Works, Book 4 – Prologue 2
The fourt buke makand mētioun of the deith, Of the Antichriſt, Of the Generall Ingement, of Certane pleſouris of the Glorifeit Bodyis, And quhow eueryevery Creature deſiris to ſe the laſt day. With ane Exhortatioun be Experience to the Courteour. &c.
PRVDENT Father Experience.Courteo.
Sen ȝe of ȝour beneuolence
Hes cauſit me for to conſidder
Quhow warldlie Pomp, & glore bene ſlidder
Be diuers ſtoryis miſerabill
Quhilkis to rehers bene Lamentabill
Ȝit or we pas furth of this vaill
I pray ȝow geue me ȝour counſaill
Quhat I ſall do in tyme cumming
To haif the glore Euerlaſting?
❧My Sone (ſaid he)Experien. ſet thy intent
To keip the Lordis Commandement
And preis the nocht to clym ouer hie
To no warldlie Authoritie
Quho in the warld doith moſt reiois
Ar farreſt ay frome thare purpois
Wald thow leue warldlie vaniteis
And thynk on four extremiteis
Quhilkis ar to cum, and that ſchortlie
Thow wald neuer ſyn wylfullie,
Prent thir four, in thy memorie
The Deith, the Hell, and Heuinnis glorie
And extreme Iugement generall
Quhare thow mon rander compt of all
Thow ſall nocht faill to be content
Of quiet lyfe, and ſober rent.
Conſidering no man can be ſure
In erth one hour for tyll indure
So all warldlie proſperitie
Is myxit with greit miſerie.
¶ Wer thow Empriour of Aſia
Kink of Europe, and Aphrica,
Greit Dominator of the ſey
And thocht the Heuinnis did the obey
All fyſchis ſweming in the ſtrand
All beiſt and foull at thy command
Concluding thow wer king ouer all
VnderUnder the heuin Imperiall
In that moſt hich Authoritie
Thow ſuld fynd leiſt tranquillitie
ii. Pax. ixExempill of king Salomone
More proſperous lyfe had neuer none
Sic ryches, with ſo greit pleſour
Had neuer king nor Empriour
With moſt profound Intelligence
And ſuper excellent Sapience
His pleſand Habitationis
Precellit all vther Nationis
Gardingis and parkis, for hartis and hyndis
Stankis with fiſche of diuers kyndis
Moſt profound maiſteris of Muſike
That in the warld wes none thame lyke.
Sic treſour of gold, and precious ſtonis
In erth, had neuer no king at onis.
He had ſeuin hundreth luſtie Quenisiii. Reg. xi.
And thre hundreth fair Concubenis
In erth, thare wes no thing pleſand
Contrarious tyll his command.
Ȝit all this gret proſperitieEccle. i.
He thocht it vane, and vanitie
And mycht neuer find repoſe compleit
Without afflictioun of the ſpreit.
¶ Father (quod I)Courteo. it maruellis me
He hauand ſic proſperite
With ſo gret riches by meſour
Nor he had infinite pleſour?
¶ My ſone the ſuith gif thow wald knaw
The veritie I ſall the ſchawExperien.
Thare is no warldlie thyng at all
May ſatyfie ane mannis Saull
For it is ſo Inſatiabill
That heuin and erth, may nocht be abill
One Saull allone to mak content
Tyll it ſe God Omnipotent
Wes neuer none, nor neuer ſalbe
Satiate, that ſycht tyll that he ſe.
Quharefore my Sone, ſet nocht thy cure
Math. vi. Luc. xii.In erth, quhare no thing may be ſure
Except the deith allanerlie
Quhilk followis man continuallie
Tharefor my Sone, rrmember the
Within ſchort tyme that thow man de
Nocht knawing quhē, quhow in quhat place
Bot as it pleſith the King of grace.
❧ Of the Deith,
OF Miſerie moſte Miſerabill
Is Deith, and moſte abhominabill
That dreidful Dragone wt his dartis
Ay reddy for to pers the hartis
Of euerilk Creature on lyue
Contrar quhoſe ſtrenth may no man ſtryue.
¶ Of dolent Deith, this ſore ſentence
Wes geuin throw Inobedience
Of our Parentis, allace tharefore,
As I hauehave done declare afore
Quhow thay, and thare Poſteritie
Wer all condampnit for to de
… …o what the fleſche to deith be thrall
… the Sa… … Immortall,
And ſo of his benignitie
Hes myxit his Iuſtice with MercieMercy
Tharefor call to remembrance
Of this fals warld the variance
Quhow we lyke Pylgramꝭ ewin & morrow
Ay trauelling throuch this vaill of ſorrow
Sum tyme in vane proſperitie
Sum tyme in greit miſerie
Sum tyme in blis, ſum tyme in baill
Sum tyme richt ſeik, and ſum tyme haill
Sum tyme full riche, and ſum tyme pure
Quharefore my Sone, tak lytle cure
Nother of greit proſperitie
Nor ȝit of greit Miſerie
Bot pleſand lyfe, and hard miſchance
Ponder thame boith in one ballance
Conſidering none authorite
Ryches, wyſedome, nor dignite
Empyre of Realmes, bewtie, nor ſtrenth
May nocht one day, our lyuis lenth
Sen we ar ſure, that we moſte de
Fair weill all vane felicite.
¶ Greitlie it doith perturbe my mynd
Of dolent deith, the diuers kynd
Thocht deith till eueryevery man reſortis
Ȝit ſtrykith he in ſyndrie ſortis
Sum be hait Feueris violence
Sum be contagious Peſtilence
Sum be Iuſtice executioun
Bene put to deith, without Remiſſioun
Sum hangit, ſum doith loſe thare heidis
Sum brynt, ſum ſoddin in to leidis
And ſum for thare vnleifſum artis
Ar rent and rewin vponupon the ractis
Sum ar diſſoluit be poyſoun
Sum on the nycht ar murdreiſt doun
Sum fallis in to freneſie
Sum deis in Hydropiſie
And vtheris ſtrange Infirmiteis
Quharem mony ane thouſand deis
Quhilk humane Nature dois abhor
As in the Gutt, grauell, and gor
Sum in the flux, and feuer quarrane
Bot ay the hour of deith vncertane
Sum ar diſſoluit ſuddandlie
Be Catharre, or be Apoplexie.
Sum doith diſtroy thame ſelf alſo
As Hanniball, and wyſe Cato.
Be thounder deith ſum dois conſume
As he did the thrid king of Rome
Callit Tullus Hoſtilius,
As wryttis greit Valerius
For he and his houſhald atonis
Wer brynt be thounder fleſche and bonis.
Sum deis be extreme exces
Of Ioy, as Valerie doith expres
Sum be extreme Melancholie
Wyll de but vther Maladie.
In Cronicles thow may weill ken
Quhow mony houndreth thouſand men
Ar ſlane, ſen firſt the warld began
In battell, and quhow mony one man
VponUpon the ſee doith loſe thare lyues
Quhen ſchippis vponupon roches ryues,
Thocht ſum dee Naturallie throuch age.
Far ma deis rauand in one rage,
Happy is he, the quhilk hes ſpace
At his laſt hour, to cry for grace.
Quhowbeit deith be abhominabill
I thynk it ſuld be confortabil
Tyll all thame of the faithfull noumer
For thay depart frome cair and coumer
Frome troubyll, trauell, ſturt, and ſtryfe
Tyll Ioy and euerleſtand lyfe.
Poli…orus Virgilius
To that effect, he writtis thus
In Thrace, quhen ony Chylde be borne
Thare kyn, & freindis, cūmis thame beforne
With dolent Lamentatioun
For the greit tribulatioun
Calamite cummer and cure
That thay in erth ar to indure.
Bot at thare deith and burying
Thay mak greit Ioy and Banketting
That thay hauehave paſt frome miſerie
To reſt and greit felicitie.
¶Sen deith bene finall concluſioun
Quhat vailis warldlie prouiſioun
Quhan wyſedome may nocht contramand.
Nor ſtrenth that flour may nocht ganeſtand.
Ten thouſand Mylȝeoun of treſour
May nocht prolong thy lyfe one hour
Efter quhoſe dolent departing
Thy ſpreit ſall pas but tarying
Straucht way tyll Ioy Ineſtimabill
Or to ſtrang pane Intolerabill.
Thy vyle corruppit carioun
Sall turne in Putrefactioun
And ſo remane in poulder ſmall
VntoUnto the Iugement Generall.
Ane ſchort Deſcriptioun of the Antechriſt.
Courteo.QVOD I) Father I heir mē ſay
That thair ſal ryſe afore yt day
Quhilk ȝe cal general iugemēt
One wickit mā frō ſathan ſent
And cōtrar to ye law of Chriſt
Callit the cruell Antechriſt
And ſum ſayis that myſcheuous man
Diſcend ſall of the Trybe of Dan
And ſulde be borne in Babilone
The quhilk diſſaue ſall mony one.
Infidelis ſall of eueryevery art
With that fals Propheit tak one part.
And quhow Enoch, and Elias
Sall preche contrair that fais Meſſias
Bot finallie his fals Doctrine
And he ſall be put to rewine
Bot nother be the fyre nor ſword
Bot be the vertew of Chriſtis word,
And gyf this be of verite
The ſuith I pray ȝow ſchaw to me?
My Sone (ſaid he)Experien as wryttis Ihone
Thare ſall nocht be one man allone
Hauing that name in ſpeciall
Bot Antechriſtis in generalli Ihon …
Hes bene, and now ar mony one
And rycht ſo in the tyme of Ihone
Wer Antechriſtis, as him ſelf ſayis
And preſentlie now in thir dayis
Ar rycht mony withouttin dout
Wer thair fals lawis weill ſoucht out▪
Quha wes one greiter Antechriſt
And more contrarious to Chriſt
Nor the fals Propheit Machomeit
Quhilk his curſt Lawis maid ſo ſweit
In Turkie ȝit thay ar obſeruit
Quhare throuch the hell he hes deſeruit.
All Turkis, Sarazenis, and Iowis
That in the Sone of God nocht trowisii. I…
Ar Antechriſtis I the declare
Becauſe to Chriſt thay ar contrare
Dan. viii☞ Daniell ſayis in in his Propheceis
That efter the greit Monarcheis
Sall ryſe ane maruellous potent king
Quhilk with ane ſchameles face ſall ring
Mychtie and wyſe in dirk ſpeikingis
And proſper in all pleſand thingis
Throuch his falſhed and craftines
He ſall flow in to welthines
The Godly peple he ſall noy
By cruell deith, and thame diſtroy,
The king of kingis he ſall ganeſtand
ii Theſ. iiSyne be diſtroyit withouttin hand.
Paule ſayis afore the Lordis cumming
That thare ſalbe one departing
And that man of Iniquitie
Tyll all men he ſall oppynuit be
Quhilk ſall ſit in the holy ſait
Contrary God, to mak debait.
Bot that Sone of Perditioun
Salbe put to confuſioun
Be power of the holy Spreit
Quhen he his tyme hes done compleit
¶ Beleue nocht that in tyme cumming.
One greiter Antechriſt to ring
Nor thare hes bene, and preſentlie
Ar now, as Clerkis can eſpie
Tharefore my wyll is that thow knaw
Qu…r euer thay be, that makis one Law
Thocht thay be callit Chriſtin men
By naturall reſſoun thow may ken
Be thay neuer of ſo greit valour
Pape, Cardinall, King, or Empriour
Extolland thare Traditionis
Abufe Chriſtis Inſtitutionis
Makand Lawis contrar to Chriſt
He is ane verray Antechriſt
And quho doith fortifie or defend
Sic law, I mak it to the kend
Be it Pape, Empriour King or Quene
Greit ſorrow ſall be on thame Sene
At Chriſtis extreme Iugement
Without that thay in tyme repent,
❧ Ane ſchorte Remembrance of the moſt Terribill Day of the Extreme Iugement. ☞ * ☜
FATHER (ſaid I)Courteo. with ȝour Licence
Sen ȝe hauehave ſic Experience
Ȝit one thing at ȝow wald I ſpeir
Quhen ſall that dreidfull Day appeir
Quhilk ȝe call Iugement Generall
Quhat thyngis afore that day ſall fall
Quhar ſall appeir that dreifull Iuge
Or quhow may faltouris get refuge?
(Quod he)Experien. as to thy firſt queſtioun
I can mak no ſolutioun
Quharefor perturb nocht thyne intent
To knaw day, hour, or moment
To God allone, the day bene knawin
Quhilk neuer wes to none Angell ſchawin
Howbeit be diners coniectouris
And principall Expoſitouris
Of Daniell, and his Prophecie
And be the ſentence of Elie
Quhilkis hes declarit as thay can
How lang it is ſen the warld began
And for to ſchaw, hes done thare cure
How lang thay traiſt it ſall indure
And als quhow mony agis bene
As in thare warkis may be ſene.
❧ Bot till declare thir queſtionis
Thare bene diuers opinionis
Sum wryttaris, hes the warld deuydit
In ſex ages (as bene decydit
In to Faſciculus Temporum
And Crenica Cronicarum,
Bot be the ſentence of Elie
The warld deuyditis in thre
As cunning Maiſter Carioun
Hes maid plaine expoſitioun
Quhow Elie ſayis withouttin weir
The warld ſall ſtand ſex thouſand ȝeir
Of quhome I follow the ſentence
And lattis the vther Bukis go hence
Frome the Creatioun of Adam
Two thouſand ȝeir till Abraham
Frome Abraham, be this narratioun
To Chriſtis Incarnatioun,
Rychtſo hes bene two thouſand ȝeris.
And be thir Prophecyis apperis
Frome Chriſt, as thay mak tyll vsus kend
Two thouſand tyll the warldis end.
Of quhilkis ar by gone ſickerlie
Fyue thouſand, fyue hundreth, thre & fiftie.
And ſo remanis to cum but weir
Four hundreth, with ſewin and fourtie ȝeir.
And than the Lord Omnipotent
Suld cum tyll his greit Iugement
Chriſt ſayis the tyme ſalbe maid ſchortMathew xxiiii.
As Mathew planelie doith report
That for the warldis Iniquitie
The latter tyme ſall ſchortnit be
For pleſour of the choſin nummer
That thay may pas frome cair and cummer.
So be this compt it may be kend
The warld is draw and neir ane end.
For Legionis ar cum but dout
Of Antichriſtis wer thay ſoucht out
And mony toknis doith appeir
As efter ſchortlie thow ſall heir
Quhow that ſanct Iherome doith indyte
That he hes red in Hebrew wryte
Of fyftene ſignis in ſpeciall
Afore that Iugement Generall,
Of ſum of thame, I tak no cure
Quhilk I find nocht in the Scripture,
One part of thame thocht I declair
Firſt wyll I to the Scripture fair.
Mar xiii Mathew .xxiiii.☞Chriſt ſayis, afore that day be done
Thare ſalbe ſignis, in Sone and Moue,
The Sone ſall hyde his bemis bricht
So that the Mone ſall geue no licht
Sterris be mennis Iugement
Sall fall furth of the Firmament
☞Of thir ſignis or we forther gone
Sum morall ſence we wyll expone
As cunning Clerkis hes declairit
And hes the Sone and Mone compairit
The Sonne, to the ſtait ſpirituall
The Mone to Princis temporall
Rychtſo the ſterris thay do compare
To the lawit commoun populare
The Mone and ſterris, hes no licht
Bot be reflex of Phebus bricht
So quhen the Sonne of lycht is dirk
The Mone and ſterris, mon be mirk
Rychtſo quhen Paſtouris ſpiritualis
Popis Biſchopis, and Cardinalis
In thair beginning, ſchew greit licht
The temporall ſtait, wes rewlit richt.
Bot now allace, it is nocht ſo
Thoſe ſchynand Lampis bene ago
Thare Radious bemis ar turnit in reik
For now in erth, no thing thay ſeik
Except riches, and Dignitie
Following thare Senſualitie
Mony Prelatis ar now regnand
The quhilkis no more dois vnderſtand
Quhat dois pertene to thare office
Nor thow can kendle fyre with Ice.
Wo to Popis I ſay for me
Quhilk ſufferis ſic Enormitie
That Ignorant warldlie Creaturis
Suld in the kirk hauehave ony curis.
No maruell thocht the peple ſlyde
Quhen thay hauehave blind men to thare gyde.
For ane Prelate, that can nocht preiche
Nor Goddis law, to the peple teiche,Eſay. lvi
Eſay comparith hym in his wark
Tyll ane dum Dog, that can nocht bark.
And Chriſt hym callis in his greifIhne. x.
Moſt lyk ane murtherer or ane theif
The cunning Doctor Auguſtine
Wolfis, and Deuillis, doith thame de fyne.
The Canon law doith hym defame
That of ane Prelate beris the name
And wyll nocht preiche the Diuyne Lawis
As the Decreis planely ſchawis.
Bot thoſe that hes authoritie
To prouyde ſpirituall Dignitie
Mycht geue thay pleſit to tak pane
Gar thame licht all thare Lampis agane.
Bot euer allace, that is nocht done
So derknit bene boith Sonne and Mone.
War kingis lyuis weill declarit
The quhilkis ar to the Mone comparit
Men micht conſidder thare eſtait
Frome Charitie degenerat
I thynk thay ſuld think mekle ſchame
Of Chriſt for to tak thare Surname
Syne leif nocht lyke to Chriſtianis
Bot more lyk Turkis, and to Paganis
Turk contrar Turk makis lytle weir,
Bot Chriſtiane Princis takis no feir
Quhilkis ſuld agre as brother to brother
Bot now ilk ane dyngis doun ane vther
I knaw no reſſonabyll cauſe quharefore
Except Pryde, Couetyce and vaine glore
The Empriour mouis his Ordinance
Contrair the potent king of France.
And France richtſo with greit rigour
Contrair his freind the Empriour
And richt ſwa France agane Ingland
Ingland alſo aganis Scotland,
And als the Scottis with all thare micht
Doith f…cht for tyll defend thare richt
Betuix thir Realmes of Albione
Quhare Battellis hes bene mony one
Can be maid none Affinitie
Nor ȝit no Conſaugunitie
Nor be no way, thay can conſidder
That thay may hauehave lang Peice to gidder
I dreid that weir makis none ending
Tyll thay be baith vnderunder ane king
Thocht Chriſt the ſouerane king of grace
Left in his Taſtament lufe and peace,
Our kingis frome weir wyll nocht refrane
Tyll thair be mony ane thouſand ſlane
Greit heirſchippis maid be ſee and land
As all the warld may vnderſtand.
Father I thynk that temporall kingis.Courteo.
May fecht for tyll defend thare ringis
For I haif ſene the ſpirituall ſtait
Mak weir thare richtis tyll deba…t.
I ſaw Pape Iulius manfullie
Pas to the feild tryumphantlie
With ane rycht aufull Ordinance
Contrair Lowes, the king of France
And for to do hym more deſpyte
He did his Regioun interdyte.
My Sone (ſaid he)Experien. as I ſuppoſe
That langis weill tyll our purpoſe
How Sone and Mone, ar boith denude
Of lycht, as Clerkis doith conclude
Comparing thame, as ȝe hard tell
To ſpirituall ſtait, and temporell
And comoun peple half deſpairit
Quhilk to the ſterris bene compairit
Lawit peple follow ay thair heidis
And ſpeciallie in to thare deidis
The moſt part of Religioun
Bene turnit in abuſioun.
Quhat doith auaill religious weidis
Quhen thay ar contrar in thare deidis
Quhat holynes is thare within
Ane wolf cled in ane wedder ſkin
So be thir takinnis dois appeir
The day of Iugement drawis neir.
Now lat vsus leif this morall ſence
Proceiding tyll our purpoſe hence
And of this mater ſpeik no more
Beginnyng quhare we left afore.
Mathew xxiiii Mar xiii Luk. xxiThe Scripture ſayis, efter thir ſignis
Salbe ſene mony maruellous thingis
Than ſall ryſe tribulationis
In erth, and greit mutationis
Als weill heir vnderunder as aboue
Quhen vertewis of the heuin ſall moue
Sic cruell weir ſalbe or than
Wes neuer ſene ſen the warld began
The quhilk ſall cauſe greit Indigence
As derth, hounger, and peſtilence
The horribill ſoundis of the ſee
The peple ſall perturb and flee
Ierome ſayis, it ſall ryſe on hicht
Aboue montanis be mennis ſicht
Bot it ſall nocht ſpred ouer the land
Bot lyke ane wall euin ſtraucht vpſtand
Syne ſattil doun agane ſo law
That no man ſall the watter knaw.
Greit Quhalis ſall rummeis rout and rair
Quhoſe ſound redound ſall in the air.
All fiſche and Monſtouris maruellous
Sall cry with ſoundis odious
That men ſall widder on the erd
And weping wary ſall thare weird
With lowd allace, and well away
That euer thay baid to ſe that day
And ſpeciallie thoſe that dwelland be
Apon the coſtis of the ſee.
Rychtſo as ſanct Ierome concludis
Sall be ſene ferleis in the fludis
The ſee with mouing maruellous
Sall birn with flammis furious
Rychtſo ſall birn fontane and flude
All herb and tree ſall ſweit lyke blude
Fowlis ſall fal furth of the air
Wyld beiſtis to the plane repair
And in thare maner mak greit mone
Gowland with mony griſlie grone.
The bodeis of dede CreaturisEzechel. xxxvii.
Appeir ſall on thare Sepulturis
Than ſall boith men, wemen and barnis
Cum crepand furth of how Cauernis
Quhare thay for dreid wer hid afore
With ſich and ſab and hartis ſore
Wandring about as thay war wode
Effamiſchit for falt of fude
None may mak vtheris conforting
Bot dule for dule and Lamenting
Quhat may thay do, bot weip and wounder
Quhen thay ſe roches ſchaik in ſchounder
Throw trimblyng of the erth, and quaiking,
Of ſorrow than ſall be no ſlaiking
Quho that bene leuaud in thoſe dayis
May tell of terribill affrayis,
Thare riches, rentis, nor treſſour
That tyme ſall do thame ſmall pleſour
Bot quhen ſic wounderis dois appeir
Men may be ſure, the day drawis neir
That Iuſt men pas ſall to the glore
Dan. xiii Courteo.Iniuſt to paine for euer more.
Father (ſaid I) we daylie reid
One Artikle in to our Creid
Say and that Chriſt Omnipotent
In to that generall Iugement
Sall Iuge boith dede and quck alſo
Quharefore declare me or ȝe go
Geue thare ſal ony man or wyfe
Experien.That day be foundin vponupon lyfe?
(Quod he) as to that queſtioun
I ſall mak ſone ſolutioun
Mathew xxiiii.The Scripture planely doith expone
Quhen all takynnis, bene cum and gone
Ȝit mony one hundreth thouſand
That ſamyn day, ſalbe leuand
Howbeit thare ſall no Creature
Nother of day nor hour be ſure.
For Chriſt ſall cum ſo ſuddandlie
That no man ſall the tyme eſpye
As it wes in the tyme of Noy
Quhen God did all the warld diſtroy.
Sum on the feild ſalbe lauborand,
Sum in the tempillis Mariand,
Sum afore Iugis makand pley
And ſum men ſailland on the ſey.
Thoſe that be on the feild going
Sall nocht returne to thare luging.
Quho bene apon his hous abufe
Sall hauehave no laſer to remufe.
Two ſalbe in the Myll grinding
Quhilk ſalbe takin but warning
The one tyll euerlaſting glore
The vther loſt for euer more.
Two ſalbe lying in one bed
The one to pleſour ſalbe led
The vther ſalbe left allone
Greit and with mony griſlie grone
And ſo my Sone thow may weill trow
The warld ſalbe as it is now
The peple vſing thare beſines
As holy Scripture doith expres.
Sen no man knawis the hour nor day
The Scripture biddis vsus walk and pray
And for our Syn be penitent
As Chriſt wald cum Incontinent.
The maner quhow Chriſt ſall cum to his Iugement. ☞ (*) ☜
QUhē al taknis benebrocht till end
thā ſal ye ſōe of god diſcēd
Experien.as fireflaucht haſtely glāſing
Diſcēd ſal ye moſt heuinly kīg
As Phebus in the Orient
Heb. xii.Lichtnis in haiſt to Occident
So pleſand…te, he ſall appeir
Luc. xxi.Amang the heuinlie cluddis cleir
With greit power and Maieſtie
Aboue the countre of Iudee
As Clerkis doith concluding haill
Direct aboue the luſtie Vaill
Actis. i.Of Ioſaphat, and Mont Oliueit
All Propheſie thare ſalbe compleit.
Mat. xxvThe Angellis, of the ordouris Nyne
Inueroun ſall that Throne Diuyne
With heuinlie conſolatioun
Makand hym Miniſtratioun
In his preſence thare ſalbe borne
The ſignis of Cros, and Croun of thorne
Pillar, Naillis, Scurgis and Speir
With euerilk thing that did hym deir
The tyme of his grym Paſſioun
And for our conſolatioun
Appeir ſall in his handis and feit
And in his ſyde, the prent compleit
Of his fyue woundis Precious
Schynand lyke Rubeis Radious,
To Reprobat confuſioun,
And for finall concluſioun
He ſittand in his Tribunall
With greit power Imperiall
Thare ſall ane Angell blaw ane blaſti. Cor. xv. Mathew .xxiiii.
Quhilk ſall mak all the warld agaſt
With hydduous voce, and vehement
Ryſe dede folk, cum to Iugement.
With that, all reſonabill Creature
That euer wes formit be Nature
Sall ſuddantlie ſtart vp attonis
Cōionit wt ſaul, fleſche, blude, and bonis.
That terribill Trumpet I heir tell
Beis hard in Heuin, in erth,Apoc. xx. and hell
Thoſe that wer drownit in the ſey
That bouſteous blaſt thay ſall obey
Quhare euer the body buryit was
All ſalbe foundin in that plas.
Angellis ſall pas in the four artisMar. xiii
Of erth, and bring thame frome all partis
And with one inſtant diligence
Preſent thame to his excellence.
☞Sanct Ierome thocht continuallie
On this Iugement ſo ardentlie
He ſaid, quhidder I eit or drink
Or walk, or ſleip, forſuth me think
That terribill Trumpet lyke ane bell
So quiklie in myne eir doith knell
As Inſtantlie it wer preſent
Ryſe dede folk, cum to Iugement
Geue Sanct Ierome tuke ſic ane fray
Allace quhat ſall we Synnaris ſay.
All thoſe, quhilk fundin bene on lyfe
Salbe Immortall maid belyfe
i. …e. iiii. i. Cor. xv.And in the twinkling of one Ee
With fyre thay ſall tranſlatit be
And neuer for to dee agane
As Diuyne ſcripture ſchawis plane
Als reddy boith for pane and glore
As thay quhilk deit lang tyme afore.
The Scripture ſayis, thay ſall appeir
In age the thre and thretty ȝeir
Quhidder thay deit ȝoung or auld
Quhoſe greit noumer may nocht be tauld
Mathew xxvi..That day ſall nocht be miſſit one man
Quhilk borne wes ſen the warld began.
The Angell ſall thame ſeparait
As Hird the ſcheip doith frome the Gait,
And thoſe quhilk bene of Belialis band
Trymling apon the erth ſall ſtand
On the left hand, of that greit Iuge
But eſperance to get refuge.
i. Teſ. iiiiBot thoſe quhilk bene predeſtinat
Sall frome the erth be Eleuat
And that moſt happy cumpanie
Sall ordourit be triumphantlie
At the rycht hand of Chriſt our King
Hich in the air, with loud louing.
Full Gloriouſlie thare ſall compeir
More bricht than Phebus in his ſpheir
The Virgine Marie, Quene of Quenis
With mony ane thouſand bricht Virgenis
The Fatheris of the auld Teſtament
Quhilk wer to God obedient
Father Adam ſall thame conuoy
With Abell, Seth, Enoch, and Noy,
Abraham with his faithful warkis
With all the prudent Patriarkis
Ihone the Baptiſt thare ſall compeir
The Principall, and laſt Meſſingeir
Quhilk come bot half ane ȝeir afore
The cummyng of that King of glore
Moyſes, Eſayas, honourabill
With all trew Prophetis Venerabill.
Dauid, with all the faithfull kingis
Quhilk verteouſlie did rewll thair ringis,
The nobyll Chiftane Ioſue
With gentill Iudas Machabe,
With mony one nobill Campioun
Quhilk in thare tyme with greit renoun
Manfully till thare lyuis end
The Law of God thay did defend.
With Eue, that day ſalbe preſent
The Ladyis of the auld Teſtament
Debora, Adamis Douchter deir
With thē four luſty Ladyis cleir
Quhilk kepit wer, in the Ark with Noy
Sara, and Cethura with Ioy
The quhilkis to Abraham wyffis bene
With gude Rebecca thare ſalbe ſene
The prudent wyfis of Iſraell
Gude Lya, and the fair Rachell
With Iudith, Heſter, and Suſanna
And the richt ſapient Quene Saba.
❧Thare ſall compeir Peter and Paull
With Chriſtis trew Diſcipulis all
Lawrence and Stewin, wt thare blyſt band
Of Martyris mo, than ten thouſand
Gregore, Ambroſe, and Auguſtyne
With confeſſouris, ane tryumphand tryne
With Sanct Frances, and Dominick
Sanct Bernard, and ſanct Benedick
With ſmall noumer, of Monkis and Freiris
Of Carmelites, and Cordelleiris,
That for the ſufe of Chriſt onelie
Renuncit the warld vnfenȝeitlie.
With Elizabeth and Anna
All gude wyffis ſall compeir that day
The blyſt and holy Magdalene
That day afore hir Souerane
Rycht pleſandlie ſcho ſall preſent
All Synnaris that wer penitent
Quhilk of thare gilt heir aſkit grace
In heuin with hir, ſall hauehave ane place.
¶Bot wo beis to that bailfull band
Quhilk ſall ſtand law at his left hand.
Wo than to Kyngis, and Empriouris
Quhilkis wer vnrichteous Conquerouris
For thare glore, and particular gude
Gart ſched ſo mekle ſaikles blude.
But Sceptour, Crown, and Rob Royall
That day thay ſall mak compt of all
And for thare cruell tirranuie
Sall punyſt be perpetuallie.
Ȝe Lordis, and Barronis, more and les
That ȝour pure Tennantis dois oppres
Be gret Gerſome, and dowbill maill
More than ȝour landis bene auaill
With ſore exorbitant cariage
With mercheitis of thare mariage
Tormentit boith in peace and weir
With burdinnis more than thay may beir
Be thay hauehave payit, to ȝow thare maill
And to the Preiſt thare teindis haill
And quhen the land agane is ſawin
Quhat reſtis behynd, I wald wer knawin
I traiſt thay and thare pure houſhauld
May tell of bounger, and of cauld
Without ȝe half of thame piete
I dreid ȝe ſall get no Merce
That day, quhen Chriſt Omnipotent
Cummis to generall Iugement.
Wo beis to publict Oppreſſouris
To tirrannis, and to Tranſgreſſouris
To Murderaris, and commoun theifis
Quhilk neuer did mend thare gret miſcheifis
Fornicatouris, and Ockeraris
Commoun publict Adulteraris
All pertinat wylfull Heretikes
All fals deſaitfull Schiſmatikes
All ſalbe preſent in that place
With mony Lamentabill allace.
The curſit Cayn, that neuer wes gude
With all ſcheddaris of ſaikles blude
Nemrod, foundar of Babilone
With fals Idolateris mony one.
Ninus the King of Aſſiria
With gret dule ſall compeir that day
Quhilk firſt Inuentit Imagerie
Quharethrouch come greit Idolatrie
For makyng of the Image Bell
That day his hyre ſalbe in hell.
The greit Oppreſſour king Pharoo,
The tyrrane Empriour Nero
Sall with thame curſit king Herode bring
With mony vther cairfull king
The cruell king Antiochus
With the moſt furious Olofernes
Gret Oppreſſouris of Iſraell
That day thare hyre ſall be in hell.
With Iudas ſall compeir one clan
Of fals Tratouris to God and man.
Thare ſall compeir of eueryevery land
With Ponce Pylat one bailfull band
Of temporall and ſpirituall ſtatis
Fals Iugis, with thare Aduocatis.
Thare ſall our Senȝeouris of the Seſſioun.
Of all thare faltis mak cleir confeſſioun
Thare ſall be ſene, the fraudfull failȝeis
Of Schireffis, Proueſtis, and of Bailȝeis
Officialis, with thare Conſiſtorie Clerkis
Sall mak compt of thare wrangous werkis,
Thay and thare peruerſt Procuratouris
Oppreſſouris boith of riche and puris
Throuch Delatouris full of deſait
Quhilk mony one gart beg thair meit
Greit dule that day to Iugis bene
That cūmis nocht with thare cōſcience clene
That day ſall pas be Peremptouris
Without Cautele, or Dilatouris
No Duplicandum, nor Triplicandum
Bot ſhortly pas to Sentenciandum
Without Continuationis
Or ony Appellationis
That ſentence, ſall nocht be retraitit
Nor with no man of Law debaitit.
Ȝe Laubouraris be ſee and landis
Perfite Craftiſmen, and riche Merchandis
Leue ȝour deſait and craftie wylis
Quhilk ſillie ſimpyll folk begylis
Mak recompence heir, as ȝe may
Remembring on this dreidfull day.
With Machomeit ſall compeit but dout
Of Antechriſtis one hydduous rout
Biſchop Annas and Caiphas
With hym in companie ſall pas
With Scrybis, and fals Phariſience
Quhilk wrocht on Chriſt greit violence
With mony one Turk, and Sarracene
With greit ſorrowe thare ſalbe ſene,
Paipis for thare traditionis
Contrair Chriſtis Inſtitutionis
With mony one cowll, and clippit crown
Quhilk Chriſtis lawis ſtrampit down
And wald nocht ſuffer for to preiche
The verite, nor the peple teiche,
But lawit men put to greit torment
Quhilk vſit Chriſtis Teſtament.
All kingis and Quenis thare ſalbe kend
The quhilk ſic lawis did defend
In that court ſall cum mony one
Of the blak byik of Babilone.
The Innocent blude that day ſall cry
One loud vengeance full petuouſly
On thoſe cruell bludie boucheouris
Martyris of Prophetis, and Precheouris,
Sum with the fyre, ſum with the ſword
Quhilk planely preichit Goddis word
That day thay ſall rewardit be
Conforme to thare Iniquitie
The Sodomitis, and Gomoreance
On quhom God wrocht ſo gret vengeance
With Core, Dathan, and Abyrone
With thare aſſiſtance mony one,
The holy Scripture wyll the tell
Quhow thay ſank all doun to the hell
With Symon Magus ſall reſort
Of proude Preiſtis, ane ſchamefull ſort.
¶That ſamyn day, thare ſalbe ſene
Mony one cruell cairfull Quene
Quene Semirame king Ninus wyfe
Ane Tyger full of ſturt and ſtryfe.
To gydder with Quene Iezabell
Quhilk wes couetous and cruell
The fals deſaitfuil Dalida
The cruell Quene Clytemneſtra
The quhilk did murdreis on the nicht
Agamemnon, boith wyſe and wyche
The quhilk wes hir a win ſouerane Lord
As Greikis ſtoryis doith record
With cruell Quenis mony one
Quhilk langſum wer for till expone.
Ȝe wantoun Ladyis and burges wyfis
That now for ſydeſt taillis ſtryfis
Flappand the filth, amang ȝour feit
Raſing the duſt in to the ſtreit
That day for all ȝour pomp and pryde
Ȝour taillis ſall nocht ȝour hippis hyde
Thir vaniteis, ȝe ſall repent
Without that ȝe be penitent.
With Phitoniſſa, I heir tell
Quhilk raiſit the Spirtit of Samuell
That day with hir thare ſall reſorte
Of rank Wychis ane ſorrowfull ſorte
Brocht frome all partes mony one myle
Frome Sauoy, Athole, and Argyle
And frome the ryndis of Galloway
With mony wofull wallaway.
Ȝe Brether of Religioun
In tyme leif ȝour abuſioun
With quhilk ȝe hauehave the warld abuſit
Or ȝe that day ſalbe refuſit
I ſpeik to ȝow all generallie
Nocht tyll ane Ordour ſpeciallie.
That day all Creature ſall ken
Geue ȝe wer Sanctis or warldlie men.
Or geue ȝe tuke the Skapellarie
That ȝe mycht leif more pleſandlie
And get ane gude gros Portioun
Or for Godlie Deuotioun
That day ȝour fenȝeit Sanctitudis
Sall nocht be knawin be ȝour hudis
Ȝour Superſtitious Ceremoneis
Participant till Idolatreis
Cord, cuttit ſchone, nor clippit heid
That day, fall ſtand ȝow in no ſleid.
For Cowllis blak, gray, nor begaird
Ȝe ſall that day get no rewaird
Ȝour Polite payntit flattrie
Ȝour Diſſimulate Hipocriſie
That day thay ſalbe cleirlie knawin
Quhen ȝe ſall ſcheir, as ȝe hauehave ſawin.
Tharefore in tyme, be penitent
Or ellis that day ȝe wyll be ſchent.
¶I pray ȝow hartlie as I may
Remember on that dreidfull day
Ȝe Abbot, Pryor, and Pryores
Conſiddder quhat ȝe did profes
And quhow that ȝour promotioun
Wes no thing for Deuotioun
Bot tyll obtene the Abbacie
Ȝe maid ȝour Vow of Chaſtitie
Of Pouertie, and obedience,
Tharefore remord ȝour conſcience
Quhow thir thre vowis bene obſeruit
And quhat reward ȝe hauehave deſeruit
Quharefore repent, quhill ȝe hauehave ſpace
Sen God is liberall of his grace
☞Father (quod I)Courteo. declare to me
Quhare ſall our Prelatis ordourit be
Quhilk now bene in the warld leuand
With quhome ſal cum that Spirituall band?
(Quod he)Experien. as ſanct Barnard diſcryuis
Without that thay amend thare lyuis
And leif thare wantoun vicious warkis
Nocht with Prophetis nor Patriarkis
Nocht with Martyris, nor Confeſſouris
The quhilkꝭ to Chriſt, wer trew preichouris.
Thare Predeceſſouris, Peter and Paull
That day wyll thame miſken at all
So ſall thay nocht, I ſay for me
With the Apoſtillis ordourit be
I traiſt thay ſall dwell on the bordour
Of hell, quhare thare ſalbe none ordour
Endlang the Flude of Phlegeton
Or on the brayis of Acheron
Cryand on Charon, I conclude
To ferrie thame ouer that furious flude
Tyll Eternall confuſioun
Without thay leif thare abuſioun
I traiſt thoſe Prelatis, more and les
Sall mak cleir compt of thare ryches
That dreidfull day, with hartis ſore
And quhat ſeruice, thay did thairfore
The Princely pompe, nor apparrall
Of Pope, Biſchop, nor Cardinall
Thare Royall rentis, nor dignite
That day ſall nocht regardit be
Thare ſall no taillis, as I heir ſay
Of Biſchopis, be borne vp that day
Cum thay nocht with thair conſcience clene
On thame gret ſorrow ſalbe ſene
Without that thay thare lyfe amend
In tymt, and ſo I mak ane end.
The maner quhow Chriſt ſall geue his Sentence.
QVhen all thir CōgregationisExperien.
beis brocht furth frō al natiōs
Quhilk ſalbe wtout lāg ꝓces
Thocht I haif maid ſū lāg digres
For ī ye twinklīg of a Ge
All mankynd ſall preſentit be
Afore that Kyngis Excellence.Mat. xxv
Than ſchortlie ſall he geue ſentence
Firſt ſayand to that bliſſit band
Quhilk beis ordourit, at his richt hand
Cum with my Fatheris Beniſoun
And reſaue ȝour poſſeſſioun
Quhilk bene for ȝow preordinate
Afore the warld wes firſt create
Q…hen I wes hungre, ȝe me fed
Quhen I wes naikit, ȝe me cled
Oftymes ȝe gaue me herbery
And gaue me drink, quhen I wes dry
And veſyit me, with myndis meik
Quhen I wes preſonar and ſeik
In all ſic tribulatioun
Ȝe gaue me conſolatioun.
☞Than ſall thay ſay, O Potent King
Quhen ſaw we the deſyre ſic thing
We neuer ſaw thyne Excellence
Subdewit to ſic Indigence?
Ȝis (ſall he ſay) I ȝow aſſure
Quhen euer ȝe did reſſaue the pure
And for my ſaik, maid thame ſupple
That gift but dout, ȝe gaif to me
Tharefore ſall now begin ȝour glore
Quhilk ſall indure for euer more.
☞Than ſall he luke on his left hand
And ſay vntounto that bailfull band
Pas with my Maledictioun
Till Eternall Afflictioun
In company with feindis fell
In euerlaſting fyre of hell
Quhen I ſtude naikit at ȝour ȝet
Hungrie, thriſtie, cauld and wet
Rycht febill, ſeik, and lyke to de
I neuer gat of ȝow ſupple
And quhen I lay in preſoun ſtrang
For ȝow I mycht hauehave lyin full lang
Without ȝour Conſolatioun
Or ony ſupportatioun.
¶Trymling for dreid than ſall thay ſay
With mony hydduous harmiſay
Allace gude Lorde, quhen ſaw we the
Subiect to ſic neceſſite?
Quhen ſaw we thee, cum to our dure
Hungrie, thriſtie, naikit, pure?
Quhen ſaw we the in preſounly
Or the refuſit herbery?
☞ Than ſall that moſt precellent king
Tyll thoſe wrechis mak anſwering
That tyme, quhen ȝe refuſit the puris
Quhilkis neidfull cryit at ȝour duris
And of ȝour ſuperfluite
For my ſaik maid thame no ſupple
Refuſand thame, ȝe me refuſit
With wretchitnes ſo ȝe wer abuſit:
Tharefor ȝe ſall hauehave to ȝour hyre
The eurelaſting birnand fyre.
But grace, but pece, or conforting
Than ſall thay cry, full fore w…iping
That we wer maid, allace gude Lord
Allace, is thare none Miſericord
But thus, withouttin hope of grace
Tyne preſence of thy pleſand face.
Allace for vsus, it had bene gude
We had bene ſmorit in our cude.
¶Than with one rair, the erth ſall ryif
And ſwollie thame boith man and wyif.
Than ſall thoſe Creaturis forlorne
Warie the hour, that thay wer borne,
With, mony ȝamet, ȝewt and ȝell
Frome tyme thay feill the flammis fell
Apon thare tender bodyis byte
Quhoſe tormēt ſalbe Infinyte.
The erth ſall cloſe, and frome thare ſicht
Sall takin be, all kynd of licht
Thare ſalbe gowling, and grewing
But hope of ony conforting
In that Ineſtimabill pane
Eternallie thay ſall remane
Birnand in furious flammis reid
Euer deand, bot neuer be deid
That the ſmall Minute of one hour
To thame ſalbe, ſo greit dolour
Thay ſall think thay hauehave done remane
Ane thouſand ȝeir in to that pane
Allace I trimmill to heir teil
The terribill tormenting of hall
That painfull pit, quho can deplore
Quhilk mon indure for euer more?
Than ſall thoſe glorifyit Creaturis
With mirth and infinite pleſuris
Conuoyit with Ioy Angelicall
Pas to the heuin Imperiall
With Chriſt Ieſu, our Souerane King
In glore Eternallie to ring
Of man quhilk paſſis the Ingyne
The thouſand part, for tyll defyne
i Pet. iii.Allanerlie of the leiſt pleſure
Preordinat for one Creature.
Than ſall one fyro, as C…erkis ſane
Mak all the hillis, and valleyis plane
Frome erth, vp to the Heuin Empyre
All beis renewit be that fyre
Purging all thing materiall
VnderUnder the heuin Imperiall.
Boith erth, and water, fyre, and air
Salbe more perfyte maid and fair
The quhilkis afore had mixit bene
Sall than be purifyit and maid clene
The erth lyke Chriſtall ſalbe cleir
And euerilk Planeit in his ſpheir
Sall reſt withouttin more mouing
Boith ſterny heuin, and Chriſtalling
The firſt and hieſt heuin mouabill
Sall ſtand but turning firme and ſtabill
The Sonne in to the Orient
Sall ſtand, and in the Occident
Reſt ſall the Mone, and be more cleir
Nor now bene Phebus in his ſpheir.
And als that Lantern of the heuin
Sall geue more licht, be greis ſeuin
Nor it gaue ſen the warld began.
The Heuin renewit ſalbe than,
Rychtſo the erth, with ſic deuyſe
Compair tyll heuinlie Paradyſe.Apo. xxi,
So heuin and erth, ſalbe all one
As menith the Apoſtill Ihone
The greit ſee ſall no more appeiri. Cor. ii.
Bot lyke the Chriſtall pure and cleir
Paſſing Imaginatioun
Of Man, to mak narratioun
Of glore, quhilk God, haith done prepair
Tyll eueryevery one that cummis thair
The quhilk with c…ris, nor with ene
Of man may nocht be hard norſene
With hart it is vnthinkadill
And with toungis Inpronunciabill
Quhoſe pleſouris ſalbe ſo perfyte
Hauing in God, ſo greit delyte
The ſpace now of ane thouſand ȝeir
i Pet. iii.That tyme ſall nocht, ane hour appeir
Quhilk can nocht comprehendit be
Till we that pleſand ſicht ſall ſe.
i Cor. xii.Quhē Paule wes reuiſchit in the ſpreit
Tyll the thrid Heuin, of glore repleit
He ſaith, the Secreitis quhilk he ſaw
Thay wer nocht leifſum for to ſchaw
To no man on the erth leuand
Quharefor preis nocht till vnderſtand
Quhowbeit thare to thow hauehave deſyre
The Secretis of the Heum Empyre
The more men lukis on Phebus bricht
The more febill, ſalbe thare ſicht
Rychtſo lat no man ſet thare cure
To ſerche the hich Deuyne Nature.
The more men ſtudie, I ſuppoſe
Salbe the more frome thare purpoſe
To knaw, quhareto ſulde men Intend
Quhilk Angellis can nocht comprehend
Bot efter this greit Iugement
All thing till vsus ſalbe patent.
Lat vsus with Paule, our mynd addres
He beand full of Heuinlines
Full hunilie, he teichit vsus
Nocht for to be to curious
Quhoweit men be of greit Ingyne
To ſeik the hich Secretis Deuyne
Quhoſe Iugement ar vnſerchebill
His wayis ſtrange and InueſtigabilRom. xi.
(That is to ſay) paſt out finding
Of quhome no man may find ending.
It ſufficis vsus for tyll Implore
Greit God, to bring vsus to his glore.
Of certane pleſuris Of the glorifyit Bodyis.
SEn thare is nōe in erth,Experie… may cōprehēd
The heuinlie glore, & pleſourꝭ infinyte
Quharfor my ſone, I pray ye not p̄tend
Ouer far to ſeik, that mater of delyte
Quhilk paſſit Naturall reſoun till Indyte
That God afore that he the warld creat
Prepairit to thame, quhilk ar predeſtinat.
All mortall men, ſalbe maid Immortall
(That is to ſay) neuer to de agane
Impaſſibil, and ſo Celeſtiall
That fyre nor ſword, may do to yaim no pane
Nor heit, nor cald, nor froſt, nor wind, nor rane
Thocht ſic thing wer, may do to yaim no deir
Thoſe Creaturis, richt ſo ſalbe als cleir.
As flammand Phebus, in his Manſioun
Conſidder than, giuegive thare ſalbe greit licht
Quhen eueryevery one, in to that Regioun
Sall ſchyne lyke to ye ſone, and be als bricht,
Lat vsus with Paull deſyre to ſee that ſicht
Philip. i.To be diſſoluit, Paull had ane gret deſyre
With Chriſt, to be in tyll the heuin Empyre.
And moreatour, as Clerkis can diſcryue,
Thare marueilous mirthis, beis incōparabil
Amang the reſt, in all thare wyttis fyue
Thay ſall hauehave ſenſuall pleſouris delectabeil
The heuinly ſōnd, quhilk ſalbe Inenarrabill
In thare eitis, continuallie ſall ring
And als the ſicht of Chriſt Ieſus our King,
In his triumphant Throne Imperiall
With his mother, ye Virgen quene of Quenis
Thare ſalbe ſene, the Court Celeſtiall
Apoſtolis Martyris, Confefforis, & Virgenis
Brichter thā Phebus, in his ſpheir ye ſchynis
The Patriarkis, and Prophetis, Venerabil
Thare ſalbe ſene, with glore Ineſtimabill.
And with thare Spirituall Eis ſalbe ſene
That ſicht, quhilk bene moſt ſuperexcelland
God as he is, and euermore hes bene
Continuallie that ſicht contempland.
Auguſtine ſayis, he had leuer tak on hand
To be in Hell, he ſeing the eſſence
Of God, nor be in Heuin, but his preſence.
☞Quho ſeis God, in his Diuinitie
He ſeis in hym, all vther pleſand thingis
The quhilk with toung, can not pronuncit be
Quhat pleſour bene, to ſe that king of kingis
The greteſt pane, ye damnit folk doun thringꝭ
And to the Deuillis, the moſt punitioun
It is of God, to want fruitioun.
And mairattouer, thay ſall feill ſic ane ſmell.
Surmonting far, ye flewour of erdly flouris
And in thare mouth, ane tatſt as I heir tell
Of ſweit, and Supernatural Sapouris
Als thay ſall ſe, the heuinlie bricht colouris
Schyning amang thoſe Creaturis Diuyne
Quhilk til diſcryue, trāſcendis mānis ingyne
❧And als thay ſall hauehave ſic Agilite.
In one Inſtant, to pas for thare pleſour
Ten thouſand mylis, in twinkling of ane Ee
So thare Ioyis, ſalbe without meſour
Thay ſall Reioyis, to ſe the greit dolour
Of dampnit folk in hell, and thare torment
Becauſe of God, it is the Iuſte Iugement.
Subtilite thay ſall hauehave maruellouſlie
Supponing that thare wer one wal of bras
One glorifyit body, may rycht haiſtelie
Out throw that wal, without impedimēt pas
Siclyke as dois the ſone beme throw ye glas
As Chriſt till his Diſcipulis did appeir
Ihon. xxAll entres clos, and none of thame did ſteir.
Quhowbeit in heuin, thocht euerilk creature
i. Cor, xv.HaueHave nocht alyke felicite nor glore
Ȝit euerilk one ſall hauehave ſo greit pleſure
And ſo content, thay ſall deſyre no more
To hauehave more Ioy, thay ſal no way implore
Bot thay ſalbe all ſatiſfyit and content
Lyke to this rude exempill ſubſequent.
Take ane crowat, ane pynt ſtop, & ane quart
One galoun pitchair, ane punſion & ane tun,
Of wyne, or balme, gif euerilk one thair part
And fill thame full, til that thay be ouer run
The litle crowat in compariſoun
Salbe ſo full, that it may hald no more
Of ſic meſuris thocht thair be twenty ſcore.
In to the Tun, or in the Punſioun
So all thoſe veſchellis, in one qualite
May hald no more, without thay be ouer run
Ȝit hauehave thay nocht alyke in quantite
So be this rude exempill thow may ſe
Thocht euerilk one, be nocht alike in glore
Ar ſatiſfyit ſo, that thay deſyre no more.
Thocht preſenlie be Goddis purwiance
Beiſtis, foulis, and fiſchis in the ſeis
Ar neceſſar now, for mannis ſuſtinance
With cornis, herbis, flouris, & fruetful treis,
Than ſall thare be none ſic commoditeis
The erth ſall beir no plant, nor beiſt brutall
Bot as the Heuinnis bricht lyke burall.
Suppone ſū be on erth, walkand heir doun.
Or hich abone, quhare euer thay pleis to go
Of God, thay hauehave ay cleir fruitioun
Boith eſt or weſt, vp doun, or to or fro
Clerkis declaris pleſouris mony mo
Quhilk dois trāſcend al mortal mānis īgyne
The thouſand part of thoſe pleſouris diuyne
In to the Heuin, thay ſall perfytlie knaw
Thare tēder freindis yair fader & yair moder
Thare predeceſſouris, quhilkꝭ thay nev er ſaw
Thare ſpouſis, barnis, ſiſter, & thair brother
And euerilk one, ſall hauehave ſic lufe till vther
Of vtheris glore, and Ioy, thay ſall reioſe
As of thare a win, as Clerkis doith ſuppoſe.
Than ſalbe ſene, that bricht Ieruſalem.Apoc. xxi
Quhilk Ihone ſaw, in his Reuelatioun
Eſa. lxviWe mortall men, allare ar far to blame
That will nocht hauehave conſideratioun
And ane continuall contemplatioun
With hote deſyre, to cum vntounto that glore
Quhilk pleſour ſall indure for euer more.
Ro. viii.O Lord our God, and king Omnipotent
Quhilk knew or yt the heuin, and erth, create
Quho wald to the be inobedient
And ſo deſerue, for to be reprobate
Thow knew the noumer of predeſtinate
Quhō thou did call, and hes thame Iuſtifyi…
And ſall in heuin with the be glorifyit.
Grant vsus to be Lord, of that choſin ſort
Quhame of thy Mercy Superexcellent
Did purifie, as Scripture doith report
With the blude of that holy Innocent
Ieſu, quhilk maid hym ſelf Obedient
VntoUnto the deith, and ſteruit on the Rude
Lat vsus O Lord, be purgit with that blude.
Ro. viii.All Creature, that euer God Create
As wryttis Paull, thay wis to ſe that day
i Cor. xv.Quhen the Children of God predeſtinate
Sall do appeir in thare new freſche array
Quhē corruptioun heis clengit clene away
And changit beis, thare mortall qualite
In the greit glore, of Immortalite.
And moreattour, all dede thyngis corporall.
VnderUnder the Concaue, of the Heuin Empyre
That now to laubour, ſubiect ar and thrall
Sone, mone, & ſterris, erth, water, air, & fyre.
In one maner, thay hauehave ane hote deſyre
Wiſſing that day, that thay may be at reſt
As Eraſmus, exponeth Manifeſt.
We ſe the gret Globe of the Firmament
Continuallie, in mouing maruellous
The ſewin Planetis, contrary thare intent
Ar reft about, with cours, contrarious
The wynd, and ſey, with ſtormes furious
The trou…lit air, wt froſtis, ſnaw, and rane,
Onto that day, thay trauell euer in pane.
And all the Angellis, of the Ordouris nyne
Hauand compaſſioun of our Miſereis
Thay wis efter that day, and to that fyne
To ſe vsus fred, frome our Infirmiteis
And clengit frome thir greit Calamiteis
And troublous lyfe, quhilk neuer ſal haif end
VntoUnto that day, I mak it to the kend.
Ane Exhortatioun Geuin be Father Experience, vntounto his Sone, the Courteour.
Experien.My ſone now mark weil ī thy memorie
Of yis fals warld ye trublꝰ trāſitorie
quhoſe dreidfull dayis drawis neir a end
Tharefore call God to be thy adiutorie
And eueryevery day my Sone, Memento mori.
And wat not quhē, nor quhare yt thou ſal wēd
Heir to remane, I pray the nocht pretend
And ſen thow knawis the tyme is very ſchort
In Chriſtis blude, ſet all thy hole confort
Mat. vi.Be not to muche ſolyſt in temporall thyngis
Sen yu perſauis Pape Empriour nor kyngis
In to the erth, haith no place parmanent
Thou ſeis ye deth, yaim dulfully dōn thringis
And rauis yaim frō yair rent, riches & ringis
Thairfor on Chriſt confirme thyne hole ītent
And of thy callyng, be richt weill content
Than God, that fedis the foulis of the air
All neidfull thyng for thee, he ſall prepair.
Ioh. xiiiiConſydder in thy contemplatioun
Ay ſen the warldis firſt Creatioun
Mankynd hes tholit this miſery mortall
Ay tormentit with tribulatioun
With …olour, dreid, and defolatioun
Gentiles, and Choſin peple of Iſraell
To this vnhape, all ſubiect ar and thrall
Quhilk Miſery but dout ſall euer indure
Tyl the laſt day, my Sone thareof be ſure.
That day, as I hauehave maid Narratioun,
Salbe the day of Conſolatioun
Tyll all the Children of the choſin noumer,
Thare endit beis thare deſolatioun.
And als I mak the ſupplicatioun
In erthlie materis, tak the no more cummer.
Dreid not to de, for deith is bot ane ſlummer.
Leue ane Iuſt lyfe, and wt ane Ioyous hart,
And of thy gudis tak pleſandlie thy part.
Of our talking, now lat vsus mak ane end,
Behald quhow Phebus, dounwart dois diſcend
Cowart his Palice, in the Occident.
Dame Cynthia I ſe ſcho dois pretend,
In tyll hir wattrie Regioun tyll aſcend,
With viſſage paill, vp from the Orient.
The dew now donkis the Roſis redolent.
The Mariguldis, that all day wer reioiſie
Of Phebus heit, now craftily ar cloſit.
The blyſfull Birdis bownis to the treis,
And ceiſſis of thare heuinlie harmoneis.
The Cornecraik in the croft, I heir hir cry,
The Bak, the Howlat, febyll of thare eis,
For thare paſtyme, now in the euinning fleis.
The Nichtingaill with myrthfull melody,
Hir naturall notis, peirſit throuch the ſky,
Tyll Cynthia, makand hir obſeruance,
Quhilk on the nycht dois tak hir dalyance.
I ſe Poleartick in the north appeir,
And Venus ryſing with bemis cleir.
Quharefor my Sone, I hald it tyme to go.
Wald God (ſaid I) ȝe did remane all ȝeir,
That I mycht of ȝour heuinlie Leſſonis leir.
Of ȝour departing, I am wounder wo.
Tak pacience (ſaid he) it mon be ſo.
Perchance I ſall returne with diligence
Thus I departit frome Experience.
And ſped me home, with hart ſiching full ſore,
And enterit in my quyet Oritore.
I tuke paper, and thare began to wryte
This Miſerie, as ȝe hauehave hard afore.
All gentyll Redaris, hartlie I Implore
For tyll excuſe my rurall rude Indyte.
Thocht Phariſeis wyl hauehave at me deſpyte,
Quhilkꝭ wald not that thair craftines wer kend.
Lat God be Iuge, and ſo I mak ane end.
☞FINIS.☜ QVOD LYNDESAY. .1568.
The teſtament and Complaynt of our Souerane Lordis Papyngo, King Iames the Fift. Lyand ſore woundit, and may nocht de, tyll eueryevery man hauehave hard quhat ſcho ſayis. Quharfor gentyl redaris haiſt ȝow that ſcho wer out of paine.
¶Compylit be Schir Dauid Lyndeſay of the Mont Knicht, Alias, Lyoun King of Armes.
Liuor post fata quieſcit.
THE PROLOG
So thocht I had ingyne, as I hauehave none,
I wat nocht quhat to wryt be ſweit ſanct Ihone
(For quhy) in all the garth of Eloquence
Is no thing left, bot barrane ſtok and ſtone.
The Polite termes ar pullit euerilk one,
Be thir forenamit Poeitis of prudence
And ſen I find, none vther new ſentence,
I ſall declair, or I depart ȝow fro,
The Complaynt of ane woundit Papingo.
¶ Quharefor, becauſe myne mater bene ſo rude,
Of ſentence, and of Rethorike denude,
To rurall folk, myne dy…ing bene directit,
Far flemit frome the ſicht of men of gude.
For cunning men, I knaw wyll ſone conclude,
It dow no thing, bot for to be deiectit.
And quhen I heir myne mater bene detrectit,
Than ſall I ſweir, I maid it bot in mowis
To landwart laſſis, quhilkꝭ kepith ky & ȝowis.