Works, Poem 2

Works · Poem 2

The Dreme of Schir Dauid Lyndeſay of the mont Knicht. Familiar Seruitour, to our Souerane Lord, King Iames the Fyft. &c. THE EPISTIL TO THE KINGIS GRACE.

RIcht Potent Prince, of hie imperial blude,

VntoUnto thy grace, I traiſt it be weil knawen

My ſeruice done vntounto thy Celſ…tude,

Quhilk nedis nocht, at lenth for to be ſchawin

And thocht my ȝouthed now be neir ouer blaw…n.

Exercit in ſeruice of thyne Excellence,

Hope hes me hecht ane gudlie recompence.

Quhen thou wes ȝoung, I bure y^t in myne arme

Full tenderlie, till thow begouth to gang,

And in thy bed, oft happit the full warme

With lute in hand, ſyne ſweitlie to the ſang.

Sumtyme in danſing, feirelie I flang.

And ſumtyme playand fairſis on the flure,

And ſumtyme on myne office takand cure.

And ſumtyme lyke ane feind tranſfigurate,

And ſumtyme lyke the greiſlie gaiſt of Gy,

In diuers formis, oftymes diſfigurate,

And ſumtyme diſſagyiſt full pleſandlie.

So ſen thy birth, I hauehave continuallie

Bene occupyit, and ay to thy pleſour,

And ſumtyme Sewat, Coppat and Caruour.

Thy purs maiſter, and ſecreit Theſaurar.

Thy Iſchar ay ſen thy Natyuite,

And of thy chalmer cheif Cubicular,

Quhilk to this hour, hes kepit my lawte,

Louyng be to the blyſſit Trinite,

That ſic ane wrechit worme hes maid ſo able,

Tyll ſic ane Prince to be ſo agreable.

Bot now thow art be Influence naturall

Hie of Ingyne, and richt Inquiſityue

Of antique ſtoreis, and dedis martiall

More pleſandlie, the tyme for tyll ouer dryue

I hauehave at lenth, the ſtoreis done diſcryue,

Of Hector, Arthur, and gentill Iulius,

Of Alexander, and worthy Pompeius.

Of Iaſon, and Medea, all at lenth.

Or Hercules, the actis honorable,

And of Sampſon, the ſupernaturall ſtrenth,

And of …eil Luffaris floreis amiable.

And oftymes hauehave I feinȝeit mony fable,

Of Troylus, the ſorrow and the Ioy,

And Seigis all, of Tire, Thebes, and Troy.

The Prophecyis of Rymour, Beid & Marling,

And of mony vther pleſand hiſtorie,

Of the reid Etin, and the gyir carling

Confortand the, quhen that I ſaw the ſorie,

Now with the ſupport of the king of glorie

I ſall the ſchaw ane ſtorie of the new

The quhilk afore, I neuer to the ſchew.

Bot humilie I beſeik thyne Excellence.

With ornate termes, thocht I can nocht expres

This ſempyll mater, for laik of Eloquence,

Ȝit nocht withſtanding, all my beſines.

With hart and hand my mynd I ſall addres,

As I beſt can, and moſt compendious.

Now I begyn, the mater hapnit thus.

☞ THE PROLOG.

IN the Calendis of Ianuarie,

Quhen freſche Phebus be mouyng circulai…

Frome Capricorne, wes enterit in Aquarie,

With blaſtis that the branchis maid full bair.

The ſnaw, and ſleit, pertubit all the air,

And flemit Flora, frome eueryevery bank and bus

Throuch ſupport of the auſteir Eolus.

Efter that I the lang wynteris nicht.

Had lyne walking, in my bed allone,

Throuch heuy thocht, that no way ſleip I micht,

Remembryng of diuers thyngis goue.

So vp I roſe, and cleithit me anone.

Be this fair Titan, with his lemis licht

Ouer all the land, had ſpred his baner bricht.

With clok and hude, I dreſſit me belyue

With dowbyl ſchone, & myttanis on my handis,

Howbeit the air, wes rycht penettraryue,

Ȝit fure I furth, lanſing ouirthort the landis,

Towart the ſee, to ſchort me on the ſandis

Becauſe vnblomit was baith bank and bray.

And ſo as I was paſſing be the way,

I met dame Flora, in dule weid diſſagyſit.

Quhilk in to May, wes dulce and delectabill

With ſtalwart ſtormis, hir ſweitnes wes ſuppriſit

Hir heuinlie hewis, war turait in to ſabill,

Quhilkꝭ vinquhyle war to Luffaris amiabill,

Fled frome the froſt, the tender flouris I ſaw,

VnderUnder dame Naturis mantill lurking law.

The ſmall fowlis, in flokkis ſaw I fle,

To Nature makand greit lamentatioun.

Thay lychtit doun, beſyde me on ane tre,

Of thare complaynt, I had compaſſioun,

And with ane pieteous exclamatioun,

Thay ſaid bliſſit be Somer, with his flouris,

And waryit be thow wynter, with thy ſchouris.

Allace Aurora, the ſyllie Lark can cry,

Quhare hes thou left, thy balmy liquour ſweit

That vsus reioſit, we mounting in the ſky?

Thy ſyluer droppis, ar turnit in to ſleir.

O fair Phebus, quhare is thy holſum hei…

Quhy tholis thow, thy heuinlie pleland face

With myſtie vapours to be obſcurit allace?

Quhar art thou May, w^t Iune, thy ſiſter ſchene,

Weill bordourit with daſyis of delyte?

And gentill Iulie, with thy mantill grene

Enamilit with Roſis, reid and quhyte?

Now auld and cauld Ianuar in deſpyte,

Reiffis frome vsus, all paſtyme and pleſure.

Allace quhat gentil hart may this Indure?

Ouerſylit ar with cloudis odious

The goldin ſkyis of the Orient.

Chāging in ſorrow, our ſang melodious,

Quhilk we had wount to ſing with gude intent,

Reſoundand to the heuinnis firmament.

Bot now our day, is changit in to nicht

With that thay rais, & flew furth of my ſicht.

❧Penſyue in hart, paſſing full ſoberly

VntoUnto the ſee, fordwart I fure anone.

The ſee was furth, the ſand wes ſmoith & dry

Than vp and doun, I muſit myne alone

Tyll that I ſpyit, ane lytle Caue of ſtone

Hich in ane craig, vpwart I did approche

But carying and clam vp in the Roche.

And purpoſit, for paſſing of the tyme,

Me to defend frome Ocioſite,

With pen and paper to Regiſter in ryme

Sum mery mater of Antiquite.

Bot Idelnes, ground of iniquite

Scho maid ſo dull my ſpreitis me within,

That I wiſt nocht, at quhat end to begin.

Bot ſal ſtyll in that coue, quhare I mycht ſe

The weltering of the wallis vp and doun,

And this fals warldis Inſtabilite

VntoUnto that ſe, makand compariſoun,

And of this warldis wrechit variatioun

To thame that fixis, all thare hole intent

Conſidering quho moſt had, ſuld moſt repent.

So with my hude, my heid I happit warme,

And in my cloke, I fauldit beit… my feir.

I thocht my corps, with cauld ſuld tak no harme

My mittanis held my handis weill in heit.

The ſkowland craig, me couerit frome the ſleit.

Thare ſtyll I ſat, my bonis for to reſt

Tyll Morpheus with ſleip my ſpreit oppreſt.

So throw the bouſteous blaſtis of Eolus,

And throw my walking, on the nicht before,

And throuch the ſeyis mouyng maruellous

Be Neptunus, with mony rout and rore.

Conſtraynit I was to ſleip withouttin more.

And quhat I dremit in concluſioun,

I ſall ȝow tell ane meruellous viſioun,

THE DREME OF SCHIR DAVID LYNDESAY.

ME thocht ane lady of portratour perfyte

Did ſalus me, w^t benyng countenance,

And I quhilk of hir preſens had delyte

Tyll hir agane maid humyll reuerence,

And hir demandit, ſauing hir pleſance,

Quhat wes hir name? ſcho anſwerit courteſly,

Dame Remembrance (ſcho ſaid) callit am I.

Quhilk cummin is for paſtyme and pleſour

Of the, and for to beir the companie,

Becauſe I ſe thy ſpreit without meſour

So ſore perturbit be melancholie,

Cauſing thy corps, to vaxin cauld and dry.

Tharefor get vp, and gang anone with me.

So war we boith, in twinkling of ane Ee,

Doun throw the eird, in middis of the Center,

Or euer I wiſt, in to the laweſt hell,

In to that cairfull Coue, quhen we did enter

Ȝowting and ȝowling, we hard with mony ȝell.

In flam of fyre, rycht furious and fell

Was cry and mony cairfull Creature

Blaſphemand God, and warland Nature.

Thare ſawe we diuers Paipis and Empriouris,

Without recouer mony cairfull kingis.

Thare ſawe we mony wrangous Cōquerouris,

Withouttin richt, reiffaris of vtheris ringis,

The men of kirk, lay boundin in to bingis,

Thare ſaw we mony cairfull Cardinall,

And Archebiſchopis in thare pontificall.

Proud and peruerſt Prelattꝭ, out of nummer,

Priouris, Abbottis, and fals flatterand freiris.

To ſpecifie thame all, it wer ane cummer,

Regulare chānonis, churle monkꝭ, & chartereris,

Curious Clerkis, and preiſtis ſeculeris.

Thare was ſum part, of ilk Religioun

In haiy kirk, quhilk did abuſioun.

Than I demand it dame Remembrance,

The cauſe of thir Prelattis punitioun.

Scho ſaid the cauſe, of thare vnhappy chance.

Was Couetyce, Luſt, and ambteioun,

The quhilk now garris thame want fruitioun

Of God, and heir eternallie man dwell

In to this painful poyſonit pit of hell.

Als thay did nocht inſtruct the Ignorent.

Prouocand thame to penitence be preiching,

Bot ſeruit warldlie Princis inſolent,

And war promouit, be thare fenȝen fleiching.

Nocht for thare ſcience, wiſdome nor teicheing.

Be Symonie, was thare promotioun,

More for deneiris, nor for deuotioun.

☞ Ane vther cauſe of the punitioun,

Of thir vnhappy prelattis Imprudent,

Thay maid nocht equale diſtributioun

Of haly kickis Patrimonie and rent,

Bot temporallie, thay hauehave it all miſpent.

Quhilkis ſuld hauehave bene trypartit in to thre,

Firſt to vphauld the kick in honeſte.

The ſecund part, to ſuſtene thare eſtaitis.

The thrid part, to be geuin to the puris.

Bot thay diſpone that geir all vther gaitis,

On cartis, and dyce, an harlotrie, and huris.

Thir caryuis tuke no compt of thare a win curi…

Thare kirkis reuin, thare l…oris clenely cled

And richelie rewlit …oi… at bu… and bed.

Thare baſtard barnis, proudely thay prouydit.

The kirk geir largelie, thay did on tha… ſpend

In thare defaltis, thare ſub…tis wee miſgydit,

And comptit nocht thare God, for tyll offend,

Quhilk gart thaim want grace at t…r letter end

Rewland that rout I ſaw to Ca…p…s of Bras,

Symon Magus, and Biſchop Cayphas.

Biſchop Annas, and the tratour Iudas,

Machomete, that Propheit poyſonabill,

Chore Dathan, and A…iron thare was,

Heretykis we ſaw vnnume…abill.

It was ane ſicht, richt wounderous …amin…abill

Quhow that thay lay, in to thay … Neiting,

With cairfull cryis, grening and greiting.

Religious men wer puniſchit pa…efullit,

For vaine glorie als for Inobedience,

Brekand thare conſtitutionis wylfullie

Nocht hauand thare Ouermen in reuerence,

To knaw thare rewll thay maid no diligence,

Vnleifſumlie, thay vſit properte,

Paſſing the boundis of wilfull pouerte.

Full ſore weping, with vocis lament…bill,

Thay cryit lawd, O Empriour Conſtantyne

We may wyt thy poſſeſſioun perſonabill

Of all our greit pame… ….

Quhow …t thy purpoſe was, till ane …udefyne,

Th…w baneift frome vsus, … deuotioun,

Haiffand ſic Ee tyll our promo…ioun.

Than we beheld ane den full dolorous,

Quhare that Princis and Lordis temporall

War Cruciate with panis rigorous.

Bot to expreme thare panis in ſpeciall.

It dois exceid all my memoriall.

Importabill pane thay had but conforting.

Thare blude royall, maid thame no ſupporting.

Sum catyue kingis, for cruell oppreſſioun.

And vther ſum, for thare wrangous conqueſt

War condampnit, thay and thare Succeſſioun,

Sum for publict adulterie, and inceſt.

Sum leit thare peple neuer leif in reſt,

Delyting ſo in pleſour ſenſuall,

Quhare for thare pane, was thare perpetuall

Thare was the curſit Empriour Nero,

Of euerilk vice the horribill veſchell.

Thare was Pharao, with diuers Princis mo,

Oppreſſouris of the barnis of Iſrael.

Herod, and mony mo, than I can tell.

Ponce Pylat was thare hangit be the hals,

With vniuſt Iugis, for thare ſentence fals.

Dukis, Marqueſſis, Erlis, Barronis, knichtis,

With thay Princis, wer puniſt panefully.

Participant thay wer of thare vnrichtis.

Fordwart we went, and leit thir Lordis ly,

And ſaw quhare Ladyis lamentabilly,

Lyke wod Lyonis wer cairfullie cryand,

In flam of fyre, richt furiouſlie fryand.

Emprices, Quenis, and ladyis of honouris,

Mony Duches, and Comptes, full of cair.

Thay perſit myne hart, thay tender Creaturis

So pynit in that pit full of diſpair

Plungit in pane, with mony reuthfull rair.

Sum for thare pryde, ſum for Adulterie,

Sum for thare tyiſting men to Lecherie,

Sum had bene cruell and malicious,

Sum for making of wrangous heritouris.

For to rehers thare lyffis vitious

It wer bot tarie to the auditouris,

Of Letherie, thay wer the verray …uris

With thare prouocatyue Impudictte

Brocht mony ane man to Infelicite.

Sum wemen for thare puſillanimiteQuhat ho…ribill torment of conſcience wes this anticulate cō feſſioun.

Ouerſet w^t ſchame, thay did thame nev er ſchryue

Of ſecreit Synnis, done in quiete

And ſum repentit neuer in thare lyue.

Quharefor but reuth thai ruffeis did yaim ryue

Rigorouſlie without compaſſioun,

Greit was thare dule, and lamentatioun.

That we wer maid, thay cryit oft allace,

Thus Tormentit with panis Intollerabill

We mendit nocht, quhē we had tyme and ſpace,

Bot tuke in ei…d our luſtis delectabill.

Quharefor with feindis vgly and hortibill

We ar condampnit, for euer more allace,

Eternallie, withouttin hope of grace.

Quhare is the meit, and drink delicious,

With quhilk we fed, our cairfull carionis?

Gold, ſyluer, ſylk, with perlis precious,

Our ryches, rentis and our poſſeſſionis?

Withouttin hope of our remiſſionis,

Allace our panis ar Inſufferabill,

And our tormentis to compt Innumerabill.

Than we beheld, quhare mony ane thouſand.

Commoun peple lay flichterand in the fyre,

Of euerilk ſtait, thare was ane bailfull band.

Thare mycht be ſene, mony ſorrowful Syre.

Sum for Inuy ſufferit, and ſum for Ire,

And ſum for laik of reſtitutioun,

Of wrangous geir without remiſſioun.

Maneſworne m̄chandꝭ, for yair wrangous winning,

Hurdaris of gold, & cōmoun Okkararis

Fals men of Law, in Cautelis rycht cunning,

Theiffis, reuaris, and publict oppreſſaris.

Sum part thare was of vnleill Lauboraris

Craftiſmen thare ſaw we out of nummer,

Of ilk ſtait to declair, it wer ane cummer.

And als langſum to me, for tyll Indyte,

Of this preſoun, the pams in ſpeciall.

The heir, the cauld, the dolour and diſpyte,

Quharefor I ſpeik of thame in generall,

That dully den, that furneis Infernall,

Quhoſe reward is, rew without remeid,

Euer deand, and neuer to be deid,

Hounger and thriſt, in ſteid of meit and drink.

And for thace clethyng, ta…dis and Scorpionis.

That mirk Manſioun, is tapeſſit with ſtink

Thay ſe na thing, bot horribill viſionis

Thay heir bot ſcorne, and deriſionis

Of foule feindis, and blaſphemationis.

Thare feilling is Importabill paſſionis.

For melodie, miſerable murning.

Thare is na ſolace, bet dolour Infinyte

In bailfull beddis, bitterlie burning.

With ſobbing, ſiching, ſorrow and with ſyte

Thare conſcience, thare hattis ſo did byte,

To heir thame flyte, it was ane cace of cair,

So in diſpyte plungit in to deſpair.

A lytle aboue, that dolorous doungeoun.He ſemis earn… … clude thā allo… Purgatorie.

We enterit in, ane countre full of cait.

Quhate that we ſaw, mony ane legioun

Grerand and gowland, with mony re…full rair.

Quhat place is this (quod I) of blis ſo bait,

Scho anſwerit (and ſaid) Purgatorie

Quhilk purgis Saulis, or thay cum to glorie.

¶ I ſe no pleſour heir bot mekle paine.

Quharefor (ſaid I) leif we this ſort in thrall.

I purpoſe neuer, to cum beie againe.

Bot ȝit I do beleue, and euer ſall

That the trew kirk, can no way erre at all,

Sic thing to be, greit Clerkis dois conclude.

Quhoweit my hope, ſtādis moſt in Chriſtis blud.

Abufe that, in the thrid preſoun anone.

We enterit in ane place of perditioun,

Quhare mony babbis war makand drery mone,

Becauſe thay wantit the fruitioun

…ic wes y^e ignorāce of yaida…is, y^e mē ewin of ſcharpeſt iugemēr, culd not eſpy all abuſis.Of God, quhilk was ane greit punitioun

Of Baptiſme, thay wantit the Anſenȝe.

Vp wart we went, and left that mirthles menȝe.

In tyll ane Volt, aboue that place of pane.

VntoUnto the quhilk, but ſudgeorne we aſcendit,

That was the Lymb, in the quhilk did remane

Our forefatheris, becauſe Adam offendit

Eiland the fruct, the quhilk was defendit

Mony ane ȝeir, thay dwelt in that Doungeoun

In mirknes, and in delolatioun.

Than throuch the erth, of nature cauld and dry.

Glaid to eſchaip, thoſe places perrilous,

We haiſtit vsus, rycht wounder ſpedily.

Ȝit we beheld, the Secretis maruellous

The Mynis of gold, and ſtonis precious

Of ſyluer, and of euerilk fyne mettell,

Quhilk to declare, it wer ouer lang to dwell.

Vp throuch the watter, ſchortlie we Intendi…

Quhilk enuironis the erth, withouttin dout.

Syne throw the air, ſchortlie we aſcendit,

His Regionis throuch, behalding in and out

Quhilk erth, and watter, cloſis round about.

Syne ſchortlie vpwart, throw the fyre we went,

Quhilk wes the hieſt, and hoteſt Element.

Quhen we had all, thir Elementis ouer paſ….

That is to ſay, erth, watter, air, and fyre,

Vp wart we went, withouttin ony reſt

To ſe the Heuinnis, was out maiſt deſyre.

Bot or we mycht wyn, to the heuin Empyre

It behuffit vsus to pas, the way full ewin,

Vp throuch the ſpheiris, of the Planeris ſewin.

Firſt to the Mone, and veſyit all hir ſpheir.

Quene of the ſee, and bewtie of the nycht,

Of nature wak, and cauld, and no thyng cleir,

For of hir ſelf, ſcho hes none vther lycht

Bot the reflex, of Phebus bemis brycht.

The twelf ſignis, ſcho paſſis round about,

In aucht and twenty dayes withouttin dout.

Than we aſcendit to Mercurious.

Quhilk Poetis callis god of Eloquence,

Rycht Doctourlyke, with termes delicious,

In art expert, and full of Sapience.

It wes pleſour to pans on his prudence.

Payntouris, Poeitis ar ſubiect to his cure,

And hote, and dry, he is of his Nature.

And als as cunning Aſtrologis ſayis,

He dois compleit his cours Naturallie,

In thre houndreth, and aucht and thretty dayis.

Syne vpwart we aſcendit haiſtelie

To fair Venus, quhare ſcho richt luſtelie,

Wes ſet in to ane ſait, of ſyluer ſchene,

That freſche Goddes, that luſtie luffis quene.

Thy perſit myne hart, hir blenkis amorous

Quhowbeit that ſumtyme ſcho is chengeable,

With countenance and cheir full dolorous

Quhylūmis richt pleſand, glaid and delectable,

Sumtyme conſtant, and ſumtyme variable.

Ȝit hir bewtie, reſplendent as the fyre,

Swagis the wraith of Mars, that god of Ire.

This pleſand Planeit, geue I can richt diſcriue,

Scho is baith hote, and wak, of hir nature

That is the cauſe, ſcho is prouocatiue

Tyll all thame that ar ſubiectit to hir cure,

To Venus werkis, tyll that thay may indure.

Als ſcho completis, hir courſis natural,

In twelf Monethis, withouttin ony fall.

Than paſt we to the ſpheir of Phebus bricht,

That luſty lamp, and lanterne of the heuin,

And glaider of the ſterris with his licht

And principall of all the planeitis ſewin,

And ſat in myddis of thame all full ewin,

As Roy royal, rolling in his ſpheir,

Full pleſandlie in to his goldin Chair.

Quhoſe Influence and vertew excellent,

Geuis the lyfe tyll euerilk erthlie thing.

That Prince of euerilk planeit precellent

Dois foſter flouris, and garris herbis ſpring,

Throuch the cauld eirth, and cauſis birdis ſing.

And als his regular mouyng in the heuin.

Is Iuſt vnderunder the Zodiack full ewin.

☞ For to diſcryue his Diademe Royall,

Bordourit about with ſtonis ſchyning bricht

His goldin Cart, or throne Imperiall,

The foure ſtedis, that drawis it full richt

I leif to Poeitis, becauſe I hauehave no ſlicht.

Bot of his nature he is hote and dry,

Compleitand in ane ȝeir, his cours trewly.

Than vp to Mars, in by we haiſtit vsus,

Wounder hote, and dryer than the tounder,

His face flam…and, as ſyre richt furious,

His hoſt & brag, more aufull than the thounder,

Maid all y^e heuin, moſt lyke to ſchaik in ſchouder

Quha wald behald his countenance and feir,

Mycht cail hym weill, the god of men of weir.

With colour reid, and luke malicious,

Rycht colerick of his complexioun.

Auſteir, angrie, ſweir, and ſeditious,

Principall cauſe of the deſtructioun

Of mony gude and …obill Regioun.

War nocht Venus, his Ire dois mitigate,

This warld of pece wald be full deſolate.

This god of greif withouttin ſudgeorning

In ȝeris twa, his cours he doith compleit,

Than paſt we vp, quhar Iuppiter the king

Sat in his ſpheir, richt amiabill and ſweit,

Complexionat with waknes, and with heit.

That pleſand Prince, tair, dulce, and delicate

Prouokis pece, and baniſſis debait.

The auld Poeitis, be ſuperſtitioun.

Held Iuppiter, the Father principall

Of all thare goddis in concluſioun,

For his prerogatyuis in ſpeciall

Als be his vertew in to generall

To auld Saturne, he makis reſiſtance

Quhen in his malice he wald wirk vengeance.

This Iuppiter withouttin ſudgeorning

Paſſis throw all the twelf planeitis full euin,

In ȝeris twelf, and than but carying

We paſt vntounto the hieſt of the ſeuin,

Tyll Saturnus, quhilk trublis all the heuin

With heuy cheir, and collour paill as leid,

In hym we ſaw bot dolour to the deid.

And cauld, and dry, he is of his nature,

Foule lyke ane Oule, of euill conditioun.

Rycht vnpleſand he is of portrature.

His Intoxicate diſpoſitioun

It puttis all thing to perditioun

Ground of ſeiknes, and melancholious.

Peruerſt and pure, baith fals and Inuyous.

His qualite, I can nocht louelove bot lack,

As for his mouyng naturallie but weir,

About the ſignis of the Zodiack,

He dois compleit his cours, in thretty ȝeir.

And ſo we left hym in his froſty ſpheir,

Vp wart we did aſcend Incontinent

But …eſt, tyll we come to the Firmament,

The quhilk was fixit ful of ſterris bricht

Of figour round, richt pleſand and perfyte

Quhoſe influence, and richt excellent licht,

And quhoſe nummer, may nocht be put in wryte.

Ȝit cunnyng Clerkis, dois naturallie indyte,

How that he dois, compleit his cours but weir,

In ſpace of ſeuin and thretty thouſand ȝeir.

Than the nynt Spheir, and mouair principall

Of all the laif, we weſy it all that heuin,

Quhoſe daylie motioun is continuall,

Baith firmament, and all the plancitis ſeuin,

Frome eiſt, to weſt, garris thame full euin

In to the ſpace of four and twenty ȝeris

Ȝit be the myndis of the Aſtronomeris,

The ſeuin Planeitis, in to thare proper ſpheiris,

Frome weſt to eiſt, thay moue naturallie.

Sum ſwyft, ſum ſlaw, as to thare kynd effeiris

As I hauehave ſchawin afore ſpeciallie

Quhoſe motioun cauſis continuallie

Rycht melodious, harmonie and ſound,

And al throw mouyng of thoſe Planeitis round.

Than moutit we, with richt feruent deſyre

Vpthrow the heuin, callit Chriſtallyne

And ſo we enterit in the heuin Empyre,

Quhilk to diſcryue, it paſſis myne Iagyne.

Quhat God in to his holy throne druyne

Regnis in to his glore Ineſtimabill

With Angellis citir, quhilkis ar Innumerabill.

In Ordeuris nyne, thir ſpreitis glorious

Ar deuydit, the quhilkis excellentlie

Makis louyng, with ſound melodious,

Singand Sanctus, tycht wounder feruentlie,

Thir ordeuris nyne, thay at full pleſandlie

Deuydit in to Hierarchies thre,

And thre Ordouris in euerilk Hierarchie.

The laweſt Ordour, is of Angellis bricht,

As Meſſingeris ſend to this law Regioun.

The ſecund ordour, Archangellis full of micht.

Virtues, Poteſtatis Principatis of renoun.

The ſext is callit Dominatioun.

The ſeuint Thronus, the auchtin Cherubin.

The nynt and hieſt, callit Seraphin.

☞ And nixt vntounto the bliſſit Trinite,

In his Tryumphant throne Imperiall,

Thre in tyll one, and one ſubſtance in tyre,

Quhoſe indiuiſibill eſſence eternall,

The rude Ingyne, of mankynd is to ſmall

Tyll comprehend, quhoſe power Infinyte,

And deuyne nature, no Creature can wryte.

So myne Ingyne, is nocht ſufficient

For to treit, of his hich Diuinite.

All mortall men at Inſufficient

Tyll conſidder thay thre in vnite,

Sic ſubtell mater I man on neid lat be

To ſtudy on my Creid, it wat full fair,

And lat Doctouris of ſic hic materis declair.

Than we beheld the bliſſit Humanite

Of Chriſt, ſittand in to his Sege Royall

At the rycht hand of the Diuinite

With ane excelland court Celeſtiall,

Quhoſe exercitioun continuall

Was in louyng thair Prince, with reuerence,

And on this wyſe thay kepit ordinance.

Nixt to the Throne, we ſaw y^e Quene of quenis

Weil cumpanyit, with Ladyis of delyte

Sweit was the ſang, of thoſe bliſſit Virginnis,

No mortall man, thare ſolace may indyte.

The Angellis bricht, in nummer infinyte,

G…erilk Ordour in thare awin degre

War officiaris vntounto the deite.

Patriarkis, and Propheitis honorabill,

Coilaterall counſalouris in his conſiſtorie,

Euangeliſtis, Apoſtolis venerabill

War Capitanis vntounto the King of Glorie,

Quhilk Chi…tanely …e had wyn the Victorie,

Of that tryumphand Court celeſtiall

Sanct Peter was Lufetenand generall.

The Martyris war, as nobyll ſtalwart Knichtis

Diſcoafitouris of cruell Battellis thre

The fleſche, the warld, the feind & al his michtis

Confeſſouris, Doctouris in Diuinite

As Chapell Clerkis vntounto his deite.

And laſt we ſaw infinyte multitude

Makand ſeruice vntounto his Celſitude.

Quhilkis be the hie Deuyne permiſſioun,

Felicite thay had Inuariable,

And of his Godheid, cleir cognitioun,

And compleit peice thay had Interminable.

Thare glore, and honour, was Inſeparable.

That pleſand place repleit of pulchritude

Vnmeſurable it was of magnitude.

Thare is plentie of all pleſouris perfyte,

Euydent brichtnes, but obſcurite.

Withouttin dolour, dulcore, and delyte.

Withouttin rancour, perfyte Cherite.

Withouttin hounger, Satiabilite.

O happy ar the Saulis predeſtinate,

Quhen Saule and body ſalbe glorificate.

Thir maruellous mirthis for to declair,

Be Arithmetik, thay at Innumerable.

The portratour of that place preclair,

By Geometrie, it is Inmeſurable,

By Rethorik als Inpronunciable.

Thare is none eiris may heir, nor Eine my ſe,

Nor hart may thynk this thare felicite.

Quhare to ſulde I preſume for tyll indyte,

The quhilk Sanct Paule, that Doctour ſapient

Can nocht expres nor in to paper wryte

The hie excellent work Indeficient,

And perfyte pleſour euer permanent,

In preſence of that mychtie King of glore,

Quhilk was, and is, and ſall be euer more.

At Remembrance, humillie I did inquyre

Geue I mycht in that pleſour ſtyll remane.

(Scho ſaid) aganis reſoun is thy deſyre

M…h…refore my freind, thou mon returne agane

I…to the warld, quhair thow ſall ſuffer pane,

…d thole the dede with cruell panis ſore,

Or thow be digne, to regne with hym in glore.

Than we returnit ſore aganis my wyll,

Doun throw ſpheiris of the heuinnis cleir.

Hir commandement behuſtit I fulfyll

With ſorte hart, wit ȝe withouttin weir.

I wald full faine haif taryit thare all ȝeir

Bot ſcho ſaid to me, thare is no remeid,

Or thow remane heir, firſt thow mon be deid.

Quod I, I pray ȝow hartfullie madame,

Sen we hauehave had ſic Contemplatioun

Of heuinlie pleſouris, ȝit or we pas hame

Lat vsus hauehave ſum conſideratioun

Of eirth, and of his Situatioun.

Scho anſwerit and ſaid, that ſall be done.

So wer we botth, brocht in the air full ſone.

Quhare we mycht ſe the Erth all at one ſicht,

Bot lyke one moit, as it apperit to me,

In the reſpect of the heuinnis bricht.

I hauehave maruell (quod I) quhow this may be,

The erth ſemis of ſo ſmall quantite

The leiſt ſterne fixit in the Firmament

Is more than all the erth, be my Iugement.

Scho ſayis Sone, thow hes ſchawin y^e verite,

The ſmalleſt ſterne fixit in the firmament,

In deid it is of greiter quantite

Than all the eirth, efter the intent

Of wyſe, and cunning Clerkis ſapient.

Quhat quantite is than the eirth (quod I)

That ſall I ſchaw (quod ſcho) to the ſchortly.

Efter the myndis of the Aſtronomouris,

And ſpeciallie, the Auctour of the Spheir,

And vther diuers greit Philoſophouris,

The quantite of the erth Circuleir,

Is fiftie thouſand liggis, withouttin weir,

Seuin houndreth, and fiftie, and no …o,

Deuiding ay ane lig, in mylis two.

And euerilk myle, in aucht flaidis deuyde.

Ilk ſtaid, ane houndreth pais, twenty and fyue.

Ane pais fyue fute, quha wald than rycht decyde,

Ane fute four palmes, giuegive I can rycht deſcryue,

Ane palme four Inche, and quba …a wald belyue

The circuite of the eirth, pas round about,

Man be conſidderit on this wyſe but dout.

Suppone, that thare warmone Impediment,

Bot that the eirth but perrell wer and plane,

Syne that the perſoun wer rycht diligent,

And ȝeid ilk day, ten liggis in certane.

He mycht pas round about, and cum agane

In four ȝeiris, ſextene oulkis, and dayis two.

Go reid the Auctour, and thow ſall fynd it ſo.

The diuiſioun of the Eirth.

THen certanlie ſcho tuke me be the hand,

And ſaid my ſone cū on thy wayis w^t me

And ſo ſcho gart me cleirly vnderſtand

How that the erth, tripartit wes in thre:

In Aphrik, Europe, and Aſie.

Efter the myndis of the Coſmographouris

That is to ſay, the warldis Deſcriptouris.

Firſt Aſia, contenit is in the Orient,

And is weill more, than baith the vther twane,

Aphrik, and Europe, in the Occident,

And ar deuydit be ane ſey certane,

And that is callit, the ſee Mediterrane,

Quhilk at the ſtrait of Marrok hes entre,

That is betuix Spanȝe, and Barbarie.

Towart the ſouthweſt lyis Aphrica,

And in the northweſt, Europa doith ſtand.

And all the eiſt, contenis Aſia.

On this wyſe, is deuydit the ſerme land

It war mekle to me to tak on hand

Thir Regionis, to declair in ſpeciall,

Ȝit ſall I ſchaw thair Names in generall.

In mony diuers famous Regionis,

Is deuydit this part Aſia.

Weill pleniſchit, with Citteis, towris, & townis,

The greit Inde, and Meſopotamia,

Penthapolis, Egypt, and Syria,

Cappadocia, Seres, and Armenie,

Babilon, Chaldea, Parth, and Arabie.

Sidon, Iudea, and Paleſtina,

Vpper Scithia, Tire, and Galilie,

Hiberia, Bactria, and Phileſtina,

Hircania, Compagena, and Samarie.

In litle Aſia, ſtandis Galathie,

Pamphilia, Iſauria, and Leid,

Rhegia, Arethuſa, Aſſyria, and Meid.

☞Secundlie, we conſidderit Africa,

With mony fructfull famous regioun

As Ethiopie, and Tripolitana,

Zewges, quhare ſtandis the triumphant toun

Of nobyll Carthage, that Ciete of renoun.

Garamantes, Nadabar, Libia,

Getulia, and Mauritania.

Fezenſis, Numidie, and Thingitane,

Of Affrick, thir ar the principall.

Than Europe, we conſidderit in certane,

Quhoſe Regionis, ſchortlie rehers I ſall.

Four principallis, I find aboue thame all

Quhilkꝭ ar Spanȝe, Italie, and France,

Quhoſe Subregionis, wer mekle tyll auance.

Nether Scithia, Thrace, and Carmanie

Thuſia, Diſtria, and Pannonia

Denmark, Gotland, Grundland, and Almanie,

Pole, Hungarie, Boeme, Norica, Rethia,

Trutonia and mony diuers ma.

And was in four deuydit Italie

Tuſcane, Hethruria, Naplis, and Champanie.

And ſubdeuydit ſindry vther wayis,

As Lumbardie, Veneis, and vther ma,

Calaber, Romanie, and Genowayis.

In Grece, Epyrus, and Dalmatia,

Theſſalie, Attica, and Illyria,

Achaya, Beotia, and Macedone,

Archadie, Pierie, and Lacedemone.

And France we ſawe deuydit in to thre.

Belgica, Celtica, and Aquitane.

And ſubdeuydit in Flanderis, Picardie,

Normandie, Gaſconȝe, Burgunȝe, & Britane,

And vtheris diuers Duchereis in certane,

The quhilkꝭ wer to lang for to declair,

Quharefor of thame as now I ſpeik na mair.

In Spanȝe, lyis Caſtillie and Arragone.

Nauarne, Galice, Portugall, and Granate,

Than ſaw we famous Ilis mony one

Quhilkis in the Occeane ſey, was ſituate.

Thame to diſcryue, my wyt wes deſolate.

Of Coſmographie I am nocht expare,

For I did neuer ſtudy in that art.

Ȝit I ſall ſum of thare names declare,

As Madagaſcar, Gades, and Taprobane,

And vther diuers Ilis gude and fair

Situate in to the ſcy Mediterrane,

As Cyper, Candie, Corſica, and Sardane.

Crete, Abidos, Thoes Sicilia,

Tapſus, Eolie, and mony vther ma.

Quho wald at lenth, heir the Deſcriptioun

Of euerilk Ile, als weill as the ferme land,

And properteis, of euerilk Regioun,

To ſtudy and to reid man tak on hand

And the attentike werkis vnderſtand

Of Plinius, and worthy Ptholomie,

Quhilaꝭ war expert in to Coſmographie.

Thare ſall thay fynd, the namis and properteis

Of eueryevery Ile, and of ilk Regioun.

Than I inquirit of erthly Paradeis,

Of the quhilk Adam, tynt Poſſeſſioun.

Than ſchew ſcho me the Situatioun

Of that precelland place of delyte,

Quhoſe properteis wer lang for to Indyte.

☞ OF PARADICE.

THis Paradice, of all pleſouris reple…,

Situate I ſaw in to the Orient.

That glorioꝰ gairth of eueryevery flouris did fleit

The luſty lillyis, the roſis redolēt

Freſche holeſum fructis Indeficient,

Baith herbe, and tre, thare growis euer grene,

Throw vertew of the temperat air ſerene.

The ſweit holeſum aromatike odouris,

Proceiding frome the herbis Medicinall

The heuinlie hewis of the fragrant flouris,

It was ane ſicht wounder celeſtiall.

The perfectioun to ſchaw in ſpeciall,

And Ioyis of that Regioun deuyne

Of mankynd, it exceidis the Ingyne.

❧And als ſo hie in Situatioun,

Surmounting the myd Regioun of the air,

Quhare no maner of perturbatioun

Of wedder may aſcend ſo hie as thair.

Four fludis flowing frome ane Fontane fair

As Tigris, Ganges, Euphrates, and Nyle,

Quhilk in the eiſt, Tranſcurtis mony ane myle.

The countre cloſit is about full richt,

With wallis hie, of hote and birnyng fyre,

And ſtraitly keipit be ane Angell bricht

Sen the departyng of Adam, our Grand ſchyre,

Quhilk throw his cryme Incurrit Goddis …,

And of that place tint the Poſſeſſioun,

Baith frome hym ſelf, and his Succeſſioun.

Quhen this lufeſum lady Remembrance

All this foreſaid had gart me vnderſtand,

I prayit hir of hir beneuolence

To ſchaw to me, the countre of Scotland.

Well ſone (ſcho ſaid) that ſal I tak on hand,

So ſuddandlie, ſcho brocht me in certane,

Euin Iuſt abone the braid Ile of Britane.

Quhilk ſtandis northweſt in the Occeane ſee,

And deuydit in famous Regionis two.

The ſouth part Ingland, ane full richt countre,

Scotland be north, with mony Ilis mo.

Be weſt Ingland, Ireland doith ſtand alſo.

Quhoſe properteis, I wyll nocht tak on hand

To ſchaw at lenth, bot onelyonly of Scotland.

OF THE REALME OF SCOTLAND.

QUhilk efter my ſempyll Intendement,

And as Remembrance did to me report,

I fall declare the ſuith, and verrayment

As I beſt can, and in to termes ſchort.

Quhairfor effecteo uſlie, I ȝow exhort,

Quhowbeit my wrytting be nocht tyll auance,

Ȝit quhare I faill, excuſe myne Ignorance.

Quhen that I had ouerſene this Regioun,

The quhilk of nature is boith gude and fair,

I did propone, ane litle queſtioun

Beſeikand hir, the ſame for to declair.

Quhat is the cauſe, our boundis bene …o bair,

(Quod I) or quhat dois moue our Miſe…i…,

Or quhareof dois proceid our pouertie?

For throw the ſupport of ȝour hir prudence

Of Scotland, I perſaue the properteis.

And als conſidderis be experience

Of this countre the greit commoditeis.

Firſt the aboundance of fiſchis in our ſeis,

And fructuall montanis for our beſtiall,

And for our cornis, mony luſty vaill.

The riche Ryueris pleſand and proffitabill,

The luſtie loichis, with fiſche of ſindry kyndis,

Hounting, halking, for nobillis conuenabill,

Forreſtis full of Da, Ra, Hartis, and Hyndis,

The freſche fontanis, quhoſe holeſū criſtal ſtrandis

Refreſchis ſo, the fluriſchit grene meidis.

So laik we no thing that to nature neidis.

Of euerilk mettell, we hauehave the riche Mynis,

Baith Gold, Syluer, and ſtonis precious.

Howbeit we want the Spycis and the wynis.

Or vther ſtrange fructis delicious,

We hauehave als gude, and more neidfull for vsus,

Meit, drink, fyre, claithis yar in y^e be gart abound.

Quhilkꝭ ellis is nocht in all the Mapamound…

More faiter peple, nor of greiter ingyne

Nor of more ſtrenth, greit deidis tyll indure.

Quharefor I pray ȝow, that ȝe wald detyne

The principall cauſe, quharefor we at ſo pure,

For I maruell greitlie, I ȝow aſſure,

Conſidderand the peple, and the ground,

That Riches ſuld nocht in this realme redound.

My Sone (ſcho ſaid) be my diſcretioun,

I ſall mak anſweir, as I vnderſtand.

I ſay to the vnderunder confeſſioun,

The falt is nocht, I dat weill tak on hand,

Nother in to the peple nor the land.

As for the land, it laikis na vther thing,

Bot laubour, and the pepillis gouerning.

Than quharein lyis our Inproſperite

(Quod I) I pray ȝow hartfullie Madame

Ȝe wald declair to me the verite.

Or quho ſall beir of our barrat the blame?

For be my treuth to ſe, I think greit ſchame

So pleſand peple, and ſo fait ane land,

And ſo few verteous deidis tane on hand.

Quod ſcho, I ſall efter my Iugement,

Declair ſum cauſis, in to generall,

And in to termes ſchort ſchaw myne intent,

And ſyne tranſcend in to more ſpeciall.

So this is myne concluſioun finall.

Wanting of Iuſtice, policie, and peace,

At cauſe, of thir vnhappines allace.

☞It is difficill Riches tyll incres,

Quhare Polycie makith no reſidence.

And Policie may neuer hauehave entres,

Bot quhare that Iuſtice dois diligence

To puneis quhare thare may be found offence.

Iuſtice may nocht hauehave Dominatioun,

Bot quhare Pece makis habitatioun.

Quhat is the cauſe, that wald I vnderſtand.

That we ſuld want Iuſtice, and policie,

More than deis France, Italie, or Ingland

Madame (quod I) ſchaw me the verite?

Sen we hauehave lawis in this countre,

Quhy want we lawis exercitioun

Quho ſuld put Iuſtice tyll executioun.

Quhare in dois ſtand our principall remeid,

Or quha may mak a mendis of this miſcheif?

(Quod ſcho) I find the falt in to the heid,

For thay in quhome dois ly our hole releif,

I finde thame rute, and ground of all our greif.

For quhen the heidis ar nocht diligent,

The membris man on neid be negligent.

So I conclude, the cauſis principall

Of all the trubill of this Natioun,

Ar into Princis in to ſpeciall,

The quhilkis hes the Gubernatioun,

And of the peple Dominatioun.

Quhoſe contynewall exercitioun

Sulde be in Iuſtice Executioun.

For quhen the ſleuthfull hird, dois ſloug & ſleip,

Taking no cure, in keping of his flok

Quho wyll go ſerche amang ſic hirdis ſcheip,

May able fynd mony pure ſcabbit crok,

And goyng wyld at large withouttin lok.

Than Lupus tūmis, and Lowrence in ane ling

And dois but reuth, the ſely ſcheip dounthring.

Bot the gude hird, walkryfe and diligent

Doith ſo, that all his flockis ar rewlit richt.

To quhoſe quhiſſill all ar obedient

And geue the wolfis cummis day or nicht

Thame to deuore, than ar thay put to flicht,

Houndit and ſlane, be thare weill dantit doggis,

So ar thay ſure, baith ȝowis, lambis, & hoggis.

So I conclude, that throw the negligence

Of our infatuate heidis Inſolent,

Is cauſe of all this realmes indigence,

Quhilkꝭ in Iuſtice, hes nocht bene diligent,

Bot to gude counſall inobedient,

Hauand ſmall E…, vntounto the commoun weill

Bot to thare ſingulare profite euerilk deill.

For quhen thir Wolfis be oppreſſioun

The pure peple but piete doith oppres,

Than ſuld the princis mak punitioun,

And cauſe thay Rebaldis for to mak redres,

That ryches micht be, and Policie incres.

Bot richt difficill it is to mak remeid

Quh…n that the falt is ſo in to the heid.

THE COMPLAYNT OF THE Comoun weill of Scotland.

ANd thus as we wer talking to and fro,

We ſaw a buſtedꝰ berne cū ouir y^e bent,

But hors on fute, als faſt as he micht go

Quhoſe rayment wes all raggit rewin & vent

With viſage leyne, as he had faſtit lent.

And fordwart faſt his wayis he did aduance,

With ane richt melancholious countenance.

With ſcrip on hip, and pyikſtaff in his hand,

As he had bene purpoſit, to pas ſra hame.

Quod I gude man, I wald faine vnderſtand,

Geue that ȝe pleiſ…t to wit quhat wer ȝour name.

Quod he my ſone, of that I think greit ſchame.

Bot ſen thow wald of my name hauehave ane feill,

Forſuith thay call me Ihone the comoun weill.

Schir Commoun weil, quho hes ȝow ſo diſgyſit

(Quod I) or quhat makis ȝow ſo miſerabill,

I hauehave maruell, to ſe ȝow ſo ſuppryſit,

The quhilk that I hauehave ſene ſo honorabill,

To all the warld, ȝe hauehave bene proffitabill,

And weill honorit in euerilk Natioun.

How happinnis now ȝour tribulatioun?

Allace (quod he) thow ſeis how it dois ſtand

With me, and quhow I am diſheritſit

Of all my grace, and inon pas of Scotland.

And go afore, quhare I was cheriſet.

Remane I heir, I am bor periſit,

For thare is few to me, that takis tent,

That garris me go, ſo raggit, rewin, and rent.

My tender feeindis ar all put to the flicht

For Policie is fled agane in France,

My Syſter Iuſtice, almaiſt haith tynt hir ſicht,

That ſcho can nocht hald ewinly hir ballance.

Plane wrang, is plane capitane of Ordinance,

The quhilk debarres Laute, and reſoun,

And ſmall remeid is found for oppin treſoun.

In to the ſouth allace I was neir ſlane.

Ouer al the land I culd find no releif.

Almoiſt betuix the Mers, and Lotchmabane,

I culd no…ht knaw ane leill man be ane theif.

To ſchaw thare reif, thift, murthour, & miſcheif,

And vicious workis it wald infect the air,

And als langſum, to me for tyll declair.

In to the hieland, I could find no remeid,

Bot ſuddandlie, I wes put to exile,

Thai ſweir ſwyngeourꝭ thay tuke of me nō heid,

Nor amengis thame, lat me remane ane quhyle.

Als in the out Ilis, and in Argyle,

Vnthrift, ſweirnes, falſet, pouerte, and ſtryfe,

Pat Policie in danger of hir lyfe.

In the law land, I come to ſeik refuge.

And purpoſit thare to mak my reſidence.

Bot ſingulare proffect, gart me ſone diſluge,

And did me greit Iniuris, and offence.

And ſaid to me, ſwyith harlote hy the hence,

And in this countre ſe thow tak no curis,

So lang as my authorite induris.

And now I may mak no langer debait,

Nor I wat nocht, quhome to I ſuld me mene,

For I hauehave ſocht throw all the Spirituall ſtait,

Quhilkꝭ tuke na compt for to heir me complene,

Thare officiaris thay held me at diſdane,

For Symonie, he rewlis vp all that rout.

And Couetice that Carl gart bar me out.

Pryde haith chaiſt frome thame humilite,

Deuotioun is fled vntounto the freiris.

Senſuall pleſour hes baneiſt Chaiſtite,

Lordis of Religioun, thay go lyke Seculeris,

Taking more compt in telling thare deneris,

Nor thay do of thare conſtitutioun.

Thus ar thay blindit be ambitioun.

Our gentill men ar all degenerate.

Liberalite, and Lawte, boith ar loſt.

And Cowardice with Lordis is laureate,

And knychtlie curage turnit in brag and boiſt.

The Ciuill weir miſgydis euerilk oiſt.

Thare is nocht ellis, bot ilk man for hym ſelf,

That garris me go, thus baneiſt lyke ane elf.

Tharefor adew, I may no langer tarie.

Fair weil (quod I) ād w^t ſanct Iohne to borrow.

Bot wit ȝe weill, my hart was woundit ſarie

Quhen comoun weill ſo ſopit was in ſorrow,

Ȝit efter the nicht, cūmis the glaid morrow.

Quharefore I pray ȝow ſchaw me in certane,

Quhen that ȝe purpoſe for to cum agane.

That queſtioun it ſall be ſone decydit,

(Quod he) thare ſall na Scot hauehave conforting

Of me, till that I ſee the countre gydit

Be wyſedome, of ane gude auld prudent king,

Quhilk ſall delyte hym maiſt aboue all thing,

To put Iuſtice tyll executioun,

And on ſtrang tratouris mak punitioun.

Als ȝit to the I ſay ane vther thing,

I ſe rycht weill that prouerb is full trew,

Wo to the realme, that hes ouir ȝoung ane king.

With that he turnit his bak, and ſaid ad…w.

Ouer firth and fell, richt taſt fra me he flew.

Quhoſe departing to me was diſpleſand.

With that Remembrance tuk me be the hand.

And ſone me thocht ſcho brocht me to the roche,

And to the Coue, quhare I began to ſleip.

With that one ſchip did ſpedilie approche,

Full pleſandlie ſailling vponupon the deip,

And ſyne did ſlak hir ſaillis, and gan to creip

Towart the land, anent quhare that I lay.

Bot wit ȝe weill, I gat ane fellown fray.

All hir Cannounis, ſche leit crak attonis,

Doun ſchuke the ſtremaris, frome y^e topcaſtell.

Thay ſpairit nocht the poulder nor the ſtonis,

Thai ſchot thair boutis, & doun yair ankers fell,

The Marinaris, thay did ſo ȝout and ȝell,

That haiſtelie I ſteit out of my dreme,

Half in ane fray, and ſpedilie paſt hame.

And lychtlie dynit, with liſt and appetyte.

Syne efter paſt in tyll ane Oritore,

And tuke my pen, and thare began to wryte

All the viſioun, that I hauehave ſchawin afore.

Schir of my dreme, as now thow gettis no more,

Bot I beſeik God, for to ſend the grace,

To rewle thy Realme in vnite, and peace.

THE EXHORTATIOVN TO THE KINGIS GRACE.

SChir ſen that God of his preordinance,

Haith grantit the, to hauehave the gouernance

Of his peple, and create the one King,

Faill nocht to prent in thy Remembrance

That he wyll nocht excuſe thyne Ignorance,

Geue thow be rekles in thy gouerning.

Quharefor dres the aboue all vther thing,

Of his lawis to ke…p the obſeruance,

And thow ſchaip lang in Royaltie to ring.

Thank hym, that hes commandit dame Nature,

To prent the of ſo pleſand portrature.

Hir gyftis may be cleirly on the knawin.

Tyll dame Fortune, thow neidis no procurature,

For ſcho hes largelie, kyith on the hir cure.

Hir gratitude ſcho hes vntounto the ſchawin.

And ſen that thow mā ſcheir, as thow hes ſawin,

HaueHave all thy hope in God thy Creatour,

And aſk hym grace, that thow may be his awin.

And ſyne conſidder thy vocatioun,

That for to hauehave the gubernatioun

Of this kynrik, thow art predeſtinate,

Thow may weill wit be trew narratioun,

Quhat ſorrow, and quhat tribulatioun

Haith bene in this pure realme infortunate.

Now conforte thame that hes bene deſolate,

And of thy peple hauehave compaſſioun,

Sen thow be God, art ſo preordinate.

Tak manlie curage, and leif thyne Inſolence,

And vſe counſall of nobyll dame Prudence.

Founde the fermelie on faith and fortitude,

Draw to thy court, Iuſtice, and temperance.

And to the Commoun weill hauehave attendance.

And alſo I beſeik thy Celſitude,

Hait vicious men, and lufe thame that ar gude.

And ilk flatterer thow fleme frome thy preſence,

And fals report out of thy court exclude.

Do equall Iuſtice, boith to greit and ſmall,

And be exempill to thy peple all,

Exercing verteous deidis honorabill.

Be nocht ane wreche, for oucht that may befall,

To that vnhappy vice and thow be thrall.

Tyll all men thow ſall be abhominabill.

Kingis …ar knichtis, ar neuer cōuanabill

To rewle peple, be thay nocht liberall,

Was neuer ȝit na wreche to honoure abill.

And tak exemple of the wrechit ending

Quhilk maid Mydas, of Thrace y^e mychtie king,

That to his Goddis maid Inuocatioun,

Throw gredines that all ſubſtancial thing

That euer he twichit, ſuld turne but tarying

In to fyne gold, he gat his ſupplicatioun,

All that he twichit but dilatioun

Turnit in gold, boith meit, drink, and clething,

And deit for hounger but recreatioun.

Als I beſeik thy Maieſte ſerene,

Frome Lecherie, thow keip thy body clene

Taiſt neuer that Intoxicate poyſoun

Frome that vnhappy ſenſuall Syn abſtene,

Tyll that thow get ane luſty pleſand Quene,

Than tak thy pleſour with my beniſoun.

Tak tent how prydful Tarquyne tynt his croun,

For the deforſing of Lucrece the ſchene.

And was depryuit, and baniſt Romes toun.

And in deſpyit of his Lecherous leuing,

The Romanis wald be ſubiect to no king.

Mony lang ȝeir, as ſtoryis doith record,

Tyll Iulius, throw verteous gouerning,

And Princelie curage, gan on thame to ring,

And choſin of Romanis, Empriour, and lord.

Quharfor my Souerane in to thy mynd remord,

That vicious lyfe, makis oft ane euill ending,

Without it be throw ſpeciall grace reſtord.

And geue thow wald thy fame and honour grew,

Vſe counſall of thy prudent Lordis trew,

And ſe thow nocht preſumpteouſlie pretend,

Thy a win particular weill for tyll Enſew.

Wirk with counſall, ſo ſall thow neuer rew.

Remember of thy Freindis the fatall end,

Quhilkis to gude counſall wald not condiſcend.

Tyll bitter deith (allace) did thame perſew.

Frome ſic vnhap I pray God the defend.

And finallie, remember thow mon de…

And ſuddanlie pas of this mortall ſee,

And art nocht ſicker of thy lyfe two houris.

Sen thare is none frome that ſentence may flee.

King, Quene, nor Knicht, of law eſtait nor hie,

Bot all mon thole of deith, the bitter ſchouris.

Quhar bene thay gone, thir papis & empriouris?

Bene thay nocht dede, ſo ſall it fair on the.

Is no remeid, ſtrenth, riches, nor honouris.

And ſo for concluſioun,

Mak our Prouiſioun

To get the infuſioun

Of his hie grace

Quhilk bled with effuſioun

With ſcorne and deriſioun.

And deit with confuſioun,

Confirmand our peace. AMEN.

FINIS.