The seuin Seages Translatit out of prois in Scottis meter be Iohne Rolland in Dalkeith, with ane Moralitie efter euerie Doctouris Tale, and siclike efter the Emprice Tale, togidder with ane louing and laude to euerie Doctour efter his awin Tale, & ane Exclamation and outcrying vpon the Empreouris wife efter hir fals contrusit Tale ... Edited, with introduction, notes, and glossary, by Geo. F. Black |
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The Sext Taill of the Emprice. |
 | The seuin Seages |  |
The Sext Taill of the Emprice.
Befoir this time thair was ane michtie King
Prydefull in hart, and proud abone all thing
He was sa heich and prydefull in his thocht,
All vther men he set thame clene at nocht.
This King he thocht all Rome for to destroy,
The Romanis sla, and efter to conuoy
To his Kingdome, the deid banes of thir two,
Peter and Paull, with mony Relicks mo.
To waist that toun, and put it all to sack,
Bot his purpois was sum thing put abak,
Intill his face was sa disfigurait,
in sic ane sort, that euerie kinde of stait,
Abhorrit sa, his vgsum foull visage,
That nane couet to tuitche his personage.
Sa handillit was with sic Infirmitie,
With Lippernes, ane fouller nane culd be.
Zit his nature rais on him with sic rage,
To haue wemen he gaue ane greit curage.
Sa callit he his Steward quyetlie,
And schew to him his counsall secreitlie.
Saying my freind, this thing I wil ȝow schaw
All wemen kinde abhorris me as ȝe knaw,
That I can get of thame na companie,
Quhilk gif I had, war greit plesure to me.
He said my Lord and pleis ȝour Nobill grace,
Howbeit ȝe be deformit in the face:
Ze haue aneuch of gude money and gold,
For to conduce the fairest on the Mold.
Thairfoir I say ȝe neid not in na sort
Of fair wemen to want the greit comfort.
Than said the King se for na coist ȝe spair,
To get me ane that is bricht fresche and fair:
Howbeit ȝe gif ane thousand Crownes thairfoir
And or I want ȝe sall gif mekill moir.
The Stewart said I sall do that I may,
To fill ȝour will, and sa he come his way.
Thinking in minde blindit with couetise
Thir thousand Crowns may I get on this wise
Win to my sell, and to my wife alone,
And sa hame wart to his wife is he gone.
Quha was richt fair, bowsum with all bewtie,
Verteous and gude, richt plesand for to se,
Prudent, perfite, with countenance richt glaid,
With couetous hart to hir thir wordis he said.
O my gude wife, my Souerane Lord the King
Hes chargeit me with ane richt secreit thing:
To haue wemen he is richt couetous,
At his plesure, and wonder desirous.
Quhilkis for na coist he sayis he will not want,
And charges me ane thousand Crowns to grāt
To ony persoun that will the same ressaue,
Bot for ane nicht with him hir for to haue.
Thairfoir in minde my self I haue compest,
Betuix vs twa, I think this be the best
The thousand Crowns to purches to our sell,
Sa ȝe will vse, and follow my counsell.
Scho said gude Schir ȝour counsall I will do
Sa to na sin nor schame it turne me to.
He said ȝe sall pas to the Kingis bed,
Quhilk is with silk and claith of gold ouirspred
And thair all nicht ly with him quyetlie,
At his plesure, as he thinkis best to be.
That it is ȝe, thair is na man sall ken,
Bot I alone, the quhilk abone all men
Suld saif ȝour schame and als ȝour honestie,
Thairfoir as schame to ȝow it cannot be.
Allace scho sayis gude Schir is that ȝour will,
by ȝour bodie, my womanheid to spill:
With ane Lipper, and sa deformit in face,
Schir change ȝour minde for him that gaue all grace
I wait it is nouther ȝour thocht nor mind
To sic ane deid my hart for to Inclind:
Bot me to preif, and to tempt my Intent,
Gif I thairto wald ony sort consent.
O my gude wife howbeit he Lipper be
And in the face deformit as ȝe se,
And foull of flesche, and also foull of blude,
Zit than the gold is wonder sweit and gude.
Scho said agane my sweit husband persaue
Howbeit the gold be gude and sweit to haue,
And thocht he war the clenest man thairout,
Maist fair of face, gentill, courtes and stout.
Wald ȝe that I committit sic ane sin,
Aganis my God, ony gold for to win?
I will not dude, thairfoir hald me excusit,
Charge me na mair, for heir quite I refuse it.
Quhome to he said with ane richt austeir luik,
How purpois ȝe my companie to bruik.
That thing I will to preis for to ganestand,
Ze ar ouir peirt to contrair my command,
It is my will, and that same salbe done.
Thairfoir mak ȝow that Ilk to compleis sone.
Do ȝe it not, I vow betuix vs tway
Sall neuer be ane blyith nor Ioyfull day,
Bot euer mair in chyding and in greif,
Quhilk at the last will turne to ane mischeif.
Knaw ȝe not weill to the Kirk quhen ȝe went,
Ze swoir ȝe suld be ay obedient,
To me alone, as wedlok vs declairis.
Ze Schir scho said in all lefull effairis:
Not displesing my maker King of Kingis,
I will obey ȝow in all vther thingis.
I ȝow command be vertew of that aith,
Quhilk for to brek ȝe suld be wonder laith.
Considdering it is my minde and will,
Without ganesay my bidding ȝe fulfill.
And to the same richt sone that ȝe consent
Or I auow richt sair ȝe sall repent,
In the mean time as he thir wordis schew,
Out of his scheith his quhinȝar furth he drew.
Scho trimbling sair for greit dreddour and feir
Furth of that steid ane step scho durst not steir.
Persauing weill his crueltie and boist,
And in greit dout hir life for to be loist.
The Impatience and the greit gredynes,
The cruell minde and als the crabitnes
Of this Ill man this woman did attend,
Quhilk in na sort nor fassoun culd amend.
Scho was constranit quhat for dreddour & aw,
For to consent to his command and saw.
Scho said gude man ȝour bidding I mon do,
Bot greit God knawis gif my will be thairto.
Bot I appeill fra all consent of sin,
That may follow, or in this cace cum in.
And on ȝour self all haill I lay the charge,
And befoir God thairof I me discharge.
Than the Stewart but ony tarying
Past in all haist and said vnto the King:
I haue ȝow gottin ane woman richt famous,
Gentill, courtes, and cum of ane gude hous.
Fair and weill fauourit, richt plesand for to se,
And scho mon cum to ȝow richt quyetlie:
Within the nicht scho mon cum lait at eine,
Bot me alone, with nane scho will be sene
Airlie at morne befoir the Sone rysing
Fra ȝow siclike scho mon mak departing.
For this scho will ane thousand Crownes haue,
And for payment bot me nane will scho craue,
Than said the King of that I am content,
As ȝe haue done thairto I weill consent.
Withouttin mair the Stewart he hes led
His awin spousit wife vnto the Kingis bed,
And with the key the dure he hes maid fast,
But ony noyis, and sa his way is past.
Airlie at morne in dawing of the day:
The Steward rais, and to the King can say,
My Souerane Lord & pleis ȝour Nobill grace
It will be day within ane prettie space.
I think it gude that woman ȝe let go,
For I promeist that ȝour grace suld do so.
Than said the King this woman plesis me
Sa wonder weill as ȝit hir companie,
I will not want nouther for gold nor geir,
This hour to cum I will not let hir steir.
Quhen he that hard, he was richt wonder wo
And fra the dure with sorie hart did go.
Within ane quhile but tary come agane,
And to the King he said Schir for certane,
The day is licht, and that woman present,
And with the folk scho will be schamelie schent.
And my promeis to hir quyte I haue brokin.
For not keiping to hir that I haue spokin.
Than said the King, na way ȝit sall scho pas,
For scho sall haue of me quhat scho will as.
Thairfoir Stewart I say to ȝow in plane,
Go pas ȝour way and lok the dure agane.
The Stewart than richt sorrowfull in hart,
Vpon neid force to the dure did depart.
Went vp and doun, and wist not quhat to say,
The Sone was heich, and weill gane of ye day,
He come agane and said vnto the King,
It is twa houris efter the Sone rysing
That woman will be schent withouttin dout,
With all the folk and pepill heir about.
The King answerit, nathing of him content,
I ȝow command that ȝe ȝour self absent:
Vnto the time that I pleis for to rise,
For vnrequyrit ȝe haue me troublit thrise,
And my plesure is with this companie.
Thairfoir pas on, at this time let me be.
The Stewartis hart gif it was than on steir,
As I beleue thair neidis na man to speir.
Zit not the les he culd not keip counsell,
For all his wit he wald discriue him sell.
Incontinent without mair auysing,
With sorie hart he said vnto the King.
O my gude Lord, I oppin to ȝow my hart,
That Ilk woman ȝe will not thoill depart
Without licence, scho is my weddit wife,
Now in ȝour hands lyis baith my deid and life.
The king hard that, & thocht all was not richt
Opinit windois and saw the fair day licht,
Saw the woman quha was lustie in face,
Ane word not spak ane Pater noster space,
Sine saw it was euin as the Stewart said,
Quhairof he was richt sorie and not glaid.
Quhome to he said, O thow maist schamefull knaif
How durst thow be sa peirt me to dissaif.
And me to caus thy wife for to abuse,
Thy gredie hart thy self it sall confuse.
Quhy hes thow causit thy wife vnwillinglie
Cum in my bed to me vnwittandlie.
For ane small sowme of money and riches
To schame thy self for thy greit gredynes.
Knew thow not weill withouttin ony fabill,
My maladie was euer Incurabill
That was in the thow hes done I declair,
Thy self, thy wife, to vndo euer mair.
Thairfoir pas swyith in haist out of my sicht,
Nor in my realme that thow byde not four nicht
And fra hence furth gif euer I may the sie,
Ane schamefull deid I auow thow sall die.
Incontinent he past fra his presence,
And neuer saw the King fra that time hence.
Quyte of his Realme fra thame he did him dres
That Ilk rewaird he gat for gredynes.
This being done, the King in all his dayis,
Held vp this wife, as the historie sayis:
In greit worschip, and gaue to hir ȝeirlie,
Ane sowme of gold to keip hir honestlie.
Efter that time I do not find nor reid
With this woman that he had actuall deid.
Sone efter this the King causit to conuene
Ane greit armie all cled in armour clene.
With greit puissance and nobill men of weir,
In all effairis, as to thame culd effeir.
And went to Rome with greit power & micht
To seige the same the gait thay held on richt.
And sa thay did it seige on ather syde,
That the Romanis durst not thairin abyde.
He seigeit it still sa sad and wonder sair,
That thay within micht it defend na mair.
Sa at the last to ane counsall thay went,
Thinking yai wald with yt King tak pointmēt
Quhilk was for till deliuer him at anis
Of Peter and Paull the blist bodie and banis,
Quhilk was the caus of his greit erand thair
For to obtene the same withouttin mair.
In the Cietie than thair was still present
Seuin wise Maisteris that had the Regiment,
Of all the toun, and nathing by thame done,
Airlie at morne, at euin nor ȝit at none.
And to thir seuin the Cietiȝanis come to,
And said Maisteris greit thing we haue ado.
We are compellit be force of ȝone armie
For to gif ouir and rander the Cietie
Vnto thir folkis quhilk ar our enemeis,
Or ellis for to deliuer the bodeis:
Of gude Peter and Paull his halie brother,
On force we mon the ane do or the vther.
The first Maister agane to thame he said,
My gude nichtbouris tak na feir bot be glaid.
As for this day the Cietie I sall saue,
With the wisdome and cunning that I haue.
The secund said, the nixt day fallis me,
Fra enemeis for to keip the Cietie,
With my wisdome, and als my cleir cunning,
For all the strenth of ȝone greit puissant King.
Sa did the thrid, and fourt withouttin dout,
The fyft, the sext, richt sa the seuint all out.
In like maner as thir seuin Maisters now,
Vnto ȝour Sone hes promeist do with ȝow.
In this meane time the King causit his Armie
Lay ane assault about the greit Cietie.
With sic awfull and cruell Munitioun,
Quhill thay war like for to obtene the toun.
The first Maister than he come to the King,
And with him fell in talk and commoning.
And talkit sa in sic maner and wise,
As for that day he gart his Armie rise.
And fra the toun the Seige abak he drew,
As for that day na mair thay did persew.
Bot on the morne the Seige agane thay laid,
The nixt Maister past to the King and said
In like maner as the vther befoir,
And fra that day thay seigeit the toun no moir.
Sa did thay all, quhill it come to the last,
On the seuint day thay seigeit the toun sa fast,
It was beleuit the same thay wald obtene,
Than all the toun togidder did conuene.
All in ane voice to the seuint Maister said,
About the toun sa strang ane seige is laid,
That we beleue nathing bot cruell deid.
Without that ȝe find sum help and remeid:
Conforme to the sayingis ȝe said but dout,
That was Ilk ane to saif ȝour day about.
And we ar all Informit of suretie,
The King hes maid his aith solempnitlie,
He sall not rais his seige nor Munitioun,
Vnto the time that he obtene the toun.
To ȝow Maister now we can say no moir,
We wald ȝe did as ȝour fellowis befoir.
Quhome to he said, my freindis tak ȝe na feir,
Be of comfort, and Ilk ane mak gude cheir.
The morne sall I with my wark and cunning
Skaill all ȝone hoist, and also fray the King.
He salbe fane for all his greit puissance,
To pas away with his greit Ordinance.
Thay went thair way, & na mair tuik in thocht
Bot all meruellit how sic thing culd be wrocht.
The morne airlie the seige was confirmit,
To haue the toun also the King determit.
This seuint Maister to his Chalmer he went,
And cled him in ane nice abilȝement.
As Pacok taillis, and fedderis of all kin hew.
Part reid, part quhite, part ȝallow grene & blew
Ane bricht drawin sword he tuik in euerie hand
On ane Towre heid he past vp for to stand.
Quhilk was maist heich of all the haill Cietie,
Fornentis the hoist, that thay micht all him se.
The twa bricht swordis into his mouth he tuik
The same schynand, vpon the armie schuik.
Quhilis turnis eist, and vther quhilis west.
Quhyls south, quhyls north, quhair yai micht se hī best
The schinād swords aganis ye sone sa blēt
With his cleithing and strange abilȝement.
Thay in the hoist richt weill and cleirlie saw,
Bot quhat it was na man of thame did knaw.
All the greit Lordis quhen thay beheld sic thing,
Half in effray thay past all to the King:
And said O Lord, behald vpon ȝone Towre
We se this day ane wonderfull Figour.
Than said the King the same I do persaue,
Bot quhat it is, na knawledge I can haue.
Thay said we knaw quhat thing it is but dout
It is Iesus doun of the heuin cum out:
Quhilk is the God of all ȝone Christin folk,
And knawis richt weill how that we do prouok
His awsum Ire, and how we do pretend
To sla his folk, the quhilk he will defend.
Zone samin swords that ȝe se schining sa,
Thay signifie Ilk ane thay will vs sla,
Gif we langer into this feild abyde,
Our counsall is thairfoir hame that we ryde.
The King heiring trimblit for verray feir,
Gart rais his hoist and all his men of weir:
And said it is better in time we fle,
Nor ȝone thair God with his swords gart vs die
Than all the hoist in haist thay maid thē hame
Frayit without caus, wt mekill scorne & schame
Howbeit to fle na perrell was nor neid,
Bot all dissait be the Maisteris fals deid.
Quhen the Romanis persauit the Armie fle,
Ilk ane thay Ischit, and past of the Cietie.
With manlie hart and gudlie countenance,
Followit the King for all his Ordinance.
Slew and destroyit all that thay plesit that day
And quhome thay list captiue yai brocht away
And sa the King and all his greit Armie
Brocht was to ground be the greit subteltie
Of this Maister, quha wrocht all be dissait,
That with power na maner culd debait.
Prydefull in hart, and proud abone all thing
He was sa heich and prydefull in his thocht,
All vther men he set thame clene at nocht.
This King he thocht all Rome for to destroy,
The Romanis sla, and efter to conuoy
To his Kingdome, the deid banes of thir two,
Peter and Paull, with mony Relicks mo.
To waist that toun, and put it all to sack,
Bot his purpois was sum thing put abak,
Intill his face was sa disfigurait,
in sic ane sort, that euerie kinde of stait,
Abhorrit sa, his vgsum foull visage,
That nane couet to tuitche his personage.
Sa handillit was with sic Infirmitie,
With Lippernes, ane fouller nane culd be.
Zit his nature rais on him with sic rage,
To haue wemen he gaue ane greit curage.
185
And schew to him his counsall secreitlie.
Saying my freind, this thing I wil ȝow schaw
All wemen kinde abhorris me as ȝe knaw,
That I can get of thame na companie,
Quhilk gif I had, war greit plesure to me.
He said my Lord and pleis ȝour Nobill grace,
Howbeit ȝe be deformit in the face:
Ze haue aneuch of gude money and gold,
For to conduce the fairest on the Mold.
Thairfoir I say ȝe neid not in na sort
Of fair wemen to want the greit comfort.
Than said the King se for na coist ȝe spair,
To get me ane that is bricht fresche and fair:
Howbeit ȝe gif ane thousand Crownes thairfoir
And or I want ȝe sall gif mekill moir.
The Stewart said I sall do that I may,
To fill ȝour will, and sa he come his way.
Thinking in minde blindit with couetise
Thir thousand Crowns may I get on this wise
Win to my sell, and to my wife alone,
And sa hame wart to his wife is he gone.
Quha was richt fair, bowsum with all bewtie,
Verteous and gude, richt plesand for to se,
Prudent, perfite, with countenance richt glaid,
With couetous hart to hir thir wordis he said.
O my gude wife, my Souerane Lord the King
Hes chargeit me with ane richt secreit thing:
To haue wemen he is richt couetous,
At his plesure, and wonder desirous.
Quhilkis for na coist he sayis he will not want,
And charges me ane thousand Crowns to grāt
To ony persoun that will the same ressaue,
Bot for ane nicht with him hir for to haue.
Thairfoir in minde my self I haue compest,
Betuix vs twa, I think this be the best
186
Sa ȝe will vse, and follow my counsell.
Scho said gude Schir ȝour counsall I will do
Sa to na sin nor schame it turne me to.
He said ȝe sall pas to the Kingis bed,
Quhilk is with silk and claith of gold ouirspred
And thair all nicht ly with him quyetlie,
At his plesure, as he thinkis best to be.
That it is ȝe, thair is na man sall ken,
Bot I alone, the quhilk abone all men
Suld saif ȝour schame and als ȝour honestie,
Thairfoir as schame to ȝow it cannot be.
Allace scho sayis gude Schir is that ȝour will,
by ȝour bodie, my womanheid to spill:
With ane Lipper, and sa deformit in face,
Schir change ȝour minde for him that gaue all grace
I wait it is nouther ȝour thocht nor mind
To sic ane deid my hart for to Inclind:
Bot me to preif, and to tempt my Intent,
Gif I thairto wald ony sort consent.
O my gude wife howbeit he Lipper be
And in the face deformit as ȝe se,
And foull of flesche, and also foull of blude,
Zit than the gold is wonder sweit and gude.
Scho said agane my sweit husband persaue
Howbeit the gold be gude and sweit to haue,
And thocht he war the clenest man thairout,
Maist fair of face, gentill, courtes and stout.
Wald ȝe that I committit sic ane sin,
Aganis my God, ony gold for to win?
I will not dude, thairfoir hald me excusit,
Charge me na mair, for heir quite I refuse it.
Quhome to he said with ane richt austeir luik,
How purpois ȝe my companie to bruik.
That thing I will to preis for to ganestand,
Ze ar ouir peirt to contrair my command,
187
Thairfoir mak ȝow that Ilk to compleis sone.
Do ȝe it not, I vow betuix vs tway
Sall neuer be ane blyith nor Ioyfull day,
Bot euer mair in chyding and in greif,
Quhilk at the last will turne to ane mischeif.
Knaw ȝe not weill to the Kirk quhen ȝe went,
Ze swoir ȝe suld be ay obedient,
To me alone, as wedlok vs declairis.
Ze Schir scho said in all lefull effairis:
Not displesing my maker King of Kingis,
I will obey ȝow in all vther thingis.
I ȝow command be vertew of that aith,
Quhilk for to brek ȝe suld be wonder laith.
Considdering it is my minde and will,
Without ganesay my bidding ȝe fulfill.
And to the same richt sone that ȝe consent
Or I auow richt sair ȝe sall repent,
In the mean time as he thir wordis schew,
Out of his scheith his quhinȝar furth he drew.
Scho trimbling sair for greit dreddour and feir
Furth of that steid ane step scho durst not steir.
Persauing weill his crueltie and boist,
And in greit dout hir life for to be loist.
The Impatience and the greit gredynes,
The cruell minde and als the crabitnes
Of this Ill man this woman did attend,
Quhilk in na sort nor fassoun culd amend.
Scho was constranit quhat for dreddour & aw,
For to consent to his command and saw.
Scho said gude man ȝour bidding I mon do,
Bot greit God knawis gif my will be thairto.
Bot I appeill fra all consent of sin,
That may follow, or in this cace cum in.
And on ȝour self all haill I lay the charge,
And befoir God thairof I me discharge.
188
Past in all haist and said vnto the King:
I haue ȝow gottin ane woman richt famous,
Gentill, courtes, and cum of ane gude hous.
Fair and weill fauourit, richt plesand for to se,
And scho mon cum to ȝow richt quyetlie:
Within the nicht scho mon cum lait at eine,
Bot me alone, with nane scho will be sene
Airlie at morne befoir the Sone rysing
Fra ȝow siclike scho mon mak departing.
For this scho will ane thousand Crownes haue,
And for payment bot me nane will scho craue,
Than said the King of that I am content,
As ȝe haue done thairto I weill consent.
Withouttin mair the Stewart he hes led
His awin spousit wife vnto the Kingis bed,
And with the key the dure he hes maid fast,
But ony noyis, and sa his way is past.
Airlie at morne in dawing of the day:
The Steward rais, and to the King can say,
My Souerane Lord & pleis ȝour Nobill grace
It will be day within ane prettie space.
I think it gude that woman ȝe let go,
For I promeist that ȝour grace suld do so.
Than said the King this woman plesis me
Sa wonder weill as ȝit hir companie,
I will not want nouther for gold nor geir,
This hour to cum I will not let hir steir.
Quhen he that hard, he was richt wonder wo
And fra the dure with sorie hart did go.
Within ane quhile but tary come agane,
And to the King he said Schir for certane,
The day is licht, and that woman present,
And with the folk scho will be schamelie schent.
And my promeis to hir quyte I haue brokin.
For not keiping to hir that I haue spokin.
189
For scho sall haue of me quhat scho will as.
Thairfoir Stewart I say to ȝow in plane,
Go pas ȝour way and lok the dure agane.
The Stewart than richt sorrowfull in hart,
Vpon neid force to the dure did depart.
Went vp and doun, and wist not quhat to say,
The Sone was heich, and weill gane of ye day,
He come agane and said vnto the King,
It is twa houris efter the Sone rysing
That woman will be schent withouttin dout,
With all the folk and pepill heir about.
The King answerit, nathing of him content,
I ȝow command that ȝe ȝour self absent:
Vnto the time that I pleis for to rise,
For vnrequyrit ȝe haue me troublit thrise,
And my plesure is with this companie.
Thairfoir pas on, at this time let me be.
The Stewartis hart gif it was than on steir,
As I beleue thair neidis na man to speir.
Zit not the les he culd not keip counsell,
For all his wit he wald discriue him sell.
Incontinent without mair auysing,
With sorie hart he said vnto the King.
O my gude Lord, I oppin to ȝow my hart,
That Ilk woman ȝe will not thoill depart
Without licence, scho is my weddit wife,
Now in ȝour hands lyis baith my deid and life.
The king hard that, & thocht all was not richt
Opinit windois and saw the fair day licht,
Saw the woman quha was lustie in face,
Ane word not spak ane Pater noster space,
Sine saw it was euin as the Stewart said,
Quhairof he was richt sorie and not glaid.
Quhome to he said, O thow maist schamefull knaif
How durst thow be sa peirt me to dissaif.
190
Thy gredie hart thy self it sall confuse.
Quhy hes thow causit thy wife vnwillinglie
Cum in my bed to me vnwittandlie.
For ane small sowme of money and riches
To schame thy self for thy greit gredynes.
Knew thow not weill withouttin ony fabill,
My maladie was euer Incurabill
That was in the thow hes done I declair,
Thy self, thy wife, to vndo euer mair.
Thairfoir pas swyith in haist out of my sicht,
Nor in my realme that thow byde not four nicht
And fra hence furth gif euer I may the sie,
Ane schamefull deid I auow thow sall die.
Incontinent he past fra his presence,
And neuer saw the King fra that time hence.
Quyte of his Realme fra thame he did him dres
That Ilk rewaird he gat for gredynes.
This being done, the King in all his dayis,
Held vp this wife, as the historie sayis:
In greit worschip, and gaue to hir ȝeirlie,
Ane sowme of gold to keip hir honestlie.
Efter that time I do not find nor reid
With this woman that he had actuall deid.
Sone efter this the King causit to conuene
Ane greit armie all cled in armour clene.
With greit puissance and nobill men of weir,
In all effairis, as to thame culd effeir.
And went to Rome with greit power & micht
To seige the same the gait thay held on richt.
And sa thay did it seige on ather syde,
That the Romanis durst not thairin abyde.
He seigeit it still sa sad and wonder sair,
That thay within micht it defend na mair.
Sa at the last to ane counsall thay went,
Thinking yai wald with yt King tak pointmēt
191
Of Peter and Paull the blist bodie and banis,
Quhilk was the caus of his greit erand thair
For to obtene the same withouttin mair.
In the Cietie than thair was still present
Seuin wise Maisteris that had the Regiment,
Of all the toun, and nathing by thame done,
Airlie at morne, at euin nor ȝit at none.
And to thir seuin the Cietiȝanis come to,
And said Maisteris greit thing we haue ado.
We are compellit be force of ȝone armie
For to gif ouir and rander the Cietie
Vnto thir folkis quhilk ar our enemeis,
Or ellis for to deliuer the bodeis:
Of gude Peter and Paull his halie brother,
On force we mon the ane do or the vther.
The first Maister agane to thame he said,
My gude nichtbouris tak na feir bot be glaid.
As for this day the Cietie I sall saue,
With the wisdome and cunning that I haue.
The secund said, the nixt day fallis me,
Fra enemeis for to keip the Cietie,
With my wisdome, and als my cleir cunning,
For all the strenth of ȝone greit puissant King.
Sa did the thrid, and fourt withouttin dout,
The fyft, the sext, richt sa the seuint all out.
In like maner as thir seuin Maisters now,
Vnto ȝour Sone hes promeist do with ȝow.
In this meane time the King causit his Armie
Lay ane assault about the greit Cietie.
With sic awfull and cruell Munitioun,
Quhill thay war like for to obtene the toun.
The first Maister than he come to the King,
And with him fell in talk and commoning.
And talkit sa in sic maner and wise,
As for that day he gart his Armie rise.
192
As for that day na mair thay did persew.
Bot on the morne the Seige agane thay laid,
The nixt Maister past to the King and said
In like maner as the vther befoir,
And fra that day thay seigeit the toun no moir.
Sa did thay all, quhill it come to the last,
On the seuint day thay seigeit the toun sa fast,
It was beleuit the same thay wald obtene,
Than all the toun togidder did conuene.
All in ane voice to the seuint Maister said,
About the toun sa strang ane seige is laid,
That we beleue nathing bot cruell deid.
Without that ȝe find sum help and remeid:
Conforme to the sayingis ȝe said but dout,
That was Ilk ane to saif ȝour day about.
And we ar all Informit of suretie,
The King hes maid his aith solempnitlie,
He sall not rais his seige nor Munitioun,
Vnto the time that he obtene the toun.
To ȝow Maister now we can say no moir,
We wald ȝe did as ȝour fellowis befoir.
Quhome to he said, my freindis tak ȝe na feir,
Be of comfort, and Ilk ane mak gude cheir.
The morne sall I with my wark and cunning
Skaill all ȝone hoist, and also fray the King.
He salbe fane for all his greit puissance,
To pas away with his greit Ordinance.
Thay went thair way, & na mair tuik in thocht
Bot all meruellit how sic thing culd be wrocht.
The morne airlie the seige was confirmit,
To haue the toun also the King determit.
This seuint Maister to his Chalmer he went,
And cled him in ane nice abilȝement.
As Pacok taillis, and fedderis of all kin hew.
Part reid, part quhite, part ȝallow grene & blew
193
On ane Towre heid he past vp for to stand.
Quhilk was maist heich of all the haill Cietie,
Fornentis the hoist, that thay micht all him se.
The twa bricht swordis into his mouth he tuik
The same schynand, vpon the armie schuik.
Quhilis turnis eist, and vther quhilis west.
Quhyls south, quhyls north, quhair yai micht se hī best
The schinād swords aganis ye sone sa blēt
With his cleithing and strange abilȝement.
Thay in the hoist richt weill and cleirlie saw,
Bot quhat it was na man of thame did knaw.
All the greit Lordis quhen thay beheld sic thing,
Half in effray thay past all to the King:
And said O Lord, behald vpon ȝone Towre
We se this day ane wonderfull Figour.
Than said the King the same I do persaue,
Bot quhat it is, na knawledge I can haue.
Thay said we knaw quhat thing it is but dout
It is Iesus doun of the heuin cum out:
Quhilk is the God of all ȝone Christin folk,
And knawis richt weill how that we do prouok
His awsum Ire, and how we do pretend
To sla his folk, the quhilk he will defend.
Zone samin swords that ȝe se schining sa,
Thay signifie Ilk ane thay will vs sla,
Gif we langer into this feild abyde,
Our counsall is thairfoir hame that we ryde.
The King heiring trimblit for verray feir,
Gart rais his hoist and all his men of weir:
And said it is better in time we fle,
Nor ȝone thair God with his swords gart vs die
Than all the hoist in haist thay maid thē hame
Frayit without caus, wt mekill scorne & schame
Howbeit to fle na perrell was nor neid,
Bot all dissait be the Maisteris fals deid.
194
Ilk ane thay Ischit, and past of the Cietie.
With manlie hart and gudlie countenance,
Followit the King for all his Ordinance.
Slew and destroyit all that thay plesit that day
And quhome thay list captiue yai brocht away
And sa the King and all his greit Armie
Brocht was to ground be the greit subteltie
Of this Maister, quha wrocht all be dissait,
That with power na maner culd debait.
The Emprice than said to the Empreour
This taill I tald it is vnder cullour.
Bot wald greit God this taill ȝe vnderstude.
He said Madame, I think it wonder gude.
In the first end (quod scho) I wait ȝe hard,
Quhat I ȝow tald of the gredie Steward:
That the King trowit asweill as his awin life,
And ȝit for gold he sauld his weddit wife.
And als him self was baneist the countrie,
Becaus the King fand him sa fals and slie.
In like maner ȝour Sone for the desire
And appetite he hes to the Impire.
Now day by day it is his minde and thocht,
Zow to destroy, and bring ȝow vnto nocht.
Bot now sa lang as ȝe ar in ȝour micht,
Do as the King did with the Stewart richt.
Gif ȝe purpois not to sla him fra hand
Than baneis him, and als manesweir the land
That ȝe and I quhilk is ȝour weddit wife,
In time cūming that we may leid our life:
Also ȝe hard how the King lay at Rome,
To win the same how that he did presume,
And was mockit be the Maisters in plane,
He and his folkis war all put doun and slane.
Zour seuin Maisters into the samin wise,
Intendis ay to siclike Interprise.
With thair fals taillis at end will ȝow dissaue,
That ȝour fals sone all the Impire may haue.
The Empreour said be na way that salbe,
The morne be time he sall not faill to die.
Incontinent he callit on his seruandis,
And to thame all he gaue sic strait commandis,
That on the morne without Impediment,
On the Gallous but faill his Sone to schent.
This word beliue past out throw all the toun,
Quhairat mony maid lamentatioun,
That the Empreour for the wordis of his wife
Fra his ane Sone suld with schame tak the life.
The sext Maister hard tell of this effray,
Lap on his hors withouttin mair delay.
Poistit fra hand vnto the Empreour,
And hailsit him with reuerence and honour.
Quha tuik the same verray vnthankfullie,
And said he seruit at his hand for to die,
And als his Sone quhome yt yai had maid dum
Thay war ouir peirt in his presence to cum.
The Maister said I serue not for to die,
Nor ȝit ȝour Sone, knew ȝe the veritie.
That he is dum quhair ȝe alledge and sayis,
Of that the treuth ȝe sall knaw in few dayis.
Gif ȝe him sla for it ȝour wife can tell,
Of ȝour wisdome than I haue greit meruell.
And without dout it sall ȝow happin richt
As it happinnit sum time vnto ane Knicht.
To his wyfes sawis gaue sic fidelitie,
That he was drawin out throw the haill Cietie
At ane hors taill, and hangit like ane theif,
His wifes sawis brocht him to sic mischeif.
The Empreour said I pray the tell that taill,
The Maister said Schir that I sall not faill.
Sa ȝe will caus ȝour Sone to cum agane,
And for this day ȝe let him not be slane.
Incontinent the Empreour gaue command,
To the presoun to leid his Sone fra hand.
And sa was done, the Maister than but mair,
To tell his taill began this to declair.
The Doctouris taill farthermair or we heir,
Sum morall sence of the last let vs leir.
This taill I tald it is vnder cullour.
Bot wald greit God this taill ȝe vnderstude.
He said Madame, I think it wonder gude.
In the first end (quod scho) I wait ȝe hard,
Quhat I ȝow tald of the gredie Steward:
That the King trowit asweill as his awin life,
And ȝit for gold he sauld his weddit wife.
And als him self was baneist the countrie,
Becaus the King fand him sa fals and slie.
In like maner ȝour Sone for the desire
And appetite he hes to the Impire.
Now day by day it is his minde and thocht,
Zow to destroy, and bring ȝow vnto nocht.
Bot now sa lang as ȝe ar in ȝour micht,
Do as the King did with the Stewart richt.
Gif ȝe purpois not to sla him fra hand
Than baneis him, and als manesweir the land
That ȝe and I quhilk is ȝour weddit wife,
In time cūming that we may leid our life:
Also ȝe hard how the King lay at Rome,
To win the same how that he did presume,
And was mockit be the Maisters in plane,
He and his folkis war all put doun and slane.
Zour seuin Maisters into the samin wise,
195
With thair fals taillis at end will ȝow dissaue,
That ȝour fals sone all the Impire may haue.
The Empreour said be na way that salbe,
The morne be time he sall not faill to die.
Incontinent he callit on his seruandis,
And to thame all he gaue sic strait commandis,
That on the morne without Impediment,
On the Gallous but faill his Sone to schent.
This word beliue past out throw all the toun,
Quhairat mony maid lamentatioun,
That the Empreour for the wordis of his wife
Fra his ane Sone suld with schame tak the life.
The sext Maister hard tell of this effray,
Lap on his hors withouttin mair delay.
Poistit fra hand vnto the Empreour,
And hailsit him with reuerence and honour.
Quha tuik the same verray vnthankfullie,
And said he seruit at his hand for to die,
And als his Sone quhome yt yai had maid dum
Thay war ouir peirt in his presence to cum.
The Maister said I serue not for to die,
Nor ȝit ȝour Sone, knew ȝe the veritie.
That he is dum quhair ȝe alledge and sayis,
Of that the treuth ȝe sall knaw in few dayis.
Gif ȝe him sla for it ȝour wife can tell,
Of ȝour wisdome than I haue greit meruell.
And without dout it sall ȝow happin richt
As it happinnit sum time vnto ane Knicht.
To his wyfes sawis gaue sic fidelitie,
That he was drawin out throw the haill Cietie
At ane hors taill, and hangit like ane theif,
His wifes sawis brocht him to sic mischeif.
The Empreour said I pray the tell that taill,
The Maister said Schir that I sall not faill.
Sa ȝe will caus ȝour Sone to cum agane,
196
Incontinent the Empreour gaue command,
To the presoun to leid his Sone fra hand.
And sa was done, the Maister than but mair,
To tell his taill began this to declair.
The Doctouris taill farthermair or we heir,
Sum morall sence of the last let vs leir.
| The seuin Seages | |