Works, Book 1
Ane Dialog of the Miſerabill Eſtait of this warld, betuir Experience, and the Courteous &c. ☞✚☜
❧ IN TO that Pack I ſaw appeir
One agit man quhilk drew me nei…
Quhoſe berd wes weil thre quarter lāg
his hair dōn ouer his ſchulders hang
The quhilk as ony ſnaw wes quhyte
Quhome to behald I thocht delyte
His habit Angellyk of hew
Of colour lyke the Sapheir blew
Onder ane Holyne he repoſit
Of quhoſe preſence, I was reioſit
I did hym ſalute reuerentlie
So did he me richt courteſlie
To ſit doun be requeiſtit me
Onder the ſchaddow of that tre
To ſaif me frome the Sonnis heit
Amangis the floutis ſoft and ſweit
For I wes weirie for walking
Than we began to fall in talking
Courteo.I ſpeirit his name with reuerence?
I am (ſaid he) Experience.
Experien.Than Schir (ſaid I) ȝe can nocht faill
To geue ane deſolate man counſall
Ȝe do appeir one man of fame
And ſen Experience bene ȝour name
I pray ȝow Father Venerabill
Geue me ſum counſale confortabill?
¶Quhat bene (quod he)Courteo. thy vocatioun
Makand ſic ſupplicatioun?
I hauehave (quod I) bene to this hour
Sen I could ryde ane Courteour
Bot now Father I think it beſt
With ȝour counſall to leif in reſt
And frome thyne furth to tak myne eis
And quyetlie my God to pleis
And renunce Curioſite
Leuyng the Court, and lerne to de.
Oft hauehave I ſalit ouer the ſtrandis
And trauellit throuch diuers landis
Boith ſouth, and north, and eiſt and weſt
Ȝit can I neuer find quhar reſt
Doith mak his habitatioun
Without ȝour ſupportatioun,
Quhen I beleue to be beſt eiſit
Moſt ſuddandlie, I am diſpleiſit
Frome troubill quhen I faſteſt fle
Than find I moſt aduerſite
Schaw me I pray ȝow hartfullie
Quhow I may leue moſt pleſandlie
To ſerue my God, of king is king
Sen I am tyrit for trauelling
And lerne me for to be content
Of quyet lyfe and ſober rent
That I may thank the king of glore
As thocht I had ane Millioun more
Sen euerilk Court bene variant
Full of Inuy and inconſtant
Mycht I but troubill leif in reſt
Now in my age, I thynk it beſt
¶Thow art ane greit fule Sone (ſaid he)
Experien.Thing to deſyre, quhilk may noiht be
Ȝarning to hauehave prerogatyue
Aboue all Creature on lyue
Sen Father Adam creat bene
In to the Camp of Damaſcene
Mycht no man ſay vntounto this hour
That euer he fand perfite pleſour
Nor neuer ſall till that he ſe
God in his Deuyne Maieſte
Iob. vii.Quharefor prepair the for trauell
Sen mennis lyfe bene bot battell
All men begynnis for tyll de
The day of thare Natiuitie
And Iournelly thay do proceid
Tyll Atropos cut the fatall threid
And in the breue tyme that thay hauehave
Betuix thare birth vntounto thare graue
Thow ſeis quhat mutabiliteis
Quhat miſerabill Calamiteis
Quhat troubill trauell and debait
Seis thow in eueryevery mortall ſtait
Begyn at pure law Creaturis
Aſcending ſyne to Senatouris
To greit Princis and poteſtatis
Thow ſall nocht fynd in none eſtatis
Sen the begynning generallie
Nor in our tyme, now ſpeciallie
Bot tedious reſtles beſynes
But ony mamer of ſikkernes.Courteo.
Prudent Father (quod I) allace
Ȝe tell to me one cairfull cace
Ȝe ſay that no man to this hour
Hes found in erth, perfyte pleſour
Without infortunate variance
Sen we bene thrall to ſic miſchance
Quhy do we ſet ſo our Intentis
On Ryches, Dignite, and Rentis
Sen in the erth, bene no man ſure
One day but troubill tyll Indure?
And werſt of all, quhen we leiſt wene
The cruell deith, we mon ſuſtene
Geue I ȝour Fatherhede durſt demand
The cauſe I wald fane vnderſtand?
And als Father I ȝow Implore
Schaw me ſum troubill gone afore
That hering vtheris Indigence
I may the more hauehave pacience
Marrowis in tribulatioun
Bene wrechis conſolatioun.
Quod he,Experien efter my ſmall cunnyng
To the I ſall mak anſweryng.
Bot Ordourlie for to begyn
This Miſerie proceidis of Syn
Bot it war lang to be defynit
Quhow all men ar to Syn Inclynit
Quhen Syn aboundantlie doith ring
Iuſtlie God makith puniſching.
Quharefore greit God in to his handis
To dant the warld, hes diuers wandis
Efter our euill conditioun
He makis on vsus punitioun
With hounger, derth and Indigence
Sum tyme greit plaigis, and peſtilence,
And ſum tyme with his bludy wand
Throw cruell weir be ſey and land
Concluding all our miſerie
Proceidis of Syn, alluterlie.
Courteo.☞Father (quod I) declare to me
The cauſe of this Fragillite
That we bene all to Syn inclynd
In werk in word, and in our mynd
I wald the verite wer ſchawin
Quho hes this ſeid amang vsus ſawin
And quhy we ar condampnit to dede
And quhow that we may get remede.
Experien.(Quod he) the Scripture hes concludit
Men frome felicite wer denudit
Gene. iii▪Be Adam our Progenitour
Vmquhyle of Paradyſe poſſeſſour
Be quhoſe moſt wylfull arrogance
Wes Mankynd brocht to this miſchance
Quhen he wes Inobedient
In breking Goddis Commandement
Roma. v.Be ſoliſtatioun of his wyfe
He loſt that heuinlie pleſand lyfe
Eiting of the forbiddin tre
Thare began all our miſerie.
So Adam wes cauſe Radicall
That we bene fragill Synnaris all.
Adam brocht in this Nattoun
Sya, Deith, and als Dampnatioun
Quho wyll ſay, he is no Synner
Chriſt ſayis, he is ane greit lear
Mankynd ſprang furth of Adamis loynis
And tuk of hym, fleſche, blude,i. Iho. i. and bonis
And ſo efter his qualite
All ar Inclynit Synnaris to be.
Bot ȝit my Sonne, diſpare thow nocht
For God that all the warld hes wrocht
Hes maid ane Souerane remede
To ſaif vsus boith frome Syn and dede
And frome Eterne dampnatioun.
Tharefore tak conſolatioun
For God as Scripture doith recorde
Hauyng of Man Miſericorde
Send doun his onelyonly Sone Ieſu
Quhilk lichtit in ane Virgin treu
And cled his hich Diuinite
With our pure vy…e Humanite
Syne frome our ſynnis to concludeApoca ii.
He weſche vsus with his precious blude.
Quhowbeit throw Adam, we mon de,Roma v. Hebre. …
Throuch that Lord we ſall raiſit be
And euerilk man he ſall releue
Quhilk in his blude do…th firme beleue.
And bring vsus all vntounto his glore
The quhilk throw Adam bene forlore.
Without that we throw lark of faith
Of his Godheid incur the wraith
Iho. iii.Bot quho in Chriſte, firmely beleuis
Salbe releuit frome all miſcheuus.
Courteo.Quhat faith is that, that ȝe call ferme
Schir gar me vnderſtand that terme…
Experien. Hebre. xi Courteo. Experien.Faith without Hope, and Cherite
Auailit nocht, my Sone (ſaid he)
Quhat Cherite bene, that wald I knaw?
Quod he, my Sone that fall I ſchaw
i. Cor, xiiiFirſt lufe thy God, aboue all thing
And thy Nichtbour, but fenȝeing
Do none Iniure, nor velanie
Iacob. iiBot as thow wald war done to the
Quick faith, but cheritable werkis
Can neuer be, as wryttis Clerkis
More than the fyre, in til his micht
Can be but heit, nor Sone but licht
Geue Cherite in to the failis
Thy faith, nor hope, no thing auailis.
The Deuill hes faith, & trimmillis for dreid
Bot he wantis hope, and lufe in deid.
Do all the gude, that may be wrocht
But Cherite all auailis nocht
Quharefor pray to the Trinite
For tyll ſuport thy Cherite.
Now hauehave I ſchawin the as I can
Quhow Father Adam the firſt man
Brocht in the warld, boith Syn and Dede
And quhow Chriſt Ieſu maid remede
Quhilk on the day of Iugement
Sall vsus delyuer from torment
And bring vsus to his lefting glore
Quhilk ſall indure for euer more.
Bot in this warld thow gettis no reſt
I mak it to the manifeſt.
Tharefore my Sone be diligent
And lerne for to be pacient
And in to God, ſet all thy traiſt
All thing ſall than cum for the beſt.
Father I thank ȝow hartfullie
Of ȝour confort,Courteo. and cumpanie
And heuinlie conſolatioun
Makand ȝow ſupplicatioun
Geue I durſt put ȝow to ſic pyne
That ȝe wald pleis for to defyne
And gar me cleirlie vnderſtand
Quhow Adam brak the Lordis command
And quhow throw his tranſgreſſioun
Wer puniſt his Succeſſioun
My Sone (quod he)Experien. wald thow tak cure
To luke on the Diuyne Scripture
In to the buke of GeneſisGene. lii
That Hiſtorie thare thow ſall nocht mis
And alſwa ſindrie cunnyng Clerkis
Hes done rehers in to thare werkis
Of Adamis fall full Ornatly
Ane thouſand tymes better nor I
Can wryte of that vnhappy man,
Bot I ſall do the beſt I can
Schortlie to ſchaw that cairful cace
With the ſupport of Goddis grace.
Ane exclamation to The Redar, Twiching the writting of Vulgar, and Maternall Language. ☞(✚)☜
GENTIL Redar, half at me nō diſpyte
Thinkand yt I preſūpteouſly pretend
In vulgar tōng, ſo hie mater to wryte
Bot quhair I mys. I pray the, tyl amēd
Til vnlernit, I wald ye cauſe wer kend
Of our moſt miſerabill trauell and torment
And quhow in erth, no place bene permanent
Quhowbeit ye diuers deuot cūnyng Clerkis
In Latyne toung hes writtin ſyndrie bukis
Our vnlernit knawis lytle of thare werkis
More than thay do the rauing of the rukis
Quharefor to Colȝearis, Carteris & to cukis
To Iok and Thome, my ryme ſal be directit
With cūnyng men, quhowbeit it wilbe lactit.
Thocht eueryevery cōmoun may not be one Clerk,
Nor hes no Leid, except thare tōng maternal
Quhy ſuld of god, ye maruelloꝰ heuinlie werk
Be hid frō thame, I think it nocht fraternall
The father of heuin, quhilk wes, & is eternal
Exod. xx.To Moiſes gaue, the Law on mont Sinay.
Nocht in to Greik, nor Latyne, I heir ſay.
He wrait the Law, in Tablis hard of ſtone
In thare a win vulgare language of Hebrew
That all the Barnis of Iſraell eueryevery one
Mycht knaw the law, and ſo ye ſame enſew
Had he done wryt, in Latyne or in Grew
It had to thame bene bot ane ſauirles Ieſt
Ȝe may weill wit, God wrocht all for the beſt.
¶Ariſtotell, nor Plato, I heir ſane
Wrait nocht thare hic Philoſophie naturall
In Duche, nor Dence, nor toung Italiane
Bot in thare moſt ornat toung maternall
Quhoſe fame, and name dois regne ꝑpetuall
Famous Virgill, the Prince of Poetrie
Nor Cicero, the flour of Oratrie.
Wrait not in Caldie language nor in Grew
Nor ȝit in to the language Saracene
Nor in the naturall language of Hebrew
Bot in the Romane toung as may be ſeue
Quhilk wes thare ꝓper language as I wene
Quhē Romanis rang Dominatorꝭ in deid
The Ornate Latyne wes thare proper leid.
I… the mein tyme, quhē yt thir bald Romance
Ouer all the warld had the Dominioun
Maid Latyne ſculis, thare glore for til auāce
That thair lāguage micht be ouer al cōmoun
To that intent, be my Opinioun
Traiſting that thair Impyre ſuld ay indure
Bot of fortune, alway thay wer nocht ſure.
Of Languagis,Gene. xi. the firſt Diuerſitie
Was maid be Goddis Maledictioun
Quhen Babilon was beildit in Caldee
Thoſe beildaris gat none vther afflictioun
Afore the tyme of that punitioun
Wes bot ane tōng, quhilk Adā ſpak him ſelf
Quhare now of toungis, thair bene thre ſcore and twelf,
Nochtwithſtanding, I think it greit pleſour
Quhare cunnyng men, hes languagis anew
That in thare ȝouth, be diligent laubour
Hes lernit Latyne Greik, and auld Hebrew
That I am nocht of that ſort ſore I rew
Quharefore I wald all bukis neceſſare
For our faith, wer in tyll our toung vulgare
Actis. ii.Chriſt efter his glorious Aſcentioun
Till his Diſcipulis ſend the holy Spreit
In toungis of fyre, to that intentioun
Thay beand of all languagis repleit
Throuch all the warld wt wordis fair & ſweit
Tyl eueryevery mā the faith, thay ſuld furth ſchaw
In thare a win leid, delyuerand thame ye law,
Tharefore I think one greit deriſioun
To heir thir Nunnis, & ſiſteris nicht and day
Syngand and ſay and pſalmes and Oriſoun
Not vnderſtāding quhat thay ſing nor ſay
Bot lyke ane ſtirling or ane Popingay
Quhilk lernit ar, to ſpeik be lang vſage
Thame I compair, to birdis in ane cage.
Rycht ſo Chyldren, and Ladyis of honouris,
Prayis in Latyne, to thame ane vncouch leid
Mumlād thair matynis, euinſāg & yair houris
Thare Pater noster, Aue, and thair Creid.
It wer als pleſand to thare ſpreit in deid
God hauehave mercy on me, for to ſay thus,
As to ſay, Miſerere mei Deus.
Sanct Ierome in his proper toung Romane
The law of God, he trewly did tranſlait
Out of Hebrew, and Greik in Latyne plane
quhilk hes bene hid frō vsus lāg time god wait
VntoUnto this tyme, bot efter myne conſait
Had ſanct Ierome bene borne in tyll Argyle
In to Iriſche tōng, his bukꝭ had done cōpyle.
Prudent ſanct Paull doith mak narratioun
Twiching the diuers leid of eueryevery land
Sayand thair bene more Edificatioun
In fyue wordis that folk doith vnderſtand
Nor to pronunce of wordis ten thouſand
in ſtrāge lāgage ſyne wait not quhat it menis
I think ſic pattring is not worth twa prenis.Cor. xiiii
¶Vnlernit peple on the holy day.
Solemnitlie thay heir the Euangell ſoung
Not knawin quhat ye preiſt dois ſing nor ſay,
Bot as ane bell, quhē that thay heir it roung
Ȝit wald the preiſtis in thair mother toung
Pas to the Pulpite, & that Doctrine declare
Tyll lawid peple, it wer more neceſſare.
I wald prelatis and Doctouris of the Law
With vsus lauid peple, wer nocht diſcontent
Thocht we in our vulgare toung did knaw
Of Chriſt Ieſu, the lyfe and Teſtament
And quhow that we ſuld keip commandemēt
Bot in our language, lat vsus pray and reid
Our Pater noſter, Aue, and our Creid.
I wald ſum Prince, of greit Diſcretioun
In vulgar language, planely gart tranſlait
The neidfull lawis, of this Regioun
Than wald thare not be half ſo greit debait
Amang vsus peple of the lawe Eſtait
Geue eueryevery man, the verite did knaw
We neidit nocht, to treit thir men of law.
Tyl do our nychtbour wrāg, we wald be war
Geue we did feit, the lawis puniſchement
Thare wald not be, ſic brawlyng at the bar
Nor men of law, lop to ſic Royall rent
To keip the law, geue all men wer content
And ilk man do, as he wald be done to
The Iugis wald get lytle thing ado.
The Propheit Dauid King of Iſraell
Compyld ye pleſand Pſalmes of the Pſaltair
In his awin proper toung as I heir tell
And Salomon, quhilk wes his ſone and air
Did mak his buke, in tyl his toung vulgair
Quhy ſuld not thair ſaying, be til vsus ſchawin
In our lāguage, I wald ye cauſe wer knawin
Lat Doctouris wryte thare curioꝰ queſtionis
And argumentis, ſawin full of Sophiſtrie
Thare Logick, and thare hich Opinionis
Thare dirk Iugementis, of Aſtronomie
Thare Medecine, and thare Philoſophie
Lat Poetis ſchaw, thare glorious ingyne
As euer thay pleis, in Greik or in Latyne.
Bot lat vsus hauehave the Bukis neceſſare
To commoun weill, and our Saluatioun
Iuſtlie tranſlatit, in our toung Vulgare
And als I mak the Supplicatiou…
O gentill Redar, hauehave none Indignatioun
Thinkand I mell me with ſo hie matair
Now to my purpoſe fordwart wyll I fair.
The Creatioun of Adam and Eue. ☞(✚)☜
QVhē God had maid ye heuinnis bricht
The Sone, & Mone, for to gyf licht
The ſterry heuin,Geneſ. i. and Chriſtalline
And be his Sapience Diuine
The Planeitis in thare circles round
Quhirlyng about with merie ſound
Of quhome Phebus was principall
Iuſt in his Lyne Eclipticall
And gaue be Diuyne Sapience
Tyll eueryevery Ster thare Influence
With motioun continuall
Quhilk doith indure perpetuall
And farreſt frome the heuin Empyre
The erth, the water, air, and fyre.
He cled the erth, with herbis and treis
All kynd of fiſchis in the ſeis
All kynd of beſt, he did prepair
With foulis fleing in the air.
Thus be his word, all thing was wrocht
Without materiall maid of nocht
So be his wyſedome Infinyte
All wes maid pleſand and perfyte.
Quhen heuin, and erth & thare contentis
Wet endit with thare Ornamentis
Than laſt of all, the Lord began
Of moſte vyle erth, to mak the man,
Nocht of the Lillie nor of the Roſe
Nor Cyper tree, as I ſuppoſe,
Nother of gold, nor precious ſtonis
Of erth he maid fleſche, blude and bonis
To that intent, God maid hym thus
That man ſuld nocht be glorious
Nor in hym ſelf, no thing ſulde ſe
Bot mater of humylite.
Quhen man wes maid, as I hauehave tauld
Gene. ii.God in his face, did hym behauld
Bre…thand in hym, ane lyflie ſpreit
Quhen all thir werkis wer compleit
He maid man to his ſimilitude
Precelland in to pulchritude
Dotit with giftis of Nature
Aboue all erdlie Creature
Syne pleſandlie did hym conuoy
To ane Regioun repleit with Ioy
Of all pleſour, quhilk bair the pryce
And callit erthlie Paradyce
And brocht be Diuyne prouience
All beiſtis, and birdis, tyll his preſence
Adam did craftelie Impone
Ane ſpeciall name tyll eueryevery one
And to all thyngis materiall
He namit thame in ſpeciall
Quhow he thame namit, ȝit bene kend
And ſalbe to the warldis end.
In to that gardyng of pleſance
Two treis grew, moſt till auance
Aboue all vther, quhilk bair the pryce
In middis of that Paradyce.
The one wes callit the tre of lyfe
The vther tre, began our ſtryfe,
The tre to knaw botth gude and euill
Quhilk he perſwaſioun of the Deuill
Began our miſerie and wo,
Bot lat vsus to our purpoſe go.
Quhow God gaue Adam ſtrait cōmand
That tre to twiche nocht with his hand
All vther fructis of Paradyce
He bad hym eit at his deuyce.
Sayand, gyf thow eit of this tre
With dowbill deith, than ſall thow de
Tharefore I the command be war
And frome this tre, thow ſtand a far.
Ȝit Father Adam wes allone
But companie of ony one
Than thocht the Lord it neceſſar
Tyll hym to create ane helpar.
☞God pat in Adam ſic Sapour
That for to ſleip, he tuke pleſour,
And laid hym doun vponupon the ground
And quhen Adam wes ſleipand ſound
He tuke ane Rib, furth of his ſyde
Syne fillit vp, with fleſche and hyde
And maid ane Woman of that bone
Fairar of forme, wes neuer none.
Than tyll Adam Incontinent
That fair Lady, he did preſent.
Quhilk ſchortlie ſaid, for to conclude
Thow art my fleſche, my bonis, and blude.
And Virago, he callit hir than
Quhilk is Interpreit, maid of man.
Quhilk Eua, efterwart was Namit
Quhen for hir falt, ſcho wes defamit
Than did the Lord thame Sanctifie
Saying Incres, and Multiplie
Be this, men ſuld leif all thare kyn
And with thare wyffis mak dwellyn
And for thare ſaik leif Father and Mother
And lufe thame beſt, aboue all vther
For God hes ordanit thame trewlie
To be two Saulis, in one bodie
My wit is walk for tyll Indyte
Thare heuinlie pleſouris Infinyte
Wes neuer none erthlie Creature
Sen ſyne had ſic perfyte pleſure.
Thay had puiſſance Imperiall
Aboue all thing materiall.
Als cunnyng Clerkis dois conclude
Adam precellit in pulchritude
Moſt Naturall, and the faireſt man
That euer wes ſen the warld began
Except Chriſt Ieſu, Goddis Sone
To q…thome wes no compariſone
And Eua, the faireſt Creature
That euer wes formit be Nature
Thocht thay war naikit as thay wer maid
No ſchame ather of vther haid.
Quhat pleſour mycht ane man hauehave more
Nor hauehave his lady hym before
So luſtie, pleſand, and perfyte
Reddy to ſerue his appetyte.
Thay had none vther cure I wis
Bot paſt thare tyme, with Ioy and blis
Wyld Bet…s did to thame repair,
So did the Fowlis of the air
With noyis moſt Angelicall
Makand thame mirthis Muſicall.
The fiſchis ſwemand in the ſtrandis
Wet holelie at thare commandis.
All Creaturis with ane accord
Obeyit hym, as thare ſouerane Lord.
Thay ſufferit nother heit nor cald
With eueryevery pleſour that thay wald.
Als to the deith thay wer nocht thrall
And rychtſo ſuld we hauehave bene all
For he and all his ſucceſſouris
Suld hauehave poſſedit thoſe pleſouris,
Syne frome that Ioy materiall
Gone to the glore Imperiall.
Thay had geue I can richt diſcryue
Greit Ioy in all thare wyttis fyue
In heiring, ſeing, guſting, ſmelling
Induring thare delyteſum dwelling
Heiring the birdis harmoneis
Taiſting the fruetis of diuers treis
Smelling the balmy dulce odouris
Quhilk did proceid frome fragrant flouris.
Seing ſo mony heuinlie hewis
Of blomes breking on the bewis
Of twicheing als thay had delyte
Of vtheris bodyis ſoft and quhyte,
But dout, Induring that pleſour
Thay luffit vther Paramour
No maruell bene thocht ſwa ſuld be
Conſidering thare greit bewte
Als God gaue thame command expres
To multiplie, and tyll incres
That thare ſeid, and ſucceſſioun
Mycht pleneis eueryevery Natioun.
I liſt nocht tatie till declair
All properteis of that place preclair
Quhow herbis, and treis, grew ay grene,
Nor of the temperat air ſerene
Quhow fructis Indeficient
Ay alyke rype and redolent,
Nor of the Fontane, nor the fludis,
Nor of the flouris pulchritudis.
That mater Clerkis dois declair
Quharefor, I ſpeik of thame na mair.
The Scripture makis no mentioun
Quhow lang thay rang in that Regioun,
Bot I beleue, the tyme wes ſchort
As diuers Doctouris dois report.
Of the Miſerabill Tranſgreſſioun of Adam.
FATHER? Courteo.How happinit that miſchāce
(Quod I) ſchaw me the circumſtance
Declare me that cairfull cace
How Adam loſt that pleſand place
Frome hym, and his Succeſſioun
Quhow did proceid that tranſgreſſioun▪
(Quod he)Experien. efter my rude Ingyne
I ſall rehers the that rewyne
Quhen God the Plaſmatour of all
In to the heuin Emperiall
Did Creat all the Angellis bricht
He maid one Angell moſt of micht
To quhome he gaue preeminence
Aboue thame all in Sapience
Becauſe all vther he did prefer
Namit he wes bricht Lucifer
He wes ſo pleſand and ſo fair
He thocht him ſelf without compair,
And grew ſo gay and glorious
He gan to be preſumpteous,
And thocht that he wald ſet his ſait
In to the north, and mak debait
Agane the Maieſte Deuyne
Quhilk wes the cauſe of his rewyne,
For he incurrit Goddis Ire
And banyſt frome the heuin Empyre
With Angellis mony one Legioun
Quhilkis wer of his opinioun.
Innumerabill with him thare fell.
Sum lichtit in the laweſt hell,
Sum in theſe did mak repair,
Sum in the erth, ſum in the air
That moſt vnhappie cumpany…
At Father Adam had Inuye
Perſauing Adam and his ſeid
Gene, iii.In to rhair placis to ſucceid.
The Serpent wes the ſubtelleſt
Aboue all beiſtis and craftieſt
Than Sathan, with ane fals intent
Did enter in to that Serpent
Imaginyng ſum craftie wyle
Quhow he micht Adam beſt begyle
And gar hym brek commandement,
Bot to the woman firſt be went,
Traiſting the better to preuaill
Full ſubtellie did hir aſſaill
With facund wordis, fals and fair
He grew with hir familiar
That he his purpoſe micht auance
Beleuand in hir Inconſtance.
Quhat is the cauſe, Madame (ſaid he)
That ȝe forbeir ȝone pleſand tre,
Quhilk bene but peir moſt precious
Quhoſe fruct bene moſt delycious?
I Nyll (quod ſche) thate to accord
We ar forbiddin be the Lord
The quhilk hes geuin vsus lyberte
Tyll eit of eueryevery fruct and tre
Quhilk growis in to Paradyſe,
Brek we command, we ar nocht wyſe.
He gaue tyll vsus ane ſtrait command
That tre to twiche nocht with our hand
Eit we of it, without remede
He ſaid but dout, we ſuld be dede.
Beleue nocht that (ſaid the Serpent)
Eit ȝe of it Incontinent,
Repleit ȝe ſall be with Science
And hauehave perfyte Intelligence
Lyke God hymſelf, of euill and gude.
Than haiſtelie for to conclude
Heiring of this prerogatyue
Scho pullit doun the fruct belyue,
Throuch counſall of this fals Serpent
And eit of it to that intent,
And pat hir huſband in beleue
That pleſand fructe giuegive he wald preue
That he ſuld be als Sapient
As the greit God Omnipotent.
Think ȝe nocht that ane pleſand thing
That we lyke God ſuld euer ring.
He heir and this Narratioun
And be hir ſoliſtatioun …
Mouit be prydefull ambitioun
He eit on that conditioun
The principall poyntis of this offence
War pryde, and Inobedience
Deſyring for to be Equall
To God, the Creatour of all.
Allace Adam, quhy did thow ſo
Quhy cauſit thow this mortall wo?
Had thow bene conſtant ferme and ſtabill
Thy glore had bene Incomparabill
Quhare wes thy conſideratioun
Quhilk had the Dominatioun
Of eueryevery leuand Creature
That God had formit be Nature
Tyll vſe thame at thy awin deuyſe
Wes thow nocht prince of Paradyſe?
Wes neuer man ſen ſyne on lyue
That God gaue ſic Prerogatyue
He gaue the ſtrenth aboue Sampſon,
And ſapience more than Salomon,
Ȝoung Abſolon in his tyme moſt fair
To thy bewtie wes no compair,
Ariſtotell thow did precell
In to Philoſophie naturall,
Virgill in tyll his Poetrie,
Nor Cicero in till Oratrie,
War neuer half ſo Eloquent
Quhy brak thow Goddis Commandement
Quhare wes thy wit, that wald nocht fle
Far frome the preſence of that tre?
Gaue nocht thy Maker the fre will
To tak the gude, and leif the euill?
Quhow micht thy forfalt be excuſit
That Goddis commandement refuſit
Throuch thy wyffis perſwaſioun
Quhilk hes bene the occaſioun
Sen ſyne, that mony nobill men
Be the euill counſale of wemen
Alluterlie deſiroyit bene
As in the hiſtoryis may be ſene.
Quhilk now we neid nocht till declair
Bot fordwart till our purpoſe fair.
Quhen thay had eitin of the frute,
Of Ioy than war thay deſtitute
Than gan thay boith, for to think ſchame
And to be naikit thocht defame
And maid thame Breikis of leuis grene,
That thare ſecreitis ſuld nocht be ſene.
Bot in the ſtait of Innocence
Thay had none ſic experience
Bot quhen thay war to Syn ſubiectit
To ſchame and dreid thay war coactit
And in ane buſk thay hid thame cloce
Eſchamit of the Lordis voce,
Quhilk callit Adam be his Name
(Quod he) my Lord, I think greit ſchame
Naik it to cum to thy preſence.
Thow had none ſic Experience
(Quod God) quhen thow wes Innocent
Quhy brak thow my commandement.
Allace (quod Adam) to the Lord
The verite I ſall record.
This woman that thow gaue to me
Gart me eit of ȝone pleſand tre.
Rychtſo the woman hir excuſit
And ſaid, the Serpent me abuſit.
Than to the Serpent, God ſaid thus,
O thow Deſauer venemous,
Becauſe the woman thow begylit
Frome thyne furth ſall thow be exilit.
Curſt and varyit ſall thou be,
So ſall thy ſeid be efter the.
Cauld erth ſalbe thy fude alſo
And creipand on thy breiſt ſall go
Als I ſall put Enemite
Betuix the woman euer and the
Betuix thy ſeid, and womannis ſeid
Salbe continuall mortall feid.
Quhowbeit thow hes wrocht thir myſcheuis
It ſall nocht be as thow beleuis
Sic ſeid ſalbe in woman ſawin
That thy power ſalbe doun thrawin,
Tredding thy heid that thow may feill
And thow ſall tred hym on the heill.
This was his promis, and mening
That the Immaculate Virging
Suld beir the Prince Omnipotent
Quhilk ſuld tred doun that fals Serpent
Sathan and all his companie
And thame confound alluterlie.
(Quod I)Courteo. geue Sathan prince of hell
Spak in the Serpent as ȝe tell
And beiſtis can no way ſyn at all
Quhy wes the Serpent maid ſo thrall?
I heir men ſay afore that hour
The Serpent had ane fair figour
And ȝeid ſtraucht vp vponupon his feit
And had his memberis all compleit
As vtheris beiſtis vponupon the bent.
Experien.(Quod he) for he wes Inſtrument
To Sathan, in this Miſerie
Puniſt he wes, as ȝe may ſe.
As be experience thow may knaw
Expres in to the Commoun law
Ane man conuiteit for Bugre
The beiſt is brint, als weill as he
Howbeit the beiſt be Innocent.
And ſo befell of the Serpent
It was the Feynd full of deſpyte
Of Adamis fall quhilk had the wyte,
As he hes had of mony mo
Bot tyll our purpoſe lat vsus go.
Than to the woman for hir offence
God did pronunce, this ſore ſentence.
All pleſou… that thow had a ſorrow
Sall changit be in leſting ſorrow.
Quhare that thow ſuld with mirth and Ioy
HaueHave borne thy birth but pane or noy
Now all thy barnis ſall thow bair
With dolour and continuall cair,
And thow ſalbe for oucht thow can
Euer ſubiectit to the Man.
Be this ſentence, God did conclude
Wemen frome libertie denude.
Quhilk be experience ȝe may ſe
Quhow Quenis of moſt hie degre
Ir vnderunder moſt ſubiectioun
And ſufferis moſt correctioun.
For thay lyke birdis in tyll ane cage
Ar keipit ay vnderunder thirlage.
So all wemen in thare degre
Suld to thare men ſubiectit be.
Quhowbeit ſum ȝit wyll ſtryue for ſtait
And for the maiſtrie mak debait,
Quhilk gif thay want, boith euin & morrow
Thare men wyll ſuffer mekle ſorrow
Of Eue, thay tak that qualite
To deſyre Soueranite.
And than till Adam, ſaid the Lord
Becauſe that thow hes done accord
Thy wyll, and harknit to thy wyfe
Now ſall thow loſe this pleſand lyfe,
Thow wes tyll hir obedient
Bot thow brak my Commandement
Curſit and baren the erth ſall be
Quhare euer thow gois till that thow de.
But laubour, it ſall beir no corne
Bot Thriſſil, Nettill, Breir, and Thorne,
For fude thow gettis none vther beild
Bot eit the herbis vponupon the feild,
Sore laubouring tyll thy browis ſweit
Frome thyne furth ſall thow wyn thy meit
I maid the of the erth certane
And thow in erth ſall turne agane.
Than maid he thame Abilȝement
Of ſkynnis ane raggit Rayment.
Thame to preſerue frome heit and cauld
Than grew thare dolour mony fauld.
Now Adam ar ȝe lyke tyll vsus
With ȝour gay garment glorious?
To thame thir wordis, ſaid the Lord
Than cryit thay boith Miſericord
Quhen frome that gairth with hartis ſore
Baniſchit thay wer for euer more,
In to this wrechit vaill of ſorrow
With daylie laubour ewin and morrow
Efter quhoſe dolorous departing,
The Lord gaue Paradyſe in keping
Tyll ane Angell of Cherubin
That none ſulde hauehave entres tharein.
At the quhilk entres he did ſtand,
With flammand fyrie ſword in hand,
To keip that Adam, and his wyfe
Sulde nocht taiſt of the tre of lyfe,
For geue thay of that tre had preuit
Perpetuallie thay micht hauelleuit.
So Adam, and his Succeſſioun
Of Paradyſe tynt poſſeſſioun,
And be this Syn Originall
War men to Miſerie maid thrall.
My Sone now may thow cleirly ſe
This warld began with miſerie
With miſerie it doith proceid
Courteo.Quhoſe fyne ſall dolour be and dreid.
Father (quod I) quhat kynd of lyfe
Led Adam with his luſtie wyfe
Efter thait baillfull baniſing?
(Quod he)Experien. continuall womenting
My hart hes ȝit compaſſioun
Quhow thay went wandring vp and doun
Weiping with mony lowd allace
That thay had loſt that pleſand place
In wildernes to be exyld
Quhare thay fand nocht bot beiſtis wyld
Manneſſing thame for tyll deuore
Quhilkis all obedient war afore.
Father (quod I)Courteo. in quhat countre
Did leif Adam, efter that he
Was baniſchit frome that delyte?
Clerkis (quod he)Experien. hes put in wryte
Quhow Adam dwelt with mekle baill
In Mambet, in that luſtie vaill,
Quhilk efter was, the Iowis land
Quhare ȝit his Sepulture dois ſtandGen. iiii.
I l…ſt nocht tary till diſcryue
The wo of Adam nor his wyne
Nor tell quhen thay had Sonnis two
Cayn, and Abell, and no mo.
Nor quhow curſt Cayn, for Inuy
Did ſlay his brother cruelly
Nor of thait murning, nor of thare mone
Quhen thay but Sonnis wer left allone.
Abell lay ſlane vponupon the ground
Curſt Cayn fleinit, and Vacabound
Nor quhow God of his ſpeciall grace
Send thame the thrid Sone fair of face
Moſt lyke Adam, of fleſche and blude,
Seth was his Name, gracious and gude
Nor quhow blind Lameth, rakleſlie
Did ſlay Cayn vnhappelie.
Adam as Clerkis dois diſcryue
Begat with Eue his wofull wyue,
Of Men Children, threttie and two
And of Dochteris alyke alſo.
Be this thow may weill vnderſtand
That Adam ſaw mony ane thouſand,
That of his body did diſcend
Or he out of the warld did wend.
Gene. ….Adam leuit in erth but weir
Compleit, nyne houndreth and thretty ȝeir
And all his dayis war bot ſorrow
Remembring boith euin and morrow
Of Paradyre the proſperitie
And ſyne of his greit Miſerie.
His hart micht neuer be reioſit
Remembring quhow the heuin wes cloſit
Frome hym, and his ſucceſſioun,
And that be his tranſgreſſioun.
Efter his deith, as I heir tell
His Saule diſcendit to the hell
And thare remanit preſoneir
In that Dungeoun, thre thouſand ȝeir
And more, ſo did boith euill and gude
Till Chriſt for thame had ſched his blude,
Than be that moſt precious Ranſoun
Thay wer delyuerit of preſoun
I hauehave declarit now as I can
The Miſerie of the firſt man.
❧Quhow God Deſtroyit all Leuand Creaturis in erth for Syn, And Drownit thame be ane Terrible Flude, in the tyme of Noe. &c. ☞✚☜
PRVDENT Father Experience
Declare to me,Courteo. or ȝe go hence
Quhat was the cauſe God did diſtroy
All Creature in the tyme of Noe?
(Quhod he) I trimmyll for to tell
That Infortune,Experien. quhow it befell
The cauſe bene ſo abhominabill
And the mater ſo miſerabill.
Bot for to ſchaw the Circumſtance
Manifeſtlie of that miſchance.
Firſt I mon gar the vnſtderſtand
Quhow Adam gaif expres commandGene. vi.
That thoſe quhilkis come of Sethis blude
Becauſe thay wer gratious and gude
Suld nocht contract with Caynis kyn
Quhilkis wer Inclynit all to Syn.
Tyll obſerue that commandement
Cayn paſt in to the Orient
With his wyfe, callit Calmana
Quhilk was his awin Syſter alſwa.
Quhare his ofſpring did lang remane
Beſyde the montane of Tatbane.
And Seth did lang tyme lede his lyfe
With Delbora, his prudent wyfe
Quhilk wes his Siſter gude and fair
In Damaſcene maid thair repair.
In that countre of Sethis clan
Diſcendit mony holy man
So lang as Adam wes leuand
The peple did obſerue command
Quhen he wes dede, and laid in ground
And peple greitly did abound
And Cayn ſlane, as I hauehave ſchawin,
And Sethis dayis, all ouer blawin
Gene. vi.The Sonnis than of Sethis blude
Seand the pleſand pulchritude
Of the Ladyis of Caynis kyn
Quhowbeit thay knew weill it wes Syn
Oppreſt with ſenſuall luſtis rage
Dip tak thame in to Mariage.
And ſo corruptit wes that blude
The gude with euill, and euill with gude.
Than as the peple did incres
Thay did abound in wickitnes
As holy Scripture dois rehers
Quhilk I abhor, to put in vers,
Or tell with toung, I am nocht a bill
The ſuthe bene ſo abhominabill.
Quhow men, and wemen, ſchamefullie
Abuſit thame ſelfis vnaturallie,
Quhoſe foull abhominatioun
And vncouth fornicatioun
I think greit ſchame to put in wryte,
All that Paull Oroſe doith indyte.
Quhilk giuegive I wald at lenth declair
It wer yneuch to fyle the air.
Greit Clerkis of Antiquiteis
Hes wryttin mony trew ſtorels
Quhilkis as worthy to be commendit
Quhowbeit thay be nocht comprehendit
At lenth in the Diuyne Scripture
Bot I ſall do my beſie cure
To tak the beſt (as I ſuppoſe)
That maiſt pertenis to my purpoſe,
And with ſupport of Chriſt our king
I purpoſe to confirme no thing
Of the auld Hyſtoricience
Contrarious tyll his Excellence.
Quhowbeit that ſum mennis Traditionis
Be contrair Chriſtis Inſtitutionis
Of thame thocht ſum thing I declair,
Now lat vsus proceid forthermair,
And with ane Language lamentabill
Declare this mater miſerabill.
Courteo.Father the cauſis wald I knaw
Quhy thay of Nature brak the law?
Experien.I traiſt (quod he) that wickitnes
Generit throw ſleuthfull Idilnes
The Deuill with all the craft he can
Quhen he perſauis ane Idill man
Or woman geuin tyll Idilnes
He gettis eſilie entres.
And ſo be this occaſioun
And be the Feindis perſwaſioun
The hole warld vniuerſallie
Corruptit was alluterlie.
Courteo.Quhat wes the cauſe, thay Idle wair
That cace (quod I) to me declair?
Experien.(Quod he) be my Imaginatioun
For laik of vertuous Occupatioun.
For of Craftis, thay had ſmall vſage
Of Marchandyce, nor lauborage,
The erth than wes ſo plentuous
Of fruce, and Spyce delicious,
The herbis wer ſo comfortabill
Delyteſum and Medicinabill,
The Fontanis freſche and redolent
To laubouring thay tuke lytle teut.
All maner of beiſtis at thare pleſour
Did multiplie without laubour.
The tyme betuix Adam and Noe
To ſe the erth, it wes greit Ioy
Plantit with precious treis of pryce.
Four famous Fludis of Paradyce
Ran throuch the erth in ſyndrie partis
Spreiding thare branchis, in all airtis,
The watter was ſo ſtrang and fyne
Thay wald nocht laubour to mak wyne.
The fruct, and herbis, wer ſo gude
Thay maid no cair for vther fude.
And ſo the peple tuke no cure
Bot paſt thare tyme at thare pleſour,
Ay findand new Inuentionis
To fulfyll thare Intentionis,
So that the Lord Omnipotent
That he maid man did him repent.
And ſchew vntill his ſeruand Noe
That he wald all the warld diſtroy
Except hymſelf, and his Meinȝe.
Allace (quod Noe) quhen ſall that be?
Than ſaid the Lord, ſen thow ſo ſpeiris
I ſall prolong ſax ſcore of ȝeiris
Tarying vponupon thare repentance
Or I fulfyll my Iuſt Sentence.
In the meine tyme, fall thow to wark
Incontinent, and beild ane Ark.
Quhilk Noe began Obedientlie
And wrocht on it Continuallie.
And to the peple daylie preichrit
To cry for grace, he to thame techeit.
And to thame planelie did declair,
That God his wand no more wald ſpair,
Bot on thame he wald wirk vengeance.
To Noe ȝit gaue thay no credence
And ſo thay wer Incounſolabill
Vſing thare luſt abhominabill
And tuke his precheing in deſpyte
Ay following thare foull delyte
More and more, till that dulefull day
Quhilk all the warld put in effray.
Courteo.Father ȝe gart me vnderſtand
Quhen Adam brak the Lordis cōmand
Tyl agment his afflictioun
God gaue his Maledictioun
VntoUnto the erth, quhilk wes ſo fair
That it ſuld barren be and bair
And without laubour beir no corne
Nor fruct, bot thriſſill, breir, and thorne.
Now ſay ȝe, in the tyme of Noe
To ſe the erth, it wes greit Ioy,
Plantit with fourtis gude and fair
The ſuthe of this, to me declair.
Thir ſaying is two, gar me conſidder
Quhow ȝe mak thame agre to gidder.
God maid that promis ſickerlie
Experien.Quhowbeit it come nocht Inſtantlie
(Quod he) as Clerkis dois conclude.
Bot efter quhen the furious Finde
Diſtroyit the erth, alluterlie
Than come that promis ſickerlie.
Eum ſiclyke as God gaue command
Adam to twiche nocht with his hand
Nor eit of the forbiddin tre,
Geue he did ſo, that he ſuld de.
Quhowbeit he deit nocht but weir
Efter that day nyne hundreth ȝeir.
Rychrſo the Propheit Eſayas
Spetkand of Chriſt, the greit Meſſias,Eſay. ix.
Say and the Barne, is till vsus borne
To ſaif mankynd quhilk is forlorne,
As he had bene borne Inſtantlie
Ȝit wes he nocht borne verilie
Efter that ſaying mony one ȝeir
As in the Scripture, thow may heir,
Ane thouſand ȝeir,ii. …e. iii. quho reknith riche
Is bot one hour, in Goddis ſicht
Exemplis mony, I micht tell
Wer it nocht tedious for to dwell,
Tyll our purpoſe, lat vsus proceid
Schawand the hicht, the lenth and breid
And qualite of Noyis Ark
Quhilk wes ane richt excellent wark.
Of Pyne tre maid bound weill about
Laid ouer with pik, within and out
Iunit full cloce, with naillis ſtrong
And wes thre houndreth Cubitis long,
Fyftie in breid, thretty in hicht,
Thre Chalmeris Iunit weill and wicht,
And euerilk loft, aboue ane vther
Withoutin Anker, Air, or Ruther,
Ane richt Cubit, as I heir tell
Of meſour now micht bene ane ell
In the mid ſyde, ane dur thare wes
For Beiſtis ane eſie entres.
This Ack quhilk was boith lang and large
Maid in the boddum, lyke ane Barge
Couerit with burdis weill abufe
Moſt lyke ane houſe, with ſet on rufe,
Quhoſe riggin wes, ane Cubit braid,
Quhatein thare wes, ane wyndo maid
Sum ſayis, weil be cloſit with Chriſt all cleir
Quharethrow the day lycht micht weil appeir
This worke the more was to be pryſit
Becauſe be God, it wes deuyſit.
Gen. vii.The making of this Ark but weir
Indurit weill ane houndreth ȝeir.
Quhē Noe had done compleit this wark
God did hym cloſe, within the Ark,
With him his wyfe, and Sonnis thre,
With thare thre wyfis, but mo menȝe.
And of all foulis of the air
Of euerilk kynd enterit ane pair.
Rychtſo two Beiſtis of euerilk kynd
For quhy, it wes the Lordis mynd
That Generatioun ſuld nocht faill,
Quharefore of Femell, and of Maill
Of euerilk kynd wer keipit two.
Bot to rehers, myne hart is wo
The dolent Lamentatioun
That tyme of euerilk Natioun,
Say and allace ane thouſand ſyis
Quhen wynd, and rane, began to ryis.
The Roikis with reird, began to ryue
Quhen vglie cluddis did ouerdryue
And dirkynnit ſo, the Heuinuis bricht,
That Sone, nor Mone, micht ſchaw no licht
The terribill trimling of erth quaik
Gart Biggingis bow, and Citeis ſckaik,
The thounder raif the cluddis ſobill
With horrible ſound, Eſpouentabilli
The fyreflauchtis flew ouerthort the fellis
Thā wes thare nocht, bot ȝowtis and ȝellis.
Quben thay perſauit, without remede,
All Creature, to ſuffer dede,
All Fontaris frome the erth vpſprang
And frome the heuin, the rane doun dang
Fourty dayis, and fourty nichtis
Than ran the Peple to the hichtis,
Sum clam in craigis, ſum in treis,
And ſum to the hicheſt montanis fleis
With more terrour, nor I can tell
Bot all for nocht, the fludis fell
And wynd did rowt, with ſic ane reird
That euerilk wicht, waryit his weird.
Cryand allace, that thay wer borne
In to that Flude, to be forlorne.
Men micht no help mak to thare wyifts
Nor ȝit ſupport thare barnis lyifis.
The fludis rofe, with ſo greit michtis
That thay ouer couerit all the hichtis.
Thay micht no more thare lyuis lenth
Bot ſwame ſo lang, as thay had ſtrenth,
And ſo with cryis Lamentabill
Endit thare lyuis Miſerabill.
Aboue montanis, that war moſt hie
Fyftie Cubitis roſe the ſee.
Men may Imagyne in thare mynd
All Creature in to thare kynd.
Boith Beiſtis, and foulis in the air
In thare maneir, maid mekle cair,
The fiſchis thocht thame euill begyld
Quhē thay ſwame throuch the woddis wyld
Quhailis tumland amang the treis,
Wyld beiſtis ſwomand in the ſen…
Bi…dis with mony pietuous pew
Efferitlie in the air thay flew,
So lang as thay had ſtrenth to flee
Syne ſwattetit doun in to the ſee.
No thyng on erth, wes left on lyue
Beiſtis, nor foulis, Man, nor wyue.
God holelie did thame diſtroy
Except thame in the Ark with Noe,
The quhilk lay fictand on the flude
Welterand amang the ſtremis woo
With mony terribill effrayis
Remanit ane hundreth and fiftie days,
In greit lang our, and heuines
Or wynd, or rane, began to ceis.
Sumtyme effectuouſlie pray and,
Sumtyme the Beiſtis veſiand
For be the Lordis commadement
He maid prouiſioun ſufficient.
For Noe dwelt in that Ark but dout
Ane ȝeir compleit,Gen. viii or be come out
Quhow at more lenth, in holy wryte
This dulefull hiſtorie bene Indyte,
And quhow that Noe, gan to teioſe
Quhen Conductis of the heuin did cloſe,
So that the Rane, no more diſcendit,
Nor the flude no more aſcendit.
Quhen be perſauit the heuinnis cleir
Haſend furth Corbie Meſfingeir
In to the air, for to eſpy
Geue he ſaw ony montanis dry.
Sum ſayis the Rauin, did furth remane
And come norht to the Ark agane.
Furth flew the Dow, at Noes command,
And quben ſcho did perſaue dry land
Of ane Olyue, ſcho brak ane branche,
That Noe mycht knaw the watter ſtanche,
And thare no more, ſcho did ſudiorne,
Bot with the branche ſcho did returne,
That Noe micht cleirly vnderſtand
That fellown Flude, was decreſſand.
And ſo it did, tyll at the laſt
The Ark vponupon the ground ſtak faſt
On the top of ane Montane hie
In to the land of Armenie.
And quhen that Noe had done eſpy,
Quhow that the erth began to dry,
Than dang he doun the durtis all,
And louſit thame, the quhilk wes thrall.
The foulis flew furth in the air,
And all the beiſtis pair and pair,
Paſt furth to ſeik thare Paſtorages.
Thare wes than bot aucht Perſonages
Noe, his thre Sonnis, and thare wynis
On erth, that left was with thare lyuis,
Gene. ix.Quhome God did blis, and Sanctifie,
Say and incres, and multiplie.
God wat geue Noe, wes blyith and glaid
Quhen of that preſone he wes fraid.
Quhen Noe had maid his Sacrifice,
Thank and God of his Benefice,
He ſtandyng on mont Armenie
Quhare he the countrie micht eſpie
Ȝe may beleue, his hart was ſore
Seing the erth, quhilk wes afore
The Flude, ſo pleſand and perfyte
Quhilk to behald, wes greit delyte
That now was barren maid and bair
Afore, quhilk fructuous was and fair.
The pleſand treis, beityng fructis
Wer ly and rewin vp be the rutis,
The holſum herbis, and fragrant flouris
Had tynt boith vertew, and colouris
The feildis grene, and fluriſt meidis
Wer ſpulȝeit of thare pleſand weidis,
The erth quhilk firſt wes ſo fair formit
Wes be that furious flude deformit,
Quhare vmquhyle wer, the pleſand planis
Wer holkit Glennis, and hie montanis
Frome clattring craigis, greit and gray
The erth was weſchin quyte away.
Bot Noe had greiteſt diſpleſuris
Behaldand, the dede Creaturis,
Quhilk wes ane ſicht richt Lamentabill
Men, wemen, Beiſtis, Innumerabill
Seyng thame ly, vponupon the landis,
And ſum wer fleting on the ſtrandis
Quhaillis, and Monſtouris of the ſeis
Stickit on ſtobbis, amang the treis.
And quhen the Flude was decreſſand
Thay wer left weltering on the land.
Afore the flude, during that ſpace,
The ſey wes all in to ane place.
Rychtſo the erth, as bene decydit
In ſyndrie partis, wes nocht deuydit,
As bene Europe, and Aſia
Deuydit ar, frome Africa.
Ȝe ſe now diuers Famous Ilis
Stand frome the main land mony mylis.
All thir greit Ilis, I vnderſtand
War than equall, with the ferme land.
Thare wes none ſey Mediterrane,
Bot onelyonly the greit Occeane,
Quhilk did not ſpreid ſic bullering ſtrandis
As it dois now, ouirthort the landis.
Than be the raging of that flude
The erth of bertew wes denude,
The quhilk afore wes to be pryſit
Quhoſe bewte than wer diſagyſit.
Than wes the Maledictioun knawin
Quhilk wes be God, till Adam ſchawin.
I reid quhow Clerkis dois conclude
Induring that moſt furious flude
With quhilk the erth wes ſo ſuppreſt,
The wynd blew furth of the ſouthweſt
As may be ſene be experience.
Quhow throw the watteris violence
The hich montanis in eueryevery art,
Ar bair forgane the ſouthweſt part.
As the montanis, of Pyreneis
The Alpes, and Rochis in the ſeis.
Rycht ſo the Rochis greit and gray
Quhilk ſtandis into Norroway.
The hicheſt Hillis in eueryevery art
And in Scotland, for the moſt part,
Throuch weltering of that furious flude,
The Cragis of erth warmaid denude.
Trauelling men, may conſidder beſt
The Montanis bair nyxt the ſouthweſt.
¶Declare (quod I) or ȝe concludeCourteo.
Quhow lang leuit Noe, efter the flude.
(Quod he) in Geneſis, thow may heir
Quhow that Noe, wes ſex houndreth ȝeir,Experien.
The tyme of his greit puniſchement
And ay to God obedientGene. ix.
And wes the beſt of Sethis blude.
And als he leuit efter the Flude
Thre hundreth and fyftie ȝeiris
As the ſamyn Scripture wytnes beiris.
And wes or he Randerit the ſpreit
Nyne hundreth and fyftie ȝeiris compleit.
To ſchaw this hiſtorie Miſerabill
At lenth my wittis ar nocht abil.
And als my Sone, as I ſuppoſe
It langis nocht till our purpoſe,
To ſchaw quhow Noyis Sonnis thre
Gan to incres and multiplie.
Nor quhow that Noe, plantit the wyne
And drank tyll he wes drounkin ſyne,
And ſleipit with his Membris bair,
And quhow Cham, maid for hym no cair
Bot leuch, to ſe his Father ſo
Quhowbeit his Brether wer richt wo.
Nor quhow Noe, but Reſtrictoun
Gaue Cham his Maledictioun
And put hym vnderunder Seruitude
To Sem, and Iaphet, that war gude.
Nor quhow God maid ane conuenent
With Noe, to mak no puniſchement,
Nor be no Flude the peple droun,
In ſigne of that Conditioun
His Raine Bow ſet in to the air,
Of diuers Heuinlie colouris fair,
For to be ane perpetuall ſing
Be Flude, to mak no puniſſing
This Hiſtorie geue thow liſt to knaw
At lenth the Bibill ſall the ſchaw.