Works, Poem 10 – Colophon 2
The Iuſting betuix Iames Watſoun, and Ibone Barbour, Seruitoutis to King Iames the Fyft. Compylit be Schir Dauid Lindeſay of the Mont Knicht. &c.
IN Sanctandrois on Witſoun Monnunday,
Twa Campionis thare manheid did aſſay,
Paſt to the Barres Enar…t heid and handis,
Wes neuer ſene ſic Iuſting in no landis,
In preſence of the Kingis grace and Quene,
Quhare mony luſtie Lady mycht be ſene.
Mony ane Knicht, Burroun, and bautent,
Come for to ſe that aufull Tornament.
The ane of thame was gentill Iames Watſoun,
And Iohne Barbour the vther Campioun,
VntoUnto the King thay war familiaris,
And of his Chalmer boith Cubicularis.
Iames was ane man of greit Intelligence,
Ane Medtcinar, ful of Experience.
And Iohne Barbour, he was ane nobill Leche.
Crukit Carlingis be wald gar thame get ſpeche.
Frome tyme thay enterit war in to the feild.
Full womanlie thay weildit ſpeir and ſcheild,
And wichtlie waiffit in the wynd thare heillis,
Ho…land lyke …a…geris rydand on thare creillis.
Bot ather can …t vther with ſic haiſt,
That thay could neuer thair ſpeir get in the reiſt.
Quhē gentil Iames trowit beſt wt Iohne to meit
His ſpeir did fald amang his horſſis feit.
I am rycht ſure gude Iames had bene vndone,
War not that Iohne his mark tuke be the mone.
(Quod Iohne) howbeit yu thinkis my leggis lyke rokkis.
My ſpeit is gude, now keip ye fra my knokkis.
Tary (quod Iames) ane quhyle for be my thrift,
The feind ane thing I can ſe bot the liſt.
For more can I (quod Iohne) be goddis breid,
I ſe no thing except the ſteip ill heid,
Ȝit thocht thy braunis be lyk …wa barrow frāmis
Defend the man. Than ran thay to lyk rāmis,
At that rude riuk Iames had bene ſtrykin doun,
Wer not that Iohne for feirſnes fell in ſwoun.
And tycht ſo Iames to Iohne had dane gret deir.
Wer not amangis his hors feit he brak his ſpeir.
(Quod Iames) to Iohne ȝit for our ladyis ſaikis
Lat vsus to gidder ſtraik thre ma…ket ſtraikis,
I had (quod Iohne) that ſall on the be wrokin,
Bot or he ſpurrit his hors, his … brokin.
Frō tyme …o ſpeiris none could … …rom meit,
Iames drew ane ſweird wane rycht …uful ſpreit.
And ran til Iohne, til haif raucht him ane rout,
Iohnis ſweth was … wald no way …
Thā Iames leſt dryfe at Iohne wt doith his …ſtis.
He miſt ſi man, & dang vponupon the lyſtis.
And wt that ſ…raik he trowit that Iohn was flane
His ſ…erd ſtak faſt, and gat it neuer agane.
Be this gude Iohne had gottin furth his ſwerd,
And ran to Iames with mony aufull word.
My furiouſnes for … now ſall thow find
Straikand at Iames, his ſwerd f…ew in ye wind.
Thā gentill Iames began to crak greit wordis,
Allace (quod he) thee day for falt of ſwordis.
Than ather ran at vther with new raicis,
With gluifis of plait thay dung at vtheris facis,
Quha wan this feild, no e…cature could hen,
Till at the laſt, Iohne crytify, red the men.
Ȝe red (quod Iames) for that is my deſyre,
It is ane hour, ſen I began to tyre.
Sone be thay had cudit that royall rink,
In to the feild, mycht no man ſtand for ſtink,
Than eueryevery man that ſtude on far cryit fy,
Sayand adew, for dirt partis cumpany.
Thare hors, barnes, and all geir was ſo gude.
Louyng to God, that day was ſched no blude.
FINIS.
Quod Lindeſay, at command of King Iames the Fyft. (✚)
Newlie and correctlie Imprentit at Edinburgh, be Iohne Scot. At the Expenſis of Henrie Charteris. And at to be ſauld in the ſaid Henries Buith, on the north fyde of the gait, aboue the Throne.
☞The ȝeir of God. 1568. Ȝeitis.
End of the text · David Lindsay, Works (1568)