 | Poems (1830) |  |
42
AGANIS OPPRESSIOUN OF THE COMOUNIS.
It is grit pitie for to sé
How the comounis of this cuntré,
For thift, and reif, and plaine oppressioune,
Can na thing keip in thair possessioune,
Quhairof that thai can mak ane lyfe:
Yit nane will puneis that transgressioune;
Till nocht be left till man nor wyfe.
How the comounis of this cuntré,
For thift, and reif, and plaine oppressioune,
Can na thing keip in thair possessioune,
Quhairof that thai can mak ane lyfe:
Yit nane will puneis that transgressioune;
Till nocht be left till man nor wyfe.
Sum with deir ferme ar hirreit haill,
That wount to pay bot penny maill:
Sum be thair lordis ar opprest;
Put fra the land that thai possest:
Sair service hes sum hirreit sone:
For carriage als sum hes no rest;
Thocht thair awin wark sould ly undone.
That wount to pay bot penny maill:
Sum be thair lordis ar opprest;
Put fra the land that thai possest:
Sair service hes sum hirreit sone:
For carriage als sum hes no rest;
Thocht thair awin wark sould ly undone.
Sum comounis, that hes bene weill stakit
Undir Kirkmen, ar now all wrakit;
Sen that the teynd, and the Kirk landis,
Came in grit temporall mennis handis:
Thai gar the tennentis pay sic sowmes,
As thai will ask; or, quha ganestandis,
Thai will be put sone fra thair rowmes.
Undir Kirkmen, ar now all wrakit;
Sen that the teynd, and the Kirk landis,
Came in grit temporall mennis handis:
Thai gar the tennentis pay sic sowmes,
As thai will ask; or, quha ganestandis,
Thai will be put sone fra thair rowmes.
43
The teynd, quhilk tennentis had befoir
Of thair awin mailingis, corne, and stoir,
Thair laird hes tane it our thair heid;
And gars thame to his yaird it leid:
Bot thair awin stok thai dar not steir,
Thoch all thair bairnis sould want breid,
Quhill thai have led thair teynd ilk yeir.
Of thair awin mailingis, corne, and stoir,
Thair laird hes tane it our thair heid;
And gars thame to his yaird it leid:
Bot thair awin stok thai dar not steir,
Thoch all thair bairnis sould want breid,
Quhill thai have led thair teynd ilk yeir.
Sic extortioune and taxatioune
Wes never sene into this natioune,
Tane aff the comounis of this land,
Of quhilk sum is left waist liand,
Becaus few may sic chairgis beir:
Mony hes quhippis now in thair hand,
That wont to have bayth jak and speir.
Wes never sene into this natioune,
Tane aff the comounis of this land,
Of quhilk sum is left waist liand,
Becaus few may sic chairgis beir:
Mony hes quhippis now in thair hand,
That wont to have bayth jak and speir.
Quhairthrow the haill comounité
Is brocht now to sic povertie;
For thai that had gude hors and geir,
Hes skantlie now ane crukit meir:
And for thair sadillis thai have soddis:
Thai have na weipenis worthe for weir;
Bot mone defend with stanes and cloddis.
Is brocht now to sic povertie;
For thai that had gude hors and geir,
Hes skantlie now ane crukit meir:
And for thair sadillis thai have soddis:
Thai have na weipenis worthe for weir;
Bot mone defend with stanes and cloddis.
Thairfore, my Lordis, I yow pray
For the puir comounis find sum way;
Your land to thame for sic pryce geif,
As on thair mailling thai may leif
Sufficientlie to thair estait:
Syne thame defend, that nane thame greif;
That thai may serve yow ayre and lait.
For the puir comounis find sum way;
Your land to thame for sic pryce geif,
As on thair mailling thai may leif
Sufficientlie to thair estait:
Syne thame defend, that nane thame greif;
That thai may serve yow ayre and lait.
44
Riche comounis ar richt profitable,
Quhan thai, to serve thair lord, ar abill
Thair native cuntrie to defend
Fra thame that hurt it wald pretend;
For we will be ouir few ane nummer,
Gif comounis to the weir not wend;
Nobillis may not beir all the cummer.
Quhan thai, to serve thair lord, ar abill
Thair native cuntrie to defend
Fra thame that hurt it wald pretend;
For we will be ouir few ane nummer,
Gif comounis to the weir not wend;
Nobillis may not beir all the cummer.
Help the comounis bayth Lord and Laird!
And God thairfore sall yow rewaird;
And, gif ye will not thame supplie,
God will yow plaig thairfore justlie;
And your successioun, eftir yow,
Gif thai sall have na mair pitie
On the comounis, nor ye have now.
And God thairfore sall yow rewaird;
And, gif ye will not thame supplie,
God will yow plaig thairfore justlie;
And your successioun, eftir yow,
Gif thai sall have na mair pitie
On the comounis, nor ye have now.
| Poems (1830) | |