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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THE DIFFINITION OF ANE KYNG AND OF HIS OFFICE. |
 | Ane compendious and breue tractate concernyng ye Office and Dewtie of Kyngis |  |
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.
| Ane compendious and breue tractate concernyng ye Office and Dewtie of Kyngis | |