Ane compendious and breue tractate concernyng ye Office and Dewtie of Kyngis spirituall pastoris, and temporall iugis. Laitlie compylit be William Lauder, for the faithfull instructioun of Kyngis and Prencis. Edited by Fitzedward Hall |
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 | Ane compendious and breue tractate concernyng ye Office and Dewtie of Kyngis |  |
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[Thocht God hes creat man to ryng]
THE DIFFINITION OF ANE KYNG AND OF HIS OFFICE.
Thocht God hes creat man to ryng,In euery realme to be as king;
And to be had in Reuerence,
And with fer more preheminence,
During his natural curse and lyfe,
Abone ye man, ye chyld, and wyfe;
To be dred, seruit, and obeyit,
And as thare maister to be weyit:
Ȝit is this Kyng bot constitute,
Vnder God, as ane Substitute,
To minister, and cause ministrat be,
Iustice, to all, with equitie;
Nother to spair, for lufe nor fede,
To do dew Iustice to the dede,
Elyke boith to the ryche and pure,
And so tyll euery Creature.
Withoute respect tyll ony wycht,
Suld kyngs geue euery man thare rycht;
Prouidyng that his Iustice be
Gratiouslie myxit with mercye;
Exempyll taking of all kyngis kyng,
Quhais mercy passith euery thyng.
No geir sulde do the faltour bye;
And kyngs suld heir the pure mans crye,
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Nor thame that hes the gret ryches.
To ponysche Vice, and treit virtew,
This is ane Prencis office dew.
HOV KYNGIS HES NO ERTHLIE PERMANENCE.
Thir kyngs yai ar bot kyngs of bane;And schort wyl heir yare tyme be gane:
And schorte is heir thare Ioye, I saye,
And euer schorter daye be daye.
Rycht as the sande hour in the glasse,
Elykewyse dois thare tyme heir passe:
Thay haue no surenes heir to byde,
Bot euer sure that thay mon slyde.
Sen it is so, sulde nocht ane kyng
Be Vigelant to rewle his ryng
In Godlie maner, decentlie;
To hauld his Realme in vnitie,
In Amytie, and in concorde,
Without Diuisioun or discorde?
For, doutles, throuch diuisioun
Proceidis dissolatioun;
And, without Charitie and Peace,
Thare is no Realme that can haue grace:
And kyngs sall geue ane compt tharefore
In presens of the kyng of glore.
At this ilke compt quhat salbe said
To thame, and to thare chargis laid?
It salbe said, vndouttitlie,
Geue thay haif rewlit rychteuslie:
“Cum and resaue for euer more
The place prepaird for ȝow in glore.”
Geue Vitiouslie thay haue thame gydit:
“Go passe vnto the place prouidit
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In the Infernall endles paine.”
Wo be to the, thow euyll seruande,
That wald nocht keip my Iuste commande.
FOLLOUIS THE DISCRIPTIOUN OF THE DIFFERENCE BETUIX THE KYNG AND HIS VASSALL, IN THE SYCHT OF GOD.
Qvhat is yir kings more than ye pure,Except thair office & thair cure?
Nothing, at all, to rekin rycht,
Different, in to Goddis sycht,
Than bene the purest Creature
That euir wes formit of nature.
For Christe did suffer wyllinglie,
To saif Man Vniuersallie,
And sched, also, quha vnderstude,
Als gret abundance of his blude
For the pure sely nakit thyng
As he sched for the Potent kyng.
And he thame boith did mak of claye,
Quhare to thay mon returne sum daye.
Quhat geue thay boith to heuin ascend,
Quhare thare is Ioye withouttin end,
Sall this gret kyng be sett more hie,
Amangs the heuinlie companye,
Be reasoun of his land and rent
That he had in to erth to spent,
Than the pure sely naikit wycht?
I can nocht solue that questioun rycht;
Bot, I trow, as thay boith deseruit,
Thay sall elykewyse thare be seruit.
Bot, I knaw, and thay boith discend
Tyll hell, quhare thare is paine but end,
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That ever he pat lyfe in to,
Geue that thare ony places be
More creuell than vthers in degre,
Thare sall it be the kyngis dwellyng,
With gretyng, raryng, and with ȝellyng:
Because the kyng had in his handis
The rewle of hunders and thousandis,
Quhome that he sufferit, in his dayis,
To tyne and perysche mony wayis;
And the vile Catyue, naikit and pure,
Had of hym self bot onlye cure.
FOLLOUIS QUHAT SALL BECUM TO KYNGIS THAT VITIOUSLIE RYNGIS, NECLECTAND THARE OFFICES.
O kyngis, I mak ȝow traist and sure,
Geue ȝe neclect ȝour Prencelie cure,
And becum Auaritious,
Parciall, creuell, or Couatus;
With sum dispensand, for pure pakkis,
That thay may brek ȝour Prencelie actis;
Raisand gret derth, exhorbitent
Aganis ȝour actis of Parliament;
Oppressand ȝour Communytie,
And bryngand thame to pouertie,
To hounger, hirscheip, and rewyne;
Puttand the pure in poynt to tyne;
And selland, so, the Commoun weill
Off thame that ar ȝour liegis leill:
Sufferand sic wrang for to be done,
That Kyng that sitts all kyngis abone,
Quha heiris and seis all that is wrocht,
And knawis euery hartis thocht,
Sall nocht onlye heir ȝow torment
With greuous plaige and ponyschement,
Bot sall, quhen ȝe may nocht amend,
Plaige ȝow with paine that hes no end.
Ȝour namis thay salbe scrapit oute
Furth of the Buke of lyfe, but doute;
And ȝour successioun thay sall be
Eradicat frome ȝour ryngs, trewlie,
And geuin to vncouth Natioun,
To Ioyse ȝour Habitatioun.
Ȝour vitious lyfe, and Couatyce,
And the abusyng of ȝour Offyce,
Vsand ȝour fleschelie vane plesuris,
Oppressand ȝour pure creaturis,
And ȝour fals glosing of the wrang,
Sall nocht mak ȝow to rax heir lang;
Bot it sall be, the foirmeir thyng
Sall first depose ȝow frome ȝour ryng,
And mak ȝow lose ȝour latter waige,
Quhilk is the heuinnis heritage.
So, for ȝour wrang, but proces more,
Ȝe sall tyne heuin and wardlie glore.
Geue ȝe contynew and Indure,
Off thir forsaids ȝe sall be sure.
Geue ȝe neclect ȝour Prencelie cure,
And becum Auaritious,
Parciall, creuell, or Couatus;
With sum dispensand, for pure pakkis,
That thay may brek ȝour Prencelie actis;
Raisand gret derth, exhorbitent
Aganis ȝour actis of Parliament;
Oppressand ȝour Communytie,
And bryngand thame to pouertie,
To hounger, hirscheip, and rewyne;
Puttand the pure in poynt to tyne;
And selland, so, the Commoun weill
Off thame that ar ȝour liegis leill:
Sufferand sic wrang for to be done,
That Kyng that sitts all kyngis abone,
Quha heiris and seis all that is wrocht,
And knawis euery hartis thocht,
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With greuous plaige and ponyschement,
Bot sall, quhen ȝe may nocht amend,
Plaige ȝow with paine that hes no end.
Ȝour namis thay salbe scrapit oute
Furth of the Buke of lyfe, but doute;
And ȝour successioun thay sall be
Eradicat frome ȝour ryngs, trewlie,
And geuin to vncouth Natioun,
To Ioyse ȝour Habitatioun.
Ȝour vitious lyfe, and Couatyce,
And the abusyng of ȝour Offyce,
Vsand ȝour fleschelie vane plesuris,
Oppressand ȝour pure creaturis,
And ȝour fals glosing of the wrang,
Sall nocht mak ȝow to rax heir lang;
Bot it sall be, the foirmeir thyng
Sall first depose ȝow frome ȝour ryng,
And mak ȝow lose ȝour latter waige,
Quhilk is the heuinnis heritage.
So, for ȝour wrang, but proces more,
Ȝe sall tyne heuin and wardlie glore.
Geue ȝe contynew and Indure,
Off thir forsaids ȝe sall be sure.
Mark, kyngs, how I haue heir breiflie
Diffynit ȝour names and Dignitie,
Ȝour office, dewtie, and ȝour cure,
That ȝe aucht tyll all Creature;
And quhat gret difference is, at all,
Betuix ȝow and ȝour pure Vassall;
And, last, how I haue, fynallie,
Declaird quhat wo and miserie
Sall lycht on ȝow, and on ȝour seid,
That to ȝour office taks no heid.
And, now, geue that ȝe wald be leird
To bruke and to Inioye the eird;
And geue ȝe wald that ȝour ofspryng
Did lang in to ȝour regiones ryng,
In weilfare and prosperytie,
In grace, peace, and cherytie;
And, also, geue ȝe do pretende
Haue heuinlie Ioye vnto ȝour ende,
Than follow this nyxt Instructioun,
Maid for ȝour Eruditioun.
Diffynit ȝour names and Dignitie,
Ȝour office, dewtie, and ȝour cure,
That ȝe aucht tyll all Creature;
And quhat gret difference is, at all,
Betuix ȝow and ȝour pure Vassall;
And, last, how I haue, fynallie,
Declaird quhat wo and miserie
Sall lycht on ȝow, and on ȝour seid,
That to ȝour office taks no heid.
And, now, geue that ȝe wald be leird
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And geue ȝe wald that ȝour ofspryng
Did lang in to ȝour regiones ryng,
In weilfare and prosperytie,
In grace, peace, and cherytie;
And, also, geue ȝe do pretende
Haue heuinlie Ioye vnto ȝour ende,
Than follow this nyxt Instructioun,
Maid for ȝour Eruditioun.
FOLLOUIS THE INSTRUCTIOUN TO PRENCIS, HOW THAY SALL ALSWEIL INHEREIT THE HEUIN AS THE ERTH.
Attend, O Prencis, and tak tentVnto this Doctryne Subsequent;
And thareto wyselie do aduert,
And prent the samyn in ȝour hert.
First cause ȝour prechours, all and od,
Trewlie sett furth the wourd of God,
But fictioun, fraude, or flatterie.
Latt it be knawin to ilk degre,
That all may vnderstand, and knaw
To lufe and feir his Godlie law;
In the quhilk Law ȝe may vpbryng
Ȝour liegis, as ane godlie kyng;
Throw quhilk Law, also, thay may leir
Ȝow as thare kyngs and Prencis feir,
And do ȝow homage and reuerence,
With all detfull Obedience.
For thay that ar ane faithles clan
Can nother dreid God, kyng, nor man.
Quhare faith is nocht, no grace can be,
Bot Myscheif, wo, and myserie;
And, quhare faith is, thare is all grace,
Thare is prosperitie, lufe, and peace.
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In daylie trubbyll thay sall ryng;
For thay tak nother thocht nor cure
But reuth for to oppresse the pure.
Thay haue nocht God before thare Ee,
Bot seruis thare Sensualytie:
And swa that realme is neuer at rest;
Bot styll the pure ar sore opprest.
Thus, without kyngs Y-groundit be
In Goddis wourd of verytie;
Thare Liegis, also, godlie men,
Doand goddis wourd, parfytlie ken;
And but trew precheours; I mak plaine,
All Realmes sall vnderly gret paine,
And sall nocht mys the scurge and rod
Off the hie puissant and mychtie god.
Also (I saye) vnto ȝow, Kyngis,
Ȝe sall be plukkit frome ȝour ryngis
Rycht dulefullie, withouttin dreid;
Nocht onely ȝe, bot als ȝour seid;
And haistelie, or euer ȝe knaw,
Ȝe salbe plagit, one and aw,
Boith with the sweird, the fyre, and pest:
I mak it to ȝow manyfest,
Sett ȝe nocht furth Godds wourd on hycht,
And mak it cum vnto the lycht.
Geue ȝe Indure vnto ȝour fyne,
Ȝe sall nocht mys the sam rewyne:
For God sall steir vpe Nationis
Aganis ȝour Generationis,
Quhilk sall, at schorte Narratioun,
Bryng ȝow to dissolatioun.
Thocht, to defend ȝow, ȝe wald prease,
Ȝe sall haue nother harts nor grace,
Eccept with godds wourd ȝe be armit,
And it into ȝour herts confermit.
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It suld nocht be throung down, nor smurit;
Itt suld nocht wreistit be, nor wryit,
Nor vnto prophane thyngs applyit.
Itt suld be precheit to all dois seik it:
Itt nother suld be paird nor ekit,
Saif Scripture with Scripture ȝe expone
Conforme vnto the trewtwiche stone,
Quhilk is the auld and new Testament,
Quhilk suld be taucht most deligent
Be faithfull Pastors that preche can
But feir of ony erthlie man.
Thay suld nocht be abasit to preche,
Nor for no kynde of fauour fleche;
Bot trewlie thay suld do thare cure,
But feir of ony creature.
Wo be to thame that dois knaw
Godds wourd, syne dois the contrar schaw,
In Pulpet or in preching place
Speking aganis godds wourd of grace.
Better to thame haue bene vnborne:
Thay ar the peple that ar forlorne,
Quhilk nother sall be heir nor hyne
Remittit for thare fals Doctryne.
Preis neuer, O Prencis, in ȝour cure,
No waye for to oppresse the pure:
Be nocht gredie nor Couatus;
Be Liberall, gude, and gratious;
Be humyll, meik, and pacient,
And to do Iustice diligent.
Help thame that help of ȝow requyris,
Conforme vnto thare Iuste desyris.
Be nocht ouir facill for to trow,
Quhill that ȝe try the mater throw.
Preis euir to win ȝour Liegis hartis,
Rather than Conqueis gold in cartis.
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Than all is ȝours that thay possesse:
Than neid ȝe nocht, no tyme nor ceasone,
Be ferit for falset or for treasone:
Than can ȝe be no maner want
Gold, thocht ȝour pose wer neuer sa skant.
And gredie Prencis, dowtleslie,
Sall nocht faill to end myserablie:
For oftymes it is cleirly kend,
Wrang Conquest maks myscheuous end.
Att schorte, ȝe daylie do aduert
To serue ȝour God with faithfull hert.
FINIS.
NOW haue ȝe, Kyngs, my Document,
Quhilk in ȝour herts, I pray ȝow, prent;
And, doyng this, ȝe be nocht feird
But doute for to possesse the eird:
Ȝour seid and ȝour Posteritie
Sall, efter ȝow, ryng happelie,
And sall, at last, but proces more,
Heir throw cum to the heuinnis glore.
Quhilk in ȝour herts, I pray ȝow, prent;
And, doyng this, ȝe be nocht feird
But doute for to possesse the eird:
Ȝour seid and ȝour Posteritie
Sall, efter ȝow, ryng happelie,
And sall, at last, but proces more,
Heir throw cum to the heuinnis glore.
ȜITT want ȝe, Kyngs, ȝour Officiaris
Ciuile And Gostlie Mynistaris.
Attend heirfor, quhow ȝe sulde chuse
Ȝuor Pastoris that suld precheing vse.
Ciuile And Gostlie Mynistaris.
Attend heirfor, quhow ȝe sulde chuse
Ȝuor Pastoris that suld precheing vse.
FOLLOUIS THE ELECTION OFF THE SPIRITUALL PASTORES.
O kyngis, quhen that ȝe go to chuseȜour pastours that suld preching vse,
Ȝe suld not chuse thaim for yair blude,
Nor for thare ryches, nor thare gude,
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Nor for thare strenth nor vassallage.
Ȝe sulde nocht chuse vnto that cure
Ane Vinolent nor wod Pasture,
No sleprie hird, nor errogant,
Bot prudent, wyse, and vigelant;
No Pastor gewin to feid the flesche:
All sic ȝe suld frome ȝow depesche:
None couatus of wardly glore,
None to heape ryches vpe in store,
None hasardours at cards nor dyce,
None geuin to foule nor fylthie vyce.
Ȝe suld not chuse thame cause ȝe lufe thame,
Nor for no fauour suld promoue thame
To that most gret and wechty cure,
Except ȝe vnderstude, moste sure,
Thame apt and ganand for the ȝok,
For to Instruct the christin flok,
And, with exempyll of thare lyfe,
To edefye Man, Maid, and wyffe.
Ȝour Hirdis thay suld be harborus,
Godlie, gude, and gratious,
Mercyfull, modest, and meik,
Cheritabyll to the pure and seik.
Hirds suld nocht spair, for fleschelie paine,
To passe in wynd, frost, snaw, or raine,
But hors or mule, vpon thare feit,
To preche, with humyll hert and spreit,
Godds trew wourd, moist clene and pure,
To euery kynde of Creature;
As Peter did, thare predecessour,
Geue thay wald be his trew successour.
Bot, thocht thay ryde on mulis or hors,
Itt is bot small regarde or fors,
Swa thay godds wourd wald trewly teche,
And it plaine to the peple preche.
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That hes the fouth of heuinly fude
To satisfie the houngre scheip
Quhilk in thare cure thay haue to keip.
Sic Pastoris wyll be weill content
To leif vpon the fer les rent,
Nor hes sum Vicare for his waige,
Or Rector for his Rectoraige.
Heir, quhat our Pastoris thay may spend,
Me neidis nocht schew; sen it is kend.
Geue thay godds wourd hes weill declaird,
I saye thare leueings ar weill waird;
And, geue thay haue the floke abusit,
Ȝe, Kyngs, sall be for that accusit
Be the gret potent kyng of kyngis
That heris and seis all thir thyngis;
Because ȝe mouit thame to sic curis
Quhilk nother techis ryche nor puris.
Heirfor considder, O ȝe kyngis
That at thir present houris ryngis,
Geue ȝe haue chosin ȝour Pastoris thus
As I afore haue done discus;
And geue thay haue thir properteis,
Thir gude conditionis and qualyteis;
And geue thay dewly do thair cure
To euery kynd of Creature
That thay ar detbound for to do:
I pray ȝow tak gude hed heir to.
Geue myster be, mak reformatioun,
Rycht as ȝe lufe ȝour awin Saluatioun.
It wyll be to ȝour chargis laid;
And to ȝow, Kyngs, It wyll be said:
“Wo be to ȝow, that gaif my scheip
To gredie raueand Wolfis to keip.”
Ȝe, kyngs, hes wyte, of this be sure,
That pat sic Pastoris to sic cure.
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For ȝe leue in ane feirfull stait.
Merk, heir, how I haue schawin ȝow cleir
The way, the fassoun, and maneir,
Hov ȝe ȝour spiritual hirdis suld chuse;
And how yai hirdis yar lyffs suld vse;
And how thay suld Instruct thare floke
That ar subiectit to thare ȝoke;
And, als, quhow God sall ȝow correct,
Geue ȝe vnqualifeit hirds Elect.
The way, the fassoun, and maneir,
Hov ȝe ȝour spiritual hirdis suld chuse;
And how yai hirdis yar lyffs suld vse;
And how thay suld Instruct thare floke
That ar subiectit to thare ȝoke;
And, als, quhow God sall ȝow correct,
Geue ȝe vnqualifeit hirds Elect.
Now followis nyxt, and, first of all,
To chuse ȝour Iugis temporall;
To quhilk my pen I sall prepare,
With helpe of God, for to declare
How ȝe sulde cheis thame faithfullie,
And of quhat fassonis thay suld be;
And quhat gret Maledictionis,
Quhat plagis and sore afflictionis,
Sall fall wpon the realmes and kyngis
Quharin no faithfull Iugis ryngis.
To chuse ȝour Iugis temporall;
To quhilk my pen I sall prepare,
With helpe of God, for to declare
How ȝe sulde cheis thame faithfullie,
And of quhat fassonis thay suld be;
And quhat gret Maledictionis,
Quhat plagis and sore afflictionis,
Sall fall wpon the realmes and kyngis
Quharin no faithfull Iugis ryngis.
FINIS.
FOLLOUIS THE ELECTION OFF THE TEMPORALL IUGIS.
O Prudent Prencis, marke wyselie,
With Pringnant wyttis & walkryfe Ee,
Ȝour Iugis quhen ȝe go to chuse
That vnder ȝow suld Iustice vse.
That thyng is gret ȝe go to do;
And ȝe sulde tak gude heid thare to.
In this Consistis, withouttin faill,
Boith the wynning and tinsaill
Off ȝour haill Regioun and ryng
That ȝe haue in ȝour gouernyng.
Thay suld be of ane lynage leill;
And, suthlie, ȝe suld knaw thame weill
That ȝe promoue to sic ane place,
Seyng so wechtie is the cace.
Goddis worde suld cleir to thame be knawin,
And in thare harts it suld be sawin;
And ȝe suld prudentlie considder,
Thare lyfe and it aggre to gidder.
For mony with thare mouth professis
Goddis wourd, that daylie it transgressis.
Wourdis ar bot wynd, I say in deid,
Withoute gude werks of thame proceid.
We may wyrk weill; and, we liste call,
The Lorde hes hecht to heir ws all,
And for to geue ws, liberallye,
With gude wyll, grace and mercy fre.
Swa, without Iugis cleirly knaw
The wourd of God, and als his law,
It is impossibyll, verralie,
That he ane faithfull Iuge can be.
Bot quha goddis wourd hes in his hert,
And thareto daylie dois aduert,
The feir of God sall hym defend
Frome wyrking wrang, vntyll his end;
So that he sall tyll euery wycht
Do that thyng quhilk accords of rycht.
Vngodlie Iugis, for Solistatioun
Of Potestatis with wrang Nerratioun,
Wyll tak bot lytill thocht or cure
But reuth for to oppresse the pure.
This Iuge is blynd, and may nocht se;
For he wants God afore his Ee.
He knawis nocht god, nor ȝit his law;
And so of hym he stands no aw,
In Court, in Parliament, or Cessioun,
Planelie for to conmit Oppressioun.
Iust Iugis aucht, with humyll hertis,
To heir the playnt of boith the partis,
And nocht on heid, without discretioun,
Determe withouttin Iust cognitioun.
Gret murmour is, and mony sayis,
That sum Solistars, now thir dayis,
Vincusis Laweris in thare cause,
For all thare ledgin of the lawis.
Suithlie, I thynk sic Solistatioun
Gret myster hes of Reformatioun;
Because it smellis, vnfenȝeitlie,
To verray percialytie;
Quhilk Percialytie smoris doun
Iustice in euery land and toun.
I saye ȝour temporall officiaris
Thay suld be faithfull Mynistaris,
Nocht haueand respect, regaird, nor Ee,
To wardlye ryches nor dignytie,
To Tergats, Chenis, nor goldin Ryngis,
Hors, clethyng, money, nor siclyke thyngis.
For fauour of Freindis, nor fois feid,
No wrang Decretis thay aucht to leid.
Thay suld be sober and pacient;
Thay suld be secreit and prudent;
Thay suld be wyse and virtuus;
Thay suld be gude and gratius.
Thay suld be walkryfe on thare curis;
Thay suld haue knawlage of boith the Iuris,
Als weill the Canone as Ciuile law:
Thay suld thame vnderstand and knaw.
For blynd men (as I haue feill)
Can nocht decerne fair colours weill:
No more can Iudgis Illitturate
Discus ane mater (weill I wat).
Frome all Inuye thay suld be fre,
Frome Malyce, Yre, and Creueltie,
Frome flattrie, falset, and dissait,
Frome toulȝe, bergane, and debait,
Frome heycht, frome haitrent, and frome luste,
Quhilk makis Iugis lief Iniuste.
Thay suld be clene of euery vyce,
And, speciallie, of Couatyce:
For gredie Iugis, I ȝow assure,
Doith sell the causis of the pure.
Geue thare be sic, I knaw of nane:
Thay knaw, thare selfis, that buddis hes tane,
To hurte the pure, syne latt passe fre
The ryche. O Lord, to this haue Ee;
And help the pure that ar in stres
Opprest and hereit mercyles.
Traist, Kyngis, that thare is no refuge:
Except ȝour Iugis Iustlie Iuge
The causis of all Creaturis,
Boith of the ryche and of the puris,
Ȝour Crown, Sworde, Ceptour, & ȝour wand,
Thay sall be tane out of ȝour hand,
And geuin to vtheris, frome ȝow and ȝouris,
That wyll do Iustice at all houris.
The Maledictione of the pure
Sall on ȝow and ȝour seid Indure,
Vntyll that ȝe be rutit oute.
This sall nocht faill, withouttin doute;
Bot it sall lycht, quhen god dois pleis,
Howbeit ȝe leif now at gret eis.
Thocht God ane quhyle he dois ouir se ȝow,
Thynk weill he dois behauld and Ee ȝow,
And wyll ȝow vesy, quhen ȝe leist weine,
Syne turne ȝour myrth and Ioye in teine.
Be wer, tharefor, with walkryfe Ee,
And mend, geue ony myster be.
With Pringnant wyttis & walkryfe Ee,
Ȝour Iugis quhen ȝe go to chuse
That vnder ȝow suld Iustice vse.
That thyng is gret ȝe go to do;
And ȝe sulde tak gude heid thare to.
In this Consistis, withouttin faill,
Boith the wynning and tinsaill
15
That ȝe haue in ȝour gouernyng.
Thay suld be of ane lynage leill;
And, suthlie, ȝe suld knaw thame weill
That ȝe promoue to sic ane place,
Seyng so wechtie is the cace.
Goddis worde suld cleir to thame be knawin,
And in thare harts it suld be sawin;
And ȝe suld prudentlie considder,
Thare lyfe and it aggre to gidder.
For mony with thare mouth professis
Goddis wourd, that daylie it transgressis.
Wourdis ar bot wynd, I say in deid,
Withoute gude werks of thame proceid.
We may wyrk weill; and, we liste call,
The Lorde hes hecht to heir ws all,
And for to geue ws, liberallye,
With gude wyll, grace and mercy fre.
Swa, without Iugis cleirly knaw
The wourd of God, and als his law,
It is impossibyll, verralie,
That he ane faithfull Iuge can be.
Bot quha goddis wourd hes in his hert,
And thareto daylie dois aduert,
The feir of God sall hym defend
Frome wyrking wrang, vntyll his end;
So that he sall tyll euery wycht
Do that thyng quhilk accords of rycht.
Vngodlie Iugis, for Solistatioun
Of Potestatis with wrang Nerratioun,
Wyll tak bot lytill thocht or cure
But reuth for to oppresse the pure.
This Iuge is blynd, and may nocht se;
For he wants God afore his Ee.
He knawis nocht god, nor ȝit his law;
And so of hym he stands no aw,
16
Planelie for to conmit Oppressioun.
Iust Iugis aucht, with humyll hertis,
To heir the playnt of boith the partis,
And nocht on heid, without discretioun,
Determe withouttin Iust cognitioun.
Gret murmour is, and mony sayis,
That sum Solistars, now thir dayis,
Vincusis Laweris in thare cause,
For all thare ledgin of the lawis.
Suithlie, I thynk sic Solistatioun
Gret myster hes of Reformatioun;
Because it smellis, vnfenȝeitlie,
To verray percialytie;
Quhilk Percialytie smoris doun
Iustice in euery land and toun.
I saye ȝour temporall officiaris
Thay suld be faithfull Mynistaris,
Nocht haueand respect, regaird, nor Ee,
To wardlye ryches nor dignytie,
To Tergats, Chenis, nor goldin Ryngis,
Hors, clethyng, money, nor siclyke thyngis.
For fauour of Freindis, nor fois feid,
No wrang Decretis thay aucht to leid.
Thay suld be sober and pacient;
Thay suld be secreit and prudent;
Thay suld be wyse and virtuus;
Thay suld be gude and gratius.
Thay suld be walkryfe on thare curis;
Thay suld haue knawlage of boith the Iuris,
Als weill the Canone as Ciuile law:
Thay suld thame vnderstand and knaw.
For blynd men (as I haue feill)
Can nocht decerne fair colours weill:
No more can Iudgis Illitturate
Discus ane mater (weill I wat).
17
Frome Malyce, Yre, and Creueltie,
Frome flattrie, falset, and dissait,
Frome toulȝe, bergane, and debait,
Frome heycht, frome haitrent, and frome luste,
Quhilk makis Iugis lief Iniuste.
Thay suld be clene of euery vyce,
And, speciallie, of Couatyce:
For gredie Iugis, I ȝow assure,
Doith sell the causis of the pure.
Geue thare be sic, I knaw of nane:
Thay knaw, thare selfis, that buddis hes tane,
To hurte the pure, syne latt passe fre
The ryche. O Lord, to this haue Ee;
And help the pure that ar in stres
Opprest and hereit mercyles.
Traist, Kyngis, that thare is no refuge:
Except ȝour Iugis Iustlie Iuge
The causis of all Creaturis,
Boith of the ryche and of the puris,
Ȝour Crown, Sworde, Ceptour, & ȝour wand,
Thay sall be tane out of ȝour hand,
And geuin to vtheris, frome ȝow and ȝouris,
That wyll do Iustice at all houris.
The Maledictione of the pure
Sall on ȝow and ȝour seid Indure,
Vntyll that ȝe be rutit oute.
This sall nocht faill, withouttin doute;
Bot it sall lycht, quhen god dois pleis,
Howbeit ȝe leif now at gret eis.
Thocht God ane quhyle he dois ouir se ȝow,
Thynk weill he dois behauld and Ee ȝow,
And wyll ȝow vesy, quhen ȝe leist weine,
Syne turne ȝour myrth and Ioye in teine.
Be wer, tharefor, with walkryfe Ee,
And mend, geue ony myster be.
18
Now, Kyngis, I pray ȝow, fynalie,
Prent euer in ȝour Memorie
To help the pure and Fatherles
That lyis drownyng in distres.
The pure Wedow, that wantis hir man,
Help hir with Iustice, geue thow can.
Geue that ȝe fynd thare actionis rycht,
Help thame with all ȝour strenth and mycht.
For no rewarde, gyft, nor propyne,
Thole none of thir twois causis tyne:
For, geue thow do, gret God, trewlie,
Hes hecht on the Auengit be.
Now haue I breuelie heir furthschawin,
And to ȝow, kyngis, I haue maid knawin,
Efter my sober wytt and mycht,
How that ȝe suld Elect moist rycht
Ȝour Iugis that suld Iustice vse,
And quhome ȝe aucht for to refuse
Frome that gret office, chairge, and cure;
And of quhat plagis ȝe sall be sure,
Geue ȝe chuse Iniust Officiaris,
Gredie and peruerst Mynistaris;
And how ȝe suld nocht spair for panis
To help the wedowis and pure Orphanis.
Prent euer in ȝour Memorie
To help the pure and Fatherles
That lyis drownyng in distres.
The pure Wedow, that wantis hir man,
Help hir with Iustice, geue thow can.
Geue that ȝe fynd thare actionis rycht,
Help thame with all ȝour strenth and mycht.
For no rewarde, gyft, nor propyne,
Thole none of thir twois causis tyne:
For, geue thow do, gret God, trewlie,
Hes hecht on the Auengit be.
Now haue I breuelie heir furthschawin,
And to ȝow, kyngis, I haue maid knawin,
Efter my sober wytt and mycht,
How that ȝe suld Elect moist rycht
Ȝour Iugis that suld Iustice vse,
And quhome ȝe aucht for to refuse
Frome that gret office, chairge, and cure;
And of quhat plagis ȝe sall be sure,
Geue ȝe chuse Iniust Officiaris,
Gredie and peruerst Mynistaris;
And how ȝe suld nocht spair for panis
To help the wedowis and pure Orphanis.
Qvhilk thyngs, I pray ȝow, wysely merk;
And thynk it is ane wechtie werk
To chuse thame rycht: as I haue said,
The haill thyng to ȝour charge is laid.
Geue thay wyrk weill, the better is ȝouris,
Ȝour Hearis, and als ȝour Successouris.
Geue thay do nocht, ȝe may sure trow,
The haill wyte sall redound to ȝow;
And ȝe sall poynist be thairfore
Be the gret potent Prence of glore.
And thynk it is ane wechtie werk
To chuse thame rycht: as I haue said,
The haill thyng to ȝour charge is laid.
Geue thay wyrk weill, the better is ȝouris,
Ȝour Hearis, and als ȝour Successouris.
Geue thay do nocht, ȝe may sure trow,
The haill wyte sall redound to ȝow;
And ȝe sall poynist be thairfore
Be the gret potent Prence of glore.
FINIS.
19
THE EXCUSATIOUN OFF THE MAKER TO ALL CATHOLYKE KYNGIS AND PRENCIS.
Thocht I haue said ye veritieIn sempyll maner, faithfullie,
As to my knawlage dois apeir;
Ȝit humelie, with hert Inteir,
I wald beseik ȝour Maiesteis,
My dytement did ȝov not displeis:
Bot into gude part tak it weil;
Sen I haue wrocht it of gude ȝeill,
And of na Malyce nor Iniure
To ony erthlye Creature,
Bot onely for the prosperitie
Of Prencis and thare Posterytie;
As I sall answeir to heuinnis Kyng,
That heris and seis euerye thyng.
FINIS.
THE DEPRECATIOUN OF THE MAKER FOR ALL CATHOLYKE KYNGIS AND PRENCIS AND THARE LIEGIS.
The Potent Kyng of kyngis allPreserue all Prencis Catholycall;
The leill trew Liegis of ilk land,
That thay in perfyte faith may stand:
And grant to thame sic happye grace,
That thay may leue in rest and peace,
In Lufe, Amytie, and in concorde,
Without Diuisioun or discorde;
As suld all faithfull Prencis trew.
Fair weill: I saye no more: adew.
FINIS.
20
RESPICE FINEM.
The Lord Menteine the Faithfull FlokeWith Strenth to Drawe in to his Ȝoke.
| Ane compendious and breue tractate concernyng ye Office and Dewtie of Kyngis | |