The Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount ... Edited by Douglas Hamer |
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| 2. | HEIR ENDIS THE FIRST PART. AND FOLLOWIS THE SECUNDE PART. |
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 | The Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount |  |
HEIR ENDIS THE FIRST PART. AND FOLLOWIS THE SECUNDE PART.
IN THE FIRST, THE BEILDYNG OF BABILONE BE NEMROD. AND QUHOW KYNG NYNUS BEGAN THE FIRST MONARCHE. AND OF THARE YDOLATRYE. AND QUHOW SEMERAMIS, GOUERNIT THE IMPYRE, EFTER HIR HUSBANDE KYNG NYNUS. AS FOLLOWIS.
COUR[TIOUR].Father, I pray ȝow to me tell
The First Infortune that befell
Immediatlye efter the Flude,
And quho did first sched saikles blude,
And quho Ydolatrye began.
247
(Quod he) I sall do as I can.
Efter the Flude I fynde no Storye
Worthy to putt in Memorye,
Tyll Nemrod began to Ryng
Aboue the Peple as ane Kyng,
Quhilk wes the Principall man of one,
That beilder was of Babilone.
COUR[TIOUR]
That Story, Maister, wald I knaw,
(Quod I) geue ȝe the suthe wald schaw,
Quhy and for quhat occasioun
Thay beildit sic ane strang Dungeoun.
EXPE[RIENCE]
Than said to me Experience:
I sall declare, with Deligence,
Those Questionis, at thy command.
Bot first, Sonne, thow mon vnderstand
Off Nemrod the Genologie,
His strenth, Curage, and Quantitie;
Quhowbeit Moyses, in his first Buke,
That Story lychtlye did ouer Luke;
Off hym no more he doith declare,
Except he was ane strang Huntare.
Bot vtheris Clerkis Curious,
As Oroce doith, and Iosephus,
Discryuis Nemrod at more lenth,
Boith of his stature and his strenth.
This Nemrod was the fourt persoun
Frome Noye be lyne discendyng doun.
Noye generit Cham, Cham generit Chus,
And Chus, Nemrod; the suthe bene thus.
This Nemrod grew ane man of mycht;
That tyme in erth wes none so wycht.
He wes ane Gyane stout and strang;
Perforce wyld beistis he doun thrang.
The peple of that hole Regioun
Come vnder his Dominioun.
No man thare wes, in all that land,
His stalwartnes that durst ganestand.
No maruell wes thocht he wes wycht:
Ten Cubitis large he wes of hycht,
Proportionat, in lenth and breid,
Afferand to his hycht, we reid.
He grew so gret and glorious,
So prydefull and presumptuous,
That he come Inobedient
To the gret God Omnipotent.
This Nemrod was the principall man
That first Ydolatrye began.
I sall declare, with Deligence,
Those Questionis, at thy command.
Bot first, Sonne, thow mon vnderstand
Off Nemrod the Genologie,
His strenth, Curage, and Quantitie;
Quhowbeit Moyses, in his first Buke,
That Story lychtlye did ouer Luke;
Off hym no more he doith declare,
Except he was ane strang Huntare.
Bot vtheris Clerkis Curious,
As Oroce doith, and Iosephus,
Discryuis Nemrod at more lenth,
Boith of his stature and his strenth.
This Nemrod was the fourt persoun
Frome Noye be lyne discendyng doun.
Noye generit Cham, Cham generit Chus,
And Chus, Nemrod; the suthe bene thus.
This Nemrod grew ane man of mycht;
That tyme in erth wes none so wycht.
248
Perforce wyld beistis he doun thrang.
The peple of that hole Regioun
Come vnder his Dominioun.
No man thare wes, in all that land,
His stalwartnes that durst ganestand.
No maruell wes thocht he wes wycht:
Ten Cubitis large he wes of hycht,
Proportionat, in lenth and breid,
Afferand to his hycht, we reid.
He grew so gret and glorious,
So prydefull and presumptuous,
That he come Inobedient
To the gret God Omnipotent.
This Nemrod was the principall man
That first Ydolatrye began.
Than gart he all the peple call
To his presens, boith gret and small,
And, in that gret conuentioun,
Did propone his Intentioun.
My Freindis (said he) I mak it knawin
The gret wengeance that God hes schawin,
In tyme of our fore Father Noye,
Quhen he did all the warld distroye,
And dround thame in ane furious flude:
Quharefor I thynk we sulde conclude
Quhov we maye make one strang defence
Aganis sick walteris violence,
For to resyste his furious Yre,
Contra[r]ye boith to flude and fyre.
Latt ws go spye sum plesand feilde,
Quhare one strang biggyng we maye beilde,
One Cityie, with ane strang Dungeoun,
That none Ingyne may ding it doun,
So heych, so thike, so large, and lang,
That Gode tyll ws sall do no wrang.
Itt sall surmonte the Planetis sewin,
That we frome Gode may wyn the hewin.
Those peple, with one ferme intent,
All tyll his counsell did consent,
And did espy one plesand place
Harde on the flude of Euphratace.
The peple thare did thame prepair,
In to the plane feilde of Synear,
Quhilk now of Caldie beryth the name,
Quhilk did lang tyme flureis in fame.
To his presens, boith gret and small,
And, in that gret conuentioun,
Did propone his Intentioun.
My Freindis (said he) I mak it knawin
The gret wengeance that God hes schawin,
In tyme of our fore Father Noye,
Quhen he did all the warld distroye,
And dround thame in ane furious flude:
Quharefor I thynk we sulde conclude
Quhov we maye make one strang defence
Aganis sick walteris violence,
For to resyste his furious Yre,
Contra[r]ye boith to flude and fyre.
Latt ws go spye sum plesand feilde,
Quhare one strang biggyng we maye beilde,
One Cityie, with ane strang Dungeoun,
That none Ingyne may ding it doun,
So heych, so thike, so large, and lang,
That Gode tyll ws sall do no wrang.
Itt sall surmonte the Planetis sewin,
That we frome Gode may wyn the hewin.
249
All tyll his counsell did consent,
And did espy one plesand place
Harde on the flude of Euphratace.
The peple thare did thame prepair,
In to the plane feilde of Synear,
Quhilk now of Caldie beryth the name,
Quhilk did lang tyme flureis in fame.
Thare gret Fortres than did thay founde,
And kaiste tyll thay gat souer grounde.
All fell to warke, boith man and chylde:
Sum holkit claye, sum brynt the tylde.
Nembroth, that curious Campioun,
Deuysar wes of that Dungeoun.
No thyng thay sparit thare laubouris,
Lyke besy beis vpone the flouris,
Or Emottis trauelling in to Iune:
Sum vnder wrocht, and sum abone:
With strong Ingenious masonrye,
Upwarte thare wark did fortifye.
With brynt tylde stonis, large and wycht,
That Towre thay rasit to sic hycht
Abufe the airis Regioun,
And Iunit of so strong fassioun,
With Syment maid of pyk and tar,
Thay vsit none vther mortar,
Thocht fyre or walter it assalit,
Contrare that Dungeoun nocht aualit.
The land aboute wes fair and plane;
And it rose lyke one heych montane.
Those fuliche peple did intende
That to the Hewin it sulde ascende.
So gret one strenth wes neuir sene,
In to the warld, with mennis eine.
And kaiste tyll thay gat souer grounde.
All fell to warke, boith man and chylde:
Sum holkit claye, sum brynt the tylde.
Nembroth, that curious Campioun,
Deuysar wes of that Dungeoun.
No thyng thay sparit thare laubouris,
Lyke besy beis vpone the flouris,
Or Emottis trauelling in to Iune:
Sum vnder wrocht, and sum abone:
With strong Ingenious masonrye,
Upwarte thare wark did fortifye.
With brynt tylde stonis, large and wycht,
That Towre thay rasit to sic hycht
Abufe the airis Regioun,
And Iunit of so strong fassioun,
With Syment maid of pyk and tar,
Thay vsit none vther mortar,
Thocht fyre or walter it assalit,
Contrare that Dungeoun nocht aualit.
The land aboute wes fair and plane;
And it rose lyke one heych montane.
Those fuliche peple did intende
That to the Hewin it sulde ascende.
So gret one strenth wes neuir sene,
In to the warld, with mennis eine.
The wallis of that wark thay maid
Two and fyftye faldome braid.
One faldome than, as sum men sayis,
Mycht bene two faldome in our dayis:
One man wes, than, of more stature
Nor two be now: thareof be sure.
Two and fyftye faldome braid.
One faldome than, as sum men sayis,
Mycht bene two faldome in our dayis:
250
Nor two be now: thareof be sure.
Josephus haldis opinioun,
Sayand the heycht of this Dungeoun
Off large pasis of mesure bene
Fyue thousande, aucht score, and fourtene.
Be this raknyng, it is full rycht
Sax mylis and ane half in hycht.
Ane thousande pais tak for ane myle,
And thow sall fynd it neir that style.
This towre, in compass round aboute,
Wer mylis ten, withouttin doute.
Aboute the Cetie of stagis
Foure houndreth and four score, I wys.
And, be this nommer, in compas,
Aboute three score of mylis It was;
And, as Orotius reportis,
Thare wes fyue score of brasin portis.
Sayand the heycht of this Dungeoun
Off large pasis of mesure bene
Fyue thousande, aucht score, and fourtene.
Be this raknyng, it is full rycht
Sax mylis and ane half in hycht.
Ane thousande pais tak for ane myle,
And thow sall fynd it neir that style.
This towre, in compass round aboute,
Wer mylis ten, withouttin doute.
Aboute the Cetie of stagis
Foure houndreth and four score, I wys.
And, be this nommer, in compas,
Aboute three score of mylis It was;
And, as Orotius reportis,
Thare wes fyue score of brasin portis.
The translatour of Orotius
In tyll his Cronicle wryttis thus,
That, quhen the Sonne is at the hycht,
Att nonne quhen it doith schyne most brycht,
The schaddow of that hydduous strenth
Sax myle and more it is of lenth.
Thus maye ȝe Iuge, in to ȝour thocht,
Gyfe Babilone be heych, or nocht.
In tyll his Cronicle wryttis thus,
That, quhen the Sonne is at the hycht,
Att nonne quhen it doith schyne most brycht,
The schaddow of that hydduous strenth
Sax myle and more it is of lenth.
Thus maye ȝe Iuge, in to ȝour thocht,
Gyfe Babilone be heych, or nocht.
FINIS.
251
QUHOV GOD MAID THE DYUERSITIE OF LANGUAGIS. AND MAID IMPEDIMENT TO THE BEILDARIS OF BABILONE.
EXPE[RIENCE].
Than the gret God Omnipotent,
To quhom al thingis bene present,
That wer, and is, and euir salbe,
Ar present tyll his Maiestie;
The hid secretis of mannis hart
From his presens may not depart;
He, seand the Ambitioun
And the prydefull Presumptioun,
Quhov thir proude peple did pretende
Upe throuch the heuinnis tyll ascende;
Quhilk wes gret folye tyll deuyse
Sick one presumptuous interpryse;
For, quhen thay wer moste delygent,
Gode maid thame sick impediment,
Thay wer constranit, with hartis sore,
Frome thyne depart, and beild no more.
Sick Languagis on thame he laid,
That none wyste quhat ane vthir said.
Quhare wes bot ane Language affore,
Gode send thame Languagis three schore.
To quhom al thingis bene present,
That wer, and is, and euir salbe,
Ar present tyll his Maiestie;
The hid secretis of mannis hart
From his presens may not depart;
He, seand the Ambitioun
And the prydefull Presumptioun,
Quhov thir proude peple did pretende
Upe throuch the heuinnis tyll ascende;
Quhilk wes gret folye tyll deuyse
Sick one presumptuous interpryse;
For, quhen thay wer moste delygent,
Gode maid thame sick impediment,
Thay wer constranit, with hartis sore,
Frome thyne depart, and beild no more.
Sick Languagis on thame he laid,
That none wyste quhat ane vthir said.
Quhare wes bot ane Language affore,
Gode send thame Languagis three schore.
Affore that tyme all spak Ebrew.
Than sum began for to speik Grew,
Sum Duche, sum language Saraȝyne,
And sum began to speik Latyne.
The Maister men gan to go wylde;
Cryand for treis, thay brocht thame tylde:
Sum said, bryng mortar heir atonis,
Than brocht thay to thame stoks and stonis.
Than sum began for to speik Grew,
Sum Duche, sum language Saraȝyne,
And sum began to speik Latyne.
The Maister men gan to go wylde;
Cryand for treis, thay brocht thame tylde:
Sum said, bryng mortar heir atonis,
Than brocht thay to thame stoks and stonis.
252
And Nembroth, thare gret Campioun,
Ran rageand lyke one wylde Lyoun,
Manassyng thame with wordis rude:
Bot neuir one worde thay vnderstude.
Affore thay fand hym gude and kynde;
Bot than thay thocht hym by his mynde,
Quhen he so furiouslie did flyte.
Than turnit his pryde in to dispyte,
So dirk Eclipsit wes his glore,
Quhen thay wald wyrk for him no more.
Ran rageand lyke one wylde Lyoun,
Manassyng thame with wordis rude:
Bot neuir one worde thay vnderstude.
Affore thay fand hym gude and kynde;
Bot than thay thocht hym by his mynde,
Quhen he so furiouslie did flyte.
Than turnit his pryde in to dispyte,
So dirk Eclipsit wes his glore,
Quhen thay wald wyrk for him no more.
Beholde quhov God wes so gratious
To thame, quhilk wer so outtragious.
He nother braik thare leggis nor armis,
Nor ȝit did thame none vther harmis,
Except of toungis diuysioun.
And, for fynall conclusioun,
Constranit thay wer for tyll depart,
Ilke cumpanye in one syndrie arte
Sum paste in to the Orient,
And sum in to the Occident,
Sum south, sum north, as thay thocht best;
And so thare poleysie left west.
Bot quhov that Citie wes reparit
Heir efter it salbe declarit.
To thame, quhilk wer so outtragious.
He nother braik thare leggis nor armis,
Nor ȝit did thame none vther harmis,
Except of toungis diuysioun.
And, for fynall conclusioun,
Constranit thay wer for tyll depart,
Ilke cumpanye in one syndrie arte
Sum paste in to the Orient,
And sum in to the Occident,
Sum south, sum north, as thay thocht best;
And so thare poleysie left west.
Bot quhov that Citie wes reparit
Heir efter it salbe declarit.
FINIS.
OF THE FIRST INUENTIOUN OF YDOLATRIE. QUHOW NEMBROTH COMPELD THE PEPLE TYLL ADORE THE FYRE IN CALDIA.
COUR[TIOUR].Now, Schir (said I) schaw me the man
Quhilk first Ydolatrie began.
253
That sall I do with all my hart,
My Sonne (said he) or we depart.
Quhen Nembroth saw his purpose falit,
And his gret laubour nocht aualit,
In maner of contemptioun
Departit furth of that regioun,
And, as Orotius doith rehers,
He past in to the land of Pers,
And mony one ȝeir did thare remane,
And syne to Babilone come agane,
And fand huge peple of Caldie
Remanand in that gret Citie,
That wer glaid of his returnyng,
And did obey hym as thare kyng.
Nembroth, his name for tyll auance,
Amang tham maid new ordinance,
Sayand, I think ȝe ar nocht wyce,
That to none God makis Sacrifyce.
My Sonne (said he) or we depart.
Quhen Nembroth saw his purpose falit,
And his gret laubour nocht aualit,
In maner of contemptioun
Departit furth of that regioun,
And, as Orotius doith rehers,
He past in to the land of Pers,
And mony one ȝeir did thare remane,
And syne to Babilone come agane,
And fand huge peple of Caldie
Remanand in that gret Citie,
That wer glaid of his returnyng,
And did obey hym as thare kyng.
Nembroth, his name for tyll auance,
Amang tham maid new ordinance,
Sayand, I think ȝe ar nocht wyce,
That to none God makis Sacrifyce.
Than, to fulfyll his fals desyre,
He gart be maid ane flammand fyre,
And maid it of sic breid and hycht,
He gart it byrn boith day and nycht.
Than all the peple of that land
Adorit the fyre, at his command,
Prosternit on thare kneis and facis,
Beseikand thare new God of gracis.
To gyf thame more occasioun,
He maid thame gret perswasioun.
This God (said he) is moist of mycht,
Schawand his bemys on the nycht.
Quhen Sonne and Monne ar baith obscure,
His hewinlie brychtnes doith indure.
Quhen mennis memberris sufferit calde,
Fyre warmyth thame, ewin as thay walde.
He gart be maid ane flammand fyre,
And maid it of sic breid and hycht,
He gart it byrn boith day and nycht.
Than all the peple of that land
Adorit the fyre, at his command,
Prosternit on thare kneis and facis,
Beseikand thare new God of gracis.
To gyf thame more occasioun,
He maid thame gret perswasioun.
This God (said he) is moist of mycht,
Schawand his bemys on the nycht.
Quhen Sonne and Monne ar baith obscure,
His hewinlie brychtnes doith indure.
Quhen mennis memberris sufferit calde,
Fyre warmyth thame, ewin as thay walde.
Than cryit the Peple, at his desyre,
Thare is no God except the fyre.
Or thare was ony Ymagerie,
Began this first Ydolatrie.
Att that tyme thare wes none vsage
To carue nor for to paynt Image.
Than maid he proclamatioun,
Quho maid nocht adoratioun
To that new God, without remede
In to that fyre sulde suffer dede.
I fynd no man, in to that lande,
His tyrrannie that durste ganestande,
Bot Habraham, and Aram his brother.
That disobeyit I fynd none vther,
Quhilk dwelland war in that cuntre,
With thare Father, callit Thaire.
Thir brether Nembroth did repreue,
Sayand tyll hym, Lord, with ȝour leue,
This fyre is bot ane Element:
Praye ȝe to God Omnipotent,
Quhilk maid the Heuinnis be his mycht,
Sonne, Monne, and sterris, to gyf lycht.
He maid the fyschis 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 gret God gyfe pryse and glore,
Quhose Ring induris euermore.
Thare is no God except the fyre.
254
Began this first Ydolatrie.
Att that tyme thare wes none vsage
To carue nor for to paynt Image.
Than maid he proclamatioun,
Quho maid nocht adoratioun
To that new God, without remede
In to that fyre sulde suffer dede.
I fynd no man, in to that lande,
His tyrrannie that durste ganestande,
Bot Habraham, and Aram his brother.
That disobeyit I fynd none vther,
Quhilk dwelland war in that cuntre,
With thare Father, callit Thaire.
Thir brether Nembroth did repreue,
Sayand tyll hym, Lord, with ȝour leue,
This fyre is bot ane Element:
Praye ȝe to God Omnipotent,
Quhilk maid the Heuinnis be his mycht,
Sonne, Monne, and sterris, to gyf lycht.
He maid the fyschis 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 gret God gyfe pryse and glore,
Quhose Ring induris euermore.
Than Nembroth, in his furious yre,
Thir brether boith keste in the fyre.
Habraham be God he wes preseruit,
Bot Aram in the fyre he staruit.
Quhen Thara harde his sonne wes dede,
He did depart out of that stede,
With Habraham, Nachor, and thare wyffis,
As the Scripture at lynthe discryffis,
And left the land of Caldia,
And paste to Mesopotamia,
And dwelt in Tharan all his dayis,
And deit thare, as the story sayis.
The lyfe of Habraham, I supose,
No thyng langith tyll our purpose.
In to the Bibyll thov may reid
His verteous lyfe in worde and deid.
Now to the I haue schawin the man
That firste Ydolatrie began.
Thir brether boith keste in the fyre.
Habraham be God he wes preseruit,
Bot Aram in the fyre he staruit.
Quhen Thara harde his sonne wes dede,
He did depart out of that stede,
With Habraham, Nachor, and thare wyffis,
As the Scripture at lynthe discryffis,
And left the land of Caldia,
And paste to Mesopotamia,
And dwelt in Tharan all his dayis,
And deit thare, as the story sayis.
255
No thyng langith tyll our purpose.
In to the Bibyll thov may reid
His verteous lyfe in worde and deid.
Now to the I haue schawin the man
That firste Ydolatrie began.
FINIS.
OF THE GRET MISERE AND SKAYTHIS THAT CUMIS OF WERIS. AND QUHOW KING NYNUS BEGAN THE FIRST WERIS, AND STRAIK THE FIRST BATTELL.
[COURTIOUR].
Father, I pray ȝov, with my hart,
Declair to me, or we depart,
Quho first began thir mortall Weris,
Quhilk euerilk faithfull hart efferis,
And euere polesye doun thrawis,
Express agane the Lordis lawis,
Sen Christe, our kyng omnipotent,
Left Peace in tyll his Testament.
Quhov doith proceid this creueltie
Aganis Justice and Equitie?
In lande quhare ony Weris bene,
Gret Miserrie thare may be sene.
All thyng on erth that God hes wrocht
Weir doith distroye, and puttis at nocht.
Ceteis, with mony strang Dungeoun,
Ar brynte, and to the erth doung doun.
Uirginis and Matronis ar deflorit;
Templis that Rychelie bene decorit
Ar brynt, and all thare Preistis spulȝeit;
Pure Orphelenis vnder feit ar fulȝeit,
Mony auld men maid childerles,
And mony childer fatherles.
Off famous Sculis the Doctryne,
Boith natural science and Diuyne,
And euerilk vertew, trampit doun;
No reuerence done to relegioun;
Strenthis distroyit alluterlie;
Fair Ladyis forcit schamefullie;
Ȝoung Wedowis spulȝeit of thare spousis;
Pure Lauborars houndit frome thare housis.
Thare dar no Merchand tak on hand
To trauell nother be sey nor land,
For Boucheouris, quhilk dois thame confounde;
Declair to me, or we depart,
Quho first began thir mortall Weris,
Quhilk euerilk faithfull hart efferis,
And euere polesye doun thrawis,
Express agane the Lordis lawis,
Sen Christe, our kyng omnipotent,
Left Peace in tyll his Testament.
Quhov doith proceid this creueltie
Aganis Justice and Equitie?
In lande quhare ony Weris bene,
Gret Miserrie thare may be sene.
All thyng on erth that God hes wrocht
Weir doith distroye, and puttis at nocht.
Ceteis, with mony strang Dungeoun,
Ar brynte, and to the erth doung doun.
Uirginis and Matronis ar deflorit;
Templis that Rychelie bene decorit
Ar brynt, and all thare Preistis spulȝeit;
Pure Orphelenis vnder feit ar fulȝeit,
Mony auld men maid childerles,
256
Off famous Sculis the Doctryne,
Boith natural science and Diuyne,
And euerilk vertew, trampit doun;
No reuerence done to relegioun;
Strenthis distroyit alluterlie;
Fair Ladyis forcit schamefullie;
Ȝoung Wedowis spulȝeit of thare spousis;
Pure Lauborars houndit frome thare housis.
Thare dar no Merchand tak on hand
To trauell nother be sey nor land,
For Boucheouris, quhilk dois thame confounde;
Sum murdrist bene, and sum ar drounde;
Craftis men of curious Ingyne
Alluterlie put to rewyne;
The Bestiall reft, the commonnis slane,
The land but lauboring doith remane.
Off Pollesye the perfyte warkis,
Beildingis, Gardyngis, and plesand parkis,
Alluterlie distroyit bene.
Gret graingis brynt thare may be sene;
Ryches bene turnit to powertie,
Plentie in tyll penuritie.
Deith, Hounger, Darth, it is weill kende,
Off Weir this is the Fatell ende:
Iustice turnit in tyrrannye,
All plesour in aduersitye.
The Weir alluterlie doun thrawis
Boith the Ciuill and Cannoun lawis.
Weir generit Murthour and myscheif,
Sore lamentyng withoute releif.
Weir doith distroye Realmes and kyngis;
Gret Princis weir to presoun bryngis;
Weir scheddis mekle saikles blude.
Sen I can saye of weir no gude,
Craftis men of curious Ingyne
Alluterlie put to rewyne;
The Bestiall reft, the commonnis slane,
The land but lauboring doith remane.
Off Pollesye the perfyte warkis,
Beildingis, Gardyngis, and plesand parkis,
Alluterlie distroyit bene.
Gret graingis brynt thare may be sene;
Ryches bene turnit to powertie,
Plentie in tyll penuritie.
Deith, Hounger, Darth, it is weill kende,
Off Weir this is the Fatell ende:
Iustice turnit in tyrrannye,
All plesour in aduersitye.
The Weir alluterlie doun thrawis
Boith the Ciuill and Cannoun lawis.
Weir generit Murthour and myscheif,
Sore lamentyng withoute releif.
Weir doith distroye Realmes and kyngis;
Gret Princis weir to presoun bryngis;
Weir scheddis mekle saikles blude.
Sen I can saye of weir no gude,
Declare to me, Schir, gyf ȝe can,
Quho first this Miserrie began.
Quho first this Miserrie began.
FINIS.
257
HEIR FOLLOWITH ANE SCHORTE DISCRIPTIOUN OF THE FOUR MONARCHIS. AND QUHOW KYNG NYNUS BEGAN THE FIRST MONARCHIE.
EXPE[RIENCE].
Of Weris (said he) the gret outtrage
Began in to the secunde aige,
Be creuell, prydefull, couytous kyngis,
Reuarris, but rycht, of vtheris ryngis.
Quhowbeit Cayam, afore the flude,
Wes first schedder of saikles blude,
Nynus was first and principall man
Quhilk wrangus conquessing began,
And was the man, withouttin faill,
In erth that straik the first battell,
And first Inuentit Imagerye,
Quhare throw came gret Idolatrye.
Began in to the secunde aige,
Be creuell, prydefull, couytous kyngis,
Reuarris, but rycht, of vtheris ryngis.
Quhowbeit Cayam, afore the flude,
Wes first schedder of saikles blude,
Nynus was first and principall man
Quhilk wrangus conquessing began,
And was the man, withouttin faill,
In erth that straik the first battell,
And first Inuentit Imagerye,
Quhare throw came gret Idolatrye.
We moste knaw, or we forthair wend,
Off quhome king Nynus did discend.
Nynus, gyf I can rycht defyne,
He was frome Noye the fyft, be lyne.
Noye generit Cham; Cham generit Chus;
And Chus, Nembroth; Nembroth, Bellus;
And Bellus, Nynus, but lesing,
Off Assiria the secund king,
And beildar of thar gret Citie,
The quhilk was callit Nyniue,
And wes the first and principall man
Quhilk the first Monarchie began.
Off quhome king Nynus did discend.
Nynus, gyf I can rycht defyne,
He was frome Noye the fyft, be lyne.
Noye generit Cham; Cham generit Chus;
And Chus, Nembroth; Nembroth, Bellus;
And Bellus, Nynus, but lesing,
Off Assiria the secund king,
And beildar of thar gret Citie,
The quhilk was callit Nyniue,
And wes the first and principall man
Quhilk the first Monarchie began.
COUR[TIOUR].
Father (said I) declaire to me
Quhat signifyis one Monarchie.
258
The suith (said he) sonne, gyfe thov knew,
Monarchie bene one terme of Grew:
As, quhen one Prouince principall
Had hole power Imperiall,
During thare Dominationis,
Abufe all Kyngis and Nationis,
One Monarchie that men doith call,
Off quhome I fynd four principall,
Quhilk heth rong sen the warld began.
COUR[TIOUR].
Than (said I) Father, gyf ȝe can,
Quhilk four bene thay, schaw me, I pray ȝow.
EXPE[RIENCE].
My sone, said he, that sall I say ȝow.
First, rang the kings of Asserianis;
Secundlye, rang the Persianis;
The Grekis, thridlye, with swerd and fyre
Perfors optenit the thrid Impyre;
The fourte Monarche, as I heir,
The Romanis brukit mony one ȝeir.
Latt vs first speik of Nynus king,
Quhov he began his Conquessing.
Secundlye, rang the Persianis;
The Grekis, thridlye, with swerd and fyre
Perfors optenit the thrid Impyre;
The fourte Monarche, as I heir,
The Romanis brukit mony one ȝeir.
Latt vs first speik of Nynus king,
Quhov he began his Conquessing.
The auld Greik Historitiane
Diodorus he wryttis plane,
Att rycht gret lenth, of Nynus king,
Off his Impyre and conquessing,
And of Semeramis, his wyfe,
That tyme the lustyest one lyfe.
Itt wer to lang to putt in wryte
Quhilk Diodore heth done indyte,
Bot I sall schaw, as I suppose,
Quhilk maist belangith thy purpose.
Diodorus he wryttis plane,
Att rycht gret lenth, of Nynus king,
Off his Impyre and conquessing,
And of Semeramis, his wyfe,
That tyme the lustyest one lyfe.
Itt wer to lang to putt in wryte
Quhilk Diodore heth done indyte,
Bot I sall schaw, as I suppose,
Quhilk maist belangith thy purpose.
259
Quhen Nembroth, Prince of Babilone,
Oute of this wrechit warld wes gone,
And his Sonne, Bellus, deid, alswa,
The first Kyng of Asseria,
This Nynus, quhilk wes secunde kyng,
Tryumphandlie began tyll ryng,
And wes nocht satifyit nor content
Off his awin Regione nor his rent.
Thynkand his glore for tyll aduance
By his gret peple and puissance,
Throuch Pryde, Couatyce, and vaine glore,
Did him prepare to conques more,
And gadtherit furth ane gret Armie
Contrare Babilone and Caldie,
Quhareof he had ardent desyre
Tyll Iune that land tyll his Impyre,
Quhowbeit he had thareto no rycht.
Bot, by his tyrranry and mycht,
Withouttin feir of God or man,
His Conquessing thus he began.
Oute of this wrechit warld wes gone,
And his Sonne, Bellus, deid, alswa,
The first Kyng of Asseria,
This Nynus, quhilk wes secunde kyng,
Tryumphandlie began tyll ryng,
And wes nocht satifyit nor content
Off his awin Regione nor his rent.
Thynkand his glore for tyll aduance
By his gret peple and puissance,
Throuch Pryde, Couatyce, and vaine glore,
Did him prepare to conques more,
And gadtherit furth ane gret Armie
Contrare Babilone and Caldie,
Quhareof he had ardent desyre
Tyll Iune that land tyll his Impyre,
Quhowbeit he had thareto no rycht.
Bot, by his tyrranry and mycht,
Withouttin feir of God or man,
His Conquessing thus he began.
His peple beand in arraye,
To Caldia tuke the reddy waye.
Quhen that the Babilonianis,
To gidther with the Caldianis,
Hard tell Kyng Nynus wes cumand,
Maid proclamationis throuch the land,
That ilke man, efter thare degre,
Sulde cum, and saif thare awin cuntre.
Quhowbeit thay had no vse of weir,
Thay past fordwart, withouttin feir,
And pat thame selfis in gude order,
To meit kyng Nynus on the border.
In that tyme, ȝe sall vnderstande,
Thare wes no harnes in the lande,
For tyll defende nor tyll Inuaid,
Quharethrow more slauchter thare wes maid.
Thay faucht, throw strenth of thare bodeis,
With gaddis of Irne, with stonis, and treis.
To Caldia tuke the reddy waye.
Quhen that the Babilonianis,
To gidther with the Caldianis,
Hard tell Kyng Nynus wes cumand,
Maid proclamationis throuch the land,
That ilke man, efter thare degre,
Sulde cum, and saif thare awin cuntre.
Quhowbeit thay had no vse of weir,
Thay past fordwart, withouttin feir,
And pat thame selfis in gude order,
To meit kyng Nynus on the border.
In that tyme, ȝe sall vnderstande,
Thare wes no harnes in the lande,
For tyll defende nor tyll Inuaid,
Quharethrow more slauchter thare wes maid.
Thay faucht, throw strenth of thare bodeis,
With gaddis of Irne, with stonis, and treis.
260
With sound of horne, and hydduous cry,
Thay ruschit to gidther rycht rudly,
With hardy hart and strenth of handis,
Tyll thousandis deid lay on the landis.
Quhare men in battell nakit bene,
Gret slauchter, sone, thare may be sene.
Thay faucht so lang and creuellie,
And with vncertane victorie,
No man mycht Iuge, that stude on far,
Quho gat the better nor the war,
Bot, quhen it did approche the nycht,
The Caldianis thay tuke the flycht.
Than the kyng and his cumpanye
Wer rycht glaid of that victorye,
Because he wan the first battell
That strykkin wes in erth, but faill,
And peceably of that Regioun
Did tak the hole Dominioun.
Than wes he king of Caldia,
Alsweill as of Asseria;
As for the king of Arrabie,
In his conquest maid hym supplie.
Thay ruschit to gidther rycht rudly,
With hardy hart and strenth of handis,
Tyll thousandis deid lay on the landis.
Quhare men in battell nakit bene,
Gret slauchter, sone, thare may be sene.
Thay faucht so lang and creuellie,
And with vncertane victorie,
No man mycht Iuge, that stude on far,
Quho gat the better nor the war,
Bot, quhen it did approche the nycht,
The Caldianis thay tuke the flycht.
Than the kyng and his cumpanye
Wer rycht glaid of that victorye,
Because he wan the first battell
That strykkin wes in erth, but faill,
And peceably of that Regioun
Did tak the hole Dominioun.
Than wes he king of Caldia,
Alsweill as of Asseria;
As for the king of Arrabie,
In his conquest maid hym supplie.
Off this ȝit wes he nocht content,
Bot to the Realme of Mede he went,
Quhare Farnus, king of that cuntre,
Did meit hym, with one gret armie.
Bot king Nynus the battell wan,
Quhare slane wer mony nobyll man,
And to that king wald gyf no grace,
Bot planelie, in one publict place,
With his sewin Sonnis and his Ladie,
Creuellie did thame Crucifie.
Off that tryumphe he did reiose;
Syne fordwart to the feilde he gose.
Than conquest he Armenia,
Perce, Egypt, and Pamphelia,
Capadoce, Leid, and Maritane,
Caspia, Phrigia, and Hyrcane,
All Affrica and Asia,
Except gret Ynde and Battria,
Quhilk he did conques efterwart
As ȝe sall heir, or we depart.
Now wald I, or we forther wend,
That his Ydolatrye wer kend:
Syne, efter that, withoute sudiorne,
Tyll our purpose we sall returne.
Bot to the Realme of Mede he went,
Quhare Farnus, king of that cuntre,
Did meit hym, with one gret armie.
Bot king Nynus the battell wan,
Quhare slane wer mony nobyll man,
And to that king wald gyf no grace,
Bot planelie, in one publict place,
With his sewin Sonnis and his Ladie,
Creuellie did thame Crucifie.
Off that tryumphe he did reiose;
Syne fordwart to the feilde he gose.
Than conquest he Armenia,
Perce, Egypt, and Pamphelia,
Capadoce, Leid, and Maritane,
Caspia, Phrigia, and Hyrcane,
261
Except gret Ynde and Battria,
Quhilk he did conques efterwart
As ȝe sall heir, or we depart.
Now wald I, or we forther wend,
That his Ydolatrye wer kend:
Syne, efter that, withoute sudiorne,
Tyll our purpose we sall returne.
FINIS.
QUHOV KING NYNUS INUENTIT THE FIRST YDOLATRIE OF YMAGIS.
Nynvs one Ymage he gart mak
For King Bellus, his Fatheris saik,
Moist lyke his Father of figoure,
Off quantite, and portratoure.
Off fyne Golde wes that figour maid;
Ane crafty Croun apone his haid,
With precious stonis, in toknyng
His father Bellus wes ane Kyng.
In Babilone he ane tempyll maid,
Off crafty work, boith heych and braid,
Quharein that Ymage gloriouslie
Wes thronit vpe tryumphandlie.
For King Bellus, his Fatheris saik,
Moist lyke his Father of figoure,
Off quantite, and portratoure.
Off fyne Golde wes that figour maid;
Ane crafty Croun apone his haid,
With precious stonis, in toknyng
His father Bellus wes ane Kyng.
In Babilone he ane tempyll maid,
Off crafty work, boith heych and braid,
Quharein that Ymage gloriouslie
Wes thronit vpe tryumphandlie.
Than Nynus gaif ane strait command
Tyll all the peple of that land,
Alsweill in tyll Asseria
As in Synear and Caldia,
Under his Dominatioun,
Thay suld make Adoratioun,
Apone thare kneis, to that figour,
Under the pane of forfaltour.
Thare wes no Lorde, in all that land,
His summonding that durst ganestand.
Than ȝoung and auld, boith gret and small,
Tyll that Ymage thay prayit, all,
And cheangit his name, as I heir tell,
Frome Bellus to thare gret God Bell.
In that tempyll he did deuyse
Preistis, for tyll mak sacrifyse.
Be conswetud than come one law,
None vther God that thay wald knaw;
And als he gaif to that Ymage
Off Sanctuarie the Priuilage;
For, quhat sum euer transgressour,
One homicede or oppressour.
Seand that Ymage in the face,
Off thare gylt gat the kyngis grace.
COUR[TIOUR].Tyll all the peple of that land,
Alsweill in tyll Asseria
As in Synear and Caldia,
Under his Dominatioun,
Thay suld make Adoratioun,
Apone thare kneis, to that figour,
Under the pane of forfaltour.
Thare wes no Lorde, in all that land,
His summonding that durst ganestand.
262
Tyll that Ymage thay prayit, all,
And cheangit his name, as I heir tell,
Frome Bellus to thare gret God Bell.
In that tempyll he did deuyse
Preistis, for tyll mak sacrifyse.
Be conswetud than come one law,
None vther God that thay wald knaw;
And als he gaif to that Ymage
Off Sanctuarie the Priuilage;
For, quhat sum euer transgressour,
One homicede or oppressour.
Seand that Ymage in the face,
Off thare gylt gat the kyngis grace.
Declare to me, sweit schir (said I)
Wes there no more Ydolatry,
Efter that this fals Idole Bell
Wes thronit vp, as ȝe me tell?
EXPE[RIENCE].
My Sonne (said he) incontinent
The nowellis throuch the warld thay went,
Quhow king Nynus, as I haif said,
One curious Image he had maid,
To the quhilk all his natioun
Maid deuote adoratioun.
Than euerye cuntre tuke consait,
Thay wald king Nynus contrafait.
Quhen ony famous man wes deid,
Sett vp one Image in his steid,
Quhilk thay did honour, from the splene,
As it Immortall God had bene.
Imagis sum maid, for the nonis,
Off fyne gold, sum of stokis and stonis,
Off syluer sum, and Euyr bone,
With diuers namis tyll eueryone.
For sum thay callit Saturnus,
Sum Iupiter, sum Neptunus;
And sum thay callit Cupido,
Thare god of lufe; and sum Pluto;
Thay callit sum Mercurius;
And sum the wyndie Eolus;
Sum Mars, maid lyke ane man of weir,
Inarmit weill with sword and speir;
Sum Bacchus; and sum Apollo;
Off namis thay had ane houndreth mo.
The nowellis throuch the warld thay went,
Quhow king Nynus, as I haif said,
One curious Image he had maid,
To the quhilk all his natioun
Maid deuote adoratioun.
Than euerye cuntre tuke consait,
Thay wald king Nynus contrafait.
Quhen ony famous man wes deid,
Sett vp one Image in his steid,
Quhilk thay did honour, from the splene,
As it Immortall God had bene.
Imagis sum maid, for the nonis,
Off fyne gold, sum of stokis and stonis,
263
With diuers namis tyll eueryone.
For sum thay callit Saturnus,
Sum Iupiter, sum Neptunus;
And sum thay callit Cupido,
Thare god of lufe; and sum Pluto;
Thay callit sum Mercurius;
And sum the wyndie Eolus;
Sum Mars, maid lyke ane man of weir,
Inarmit weill with sword and speir;
Sum Bacchus; and sum Apollo;
Off namis thay had ane houndreth mo.
And, quhen one Lady of gret fame
Wes dede, for tyll exalt hir name,
One Image of hir portratour
Wald set vpe in one oratour,
The quhilk thay callit thare goddes;
As Uenus, Iuno, and Palles;
Sum Cleo, sum Proserpina,
Sum Ceres, Uesta, and Diana,
And sum the gret goddes Mynarue
With curious collouris thay wald carue.
Amang the Poetis thow may see
Off fals godis the genologee.
Wes dede, for tyll exalt hir name,
One Image of hir portratour
Wald set vpe in one oratour,
The quhilk thay callit thare goddes;
As Uenus, Iuno, and Palles;
Sum Cleo, sum Proserpina,
Sum Ceres, Uesta, and Diana,
And sum the gret goddes Mynarue
With curious collouris thay wald carue.
Amang the Poetis thow may see
Off fals godis the genologee.
So thir abhominationis
Did spred ouerthort all nationis,
Except gude Habraham, as we reid,
Quhilk honourit God in word and deid;
For Habraham had his beginnyng
In to the tyme of Nynus king.
Nynus began with tyrranrie,
And Habraham with humylitie.
Nynus began the first Impyre;
Habraham of weir had no desyre;
Nynus began Idolatrye;
Habraham, in spreit and veritye,
He prayit to the Lorde allone;
Fals Imagry he wald haue none.
Off hym discendit, I heir tell,
The twelf gret Trybis of Israell.
Those peple maid adoratioun,
With humyll supplicatioun,
Tyll hym quhilk wes of kyngis king,
That hewin and erth maid of no thing.
Dede Ymagis thay held at nocht,
That wer with mennis handis wrocht,
Bot the almychtie God of lyue.
My sonne, now haif I done discryue
Thir questionis, at thy command,
The quhilkis thow did at me demand.
Did spred ouerthort all nationis,
Except gude Habraham, as we reid,
Quhilk honourit God in word and deid;
For Habraham had his beginnyng
In to the tyme of Nynus king.
Nynus began with tyrranrie,
And Habraham with humylitie.
Nynus began the first Impyre;
Habraham of weir had no desyre;
Nynus began Idolatrye;
Habraham, in spreit and veritye,
He prayit to the Lorde allone;
Fals Imagry he wald haue none.
264
The twelf gret Trybis of Israell.
Those peple maid adoratioun,
With humyll supplicatioun,
Tyll hym quhilk wes of kyngis king,
That hewin and erth maid of no thing.
Dede Ymagis thay held at nocht,
That wer with mennis handis wrocht,
Bot the almychtie God of lyue.
My sonne, now haif I done discryue
Thir questionis, at thy command,
The quhilkis thow did at me demand.
COUR[TIOUR].
Quhat wes the cause (schir, mak me sure)
Ydolatrye did so lang indure
Outthrouch the warld so generalie,
And with the Gentilis, specialie?
[EXPERIENCE].
(Quod he) sum causis principall
I fynd in my memoriall.
First, wes throuch princis commandiment,
Quhilk did ydolatrye inuent;
Syne, singulare proffeit of the preistis,
Payntours, Goldsmythis, Masonnis, Wrychtis.
Those men of craft full curiouslie
Maid Imagis so plesandlie,
And sauld thame for ane sumptuous pryce;
So, be thare crafty Merchandyce,
Thay wer maid ryche abone mesure.
As for the Priestis, I the assure,
Large proffeit gat, ouerthort all landis,
Throuch sacrifyce and offerandis,
And, be thare fayned sanctitude,
Abusit mony one man of gude;
As, in the tyme of Daniell,
The preistis of this Idoll Bell.
Quhen Nabuchodonosor king
In Babilone royallie did ring,
Those preistis the kyng gart vnderstand,
That ymage, maid be mennis hand,
He wes one glorious God of lyfe,
And had sic ane prerogatyfe.
That, by his gret power deuyne,
Wald eait Beif, Muttone, Breid, and wyne.
And so the king gart, euery daye,
Affore Bell, on his Aulter, laye
Fourty fresche Wodderris, fatt and fyne,
And sax gret Rowbouris of wycht wyne,
Twelf gret Louis of bowtit floure,
Quhilk wes all eaitin in one houre,
Nocht be that Image, deif and dum,
Bot be the prestis, all and sum,
As in the Bibill thow may ken,
Quhose nummer wer thre score and ten.
Thay and thare wyfis, euerilk day,
Eait all that on the Aulter lay.
Than Daniell, in conclusioun,
Schew the king thare abusioun,
And of thare subtelty maid hym sure,
Quhow, onderneth the tempyll flure,
Throuch ane passage they cam, be nycht,
And eait that meit with candell lycht.
I fynd in my memoriall.
First, wes throuch princis commandiment,
Quhilk did ydolatrye inuent;
Syne, singulare proffeit of the preistis,
Payntours, Goldsmythis, Masonnis, Wrychtis.
Those men of craft full curiouslie
Maid Imagis so plesandlie,
And sauld thame for ane sumptuous pryce;
So, be thare crafty Merchandyce,
Thay wer maid ryche abone mesure.
As for the Priestis, I the assure,
Large proffeit gat, ouerthort all landis,
Throuch sacrifyce and offerandis,
And, be thare fayned sanctitude,
Abusit mony one man of gude;
265
The preistis of this Idoll Bell.
Quhen Nabuchodonosor king
In Babilone royallie did ring,
Those preistis the kyng gart vnderstand,
That ymage, maid be mennis hand,
He wes one glorious God of lyfe,
And had sic ane prerogatyfe.
That, by his gret power deuyne,
Wald eait Beif, Muttone, Breid, and wyne.
And so the king gart, euery daye,
Affore Bell, on his Aulter, laye
Fourty fresche Wodderris, fatt and fyne,
And sax gret Rowbouris of wycht wyne,
Twelf gret Louis of bowtit floure,
Quhilk wes all eaitin in one houre,
Nocht be that Image, deif and dum,
Bot be the prestis, all and sum,
As in the Bibill thow may ken,
Quhose nummer wer thre score and ten.
Thay and thare wyfis, euerilk day,
Eait all that on the Aulter lay.
Than Daniell, in conclusioun,
Schew the king thare abusioun,
And of thare subtelty maid hym sure,
Quhow, onderneth the tempyll flure,
Throuch ane passage they cam, be nycht,
And eait that meit with candell lycht.
The king, quhen he the mater knew,
Those preistis, with all thare wyffis, he slew.
Thus subtellie the kyng was sylit,
And all the peple wer begylit.
My sonne (said he) now may thow ken
Quhov, by the Preistis and craftismen,
And be thare craftines and cure,
Idolatrye did so lang indure.
Those preistis, with all thare wyffis, he slew.
Thus subtellie the kyng was sylit,
And all the peple wer begylit.
My sonne (said he) now may thow ken
Quhov, by the Preistis and craftismen,
And be thare craftines and cure,
Idolatrye did so lang indure.
Behauld quhow Ihone Boccatious
Hes wryttin workis wounderous
Off Gentilis superstitioun,
And of thare gret abusioun,
As in his gret Buke thow may see,
Off fals Goddis the geneologie,
Off Demogorgon, in speciall,
Fore Grandschir tyll the Goddis all,
Honourit amang Archadience,
And of the fals Philistience,
With thare gret deuilische god Dagone,
With vtheris Idolis mony one.
Bot I abhore the treuth to tell
Off the Princis of Israell,
Chosin be God Omnipotent,
Quhow thay brak his commandiment.
Kyng Salomone, as the scripture sayis,
He doitit in his latter dayis.
His wantoun wyffis to compleis,
He curit nocht God tyll displeis,
And did committ Idolatrye,
Wyrschipyng caruit Ymagerye,
As Moloch, god of Ammonitis,
And Chamos, god of Moabitis,
Astaroth, god of Sydoniains.
So, for his inobediens
And fowle abhominatioun,
Wer puneist his successioun.
His sonne Roboam, I heir tell,
Tynt the ten Trybis of Israell,
For his fatheris Ydolatrye,
As in the scripture thow may see.
Hes wryttin workis wounderous
266
And of thare gret abusioun,
As in his gret Buke thow may see,
Off fals Goddis the geneologie,
Off Demogorgon, in speciall,
Fore Grandschir tyll the Goddis all,
Honourit amang Archadience,
And of the fals Philistience,
With thare gret deuilische god Dagone,
With vtheris Idolis mony one.
Bot I abhore the treuth to tell
Off the Princis of Israell,
Chosin be God Omnipotent,
Quhow thay brak his commandiment.
Kyng Salomone, as the scripture sayis,
He doitit in his latter dayis.
His wantoun wyffis to compleis,
He curit nocht God tyll displeis,
And did committ Idolatrye,
Wyrschipyng caruit Ymagerye,
As Moloch, god of Ammonitis,
And Chamos, god of Moabitis,
Astaroth, god of Sydoniains.
So, for his inobediens
And fowle abhominatioun,
Wer puneist his successioun.
His sonne Roboam, I heir tell,
Tynt the ten Trybis of Israell,
For his fatheris Ydolatrye,
As in the scripture thow may see.
FINIS.
267
OFF IMAGEIS VSIT AMANG CRISTIN MEN.
COUR[TIOUR].Father, ȝit ane thyng I wald speir.
Behald, in euery kirk and queir
Throuch Christindome, in burgh and land,
Imageis maid with mennis hand,
To quhome bene gyffin diuers names;
Sum Peter, and Paull; sum Ihone, & Iames;
Sanct Peter, caruit with his keyis;
Sanct Mychaell, with his wyngis and weyis;
Sanct Katherine, with hir swerd and quheill;
Ane hynde sett vp besyde sanct Geill
It war to lang for tyll discryue
Sanct Frances, with his woundis fyue.
Sanct Tredwall, als, there may be sene,
Quhilk on ane prik heth boyth hir eine;
Sanct Paull, weill payntit with ane sworde,
As he wald feycht at the first worde;
Sanct Apollin on altare standis,
With all hir tethe in tyll hir handis;
Sanct Roche, weill seisit, men may se,
Ane byill new brokin on his thye;
Sanct Eloy he doith staitly stand,
Ane new hors schoo in tyll his hand;
Sanct ringane, of ane rottin stoke;
Sanct Duthow, boird out of ane bloke;
Sanct Androw, with his croce in hand;
Sanct George, vpone ane hors rydand;
Sanct Anthone, sett vp with ane soow;
Sanct Bryde, weill caruit with ane koow,
With coistlye collouris fyne and fair.
Ane thousand mo I mycht declair,
As sanct Cosma, and Damiane,
268
All thir on altare staitly standis,
Preistis cryand for thare offrandis,
To quhome we Communnis, on our kneis,
Doith wyrschip all thir Ymagereis;
In Kirk, in Queir, and in the closter,
Prayand to thame our Pater noster,
In pylgramage frome town to toun,
With offrand and with orisoun,
To thame aye babland on our beidis,
That thay wald help ws in our neidis.
Quhat differis this, declare to me,
Frome the Gentilis Idolatrye?
EXPE[RIENCE]
Gyff that he trew that thow reportis,
It goith rycht neir thir samyn sortis.
Bot we, be counsall of Clargye,
Hes lycence to mak Imagerye,
Quhilk of vnleirnit bene the buikis,
For, quhen lauid folk vpone thame luikis,
Itt bringith to rememberance
Off Sanctis lyuis the circumstance;
Quhow, the faith for to fortifye,
Thay sufferit pane rycht pacientlye.
Seand the Image of the Rude,
Men suld remember on the Blude
Quhilk Christ, in tyll his Passioun,
Did sched for our Saluatioun.
Or, quhen thow seis ane portrature
Off blyssit Marie, Uirgen pure,
One bony Babe vpone hir kne,
Than, in thy mynde, remember the
The wordis quhilks the Propheit said,
Quhow sche suld be boith Mother and Maid.
It goith rycht neir thir samyn sortis.
Bot we, be counsall of Clargye,
Hes lycence to mak Imagerye,
Quhilk of vnleirnit bene the buikis,
For, quhen lauid folk vpone thame luikis,
Itt bringith to rememberance
Off Sanctis lyuis the circumstance;
Quhow, the faith for to fortifye,
Thay sufferit pane rycht pacientlye.
Seand the Image of the Rude,
Men suld remember on the Blude
Quhilk Christ, in tyll his Passioun,
Did sched for our Saluatioun.
Or, quhen thow seis ane portrature
Off blyssit Marie, Uirgen pure,
One bony Babe vpone hir kne,
Than, in thy mynde, remember the
The wordis quhilks the Propheit said,
Quhow sche suld be boith Mother and Maid.
Bot quho that sittis doun on thare kneis,
Prayand tyll ony Imagereis,
With oritioun or offerand,
Kneland with cap in to thare hand,
No difference bene, I say to the,
Frome the Gentilis Idolatrye.
Prayand tyll ony Imagereis,
269
Kneland with cap in to thare hand,
No difference bene, I say to the,
Frome the Gentilis Idolatrye.
Rycht so, of diuers nationis
I reid abominationis,
Quhow Grekis maid thare deuotioun haill
To Mars, to saif thame in battaill.
Tyll Iupiter sum tuke thare vayage,
To saif thame frome the stormys rage;
Sum prayit to Uenus, from the splene,
That thay thare luffis mycht obtene;
And sum to Iuno, for ryches,
Thare pylgramage thay wald addres.
I reid abominationis,
Quhow Grekis maid thare deuotioun haill
To Mars, to saif thame in battaill.
Tyll Iupiter sum tuke thare vayage,
To saif thame frome the stormys rage;
Sum prayit to Uenus, from the splene,
That thay thare luffis mycht obtene;
And sum to Iuno, for ryches,
Thare pylgramage thay wald addres.
So doith our commoun populare,
Quhilk war to lang for tyll declare
Thare superstitious pylgramageis
To mony diuers Imageis.
Sum to sanct Roche, with deligence,
To saif thame from the pestilence;
For thare teith, to sanct Apollene;
To sanct Tredwell, to mend thare eine:
Sum makis offrande to sanct Eloye,
That he thare hors may weill conuoye;
Thay ryn, quhen thay haif Iowellis tynte,
To seik sanct Syith, or euer thay stynte;
And to sanct Germane, to get remeid
For maladeis in to thare heid.
Thay bryng mad men, on fuit and horsse,
And byndis thame to sanct Mongose crosse;
To sanct Barbara thay cry full faste,
To saif thame frome the thonder blaste;
For gude nouellis, as I heir tell,
Sum takis thare gait to Gabriell;
Sum wyffis sanct Margret doith exhort
In to thare byrth thame to support;
To sanct Anthony, to saif the soow;
To sanct Bryde, to keip calf and koow;
To sanct Bastien thay ryn and ryde,
That frome the schote he saf thare syde;
And sum, in hope to gett thare haill,
Rynnis to the auld Rude of Kerrail.
Quhowbeit thir simpyll peple rude
Think thare intentioun be bot gude,
Wo be to Priestis, I say for me,
Quhilk suld schaw thame the verratie.
Prelatis, quhilkis hes of thame the cure,
Sall mak answeir thareof, be sure,
On the gret day of Iugement,
Quhen no tyme beis for to repent,
Quhare manyfest Idolatrye
Sall puneist be perpetuallye.
Quhilk war to lang for tyll declare
Thare superstitious pylgramageis
To mony diuers Imageis.
Sum to sanct Roche, with deligence,
To saif thame from the pestilence;
For thare teith, to sanct Apollene;
To sanct Tredwell, to mend thare eine:
Sum makis offrande to sanct Eloye,
That he thare hors may weill conuoye;
Thay ryn, quhen thay haif Iowellis tynte,
To seik sanct Syith, or euer thay stynte;
And to sanct Germane, to get remeid
For maladeis in to thare heid.
Thay bryng mad men, on fuit and horsse,
And byndis thame to sanct Mongose crosse;
To sanct Barbara thay cry full faste,
To saif thame frome the thonder blaste;
For gude nouellis, as I heir tell,
Sum takis thare gait to Gabriell;
Sum wyffis sanct Margret doith exhort
In to thare byrth thame to support;
To sanct Anthony, to saif the soow;
To sanct Bryde, to keip calf and koow;
270
That frome the schote he saf thare syde;
And sum, in hope to gett thare haill,
Rynnis to the auld Rude of Kerrail.
Quhowbeit thir simpyll peple rude
Think thare intentioun be bot gude,
Wo be to Priestis, I say for me,
Quhilk suld schaw thame the verratie.
Prelatis, quhilkis hes of thame the cure,
Sall mak answeir thareof, be sure,
On the gret day of Iugement,
Quhen no tyme beis for to repent,
Quhare manyfest Idolatrye
Sall puneist be perpetuallye.
HEIR FOLLOWIS ONE EXCLAMATIOUN AGANIS IDOLATRIE.
EXPE[RIENCE].
Imprvdent Peple, Ignorant and blynd,
By quhat reasone, law, or authoritie,
Or quhat attentyck scripture, can ȝe fynd
Leifsum for tyll commyt Idolatrie?
Quhilk bene to bow ȝour body or ȝour kne,
With deuote humyll adoratioun,
Tyll ony Ydoll maid of stone or tre,
Geueand thame offerand or oblatioun.
By quhat reasone, law, or authoritie,
Or quhat attentyck scripture, can ȝe fynd
Leifsum for tyll commyt Idolatrie?
Quhilk bene to bow ȝour body or ȝour kne,
With deuote humyll adoratioun,
Tyll ony Ydoll maid of stone or tre,
Geueand thame offerand or oblatioun.
Quhy did ȝe gyf the honour, laude, and glore,
Pertenyng God (quhilk maid all thyng of nocht,
Quhilk wes, and is, and salbe euirmore)
Tyll Ymagis by mennis handis wrocht?
O fulysche folke, quhy haif ȝe succour socht
Off thame quhilk can nocht help ȝow in distres?
Ȝit reasonably reuolfe, in to ȝour thocht,
In stok nor stone can be non holynes.
Pertenyng God (quhilk maid all thyng of nocht,
Quhilk wes, and is, and salbe euirmore)
Tyll Ymagis by mennis handis wrocht?
O fulysche folke, quhy haif ȝe succour socht
Off thame quhilk can nocht help ȝow in distres?
271
In stok nor stone can be non holynes.
In the desert the peple of Israell,
Moyses remanyng in the mont Synaye,
Thay maid one moltin Calf of fyne mettell,
Quhilk thay did honour as thare God verraye;
Bot, quhen Moyses discendit, I heir saye,
And did consydder thare Ydolatrye,
Off that peple thre thousand gart he slaye,
As the scripture at lenth doith testifye.
Moyses remanyng in the mont Synaye,
Thay maid one moltin Calf of fyne mettell,
Quhilk thay did honour as thare God verraye;
Bot, quhen Moyses discendit, I heir saye,
And did consydder thare Ydolatrye,
Off that peple thre thousand gart he slaye,
As the scripture at lenth doith testifye.
Because the holye propheit Daniell
In Babilone Ydolatrie repreuit,
And wald nocht worschip thare fals Idoll Bell,
The hole peple at him wer so aggreuit,
To that effect that he suld be myscheuit,
Delyuerit hym tyll rampand Lyonis sewin;
Bot of that dangerous den he wes releuit
Throuch myrakle of the gret God of hewin.
In Babilone Ydolatrie repreuit,
And wald nocht worschip thare fals Idoll Bell,
The hole peple at him wer so aggreuit,
To that effect that he suld be myscheuit,
Delyuerit hym tyll rampand Lyonis sewin;
Bot of that dangerous den he wes releuit
Throuch myrakle of the gret God of hewin.
Behald quhow Nabuchodonosor king
Into the vaill of Duran did prepare
One image of fyne Gold, one meruallous thing,
Thre score of cubyts heycht, and sax in square,
As more cleirlye the scripture doith declare,
To quhome all peple, by proclamatioun,
With bodeis bowit, and on thare kneis bare,
Rycht humelye maid adoratioun.
Into the vaill of Duran did prepare
One image of fyne Gold, one meruallous thing,
Thre score of cubyts heycht, and sax in square,
As more cleirlye the scripture doith declare,
To quhome all peple, by proclamatioun,
With bodeis bowit, and on thare kneis bare,
Rycht humelye maid adoratioun.
Ane gret wounder, that day, wes sene, also,
Quhow Nabuchodonosor, in his yre,
Tuke Sydrach, Misach, and Abednago,
Quhilks wald nocht bow thare kne, at his desyre
Tyll that Idoll, gart kast thame in the fyre,
For to be brynt, or he sterit of that steid.
Quhen he beleuit thay wer brynt, bone and lyre,
Wes nocht consumit one small hair of thair heid.
Quhow Nabuchodonosor, in his yre,
Tuke Sydrach, Misach, and Abednago,
Quhilks wald nocht bow thare kne, at his desyre
Tyll that Idoll, gart kast thame in the fyre,
For to be brynt, or he sterit of that steid.
Quhen he beleuit thay wer brynt, bone and lyre,
Wes nocht consumit one small hair of thair heid.
272
The Angell of the Lord wes with thame sene,
In that hait furneis passing vpe and doun,
In tyll ane rosye Garth as thay had bene,
None spott of fyre distenyng cote nor goun.
Off victorie thay did obtene the croun,
And wer, to thame that maid adoratioun
To that Ydoll, or bowit thare body doun,
One wytnessing of thare dampnatioun.
In that hait furneis passing vpe and doun,
In tyll ane rosye Garth as thay had bene,
None spott of fyre distenyng cote nor goun.
Off victorie thay did obtene the croun,
And wer, to thame that maid adoratioun
To that Ydoll, or bowit thare body doun,
One wytnessing of thare dampnatioun.
Quhat wes the cause, at me thow may demande,
That Salomone vsit none Ymagrye
In his tryumphand Tempyll for tyll stande,
Off Abraham, Ysac, Iacobe, nor Iesse,
Nor of Moyses, thare sauegarde throuch the see,
Nor Iosue, thare valȝeant Campioun?
Because God did command the contrarye
That thay sulde vse sic superstitioun.
That Salomone vsit none Ymagrye
In his tryumphand Tempyll for tyll stande,
Off Abraham, Ysac, Iacobe, nor Iesse,
Nor of Moyses, thare sauegarde throuch the see,
Nor Iosue, thare valȝeant Campioun?
Because God did command the contrarye
That thay sulde vse sic superstitioun.
Behald quhow the gret God Omnipotent,
To preserue Israell frome Idolatrye,
Derectit thame one strait commandiment,
Thay suld nocht mak none caruit ymagrye,
Nother of gold, of syluer, stone, nor tre,
Nor gyf worschip tyll ony simlytude
Beand in hewin, in erth, nor in the see,
Bot onelye tyll his souerane celsitude.
To preserue Israell frome Idolatrye,
Derectit thame one strait commandiment,
Thay suld nocht mak none caruit ymagrye,
Nother of gold, of syluer, stone, nor tre,
Nor gyf worschip tyll ony simlytude
Beand in hewin, in erth, nor in the see,
Bot onelye tyll his souerane celsitude.
The Propheit Dauid planely did repreue
Ydolatrye, to thare confutioun
In grauit stok or stone that did beleue,
Declaryng thame thare gret abutioun;
Spekand, in maner of dirysioun,
Quhow dede Idolis, be mennis handis wrocht,
Quham thay honourit with humyll orisioun,
Wer in the markat daylie sauld and bocht.
Ydolatrye, to thare confutioun
In grauit stok or stone that did beleue,
Declaryng thame thare gret abutioun;
Spekand, in maner of dirysioun,
Quhow dede Idolis, be mennis handis wrocht,
Quham thay honourit with humyll orisioun,
Wer in the markat daylie sauld and bocht.
The Deuyllis, seand the euyll conditioun
Off the Gentylis, and thare vnfaithfulnes,
For tyll agment thare superstitioun,
In those Ydolis thay maid thare entres,
And in thame spak, as storyis doith expres.
Than men beleuit of thame to gett releif,
Askand thame help in all thare besynes;
Bot, finallye, that turnit to thare myscheif.
Off the Gentylis, and thare vnfaithfulnes,
273
In those Ydolis thay maid thare entres,
And in thame spak, as storyis doith expres.
Than men beleuit of thame to gett releif,
Askand thame help in all thare besynes;
Bot, finallye, that turnit to thare myscheif.
Traist weill, in thame is none Diuinitie,
Quhen reik & rowst thare fair colour doith faid:
Thocht thay haue feit, one fute thay can not flee,
Quhowbeit the tempyll byrn abone thair haid.
In thame is nother freindschip nor remaid.
In sic fyguris quhat fauour can ȝe fynd?
With mouth, and eris, & eine thocht thay be maid,
All men may se thay ar dum, deif, and blynd.
Quhen reik & rowst thare fair colour doith faid:
Thocht thay haue feit, one fute thay can not flee,
Quhowbeit the tempyll byrn abone thair haid.
In thame is nother freindschip nor remaid.
In sic fyguris quhat fauour can ȝe fynd?
With mouth, and eris, & eine thocht thay be maid,
All men may se thay ar dum, deif, and blynd.
Quhowbeit thay fal doun flatlyngis on the flure,
Thay haif none strenth thare self to rais agane;
Thocht Rattonis ouir thame ryn, thay tak no cure;
Quhowbeit thai breik thare neck, they feil no pane.
Quhy sulde men psalmes to thame sing or sane?
Sen growand treis that ȝeirly berith frute
Ar more to pryse, I mak it to the plane,
Nor cuttit stockis, wanting boith crope and rute.
Thay haif none strenth thare self to rais agane;
Thocht Rattonis ouir thame ryn, thay tak no cure;
Quhowbeit thai breik thare neck, they feil no pane.
Quhy sulde men psalmes to thame sing or sane?
Sen growand treis that ȝeirly berith frute
Ar more to pryse, I mak it to the plane,
Nor cuttit stockis, wanting boith crope and rute.
Off Edinburgh the gret Idolatrye
And manifest abominatioun,
On thare feist day, all creature may se.
Thay beir ane auld stock Image throuch the toun,
With talbrone, troumpet, schalme, and Clarioun,
Quhilk hes bene vsit mony one ȝeir bigone,
With preistis and freris in to processioun,
Siclyke as Bell wes borne throuch Babilone.
And manifest abominatioun,
On thare feist day, all creature may se.
Thay beir ane auld stock Image throuch the toun,
With talbrone, troumpet, schalme, and Clarioun,
Quhilk hes bene vsit mony one ȝeir bigone,
With preistis and freris in to processioun,
Siclyke as Bell wes borne throuch Babilone.
Aschame ȝe nocht, ȝe seculare prestis and freris,
Tyll so gret superstitioun to consent?
Ydolateris ȝe haue bene mony ȝeris,
Expresse agane the Lordis commandiment.
Quharefor, brether, I counsall ȝow, repent.
Gyff no honour to caruit stock nor stone;
Geue laude and glore to God Omnipotent
Allanerlie, as wyselie wryttis Ihone.
Tyll so gret superstitioun to consent?
Ydolateris ȝe haue bene mony ȝeris,
Expresse agane the Lordis commandiment.
274
Gyff no honour to caruit stock nor stone;
Geue laude and glore to God Omnipotent
Allanerlie, as wyselie wryttis Ihone.
Fy on ȝow Freris that vsis for to preche,
And dois assist to sic Idolatrye.
Quhy do ȝe nocht the Ignorant peple teche
Quhow ane dede Image, caruit of one tre,
As it wer holy sulde nocht honourit be,
Nor borne on Burges backis vp and doun?
Bot ȝe schaw planely ȝour Ipocrasie,
Quhen ȝe passe formest in processioun.
And dois assist to sic Idolatrye.
Quhy do ȝe nocht the Ignorant peple teche
Quhow ane dede Image, caruit of one tre,
As it wer holy sulde nocht honourit be,
Nor borne on Burges backis vp and doun?
Bot ȝe schaw planely ȝour Ipocrasie,
Quhen ȝe passe formest in processioun.
Fy on ȝow fostraris of Idolatrye,
That tyll ane dede stock dois sic reuerence,
In presens of the peple, publykelie.
Feir ȝe nocht God, to commit sic offence?
I counsall ȝow, do ȝit ȝour diligence
To gar suppresse sic gret abusioun.
Do ȝe nocht so, I dreid ȝour recompence
Salbe nocht ellis bot clene confusioun.
That tyll ane dede stock dois sic reuerence,
In presens of the peple, publykelie.
Feir ȝe nocht God, to commit sic offence?
I counsall ȝow, do ȝit ȝour diligence
To gar suppresse sic gret abusioun.
Do ȝe nocht so, I dreid ȝour recompence
Salbe nocht ellis bot clene confusioun.
Had sanct Frances bene borne out throuch the toun,
Or sanct Domnick, thocht ȝe had nocht refusit
With thame tyll haif past in processioun,
In tyll that cais sum wald haif ȝow excusit.
Now men may see quhow that ȝe haue abusit
That nobyll town, throuch ȝour Ipocrasye.
Those peple trowis that thay may rycht weill vs it,
Quhen ȝe pas with thame in to cumpanye.
Or sanct Domnick, thocht ȝe had nocht refusit
With thame tyll haif past in processioun,
In tyll that cais sum wald haif ȝow excusit.
Now men may see quhow that ȝe haue abusit
That nobyll town, throuch ȝour Ipocrasye.
Those peple trowis that thay may rycht weill vs it,
Quhen ȝe pas with thame in to cumpanye.
Sum of ȝow hes bene quyet counsallouris
Prouocand princis to sched saikles blude,
Quhilk neuir did ȝour prudent predecessouris.
Bot ȝe lyke furious Phariceis, denude
Off charitie quhilk rent Christ on the rude.
For Christis floke, without malyce or yre,
Conuertit fragyll faltouris, I conclude,
Be Goddis worde, withouttin sweird or fyre.
Prouocand princis to sched saikles blude,
Quhilk neuir did ȝour prudent predecessouris.
Bot ȝe lyke furious Phariceis, denude
Off charitie quhilk rent Christ on the rude.
For Christis floke, without malyce or yre,
275
Be Goddis worde, withouttin sweird or fyre.
Reid ȝe nocht quhow that Christ hes gyffin command,
Gyff thy brother doith oucht the tyll offend,
Than secretlye correct hym, hand for hand,
In freindly maner, or thow forther wend.
Gyff he wyll nocht heir the, than mak it kend
Tyll one, or two, be trew narratioun.
Gyf he, for thame, wyll nocht his mys amend,
Declare hym to the congregatioun.
Gyff thy brother doith oucht the tyll offend,
Than secretlye correct hym, hand for hand,
In freindly maner, or thow forther wend.
Gyff he wyll nocht heir the, than mak it kend
Tyll one, or two, be trew narratioun.
Gyf he, for thame, wyll nocht his mys amend,
Declare hym to the congregatioun.
And, gyf he ȝit remanith obstinat,
And to the holy kirk Incounsolable,
Than lyke ane Turke hald hym excomminicat,
And with all faithfull folk abhominabyll,
Banysing hym, that he be no more able
To dwell amang the faithfull cumpanye.
Quhen he repentis, be nocht vnmerciable,
Bot hym ressaue agane rycht tenderlye.
And to the holy kirk Incounsolable,
Than lyke ane Turke hald hym excomminicat,
And with all faithfull folk abhominabyll,
Banysing hym, that he be no more able
To dwell amang the faithfull cumpanye.
Quhen he repentis, be nocht vnmerciable,
Bot hym ressaue agane rycht tenderlye.
Bot our dum Doctoris of Diuinitie,
And ȝe of the last fonde religioun,
Off pure Transgressouris ȝe haue no petie,
Bot cryis to put thame to confusioun;
As cryit the Iowis, for the effusioun
Off Christis blude, in to thare byrnand yre,
Crucifige, so ȝe, with one vnioun,
Cryis fy, gar cast that faltour in the fyre.
And ȝe of the last fonde religioun,
Off pure Transgressouris ȝe haue no petie,
Bot cryis to put thame to confusioun;
As cryit the Iowis, for the effusioun
Off Christis blude, in to thare byrnand yre,
Crucifige, so ȝe, with one vnioun,
Cryis fy, gar cast that faltour in the fyre.
Unmercifull memberis of the Antichrist,
Extolland ȝour humane traditione
Contrar the Institutione of Christ,
Effeir ȝe nocht Diuine punytione?
Thocht sum of ȝow be gude of conditione,
Reddy for to ressaue new recent wyne,
I speik to ȝow auld bosis of perditione,
Returne in tyme, or ȝe ryn to rewyne,
Extolland ȝour humane traditione
Contrar the Institutione of Christ,
Effeir ȝe nocht Diuine punytione?
Thocht sum of ȝow be gude of conditione,
Reddy for to ressaue new recent wyne,
I speik to ȝow auld bosis of perditione,
Returne in tyme, or ȝe ryn to rewyne,
276
As ran the peruerst Prophetis of Baall,
Quhilkis did consent to the Idolatrye
Off wickit Achab, king of Israell,
Quhose nommer wer four hundreth and fyftie,
Quhilkis honourit that Idoll opinlye.
Bot, quhen Elias did preue thare abusioun,
He gart the peple sla thame creuellye;
So at one hour came thare confusioun.
Quhilkis did consent to the Idolatrye
Off wickit Achab, king of Israell,
Quhose nommer wer four hundreth and fyftie,
Quhilkis honourit that Idoll opinlye.
Bot, quhen Elias did preue thare abusioun,
He gart the peple sla thame creuellye;
So at one hour came thare confusioun.
I pray ȝow, prent in ȝour rememb[e]rance
Quhow the reid Freris, for thare Idolatrye,
In Scotland, Ingland, Spane, Italy, & France,
Upone one day wer puneissit pietuouslye.
Behald quhow ȝour awin brether, now laitlye,
In Ducheland, Ingland, Denmark, and Norowaye,
Ar trampit doun, with thare Ipocrasye,
And, as the snaw, ar meltit clene awaye.
Quhow the reid Freris, for thare Idolatrye,
In Scotland, Ingland, Spane, Italy, & France,
Upone one day wer puneissit pietuouslye.
Behald quhow ȝour awin brether, now laitlye,
In Ducheland, Ingland, Denmark, and Norowaye,
Ar trampit doun, with thare Ipocrasye,
And, as the snaw, ar meltit clene awaye.
I maruell that our Byschoppis thynkis no schame
To gyf ȝow freris sic preheminens,
Tyll vse thare office, to thare gret diffame,
Precheing for thame in opin audiens.
Bot, mycht A Byschope eik tyll his awin expens,
For ilk Sermone, ten Ducatis in his hand,
He wald, or he did want that recompens,
Go preche hym self, boith in to burgh and land.
To gyf ȝow freris sic preheminens,
Tyll vse thare office, to thare gret diffame,
Precheing for thame in opin audiens.
Bot, mycht A Byschope eik tyll his awin expens,
For ilk Sermone, ten Ducatis in his hand,
He wald, or he did want that recompens,
Go preche hym self, boith in to burgh and land.
I traist to se gude reformatione
From tyme we gett ane faithfull prudent king
Quhilk knawis the treuth and his vocatione.
All Publicanis, I traist, he wyll doun thring,
And wyll nocht suffer in his realme to ring
Corruppit Scrybis, nor fals Pharisiens,
Agane the treuth quhilk planely doith maling:
Tyll that kyng cum we mon tak paciens.
From tyme we gett ane faithfull prudent king
Quhilk knawis the treuth and his vocatione.
All Publicanis, I traist, he wyll doun thring,
And wyll nocht suffer in his realme to ring
Corruppit Scrybis, nor fals Pharisiens,
Agane the treuth quhilk planely doith maling:
Tyll that kyng cum we mon tak paciens.
Now fairweill, freindis, because I can nocht flyte.
Quhowbeit I culde, ȝe mon hald me excusit,
Thocht I agane Ydolatrye Indyte,
Or thame dispyte that wyl nocht ȝit refus it.
I praye to God that it be no more vsit
Amang the rewlaris of this Regioun,
That commoun peple be no more abusit,
Bot gyf hym glore that bair the creuell croun,
Quhowbeit I culde, ȝe mon hald me excusit,
277
Or thame dispyte that wyl nocht ȝit refus it.
I praye to God that it be no more vsit
Amang the rewlaris of this Regioun,
That commoun peple be no more abusit,
Bot gyf hym glore that bair the creuell croun,
Quhilk techeit ws, be his deuine Scripture,
Tyll rycht prayer the perfyte reddy way;
As wrytith Matthew, in his sext Chepture,
In quhat maner and to quhome we suld pray
One schort compendious orisone, euerilk day,
Most proffitabyll for boith body and saull;
The quhilk is nocht derectit, I heir say,
To Ihone, nor Iames, to Peter nor to Paull,
Tyll rycht prayer the perfyte reddy way;
As wrytith Matthew, in his sext Chepture,
In quhat maner and to quhome we suld pray
One schort compendious orisone, euerilk day,
Most proffitabyll for boith body and saull;
The quhilk is nocht derectit, I heir say,
To Ihone, nor Iames, to Peter nor to Paull,
Nor none vther of the Apostlis twelf,
Nor to no Sanct, nor Angell in the Hewin,
Bot onely tyll our Father, God hym self.
Quhilk orisione it doith contene, full ewin,
Most proffitabyll for ws, petetionis sewin,
Quhilk we lawid folk the Pater Noster call.
Thocht we say Psalmis nyne, ten, or alewin,
Off all prayer this bene the principall,
Nor to no Sanct, nor Angell in the Hewin,
Bot onely tyll our Father, God hym self.
Quhilk orisione it doith contene, full ewin,
Most proffitabyll for ws, petetionis sewin,
Quhilk we lawid folk the Pater Noster call.
Thocht we say Psalmis nyne, ten, or alewin,
Off all prayer this bene the principall,
Be reasoun of the makkar quhilk it maid,
Quhilk wes the Sonne of God, our Saluiour,
Be reasoun, als, to quhome it suld be said,
Tyll the Father of hewin, our Creatour,
Quhilk dwellis nocht in tempyll nor in tour.
He cleirlye seis our thocht, wyll, and intent:
Quhat nedith ws at vtheris seik succour,
Quhen in all place his power bene present?
Quhilk wes the Sonne of God, our Saluiour,
Be reasoun, als, to quhome it suld be said,
Tyll the Father of hewin, our Creatour,
Quhilk dwellis nocht in tempyll nor in tour.
He cleirlye seis our thocht, wyll, and intent:
Quhat nedith ws at vtheris seik succour,
Quhen in all place his power bene present?
Ȝe princis of the preistis, that suld preche,
Quhy suffer ȝe so gret abutioun?
Quhy do ȝe nocht the sempyll peple teche
Quhow and to quhome to dresse thare orisoun?
Quhy thole ȝe thame to ryn frome toun to toun,
In Pylgramage tyll ony Ymagreis,
Hopand to gett, thare, sum Saluatioun,
Prayand to thame deuotlye on thare kneis?
Quhy suffer ȝe so gret abutioun?
Quhy do ȝe nocht the sempyll peple teche
Quhow and to quhome to dresse thare orisoun?
278
In Pylgramage tyll ony Ymagreis,
Hopand to gett, thare, sum Saluatioun,
Prayand to thame deuotlye on thare kneis?
This wes the prettike of sum pylgramage.
Quhen fillokis, in to Fyfe, began to fon,
With Ioke & Thom than tuke thay thare vayage
In Angusse, tyll the feild Chapell of Dron.
Than Kyttoke thare, als cadye as ane Con,
Without regarde other to Syn or schame,
Gaiff Lowre leif at layser to loupe on:
Far better had bene tyll haif biddin at hame.
Quhen fillokis, in to Fyfe, began to fon,
With Ioke & Thom than tuke thay thare vayage
In Angusse, tyll the feild Chapell of Dron.
Than Kyttoke thare, als cadye as ane Con,
Without regarde other to Syn or schame,
Gaiff Lowre leif at layser to loupe on:
Far better had bene tyll haif biddin at hame.
I haue sene pass one meruellous multytude,
Ȝong men and wemen, flyngand on thare feit,
Under the forme of feynit sanctytude,
For tyll adore one Image in Loreit.
Mony came with thare marrowis for to meit,
Committand, thare, fowll fornicatioun.
Sum kyst the claggit taill of the Armeit.
Quhy thole ȝe this abominatioun?
Ȝong men and wemen, flyngand on thare feit,
Under the forme of feynit sanctytude,
For tyll adore one Image in Loreit.
Mony came with thare marrowis for to meit,
Committand, thare, fowll fornicatioun.
Sum kyst the claggit taill of the Armeit.
Quhy thole ȝe this abominatioun?
Off Fornicatioun and Idolatrye
Apperandlye ȝe tak bot lytill cure,
Seand the maruellous Infelicitye
Quhilk heth so lang done in this land indure,
In ȝour defalt quhilk heth the charge and cure.
This bene of treuth, my Lordis, with ȝour leue,
Sic pylgramage heth maid mony one hure,
Quhilk, gyf I plesit, planelye I mycht preue.
Apperandlye ȝe tak bot lytill cure,
Seand the maruellous Infelicitye
Quhilk heth so lang done in this land indure,
In ȝour defalt quhilk heth the charge and cure.
This bene of treuth, my Lordis, with ȝour leue,
Sic pylgramage heth maid mony one hure,
Quhilk, gyf I plesit, planelye I mycht preue.
Quhy mak ȝe nocht the scripture manifest
To pure peple, twyching Idolatrye?
In ȝour precheing quhy haif ȝe nocht exprest
Quhow mony kyngis of Israell creuellye
Wer puneissit, be God, so rigorouslye?
As Ieroboam, and mony mo, but doute,
For wyrschippyng of caruit Imagerye,
War frome thare realmes rudlye rutit oute.
To pure peple, twyching Idolatrye?
In ȝour precheing quhy haif ȝe nocht exprest
Quhow mony kyngis of Israell creuellye
279
As Ieroboam, and mony mo, but doute,
For wyrschippyng of caruit Imagerye,
War frome thare realmes rudlye rutit oute.
Quhy thole ȝe, onder ȝour Dominioun,
Ane craftye preist, or fenȝeit fals armeit,
Abufe the peple of this Regioun,
Onely for thare perticular profeit,
And, speciallye, that Heremeit of Lawreit?
He pat the comoun peple in beleue
That blynd gat seycht, and crukit gat thare feit,
The quhilk that palȝard no way can appreue.
Ane craftye preist, or fenȝeit fals armeit,
Abufe the peple of this Regioun,
Onely for thare perticular profeit,
And, speciallye, that Heremeit of Lawreit?
He pat the comoun peple in beleue
That blynd gat seycht, and crukit gat thare feit,
The quhilk that palȝard no way can appreue.
Ȝe maryit men that hes trym wantoun wyffis,
And lusty dochteris of ȝoung tender aige,
Quhose honestie ȝe suld lufe as ȝour lyffis,
Permyt thame nocht to passe in pylgramage,
To seik support at ony stok Image.
For I haue wyttin gud wemen passe fra hame,
Quhilk hes bene trappit with sic lustis rage,
Hes done returne boith with gret syn and schame.
And lusty dochteris of ȝoung tender aige,
Quhose honestie ȝe suld lufe as ȝour lyffis,
Permyt thame nocht to passe in pylgramage,
To seik support at ony stok Image.
For I haue wyttin gud wemen passe fra hame,
Quhilk hes bene trappit with sic lustis rage,
Hes done returne boith with gret syn and schame.
Gett vpe, thow slepist all to lang, O Lorde,
And mak one haistie reformatioun
On thame quhilk doith tramp doun thi gratious worde,
And hes ane deidly Indignatioun
Att thame quhilk makith trew narratioun
Off thy Gospell, schawing the verytie.
O Lord, I mak the supplicatioun,
Supporte our Faith, our Hope, and Charytie.
And mak one haistie reformatioun
On thame quhilk doith tramp doun thi gratious worde,
And hes ane deidly Indignatioun
Att thame quhilk makith trew narratioun
Off thy Gospell, schawing the verytie.
O Lord, I mak the supplicatioun,
Supporte our Faith, our Hope, and Charytie.
FINIS.
280
HEIR FOLLOUIS QUHOV KYNG NYNUS BEILDIT THE GRET CITIE OF NYNIUE, AND QUHOW HE UINCUSTE ZOROASTES, THE KYNG OFF BACTRIA.
[EXPERIENCE].
This Nynus, of Asseria king,
Quhen he had maid his conquessing,
To beild one Citie he hym drest,
Chosing the place quhare he thocht best,
Quhare he had first dominioun,
In Asseria, his awin regioun.
Thocht Assur, as the scriptur says,
Quhilk come affore king Nynus dayis,
And foundit that famous Citie,
The quhilk was callit Nyniue,
Bot, as rehersis Diodore,
Nynus that Citie did decore
So maruellous tryumphantlye,
As ȝe sall heir Immedeatlye,
Upone the flude of Euphrates,
Quhilk to behauld gret wounder wes.
One hundreth and fyftye stagys
That Citie wes of lenth, I wys.
The wallis, one hundreth fute of heycht,
No wounder was thocht thay wer wycht.
Sick breid, abufe the wallis, thare was,
Thre cartis mycht sydlingis on thame pas.
Four hundreth stageis and four score
In circuit, but myn or more.
Off towris, aboute those wallis, I wene,
Ane thousand and fyne hundreth bene,
Off heycht two hundreth fute and more,
As wryttis famous Diodore.
Quhen he had maid his conquessing,
To beild one Citie he hym drest,
Chosing the place quhare he thocht best,
Quhare he had first dominioun,
In Asseria, his awin regioun.
Thocht Assur, as the scriptur says,
Quhilk come affore king Nynus dayis,
And foundit that famous Citie,
The quhilk was callit Nyniue,
Bot, as rehersis Diodore,
Nynus that Citie did decore
So maruellous tryumphantlye,
As ȝe sall heir Immedeatlye,
Upone the flude of Euphrates,
Quhilk to behauld gret wounder wes.
One hundreth and fyftye stagys
That Citie wes of lenth, I wys.
The wallis, one hundreth fute of heycht,
No wounder was thocht thay wer wycht.
Sick breid, abufe the wallis, thare was,
Thre cartis mycht sydlingis on thame pas.
Four hundreth stageis and four score
In circuit, but myn or more.
Off towris, aboute those wallis, I wene,
Ane thousand and fyne hundreth bene,
Off heycht two hundreth fute and more,
As wryttis famous Diodore.
281
The scripture makis mentioun,
Quhen God send Ionas to that toun,
To schaw thame of his puneisment,
Outthrouch the Citie quhen he went,
Thre dayis Iornay tyll hym it wes:
The Bybill sayis it wes no les.
Quhen God send Ionas to that toun,
To schaw thame of his puneisment,
Outthrouch the Citie quhen he went,
Thre dayis Iornay tyll hym it wes:
The Bybill sayis it wes no les.
My Sonne, now haif I schawin to the
Off the beildyng of Nyniue.
For the agmentyng of his fame,
Nynus gart call it efter his name.
Off the beildyng of Nyniue.
For the agmentyng of his fame,
Nynus gart call it efter his name.
Quhen he that gret Citie had endit,
To conques more ȝit he intendit,
And did depart frome Nyniue,
And rasit vp one gret arme
Off the most stalwarte men and stoute
Off all his Regionis rounde aboute,
In gret ordour tuke thare Iorna,
Towarte the realme of Bactria.
Off wycht fute men, I vnderstande,
He had sewintene hundreth thousande,
Withoute hors men and weirlyke cairtis,
Quhome he ordourit in sindry partis,
Quhilk tyll discryue I am nocht abyll,
Quhose nummer bene so vntrowabyll.
To conques more ȝit he intendit,
And did depart frome Nyniue,
And rasit vp one gret arme
Off the most stalwarte men and stoute
Off all his Regionis rounde aboute,
In gret ordour tuke thare Iorna,
Towarte the realme of Bactria.
Off wycht fute men, I vnderstande,
He had sewintene hundreth thousande,
Withoute hors men and weirlyke cairtis,
Quhome he ordourit in sindry partis,
Quhilk tyll discryue I am nocht abyll,
Quhose nummer bene so vntrowabyll.
Zoroastes, that nobyll kyng,
Quhilk Bactria had in gouernyng,
That prudent Prince, as I heir tell,
Did in Astronomye precell,
And fand the Art of Magica,
With naturall science mony ma,
Seand king Nynus on the feilde,
Fordwart he cam, with speir and scheilde;
Foure hundreth thousand men he wes,
In his Armie thare wes no les;
And mett king Nynus, on the bordoure,
Rycht vailȝantlie, and in gude ordoure.
On the Uangarde of his Armie,
On thame he ruscheit rycht rudelie,
And of thame slew, as I heir saye,
One hundreth thousand men, that day.
The rest that chapit wer vnslane,
To Nynus gret oiste fled agane.
Quhilk Bactria had in gouernyng,
That prudent Prince, as I heir tell,
Did in Astronomye precell,
And fand the Art of Magica,
With naturall science mony ma,
Seand king Nynus on the feilde,
Fordwart he cam, with speir and scheilde;
Foure hundreth thousand men he wes,
In his Armie thare wes no les;
And mett king Nynus, on the bordoure,
Rycht vailȝantlie, and in gude ordoure.
On the Uangarde of his Armie,
On thame he ruscheit rycht rudelie,
282
One hundreth thousand men, that day.
The rest that chapit wer vnslane,
To Nynus gret oiste fled agane.
Off that king Nynus wes so noyit,
He restit neuir tyll he distroyit
All hoill that Regioun, vpe and doun,
And frome the King did reif the croun,
And maid the realme of Bactria
Subiectit tyll Asseria.
And in that samyn land, I wys,
He tuk to wyfe Semeramis,
Quha (as myne Author dois discryue)
Was, than, the lustiest on lyue.
That beand done, without sudgeorne
Tyll Nyniue he did returne,
With gret tryumphe of victorie.
As myne Authore dois specifie,
Boith Occident and Orient
War all tyll hym obedient.
It wald abhore the tyll heir red
The saikles blude that he did sched.
Quhen he had roung, as thow may heir,
The space of thre and fourtye ȝeir,
Beand in his excelland glore,
The dolent deith did hym deuore.
In quhat sorte, I am nocht certane.
Sum Author sayis that he wes slane,
And left, tyll bruke his Heretage,
One lytill Babe of tender aige.
Ȝoung Nynus wes the chyldis name,
Quhilk efter fluryste in gret fame.
Sum sayis that, be his wyffis treasoun,
Kyng Nynus deit in presoun,
As I sall schaw, or I hyne fair,
Quhow Diodore hath done declair.
He restit neuir tyll he distroyit
All hoill that Regioun, vpe and doun,
And frome the King did reif the croun,
And maid the realme of Bactria
Subiectit tyll Asseria.
And in that samyn land, I wys,
He tuk to wyfe Semeramis,
Quha (as myne Author dois discryue)
Was, than, the lustiest on lyue.
That beand done, without sudgeorne
Tyll Nyniue he did returne,
With gret tryumphe of victorie.
As myne Authore dois specifie,
Boith Occident and Orient
War all tyll hym obedient.
It wald abhore the tyll heir red
The saikles blude that he did sched.
Quhen he had roung, as thow may heir,
The space of thre and fourtye ȝeir,
Beand in his excelland glore,
The dolent deith did hym deuore.
In quhat sorte, I am nocht certane.
Sum Author sayis that he wes slane,
And left, tyll bruke his Heretage,
One lytill Babe of tender aige.
Ȝoung Nynus wes the chyldis name,
Quhilk efter fluryste in gret fame.
Sum sayis that, be his wyffis treasoun,
Kyng Nynus deit in presoun,
As I sall schaw, or I hyne fair,
Quhow Diodore hath done declair.
FINIS
283
HEIR FOLLOWIS SUM OF THE VVOUNDERFULL DEDIS OF THE LUSTIE QUENE SEMERAMIS.
[EXPERIENCE].
Nynvs luffit so Ardentlye
Semeramis, his fair Ladye,
Thare wes no thyng scho wald command
Bot al obeyit wes fra hand.
Scho, seand hym so Amorous,
Scho grew proude and presumptuous,
And at the king scho did desyre
Fyue dayis to gouerne his Impyre.
And he, of his beneuolence,
Did grant hir that preheminence,
With Sceptour, Crown, and Robroyall,
And hole power Imperiall,
Tyll fyue dayis wer cum and gone,
That scho, as king, sulde ring allone.
Semeramis, his fair Ladye,
Thare wes no thyng scho wald command
Bot al obeyit wes fra hand.
Scho, seand hym so Amorous,
Scho grew proude and presumptuous,
And at the king scho did desyre
Fyue dayis to gouerne his Impyre.
And he, of his beneuolence,
Did grant hir that preheminence,
With Sceptour, Crown, and Robroyall,
And hole power Imperiall,
Tyll fyue dayis wer cum and gone,
That scho, as king, sulde ring allone.
Than all the Princis of the land
Duryng that tyme maid hir ane band.
With bankat Royall myrrellie
Scho treatit thame Tryumphantlie.
So, the first day, the peple all
Came tyll hir seruyce, bound and thrall.
Bot, or the secunde day wes gone,
Scho tuke sic glore to ryng allone,
Be one decreit, maid thame amang,
The king scho patt in presone strang.
I reid weill of his presoning,
Bot nocht of his delyuering.
Quhow euir, it wes in tyll his flowris
He did of deith suffer the schowris,
Any mycht nocht lenth his lyfe one houre,
Thocht he wes the first Concreoure,
Quhose Conquessing, for to conclude,
Wes nocht bot gret schedding of blude.
Now haue ȝe hard of Nynus king,
Quhow he began, and his ending,
Quhowbeid myne Author, Diodore,
Off hym haith wryttin mekle more.
Princis, for wrangus conquessing,
Doith mak, oft tymes, ane euyll ending.
Thocht he had lang prosperitie,
He endit with miseretie.
Duryng that tyme maid hir ane band.
With bankat Royall myrrellie
Scho treatit thame Tryumphantlie.
So, the first day, the peple all
Came tyll hir seruyce, bound and thrall.
Bot, or the secunde day wes gone,
Scho tuke sic glore to ryng allone,
Be one decreit, maid thame amang,
The king scho patt in presone strang.
I reid weill of his presoning,
Bot nocht of his delyuering.
Quhow euir, it wes in tyll his flowris
He did of deith suffer the schowris,
Any mycht nocht lenth his lyfe one houre,
Thocht he wes the first Concreoure,
284
Wes nocht bot gret schedding of blude.
Now haue ȝe hard of Nynus king,
Quhow he began, and his ending,
Quhowbeid myne Author, Diodore,
Off hym haith wryttin mekle more.
Princis, for wrangus conquessing,
Doith mak, oft tymes, ane euyll ending.
Thocht he had lang prosperitie,
He endit with miseretie.
FINIS.
OFF KYNG NYNUS SEPULTURE.
EXPERIENCE.
The Quene a sepultur sche maid,
Quhar sche king Nynus body laid,
Off curius crafty wark & wycht,
The quhilk had stagis ix. of hycht,
& ten stagis of breid it wes:
Diodore saith it wes no les.
For aucht Stagis one myle thow tak,
And thairefter thy nummer mak.
So, be this compt, it wes, full rycht,
One myle als and one stage of hycht.
Except the Towre of Babilone,
So heych one wark I reid of none.
Quhar sche king Nynus body laid,
Off curius crafty wark & wycht,
The quhilk had stagis ix. of hycht,
& ten stagis of breid it wes:
Diodore saith it wes no les.
For aucht Stagis one myle thow tak,
And thairefter thy nummer mak.
So, be this compt, it wes, full rycht,
One myle als and one stage of hycht.
Except the Towre of Babilone,
So heych one wark I reid of none.
Semiramis, this lustye Quene,
Consyddring quhat dainger bene
To haif on King of tender aige,
Quhilk mycht nocht vse no vassalage,
Scho tuke one curagious consait,
Thinkand that scho wald mak debait,
Geue ony maid rebellioun
Contrar hir Sonne, or his Regioun,
Quhome sche did foster tenderly,
And kepit hym full quyetly.
Scho laid apart hir awin cleithyng,
And tuke the Rayment of ane king.
Quhen scho wes in tyll Armour dycht,
Mycht no man knaw hir be one knycht.
Scho valȝeantlye went to the weir,
And to gyf battell tuke na feir,
Dantyng all Realmes rounde aboute,
That all the warld of hir had doute,
More fortunat, in hir conquessing,
Nor wes hir Husband, Nynus king.
Consyddring quhat dainger bene
To haif on King of tender aige,
Quhilk mycht nocht vse no vassalage,
Scho tuke one curagious consait,
Thinkand that scho wald mak debait,
285
Contrar hir Sonne, or his Regioun,
Quhome sche did foster tenderly,
And kepit hym full quyetly.
Scho laid apart hir awin cleithyng,
And tuke the Rayment of ane king.
Quhen scho wes in tyll Armour dycht,
Mycht no man knaw hir be one knycht.
Scho valȝeantlye went to the weir,
And to gyf battell tuke na feir,
Dantyng all Realmes rounde aboute,
That all the warld of hir had doute,
More fortunat, in hir conquessing,
Nor wes hir Husband, Nynus king.
Babilone scho did fortyfie.
Templis and towris, tryumphandlie,
So plesandlye did thame prepair,
Quhilk in the erth had no compair.
Quhowbeid Nemrod, of quhome I spake,
The hydduous dungeoun he gart make,
And of the Citie the Fundiment,
To quhome God maid Impediment,
Quhare Nemrod left, thare scho began,
And pat to wark mony one man
Off all the Realmes round aboute.
Off most Ingyne scho socht thame oute.
Scho had, wyrkand with tre and stonis,
Twelf hundreth thousand men at onis.
Go reid the buke of Diodore,
And thow sall fynd the nummer more.
On euerilk syde of Euphrates
That nobyll Citie beildit wes,
And so that ryuer of renown
Ran throuch the mydpart of the town.
Ouerthort that flude scho bryggis maid
Off maruellous strenth, boith lang and braid.
Thay wer fyue stagis large of lenth:
On euerilk bryg scho maid ane strenth.
The circuit, as I said affore,
Foure hundreth stagis and four score.
The wallis hycht, quho wald discryue,
Thre hundreth fute, thre score, and fyue.
Sax Cairtis mycht pas, rycht easalie,
Abufe the wallis of that Citie,
Sydlingis, withoute Impediment.
Consydder, be ȝour Iugement,
Geue those wallis wer hie, or nocht,
And also curiouslye wer wrocht,
As Diodore hes done defyne,
Quhilk doith transcend my rude Ingyne,
Off Babilone the magnificens,
To quhome ȝe wald gyf no credens,
Geue I at lenth wald put in wryte,
Quhilk Diodore hes done indyte.
Compare of Cities fynd I none
Tyll Nyniue and Babilone.
Frome Nyniue in Asseria,
Tyll Babilone in Caldia,
By Bryggis plesandlye ȝe may pas,
Upone the flude of Euphratas.
Amang the fludis of Paradyce
This Euphratas maye beir the pryce.
All warkis quhilkis the Quene began
Transcendit the ingyne of man.
The proude Quene Pantasilia,
The Princes of Amasona,
With hir Ladyis tryumphandlye,
Att Troye quhilk faucht so wailȝeantlye,
Nor ȝit the fair Madin of France,
Danter of Inglis Ordinance,
To Semeramis, in hir dayis,
Wer no compare, as bukis sayis.
Except tryumphand Iulyus,
Strong Hanniball, or Pompeyus,
Or Allexander the Concreoure,
I fynd no gretter Werioure.
Templis and towris, tryumphandlie,
So plesandlye did thame prepair,
Quhilk in the erth had no compair.
Quhowbeid Nemrod, of quhome I spake,
The hydduous dungeoun he gart make,
And of the Citie the Fundiment,
To quhome God maid Impediment,
Quhare Nemrod left, thare scho began,
And pat to wark mony one man
Off all the Realmes round aboute.
Off most Ingyne scho socht thame oute.
Scho had, wyrkand with tre and stonis,
Twelf hundreth thousand men at onis.
Go reid the buke of Diodore,
And thow sall fynd the nummer more.
On euerilk syde of Euphrates
That nobyll Citie beildit wes,
And so that ryuer of renown
Ran throuch the mydpart of the town.
Ouerthort that flude scho bryggis maid
Off maruellous strenth, boith lang and braid.
Thay wer fyue stagis large of lenth:
On euerilk bryg scho maid ane strenth.
286
Foure hundreth stagis and four score.
The wallis hycht, quho wald discryue,
Thre hundreth fute, thre score, and fyue.
Sax Cairtis mycht pas, rycht easalie,
Abufe the wallis of that Citie,
Sydlingis, withoute Impediment.
Consydder, be ȝour Iugement,
Geue those wallis wer hie, or nocht,
And also curiouslye wer wrocht,
As Diodore hes done defyne,
Quhilk doith transcend my rude Ingyne,
Off Babilone the magnificens,
To quhome ȝe wald gyf no credens,
Geue I at lenth wald put in wryte,
Quhilk Diodore hes done indyte.
Compare of Cities fynd I none
Tyll Nyniue and Babilone.
Frome Nyniue in Asseria,
Tyll Babilone in Caldia,
By Bryggis plesandlye ȝe may pas,
Upone the flude of Euphratas.
Amang the fludis of Paradyce
This Euphratas maye beir the pryce.
All warkis quhilkis the Quene began
Transcendit the ingyne of man.
The proude Quene Pantasilia,
The Princes of Amasona,
With hir Ladyis tryumphandlye,
Att Troye quhilk faucht so wailȝeantlye,
Nor ȝit the fair Madin of France,
Danter of Inglis Ordinance,
To Semeramis, in hir dayis,
Wer no compare, as bukis sayis.
Except tryumphand Iulyus,
Strong Hanniball, or Pompeyus,
Or Allexander the Concreoure,
287
Wald I rehers, as wryttis Clerkis,
Hir wounderfull and vailȝeand werkis,
It wer to me one gret laubour,
And tiddious to the Auditour.
Quhat scho did in Ethopia,
And in the lande of Medea,
Beildand Cities, Castellis, and Towris,
Parkis, and Gardyngis of plesouris,
For the exaltyng of hir name,
And Immortall to mak hir fame.
Off Iarcieus the heych Montanis
Scho gart ryue down and mak thame planis.
Gret Orontes, that Montane wycht,
Twenty and fyue stagis of hycht,
Tyll hir Palyce to draw ane louche,
By fors of men scho raif it throche.
Hir wounderfull and vailȝeand werkis,
It wer to me one gret laubour,
And tiddious to the Auditour.
Quhat scho did in Ethopia,
And in the lande of Medea,
Beildand Cities, Castellis, and Towris,
Parkis, and Gardyngis of plesouris,
For the exaltyng of hir name,
And Immortall to mak hir fame.
Off Iarcieus the heych Montanis
Scho gart ryue down and mak thame planis.
Gret Orontes, that Montane wycht,
Twenty and fyue stagis of hycht,
Tyll hir Palyce to draw ane louche,
By fors of men scho raif it throche.
Had scho kepit hir Chastitie,
Scho mycht haue bene one A. per se.
Quhen scho had ordorit hir Impyre,
Off Uenus wark scho tuke desyre.
One secreit Mansioun scho gart mak,
Quhare scho maist plesandlye mycht tak
Ȝoung Gentyll men, for hir plesour;
The quhilk scho vsit abufe mesour.
One man allone mycht nocht be abyll
To stanche hir luste insaciabyll.
Quhen scho wes satifyit of one,
Scho gart ane vther cum anone.
The Lustiest of all the land
Come quyetlye, at hir command.
Quhen thay, at lenth, had lyin hir by,
Scho slew thame all, rycht creuelly.
Quhen hir Sone come tyll aige perfyte,
Off hym scho tuke so gret delyte,
Scho causit hym with hir to lye,
Amang the rest, rycht quyetlye.
Sum sayis, throuch sensuall lustis rage,
Scho band hym in to Mariage,
And held hym vnder tutorye,
To vphald hir auctoritye.
Scho mycht haue bene one A. per se.
Quhen scho had ordorit hir Impyre,
Off Uenus wark scho tuke desyre.
One secreit Mansioun scho gart mak,
Quhare scho maist plesandlye mycht tak
Ȝoung Gentyll men, for hir plesour;
The quhilk scho vsit abufe mesour.
One man allone mycht nocht be abyll
To stanche hir luste insaciabyll.
Quhen scho wes satifyit of one,
Scho gart ane vther cum anone.
The Lustiest of all the land
Come quyetlye, at hir command.
Quhen thay, at lenth, had lyin hir by,
Scho slew thame all, rycht creuelly.
Quhen hir Sone come tyll aige perfyte,
Off hym scho tuke so gret delyte,
Scho causit hym with hir to lye,
Amang the rest, rycht quyetlye.
288
Scho band hym in to Mariage,
And held hym vnder tutorye,
To vphald hir auctoritye.
FINIS.
QUHOV THE QUENE SEMERAMIS, WITH ONE GRET ARMIE, PAST TO YNDE, AND FAUCHT WITH THE KYNG STAWROBATES. AND OF HIR MISERRABYLL END.
EXPE[RIENCE].
Qvhen Scho had lang tyme leuit in rest,
To conques more scho hir addrest,
Because of diuers scho hard tell
Quhow that the Ynde Orientell
Preceld in gret commoditeis,
As Bestiall, Cornis, and fructfull treis,
Al kynde of Spyce delicious,
Golde, Syluer, stonis precious,
And quhow that plentuous land did beir
Corne, Frute, and Wyne twyse in the ȝeir,
With Oliphantis Innumerabyll,
In Battell wounder terrabyll.
Scho, herand this, and mekle more,
Beleuand tyll agment hir glore,
Gart mak strait Proclamationis
In all and syndrie Nationis,
Schawand quhow it wes hir desyre,
All princis vnder hir Impyre,
In Egypt, and Arrabia,
In Perce, in Mede, and Caldia,
In Grece, in Caspia, and Hyrcane,
In Capadoce, Leid, and Maritane,
In Armanie, and Phrigia,
In Pamphilie, and Asseria,
That ilke Land, efter thare degre,
Sulde bryng tyll hir ane gret Armie,
In all the gudlye haist thay may,
And meit hir in tyll Bactriay,
Declaryng thame that hir intent
Was tyll pas to the Orient,
And mak Weir on the king of Ynde.
From tyme thay knew quhat wes hir mynde,
Than, be thare selfis, ilke Regioun
Come fordwart, with thare Garnisoun.
Tryumphantlye, in gude array,
Tyll Bactria tuke the reddy way,
And maid thare Mostouris to the Quene.
Bot sic ane sycht wes neuer sene,
In Battell ray so mony one Man
Att onis, sen God the warld began.
Bot Spanȝe, France, Scotland, Ingland,
Ducheland, Denmark, nor ȝit Yrland
War nocht Inhabit in those dayis,
Nor lang efter, myne Author sayis.
To conques more scho hir addrest,
Because of diuers scho hard tell
Quhow that the Ynde Orientell
Preceld in gret commoditeis,
As Bestiall, Cornis, and fructfull treis,
Al kynde of Spyce delicious,
Golde, Syluer, stonis precious,
And quhow that plentuous land did beir
Corne, Frute, and Wyne twyse in the ȝeir,
With Oliphantis Innumerabyll,
In Battell wounder terrabyll.
Scho, herand this, and mekle more,
Beleuand tyll agment hir glore,
Gart mak strait Proclamationis
In all and syndrie Nationis,
Schawand quhow it wes hir desyre,
All princis vnder hir Impyre,
In Egypt, and Arrabia,
In Perce, in Mede, and Caldia,
289
In Capadoce, Leid, and Maritane,
In Armanie, and Phrigia,
In Pamphilie, and Asseria,
That ilke Land, efter thare degre,
Sulde bryng tyll hir ane gret Armie,
In all the gudlye haist thay may,
And meit hir in tyll Bactriay,
Declaryng thame that hir intent
Was tyll pas to the Orient,
And mak Weir on the king of Ynde.
From tyme thay knew quhat wes hir mynde,
Than, be thare selfis, ilke Regioun
Come fordwart, with thare Garnisoun.
Tryumphantlye, in gude array,
Tyll Bactria tuke the reddy way,
And maid thare Mostouris to the Quene.
Bot sic ane sycht wes neuer sene,
In Battell ray so mony one Man
Att onis, sen God the warld began.
Bot Spanȝe, France, Scotland, Ingland,
Ducheland, Denmark, nor ȝit Yrland
War nocht Inhabit in those dayis,
Nor lang efter, myne Author sayis.
Cthesias he dois specifie
The noumber of this gret Armie,
Sayand, thare come, at hir command,
Fute men threttye hundreth thousand,
Off hors men, montit galȝeardlye,
Fyue hundreth thousand, veralye,
One hundreth thousand Camelis wycht;
On euerilk Cameill raid ane knycht
Preparit tyll passe in to all partis.
Thare wes ane hundreth thousand Cairtis;
Twoo thousand boittis with hir scho careis,
On Hors, Camelis, and Dromodareis.
Bryggis for to mak scho did conclude
Ouerthort Yndus, that furious flude,
Quhilk bene of Ynde the vtmoist bordoure.
On the quhilk flude, with rycht gude ordoure,
Off hir Bairgis sche bryggis maid,
Quhareon hir gret Oiste saifly raid.
The noumber of this gret Armie,
Sayand, thare come, at hir command,
Fute men threttye hundreth thousand,
Off hors men, montit galȝeardlye,
Fyue hundreth thousand, veralye,
One hundreth thousand Camelis wycht;
On euerilk Cameill raid ane knycht
Preparit tyll passe in to all partis.
Thare wes ane hundreth thousand Cairtis;
Twoo thousand boittis with hir scho careis,
On Hors, Camelis, and Dromodareis.
Bryggis for to mak scho did conclude
Ouerthort Yndus, that furious flude,
290
On the quhilk flude, with rycht gude ordoure,
Off hir Bairgis sche bryggis maid,
Quhareon hir gret Oiste saifly raid.
COUR[TIOUR].
Father, I wald men vnderstude
Quhow sic ane maruellous multytude
Mycht be attonis brocht to the feild,
Reddy to feycht with speir and scheild.
Sum men wyll Iuge this be ane fabyll,
The mater bene so vntrouabyll.
EXPE[RIENCE].
Itt may weill be, my Sonne (said he)
As be exempyll, we may se
Quhow Dauid, king of Israell,
His peple gart nummer and tell
Be Ioab, his cheif Capitane,
As holy Scripture schawis plane.
Off feychtand men, in to that land,
He fand threttyne hundreth thousand.
Sen Dauid, in that small countre,
Mycht haue rasit sic ane Armie,
To this Lady it wes no wounder,
The quhilk had greter Realmes ane hunder
Nor Dauidis lytill Regioun,
Thocht scho had mony A Legioun
Off men mo nor I tauld affore.
Tharefor, my Sonne, maruell no more.
As be exempyll, we may se
Quhow Dauid, king of Israell,
His peple gart nummer and tell
Be Ioab, his cheif Capitane,
As holy Scripture schawis plane.
Off feychtand men, in to that land,
He fand threttyne hundreth thousand.
Sen Dauid, in that small countre,
Mycht haue rasit sic ane Armie,
To this Lady it wes no wounder,
The quhilk had greter Realmes ane hunder
Nor Dauidis lytill Regioun,
Thocht scho had mony A Legioun
Off men mo nor I tauld affore.
Tharefor, my Sonne, maruell no more.
Stawrobates, the kyng of Ynde,
Gretlie perturbit in his mynd,
Heryng of sic ane multytude,
To mak defens he did conclude,
And send one Message to the Quene,
Prayand hir Maiestie serene
That scho wald, of hir speciall grace,
Gyf hym Licence to leif in peace.
Failand of that, thocht he suld dee,
That he suld gar hir fecht or flee.
And tyll his God ane wowe he maid,
Gyff no peace mycht of hir be had,
And gyf he wan the victorye,
That he the Quene suld Crucifye.
Gretlie perturbit in his mynd,
Heryng of sic ane multytude,
To mak defens he did conclude,
And send one Message to the Quene,
Prayand hir Maiestie serene
291
Gyf hym Licence to leif in peace.
Failand of that, thocht he suld dee,
That he suld gar hir fecht or flee.
And tyll his God ane wowe he maid,
Gyff no peace mycht of hir be had,
And gyf he wan the victorye,
That he the Quene suld Crucifye.
At this bostyng the Quene maid bourdis,
Sayand, it sall nocht be: no wourdis
Sall gar me passe frome my purpose,
Bot mychtie straikis, as I suppose.
The Messingeir schew to the kyng
Off hir presumptuous answeryng.
Than Stawrobates, wyse and wycht,
Come fordwart, lyke ane nobyll Knycht,
With mony one thousand speir and scheild,
Arrayit Royallie on the feild,
Thynkand he wald his land defend,
Or in the Battell mak ane end.
Sayand, it sall nocht be: no wourdis
Sall gar me passe frome my purpose,
Bot mychtie straikis, as I suppose.
The Messingeir schew to the kyng
Off hir presumptuous answeryng.
Than Stawrobates, wyse and wycht,
Come fordwart, lyke ane nobyll Knycht,
With mony one thousand speir and scheild,
Arrayit Royallie on the feild,
Thynkand he wald his land defend,
Or in the Battell mak ane end.
The Quene, apone the vther syde,
Full of presumptioun and of pryde,
Hir Banaris plesandly displayit,
With hardy hart and vneffrayit.
Apone Indus, that famus flude,
Thay mett, quhare sched wes mekle blude.
In Bote, in Balingar, and Bargis,
The twa Armyis on vtherris chargis.
Semeramis the Battaill wan,
Quhare drownit and slane wer mony one man,
So that the walter of the flude
Ran reid, myxit with mannis blude.
The king of Ynde, with all his mycht,
Frome Yndus flude he tuke the flycht.
Tyll his cheif Citie he reterit
Quhare in his presens thare apperit,
In Battell raye, ane new armye.
Off rycht Inuincibyll Cheualrye,
With Elephantis ane hyddous nommer,
Quhilk efterwart maid mekle cummer.
Full of presumptioun and of pryde,
Hir Banaris plesandly displayit,
With hardy hart and vneffrayit.
Apone Indus, that famus flude,
Thay mett, quhare sched wes mekle blude.
In Bote, in Balingar, and Bargis,
The twa Armyis on vtherris chargis.
Semeramis the Battaill wan,
Quhare drownit and slane wer mony one man,
So that the walter of the flude
Ran reid, myxit with mannis blude.
The king of Ynde, with all his mycht,
Frome Yndus flude he tuke the flycht.
Tyll his cheif Citie he reterit
Quhare in his presens thare apperit,
In Battell raye, ane new armye.
Off rycht Inuincibyll Cheualrye,
292
Quhilk efterwart maid mekle cummer.
Semeramis and hir cumpanye,
In the mene tyme, full creuellie
Distroyit the bordouris of that land,
Tuke presonaris mo than ten thousand.
Sche tuke one curagious consait,
Gret Elephantis to contrafait.
Sche had ten thousand Oxin hydis,
Weill sewit to gydder, bak and sydis,
With mouth, and nois, teith, Eris, and eine,
Quyke Elephantis as thay had bene,
Rycht weill stuft full of stray and hay,
Quhareof the Yndianis tuke affray.
Apone Camelis and Dromodareis
Those fals figouris with hir scho careis.
Sere Yndianis, quhen thay saw that sycht,
Afferitlye thay tuke the flycht,
For sic one sycht wes neuir sene,
Gyff naturall beistis thay had bene.
The Kyng hym self wes rycht afferit,
Tyll he the veritie had sperit,
And knew, be his exploratouris,
Thay wer bot fenȝeit fals figouris.
In the mene tyme, full creuellie
Distroyit the bordouris of that land,
Tuke presonaris mo than ten thousand.
Sche tuke one curagious consait,
Gret Elephantis to contrafait.
Sche had ten thousand Oxin hydis,
Weill sewit to gydder, bak and sydis,
With mouth, and nois, teith, Eris, and eine,
Quyke Elephantis as thay had bene,
Rycht weill stuft full of stray and hay,
Quhareof the Yndianis tuke affray.
Apone Camelis and Dromodareis
Those fals figouris with hir scho careis.
Sere Yndianis, quhen thay saw that sycht,
Afferitlye thay tuke the flycht,
For sic one sycht wes neuir sene,
Gyff naturall beistis thay had bene.
The Kyng hym self wes rycht afferit,
Tyll he the veritie had sperit,
And knew, be his exploratouris,
Thay wer bot fenȝeit fals figouris.
Than manfullye lyke men of weir,
Fordwart thay came withouttin feir.
Rycht so Semeramis the Quene,
Quhilk for one man wes, aye, fyftene.
Thir two Armeis full creuellye
Thay ruscheit to gydder so rudlie,
With hyddous cry and trumpettis sound,
Tyll thousandis dede laye on the ground.
Semeramis had sic one nummeir,
Tyll order thame it wes gret cummeir.
Than the gret Elephantis of ynde,
Rycht strang and hardy of thare kynde,
Fordwart thay came, and wald nocht ceis,
Tyll throcht the myddis of the preis
Off the gret oist thay rudlye ruscheit,
That men and horsse tyll erth trabuscheit.
Those fenȝeit beistis, withouttin spreit,
Wer fruschit and fulȝeit vnder feit.
The king of Ynde, with curage kene,
Mett with Semeramis the quene,
He rydand on ane Eliphand.
Bot scho with hym faucht hand for hand,
And gaif the king so gret assaye,
That he wes neuir in sic affraye.
To stryke at hym scho tuke no feir,
So weill sche vsit wes in weir.
His strakis scho had bot lytill comptit,
Wer nocht the king wes so weill montit.
Athir at vther straik so faste
Tyll thay wer tyrit at the laste.
Fordwart thay came withouttin feir.
Rycht so Semeramis the Quene,
Quhilk for one man wes, aye, fyftene.
Thir two Armeis full creuellye
Thay ruscheit to gydder so rudlie,
With hyddous cry and trumpettis sound,
Tyll thousandis dede laye on the ground.
Semeramis had sic one nummeir,
Tyll order thame it wes gret cummeir.
Than the gret Elephantis of ynde,
Rycht strang and hardy of thare kynde,
Fordwart thay came, and wald nocht ceis,
Tyll throcht the myddis of the preis
293
That men and horsse tyll erth trabuscheit.
Those fenȝeit beistis, withouttin spreit,
Wer fruschit and fulȝeit vnder feit.
The king of Ynde, with curage kene,
Mett with Semeramis the quene,
He rydand on ane Eliphand.
Bot scho with hym faucht hand for hand,
And gaif the king so gret assaye,
That he wes neuir in sic affraye.
To stryke at hym scho tuke no feir,
So weill sche vsit wes in weir.
His strakis scho had bot lytill comptit,
Wer nocht the king wes so weill montit.
Athir at vther straik so faste
Tyll thay wer tyrit at the laste.
The king he thocht hym self eschamit
With one woman to be diffamit,
And wes determit nocht to flee,
Thocht in that Battell he suld dee.
As man the quhilk disparit bene,
He rudely ran vpone the quene,
And throuch the arme gaif hir ane wound,
Quhilk tyll hir hart gaif sic one stound
That sche constranit wes to fle.
Than all the rest of hir Armie,
Quhen thay persauit that scho wes gone,
Tyll yndus flude thay fled, ilk one.
The Quene ouerthort the flude sche raid
On bryggis quhilkis wer of botis maid.
With hir, one sobir cumpanye,
Quhilk with hir fled affray[i]tlie
The Yndianis followit on the chace.
Than on the Bryggis come sic one prace
Off fleand folkis, quhilk wes gret wounder,
So that the Bargis brake in schonder.
Sum sank, sum doun the reuar ran.
Than drownit thare mony one nobyll man,
Quhilk wer gret piete tyll deplore,
As wryttis famous Diodore.
With one woman to be diffamit,
And wes determit nocht to flee,
Thocht in that Battell he suld dee.
As man the quhilk disparit bene,
He rudely ran vpone the quene,
And throuch the arme gaif hir ane wound,
Quhilk tyll hir hart gaif sic one stound
That sche constranit wes to fle.
Than all the rest of hir Armie,
Quhen thay persauit that scho wes gone,
Tyll yndus flude thay fled, ilk one.
The Quene ouerthort the flude sche raid
On bryggis quhilkis wer of botis maid.
With hir, one sobir cumpanye,
Quhilk with hir fled affray[i]tlie
The Yndianis followit on the chace.
Than on the Bryggis come sic one prace
Off fleand folkis, quhilk wes gret wounder,
So that the Bargis brake in schonder.
Sum sank, sum doun the reuar ran.
Than drownit thare mony one nobyll man,
294
As wryttis famous Diodore.
And, fynallie, for to conclude,
Wes neuer sched so mekle blude
At one tyme sen the warld began,
Nor slane so mony one saikles man;
And all throw the occasioun
And the prydefull perswasioun
Off this ambitious, wyckit Quene.
Sick one wes neuir hard nor sene.
Wes neuer sched so mekle blude
At one tyme sen the warld began,
Nor slane so mony one saikles man;
And all throw the occasioun
And the prydefull perswasioun
Off this ambitious, wyckit Quene.
Sick one wes neuir hard nor sene.
Staurobates, the king of Ynde,
Gretlye Reioysit, in his mynde,
Off this tryumphe and victorye.
Semeramis, with hart full sorye,
Seand sa mony tane and slane,
Tyll hir countre returnit agane,
Lamentand fortunis variance,
Quhilk brocht hir to so gret myschance,
Affore quhilk wes so fortunat,
And than of confort desolat.
Gretlye Reioysit, in his mynde,
Off this tryumphe and victorye.
Semeramis, with hart full sorye,
Seand sa mony tane and slane,
Tyll hir countre returnit agane,
Lamentand fortunis variance,
Quhilk brocht hir to so gret myschance,
Affore quhilk wes so fortunat,
And than of confort desolat.
Hir Sonne, one man of perfectioun,
Consyddrand his subiectioun,
His lybertie he did desyre,
That he mychte gouerne his Impyre.
Seand his Mother vitious,
And, with that, so ambitious,
As myne Author doith specifye
He slew his Mother creuellye.
Quhat vther cause, or Intentioun,
I fynd no speciall Mentioun;
Sum sayis, to be at Lybertie
Sum sayis, for hir Adultrie.
None vther cause I can defyne,
Except punissioun deuyne.
Consyddrand his subiectioun,
His lybertie he did desyre,
That he mychte gouerne his Impyre.
Seand his Mother vitious,
And, with that, so ambitious,
As myne Author doith specifye
He slew his Mother creuellye.
Quhat vther cause, or Intentioun,
I fynd no speciall Mentioun;
Sum sayis, to be at Lybertie
Sum sayis, for hir Adultrie.
None vther cause I can defyne,
Except punissioun deuyne.
Off this fair Lady coragious
Behald the endyng dolorous,
Quhilk wes bot twenty ȝeir of aige,
Quhen scho began hir vassalage,
And rang tryumphandlye, but weir,
The space of two and fourtye ȝeir.
Quhen scho wes slane, scho was thre score,
With ȝeris two, scho wes no more,
As Diodore wryttis in his buke,
His Cronikle quho lyste to luke.
Behald the endyng dolorous,
Quhilk wes bot twenty ȝeir of aige,
Quhen scho began hir vassalage,
295
The space of two and fourtye ȝeir.
Quhen scho wes slane, scho was thre score,
With ȝeris two, scho wes no more,
As Diodore wryttis in his buke,
His Cronikle quho lyste to luke.
Off this Lady I mak ane end,
Thynkand no way I can commend
Wemen for tyll be to manlye,
Nor men for tyll be womanlye.
For quhy, It bene the Lordis mynde
All Creature tyll vse thare kynde;
Men for tyll haue preheminens
And wemen vnder obediens,
Thocht all wemen inclynit be
Tyll haif the Soueranite,
As this Lady, quhilk wald nocht rest
Tyll scho hir Husband had subprest,
Tyll that intent that scho mycht ryng,
Allone to haif the gouernyng.
Thynkand no way I can commend
Wemen for tyll be to manlye,
Nor men for tyll be womanlye.
For quhy, It bene the Lordis mynde
All Creature tyll vse thare kynde;
Men for tyll haue preheminens
And wemen vnder obediens,
Thocht all wemen inclynit be
Tyll haif the Soueranite,
As this Lady, quhilk wald nocht rest
Tyll scho hir Husband had subprest,
Tyll that intent that scho mycht ryng,
Allone to haif the gouernyng.
Ladyis no way I can commend
Presumptuouslye quhilk doith pretend
Tyll vse the office of ane kyng,
Or Realmes tak in gouernyng,
Quhowbeit thay wailȝeant be and wycht,
Goyng in Battell lyke one knycht,
As did proude Pantasilia,
The Princes of Amasona,
In mennis habyte, aganis reassoun.
Siclyke, I think dirisioun
One prince to be effaminate,
Of knychtlye corage desolate,
Neglectand his auctoritie,
Throuch beistlye sensualitie,
Accompanyit, boith day and nychtis,
With wemen, more than wailȝeant knychtis.
Sic kyngis I discommend at all,
Exempyll of Sardanapall.
Presumptuouslye quhilk doith pretend
Tyll vse the office of ane kyng,
Or Realmes tak in gouernyng,
Quhowbeit thay wailȝeant be and wycht,
Goyng in Battell lyke one knycht,
As did proude Pantasilia,
The Princes of Amasona,
In mennis habyte, aganis reassoun.
Siclyke, I think dirisioun
One prince to be effaminate,
Of knychtlye corage desolate,
Neglectand his auctoritie,
Throuch beistlye sensualitie,
Accompanyit, boith day and nychtis,
With wemen, more than wailȝeant knychtis.
Sic kyngis I discommend at all,
Exempyll of Sardanapall.
296
Father (said I) schaw me quhow lang
The successioun of Nynus rang.
EXPE[RIENCE].
That sall I do, with diligens,
My Sonne (said he) or I go hens.
Sen I haif schawin, at thy disyre,
Quhat man began the first Impyre,
Now wald I it wer to the kend
Off that Impyre the fatell end.
FINIS
QUHOV KING SARDANAPALUS, FOR HIS VITIOUS LIFE, MAID ANE MISERABILL END.
[EXPERIENCE].
Betvix this Conquerour Nynus
And sensuall Sardanapalus
I can nocht fynd no speciall storye,
Worthy to put in memorye,
Except quhilk I haif done discryfe
Off Semerame, king Nynus wyfe.
Bot I can fynd no gude at all
To wrytt of kyng Sardanapall,
Quhilk wes the saxt and threttye kyng
Be lyne frome Nynus discendyng.
At lenth his lyfe for to declare
I thynk it is nocht necessare,
Because that mony cunnyng clerkis
Hes hym discryuit in thare werkis.
Quhow he wes last of Asserians
Quhilk had the hole preemynans,
That tyme of the first Monarche,
In Cronicles as thow may se,
The last and the most vitious kyng
Quhilk in that Monarche did ryng.
That Prince wes so effeminate,
With sensuall luste intoxicate,
He did abhor the cumpanye
Off his most nobyll chewalrye.
That he mycht haue the more delyte
Tyll vse his beistlye appetyte,
Conuersit with wemen nycht and daye,
And clothit hym in thare arraye,
So that na man that hym had sene
Could Iuge ane man that he had bene.
So, in huredome and harlatrye
Did keip hym self so quyetlye,
The Princis of Asserience
Off hym thay could gett no presence.
Thus leuit he contynualye,
Agane nature Inordinatlye.
And sensuall Sardanapalus
I can nocht fynd no speciall storye,
Worthy to put in memorye,
Except quhilk I haif done discryfe
Off Semerame, king Nynus wyfe.
Bot I can fynd no gude at all
To wrytt of kyng Sardanapall,
Quhilk wes the saxt and threttye kyng
Be lyne frome Nynus discendyng.
At lenth his lyfe for to declare
I thynk it is nocht necessare,
Because that mony cunnyng clerkis
Hes hym discryuit in thare werkis.
297
Quhilk had the hole preemynans,
That tyme of the first Monarche,
In Cronicles as thow may se,
The last and the most vitious kyng
Quhilk in that Monarche did ryng.
That Prince wes so effeminate,
With sensuall luste intoxicate,
He did abhor the cumpanye
Off his most nobyll chewalrye.
That he mycht haue the more delyte
Tyll vse his beistlye appetyte,
Conuersit with wemen nycht and daye,
And clothit hym in thare arraye,
So that na man that hym had sene
Could Iuge ane man that he had bene.
So, in huredome and harlatrye
Did keip hym self so quyetlye,
The Princis of Asserience
Off hym thay could gett no presence.
Thus leuit he contynualye,
Agane nature Inordinatlye.
Quhen to the Peirsis and the Medis
Reportit wer his vitious dedis,
With the Rewlaris of Babilone,
Thay did conclude, all in tyll one,
Thay wald nocht suffer for tyll ryng
Abufe thame sic ane vitious kyng.
Bot Arbates, ane Duke of Mede,
He Darflye tuke on hand that dede.
Reportit wer his vitious dedis,
With the Rewlaris of Babilone,
Thay did conclude, all in tyll one,
Thay wald nocht suffer for tyll ryng
Abufe thame sic ane vitious kyng.
Bot Arbates, ane Duke of Mede,
He Darflye tuke on hand that dede.
Bot first he come to Nyniue,
To see the kyngis Maiestie,
And tyll one of the kyngis gaird
He gaif one secreit ryche rewaird,
Tyll put hym in ane quyet place,
Quhare he mycht se the kyngis grace,
And be onsene with ony wycht.
Bot he saw nother King nor Knycht
In tyll his maisteris cumpanye,
Except wemen, allanerlye.
And as ane woman he wes cled,
With wemen counsalit and led,
And schamefullye he wes syttand,
With Spindle and with Rock spinnand.
Quhen Arbates that sycht had sene,
His corage rasit frome the splene,
And thocht it small difycultie
For tyll depryue his Maiestie.
To see the kyngis Maiestie,
And tyll one of the kyngis gaird
He gaif one secreit ryche rewaird,
Tyll put hym in ane quyet place,
Quhare he mycht se the kyngis grace,
And be onsene with ony wycht.
Bot he saw nother King nor Knycht
298
Except wemen, allanerlye.
And as ane woman he wes cled,
With wemen counsalit and led,
And schamefullye he wes syttand,
With Spindle and with Rock spinnand.
Quhen Arbates that sycht had sene,
His corage rasit frome the splene,
And thocht it small difycultie
For tyll depryue his Maiestie.
Than rasit he the Persianis,
With Medis and Babilonianis.
Inarmit weill with speir and scheildis,
Tryumphantlye thay tuke the feildis.
With Medis and Babilonianis.
Inarmit weill with speir and scheildis,
Tryumphantlye thay tuke the feildis.
The king rasit Asserianis,
To gidther with the Caldianis,
And thame resystit as he mycht,
Bot, fynallie, he tuke the flycht,
To saif hym self, in Nyniue.
Than segit thay that gret Citie,
Contynuallie, two ȝeir and more,
As wryttis famous Diodore,
Tyll that the flude of Euphrates
Arrose with sic one furiousnes,
Quhare throuch ane gret part of the toun
By violence wes doungin doun.
Than, quhen the kyng saw no remeid
Bot to be takin, or to be deid,
As man disparit, full of yre,
Gart mak ane furious flammand fyre,
And tuke his gold and Iowellis all,
With Sceptur, Croun, and Robe Royall,
With all his tender seruituris
That of his Corps had gretest curis,
To gydder with his lustye Quenis,
And all his wantoun Concubenis,
And in that fyre he did thame cast,
Syne lape hym self in, at the last,
Quhare all wer brynt in poulder small.
Thus endit kyng Sardanapall,
Withouttin ony repentence,
As may be sene be this sentence,
To gidther with the Caldianis,
And thame resystit as he mycht,
Bot, fynallie, he tuke the flycht,
To saif hym self, in Nyniue.
Than segit thay that gret Citie,
Contynuallie, two ȝeir and more,
As wryttis famous Diodore,
Tyll that the flude of Euphrates
Arrose with sic one furiousnes,
Quhare throuch ane gret part of the toun
By violence wes doungin doun.
Than, quhen the kyng saw no remeid
Bot to be takin, or to be deid,
As man disparit, full of yre,
Gart mak ane furious flammand fyre,
And tuke his gold and Iowellis all,
With Sceptur, Croun, and Robe Royall,
With all his tender seruituris
That of his Corps had gretest curis,
To gydder with his lustye Quenis,
And all his wantoun Concubenis,
And in that fyre he did thame cast,
Syne lape hym self in, at the last,
299
Thus endit kyng Sardanapall,
Withouttin ony repentence,
As may be sene be this sentence,
Heir followyng, quhilk he did indyte,
Affore his deith, in gret dispyte,
Quhilk is ane rycht vngodly thing,
As ȝe maye se be his dyting.
Affore his deith, in gret dispyte,
Quhilk is ane rycht vngodly thing,
As ȝe maye se be his dyting.
FINIS.
Epitaphium Sardanapali.
CVM te mortalem noris, presentibus expleDelitijs animum, post mortem nulla voluptas,
Et venere, & cœnis, & plumis SARDANAPALI.
Now haif I schawin, with deligence,
The Monarche of Asserience,
The quhilk at Kyng Nynus began,
And endit at this myscheant Man,
And did Indure, withouttin weir,
Ane thowsand, twa hundreth, and fourty ȝeir,
As dois Indyte Ewsubius.
Reid hym, and thow sall fynd It thus.
FINIS.
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