of Certane plesouris of the Glorifeit Bodyis, And whow every Creature desiris to se the last day. With ane Exhortatioun be Experience to the Courteour. &c.
Sen ye of your benevolence
Hes causit me for to consider
Quhow warldlie Pomp, & glore been slidder
Be diverse storyis miserabill
Quhilkis to rehers been Lamentabill
Ʒit or we pas forth of this vaill
I pray yow give me your counsel
What I sall do in time cumming
To haif the glore Euerlasting?
To keep the Lordis Commandment
And preis the nocht to clym over hie
To no warldlie Authority
Quho in the world doth most reiois
Ar farrest ay from there purpois
Wald thow leave warldlie vaniteis
And think on four extremiteis
Quhilkis ar to cum, and that schortlie
Thow wald never syn wylfullie,
Prent thir four, in thy memory
The Deith, the Hell, and Heuinnis glory
And extreme Judgment general
Quhare thow mon rander compt of all
Thow sall nocht faill to be content
Of quiet life, and sober rent.
Considering no man can be sure
In erth one hour for till endure
So all warldlie prosperity
Is myxit with greit misery.
Wer thow Empriour of Asia
Kink of Europe, and Africa,
Greit Dominator of the sey
And thocht the Heuinnis did the obey
All fyschis sweming in the strand
All beist and foul at thy command
Concluding thow wer king over all
Under the heaven Imperial
In that most hich Authority
Thow suld find leist tranquility
More prosperous life had never none
Sic riches, with so greit plesour
Had never king nor Empriour
With most profound Intelligence
And super excellent Sapience
His plesand Habitationis
Precellit all other Nationis
Gardingis and parkis, for hartis and hyndis
Stankis with fische of diverse kyndis
Most profound maisteris of Music
That in the world wes none thame like.
Sic tresour of gold, and precious stonis
In erth, had never no king at onis.
And three hundredth fair Concubenis
In erth, there wes nothing plesand
Contrarious till his command.
He thocht it vane, and vanity
And might never find repose compleit
Without afflictioun of the spreit.
He hauand sic prosperite
With so gret riches by mesour
Nor he had infinite plesour?
My sone the suith gif thow wald knaw
There is no warldlie thing at all
May satyfie ane man's Saull
For it is so Insatiabill
That heaven and erth, may nocht be abill
One Saull allone to mak content
Tyll it se God Omnipotent
Wes never none, nor never shall be
Satiate, that sycht till that he se.
Quharefore my Sone, set nocht thy cure
Except the death allanerlie
Quhilk followis man continually
Tharefor my Sone, rrmember the
Within schort time that thow man de
Nocht knawing whē, whow in what place
Bot as it plesith the King of grace.
Of the Deith,
OF Miserie moste Miserabill
Is Deith, and moste abhominabill
That dreidful Dragone w
t
his dartis
Ay reddy for to pers the hartis
Of euerilk Creature on live
Contrar whose strenth may no man strive.
Of dolent Deith, this sore sentence
Wes geuin throw Inobedience
Of our Parentis, alas tharefore,
As I have done declare afore
Quhow they, and there Posterity
Wer all condampnit for to de
〈◊〉
•
o what the flesche to death be thrall
〈…〉
the Sa
•••
〈◊〉
Immortal,
And so of his benignity
Hes myxit his Justice with Mercy
Tharefor call to remembrance
Of this falls world the variance
Quhow we like Pylgram{is} ewin & morrow
Ay traveling throuch this vaill of sorrow
Sum time in vane prosperity
Sum time in greit misery
Sum time in blis, sum time in baill
Sum time richt seek, and sum time haill
Sum time full riche, and sum time pure
Quharefore my Sone, take little cure
Nother of greit prosperity
Nor yet of greit Miserie
Bot plesand life, and hard mischance
Ponder thame boith in one balance
Considering none authority
Ryches, wisdom, nor dignity
Empire of Realms, beauty, nor strenth
May nocht one day, our lyuis lenth
Sen we ar sure, that we moste de
Fair well all vane felicite.
Greitlie it doth perturb my mind
Of dolent death, the diverse kind
Thocht death till every man resortis
Ʒit strykith he in syndrie sortis
Sum be hait Feueris violence
Sum be contagious Pestilence
Sum be Justice executioun
Bene put to death, without Remissioun
Sum hangit, sum doth lose there heidis
Sum brynt, sum soddin in to leidis
And sum for there vnleifsum artis
Ar rent and rewin upon the ractis
Sum ar dissoluit be poysoun
Sum on the nycht ar murdreist down
Sum fallis in to frenesie
Sum deis in Hydropisie
And vtheris strange Infirmiteis
Quharem money ane thousand deis
Quhilk human Nature dost abhor
As in the Gutt, gravel, and gor
Sum in the flux, and fever quarrane
Bot ay the hour of death vncertane
Sum ar dissoluit suddandlie
Be Catharre, or be Apoplexy.
Sum doth destroy thame self also
As Hannibal, and wise Cato.
Be thounder death sum dost consume
As he did the thread king of Rome
Callit Tullus Hostilius,
As wryttis greit Valerius
For he and his houshald atonis
Wer brynt be thounder flesche and bonis.
Sum deis be extreme exces
Of Joy, as Valerie doth express
Sum be extreme Melancholie
Wyll de but other Maladie.
In Cronicles thow may well ken
Quhow money houndreth thousand men
Ar slane, sen first the world began
In battle, and whow money one man
Upon the see doth lose there lives
When schippis upon roches ryues,
Thocht sum dee Naturallie throuch age.
Far ma deis rauand in one rage,
Happy is he, the whilk hes space
At his last hour, to cry for grace.
Quhowbeit death be abhominabill
I think it suld be confortabil
Tyll all thame of the faithful noumer
For they depart from cair and coumer
Frome troubyll, travel, sturt, and strife
Tyll Joy and euerlestand life.
Poli
•
orus Virgilius
To that effect, he writtis thus
In Thrace, when ony Chylde be borne
There kyn, & freindis, cūmis thame beforne
With dolent Lamentatioun
For the greit tribulatioun
Calamite cummer and cure
That they in erth ar to endure.
Bot at there death and burying
Thay mak greit Joy and Banketting
That they have past from misery
To rest and greit felicity.
Sen death been final conclusioun
What vailis warldlie prouisioun
Quhan wisdom may nocht contramand.
Nor strenth that flour may nocht ganestand.
Ten thousand Mylyeoun of tresour
May nocht prolong thy life one hour
Efter whose dolent departing
Thy spreit sall pas but tarrying
Straucht way till Joy Inestimabill
Or to strang pane Intolerabill.
Thy vile corruppit carioun
Sall turn in Putrefactioun
And so remane in poulder small
Unto the Judgment General.
Ane schort Descriptioun of the Antichrist.
That their sal rise afore y
t
day
Quhilk ye cal general iugemēt
One wickit mā frō Satan sent
And cōtrar to ye law of Christ
Callit the cruel Antichrist
And sum says that myscheuous man
Discend sall of the Trybe of Dan
And sulde be borne in Babilone
The whilk dissaue sall money one.
Infidelis sall of every art
With that falls Propheit take one part.
And whow Enoch, and Elias
Sall preche contrair that fais Messias
Bot finally his falls Doctrine
And he sall be put to rewine
Bot nother be the fire nor sword
Bot be the virtue of Christis word,
And gyf this be of verite
The suith I pray yow show to me?
There sall nocht be one man allone
Having that name in special
Hes been, and now ar money one
And right so in the time of Ihone
Wer Antechristis, as himself says
And presently now in thir days
Ar right money withouttin dout
Wer their falls lawis well soucht out▪
Quha wes one greiter Antichrist
And more contrarious to Christ
Nor the falls Propheit Machomeit
Quhilk his cursed Lawis maid so sweet
In Turkey yet they ar obseruit
Quhare throuch the hell he hes deseruit.
All Turkis, Sarazenis, and Iowis
Ar Antechristis I the declare
Because to Christ they ar contrary
That after the greit Monarcheis
Sall rise ane marvelous potent king
Quhilk with ane schameles face sall ring
Mychtie and wise in dirk speikingis
And prosper in all plesand things
Throuch his falshed and craftiness
He sall flow in to welthines
The Godly people he sall noy
By cruel death, and thame destroy,
The king of kingis he sall ganestand
Paul says afore the Lordis cumming
That there shall be one departing
And that man of Iniquity
Tyll all men he sall oppynuit be
Quhilk sall sit in the holy saith
Contrary God, to mak debait.
Bot that Sone of Perditioun
Salbe put to confusioun
Be power of the holy Spreit
When he his time hes done compleit
Beleue nocht that in time cumming.
One greiter Antichrist to ring
Nor there hes been, and presently
Ar now, as Clerkis can espy
Tharefore my will is that thow knaw
Qu
••
r ever they be, that makes one Law
Thocht they be called Christin men
By natural ressoun thow may ken
Be they never of so greit valor
Pape, Cardinal, King, or Empriour
Extolland there Traditionis
Abufe Christis Institutionis
Makand Lawis contrar to Christ
He is ane verray Antichrist
And who doth fortify or defend
Sic law, I mak it to the kend
Be it Pape, Empriour King or Queen
Greit sorrow sall be on thame Sene
At Christis extreme Judgment
Without that they in time repent,
Ane schorte Remembrance of the most Terribill Day of the Extreme Judgment. * ☜
Sen ye have sic Experience
Ʒit one thing at yow wald I speir
When sall that dreidfull Day appeir
Quhilk ye call Judgment General
What thyngis afore that day sall fall
Quhar sall appeir that dreifull Iuge
Or whow may faltouris get refuge?
I can mak no solutioun
Quharefor perturb nocht thine intent
To knaw day, hour, or moment
To God allone, the day been knawin
Quhilk never wes to none Angel schawin
Howbeit be diners coniectouris
And principal Expositouris
Of Daniel, and his Prophecy
And be the sentence of Eli
Quhilkis hes declarit as they can
How lang it is sen the world began
And for to show, hes done there cure
How lang they traist it sall endure
And als whow money agis been
As in there warkis may be seen.
Bot till declare thir questionis
There been diverse opinionis
Sum wryttaris, hes the world deuydit
In sex ages (as been decydit
In to
Fasciculus Temporum
And
Crenica Cronicarum,
Bot be the sentence of Eli
The world deuyditis in three
As cunning Master Carioun
Hes maid plain expositioun
Quhow Eli says withouttin weir
The world sall stand sex thousand year
Of whom I follow the sentence
And lattis the other Bukis go hence
Frome the Creatioun of Adam
Two thousand year till Abraham
Frome Abraham, be this narratioun
To Christis Incarnatioun,
Rychtso hes been two thousand yeris.
And be thir Prophecyis apperis
Frome Christ, as they mak till us kend
Two thousand till the warldis end.
Of whilkis ar by gone sickerlie
Fyue thousand, five hundredth, three & fifty.
And so remanis to cum but weir
Four hundredth, with sewin and forty year.
And than the Lord Omnipotent
Suld cum till his greit Judgment
As Matthew planelie doth report
That for the warldis Iniquity
The latter time sall schortnit be
For plesour of the chosin nummer
That they may pas from cair and cummer.
So be this compt it may be kend
The world is draw and neir ane end.
For Legionis ar cum but dout
Of Antichristis wer they soucht out
And money toknis doth appeir
As after schortlie thow sall heir
Quhow that sanct Iherome doth indyte
That he hes red in Hebrew write
Of fyftene signis in special
Afore that Judgment General,
Of sum of thame, I take no cure
Quhilk I find nocht in the Scripture,
One part of thame thocht I declare
First will I to the Scripture fair.
There shall be signis, in Sone and Moue,
The Sone sall hyde his bemis bricht
So that the Mone sall give no licht
Sterris be mennis Judgment
Sall fall forth of the Firmament
Of thir signis or we forther gone
Sum moral sense we will expone
As cunning Clerkis hes declairit
And hes the Sone and Mone compairit
The Son, to the stait spiritual
The Mone to Princis temporal
Rychtso the sterris they do compare
To the lawit common populare
The Mone and sterris, hes no licht
Bot be reflex of Phebus bricht
So when the Son of lycht is dirk
The Mone and sterris, mon be mirk
Rychtso when Pastouris spiritualis
Popis Bischopis, and Cardinalis
In their beginning, schew greit licht
The temporal stait, wes rewlit richt.
Bot now alas, it is nocht so
Those schynand Lampis been ago
There Radious bemis ar turnit in reik
For now in erth, nothing they seek
Except riches, and Dignity
Following there Sensuality
Money Prelatis ar now regnand
The whilkis no more dost understand
What dost pertene to there office
Nor thow can kendle fire with Ice.
Woe to Popis I say for me
Quhilk sufferis sic Enormitie
That Ignorant warldlie Creaturis
Suld in the kirk have ony curis.
No marvel thocht the people slyde
When they have blind men to there gyde.
For ane Prelate, that can nocht preiche
Isaiah comparith him in his wark
Tyll ane dum Dog, that can nocht bark.
Most lyk ane murderer or ane thief
The cunning Doctor Augustine
Wolfis, and Deuillis, doth thame de fine.
The Canon law doth him defame
That of ane Prelate beris the name
And will nocht preiche the Diuyne Lawis
As the Decreis plainly schawis.
Bot those that hes authority
To provide spiritual Dignity
Mycht give they plesit to take pane
Gar thame licht all there Lampis again.
Bot ever alas, that is nocht done
So derknit been boith Son and Mone.
War kingis lyuis well declarit
The whilkis ar to the Mone comparit
Men micht consider there estait
Frome Charity degenerate
I think they suld think mekle schame
Of Christ for to take there Surname
Syne leif nocht like to Christianis
Bot more lyk Turkis, and to Paganis
Turk contrar Turk makes little weir,
Bot Christiane Princis takis no feir
Quhilkis suld agre as brother to brother
Bot now ilk ane dyngis down ane other
I knaw no ressonabyll cause wharefore
Except Pryde, Couetyce and vain glore
The Empriour mouis his Ordinance
Contrair the potent king of France.
And France richtso with greit rigor
Contrair his friend the Empriour
And richt swa France again Ingland
Ingland also aganis Scotland,
And als the Scottis with all there micht
Doith f
•
cht for till defend there richt
Betuix thir Realms of Albione
Quhare Battellis hes been money one
Can be maid none Affinitie
Nor yet no Consaugunitie
Nor be no way, they can consider
That they may have lang Peice to gidder
I dreid that weir makes none ending
Tyll they be baith under ane king
Thocht Christ the souerane king of grace
Left in his Tastament lufe and peace,
Our kingis from weir will nocht refrane
Tyll their be money ane thousand slane
Greit heirschippis maid be see and land
As all the world may understand.
May fecht for till defend there ringis
For I haif seen the spiritual stait
Mak weir there richtis till deba
•
t.
I saw Pape Julius manfullie
Pas to the field tryumphantlie
With ane right aufull Ordinance
Contrair Lowes, the king of France
And for to do him more despyte
He did his Region interdyte.
That langis well till our purpose
How Sone and Mone, ar boith denude
Of lycht, as Clerkis doth conclude
Comparing thame, as ye hard tell
To spiritual stait, and temporell
And comoun people half despairit
Quhilk to the sterris been compairit
Lawit people follow ay their heidis
And specially in to there deidis
The most part of Religioun
Bene turnit in abusioun.
What doth auaill religious weidis
When they ar contrar in there deidis
What holiness is there within
Ane wolf cled in ane wedder skin
So be thir takinnis dost appeir
The day of Judgment drawis neir.
Now lat us leif this moral sense
Proceiding till our purpose hence
And of this mater speak no more
Beginnyng whare we left afore.
Salbe seen money marvelous things
Than sall rise tribulationis
In erth, and greit mutationis
Als well heir under as above
When vertewis of the heaven sall move
Sic cruel weir shall be or than
Wes never seen sen the world began
The whilk sall cause greit Indigence
As derth, hounger, and pestilence
The horribill soundis of the see
The people sall perturb and flee
Jerome says, it sall rise on hicht
Above montanis be mennis sicht
Bot it sall nocht spread over the land
Bot like ane wall euin straucht vpstand
Syne sattil down again so law
That no man sall the watter knaw.
Greit Quhalis sall rummeis rout and rair
Whose sound redound sall in the air.
All fische and Monstouris marvelous
Sall cry with soundis odious
That men sall widder on the erd
And weeping wary sall there weird
With loud alas, and well away
That ever they baid to se that day
And specially those that dwelland be
Apon the costis of the see.
Rychtso as sanct Jerome concludis
Sall be seen ferleis in the fludis
The see with moving marvelous
Sall birn with flammis furious
Rychtso sall birn fontane and flude
All herb and tree sall sweet like blood
Fowlis sall fall forth of the air
Wyld beistis to the plane repair
And in there manner mak greit mone
Gowland with money grislie groan.
Appeir sall on there Sepulturis
Than sall boith men, women and barnis
Cum crepand forth of how Cauernis
Quhare they for dreid wer hid afore
With sich and sab and hartis sore
Wandering about as they war wode
Effamischit for fault of fude
None may mak vtheris conforting
Bot dule for dule and Lamenting
What may they do, bot weip and wounder
When they se roches schaik in schounder
Throw trimblyng of the erth, and quaiking,
Of sorrow than sall be no slaiking
Quho that been leuaud in those days
May tell of terribill affrayis,
There riches, rentis, nor tressour
That time sall do thame small plesour
Bot when sic wounderis dost appeir
Men may be sure, the day drawis neir
That Just men pas sall to the glore
Father (said I) we daily reid
One Artikle in to our Creid
Say and that Christ Omnipotent
In to that general Judgment
Sall Iuge boith deed and quck also
Quharefore declare me or ye go
Geue there sal ony man or wife
(Quod he) as to that questioun
I sall mak sone solutioun
When all takynnis, been cum and gone
Ʒit money one hundredth thousand
That samyn day, shall be leuand
Howbeit there sall no Creature
Nother of day nor hour be sure.
For Christ sall cum so suddandlie
That no man sall the time espy
As it wes in the time of Noy
When God did all the world destroy.
Sum on the field shall be lauborand,
Sum in the tempillis Mariand,
Sum afore Iugis makand pley
And sum men sailland on the sey.
Those that be on the field going
Sall nocht return to there luging.
Quho been apon his house abufe
Sall have no laser to remufe.
Two shall be in the Myll grinding
Quhilk shall be takin but warning
The one till everlasting glore
The other lost forever more.
Two shall be lying in one bed
The one to plesour shall be led
The other shall be left allone
Greit and with money grislie groan
And so my Sone thow may well trow
The world shall be as it is now
The people using there besines
As holy Scripture doth express.
Sen no man knawis the hour nor day
The Scripture biddis us walk and pray
And for our Syn be penitent
As Christ wald cum Incontinent.
The manner whow Christ sall cum to his Judgment. (*) ☜
Q
Uhē all taknis benebrocht till end
thā sal y
e
sone of god discēd
Discēd sal y
e
most heuinly king
As Phebus in the Orient
So plesand
•
te, he sall appeir
With greit power and Majesty
Above the countre of Iudee
As Clerkis doth concluding haill
Direct above the lusty Vaill
All Prophesy there shall be compleit.
Inueroun sall that Throne Diuyne
With heuinlie consolatioun
Makand him Ministratioun
In his presence there shall be borne
The signis of Cros, and Croun of thorn
Pillar, Naillis, Scurgis and Speir
With euerilk thing that did him deir
The time of his grym Passioun
And for our consolatioun
Appeir sall in his handis and feit
And in his side, the prent compleit
Of his five woundis Precious
Schynand like Rubeis Radious,
To Reprobat confusioun,
And for final conclusioun
He sittand in his Tribunal
With greit power Imperial
Quhilk sall mak all the world agast
With hydduous voice, and vehement
Ryse deed folk, cum to Judgment.
With that, all resonabill Creature
That ever wes formit be Nature
Sall suddantlie start up attonis
Cōionit w
t
saul, flesche, blood, and bonis.
That terribill Trumpet I heir tell
Those that wer drownit in the sey
That bousteous blast they sall obey
Quhare ever the body buryit was
All shall be foundin in that plas.
Of erth, and bring thame from all partis
And with one instant diligence
Present thame to his excellence.
Sanct Jerome thocht continually
On this Judgment so ardentlie
He said, whidder I eight or drink
Or walk, or sleip, forsuth me think
That terribill Trumpet like ane bell
So quiklie in mine eir doth knell
As Instantlie it wer present
Ryse deed folk, cum to Judgment
Geue Sanct Jerome tuke sic ane fray
Alas what sall we Synnaris say.
All those, whilk fundin been on life
Salbe Immortal maid belyfe
With fire they sall translatit be
And never for to dee again
As Diuyne scripture schawis plane
Als reddy boith for pane and glore
As they whilk deit lang time afore.
The Scripture says, they sall appeir
In age the three and thretty year
Quhidder they deit young or auld
Whose greit noumer may nocht be tauld
Quhilk borne wes sen the world began.
The Angel sall thame separait
As Hird the scheip doth from the Gait,
And those whilk been of Belialis band
Trymling apon the erth sall stand
On the left hand, of that greit Iuge
But esperance to get refuge.
Sall from the erth be Eleuat
And that most happy cumpanie
Sall ordourit be triumphantlie
At the right hand of Christ our King
Hich in the air, with loud loving.
Full Gloriouslie there sall compeir
More bricht than Phebus in his spheir
The Virgin Marie, Queen of Quenis
With money ane thousand bricht Virgenis
The Fatheris of the auld Testament
Quhilk wer to God obedient
Father Adam sall thame conuoy
With Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Noy,
Abraham with his faithful warkis
With all the prudent Patriarkis
Ihone the Baptist there sall compeir
The Principal, and last Messingeir
Quhilk come bot half ane year afore
The cummyng of that King of glore
Moses, Esayas, honourabill
With all true Prophetis Venerabill.
David, with all the faithful kingis
Quhilk verteouslie did rewll their ringis,
The nobyll Chiftane Joshua
With gentill Judas Machabe,
With money one nobill Campioun
Quhilk in there time with greit renoun
Manfully till there lyuis end
The Law of God they did defend.
With Eve, that day shall be present
The Ladyis of the auld Testament
Deborah, Adamis Douchter deir
With thē four lusty Ladyis cleir
Quhilk kepit wer, in the Ark with Noy
Sara, and Cethura with Joy
The whilkis to Abraham wyffis been
With gude Rebecca there shall be seen
The prudent wyfis of Israel
Gude Lya, and the fair Rachel
With Judith, Hester, and Susanna
And the richt sapient Queen Saba.
There sall compeir Peter and Paul
With Christis true Discipulis all
Lawrence and Stewin, w
t
there blyst band
Of Martyris mo, than ten thousand
Gregore, Ambrose, and Augustine
With confessouris, ane tryumphand tryne
With Sanct Frances, and Dominick
Sanct Bernard, and sanct Benedick
With small noumer, of Monkis and Freiris
Of Carmelites, and Cordelleiris,
That for the sufe of Christ only
Renuncit the world vnfenyeitlie.
With Elizabeth and Anna
All gude wyffis sall compeir that day
The blyst and holy Magdalene
That day afore hir Souerane
Rycht plesandlie scho sall present
All Synnaris that wer penitent
Quhilk of there gilt heir asked grace
In heaven with hir, sall have ane place.
Bot woe beis to that bailfull band
Quhilk sall stand law at his left hand.
Woe than to Kyngis, and Empriouris
Quhilkis wer vnrichteous Conquerouris
For there glore, and particular gude
Gart sched so mekle saikles blood.
But Sceptour, Crown, and Rob Royal
That day they sall mak compt of all
And for there cruel tirranuie
Sall punyst be perpetuallie.
Ʒe Lordis, and Barronis, more and les
That your pure Tennantis dost oppres
Be gret Gersome, and dowbill maill
More than your landis been auaill
With sore exorbitant carriage
With mercheitis of there marriage
Tormentit boith in peace and weir
With burdinnis more than they may beir
Be they have payit, to yow there maill
And to the Priest there teindis haill
And when the land again is sawin
What restis behind, I wald wer knawin
I traist they and there pure houshauld
May tell of bounger, and of cauld
Without ye half of thame piete
I dreid ye sall get no Merce
That day, when Christ Omnipotent
Cummis to general Judgment.
Woe beis to public Oppressouris
To tirrannis, and to Transgressouris
To Murderaris, and common theifis
Quhilk never did mend there gret mischeifis
Fornicatouris, and Ockeraris
Commoun public Adulteraris
All pertinat willful Heretics
All falls desaitfull Schismatikes
All shall be present in that place
With money Lamentabill alas.
The cursit Cayn, that never wes gude
With all scheddaris of saikles blood
Nemrod, foundar of Babilone
With falls Idolateris money one.
Ninus the King of Assyria
With gret dule sall compeir that day
Quhilk first Inuentit Imagerie
Quharethrouch come greit Idolatry
For making of the Image Bell
That day his hire shall be in hell.
The greit Oppressor king Pharoo,
The tyrrane Empriour Nero
Sall with thame cursit king Herod bring
With money other cairfull king
The cruel king Antiochus
With the most furious Olofernes
Gret Oppressouris of Israel
That day there hire sall be in hell.
With Judas sall compeir one clan
Of falls Tratouris to God and man.
There sall compeir of every land
With Ponce Pylat one bailfull band
Of temporal and spiritual statis
Fals Iugis, with there Aduocatis.
There sall our Senyeouris of the Sessioun.
Of all there faltis mak cleir confessioun
There sall be seen, the fraudfull failyeis
Of Schireffis, Prouestis, and of Bailyeis
Officialis, with there Consitory Clerkis
Sall mak compt of there wrangous werkis,
Thay and there peruerst Procuratouris
Oppressouris boith of riche and puris
Throuch Delatouris full of desait
Quhilk money one gart beg their meit
Greit dule that day to Iugis been
That cūmis nocht with there conscience clean
That day sall pas be Peremptouris
Without Cautele, or Dilatouris
No Duplicandum, nor Triplicandum
Bot shortly pas to Sentenciandum
Without Continuationis
Or ony Appellationis
That sentence, sall nocht be retraitit
Nor with no man of Law debaitit.
Ʒe Laubouraris be see and landis
Perfite Craftismen, and riche Merchandis
Leue your desait and crafty wylis
Quhilk silly simpyll folk begylis
Mak recompense heir, as ye may
Remembering on this dreidfull day.
With Machomeit sall compeit but dout
Of Antechristis one hydduous rout
Bischop Annas and Caiaphas
With him in company sall pas
With Scrybis, and falls Pharisience
Quhilk wrocht on Christ greit violence
With money one Turk, and Sarracene
With greit sorrow there shall be seen,
Paipis for there traditionis
Contrair Christis Institutionis
With money one cowll, and clippit crown
Quhilk Christis lawis strampit down
And wald nocht suffer for to preiche
The verite, nor the people teiche,
But lawit men put to greit torment
Quhilk vsit Christis Testament.
All kingis and Quenis there shall be kend
The whilk sic lawis did defend
In that court sall cum money one
Of the blak byik of Babilone.
The Innocent blood that day sall cry
One loud vengeance full petuously
On those cruel bludie boucheouris
Martyris of Prophetis, and Precheouris,
Sum with the fire, sum with the sword
Quhilk plainly preichit Goddis word
That day they sall rewardit be
Conforme to there Iniquity
The Sodomitis, and Gomoreance
On whom God wrocht so gret vengeance
With Core, Dathan, and Abyrone
With there assistance money one,
The holy Scripture will the tell
Quhow they sank all down to the hell
With Simon Magus sall resort
Of proud Priests, ane schamefull sort.
That samyn day, there shall be seen
Money one cruel cairfull Queen
Queen Semirame king Ninus wife
Ane Tiger full of sturt and strife.
To gydder with Queen Jezebel
Quhilk wes covetous and cruel
The falls desaitfuil Dalida
The cruel Queen Clytemnestra
The whilk did murdreis on the nicht
Agamemnon, boith wise and wyche
The whilk wes hir a win souerane Lord
As Greikis storyis doth record
With cruel Quenis money one
Quhilk langsum wer for till expone.
Ʒe wantoun Ladyis and burges wyfis
That now for sydest taillis stryfis
Flappand the filth, amang your feit
Rasing the dust in to the streit
That day for all your pomp and pride
Ʒour taillis sall nocht your hippis hyde
Thir vaniteis, ye sall repent
Without that ye be penitent.
With Phitonissa, I heir tell
Quhilk raisit the Spirtit of Samuel
That day with hir there sall resort
Of rank Wychis ane sorrowful sort
Brocht from all partes money one mile
Frome Savoy, Athole, and Argyle
And from the ryndis of Galloway
With money woeful wallaway.
Ʒe Brether of Religioun
In time leif your abusioun
With whilk ye have the world abusit
Or ye that day shall be refusit
I speak to yow all generally
Nocht till ane Ordour specially.
That day all Creature sall ken
Geue ye wer Sanctis or warldlie men.
Or give ye tuke the Skapellarie
That ye might leif more plesandlie
And get ane gude gros Portioun
Or for Godly Deuotioun
That day your fenyeit Sanctitudis
Sall nocht be knawin be your hudis
Ʒour Superstitious Ceremoneis
Participant till Idolatreis
Cord, cuttit schone, nor clippit heid
That day, fall stand yow in no sleid.
For Cowllis blak, gray, nor begaird
Ʒe sall that day get no rewaird
Ʒour Polite payntit flattrie
Ʒour Dissimulate Hipocrisie
That day they shall be cleirlie knawin
When ye sall scheir, as ye have sawin.
Tharefore in time, be penitent
Or ellis that day ye will be schent.
I pray yow hartlie as I may
Remember on that dreidfull day
Ʒe Abbot, Pryor, and Pryores
Considdder what ye did profess
And whow that your promotioun
Wes nothing for Deuotioun
Bot till obtene the Abbacie
Ʒe maid your Vow of Chastity
Of Poverty, and obedience,
Tharefore remord your conscience
Quhow thir three vowis been obseruit
And what reward ye have deseruit
Quharefore repent, whill ye have space
Sen God is liberal of his grace
Quhare sall our Prelatis ordourit be
Quhilk now been in the world leuand
With whom sal cum that Spiritual band?
Without that they amend there lyuis
And leif there wantoun vicious warkis
Nocht with Prophetis nor Patriarkis
Nocht with Martyris, nor Confessouris
The whilk{is} to Christ, wer true preichouris.
There Predecessouris, Peter and Paul
That day will thame misken at all
So sall they nocht, I say for me
With the Apostillis ordourit be
I traist they sall dwell on the bordour
Of hell, whare there shall be none order
Endlang the Flude of Phlegeton
Or on the brayis of Acheron
Cryand on Charon, I conclude
To ferrie thame over that furious flude
Tyll Eternal confusioun
Without they leif there abusioun
I traist those Prelatis, more and les
Sall mak cleir compt of there riches
That dreidfull day, with hartis sore
And what service, they did thairfore
The Princely pomp, nor apparrall
Of Pope, Bischop, nor Cardinal
There Royal rentis, nor dignity
That day sall nocht regardit be
There sall no taillis, as I heir say
Of Bischopis, be borne up that day
Cum they nocht with their conscience clean
On thame gret sorrow shall be seen
Without that they there life amend
In tymt, and so I mak ane end.
The manner whow Christ sall give his Sentence.
beis brocht forth frō all nations
Quhilk shall be w
t
out lāg {pro}ces
Thocht I haif maid sū lāg digres
For ī y
e
twinklīg of a Ge
All mankynd sall presentit be
Than schortlie sall he give sentence
First sayand to that blissit band
Quhilk beis ordourit, at his richt hand
Cum with my Fatheris Benisoun
And resaue your possessioun
Quhilk been for yow preordinate
Afore the world wes first create
Q
•
hen I wes hungre, ye me fed
When I wes naikit, ye me cled
Oftymes ye gave me herbery
And gave me drink, when I wes dry
And vesyit me, with myndis meik
When I wes presonar and seek
In all sic tribulatioun
Ʒe gave me consolatioun.
Than sall they say, O Potent King
When saw we the desire sic thing
We never saw thine Excellence
Subdewit to sic Indigence?
Ʒis (sall he say) I yow assure
When ever ye did ressaue the pure
And for my saik, maid thame supple
That gift but dout, ye gaif to me
Tharefore sall now begin your glore
Quhilk sall endure forever more.
Than sall he luke on his left hand
And say unto that bailfull band
Pas with my Maledictioun
Till Eternal Afflictioun
In company with feindis fell
In everlasting fire of hell
When I stude naikit at your yet
Hungrie, thristie, cauld and wet
Rycht febill, seek, and like to de
I never gat of yow supple
And when I lay in presoun strang
For yow I might have lyin full lang
Without your Consolatioun
Or ony supportatioun.
Trymling for dreid than sall they say
With money hydduous harmisay
Alas gude Lord, when saw we the
Subject to sic necessity?
When saw we thee, cum to our dure
Hungrie, thristie, naikit, pure?
When saw we the in presounly
Or the refusit herbery?
Than sall that most precellent king
Tyll those wrechis mak answering
That time, when ye refusit the puris
Quhilkis neidfull cryit at your duris
And of your superfluite
For my saik maid thame no supple
Refusand thame, ye me refusit
With wretchitnes so ye wer abusit:
Tharefor ye sall have to your hire
The eurelasting birnand fire.
But grace, but piece, or conforting
Than sall they cry, full fore w
•
iping
That we wer maid, alas gude Lord
Alas, is there none Misericord
But thus, withouttin hope of grace
Tyne presence of thy plesand face.
Alas for us, it had been gude
We had been smorit in our cude.
Than with one rair, the erth sall ryif
And swollie thame boith man and wyif.
Than sall those Creaturis forlorn
Warie the hour, that they wer borne,
With, money yamet, yewt and yell
Frome time they feill the flammis fell
Apon there tender bodyis byte
Whose torment shall be Infinyte.
The erth sall close, and from there sicht
Sall takin be, all kind of licht
There shall be gowling, and grewing
But hope of ony conforting
In that Inestimabill pane
Eternallie they sall remane
Birnand in furious flammis reid
Euer deand, bot never be deed
That the small Minute of one hour
To thame shall be, so greit dolour
Thay sall think they have done remane
Ane thousand year in to that pane
Alas I trimmill to heir teil
The terribill tormenting of hall
That painful pit, who can deplore
Quhilk mon endure forever more?
Than sall those glorifyit Creaturis
With mirth and infinite plesuris
Conuoyit with Joy Angelical
Pas to the heaven Imperial
With Christ Jesus, our Souerane King
In glore Eternallie to ring
Of man whilk passis the Ingyne
The thousand part, for till defyne
Preordinat for one Creature.
Than sall one fyro, as C
•
erkis sane
Mak all the hillis, and valleyis plane
Frome erth, up to the Heuin Empire
All beis renewit be that fire
Purging all thing material
Under the heaven Imperial.
Boith erth, and water, fire, and air
Salbe more perfect maid and fair
The whilkis afore had mixit been
Sall than be purifyit and maid clean
The erth like Crystal shall be cleir
And euerilk Planeit in his spheir
Sall rest withouttin more moving
Boith sterny heaven, and Christalling
The first and highest heaven mouabill
Sall stand but turning firm and stabill
The Son in to the Orient
Sall stand, and in the Occident
Rest sall the Mone, and be more cleir
Nor now been Phebus in his spheir.
And als that Lantern of the heaven
Sall give more licht, be greis seuin
Nor it gave sen the world began.
The Heuin renewit shall be than,
Rychtso the erth, with sic deuyse
So heaven and erth, shall be all one
As menith the Apostill Ihone
Bot like the Crystal pure and cleir
Passing Imaginatioun
Of Man, to mak narratioun
Of glore, whilk God, haith done prepair
Tyll everyone that cummis their
The whilk with c
•
ris, nor with ene
Of man may nocht be hard norsene
With heart it is vnthinkadill
And with toungis Inpronunciabill
Whose plesouris shall be so perfect
Having in God, so greit delight
The space now of ane thousand year
Quhilk can nocht comprehendit be
Till we that plesand sicht sall se.
Tyll the thread Heuin, of glore repleit
He saith, the Secreitis whilk he saw
Thay wer nocht leifsum for to show
To no man on the erth leuand
Quharefor preis nocht till understand
Quhowbeit there to thow have desire
The Secretis of the Heum Empire
The more men lukis on Phebus bricht
The more febill, shall be there sicht
Rychtso lat no man set there cure
To serche the hich Deuyne Nature.
The more men study, I suppose
Salbe the more from there purpose
To knaw, whareto sulde men Intend
Quhilk Angellis can nocht comprehend
Bot after this greit Judgment
All thing till us shall be patent.
Lat us with Paul, our mind addres
He beand full of Heuinlines
Full hunilie, he teichit us
Nocht for to be to curious
Quhoweit men be of greit Ingyne
To seek the hich Secretis Deuyne
Whose Judgment ar vnserchebill
(That is to say) past out finding
Of whom no man may find ending.
It sufficis us for till Implore
Greit God, to bring us to his glore.
Of certain plesuris Of the glorifyit Bodyis.
The heuinlie glore, & plesour{is} infinyte
Quharfor my sone, I pray y
e
not {pre}tend
Ouer far to seek, that mater of delight
Quhilk passit Natural resoun till Indyte
That God afore that he the world creat
Prepairit to thame, whilk ar predestinat.
All mortal men, shall be maid Immortal
(That is to say) never to de again
Impassibil, and so Celestial
That fire nor sword, may do to yaim no pane
Nor heit, nor called, nor frost, nor wind, nor rane
Thocht sic thing wer, may do to yaim no deir
Those Creaturis, richt so shall be als cleir.
As flammand Phebus, in his Mansioun
Considder than, give there shall be greit licht
When everyone, in to that Region
Sall schyne like to y
e
sone, and be als bricht,
Lat us with Paul desire to see that sicht
With Christ, to be in till the heaven Empire.
And moreatour, as Clerkis can discryue,
There marvelous mirthis, beis incōparabil
Amang the rest, in all there wyttis five
Thay sall have sensual plesouris delectabeil
The heuinly sonnd, whilk shall be Inenarrabill
In there eitis, continually sall ring
And als the sicht of Christ Jesus our King,
In his triumphant Throne Imperial
With his mother, y
e
Virgen queen of Quenis
There shall be seen, the Court Celestial
Apostolis Martyris, Confefforis, & Virgenis
Brichter thā Phebus, in his spheir y
e
schynis
The Patriarkis, and Prophetis, Venerabil
There shall be seen, with glore Inestimabill.
And with there Spiritual Eis shall be seen
That sicht, whilk been most superexcelland
God as he is, and evermore hes been
Continuallie that sicht contempland.
Augustine says, he had leuer take on hand
To be in Hell, he seeing the essence
Of God, nor be in Heuin, but his presence.
Quho seis God, in his Divinity
He seis in him, all other plesand things
The whilk with tongue, cannot pronuncit be
What plesour been, to se that king of kingis
The gretest pane, y
e
damnit folk down thring{is}
And to the Deuillis, the most punitioun
It is of God, to want fruitioun.
And mairattouer, they sall feill sic ane smell.
Surmonting far, y
e
flewour of erdly flouris
And in there mouth, ane tatst as I heir tell
Of sweet, and Supernatural Sapouris
Als they sall se, the heuinlie bricht colouris
Schyning amang those Creaturis Diuyne
Quhilk til discryue, trāscendis mannis ingyne
And als they sall have sic Agilite.
In one Instant, to pas for there plesour
Ten thousand mylis, in twinkling of ane Ee
So there Ioyis, shall be without mesour
Thay sall Reioyis, to se the greit dolour
Of dampnit folk in hell, and there torment
Because of God, it is the Iuste Judgment.
Subtilite they sall have maruellouslie
Supponing that there wer one wall of bras
One glorifyit body, may right haistelie
Out throw that wall, without impediment pas
Siclyke as dost the sone beme throw y
e
glas
As Christ till his Discipulis did appeir
Quhowbeit in heaven, thocht euerilk creature
Ʒit euerilk one sall have so greit pleasure
And so content, they sall desire no more
To have more Joy, they sal no way implore
Bot they shall be all satisfyit and content
Lyke to this rude exempill subsequent.
Take ane crowat, ane pynt stop, & ane quart
One galoun pitchair, ane punsion & ane tun,
Of wyne, or balm, gif euerilk one their part
And fill thame full, til that they be over run
The little crowat in comparisoun
Salbe so full, that it may hald no more
Of sic mesuris thocht their be twenty score.
In to the Tun, or in the Punsioun
So all those veschellis, in one qualite
May hald no more, without they be over run
Ʒit have they nocht alike in quantite
So be this rude exempill thow may se
Thocht euerilk one, be nocht alike in glore
Ar satisfyit so, that they desire no more.
Thocht presenlie be Goddis purwiance
Beistis, foulis, and fischis in the seis
Ar necessar now, for man's sustinance
With cornis, herbis, flouris, & fruetful treis,
Than sall there be none sic commoditeis
The erth sall beir no plant, nor beist brutall
Bot as the Heuinnis bricht like burall.
Suppone sū be on erth, walkand heir down.
Or hich abone, whare ever they pleis to go
Of God, they have ay cleir fruitioun
Boith est or west, up down, or to or fro
Clerkis declaris plesouris money mo
Quhilk dost trāscend all mortal mannis ingyne
The thousand part of those plesouris divine
In to the Heuin, they sall perfytlie knaw
There tender freindis yair fader & yair moder
There predecessouris, whilk{is} they nev{er} saw
There spousis, barnis, sister, & their brother
And euerilk one, sall have sic lufe till other
Of vtheris glore, and Joy, they sall reiose
As of there a win, as Clerkis doth suppose.
Quhilk Ihone saw, in his Reuelatioun
That will nocht have consideratioun
And ane continual contemplatioun
With hot desire, to cum unto that glore
Quhilk plesour sall endure forever more.
Quhilk knew or y
t
the heaven, and erth, create
Quho wald to the be inobedient
And so deserve, for to be reprobate
Thow knew the noumer of predestinate
Quhō thou did call, and hes thame Iustifyi
•
And sall in heaven with the be glorifyit.
Grant us to be Lord, of that chosin sort
Quhame of thy Mercy Superexcellent
Did purify, as Scripture doth report
With the blood of that holy Innocent
Jesus, whilk maid him self Obedient
Unto the death, and steruit on the Rude
Lat us O Lord, be purgit with that blood.
As wryttis Paul, they wis to se that day
Sall do appeir in there new fresche array
Quhē corruptioun heis clengit clean away
And changit beis, there mortal qualite
In the greit glore, of Immortalite.
And moreattour, all deed thyngis corporal.
Under the Concaue, of the Heuin Empire
That now to laubour, subject ar and thrall
Sone, mone, & sterris, erth, water, air, & fire.
In one manner, they have ane hot desire
Wissing that day, that they may be at rest
As Erasmus, exponeth Manifest.
We se the gret Globe of the Firmament
Continuallie, in moving marvelous
The sewin Planetis, contrary there intent
Ar reft about, with cours, contrarious
The wynd, and sey, with storms furious
The trou
•
lit air, w
t
frostis, snaw, and rane,
Onto that day, they travel ever in pane.
And all the Angellis, of the Ordouris nine
Hauand compassioun of our Misereis
Thay wis after that day, and to that fine
To se us fred, from our Infirmiteis
And clengit from thir greit Calamiteis
And troublous life, whilk never sal haif end
Unto that day, I mak it to the kend.
Ane Exhortatioun Geuin be Father Experience, unto his Sone, the Courteour.
Of yis falls world y
e
trubl{us} trāsitorie
whose dreidfull days drawis neir a end
Tharefore call God to be thy adiutorie
And every day my Sone,
Memento mori.
And wat not whē, nor whare y
t
thou sal wēd
Heir to remane, I pray the nocht pretend
And sen thow knawis the time is very schort
In Christis blood, set all thy hole confort
Sen y
u
persauis Pape Empriour nor king's
In to the erth, haith no place parmanent
Thou seis y
e
death, yaim dulfully dōn thringis
And rauis yaim frō yair rent, riches & ringis
Thairfor on Christ confirm thine hole intent
And of thy calling, be richt well content
Than God, that fedis the foulis of the air
All neidfull thing for thee, he sall prepair.
Ay sen the warldis first Creatioun
Mankynd hes tholit this misery mortal
Ay tormentit with tribulatioun
With
•
olour, dreid, and defolatioun
Gentiles, and Chosin people of Israel
To this vnhape, all subject ar and thrall
Quhilk Misery but dout sall ever endure
Tyl the last day, my Sone thareof be sure.
That day, as I have maid Narratioun,
Salbe the day of Consolatioun
Tyll all the Children of the chosin noumer,
There endit beis there desolatioun.
And als I mak the supplicatioun
In erthlie materis, take the no more cummer.
Dreid not to de, for death is bot ane slummer.
Leue ane Just life, and w
t
ane Ioyous heart,
And of thy gudis take plesandlie thy part.
Of our talking, now lat us mak ane end,
Behald whow Phebus, dounwart dost descend
Cowart his Palice, in the Occident.
Dame Cynthia I se scho dost pretend,
In till hir wattrie Region till ascend,
With vissage paill, up from the Orient.
The dew now donkis the Rosis redolent.
The Mariguldis, that all day wer reioisie
Of Phebus heit, now craftily ar closit.
The blysfull Birdis bownis to the treis,
And ceissis of there heuinlie harmoneis.
The Cornecraik in the croft, I heir hir cry,
The Bak, the Howlat, febyll of there eis,
For there pastyme, now in the euinning fleis.
The Nichtingaill with myrthfull melody,
Hir natural notis, peirsit throuch the sky,
Tyll Cynthia, makand hir observance,
Quhilk on the nycht dost take hir dalyance.
I se Poleartick in the north appeir,
And Venus rising with bemis cleir.
Quharefor my Sone, I hald it time to go.
Wald God (said I) ye did remane all year,
That I might of your heuinlie Lessonis leir.
Of your departing, I am wounder woe.
Tak patience (said he) it mon be so.
Perchance I sall return with diligence
Thus I departit from Experience.
And sped me home, with heart siching full sore,
And enterit in my quiet Oritore.
I tuke paper, and there began to write
This Miserie, as ye have hard afore.
All gentle Redaris, hartlie I Implore
For till excuse my rural rude Indyte.
Thocht Pharisees will have at me despyte,
Quhilk{is} wald not that their craftiness wer kend.
Lat God be Iuge, and so I mak ane end.
FINIS.☜ QVOD LYNDESAY. .1568.
The testament and Complaynt of our Souerane Lordis Papyngo, King James the Fift. Lyand sore woundit, and may nocht de, till every man have hard what scho says. Quharfor gentyl redaris haist yow that scho wer out of pain.
Compylit be Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont Knicht, Alias, Lyoun King of Arms.
Liuor post fata quiescit.
[illustration] [depiction of two birds]
THE PROLOG
So thocht I had ingyne, as I have none,
I wat nocht what to wryt be sweet sanct Ihone
(For why) in all the garth of Eloquence
Is nothing left, bot barrane stok and stone.
The Polite terms ar pullit euerilk one,
Be thir forenamit Poeitis of prudence
And sen I find, none other new sentence,
I sall declare, or I depart yow fro,
The Complaynt of ane woundit Papingo.
Quharefor, because mine mater been so rude,
Of sentence, and of Rethorike denude,
To rural folk, mine dy
•
ing been directit,
Far flemit from the sicht of men of gude.
For cunning men, I knaw will sone conclude,
It dow nothing, bot for to be deiectit.
And when I heir mine mater been detrectit,
Than sall I sweir, I maid it bot in mowis
To landwart lassis, whilk{is} kepith ky & yowis.
The complaint of the Papingo.
QVho clymmis to hich, {per}force his feit mon faill
Expreme I sall that be Experience,
Geue that yow pleis, to heir one pieteous taill,
How one fair Bird be fatal violence
Deuorit wes, and micht mak no d
•
fence
Contrair the death, so failyeit Natural strenth,
As after I sall show yow at more lenth.
One Papyngo richt plesand and perfect,
Presentit was till our most nobill King
Of whom his grace one lang time had delight,
More fair of form, I wat flew never on wing.
This proper bird he gave in governing
To me whilk wes his simpyll seruiture,
On whom I nid my diligence and cure.
To learn hir language Artificial
To play platfute, and whissill fute before,
Bot of hir Inclynatioun Natural
Scho countrafaitit all fowlis les and more
Of hir curage, scho wald without my lore,
Sing like the Merle, and craw like to the cok,
Pew like the Gled, and chant like the Lauerok.
Bark like ane Dog, and kekill like ane ka,
Blait like ane Hog, and buller like ane bull,
Gaill like ane goik, and greit whē scho wes wa
•
Clym on ane cord, syne lauch, and play the fule,
Scho micht have been ane menstrall again yule,
This blyssit bird wes to me so plesand
Quhare ever I fure, I bure hir on my hand,
And so befell, in till ane mirthfull morrow,
In to my garth, I past me to repose,
This bird and I, as we wer wount aforrow,
Amang the flowris fresche, fragrant, & formose.
My vital spreitis dewlie did reiose
When Phebus rose, and rave the cloudis sabill
Throuch brichtnes of his bemis amyabill.
Without vapor was well purificate
The temperate air, soft, sober, and serene.
The erth, be Nature so edificate
With holsum herbis, blew, white, reid, & grene,
Quhilk eleuate my spreitis from the spleen
That day Saturn, nor Mars, durst not appeir,
Nor Eole, of his Coue he durst nocht steir.
That day perforce behuffit to be fair,
Be influence, and cours celestial.
No Planeit preisit for to perturb the air,
For Mercurius, be mouyng natural
Exaltit wes, in to the throne tryumphall
Of his Mansioun, unto the fyftene gre
In his awin souerane sign of Virgin.
That day did Phebus plesandlie depart,
Frome Gemini, and enterit in Cancer.
That day Cupido, did extend his dart,
Venus that day coniunit with Jupiter.
That day Neptunus, hid him like one sker,
That day dame Nature, with greit besines
Fortherit Flora, to kith hir craftiness.
And retrograde wes Mars, in Capricorne,
And Cynthia, in Sagittar asseisit,
That day dame Ceres, gods of the corn
Full Ioyfullie John Vponland applesit.
The bad espect of Saturn wes appeisit,
That day be Juno, of Jupiter the Joy
Pertuband spreitis causing to hald coy,
The sound of birdis, surmontit all the skyis,
With melody of notis Musicall,
The balmy droppis of dew Titan vpdryis
Hingand upon the tender twistis small.
The heuinlie hew, and sound Angelical,
Sic perfect plesour, printit in mine heart
That w
t
greit pyne, from thine I micht depart.
So still amang those herbis amiabill
I did remane one space, for my pastance.
Bot warldlie plesour, been so variabill,
Myxit with sorrow, dreid, and Inconstance,
That there in till is no contynuance.
So micht I say, my schort solace alas,
Was dreuin in dolour, in one little space
For in that garth, amang those fragrand flouris
Walkyng allone, none bot my bird and I.
Unto the time, that I had said mine houris,
This Bird I set upon one branche me by.
Bot scho began to speill richt spedilie,
And in that tree scho did so hich ascend,
That be no way I micht hir apprehend.
Sweit bird (said I) be war mont nocht over hie,
Return in time, perchance thy feit may failye,
Thow art richt fat, and nocht well vsit to flee,
The gredie gled, I dreid scho the assailye.
I will said scho ascend, vailye quod vailye,
It is my kind, to clym ay to the hicht
Of fether and bone, I wat well I am wicht.
So on the hichest little tender twist
With wyng displayit, scho sat full wantounlie.
Bot Boreas blew one blast, or ever scho wist,
Quhilk brak the branche and blew hir suddandlie
Doun to the ground, with money cairfull cry
Upon ane sto
•
, scho lichtit on hir breist,
The blood ruschit out, and scho cryit for a priest.
God wat gyf than my heart wes woe begone,
To se that fowl flychter amang the flouris,
Quhilk w
t
greit murning, gan to mak hir mone:
Now cummin ar (said scho) the fatal houris
Of bitter death, now mon I thole the schouris.
O dame Nature, I pray the of thy grace,
Len me laiser to speak one little space,
For to complene my fate Infortunate,
And to dispone my geir or I depart,
Sen of all confort I am desolate
Allone, except the death heir with his dart,
With aufull cheir, reddy to pers mine heart
And with that word, scho tuke one passioun,
Syne flatlingis fell, and swappit in to swoun.
With sory heart, persit with compassioun,
And salt teiris, distillyng from mine Ene,
To heir that birdis lamentatioun,
I did approach, under ane Hauthorne grene
Quhare I micht heir, and se, and be unseen
And when this bird had swounit twice or thryse
Scho gan to speak, saying on this wise.
O falls Fortune, why hes thou me begylit?
This day at morne who knew this cairfull cace?
Vane hope in the my resoun haith exylit,
Hauyng sic traist in to thy fenyeit face,
That ever I wes brocht in to the court alas:
Had I in forest flowin amang my feiris,
I might full well have leuit money yeiris.
Prudent counsel, alas I did refuse,
Agane resoun, using mine appetyte.
Ambitioun did so mine heart abuse,
That Eolus, had me in greit dispyte.
Poeitis, of me haith mater to indyte,
Quhilk clam so hich, and woe is me tharefore,
Nocht douting, that the death durst me deuore,
This day at morne, my form and feddrem fair,
Abufe the proud Pacok war precelland
And now one catyue carioun full of tair
Bathand in blood, down from my heart distelland
And in mine eir, the bell of death been knelland.
O falls world, fy on thy felicite
Thy Pryde, Avarice, and Immundicite.
In the I se nothing been permanent,
Of thy schort solace, sorrow is the end,
Thy falls Infortunate giftis been bot lent,
This day full proud, the morne nothing to spend,
O ye that doth pretend ay till ascend,
My fatal end, have in remembrance,
And yow defend, from sic unhappy chance.
Quhydder that I wes strickin in ecstacy,
Or throuch one stark Imaginatioun,
Bot it appeirit in mine Fantasie,
I hard this dolent lamentatioun.
Thus dullit in to desolatioun,
Me thocht this bird, did breue in hir maneir
Hir counsel to the King, as ye sall heir.
The first Epystill of the Papyngo, Directit to king James the Fyft.
PRepotent Prence, peirles of pulchritude
Glore, honor, laud, tryumphe and victory,
Be to thy hich excellent Celsitude
With Martial deidis, digne of memory,
Sen Atropos consumit haith my glory
And dolent death alas mon us depart
I leif to the my true vnfenyeit heart,
To gidder, with this Cedull subsequent,
With moist reverent Reconmendatioun.
I grant thy grace, gettis money one document
Be famous Fatheris predicatioun,
With money notabill Naratioun,
Be plesande Poeitis in style Heroicall
Quhow thow sulde gyde thy Sait Imperial,
Sum doth deplore the greit Calamiteis,
Of diverse Realms Transmutatioun.
Sum pieteouslie doth treit of Tragedeis,
All for thy graces Informatioun.
So I intend, but adulatioun
In to my barbour rusticall indyte,
Amang the rest, schir, sum thing for to write.
Souerane consaue this simpyll similitude,
Of officiaris, serving thy Senyeorie.
Quho gydis thame weil gettis of thy grace greit gude.
Quho been Iniust, degradit ar of glory
And Cancellat out of thy memory,
Prouiding syne more plesand in there place.
Beleue right so, sall God do with thy grace.
Considder well, thow been bot officiare,
And Wassall, to that king Imcomparabill.
Preis thow to pleis that puissant prince preclare,
Thy riche reward shall be Inestimabill,
Exaltit hich in glore Interminabill
Above Archāgellis, Virtues, Potestatis,
Plesandlie placit amang the Principatis.
Of thy virtue, Poeitis perpetuallie,
Sall mak mentioun, unto the world be endit,
So thou excers thine office prudentlie,
In heaven, and erth, thy grace shall be commendit.
Quharefor effeir, that he be nocht offendit,
Quhilk hes exaltit the to sic honor
Of his people to be one governor.
And in the erth, haith maid sic Ordinance,
Under thy feit, all thing terrestrial
Ar subject to thy plesour and pastance,
Boith fowll and fische, and beistis pastoral,
Men to thy service, and wemē, they been thrall,
Halking, hunting, arms, and leiffull amour,
Preordinat ar be God, for thy plesour.
Maisteris of Music, to recreate thy spreit,
With dantit voice and plesand Instrument.
Thus thou may be of all plesouris repleit,
So in thine office thow be deligent,
Bot be thow found sleuthfull, or negligent,
Or Iniust, in thine Executioun,
Thow sall nocht faill Deuine punitioun.
Quharefor, sen thow hes sic Capacite
To learn to play so plesandlie, and sing,
Ryde hors, ryn speiris, with greit audacite
Schut with hand bow crosbow and culuering,
Amang the rest (Schir) learn to be ane king.
Kyith on that craft, thy pregnant fresche ingyne
Grantit to the, be Influence Deuyne.
And sen the Definitioun of ane king,
Is for to have, of people governance,
Addres the first, abufe all other thing,
Tyll put thy body, till sic Ordinance,
That thine virtue, thyn chonour may auance.
For whow suld Princis govern greit regionis
That cannot dewly gyde there awin personis?
And give thy grace wald leif right plesandlie,
Call thy counsel, and cast on thame the cure.
There Just Decreitis defend, and fortify,
But gude counsel, may no Prince lang endure,
Wyrk with counsel, than sall thy work be sure.
Cheis thy counsale, of the most Sapient,
Without regard, to blood, riches, or rent.
Amang all other pastyme and plesour,
Now in thy Adolescent yeiris ying
Wald thow ilk day, study bot half one hour,
The Regiment of Princelie governing,
To thy people it war ane plesand thing
There might thou find thine awin vocatioun,
Quhow y
u
suld use thy sceptour, swerd & croun.
The Cronikillis to knaw I the Exhort,
Quhilk may be Mirrour to thy Maieste.
There sall thow find, boith gude & evil report
Of euerilk Prince, after his qualite.
Thocht they be deed, there deidis sall nocht de,
Traist well thow shall be stylit in that story
As thow deseruis, put in memory.
Requeist that Roy, whilk rent wes on the rude,
The to defend from deidis of defame,
That no Poeit report of the bot gude,
For Princes days Induris bot ane drame.
Sen first king Fergus bure ane Dyadame,
Thow art the last king, of five score and five,
And all ar deed, and none bot thow on live.
Of whose number, fifty and five been slane,
And moist part in there awin misgouernance.
Quharfor, I the beseik my Souerane,
Considder of there lyuis the Circumstance.
And whē thow knawis y
e
cause of there mischāce
Of virtue than, exalt thy saillis on hie,
Traisting to chaip that fatal destenie.
Treit ilk true Barroun, as he war thy brother,
Quhilk mon at neid, the and thy Realm defend.
When suddandlie one doth oppres one other,
Lat Justice myxit with mercy thame amend.
Have thou their hartis, thou hes yneuch to spend.
And be the contrair, thow art bot king of bone,
Frō time thine heiris hartis been from the gone.
I have no laser, for to write at lenth.
Myne hole intent, until thine Excellence,
Decressit so I am in wit, and strenth,
My mortal wound doth me sic violence,
Peple of me may have Experience.
Because alas, I wes Incounsolabill,
Now mon I de ane Catyue Miserabill.
✚ ☜
The Secund Epistill of the Papyngo, directit to hir Brether of Court.
BBETHER
of court, with mind precordiall
To the greit God, hartlie I commend yow,
Imprent my fall, in your memorial,
To gidder with this E
•
dull that I send yow.
To preis over hich, I pray yow not pretend yow,
The vane ascens of court, who will consider,
Quho sittith most hie, sal
•
ind y
e
saith most slidder.
So ye that now, be lansing up the ledder,
Tak tent in time, fest
••
ning your singaris fast.
Quho climmis most hich, most dint hes of y
e
wedder
And leist defense aganis the bitter blast,
Of falls fortune▪ whilk takith never rest,
Bot most redoutit daily scho down thringis,
Not sparing Paipis, Conquerouris, nor Kingis.
Thocht ye be montit up above the skyis,
And hes boith King, and court in governance,
Sū was als hich, whilk now richt lawly lyis,
Complanyng sore the courtis variance.
There pret
•
rite time, may be experience,
Quhilk throw vane hope of court did clym so hie,
Syne wātit wingis, whē they wend best to flee.
Sen ilk court been vntraist and transitory,
Changing als oft, as weddercok in wind,
Sum mak and glaid and other sum richt sorry,
Formaist this day, the morne may go behind,
Lat not vane hope of court your resone blind.
Traist well sum mē, will gif yow laud as lordis,
Quhilk wald be glaid, to se yow hang in cordis,
I durst declare the myserabilite,
Of diverse courtis, war not my time been schort
The dreidfull change, vane glore, and vilite
The painful plesour, as Poeitis doth report
Sum time in hope, sum time in disconfort,
And how sū mē dost spend their youtheid haill
In Court, syne endis in the hospytaill.
Quhow sum in court been quiet counsalouris,
Without regard to common well or kingis,
Casting there cure for to be Conquerouris.
And when they been hich raisit in there ringis.
How change of court yam dulfully down thring{is},
And when they been from their estait deposit
Quhow money of there fall been richt reiosit.
And whow fond fenyeit fulis and flatteraris
For small service obtenis greit rewardis.
Pandaris, pykthankis custrouis, and clatteraris,
Loupis up frō laddis, syne lichtis amang lardis,
Blasphemarouris, beggaris, & cōmoun bairdis,
Sum time in Court hes more authority,
Nor devote Doctouris in Diuinite.
Quhow in sum chuntre been barnis of Belial.
Full of dissimulit payntit flattery,
Prouocand be Intoxicat counsel
Princis till huredome, and till hasardrie,
Quho dost in Princis prent sic harlotry
I say for me sic pert prouocatouris
Suld punischet be abufe all strang tratouris.
What trauers, troubill and Calamite?
Haith been in court, within thir houndreth yeiris
What mortal changis, and what misery?
What nobil men, been brocht upon their heiris,
Traist well my freindis, follow ye mō your feiris
So sen in Court been uo tranquillite
Set nocht on it your hole felicite,
The court changis sometime with sic outrage,
That few or none, may makin refistence
And spairis not the Prince, more than the page,
As well apperith be Experience:
The Duke of Rothesay, micht mak no defense,
Quhilk wes pertenand Roy of this regioun
Bot dulefully deuorit in presoun.
What dreid what dolour, had that nobil king
Robert the thread, from time he knew the cace
Of his two Sonnis dolent departing?
Prince David deed, and James captyne alas,
Till true Scottis mē whilk wes a cairful cace.
Thus may ye knaw, the court been variand,
Quhē blood royal, the change may not ganestād.
Quho rang in court, more hie and tryumphand,
Nor Duke Murdok, while that his day
•
ourit?
Was he nocht greit Protectour of Scotland?
Ʒit of the court, he was nocht weil assurit.
It changit so, his lang service was smurit,
He and his Sone, fair Walter but remeid
Forfaltit war, and put to dulefull deed.
King James the first, the patroun of prudence,
Gem of Ingyne, and perll of policy
Well of Justice, and flude of Eloquence
Whose virtue doth transcend my fantasie,
For till discryue, yet when he stude most hie,
Be falls Exorbitant conspiratioun
That prudent Prince, wes pieteouslie put down.
Als James the secund, Roy of greit renonn,
Beand in his superexcellent glore
Throuch rakles schuting of ane greit cannoun
The dolent death, alas did him deuore.
One thing there been, of whilk I meruell more.
That Fortune had, at him sic mortal feid
Throuch fifty thousand, to wail him be the heid.
My heart is perst with panis for to pance,
Or write that Courtis variatioun
Of James the thread, when he had governance,
The dolour, dreid, and desolatioun,
The change of Court, and conspiratioun,
And whow that Cochrane with his company,
That time in Court clam so presumpteouslie.
It had been gude, thai bernes had been unborn
Be whom that nobill Prince wes so abusit.
Thay grew as did the weid abufe the corn,
That prudent Lordis counsel wes refusit,
And held him quiet, as he had been inclusit.
Alas that Prince, be there abusioun
Was finally brocht to confusioun.
Thay clam so hich, and gat sic audience,
And with there Prince, grew so familiar,
His Germane brother, micht get no presence,
The Duke of Albanie, nor the Earl of Mar,
Lyke baneist men, was haldin at the bar,
Tyll in the King, there grew sic mortal feid,
He flemit the Duke, and pat the Earl to deed.
Thus Cochrane, with his catyue company
Forsit thame to flee, bot yet they wantit fedderis
Abuse the hich Cederis of Libanie,
Thay clam so hie, til they lap ouir their ledderis,
On Lawder brig, syne kaippit wer in tedderis,
Stranglit to death, they gat none other grace,
Thair king captive, whilk wes ane cairful cace,
Tyll put in form, that fait Infortunate,
And mortal change, perturbith mine ingyne.
My wit been waik, my fyngeris fatigate,
To dyte, or write, the rancor and rewyne
The Civil weir, the battle Intestyne,
How that the Sone, with baner braid displayit
Agane the Father, in Battle cum arrayit.
Wald God y
e
prince had been that day confortit
With Sapience of the prudent Solomon,
And w
t
ye strenth of strang Sampson supportit.
With the bauld Oist of greit Agamemnon.
What suld I wis, remedy wes there none
At morne ane king, w
t
sceptour swerd and croun.
At ewin, ane deed deformit carioun.
Alas whare been, that richt redoutit Roy,
That potent prince, gentill king James y
e
feird
I pray to Christ, his Saul for to convey,
Ane greiter nobill, tang nocht in to the end.
O Atropus, wary we may thy weird
For he wes Mirrour of humility
Lode stern, and lamp of liberality.
During his time, so Justice did preuaill,
The Sauage Isles, trymblit for terror.
Eskdale, Euisdale, Liddissdaill, and Anuandaill
Durst nocht rebel, douting his dyntis dour,
And of his Lordis, had sic perfect favor
So for to show, that he effe
•
it no fene
Out throuch his realm, he wald tide him alone.
And of his court, throuch Europe sprāg y
e
fame.
Of lusty Lordis, and lufesum Ladyis ying,
Tryumphand tornayis iusting & knichtly game,
With all pastyme, according for ane king.
He wes the glore, of Princelie governing
Quhilk throuch the ardent lufe he had to France
Agane Ingland, did move his Ordinance.
Of Floddoun field, the rewyne to reuolue,
Or that most dolent day for till deplore,
I nyll for dreid, that dolour yow dissolve,
Schaw how that prince in his tryumphād glore
Destroyit was, what nedith process more,
Nocht be the virtue of Inglis ordinance,
Bot be his a win willful misgouernance.
Alas that day, had he been counsalabill
He had obtenit laud, glore, and victory.
Whose picreous process, been so lamentabill,
I nyll at lenth, it put in memory.
I never red, in Tragedie nor story,
At one Iornay, so money Nobillis slane
For the defense, and lufe of there Souerane.
Now brether mark, in your remembrance,
Ane Mirrour of those mutabiliteis.
So may ye knaw, the Courtis inconstance,
When princis been thus pullit from there seis.
Efter whose death, what strange aduersiteis,
What greit misrewll, in to this Region rang
Quhē our young prince could nother spek nor gāg
During his tender youth, & innocence,
What stouth, what reif, what murthur & mischāce?
Thair wes not ellis bot wraking of vengeance,
In to that Court there rang sic variance.
Divers rewlaris, maid diverse ordinance.
Sum time our Qeuene, rang in authority,
Sum time the prudent Duke of Albanie.
Sum time the realm, was reulit be Regentis,
Sum time Lufetenentis, le. daris of the law.
Than rang so money Iobedientis,
That few or none, stude of ane other awe
Oppressioun did so loud his Bugill blaw,
That none durst ride, bot in to feir of weir,
Iok up onland, that time did mys his meir.
Quho was more hich, in honor eleuate,
Nor was Margarete, our hich & michtie princes?
Sic power, was to hic appropriate
Of king, and realm scho wes gouernores.
Ʒit come one change, within ane schort process,
That perle preclare, that lusty plesand queen,
Lang time durst nocht in to the court be seen.
The Archebischop of sāctādres James Betoun,
Chancellare, and prima ein po
•
et Pastoral
Clam nyxt the king, most hich in this regioun,
The ledder schuke, he lap and gat one fall,
Auctorite, nor power spiritual,
Riches, freindschip, micht not that time prevail,
When dame Curia began to steir hir taill.
His hich prudence aualit him nocht ane myte,
That time the court bair him sic mortal feid,
As presoneir, they keipt him in despyte,
And sum time wist not, whare to hyde his heid.
Bot disagysit, like Ihone the raif he yeid.
Had nocht been hope bair him sic company,
He had been stranglit, be melancholy.
What cummer & cair, wes in the court of france,
When king Francis, was takin presoneir?
The Duke of Burboun, amyd his Ordinance
Deid at ane straik, right bailfull brocht on beir?
The court of Rome, that time ran all areir,
Quhē Pape Clement, was put in strang presoun
The nobill City, put to confusioun.
In Ingland, who had greiter governance,
Nor there tryumphand courtly Cardinal,
The common well, sum says he did auance
Be Equall Justice, boith to greit and small,
There wes no Prelate, to him peregall.
Inglismen says, had he roung langer space,
He had deposit Sanct Peter of his place.
His princely pomp, nor Papale grauite,
His palice royal, riche, and radious,
Nor yet the flude of Superfluite
Of his riches, nor travel tedious,
Frome time dame Curia, held him odious
Aualit him nocht, nor prudence most profound,
The ledder brak, and he fell to the ground.
Quhare been the douchtie Erlis of Dowglas
Quhilkis royallie, in to this regioun rang?
Forfalt and slane, what nedith more process?
The erle of Marche, wes merschellit yaim amāg,
Dame Curia thame dulfullie down thrang.
And now of lait, who clam more hich amang us
Nor did Archebald vmquyle the Earl of Angus.
Quho with his Prince wes more familiar,
Nor of his grace, had more authority?
Was he nocht greit Wardane, and Chancellar?
Ʒit when he stude upon the hichest gre
Traisting nothing, dot perpetuite,
Was suddanlie deposit from his place,
Forfalt and flemit, he gat none other grace.
Quharefor traist nocht in till authority
My deir brether I pray yow hartfullie,
Presume uocht in your vane prosperite,
Conforme your traist, in God alluterlie,
Sync serve your Prince, with enteir heart trewlie.
And when ye se the Court, been at the best,
I counsel yow, than draw yow to your rest.
Quhare been, the hich tryūphant court of Troy?
Or Alexander, with his twelf prudent peiris,
Or Julius, that richt redoutit Roy?
Agamemnon, most worthy in his weiris?
To show there fine, my frayit heart affeiris:
Sum murdrest war, sum poysouit preteouslie
There cairfull courtis dispersit dulefullie.
Traist well there is no constant court bot one,
Quhare Christ been king, whose time interminabill
And hich triūphant glore beis nev{er} gone.
That quiet court mirthfull and Immutabill,
But variance standith ay ferme and stabill.
Dissimulance, flatirie, nor falls report,
In to that Court, sall never get resort.
Traist well my freindis, this is no fenyeit fair,
For who that been, in the extreme of deed
The verite but dout, they suld declare,
Without regard, to favor or to feid,
Quhill ye have time, deir brether mak remeid,
Adew forever, of me ye get no more,
Beseikand God, to bring yow to his glore.
Adew Edinburgh, thow hich tryūphant town
Withī whose boundis, richt blythful haif I been
Of true Merchandis, the rute of this regioun,
Most reddy to resaue, court, King and Queen,
Thy policy, and Justice, may be seen,
War deuotioun, wisdom, and honest,
And credence tynt, they might be found in the,
Adew fair Snawdoun, with thy touris hie
Thy Chapel royal, Park, and tabill round,
May, June, and July, wald I dwell in the,
War I one man, to heir the birdis sound,
Quhilk doth again, thy royal roche redound.
•
ew Lythquo, whose palice of plesance,
Mycht be one patron, in Portugal or France.
Fair well Falkland, the Fortres of Fife,
Thy polite Park, under the lowmound law,
Sum time in the, I led ane lusty life,
The fallow Deir, to se thame raik on raw,
Court men to cum to the, they stand greit awe,
Sayand thy burgh, been of all burrowis vaill,
Because in the, they never gat gude aill.
The Commouning betwix the Papingo, And hir holy Executouris.
THE
Pye persauit the Papingo in pane,
He lichtit down and fenyeit him to greit.
Sister (said he) alas who hes you slane,
I pray yow mak {pro}uisioun for your spreit
Dispone your geir, and yow confess compleit,
I have power be your contritioun,
Of all your mys, to give yow full remissioun.
I am (said he) one Channoun regulair,
And of my brether Pryour principal.
My white Rocket, my clean life doth declare,
The blak been of the death memorial.
Quharefor, I think your
•
uddis natural,
Sulde be submittit hole in to my cure.
Ʒe knaw I am ane holy Creature.
The Rauin come rolpand, whē he hard the rair,
So did the Gled, with money pieteous pew,
And fenyeitlie they contrafait greit cair.
Sister (said they) your raklesnes we rew,
Now best it is, our Just counsel ensew,
Sen woe pretend to hich promotioun,
Religious men, of greit deuotioun.
I am ane blak Monk, said the ruttilland rauin,
So said the gled, I am ane holy freir,
And hes power to bring yow quick to heaven,
It is well knawin, my conscience been full cleir,
The blak Bybill, pronunce I sall perqueir
So till our brether, ye will give sum gude,
God wat give we haif neid of lives fude.
The Papingo said, father be the rude,
Howbeit your raiment be religious like,
Ʒour conscience, I suspect be nocht gude,
I did persaue, when priuelie ye did pyke
Ane chekin from ane hen, under ane dyke
I grant (said he) that hen was my gude friend,
And I that chekin tuke, bot for my teind,
Ʒe knaw the faith be us mon be susteind,
So be the Pope, it is preordinate,
That spiritual mē, suld leave upon there teind,
Bot well wat I, ye been predestinate
In your extremis to be so fortunate,
To have sic holy consultatioun,
Quharefore, we mak yow exhortatioun,
Sen dame Nature hes grantit yow sic grace,
Laiser to mak confessioun general,
Schaw forth your syn ī haist, whill ye haif space
Syne of your geir, mak one memorial.
We three sall mak your feistis funeral,
And with greit blis, bury we sall your bonis,
Syne Trentalis twenty, trattill all at onis,
The rukkis sall rair, that mē sall on thame rew,
And cry,
Commemoratio Animarum.
We sall gar chekinnis cheip, and gaislingis pew
Suppose the geis and hennis, suld cry alarm,
And we sall serve,
Secundum Vsum Sarum.
And mak yow saif, we find sanct Blase to broch,
Cry and for yow, the cairfull corrinoch.
And we sall sing, about your Sepulture,
Sanct Mongois matynis, and the mekle Creid,
And syne deuotelie say, I yow assure,
The auld Placebo bakwart, and the beid,
And we sall weir for yow the murnyng weid,
And thocht your spreit, with Pluto war professed,
Deuotelie sall your Dirige be dressed.
Father (said scho) your facund words fair,
Full sore I dreid, be contrair to your deidis.
The wyffis of the village, cryis with cair,
Quhē yat {per}save you maw ouirthort there medis.
Ʒour falls consait, boith duke & draik sore dredis,
I marvel suithlie, ye de nocht eschamit
For your defaltis, being so defamit.
It dost abhor, my pure perturbit spreit
Tyll mak to yow ony confessioun.
I heir men say, ye been one Hypocreit,
Exemptit from the senye and sessioun.
To put my geir in your possessioun,
That will I nocht, so help me dame Nature,
Nor of my corps, I will yow give no cure.
Bot had I heir, the nobill Nichtingall,
The gentle Ia, the Merle, and Turtur true.
My Obsequies, and feiftis funeral
Ordour they wald, with notis of the new
The plesand pown, most angellyk of hew,
Wald God I war, this day with him confessed
And my deuyse, dewlie be him addrest,
The mirthfull Maueis, w
t
the gay Goldspink,
The lusty larke, wald God they war present,
My Infortune, forsuith they wald forthink,
And comfort me, that been so Impotent.
The swift Swallow, in practik most prudent,
I wat scho wald, my bleiding stem belyue,
With hir most verteous stone restringityue.
Compt me the cace, under confessioun,
The Gled said, proudlie to the Papingo,
And we sall sweir be our professioun
Counsall to keep, and show it to no mo.
We the beseik, or thow depart us fro
Declare to us, sum causis resonabill,
Quhy, we been haldin so abhominabill.
Be thy travel, thow hes Experience.
First beand bred, in to the Orient,
Syne be thy gude service, and diligence,
To Princis maid, heir in the Occident.
Thow knawis the vulgar pepillis Judgment,
Quhare thow transcurrit the hot Meridional
Syne next the Poill, the plaig Septentrionall.
So be thine hich ingyne superlatyue,
Of all countries, thow knawis the qualiteis.
Quharefore, I the conture be God of live,
The verity declare withouttin leis,
What thow hes hard, belandis or be seis,
Of us kirkman, boith gude and evil report,
And whow they Iuge, show us we the exhort.
Father (said scho) I Catyue Creature,
Dar nocht presume, with sic mater to mell,
Of your cares, ye knaw I have no cure,
Demand thame whilk in prudence doth precell,
I may nocht pew, my panes been so fell.
And als perchance, ye will nocht stand content,
To knaw, the vulgare pepillis Judgment
Ʒit will the death, alyte withdraw his dart,
All they lyis in my memorial
I sall declare, with true vnfenyeit heart.
And first I say, to yow in general,
The common people sayith, ye been all
Degenerit from your holy Primityuis,
As testifyis the process of your lyuis.
Of your peirles prudent predecessouris,
The beginning, I grant wes verray gude.
Apostolis, Martyris, Virginis, Confessouris,
The sound of there excellent Sanctitude
Was hard over all the world be land and flude,
Planting the faith, be Predicatioun.
As Christ had maid to thame Narratioun,
To fortify the faith they tuke no feir,
Afore Princis, precheing full prudentlie,
Of dolorous death, they doutit nocht the deir,
The verity declaring fervently,
And Martyrdom they sufferit pacientlie.
Thay tuke no cure of land, riches nor rent,
Doctryne and deed, war boith equivalent.
To show at lenth, their workis wer greit wounder,
There myracklis, they wer so manifest.
In name of Christ, they haillit money hounder,
Rasing the deed, and purging the possessed
With peruerst spreitis, whilk{is} had been oppressed
The crukit ran, the blind men gat there Ene.
The deif men hard, the lipper war maid clean.
The Prelatis spousit wer, with pouerte,
Those days, when so they flurischit in fame,
And with hir, generit Lady Chaistite.
And dame Deuotioun, notable of Name.
Humill they war, simple, and full of schame.
Thus Chaistite, and dame Deuotioun
War principal cause, of there promotioun.
Thus they contynewit, in this life divine,
Ay till there rang, in Rome's greit Ciete,
Ane potent Prince, was namit Constantyne,
Persauit the Kirk, had spousit pouerte,
With gude intent, and mouit of piete,
Cause of Diuorce, he fand betwix thame two,
And partit thame, withouttin words mo.
Syne schortlie with ane greit solemynite,
Withouttin ony Despensatioun,
The kirk he spousit, with dame Properte,
Quhilk haistelie be proclamatioun,
To pouerte gart mak Narratioun,
Under the pane of persing hir ene,
That with the kirk, scho suld no more be seen.
Sanct Sylvester, that time rang Pope in Rome
Quhilk first consent to the Marriage
Of properte, the whilk began to blome
Taking on hir, the cure with hich curage.
Deuotioun drew hir till one Heremitage,
When scho considerit lady Properte
So hich exaltit in to Dignite.
O Sylvester, whare was thy discretioun,
Quhilk Peter did renunce, thow did resaue?
Androw, and Ihone, did leif there possessioun,
Thair schippis, & nettis, lynis, and all the iaue,
Of temporal substance, nothing wald they have,
Contrarious to there contemplatioun
Bot soberlie there sustentatioun.
Ihone the Baptist, went to the wilderness,
Lazarus, Martha, and marie Magdalane
Left veritage, and gudis more and les.
Prudent sanct Paul, thocht properte profane,
From town, to town, he ran in wynd and rane,
Upon his feit, teching the word of grace,
And never was subiectit to riches.
The gled said, yet I heir nothing bot gude,
Proceid schortlie, and thy mater auance.
The Papyngo said, father be the rude,
It wer to lang, to show the circumstance,
Quhow properte, with hir new alliance,
Grew greit with child, as true men to me tald,
And bure two dochteris gudlie to behald,
The eldest douchter, named was riches,
The secund Sister, Sensualite,
Quhilk{is} did incres, within one schort process,
Preplesand to the Spiritualite,
In greit substance, and excellent bewte.
Thir Ladyis two, grew so within few yeris,
That in the world, war nō micht be there peris.
This royal Riches, and Lady Sensuall,
From that time forth, tuke hole the governance
Of the most part, of the stait spiritual.
And they again, with humill observance,
Amorouslie there wittis did auance,
As true luffaris, there Ladyis for to pleis,
God wat give than, there hartis war at Eis.
Sone they foryet, to study pray and preiche,
Thay grew so subject, to dame Sensuall,
And thocht bot pane, pure people for to teiche,
Ʒit they decretit, in there greit counsel,
Thay wald no more, to Marriage be thrall,
Traisting surely, till observe Chaistite,
And all begylit, quod Sensualite.
Apperandlie, they did expel there Wyffis,
That they might leif at large, without thirlage,
At liberty to leid there lusty lyffis,
Thinkand men thrall, that been in marriage
For new faicis, prouokis new curage.
Thus Chaistite they turn in to delight,
Wantyng of Wyffis, been cause of appetyte,
Dame Chaistite did steill away for schame
Frome time scho did persaue there prouiance,
Dame Sensuall, one letter gart proclaim
And hir exylit Italy, and France.
In Ingland, couth scho get none Ordinance
Than to the King, and Court of Scotland
Scho markit hir, withouttin more demand.
Traisting in to that court to get confort.
Scho maid hir humill supplicatioun.
Schortlie they said, scho suld get na support,
Bot bostit hir with blasphematioun,
To Priests go mak your protestatioun.
It is said they, money one houndreth year
Sen Chaistite, had ony entres heir.
Tyrit for travel, scho to the preistis past,
And to the rewlaris of Religioun.
Of hir presence, schortlie they war agast,
Sayand they thocht, it bot abusioun
Hir to resaue, so with conclusioun,
With one auyce, decretit and gave dome,
Thay wald resset no Rebell out of Rome.
Suld we resaue, that Romanis hes refusit
And banist Ingland, Italy, and France,
For your flattrie, than wer we well abusit
Pas hyne said they and fast your way auance,
Amang the Nonnis, go seek your ordinance,
For we have maid aith of fidelite
To dame Riches, and Sensualite.
Than pacientlie, scho maid progressioun,
Toward the Nonnis, with heart siching full so
•
e.
Thay gave hir presence, with processioun,
Resauand hir, with honor, laud, and glore,
Purposing, to preserve hir ever more.
Of that nouellis come to dame Properte,
To Ryches, and to Sensualite.
Quhilkis sped thame at the post richt spedilie,
And set ane sege, proudlie about the place.
The silly Nonnis, did yield thame haistelie,
And humillie of that gilt asked grace,
Syne gave there bandis of perpetual pace.
Resauand thame, they kest up wykket{is} wyde,
Than Chaistite, there no langer wald abide.
So for refuge, fast to the freiris scho fled,
Quhilkis said, they wald of ladyis take no cure.
Quhar been scho now, than said the gredie gled?
Nocht amang yow, said scho I yow assure.
I traist scho been, upon the borrow mure,
Besouth Edinbugh, and that richt money menis
Prof estamang the Sisteris of the Senis.
Thair hes scho fund hir mother Pouerte,
And Deuotioun, hir a win sister carnal.
Thair hes scho fund, faith, hope and cherite,
Togidder with the virtues Cardinal.
Thair hes scho fund, ane Conuent yet vnthrall
To dame Sensuall, nor with riches abusit.
So quietlie, those ladyis been Inclusit.
The Pyot said, I dreid be they assailyeit,
Thay rander thame, as did the holy Nonnis.
Dout nocht (said scho) for they been so artailyeit,
Thay purpose to defend thame w
t
their gunnis,
Reddy to schute, they have sex greit Cannonnis,
Perseverance, Constance, and Conscience,
Austerite, Laubour, and Abstinence.
To resist subtell Sensualite,
Strongly they been, enarmit feit and handis,
Be abstinence, and keipit pouerte,
Contrair riches, and all hir falls seruandis.
Thay have ane Bumbard, braissit up in bandis,
To keep their port, in iniddis of there clois,
Quhilk is called,
Domine custodi nos.
Within whose schot their dar no Enemeis
Approche there place, for dreid of dyntis dour,
Boich nicht and day, they wirk like besie beis,
For there defense, reddie to stand in stour,
And hes sic watchis, on there utter tour,
That dame Sensuall, with seige dar not assailye
Nor cum within, the schot of there artailye.
The Pyot said, whareto sulde they presume.
For to resyste, sweet Sensualite,
Or dame riches, whilk{is} reularis been in Rome,
Ar they more constant, in there qualite,
Nor the princis of Spiritualite,
Quhilkis plesandlie withouttin obstaikle
Haith thame resauit, in there habitakle.
Quhow lang traist ye, those ladyis sall remane
So solytar, in sic perfectioun?
The Papingo said, brother in certain
So lang as they obey correctioun,
Cheising there heidis be electioun,
Vnthrall to riches, or to pouerte,
Bot as requyrith there necessity.
O prudent prelatis, whare was your prescience,
That tuke on hand, till observe Chastity,
But austeir life, laubour, and abstinence?
〈◊〉
ye nocht, the greit prosperite
App
••
ndlie, to cum of properte.
Ʒe knaw greit cheir, greit eis and Idilnes,
To Lecherie, was mother and maisties.
Thow rauis vnrockit, the rauin said be the rude
So to reprove, riches, or properte.
Abraham, and Isaac, war riche and veray gude
Jacob, and Joseph, had prosperite.
The Papingo said, that is verite.
Riches I grant, is nocht to be refusit,
Prouiding alwayis, that it be nocht abusit.
Than said the Rauin, one replicatioun,
Syne said thy reason is nocht worth ane myte.
As I sall preue, with protestatioun
That no man take, my words in despyte,
I say, the temporal Princis hes the wy
•
e
That in the kirk, sic Pastouris dost provide,
To govern saulis, y
u
not thame selfs can gyde.
Lang time after the kirk tuke properte
The Prelatis leuit in greit perfectioun,
Vnthrall to riches, or Sensualite
Under the holy Spreitis protectioun,
Orderlie chosin be electioun.
As Gregore, Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine,
Benedict, Bernard, Clement, Cleit, and Lyne.
Sic patient Prelatis, enterit be the port
Plesand the people be predicatioun.
Now dyke lowparis, dost in the kirk resort
Be Symonie, and supplicatioun
Of Princis be there presentatioun.
So silly Saulis, that been Christis scheip
Ar geuin to hungry gormand wolfis to keep.
No marvel is, thocht we Religious men
Degenerit be, and in our life confusit.
Bot sing, and drink, none other craft we ken,
Our spiritual Fatheris, hes us so abusit
Agane our will, those trukouris been intrusit.
Lawit men hes now, religious men in curis
Profest Virginis, in keiping of strong huris.
Princis, princis where been your hich prudens,
In dispositioun of your Beneficeis?
The guerdonyng of your Courticiens,
Is sum cause of thir greit Enormiteis,
There is one sort, waitand like hungry fleis.
For spiritual cure, thocht they be nothing abill,
Whose gredie thristis been Insatiabill.
Princis, I pray yow be no more abusit,
To verteous men having so small regard?
Quhy sulde virtue, throuch flattery be refusit
That men for couunyng, can get no reward?
Alas that ever one bragger, or ane baird,
Ane hure master, or common hasarture,
Suld in the kirk, get ony kind of cure.
War I one man, worthy to weir ane croun,
Ay when there vaikit ony beneficeis,
I suld gar call, ane Congregatioun
The principal, of all the Prelaceis,
Most cunning Clerkis of Vniuersiteis,
Most famous Fatheris of religioun,
With there aduyse mak dispositioun.
I sulde dispone, all offices Pastorallis,
Tyll Doctors of Diuinite, or Iure.
And cause dame Vertew, pull up all hir saillis,
When cunning men had in the kirk most cure.
Gar Lordis send there Sonnis I yow assure
To seek science, and famous sculis frequent
Syne thame promoue, that war most sapient.
Greit plesour war to heir ane Bischop preiche,
One Dane, or Doctor in Diuinite,
One Abhor, whilk could weil his Cōuent teiche,
One Persoun, flowing in Philosophy.
I tyne my time, to wis whilk wy
•
l nocht be.
War not the preicheing, of the begging freiris,
Tynt war the faith amang the Seculeris.
As for there precheing, quod the Papingo
I thame excuse, for why, they been so thrall
To properte, and hir ding Dochteris two,
Dame Riches, and fair lady Sensuall,
Thay may nocht use no pastyme spiritual.
And in there habitis, they take sic delight,
Thay have renuncit russet, and roploch white
Cleikand to thame skarlot, and Cramosie,
With Meneuer, martrik, Grice, & rich armyne
There law hartis, exalti
•
ar so hie
To se there Papale pomp it is ane pyne.
More riche array is now with frenyeis fine,
Upon the barding of ane Bischopis Mule,
Nor ever had Paul or Peter again yule.
Syne fair ladyis, there Chene may not eschaip,
Dame Sensuall so, sic seid hes in thame sawin.
Les skaith it war with license of the Paip,
That ilk Prelate one Wyfe had of his awin,
Nor se there bastard{is} ouirthort y
e
cuntre blawin.
For now be they, be weil cūmin from the sculis,
Thay fall to work, as they war common bullis.
PEw quod the gled, thow preichis all in vane.
Ʒe Secular folkis, hes of our cace no curis.
I grant said scho, yet men will speak again,
Quhow ye haif maid a hundredth thousand huris
Quhilk{is} never had been, war not your lecherus luris
And give I lee, hartlie I me repent,
Was never Bird I wat more penitent.
Than scho hir sch
•
aue w
t
devote countenance,
To that falls gled, whilk fenyeit him one freir.
And when scho had fulfyllit hir penance
Full subtellie at hir he gan inqueir:
Cheis yow (said he) whilk of us brether heir
Sall have of all your natural geir the curis,
Ʒe knaw none been, more holy creaturis.
I am content (quod the pure Papingo)
That ye freir Gled, and corbie monk your brother
Have cure of all my gudis, and no mo.
Sen at this time, freindschip I find none other.
We shall be to yow true as till our Mother
(Quod they) and sweir till fulfill hir intent.
Of that (said scho) I take ane Instrument.
The Pyot said, what sall mine office be?
Ouerman said scho, unto the other two,
The rowpand Rauin, said sweet sister lat se
Ʒour holy intent for it is time to go.
The gredie gled said, brother do nocht so
We will remane, and haldin up hir heid,
And never depart from hir, till scho be deed.
The Papingo, thame thankit tenderlie,
And said, sen ye have tane on yow this cure,
Depart mine natural gudis equally,
That ever I had, or hes of dame Nature.
First to the Howlet, Indigent and pure
Quhilk on the day for schame dar nocht be seen,
Tyll hir I leif, my gay galbert of grene.
My bricht depurit Ene, as crystal cleir,
On to the Bak, ye sall thame boith present.
In Phebus preseuce, whilk dar nocht appeir.
Of natural sicht, scho been so Impotent,
My birneist beik, I leif with gude intent
Onto to the gentill, pieteous Pellicane,
To help to pers, hir tender heart in twane.
I leif the Goik, whilk hes no sang bot one,
My music, with my voice Angelical.
And to the Guse, ye give when I am gone,
My Eloquence, anb tongue Rethori
•
a
••
.
And take and dry, my bonis greit and small
Syne clois thame in one cais of Ebure fine,
And thame present, unto the Phenix syne.
To birne with hir, when scho hir life renewis,
In Arabie, ye sall hir find but weir,
And sall knaw hir, be hir most heuinlie hewis,
Gold, Asure, Gowles, Purpour, and Synopeie,
Hir dait is for to leif five houndreth year.
Mak to that bird my commendatioun.
And als I mak yow supplicatioun,
Sen of my corps, I have yow geuin the cure.
Ʒe speid yow to the court but tarrying,
And take my heart of perfect portrature,
And it present unto my Souerane King.
I wat he will it clois it to one ring,
Commend me to his grace, I yow exhort,
And of my passioun mak him true report.
Ʒe three my tryppis sall have for your travel,
With luffer and lowng, to part equal amāg yow
Pray and Pluto, the potent prince of hell
Geue ye failye, that in his feit he fang yow,
Be to me true, thocht I nothing belang yow,
Sore I suspect, your conscience be to large.
Dout nocht said they, we take it with the charge.
Adew brether, quod the pure Papingo,
To talkin more, I have no time to tarie.
Bot sen my spreit, mon fra my body go,
I recommend it to the queen of Farie
Eternallie, in till hir court to tarie
In wilderness, among the holtis hore.
Than scho inclynit hir heid, and spak no more.
Plungit in till hir mortal passioun,
Full greuouslie, scho grippit to the ground.
It war to lang to mak narratioun
Of sichis sore, with money stang and stound,
Out of hir wound, the blood did so abound,
One coumpas round, was w
t
hir blood maid reid
Without remeid, there was nothing bot deed.
And be scho had,
In Mauus tuas
said,
Extinctit wer hir natural wittis five.
Hir heid full softlie on hir schulder laid
Syne yield the spreit, with panis pungityue.
The Rauin began, rudely to rug and ryue,
Full gormoundlyke, his empty throt to feid,
Eit softlie brother said the gredie gled.
Quhil scho is hot, depart hir ewin amang us.
Tak thow one half, and reik to me ane other,
In till our richt, I wat no wicht dar wrang us,
The Pyot said, the feind resaue the fother,
Quhy mak ye me stepbarne, and I your brother?
Ʒe do me wrang schir gled, I schrew your heart
Tak there (said he) the puddingis for thy part.
Than wit ye well, my heart wes wounder sair
For to behald, that dolent departing.
Hir Angel fedderis, fleing in the air,
Except the heart, was left of hir nothing.
The Pyot said, this pertenith to the king.
Quhilk till his grace, I purpose to present,
Thow (quod the gled) sall faill of thine intent.
The Rauin said, God nor I rax in ane raip.
And thow get this, till other King or Duke.
The Pyote said, plene I nocht to the Pape
Than in ane smedie, I be smorit with smuke,
With that the Gled, the piece claucht in his cluke,
And fled his way, the laue with all there micht
To chace the gled, flew all out of my sicht.
Now have ye hard, this little Tragedie.
The sore complaint, the testament & mischance
Of this pure Bird, whilk did ascend so hie.
Beseikand yow, excuse mine Ignorance,
And rude indyte, whilk is nocht till auance.
And to the quair, I give commandment
Mak no repair, whare Poetis been present.
Because thow been, but Rethorike so rude,
Be never seen, beside none other buke,
With King nor Queen, w
t
Lord nor man of gude
With coit unclean, clame kintent to sum cuke.
Steill in ane nuke, when they list on the luke.
For smell of smuke, men will abhor to beir the.
Heir I manesweir the, wharefor to lurk go leir the.
FINIS.
☜
The Dreme of Schir David Lyndesay of the mont Knicht. Familiar Seruitour, to our Souerane Lord, King James the Fyft. &c. THE EPISTIL TO THE KINGIS GRACE.
RIcht Potent Prince, of hie imperial blood,
Unto thy grace, I traist it be weil knawen
My service done unto thy Cels
•
tude,
Quhilk nedis nocht, at lenth for to be schawin
And thocht my youthed now be neir over blaw
•
n.
Exercit in service of thine Excellence,
Hope hes me hecht ane gudlie recompense.
When thou wes young, I bure y
t
in mine arm
Full tenderlie, till thow begouth to gang,
And in thy bed, oft happit the full warm
With lute in hand, syne sweitlie to the sang.
Sumtyme in dancing, feirelie I flang.
And sometime playand fairsis on the flure,
And sometime on mine office takand cure.
And sometime like ane feind transfigurate,
And sometime like the greislie gaist of Gy,
In diverse formis, oftymes disfigurate,
And sometime dissagyist full plesandlie.
So sen thy birth, I have continually
Bene occupyit, and ay to thy plesour,
And sometime Sewat, Coppat and Caruour.
Thy purs master, and secreit Thesaurar.
Thy Ischar ay sen thy Natyuite,
And of thy chalmer chief Cubicular,
Quhilk to this hour, hes kepit my lawte,
Louyng be to the blyssit Trinite,
That sic ane wrechit worm hes maid so able,
Tyll sic ane Prince to be so agreeable.
Bot now thow art be Influence natural
Hie of Ingyne, and richt Inquisityue
Of antique storeis, and dedis martial
More plesandlie, the time for till over drive
I have at lenth, the storeis done discryue,
Of Hector, Arthur, and gentill Julius,
Of Alexander, and worthy Pompeius.
Of Jason, and Medea, all at lenth.
Or Hercules, the actis honorable,
And of Sampson, the supernatural strenth,
And of
•
eil Luffaris floreis amiable.
And oftymes have I feinyeit money fable,
Of Troylus, the sorrow and the Joy,
And Seigis all, of Tire, Thebes, and Troy.
The Prophecyis of Rymour, Beid & Marling,
And of money other plesand history,
Of the reid Etin, and the gyir carling
Confortand the, when that I saw the sorry,
Now with the support of the king of glory
I sall the show ane story of the new
The whilk afore, I never to the schew.
Bot humilie I beseik thine Excellence.
With ornate terms, thocht I can nocht express
This sempyll mater, for laik of Eloquence,
Ʒit nocht withstanding, all my besines.
With heart and hand my mind I sall addres,
As I best can, and most compendious.
Now I begin, the mater hapnit thus.
THE PROLOG.
IN the Calendis of January,
When fresche Phebus be mouyng circulai
•
Frome Capricorne, wes enterit in Aquarie,
With blastis that the branchis maid full bair.
The snaw, and sleit, pertubit all the air,
And flemit Flora, from every bank and bus
Throuch support of the austeir Eolus.
Efter that I the lang wynteris nicht.
Had line walking, in my bed allone,
Throuch heuy thocht, that no way sleip I micht,
Remembryng of diverse thyngis goue.
So up I rose, and cleithit me anon.
Be this fair Titan, with his lemis licht
Ouer all the land, had spread his baner bricht.
With clok and hude, I dressit me belyue
With dowbyl schone, & myttanis on my handis,
Howbeit the air, wes right penettraryue,
Ʒit fure I forth, lansing ouirthort the landis,
Towart the see, to schort me on the sandis
Because vnblomit was baith bank and bray.
And so as I was passing be the way,
I met dame Flora, in dule weid dissagysit.
Quhilk in to May, wes dulce and delectabill
With stalwart stormis, hir sweitnes wes supprisit
Hir heuinlie hewis, war turait in to sabill,
Quhilk{is} vinwhyle war to Luffaris amiabill,
Fled from the frost, the tender flouris I saw,
Under dame Naturis mantill lurking law.
The small fowlis, in flokkis saw I flee,
To Nature makand greit lamentatioun.
Thay lychtit down, beside me on ane tree,
Of there complaint, I had compassioun,
And with ane pieteous exclamatioun,
Thay said blissit be Somer, with his flouris,
And waryit be thow winter, with thy schouris.
Alas Aurora, the syllie Lark can cry,
Quhare hes thou left, thy balmy liquor sweet
That us reiosit, we mounting in the sky?
Thy silver droppis, ar turnit in to sleir.
O fair Phebus, whare is thy holsum hei
••
Quhy tholis thow, thy heuinlie pleland face
With mystie vapors to be obscurit alas?
Quhar art thou May, w
t
June, thy sister schene,
Weill bordourit with dasyis of delight?
And gentill July, with thy mantill grene
Enamilit with Rosis, reid and white?
Now auld and cauld Ianuar in despyte,
Reiffis from us, all pastyme and pleasure.
Alas what gentil heart may this Indure?
Ouersylit ar with cloudis odious
The goldin skyis of the Orient.
Chāging in sorrow, our sang melodious,
Quhilk we had wount to sing with gude intent,
Resoundand to the heuinnis firmament.
Bot now our day, is changit in to nicht
With that they rais, & flew forth of my sicht.
Pensyue in heart, passing full soberly
Unto the see, fordwart I fure anon.
The see was forth, the sand wes smoith & dry
Than up and down, I musit mine alone
Tyll that I spyit, ane little Cave of stone
Hich in ane craig, vpwart I did approach
But carrying and clam up in the Roche.
And purposit, for passing of the time,
Me to defend from Ociosite,
With pen and paper to Register in ryme
Sum merry mater of Antiquite.
Bot Idelnes, ground of iniquity
Scho maid so dull my spreitis me within,
That I wist nocht, at what end to begin.
Bot sal still in that coue, whare I might se
The weltering of the wallis up and down,
And this falls warldis Instabilite
Unto that se, makand comparisoun,
And of this warldis wrechit variatioun
To thame that fixis, all there hole intent
Considering who most had, suld most repent.
So with my hude, my heid I happit warm,
And in my cloke, I fauldit beit
•
my feir.
I thocht my corps, with cauld suld take no harm
My mittanis held my handis well in heit.
The skowland craig, me couerit from the sleit.
There still I sat, my bonis for to rest
Tyll Morpheus with sleip my spreit oppressed.
So throw the bousteous blastis of Eolus,
And throw my walking, on the nicht before,
And throuch the seyis mouyng marvelous
Be Neptunus, with money rout and roar.
Constraynit I was to sleip withouttin more.
And what I dremit in conclusioun,
I sall yow tell ane meruellous visioun,
THE DREME OF SCHIR DAVID LYNDESAY.
ME thocht ane lady of portratour perfect
Did salus me, w
t
benyng countenance,
And I whilk of hir presens had delight
Tyll hir again maid humyll reverence,
And hir demandit, saving hir plesance,
What wes hir name? scho answerit courtesly,
Dame Remembrance (scho said) called am I.
Quhilk cummin is for pastyme and plesour
Of the, and for to beir the company,
Because I se thy spreit without mesour
So sore perturbit be melancholy,
Causing thy corps, to vaxin cauld and dry.
Tharefor get up, and gang anon with me.
So war we boith, in twinkling of ane Ee,
Doun throw the eird, in middis of the Center,
Or ever I wist, in to the lawest hell,
In to that cairfull Coue, when we did enter
Ʒowting and yowling, we hard with money yell.
In flam of fire, right furious and fell
Was cry and money cairfull Creature
Blasphemand God, and warland Nature.
There saw we diverse Paipis and Empriouris,
Without recover money cairfull kingis.
There saw we money wrangous Cōquerouris,
Withouttin richt, reiffaris of vtheris ringis,
The men of kirk, lay boundin in to bingis,
There saw we money cairfull Cardinal,
And Archebischopis in there pontifical.
Proud and peruerst Prelatt{is}, out of nummer,
Priouris, Abbottis, and falls flatterand freiris.
To specify thame all, it wer ane cummer,
Regulare chānonis, churl monk{is}, & chartereris,
Curious Clerkis, and preistis seculeris.
There was sum part, of ilk Religioun
In haiy kirk, whilk did abusioun.
Than I demand it dame Remembrance,
The cause of thir Prelattis punitioun.
Scho said the cause, of there unhappy chance.
Was Couetyce, Lust, and ambteioun,
The whilk now garris thame want fruitioun
Of God, and heir eternally man dwell
In to this painful poysonit pit of hell.
Als they did nocht instruct the Ignorent.
Prouocand thame to penitence be preiching,
Bot seruit warldlie Princis insolent,
And war promouit, be there fenyen fleiching.
Nocht for there science, wisdom nor teicheing.
Be Symonie, was there promotioun,
More for deneiris, nor for deuotioun.
Ane other cause of the punitioun,
Of thir unhappy prelattis Imprudent,
Thay maid nocht equale distributioun
Of holy kickis Patrimony and rent,
Bot temporallie, they have it all misspent.
Quhilkis suld have been trypartit in to three,
First to vphauld the kick in honest.
The secund part, to sustene there estaitis.
The thread part, to be geuin to the puris.
Bot they dispone that geir all other gaitis,
On cartis, and dyce, an harlotry, and huris.
Thir caryuis tuke no compt of there a win curi
•
There kirkis reuin, there l
•
oris clenely cled
And richelie rewlit
•
oi
••
at bu
••
and bed.
There bastard barnis, proudely they prouydit.
The kirk geir largelie, they did on tha
•••
spend
In there defaltis, there sub
••
tis we misgydit,
And comptit nocht there God, for till offend,
Quhilk gart them want grace at t
•••
r letter end
Rewland that rout I saw to Ca
•
p
•
s of Bras,
Simon Magus, and Bischop Caiaphas.
Bischop Annas, and the tratour Judas,
Machomete, that Propheit poysonabill,
Chore Dathan, and A
•
iron there was,
Heretykis we saw vnnume
•
abill.
It was ane sicht, richt wounderous
•
amin
•
abill
Quhow that they lay, in to they
〈◊〉
Neiting,
With cairfull cryis, grening and greiting.
Religious men wer punischit pa
•
efullit,
For vain glory als for Inobedience,
Brekand there constitutionis wylfullie
Nocht hauand there Ouermen in reverence,
To knaw there rewll they maid no diligence,
Vnleifsumlie, they vsit properte,
Passing the boundis of willful pouerte.
Full sore weeping, with vocis lament
•
bill,
Thay cryit lawd, O Empriour Constantyne
We may wit thy possessioun personabill
Of all our greit pame
•••
〈◊〉
.
Quhow
••
t thy purpose was, till ane
•
udefyne,
Th
•
w baneift from us,
〈◊〉
deuotioun,
Haiffand sic Ee till our promo
•
ioun.
Than we beheld ane den full dolorous,
Quhare that Princis and Lordis temporal
War Cruciate with panis rigorous.
Bot to expreme there panis in special.
It dost exceid all my memorial.
Importabill pane they had but conforting.
There blood royal, maid thame no supporting.
Sum catyue kingis, for cruel oppressioun.
And other sum, for there wrangous conquest
War condampnit, they and there Successioun,
Sum for public adultery, and incest.
Sum leit there people never leif in rest,
Delyting so in plesour sensual,
Quhare for there pane, was there perpetual
There was the cursit Empriour Nero,
Of euerilk vice the horribill veschell.
There was Pharaoh, with diverse Princis mo,
Oppressouris of the barnis of Israel.
Herod, and money mo, than I can tell.
Ponce Pylat was there hangit be the hals,
With unjust Iugis, for there sentence falls.
Dukis, Marquessis, Erlis, Barronis, knichtis,
With they Princis, wer punist panefully.
Participant they wer of there vnrichtis.
Fordwart we went, and leit thir Lordis lie,
And saw whare Ladyis lamentabilly,
Lyke wod Lyonis wer cairfullie cryand,
In flam of fire, richt furiouslie fryand.
Emprices, Quenis, and ladyis of honouris,
Money Duches, and Comptes, full of cair.
Thay persit mine heart, they tender Creaturis
So pynit in that pit full of dispair
Plungit in pane, with money reuthfull rair.
Sum for there pride, sum for Adultery,
Sum for there tyisting men to Lecherie,
Sum had been cruel and malicious,
Sum for making of wrangous heritouris.
For to rehers there lyffis vicious
It wer bot tarie to the auditouris,
Of Letherie, they wer the verray
•
uris
With there prouocatyue Impudictte
Brocht money ane man to Infelicite.
Ouerset w
t
schame, they did thame nev{er} schryue
Of secreit Synnis, done in quiet
And sum repentit never in there live.
Quharefor but reuth thai ruffeis did yaim ryue
Rigorouslie without compassioun,
Greit was there dule, and lamentatioun.
That we wer maid, they cryit oft alas,
Thus Tormentit with panis Intollerabill
We mendit nocht, whē we had time and space,
Bot tuke in ei
•
d our lustis delectabill.
Quharefor with feindis ugly and hortibill
We ar condampnit, forever more alas,
Eternallie, withouttin hope of grace.
Quhare is the meit, and drink delicious,
With whilk we fed, our cairfull carionis?
Gold, silver, sylk, with perlis precious,
Our riches, rentis and our possessionis?
Withouttin hope of our remissionis,
Alas our panis ar Insufferabill,
And our tormentis to compt Innumerabill.
Than we beheld, whare money ane thousand.
Commoun people lay flichterand in the fire,
Of euerilk stait, there was ane bailfull band.
There might be seen, money sorrowful Syre.
Sum for Inuy sufferit, and sum for Ire,
And sum for laik of restitutioun,
Of wrangous geir without remissioun.
Manesworne m̄chand{is}, for yair wrangous winning,
Hurdaris of gold, & cōmoun Okkararis
Fals men of Law, in Cautelis right cunning,
Theiffis, reuaris, and public oppressaris.
Sum part there was of vnleill Lauboraris
Craftismen there saw we out of nummer,
Of ilk stait to declare, it wer ane cummer.
And als langsum to me, for till Indyte,
Of this presoun, the pams in special.
The heir, the cauld, the dolour and dispyte,
Quharefor I speak of thame in general,
That dully den, that furneis Infernal,
Whose reward is, rew without remeid,
Euer deand, and never to be deed,
Hounger and thrist, in steid of meit and drink.
And for thace clethyng, ta
•
dis and Scorpionis.
That mirk Mansioun, is tapessit with stink
Thay se na thing, bot horribill visions
Thay heir bot scorn, and derisionis
Of foul feindis, and blasphemationis.
There feilling is Importabill passionis.
For melody, miserable murning.
There is na solace, bet dolour Infinyte
In bailfull beddis, bitterlie burning.
With sobbing, siching, sorrow and with syte
There conscience, there hattis so did byte,
To heir thame flyte, it was ane cace of cair,
So in dispyte plungit in to despair.
We enterit in, ane countre full of cait.
Quhate that we saw, money ane legioun
Grerand and gowland, with money re
•••
full rair.
What place is this (quod I) of blis so bait,
Scho answerit (and said) Purgatory
Quhilk purgis Saulis, or they cum to glory.
I se no plesour heir bot mekle pain.
Quharefor (said I) leif we this sort in thrall.
I purpose never, to cum beie again.
Bot yet I do believe, and ever sall
That the true kirk, can no way err at all,
Sic thing to be, greit Clerkis dost conclude.
Quhoweit my hope, stādis most in Christis blood.
Abufe that, in the thread presoun anon.
We enterit in ane place of perditioun,
Quhare money babbis war makand drery mone,
Because they wantit the fruitioun
Of Baptism, they wantit the Ansenye.
Up wart we went, and left that mirthles menye.
In till ane Volt, above that place of pane.
Unto the whilk, but sudgeorne we ascendit,
That was the Lymb, in the whilk did remane
Our forefatheris, because Adam offendit
Eiland the fruct, the whilk was defendit
Money ane year, they dwelt in that Doungeoun
In mirknes, and in delolatioun.
Than throuch the erth, of nature cauld and dry.
Glaid to eschaip, those places perrilous,
We haistit us, right wounder speedily.
Ʒit we beheld, the Secretis marvelous
The Mynis of gold, and stonis precious
Of silver, and of euerilk fine mettell,
Quhilk to declare, it wer over lang to dwell.
Up throuch the watter, schortlie we Intendi
•
Quhilk enuironis the erth, withouttin dout.
Syne throw the air, schortlie we ascendit,
His Regionis throuch, behalding in and out
Quhilk erth, and watter, closis round about.
Syne schortlie vpwart, throw the fire we went,
Quhilk wes the highest, and hotest Element.
When we had all, thir Elementis over pas
•
.
That is to say, erth, watter, air, and fire,
Up wart we went, withouttin ony rest
To se the Heuinnis, was out mayest desire.
Bot or we might wyn, to the heaven Empire
It behuffit us to pas, the way full ewin,
Up throuch the spheiris, of the Planeris sewin.
First to the Mone, and vesyit all hir spheir.
Queen of the see, and beauty of the nycht,
Of nature wak, and cauld, and no thing cleir,
For of hir self, scho hes none other lycht
Bot the reflex, of Phebus bemis brycht.
The twelf signis, scho passis round about,
In aucht and twenty days withouttin dout.
Than we ascendit to Mercurious.
Quhilk Poetis callis god of Eloquence,
Rycht Doctourlyke, with terms delicious,
In art expert, and full of Sapience.
It wes plesour to pans on his prudence.
Payntouris, Poeitis ar subject to his cure,
And hot, and dry, he is of his Nature.
And als as cunning Astrologis says,
He dost compleit his cours Naturallie,
In three houndreth, and aucht and thretty days.
Syne vpwart we ascendit haistelie
To fair Venus, whare scho richt lustelie,
Wes set in to ane saith, of silver schene,
That fresche God's, that lusty luffis queen.
Thy persit mine heart, hir blenkis amorous
Quhowbeit that sometime scho is chengeable,
With countenance and cheir full dolorous
Quhylūmis richt plesand, glaid and delectable,
Sumtyme constant, and sometime variable.
Ʒit hir beauty, resplendent as the fire,
Swagis the wraith of Mars, that god of Ire.
This plesand Planeit, give I can richt discriue,
Scho is baith hot, and wak, of hir nature
That is the cause, scho is prouocatiue
Tyll all thame that ar subiectit to hir cure,
To Venus werkis, till that they may endure.
Als scho completis, hir coursis natural,
In twelf Monethis, withouttin ony fall.
Than past we to the spheir of Phebus bricht,
That lusty lamp, and lantern of the heaven,
And glaider of the sterris with his licht
And principal of all the planeitis sewin,
And sat in myddis of thame all full ewin,
As Roy royal, rolling in his spheir,
Full plesandlie in to his goldin Chair.
Whose Influence and virtue excellent,
Geuis the life till euerilk erthlie thing.
That Prince of euerilk planeit precellent
Dois foster flouris, and garris herbis spring,
Throuch the cauld eirth, and causis birdis sing.
And als his regular mouyng in the heaven.
Is Just under the Zodiac full ewin.
For to discryue his Diademe Royal,
Bordourit about with stonis schyning bricht
His goldin Cart, or throne Imperial,
The four stedis, that drawis it full richt
I leif to Poeitis, because I have no slicht.
Bot of his nature he is hot and dry,
Compleitand in ane year, his cours trewly.
Than up to Mars, in by we haistit us,
Wounder hot, and dryer than the tounder,
His face flam
••
and, as syre richt furious,
His host & brag, more aufull than the thounder,
Maid all y
e
heaven, most like to schaik in schouder
Quha wald behald his countenance and feir,
Mycht cail him well, the god of men of weir.
With color reid, and luke malicious,
Rycht colerick of his complexioun.
Austeir, angry, sweir, and seditious,
Principal cause of the destructioun
Of money gude and
•
obill Region.
War nocht Venus, his Ire dost mitigate,
This world of piece wald be full desolate.
This god of grief withouttin sudgeorning
In yeris twa, his cours he doth compleit,
Than past we up, whar Jupiter the king
Sat in his spheir, richt amiabill and sweet,
Complexionat with waknes, and with heit.
That plesand Prince, tair, dulce, and delicate
Prouokis piece, and banissis debait.
The auld Poeitis, be superstitioun.
Held Jupiter, the Father principal
Of all there god's in conclusioun,
For his prerogatyuis in special
Als be his virtue in to general
To auld Saturn, he makes resistance
When in his malice he wald wirk vengeance.
This Jupiter withouttin sudgeorning
Passis throw all the twelf planeitis full euin,
In yeris twelf, and than but carrying
We past unto the highest of the seuin,
Tyll Saturnus, whilk trublis all the heaven
With heuy cheir, and color paill as leid,
In him we saw bot dolour to the deed.
And cauld, and dry, he is of his nature,
Foule like ane Oule, of evil conditioun.
Rycht vnplesand he is of portrature.
His Intoxicate dispositioun
It puttis all thing to perditioun
Ground of seiknes, and melancholious.
Peruerst and pure, baith falls and Inuyous.
His qualite, I can nocht love bot lack,
As for his mouyng naturally but weir,
About the signis of the Zodiac,
He dost compleit his cours, in thretty year.
And so we left him in his frosty spheir,
Up wart we did ascend Incontinent
But
•
est, till we come to the Firmament,
The whilk was fixit full of sterris bricht
Of figour round, richt plesand and perfect
Whose influence, and richt excellent licht,
And whose nummer, may nocht be put in write.
Ʒit cunning Clerkis, dost naturally indyte,
How that he dost, compleit his cours but weir,
In space of seuin and thretty thousand year.
Than the nynt Spheir, and mouair principal
Of all the laif, we wesy it all that heaven,
Whose daily motioun is continual,
Baith firmament, and all the plancitis seuin,
Frome eist, to west, garris thame full euin
In to the space of four and twenty yeris
Ʒit be the myndis of the Astronomeris,
The seuin Planeitis, in to there proper spheiris,
Frome west to eist, they move naturally.
Sum swyft, sum slaw, as to there kind effeiris
As I have schawin afore specially
Whose motioun causis continually
Rycht melodious, harmony and sound,
And all throw mouyng of those Planeitis round.
Than moutit we, with richt fervent desire
Vpthrow the heaven, called Christallyne
And so we enterit in the heaven Empire,
Quhilk to discryue, it passis mine Iagyne.
What God in to his holy throne druyne
Regnis in to his glore Inestimabill
With Angellis citir, whilkis ar Innumerabill.
In Ordeuris nine, thir spreitis glorious
Ar deuydit, the whilkis excellently
Makis loving, with sound melodious,
Singand Sanctus, tycht wounder fervently,
Thir ordeuris nine, they at full plesandlie
Deuydit in to Hierarchies three,
And three Ordouris in euerilk Hierarchy.
The lawest Ordour, is of Angellis bricht,
As Messingeris send to this law Region.
The secund order, Archangellis full of micht.
Virtues, Potestatis Principatis of renoun.
The sext is called Dominatioun.
The seuint Thronus, the auchtin Cherubin.
The nynt and highest, called Seraphin.
And next unto the blissit Trinite,
In his Tryumphant throne Imperial,
Thre in till one, and one substance in tire,
Whose indiuisibill essence eternal,
The rude Ingyne, of mankynd is to small
Tyll comprehend, whose power Infinyte,
And divine nature, no Creature can write.
So mine Ingyne, is nocht sufficient
For to treit, of his hich Diuinite.
All mortal men at Insufficient
Tyll consider they three in unite,
Sic subtell mater I man on neid lat be
To study on my Creid, it wat full fair,
And lat Doctouris of sic hic materis declare.
Than we beheld the blissit Humanite
Of Christ, sittand in to his Sege Royal
At the right hand of the Diuinite
With ane excelland court Celestial,
Whose exercitioun continual
Was in loving their Prince, with reverence,
And on this wise they kepit ordinance.
Nixt to the Throne, we saw y
e
Queen of quenis
Weil cumpanyit, with Ladyis of delight
Sweit was the sang, of those blissit Virginnis,
No mortal man, there solace may indyte.
The Angellis bricht, in nummer infinyte,
G
•
erilk Ordour in there awin degree
War officiaris unto the deite.
Patriarkis, and Propheitis honorabill,
Coilaterall counsalouris in his consistory,
Euangelistis, Apostolis venerabill
War Capitanis unto the King of Glory,
Quhilk Chi
•
tanely
•
e had wyn the Victory,
Of that tryumphand Court celestial
Sanct Peter was Lufetenand general.
The Martyris war, as nobyll stalwart Knichtis
Discoafitouris of cruel Battellis three
The flesche, the world, the feind & all his michtis
Confessouris, Doctouris in Diuinite
As Chapel Clerkis unto his deite.
And last we saw infinyte multitude
Makand service unto his Celsitude.
Quhilkis be the hie Deuyne permissioun,
Felicite they had Inuariable,
And of his Godheid, cleir cognitioun,
And compleit piece they had Interminable.
There glore, and honor, was Inseparable.
That plesand place repleit of pulchritude
Vnmesurable it was of magnitude.
There is plenty of all plesouris perfect,
Euydent brichtnes, but obscurite.
Withouttin dolour, dulcore, and delight.
Withouttin rancor, perfect Cherite.
Withouttin hounger, Satiabilite.
O happy ar the Saulis predestinate,
When Saul and body shall be glorificate.
Thir marvelous mirthis for to declare,
Be Arithmetik, they at Innumerable.
The portratour of that place preclair,
By Geometry, it is Inmesurable,
By Rethorik als Inpronunciable.
There is none eiris may heir, nor Eine my se,
Nor heart may think this there felicite.
Quhare to sulde I presume for till indyte,
The whilk Sanct Paul, that Doctor sapient
Can nocht express nor in to paper write
The hie excellent work Indeficient,
And perfect plesour ever permanent,
In presence of that mychtie King of glore,
Quhilk was, and is, and sall be ever more.
At Remembrance, humillie I did inquyre
Geue I might in that plesour still remane.
(Scho said) aganis resoun is thy desire
M
•
h
•
refore my friend, thou mon return again
I
•
to the world, where thow sall suffer pane,
••
d thole the deed with cruel panis sore,
Or thow be digne, to regne with him in glore.
Than we returnit sore aganis my will,
Doun throw spheiris of the heuinnis cleir.
Hir commandment behustit I fulfill
With sort heart, wit ye withouttin weir.
I wald full fain haif taryit there all year
Bot scho said to me, there is no remeid,
Or thow remane heir, first thow mon be deed.
Quod I, I pray yow hartfullie madame,
Sen we have had sic Contemplatioun
Of heuinlie plesouris, yet or we pas hame
Lat us have sum consideratioun
Of eirth, and of his Situatioun.
Scho answerit and said, that sall be done.
So wer we botth, brocht in the air full sone.
Quhare we might se the Erth all at one sicht,
Bot like one moit, as it apperit to me,
In the respect of the heuinnis bricht.
I have marvel (quod I) whow this may be,
The erth semis of so small quantite
The leist stern fixit in the Firmament
Is more than all the erth, be my Judgment.
Scho says Sone, thow hes schawin y
e
verite,
The smallest stern fixit in the firmament,
In deed it is of greiter quantite
Than all the eirth, after the intent
Of wise, and cunning Clerkis sapient.
What quantite is than the eirth (quod I)
That sall I show (quod scho) to the schortly.
Efter the myndis of the Astronomouris,
And specially, the Auctour of the Spheir,
And other diverse greit Philosophouris,
The quantite of the erth Circuleir,
Is fifty thousand liggis, withouttin weir,
Seuin houndreth, and fifty, and no
••
o,
Deuiding ay ane lig, in mylis two.
And euerilk mile, in aucht flaidis deuyde.
Ilk staid, ane houndreth pais, twenty and five.
Ane pais five fute, wha wald than right decyde,
Ane fute four palms, give I can right descryue,
Ane palm four Inche, and quba
•
a wald belyue
The circuit of the eirth, pas round about,
Man be considderit on this wise but dout.
Suppone, that there warmone Impediment,
Bot that the eirth but perrell wer and plane,
Syne that the persoun wer right diligent,
And yeid ilk day, ten liggis in certain.
He might pas round about, and cum again
In four yeiris, sextene oulkis, and days two.
Go reid the Auctour, and thow sall find it so.
The diuisioun of the Eirth.
THen certanlie scho tuke me be the hand,
And said my sone cū on thy wayis w
t
me
And so scho gart me cleirly understand
How that the erth, tripartit wes in three:
In Aphrik, Europe, and Asie.
Efter the myndis of the Cosmographouris
That is to say, the warldis Descriptouris.
First Asia, contenit is in the Orient,
And is well more, than baith the other twane,
Aphrik, and Europe, in the Occident,
And ar deuydit be ane sey certain,
And that is called, the see Mediterrane,
Quhilk at the strait of Marrok hes entre,
That is betwix Spanye, and Barbarie.
Towart the southwest lyis Africa,
And in the northwest, Europa doth stand.
And all the eist, contenis Asia.
On this wise, is deuydit the serme land
It war mekle to me to take on hand
Thir Regionis, to declare in special,
Ʒit sall I show their Names in general.
In money diverse famous Regionis,
Is deuydit this part Asia.
Weill plenischit, with Citteis, towris, & townis,
The greit Inde, and Mesopotamia,
Penthapolis, Egypt, and Syria,
Cappadocia, Seres, and Armenie,
Babylon, Chaldea, Parth, and Arabie.
Sidon, Judea, and Palestine,
Vpper Scithia, Tire, and Galilie,
Hiberia, Bactria, and Philestina,
Hircania, Compagena, and Samarie.
In little Asia, standis Galathie,
Pamphilia, Isauria, and Leid,
Rhegia, Arethusa, Assyria, and Meid.
Secundlie, we considderit Africa,
With money fructfull famous regioun
As Ethiopie, and Tripolitana,
Zewges, whare standis the triumphant town
Of nobyll Carthage, that Ciete of renoun.
Garamantes, Nadabar, Libia,
Getulia, and Mauritania.
Fezensis, Numidie, and Thingitane,
Of Afric, thir ar the principal.
Than Europe, we considderit in certain,
Whose Regionis, schortlie rehers I sall.
Four principallis, I find above thame all
Quhilk{is} ar Spanye, Italy, and France,
Whose Subregionis, wer mekle till auance.
Nether Scithia, Thrace, and Carmanie
Thusia, Distria, and Pannonia
Denmark, Gotland, Grundland, and Almanie,
Pole, Hungary, Boeme, Norica, Rethia,
Trutonia and money diverse ma.
And was in four deuydit Italy
Tuscane, Hethruria, Naplis, and Champanie.
And subdeuydit sindry other wayis,
As Lumbardie, Veneis, and other ma,
Calaber, Romanie, and Genowayis.
In Grece, Epirus, and Dalmatia,
Thessalie, Attica, and Illyria,
Achaya, Beotia, and Macedone,
Archadie, Pierie, and Lacedemone.
And France we saw deuydit in to three.
Belgica, Celtica, and Aquitane.
And subdeuydit in Flanderis, Picardie,
Normandy, Gasconye, Burgunye, & Britane,
And vtheris diverse Duchereis in certain,
The whilk{is} wer to lang for to declare,
Quharefor of thame as now I speak na mair.
In Spanye, lyis Castillie and Arragone.
Nauarne, Galice, Portugal, and Granate,
Than saw we famous Ilis money one
Quhilkis in the Occeane sey, was situate.
Thame to discryue, my wit wes desolate.
Of Cosmographie I am nocht expare,
For I did never study in that art.
Ʒit I sall sum of there names declare,
As Madagascar, Gades, and Taprobane,
And other diverse Ilis gude and fair
Situate in to the scy Mediterrane,
As Cyper, Candie, Corsica, and Sardane.
Crete, Abidos, Thoes Sicilia,
Tapsus, Eolie, and money other ma.
Quho wald at lenth, heir the Descriptioun
Of euerilk I will, als well as the ferme land,
And properteis, of euerilk Region,
To study and to reid man take on hand
And the attentike werkis understand
Of Plinius, and worthy Ptholomie,
Quhila{is} war expert in to Cosmographie.
There sall they find, the namis and properteis
Of every I will, and of ilk Region.
Than I inquirit of erthly Paradeis,
Of the whilk Adam, tynt Possessioun.
Than schew scho me the Situatioun
Of that precelland place of delight,
Whose properteis wer lang for to Indyte.
OF PARADICE.
THis Paradise, of all plesouris reple
••
,
Situate I saw in to the Orient.
That glorio{us} gairth of every flouris did fleit
The lusty lillyis, the rosis redolēt
Fresche holesum fructis Indeficient,
Baith herb, and tree, there growis ever grene,
Throw virtue of the temperat air serene.
The sweet holesum aromatike odouris,
Proceiding from the herbis Medicinal
The heuinlie hewis of the fragrant flouris,
It was ane sicht wounder celestial.
The perfectioun to show in special,
And Ioyis of that Region divine
Of mankynd, it exceidis the Ingyne.
And als so hie in Situatioun,
Surmounting the myd Region of the air,
Quhare no manner of perturbatioun
Of wedder may ascend so hie as their.
Four fludis flowing from ane Fontane fair
As Tigris, Ganges, Euphrates, and Nyle,
Quhilk in the eist, Transcurtis money ane mile.
The countre closit is about full richt,
With wallis hie, of hot and birnyng fire,
And straitly keipit be ane Angel bricht
Sen the departing of Adam, our Grand schyre,
Quhilk throw his crime Incurrit Goddis
〈◊〉
,
And of that place tint the Possessioun,
Baith from him self, and his Successioun.
When this lufesum lady Remembrance
All this foresaid had gart me understand,
I prayit hir of hir benevolence
To show to me, the countre of Scotland.
Well sone (scho said) that sal I take on hand,
So suddandlie, scho brocht me in certain,
Euin Just abone the braid I will of Britane.
Quhilk standis northwest in the Occeane see,
And deuydit in famous Regionis two.
The south part Ingland, ane full richt countre,
Scotland be north, with money Ilis mo.
Be west Ingland, Ireland doth stand also.
Whose properteis, I will nocht take on hand
To show at lenth, bot only of Scotland.
OF THE REALME OF SCOTLAND.
QUhilk after my sempyll Intendement,
And as Remembrance did to me report,
I fall declare the suith, and verrayment
As I best can, and in to terms schort.
Quhairfor effecteo uslie, I yow exhort,
Quhowbeit my wrytting be nocht till auance,
Ʒit whare I faill, excuse mine Ignorance.
When that I had ouersene this Region,
The whilk of nature is boith gude and fair,
I did propone, ane little questioun
Beseikand hir, the same for to declare.
What is the cause, our boundis been
•
o bair,
(Quod I) or what dost move our Mise
•
i
•
,
Or whareof dost proceid our poverty?
For throw the support of your hir prudence
Of Scotland, I persaue the properteis.
And als considderis be experience
Of this countre the greit commoditeis.
First the abundance of fischis in our seis,
And fructuall montanis for our bestial,
And for our cornis, money lusty vaill.
The riche Ryueris plesand and proffitabill,
The lusty loichis, with fische of sindry kyndis,
Hounting, halking, for nobillis conuenabill,
Forrestis full of Da, Ra, Hartis, and Hyndis,
The fresche fontanis, whose holesū cristal strandis
Refreschis so, the flurischit grene meidis.
So laik we nothing that to nature neidis.
Of euerilk mettell, we have the riche Mynis,
Baith Gold, Syluer, and stonis precious.
Howbeit we want the Spycis and the wynis.
Or other strange fructis delicious,
We have als gude, and more neidfull for us,
Meit, drink, fire, claithis yar in y
e
be gart abound.
Quhilk{is} ellis is nocht in all the Mapamound
•
More faiter people, nor of greiter ingyne
Nor of more strenth, greit deidis till endure.
Quharefor I pray yow, that ye wald detyne
The principal cause, wharefor we at so pure,
For I marvel greitlie, I yow assure,
Considderand the people, and the ground,
That Riches suld nocht in this realm redound.
My Sone (scho said) be my discretioun,
I sall mak answeir, as I understand.
I say to the under confessioun,
The fault is nocht, I dat well take on hand,
Nother in to the people nor the land.
As for the land, it laikis na other thing,
Bot laubour, and the pepillis governing.
Than wharein lyis our Inprosperite
(Quod I) I pray yow hartfullie Madame
Ʒe wald declare to me the verite.
Or who sall beir of our barrat the blame?
For be my truth to se, I think greit schame
So plesand people, and so fait ane land,
And so few verteous deidis tane on hand.
Quod scho, I sall after my Judgment,
Declair sum causis, in to general,
And in to terms schort show mine intent,
And syne transcend in to more special.
So this is mine conclusioun final.
Wanting of Justice, policy, and peace,
At cause, of thir unhappiness alas.
It is difficill Riches till incres,
Quhare Polycie makith no residence.
And Policy may never have entres,
Bot whare that Justice dost diligence
To puneis whare there may be found offense.
Justice may nocht have Dominatioun,
Bot whare Pece makes habitatioun.
What is the cause, that wald I understand.
That we suld want Justice, and policy,
More than deis France, Italy, or Ingland
Madame (quod I) show me the verite?
Sen we have lawis in this countre,
Quhy want we lawis exercitioun
Quho suld put Justice till executioun.
Quhare in dost stand our principal remeid,
Or wha may mak a mendis of this mischief?
(Quod scho) I find the fault in to the heid,
For they in whom dost lie our hole relief,
I find thame rute, and ground of all our grief.
For when the heidis ar nocht diligent,
The membris man on neid be negligent.
So I conclude, the causis principal
Of all the trubill of this Natioun,
Ar into Princis in to special,
The whilkis hes the Gubernatioun,
And of the people Dominatioun.
Whose contynewall exercitioun
Sulde be in Justice Executioun.
For when the sleuthfull hird, dost sloug & sleip,
Taking no cure, in keeping of his flok
Quho will go serche amang sic hirdis scheip,
May able find money pure scabbit crok,
And going wyld at large withouttin lok.
Than Lupus tūmis, and Lowrence in ane ling
And dost but reuth, the seely scheip dounthring.
Bot the gude hird, walkryfe and diligent
Doith so, that all his flockis ar rewlit richt.
To whose whissill all ar obedient
And give the wolfis cummis day or nicht
Thame to deuore, than ar they put to flicht,
Houndit and slane, be there well dantit doggis,
So ar they sure, baith yowis, lambis, & hoggis.
So I conclude, that throw the negligence
Of our infatuate heidis Insolent,
Is cause of all this realms indigence,
Quhilk{is} in Justice, hes nocht been diligent,
Bot to gude counsel inobedient,
Hauand small E
•
, unto the common well
Bot to there singular profit euerilk deill.
For when thir Wolfis be oppressioun
The pure people but piete doth oppres,
Than suld the princis mak punitioun,
And cause they Rebaldis for to mak redress,
That riches micht be, and Policy incres.
Bot richt difficill it is to mak remeid
Quh
•
n that the fault is so in to the heid.
THE COMPLAYNT OF THE Comoun well of Scotland.
ANd thus as we wer talking to and fro,
We saw a busted{us} berne cū ouir y
e
bent,
But hors on fute, als fast as he micht go
Whose raiment wes all raggit rewin & vent
With visage leyne, as he had fastit lent.
And fordwart fast his wayis he did advance,
With ane richt melancholious countenance.
With scrip on hip, and pyikstaff in his hand,
As he had been purposit, to pas sra hame.
Quod I gude man, I wald fain understand,
Geue that ye pleis
•
t to wit what wer your name.
Quod he my sone, of that I think greit schame.
Bot sen thow wald of my name have ane feill,
Forsuith they call me Ihone the comoun well.
Schir Commoun weil, who hes yow so disgysit
(Quod I) or what makes yow so miserabill,
I have marvel, to se yow so supprysit,
The whilk that I have seen so honorabill,
To all the world, ye have been proffitabill,
And well honorit in euerilk Natioun.
How happinnis now your tribulatioun?
Alas (quod he) thow seis how it dost stand
With me, and whow I am disheritsit
Of all my grace, and inon pas of Scotland.
And go afore, whare I was cheriset.
Remane I heir, I am bor perisit,
For there is few to me, that takis tent,
That garris me go, so raggit, rewin, and rent.
My tender feeindis ar all put to the flicht
For Policy is fled again in France,
My Syster Justice, almaist haith tynt hir sicht,
That scho can nocht hald ewinly hir balance.
Plane wrang, is plane capitane of Ordinance,
The whilk debarres Laute, and resoun,
And small remeid is found for oppin tresoun.
In to the south alas I was neir slane.
Ouer all the land I culled find no relief.
Almoist betwix the Mers, and Lotchmabane,
I culled no
•
ht knaw ane leill man be ane thief.
To show there reif, thift, murthour, & mischief,
And vicious workis it wald infect the air,
And als langsum, to me for till declare.
In to the hieland, I could find no remeid,
Bot suddandlie, I wes put to exile,
Thai sweir swyngeour{is} they tuke of me nō heid,
Nor amengis thame, lat me remane ane while.
Als in the out Ilis, and in Argyle,
Unthrift, sweirnes, falset, pouerte, and strife,
Pat Policy in danger of hir life.
In the law land, I come to seek refuge.
And purposit there to mak my residence.
Bot singular proffect, gart me sone disluge,
And did me greit Iniuris, and offense.
And said to me, swyith harlote hy the hence,
And in this countre se thow take no curis,
So lang as my authority induris.
And now I may mak no langer debait,
Nor I wat nocht, whom to I suld me mene,
For I have socht throw all the Spiritual stait,
Quhilk{is} tuke na compt for to heir me complene,
There officiaris they held me at disdane,
For Symonie, he rewlis up all that rout.
And Covetise that Carl gart bar me out.
Pryde haith chaist from thame humility,
Deuotioun is fled unto the freiris.
Sensuall plesour hes baneist Chaistite,
Lordis of Religioun, they go like Seculeris,
Taking more compt in telling there deneris,
Nor they do of there constitutioun.
Thus ar they blindit be ambitioun.
Our gentill men ar all degenerate.
Liberalite, and Lawte, boith ar lost.
And Cowardice with Lordis is laureate,
And knychtlie curage turnit in brag and boist.
The Civil weir misgydis euerilk oist.
There is nocht ellis, bot ilk man for him self,
That garris me go, thus baneist like ane elf.
Tharefor adew, I may no langer tarie.
Fair weil (quod I) and w
t
sanct John to borrow.
Bot wit ye well, my heart was woundit sarie
When comoun well so sopit was in sorrow,
Ʒit after the nicht, cūmis the glaid morrow.
Quharefore I pray yow show me in certain,
When that ye purpose for to cum again.
That questioun it sall be sone decydit,
(Quod he) there sall na Scot have conforting
Of me, till that I see the countre gydit
Be wisdom, of ane gude auld prudent king,
Quhilk sall delight him mayest above all thing,
To put Justice till executioun,
And on strang tratouris mak punitioun.
Als yet to the I say ane other thing,
I se right well that proverb is full true,
Woe to the realm, that hes ouir young ane king.
With that he turnit his back, and said ad
•
w.
Ouer firth and fell, richt taste fra me he flew.
Whose departing to me was displesand.
With that Remembrance tuk me be the hand.
And sone me thocht scho brocht me to the roche,
And to the Coue, whare I began to sleip.
With that one schip did spedilie approach,
Full plesandlie sailling upon the deip,
And syne did slak hir saillis, and gan to creip
Towart the land, anent whare that I lay.
Bot wit ye well, I gat ane fellown fray.
All hir Cannounis, sche leit crak attonis,
Doun schuke the stremaris, from y
e
topcastell.
Thay spairit nocht the poulder nor the stonis,
Thai schot their boutis, & down yair anchors fell,
The Marinaris, they did so yout and yell,
That haistelie I steit out of my dreme,
Half in ane fray, and spedilie past hame.
And lychtlie dynit, with list and appetyte.
Syne after past in till ane Oritore,
And tuke my pen, and there began to write
All the visioun, that I have schawin afore.
Schir of my dreme, as now thow gettis no more,
Bot I beseik God, for to send the grace,
To rewle thy Realm in unite, and peace.
THE EXHORTATIOVN TO THE KINGIS GRACE.
SChir sen that God of his preordinance,
Haith grantit the, to have the governance
Of his people, and create the one King,
Faill nocht to prent in thy Remembrance
That he will nocht excuse thine Ignorance,
Geue thow be rekles in thy governing.
Quharefor dres the above all other thing,
Of his lawis to ke
•
p the observance,
And thow schaip lang in Royalty to ring.
Thank him, that hes commandit dame Nature,
To prent the of so plesand portrature.
Hir gyftis may be cleirly on the knawin.
Tyll dame Fortune, thow neidis no procurature,
For scho hes largelie, kyith on the hir cure.
Hir gratitude scho hes unto the schawin.
And sen that thow mā scheir, as thow hes sawin,
Have all thy hope in God thy Creator,
And ask him grace, that thow may be his awin.
And syne consider thy vocatioun,
That for to have the gubernatioun
Of this kynrik, thow art predestinate,
Thow may well wit be true narratioun,
What sorrow, and what tribulatioun
Haith been in this pure realm infortunate.
Now comfort thame that hes been desolate,
And of thy people have compassioun,
Sen thow be God, art so preordinate.
Tak manlie curage, and leif thine Insolence,
And use counsel of nobyll dame Prudence.
Founde the fermelie on faith and fortitude,
Draw to thy court, Justice, and temperance.
And to the Commoun well have attendance.
And also I beseik thy Celsitude,
Hait vicious men, and lufe thame that ar gude.
And ilk flatterer thow fleme from thy presence,
And falls report out of thy court exclude.
Do equal Justice, boith to greit and small,
And be exempill to thy people all,
Exercing verteous deidis honorabill.
Be nocht ane wreche, for oucht that may befall,
To that unhappy vice and thow be thrall.
Tyll all men thow sall be abhominabill.
Kingis
•
ar knichtis, ar never cōuanabill
To rewle people, be they nocht liberal,
Was never yet na wreche to honor abill.
And take example of the wrechit ending
Quhilk maid Mydas, of Thrace y
e
mychtie king,
That to his Goddis maid Inuocatioun,
Throw gredines that all substancial thing
That ever he twichit, suld turn but tarrying
In to fine gold, he gat his supplicatioun,
All that he twichit but dilatioun
Turnit in gold, boith meit, drink, and clething,
And deit for hounger but recreatioun.
Als I beseik thy Maieste serene,
Frome Lecherie, thow keep thy body clean
Taist never that Intoxicate poysoun
Frome that unhappy sensual Syn abstene,
Tyll that thow get ane lusty plesand Queen,
Than take thy plesour with my benisoun.
Tak tent how prydful Tarquyne tynt his croun,
For the deforsing of Lucrece the schene.
And was depryuit, and banist Rome's town.
And in despyit of his Lecherous leuing,
The Romanis wald be subject to no king.
Money lang year, as storyis doth record,
Tyll Julius, throw verteous governing,
And Princelie curage, gan on thame to ring,
And chosin of Romanis, Empriour, and lord.
Quharfor my Souerane in to thy mind remord,
That vicious life, makes oft ane evil ending,
Without it be throw special grace restord.
And give thow wald thy fame and honor grew,
Use counsel of thy prudent Lordis true,
And se thow nocht presumpteouslie pretend,
Thy a win particular well for till Ensew.
Wirk with counsel, so sall thow never rew.
Remember of thy Freindis the fatal end,
Quhilkis to gude counsel wald not condescend.
Tyll bitter death (alas) did thame persew.
Frome sic vnhap I pray God the defend.
And finally, remember thow mon de
•
And suddanlie pas of this mortal see,
And art nocht sicker of thy life two houris.
Sen there is none from that sentence may flee.
King, Queen, nor Knicht, of law estait nor hie,
Bot all mon thole of death, the bitter schouris.
Quhar been they gone, thir papis & empriouris?
Bene they nocht deed, so sall it fair on the.
Is no remeid, strenth, riches, nor honouris.
And so for conclusioun,
Mak our Prouisioun
To get the infusioun
Of his hie grace
Quhilk bled with effusioun
With scorn and derisioun.
And deit with confusioun,
Confirmand our peace.
AMEN.
FINIS.
The Complaint of Schir David Lindesay, of the Mont Knicht, direct to the Kingis Grace. * ☜
SChir I beseik thine Excellence,
Heir my complaint with patience,
My dolent heart dost me constrayne,
Of my Infortune to complain.
Quhowbeit I stand in greit doutance,
Quhome I sall wyte of my mischance.
Quhidder Saturnis crucite
Regnand in my Natiuite
•
e bad aspect, whilk wirkis vengeanre,
Or vtheris heuinlie influence.
Or give I be predestinate
In court to be Infortunate,
Quhilk hes so lang in service been
Continuallie with king and queen.
And enterit to thy Maieste
The day of thy Natiu
••
e,
Quharethrow my freindis been eschamit,
And with my fais I am defamit,
Seand that I am nocht regardit
Nor with my brether in Court rewardit,
Blamand my sle
•
thfull negligence
That seikis nocht sum recompense.
When diverse men dost me demand
Quhy gettis thow nocht sunt piece of land,
Als well as other men hes gottin.
Than wis I to be deed and rottin,
With sic extreme discomforting
That I can mak no answering.
I wald sum wise man did me teiche,
Quhidder that I suld flatter or fleiche
I will nocht flyte, that I conclude
For crabing of thy Celsitude.
And to flatter, I am defamit.
Want I reward, than am I schamit.
Bot I hope thow sall do als well
As did the Father of Fameill,
Of whom Christ makes mentioun
Quhilk for ane certain pensioun
Feit men to wirk in his wyne yaird.
Bot who come last, gat first rewaird.
Quharethrow the first men wer displeisit.
Bot he thame prudentlie ameisit.
For thocht the last men, first wer seruit,
Ʒit gat the first that day deseruit.
So am I sure thy majesty,
Sall anis reward me or I de,
And rub the roust of my ingyne
Quhilk been for langour like to tyne.
Althocht I beit nocht like ane baird
Lang service yarnis ay rewaird.
I can nocht blame thine excellence,
That I so lang want recompense.
Had I solistit like the laue
My reward had nocht been to crave
Bot now I may well understand,
Ane dum man yet wan never land.
And in the court men gettis na thing
Without inopportune asking.
Alas my sleuth and schamefulnes
Debarrit frame all gredines.
Gredie men that ar diligent
Rycht oft obtenis there intent,
And failyeis nocht to conqueis landis,
And namely at young Princis handis.
Bot I tuke never none other cure.
In special, bot for thy pleasure.
Bot now I am na mair dispaird,
Bot I sall get Princelie rewaird,
The whilk to me sal be mair glore
Nor thame thow did reward afore.
When men dost ask ocht at ane king,
Sulde ask his grace ane nobill thing,
To his Excellence honorabill,
And to the asker proffitabill.
Thocht I be in my asking lidder,
I pray thy grace for to consider.
Thow hes maid baith lordis and lairdis,
And hes gewin money riche rewairdis
To thame that was full far to seek,
When I lay nychtlie be thy cheik.
I take the Quenis grace thy mother.
My lord Chancellar, and money other,
Thy Nuris, and thy auld Maistres,
I take thame all to beir witness.
Auld Willie Dillie wer he on live,
My life full well he could discryue.
Quhow as ane Chapman betis his pak.
I bure thy grace upon my back.
And sumtymes stridlingis on my nek,
Dansand with money bend and bek.
The first sillabis that thow did mute
Was pa, da lyn, upon the lute.
Than playit I twenty springis perqueir,
Quhilk wes greit piete for to heir,
Fra play thow leit me never rest,
Bot gynkertoun thow lufit ay best.
And ay when thow come from the scule
Than I behufit to play the fule.
As I at lenth in to my Dreme,
My sindry service did expreme.
Thocht it been better (as says the wise)
Hap to the court, nor gude service.
I wat thow luffit me better than,
Nor now sum wife dost hir gude man.
Than men till other did record,
Said Lyndesay, wald be maid ane Lord.
Thow hes maid lordis (Schir) be sanct Geill.
Of sum that hes nacht seruit so well.
To yow my Lordis that standis by,
I sall yow show the causis why,
Geue ye liest tarry I sall tell,
Quhow my Infortune first befell.
I prayit daily on my kne,
My young master that I micht se,
Of eild in his Estait Royal,
Hauand power Imperial.
Than traistit I without demand,
To be promouit to sum land.
Bot my asking I gat over sone,
Because ane Clips fell in the Mone,
The whilk all Scotland maid on s
•
el
•
Than did my purpose ryn arreis.
The whilk war langsum to declare,
And als my heart is wounder fair,
When I have in remembrance,
The suddand change to my myschance.
The King was bot twelf yeris of age,
When new rewlaris come in there rage,
For common well makand no cair,
Bot for there profeit singulair.
Imprudentlie, like witles fulis,
Thay tuke that young Prince from the sculis,
Quhare he under Obedience,
Was lern and virtue and science.
And haistelie plat in his hand
The governance of all Scotland.
As who wald in ane stormy blast,
When Matinaris been all agast
Throw danger of the seis rage,
Wald take ane Chyld of tender age,
Quhilk never had been upon the sey,
And to his bidding all obey,
Geuyng him haill the gouernall
Of schip, Merchand, and Marinall.
For breid of rockis and foreland,
To put the Ruther in his hand.
Without Godds grace is no refuge.
Geue there be danger, ye may Iuge.
I give thame to the devil of hell
Quhilk first deuysit that counsel.
I will nocht say that it was tresoun,
Bot I der sweir, it was no resoun.
I pray God, lat me never se ring
In to this realm, so young ane King.
I may nocht tarry to decydit,
Quhow than the
•
su
•
t ane while was gydit,
Be thame that pertlie luke on hand
To gyde the king and all Scotland.
And als langsum for to declare,
There facund flattering words fair.
Schir, sum wald say your Maieste
Shall now go to your liberty.
Ʒe sall to no man be coactit,
Nor to the scule no more subiectit.
We think thame verray natural fulis,
That lernis over mekle at the sculis.
Schir, ye mon learn to ryn ane speir,
And gyde yow like ane man of weir,
For we sall put sic men about yow.
That all world and mo sall dout yow.
Than to his grace they put ane gaird,
Quhilk haistelie gat there rewaird
Ilk man after there qualite
Thay did s
•
li
••
his Majesty.
Sum gart him raueli at the rakket,
Sum harlie him to the hurly hakket.
And sum to scha
•
there courtlie corsis,
Wald ryed to leith, and ryn there hoissis,
And wichtlie wallop
•
uir the sandis.
Ʒe nowther spairit sp
•
rris nor wandis,
Castand galmound{is} w
t
bendis and beckis,
For wontonness, sum brab there neckis.
There was no play bot cartis and dyce,
And ay schir flattery bure the price.
Roundand and rowkand ane till ane other
Tak thow my part (quod he) my bruther,
And mak betwix us sicker bandis,
When ocht sall vaik amangis our handis,
That ilk man stand to help his fallow.
I hald thareto man be alhallow,
Swa thow fische nocht within my boundis,
That sall I nocht be god's woundis,
(Quod he) bot eirar take thy part.
Swa sall I thine, be god's heart.
And give the Thesaurer be our friend,
Than sall we get baith take and teind.
Tak he our part, than wha dar wrang us?
Bot we sail part the pelf amang us.
Bot haist us whill the king is young,
And lat ilk man, keep well ane tongue
And in ilk quarter have ane spy
Ws till aduertis haistely
When ony casualiteis
Sall happin in till our countries.
Lat us mak sure prouisioun
Or he cum to discretioun.
No more he wait nor dost ane sanct.
What thing it been to have or want.
So or he be of perfect age
We sall be sicker of our wage,
And syne lat ilk ane carll crane other.
That mouth speak mair (quod he) my brother.
For God nor I tar in ane raip,
Thow micht give counsel to the Paip,
Thus lauborit they within few yeiris,
That they become no paigis peicis.
S
•
a haistelie they maid ane hand.
Sum gadderit gold, sum conqueist land.
(Schir) sum wald say, be sanct Dionis,
Geue me sum fat Benefyis,
And all the proffect ye sall have.
Geue me the name, take yow the laue.
Bot be his bowis war well cummit hame,
To mak service he wald think schame.
Syne slip away withouttin more,
Qu
•
en he had gottin, that he sang fore.
Me ch
••
ht it was ane preteous thing,
To se that fair young tender king,
Of whom thir gallandis stude none awe.
To play with him, pluk at the craw.
Thay become riche, I yow assure,
Bot ay the Prince remanit pute.
There wes few of that garnisoun,
That lernit him ane gude lessoun.
Bot sum to crak, and sum to clatter.
Sum maid the f
•
le, and sum did flatter.
(Quod ane) the Devil stik me with ane knyfe,
Bot schir, I knaw ane maid in Fyft,
Ane of the lustiest wantoun lassis,
Quhar to schir, be god's blood scho passis,
Hald thy tongue brother (quod ane other)
I knaw ane fair
•
be fyftene futher.
(Schir) when ye pleis to Linlithquo pas,
There sall ye se ane lusty las.
Now trutill trattil trow low,
(Quod the thread man) thow dost bot mow,
When his grace cummis to fair Stirling,
There sall he se, ane days darling.
Schir quod the fourt, take my counsel,
And go all to the hie bordell,
There may we lowp at liberty
Withouttin ony grauite.
Thus every man said for him self,
And did amang thame part the pelf.
Bot I (alas) or ever I wyst,
Was trampit down in to the dust,
With heuy charge withouttin more.
Bot I wyst never yet wharfore.
And haistelie before my face,
Ane other slippit in my place,
Quhilk richelie gat his rewaird.
And stylit was the Ancient laird.
That time I might mak no defense,
Bot tuke perforce in patience.
Prayand to send thame ane mischance,
That had the Court in governance,
The whilkis aganis me did maling,
Contrair the plesour of the king.
For well I knew his gracis mind
Was ever to me true and kind,
And contrair there Intentioun
Gart pay me well my pensioun.
Thocht I ane while wantit presence,
He leit me have no Indigence.
When I durst nother peip nor luke
Ʒit wald I hyde me in ane nuke
To se those uncouth vaniteis.
Quhow they like ony besie beis
Did occupy there goldin houris
With help of there new gouernouris.
Bot my complaint for to compleit,
I gat the sour, and they the sweet.
Als Ihone Makrery the kingis fule
Gat dowvyll garmountis again the yule.
Ʒit in his mayest triumphant glore,
For his reward gat the grand glore.
Now in the Court sendill he gois
In dreid men stramp upon his 'twas.
As I that time durst nocht be seen
In oppin Court, for baith my Eine.
Alas I have no time to tarie
To show yow all the ferie farie.
Quhow those that had the governance.
Amangis thame selfs raisit variance.
And who mayest to my skaith consentit,
Within few yeiris full sore repentit,
When they could mak me no remeid,
For they war harlit out be the heid,
And vtheris tuke the governing,
Weil worse than they in alkin thing.
Thay Lordis tuke no more regaird,
Bot who might purches best rewaird.
Sum to there freindis gat beneficeis,
And other sum gat Bischopreis.
For every lord, as he thocht best,
Brocht in ane bird to fill the nest,
To be ane wacheman to his marrow.
Thay gan to draw ai the cat harrow.
The proudest Prelatis of the kirk,
Was fain to hyde thame in the mirk
That time, so failyeit wes tharesicht.
Sen syne they may nocht those the licht
Of Christis true Gospel to be seen,
So blyndit is their corporal Ene
With warldlie lustis sensual,
Taking in realms the gouernall,
Baith gyding court and sessioun.
Contrair to there professioun.
Quhare of I think, they suld have schame
Of spiritual preistis to take the name.
For Esayas, in to his wark,
Calais thame like Doggis, that can nocht bark,
That called ar preistis, and can nocht preiche,
Nor Christis law to the people reiche.
Geue for to preiche, been there professioun,
Quhy suld they mell, with court or Sessioun?
Except it war in spiritual things.
Referring unto lordis and kingis
Temporal causis to be decydit.
Geue they there spiritual office gydit,
Ilk man might say, they did there partis
Bot give they can play at the cairtis,
And mollet moylie on ane Mule,
Thocht they had never seue the scule,
Ʒit at this day, als well as than
Wyll be maid sic ane spiritual man.
Princis that sic prelatis promouis
Account thareof to give behouis,
Quhilk sall nocht pas but punischement,
Without they mend, and sore repent,
And with dew ministratioun
Wyrk after there vocatioun,
I wys that thing whilk will nocht be
Thir peruerst Prelatis ar so hic.
Frome time that they been called lordis,
Thay ar occasioun of discordis,
And largelie will propynis hecht,
To gar ilk Lord with other fecht,
Geue for there part it may auaill.
Swa to the purpose of my taill,
That time in Court rais greit debait,
And euerilk lord did strive for stait,
That all the realm micht mak no redding,
Quhill on ilk side there was blood schedding.
And feildit other in land and burgh
At Linlithgow, Melros, and Edinburgh.
Bot to deplore, I think greit pane
Of nobyll men, that there was slane.
And als langsum to be reportit
Of thame whilk to the Court resortit.
As tyrrannis, tratouris and transgressouris,
And common public plane oppressouris.
Men murdreisaris, and common theiffis,
In to that Court gat all releiffis.
There was few lordis in all thir landis,
Bot till new Regentis maid there bandis
Than rais ane reik or ever I wist,
The whilk gart all there bandis brist.
Than they allone, whilk had the gyding
Thay could nocht keep there feit from slyding,
Bot of there lyffis they had sic dreid,
That they war fain till trot over Tweid.
{fleur-de-lys}☜
NOw Potent Prince I say to the,
I thank the holy Trinite,
That I have leuit to se this day,
That all that world is went away,
And thow to no man art subiectit,
Nor to sic counsalouris coactit.
The four greit virtues Cardinallis
I se thame with the principallis.
For Justice haldis hir swerd on hie,
With hir balance of Equite.
And in this realm has maid sic order,
Baith throw the hieland, and the bordour,
That Oppressioun, and all his fallowis,
Ar hang it hich upon the gallowis.
Dame Prudence hes the be the heid
And temporance dost thy brydill leid.
I se Dame Force mak assistance,
Beirand thy Targe of assurance,
And lusty Lady Chaistite
Hes banischit Sensualite
Dame Ryches takis on the sic cure,
I pray God, that scho lang endure,
That Pouerte dar nocht be seen
In to thy house, for baith hir Ene,
Bot fra thy grace fled money mylis,
Amangis the Hountaris in the Ilis.
Dissimulance dar nocht show hir face,
Quhilk wount was to begyle thy grace.
Foly is fled out of the town,
Quhilk ay was contrair to ressoun.
Policy and Peice begynnis to plant,
That verieous men can nothing want.
And as for sleuthfull Idle lownis.
Sall fetterit be in the Gailyeownis.
Ihone Vponland been full blyith I trow.
Because the rysche bus, keipis his kow.
Swa is there nocht I understand,
Without gude order in this land,
Except the spiritualite,
Pray and thy grace, thareto have Ee,
Cause thame mak ministratioun
Conforme to there vocatioun.
To Precht, with vnfenyeit intentis.
And trewly use the Sacramentis
Efter Christis Institutionis.
Leuing there vane traditionis,
Quhilkis dost the silly scheip Illude.
Quhame for Christ Jesus sched his blood.
As superstitious pilgramagis,
Prayand to grawin Imagis,
Expres aganis the Lordis command.
I do thy grace till understand,
Geue thow to mennis lawis assent
Aganis the Lordis Commandment,
As Jeroboam, and money mo
Princis of Israel also
Assentaris to Idolatry,
Quhilkis punist war right pieteouslie,
And from there realms wer rutit out.
So sall thow be withouttin dout,
Baith heir and hyne withouttin more,
And want the euerlesting glore.
Bot give thow will thine heart inclyne,
And keep his blyssit law divine,
As did the faithful Patriarkis,
Boith in there words, and in there warkis,
And as did money faithful kingis
Of Israel during there ringis,
As king David, and Salomone
Quha Imagis wald suffer none,
In there riche Tempillis for to stand,
Because it was nocht Goddis command,
Bot destroy it all Idolatry
As in the Scripture, thow may see.
Whose riche reward was heuinly blis,
Quhilk sall be thine, thow do and this.
Sen thow hes chosin sic ane gaird,
Now am I sure, to get rewaird.
And sen thow art the richest king,
That ever in this realm did ring,
Of gold and stonis precious,
Mayest prudent and Ingenious.
And hes thy honor done auance
In Scotland, Ingland, and in France,
Be Martial deidis honorabill,
And art till every vertewabill.
I wat thy grace nocht misken me,
Bot thow will other give, or len me.
Wald thy grace, len me to ane day
Of gold, ane thousand pound, or tway,
And I sall fir with gude intent,
Thy grace ane day of payment,
With Seillit Obligatioun,
Under this protestatioun,
When the Bas, and the I will of May,
Beis set upon the mont Sinai:
When the Lowmound beside Falkland,
Beis liftit to Northumberland:
When Kirkmen yairnis no dignity,
Nor Wyffis no Soueranite:
Wynter but frost, snaw, wynd, or rane,
Than sall I give thy gold again,
Or I sall mak the payment
Efter the day of Judgment,
Within ane month at the leist,
When Sanct Peter sall mak ane feist
To all the Fischaris of Aberladie,
Swa thou have mine Acquittance reddie.
Failyeand thareof, be sanct Phillane,
Thy grace gettis never ane grote again.
Give thow be nocht content of this,
I man requeist the King of blis,
That he to me have sum regaird,
And cause thy grace me to rewaird.
For David King of Israel,
Quhilk was the greit Propheit Royal.
Sayis, God hes haill at his command
The hartis of Princis in his hand.
Ewin as he list thame for to turn,
That man they do without sudgeorne.
Sum till exalt to dignity.
And sum to depryue in pouerte.
Sum time of layit men, to mak lordis,
And sum time lordis to bind in cordis,
And thame alutterlie destroy,
As plesis God, that royal Roy.
For thow art bot ane Instrument
To that greit King Omnipotent.
So, when it plesis his excellence,
Thy grace sall mak me recompense.
Or he sall cause me stand content,
Of quiet life, and sober rent.
And take me in my letter age
Unto my sempyll Hermitage,
And spend that my Eldaris wun,
As did Diogenes in his twn.
Of this complaint with mind full meik,
Thy gracis answeir (Schir) I beseik.
FINIS.
Quod Lyndesay to the King.
The tragedy of the Vmwhyle mayest Reverend Father David be the Mercy of God, Cardinal, and Archebischop of Sanctandr • is. &c. Compylit be Schir David Lyndesay of the mont Knicht, Alias, Lyoun, King of Arms.
Mortals Cum Natisitis, ne supra
Deum Vos Erexeritis.
THE PROLOG.
NOCHT
Lang ago after the hour of prime.
Secreitly sitting in mine Oratory.
I tuke ane Buke till occupy the time,
Quhare I fand money Tragedie and story,
Quhilk Ihone Boccace, had put in memory.
Quhow money Princis, Conqueror{is} and Kingis
War dulefullie deposit, from there ringis.
Quhow Alexander, the potent Conqueror
In Babylon was poysonit pieteouslie.
And Julius, the michtie Emperor
Murdreist at Rome, causles and cruelly.
Prudent Pompey, in Egypt schamefullie,
He murdreist was, what nedith process more?
Whose Tragedyis, war piety till deplore.
I sitting so, upon my Buke reding,
Rycht suddantlie, a fore me did appeir
Ane woundit man, aboundantlie bleiding,
With visage paill, and with ane deidlie their.
Semand ane man of two and fifty yeit,
In Rayment reid, clothit full curiouslie,
Of weluoit and of Satyn Crammosie.
With febill voice, as man oppressed with pane,
Softlie he maid me supplicatioun.
Sayand, my friend, go reid, and reid again,
Geue thow can find, be true Narratioun
Of ony pane like to my passioun.
Richt sure I an
•••
at Ihone Boceace on live,
My Tragedie at lenth he wald descryue.
Sen he is gone, I pray the till indyte
Of my Infortune sum Remembrance.
Or at the leist, my Tragedie to wryt,
As I to the sall show the Circumstance,
In termis breue of my unhappy chance,
Sen my beginning, till my fatal end.
Quhilk I wald till all creature wer kend.
I not said I, mak sic memorial
But of thy name I had Intelligence.
I am David, that cairfull Cardinal
Quhilk doth appeir (said he) to thy presence.
That vmwhyle had so greit preeminence.
Than he began, his deidis till indyte
As ye sall heir, and I began to write.
I David Betoun Vmwhyle Cardinal,
Of nobill blood, be line I did descend,
During my time I had no peregall.
Bot now is cum, alas my fatal end.
Ay gre, be gre vpwart I did ascend
Swa that in to this realm did never ring
So greit one man as I, under ane king
When I was ane young Ioly gentill man,
Princis to serve, I set my hole intent.
First till ascend, at Arbroith I began
Ane Abbacie, of greit riches and rent.
Of that estait, yet was I nocht content,
To get more riches, dignity, and glore,
My heart was set, alas, alas, tharefore.
I maid sic service till our Souerane king,
He did Promoue me till more hie estate.
One Prince abufe all preistis for til ring,
Archebischop of Sanctandrois consecrate.
Tyll that honor when I was Eleuate,
My prydefull heart was nocht content at all,
Tyll that I create wes ane Cardinal.
Ʒit preissit I till have more authority.
And finally, was chosin Chancellair.
And for vphalding of my dignity,
Was maid Legate than had I no compair.
I purchest for my proffect singulair,
My Boris, and my Thresure till auance.
The Bischoprik of Mecepois in France.
Of all Scotland, I had the Gouernall,
But my a wife concludit wes nothing
Abbot, Bischop, Archebischop, Cardinal,
In to this Realm no hieat culled I ting,
Bot I had been Pape, Empriour, or King.
For schortnes of the time, I am nocht abill
At lenth to show, my actis honorabill.
For my most Princelie Prodigalite,
Amang Prelatis in France I bure the pryse.
I schew my Lordlie Liberalite,
In Banketting, playing, at cartis and Dyse.
In to sic wisdom, I was haldin wise.
And sparit nocht to play with king, nor knicht
Thre thousand crownis of gold upon ane nicht.
In France, I maid seir honest Voyagis,
Quhare I did Actis digne of Remembrance.
Throuch me war maid Tryūphant Mariagis,
Tyll our Souerane boith proffet and plesance.
Queen Magdalene, the first Dochter of France,
With greit riches was in to Scotland brocht.
That marriage throch my wisdom it was wrocht
Efter whose death, in France I past again,
The secunde Queen, homewart I did conuoy.
That lusty Princes, Marie de Lorane,
Quhilk wes resauit with greit triumph & Joy.
So seruit I our richt Redoutit Roy.
Sone after that, Harie of Ingland king
Of our Souerane, desirit ane commoning.
Of that meting, our king wes well content,
So that in Ʒork, was set boith time and place.
Bot our Prelatis, nor I, wald never consent,
That he suld se, King Harie in the face,
Bot we wer well content, whowbeit his grace
Had saillit the sey, to speak with ony other,
Except yat king, whilk was his mother brother.
Quhait throch yar rose, greit weir & mortal strife
Greit heirschip{is}, hunger, derth, and desolatioun.
On ather side, did money lose there life,
Geue I wald mak ane true Narratioun,
I causit all that tribulatioun.
For till take peace, I never wald consent,
With our the king of france had been content.
Duryng this weir, wartaking presoneiris,
Of nobyll men, fechting full furiouslie
Money one Lord, Barroun, and Bacheleiris,
Quhar throuch our king tuk sic melancholy,
Quhilk drave him to the deed richt dulcfullie.
Extreme Dolour ouirset did so his heart,
That from this life, alas, he did depart.
Bot after that boith strenth & speiche wes leisit,
Ane paper blank, his grace I gart subscryue,
In to the whilk, I wrait all that I pleisit,
Efter his death, whilk lang war till descryue
Throuch that writing, I purposit belyue,
With support of sum Lordis benevolence,
In this Region till have Preeminence.
As for my Lord, our richteous Governor,
Geue I wald schortlie show the verity,
Till him I had no manner of favor,
During that time, I purposit that he
Suld never cum to none Auctorite.
For his support tharefor he brocht amang us,
Furth of Ingland, the nobyll Earl of Angus.
Than was I put abak from my purpose,
And suddandlie cast in Captiuite,
My prydefull hatt to dant, as I suppose
Deuysit be the hich Diuinite.
Ʒit in my heart, sprang no humylite,
Bot now the word of God full well I knaw,
Quho dost exalt him self, God sall him law.
In the meine time, when I was so subiectit,
Ambassadouris war sent in to Ingland.
Quhare they boith piece, and marriage cōtractit.
And more surly, for till observe that band,
War promist diverse plegis of Scotland.
Of that contract, I wes no way content,
Nor never wald there to give my consent.
Tyll Capitanis, that keipit me in waird,
Giftis of gold, I gave thame greit plente
Rewlatis of court, I richelie did reward,
Quhare throuch I chaipit from Captiuite.
Bot when I was free, at my liberty,
Than like ane Lyon, lowsit of his Cage.
Out throuch this realm, I gan to reil and rage.
Contrar the Governor, and his company,
Oft times maid I insurrectioun.
Purposing for till have him haistelie.
Subdewit unto my correctioun.
Or put him till extreme subiectioun.
Duryng this time, give it war well decydit,
This realm be me was utterly deuydit.
The Governor purposing to subdew,
I rasit ane oist of money bald Barroun,
And maid ane raid, whilk Lithgow yet may rew,
For we destroyit ane mile about the town.
For that I gat money blak malisoun.
Ʒit contrair the Gouernouris intent.
With our yōng Princes, we to Striuiling went.
For hich contemptioun of the Governor,
I brocht the Earl of Lennox, forth of France.
That lusty Lord, leuand in greit plesour,
Did lose that land and honest Ordinance.
Bot he and I, fell sone at variance.
And throch my counsel, was within schort space,
For faltit and flemit, he gat none other grace.
Than throuch my prudence, practik and ingyne,
Our Governor I causit to consent
Full quyetlie, to my counsel inclyne.
Quhare of his Nobilis, war nocht weil content.
For why, I gurt dissolve in plane Parliament,
The band of peite, contractit with Ingland.
Quharthroch c
••
e harm, & heirschip to scotlād.
That piece brokin, arois new mortal weiris,
Be sey, and land, sic reif, without relief,
Quhilk to report, my frayit heart effeiris,
The verite to show in termis brief,
I was the rute, of all that greit mischief.
The south countre may say, it had been gude,
That my Nurice, had smorit me in my cude.
I wes the cause of mekle more mischance
For vphald, of my glore, and dignity,
And plesour of the potent King of france,
With Ingland wald I have no unite,
Bot who consider wald the verite,
We micht full well have leuit in piece and rest,
Nyne or ten yeitis, and than playit louse or fast.
Had we with Ingland keipit our contrackis,
Our nobyll men, had leuit in piece and rest.
Our Merchādis had nocht lost so money packis,
Our common people had nocht been oppressed.
On ather side, all wrangis had been redressed.
Bot Edinburgh sen syne, Leith and Kingorne,
The day, and hour, may ban that I was borne,
Our Governor, to mak him to me sure,
With sweet, and subtell words, I did him syle,
Tyll I his Sone, and Air, gat in my cure.
To that effect I fand that crafty wyle,
That he no manner of way
•
ycht me begyle
Than leuch I when his liegis did allege,
How I his Sone had gottin in to plege.
The Earl of Angus, and his Germane brother.
I purposit, to gar thame lose there life.
Rycht so till have destroyit money vthtr,
Sum with the fire, sū with the sword and knyfe.
In special, money gentle men of fyfe.
And purposit till put to greit Torment
All fauoreris of the auld, and New Testament.
Than every man, they tuke of me sic feir,
That time, when I had so greit governance.
Greit Lordis dreiding, I suld do thame deir,
Thay durst nocht cum till court but assurance
Sen syne their hes nocht been sic variance.
Now till our Prince Barronis obedientlie,
But assurance, they cum full courteslie.
My hope was most in to the king of France,
To gidder with the Popis holiness.
More than in God, my worschip till auance.
I traistit so in to there gentilnes,
That no man durst presume me till oppres.
Bot when the day come of my fatal hour,
Far was from me, there support and succor.
Than to preserve my riches, and my life,
I maid one strenth of wallis hich and braid.
Sic ane Fortres wes never found in fyfe.
Beleuand there, durst no man me inuaid.
Now find I true the saw whilk David said:
Without God of ane house be master of wark,
He wirkis in vane, thocht it be never so stark.
For I was throuch the hi
•
power Deuine,
Rycht dulefullie dung down amang the as,
Quhilk culled not be throch mortal mannis ingyne,
Bot as David did slay the greit Golias,
Or Holopherne, be Judith keillit was
In myd amang his triumphant Army,
So was I slane in to my chief Ciete.
When I had greitest Dominatioun,
As Lucifer had in the heaven Empire,
Came suddandlie my Depriuatioun.
Be thame whilk did my dolent death conspyre.
So cruel was there furious birnand Ire,
I gat no time, layser, nor liberty
To say,
In Manus tuas Domine.
BEhald my Fatall Infelicite,
I beand in my strenth, Incomparabill,
That dreidfull Dungeoun maid me no supple,
My greit riches, nor tentis proffitabill,
My Syluer work, Iowellis inestimabill,
My Papal pomp, of gold my rich thresour,
My life and all, I lost in half ane hour.
To the people wes maid ane Spectakle,
Of my deed, and deformit Carioun.
Sum said it was ane manifest Myrakle.
Sum said it was Divine Punitioun
So to be slane, in to my strang Doungeoun.
When every man had Iugit as him list,
Thay Saltit me, syne closit me in ane kist.
I lay vnburyit sewin monethis and more,
Or I was borne, to closter, kirk, or queir,
In ane midding, whilk pane been till deplore,
Without suffrage, of Chanoun, Monk, or freir.
All proud Prelatis at me may Lessonis leir,
Quhilk rang so lang, and so triumphantlie,
Syne in the duct dung down so dulefullie.
TO THE PRELATIS.
O ye My Brether Princis of the Priests,
I mak yow hartly Supplicatioun,
Boith nyckt and day reuolue in to your breistis
The Proces of my Depriuatioun.
Considder what been your Vocatioun.
To follow me, I pray yow nocht pretend yow,
Bot reid at lenth, this Cedull that I send yow.
Ʒe knaw whow Jesus his Discipulis sent,
Ambassadouris till every Natioun,
To show his law, and his commandment
To all people, by Predicatioun.
Tharefor, I mak to yow Narratioun,
Sen ye to thame ar verray Successouris,
Ʒe aucht till do as did your Predecessouris.
Quhow dar ye be so bauld till take on hand,
For to be Herraldis to so greit ane King,
To beir his Message, boith to burgh and land,
Ʒe beand dum, and can pronunce nothing.
Lyke Menstralis, that can nocht play nor sing.
Or why suld men give to sic Hirdis hire,
Quhilk cannot gyde there scheip about y
e
mire.
Eschame ye nocht to be Christis seruitouris,
And for your fee, hes greit temporal landis?
Syne of your office, can nocht take the curis,
As Cannone Law, & Scripture yow cōmandis.
Ʒe will nocht want, teind scheif, nor offerandis,
Teynd wool, teind lamb, teind Calf, teind gryce and guse,
To mak service ye ar all out of use.
My deir brether do nocht as ye war wount,
Amend your life now, whill your day Induris.
Traist well ye sall, be called to your count
Of euerilk thing, belanging to your curis.
Leif hasartrie, your harlottie, and huris,
Remembering on my vnprouisit deed.
For after death, may no man mak remeid.
Ʒe Prelat{is} whilk{is} hes thousandis for to spend,
Ʒe send ane sempyll freir, for yow to preiche,
It is your craft, I mak it to yow kend.
Ʒour selfs, in your Templis for to preiche,
Bot ferlie nocht, thocht syllie freiris fleiche,
For and they planelie, show the verite,
Than will they want the Bischopis cherite.
Quharefor been gewin yow sic Royal rent?
Bot for till find the people Spiritual fude,
Preichand to thame, the auld & New Testament,
The law of God, doth planelie so conclude,
Put nocht your hope in to no warldlie gude,
As I have done, behauld my greit thresour,
Maid me no help at my unhappy hour.
That day when I was Bischop consecrait,
The greit Bible, wes bound upon my back.
What wes tharein, little I knew God wait,
More than ane beist, berand ane precious pak.
Bot haistelie, my conuenant I brak
For I wes oblissit with my awin consent.
The law of God to preiche with gude intent.
Brether richt so when ye wer consecrait
Ʒe oblissit yow all on the samyn wise
Ʒe may be called Bischoppis countrefait,
As Gallandis buskit for to mak ane gyse.
Now think I Prineis, ar nothing to pryse,
Tyll give ane famous office till ane fule,
As who wald put ane Miter on ane Mule.
Alas, and ye that sorrowful sicht had seen,
Quhow I lay bullerand, bathit in my blood,
To mend your life, it had occasioun been
And leif your auld, corruptit conswetude.
Failyeing there of, than schortlie I conclude,
Without ye from your ribaldrie arise,
Ʒe sall be seruit, on the samyn wise.
TO THE PRINCIS.
Imprudent Princis but discretioun
Hauyng in eirth power Imperial,
Ʒe been the cause of this Transgressioun.
I speak to yow all in to general,
Quhilk doth dispone all office spiritual,
Geuand the saulis, whilk{is} been Christis scheip,
To blind Pastouris but conscience to keep.
When ye Princis doth laik ane officiar,
Ane Baxter, Browster, or ane master Cuke,
Ane trym Tailyeour, ane cunning Cordynar,
Ouir all the land, at lenth ye will gar luke,
Most abill men, sic officis till bruke.
Ane Browster, whilk can brew most hoilsū aill,
Ane cūnyng Cuke, whilk best can sessoun caill.
Ane Tailyeour whilk hes fosterit been in frāce,
That can mak garmentis on the gayest gyse.
Ʒe Princis been the cause of this mischance,
That when there doth vaik ony benefyse,
Ʒe aucht till do upon the samyn wise.
Ga
•
serche, and seek, baith in to burgh and land,
The law of God who best can understand.
Mak him Bischop that prudentlie can preiche,
A
•
dost pertene till his vocatioun.
Ane
•••
ione, whilk his Parischoun can teiche.
Ga
•
V
•
caris mak dew Ministratioun.
And als I mak yow supplicatioun,
Mak your Abbottis of richt Religious men,
Quhilk to the people Christis law can ken.
Bot not to rebaldis, new cum from the roast.
Nor of ane stuffat, stollin out of ane stabill,
The whilk in to the scule maid never na cost,
Nor never was till Spiritual science abill,
Except the cartis, the dyce, the ches, and tabill,
Of Rome raikeris, nor of rude Ruffianis,
Of calsay Paikeris, nor of Publicanis.
Nor of Fantastike▪ fenyeit flatteraris,
Most meit to gather mussillis in to May.
Of Cowhubeis, nor yet of clatteraris,
That in the kirk, can nother sing nor say
Thocht they be clokit up i
•
Clerkis array,
Lyke doitit Doctoris new cum out of Athenis.
And mūmyll over ane pair of maig
•
t matenis.
Nocht qualifyit, to bruke ane Benefyis,
Bot throuch schir Symonis solistatioun.
I was promouit on the samyn wyis,
Alas throuch Princis supplicatioun.
And maid at Rome throuch falls Narratioun,
Bischop, Abbot, bot no Religious man.
Quho me promouit, I now there banis
〈◊〉
Quhowbeit I was Legate, and Cardinal,
Lytle I knew, tharein what suld be done
I vnderstude no science spiritual,
No more than did blind Alane of the mone.
I dreid the king that sittith hich above,
On yow Princis sall mak sore punischement,
Rycht so on us throuch richteous Judgment.
On yow Princis for vndiscreit giving,
Tyll Ignorantis, sic officis till use.
And we, for our Inoportune asking,
Quhilk suld have done sic dignity refuse.
Our Ignorance, hes done the world abuse
Throuch Covetise of riches, and of rent.
That ever I was ane Prelate I repent.
O
Kingis mak ye no cair to give in cure,
Virginis professed in to Religioun,
In till the keiping of ane common hure?
To mak think ye nocht greit derisioun,
Ane woman Persone of ane Parisoun?
Quhare there been two thousand saulis to gyde,
That from harlottis cannot hir hippis hyde.
What and king David leuit in thir days,
Or out of heaven what and he lukit down,
The whilk did found so money fair Abbayis?
Seand the greit Abhominatioun
In money abbayis, of this Natioun,
He wald repent that Narrowit so his boundis,
Of yeirly rent, three score of thousand poundis.
Quharfore I counsel euerilk Christiane king,
Within his realm mak Reformatioun
And suffer no mo Rebaldis, for to ring,
Abufe Christis true Congregatioun.
Failyeing thareof I mak Narratioun,
That ye Princis, and Prelatis all at onis,
Sall bureit be in hell, Saul, blood, and bonis.
That ever I brukit Benefice I rew,
Or to sic hicht so proudely did pretend.
I man depart, tharefor my freindis adew,
Quhare ever it plesith God, now man I wend.
I pray the till my freindis me Recommend,
And failye nocht at lenth, to put in write
My Tragedie, as I have done Indyte.
FINIS.
The deploratioun of The Deith of Queen Magdalene. ✚ ☜
O
Cruel Deith, to greit is thy puissance
Deuorar of all erthlie leuyng things
Adam, we may the wyit of this mischāce
In thy default, this cruel tyrane ringis
And spairis nother Empryour nor Kingis.
And now alas hes reft forth of this land
The flour of France, and confort of Scotland.
Father Adam alas that thow abusit
Thy free will, being Inobedient,
Thow chesit Deith, and lesting life refusit,
Thy Successioun alas, that may repent
That thow hes maid mankynd so Impotent,
That it may mak to Deith, no resistance.
Exemple of our Queen, the flour of France.
O dreidfull Dragoun, with thy dulefull dart,
Quhilk did nocht spair, of Feminine the flour,
Bot cruelly did pers hir throuch the heart,
And wald nocht give hir respite for ane hour,
To remane with hir Prince, and Paramour,
That scho at laiser, might have tane license,
Scotland on the, may cry ane loud vengeance.
Thow leit Mathusalem, leif nine houndreth year
Thre score and nine, bot in thy furious rage.
Thow did deuore, this young Princes but peir,
Or scho was compleit, seuintene year of age,
Gredie gorman, why did thow nocht asswage,
Thy furious rage, contrair that lusty Queen,
Tyll we sum fruct, had of hir body seen.
O Dame Nature, thow did no diligence,
Contrair this thief whilk all y
e
world cōfoundis.
Had thow with natural targis maid defense,
That brybour had nocht cūmit w
t
in hir boundis,
And had been sauit from sic mortal stoundis,
This money ane year bot where was thy discretion
That leit hir pas, til we had seen succession.
O Venus, with thy blind sone Cupido,
Fy on yow baith, that maid no resistance,
In to your Court, ye never had sic two.
So leill Luffaris without dissimulance.
As James the Fift, and Magdalene of France,
Discending boith of blood Imperial,
To whom in lufe, I find no perigall.
For as Leander swame outthrow the flude,
To his fair Lady Hero, money nichtis,
So did this prince, throw bulryng stremis wode
With Erlis, baronis, squyaris, & with knichtis,
Contrair Neptune, and Gol and there michtis,
And left his Realm in greit disesperance,
To seek his Lufe, the first Dochter of France.
And scho like prudent Queen Penelope,
Ful cōstantlie wald change him for none other,
And for his plesour, left hir awin countre,
Without regard, to Father or to Mother,
Takyng no cure of Sister, nor of Brother,
Bot schortlie tuke hir leif, and left thame all,
For lufe of him, to whom lufe maid hir thrall.
O dame Fortune whare was thy greit confort,
Till hir to whom thow was so favorable,
Thy slyding gyftis, maid hir no support,
Hir hie synage, nor Riches intellible,
I se thy puissance been bot variable,
When hir father the most hie cristinit King,
Till his deir Chyld, might mak no supporting.
The potent Prince, hir lusty lufe and knicht,
With his most hardie Noblis of Scotland,
Contrair that bailfull bribour had no micht,
Thocht all the men had been at his command,
Of France, Flanderis, Italy, and Ingland,
With fifty thousand Millioun of tresour,
Mycht nocht prolong that Ladyis life ane hour.
O Paris of all Citeis principal,
Quhilk did resaue our Prince with laud & glory
Solempnitlie throw Arkis triumphal
Quhilk day been digne to put in memory.
For as Pompey after his Victory,
Was in to Rome, resauit with greit Joy,
So thow resauit, our richt redoutit Roy.
Bot at his Marriage maid upon the morne,
Sic solace, and Solempnizatioun,
Was never seen afore, sen Christ was borne,
Nor to Scotland sic consolatioun,
There selit was, the confirmatioun,
Of the well keipit ancient alliance,
Maid betwix Scotland, and the realm of france,
I never did se, one day more glorious
So money in so riche abilyementis,
Of Silk and gold, with stonis precious,
Sic Banketting, sic sound of Instrumentis,
With sang, and dance, & Martial tornamentis,
Bot like ane storm, after ane plesand morrow,
Sone was our solace, changit in to sorrow.
O traitor death, whom none may contramand,
Thow might have seen, the preparatioun,
Maid be the three Estaitis of Scotland,
With greit confort, and consolatioun
In euerilk Ciete, Castell, Toure, and Town,
And how ilk Nobill, set his hole intent
To be excellent in Habilyement.
Thief, saw thow nocht, the greit preparatiuis,
Of Edinburgh, the Nobill famous town,
Thow saw the people, laboring for there lyuis,
To mak triumph, with trump and Clarioun,
Sic plesour was never in to this Region
As suld have been, the day of hir entrace,
With greit propynis, geuin till hir grace.
Thow saw makand right costlie scaffalding,
Depayntit well, with Gold and assure fine,
Reddie preparit, for the vpsetting,
With Fontanis flowing, watter cleir and wyne,
Disagysit folkis, like Creaturis divine,
On ilk scaffold, to play ane syndrie story,
Bot all in greiting, turnit thow that glory.
Thow saw money ane lusty fresche galland,
Weill ordourit for resauing of their Queen,
Ilk Craftisman with bent bow in his hand,
Full galyeartlie in schort clething of grene,
The honest Burgess, cled thow suld have seen,
Sum in scarlot, and sum in claith of grane,
For till have met there Lady Souerane.
Prouest, Baillies, and lordis of the town,
The Senatouris in order consequent,
Cled in to Silk of Purpure blak and brown,
Syne the greit Lordis of the Parliament,
With money knychtlie Barroun, and baurent,
In Silk and Gold, in colouris consortable,
Bot thow alas, all turnit in to sable.
Syne all the Lordis of Religioun,
And Princes of the preistis venerable,
Full plesandlie in there Processioun,
With all the cunning Clerkis honorable,
Bot thiftuouslie thow Tyrane tresonable,
All there greit solace, and Solempniteis,
Thow turnit in till dulefull Dirigeis.
Syne next in Ordour passing throw the town,
Thow suld have hard the din of Instrumentis,
Of Tabrone, Trumpet, Schalme, & Clarioun,
With reird redoundand throw the Elementis,
The Herauldis, with there awful Vestimentis,
With Maseris, upon ather of there handis,
To rewle the preis, with burneist silver wandis.
Syne last of all in Ordour triumphal,
That most Iliuster Princes honorable,
With hir the lusty Ladyis of Scotland,
Quhilk suld have been, any sycht most delectable
Hir raiment to rehers, I am nocht able,
Of Gold and perle, and precious stonis brycht
Twynkling like sterris in ane frostie nycht.
Under ane Pale of gold, scho suld have past,
Be Burgessis borne, clothie in silkis fine,
The greit Master of household all there last.
With him in order all the Kingis tryne,
Quhais ordinance, war langsum to defyne.
On this manner, scho passing throw the town.
Suld have resauit money benisoun,
Of Virginis, and of lusty burges wylffis,
Quhilk suld have been, ane sycht celestial.
Viue la Royne,
cryand for there lyiffis,
With ane Harmonious sound Angelical,
In euerilk corner, myrthis Musicall,
Bot thow tyrane, in whom is found no grace,
Our
Alleluya,
hes turnit in alas.
Thow suld have hard, the ornate Oratouris,
Makand hir hienes Salutatioun,
Boith of the Clergy, town and counsalouris,
With money Notable Narratioun,
Thow suld have seen hir Coronatioun,
In the fair Abbay of the Holy rude,
In presence of ane myrthfull multitude.
Sic Banketing, sic aufull Tornamentis,
On hors & fute, that time whilk suld have been,
Sic Chapel Royal, with sic Instrumentis,
And crafty Music, singing from the spleen,
In this countre, was never hard nor seen,
Bot all this greit solempnite and gam,
Turnit thow hes,
In Requiem aeternam.
Inconstant world, thy freindschip I defy;
Sen strenth, nor wisdom riches nor honor
Vertew nor beauty, none may certefy,
Within thy boundis, for to remane ane hour,
What valith to the king or Empryour,
Sen pryncely puissance, may nocht be exemit,
Frō Deith, whose dolour can nocht be expremit.
Sen man in erth, hes na place permanent.
Bot all mon pass, be that horrible port,
Lat us pray to the Lord Omnipotent,
That dulefull day, to be our greit comfort,
That in his Realm, we may with him resort,
Quhilk{is} from y
e
hell, w
t
his blood ransonit been,
With Magdalene, vmwhyle of scotlād Queen.
O Deith, thocht thow the body may deuore
Of every man, yet hes thow no puissance,
Of there virtue, for to consume the glore,
As shall be seen, of Magdalene of France,
Vmwhyle our queen, whom Poetis sal auance
And put hir in perpetual memory,
So sail hir fame, of the have Victory.
Thocht thou hes slane y
e
heuinly flour of France
Quhilk Impit was, in to the Chrissill kene,
Quharein all Scotland saw their hail plesance,
And maid the Lyoun reioysit from the spleen,
Thocht rute be pullit from the leuis grent,
The smell of it, sall in dispyte of the,
Keip ay twa Realms, in Peice and Amite.
Quod Lindesay.
The Answer whilk schir David Lindesay maid to y e Kingis Flyting. ✚☜
REdoutit Roy, your ragment I have red,
Quhilk dost perturb my dull Intendemēt.
From your flyting, wald God, y
t
I wer fred.
Or ellis sum Tygerris tongue wer to me lent.
Schir, pardon me, thocht I be Impacient,
Quhilk been so w
t
your prunyeand pen detractit,
And rude report, from Venus Court deiectit.
Lustie Ladyis, that your Libellis lukis
My cumpanie, dost hald abhominable,
Commandand me beir cumpanie to the Cukis,
Moist like ane Devil, they hald me detestable.
Thay banis me sayand, I am nocht able
Thame to compleis, or preis to there presence.
Apon your pen, I cry ane loud vengeance,
Wer I ane Poeit, I suld preis with my pen
To wreik me on your wennemous writing.
Bot I man do, as dog dost in his den,
Fald baith my feit, or flee fast from your flyting.
The mekle Devil may nocht endure your dyting.
Quhare for,
Cor mundum crea in me,
I cry,
Proclamand yow, the Prince of Poetry.
Schir with my Prince, pertenit me nocht to pley.
Bot sen your grace, hes geuin me sic command,
To mak answer, it must neidis me obey,
Thocht ye be now strang like ane Elephand,
And in till Venus werkis mayest vailyeand,
The day will cum, and that within few yeiris,
That ye will draw at laiser with your ferris.
What can ye say forther, bot I am tailyeit
In Venus werkis, I grant schir, that is true.
The time hes been, I wes better artailyeit,
Nor I am now, bot yet full fair I rew,
That ever I did Mouth thankles so persew.
Quhare for take tent, and your fine powder spair.
And waist it nocht, bot gyf ye wit well where.
Thocht ye rin rudelie, like ane wrestles Ram,
Schutand your bolt, at money sindrie schellis,
Beleif richt well, it is ane bydand gam.
Quharefore bewar, with dowbling of the bellis,
For money ane dost haist their awin saule knellis.
And specially, when that the well gois dry,
Syne can nocht get again, sic stufe to by.
I give your counsale, to the feynd of hell,
That wald nocht of ane Princes yow provide.
Tholand yow rin schutand from schell to schell,
Waistand your corps, leitand the time ouerslyde
For like ane boisteous Bull, ye rin and ride
Royatouslie like ane rude Rubeatour,
Ay fukkand like ane furious Fornicatour.
On Ladronis for to loip, ye will nocht lat,
Howbeit the Caribaldis cry, the corinoch.
Remember how beside the masking fat,
Ʒe caist ane queen, ov{er}thort ane stinking troch
That feynd with fuffilling of hir roistit hoch,
Caist down the fat, wharthrow drink draf & iuggis
Come rudely rinnād dōn about your luggis.
Wald God the Lady that luffit yow best
Had seen yow their lie swetterand like twa swine.
Bot to indyte how that duddroun wes dressed,
Drowkit w
t
dregg{is}, whimpecād w
t
money whryne,
That process to report, it wer ane pyne.
On your behalf, I thank God times ten sco
•
e,
That yow preseruit, frō gut, & from grandgore.
Now schir fairweill, because I can nocht flyte.
And thocht I could, I wer nocht till auance,
Aganis your ornate Meter to indyte.
Bot yet be war, with lawbouring of your lance.
Sū says there cūmis ane bukler forth of france.
Quhilk will endure your dintis, thocht they be dour
Fairweill of flowand Rethorik y
e
flour.
Quod Lindesay in his flyting
Aganis the Kingis dyting.
The Complaint and Publiet Confessioun of the Kingis auld Hound, called Bagsche, directit to Bawte, the Kingis best belouit Dog, and his Companyeonis. Maid at Command of King James the Fyft, be Schit David Lindesay of the Mont Knycht, Alias, Lyoun king of Arms. &c.
ALlace, whom to suld I complain
In my extreme Necessity.
Or whameto sall I mak my main,
In Court na Dog will do for me.
Beseikand sum for Cherite
To beir my Supplicatioun,
To Scudlar, Luffra, and Bawte.
Now or the King pas of the town.
I have followit the Court so lang,
Quhill in gude faith I may no mair.
The Countre knawis I may nocht gang,
I am so crukit, auld, and sair,
That I wait nocht whare to repair.
For when I had authority,
I thocht me so familiar,
I never dred necessity.
I rew the race that Geordie Steill
Brocht Bawte to the kingis presence.
I pray God lat him never do well,
Sen syne I gat na audience.
For Bawte now gettis sic credence,
That he lyis on the Kingis nycht goun.
Quhare I perforce for my offense,
Man in the clois lie like ane loun.
For I haif been ay to this hour,
Ane witrear of lamb and hog,
Ane tyrrane, and ane Tulyeour,
Ane murdreissar of money ane dog.
Fyue foullis I chaist outthroch ane scrog,
Quharefor there motheris did me wary.
For they war drownit all in ane bog.
Speir at Ihone Gordoun of Pittarie.
Quhilk in his house did bring me up,
And vsit me to slay the deir.
Sweit milk and meill he gart me sup,
That craft I leirnit sone perqueir.
All other virtue ran arreir,
When I began to bark and flyte.
For there was nother Monk nor freir,
Nor wife nor barn, bot I wald byte.
When to the King the care was knawin
Of my unhappy hardines,
And all the suth unto him schawin
How euerilk dog, I did oppres,
Than gave his grace command express,
I suld be brocht to his presence.
Nochtwithstanding my wickitnes,
In Court I gat greit audience.
I schew my greit Ingratitude
To the Capitane of Badzeno,
Quhilk in his house did find me fude
Two year with other houndis mo.
Bot when I saw that it was so,
That I grew hich into the Court,
For his reward I wrocht him woe
And cruelly I did him hurt.
So they that gave me to the King,
I was there mortal Enemy.
I tuke cure of na kind of thing
Bot pleis the Kingis Majesty.
Bot when he knew my cruelty,
My falset and my plane oppressioun,
He gave command that I suld be
Hangit without confessioun.
And yet because that I was auld,
His grace thocht petty for to hang me,
Bot leit me wander whare I wald,
Than set my fais for to fang me.
And every bouchour dog down dang me.
When I trowit best to be ane laird,
Than in the court ilk wicht did wrang me.
And this I gat for my rewaird.
I had wirreit blak Makesoun,
Wer nocht that rebaldis come and red.
Bot he was flemit of the town,
Frome time the King saw how I bled.
He gart lay me upon ane bed,
For with ane knife I was mischeuit.
This Makesoun for feir he fled
Ane lang time or he was releuit.
And Patrick Striuiling in Ergyle,
I bure him bakwart to the ground.
And had him slane within ane while,
Wat nocht the helping of ane hound.
Ʒit gat he money bludie wound,
As yet his skyn will show the markis,
Find me ane Dog, whate ever ye found
Hes maid sa money bludie sarkis.
Gude brother Lanceman, Lyndesayis dog,
Quhilk ay hes keipit thy laute,
And never wirryit lamb nor hog,
Pray Luffra, Scudlar, and Baute,
Of me Bagsche, to have pity,
And provide me ane portioun
In Dumfermeling, whare I may dre
Penance for my extortioun.
Get be there Solistatioun
Ane letter from the kingis grace,
•
hat I may have Collatioun,
With fire and Candil in the place.
Bot I will leif schort time, alas,
Want I gude fresche flesche for my gammis,
Betuix Aswednisday and Paice,
I man have leave to wirrie Lamhis.
Baute consider well this bill,
And reid this Cedul
•
that I send yow.
And euerilk point thareof fulfill,
And now in time of mys amend yow.
I pray yow that ye nocht pretend yow
To clym over hie, nor do na wrang.
Bot from your fais, with richt defend yow,
And take example whow I gang.
I was that na man durst cum neir me,
Nor put me forth of my lugeing.
Na dog duist fra my Denner sker me,
When I was tender with the king.
Now euerilk tyke dost me down thring,
The whilk before, be me war wrangit,
And sweris I serve na other thing,
Bot in ane helter to be hangit.
Thocht ye b
•
hamelie with the King,
Ʒe Luffra, Scudlar, and Bawte,
Be wat that ye do nocht down thring
Ʒour nychtbouris throw authority.
And your example mak be me,
And belief well ye at bot doggis.
Thocht ye stand in the highest gre,
Se ye byte nother lambs nor hoggis.
Thocht ye have now greit audience,
Se that be yow, be nane oppressed.
Ʒe
•
ylbe punischit for your offense,
Frome time the king be well confessed,
There is na dog that hes transgressed
Throw cruelty, and he may fang him,
His Maieste will take no rest,
Tyll on ane gallous he gat hang him.
I was anis als far ben as ye ar
And had in Court als greit credence,
And ay pretendit to be hiear.
Bot when the Kingis excellence,
Did knaw my falser and offense,
And my prydefull presumptioun,
I gat none other recompense,
Bot hoyit, and houndit of the town.
Wes never sa vnkynd ane corce
As when I had authority.
Of my freindis I tuke na force,
The whilkis afore had done for me,
This Prouerb, it is of verite,
Quhilk I hard red in till ane letter,
Hiest in Court, next the weddie,
Without he gyde him all the better.
I tuke na mair compt of ane Lord,
Nor I did of ane keiching knaif.
Thocht euerilk day I maid discord,
I was set up abone the laif.
The gentill hound was to me slaif.
And with the Kingis a win fingeris fed.
The silly raichis wald I raif,
Thus for my evil deidis wes I dred.
Tharefor Bawte luke best about,
When thow art highest with the King.
For than thow standis in greitest dout,
Be thow nocht gude of governing.
Put na pure tyke from his steiding,
Nor yet na silly Ratchis raif.
He sittis above that seis all thing,
And of ane knicht can mak ane knaif.
When I come steppand ben the flure,
All Rachis greit room to me red.
I of na creature tuke cure,
Bot lap upon the kingis bev,
With claith of gold, thocht it wer spread,
For feir ilk freik wald stand on far.
With euerilk Dog, I was so dred
Thay trimblit when they hard me nar.
Gude brother Bawte beir the euin,
Thocht with thy Prince, thow be potent.
It cryis ane vengeance from the heaven,
For till oppres ane Innocent.
In wealth be than most vigilent,
And do na wrang to dog nor beiche,
As I have, whilk I now repent.
Na Messane reif, to mak the riche.
Nor for augmenting of thy boundis
Ask no reward, schit at the king.
Quhilk may do hurt to other houndis,
Expres aganis Goddis bidding.
Chais na pure tyke from his midding,
Throw cast of Court, or kingis requeist.
And of thyself, presume nothing,
Except thow art ane brutall beist.
Traist well there is none oppressor,
Nor boucheour dog drawer of blood,
Ane Tyrrane, nor ane transgressor,
That sall now of the King get gude,
Frome time forth, that his Celsitude
Dois cleirlie knaw the verite,
Bot he is flemit for to conclude,
Or hangit hich upon ane tree.
Thocht ye be cuplit all to gidder
With silk, and swoulis of silver fine.
Ane Dog may cum forth of Balwhidder,
And gar yow leid ane l
•
wer tryne.
Than sal your plesour, turn in pyne,
When ane strange hounter blawis his horn.
And all your treddingis gar yow tyne,
Than sall your laubour be forlorn.
I say no more gude freindis, adew,
In dreid we never meit again.
That ever I kend the Court, I rew.
Wes never wycht so will of wane.
Lat no Dog now serve our Souerane,
Without he be of gude conditioun.
Be he peruerst, I tell yow plane,
He hes neid of ane gude Remissioun.
That I am on this way mischeuit,
The Earl of Hountlie I may wary.
He wend I had been well releuit,
When to the Court, he gart me carry.
Wald God I wa
•
now in Pittarie,
Because I have been so evil dedie,
Adew, I dar no langer tarie.
In dreid, I waif in till ane wyddie.
FINIS.
Ane Suplication directit from Schir David Lyndesay Knicht, to the Kingis grace, in Contemptioun of side Taillis.
SChir, thocht your grace hes put gret order
Baith in the Hieland and the Bordour,
Ʒit mak I Supplicatioun,
Tyll have sum Reformatioun,
Of ane small fa
•
t, whilk is nocht Tressoun.
Thocht it be contrary to Ressoun.
Because the Water been so vile,
It may nocht have ane Oruate
•
yle.
Quharefor I pray your Excellence,
To heir me with greit Pacience,
Of stink and weidis maculate
No man may mak ane Rois Chaiplat.
Souerane, I mene of thir side taillis,
Qu
•
ilk throw the dust and dubbis traillis,
Th
•
e quarteris lang behind there heillis,
Expres again all Comoun weillis.
Thocht Bischoppis in there pontificallis,
Have men for to bei
•
up there taillis,
For dignity of there office.
Rychtso ane Queen, or ane Emprice,
Howbeit they use sic grauite,
Comformand to there Maieste.
Thocht there Rob Royallis be vpborne,
I think it is ane verray scorn,
That every Lady of the land,
Suld have hir taill so side trailland,
Howbeit they been of hie estait,
The Queen they suld nocht counterfeit.
Quhare ever they go, it may be seen,
How kirk, and calsay they soup clean.
The Imagis in to the kirk,
May think of there side tailis Irk,
For when the wedder been most fair,
The dust fleis highest in the air,
And all there facis dost begarie.
Give they culled speak, they wald thame wary.
To se I think ane plesand sicht,
Of Italy the Ladyis bricht,
In there clething most triumphand,
Above all other christin land.
Ʒit when they travel throw the townis,
Men seis there feit beneth there gownis,
Four Inche abone there proper heillis
Circulat about als round as wheillis.
Quhare throw there dost na poulder ryis,
There fait white lymmis to suppryis.
Bot I think mayest abusioun,
To se men of Religioun,
Gar beir there taillis throw the streit,
That folkis may behald there feit.
I trow sanct Bernard, nor sanct Blais,
Gart never man beir up there clais.
Peter, nor Paul, nor sanct Androw,
Gart never beir up there taillis I trow,
Bot I lauch best to se ane Nwn,
Gar beit hir taill abone hir bwn,
For nothing ellis as I suppois,
Bot for to show hir lily white hois.
In all there Rewlis, they will nocht find,
Quha suld beir up their taillis behind.
Bot I have mayest in to despyte,
Pure Claggokis cled in roiploch white,
Quhilk hes skant twa markis for there feis,
Wyll have twa ellis beneth there kneis.
Kit, tok that clekkit wis yistrene,
The morne will counterfute the Queen.
Ane murcland Meg that mylkit the yowis,
Claggit with clay abone the howis,
In barn, nor byit, scho will nocht bide,
Without hir kirtyll taill be side,
In Burtowis wantoun burges wyiffis,
Quha may have sydest taillis stryiffis,
Weill bordourit with Veluoit fine,
Bot following thame it is ane pyne.
In Somer when the streitis dryis,
Thay rais the dust abone the skyis.
None may go neir thame at there eis,
Without they cover mouth and neis,
Frome the powder, to keep there ene.
Consider give there Cloiffis be clean.
Betuixt there cleuing, and there kneis,
Quha might behald there sweitie these,
Begairit all with dirt, and dust,
That wer a
•
euch to stanche the lust
Of ony man that saw thame naikit.
I think sic giglottis ar bot glaikit,
Without profit to have sic pride,
Harland there claggit taillis so side.
I wald they borrowstounis barnis had breikkis
To keep sic mist fra Malkinnis cheikkis.
I dreid rouch Malkin de for drouth,
When sic dry dust blawis in hir mouth.
I think mayest pane, after ane rane,
To se thame towkit up again.
Than when they step forth throw the streit.
There faldingis flappis about their feit.
There laithlie lyning furthwart flypit,
Quhilk hes the muk, and midding wypit.
Thay waist more claith within few yeitis.
Nor wald cleith fyftie score of freitis.
When Marioun from the midding gois,
Frome hir morne turn, scho strypit the nois.
And all the day whare ever scho go,
Sic liquor scho likkith up also.
The Turcumis of hir taill I trow.
Mycht be ane supper till ane sow.
I ken ane man, whilk swoir greit aithis.
How he did lift ane Kittokis claithis,
And wald have done, I wait nocht what.
Bot sone remeid of lufe he gat.
He thocht na schame to mak it wittin,
How hir side taill was all beschittin,
Of filth sic flewer straik till his heart,
That he behouit for till depart.
(Quod scho) sweet schir, me think ye rew,
(Quod he) your taill makes sic ane slew,
That be sanct Brybe, I may nocht bide it,
Ʒe war nocht wise, that wald nocht hyde it,
Of Caillis I will no more Indyte,
For dreid sum Duddroun me despyte.
Nocht withstanding, I will conclude,
That of side Taillis can cum na gude.
Syder nor may there hanclethis hyde,
The remanent, proceidis of pride.
And Pryde proceidis of the Devil.
Thus always they proceid of evil.
Ane other fault Schir, may be seen,
Thay hyde there face all bot the ene.
When gentill men biddis thame gude day,
Without Reverence they slyde away.
That none may knaw, I yow assure,
Ane honest woman be ane hure.
Without there naikit face I se,
Thay get no mo gude days of me
Hails ane Frence Lady when ye pleis,
Scho will discover mouth, and neis.
And with ane humill countenance,
With Visage bair mak reverence.
When our Ladyis dost ride in rane,
Suld no man have thame at disdane,
Thocht they be couerit mouth and neis.
In that cace they will nane displeis.
Nor when they go to quiet places,
I thame excuse to hyde there facis,
When they wald mak Collatioun,
With any lusty Companyeoun,
Thocht they be hid than to the ene,
Ʒe may consider what I mene.
Bot in the kirk, and market placis,
I think they suld nocht hide there facis.
Without thir faltis be sone amendit,
My flyting, schir, sall never be endit.
Bot wald your grace my counsel take,
Ane Proclamatioun ye suld mak,
Baith throw the land and Borrowstounis,
To show there face, and cut there gownis,
Nan
•
suld fra that Exemptit be,
Except the Quenis Maieste,
Because this mater is nocht fair,
Of Rethorik it man be bair.
Wemen will say this is no bourdis,
To write sic vile and filthy words.
Bot wald they clenge there filthy taillis,
Quhilk ouir the myris and middingis traillis,
Than suld my wrytting clengit be.
None other mendis they get of me.
The suith suld nocht be haldin clos,
Veritas non querit Angulos.
I wait gude women that been wise,
This rural Ryme will nocht dispryse.
None will me blame, I yow assure,
Except ane wantoun glorious hure,
Quhais flyting I feir nocht ane flee.
Fair well, ye get no more of me.
Quod Lindesay in contempt of the side taillis,
That duddrounis & duntibouris throu y
e
dubbis it ailli
•
.
Kitteis confessioun, Compylit (as is beleuit) be Schir David Lindesay of the Mont Knicht. &c. The Curate, and Kitte.
THe Curate Kitte culled Confess,
And scho tald on baith mair and less.
When scho wes telland as scho wist,
The Curate Kitte wald have kist.
Bot yet ane countenance he bute,
Degeist, devote, daine, and demure.
And syne began hir to exempne,
He wes best at the after game.
(Quod he) have ye na wrangous geir?
(Quod scho) I staw ane Pek of veir.
(Quod he) that suld restorit be,
Tharefore deliver it to me.
Tibbe and Peter bad me speir,
Be my conscience they sall it heir.
(Quod he) leave ye in lecherie?
(Quod scho) Wyll Leno mowit me.
(Quod he) his wife that sall I tell,
To mak hir acquentance with my sell.
(Quod he) ken ye na Heresy?
I wait nocht what that is (quod scho)
(Quod he) hard ye na Inglis Bukis?
(Quod scho) my Master on thame lukis.
(Quod he) the Bischop that sall knaw,
For I am sworn that for to show.
(Quod he) what said he of the King?
(Quod scho) of gude he spak na thing.
(Quod he) his grace of that sall wit,
And he sall lose his life for it.
When scho in mind did mair reuolue,
(Quod he) I can nocht yow absolve,
Bot to my Chalmer cum at euin,
Absoluit for to be and schreuin.
(Quod scho) I will pas till ane other.
And I met with schir Andro my brother.
And he full clenelie did me schryue,
Bot he wes sumthing talkatyue.
He speirit money strange cace,
Quhow that my lufe did me Inbrace.
What day, how oft, what scort, and whare?
(Quod he) I wald I had been there.
He me absolute for ane plak,
Thocht he na price with me wald mak.
And mekle Latyne he did mummill.
I hard na thing bot hummill bummill.
He schew me nocht of Goddis word,
Quhilk scharper is than ony sword,
And deip in till our heart dost prent,
Our Syn, whairthrow we do repent.
He pat me na thing in to feir,
Quharethrow I suld my syn forbeir.
He schew me nocht the Maledictioun
Of God for Syn, nor the afflictioun.
And in this life, the greit mischief,
Ordanit to punische hure, and thief.
Nor schew he me of hellis pane,
That I might feir, and vice refrane.
He counsalit me nocht till abstene,
And leid ane holy life and clean.
Of Christis blood, na thing he knew,
Nor of his promises full true,
That saifis all that will believe,
That Satan sall us never grieve.
He techit me nocht for till traist,
The confort of the holy Gaist,
He bad me nocht to Christ be kind,
To keep his law, with heart and mind,
And love and thank his greit mercy.
Fra Syn, and hell, that sauit me.
And lufe my Nichtbour as my sell.
Of this na thing he could me tell.
Bot gave me penance ilk ane day,
Ane Ave Marie for to say.
And Frydayis five, na fische to eight.
Bot butter and eggis ar better meit.
And with ane plak to by ane Messe,
Fra drounkin schir John latynelesse.
(Quod he) ane plak I will gar Sande
Give the again with hand dande.
Syne in to Pilgramage to pas,
The verray way to wantounes.
Of all his penance I was glaid,
I had thame all parqueir, I said.
To mow and steill, I ken the price.
I sall it set on Cincq and Syee.
Bot he my counsale culled nocht keep.
He maid him be the fire to sleip.
Syne cryit, Colleris, be if, and Coillis:
Hois, and schone, with do
•
bill s
•
ill
•
s.
Caikis, and Candill C
•
eische, and
〈◊〉
Curnis of meill, and luffillis
〈…〉
Wollin, and linning, werp, and woft,
Dame keep the keis of your wool loft.
Throw drink and sleip maid him to raif,
And swa with us they play the knaif.
Freiris sweiris be there professioun,
Nane can be saif, but this Confessioun,
And gartis all men understand,
That it is Goddis awin command.
Ʒit is it nocht bot mennis drame,
The people to confound and schame.
It is nocht ellis bot mennis law,
Maid mennis myndis for to knaw.
Quharethrow they syle thame as they will,
And makes there law conform there till,
Sittand in mennis conscience,
Above Goddis Magnificence.
And dost the people teiche and tyste,
To serve the Paip the Antechriste.
To the greit God Omnipotent
Confes thy Syn, and sore repent.
And traist in Christ, as wrytis Paul,
Quhilk sched his blood to saif thy Saul.
For nane can the absolve bot he,
Nor take away thy syn from the.
Give of gude counsel thow hes neid,
Or hes nocht lernit well thy Creid,
Or wickit vicis regne in the,
The whilk thow can nocht mortify.
Or be in Desperatioun,
And wald have Consolatioun,
Than till ane preichour true thow pas,
And show thy Syn, and thy trespass.
Thow nedis nocht to show him all,
Nor tell thy Syn baith greit and small,
Quhilk is impossible to be.
Bot show the vice that troubillis the.
And he sall of thy saule have reuth,
And the Instruct in to the truth,
And with the word of verite,
Sall confort, and sall counsel the.
The Sacramentis show the at lenth,
Thy little faith to stark and strenth.
And how thow suld thame richtlie use,
And all Hypocrisy refuse.
Confessioun first wes ordanit free,
In this sort, in the Kirk to be.
Swa to confess as I descryue,
Wes in the gude Kirk Primityue.
Swa wes Confessioun ordanit first,
Thocht Codrus kyte suld cleue and birst.
Finis.
The Iusting betwix James Watsoun, and Ibone Barbour, Seruitoutis to King James the Fyft. Compylit be Schir David Lindesay of the Mont Knicht. &c.
IN Sanctandrois on Witsoun Monnunday,
Twa Campionis there manheid did assay,
Past to the Barres Enar
••
t heid and handis,
Wes never seen sic Iusting in no landis,
In presence of the Kingis grace and Queen,
Quhare money lusty Lady might be seen.
Money ane Knicht, Burroun, and bautent,
Come for to se that aufull Tornament.
The ane of thame was gentill James Watsoun,
And John Barbour the other Campioun,
Unto the King they war familiaris,
And of his Chalmer boith Cubicularis.
James was ane man of greit Intelligence,
Ane Medtcinar, full of Experience.
And John Barbour, he was ane nobill Leche.
Crukit Carlingis be wald gar thame get speech.
Frome time they enterit war in to the field.
Full womanlie they weildit speir and scheild,
And wichtlie waiffit in the wynd there heillis,
Ho
•
land like
•
a
•
geris rydand on there creillis.
Bot ather can
•
t other with sic haist,
That they could never their speir get in the reist.
Quhē gentil James trowit best w
t
John to meit
His speir did fald amang his horssis feit.
I am right sure gude James had been undone,
War not that John his mark tuke be the mone.
(Quod John) howbeit y
u
thinkis my leggis like rokkis.
My speit is gude, now keep y
e
fra my knokkis.
Tary (quod James) ane while for be my thrift,
The feind ane thing I can se bot the list.
For more can I (quod John) be god's breid,
I se nothing except the steip ill heid,
Ʒit thocht thy braunis be lyk
•
wa barrow frāmis
Defend the man. Than ran they to lyk rāmis,
At that rude riuk James had been strykin down,
Wer not that John for feirsnes fell in swoun.
And tycht so James to John had dane gret deir.
Wer not amangis his hors feit he brak his speir.
(Quod James) to John yet for our ladyis saikis
Lat us to gidder straik three ma
•
ket straikis,
I had (quod John) that sall on the be wrokin,
Bot or he spurrit his hors, his
〈…〉
brokin.
Frō time
•
o speiris none could
〈◊〉
•
rom meit,
James drew ane sweird wane right
•
uful spreit.
And ran til John, til haif raucht him ane rout,
Iohnis sweth was
〈…〉
wald no way
〈◊〉
Thā James lest dryfe at John w
t
doth his
••
stis.
He mist si man, & dang upon the lystis.
And w
t
that s
•
raik he trowit that John was flane
His s
•
erd stak fast, and gat it never again.
Be this gude John had gottin forth his swerd,
And ran to James with money aufull word.
My furiousnes for
〈◊〉
now sall thow find
Straikand at James, his swerd f
•
ew in y
e
wind.
Thā gentill James began to crak greit words,
Alas (quod he) thee day for fault of swordis.
Than ather ran at other with new raicis,
With gluifis of plait they dung at vtheris facis,
Quha wan this field, no e
•
cature could hen,
Till at the last, John crytify, red the men.
Ʒe red (quod James) for that is my desire,
It is ane hour, sen I began to tire.
Sone be they had cudit that royal rink,
In to the field, might no man stand for stink,
Than every man that stude on far cryit fy,
Sayand adew, for dirt partis cumpany.
There hors, barns, and all geir was so gude.
Louyng to God, that day was sched no blood.
FINIS.
Quod Lindesay, at command of King James the Fyft. (✚)
Newlie and correctlie Imprentit at Edinburgh, be John Scot. At the Expensis of Henry Charteris. And at to be sauld in the said Henries Buith, on the north fyde of the gait, above the Throne.
The year of God. 1568. Ʒeitis.