 | Satirical poems of the reformation |  |
III. Heir followis ane Ballat declaring the Nobill and Gude inclination of our King.
To Edinburgh about vj. houris at morne,
As I was passand, pansand, out the way,
Ane bony boy was soir makand his mone;
His sory sang was oche and wallaway!
That euer I sould byde to se that day!
Ane King at euin, with Sceptur, Sword, & Crown,
At morne bot ane deformit lumpe of clay,
With tratouris strang sa cruellie put downe.
As I was passand, pansand, out the way,
Ane bony boy was soir makand his mone;
His sory sang was oche and wallaway!
That euer I sould byde to se that day!
Ane King at euin, with Sceptur, Sword, & Crown,
At morne bot ane deformit lumpe of clay,
With tratouris strang sa cruellie put downe.
Than drew I neir sum tythingis for to speir,
And said; “my freind, quhat makis the sa way?”
“Bludie Bothwell hes brocht our King to beir,
And flatter and fraude with dowbill Dalyday.”
I studeit still, and nathing could I say,
My mynde was full of admiratioun:
“My bony boy, tell me without delay
The Kingis maneris, forme, and fassioun.”
And said; “my freind, quhat makis the sa way?”
“Bludie Bothwell hes brocht our King to beir,
And flatter and fraude with dowbill Dalyday.”
I studeit still, and nathing could I say,
My mynde was full of admiratioun:
“My bony boy, tell me without delay
The Kingis maneris, forme, and fassioun.”
32
“Narratioun, shir, gif I do tell,
His cruell murther ȝe will call monsterous;
For in meiknes he did all men excell,
And vnto na man was he odious.
To meit his marrow he was audatious,
On sturdie steid, with craftie feat of weir;
Mars fauourit him as fair Ascanius,
Æneas sone, that weill ane steid could steir.
His cruell murther ȝe will call monsterous;
For in meiknes he did all men excell,
And vnto na man was he odious.
To meit his marrow he was audatious,
On sturdie steid, with craftie feat of weir;
Mars fauourit him as fair Ascanius,
Æneas sone, that weill ane steid could steir.
“In deidis he soulde haue bene lyke Deiphoebus,
Had feinȝeit Fortoun fauourit him to Ring,
Or Theseus, or gentill Julius,
In gentill featis ferand for ane King:
Dartis about him swyftlie could he fling,
And rin ane rais and shortlie turne ane steid;
Cunning of Crosbow, cutthrot, and culuering;
Ane flaine lat fle with bow in tyme of neid.
Had feinȝeit Fortoun fauourit him to Ring,
Or Theseus, or gentill Julius,
In gentill featis ferand for ane King:
Dartis about him swyftlie could he fling,
And rin ane rais and shortlie turne ane steid;
Cunning of Crosbow, cutthrot, and culuering;
Ane flaine lat fle with bow in tyme of neid.
“In gamis glaid he was rycht weill asswetit,
Rycht featlie on the fluire alswa could dance;
Bot Dalila vnto him was vanlatit,
Quhilk causit him oft to be sad and pance;
Ȝit neuer did sho se his maik in France
Off royall bluid, to fang to be hir feir:
Not hir fyrst spous, for all his greit puissance,
In portratour and game mycht be his peir.
Rycht featlie on the fluire alswa could dance;
Bot Dalila vnto him was vanlatit,
Quhilk causit him oft to be sad and pance;
Ȝit neuer did sho se his maik in France
Off royall bluid, to fang to be hir feir:
Not hir fyrst spous, for all his greit puissance,
In portratour and game mycht be his peir.
“Cunning of Clergy, of musick meruelus,
The louing leid of Latine could declair;
Sangis set with diuers tunis expres,
With Instrument maist sweit into the eir.
With hundis hunt he could baith Da and Deir;
The faid also rycht feltlie could he set;
Ane gay gois Halk vpone his hand to beir;
Ane Falcowne fle to se he thocht delyte.
The louing leid of Latine could declair;
Sangis set with diuers tunis expres,
With Instrument maist sweit into the eir.
With hundis hunt he could baith Da and Deir;
The faid also rycht feltlie could he set;
Ane gay gois Halk vpone his hand to beir;
Ane Falcowne fle to se he thocht delyte.
33
“With Romaine hand he could weill leid ane pen,
And storyis wryte of auld antiquitie;
Nobill him self and Nobill of Ingyne,
And louit weill concord and vnitie.
He swoumit in the fluidis of Poetrie,
And did exerse the science liberall;
The facund Phrase did vse of oratrie:
His gude Ingyne was rycht celestiall.
And storyis wryte of auld antiquitie;
Nobill him self and Nobill of Ingyne,
And louit weill concord and vnitie.
He swoumit in the fluidis of Poetrie,
And did exerse the science liberall;
The facund Phrase did vse of oratrie:
His gude Ingyne was rycht celestiall.
“In pulchritude to Paris perigall,
With browis brent and twinkland Cristell eine,
Of face formois and vult heroycall,
He mycht haue bene ane marrow to ane Quene.
At ten houris on Sonday lait at euin,
Quhen Dalila and Bothwell bad gudnycht,
Off hir finger fals sho threw ane Ring,
And said, ‘my Lord, ane taikin I ȝow plycht.’
With browis brent and twinkland Cristell eine,
Of face formois and vult heroycall,
He mycht haue bene ane marrow to ane Quene.
At ten houris on Sonday lait at euin,
Quhen Dalila and Bothwell bad gudnycht,
Off hir finger fals sho threw ane Ring,
And said, ‘my Lord, ane taikin I ȝow plycht.’
“Scho did depairt than with ane vntrew traine,
And than in haist ane Culuering they leit crak,
To teiche thair feiris to knaw the appoint tyme
About the Kingis lugeing for to clap.
To dance that nycht thay said sho sould not slak,
With leggis lycht to hald the wedow walkane,
And baid fra bed vntill sho hard the crak,
Quhilk was ane signe that hir gude Lord was slane.
And than in haist ane Culuering they leit crak,
To teiche thair feiris to knaw the appoint tyme
About the Kingis lugeing for to clap.
To dance that nycht thay said sho sould not slak,
With leggis lycht to hald the wedow walkane,
And baid fra bed vntill sho hard the crak,
Quhilk was ane signe that hir gude Lord was slane.
“And Maddie meinis sho did in Setoū sing:
Full weill was hir that day that sho was fre,
And into ioy and out of tray and tene,
So frely fred from all aduersitie.
O Stewartis stout, ha! benedicitie!
War ȝe not Royis in this Regioun,
And ay did vse Justice and equitie?
And now ȝour glas of honestie is run.
Full weill was hir that day that sho was fre,
And into ioy and out of tray and tene,
So frely fred from all aduersitie.
O Stewartis stout, ha! benedicitie!
War ȝe not Royis in this Regioun,
And ay did vse Justice and equitie?
And now ȝour glas of honestie is run.
34
“Unles ȝe now sharplie shuit out ȝour handis,
And trewlie try the gyltie of this blude,
Ȝe wilbe repuite Lowreis ouer all landis,
And fais to Christ [that] deit on the Rude.
My Lordis, thairfoir, I think for ȝow gude,
The tresoun try and puneis equallie:
Lat not ȝour landis defylit be with blude,
And gif ȝe do, God shaw his Maiestie!
And trewlie try the gyltie of this blude,
Ȝe wilbe repuite Lowreis ouer all landis,
And fais to Christ [that] deit on the Rude.
My Lordis, thairfoir, I think for ȝow gude,
The tresoun try and puneis equallie:
Lat not ȝour landis defylit be with blude,
And gif ȝe do, God shaw his Maiestie!
“Quhen Dauie deit our Quene rycht potentlie
Into this Realme did rais ane ryall rout,
Out of this Regioun Lordis gart sho flie:
Tresoun to try sho was that tyme maist stout;
But sho is slak to try this tresoun out,
And to him Dauy was na perigall:
Dauy and his, thair state was wont shone clout:
Our cumly King was of the blude royall.
Into this Realme did rais ane ryall rout,
Out of this Regioun Lordis gart sho flie:
Tresoun to try sho was that tyme maist stout;
But sho is slak to try this tresoun out,
And to him Dauy was na perigall:
Dauy and his, thair state was wont shone clout:
Our cumly King was of the blude royall.
“For dowbill Dauy sho did ȝow expell;
Think on, thairfoir, quhill ȝe haue sic ane cryme,
And ȝe defend the cruell Jesabell,
Than Baallis Preistis will cal ȝow verray kynde.
Now, euerie Dowglas of ane hartsum mynde,
Think on dame Margaret sumtyme in the towre,
And of ȝoung Charles prudent of Ingyne:
I pray God lat thame se ane ioyfull houre.
Think on, thairfoir, quhill ȝe haue sic ane cryme,
And ȝe defend the cruell Jesabell,
Than Baallis Preistis will cal ȝow verray kynde.
Now, euerie Dowglas of ane hartsum mynde,
Think on dame Margaret sumtyme in the towre,
And of ȝoung Charles prudent of Ingyne:
I pray God lat thame se ane ioyfull houre.
“O ȝe that dois profes Godis worde deuyne!
Se that ȝe sclander not his haly Name;
Remember Jesus Judas put to pyne,
For slak regaird of Godlynes and blame.
God he is all that layis ane stumling stane,
Quhilk may the cause be of our bretheringis fall:
Restoir againe ȝour foule polluted fame,
Gif ȝe fauoure Christ Jesus trew Gospell.
Se that ȝe sclander not his haly Name;
Remember Jesus Judas put to pyne,
For slak regaird of Godlynes and blame.
God he is all that layis ane stumling stane,
Quhilk may the cause be of our bretheringis fall:
Restoir againe ȝour foule polluted fame,
Gif ȝe fauoure Christ Jesus trew Gospell.
35
“The buik of Josua as I did reid,
And thairin ane exampill did I find,
How Acan tuik the excommunicat guid:
All Israell war threitnit for that sin.
The fauour of God be na way could he win,
Quhill trewlie tryit war faultouris of the faill,
Quhome Josua in flambis fell did burne,
And than did ceis Godis wraith celestiall.
And thairin ane exampill did I find,
How Acan tuik the excommunicat guid:
All Israell war threitnit for that sin.
The fauour of God be na way could he win,
Quhill trewlie tryit war faultouris of the faill,
Quhome Josua in flambis fell did burne,
And than did ceis Godis wraith celestiall.
“Gif God was wraith at ane small pegrall stouth,
And for ainis fault ane multitude did shoir,
Gif diligence to mak the giltie couth,
Or he will do to ȝow as he befoir.
Ȝe knaw ȝour cryme is wors ane greit daill moir
Nor hunders twa of sicklis siluer fyne,
To pull ane King fra his hie potent gloir,
Quhome God did place be ordinance dewyne.
And for ainis fault ane multitude did shoir,
Gif diligence to mak the giltie couth,
Or he will do to ȝow as he befoir.
Ȝe knaw ȝour cryme is wors ane greit daill moir
Nor hunders twa of sicklis siluer fyne,
To pull ane King fra his hie potent gloir,
Quhome God did place be ordinance dewyne.
“O ȝe that to our Kirk hes done subscriue,
Thir Ecanis try alsweill traist I may,
Gif ȝe do not, the tyme will cum beliue
That God to ȝow will rais sum Josuay,
Quhilk sall ȝour bairnies gar sing wallaway,
And ȝe ȝour selfis be put downe with shame:
Remember on the vgsum latter day,
Quhen ȝe rewaird sall ressaif for ȝoure blame.
Thir Ecanis try alsweill traist I may,
Gif ȝe do not, the tyme will cum beliue
That God to ȝow will rais sum Josuay,
Quhilk sall ȝour bairnies gar sing wallaway,
And ȝe ȝour selfis be put downe with shame:
Remember on the vgsum latter day,
Quhen ȝe rewaird sall ressaif for ȝoure blame.
“I ken rycht weill ȝe knaw ȝour dewtie;
Gif ȝe do not purge ȝow ane and all,
Than sall I wryte in prettie poetrie,
In Latine leid, in style Rethoricall,
Quhilk throw all Europe sall ring lyke ane bell,
In the contempt of ȝour malignitie:
Fy! fle fra Clitemnestra fell,
For sho was neuer lyke Penolopie.
Gif ȝe do not purge ȝow ane and all,
Than sall I wryte in prettie poetrie,
In Latine leid, in style Rethoricall,
Quhilk throw all Europe sall ring lyke ane bell,
In the contempt of ȝour malignitie:
Fy! fle fra Clitemnestra fell,
For sho was neuer lyke Penolopie.
36
“With Clitemnestra I do not fane to fletche,
Quhilk slew hir spous the greit Agamemnon:
Or with ony that Nynos wyfe dois matche—
Semiramus, quha brocht hir gude Lord downe.
Quha dow abstene fra litigatioun,
Or from his paper hald aback the pen,
Except he hait our Scottis Natioun,
Or than stand vp and tratouris deidis commend?
Quhilk slew hir spous the greit Agamemnon:
Or with ony that Nynos wyfe dois matche—
Semiramus, quha brocht hir gude Lord downe.
Quha dow abstene fra litigatioun,
Or from his paper hald aback the pen,
Except he hait our Scottis Natioun,
Or than stand vp and tratouris deidis commend?
“Now all the wois that Ouid in Ibin
Into his pretty lytill buik did wryte,
And mony mo be to oure Scottis Quene,
For sho the cause is of my wofull dyte.
Sa mot hir hart be fillit full of syte,
As Herois was for Leanderis deth,
Hir self to slay for wo quha thocht delyte:
For Henryis saik to lyke our Quene war laith.
Into his pretty lytill buik did wryte,
And mony mo be to oure Scottis Quene,
For sho the cause is of my wofull dyte.
Sa mot hir hart be fillit full of syte,
As Herois was for Leanderis deth,
Hir self to slay for wo quha thocht delyte:
For Henryis saik to lyke our Quene war laith.
“The doloure als that peirsit Diddis hart,
Quhen King Enee from Carthage tuik the flycht,
For the Quhilk cause vnto ane brand sho start,
And slew hir self, quhilk was ane sory sycht.
Sa mot sho die as did Creusa brycht—
The worthy wyfe of dowchtie Duik Jason,
Quha brint was in ane garment wrocht be slycht
Off Medea throw incantation.
Quhen King Enee from Carthage tuik the flycht,
For the Quhilk cause vnto ane brand sho start,
And slew hir self, quhilk was ane sory sycht.
Sa mot sho die as did Creusa brycht—
The worthy wyfe of dowchtie Duik Jason,
Quha brint was in ane garment wrocht be slycht
Off Medea throw incantation.
“Hir lauchter lycht be lyke to trim Thysbie,
Quhen Pyramus sho fand deid at the well;
In langour lyke vnto Penolopie,
For Vlyssis quha lang at Troy did dwell.
Hir duilsum deith be wars than Jesabell,
Quhome throw ane windo suirlie men did thraw,
Quhais blude did laip the cruell hundis fell,
And doggis could hir wickit bainis gnaw.
Quhen Pyramus sho fand deid at the well;
In langour lyke vnto Penolopie,
For Vlyssis quha lang at Troy did dwell.
Hir duilsum deith be wars than Jesabell,
Quhome throw ane windo suirlie men did thraw,
Quhais blude did laip the cruell hundis fell,
And doggis could hir wickit bainis gnaw.
37
“War I ane hund, o gif sho war ane hair,
And I ane cat and sho ane lyttill mous,
And sho ane bairne and I ane wylde wod bair,
I ane firrat and sho Cuniculus,
To hir I salbe ay contrarius,
Quhill to me Atropus cut the fatell threid,
And feill deithis dartis dolorus:
Than sall our Spiritis be at mortall feid.
And I ane cat and sho ane lyttill mous,
And sho ane bairne and I ane wylde wod bair,
I ane firrat and sho Cuniculus,
To hir I salbe ay contrarius,
Quhill to me Atropus cut the fatell threid,
And feill deithis dartis dolorus:
Than sall our Spiritis be at mortall feid.
“My Spirit hir Spirit sall douke in Phlegethon,
Into that painfull fylthie flude of hell;
And thame in Styx and Lethee baith anone,
And Cerberus, that cruell hund sa fell,
Sall gar hir cry, with mony ȝout and ȝell,
O wallaway that euer sho was borne!
Or with tresoun be ony maner mell
Quhilk from all blis sould cause hir be forlorne!
Into that painfull fylthie flude of hell;
And thame in Styx and Lethee baith anone,
And Cerberus, that cruell hund sa fell,
Sall gar hir cry, with mony ȝout and ȝell,
O wallaway that euer sho was borne!
Or with tresoun be ony maner mell
Quhilk from all blis sould cause hir be forlorne!
“War Johne Bochas on lyue as he is deid,
Worthy workis wald wryte in hir contempt,
Alsweill of tresoun as of womanheid:
Thairto his pen wald euer mair be bent
Hir for till shame, and bludie Bothwell shent,
And wald the counsall craif his warysoun,
The quhilk King James the fyrst in Parliament
Gaif to his Father for ane hie tresoun,
Worthy workis wald wryte in hir contempt,
Alsweill of tresoun as of womanheid:
Thairto his pen wald euer mair be bent
Hir for till shame, and bludie Bothwell shent,
And wald the counsall craif his warysoun,
The quhilk King James the fyrst in Parliament
Gaif to his Father for ane hie tresoun,
“Quha did forfault him of his land and rent,
And his leuing annex[i]t to the Crown,
And to hir shame and to hir greit contempt,
Quhen that he come vnto ane strange natioun:
Than sould he mak declaratioun
The causis all of his sory banishement,
To be for trasoun done vnto the Crowne:
Gif I do lie, reid the act of Parliament.”
And his leuing annex[i]t to the Crown,
And to hir shame and to hir greit contempt,
Quhen that he come vnto ane strange natioun:
Than sould he mak declaratioun
The causis all of his sory banishement,
To be for trasoun done vnto the Crowne:
Gif I do lie, reid the act of Parliament.”
38
“My bony boy, thy murning dois me harme,
Bot thy sweit figureit speiche dois me delyte;
In poetrie I traist ȝow be na barne,
Quhilk dois reheirs the Poetis auld indyte.
At thir traytouris I find thow hes dispyte,
And I ane Menstrell is and [I] can sing:
Wald thow in Poetrie thy mater wryte,
In thair dispyte thy scellat sall I ring.
Bot thy sweit figureit speiche dois me delyte;
In poetrie I traist ȝow be na barne,
Quhilk dois reheirs the Poetis auld indyte.
At thir traytouris I find thow hes dispyte,
And I ane Menstrell is and [I] can sing:
Wald thow in Poetrie thy mater wryte,
In thair dispyte thy scellat sall I ring.
“Albeit my hart be fillit full of syte,
And mony troublis tumbland in my mynde,
Ȝit vnder neth this hauthorne sall I wryte,
Or my forwereit body preis to dyne,
In Poetrie narratioun of the cryme,
Quhilk thow may sing, except that thow be red,
In Inglis toung, quhan will gif place and tyme;
And than in Latine leid I think to spred
And mony troublis tumbland in my mynde,
Ȝit vnder neth this hauthorne sall I wryte,
Or my forwereit body preis to dyne,
In Poetrie narratioun of the cryme,
Quhilk thow may sing, except that thow be red,
In Inglis toung, quhan will gif place and tyme;
And than in Latine leid I think to spred
“My veirsis prompt in style Rethoricall,
Quhilk pas sall to the Cane of Tartarie,
And Peirs sall erthe and air Etheriall
The wickit workis done in Britannie.
My bony boy” quod I “fair mot the fa”!
With that he rais and reikit me this bill,
And tuik gude nycht and shuik our handis twa,
Sa we departit soir againis our will.
Quhilk pas sall to the Cane of Tartarie,
And Peirs sall erthe and air Etheriall
The wickit workis done in Britannie.
My bony boy” quod I “fair mot the fa”!
With that he rais and reikit me this bill,
And tuik gude nycht and shuik our handis twa,
Sa we departit soir againis our will.
Finis.
| Satirical poems of the reformation | |