University of Virginia Library

Befoir this time thair was ane Nobill King,
That lufit his wife abone all eirdlie thing,
He had to hir sic greit lufe and fauour,
He keipit hir Ilk day within closour,
In the greit hous of ane strenthie Castell,
Quhairof the keyis he keipit ay him sell,
Quhairat this Lady tuik greit heuines,
That scho was sa haldin in sic straitnes.
Wantit solace and all gude companie,
Bot quhen the King come in allanerlie.
In vther partis thair was ane Nobill Knicht,
It chancit him to dreame into the nicht
Into his sleip he thocht weill that he saw,
The fairest Quene that euer man did knaw.
Quhais lufe he couet abone all eirdlie thing,
Gif he micht se hir on the eird walking.
Nathing douting, bot be hir cum suld he
To greit honour, worschip and honestie.
That samin nicht this Quene in hir visioun
Dreamit on this Knicht, and on the same fassoū
And ȝit nouther of vther knew the name,
Nor knawledge had be fassoun or be fame.
This Knicht he rais vpon the morne airlie,
Rememberit weill on his dreame sickerlie.
And determit into his minde and thocht,
Nor be na way to tak rest wald he nocht:
Vnto the time that Ladie quhill he fand,
Gif that scho micht be gottin in ony land.
Lap on his hors, and in haist furth he raid,
To seik this Quene, na langer tary maid.
Throw Royall Realmes, & diuers greit coūtreis
Throw riche Regiounis, and semelie seir cieteis
This fair Lady ȝeid sa far in his thocht,
Thair was na landis for hir he left vnsocht.
Quhill at the last he come to ane Cietie,
Quhair he gat wit thair was ane fair Ladie,
Keipit sa clois, that nane micht cum hir till,
Except alone it war the Kingis will.
Thair he soiornd for his Pastime ane space,
Him to refresche in mirth and mirrines.
Sa it fortunit to him vpon ane day,
Pas by the place quhair that this Lady lay.
In hir windo luiking furth hir alone,
For vther game, nor pastime gat scho none.
Sa scho chancit sone for to get ane sicht,
Quhōe of scho dremit of this same verray Knicht
Thinking richt weill the samin man was he,
Intill hir dreame befoir that scho did se.
He not knawing that that Lady was thair.
Bot as chance come doun by making repair.
In meane seasoun he liftit vp his Ee
In her windo this Lady can he se.
Thinking richt weill it was the samin Quene,
That he befoir into his dreame had sene.
Than he began to sing ane sang of lufe,
Quhilk quhen scho hard, greitlie it did hir mufe
Into his lufe, and prentit in hir hart,
Quhilk was vnkend to him in ony part.
Zit not the les daylie he maid repair,
About that place to tak pastime and air.
Than this Lady persauing this at all,
Ane bill of lufe to him scho leit doun fall.
And he belyue red ouir this prettie bill,
Persauing weill the Ladeis minde and will.
Fra this time furth he vsit daylie Iusting,
Breking of speiris, and alswa hors rinning.
Casting of stane, and als the leidin mell,
Worsling, lowping, he did exerce him sell,
Daylie actis he vsit and honest deidis,
That in the Court his fame & word vp spreidis
Quhill at the last his name and gude beiring,
His honest actis war schawin to the King
The King heiring his vailȝeant tornament,
He send for him Message Incontinent.
Quha chargeit him the King he suld cum till,
To heir his minde, his plesure and his will,
Quha come to him with all humilitie,
As him effeirit, law kneilling on his knie.
Schir knicht he said, I haue hard of ȝow tell,
How in gude actis ȝe haue exercit ȝour sell,
Into my Court amang my gentill men,
Thairfoir sen I sic actis dois of ȝow ken,
Pleis ȝe remane into our companie,
Ze sall haue giftis and gude rewaird of me.
And be ane of my gaird and my counsell,
Sa it pleis ȝow with vs remane and dwell.
Than said this Knicht and pleis ȝour Maiestie,
To haue seruice of sic ane man as me:
I sall ȝow serue baith with my hand and hart,
In all effairis, sic as pertenis my part,
Without rewaird or ony recompence,
Sa that I may haue daylie ȝour presence.
And sen ȝour grace hes now desirit me,
Into ȝour gaird, and on ȝour counsall be:
I wald ȝour grace to my desire wald grant,
Sa on seruice the better I micht hant.
Ane new ludgeing to haue at the Towre syde,
Quhair I micht be, and at ȝour bidding byde
Gif that ȝour grace neidit vpon me call,
Ze micht gar cry out ouir the Castell wall.
Than said the King faith I consent thairto,
Ga big ȝour hous as ȝe think best to do.
Than past the Knicht or euer he wald tire,
And feit wark men, & promeist thame gude hire
His hous biggit with tymmer stane and thak,
With ane Masoun he maid ane derne contrak.
Out fra this hous to mak ane small passage,
Into ye Towre quhair this Quene was in Cage
Quhen this was done efter his awin Intent
This same Masoun he killit Incontinent,
That he suld not discouer his secre,
For his rewaird this warkman this gat he.
Than went this Knicht quhē he plesit to ye quene
In secreit sort, and with na man was sene.
Did hir seruice as culd him weill effeir,
Than thay talkit of diuers maters seir.
Amang the rest he spak to hir of lufe,
Quhilk in ane part hir hart greitlie did mufe.
Howbeit as than scho was not weill contentit,
Zit efterwart to his will scho consentit.
Sa in hir thocht the Quene kest on ane day,
Of this mater quhat scho suld do or say:
Tuitching this Knicht, als to hir awin husbād
Be sic thing knawin, than banisching the land
To my tinsell, and euer warldis schame,
For vpon me wald be laid all the blame.
Becaus that I wald not the Knicht discure,
I salbe callit the Ill woman full sure.
Also the Knicht he sall eschaip na way,
Bot of the deith the schairp he sall assay.
Thairfoir is best, and I persaue my sell,
To hald my toung, and not ane word to tell.
And sa all times quhen thay pleisit to meit,
Be this derne way thay ȝeid to thair secreit.
Sine efterward the Quene gaue him ane Ring
Quhilk at wedlok scho ressauit fra the King.
Greit Tornamentis this Knicht he vsit daylie
And euer bure away the victorie.
Quhairthrow he stude baith in Court & with King
In greit fauour, for his manlie hauing.
Into sa far, that he was efterwart
Maid be the King Comptroller and Stewart.
And all his Realme he had in Regiment,
Tuik in his maillis, Gersowmes & daylie rent.
Vpon a day it did appleis the King,
For his plesure to pas to the hunting.
To his Stewart the King gaue than command
To be reddy, and pas with him fra hand.
Vpon the morne than all the Court vprais,
And with the king all to the Hunting gais.
All the lang day thay chais in the Forest
Quhill the king thocht he wald haue had sū rest
For he was tyrit, and werie all begane,
Sa he reposit beside ane fair Fontane.
Than his Stewart quhair he sat with the king
Efter trauell he fell vpon sleiping.
And sa the king persauit at the last,
The Quenis Ring vpon his finger fast.
Quhilk the Knicht knew be countenance of the king
That he had sene & markit that Ilk ring.
Than to the king with fenȝeit countenance
He said my Lord this is the verray chance.
Ane Maladie hes tane me in this tyde.
I am sa seik na mair hunting may byde.
Without I get the soner sum remeid,
I dout richt sair that it salbe my deid.
Praying ȝour grace that ȝe wald giue me leif
For to pas hame, ȝour grace not for to greif.
Quod he gude freind gif ȝe pleis to pas hame
I grant ȝow leif, pas on in Goddis Name.
Incontinent he gat vpon his hors,
Fenȝeing him self to haue ane seiklie cors.
Hame to his hous into all haist he raid,
And to the Quene he past withouttin baid.
Without proces deliuerit hir the Ring,
That Scho befoir had gottin fra the king.
And tald hir how the king the same did knaw
On his finger, on sleip quhen he him saw.
Beseiking hir gif that the kingis grace
Speirit for the ring within schort time or space
Scho suld him schaw the same but questioun
For to exclude Ill word and suspitioun,
This being done, he past his preuie way,
And to his bed he maid him but delay.
The hunting done, the King come hame at ene.
Incontinent he said vnto the Quene,
Quhair is the Ring in wedlok I ȝow gaue.
Schaw me the same, for I it now mon haue.
Scho said Lord, sa sone to quhat Intent
Wald ȝe it se, na way it is absent.
Than said the King schaw me it Incontinent:
Or I sweir ȝow ȝe sall it sair repent.
Than vp scho rais, and to hir Coffer went,
And brocht the Ring to him Incontinent.
Quhen he it saw, he was richt wonder glaid,
And half aschamit vnto the Quene he said:
Madame forsuith, sen first hour I was borne,
Sa like ane Ring be warkmen maid or schorne.
To the Knichtis Ring, to ȝouris I neuer saw,
I wald haue sworne, war not yt now I knaw
Baith had bene ane that gart me ask ȝour Ring.
Quod scho my Lord beleue ȝe sic ane thing?
Nay, nay, Madame, I cry ȝow now mercie,
For weill I wait sic thing thair can not be.
Scho said my Lord, tak not sic thing in thocht
For the same man perchance yt ȝour ring wrocht
He maid the Knichtis, and on the samin sort.
Quod he Madame I said it bot in sport.
Quod scho my Lord God mot ȝow grant pardoun
Gif ȝe me in ony suspitioun.
God ȝow forgiue ȝour Ill suspitious minde,
Gif ȝe suspect in ony sort or kinde.
Considdering of ȝour Castell the strenth,
And my lawtie ȝe haue kend at the lenth.
And sine ȝour self had the keyis in keiping,
I meruell how ȝe can suspect sic thing.
Quod he Madame I pray ȝow tak patience,
I said nathing for to do ȝow offence.
Bot as ȝe knaw desirit my Ring to se,
Quhilk now agane ȝe sall ressaue of me.
With als gude will as euer I it gaue,
Scho said my Lord the same I will ressaue,
Sa efterwart ȝe suspect me na way,
He said Madame, that sall I not perfay.
Efter this time the Knicht causit prepair
In his awin hous ane Banket or dennair.
Sine to the King he said and pleis ȝour grace,
This is the treuth, the verray caus and cace,
My bedfellow is cum fra hir countrie,
Quhilk thocht greit lang my presence for to se,
To hir I causit ane dennar to prepair,
With all my hart I wald ȝour grace war thair
And pleis ȝour grace to do me sic honour.
Surelie (said he) I will do ȝow plesour.
In that behalf, and it war mekill moir,
The Knicht he kneillit, & thankit him thairfoir
Than in his hart he was richt wonder glaid
For the kinde wordis the King had to him said.
Than past he to the Quene Incontinent,
Be his derne Caif, the straicht way is he went,
And said Madame, pleis ȝow to tak sic pane,
Into my hous to dine with ȝour Souerane
This samin day, and cleith ȝow vp richelie,
As is the gise and vse of my countrie,
And sit thairat in Tabill with the King,
Euin as ȝe war my wife spousit with ane Ring
And mak him all the pastime and gude cheir.
As to his grace in best sort can effeir.
Scho said Schir Knicht as ȝe pleis sa I will,
As I best can ȝour plesour to fulfill.
The hour become, and dennar time of day,
To the Knichts hous the King come on away.
In the meane time the Quene come hir dern gait
In the Knichts hall beliue scho gat hir sait.
In sic clething as the Knicht gaue command,
Efter the gise and fassoun of his land.
And quhen the King come to the Knichtis haw,
Sa sone as he the Ladeis visage saw,
He thocht scho was womā maist like his quene,
Sen he was borne, that euer he saw with Ene.
Zit not the les Ilk ane on thair maneir,
Thay hailsit vther as it culd best effeir:
Than to the Knicht the King said quietlie,
Quhat is scho this sa semelie for to se?
The Knicht he said, and pleis ȝour Maiestie.
This is forsuith my lufe and my Ladie,
Quhilk of lang time fra me has bene absent,
Bot now I am of hir cūming content,
Sa that ȝe be content that scho is heir,
I am (said he) sa God grant me gude cheir.
And first thay wesche, and sine to Tabill went,
And euir mair the King in his Intent,
Thocht yt he knew the Quene & had knawledge
Be hir fassoun, hir forme and hir visage,
And to him self he said in all his life,
He neuer saw ane woman mair like his wife.
Zit not the les the strenth of his awin Towre
Dissauit his minde, and led him in errour,
That in sa far he gaue far mair credence
To the Knichtis wordis, and cullourit eloquēce
Nor to the thing he saw with his awin Ene,
Quhilk blindit him, & als misknew his Quene
Than scho began to talk of sum glaidnes,
And steir the King vp in sum mirrines.
Sa sone as he hard hir speiche and hir voice,
Quhidder to speik or for to hald him clois.
He not weill wist, bot ȝit said to him sell,
O Lord in heuin heir is ane greit meruell.
This woman is in fassoun and fauour
In speiche, in voice, makdome and portratour,
In behauingis, and als in conditiounis,
In fax, in face, in fait and in fassounis.
And in all sort sa done like my awin Quene,
In all this warld was neuer ane liker sene.
And ȝit the strenth of the Towre him begylit,
With the Knichtis wordis yt him sa slelie sylit.
Sa at the meit with mirrines amang,
The Knicht desirit the Quene to sing ane sang.
Than scho began to sing ane sang of lufe,
The King heiring, greitlie his hart can mufe.
Said to him self, and this be not my wife,
I wait scho is not leuand vpon life.
And than agane he thocht that can not be,
For I my self in keiping hes the kie:
Of the greit Towre, quhair nathing can cum in
Bot I my self that keipis baith key and gin,
Than na man can enter within that Towre,
Except myself, nouther be time nor hour.
Sa all denner he sat in sic consait,
With his awin self into sic strang debait.
And sa he sat, and wist not quhat to say,
And at the last he bad sone tak away,
The Tabill and claith, he wald na langer byde
And said he wald about the feildis ryde.
Than said the Knicht & pleis ȝour Nobill grace
For to remane ane prettie time and space.
We sall ȝow mak mair mirrines and cheir,
For without dout ȝour grace is welcum heir.
Than said the Quene, and pleis ȝour Maiestie,
For to remane with vs in companie.
We sall ȝow mak the mirrines and sport,
All that we can to hald ȝow in comfort.
Siclike as dois the Quene in hir solace,
With all seruice that we can do ȝour grace.
For all requeist, planelie the King said nay,
For to remane, gart tak the Tabill away.
And said he was in that same verray tyde
In sic fantise, he micht na langer byde.
And sa the claith and Tabill away was tane,
Vp rais the King and to the flure is gane.
Thankit the Knicht of his kindnes and cheir,
The Lady als into hir best maneir.
Sine in all haist to the Castell he went,
To se the Quene, gif scho was thair present.
And than the Quene went on hir preuie way,
Kest of hir clais and hir vncouth array.
And quhen the King enterit within the Towre
He fand the Quene sitting intill hir Bowre.
In the same clais, and sort as he hir left,
Quhairthrow he was in his speiche half bereft
Quhen he hir saw he braist hir twise or thrise,
And said Madame I am in ane fantise.
This day I dynit with the Knicht as ȝe knaw
And with his lufe, the quhilk I neuer saw,
Sa like to ȝow be forme and fassoun
Be speiche and voice, and als condition.
All dennar time I was sa steirit in thocht,
That I not wist gif it was ȝe or nocht.
And ay my minde it was in sic dispair,
I wist not weill gif ȝe war heir or thair.
Than said the Quene I meruell of ȝour minde,
That to sic thing ȝour hart suld be Inclinde.
For ȝe knaw weil the greit strenth of ȝour towre
As to the keyis thay ar at ȝour plesour.
And my bodie ȝe knaw hes na credence,
To cum or gang without ȝour awin licence.
And as ȝe knaw to fle I haue na wingis,
How can ȝe then Imagine siclike thingis?
Quhat kinde of way is possibill to me,
For to be in ȝone Knichtis companie?
Gif euer ȝe red the buik of Phisnomy
Thairin ȝe may richt weill reid and espy
That it may stand ane to be like ane vther.
Howbeit that ane be not syb to the vther.
Thairfoir my Lord I ȝow require on richt
Haue na suspect betuix me and ȝone Knicht.
Than said the King forsuith that sall not be,
I grant my self into this fault gyltie.
Into sa far as I misdemit ȝow,
Thair is na caus sic thing to think I trow.
Than said the Quene sen gyltie ȝe ȝow grant,
I ȝow forgiue, sa sic thing ȝe not hant.
Vpon the morne the Knicht said to the King
And pleis ȝour grace ȝe will me grant a thing.
This lang ago I haue ȝow done seruice,
The best I culd, pertening my office.
Ze se my lufe is cum from hir countrie,
And to returne hamewart for to caus me.
And I Intend (gif it be ȝour plesour
Vnto my lufe ȝe wald do sic honour,
To mary hir in face of halie Kirk,
As God commandis all Christin men to wirk)
To be at hame callit my lauchfull wife,
Quhill dowesum deid depart vs fra this life.
Beseiking now ȝour Nobill grace heirfoir,
For my rewaird, as now I ask no moir:
Bot with ȝour hand deliuer hir to me,
Befoir the Preist, that the pepill may se.
It will be callit to me ane greit honour.
Sa that it be ȝour graces awin plesour.
Quhair that my wife was geuin me be a King,
In our countrie will be callit ane greit thing
In sic effairis, as is the auld fassoun,
Vnto wedlok, quhen twasum makis thē boun
Than said the King, ȝour rewaird is to small,
That ȝe desire or charges me with all.
I will do that richt glaidlie for ȝour saik,
And for hir lufe that now suld be ȝour maik.
The Knicht thankit the King a thousand syse,
That answerit him sa kindlie on sic wise.
The mariage and day of the banket,
The King him self he gart deuise and set.
On the quhilk day, the King with greit honour
Come to the Kirk to do the Knicht plesour.
The parische Preist with his Kirklike vestmēts,
Was weill Indewit with all abilȝements,
For to solempne the band of mariage,
Into the Kirk, as than was the vsage.
In this meane time the Knicht gart mak reddy
In his awin hous his lufe and his Lady,
Weill all cled vp efter the conswetude
Of his coūtrie quhilk he thocht was maist gude
And gart twa Knichtis to the Kirk hir conuoy
With greit blyithnes, solempnitie and Ioy.
Quha than beleuit his Paramouris had bene,
Howbeit scho was in deid thair natiue Quene.
Than said the Preist the quhilk was his dewtie
Quha delyueris this woman now to me?
That I agane may gif hir to this Knicht,
In face of Kirk, and in the pepillis sicht.
Than said the King that sall I do bedene,
Becaus scho is sa wonder like my Quene.
I lufe hir all the better be my life,
Hir face and fauour is sa done like my wife.
As is the vse in filling of sic bandis
The King he tuik his awin wife be the handis,
And to the Preist he gaue this Lady bricht,
The Preist agane gaue hir vnto the Knicht.
Of halie Kirk, efter the auld fassoun,
Than he began to reid his Orisoun,
Vpon his buik full besilie can say,
The band cōpleit he maid betwene thame tway.
This being done the Knicht said to the King
Schir ȝe haue done to me ane kindelie thing.
With ȝour awin hand that hes deliuerit me
This Nobill woman befoir this companie.
My Schip quhairin we purpois to pas hame,
Is alreddy now fleting on the fame.
And we wald fane with ȝour graces licence
We war furderit hamewart for to pas hence.
My Marinaris thay ar in reddynes,
To tak vp saillis, and to the sey thame dres.
Thairfoir I wald ȝour Nobill Maiestie
Sen ȝe haue schawin sa greit kindnes to me,
Vnto my Schip ȝe wald my wife conuoy,
For scho thairof wald haue greit mirth and Ioy
Considdering scho is now to depart,
It wald hir do greit comfort in hir hart.
And als I wald ȝe gaue hir gude counsall
All man leuand for to forsaik all haill
Bot me alone, quhilk is hir awin trew Knicht,
And maryit hir into ȝour graces sicht.
Than said the King all sic is richt godlie,
The maryit wife obedient to be:
To hir husband, and all vthers refuse,
I haue na dout bot all sic scho will vse.
Than went the King with all his companie,
And to the Schip conuoyit that fair Ladie.
And be the gait his counsall he hir schew,
That scho suld be to hir Knicht traist and trew.
Him to obey, and hald him in honour,
Lufe him alone abone all creature.
And nane leuand in hir minde for to haue,
Quhais counsall than I traist scho did ressaue.
Than the Quene said and pleis ȝour Maiestie
This gude counsall that ȝe haue geuin to me
It salbe done, and it war ten times moir,
Quod he Madame, now I thank ȝow thairfoir
Praying to God ȝour schip weill to conuoy,
Swa to ȝour land that ȝe may cum with Ioy.
And than he tuik the Quene first be the hand
And sine the Knicht, quhilk thā was hir husbād
And gaue thē baith his blissing quhair he stude
quhilk to ye Quene as scho thocht was richt gude
For at that time scho thocht it was hir part,
Howbeit this King was blindit to the hart.
Sine first the Quene, & than this nobill Knicht
At this blind King ather that tuik gude nicht
The King hir kist, and bad fair weill adew,
Sa like my wife (quod he) I neuer knew.
And hir fauour will caus me think on ȝow
Quhen ȝe ar past, this trewlie ȝe may trow.
Than said the Quene law kneilland on hir kne
I thank ȝour grace that sic thocht takis on me.
Do I not sa quhen that we ar cum hame.
And think on ȝow, richt far I am to blame.
For greit kindnes and Inwart courtasie
That ȝe haif schawin to ȝour awin knicht & me
This being done, to schip thay mak passage
Enterit in burde, and maid for thair veyage.
Raisit vp Ankeris, and Cabillis in thay drew,
The wind was fair, euin as thay wald it blew
Heisit vp saillis, and to seward thay past,
The Skipper speillit belyue to the top Mast.
To spy the wedder, gif tempest did appeir,
Into that cace thair saillis the lawer beir.
Within schort space the schip was out of sicht,
Sa was the King baith quite of quene & knicht
And than belyue the King hamewart he went,
To his Castell, and fand the Quene absent.
Gif he was noyit or crabit at his hart,
I trow be few of sturt can tell his part.
His face it swat, his feit and handis schuik,
Vpon na man with patience he micht luik.
He socht the towre and spyit all round about,
Gif he culd find the gait quhair scho gat out.
He fand the hoill and secreit way at last,
Quhair ye Knicht come & quhair away scho past.
Than cryit he out full wallaway allace,
Heir is becum ane greit mischeuous cace.
The Knicht quhome to I gaue sic confidence
Of lufe and fauour, be counsall and credence.
On him alone I wald haue lippinnit my life,
Now tratourlie hes tane away my wife.
I was ane fule fulfillit of fantasie,
That gaue mair faith vnto his wordis slie:
Nor I did ay to my awin seing Ene,
Quhairthrow I want my bedfellow and quene
And schamit for ay with lak and derisioun,
Quhilk will me bring to vtter confusioun.
Considdering weill I had my Ene to se,
All men may weill exampill tak be me.

The Emprice than said to the Empreour
This taill I tald my Lord for ȝour plesour.
Wald God the same that ȝe weill vnderstude,
Than suld ȝe be of all danger denude.
The Empreour said Madame sa haue I seill,
All that ȝe said I vnderstude richt weill.
Quod scho my Lord remēber how this Prence
Vnto this Knicht gaue sic perfite credence.
Als to his wordis greiter credence he gaue,
Nor his awin Ene, sa he did him dissaue.
In like maner vnto thir Maisters seuin,
Ze giue mair faith nor to greit God in heuin
Be apperance, for daylie ȝe may se
Quhat displesure thay seuin wald wirk on me.
Me to destroy thay labour nicht and day,
And ȝe giue faith to Ilk word that thay say,
Mair nor ȝe do to ȝour awin naturall Ene,
Quhilk heirefter will baith be hard and sene.
Haue ȝe nocht sene how ȝour sone raif my face,
And ȝit ȝe giue skarse credence in that cace.
Quhilk ȝit beiris still the markis as ȝe may se.
Quhairof as ȝit I get na remedie.
And als ȝe knaw how me he wald haue schamit
Defoulit ȝour bed, quhairthrow I was defamit
All this become throw his Maisteris defence
Quhome to ȝe giue sa confirmit credence.
This ȝe mark not, nor prentis into ȝour hart,
Bot it noyis me Inwart in euerie part.
Thairfoir richt sair I dout the samin thing
Sall happin ȝow, as it did to this King.
That gaue credence quhill he was quite begylit
Sa is ȝour self with thir same seuin ouirsylit.
He said I giue to my Eine mair credence,
Nor to thay seuin for all thair greit Science.
Thairfoir the morne for all thair taillis & sawis
My sone he sall the Iudgement thoill of lawis
And on the morne his officers he gart call,
Commandit them that thay suld furthwith all
Tak out his Sone, and on the Gallous hing,
That it war done befoir all vther thing.
Than sic ane noyis rais vp in the Cietie,
It for to heir it was ane greit pietie:
That the Empreour his awin sone suld gar sla,
Within that toun mony hart it maid wa.
The seuint Maister hard tell of this tythand,
To the Sergands he haistit him fra hand.
Thame for to meit in all gude haist him sped,
Quhair thay ye childe doun throw the Cietie led
Quod he gude freinds, hartlie I ȝow beseik,
Tary ane time quhill I the Empreour speik.
I traist to God or I cum far away.
I sall his life fra perrell saue this day.
The Officers thay war richt wonder glaid,
And did euin sa, as the Maister thame bad.
To the Empreour he haistit throw the toun,
And on his kneis befoir him sat he doun:
Randering him sic reuerence as accordis,
Sine efter him to his Princes and Lordis.
The Empreour with greit Indignatioun,
Vengeabill vult, and with browis casting doun
Saying to him all sorrow mot the fall,
Baith vnto the, and to thy fellowis all.
Ane dum ȝoung chylde to me ȝe seuin hes sent,
Quhilk spak richt weill quhē he vnto ȝow went
Becaus ȝe seuin hes send me sic ane hidder,
He and ȝe all salbe hangit togidder.
The Maister said, and pleis ȝour nobill grace
Fra now to morne it is bot ane schort space:
And than be none with grace of God in heuin,
Zour sone sall speik, and we his Maisteris seuin
Vnto ȝour grace we promittis faithfullie,
On pane of deith, first we all seuin sine he.
The Empreour said, gif I micht that beleue,
Na langer than desirit I for to leue.
The Maister said, I pray ȝow byde sa lang,
And gif we faill, all aucht ȝe sall vs hang.
Than oppinlie ȝe sall ken all the strife
And discentioun, betuix vs and ȝour wife.
And gif ȝour grace will not do as I say,
Ze will repent richt sair ane vther day.
And sall happin perchance to ȝow sum nicht,
As it bechancit to ane richt courtes Knicht:
That deit schortlie, as I in storie reid,
For ane small blude that he saw his wife bleid.
To quhome efter scho was richt vncourtes,
And richt vnkinde, for all his greit kindnes.
The Empreour said Maister I ȝow requeir
Tell me that taill, richt fane I wald it heir.
The Maister said gar call ȝour sone agane
The haill storie I sall tell ȝow in plane.
In time cūming Induring all ȝour life
Ze sall eschew the schrewitnes of ane wife.
The Empreour said I will call him agane,
Conditionallie vnder the samin pane.
The morne or none speik he not oppinlie,
First he, sine ȝe, togidder all sall die.
The Maister said of that I am content.
The Empreour said and thairto I consent,
Than causit he to call the Childe agane,
And the Maister tald furth his taill in plane.
Bot the Quenes last taill ȝit farther or we ga
We will persaue, or we tell ony ma.