IX. TO THE ERLE OF CAITHNES.
i dece[m]ber in ross 1598.
But mereit men to love and but desert,
and them embrace with cairles constant will,
to mak his actions answer to his harte,
and all his words by workes for to fulfill,
to keip in iustice all his pepill still,
and baith with love and feare to governe thame,
to save the poore anes, and to punish ill,
and with great valeur purches glore and fame
for to decore his house and noble name,
quhils baser spreited lords doth stayne there race,
and by degendring gendreth not bot shame,
and liuis in slothe to die in vyld disgrace—
thir war, these ar your workes, and nones bot yours,
quhase prayse na tyme sal waist, nor yeres, nor houers.
