 | Satirical poems of the reformation |  |
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XXVI. The Exhortatioun to the Lordis.
O lusty lords & barrounis yat bene bauld,
That for gude caus are now assēblit heir,
Pluk vp ȝour harts, lat not ȝour curage cauld,
And prise ye lord, ȝour capitane in weir.
Will ȝe him serue, ȝe neid nocht for to feir
The craft, the wit, nor policie of man,
For quhy the Lord will ȝit ȝour Baner beir,
As he hes done sen first this caus began.
That for gude caus are now assēblit heir,
Pluk vp ȝour harts, lat not ȝour curage cauld,
And prise ye lord, ȝour capitane in weir.
Will ȝe him serue, ȝe neid nocht for to feir
The craft, the wit, nor policie of man,
For quhy the Lord will ȝit ȝour Baner beir,
As he hes done sen first this caus began.
Haue ȝe forȝet how that he did vs luif,
That time at Leith, quhē strangers did persew?
Our enemeis harts ȝe saw that he did muif
To cum ouir Tweid vs to help and reskew,
Quhair we and thay our enemeis ouirthrew,
Making vs fre that lang in thrall had bene,
Syne in this Realme plantit his gospel trew,
but scheding blud, quhilk hes not oft bene sene.
That time at Leith, quhē strangers did persew?
Our enemeis harts ȝe saw that he did muif
To cum ouir Tweid vs to help and reskew,
Quhair we and thay our enemeis ouirthrew,
Making vs fre that lang in thrall had bene,
Syne in this Realme plantit his gospel trew,
but scheding blud, quhilk hes not oft bene sene.
Fra ȝe began from blude to purge this land,
Thay murtherars thay neuer durst ȝow bide;
He gaif hir anis, and put hir in ȝour hand,
But ony blude, vpon Carbarrie syde.
Syne efter that, quhen lymmers loust yr bryde,
He faucht for ȝow vpon the Langsyde hill:
Ȝour fais wist not in what hoil yame to hyde,
Sū chaist, sum slane, sum tane into ȝour will.
Thay murtherars thay neuer durst ȝow bide;
He gaif hir anis, and put hir in ȝour hand,
But ony blude, vpon Carbarrie syde.
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He faucht for ȝow vpon the Langsyde hill:
Ȝour fais wist not in what hoil yame to hyde,
Sū chaist, sum slane, sum tane into ȝour will.
He send Moyses to gouerne ȝow and gyde,
Ȝour commoun weill to reule and als redres,
quhairthrow yis realme, but rest, did rin & ryde,
To bring the same to rest and quyetnes.
His diligence my toung can not express,
Planting Justice baith in Burgh and land,
Dāting rebels quhilke proudly did transgres:
His maik rāg not gif yat his dayis had stand.
Ȝour commoun weill to reule and als redres,
quhairthrow yis realme, but rest, did rin & ryde,
To bring the same to rest and quyetnes.
His diligence my toung can not express,
Planting Justice baith in Burgh and land,
Dāting rebels quhilke proudly did transgres:
His maik rāg not gif yat his dayis had stand.
Richt prudently the Lord he did prouyde
For ȝow, from tyme he saw yat he was slane,
And wald not thoill ȝow be without a gyde,
Bot efter Moyses he raist Josua agane,
Ȝow to conduct to ye land of Canan,
Mair Fortunat nor Moyses was befoir;
In faitis of weir ane worthy Capitane
The Gentiles lands to ȝow for to restoir.
For ȝow, from tyme he saw yat he was slane,
And wald not thoill ȝow be without a gyde,
Bot efter Moyses he raist Josua agane,
Ȝow to conduct to ye land of Canan,
Mair Fortunat nor Moyses was befoir;
In faitis of weir ane worthy Capitane
The Gentiles lands to ȝow for to restoir.
Thair Parliament of Linlithgow he did stay;
Syne Breichen gat, it baid him not ane blast;
Down was geuin ouir, for feir of weir assay;
Paslay he wan, and now Dunbartane last.
His Capitanis maid all his fais agast,
Sum tane, sum slane, sum chaist into the se;
Thir deids suld not with silence be ouir past,
Bot worthie ar Eternall Memorie.
Syne Breichen gat, it baid him not ane blast;
Down was geuin ouir, for feir of weir assay;
Paslay he wan, and now Dunbartane last.
His Capitanis maid all his fais agast,
Sum tane, sum slane, sum chaist into the se;
Thir deids suld not with silence be ouir past,
Bot worthie ar Eternall Memorie.
Ȝour godly caus hes now tane gude succes
In Ingland lait, I neid it not declair,
Quhair my lord Chancelar tuik greit besines
With your gude freind, the Clerk of Registair.
Thair trauell, wit, nor gudis yai did not spair,
For to vphald the Kings Authoritie,
In presence of thay strangers that wer thair,
Working for him in his Minoritie.
In Ingland lait, I neid it not declair,
Quhair my lord Chancelar tuik greit besines
With your gude freind, the Clerk of Registair.
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For to vphald the Kings Authoritie,
In presence of thay strangers that wer thair,
Working for him in his Minoritie.
Ȝe do tryumph albeit that ȝe be few,
Ȝour enemeis thay day ȝow not ganestand,
Quhat ȝe do schaip, ye Lord himself dois sew,
Quhat ȝe deuyse, he wirkis it with his hand:
Thairfoir mak haist, lat nane be in this land
To leif lyke Lords, syne proudly to rebell;
Gar thame baith sweir and subscriue ye band,
Or, failȝeand this, do with thair leuings mell.
Ȝour enemeis thay day ȝow not ganestand,
Quhat ȝe do schaip, ye Lord himself dois sew,
Quhat ȝe deuyse, he wirkis it with his hand:
Thairfoir mak haist, lat nane be in this land
To leif lyke Lords, syne proudly to rebell;
Gar thame baith sweir and subscriue ye band,
Or, failȝeand this, do with thair leuings mell.
And gif ȝe dreid yat sum will aithis ouirhaill,
And will not keip nor ȝit obserue thair bands,
For startling hald the kow fast be the taill,
Appoint nane sic but pledgis in ȝour hands,
And keip thame sure, sen ȝe se as it stands;
For, cum that tyme that all yat sort desyris,
Thay will, but dout, send ȝow in vncouth lāds,
To seirche and seik ȝour meit into the myris.
And will not keip nor ȝit obserue thair bands,
For startling hald the kow fast be the taill,
Appoint nane sic but pledgis in ȝour hands,
And keip thame sure, sen ȝe se as it stands;
For, cum that tyme that all yat sort desyris,
Thay will, but dout, send ȝow in vncouth lāds,
To seirche and seik ȝour meit into the myris.
Sen thair Intent to ȝow was neuer gude,
As, be thair deids, richt cleirly may be sene,
Gif thame na leif to play with yow buk heid,
As thay haif done, ay waitand on yair quene:
Bot puneis all the quhilk ye knaw vnclene
Of outher blude, & quyte yame for yair meids,
And spair all sic will serue his grace serene,
And had na wyte of nouther of thair deids.
As, be thair deids, richt cleirly may be sene,
Gif thame na leif to play with yow buk heid,
As thay haif done, ay waitand on yair quene:
Bot puneis all the quhilk ye knaw vnclene
Of outher blude, & quyte yame for yair meids,
And spair all sic will serue his grace serene,
And had na wyte of nouther of thair deids.
I wald ye did sum mair at this Conuentioū
Nor did your fais at thairs thay held at Pace;
Quhat yai did yair I neid not to mak mētioū,
Bot, weill I wait, sū of yame rewis yat race.
[OMITTED]
Ȝit top of wit was borne vp throw ye streit;
This commoun weill had stand in better cace,
Had it fallin in his toung, fell in his feit.
Nor did your fais at thairs thay held at Pace;
Quhat yai did yair I neid not to mak mētioū,
Bot, weill I wait, sū of yame rewis yat race.
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Ȝit top of wit was borne vp throw ye streit;
This commoun weill had stand in better cace,
Had it fallin in his toung, fell in his feit.
Sen God hes put the sword into your hand,
Justice to do alyke to riche and pure,
Tak heid, yair foir, and na wise brek command,
Be circumspect of this your charge and cure;
Gif ȝe neglect, than God, I yow assure,
Will frō yat rowme thoill you to be detrusit,
Planting vthers into that charge ye bure,
And gif yat sword to yame can rychtly vsit.
Justice to do alyke to riche and pure,
Tak heid, yair foir, and na wise brek command,
Be circumspect of this your charge and cure;
Gif ȝe neglect, than God, I yow assure,
Will frō yat rowme thoill you to be detrusit,
Planting vthers into that charge ye bure,
And gif yat sword to yame can rychtly vsit.
Be bent, yairfoir, and byde not this in blūder:
Baith the word of God & cōmoun weil auāce:
Ȝe neid na ma bot Gedionis thre hunder
To quhip your fais, or yai get help of France.
Mak to, lyke mē, sen ye haif ordinance,
Ding Draffen doū, yat hald quhairin yai pryde yame:
Bring in ye north with būvart, bow, & Lance;
Gif thay rebell, with fyre and sword ouir ryde yame.
Baith the word of God & cōmoun weil auāce:
Ȝe neid na ma bot Gedionis thre hunder
To quhip your fais, or yai get help of France.
Mak to, lyke mē, sen ye haif ordinance,
Ding Draffen doū, yat hald quhairin yai pryde yame:
Bring in ye north with būvart, bow, & Lance;
Gif thay rebell, with fyre and sword ouir ryde yame.
How & quhat way ye suld appost your bordour,
Maddeis counsall is verray excellent;
Scho did prescriue ane gude & godly ordour,
That to performe, had ye been diligent:
Hard ye the pure, I wait, ye wald lament,
Sa cruelly thay Tyranis dois oppres thame,
Slaying yame selfis; yair gudis, reit, and rent,
For feir of God, I pray yow to redres thame.
Maddeis counsall is verray excellent;
Scho did prescriue ane gude & godly ordour,
That to performe, had ye been diligent:
Hard ye the pure, I wait, ye wald lament,
Sa cruelly thay Tyranis dois oppres thame,
Slaying yame selfis; yair gudis, reit, and rent,
For feir of God, I pray yow to redres thame.
Quhat mā did hoip of Grāge now dois appeir:
His cloikit craft of malice dois outspring,
As in his Proclamatiouns ye may heir:
He dois Rebell and will not serue the King.
Traitours yai ar agane yow to maling,
He being Crownit in lauchfull Parliament:
Quha dances fastest with him into yat Ring,
To his Crowning baith sweir & gaif consent.
His cloikit craft of malice dois outspring,
As in his Proclamatiouns ye may heir:
He dois Rebell and will not serue the King.
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He being Crownit in lauchfull Parliament:
Quha dances fastest with him into yat Ring,
To his Crowning baith sweir & gaif consent.
Quhen the Regent gaif him that hauld, ye saw
He was the Kingis & sweir theirfoir to stand,
Albeit yat now his grace he will nocht knaw,
Nor ȝit Lennox for Regent of this land.
Ȝit Robert Hepburne being in his hand,
And saifly enterit within that place,
He said he was reset by his command,
And send Robert to my Lord Regents grace.
He was the Kingis & sweir theirfoir to stand,
Albeit yat now his grace he will nocht knaw,
Nor ȝit Lennox for Regent of this land.
Ȝit Robert Hepburne being in his hand,
And saifly enterit within that place,
He said he was reset by his command,
And send Robert to my Lord Regents grace.
Quhill yat he gat yat hauld and hous in hand,
Into this caus he was baith bent and bauld;
Bot fra thyne furth than he gaif ouir yat band,
And in this caus he leit his curage cauld.
This is the treuth, as trew men to me tauld;
That samin tyme his maister was on lyue,
He wald not lat him enter in that hauld,
With na seruands bot outher four or fyue.
Into this caus he was baith bent and bauld;
Bot fra thyne furth than he gaif ouir yat band,
And in this caus he leit his curage cauld.
This is the treuth, as trew men to me tauld;
That samin tyme his maister was on lyue,
He wald not lat him enter in that hauld,
With na seruands bot outher four or fyue.
He hes not onlie sueruit fra our actioun,
Bot dowbill murther he dois fortifie,
Desyring bargane of ony of our factioun
Of his degre, estait, and qualitie.
We haue nane sic, ye knaw, in cumpanie,
Him for to match quhilk playit ye dowbil Knaif;
For first he slew ane Maister cruellie,
And syne betraist the last, ye may persaif.
Bot dowbill murther he dois fortifie,
Desyring bargane of ony of our factioun
Of his degre, estait, and qualitie.
We haue nane sic, ye knaw, in cumpanie,
Him for to match quhilk playit ye dowbil Knaif;
For first he slew ane Maister cruellie,
And syne betraist the last, ye may persaif.
Bot ȝit I knaw yair is ane hundreth heir
Of gentill men, and cum of Royal Race,
On hors or fute with quhinger, sword, or speir,
Dar weill him matche & meit him face for face,
And preif him fals and Tratour in this cace:
He dar not fecht, for this is his refuge,
He wald compeir at euery tyme and place,
Gif that he had ane vnsuspectit Judge.
Of gentill men, and cum of Royal Race,
On hors or fute with quhinger, sword, or speir,
Dar weill him matche & meit him face for face,
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He dar not fecht, for this is his refuge,
He wald compeir at euery tyme and place,
Gif that he had ane vnsuspectit Judge.
And als ye see, he planely dois accuse
The Regents grace of cruell Tyrannie
Aganis his fais, quhilk he dois schaw and vse,
In casting doun baith place and policie.
Sen thay misknaw thair Just Authoritie,
And will not serue, nor ȝit obey commands,
Ȝe may be Law subuert thair places hie,
Syne tak fra thame yair lyuis, geir, and lands.
The Regents grace of cruell Tyrannie
Aganis his fais, quhilk he dois schaw and vse,
In casting doun baith place and policie.
Sen thay misknaw thair Just Authoritie,
And will not serue, nor ȝit obey commands,
Ȝe may be Law subuert thair places hie,
Syne tak fra thame yair lyuis, geir, and lands.
I knaw thir letters ye fand into Dunbartane,
Quhilk dois declair his dowbil deids Inding,
Is only caus, I am baith sure and certane,
Quhilk garris him mak yis boist & manassing.
Bot ȝit ye knaw it is ane commoun thing,
For, weill I wait, ye haue sene mony sic:
Tuiche anis the gaw & yan the hors wil fling,
Fra tyme ye spur and hit him on the quik.
Quhilk dois declair his dowbil deids Inding,
Is only caus, I am baith sure and certane,
Quhilk garris him mak yis boist & manassing.
Bot ȝit ye knaw it is ane commoun thing,
For, weill I wait, ye haue sene mony sic:
Tuiche anis the gaw & yan the hors wil fling,
Fra tyme ye spur and hit him on the quik.
It is your hous that maks him be sa bauld,
Agane baith God and King for to disdane:
Except the Lord be watchman of the hauld,
The Psalmist sayis thair watching is in vane.
As ye haue sene, within thir monethis twane,
Ane greiter strenth ye gat, as I record,
Swa will ye ȝone, to God gif ye be bane,
And swa commits your wisdomis to the Lord.
Agane baith God and King for to disdane:
Except the Lord be watchman of the hauld,
The Psalmist sayis thair watching is in vane.
As ye haue sene, within thir monethis twane,
Ane greiter strenth ye gat, as I record,
Swa will ye ȝone, to God gif ye be bane,
And swa commits your wisdomis to the Lord.
Finis.
| Satirical poems of the reformation | |