 | Satirical poems of the reformation |  |
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VII. ane Declaratioun of the Lordis iust quarrell.
Not lang ago, as I allone did walk
Intill ane place was plesand to behauld,
Twa leirnit men in priuie I hard talk,
And eich of thame his taill in ordoure tauld.
I vnderstuid thair sentence quhat thay wald,
And thocht it guid to put in memorie;
Thair Names als as efter ȝe sall see.
Intill ane place was plesand to behauld,
Twa leirnit men in priuie I hard talk,
And eich of thame his taill in ordoure tauld.
I vnderstuid thair sentence quhat thay wald,
And thocht it guid to put in memorie;
Thair Names als as efter ȝe sall see.
The taine him self Philandrius did call,
Quha in vertew and manheid tuik delyte:
The tother feirfull semt to be at all:
Erideilus he did his Name indyte.
Off mony thingis thay did togidder flyte,
Bot I tuik tent, abone all other thing,
Quhen thay spak of this Realme and gouerning.
Quha in vertew and manheid tuik delyte:
The tother feirfull semt to be at all:
Erideilus he did his Name indyte.
Off mony thingis thay did togidder flyte,
Bot I tuik tent, abone all other thing,
Quhen thay spak of this Realme and gouerning.
Erideilus sayis: “it dois merwell me
Quhat causit hes the Lordis of Scotland
Tak on ane enterpryse of sic folie
Againe the Quene, and aganis hir husband.
Mycht thay not weill, ilk ane in his awin land,
In quyetnes leifit in peace and rest,
Guyding his awin as him had lykit best?”
Quhat causit hes the Lordis of Scotland
Tak on ane enterpryse of sic folie
Againe the Quene, and aganis hir husband.
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In quyetnes leifit in peace and rest,
Guyding his awin as him had lykit best?”
To quhome Philandrius did answer mak,
And said, “that men war not deuyst onlie
Without all cair thair awin plesure to tak,
Bot to foirse the weill of that countrie,
Reularis of quhilk the Lord will that thay be.
Quhilk charge (he sayis) thay cā not weill refuse,
Les schamefullie thair office thay abuse.
And said, “that men war not deuyst onlie
Without all cair thair awin plesure to tak,
Bot to foirse the weill of that countrie,
Reularis of quhilk the Lord will that thay be.
Quhilk charge (he sayis) thay cā not weill refuse,
Les schamefullie thair office thay abuse.
“Behalding than the actis execrabill
That in this countrie hes committit bene,
The schame, the lack, the bruit abhominabill,
That saikles men with sorow did sustene,
Ane priuat hart it mycht prik vp with tene,
To seik redres and mend that cairfull caice;
Far mair the nobillis of the Royall raice.
That in this countrie hes committit bene,
The schame, the lack, the bruit abhominabill,
That saikles men with sorow did sustene,
Ane priuat hart it mycht prik vp with tene,
To seik redres and mend that cairfull caice;
Far mair the nobillis of the Royall raice.
“To se the King fyrst lychtlit schamefully,
And not chereist in chalmer nor in hall,
Syne murdreist downe causeles and crewelly—
Of that tresoun na tryall taine at all;
Thay quhome the bruit did trewlie traytouris call,
Greitest in Court, and chereist all thair best:
Quhat Lordis hart culd luik on this and lest?
And not chereist in chalmer nor in hall,
Syne murdreist downe causeles and crewelly—
Of that tresoun na tryall taine at all;
Thay quhome the bruit did trewlie traytouris call,
Greitest in Court, and chereist all thair best:
Quhat Lordis hart culd luik on this and lest?
“To se ane monstuire, full of fylthynes,
Abone the rest heich mountit vp in gloir,
Baith Prince and Realme and all power posses,
Ane gled ay gaipand guid men to deuoir:
Quhat hart sa hard bot this sycht sould mak soir?
Quha rychtly than dar thir men reprehend,
Sic greit mischeif quha menis till amend?
Abone the rest heich mountit vp in gloir,
Baith Prince and Realme and all power posses,
Ane gled ay gaipand guid men to deuoir:
Quhat hart sa hard bot this sycht sould mak soir?
Quha rychtly than dar thir men reprehend,
Sic greit mischeif quha menis till amend?
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“To se the Quene furth rydand on the plaine,
Reft lyke ane huire with ruffians shamefullie—
And thocht that sum think that was bot ane traine,
Hir awin wryting dois contrar testifie,
In France, Ingland, and mony strange cuntrie,
Pleinȝeand that sho was rauyssit by hir will—
Quhat Nobill hart mycht se this, and sit still?
Reft lyke ane huire with ruffians shamefullie—
And thocht that sum think that was bot ane traine,
Hir awin wryting dois contrar testifie,
In France, Ingland, and mony strange cuntrie,
Pleinȝeand that sho was rauyssit by hir will—
Quhat Nobill hart mycht se this, and sit still?
“To reif, to murther, and wyle licherie,
The fourt forfault is eikit euin fra hand,
To testifie that Law and honestie,
With sic ribaldis, can not ring in ane land.
The Quene is cuplit with ane wyffis husband,
And farther ȝit, he, quha the King did sack,
But Law the Quene dar into mariage tak.
The fourt forfault is eikit euin fra hand,
To testifie that Law and honestie,
With sic ribaldis, can not ring in ane land.
The Quene is cuplit with ane wyffis husband,
And farther ȝit, he, quha the King did sack,
But Law the Quene dar into mariage tak.
“Besyde all this, thair durst na vertuous wycht
In presence of that proude tyran appeir;
Bludy boucheouris and throtcutters, on nycht,
War only hard, and only had the steir.
The Nobill men durst not the Court cum neir.
The royall hous, refuge to honest men,
Was maid ane bordell and ane theifis den.
In presence of that proude tyran appeir;
Bludy boucheouris and throtcutters, on nycht,
War only hard, and only had the steir.
The Nobill men durst not the Court cum neir.
The royall hous, refuge to honest men,
Was maid ane bordell and ane theifis den.
“Our prettie Prince, the peirle of all this land,
With duilfull deid thay socht for to deuoir,
That riche relick and thresour of Scotland
Destroy, as thay his father did befoir.
Quhat duilfull mynde mycht dewlie this deploir,
In sic dainger to se that innocent,
For our relief quhome God had till vs sent?
With duilfull deid thay socht for to deuoir,
That riche relick and thresour of Scotland
Destroy, as thay his father did befoir.
Quhat duilfull mynde mycht dewlie this deploir,
In sic dainger to se that innocent,
For our relief quhome God had till vs sent?
“Quhat Nobill hart could langer this induire?
Quhat commoun breist did not for sorrow burst?
Quhat godly man of him self could be suire?
Quhat stranger thocht bot this cuntrie was curst?
Quhat preachour this repreif, I pray ȝow, durst?
Quhat chaist woman wyssit not to be deid,
To se sic vice set vp in vertewis steid?
Quhat commoun breist did not for sorrow burst?
Quhat godly man of him self could be suire?
Quhat stranger thocht bot this cuntrie was curst?
Quhat preachour this repreif, I pray ȝow, durst?
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To se sic vice set vp in vertewis steid?
“Gif it was sa, than quha can worthylie
Exalt and prais and magnifie the Name
Of thir Nobillis, quha durst couragiouslie
Haȝaird thame self to saif vs all fra shame?
Thair laude, thair honour, and tryumphand fame
Salbe disperst in dispyte of Inuy,
Quhen faceles fuillis sall not be settin by.”
Exalt and prais and magnifie the Name
Of thir Nobillis, quha durst couragiouslie
Haȝaird thame self to saif vs all fra shame?
Thair laude, thair honour, and tryumphand fame
Salbe disperst in dispyte of Inuy,
Quhen faceles fuillis sall not be settin by.”
Erideilus than answer maid againe:
“Thy talk,” he sayis, “is treuth and veritie;
Bot ȝit sum douts thair is, of quhilk rycht faine,
Gif laser lat, I wald resoluit be:
And fyrst, tuiching the Quenis libertie;
For mony thinkis thir Barronis ar to bauld
In strait keping a Princes for to hauld.”
“Thy talk,” he sayis, “is treuth and veritie;
Bot ȝit sum douts thair is, of quhilk rycht faine,
Gif laser lat, I wald resoluit be:
And fyrst, tuiching the Quenis libertie;
For mony thinkis thir Barronis ar to bauld
In strait keping a Princes for to hauld.”
Philandrius to answer than him sped,
And this he said Eridielus vntill:
“Gif that a freind with fayis away war led
Be wickit craft, syne tystit war till ill,
Thocht he couet in that stait to byde still,
Ȝit in that caice, his freindis, of dewtie,
Sould wis his weill, and seik his libertie.
And this he said Eridielus vntill:
“Gif that a freind with fayis away war led
Be wickit craft, syne tystit war till ill,
Thocht he couet in that stait to byde still,
Ȝit in that caice, his freindis, of dewtie,
Sould wis his weill, and seik his libertie.
“And gif his fantasie war sa far infectit,
That to the treuth he could not bent his eir,
He sould not be in folly ȝit neglectit,
Bot fairnes than sould mixit be with feir.
And gif all this could him na wysedom leir,
Than acht he be of all puissance denude,
To do na euill gif he could do na gude.
That to the treuth he could not bent his eir,
He sould not be in folly ȝit neglectit,
Bot fairnes than sould mixit be with feir.
And gif all this could him na wysedom leir,
Than acht he be of all puissance denude,
To do na euill gif he could do na gude.
“Than sen that bowdin, bludy beist Bothwell
Hes trayterously in myrk put downe our King,
His wyfe the Quene syne rauyssit to him sell,
In fylthie lust, throw cullour of wedding;
Thocht sho, bewitcheit, wald in ruttery ring,
The Nobillis sould nether of thir enduire—
That lowne to leif, nor hir to be his huire.
Hes trayterously in myrk put downe our King,
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In fylthie lust, throw cullour of wedding;
Thocht sho, bewitcheit, wald in ruttery ring,
The Nobillis sould nether of thir enduire—
That lowne to leif, nor hir to be his huire.
“And gif the poysone in hir hart be sonkin,
That sho will not consent he puneist be,
Gif with his fylthie lust sho be sa dronkin
That sho forȝet office and honestie,
Than man hir Nobillis of necessitie
Cut of hir force quhill tresoun be reuengeit,
And this confusioun in ane ordour changeit.”
That sho will not consent he puneist be,
Gif with his fylthie lust sho be sa dronkin
That sho forȝet office and honestie,
Than man hir Nobillis of necessitie
Cut of hir force quhill tresoun be reuengeit,
And this confusioun in ane ordour changeit.”
“In priuat persounis,” sayis Eridielus,
“I vnderstand thy taill is trew in deid,
Bot in Princes it is mair perrillous,
And few examplis thairof can I reid.
And in sic caice the subiectis all had neid
Haill to concur with ane authoritie:
Sic concurrence in Scotland nane I se.”
“I vnderstand thy taill is trew in deid,
Bot in Princes it is mair perrillous,
And few examplis thairof can I reid.
And in sic caice the subiectis all had neid
Haill to concur with ane authoritie:
Sic concurrence in Scotland nane I se.”
Philandrius sayis: “Brother, than considder
How fyrst began all dominatiounis
Quhen ruid pepill assemblit thame togidder,
And maid thair Kingis be creatiounis.
In votis than war variatiounis.
I trow rycht few was chosin be the haill,
Bot he was King quhais pairtie did preuaill.
How fyrst began all dominatiounis
Quhen ruid pepill assemblit thame togidder,
And maid thair Kingis be creatiounis.
In votis than war variatiounis.
I trow rycht few was chosin be the haill,
Bot he was King quhais pairtie did preuaill.
“Rycht sa gif Princes sa thame self abuse,
That of force subiectis man put to thair hand,
Guid men sould not than to reforme refuse,
Thocht all at ainis concur not on thair band;
Naimly, gif Iustice on thair partie stand,
And maist consent gif quha wald rackin rycht,
Sen God has gein to thame baith strēth & mycht.
That of force subiectis man put to thair hand,
Guid men sould not than to reforme refuse,
Thocht all at ainis concur not on thair band;
Naimly, gif Iustice on thair partie stand,
And maist consent gif quha wald rackin rycht,
Sen God has gein to thame baith strēth & mycht.
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“Ȝea, thocht it war ane King for to depose,
For certaine crymis, I think the subiectis may,
Or fylthy faultouris fast in prisone close,
Rather than lat ane haill countrie decay.
Thay sould not sturre, thocht sum men wald say nay.
To ane purpose the haill will neuer conclude:
They haue aneuch hes force and quarrell gude.
For certaine crymis, I think the subiectis may,
Or fylthy faultouris fast in prisone close,
Rather than lat ane haill countrie decay.
Thay sould not sturre, thocht sum men wald say nay.
To ane purpose the haill will neuer conclude:
They haue aneuch hes force and quarrell gude.
“May thay not put ane ordoure to the heid,
Quha in beginning did the heid vp mak?
May thay not set ane better in the steid,
Gif it fra vice can not be callit back?
Les this be done, Realmes will ga to wrak,
Namely, quhen that the cryme is sa patent,
That nouther misters Juge nor argument.
Quha in beginning did the heid vp mak?
May thay not set ane better in the steid,
Gif it fra vice can not be callit back?
Les this be done, Realmes will ga to wrak,
Namely, quhen that the cryme is sa patent,
That nouther misters Juge nor argument.
“As, gif ane King his pepill wald betray,
And him and thame baith bring to seruitude,
He sould in this reformit be, I say,
Naimly be Nobillis and be men of gude.
The Baliols cause—considder how it stude:
Quhat rycht had Robert Bruice him to expell?
Because to Ingland he subiect him sell.
And him and thame baith bring to seruitude,
He sould in this reformit be, I say,
Naimly be Nobillis and be men of gude.
The Baliols cause—considder how it stude:
Quhat rycht had Robert Bruice him to expell?
Because to Ingland he subiect him sell.
“And now, gif I durst speik without respect,
To huirmaisters, to murderers of Kingis,
To throtcutters our Realme was made subiect,
Quha in thair malice proudely ȝit malingis.
Lat Nobill hartis considder all thir thingis,
Thay sall weill find that this puire natioun
Greit mister had of reformatioun.
To huirmaisters, to murderers of Kingis,
To throtcutters our Realme was made subiect,
Quha in thair malice proudely ȝit malingis.
Lat Nobill hartis considder all thir thingis,
Thay sall weill find that this puire natioun
Greit mister had of reformatioun.
“Sic fylthie luste in Sardanapalus,
Sic crueltie in Nero did not ring,
Sic brutishe lyfe in Heliogabalus,
Sic traytour mynde to slay his Lord and King
In feinȝit Phocas breist did neuer spring,
Sic beistly bowgrie Sodome hes not sene,
As rang in him quha rewlit Realme and Quene.
Sic crueltie in Nero did not ring,
Sic brutishe lyfe in Heliogabalus,
Sic traytour mynde to slay his Lord and King
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Sic beistly bowgrie Sodome hes not sene,
As rang in him quha rewlit Realme and Quene.
“And sould the Nobill Barronis of this land
In hoilis lurk, and this mischeif behauld?
Quhair is the wittis wont to reule Scotland?
Go, reid the buik, repeit the storyis auld:
King Euenus was keipit in strang hauld,
And deit thair. Conarus was inclosit,
First being dewlie for his fault deposit.
In hoilis lurk, and this mischeif behauld?
Quhair is the wittis wont to reule Scotland?
Go, reid the buik, repeit the storyis auld:
King Euenus was keipit in strang hauld,
And deit thair. Conarus was inclosit,
First being dewlie for his fault deposit.
“For wickit lyfe imprisont was Ferquhaird,
Quha slew him self of proude melancolie.
Donald the fyft, he gat the same reuaird;
And Ethus did in prisone priuate die.
And, gif ȝe list to go fra this countrie,
In euerie land examplis dois abound:
Gif thay be socht thay may be eithlie found.
Quha slew him self of proude melancolie.
Donald the fyft, he gat the same reuaird;
And Ethus did in prisone priuate die.
And, gif ȝe list to go fra this countrie,
In euerie land examplis dois abound:
Gif thay be socht thay may be eithlie found.
“For sic misordour proude Tarquinius
Was the last King that euer did ring in Rome.
For lyke crymes the tyran Claudius
Losit his stait, and gat deid for his dome.
To speik of Nero now I haue na tome.
Off Commodus, Caius, and Caracall,
It war to lang for to descriue the fall.
Was the last King that euer did ring in Rome.
For lyke crymes the tyran Claudius
Losit his stait, and gat deid for his dome.
To speik of Nero now I haue na tome.
Off Commodus, Caius, and Caracall,
It war to lang for to descriue the fall.
“Quhat sorow into Naples than was sene!
Quha knawis the story cleirly thair may reid
Quhen Charlis dochter, Jeane, that catiue Quene,
Baith honestie forȝet and womanheid,
Hir husband and hir cousing put to deid,
Syne with his Burrio band ane new mariage.
Allace! this sample seruis ower weill our age.
Quha knawis the story cleirly thair may reid
Quhen Charlis dochter, Jeane, that catiue Quene,
Baith honestie forȝet and womanheid,
Hir husband and hir cousing put to deid,
Syne with his Burrio band ane new mariage.
Allace! this sample seruis ower weill our age.
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“And ȝit the Lord he leit hir not eschaip,
Bot of hir tuik ane punishement conding;
Quha first hir husband hangit in ane raip,
The murtherer syne in his bed did bring;
God maid hir paine aggre with hir guyding.
As bedfoly to sic mischeif hir led,
Euin so sho endit, smorit with a bed.
Bot of hir tuik ane punishement conding;
Quha first hir husband hangit in ane raip,
The murtherer syne in his bed did bring;
God maid hir paine aggre with hir guyding.
As bedfoly to sic mischeif hir led,
Euin so sho endit, smorit with a bed.
“Than to conclude: Thir Nobillis dois bot rycht,
Gif thay the Quene keip still in sicker gaird,
Vntill that coward Kingslayar, on nycht,
For his demeritis get ane iust rewaird.
Than lat thame all concur, baith Lord and Laird,
Thair Realme and Quene with gude consall to guyde,
Settand all priuate profit far a syde.
Gif thay the Quene keip still in sicker gaird,
Vntill that coward Kingslayar, on nycht,
For his demeritis get ane iust rewaird.
Than lat thame all concur, baith Lord and Laird,
Thair Realme and Quene with gude consall to guyde,
Settand all priuate profit far a syde.
“Gif thay do this, than dar I say ane thing,
Thair laude and fame sall mont abone the skyis;
Thair heich renoune sall in all Regioun ring;
Thair name sall gang quhair euer the Sone do ryse;
Thay salbe repuite hardy, wycht, and wyse.
In all storyis thay salbe cleirly kend.
The Leuing Lord bring thame to this gude end!”
Thair laude and fame sall mont abone the skyis;
Thair heich renoune sall in all Regioun ring;
Thair name sall gang quhair euer the Sone do ryse;
Thay salbe repuite hardy, wycht, and wyse.
In all storyis thay salbe cleirly kend.
The Leuing Lord bring thame to this gude end!”
As this Philandrius did frely talk,
The tother pairt, Erideilus be name,
Rais vp and quyetlie away did stalk;
And, as me thocht, he waxit reid for schame:
Quhilk, quhen I saw, I rais vp and come hame,
And put in wryt thair disputatioun,
As ȝe haue hard be this narratioun.
The tother pairt, Erideilus be name,
Rais vp and quyetlie away did stalk;
And, as me thocht, he waxit reid for schame:
Quhilk, quhen I saw, I rais vp and come hame,
And put in wryt thair disputatioun,
As ȝe haue hard be this narratioun.
Finis.
| Satirical poems of the reformation | |