Works, Poem 3

Works · Poem 3

The Complaint of Schir Dauid Lindeſay, of the Mont Knicht, direct to the Kingis Grace. ☞ * ☜

SChir I beſeik thyne Excellence,

Heir my complaynt with pacience,

My dolent hart dois me conſtrayne,

Of my Infortune to complayne.

Quhowbeit I ſtand in greit doutance,

Quhome I ſall wyte of my miſchance.

Quhidder Saturnis crucite

Regnand in my Natiuite

…e bad aſpect, quhilk wirkis vengeanre,

Or vtheris heuinlie influence.

Or geue I be predeſtinate

In court to be Infortunate,

Quhilk hes ſo lang in ſeruice bene

Continuallie with king and quene.

And enterit to thy Maieſte

The day of thy Natiu…e,

Quharethrow my freindis bene eſchamit,

And with my fais I am defamit,

Seand that I am nocht regardit

Nor with my brether in Court rewardit,

Blamand my ſle…thfull negligence

That ſeikis nocht ſum recompence.

Quhen diuers men dois me demand

Quhy gettis thow nocht ſunt pece of land,

Als weill as vther men hes gottin.

Than wis I to be deid and rottin,

With ſic extreme diſcomforting

That I can mak no anſwering.

I wald ſum wyſe man did me teiche,

Quhidder that I ſuld flatter or fleiche

I wyll nocht flyte, that I conclude

For crabing of thy Celſitude.

And to flatter, I am defamit.

Want I reward, than am I ſchamit.

Bot I hope thow ſall do als weill

As did the Father of Fameill,

Of quhome Chriſt makis mentioun

Quhilk for ane certane penſioun

Feit men to wirk in his wyne ȝaird.

Bot quho come laſt, gat firſt rewaird.

Quharethrow the firſt men wer diſpleiſit.

Bot he thame prudentlie ameiſit.

For thocht the laſt men, firſt wer ſeruit,

Ȝit gat the firſt that day deſeruit.

So am I ſure thy maieſte,

Sall anis reward me or I de,

And rub the rouſt of my ingyne

Quhilk bene for langour lyke to tyne.

Althocht I beit nocht lyke ane baird

Lang ſeruice ȝarnis ay rewaird.

I can nocht blame thyne excellence,

That I ſo lang want recompence.

Had I ſoliſtit lyke the laue

My reward had nocht bene to craue

Bot now I may weill vnderſtand,

Ane dum man ȝit wan neuer land.

And in the court men gettis na thing

Without inopportune aſking.

Allace my ſleuth and ſchamefulnes

Debarrit frame all gredines.

Gredie men that ar diligent

Rycht oft obtenis thare intent,

And failȝeis nocht to conqueis landis,

And namelie at ȝoung Princis handis.

Bot I tuke neuer none vther cure.

In ſpeciall, bot for thy pleſure.

Bot now I am na mair diſpaird,

Bot I ſall get Princelie rewaird,

The quhilk to me ſal be mair glore

Nor thame thow did reward afore.

Quhen men dois aſke ocht at ane king,

Sulde aſk his grace ane nobill thing,

To his Excellence honorabill,

And to the aſker proffitabill.

Thocht I be in my aſking lidder,

I pray thy grace for to conſidder.

Thow hes maid baith lordis and lairdis,

And hes gewin mony riche rewairdis

To thame that was full far to ſeik,

Quhen I lay nychtlie be thy cheik.

¶I tak the Quenis grace thy mother.

My lord Chancellar, and mony vther,

Thy Nuris, and thy auld Maiſtres,

I tak thame all to beir witnes.

Auld Willie Dillie wer he on lyue,

My lyfe full weill he could diſcryue.

Quhow as ane Chapman betis his pak.

I bure thy grace vponupon my bak.

And ſumtymes ſtridlingis on my nek,

Danſand with mony bend and bek.

The firſt ſillabis that thow did mute

Was pa, da lyn, vponupon the lute.

Than playit I twentie ſpringis perqueir,

Quhilk wes greit piete for to heir,

Fra play thow leit me neuer reſt,

Bot gynkertoun thow lufit ay beſt.

And ay quhen thow come frome the ſcule

Than I behufit to play the fule.

As I at lenth in to my Dreme,

My ſindry ſeruice did expreme.

Thocht it bene better (as ſayis the wyſe)

Hap to the court, nor gude ſeruice.

I wat thow luffit me better than,

Nor now ſum wyfe dois hir gude man.

Than men tyll vther did record,

Said Lyndeſay, wald be maid ane Lord.

Thow hes maid lordis (Schir) be ſanct Geill.

Of ſum that hes nacht ſeruit ſo weill.

☞To ȝow my Lordis that ſtandis by,

I ſall ȝow ſchaw the cauſis quhy,

Geue ȝe lyſt tary I ſall tell,

Quhow my Infortune firſt befell.

I prayit daylie on my kne,

My ȝoung maiſter that I micht ſe,

Of eild in his Eſtait Royall,

Hauand power Imperiall.

Than traiſtit I without demand,

To be promouit to ſum land.

Bot my aſking I gat ouer ſone,

Becauſe ane Clips fell in the Mone,

The quhilk all Scotland maid on ſ…el…

Than did my purpoſe ryn arreis.

The quhilk war langſum to declair,

And als my hart is wounder fair,

Quhen I hauehave in remembrance,

The ſuddand change to my myſchance.

The King was bot twelf ȝeris of age,

Quhen new rewlaris come in thare rage,

For commoun weill makand no cair,

Bot for thare profeit ſingulair.

☞Imprudentlie, lyke witles fulis,

Thay tuke that ȝoung Prince from the ſculis,

Quhare he vnderunder Obedience,

Was lern and vertew and ſcience.

And haiſtelie plat in his hand

The gouernance of all Scotland.

As quho wald in ane ſtormie blaſt,

Quhen Matinaris bene al agaſt

Throw danger of the ſeis rage,

Wald tak ane Chyld of tender age,

Quhilk neuer had bene vponupon the ſey,

And to his bidding al obey,

Geuyng hym haill the gouernall

Of ſchip, Merchand, and Marinall.

For breid of rockis and foreland,

To put the Ruther in his hand.

Without Godds grace is no refuge.

Geue thare be danger, ȝe may Iuge.

I geue thame to the deuill of hell

Quhilk firſt deuyſit that counſell.

I wyll nocht ſay that it was treſoun,

Bot I der ſweir, it was no reſoun.

I pray God, lat me neuer ſe ring

In to this realme, ſo ȝoung ane King.

☞I may nocht tary to decydit,

Quhow than the …su…t ane quhyle was gydit,

Be thame that pertlie luke on hand

To gyde the king and all Scotland.

And als langſum for to declair,

Thare facund flattering wordis fair.

Schir, ſum wald ſay ȝour Maieſte

Shall now go to ȝour liberte.

Ȝe ſall to no man be coactit,

Nor to the ſcule no more ſubiectit.

We think thame verray naturall fulis,

That lernis ouer mekle at the ſculis.

Schir, ȝe mon lerne to ryn ane ſpeir,

And gyde ȝow lyke ane man of weir,

For we ſall put ſic men about ȝow.

That all warld and mo ſall dout ȝow.

Than to his grace thay put ane gaird,

Quhilk haiſtelie gat thare rewaird

Ilk man efter thare qualite

Thay did ſ…li… his Maieſtie.

Sum gart hym raueli at the rakket,

Sum harlie hym to the hurly hakket.

And ſum to ſcha… thare courtlie corſis,

Wald ryed to leith, and ryn there hoiſſis,

And wichtlie wallop …uir the ſandis.

Ȝe nowther ſpairit ſp…rris nor wandis,

Caſtand galmoundꝭ w^t bendis and beckis,

For wantones, ſum brab thare neckis.

Thare was no play bot cartis and dyce,

And ay ſchir flatterie bure the pryce.

Roundand and rowkand ane tyll ane vther

Tak thow my part (quod he) my bruther,

And mak betuix vsus ſicker bandis,

Quhen ocht ſall vaik amangis our handis,

That ilk man ſtand to help his fallow.

I hald thareto man be alhallow,

Swa thow fiſche nocht within my boundis,

That ſall I nocht be goddis woundis,

(Quod he) bot eirar tak thy part.

Swa ſall I thyne, be goddis hart.

And geue the Theſaurer be our freind,

Than ſall we get baith tak and teind.

Tak he our part, than quha dar wrang vsus?

Bot we ſail part the pelf amang vsus.

Bot haiſt vsus quhill the king is ȝoung,

And lat ilk man, keip weill ane toung

And in ilk quarter hauehave ane ſpy

Ws tyll aduertis haiſtely

Quhen ony caſualiteis

Sall happin in tyll our countreis.

Lat vsus mak ſure prouiſioun

Or he cum to diſcretioun.

No more he wait nor dois ane ſanct.

Quhat thing it bene to hauehave or want.

So or he be of perfyte age

We ſall be ſicker of our wage,

And ſyne lat ilk ane carll crane vther.

That mouth ſpeik mair (quod he) my brother.

For God nor I tar in ane raip,

Thow micht geue counſall to the Paip,

Thus lauborit thay within few ȝeiris,

That thay become no paigis peicis.

S…a haiſtelie thay maid ane hand.

Sum gadderit gold, ſum conqueiſt land.

(Schir) ſum wald ſay, be ſanct Dionis,

Geue me ſum fat Benefyis,

And all the proffect ȝe ſall hauehave.

Geue me the name, tak ȝow the laue.

Bot be his bowis war weill cummit hame,

To mak ſeruice he wald think ſchame.

Syne ſlip away withouttin more,

Qu…en he had gottin, that he ſang fore.

Me ch…ht it was ane preteous thing,

To ſe that fair ȝoung tender king,

Of quhome thir gallandis ſtude none aw.

To play with hym, pluk at the craw.

Thay become riche, I ȝow aſſure,

Bot ay the Prince remanit pute.

Thare wes few of that garniſoun,

That lernit hym ane gude leſſoun.

Bot ſum to crak, and ſum to clatter.

Sum maid the f…le, and ſum did flatter.

(Quod ane) the Deuill ſtik me with ane knyfe,

Bot ſchir, I knaw ane maid in Fyft,

Ane of the luſtieſt wantoun laſſis,

Quhar to ſchir, be goddis blude ſcho paſſis,

Hald thy toung brother (quod ane vther)

I knaw ane faire… be fyftene futher.

(Schir) quhen ȝe pleis to Linlithquo pas,

Thare ſall ȝe ſe ane luſtie las.

Now trutill trattil trow low,

(Quod the thrid man) thow dois bot mow,

Quhen his grace cummis to fair Stirling,

Thare ſall he ſe, ane dayis darling.

Schir quod the fourt, tak my counſell,

And go all to the hie bordell,

Thare may we lowp at liberte

Withouttin ony grauite.

Thus eueryevery man ſaid for hym ſelf,

And did amang thame part the pelf.

Bot I (allace) or euer I wyſt,

Was trampit doun in to the duſt,

With heuy charge withouttin more.

Bot I wyſt neuer ȝit quharfore.

And haiſtelie before my face,

Ane vther ſlippit in my place,

Quhilk richelie gat his rewaird.

And ſtylit was the Ancient laird.

That tyme I mycht mak no defence,

Bot tuke perforce in pacience.

Prayand to ſend thame ane miſchance,

That had the Court in gouernance,

The quhilkis aganis me did maling,

Contrair the pleſour of the king.

For weill I knew his gracis mynd

Was euer to me trew and kynd,

And contrair thare Intentioun

Gart pay me weill my penſioun.

Thocht I ane quhyle wantit preſence,

He leit me hauehave no Indigence.

Quhen I durſt nother peip nor luke

Ȝit wald I hyde me in ane nuke

To ſe thoſe vncouth vaniteis.

Quhow thay lyke ony beſie beis

Did occupy thare goldin houris

With help of thare new gouernouris.

Bot my complaynt for to compleit,

I gat the ſour, and thay the ſweit.

Als Ihone Makrery the kingis fule

Gat dowvyll garmountis agane the ȝule.

Ȝit in his maiſt triumphant glore,

For his reward gat the grand glore.

Now in the Court ſendill he gois

In dreid men ſtramp vponupon his tois.

As I that tyme durſt nocht be ſene

In oppin Court, for baith my Eine.

☞ Allace I hauehave no tyme to tarie

To ſchaw ȝow all the ferie farie.

Quhow thoſe that had the gouernance.

Amangis thame ſelfis raiſit variance.

And quho maiſt to my ſkaith conſentit,

Within few ȝeiris ful ſore repentit,

Quhen thay could mak me no remeid,

For thay war harlit out be the heid,

And vtheris tuke the gouerning,

Weil wors than thay in alkin thing.

Thay Lordis tuke no more regaird,

Bot quho mycht purches beſt rewaird.

Sum to thare freindis gat beneficeis,

And vther ſum gat Biſchopreis.

For eueryevery lord, as he thocht beſt,

Brocht in ane bird to fill the neſt,

To be ane wacheman to his marrow.

Thay gan to draw ai the cat harrow.

The proudeſt Prelatis of the kirk,

Was faine to hyde thame in the mirk

That tyme, ſo failȝeit wes thareſicht.

Sen ſyne thay may nocht thoſe the licht

Of Chriſtis trew Goſpell to be ſene,

So blyndit is thair corporall Ene

With warldlie luſtis ſenſuall,

Taking in realmes the gouernall,

Baith gyding court and ſeſſioun.

Contrair to thare profeſſioun.

Quhare of I think, thay ſuld hauehave ſchame

Of ſpirituall preiſtis to tak the name.

For Eſayas, in to his wark,

Callis thame lyke Doggis, that can nocht bark,

That callit ar preiſtis, and can nocht preiche,

Nor Chriſtis law to the peple reiche.

Geue for to preiche, bene thare profeſſioun,

Quhy ſuld thay mell, with court or Seſſioun?

Except it war in ſpirituall thingis.

Referring vntounto lordis and kingis

Temporall cauſis to be decydit.

Geue thay thare ſpirituall office gydit,

Ilk man mycht ſay, thay did thare partis

Bot geue thay can play at the cairtis,

And mollet moylie on ane Mule,

Thocht thay had neuer ſeue the ſcule,

Ȝit at this day, als weill as than

Wyll be maid ſic ane ſpirituall man.

Princis that ſic prelatis promouis

Accompt thareof to geue behouis,

Quhilk ſall nocht pas but puniſchement,

Without thay mend, and ſore repent,

And with dew miniſtratioun

Wyrk efter thare vocatioun,

I wys that thing quhilk wyll nocht be

Thir peruerſt Prelatis ar ſo hic.

Frome tyme that thay bene callit lordis,

Thay ar occaſioun of diſcordis,

And largelie wyll propynis hecht,

To gar ilk Lord with vther fecht,

Geue for thare part it may auaill.

Swa to the purpoſe of my taill,

That tyme in Court rais greit debait,

And euerilk lord did ſtryue for ſtait,

That all the realme micht mak no redding,

Quhill on ilk ſyde thare was blude ſchedding.

And feildit vther in land and burgh

At Linlithgow, Melros, and Edinburgh.

Bot to deplore, I think greit pane

Of nobyll men, that thare was ſlane.

And als langſum to be reportit

Of thame quhilk to the Court reſortit.

As tyrrannis, tratouris and tranſgreſſouris,

And commoun publict plane oppreſſouris.

Men murdreiſaris, and commoun theiffis,

In to that Court gat all releiffis.

Thare was few lordis in all thir landis,

Bot tyll new Regentis maid thare bandis

Than rais ane reik or euer I wiſt,

The quhilk gart all thare bandis briſt.

Than thay allone, quhilk had the gyding

Thay could nocht keip thare feit frome ſlyding,

Bot of thare lyffis thay had ſic dreid,

That thay war faine tyll trot ouer Tweid.

☞⚜☜

NOw Potent Prince I ſay to the,

I thank the haly Trinite,

That I hauehave leuit to ſe this day,

That all that warld is went away,

And thow to no man art ſubiectit,

Nor to ſic counſalouris coactit.

The four greit vertues Cardinallis

I ſe thame with the principallis.

For Iuſtice haldis hir ſwerd on hie,

With hir ballance of Equite.

And in this realme has maid ſic ordour,

Baith throw the hieland, and the bordour,

That Oppreſſioun, and all his fallowis,

Ar hang it hich vponupon the gallowis.

Dame Prudence hes the be the heid

And temporance dois thy brydill leid.

I ſe Dame Force mak aſſiſtance,

Beirand thy Targe of aſſurance,

And luſty Lady Chaiſtite

Hes baniſchit Senſualite

Dame Ryches takis on the ſic cure,

I pray God, that ſcho lang indure,

That Pouerte dar nocht be ſene

In to thy hous, for baith hir Ene,

Bot fra thy grace fled mony mylis,

Amangis the Hountaris in the Ilis.

Diſſimulance dar nocht ſchaw hir face,

Quhilk wount was to begyle thy grace.

Foly is fled out of the toun,

Quhilk ay was contrair to reſſoun.

Policie and Peice begynnis to plant,

That verieous men can no thing want.

And as for ſleuthfull Idle lownis.

Sall fetterit be in the Gailȝeownis.

Ihone Vponland bene full blyith I trow.

Becauſe the ryſche bus, keipis his kow.

Swa is thare nocht I vnderſtand,

Without gude ordour in this land,

Except the ſpiritualite,

Pray and thy grace, thareto hauehave Ee,

Cauſe thame mak miniſtratioun

Conforme to thare vocatioun.

To Precht, with vnfenȝeit intentis.

And trewly vſe the Sacramentis

Efter Chriſtis Inſtitutionis.

Leuing thare vane traditionis,

Quhilkis dois the ſillie ſcheip Illude.

Quhame for Chriſt Ieſus ſched his blude.

As ſuperſtitious pilgramagis,

Prayand to grawin Imagis,

Expres aganis the Lordis command.

I do thy grace tyll vnderſtand,

Geue thow to mennis lawis aſſent

Aganis the Lordis Commandement,

As Ieroboam, and mony mo

Princis of Iſraell alſo

Aſſentaris to Idolatrie,

Quhilkis puniſt war rycht pieteouſlie,

And frome thare realmes wer rutit out.

So ſall thow be withouttin dout,

Baith heir and hyne withouttin more,

And want the euerleſting glore.

Bot geue thow wyll thyne hart inclyne,

And keip his blyſſit law deuyne,

As did the faithfull Patriarkis,

Boith in thare wordis, and in thare warkis,

And as did mony faithfull kingis

Of Iſraell during thare ringis,

As king Dauid, and Salomone

Quha Imagis wald ſuffer none,

In thare riche Tempillis for to ſtand,

Becauſe it was nocht Goddis command,

Bot deſtroy it all Idolatrie

As in the Scripture, thow may ſee.

Quhoſe riche reward was heuinly blis,

Quhilk ſall be thyne, thow do and this.

¶Sen thow hes choſin ſic ane gaird,

Now am I ſure, to get rewaird.

And ſen thow art the richeſt king,

That euer in this realme did ring,

Of gold and ſtonis precious,

Maiſt prudent and Ingenious.

And hes thy honour done auance

In Scotland, Ingland, and in France,

Be Martiall deidis honorabill,

And art tyll eueryevery vertewabill.

I wat thy grace nocht miſken me,

Bot thow wyll other geue, or len me.

☞Wald thy grace, len me to ane day

Of gold, ane thouſand pound, or tway,

And I ſall fir with gude intent,

Thy grace ane day of payment,

With Seillit Obligatioun,

VnderUnder this proteſtatioun,

Quhen the Bas, and the Ile of May,

Beis ſet vponupon the mont Sinay:

Quhen the Lowmound beſyde Falkland,

Beis liftit to Northumberland:

Quhen Kirkmen ȝairnis no dignite,

Nor Wyffis no Soueranite:

Wynter but froſt, ſnaw, wynd, or rane,

Than ſall I geue thy gold agane,

Or I ſall mak the payment

Efter the day of Iugement,

Within ane monethmonth at the leiſt,

Quhen Sanct Peter ſall mak ane feiſt

To all the Fiſcharis of Aberladie,

Swa thou hauehave myne Acquittance reddie.

Failȝeand thareof, be ſanct Phillane,

Thy grace gettis neuer ane grote agane.

¶GiueGive thow be nocht content of this,

I man requeiſt the King of blis,

That he to me hauehave ſum regaird,

And cauſe thy grace me to rewaird.

For Dauid King of Iſraell,

Quhilk was the greit Propheit Royall.

Sayis, God hes haill at his command

The hartis of Princis in his hand.

Ewin as he liſt thame for to turne,

That man thay do without ſudgeorne.

Sum tyll exalt to dignite.

And ſum to depryue in pouerte.

Sum tyme of layit men, to mak lordis,

And ſum tyme lordis to bind in cordis,

And thame alutterlie diſtroy,

As pleſis God, that royall Roy.

For thow art bot ane Inſtrument

To that greit King Omnipotent.

So, quhen it pleſis his excellence,

Thy grace ſall mak me recompence.

Or he ſall cauſe me ſtand content,

Of quiet lyfe, and ſober rent.

And tak me in my letter age

VntoUnto my ſempyll Hermitage,

And ſpend that my Eldaris wun,

As did Diogenes in his twn.

Of this complaynt with mynd full meik,

Thy gracis anſweir (Schir) I beſeik.

FINIS.

Quod Lyndeſay to the King.