University of Virginia Library

TRUTH's TRAVELS,

IN SCOTS METRE, AND MUCH IN REPUTE IN OUR OLD KING JAMES'S TIME, BY PETER MANY.

Some say, within these hundred years,
That Truth did travel on the earth,
But was ill treat, as well appears,
Albeit he was of noble birth.
Few men or nane would give him girth,
Then noble Truth was troubled sae,
That he was forc'd to turn with mirth,
To that country where he came frae.
For wealthy men would naeways ken him,
And his own servants were but poor,
They neither had to give nor lend him,
And taverns held him at the door.
In time of preaching he was sure,
To be with pastors in the kirk,
Except sic men as they took cure,
All others they began to irk.
When kirk was skael'd and preaching done,
And men and women baith went hame,
Nae man call'd Truth to his disjeun,
Albeit he was of noble fame,
Their was not one that kept a craim,
But they had bacon, beef, and ale,
Yet no acquaintance Truth could claim,
To wish him worth a dish of kail:
Except pastors or judges sought him
I trow his dinner was but cauld,
For advocates much skaith they wrought him,
He makes their gowns sae bare and auld.
And merchant men that bought and sauld
For sundry things could not abide him;
And poor craftsmen albeit they wald
They had no portion to provide him.
Truth could not get a dish of fish,
For cooks and kailwives baith refus'd him,
Because he plainted of their dish,
And poultry men plainly misus'd him;
The baxters boys came and abus'd him.
So Truth got wrang of ev'ry one,
Yea not a carline but accus'd him,
That sell'd the tripes about the tron.
A tapster took Truth in her cellar,
She gave him drink and other cheer,
But all the lave were like to fell her,
Because she let him come so near.
Quoth they, “Thief, if he shelter here,
Baith thou and we are clean undone,
We shall not win the hail lang year
So meikle as will mend our shoon.”
Then Truth he travelled owr the street,
For lack of godly company,
Till with three blades he chanc'd to meet,
Who were not of his quality.
Falset came first, then Vanity,
Who brings great hurt to all estate;
As they forgathered there all three,
Then afterward comes in Deceit.
They speir at Truth “Where will ye dine?”
Quoth he, “Where I may have good cheer.”
Says Falset, “I ken ale and wine
Within a house that is right near.”
Quoth Truth, “I wad we were not dear,
Because that we must spend to-morrow.”
“Sir,” quoth Deceit, “take ye no fear,
We shall get siller for to borrow.”
Vanity says, “I will gae look
If I can get a chamber clair,
I am acquainted with the cook,
I trow we shall get honest fare.”
Then Vanity soon enters there,
And speirs if they had ready meat,
“Make haste, see for no cost ye spare,
Get us some delicates to eat.”
With that the other three came thither,
And saw the meat was ready drest,
They merrily sat down together,
And Vanity he served the rest.
Of wine and ale they had the best,
And other cheer for honest men,
They ate and drank even what they list,
Till that a quart was com'd and gane.
Vanity bade the lave be merry,
“Fetch yet a quart, whate'er it cost.”
Falset says, “I am like to worry;”
With that Deceit he gave a host.
Vanity says, “Bring up the roast,
And take away these broos and soup,
And gar somebody bring a toast,
With clowes and cannel in the cup.”
Deceit says, “Let the wife come drink,
For she is burnt up bane and lyre,
She makes no service here I think.”
Quoth she, “I think your tongue should tire,
I cannot win ben frae the fire,
The roast will burn, the eggs will loup,
Take any thing that ye desire,
Let Falset gang and fill the stoup.”
With that the buird was near the drawing,
And Falset brewing was a cheat;
Truth says, “Wife come and count the lawing;”
With that Falset fell in a sweat,
He spitted first, and then spew'd,
He took a swarf and fell in swoon;
Deceit and Vanity baith knew,
The cunning of that crafty loun,
They presently take the alarm,
And cry, Alas! our brother's dead,
Deceit soon caught him in his arm,
And Vanity held up his head.
Unto the door they run with speed,
To get him comfort in the wind,
But Truth sat still in meikle dread,
They left him as a pawn behind.
Falset ourcame when they came out,
And ilk ane ran a sundry gait,
But Truth sat still in meikle doubt,
He saw that he must pay the debt.
The browster wife wist well I wait,
The cunning of these crafty knaves,
For they were with her air and late,
She was ay servant to their slaves.
When they were gane, she enters in,
And cries, “Where is your company?”
Quoth Truth, “False wife, will thou begin
To ask sic questions at me;
They are thy guests continually,
And eat and drink within thy house.”
Quoth she to Truth, “Good faith ye lie,
I will not trust them with a sous;
Nae man but you has brought them hither,
Therefore in conscience ye shall pay,
And count when that ye meet together,
Sic things lie not into my way.
Assure yourself that ye shall stay,
Till that ye pay this lawing hail,
Albeit your clothes were ne'er so gay,
For I must pay for bread and ale.
Ye came before I send about you,
Whether they call you Truth or Jock,
I have liv'd all my days without you,
I have no need of sic a block;
Sir, pay or ye shall leave your cloak,
Before that ye gang to the door.”
Quoth Truth, “In case I get that mock,
I never think to file thy floor.”
“Nae fault,” quoth she, “ye are precise,
And brings our craft to meikle wrack;
Yea, hurts even men of all degree,
That we dare not miscount a plack.
The narrow reckoning that ye take,
Gars all the tapsters clean abhor you.
I will not gang behind your back,
Come ne'er again till we send for you.”
Then Truth extremely was offended,
Because that he must pay the debt,
He wist not well what ways to mend it,
But went out to the browster's gate,
With Falset hastily he met,
Was standing like a crafty loun;
Then Truth did loup to him, but lett,
He claught him, and he keust him down,
And said, “Sir Falset was ye sick,
Ye and your graceless company.”
With that Truth took him on the cheek,
And lent him lusty lounders three.
Then Falset he began to flee,
And cry'd, “Oh! sorrow, shame, and wrack;”
And in a house soon entered he,
Where linning claith they use to mak.
He cry'd as if he had been daft,
And says, “Now are our brethren clair,
I am a neighbour of your craft,
And Truth has troubled me right sair.”
The webster says, “Take thou nae care,
But lie down underneath my loom,
For Truth will ne'er come seek thee there,
Though thou bide till the day of doom.”
For mirth the webster made a beacon,
And there the craft was all conven'd;
A boy ran out to fetch the deacon,
And Falset there he has complain'd.
His sad affront was sairly mean'd,
As ane of their society;
He was right richly entertain'd,
And made with all their brethren free.
The deacon says, “Can thou make claith.”
Quoth Falset, “In this country spinning,
Linning and woollen, if I had graith,
And live right well upon my winning;
For webster craft was my beginning,
And be that art I still abide,
I ken your warping and your winding.
To hail a hundred by the side.”
“Then thou may live in case thou please,”
The deacon says, “Though thou be scant,
To win thy meat, and steal thy claiths;
It is a woeful thing to want.”
“Deacon,” quoth he, “indeed I grant,
But ye must give me leave to steal,
Whether it be from kin or aunt,
We cannot live if we be leal.”
The deacon says, “I think thee good,
In case thou could make merry news,
Of Wallace or of Robin Hood.”
“Nay, Sir,” quoth he, “I can take clews,
Of any sort, or any hues,
Of fifteen I can take an ell,
Whether it be of blacks or blues,
And hide them ay in little hell.”
With that the craft and deacon took him,
And made him as their brother sworn;
They send out for a clerk to book him,
And would not bide until the morn;
For Truth they held him at the horn.
Frae time he saw Falset was hir'd,
He thought his travel was forlorn,
For he had stood till he was tir'd;
Then Truth he got away right fast,
And made his travel to the tron,
Where he saw Vanity at last,
Was standing in a part alone.
He says, “Now is thy brother gone,”
With that Truth took him by the neck,
And gave him there, as some suppone,
Three bevels till he gard him beck.
Vanity took him to his feet,
Because he durst not tarry there,
In haste he gat out owr the street,
And lightly he lap up the stair.
Of taylor's booths there was a pair,
And Vanity got in among them,
To give them comfort for their care,
For fear that Truth should clean o'ergang them.
“I am a brother of your calling,
Your noble art for to advance;
I brought the bodies hame with balling,
As was the present mode of France;
Even vardingales, when ladies dance,
Begarry'd tails, with borders three,
And skiprigs now come up by chance;
My natural name is Vanity.”
But all his head was full of clours,
Truth did so handle him when he had him,
He laid upon him full twa hours,
Were not help came, he had outred him.
Truth followed Vanity, and bled him,
When he was in the taylor's shap,
Then all the taylors raise and red him,
And wrapped Truth out o'er the trap.
They took the other by the hand,
And said, “Now welcome, Vanity,
We are all hail at thy command,
Let's see gif Truth dare follow thee;
And yet right welcome he should be,
If he would keep himself but quiet,
But nothing he may hear or see,
But still he prattles owre like a pyet.
Thou shall be foreman to our lads,
Of any wark take thou the chose.”
Quoth he, “I must take clouts and blads,
For pickindails, for caps and hose.
So, to be short, and make a close,
I'll steal from petticoat or gown,
From scarlet shanks, and shoon with rose,
That gars poor husbands leave the town.”
“Nae man,” quoth they, “shall needle draw,
For pleasure nor for poverty;
By all that's good we make this law,
Except they first be free with thee,
In brugh or land, where'er he be.”
So taylors took him by the hand,
And Vanity said, “Sirs, we shall gree,
Fetch in a clerk and make the band.”
Then Truth durst tarry there nae langer,
Because he was so oft disgrac'd,
But went away in meikle anger,
Till he came till the cross almaist;
Where soon he saw Deceit in haste,
Within the body of the town,
Into a part where he was plac'd,
Well girded in a gallant gown.
I trow Truth gave him there his straiks,
For he could not abide his force;
Some say, indeed, he gave him straiks,
But doubt that would have slain a horse.
The craimers all came frae the cross,
Baith men and wives they were conven'd,
And cry, “Truth has thou no remorse,
To be so cruel to our friend.”
Mealmakers came to Truth to hald him,
Till time their friend was out of strait;
Fishers and fleshers they miscall'd him,
The stablers start out to the gait,
The candlemakers came and flait,
The potingers were very crouse;
Wha gat away then but Deceit,
And brake into a broker's house.
“Fy! help,” quoth he, “I am Deceit,
With Truth right sair I am pursued,
I am a friend to thy estate,
And helps thee daily gif thou knew'd.
I wad our kindness were renew'd,
And I shall serve thee faithfully.”
The broker says, “Faith Truth shall rue't.
That e'er he had to do with thee;
We are ay troubled with that Truth,
He flees Deceit where'er he finds him,
He neither uses sleep nor sloth,
Nor buds and bribes can no ways blind him;
There is no mortal means can bind him,
He tries our deeds that are most deep;
And leaves good Conscience behind him,
That gars us sigh when we should sleep.”
“Brother,” quoth he, “I am a broker,
By that I win my living chief;
I borrow silver dear for ocker,
To them that are in debt and grief;
And so I live, for to be brief,
I win great wealth, and wait ye how,
Baith he that buys and sells the beef,
Must give me collops of the cow;
Sic like I can go o'er the fells
Of merchandize, to make abuse;
I have baith weights that buys and sells,
With common folks when I conduce.
When that I buy, this is my use,
What I would have I loath and lack,
And when I sell, I will make ruiss,
Of that whilk is not worth a plack.”
The broker says, “Will thou be fee'd,
And I shall keep thee in thy right.”
“Faith,” quoth Deceit, “it is agreed,
I shall bide with thee day and night;
What subtilty, or any slight,
Or Falset yet that e'er was us'd,
I shall supply thee to my might,
At all times when thou art accus'd.”
Quoth he, “Kens thou the merchant booth,
To fetch me paper, wax, or thread?”
“Yes,” quoth Deceit, “even Sir, forsooth,
I can run through them all with speed.”
Quoth he, “Friend, can thou write and read?”
“Yes,” quoth Deceit, “with sundry hands,
And counterfeit a band for need,
To cut true men from gear and lands.”
Quoth he, “Can thou gang to the bar,
In case I had an action there?”
Quoth he, “I dare not gang so far,
But I shall gae mid house and mair.”
The broker says, “Why will thou spare,
That thou dare gang no furder ben?”
“Faith,” quoth Deceit, “I would not care,
Gif Truth were put out frae these men.”
The broker says, “Since it is so,
That thou has taen thy girth herein,
Care not for Truth, that is thy foe,
For Conscience, nor all her kin.”
Deceit says, “Friend, we must begin
To win some wealth or warldly gear.”
The broker says, “Sir, make no din,
Ye shall have service for a year.”
Frae Truth perceiv'd them all reliev'd,
And he so fairly circumven'd,
Indeed he angry was, and griev'd,
He ran to judges and complain'd.
The judges and council all conven'd,
Truth and his plaint were baith receiv'd;
At the first view men would have deem'd,
He got the justice which he crav'd.
He tald “How that they had deceiv'd him,
Ev'n Falset and his crafty band,
And how the browster wife had crav'd him,
And how they did escape his hand;
What harm they did unto the land,
And what like men that bad reset them.”
With that the Justice gave command,
That all the guard should search and get them.
The Justice choos'd himself assessors,
To make him strong in that pretence,
To punish them and sic oppressors,
Prudence first and Experience;
Attentive Ear and Diligence,
Authority to stand before him;
To gar him get obedience,
That Fainting Fear should not devour him.
After the time that they were met,
Immediately in little space,
Be policy they were all set,
Who had great knowledge of the case.
The Judge was first put in his place,
And Warldly Gain crap in behind him,
Who durst not come before his face,
For fear her golden glance should blind him.
They that sought Falset, then had found him,
And said, “Sir, ye and ane must meet.”
After they gat him, then they bound him,
And brought him headlong up the street.
Falset began to fleir and greet;
But e'er the judges were aware,
They haltered him baith head and feet,
And harld him hard into the bar.
Then Justice says, “Where was thou born?”
Quoth Falset, “Sir, into the Isles,
And I have been lang time in Lorn,
And came into the country whiles;
Yea, to the south right many miles,
And sometimes I dwelt in the Border,
With outlaws, and these stubborn stiles,
Before your Lordships took good order.”
Quoth he, “Art thou the webster's man,
Or one of that society?”
Quoth Falset, “Sir, but now and than,
Though I be with their brethren free;
For others will not let me be,
Albeit the webster have the glamer,
There are even richer men nor he,
That keep me in their chiefest chamber.
The webster sent me to the mill,
Of corn I trow to grind a peck,
And there the miller held me still,
Till time we censured every sack.
Then shepherds took me by the neck,
That I might help to feed their flocks,
And some forestawers in effect,
Carried me north to make their blocks.
When I came hame a maltman met me,
Who keeped me a month haill,
When he was gaen browsters reset me,
That I might help to brew their ale.
And some men send me to sail,
To France, to Portugal, or Spain,
Though websters get the slander hail,
Yet other men has greater gain.”
After the judges had exam'd him,
For he had granted kow and yow,
For to be scourg'd soon they condemn'd him,
The hangman claught him in a tow,
And drave him to the Nether-bow,
He durst ne'er come again for awe,
But lodges in some house or how,
In Pleasants or the Patterraw.
Then they cried, ‘Vanity compear,
Why should ye had the judge so lang?”
The taylors answered, “We are here,
He is so sick he cannot gang;
For Truth has done him meikle wrang,
He dang Deceit and him like dogs,
I trow we shall not have him lang,
Except some doctor give him drugs.”
“Taylors,” quoth Truth, “ye were owr ready,
To fling me headlong owr your stair.”
The taylors answered, “Be our lady,
Come ye again ye shall have mair;
For why ye had no errand there,
To ding our friend and gar him blood;
Vanity serves us late and air,
Truth does our craft but little good.
My Lords, we will give in defences,
According to our common law,
And charge this Truth for great expences,
Our friend has gotten sic ourthraw:
We know Truth has no writ to shaw,
Therefore his action must be ill,
For he will get no clerks I knaw,
Masters nor men to make his bill,
Therefore let Truth come pay the cost,
For Vanity's expence is dear;
Since he lay sick he's fed on roast,
Chickens, broth, and other cheer,
Sack, claret, white-wine, and black beer,
Or else but doubt he had been dead.
In case your Lordship please to speir,
Here is the man that haills his head.”
A barber says, “He is misus'd,
My Lord, as every man may see,
Baith back and breast are sairly bruis'd,
And likely for to lose an eye.
I gave him plaisters twa or three,
I wait not how their plea began.”
Deceit says, “Surgeon, well said ye,
Ye speak now like an honest man.”
The Judge says, “Taylors, now find caution,
That Vanity shall do no ill,
But keep him with your occupation.”
The taylors say, “It is our will,
To bind ourselves within a bill,
In case your Lordship make it sure,
If we had strength to hold him still
He should not gang out owr our door;
But Vanity he is employ'd,
In all this country as ye ken,
When gentlewomen are convoy'd
He soon loups out to bear their train;
Young courtiers, and gentlemen,
And merchants sons, whiles for him strive,
And then we see him not till ten,
Whilk time he busks your burgess wives.”
The Justice says, “Ye cannot purge him
For any wiles ye will invent;”
Quoth they, “My Lord, in case ye scourge him
Your ladies will not be content.”
Quoth he, “He shall have banishment
Out of the country for a while,
Till time that he grow penitent,
Either to Orkney or Argyle.”
The taylors then took Vanity,
Out of the Judge's hand and thrall,
They hecht him their fidelity,
To place him highest in their hall;
And promised he should never fall,
So long as taylors are alive;
For all our sons and servants shall
Be sworn thy subjects, and subscrive.
The taylors made a merry banquet
To Vanity and his convoys,
They fetched a quart of wine and drank it,
With bagpipe, trump, and other joys.
Kinnings, capons, and sic toys,
Baith fish and flesh was at that feast,
Yea not one of the taylors' boys
But either had a burd or beast.
So Falset he was finely scourg'd,
Out of the bounds where he had been,
And Vanity was noways purg'd,
But for the taylors sake owrseen.
Yet Conscience cries, “Sure there is ane,
The only author of all wrang,
There is no size can make him clean,
If we get right Deceit will hang.”
A Clerk then cried, “Deceit come in,
Enter before the Judge, let's see.”
The Broker says, “What needs this dinn,
Deceit came in as soon as ye:
I counsel you agree with me,
Press not to put Deceit away,
For if Deceit be forc'd to flee,
Faith baith our callings will decay.
For why Deceit makes all discords
In every country, realm, and race,
Deceit makes noblemen and lords
Oppress the poorer sort, alace!
If Truth were planted in all place,
Wherefore would men seek justice here?”
Frae time the Clerk once knew the case,
He was not thence so doons severe.
But now Deceit sits in a neuck,
With store of his false friends about,
Devising there some doleful jeuck,
To trouble Truth and put him out.
The procutors bad him be stout,
Care not for Conscience a leek,
“Faint not, my friend, nor flee for doubt,
Ye shall get men enough to speak:
Though Conscience cause the Judge to taunt you.
Fear not, but flee out of his gait.
Assure yourself we cannot want you,
Ye have sic moyen since we met,
In case the Judge will not permit
That you come ben, bide still the butt;
Truth cannot trap you in a net,
You have sic wiles, and warldly wit.
Although the Judge give out decreet,
For Conscience sake, take ye nae care,
His action shall have little feet,
For we can make it soon unclair:
When Truth even trows there is nae mair,
But that his action is all ended,
Yet we can find some secret snare,
In subtle sort for to suspend it.”
Deceit perceiv'd them then so frank,
To keep him both from grief and smart,
Quoth he, “We will bind up contract,
Because you love me with your heart,
That I shall make you well expert,
Yea gar your conqueis buy and big,
And gain great riches afterward,
When Truth shall scarcely keep a rig.
And to assure you this in plain,
I shall for well of your estate,
Acquaint you with my sister, Gain,
I am her brother, well I wait.
I wish the Judges now of late
Once knew the sweetness of my sister,
Truth could not put me in this strait,
In case the Judge and Clerks had kist her;
She is so pleasant to behold,
With garland gilt, and silver lace,
Her ornaments are only gold,
With warldly wisdom in her face.”
Poor procutors then cried, “Alace,
We should be sworn your subjects haill,
If ye would grant us but grace,
That we might come and bear her tail.”
Deceit says, “For your poisoned packs,
Ye shall get something every day,
But hunt about like hungry hawks,
Who seek long for silly prey.
What poor men give be taking ay,
A quart of ale or a couple of groats,
With tricks first train them on the way,
Syne leave them lying be the throats.”
Be that a macer cried thrice,
“Deceit compear in judgement place.”
At last Deceit was forc'd to rise
Up, partly with a painted face.
There he had fifty of his race,
And on his haunch there hang a bag,
False buds and bribes for to embrace,
As full of wealth as it might wag.
Deceit stood like a feigned fox,
The Judge beheld him constantly,
And said, “Sirrah, a pair of stocks,
They're fittest for sic guests as thee.
How durst thou, dog, presume so high,
With thy consorts, these rascals rude,
For to abuse the company
Of noble Truth, that is so good?
I ken by thee that draught was drawn,
That honest Truth was so abus'd,
For many a man thou has owr thrawn,
Wherefore thou shall be now accused;
The saints of God thou has misus'd,
With cruelty and great envy.”
Deceit says, “Sir, hold me excus'd,
Trust not so far till once ye try.
The thing is small that we have done,
To Truth, in case your Lordship knew,
It is but for a poor disjeun,
That he has action to pursue.
As for my part, right sair I rue,
In any sort that I was there.”
Then Conscience cries, “That is not true,
There are five hundred matters mair:
Thou art a traitor from thy youth,
In every point, as I shall prove,
Thou entered in the serpent's mouth,
And first deceived our grand-dame Eve,
Persuading her her God to grieve,
Which brought her person to great pine,
In sicklike sort she does mischieve,
Her simple seed always sinsyne.
Thou cruel crosser of all reason,
Mover of murders and debates,
Thou only actor of all treason,
Thou alterer of all estates;
Thou bringer up of new conceits,
Only to murder modesty,
Thou brought'st tobacco through the Straits,
That shameful superfluity.”
A procutor then raise and spake,
And said, “We hear his groundless grieves,
At least, my Lord, give us extract
Of all his noisome narratives;
For there are neither whores nor thieves,
Before trial should be condemn'd,
Therefore let Truth give in his grieves,
To be insert and then exam'd.”
Another answer'd, “With correction,
In case your Lordship rightly spy,
His bill belongs not to this action
If we his libel look and try.
Matters five thousand years past by
Should not be wakened now of late,
Ergo, it is but auld envy,
That Conscience has at Deceit.
For why tobacco makes no trouble,
In any part, as may appear,
Except it gar men bleir and bubble,
And merchants whiles win meikle gear.
Yea, sometimes it will make a steer,
Gar swaggerers swear and fill the stoup.”
Quoth Conscience, “Since it came here
It has gard sindry lairdships loup.
But sure it is if Truth were heard
Deceit would be put in a jail.”
The Clerk says, “Truth is not debarr'd,
Ye see Deceit stands at denial;
This cause must bide a longer trial,
Till time the judges be more quiet.”
With that Deceit cast in a riot,
Which saved him till the second diet.
Then Conscience cries, “Here we appeal,
This action clean out of thy sight,
To him that knows both false and leal,
Who shall destroy thee and thy might,
I shall torment thee day and night,
And make thy sinful corpse to quake,
When Truth shall bring thy works to light,
Like Belshazzar thy banes shall shake.”
Frae time he heard that appellation,
He thought the summonds were so odd,
He found a privie perturbation,
Even fainting for the awes of God.
His soul was prest with such a load,
That all his senses clean were smoored;
His wand'ring wits so rang'd abroad,
Like Dinah when she was deflower'd.
The Justice stood so stupified,
So pierc'd he was with double pain,
Whiles he resolves for Truth indeed,
Then looking back to Wardly Gain.
Quoth Truth, “There is but ane in plain,
Doubtless there is but ane of two,
Come forward or turn back again,
Follow thou her or let us go.”
With that the Judge was so amaz'd,
That he concluded in his thought,
However the world rul'd or gaz'd,
To bring that rogue Deceit to nought;
So gave command he should be brought,
Be officers and men of force,
For wicked works that he had wrought,
And hanged high up at the cross.
Then Warldly Gain cast off her masking,
Falling before the Judge's knees,
And cried, “My Lord, grant me an asking.”
The Judge beheld her golden eyes,
And said, “Madam, ask what you please.”
Quoth she, “My brother is in strait.”
Then all the agents swarm'd like bees,
And gat remission for Deceit.
And yet the Judge was so offendit,
Because of promise he had made,
He said, “What ways ye will defend it,
I will not break the word I said,
For fear the slander spread abraid,
That I as Pilot take such shame,
Deceit shall hang now by the head,
Or else be forc'd to change his name;
See that ye call him Warldly-Wit,
And let him noways enter ben,
But bide with procutors the butt,
And so he shall be spared then:
Wer't not request of Warldly Gain
He should have died without delay.”
Quoth she, “Though I bring help to men,
He is the hawk that hunts the prey.”
Then Conscience comes in again,
And says, “My Lord, how gangs the cause.”
A clerk replied, “Ye speak in vain,
Not but according to the laws;
Deceit and Warldly Gain baith shaws
They have the right end of the string.”
Quoth Conscience, “Jehovah knows,
Thou speaks a leasing in that thing.”
Ambition, Captain of the guard,
With consent of the Judges haill,
Soon clapped Conscience into ward.
Then noble Truth could not prevail,
Deceit did guide the Tobuith haill,
Both poor and rich at his command,
Frae Conscience was in that baill.
Then noble Truth soon left the land,
But Conscience wearied not to cry,
Within the lodge where that she lay.
Some of the clergy then came by,
And thought she was so noisome ay,
“Who art thou, that cries there?” quoth they.
Quoth she, “I am good Conscience.”
“If it be thou, sure we will stay,
To be thy fathers and defence,”
Quoth they; “Who is thy contra-part?”
Quoth Conscience, “Even foes enough.”
A kirk-man said, “Tell me, my heart,
Who is the greatest foe to you?”
“Deceit and Vanity pursue
Me as their mortal enemy;
And now Deceit, by moyen now,
Hath cast me in captivity.”
“Conscience,” quoth they, “have ye nae mair,
That does procure your present pain?”
Quoth she, “Deceit, with fashions fair,
And his dear sister, Warldly Gain.”
Quoth they, “We tell you this in plain,
We ken that Truth is in exile,
Be ye at feid with Warldly Gain,
We let you lie in ward a while;
At deep Deceit we have despite,
Were not sweet Gain his sister dear,
Indeed your party is too great,
Which gars you lie in prison here;
We wave this matter, and retire,
For help of our posterity,
And pass forth from this process clear,
Except that ye and Gain agree.”