The minor poems of William Lauder playwright, poet, and minister of the word of God, (mainly on the state of Scotland in and about 1568 A.D., that year of famine and plague) ... Edited from the unique originals belonging to S. Christie-Miller ... By F. J. Furnivall |
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| 2. | [THE SECOND HEAD.] |
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 | The minor poems of William Lauder |  |
[THE SECOND HEAD.]
Geue ȝe abyde in me, and my wourdis also
In to ȝow, Ask quhat ȝe will, It sal be done vnto
ȝow. Heirin is my Father Glorefyit, That ȝe
bring furth mekill Fructe, and be maid my Disciplis.
Iohan. xv.
The Fructe, the proffeit, and the commodytie
In to this gratius and Godlie Unitie
Betuix Christ Iesus and his Kirk most trew,
Lo, Christ he dois heir furthirmore ensew.
To mak the consolatioun the moir
Of his Discyplis, he speakis the sam heirfoir;
And for to draw thame till ane constancie,
He schewis thame the grit Utilitie
That followis thame that in him dois abyde,
In to few wourds he dois the sam discyde:
Christ sayis thir wourds, “gyf ȝe will byde in me,
“Thairthrow ȝe sall obtene grit proffittis thre.”
In to this gratius and Godlie Unitie
Betuix Christ Iesus and his Kirk most trew,
Lo, Christ he dois heir furthirmore ensew.
To mak the consolatioun the moir
Of his Discyplis, he speakis the sam heirfoir;
And for to draw thame till ane constancie,
He schewis thame the grit Utilitie
That followis thame that in him dois abyde,
In to few wourds he dois the sam discyde:
Christ sayis thir wourds, “gyf ȝe will byde in me,
“Thairthrow ȝe sall obtene grit proffittis thre.”
Bot quhat ar tha that dois in Christ remane?
Tha kynd of pepill the Text declaris plane:
“Euin tha,” it sayis, “that dois my wourdis imbrace,
“Tha same in me, tha haue ane dwelling place,
“And tha be faith in me ar still Ingrauit,
“And I in thame thairthrow rychtso consauit.”
So this Coniunctioun and this Unitie
Betuix Christ Iesus and his Kirk trewlie,
Is be no meanis bot be his wourd imbrasing,
And it in to thair Inwert Bowellis placing,
As wes of Abraham, and mony faithfull mo:
Go cearche the Scripture, and thow sall find it so.
Tha kynd of pepill the Text declaris plane:
“Euin tha,” it sayis, “that dois my wourdis imbrace,
“Tha same in me, tha haue ane dwelling place,
“And tha be faith in me ar still Ingrauit,
“And I in thame thairthrow rychtso consauit.”
So this Coniunctioun and this Unitie
Betuix Christ Iesus and his Kirk trewlie,
11
And it in to thair Inwert Bowellis placing,
As wes of Abraham, and mony faithfull mo:
Go cearche the Scripture, and thow sall find it so.
We find nocht heir the Paip, that Antechrist,
Doith ws Conione vnto our Maister Christ;
Nor we perceaue nocht heir that our ingrauyng
Is in to Christ be our Byschopis receauyng,
As be Annoynting, and schauing of our Croun;
We find nocht heir sic vaine Coniunctioun;
Bot onlie findis ws Ingraft in Christ Iesu
Be the imbrasing of his wourd most trew.
Doith ws Conione vnto our Maister Christ;
Nor we perceaue nocht heir that our ingrauyng
Is in to Christ be our Byschopis receauyng,
As be Annoynting, and schauing of our Croun;
We find nocht heir sic vaine Coniunctioun;
Bot onlie findis ws Ingraft in Christ Iesu
Be the imbrasing of his wourd most trew.
And quho so thus with Christ Conioynit be,
May be assurit to get thir proffittis thre,
The quhilk in ordour, as tha stand in the Text,
I sall declair, Ilkane till vthir Annext.
May be assurit to get thir proffittis thre,
The quhilk in ordour, as tha stand in the Text,
I sall declair, Ilkane till vthir Annext.
THE FIRST COMMODITE OF THAME THAT ABYDIS IN TO CHRIST.
THE TEXT.
ASK QUHAT ȜE WILL. IT SALL BE GEUIN VNTO ȜOW.
First, in this Spirituall Unioun we haue
Quhat richtius thing of Christ that we sal craue.
Quhat better thing can man seik for his hyre,
Nor get all thing he Iustlie will desyre?
No better thing can onye crayf or wys,
In to this earth on lyfe that leuing is,
Nor haue all thingis to thame performit and done
That Godlie is, be the grit God abone,
For the imbrasing of his wourd most trew,
And so to be Ingraft in Christ Iesu.
12
That laykis this gift, so lichtlie may be had,
Sekand the sam vpon ane vther ground,
Quhilk be no vther maner can be found.
Sen Christ hes promist this to his faithful all,
Be this Coniunctioun and Unioun Spirituall,
I saye it is bot verraye Uanytie
For to desyre Christ with ws corporallie.
It is the Spreit that quyknis auld and ȝing;
The corporall flesche, it proffittis no thing:
“Without,” sayis Christ, “my body do ascend,
The Confortour to ȝow I can nocht send.”
Thus it behouit Christ of necessitie
Unto the Father to passe vp reallie,
Quhair he abydis, and euer sall remane
Quhill he discend to Iudge the warld agane.
For vthirwyse, gyf Christ had nocht ascendit,
The holy Gost till ws had nocht discendit.
Thow can not, Papist, be Scripture mak it kend
That Christ sensyne did corporallie discend.
How is it than thow thinkis no schame to le,
To say thow makis him, and eytis him carnallie?
Now may it heir be sperit and demandit,
And gude it wer that we suld vnderstandit,
Quhat is the cause the Kirk Papisticall
Can neuer haue this Unioun Spirituall
Of Christ Iesus trewlie in thame ingrauit?
The cause is this, sa fer as I perceauit,
That so lang as tha seyk him carnallie,
Tha can no wayis posses him Spirituallie.
As the Appostillis, beleuing Christ to ring
In earth amangs thame as ane temporall King,
So lang as tha of this had Esperance,
Tha euer leuit still in Ignorance,
And neuer knew quhat Christ ment in his teaching,
For all his daylie and contynewall preaching;
No moir sall neuer no carnall Creature—
So lang as tha sall fleschelie Folkis Indure,—
Cum to the knowledge and intelligence
Of God[i]s wourd, and Spirituall pure sentence,
Thocht Angellis wer to preache it to thame plane;
Preue quho so please, thair laubour sall be vane.
Now falls it weill to vs to wey but moir,
Quhat is the cause the Kirk Papisticall
Can neuer haue this Unioun Spirituall
Of Christ Iesus trewlie in thame ingrauit?
The cause is this, sa fer as I perceauit,
That so lang as tha seyk him carnallie,
Tha can no wayis posses him Spirituallie.
As the Appostillis, beleuing Christ to ring
In earth amangs thame as ane temporall King,
So lang as tha of this had Esperance,
Tha euer leuit still in Ignorance,
13
For all his daylie and contynewall preaching;
No moir sall neuer no carnall Creature—
So lang as tha sall fleschelie Folkis Indure,—
Cum to the knowledge and intelligence
Of God[i]s wourd, and Spirituall pure sentence,
Thocht Angellis wer to preache it to thame plane;
Preue quho so please, thair laubour sall be vane.
Quhat wes the cause, the reasoun, and quhairfoir
The Papistis said ‘tha maid Christ Reallie
‘In to thair Messe, and Eate him carnallie.’
As I perceaue, it wes, that tha and thairs
Mycht stylit be “most holy God-makairs,”
And thairthrow cum to warldlie Pomp and gloir,
Richt as tha did;—for nane micht clim to moir;
For Papis precellit the Kings in Dignytie,
And Cardinals wes Companȝeonis to our Kings;
For with my Eis my self did se thir things;—
This mouit thame that werk till Interpryse,
Quhilk montit thame on sic ane prydfull wyse.
And thocht sum schaifling wald haue ilk nycht in cure
Ane Concubyne, ane Harlote, or ane Hure,
With gaping, Iowking, with mony bek and nod,
Upon the morne he wald haue maid ȝow God!
Sa lyke, sa lyke, as it wes trew to be,
Quhen nane of thame could mak ane lytill fle!
And ȝit no schame, to tak in hand, tha thocht,
To mak grit God, quhilk maid all thing of nocht!
Grit God we pray, sen Prencis wald perceaue,
And it in to thair hart[i]s deiplie graue,
How be tha Iuglours tha haue bene blindlynes led,
With deuillysche Doctrine fosterit and fed!
Na dout, gude Lord, bot than tha wald refuse it,
Quhen as tha knew how tha haue bene abuse-it!
14
ANE QUESTIOUN DIRECT TO ALL PAPISTIS, DEMANDING GYF CHRIST CAN BE SEPARET FROME THE FAITHFULL.
Can Christ be frome thame, that he do[is] stil support,And grants to thame thair will in lauchfull sort?
No! thair is none of Iudgement discreit,
Can saye bot he is present in the Spreit
Still in to thame that ar his trew Eleckit,
Least tha alwayis with Sin suld be subieckit,
I mene, with grit and odious transgressioun,
Siclyke as thift, reif, murthour, and oppressioun;
For thocht the richtyus doith seuin tymes daylie Sin,
Ȝit dois he nocht contynew still thairin;
For, be his Spreit Christ geuis thame Iudgement
To knaw thair Sin; syne maks thame to repent,
So that tha do nocht in thair Sin delyte,
Bot murnis thairfor with conscience contryte,
As Dauid, Peter, and the Magdalene,
With mony mo nor heir I may contene.
Christ als is with thame, as Uicar generall,
Rewlar and gydar of the faithfull all,
Without quhais spreit no gude thing can be wrocht;
Without his help our strenth aualis nocht;
In him we leue and mouis quhill we indure,
It is he onlie, that taks on ws cure;
Thus none can saye, but Christ most certanlie
Is be his Spreit with ws contynewallie.
Rewlar and gydar of the faithfull all,
Without quhais spreit no gude thing can be wrocht;
Without his help our strenth aualis nocht;
In him we leue and mouis quhill we indure,
It is he onlie, that taks on ws cure;
Thus none can saye, but Christ most certanlie
Is be his Spreit with ws contynewallie.
So till his Kirk, Christ heir before his Passioun
Repeatis thir wourdis, to gyf thame consolatioun,
That tha in that suld nocht discuragit be
For his deperting frome thame corporallie,
Bot be his Spreit he promist stil support thame;
So on this wayis Christ Iesus did confort thame,
“Howbeit,” sayis he, “I am to passe abone;
“Ask quhat ȝe will, it sall to ȝow be done;
“Prouyding alwayis that ȝe constant be
“Abyding at my wourd of Uerite.”
This consolatioun dois serue for ws also,
Repeatis thir wourdis, to gyf thame consolatioun,
That tha in that suld nocht discuragit be
For his deperting frome thame corporallie,
Bot be his Spreit he promist stil support thame;
So on this wayis Christ Iesus did confort thame,
15
“Ask quhat ȝe will, it sall to ȝow be done;
“Prouyding alwayis that ȝe constant be
“Abyding at my wourd of Uerite.”
Assuring ws, quhair euer we ryde or go,
Ȝe, euin amyd our Inymeis most grit,
He euer is with ws present in the spreit,
Preseruing ws, and doing ws defend,
As he hes promist, vnto the war[l]dlis end.
Now haue ȝe herd the first commoditie,
The riche rewaird, and grit vtilitie,
Breiflie discussit, of thame that ar ingrauit
In to Christ Iesus, and how it is conceauit.
Now herkin fordwart; and ȝe sall schortlie heir
The Secund proffeit, discussit in ordour cleir
THE DISCRIPTIOUN OF THE SECUND COMMODITIE OF THAME THAT ABYDIS IN CHRIST.
THE TEXT.
Heirin is my Father Glorifyit, thatȜe bring furth mekill fruct. &c.
The Secund proffeit, we sal bring furth gude frute,
And of gude werkis sal not be destitute,
That dois Gods wourd into thair harts imbrace,
Making it thair to haue ane dwelling place.
For as the day can nocht be without lycht,
Nor the cleir Sone withouttin beames bricht,
The flammyng fyre without Calyditie,
Or without water can be the raging Se,
No more the godlie (as writtis cunnyng Clerkis,)
Can gudlie be withouttin godlie werkis,
With quhilks tha do the Father glorefie,
That ringand is in to the Heauin most hie.
And of gude werkis sal not be destitute,
That dois Gods wourd into thair harts imbrace,
Making it thair to haue ane dwelling place.
For as the day can nocht be without lycht,
Nor the cleir Sone withouttin beames bricht,
The flammyng fyre without Calyditie,
Or without water can be the raging Se,
No more the godlie (as writtis cunnyng Clerkis,)
Can gudlie be withouttin godlie werkis,
With quhilks tha do the Father glorefie,
That ringand is in to the Heauin most hie.
16
This frute, but dout, tha ar the godlie deids
Quhilk from Christ Iesus, the faithfull wine, proceids,
As is the Doctrine of his wourd most pure
Sinceirlie Preacheit to euerie Creature,
Be quhilk men ar conuertit speciallie
Frome Sin and Uice, and frome Ydolatrie,
To godlynes, quhairin the Lord delyts,
As Paule in his Epistills plainlie dyts.
Quhilk from Christ Iesus, the faithfull wine, proceids,
As is the Doctrine of his wourd most pure
Sinceirlie Preacheit to euerie Creature,
Be quhilk men ar conuertit speciallie
Frome Sin and Uice, and frome Ydolatrie,
To godlynes, quhairin the Lord delyts,
As Paule in his Epistills plainlie dyts.
Thir Godlie fruts dois also notefie,
Gyf we the faithfull and Germane branchis be
Of Christ Iesus, quha is the onlie wyne,
That did Redeme our Saul[i]s all frome pyne.
Gyf we the faithfull and Germane branchis be
Of Christ Iesus, quha is the onlie wyne,
That did Redeme our Saul[i]s all frome pyne.
Quho wants thir fruts, lat thame all talking stanche,
And never compt thaim of Christ to be a branche,
Bot lat thaim grant thaim branchis, Imps, & sperks
To be of Sathan, seing thair sinfull werks
And never compt thaim of Christ to be a branche,
Bot lat thaim grant thaim branchis, Imps, & sperks
To be of Sathan, seing thair sinfull werks
ANE EXCLAMATIOUN AGANIS ALL FENȜEIT YPOCREITIS, AND SPECIALLIE AGANIS ALL GREDIE DISSEMBLIT FALS PROTESTANTES.
O fie on ȝow that callis ȝour selffs professours,Syne notit ar for manifest transgressours!
Gods wourd is heauylie sclanderit for ȝour caus,
Seing ȝe do nothing obserue his Lawis!
Ȝe skar the wayklings from the wourd receauyng,
Throw ȝour vngodlie and vicius behauyng!
Quhat sayis the pure, behalding ȝour transgression?
“Grit God preserue ws from this lewd professiōn!
“Is this Gods wourd that learnis thame this euyll?
“It semis rather this wourd cummis of the Deuyll!
“Wer it Gods wourd, we mycht rycht weill be sure,
“Tha wald nocht in sic deuylrie indure,
“Puft vp in pryde, sik as wes neuer sene
“Before with ony mortall mannis Eine.”
Moir grit expens is maid, as I suppose,
Upon ane pair of prophane Monstruus hose,
Nor wald do cleith ane hundreth of the pure
That gois nakit, begging frome dure to dure.
Salyke sic Pryde pertenis to trew teaching,
Or ony poynt of the Appostillis preaching!
The Godlie aucht nocht to hald vile pryde in pryce,
Moir grit expens is maid, as I suppose,
17
Nor wald do cleith ane hundreth of the pure
That gois nakit, begging frome dure to dure.
Salyke sic Pryde pertenis to trew teaching,
Or ony poynt of the Appostillis preaching!
Seing it is the Mother of all vyce,
Quhairof proceidis all distructioun,
And bring[i]s Kingdomes to confusioun.
For Pryde, Lucypheir from Heauinnis glore he fell,
And daylie is tormentit in the Hell
With mony thousandis of his oppynnioun,
Throw verray pryde from Heauin with him fell doun.
Pharao, for pryde, wes drownit in the Seye,
With all his Horsis and crewell Companye.
Sennacherib, for all his bost and schore,
Wes put to flycht; syne, be his Sone forlore.
And Nabuchodonezer, for his Pryde—
As Daniell dois distinclie weill discyde—
Wes, for his hicht, transformit in ane beist,
Quhill he agane of lawlynes did taist,
Granting him self to be ane mortall wicht,
And God allone to be the Lord of micht.
In to the buke of Hester is declaird,
How on that gallous, proude Aman had prepaird
To put gude Merdocheus to the dead,
Him self wes hangit, withouttin moir remead.
This to be schort: quho list to pryde pretend,
May be assurde of ane mischeuous end;
And in the contrair, quha wald exaltit be,
Go learne at Christ, to lead Humelytie.
Ȝe clois ȝour ears, and turnis away ȝour eyis,
Quhair ȝe ȝour pure and nedye brethren seyis!
Ȝour Cheritie, it is be-cum sa cauld,
Ȝe thole thame de but reuth, I der be bauld;
And euerie fatt Souch fedis and flammis ane vther!
Grit God thairfor will plaig that faithles futher!
And ȝit ȝe ar nothing of this eschamit;
Ȝour Cheritie, it is be-cum sa cauld,
Ȝe thole thame de but reuth, I der be bauld;
And euerie fatt Souch fedis and flammis ane vther!
18
Bot ȝe will all, Protestantis still be nemmit!
So ar ȝe nocht! for Ihone sayis ȝe do lie.
Ȝe knaw nocht God, nor ȝit his wourd trewlie,
That seis ȝour nedie Brother in distres,
Syne helps him nocht, bot layfis him mercyles.
Ȝour gredynes! it stinkis and fylis the air!
I vg ȝour Murthour and Hirschip to declair!
For thocht ȝe sla nocht pure men with ȝour knyues,
Ȝit with ȝour dearth ȝe tak from thame the lyues!
Quhat differs dearth frome creuell briganrye,
Quhen that ȝe mak the Pure for hunger dye?
No thing at all! most trewlie to conclude,
Except of thame ȝe do nocht draw the blude;
For ȝe contryne thame,—as wyse men merkis and seis,—
Till one of thir two grit Extremiteis:
Till vtter hirschip, with bying of thair fude;
And want tha money? than, schortlie to conclude,
Thair is no credeit, bot of Necessitie,
The Pure Broder, for Hunger he man die.
God send ȝow nocht the Uictall of the ground
No thing at all! most trewlie to conclude,
Except of thame ȝe do nocht draw the blude;
For ȝe contryne thame,—as wyse men merkis and seis,—
Till one of thir two grit Extremiteis:
Till vtter hirschip, with bying of thair fude;
And want tha money? than, schortlie to conclude,
Thair is no credeit, bot of Necessitie,
The Pure Broder, for Hunger he man die.
That ȝe the pepill suld Fameis and confound;
Bot that ȝe sould thairof gude Stewarts be,
Helpand the Pure in thair necessite.
Wo be till him that hurdis vp his Corne,
Syne kepis it vp to dearth, fra morne to morne!
Bot Gods blissing sall lycht vpon his head,
That latis it furth, that pure men may get bread.
Bot as ȝe cloise ȝour Girnallis frome the puris,
Quhilkis now thairby grit miserie induris,
So God sall cloise on ȝow, for ȝour grit Sin,
His Heauinlie Porte, quhen ȝe wald faine cum in.
So God sall cloise on ȝow, for ȝour grit Sin,
His Heauinlie Porte, quhen ȝe wald faine cum in.
God sall ȝow Plaig agane for that, be sure!
Experience daylie teachis ws of this:
Merk quhen ȝe please, ȝe sall nocht find it mis.
Experience daylie teachis ws of this:
19
I neid nocht rekkin ȝour filthye Harlotrie:
It is so knawin our alquhair, oppinlie;
Quhilk to rehearse, It mak[i]s me abhor!
Bot as the Townis of Sodome and Gomor,
The Creaturis and all that in thame was,
With fyre frome Heauin consumit was with as
For that foule stinkand Sin of Lychorie,
Richt so, ȝe Harlotis, but dout sall Plagit be
Be the grit Michtie God Omnipotent,
Except that ȝe moir spedylie repent!
For mony ane tyme, and daylie it is sene,
Quhilk to rehearse, It mak[i]s me abhor!
Bot as the Townis of Sodome and Gomor,
The Creaturis and all that in thame was,
With fyre frome Heauin consumit was with as
For that foule stinkand Sin of Lychorie,
Richt so, ȝe Harlotis, but dout sall Plagit be
Be the grit Michtie God Omnipotent,
Except that ȝe moir spedylie repent!
How sic vile harlotis for Hurdome Plagit bene
With most extreme and vrgent pouertie,
Quhilk sumtyme had of ryches grit plentie;
Sumtyme with maist detestebill odious schame,
Loyssing for euer thair honour and thair fame,
And sumtyme plagit be God with suddand dead;
But quho that list with wisedome to take head,
May daylie merk, and als perfytlie se,
The Harlotis oftymes plagit with all thre.
Quhill Saule & bodie be damnit to hellis pane.
For tha perceaue nocht that thair Miserie,
Dois licht on thame for thair Iniquytie.
For tha perceaue nocht that thair Miserie,
Dois licht on thame for thair Iniquytie.
Bot rycht as Pharao on Godis plaigs wald not pance,
Bot thocht tha come be fortune & be chance,
No moir the Harlot can think his hart within,
That God dois plaig him for his filthie Sin,
And so as Palȝeartis in Peltrie perseueiris,
Quhill of thair strenth consumit be the ȝeris.
Bot thocht tha come be fortune & be chance,
No moir the Harlot can think his hart within,
That God dois plaig him for his filthie Sin,
And so as Palȝeartis in Peltrie perseueiris,
Quhill of thair strenth consumit be the ȝeris.
The pure Plewmen & laubouraris of ȝour lands,
Quhen tha haue nocht to fill ȝour gredie hands,
Quhair ȝe can spye ane man to geue ȝow mair,
Ȝe schute thame furth; syne puts ane vthir thair.
Howbeit the first haue Barnis aucht or nyne,
Ȝe tak no thocht, thocht man and all sulde tyne;
Within few ȝeris ȝe herye him also,
Syne puts him furth; to beggin most he go;
Thus schift ȝe our, in to most gredie wyse,
The quhilk ane Uengeance frome the Heauin cryis.
Ȝit for all this ȝe neuer ar content!
Quhair ȝe can spye ane man to geue ȝow mair,
Ȝe schute thame furth; syne puts ane vthir thair.
Howbeit the first haue Barnis aucht or nyne,
20
Within few ȝeris ȝe herye him also,
Syne puts him furth; to beggin most he go;
Thus schift ȝe our, in to most gredie wyse,
The quhilk ane Uengeance frome the Heauin cryis.
Howbeit ȝe haue, be fer, moir land and rent
Nor euer had ȝour Fatheris ȝow before;
Bot euer gredie, and gaping still for more.
And all this is, for to setfurth ȝour pryde!
Ȝour housis halding is down, & laid on syde:
Quhair hunders wount ȝour faders to conuoye,
Now will ȝe ryde with ane man and ane boye.
Nocht hes the wyte of this ȝour filthie Uice
Quhair hunders wount ȝour faders to conuoye,
Now will ȝe ryde with ane man and ane boye.
Bot that fals gredie Idole Auerice,
Quhilk chokkit hes ȝour harts so haillelie,
That nothair to God nor honour ȝe haue Ee.
Grit meruell is, of ȝow that gettis this muk,
Bot ȝe sould haue aboundance with gude luk.
And ȝit we se thair dois nothing succeid,
Bot barrane ground, with mony frutles weid,
Moir emptye now of warldlis gear and gude
Nor wes ȝour Faders, that fand rycht mony fude,
Quhilks had nocht half sa mekill for to spend,
Ȝit had grit ryches, and honour to thair end.
And ȝe ar nedye, thriftles, and threid-bair!
Of wrangus gude, no better man can fair.
Iudge ȝe ȝour selfis, in ȝour awin conscience,
Quhat is the cause of ȝour grit Indigence!
I saye for me, God will nocht send incresse
To thame that wrangus Conqueis dois possesse!
Syne knawis Gods wourd, syne dois the contrarie!
How can sic pepill, with grit God fauourd be?
21
And be his rycht and most Iust Iudgement,
Wes stond to death, as Iosue concluds,
Because the tuke of Excommunicat guds.
Gyf ȝe haue done with siclyke gudis mell,
I can nocht say; Iudge that amangs ȝour sell.
Quho list the Storie of Achab to persew,
And Iesabell his wyfe, that Naboth slew
For his wyne Ȝaird, throw gredie Couatyce,
Thair sall ȝe find how God did plaig that Uyce,
And maid thame both most miserablie to de
For thair foule Murthour and Cupeditie.
Saule lost his Kingdome throw his gredines.
And riche Naball, for his grit churlyschenes
Schewin to Dauid, almaist had bene distroyit,
Gyf Abygall had nocht it weill conuoyit,
And measit Dauid verray Prudentlie;
Ȝit God maid Naball schortlie for to de,
And him bereft frome all his wardlie wrak,
For ony fence the churlysche Carll could mak.
As sall all wrachit Churlis layf thair geir,
And vtheris thairof sall mak mirrye cheir,
That nocht pertenit to thame be kin nor blude!
All wrachis wrak thus endis, to conclude.
Ȝit mony of Naballis blude dois rest behind,
Bot verray few of Abygallis to find!
Paule dois pronunce in wourdis plane & euin,
That Couatus men sall nocht inherit Heuin,
And dois forbid that we expreslie
Suld bear the Couatus ony companie.
Lo we se heir,—quhat nedis processe mair?—
That Godis trew wourd maist plainlie dois declair
That Couatus men, quhat way that euer tha wend,
Sall nocht at lenth eschaip ane sorye end.
The Mes, that Idoll,—praysit be God!—is past;
Bot Couatyce, the quhilk is cum in last,
22
Gyf that this Idoll Rax, it will all mer,
All will be brocht vnto confusioun,
Gods wourd and Lawis vnto abusioun,
The Ciueill Iustice, sall peruertit be,
Uproris sall ryse, and start vp haistelie,
No man sall leue at rest and peace with vther,
Except this Idoll be banist with the tother;
And wer we quyte of thir fals Idols baith,
The Godlie than micht soundlie sleip but skaith.
Refrane in tyme! with speid repent and mend!
Or God ane sudand plaig sall on ȝow send,
And punysche ȝow be fer moir creuellie
Nor Ignorantis befoir wes wint to be!
Without ȝe mend, maist certainlie I say ȝow,
Gods holy wourd but dout sall be tane fra ȝow.
Because with ȝow it is nothing regardit,
Thairfor with God ȝe sall be so rewardit,
That vncouth Strangears of ane forene Natioun
Sall disapoynt ȝour Kirk and Congregatioun,
Quhilk is the gritest Plaig that God can send:
This sall nocht mis! without ȝe schortlie mend,
Ȝe sall be Plagit so, and on sik wyse,
That ȝe sall wysse ȝour death ane hundreth syse.
And quhen ȝe wald, ȝit sall ȝe no wayis de;
That death ȝe Ȝairne, it sall fast frome ȝow fle.
For Disobedience vnto Gods wourd,
Ȝe sall be Plagit with Hunger, Pest, and swourd,
With Hirschip, Fyre, with Dearth, and Pestelence,
Because ȝe Sin aganis ȝour Conscience;
For God[i]s wourd wes neuer moir trewlie teachit
Nor it is now in mony placis preachit,
And neuer sa mony vngodlie pepill sene
In to this earth, sen it Inhabit bene!
Quhairfor, gyf ȝe grit God wald glorefie,
Imbrace his wourd and learne to fructefie,
23
That euerye man may graip, and als considder,
It is Gods wourd and pure Religioun
That ȝe obserue in ȝour professioun.
Quhat helpis it, thocht we the wourd professe,
Except the Frute proceid thairof expresse?
Thus lat ȝour deids so schyne in tymes to cum,
Tha sall be sene, and kend till all and sum,
That the Behaldars may crye with Ioyfull steuin,
“Grace, glore, and honour, be to the Father of Heuin!”
So quhen ȝour werks dois with ȝour wourds aggre,
No dout ȝe sall the Father glorefie.
The secund proffit, rycht as our Text it merks,
Tuytching the bringing furth of Godlie werks,
With faithfull Pepill that dois thair God regaird,
Semplie I haue heir in few wourds declaird,
So that thair rests of this mateir no mair,
Bot the thrid proffit onlie to declair,
Quhilk schortlie now, be Gods grace, I sall end:
Gyf earis heirfor, and to my wourds attend!
| The minor poems of William Lauder | |