 | Satirical poems of the reformation |  |
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XXXI. Ane Premonitioun to the barnis of Leith.
Ane Cūning Clerk, Experience,
And Maister of Intelligence,
New landit in Inchekeith,
This lytill Sedull schortly sends
To all that the gude caus defends—
That is, the barnis of Leith.
And Maister of Intelligence,
New landit in Inchekeith,
This lytill Sedull schortly sends
To all that the gude caus defends—
That is, the barnis of Leith.
Becaus I hard of ane Conuētion
Now to be maid for this dissentioun
That is into this land;
That anis thair may be finall pace,
How sone I vnderstude the cace,
I maid me to frahand,
Now to be maid for this dissentioun
That is into this land;
That anis thair may be finall pace,
How sone I vnderstude the cace,
I maid me to frahand,
To send this Sedull in a gayth,
That nane of ȝow kep ony skayth
For laik of Premonitioun;
For ofttymes, into treating trewis,
Cūis tydingis yat richt mony rewis,
Be Tratorie and Seditioun.
That nane of ȝow kep ony skayth
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For ofttymes, into treating trewis,
Cūis tydingis yat richt mony rewis,
Be Tratorie and Seditioun.
As, for exempillis, gif I list,
I haue anew, wald I insist,
Baith Forane and at hame:
Bot, to my purpois to proceid,
Of peace and concord thair is neid
In pure Scotland, be name;
I haue anew, wald I insist,
Baith Forane and at hame:
Bot, to my purpois to proceid,
Of peace and concord thair is neid
In pure Scotland, be name;
Quhilk neuer in sic perrell stude,
Sen that our Lord deit on the Rude;
Foull fall thame hes the wyte!
For it is ouirgane with a flude
Of murther, and of saikles blude:
Allace! for leif to flyte!
Sen that our Lord deit on the Rude;
Foull fall thame hes the wyte!
For it is ouirgane with a flude
Of murther, and of saikles blude:
Allace! for leif to flyte!
Scotland this blude hes first begun,
And lang in bludschedding hes run,
Ane Patrone of mischeif:
The rest at it beginnis to leir,
Allace! that pietie is to heir:
I pray God send releif.
And lang in bludschedding hes run,
Ane Patrone of mischeif:
The rest at it beginnis to leir,
Allace! that pietie is to heir:
I pray God send releif.
For innocēts ar murtherit downe,
without remors, in land and towne:
Quhat leid may leif on lyfe?
And thay hald gait, I trow, frahand
Sic murther salbe, in all land,
Of Children, man, an wyfe;
without remors, in land and towne:
Quhat leid may leif on lyfe?
And thay hald gait, I trow, frahand
Sic murther salbe, in all land,
Of Children, man, an wyfe;
That seis als greit as Noyis flude
Sall drowne ye warld of māis blude:
Quhat mischeif do thay mene?
Ȝone cursit battell, as I trow,
Quhilk thay at Trent did all auow,
Thay think now to sustene.
Sall drowne ye warld of māis blude:
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Ȝone cursit battell, as I trow,
Quhilk thay at Trent did all auow,
Thay think now to sustene.
For murtherars dois all confidder:
Thay and ye Papists rynis togidder:
Thay ar ane blyssit pak.
And thair wer not a God abone,
I wald be fleit, I tell ȝow, sone
That all suld gang to wrak.
Thay and ye Papists rynis togidder:
Thay ar ane blyssit pak.
And thair wer not a God abone,
I wald be fleit, I tell ȝow, sone
That all suld gang to wrak.
Bot sa lang as our God dois Ring,
Quhilk salbe ay without ending,
We neid not for to feir.
Thocht yai suld all rin by yair mynd,
Our God to vs salbe sa kynd,
Thay sall us neuer deir.
Quhilk salbe ay without ending,
We neid not for to feir.
Thocht yai suld all rin by yair mynd,
Our God to vs salbe sa kynd,
Thay sall us neuer deir.
Bot ȝit sen baith in France and heir
Thay haue one butt, as dois appeir,
That is, to cut all doun,
That Justice lufis and haitis vice:
Thairfoir, my ladds of Leith, be wice—
Ȝe ken ȝour warisoun.
Thay haue one butt, as dois appeir,
That is, to cut all doun,
That Justice lufis and haitis vice:
Thairfoir, my ladds of Leith, be wice—
Ȝe ken ȝour warisoun.
I pray ȝow all be circumspect:
Ȝour enemeis dois not neglect
Occasiounis to ouirsyle ȝow;
And, gif thay may, thay will not spair,
Outher be foull play or be fair,
Agane ȝit to begyle ȝow.
Ȝour enemeis dois not neglect
Occasiounis to ouirsyle ȝow;
And, gif thay may, thay will not spair,
Outher be foull play or be fair,
Agane ȝit to begyle ȝow.
Ȝe haue mair neid thame now to feir
Nor quhen thay come in feir of weir
Downe to the Gallow Ley:
For than ȝe knew thay wer ȝour fais,
Bot now thay cum in freindis clais,
Quhilk is ane sairer sey.
Nor quhen thay come in feir of weir
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For than ȝe knew thay wer ȝour fais,
Bot now thay cum in freindis clais,
Quhilk is ane sairer sey.
I speik not this that ȝe suld stay
From ȝour Cōuentioū and ȝour day,
Or ony wayis dissaue thame:
Bot that ȝe may prouyde befoir,
To haue ane pyn for euery boir,
And to be richt war with thame.
From ȝour Cōuentioū and ȝour day,
Or ony wayis dissaue thame:
Bot that ȝe may prouyde befoir,
To haue ane pyn for euery boir,
And to be richt war with thame.
Ȝe knaw thair faith in tymes past:
Thairfoir luke that ȝe festin fast,
And tak gude tent about ȝow:
For, trewly, and ȝe be not wyse,
Ȝe sall not mys to se ane gyse,
That sall not weill content ȝow.
Thairfoir luke that ȝe festin fast,
And tak gude tent about ȝow:
For, trewly, and ȝe be not wyse,
Ȝe sall not mys to se ane gyse,
That sall not weill content ȝow.
And ȝit I rid yame leaue yair tressoū,
And euin be weill content of ressoun,
Sen Fortoun, with a Reill,
Hes wrocht thame ane vnabill charr,
And blawin thame blind or thay wer warr,
With turnin of hir Quheill.
And euin be weill content of ressoun,
Sen Fortoun, with a Reill,
Hes wrocht thame ane vnabill charr,
And blawin thame blind or thay wer warr,
With turnin of hir Quheill.
For quhy befoir thay did pretend
The Quenis authoritie to defend,
To gar men trow thay lude hir:
Howbeit yai wald haif wist hir swoumād
Intil a bait vpō Lochlowmōd,
But boddum, air, or Ruther.
The Quenis authoritie to defend,
To gar men trow thay lude hir:
Howbeit yai wald haif wist hir swoumād
Intil a bait vpō Lochlowmōd,
But boddum, air, or Ruther.
Thairfoir hir caus thay did procure,
Becaus yai thocht yat scho was sure,
And keepit to thair hand;
Bot ȝit sic farleis hes bene sene
That Frāce will haif hir brocht hame Quene,
And fred out of Ingland.
Becaus yai thocht yat scho was sure,
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Bot ȝit sic farleis hes bene sene
That Frāce will haif hir brocht hame Quene,
And fred out of Ingland.
And gif that be, I wald thay wist
That sū of thame mon flit thair kist,
For all this brawling beir:
Bot, sillie saulis, thay ar sa daft,
Thay ken nathing, I trow, bot craft:
Thay ar bot ȝit to leir.
That sū of thame mon flit thair kist,
For all this brawling beir:
Bot, sillie saulis, thay ar sa daft,
Thay ken nathing, I trow, bot craft:
Thay ar bot ȝit to leir.
It wer ane pitie to begyle thame,
I wald blind Jamie wald gang wile thame,
The moyane for till find,
How that yai micht eschew ye quene,
And that thay micht (the parrel sene)
Go saill ane vther wynd.
I wald blind Jamie wald gang wile thame,
The moyane for till find,
How that yai micht eschew ye quene,
And that thay micht (the parrel sene)
Go saill ane vther wynd.
Ȝea, thocht sum leuch & sum did dāce,
Quhen thir blak tydingis come fra France,
Blind Jamie tauld me ells
That quyetly yai news did fyk yame,
And sum of thame dois euin mislyke thame,
Als mekle as ȝour sells.
Quhen thir blak tydingis come fra France,
Blind Jamie tauld me ells
That quyetly yai news did fyk yame,
And sum of thame dois euin mislyke thame,
Als mekle as ȝour sells.
Thairfoir, I trow, and thay be wyse,
Thay sall leaue of thair Interpryse,
And rather gre with ȝow,
Nor with the hous of Guyis to mell,
Quha is als godles as thair sell,
And kens thair gymps, I trow.
Thay sall leaue of thair Interpryse,
And rather gre with ȝow,
Nor with the hous of Guyis to mell,
Quha is als godles as thair sell,
And kens thair gymps, I trow.
For, get yat hous yair hād abone yame,
I wed my heid yat yai sal tone yame,
And trym yame for thair triks:
Ȝe, thay can think on auld done deids;
For brint barne the fyre ay dreids:
Thay will not thole sic prikis.
I wed my heid yat yai sal tone yame,
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Ȝe, thay can think on auld done deids;
For brint barne the fyre ay dreids:
Thay will not thole sic prikis.
I wald fane warne ȝow of al dāgers,
I coūsal ȝow, be war with strangers,
That halds ȝow baith in hand:
I dreid ȝe ly lang be the eiris,
Or thay think time to end the weiris
And troubill in this land.
I coūsal ȝow, be war with strangers,
That halds ȝow baith in hand:
I dreid ȝe ly lang be the eiris,
Or thay think time to end the weiris
And troubill in this land.
It wer gude gif ȝe culd aggre
Amang ȝour selfis, and let thame be:
Ȝe may wit quhat I mene;
for, quhē yat strāgers reuls ȝour roist,
It wilbe, sure, on Scotlands coist,
As hes bene hard and sene.
Amang ȝour selfis, and let thame be:
Ȝe may wit quhat I mene;
for, quhē yat strāgers reuls ȝour roist,
It wilbe, sure, on Scotlands coist,
As hes bene hard and sene.
And wer ȝe weill aggreit, I tell,
Than Scotland micht do for the sell,
And set als lytill by thame,
As thay do it, for all thair power,
Thay wald be fane to seik ȝour fauour,
And to ȝow als apply thame.
Than Scotland micht do for the sell,
And set als lytill by thame,
As thay do it, for all thair power,
Thay wald be fane to seik ȝour fauour,
And to ȝow als apply thame.
Bot till aggre and ȝe delay,
Than Scotland will be bot ane pray,
As will be schortly sene,
Till gredie Gormondis waitand on,
Quhen thay may se occasion
To rute ȝow all out clene.
Than Scotland will be bot ane pray,
As will be schortly sene,
Till gredie Gormondis waitand on,
Quhen thay may se occasion
To rute ȝow all out clene.
For sword and derth hes ȝow opprest,
And also ȝe haue felt the pest,
Bot ȝit few dois amend:
Than desolatioun is the last
Of Gods plagues quhē thir ar past,
Quhilk doutles he will send.
And also ȝe haue felt the pest,
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Than desolatioun is the last
Of Gods plagues quhē thir ar past,
Quhilk doutles he will send.
Ȝea, I forspeik, ceis not thir weiris,
The tyme sall cum, within few ȝeiris,
That nane of Scottis blude
In Scotland dar him self auow,
Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow,
For feir of Natiounis rude.
The tyme sall cum, within few ȝeiris,
That nane of Scottis blude
In Scotland dar him self auow,
Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow,
For feir of Natiounis rude.
Than sall ȝour pure posteritie,
In wandering wyde fra this coūtrie
Amang all vther Natiounis,
Cry out and murne with woful cheir,
That pitie salbe for till heir
Thir kynd of exclamatiounis:
In wandering wyde fra this coūtrie
Amang all vther Natiounis,
Cry out and murne with woful cheir,
That pitie salbe for till heir
Thir kynd of exclamatiounis:
Allace! that euer thay wer borne,
That dwelt in Scotland vs beforne,
And loist vs sic ane land,
quhilk our forbears ans thocht ours,
with plesād castells, townis, & towrs,
And all things at command.
That dwelt in Scotland vs beforne,
And loist vs sic ane land,
quhilk our forbears ans thocht ours,
with plesād castells, townis, & towrs,
And all things at command.
Sum Lords, sum Lairds, sū les degre,
Thair commoun welth and policie,
As ony Natioun, had;
And now na Scottisman dar be thair,
Allace! quhat hart will not be sair
To see Scottismen sa sad!
Thair commoun welth and policie,
As ony Natioun, had;
And now na Scottisman dar be thair,
Allace! quhat hart will not be sair
To see Scottismen sa sad!
Than sall thay warie, curse, & ban
The murtherars yat yir weiris begā,
Quhen Chronickles thay reid;
Thā Edinburgh, that Castell strang,
Sall wareit be that stude sa lang,
Sic murther for to feid.
The murtherars yat yir weiris begā,
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Thā Edinburgh, that Castell strang,
Sall wareit be that stude sa lang,
Sic murther for to feid.
Thairfor, yir plaigs wald yai eschew,
I counsall thame in tyme to rew,
And thair mischeif repent,
Quhilk, gif thay do, ȝe may aggre,
Bot vtherwise na pace salbe,
Thocht ȝe thairto consent.
I counsall thame in tyme to rew,
And thair mischeif repent,
Quhilk, gif thay do, ȝe may aggre,
Bot vtherwise na pace salbe,
Thocht ȝe thairto consent.
For thocht that Saul will Agag spair,
Ȝit God will haue his will, but mair,
Fulfillit or he sace:
Gif this ȝe do not vnderstand,
Speir at John Durie or John Brād:
Thay will expone the place.
Ȝit God will haue his will, but mair,
Fulfillit or he sace:
Gif this ȝe do not vnderstand,
Speir at John Durie or John Brād:
Thay will expone the place.
thocht murtherars says yat yai thrist blude,
Ȝit let na nobill mē of gude,
Be craft that was brocht on it,
And rewis yat yai haif tane sic part,
Repenting trewly from thair hart,
Feir, thocht Johne Knox expone it.
Ȝit let na nobill mē of gude,
Be craft that was brocht on it,
And rewis yat yai haif tane sic part,
Repenting trewly from thair hart,
Feir, thocht Johne Knox expone it.
Bot gif yat thay grow proud & heich,
And skar at ȝow as thay wer skeich,
And on na wayis will bow thame,
Let yame pas on to thair defensis,
It salbe on thair awin expensis,
Or all be done, I vow thame.
And skar at ȝow as thay wer skeich,
And on na wayis will bow thame,
Let yame pas on to thair defensis,
It salbe on thair awin expensis,
Or all be done, I vow thame.
Than quhidder ȝe conuene or nocht,
Keip thir premissis in ȝour thocht,
Ȝe that of Leith ar barnis:
The abstinence drawis neir ane end,
Thairfoir, I pray ȝow, now attend:
Think on: Experience warnis.
Keip thir premissis in ȝour thocht,
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The abstinence drawis neir ane end,
Thairfoir, I pray ȝow, now attend:
Think on: Experience warnis.
Finis.
| Satirical poems of the reformation | |