 | Satirical poems of the reformation |  |
262
XXXIX. The Sege of the Castel of Edinburgh.
Buschmēt of Beruik, mak ȝow for the gait,
To ring ȝour drūmis & rank ȝour mē of weir;
Addres ȝour armour, boūd ȝow for debait,
With sound of trūpet mak ȝour steids to steir,
Sen ȝe ar freikes that weil dar fecht but feir,
As, for exampill, we haue sene ȝow ellis:
Lyk as the last tym that ȝour Camp come heir,
Lend vs ane bourrouīg of ȝour auld blak bellis.
To ring ȝour drūmis & rank ȝour mē of weir;
Addres ȝour armour, boūd ȝow for debait,
With sound of trūpet mak ȝour steids to steir,
Sen ȝe ar freikes that weil dar fecht but feir,
As, for exampill, we haue sene ȝow ellis:
Lyk as the last tym that ȝour Camp come heir,
Lend vs ane bourrouīg of ȝour auld blak bellis.
Ȝour camp conuoyit but cūmer throw the land,
In gude array, and rewlit by thair rank,
Reddie to pas, as plesit vs command,
Throw all our bounds to the west sey bank;
Thocht sum mē say ȝe serue bot lytill thank,
Suppose occatioun cum first of thame sellis,
As thay haue brouin yt bargane, sa thay drank,
And rewis yt tyme yt euer thay saw ȝour bellis.
In gude array, and rewlit by thair rank,
Reddie to pas, as plesit vs command,
Throw all our bounds to the west sey bank;
Thocht sum mē say ȝe serue bot lytill thank,
Suppose occatioun cum first of thame sellis,
As thay haue brouin yt bargane, sa thay drank,
And rewis yt tyme yt euer thay saw ȝour bellis.
263
I nill repeit na policeis put doun,
Sen plesit God that we aggrie togiddir:
Except thay crak thair credence to the Croū,
Than fair weil thay: the find ressaue the fidder!
God saue hir G. that will our cause considder,
And, as I dout not, wil ourdryue thir dangeris;
As scho, befoir tyme, send hir forces hidder
To keip yis coūtrie cline fra forrane strāgeris.
Sen plesit God that we aggrie togiddir:
Except thay crak thair credence to the Croū,
Than fair weil thay: the find ressaue the fidder!
God saue hir G. that will our cause considder,
And, as I dout not, wil ourdryue thir dangeris;
As scho, befoir tyme, send hir forces hidder
To keip yis coūtrie cline fra forrane strāgeris.
To call to mynd hir mony fauld gude dedis:
First, scho reformit the fals Idolatrie.
I am in dout, in ony realme quha redis
Of sa lang tyme with sic tranquillitie,
Sic faithful iustice with ciuillitie,
Sic frendschip keipit to hir fais sa lang:
Scotland may say, for oure vtilitie,
That neuer ane bettir prince in Inglād rang.
First, scho reformit the fals Idolatrie.
I am in dout, in ony realme quha redis
Of sa lang tyme with sic tranquillitie,
Sic faithful iustice with ciuillitie,
Sic frendschip keipit to hir fais sa lang:
Scotland may say, for oure vtilitie,
That neuer ane bettir prince in Inglād rang.
That beand done, scho did conferme a pace,
And maid thā freindis yt lāg tyme had bene fois,
With stancheīg bludesched wes not eith to ceice,
That men may pas, not sperand quhair he gois.
Syne at the sege of Leith scho sparit ane pois,
And dang the frenchmē, quhilk we docht not do;
Quhill hame thay past in spyt of all thair nois,
With lose of men, and left munitioun to.
And maid thā freindis yt lāg tyme had bene fois,
With stancheīg bludesched wes not eith to ceice,
That men may pas, not sperand quhair he gois.
Syne at the sege of Leith scho sparit ane pois,
And dang the frenchmē, quhilk we docht not do;
Quhill hame thay past in spyt of all thair nois,
With lose of men, and left munitioun to.
Quhat toung hes langage to declair at lenth
Thair greit artalȝerie, nor thair men of weir?
France wes not able to withstand thair strenth,
For powder and bullet, bowis, and vther geir.
Quhat chargis wes hir schipis at, may I speir?
Surmonting fiftie hunder thowsand frankis;
And ȝit, for all the graith hir grace send heir,
Ingraitfull people gaue hir lytill thankis.
Thair greit artalȝerie, nor thair men of weir?
France wes not able to withstand thair strenth,
For powder and bullet, bowis, and vther geir.
Quhat chargis wes hir schipis at, may I speir?
Surmonting fiftie hunder thowsand frankis;
And ȝit, for all the graith hir grace send heir,
Ingraitfull people gaue hir lytill thankis.
264
Our Regent slane syne, as I said befoir,
Stryfe and contentioun rais in to the land;
Treasoun, inuy, did vertue sa deuoir,
Quhil all wes done as murthour did cōmand.
Wes nan sa stout durst tak the steir on hand,
Sa had the cause bene quat, wer not for shame,
Quhil we sic frendschip furth of Ingland fand:
Thay send ane army heir with Leuenox hame,
Stryfe and contentioun rais in to the land;
Treasoun, inuy, did vertue sa deuoir,
Quhil all wes done as murthour did cōmand.
Wes nan sa stout durst tak the steir on hand,
Sa had the cause bene quat, wer not for shame,
Quhil we sic frendschip furth of Ingland fand:
Thay send ane army heir with Leuenox hame,
Conuoyt with Drurie, duchtelie in deid,
And, as I hoip, mair haist wes neuer done;
To Glasgw past with mony trapit steid,
Thair skalit the sege, releuit the castell sone:
Doun to Dunbartane on the morne at none
He raid, bot few, not fering thame agane him:
Ȝit of that parrell, I prayse the Lord abone,
He chapit weill fra villanis wald haue slane him.
And, as I hoip, mair haist wes neuer done;
To Glasgw past with mony trapit steid,
Thair skalit the sege, releuit the castell sone:
Doun to Dunbartane on the morne at none
He raid, bot few, not fering thame agane him:
Ȝit of that parrell, I prayse the Lord abone,
He chapit weill fra villanis wald haue slane him.
That panefull progres I think ill to tell,
Sen thay ar bowit and bruderit in our band;
Bot at this present tyme, exem ȝour sell,
Quhat confort hes thair Quene send to this land.
Is not the cannones cum at ȝour cōmand,
Strecht to distroy the tratoures wald ouir gang vs?
Commonis may crye, “lang mot that frendschip stand,”
And blis hir banis sic blythnes broucht amang vs.
Sen thay ar bowit and bruderit in our band;
Bot at this present tyme, exem ȝour sell,
Quhat confort hes thair Quene send to this land.
Is not the cannones cum at ȝour cōmand,
Strecht to distroy the tratoures wald ouir gang vs?
Commonis may crye, “lang mot that frendschip stand,”
And blis hir banis sic blythnes broucht amang vs.
At Leith thay landit harmeles in the Heuin,
With powder and bullet, gunnis, and vther geir;
Drest all thair platfurmes in to dayis seuin,
Not laiking na thing that belangit to weir.
Sum workmen had we or the camp cum heir;
Jacques Gelliam, gangand lyke ane besy be,
The gabiounes makand, kaist the trinschis neir:
Quha micht do mair but ordinance nor we?
With powder and bullet, gunnis, and vther geir;
Drest all thair platfurmes in to dayis seuin,
Not laiking na thing that belangit to weir.
Sum workmen had we or the camp cum heir;
Jacques Gelliam, gangand lyke ane besy be,
The gabiounes makand, kaist the trinschis neir:
Quha micht do mair but ordinance nor we?
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The walis wes heich, we culd not weil persew thame,
Bot quhen we gat thame doun, full deir thay bocht it:
Be syde the woll at syndrie tymes we slew thame;
That euer thay saw vs, sum of thame forthocht it.
Ane poysonit woll to drink quhat docht it?
Infekit watter sowllit thame, cheik and chin:
Persauing that, sorrow mair thay socht it,
Bot keppit standfulis at the sklatis thair in.
Bot quhen we gat thame doun, full deir thay bocht it:
Be syde the woll at syndrie tymes we slew thame;
That euer thay saw vs, sum of thame forthocht it.
Ane poysonit woll to drink quhat docht it?
Infekit watter sowllit thame, cheik and chin:
Persauing that, sorrow mair thay socht it,
Bot keppit standfulis at the sklatis thair in.
The castell segit, and all beset about
With fowseyis wyde, inueronit be slycht;
Montanis and myndis leit neuer man luik out,
For ordinance thay dung at day and nycht
By weirlyk volyis: thocht the wallis wes wycht,
Ȝit dowbell battrie brak thame al in inschis:
Of Daueis toure, in all the toune menis sycht,
Thay riggein stanes cum tumland ouir the trinschis.
With fowseyis wyde, inueronit be slycht;
Montanis and myndis leit neuer man luik out,
For ordinance thay dung at day and nycht
By weirlyk volyis: thocht the wallis wes wycht,
Ȝit dowbell battrie brak thame al in inschis:
Of Daueis toure, in all the toune menis sycht,
Thay riggein stanes cum tumland ouir the trinschis.
The vehement schot ȝeid in at ather syde,
By threttie Cannonis plasit at partis seuin,
Quhill thay thair in mycht not thair heidis hyde
For Pot Gun pellettis falland from the heuin.
The Bumbard stanis derectlie fell sa euin,
That in to dykis by dint it deidly dang thame,
Quhill all the houssis in the place wes reuin:
The bullatis brak sa in to bladis amang thame.
By threttie Cannonis plasit at partis seuin,
Quhill thay thair in mycht not thair heidis hyde
For Pot Gun pellettis falland from the heuin.
The Bumbard stanis derectlie fell sa euin,
That in to dykis by dint it deidly dang thame,
Quhill all the houssis in the place wes reuin:
The bullatis brak sa in to bladis amang thame.
Continewand this ane dosand of dayis or mair,
Quhill tyme apointit, neuer man durst steir;
The larum rang, the Regent self wes thair,
My Lord Ambassat, to, stuid uerry neir;
The manlie Generall, lyke the god of weir,
Not vsit to sleip quhen sic thingis ar a do;
Our Cronall als, quha is ane freik bot feir,
With all his Capitanes reddie to ga to.
Quhill tyme apointit, neuer man durst steir;
The larum rang, the Regent self wes thair,
My Lord Ambassat, to, stuid uerry neir;
The manlie Generall, lyke the god of weir,
Not vsit to sleip quhen sic thingis ar a do;
Our Cronall als, quha is ane freik bot feir,
With all his Capitanes reddie to ga to.
266
Schir Harie Leis wes present at that charge;
My Lord Burlayis sone, to, stuid besyde;
Cottoun and Dyar saw the sowt at large;
And Schir George Carie, “on the knauis!” he cryde:
Ȝit Hume and Crafurde to the laue wes gyde,
With certane Soiouris of the garysoun;
Four Capitanis followit at thair bak to byde,
Sempill and Hectour, Ramsay and Robesoun.
My Lord Burlayis sone, to, stuid besyde;
Cottoun and Dyar saw the sowt at large;
And Schir George Carie, “on the knauis!” he cryde:
Ȝit Hume and Crafurde to the laue wes gyde,
With certane Soiouris of the garysoun;
Four Capitanis followit at thair bak to byde,
Sempill and Hectour, Ramsay and Robesoun.
Bot Hume wes first that ouir the walis wan,
As I heir say—I wes not thair my sell:
The Generall sayis he playit the vailȝeant man,
With prayssis mo nor I intend to tell.
Thocht Crafurdis ledder wes to schort ane ell,
Ȝit ouir the walis he wan, I wat not how;
Dunbartan, to, quhen sic lyke fortoun fell,
Thir wes the men that wan it, I tell ȝow.
As I heir say—I wes not thair my sell:
The Generall sayis he playit the vailȝeant man,
With prayssis mo nor I intend to tell.
Thocht Crafurdis ledder wes to schort ane ell,
Ȝit ouir the walis he wan, I wat not how;
Dunbartan, to, quhen sic lyke fortoun fell,
Thir wes the men that wan it, I tell ȝow.
The Generallis band come bauldlie at thair bak:
Schir Frances Russall, with ane gudlie grace;
Ȝaxlie and Erintoun, nather of thame wes slak;
Twa vther Careis, Knowis, and Capitane Kace.
Than wes persewand at ane uther place
Breikwell and Lammy, Mechell & Capitan Game;
Bauld Capitane Reid, that euir held to his face,
Pickman and Wood did vailȝeantly the same.
Schir Frances Russall, with ane gudlie grace;
Ȝaxlie and Erintoun, nather of thame wes slak;
Twa vther Careis, Knowis, and Capitane Kace.
Than wes persewand at ane uther place
Breikwell and Lammy, Mechell & Capitan Game;
Bauld Capitane Reid, that euir held to his face,
Pickman and Wood did vailȝeantly the same.
Spreill, Spadyn, Traill, Hutsoun, and all the laue,
Bartoun and Stirlie, Capitan Duberie slane;
Thoise at the bak wall wes the brasche thay gaue;
For lake of lederis thair thay wrocht in uane,
The men within maid sic defence agane,
Thay schot gude Manfrild in athort the throit,
Quhill force did faill, and than I saw thame fane
To cry ‘Peccaui’ with the waithman noit.
Bartoun and Stirlie, Capitan Duberie slane;
Thoise at the bak wall wes the brasche thay gaue;
For lake of lederis thair thay wrocht in uane,
The men within maid sic defence agane,
Thay schot gude Manfrild in athort the throit,
Quhill force did faill, and than I saw thame fane
To cry ‘Peccaui’ with the waithman noit.
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Halyburtoun, Strauchan, with thair standarts stuid;
Seirburne & Schaftoun hes followit on thame fast;
Aueris and Barrat baith wer men of gude;
Gresseone and Hanis wes laith for to be last;
Crippis and Cantrell to the parrell past;
Auld Capitā Leirmount with ane luik to bang thame;
Gude M. Setoun maid thair grumis agast:
He gart the Cannones ga sa thik amang thame.
Seirburne & Schaftoun hes followit on thame fast;
Aueris and Barrat baith wer men of gude;
Gresseone and Hanis wes laith for to be last;
Crippis and Cantrell to the parrell past;
Auld Capitā Leirmount with ane luik to bang thame;
Gude M. Setoun maid thair grumis agast:
He gart the Cannones ga sa thik amang thame.
Out gais the Hergbut, in the Cannon glydis,
Brak al in bladdis, thay docht not weil abyde thame:
Trottar and fiftie fell, and loste the hydis;
The laue sa fleit, thay wist not quheir to hyde thame;
Dismontit cannones slew the men besyde thame;
The Suddartis swarfit, and said thay wald not sar;
The house wes gud, had thay had grace to gyde thame:
Quhen all wes done, we had not bene the nar.
Brak al in bladdis, thay docht not weil abyde thame:
Trottar and fiftie fell, and loste the hydis;
The laue sa fleit, thay wist not quheir to hyde thame;
Dismontit cannones slew the men besyde thame;
The Suddartis swarfit, and said thay wald not sar;
The house wes gud, had thay had grace to gyde thame:
Quhen all wes done, we had not bene the nar.
Let na man lipin in to warldlie strenth;
Bot Godlie ground thay may na thing induir:
Tratouris and treasone salbe tryit at lenth,
Quhen men wald fanest all thair vices smuir.
Sa Grange beleuit the madin Castell suir,
Haueand sic forssis to defend his touris;
Bot mell with madenis quhen thay play the huir:
Win anis the entrie, and than the house is ȝouris.
Bot Godlie ground thay may na thing induir:
Tratouris and treasone salbe tryit at lenth,
Quhen men wald fanest all thair vices smuir.
Sa Grange beleuit the madin Castell suir,
Haueand sic forssis to defend his touris;
Bot mell with madenis quhen thay play the huir:
Win anis the entrie, and than the house is ȝouris.
The Madene Castell it wes callit lang,
With honour ay that nobill style it buir;
With wemenis will ȝe do thame lytill wrang;
To iaip thame sa, I think it na iniuir.
Na mair our Madene Castell playit the huir,
Bot tuik appointmēt quhen thair wes na parel.
Smaikis had the wyte: I say the hous wes suir,
Had thay bene gratious with ane godlie quarel.
With honour ay that nobill style it buir;
With wemenis will ȝe do thame lytill wrang;
To iaip thame sa, I think it na iniuir.
Na mair our Madene Castell playit the huir,
Bot tuik appointmēt quhen thair wes na parel.
Smaikis had the wyte: I say the hous wes suir,
Had thay bene gratious with ane godlie quarel.
268
Thay micht not byde it for the greit munitioun,
Bot drew in factiones quhan the larum rang:
Sum thocht it gude to cum and seik remissioun,
And sum said: “best the Secreter to hang.
To his ilusiones we beleuit owir lang:
Ane cruikit Ethnik, and ane crewall Tod,
Inuentand wichecraft, ay deuysand wrang:
Lat nane geue credance to ane drytand God.”
Bot drew in factiones quhan the larum rang:
Sum thocht it gude to cum and seik remissioun,
And sum said: “best the Secreter to hang.
To his ilusiones we beleuit owir lang:
Ane cruikit Ethnik, and ane crewall Tod,
Inuentand wichecraft, ay deuysand wrang:
Lat nane geue credance to ane drytand God.”
Thē Grange grew fleyit & wald na mair defēd it,
For want of watter, with ane poysonit well:
His men wes slane, and mekle powder spendit,
And wantit force to fill the wallis that fell.
Thair febill smaikrie I think ill to tell,
With luik lyke Lyounes, and sa lytill done.
Fy, drukin dastartis! ȝe haue schamit ȝoursell,
That said sa weill, and syne gaue our sa sone.
For want of watter, with ane poysonit well:
His men wes slane, and mekle powder spendit,
And wantit force to fill the wallis that fell.
Thair febill smaikrie I think ill to tell,
With luik lyke Lyounes, and sa lytill done.
Fy, drukin dastartis! ȝe haue schamit ȝoursell,
That said sa weill, and syne gaue our sa sone.
Durīg this pointmēt thair wes change of graith:
Sū gat ane butiene for thair being thair.
Greit wes the credence geuin to suddartis faith,
Baith gold and siluer and of Marchand wair.
[OMITTED]
Be thair expenssis for thair cuming hidder;
Than on the morne thay maid the pluk vp fair;
Baith Scottis & Inglis syne all ȝeid togidder.
Sū gat ane butiene for thair being thair.
Greit wes the credence geuin to suddartis faith,
Baith gold and siluer and of Marchand wair.
[OMITTED]
Be thair expenssis for thair cuming hidder;
Than on the morne thay maid the pluk vp fair;
Baith Scottis & Inglis syne all ȝeid togidder.
Vpone that spuilȝe I will spend na tyme,
Thay socht na taileȝours for to busc thair breikis.
The suddartis luiffis wes sa ouirlaid wt lyme,
Sum gripit gold and gat the thing he seikis;
Sū stuid beside and gat not worth twa leikis,
As I heir say—I wes not thair to se;
Sū gat thair handfull of thir half mark steikis
Will haue na mair within ane ȝeir nor we.
Thay socht na taileȝours for to busc thair breikis.
The suddartis luiffis wes sa ouirlaid wt lyme,
Sum gripit gold and gat the thing he seikis;
269
As I heir say—I wes not thair to se;
Sū gat thair handfull of thir half mark steikis
Will haue na mair within ane ȝeir nor we.
Thay schot na keyis to brek the coffiris than,
Ane day of blythnes for the men of weir:
Sum stuid besyde ane wondderous sorie man,
Ane duilfull day for thame that loist thair geir,
First saw it tane, and syne thay durst not steir.
Thair wes compleit the prophecie of Knox:
“Doun fra that Crage Kirkcaldy sall reteir,
With schame and sclāder lyke ane hundit fox.”
Ane day of blythnes for the men of weir:
Sum stuid besyde ane wondderous sorie man,
Ane duilfull day for thame that loist thair geir,
First saw it tane, and syne thay durst not steir.
Thair wes compleit the prophecie of Knox:
“Doun fra that Crage Kirkcaldy sall reteir,
With schame and sclāder lyke ane hundit fox.”
With gild of pepile sa thay brocht thame doun,
As birdis but plumis, spuliȝeit of the nest:
Part cryde: “quhair is he? lat vs se the loun;
Go to and staen him; lat him tak na rest.”
Quhē thay yt buir him saw thame selfis opprest,
Thay cryit for succour for to saue thair lyuis:
The Generallis lugeing, thair thay thocht it best,
Thay led him in, thay war sa red for wyuis.
As birdis but plumis, spuliȝeit of the nest:
Part cryde: “quhair is he? lat vs se the loun;
Go to and staen him; lat him tak na rest.”
Quhē thay yt buir him saw thame selfis opprest,
Thay cryit for succour for to saue thair lyuis:
The Generallis lugeing, thair thay thocht it best,
Thay led him in, thay war sa red for wyuis.
The Regent then gart mak ane inhibitioun
To leue the spuilȝe, under pane of deid:
He carit for [na] thing bot the Kingis munitioun;
As for the leue, thair wes bot lytill leid.
To tak the hous, thair wes na mair remeid,
With all the faultis mycht follow he wes fane;
Aganis ane Haiknay I sall wed my heid,
Grange beis not Capitan of that Craig agane.
To leue the spuilȝe, under pane of deid:
He carit for [na] thing bot the Kingis munitioun;
As for the leue, thair wes bot lytill leid.
To tak the hous, thair wes na mair remeid,
With all the faultis mycht follow he wes fane;
Aganis ane Haiknay I sall wed my heid,
Grange beis not Capitan of that Craig agane.
With this the Generall wes reterit a bak;
Went doun to Leith quhair he had bene befoir:
Speik as ȝe pleis, it wes ane vailȝeant ak,
And Drurie deulie did his ful deuoir.
God gatand thākis, the Quene suld haue yt gloir:
We thank hir Maieste, as the mater standis:
God saue hir grace! hes scho not gart restoir
Ȝone captiue rebellis in the Regentis handis?
Went doun to Leith quhair he had bene befoir:
Speik as ȝe pleis, it wes ane vailȝeant ak,
And Drurie deulie did his ful deuoir.
270
We thank hir Maieste, as the mater standis:
God saue hir grace! hes scho not gart restoir
Ȝone captiue rebellis in the Regentis handis?
By expectatioun of the commoun speiking,
Wes it not thocht that Ingland suld begyle vs?
And sum allegit it wes the Regents seiking,
To sell the King, and sa thay wald ouirsyle vs,
Creip in our strenthis, and suddanelie exyle vs.
O Rurall pepill, rusticall, and rude!
We ar the men that all the warld dois style vs,
Remembring ill, and geue na thankis for gude.
Wes it not thocht that Ingland suld begyle vs?
And sum allegit it wes the Regents seiking,
To sell the King, and sa thay wald ouirsyle vs,
Creip in our strenthis, and suddanelie exyle vs.
O Rurall pepill, rusticall, and rude!
We ar the men that all the warld dois style vs,
Remembring ill, and geue na thankis for gude.
Ingratious pepill! ignorant and vane!
Quhy do ȝe noit ȝour nychtboris ay with ill?
Wer thay not blyith for to get hame agane,
Thocht sum beleuit thay wald haue tareit still?
To do ȝow plesour, thay haue schauin gude will,
Baith spent thair lyues, & largelie of thair geir.
Alace, my Joyis! ȝe had bot lytill skill,
That trowit that Inglād wald haue tareit heir.
Quhy do ȝe noit ȝour nychtboris ay with ill?
Wer thay not blyith for to get hame agane,
Thocht sum beleuit thay wald haue tareit still?
To do ȝow plesour, thay haue schauin gude will,
Baith spent thair lyues, & largelie of thair geir.
Alace, my Joyis! ȝe had bot lytill skill,
That trowit that Inglād wald haue tareit heir.
Quhat danger wes to bring sa greit munitioun
In forane landis with sic ane force indeid!
The only caus wes to auoyid suspitioun,
That men suld say thay come not heir for greid.
Thocht sum thair be of cankreit Cain seid,
Sawaris of discorde dois na vther thing:
Speik as thay pleis, schame fal thair lippis yt leid!
Thay mene na thing bot to mantene the King.
In forane landis with sic ane force indeid!
The only caus wes to auoyid suspitioun,
That men suld say thay come not heir for greid.
Thocht sum thair be of cankreit Cain seid,
Sawaris of discorde dois na vther thing:
Speik as thay pleis, schame fal thair lippis yt leid!
Thay mene na thing bot to mantene the King.
Haif thay not thre tymes in this threttene ȝeir,
Ay quhen we socht thāe, send thair forces hedder,
Baitht Schippis & Gūnis & martial mē of weir,
To win our kyndnes, geue we culd considdir?
And now the last tyme quhen we send to bid hir,
Hes scho not helpit to holk out ȝone Tod?
Long moit thir countreis leue in pace togidder,
And grow in freinschip to the feir of God!
Ay quhen we socht thāe, send thair forces hedder,
Baitht Schippis & Gūnis & martial mē of weir,
To win our kyndnes, geue we culd considdir?
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Hes scho not helpit to holk out ȝone Tod?
Long moit thir countreis leue in pace togidder,
And grow in freinschip to the feir of God!
The Lenuoy to the Regent.
O richteous Regent of ane Royall race!
Tratours may trimbill to behald thy face,
Fering thy furie for thair foull offencis.
Geue gloir to God that hes the geuin sic grace,
Riches with reasoun for to reuill that place.
Thow beand plantit in the sait of Prencis,
Geue thow wald prosper in thy iust pretencis,
Beir equall ballanis baith to riche and puir:
That beand done, lang mot thy dayis induir.
Tratours may trimbill to behald thy face,
Fering thy furie for thair foull offencis.
Geue gloir to God that hes the geuin sic grace,
Riches with reasoun for to reuill that place.
Thow beand plantit in the sait of Prencis,
Geue thow wald prosper in thy iust pretencis,
Beir equall ballanis baith to riche and puir:
That beand done, lang mot thy dayis induir.
Sen God hes wrocht it, I am weill content
To mak of the that onlie instrument
To caus this countrie for to knaw the king.
It wes the leuing Lord Omnipotent
That maid the Barrones sa obedient,
And not the force that thow to send may bring;
Did neuir Regent in this Realme sic thing,
Considdering alwayis as the mater stude,
And maid sic greance with sa lytill blude.
To mak of the that onlie instrument
To caus this countrie for to knaw the king.
It wes the leuing Lord Omnipotent
That maid the Barrones sa obedient,
And not the force that thow to send may bring;
Did neuir Regent in this Realme sic thing,
Considdering alwayis as the mater stude,
And maid sic greance with sa lytill blude.
To speik of Regentes, we haue had sic thre,
Sen God wes borne, thair micht na bettir be
For wisdome, manheid, and for Godlynes:
Quhairfor hes God now laid this charge on the.
Bot lat vs ken that it is onlie He
That rewlis the Realme, & not thy richteousnes.
Remember Ahab, for his febilnes,
Quha gart King Benhadab in his scherat go,
Quhilk wes his wrak: be war ȝe do not so.
Sen God wes borne, thair micht na bettir be
For wisdome, manheid, and for Godlynes:
Quhairfor hes God now laid this charge on the.
Bot lat vs ken that it is onlie He
That rewlis the Realme, & not thy richteousnes.
Remember Ahab, for his febilnes,
Quha gart King Benhadab in his scherat go,
Quhilk wes his wrak: be war ȝe do not so.
272
Quhairfor put God the powar in ȝour hand?
To puneis lounes that hes ourlaid this land
By murthour, treasoun, done fra ȝeir to ȝeir.
Geue ȝe obey not, brekand that Command,
I am in dout geue ȝour estait sall stand,
Bot sone be rutit fra this Realme, I feir.
Spair neuer Agag for na brybe of geir.
Quhat come of Saull with his fatt Oxin thair?
Ga, reid the Bybill: it will sone declair.
To puneis lounes that hes ourlaid this land
By murthour, treasoun, done fra ȝeir to ȝeir.
Geue ȝe obey not, brekand that Command,
I am in dout geue ȝour estait sall stand,
Bot sone be rutit fra this Realme, I feir.
Spair neuer Agag for na brybe of geir.
Quhat come of Saull with his fatt Oxin thair?
Ga, reid the Bybill: it will sone declair.
To seik exampillis of that samin tone,
My Lord of Murray wes degradit sone
For not fulfiling of the Lordis desyre.
First, God promouit him in the place abone;
Bot fra he saw that Justice wes not done,
He leit the wickit cast the wand in fyre.
Be war sic materis moue not God to yre;
Geue ȝe be myndit on this mold remaine,
And plesit God, I wald not change agane.
My Lord of Murray wes degradit sone
For not fulfiling of the Lordis desyre.
First, God promouit him in the place abone;
Bot fra he saw that Justice wes not done,
He leit the wickit cast the wand in fyre.
Be war sic materis moue not God to yre;
Geue ȝe be myndit on this mold remaine,
And plesit God, I wald not change agane.
Lanuoy to the Ambassade.
My Lord Ambassade I haue lang forȝet,
Quhairfor indeid I haue not done my det;
And he, sa cairfull for oure countrie men,
For wit and wisdome worthie to be tret:
In baith the landis thair is bot few to get,
That wrocht sa Godlie in this cause, ȝe ken.
My dull indyte can not direct my pen,
And thocht I culd, it wald contene ane buik
To put in paper all the panis he tuk.
Quhairfor indeid I haue not done my det;
And he, sa cairfull for oure countrie men,
For wit and wisdome worthie to be tret:
In baith the landis thair is bot few to get,
That wrocht sa Godlie in this cause, ȝe ken.
My dull indyte can not direct my pen,
And thocht I culd, it wald contene ane buik
To put in paper all the panis he tuk.
He is not borne of better qualytie,
Of quiet speiche, with greit moralytie:
Swering nor bairdrie may he nan abyde,
Detestand pryde and prodigalitie:
As equall Juge, but persealytie,
For feid or fauour, vnto ather syde;
Abone all vices subiect leist to pryde;
Ferme in his faith, and full of Godlynes;
With marciall hart inclynit to mykenes.
Of quiet speiche, with greit moralytie:
273
Detestand pryde and prodigalitie:
As equall Juge, but persealytie,
For feid or fauour, vnto ather syde;
Abone all vices subiect leist to pryde;
Ferme in his faith, and full of Godlynes;
With marciall hart inclynit to mykenes.
Weill micht the Counsels beir the gude cōmend,
That sic Ambassade in to Scotland send,
To speik vprichtlie and the treuth declair;
For na expensis did he spair to spend,
Quhill pece wes brocht vnto ane finall end.
Quhar as he fand vs at the plukup fair,
With walkryfe labour and expensis sair,
God knawis in Scotland quhat he had ado
With baith the sydis, or he culd bring vs to.
That sic Ambassade in to Scotland send,
To speik vprichtlie and the treuth declair;
For na expensis did he spair to spend,
Quhill pece wes brocht vnto ane finall end.
Quhar as he fand vs at the plukup fair,
With walkryfe labour and expensis sair,
God knawis in Scotland quhat he had ado
With baith the sydis, or he culd bring vs to.
In winter weddiris baith in wind and rane,
Sum tyme with seiknes sa ourset with pane,
He raid throw montanes many, mose, and myre.
In frost and snaw, quhen all the folkis ar fane
With double bonattis for to hap thair brane,
Then wes he worsland our ane wondie swyre,
Sum tymes at nycht, syne not to se ane fyre.
Ar we addettet to sa trew ane strangear,
That for our proffeit put him self in danger?
Sum tyme with seiknes sa ourset with pane,
He raid throw montanes many, mose, and myre.
In frost and snaw, quhen all the folkis ar fane
With double bonattis for to hap thair brane,
Then wes he worsland our ane wondie swyre,
Sum tymes at nycht, syne not to se ane fyre.
Ar we addettet to sa trew ane strangear,
That for our proffeit put him self in danger?
As Caleb send wes for to se the land,
The gydis that come gart Moyses vnderstand
The land wes feirfull, and the pepill strang:
Because he knew it wes the Lordis cōmand
He wald not stay, bot stoutlie tuik on hand
Richt vnabasitlie all that gait to gang,
Ourthrew thair castellis, & thair gyantis dang,
Brocht thāe to miserie maid ane mynt to wrāg vs:
He wes yt Caleb sen he come amāg vs.
The gydis that come gart Moyses vnderstand
The land wes feirfull, and the pepill strang:
Because he knew it wes the Lordis cōmand
He wald not stay, bot stoutlie tuik on hand
Richt vnabasitlie all that gait to gang,
Ourthrew thair castellis, & thair gyantis dang,
Brocht thāe to miserie maid ane mynt to wrāg vs:
He wes yt Caleb sen he come amāg vs.
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I dar be bald to say, this hundreth ȝeir,
He wes not strangear borne mair welcum heir,
Nor plesit the Preichours half sa weill as he.
On pure nor riche he neuer sparit his geir;
And, geue ane Suddart had bene schot in weir,
He soinȝeit not to ga him self and se:
Quha with this countrie culd sa weill agre
To play the wise mā quhen he wes with Lordis,
Syne help the puiranis, as the cause recordis?
He wes not strangear borne mair welcum heir,
Nor plesit the Preichours half sa weill as he.
On pure nor riche he neuer sparit his geir;
And, geue ane Suddart had bene schot in weir,
He soinȝeit not to ga him self and se:
Quha with this countrie culd sa weill agre
To play the wise mā quhen he wes with Lordis,
Syne help the puiranis, as the cause recordis?
Sen reason wald that ȝe returne a bak,
We thank ȝow hartlie of the Godlie ak
Ȝe wrocht amang vs, for to saif our blude.
I ȝow beseik thir sempill wersis tak,
With als gude will as ony man can mak.
Because ȝe knaw my cunning is not gude,
Ȝe man excuse my rurall rymis rude.
God saif our King, and send him lytill ado,
The Quene of Ingland, and hir Counsall, to!
We thank ȝow hartlie of the Godlie ak
Ȝe wrocht amang vs, for to saif our blude.
I ȝow beseik thir sempill wersis tak,
With als gude will as ony man can mak.
Because ȝe knaw my cunning is not gude,
Ȝe man excuse my rurall rymis rude.
God saif our King, and send him lytill ado,
The Quene of Ingland, and hir Counsall, to!
Finis.
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