Reader
Works · David Lindsay

Works, Book 3

❧The thrid buke Makand Narratioun of the Miſerabill Deſtruction of the Fyue Citets, callit Sodome, Gomorre, Seboim, Segor, and Adama, with thair hole Regioun, and ane ſchort Deſcriptioun of the Secund, Thrid, and Ferd Monarcheis. With the Miſerabill Deſtructioun of Ieruſalem. And laſt of the Spirituall Monarchie. ☞(*)☜

❧ FATHER I pray ȝow to me tell.Courteo.

Quhat notabil thingis yat befel

During the regne of Aſſiriens

Quhilk had ſo lang preeminens

I mene of vther Nationis

VnderUnder thair Dominationis?

¶That may be done in termis ſchortExperien.

(Said he) as ſtoryis dois report

Induring this firſt Monarchie

Become that wofull miſerieGen. xix.

Of Sodome, Gomorre, and thair Regioun

As Scripture makis mentioun.

Quhoſe peple wer ſo ſenſuall

In fylthie Synnis vnnaturall

The quhilk in to my vulgar vers

My toung abhorris to rehers

Lyke brutell beiſtis, by thair myndis

Vnnaturally abuſe thair kyndis

Be fylthie ſtink and Lecherie

And moſt abominabill Sodomie,

As holy Scripture dois diſcryue

In that countrie wer Citeis fyue

Quhilk wer Sodome, and Gomorra

Seboim, Segor and Adama.

Amang thame all, fund wes thare none

Vndefylit, bot Loth allone.

¶Holy Abraham dwelt neir hand by

Quhilk prayit for Loth effectuouſlie,

For God maid hym aduertyſment

That he wald mak ſic puniſchement

To Loth two Angellis God did ſend

Hym frome that furie tyll defend.

Quhen the peple of that Regioun

Saw the Angellis cum to the toun

Tranſformit in to fair ȝoung men

Thay purpoſit thame for to ken

And abuſe thame vnnaturallie

With thare foule ſtink and Sodomie.

Of that gude Loth wes wounder wo

And offerit thame his Douchteris two

Thame at thare pleſour for tyll vſe

Bot thay his Douchteris did refuſe.

And than the Angellis be thare micht

Thoſe men depryuit of thare ſicht

And ſo perforce leit thame allone.

To Lothis lugeing quhen thay wer gone

Thay hym commandit haiſteilie

For tyll depart of that Citie.

That foule vnnaturall Lecherie

Ane vengeance to the heuin did crye

The quhilk did moue God till ſic Ire

That frome the heuin Bryntſtone and fyre

With aufull thounding ranit doun

And did conſume that hole regioun

Of all that land chapit no mo

Except Loth, and his Douchteris two.

His wyfe wes turnit in ane ſtone

So wyfeles wes he left allone.

For ſcho wes Inobedient

And kepit no Commandement

Quhen the Angell gaif thame command

Sone till depart out of that land

He moniſchit thame vnderunder greit paine

Neuer to luke bakwart againe.

Quhen Lothis wyfe hard the thoundring

Off flammand fyre, and lichtning

The vgly cryis lamentabill

Of peple moſte Eſpouentabill

For none of thame had force to flee

Scho ȝarnit that ſorrowfull ſicht to ſee

And as ſcho turnit hir anone

Scho wes tranſformit in ane ſtone.

Quhare ſcho remanis ſtill this day

Off hir I hauehave no more to ſay.

To ſchaw at lenth, I am nocht abill

That pietuous proces lamentabill

Quhow Citeis, Caſtellis, Townis, & towris,

Villagis, Baſtailȝeis, and Bowris,

Thay wet all in to poulder dreuin,

Forreſtis, be the rutis vpreuin.

Thare king, thare Quene, and peple all

Ȝoung and auld, brynt in poulder ſmall

No Creature wes left on lyfe

Foulis, Beiſtis, Man, nor Wyfe

The erth, the Corne, herb, frute and tree,

The Babbis, vponupon the Nutiſe knee,

Rycht ſuddandlie in one Inſtent

Vnwarly come thare Iugement

As it come in the tyme of Noy

Quhen God did all the warld diſtroy

For that ſelf Syn of Sodomie

And moſt abhominabill Bowgrie

That vyce at lenth for to declare

I think it is nocht neceſſare.

Quhen al wes brint, fleſche, blude & bonis

Hillis, valleyis, ſtockis, & ſtonis,

The countre ſank for to conclude

Quhare now ſtandis ane vglie flude,

The quhilk is callit the dede ſee,

Nixt to the countre of Iudee.

Quhois ſtinkand ſtrandis blak as tar

The fleuour of it, men felith on far

In tyll Oroatius thow may reid

Of that countre the lenth and breid

Of lenth fiftie mylis and two

And fourtene myle in breid alſo.

¶ Loth of his wyfe was ſo agaſt

That he tyll ane wilde montane paſt

Of companie he had no mo

Except his luſtie Douchteris two,

And be thare prouocatioun

As Moyſes maketh narratiounGen. xix.

Allone in to that montane wilde

His Douchteris boith he gat with childe

For thay beleuit in thare thocht

That all the warld wes gone to nocht

As it become of that Natioun

Thynkand that Generatioun

Wald faill, without thay craftelie

Gar thate Father with thame to lye

And ſo thay fand ane crafty wyle

Quhow thay thare Father micht begyle,

And cauſit hym to drink wicht wyne

Quhilk men to Lycherie dois Inclyne

Quhen he wes full, and fallin on ſleip

His Douchteris quietlie did creip

In tyll his bed, full ſecreitlie

Prouokand hym, with thame to lye.

And knew nocht quhow he wes begyld

Tyll boith his Douchteris wer with chyld.

And bure two Sonnis in certane

Thay beand in that wild Montane,

Of quhome two Nationis did proceid

As in the Scripture thow may reid.

In the quhilk ſcripture thow may ſee

At lenth this wofull miſerie.

☞This miſerie become but weir

Frome Noyis flude, thre houndreth ȝeir,

To gyther with four ſcore and ellewin

As comptit Carion full ewin.

And efter Noyis deith I ges

Ane and fourtie ȝeir thare wes

Quhen Abraham was of age I wene

Four ſcore of ȝeris, and nynetene

Quhen this foule Syn of Sodomie

Was puniſit ſo rigorouſlie.

Greit God preſerue vsus in our tyme

That we commit nocht ſic ane cryme.

Tedious it wer for me to tell

This Monarchie during quhat befell.

And wounderis that in erth wer wrocht

Quhilk to thy purpoſe langis nocht.

As quhow the peple of Iſraell

Exodi. i.Did lang tyme in to Egipt dwell,

And of …are greit punitioun

Throuch Pharaois perſecutioun.

Exodi. xiiii.And quhow Moyſes did thame conuoy

Throuch the reid ſey, with mekle Ioy

Quhare king Pharao, richt miſerablie

Wes drownit with all his huge armie.

Exod. xx.And quhow that peple wanderand wes

Fourtie ȝeris in wyldernes.

Moyſes that tyme as I heir ſay

Reſauit the Lawe on Mont Sinay.

That tyme Ioſue throuch IordanIoſue. iii

Led thoſe peple to Canaan.

Quhare Saull Dauid, and Salomone

With Hebrew Kingis mony one

Did richely regne in that countrie

Induring this firſt Monarchie.

¶ The Sege of Thebes miſerabill

Quhare blude wes ſched Incomparabill

Of nobill men, in to thoſe dayis

With vtheris terribill affrayis.

As quhow the Grekis wrocht vengeans

Apon the nobill Troians

Becauſe that Paris did conuoy

Perforce fair Helena to Troy

Quhilk wes king Menelaus wyfe

Quhare mony one thouſand loſt thare lyfe.

That tyme the vailȝant Hercules

Outthrouch the warld did hym addres,

Quhare he did mony ane douchtie deid

As in his ſtorye thow may reid,

And quhow throuch Deianeir his wyfe

That Campion did loſe his lyfe

In flammand fyre full furiouſlie

The deith he ſufferit cruellie.

That tyme Remus, and Romulus

Did found that Citie maiſt famous

Off Rome ſtanding in Italie

As in thare ſtorye thow may ſee

Wald thow reid Titus Liuius

Thow ſuld find warkis wounderous.

Quhoſe doucthie deidis ar weill kend

And ſalbe to the warldis end

Thocht thay began with crueltie

And endit with greit miſerie,

As bene the maner to conclude

Of all ſcheddaris of ſaikles blude.

¶In Grece the ornate Poetrie

Medicine, Muſike, Aſtronomie

Dutyng this firſt Monarchie began

Be Homerus, that famous man,

To gidder with Heſiodus

As diuers Auctouris ſchawis vsus.

It wer to lang to put in ryme

The bukis that thay wrait in thare tyme.

Gen. xviiThir war the Actis principell

That Monarchie during quhilk befell

As for gude Abraham, and his ſeid

In to the Bibill thow may reid

Quhow in this tyme, as I heir tell

Began the kingdome Spirituell

As I hauehave ſchawin to the afore

Quharefor I ſpeik of thame no more.

Ane ſchort Deſcription of the ſecund, thrid, and ferd Monarchie

❧ FATHER (ſaid I)Courteo. quhilk wes ye mā

That the nyxt Monarchie began?

¶Cyrus (ſaid he) the king of Perſe,Experien.

As Cronicles hes done reherſe.

Prudent and full of Policie

Began the ſecund Monarchie.

For he wes the moſt godly king

That euer in Perſe or Mede did ring,

For he of his benignitie.i. Ba…a. xxxvi.

Delyuerit frome Captiuitie

The hole peple of Iſraell

In to the tyme of Daniell.

The quhilkis had bene preſoneris

In Babilon ſewin ſcore of ȝeris,

Tharefor God of his grace bening

Gaue hym ane Diuine knawleging,

During his tyme as I heir tell

He vſit counſale of Daniell.

Carion at lenth doith ſpecifie

Of his maruellous Natiuitie

And of his vertuus vpbringing

And quhow he vincuſt Creſus king

With mony vther vailȝeand deid

As in to Carion thow may reid.

Quhoſe Succeſſioun did indure

Tyll the tent king, thareof be ſure.

¶Bot efter his greit conqueſſing

Richt miſerabili wes his ending

As Herodotus, doith diſcryue

In Scithia he loſt his lyfe

Quhare the vndantit Scithianis

Vincuſt thoſe nobyll Perſianis

And efter that Cirus wes deid

Quene Tomyre hakkit of his heid

Quhilk wes the quene of Scythianis

In the diſpyte of Perſianis.

Scho keſt his heid, for to conclude,

In tyll ane veſſell full of blude,

And ſaid, thir wordis cruellie

Drynk now thy fyll, gyf thow be drie

Forthow did aye blude ſchedding thriſt

Now drynk at layſer gyf thow liſt.

¶Efter that Cyrus ſucceſſoun

Of all the warld had poſſeſſioun

Tyll Alexander with ſworde and fyre

Obtenit perforce the third Impyre,

Quhilk wes the king of Macedone

With vailȝeand Grekis mony one

In battell fell and furious

Vincuſt the mychtie Darius,

Quhilk wes the tent, and the laſt king

Quhilk did efter king Cyrus ring,

As for this potent Empriour

Alexander the Conquerour

Geue thow at lenth, wald reid his ring

And of his cruell Conqueſſing

In Inglis toung, in his greit buke

At l…nth his lyfe, thare thow may luke,

Quhow Alexander that potent king

Wes twef ȝeris in his Conqueſſing.

And quhow for all his greit conqueſt

He leuit bot ane ȝeir in reſt

Quhen be his Seruand ſecreitlie

He poyſonit wes full pieteouſlie.

¶ Lucane doith Alexander compair

Tyll thounder, or fyreflaucht, in the air

Ane cruell Planeit, ane mortall weird,

Doun thryngand peple with his ſweird.

Ganges that maiſt famous flude.

He myx…t with the Indianis blude.

And Euphrates, with the blude of Pers

Quhoſe crueltie for to rehers

And ſaikles blude, quhilk he did ſched

War richt abhominabill to be red.

Efter his ſchort proſperitie

He deit with greit miſerie.

¶It wer to lang for to decyde it,

Quhow all his realmes wer deuyde it,

Ay quhill that Ceſar Iulius

Quhen he had vincuſt Pompeius

Wes choſin Empriour and king

Abufe the Romanis for tyll ring.

That potent Prince, wes the firſt man

Quhilk the ferd Monarchie began

And had the hole Dominioun

Of euerik land and Regioun

Quhoſe ſucceſſouris, did regne but weir

Ouer the warld mony ane houndreth ȝeir.

Bot gentill Iulius allace

Rang Empriour, bot lytle ſpace.

Quhilk I think petie tyll deplore

In fyue MonethMonth, and lytill more

Be fals exorbitant treſoun

That prudent Prince wes trampit doun,

And murdreſt in his counſall hous

Be cruell Brutus, and Caſſius.

¶Efter that Iulius wes ſlane

Did regne the greit Octauiane.

Of Empriouris one of the beſt

Duryng his tyme, wes peace, and reſt

Ouer all the warld, in ilk Regioun

As ſtoryis makis mentioun.

And als I mak it to the plane

Duryng the tyme of Octauiane

The Sone of God, our Lord Ieſu

Tuke mankynd of the Virgin treu.

And wes that tyme in Bethleem borne

Math. ii.To ſaif mankynde, quhilk wes forlorne.

As Scripture makis narratioun

Of his bliſſit Incarnatioun.

¶Now hauehave I tald the as I can.

Quhow the four Monarcheis began.

Bot in thy mynde thow may conſidder

Quhow warldlie power bene bot ſlidder.

For all thir greit Impyris ar gone

Thow ſeis thare is no Prince allone

Quhilk hes the hole Dominiun

This tyme of eueryevery Regioun.

Father quhat reaſoun,Courteo. had thoſe kingis

Reuaris to be of vtheris ringis

But ony rycht, or Iuſte querrell

Quhairthrouch that thay micht mak battell

And commoun peple to dounthring

To this (ſaid I) mak anſwering?

☞My Sone (ſaid he)Experien. that ſall be done

As I beſt can, and that richt ſone

Thir monarcheis, I vnderſtand

Preordinat wer be the command

Of God, the Plaſmatour of all

For to doun thring,Dan. vii. and to mak thrall

Vndantit peple vitious.

And als for to be gratious

To thame quhilk vertuous wer and gude

As Daniell hes done conclude

At lenth in tyll his Propheceis.

Quhow thare ſuld be four Monarcheis.

His ſecunde Chepture, thow may ſee

Quhow efter the firſt Monarchie

Quhen Nabuchodonoſor King

Ane Image ſaw in his ſleiping

With auſteir luke, in hicht and breid,

And of fyne pure Gold wes his heid,

His breiſt and armes of ſiluer bricht

His wame of Copper, hard and wicht,

His loynis, and lymmis, of Irne riche ſtrang

His feit of clay, Irne myxt amang.

Frome ane montane thare come alone

But haud of man, ane mekle ſtone

Quhilk on that Figours feit did fall

And dang all down in poulder ſmall.

❧ Of quhois Interpretatioun

Doctouris doith mak Narratioun

The heid of gold, did ſignifie

Firſt of Aſſirianis Monarchie.

The ſiluer breiſt, thay did apply

To Perſianis, quhilk rang ſecundly.

The wame of Copper, or of Bras

Thridly to Grekis, compairit was.

His loynis, and lymmis, of Irne and ſteill

Clerkis hes thame compairit weill

To Romanis, throuch thare diligence

To hauehave the ferd preeminence

Abufe all vther Natioun

Be this Interpretatioun

The myxit feit, with Irne and clay

Did ſignifie the letter day

Quhen that the warld, ſuld be deuydit

As efterwart ſalbe decydit

So Chriſt is ſignifyit the ſtone

Quhoſe Monarchie ſall neuer be gone,

For vnderunder his Dominioun

All Princis ſall be ſtrampit doun

Quhen that greit King Omnipotent

Cummis to his generall Iugement.

His Monarchie than ſalbe knawin

As efter ſalbe to the ſchawin.

¶ And als the Scripture ſall the tell

Quhow in the aucht of Daniell,

He ſaw in to his viſioun

Be ane plane expoſitioun,

Quhow that ye Grekis, ſuld wirk vengeans

VponUpon the Medis, and Perſiens.

Comparand Greikis, tyll ane Gait

With ane horne, fers, furious, and, hait

Quhilk ſlew the Ram, with hornis two

Comparit tyll Perſe, and Mede alſo

And ſo be Daniellꝭ Propheceis

All thir greit mychtie Monarcheis

The quhilkis all vther realmes ſuppryſit

Be the greit God, thay wer deuyſit

As he of Titus the Romane

Sone and air to Veſpaſiane

Maid him ane furious Inſtrument

To put the Iowis to greit torment.

Quhilk I purpoſe or I hyne fair.

Schortlie that proces tyll declair.

Of the moſt Miſerabill, And moſt terribill Deſtructioun of Ieruſalem.

Courteo.❧FAther (ſaid I) declare to me

Induryng this Ferd Monarchie

The maiſt Infortune that befell?

Experien.My Sone (ſaid he) that ſal I tel

The moſt and manifeſt miſerie

Become vponupon the greit Citie

Ieruſalem, quhen it wes ſuppreſt

As ſtoryis makis manifeſt.

Bot as the Scripture doith deuyſe

Baru. vi.Ieruſalem wes diſtroyit twyſe.

Firſt for the greit Idolatrie

Quhilk thay committit in Iowrie,

The honour aucht to God allone

Thay gaue to Figuris of ſtock and ſtone.

Afore Chriſtis Incarnatioun

Come this firſt deſolatioun

Fyue houndreth ȝeiris, four ſcore and ten

In Cronicles, as thow may ken,

Quhow Nabuchodonoſor king

That famous Citie did doun thring

Thare King, with peple mony one

Brocht thame all bound to Babilone,

Quhare thay remanit preſoneris

The ſpace of thre ſcore and ten ȝeris.

And that firſt deſolatioun

Wes callit the Tranſmigratioun.

Wes no man left in all thare landis

Bot Purellis laborand with thare handis

Till michtie Cyrus, king of Perſe

As Daniell hes done reherſe,

Wes mouit be God, for tyll reſtore

The Iowis, quhare that thay wer afore.

Geue I neglect, I wer to blame

The laſt Sege of Ieruſalem,

Quhoſe rewyne wes moſt miſerabill

And for to tell rycht terribill.

Wes neuer in erth, Citie nor toun

Gat ſic extreme deſtructioun.

The townis of Tyre, Thebes, nor Troy,

Thay ſufferit neuer half ſic noy.

The Empriour Veſpaſiane

He did deuyſe that Sege certane.

☞Thare wer the Prophecie compleit…

Quhilk Chriſt ſpake on mont Olyueit

Quhen he Ieruſalem beheld

The teris frome his eine diſteld,

Seand be deuyne preſcience

The greit deſtructioun and vengence

Quhilk wes to cum on that Citie

His hart wes perſit with pietie

Sayand Ieruſalem, and thow knew

Thy greit rewyne, ſore wald thow rew

For no thing I can to the ſchaw

The veritie thow wyll nocht knaw,

Nor hes in conſideratioun

Thy holy viſitatioun,

Thy peple wyll no way conſidderMathew xxiiii.

Quham gatherit I wald hauehave to gidder

As errand ſcheip, bene with thare hirdis

Or as the Hen, gadderis hir birdis

VnderUnder hir wyngis tenderlie

Quhilk thay refuſit diſpitfullie,

Quharefor ſall cum that dulefull day

That no remeidie mak thow may.

Thy Doungeounis ſal be doung in ſchonder

So that the warld ſall on the wounder.

Thy tempill now moſt triumphand

Mathew xxiiii.Sall be tred doun amang the ſand.

And as he ſaid, ſo it befell,

As heir efter I ſall the tell.

Courteo.❧Schaw me (ſaid I) with circumſtance.

The ſpeciall cauſe of that myſchance?

Experien.(Quod he) as Scripture doith conclude

For ſchedding of the ſaikles blude

Of Prophetis quhilkis God to thame ſend

And als becauſe that thay miſkend

Ieſu the Sone of God Souerane

Quhen he amang thame did remane.

For all the myraklis that he ſchew

Maliciouſlie thay hym miſknew,

Thocht be his greit power deuine

Iho. ii.The water cleir he turnit in wyne.

And be that ſelf power and micht

To the blynd borne he gaue the ſicht,

And gaue the crukit men thare feit

Ihon. xi.And maid the lipper haill compleit

He healit all, and raiſit the dede

Ȝit held thay hym at mortall fede

Becauſe he ſchew the veritieMath. xi.

Thay did conclude that he ſulde de.

☞The Byſchoppis,Mathew xxvii. princis of the preiſtis

Thay grew ſo boldin in thare breiſtis,

The Scrybis, and Doctouris of the law

Of God nor man, quhilk ſtude none aw.

On Chriſt Ieſu to wyrk vengeans.

Rycht ſo the fals Phariſeans

Ane Sect of fenȝeit Religioun

Deuyſit his confuſioun

And ſend thare ſeruandis at the laſt,

And with ſtrang cordis thay band him faſt,

Syne ſcurgit hym,Iho. xx. baith back and ſyde

That none for blude mycht ſe his hyde

Thare wes nocht left ane penny breid

Vnwoundit frome his feit tyll heid

In maner of Deriſioun

Thay plet for him ane cruell Croun

Of prunȝeand thornis ſcharpe and lang,

Quhilk on his heuinlie hede thay thrang.

Syne gart him for the greiter lack

Beir his awin Gallous on his back

Tyll the vyle place of Caluarie

Quhare mony ane thouſand man mycht ſee.

☞That Innocent thay tuke perforce

And plat hym backwart to the Croce

Throuch feit & hādis greit naillis thay thriſt

Tyll blude aboundantlie out briſt

Without grunſching, cl… our, or crye

That pane he ſufferit pacientlye.

And for augmenting of his greuis

Thay hangit him beiuix two theuis

Quhare men micht ſe the bludie ſtrandis

Quhilkis ſprang furth of his feit and handis

Frome thornis thriſtit on his heid

Ran doun bullering ſtremis reid

In the preſens of mony one man

That blude Royall on roches ran.

Schortlie to ſay, that heuinlie King

In extrme dolour, thare did hing

Till he ſaid, Conſummatum est,

With ane loude cry, he gaif the gaiſt.

Quhen he wes dede, thay tuke one dart

And perſit that Prince, outthrouch the hart,

Fra quhame thare ran, water and blude

The erth than trymlit to conclude.

Phebus did hyde his bemis bricht

That throuch ye warld thare wes no licht

The greit Veill of the tempill raue;

The dede men rais out of thare graue,

And in the Citie did appeir

As in the Scripture thow may heir

Than Ioſeph of Arimathie

Did bury him, rycht honeſtlie.

Iho. xx.Bot ȝit he roſe full gloriouſlie

On the thrid day tryumphandlie

With his Deſcipulis in certane

Fourty dayis he did remane.Actis. i.

Efter that to the heuin aſcendit

Thir Iowis no thing thare lyfe amendit,

Nor gaif no credence tyll his ſawis

As at more lenth, the ſtorie ſchawis

Bot cruellie thay did oppres

All m…n, that Chriſtis Name did profes

And perſecutit mony one

Thay preſonit haith Peter and Ihone,Actis. v. Actis, vii

And Steuin thay ſtonit to the deid.

Frome Iames the les thay ſtraik the heid.

This wes the cauſe in concluſion

Of thare cruell confuſioun

The prudent Iow Ioſephus ſayis

That he mes preſent in thoſe dayis,

And in his buke makis mentioun,

Quhow efter Chriſtis Aſcenſioun

The ſpace of twa and fourty ȝeris

Began thoſe cruell mortall weris,

The ſecund ȝeir of Veſpaſiane

Quhare mony, takin wer and ſlane.

Ioſephus planely doith conclude

Wes neuer ſene ſic one multytude

Afore that tyme in to the toun

Quhilk come for thare confuſioun

Thare greit Infortune ſo befell

That all the Princis of Iſraell

Conuenit agane the tyme of Pace,

Bot tyll returne thay had no grace,

The bauld Romanis with thare Chiftane

Titus the Sone of Veſpaſiane

Thare Army ouer Iudea ſpred.

Than all men to the Citie fled

Beleuand thare to get releif

Bot all that turnit to thare myſcheif.

¶ The Romanis lappit thame about

That be no way thay mycht wyn out

Sax Monethis did that Sege indure

Quhare loſt wer mony one creature

Quhilk thare in miſerie did remane

Tyll thay wer takin all and ſlane.

Duryng the tyme of this aſſailȝe

Thare meit, and drynk, and all did failȝe,

For thare wes ſic ane multytude

That thouſandis deit for falt of fude

Neceſſitie gart thame eit perfors

Dog, Cat, and Ratton, Aſſe, and Hors.

Riche men behuffit to eit thare gold

Syne deit of hunger mony fold.

Sic hunger wes without remeid

The quick behuffit to eit the deid.

The filth of Cloſetis mony eit

To lenth thare lyfe thay thocht it ſweit.

The famous Ladyis of the toun

For fait of fude thay fell in ſwoun.

Quhen thay micht get none vther meit

Thay ſlew thare proper Barnis to eit

Bot all for nocht diſpytfullie

Thair a win ſowldiouris full gredilie

Reft thame that fleſche moſt miſerabill

And thay with murning lamentabill

For extreme houunger ȝeild the ſpreitLuc. xxiiii

Thair wes the Prophecie compleit

As Chriſt afore maid narratioun

The day of his grym Paſſioun

Quhen that the Ladyis for hym murnit

Full pieteuſlie he to thame turnit,

And ſaid, Douchteris murne nocht for me

Murne on ȝour awin Poſteritie,

Within ſchort tyme ſall cum the day

That men of this Cietie ſal ſay,

Quhen thay ar trappit in the ſnare

Blyſt be the wame that neuer bare.

The baren papis, than thay ſall blis

That dulefull day ȝe ſall nocht mis.

This Prophecie it come to pas

That day, with mony lowd allas

Sic ſorrowfull lamentatioun

Wes neuer hard in that Natioun

Seand thoſe luſtie Ladyis ſweit

Deand for hounger in the ſtreit,

Thare huſbandis, nor thair childring

Mycht geue to thame no conforting

Nor ȝit releue thame of thare harmis

Bot atheris deand in vtheris armis.

Efter this wofull Indigence

Amang thame roſe ſic Peſtilence

Quhare in thare deit mony hounder

Quhilk tyll declare, it wer greit wounder.

¶And for finall concluſioun

Thoſe weirlyke wallis thay dang doun

Prince Titus, with his Cheualrie

With ſound of troumpe Tryumphandlie

He enterit in that greit Citie.

Bot tyll declare I thynk pitie

The panefull clamour horribill

Of woundit folk moſt miſerabill

Thare wes nocht ellis, bot tak and ſlay

For thare mycht no man wyn away.

The ſtrandis of blude, ran throuch the ſtreit

Of dede folk trampit vnderunder feit

Auld Wedowis in the preis wer ſmorit

Ȝoung Virginis ſchamefullie deflorit.

The greit Tempill of Salamone

With mony ane curious caruit ſtone

With perfyte pinnakles on hicht

Quhilkis wer richt bewtifull and wicht

Quhare in riche Iowellis did abound

Thay ruſcheit rudelie to the ground

And ſet in tyll thare furious Ire

Sancta Sanctorum in to fyre.

And with extreme confuſioun

All thare greit Dungeonis thay dang doun.

¶ Thare burſin wer the boldin breiſtis

Of Biſchoppis, Princis of the preiſtis,

Thare takin wes the greit vengeans

On fals Scrybis, and Phariſeans.

All thare payncit Ipocriſie

That tyme micht mak thame no ſupplie

That day thay dulefullie repentit

That to the deith of Chriſt conſentit

Thocht it wes out Saluatioun

It wes to thare Dampnatioun.

The vengeance of the blude ſaikles

Frome Abell,Mathew xxiii. till Zacharies

That day vponupon Ieruſalem fell.

Bot tedious it wer to tell

The greit extreme confuſioun

And of blude ſic effuſioun

Wes neuer ſlane ſo mony ane man

At one tyme ſen the warld began.

The Iowis that day gat thare deſyre

Quhilk thay did aſk in to thare Ire

As bene in Scripture ſpecifyit

The day quhen Chriſt wes CrucifyitMathew xxvii.

Quhen Ponce Pilat the Preſident

Said to thame, I am Innocent

Of the Iuſte blude of Chriſt Ieſus

Thay cryit, his Blude licht vponupon ws

And on our Generatioun.

Thay gat thare Supplicatioun

That day, with mony cairfull crye

Thare blude wes ſched aboundantlye.

¶Ioſephus wryttis in his buke

His Cronicle quho lift to luke

During that cruell Sege certane

Wer ellewin houndreth thouſand ſlane

Of preſonaris, weill tauld and ſene

Foureſcore of thouſandis, and ſewintene.

Out of the land thay did expell

All the peple of Iſraell

And for thare greit Ingratytude

Thay leue ȝit vnderunder Seruytude.

Thare is na Iow, in no countrie

Quhilk hes one fute of propertie

Nor neuer had withouttin weir

Sen this day fyuetene hundreth ȝeir.

Nor neuer ſall, I to the ſchaw

Tyll that thay turne to Chriſtis law.

¶Sum ſayis, that Iowis mony fald

Wer thretty for ane penny ſald,

As Iudas ſaid the King of glore

For thretty pennyis, and no more.

☞Efter that mony wer myſcheuit

Quhē nouellꝭ paſt, quhow lāg thay leuit

Apon thare Gold withouttin dout

Thay ſlit thair bellyis to ſerche it out.

The reſt in Egipt, thay did ſend

Preſonaris to thare lyues end.

Titus tuke in his cumpanie

Greit noumer of the moſt worthie

With hym to Rome he led thame bound

Syne cruellie did thame confound

His victorie for till decore

And for Agmenting of his glore

Gart put thame in to publict places

Quhare all folk, mycht behauld thare faces

Syne with wylde Lyonis cruellie

He gart deuore thame dulefullie.

❧ This hie Tryumphand mychtie toun

At Paſche, wes put to confuſioun

Becauſe that in the tyme of pace

Thay Crucifyit the King of grace.

Sum hes this mater done indyte

More Ornatlie than I can wryte

Quharefor I ſpeik of it no more

OnelyOnly to God be laude and glore.

Of the Miſerabill end of Certane tirrannous Princis. And ſpeciallie the Begynnaris of the Four Monarcheis. ☜(✚)☞

NOVV hauehave I done declare at thy deſyris

As thow demandit in to termis ſchort

And quha began, the principall Impyris

As Cronicle and Scripture dois report

Quharefor my Sone, I hartlie the exhort

Perfytlie prent in thy remembrance

Of this Inconſtant warld the variance

The Princis of thir four greit Monarcheis

In thare moſt hieſt pomp, Imperialis

Traiſtyng to be moſt ſure ſet in thare ſeis

The fraudful warld gaif to yaim mortal fal…is

For thare reward, bot dirk memoriallis.

Thocht ouir ye warld, thay had preeminence

Of it thay gat none vther recompence.

For ſiclyke as the ſnaw dois melt in May.

Throuch the reflex of Phebus bemis bricht

Thir greit Impyris, rycht ſo ar went away

Gone bene thair glore, thair power and thare micht

Becauſe yai wer reuarꝭ wtout in richt

And blude ſcheddaris, full cruell to conclude

Richt cruellie tharefor, wes ſched thair blude.

Behald quhow God, ay ſen the warld began,

Hes maid of tyrrane Kingis Inſtrumentis

To ſcurge peple, and to keill mony one man

Quhilkꝭ to his law wer Inobedientis

Quhē thay had done perfurneis his ententis

In dantyng wrangous peple ſchamefullie

He ſufferit thame be ſcurgit cruellie.

Euin as ye ſcule maiſter dois mak ane wand

To dant and ding ſcolaris of rude ingyne

The quhilkis wyl nocht ſtudy at his cōmand

He ſcurgis thame, and onelyonly to that fyne

That thay ſuld to his trew counſale inclyne

Quhen thay obey, and meiſit bene his Ire

He takis the wand, and caſtis in to the fyre.

God of king Pharao, maid one Inſtrument

Quhilk wes the greit king of Egiptiens

His awin peculier peple to torment.

That beand done,Exo. vii. he wrocht on hym vengēs

And leit hym fal, throuch Inobediens.Exo. xiii.

And finallie, he with his greit Armie

In the reid ſey, thame drownit dulefullie.

☞Rycht ſo, of Nabuchodonoſor king.

God maid of hym ane furious Inſtrument

Ieruſalem and the Iowis, to doun thring

Quhen thay to God wer Inobedient,Dan. ii….

Syne reft hym frome his riches and his rent

And hym tranſformit in ane beiſt bru…ell

Seuin ȝeris and more, as wryttis Daniell

Alexander throuch prydefull tirrannie

In ȝeris twelf did mak his greit conqueſt

Ay ſcheddand ſaikles blude full cruellie

Tyll he wes king of kingis he tuke no reſt,

In all the warld, quhen he wes full poſſeſt

In Babilon thronit triumphandlie

Throuch poyſoun ſtrang, deceſit dulefullie

Duke Hanniball the ſtrang Chartagiane

The danter of the Romanis pomp and glore

Be his power wer mony one thouſand ſlane

As may be red at lenth in tyll his ſtorie

At Cannas quhar he wan the victorie

On Romanis hādis ye dede lay on ye ground

Thre heipit Buſchellis wer of ringis found.

☞ Into that mortall battell, I heir ſane

Of the Romanis, moſt worthy weriouris

By preſonaris, wer fourty thouſand ſlane

Of quhō thare wes thretty wyſe ſenatouris

And xx. Lordis, ye quhilkꝭ had dene Pretourꝭ

That deit to in defence of thare cuntrie

And for tyll hald thare land at libertie.

Quhat reward gat this cruell Campioun

Quhen he had ſlane ſo greit one multytude

And quhen the glas of his glorie wes run?

Ane ſchamefull deith, & ſchortlie to conclude

This bene reward of all ſcheddaris of blude

For he gad ſic extreme confuſioun

He ſlew him ſelf in drinking ſtrang poyſoun.

Behald the two moſt famous Campiounis

(That is to ſay) Iulius, and Pompey

Quhilkis did conqueis all erdlie Regionis

Alſweill maine land, as Ilis in the ſey.

And to the toun of Rome gart thame obey

For Pompeius ſubde wit the Orient,

And Iulius Ceſar all the Occident.

☞Bot finallie thir two did ſtryue for ſtait

Quhare throw thre hūdreth .M. mē wer ſlane

Bot Pompeius efter that greit debait

He murdreiſit wes, the ſtorie tellis plane.

Than Iulius wes prince and Souerane

Abufe the hole warld, Empriour and king

Bot in to reſt, ſchort tyme indurit his ring.

❧For within fyue monethis, & lytle more

Amyd his Lordis in the counſale hous

He murdreſit wes, quhat nedis proces more?

As I hauehave ſaid, be Brute, and Caſſius.

Gyf thou wald knaw, thare dethis dolorous

Thou moſt at lenth, go reid ye Romane ſtorie

Quhilk hes this mater put in memorie.

Gone is the goldin warld, of Aſſirianis.

Of quhom king Ninus, wes firſt & principal

Gone is the ſyluer warld of Perſianis,

The Copper warld of Grekis now is thrall

The warld of Irne, quhilk wes the laſt of al,

Comparit to the Romanis in thare glore,

Ar gone rychtſo, I heir of thame no more.

Now is the warld of Irne myxit with clay,

As Daniell at lenth, hes done indyte.

The greit Impyris ar melted clene away.

Now is the warld of dolour and deſpyte

I ſe nocht ellis, bot troubill infinyte

Quharefor my Sone, I mak it to the kend

This warld I wat is drawand to ane end

Tokningꝭ of derth, hounger, and peſtilence,

With cruell weris, baith be ſey and land

Realme aganis realme, with mortal violence

Quhilk ſignifyis, ye laſt day ewin at hand.

Quharefor my Sone be in thy faith conſtand

Raiſing thy hart to God and crye for grace

And mend thy lyfe, quhil yu hes tyme & ſpace.

The fift Spirituall And Papall Monarchie.

Courteo.FAther Is thare no Prince regnand

Quhilk hes the warld now at cōmand,

As had the Kingis of Aſſirianis

The Perſis, Grekis, or the Romanis

Quho hes now maiſt Dominioun

Of euerilk land and Regioun?

Experen.Thare is no Prince, my Sone (ſaid he)

That hes the principall Monarchie

Abuſe the warld vniuerſall

With hole power Imperiall

As Alexander, or Darius

Or as had Ceſar Iulius

For Orient and Occident

To thame wer all obedient.

Nochtwithſtanding, I find one King

Quhilk in tyll Europe doith ring,

That is the potent Pope of Rome

Impyrand ouer all Chriſtindome.

To quhome no prince may be compair

As Cannon lawis can declair.

All Princis of the Occident

Ar tyll his grace obedient.

For he hes hole power compleit

Boith of the body and the ſpreit

Quhilk neuer had no Prince afore

Except the michtie king of glore.

To Chriſt he is greit Lewtennand

In holy Peteris Sait ſittand.

So he is of all kingis king

Quhilkis in to Europe now doith ring.

☞And as the Romane Empriouris

Hauing the warld vnderunder thare curis

Had Princis Knichtis, and Campionis

Rewlaris in tyll all Regionis

Vphalding thare Authoritie

Vſing Iuſtice and policie,

Rycht ſo this potent Pope of Rome

The Souerane king of Chriſtindome

He hes in tyll ilk countrie

His Princis of greit grauitie

In ſum countreis his Cardinalis

In thare moſt precious apparaillis

Archtbiſchoppis, Biſchoppis thow may ſe

Defending his auctoritie.

With vther potent Patriarkis,

Collegis full of cunnyng Clerkis.

Abbottis, and Priouris, as ȝe ken

Miſrewlaris of Religious men.

Officialis, with thare Procuratouris

Quhoſe langſum law, ſpulȝeis the puris.

Archedenis, and Denis, of dignitie

Greit Doctouris of Diuinitie.

Thare Chantouris, and thare Sacriſtanis

Thare Treſoureris, and thare Subdenis,

Legionis of Preiſtis Seculeris

Perſonis, Vicaris, Monkis, and Freitis,

Of diuers Ordouris mony one

Quhilk langſum wer for tyll expone,

In ſyndrie habitis as ȝe ken

Different frome vther Chriſtin men.

Fair Ladyis of Religioun

Profeſſit in eueryevery Regioun.

Fals Heremitis, faſſionit lyke the freiris

Proude pariſche Clerkis, and Pardoneris,

Thare Gryntaris, and thare Chamberlanis

With thare temporall Courtiſſanis

Thus all the warld be land and ſey

His Sanctitude thay do obey

Nocht onelyonly his ſpirituall Kingdome

Bot the greit Empriour of Rome

And kingis of euerilk Regioun

That day quhen thay reſaue thare crown

Thay mak aith of fidelitie

Tyll defende his auctoritie.

Moreouer, with humyll reuerence

Thay mak tyll hym obedience

Be thare ſelfis, or Ambaſſadouris

Or vtheris Ornate Oratouris.

Quho doith gant ſtand his Maieſtie

His Lawis or his Libertie

Or haldis ony Opinioun

Contrair his greit Dominioun

Other be way of deid or wordis

Ar put to deith, be fyre or ſwordis,

Sanct Peter ſtylit wes, Sanctus,

Bot he is callit, Sanctiſsimus.

His ſtyle at lenth, geue thow wald knaw

Thow moſt go luke the Cannon Law

Boith in the ſixt and Clementene

His ſtaitly ſtyle thare may be ſene.

Thare ſall thow find, reid giuegive thow can

Quhow he is nother God nor man.

Quhat is he than, be ȝour Iudgement

Quod I,Courteo. me thynk hym different

Far frome our Souerane Lord Ieſus

And tyll his kynd contratious.

For Chriſt wes God,Ihon. i. and naturall man

Geue he be nother, quhat is he than?

¶ The Cannon law,Expere… my Sone (ſaid he)

That queſtioun wyll declare to the.

It dois tranſcend my rude Ingyne

His Sanctitude for tyll defyne

Or to ſchaw the auctoritie

Pertening to his Maieſtie

So greit one Prince, quhare ſall thow find

That Spirituallie may lous and bind.

Nor be quhame ſynnis ar forgeuin

Be thay with his Diſciplis ſchreuin

Quhame euer he bindis be his micht

Thay boundin ar in Goddis ſicht,

Quhame euer he louſis in erth heir doun

Ar louſit be God in his Regioun.

Als he is Prince of Purgatorie

Delyuering ſaulis frome pane to glorie,

Of that dirk Dungeoun but dout

Quhame euer he pleſis, he takis thame out

Our ſecreit Synnis eueryevery ȝeir

We mon ſchaw to ſum preiſt or freir

And tak thare Abſolutioun

Or ellis we get no remiſſioun.

So be this way, thay cleirlie ken

The ſecretis of all ſecular men.

Thare ſecretis we knaw nocht at all

Thus ar we to thame bound and thrall.

Quhat euer thare Miniſteris commandis

Moſt be obey it without demandis.

Quharefor my Sone, I ſay to thee,

This is ane meruelous Monarchie

Quhilk hes power Imperiall

Boith of the body and the Saull.

¶Father (quod I) declare to me

Quho did begin this Monarchie?

(Quod he)Ex… Chriſt Ieſus God and man

That Impyre gratiouſlie began

Nocht be the fyre, nor be the ſword

Bot be the vertew of his word.E…h… … Lu… …

And left in tyll his Teſtament

Mony one deuote Document

With his Succeſſouris to be vſit

Thocht mony of thame be now abuſit

For Peter and Paule, with all the reſt

Of thare Brethren maid manifeſt

The law of God with trew intent

Precheing the auld and New Teſtament.

Thay led thare lyfe in pouertie

Deuotioun and Humylitie

As did thare Maiſter Chriſt Ieſus.

And war nocht half ſo glorious

As thare Succeſſour now in Rome

Impyrand ouer all Chriſtindome.

☞Efter the deith of Peter and Paull

And Chriſtis trew Diſcpulisall

Thare Succeſſouris within few …erris

As at more lenth, chare ſtorie betis

Full craftelie clam to the hicht

Frome Spirituall lyfe, to temporal micht.

Father or we pas forther moreCourteo.

Quhen did begyn thare temporall glore?

Sone (ſaid he)Experie… thow ſall vnderſtand

Or euer ane Paip gat ony land

Twa and thretty gude Paipis in Rome

Reſſauit the Crown of Martirdome,

Bot nocht the Thrinfald Diadame

To weir thre crounis thay thocht gret ſchame

Tyll Silueſter the Confeſſour

Frome Conſtantine the Empriour

Reſſauit the realme of Italie

Rychtſo of Rome the greit Citie.

That wes the rute of thare riches

Than ſprang the well of welthines.

Quhen that the Paip wes maid ane king

All Princis howit at his bidding.

This Act wes done withouttin weir

Frome Chriſtis deith, thre hundreth ȝeir

¶Than Lady Senſualitie

Tuke Lug…ing in that greit Citie,

Quhare ſchoſenſyne hes done remane

As thare awin lady Souerane.

Than Kingis in tyll all Nationis

Maid Preiſtis greit foundationis

Thay thocht greit merite and honour

To conterfait the Empriour

As did Dauid of Scotland King

The quhilk did found, duryng his ring,

Fyftene Abbayis, with temporall landis

Withouttin teindis, and offerandis

Be quhoſe holy ſimplicitie

He left the Crown in pouertie

Now hauehave I ſchawin the as I can

Quhow thare temporall Impyre began

Aſcending vp ay gre by gre

Abufe the Empriouris Maieſtie

So quhen thay gat amang thare handis

Of Italie, all the Empriouris landis,

Efter that in ilk countrie

Sprang vp thare temporalitie

With ſo greit riches and ſic rent

That thay gan to be negligent

In making Miniſtratioun

To Chriſtis trew Congregatioun,

And tuke no more pane in thare preching

And far les trauell in thare teching

Changeing thare Spiritualitie

In temporall Senſualitie.

¶Father thynk ȝe that thay ar ſureCourteo.

That thare Impyre ſall lang indure?

Apperandlie,Experien. it may be kend

(Quod he) thare glore ſall hauehave ane end.

I mene thare temporall Monarchie

Sall turne in tyll humilitie

Throuch Goddis word without debait

Thay ſall turne to thare firſt eſtait.

As Danſelis Prophecie apperis

Thareto ſall nocht be mony ȝeris

Quhowbeit Chrſtis faith, ſall neuer faill

Bot more and more, it ſall preuaill.

Thocht Chrſtis trew Congregatioun

Suffer greit tribulatioun.

Courteo.Father (ſaid I) be quhat reſoun

Thynk ȝe thare Impyre may cum doun

Experien.Conſidering thare preeminence?

(Quod he) for Inobedience

Abuſing the Commandement

Mathew xv.Quhilk Chriſt left in his Teſtament,

Vſing thare awin Traditioun

More than his Inſtitutioun.

For Chriſt in his laſt conuentioun

Mathew xxviii. Iob. xv. …er. i.The day of his Aſcenſioun

Tyll his Diſcipulis gaue command

That thay ſulde pas in eueryevery land

To teche and preche, with trew intens

His law, and his commandement.

None vther office, he to thame gaue

He did nocht bid thame ſeik nor craue

Cors preſentis, nor offerandis

Nor get Lordſhippis of temporall landis.

Bot now it may be hard and ſene

Baith with thyne eris, and thyne eine,

Quhow Prelatis now, in eueryevery land

Takis lytle cure of Chriſtis command

Nother in to thare dedis nor ſawis

Neglecting thare awin Cannon lawis

Vſing thame ſelfis contrarious

For the maiſt part to Chriſt Ieſus.

Mat. iiiiChriſt thocht na ſchame to be ane precheour

And tyl all peple, of treuth ane techeour

Ane Pope, Biſchop, nor Cardidall

To teche nor preche, wyll nocht be thrall.

Thay ſend furth freitis, to preche for thame

Quhilk garris ye peple, mok yame wt ſchame.

Chriſt wald nocht be ane temporall kingIhon. vi.

Richely in to no realme to ring

Bot fled temporall auctoritie

As in the Scripture thow may ſee

All men may knaw, quhow Popis ringis

In Dignitie abufe all kingis,

Als weill in temporalitie

As in to Spiritualitie

Thow may ſee be experience

The Popis princely preeminence.

In Cronicles geue thow liſt to luke

Quhow Carion wryttis in his buke

Ane Notabill Narratioun

The ȝeir of our Saluatioun

Ellewin houndreth, and ſex and fyftie

Pope Alexander preſumptuouſlie,

Quhilk wes the thrid Pope of that name,

To Friderik Empriour did defame,

In Veneis that triumphand town

That nobill Empriour gart ly down

Apon his wame, with ſchame and lack

Syne tred his feit vponupon his back

In taikin of Obedience.

Thare he ſchew his preeminence

And Cauſit his Clergie for to ſing

Thir wordis eftter following.

¶ SVPER Aſpidem & baſiliſcum ambulabir:

Pſalme. lxxxxi.Et conculcabis leonem & drachonem.

That is, thou ſal gang vpō the edder & the Coketrice.

And thow ſall tred down the Lioun & the Dragoun.

¶ Than ſaid this humill Empriour

I do to Peter, this honour

The Pope anſwerit with wordis wroith

Thow ſall me honour and Peter boith.

Chriſt for to ſchaw his humill ſpreit

Did waſche his pure Diſcipulis feit.

The Popis holynes I wys

Wyll ſuffer Kingis his feit to kys

Luc. ix.Birdis had thare neſtis, & Toddis thare den

Bot Chriſt Ieſus, Saiffer of men

In erth had nochtane penny breid

Quhare on he mycht repoſe his heid.

¶Quhowbeit the Popis excellence

Hes Caſtellis of Magnificence.

Abbottis, Biſchoppis, and Cardinalis

Hes pleſand palices royallis

Lyke Paradyſe, ar thoſe prelatis places

Act…. iiiiWanting no pleſour of fair faces

Ihone, Androw, Iames, Peter nor Paull

Had few houſes amang thame all

Frome tyme thay knew the veritie

Thay did contempne all propertie

And wer richt hartfully content

Of meit drynk, and Abuilȝement.

☞ To ſaif Mankynd that wes forlorneIho. xix.

Chriſt bure ane cruell crown of thorne

The Pope thre Crownis for the no…is

Of gold, poulderit with precious ſtonis.

Of gold and ſyluer, I am ſure.

¶ Chriſt Ieſus tuke bot lytle cure

And left nocht quhen he ȝeild the ſpreit

To by hym ſelf, ane wynding ſchei….

Bot his Succeſſour gude Pope …hone

Quhen he deceiſit in Auinione

He left behynd hym one treſour

Of gold and ſyluer by meſour

Be one Iuſte computatioun

Weill fyue and twentye Myllioun

As doith Indyte Palmerius

Reid hym and thow ſall fynd it thus.

¶ Chriſtis Diſciplis wer weill knowin

Throuch vertew, quhilk wes be thame ſchawin

In ſpeciall feruent cheritie

Greit pacience, and humylitie,

The Popis floke in all regionis

Ar knawin beſt be thare clippit crounis.

❧Chriſt he did honour MatrimonieIhon. ii.

In to the Cane of Galilie

Quhare he be his power Diuyne

Did turne the water in to wyne.

And als cheiſit ſum Maryit men

To be his ſeruandis as ȝe ken

And Peter duryng all his lyfe

He thocht no Syn, to hauehave ane wyfe.

Ȝe ſall nocht fynd in no paſſage

Quhare Chriſt forbiddith Mariage

Bot leifſum tyll ilk man to Marie

Quhilk wantis the gift of Chaiſtitie.

☞The Pope hes maid the contrar lawis

In his kyngdome, as all men knawis

None of his preiſtis dat marie wyfis

VnderUnder no les paine nor thair ly…is

Thocht thay hauehave Concubynis fyftene

In to that cace, thay ar ouerſene

Quhat chaiſtitie, thay keip in Rome

Is weill kend ouer all Chriſtindome.

Mathew xvii.Chriſt did ſchaw his obedience

Onto the Empriouris excellence

And Cauſit Peter for to pay

Tribute to Ceſar, for thame tway.

Paule biddis vsus be obedient

To kyngis as the moſt excellent.

☞The contrar did Pope Seleſtene

Quhen that his Sanctitude ſerene

Did crown Henry the Emprioure

I thynk he did hym ſmall honoure

For with his feit he did hym crown

Syne with his fute, the croun dang doun

Sayand, I hauehave Authoritie

Men tyll exalt to dignitie

And to mak Emprioutis and kingis

And Syne depryue thame of thare ringis.

Peter be my Opinioun

Did neuer vſe ſic Dominioun.

Apperandlie be my Iugement

That Pope red neuer the New Teſtament

Geue he had lernit at that lore

He had refuſit ſic vane glore.

As Barnabas Peter and Paull

And rytht ſo Chriſtis Diſcipulis all.

The Capitane CorneliusActis. x.

Quhen Sanct Peter come tyll his hous

Tyll worſchip hym fell at his feit,

Bot Sanct Peter with humyll ſpreit

D… rais hym vp with diligence

And did refuſe ſic Reuerence.

Rycht ſo Sanct Ihone the Euangeliſt,Apoca. xix.….xii.

The Angellis feit he wald hauehave kiſt

Bot … …ic honour,

Say me I am bot ſeruitour

Rycht ſo thy fallow, and thy brother

Geue glore to God, and to none vther.

And lyikwyſe Barnabas and PaullAct. xiiii.

Sic honour did refuſe at all

In Liſtra, quhare thay wrocht greit workis

The preiſt of Iuppiter, with his clerkis

And all the peple with thare auyce

Wald hauehave maid to thame Sacrifyce

Of quhilk thay wer ſo diſcontent

That thay thare clothyng raue and rent

And Paule amang thame rudely ran

Sayand, I am ane mortall man

Geue glore to God, of king is king

That maid heuin, erth, and eueryevery thing:

Sen Peter and Paule vane glore refuſit

With Popis quhy ſulde ſic glore be vſit.

Peter, Androw, Ihone, Iames, and Paull,

And Chriſtis trew Diſcipulis all

Be Goddis word thare faith defendit,

To birn, and ſkald, thay neuer pretendit

The Pope defendis his traditioun

Be flammand fyre, without remiſſioun,

Quhowbeit men brek the law Diuyne

Thay ar nocht put to ſo greit pyne

For huredome, nor Idolatrie

For Inceſt, nor Adulterie,

Or quhen ȝoung Virginis ar deflorit

For ſic thing men ar nocht abhorit.

Bot quho that eitis fleſche in to lent

Ar terriblie put to torment

And geue ane preiſt happynnis to marie

Thay do hym baneis, curs, and warie

Thocht it be nocht aganis the law

Of God, as men may cleirly knaw

Betuix thir two, quhat difference bene

Be faithfull folk it may be ſene

Sic Antitheſes mony mo

I mycht declare quhilkis I lat go

And may nocht tary to compyle

Of lik ordout, the ſtaitlie ſtyle.

The ſillie Nun wyll think greit ſchame

Without ſcho callit be Madame.

The pure Preiſt think's he gettis no richt

Be he nocht ſtylit lyke ane knicht,

And callit Schir, afore his name,

As ſchir Thomas, and ſchir Williame

All Monkis ȝe may heir and ſe

Ar callit Denis, for Dignitie

Quhowbeit his mother milk the kow

He man be callit Dene Androw

Dene Peter, dene Paull, and dene Robart

With Chriſt thay tak ane painfull part

With dow…yll clethyng frome the cald

Eirand and drinkand quhen thay wald

With curious Countryng in the queir

God wat gyf thay by heuin full deir.

My lorde Abbot, richt venerabill

Ay marſchellit vpmoſt at the tabill

My lord Biſchop, moſt reuerent

Set abufe Erlis in Parliament

And Cardinalis duryng thare ringis

Fallowis to Princis, and to Kingis.

The Pope exaltit in honour

Abufe the potent Empriour.

The proude Perſone I think trewlie

Heleidis his lyfe rycht luſtelie,

For quhy, he hes none vther pyne

Bot tak his teind, and ſpend it ſyne

Bot he is obliſſit be reſoun

To preiche vntill his Patichioun

Thocht thay want preiching ſewintene ȝeir

He wyll nocht want ane boll of beir.

Sum Perſonis hes at his command

The wantoun Wenchis of the land,

Als chay hauehave gret prerogatyuis

That may depart ay with thare wyuis

Without Diuorce, or ſummonding

Syne tak ane vther but wedding.

Sum man wald think ane luſtie lyfe

Ay quhen he liſt, to change his wyte

And tak ane vther of more bewtie.

Bot Secularis wantis that libertie

The quhilk ar bound in mariage

Bot thay lyke Rammis in to thare rage

Vnpiſſilit rynnis amang the ȝowis

So lang as Nature in thame growis.

¶And als the Vicar, as I trow

He wyll nocht faill to tak ane kow

And vpmaiſt claith (thocht babis thame ban)

Frome ane pure ſelie houſband man

Quhen that he lyis for tyll de

Hauyng ſmall barnis two or thre

And his thre ky withouttin mo

The Vicar moſte hauehave one of tho

With the gray cloke, that happis the bed

Howbeit that he be puirlie cled.

And gif the wyfe de on the morne

Thocht all the babis lulde be forlorne

The vther kow he cleikis away

With hir pure coit of roploch gray

And gif within twa dayis or thre

The eldeſt Chyld hapnis to de

Of the thrid kow, he wyll be ſure.

Quhen he hes all than vnderunder his cure

And Father, and Mother boith ar dede

Beg mon the babis, without remede.

Thay hald the Corps at the kirk ſtyle

And thare it moſt remane ane quhyle

Tyll thay get ſufficient ſouertie

For thare kirk richt and dewitie

Than cummis the landis Lord perfors

And cleikis tyll hym ane herield hors.

Pure laubouraris, waid that law wer doun

Quhilk neuer wes foundit be reſoun

I hard thame ſay vnderunder confeſſioun

That law is brother till Oppreſſioun.

My Sone I hauehave ſchawin as I can

Quhow this fyft Monarchie began.

Quhoſe gret Impyre for to report

At lenth, the tyme bene all to ſchort.

Ane deſcriptioun of The Court of Rome. ☞*☜

Courteo.FAther (ſaid I) quhat reul keip thay ī rome

Quhilk hes the Spirituall dominioun,

And Monarchie, abufe all Chriſtindome

Schaw me I make ȝow ſupplicatioun?

ExperienMy Sone, wald I mak trew narratioun

(Said he) to Peter, & Paul, thocht yai ſucceid

I think thay preue nocht that in to thair deid.

For Peter Androw & Ihon wer fiſchearꝭ fyne

Of men and wemen, to the Chriſtin faith

Bot thai haif ſpred thare Nec wt huik & lyne

On tentis riche, on gold, and vther graith

Sic fiſching to neglect, thay wyll be laith

For quhy, yai haif fiſchit in ouerthort ye ſtrandis

Ane gret part treuly of al tēporallandis.

With that the tent part of all gude mouabil.

For the vphalding of thare Digniteis.

So bene thare fiſching wounder proffitabill

On the dry land, als weill as on the ſeis

Thare hery water, thay ſpred in all countreis

And wt thair hois net, daylie drawis to Rome

The moſt fyne gold, that is in Chriſtindome.

I dar weill ſay, within this fiftie ȝeir

Rome hes reſauit furth of this Regioun

For Bullis & benefice (qubilk yai by ful deir)

Quhilk myt ful weil haif payit ane kingꝭ ranſōn

Bot war I worthie for to weir ane croun

Preiſtis ſuld no more out ſubſtance ſo cōſume

Sending ȝeirlie ſo gret ryches to Rome.

In to thare tramalt net, thai fangit ane fiſche

More nor ane quhaill worthie of memorie

Of quhome yai haif had mony daintie diſche

Be quhome thay ar exaltit to greit glorie

That marueloꝰ monſtour, callit Purgatorie

Howbeit tyll vsus, it is nocht amiabill

It hes to thame, bene veray profitabill.

Lat thay yat fructeful fiſche eſchaip thair net

Be quhome thay hauehave ſo gret commoditeis

Ane more fat fiſche, I traiſt thay ſall not get

Thocht thay wald ſerche ouerthort ye occeane ſeis

Adew the daylie dolorous Dirigeis

Selie pure preiſtis, may ſing wt hart ful ſorie

Want thay that painful palice Purgatorie.

Fair weil Monkrie, wt Chanoun Nun & freir

Allace thay wyll be lichtleit in all landis

Cowlis wil no more be kend in kirk nor queir

Lat thai ye frutful fiſche eſchaip thare handis

I counſall thame to bind hym faſt in bandis

For Peter, Androw, nor Ihon, culd neuer get

So proffitable ane fiſche, in to thair net.

Thare Merchandice, in tyll all Nationis

As prentit leid, thare walx, and parchem ent

Thare pardonis and thare Diſpenſationis

Thay do exceid ſum temporall princis rent

As for thare Monkis thair chanounis & yale Freiris

And luſtie Ladyis of Religioun

I knaw nocht quhar to thare office effeiris

Bot men may ſe thare greit abuſioun

Thay ar nocht lyke, in to concluſioun

Nother in to thair wordis, nor thare workis

To the Apoſtilis, Prophetꝭ nor Patriarkis.

Gif preſentlie thir Prelatis can not preiche

Than lat ilk Byſchop hauehave ane Suffragane

Or ſucceſſour, quhilk can the peple teiche

On thare expenſis ȝeirlie to remane

To cauſe the peple frome thare vyce refrane.

And quhen ane prelate, hapnith to deceace

Than put ane perfite preichour in his place.

Do thay nocht ſo, on thame ſall ly the tharge

Geuand vnable men Authoritie

As quho wald mak ane ſteirmā til ane barge

Of ane blind borne, quhilk can no dainger ſo

Geue that ſchip droun, forſuth I ſay for me

Quho gaif that ſteirman ſic commuſſioun

Suld of the ſchip mak reſtitutioun.

The humane Lawis, that ar contrarious

And nocht conforming to the Law diuyne

Thay ſulde expell, and hald thame odious

Quhē thai perſaue, thame cū to no gude fyne

Inuentit bot be ſenſuall mennis Ingyne

As that law quhilk forbiddis Mariage

Cauſing ȝoung Clerkes birn in luſtis rage.

¶Difficill is Chaiſtitie tyll obſerueRom. vii.

But ſpeciall grace, laubour, and abſtinence

In tyll our fleſche ay regnis tyll we ſterue.

That firſt Originall ſyn, Concupiſcence,

Quhilk we throuch Adamis Inobedience

Hes done Incur, and ſall indure foreuer

Quhill that our ſaull and body deith diſſeuer.

Tharefor God maid of Mariage the bandGene. ii.

In Paradyce (as Scripture doith recorde)

In Galilie, rycht ſo I vnderſtand

Wes Mariage honourit be Chriſt our Lord,Ihon. ii.

Auld Law, & New, thare to thay do concorde

I think for me, better that thay had ſlepit

Nor tyll hauehave maid ane law, and neuer kepit.

Tuke nocht Chriſt Ieſus his HumanitieMath. i.

Of ane Virgine, in Mariage contractitLuc. i.

And of hir fleſche, cled his Diuinitie,

Quhy half thay done ye bliſful band deiectit

In thare kingdome, wald god it wer co…rectit

That ȝōng prelatis, micht marie luſtie wyfis

And noche in ſenſuall luſt, to leid thare lyfis.

Did nocht Chriſt theis of honeſt maryit men

Aiſweill as thay that kepit Chaiſtitie

For to be his Diſcipulis as ȝe ken

As in the Scripture cleirlie thow may ſee

Thay keipit ſtyll thare wyfis with honeſtie

As Peter, and his ſpouſit brethren all

Obſeruit Chaiſtitie Matrimoniall.

i Tim. iiiiBot now apperis the Prophecie of Paull

Quhow ſum ſuld ryis in to the latter age

That frō the trew faith ſuld depart and fall

And ſuld forbid the band of Mariage

Als thow ſall find, in to that ſam paſſage

Thay ſuld cōmand from meitis till abſtene

Quhilk God creat his peple to ſuſtene

Bot ſen ye Pope our ſpiritual prince & king

He dois ouerſe ſic vyces manifeſt

And in his kingdome, ſufferith for to ring

The men be quhome the veritie bene ſuppreſt

I excuſe nocht hym ſelf, more than the reſt

Allace how ſuld we membris be weill vſit

Quhen ſo our ſpirituall heidis bene abuſit.

☞The famous ancient Doctor Auicene

Sayis quhē euil rewme diſcendis frō ye heid

In to the membris, generith mekle pane

Without thare be maid haiſtelie remeid

Quhē that cald humour dōnwart dois ꝓceid,

In Sennounis it cauſis Arthetica,

Rychtſo in the handis cramp Chiragra.

Of Maledyis it generis mony mo

Bot geue men get ſum Souerane preſerue

As in the theis Scyathica Paſſio,

And in the breiſt, ſumtyme ye ſtrang Caterue

Quhilk cauſis men richt haiſtelie to ſterue,

And Podagra, difficill for to cure

In mēnis feit, quhilk lang tyme dois indure.

So to this moſt triumphand court of Rome,

This ſymilitude, full weill I may compair

Quhilk hes bene herſchip of al Chriſtindome

And to the warld ane euyll exemplair

That vmquhyle was Lod ſterre, & luminair

And the moſt ſapient Sait of Sanctitude

Bot now allace bair of Beatitude.

Thare kyngdome may be callit BabiloneApo. xvii

Quhilk vmquhyle wes ane bricht Ieruſalē

As planelie menis the Apoſtill Ihone

Thare moſt famous Citie, hes tint the fame,

Inhabiteris thairof thare nobyll Name:

For quhy, thay hauehave of Sanctis Habitakle

To Symon Magus maid ane Tabernakle,

And horribill vaill of euerilk kynd of vyce

Ane laithlie Loch of ſtinkand Licherie,

Ane curſſit Coue corrupt with Couatyce,

Bordourit about with pryde and Symonie

Sum ſayis ane Ciſterne full of Sodomie

Quhoſe vyce in ſpeciall, gif I wald declair

It war yneuch, for tyll perturb the air.

Of treuth the hole Chriſtin Religioun

Throuch thame ar ſcandalizat and offendit,

It can nocht faill, bot thare abuſioun

Afore the Throne of God it is aſcen…it

Luc. xiii. Apo. xviiI dreid but dout, without that thay amend it

The plaigis of Ihonis Reuelatioun

Sal fall vponupon thare Generatioun.

O Lord quhilk hes the hartis of euerilkking

In to thy hand, I mak the Suplicatioun

Cōuert that court, that of thare grace bening

Thay wald mak generall reformatioun

Amang thame ſelfis, in euerilk Natioun

That thay may be ane holy exemplare

Tyll vsus, thy pure lawit commoun populare.

Houngerit allace, for falt of Spirituall fude

Becauſe frome vsus bene hid the veritie

O prince, quhilk ſched for vsus thy p̄cius blude

Kendle in vsus, the fyre of Cheritie

And ſaif vsus frome Eternall miſerie

Now laubouryng in to thy kirk Militant

That we may all cū to thy kirk triumphant.