A Dialogue Betwixt Experience and a Courtier — David Lindsay

A Dialogue Betwixt Experience and a Courtier · David Lindsay

❧ THE FIRST BVKE.

❧ IMTO that Park I sawe appeir,

One ageit man quhilk drew me neir

Quhose beird wes weil thre quart lang

His hair doun ouer his schulders hang

The quhilk as ony snaw wes quhyte

Quhome to behald I thocht delyte

His habitt Angellyke of hew

Off culloure lyke the Sapheir blew

Onder ane Hollyng he reposit

Off quhose presens I was reiosit

I did hym saluss reuerendlye

So did he me rycht courteslye

To sitt down he requeistit me

Onder the schaddow of that tre

To saif me frome the Sonnis heit

Amangis the flowris softe and sweit

For I wes werye for walking

Than we began to fall in talking

I sperit his name with reuerence?

I am (said he) Experience.

Cour.¶Than Schir (said I) ȝe can nocht faill

To gyff ane desolate man counsaill

Ȝe do appeir ane man of faime

And sen Experience bene ȝour name

I praye ȝow Father venerabyll

Geue me sum counsell confortabyll?

Expe.¶Quhate bene (quod he) thy vocatioun

Makand sic supplycatioun?

Cour.¶I haif (quod I) bene to this hour

Sen I could ryde, one Courtiour

Bot now Father I thynk it best

With ȝour counsell to leif in rest

And frome thyne furth to tak myne eais

And quyetlie my God to pleais

And renunce Curiositie

Leueyng the Court, and lerne to de

Oft hauehave I salit ouer the strandis

And traualit throuch diuers landis

Boith south, and north, and est, and west

Ȝitt can I neuer fynd quhare rest

Doith mak his habitatioun

Withoute ȝour supportatioun

Quhen I beleif, to be best easit

Most suddantlye, I am displeasit

Frome trubbyll quhen I fastast fle

Than fynd I most aduersate

Schaw me I pray ȝow hartfullye

Quhow I may leif most plesandlye

To serue my God, of kyngis Kyng

Sen I am tyrit for trauellyng

And lerne me for, to be content

Off quyet lyfe, and sobir rent

That I may thank, the kyng of glore

As thocht I had ane Mylȝeoun more

Sen euerilk Court, bene variant

Full of Inuy, and inconstant

Mycht I but trubbyll leif in rest

Now in my aige, I thynk it best

Expe.¶Thow art ane gret fuill Sonne (said he)

Thyng to desyre, quhilk may nocht be

Ȝarnyng to hauehave prerogatyue

Aboue all Creature on lyfe

Sen Father Adam creat bene

In to the Campe of Damassene

Mycht no man say on to this hour

That euer he fand perfyte plesour

Nor neuer sall tyll that he se

God in his Diuyne Maiestie

Quharefore prepair the for trauell

Iob. vii.Sen mennis lyfe, bene bot battell

All men begynnis for tyll de

The day of thare Natiuite

And Iournelly thay do proceid

Tyll Atrops cute the fatell threid

And in the breif tyme that thay hauehave

Betuix thare byrth on to thare graue

Thow seis, quhat mutabiliteis

Quhat miserabyll Calamiteis

Quhat trubbyll trauell and debait

Seis thow, in euere mortall stait

Begyn at pure lawe Creaturis

Ascending syne to Synaturis

To gret Princis and Potestatis

Thow sall nocht fynd in non estatis

Sen the begynning gennerallie

Nor in our tyme, now speciallie

Bot tiddious restles besynes

But ony maner of sickarnes.

¶Prudent Father (ꝙ I) allaceCour.

Ȝe tell to me one cairfull cace

Ȝe say that no man to this hour

Hes found in erth perfyte plesour

Without infortunat variance

Sen we bene thrall to sic myschance

Quhy do we set so our Intentis

On Ryches Dignitie and Rentis

Sen in the erth, bene no man sure

One day but trubbyll tyll Indure

And werst of all, quhen we leist wene

The creuell deith, we mon sustene

Geue I ȝour Fatherheid durste demand

The cause I wald faine vnderstand

And als Father I ȝow Implore

Schaw me sum trubbyll gone afore

That heryng vtheris Indigence

I may the more haif patience

Mar…owis, in trybulatioun

Bene Wracheis consolatioun

Quod he, efter my small cunnyngExpe.

To the I sall mak answeryng

Bot Ordourlie, for to begyn

This Misarie procedis of Syn

Bot it wer lang, for to defynit

Quhow all men ar to Syn Inclynit

Quhen Syn aboundantlye doith ryng

Iustly God, makith punyssing

Quharefore gret God, in to his handis

To dant the warld hes diuers wand is

Efter our euyll conditioun

He makis on ws punytioun

With hunger, darth, and Indigens

Sum tyme gret plagis, and pestilens

And sum tyme with his bludy wand

Throw creuell weir be sey and land

Concludyng all our misarie

Proceidis of Syn, alluterlie.

Cour.¶Father (quod I) declare to me

The cause of this Fragyllitie

That we bene all to Syn inclynde

In werk, in word, and in our mynde

I wald the veritie wer schawin

Quho hes this seid amang ws sawin

And quhy we ar condampnit to dede

And quhow that we may get remede

(Quod he) the Scripture hes concludit.

Expe.Men frome felicitite wer denudit

Gen. iii.Be Adam our Progenitour

Vmquhyle of Paradyse possessour

Be quhose most wylfull arrogance

Wes Mankynd brocht to this myschance

Quhen he wes Inobedient

In breking Godꝭ commandiment

Be solystatioun of his wyfe

He loste that heuinlye plesand lyfe

Etand of the forbiddin tre

Thare began all our miserrie

Rem. v.So Adam wes cause Radicall

That we bene fragyll Synnaris all

Adam brocht in this Natioun

Syn, Deith, and als Dampnatioun

Quho wyll say, he is no Synnari. Ioh. i.

Christ sayis, he is ane gret lear

Mankynde sprang furth, of Adamis Loynis

And tuke of hym, flesche, blude, and bonis

And so efter his qualytie

All ar Inclynit Synnaris to be

¶Bot ȝit my Sonne, dispare thow nochtExpe.

For God that all the warld hes wrocht

Hes maid ane Souerane remede

To saif ws boith frome syn and dede

And frome etarne dampnatioun

Tharefore tak consolatioun

For God as Scripture doith recorde

Haueyng of man Misericorde

Send doun his onelye Sonne Iesu

Quhilk lychtit in one Virgin trew

And cled his heych Diuynitie

With our pure vyle Humanytie

Syne frome our synnis, to conclude

He wysche ws with his precious bludeApoca. i

Quhowbeit throw Adam, we mon deeRom. v.

Throuch that Lord, we sall rasit beeHebre. x

And euerilk man, he sall releue

Quhilk in his blude, doith ferme beleue

And bryng ws all vntounto his glore

The quhilk throw Adam bene forlore

Without that we throw laik of faith

Off his Godheid, incur the wraith

Ioh. iii.vBot quho in Christ, fermely beleuis

Sall be relcuit frome all myscheuis

Cour.¶Quhat faith is that, that ȝe call ferme

Schir gar me vnderstand that terme

Expe.Faith without Hope, and CharitieHebr. xi.

Aualit nocht, my Sonne (said he)

Cour.Quhat Charite bene, that wald I knaw

Expe.Quod he, my Sonne that sall I schaw

First lufe thy God, aboue all thyngi. Corin. xiii.

And thy Nychtbour, but fenȝeyng

Do none Iniure, nor villanie

Bot as thow wald wer done to the

Iaco. ii.Quyk faith, but cheretabyll werkis

Can neuer be, as wryttis Clerkis

More than the fyre, in tyll his mycht

Can be but heit, nor Sonne but lycht

Geue charitie, in to the failis

Thy Faith, nor Hope, no thyng auailis

The Deuyll hes Faith, and trymlis for dreid

Bot he wantis Hope, and lufe in deid

Do all the gude, that may be wrocht

But charitie all auailis nocht

Quharefore pray to the Trinite

For tyll support thy Charite.

¶Now hauehave I schawin the as I can

Quhow Father Adam the first man

Brocht in the warld, boith Syn and Dede

And quhow Christ Iesu, maid remede

Quhilk on the day of Iugement

Sall ws delyuer frome torment

And bryng ws to his lestyng glore

Quhilk sall indure for euer more

Bot in this warld thow gettis no rest

I mak it to the manifest

Tharefore my Sonne, be diligent

And lerne for to be patient

And in to God, sett all thy traist

All thyng sall than, cum for the best.

¶Father I thank ȝow hartfullyeCour.

Off ȝour conforte, and cumpanye

And heuinlye consolatioun

Makand ȝow supplicatioun

Geue I durst put ȝow to sic pyne

That ȝe wald pleis for to defyne

And gar me cleirlye vnderstand

Quhow Adam brak the Lordꝭ command

And quhow throw his transgressioun

Wer punyst his Successioun.

My Sonne (quod he) wald thow tak cureExpe.

To luke on the Diuyne Scripture

In to the Buke of Genesis

That storye thare, thow sall nocht mis

And alswa syndrie cunnyng Clerkis

Hes done rehers in to thare werkis

Off Adamis fall, full Ornatly

Ane thousand tymes better nor I

Can wrytt, of that vnhappy man

Bot I sall do, the best I can

Schortlie to schaw that cairfull cace

With the support of Goddis grace.

Ane exclamatioun to The Redar, Twycheyng the wryttyng of Vulgare, and Maternall Language.

GENTYL Redar, haif at me nō dispyte

Thynkand y^t I p̄sumptuously pretend

In vulgair tōng, so heych mat to writ

Bot quhair I mys, I pray y^e till amēd

Tyll vnlernit, I wald the cause wer kend

Off our most miserabyll trauell and torment

And quhow in erth, no place bene parmanent

Quhowbeit that diuers deuote cunnyng Clerkis

In Latyne toung hes wryttin syndrie bukis

Our vnlernit knawis lytill of thare werkis

More than thay do the rauyng of the Rukis

Quharefore to Colȝearis, Cairtaris, & to Cukis

To Iok and Thome, my Ryme sall be diractit

With cūnyg men, quhowbeit it wylbe lactit

Thocht eueryevery Cōmoun may nocht be one Clerk.

Nor hes no Leid, except thare toung maternall

Quhy suld of god, the maruellous heuinly werk

Be hid frome thame, I thynk it nocht fraternall

The father of heuin, quhilk wes, & is Eternall

Exo. xx.To Moyses gaif, the Law on mont Senay

Nocht in to Greik, nor Latyne, I heir say.

He wrait the Law, in Tablis hard of stone

In thare awin vulgare language of Hebrew

That all the bairnis of Israell eueryevery one

Mycht knaw the law, and so the sam ensew

Had he done wryt, in Latyne or in Grew

It had to thame bene bot ane sawrles Iest

Ȝe may weill wytt, God wrocht all for the best.

☞ Arristotyll, nor Plato, I heir sane.

Wrait nocht thare hie Philosophie naturall

In Duche, nor Dence, nor toung Italiane

Bot in thare most ornate toung maternall

Quhose fame, and name doith ryng perpetuall

Famous Virgill, the Prince of Poetrie

Nor Cicero, the flour of Oratrie

Wrait nocht in Caldye language nor in Grew

Nor ȝit in to the language Saraȝene

Nor in the naturall language of Hebrew

Bot in the Romane toung as may be sene

Quhilk wes thair proper language, as I wene

Quhen Romanis rang Dominatorꝭ in deid

The Ornat Latyne, wes thare propir leid

In the mene tyme, quhē y^t thir bauld Romance

Ouer all the warld had the Dominioun

Maid Latyne Scolis thare glore for tyll auance

That thare language mycht be ouer all cōmoun

To that intent, be my Opinioun

Traistyng that thare Impyre sulde ay Indure

Bot of fortune, alway thay wer nocht sure

¶Off Languagis, the first Diuersytie

Wes maid be Goddis MaledictiounGene. xi.

Quhen Babilone wes beildit in calde

Those beildaris, gat none vther afflictioun

Affore the tyme of that punyssioun

Wes bot one toung, quhilk Adam spak hym self

Quhare now of toungis, thare bene thre score and twelf

Nochtwithstandyng, I thynk it gret plesour

Quhare cunnyng men hes languagis anew

That in thare ȝouth, be deligent laubour

Hes leirnit Latyne, Greik, and ald Hebrew

That I am nocht of that sorte, sore I rew

Quharefore I wald all bukis necessare

For our faith, wer in tyll our toung vulgare

Actis .ii.Christ efter his glorious Ascentioun

Tyll his Disciplis send the holy Spreit

In toungis of fyre, to that intentioun

Thay beand of all languagis repleit

Throuch all the warld with wordis fair and sweit

Tyll eueryevery man the faith, thay suld furth schaw

In thare awin leid, delyuerand thame the Law.

Tharefore I thynk one gret dirisioun.

To heir thir Nunnis, & Systerꝭ, nycht and day.

Syngand and sayand psalmes and orisoun

Nocht vnderstandyng quhat thay syng nor say

Bot lyke one stirlyng or ane Papingay

Quhilk leirnit ar, to speik be lang vsage

Thame I compair, to byrdis in ane cage.

Rycht so Childreyng, and Ladyis of honouris

Prayis in Latyne, to thame ane vncuth leid

Mumland yair matynis, euinsang & yare houris

Thare Pater Noster, Aue. and thare Creid

It wer als plesand to thare spreit in deid

God hauehave mercy on me, for to say thus

As to say, Miserere Mei Deus.

Sanct Ierome in his propir toung Romane

The Law of God, he trewlie did translait

Out of Hebrew, and Greik, in Latyne plane

Quhilk hes bene hid frōe ws lang tyme god wait

Onto this tyme, bot efter myne consait

Had Sanct Ierome bene borne in tyll Argyle

In to Yrische tōng, his bukis had done compyle

Prudent sanct Paull doith mak narratioun

Twycheyng the diuers leid of eueryevery landi Cor. xii… ▪

Sayand thare bene more edificatioun

In fyue wordis that folk doith vnderstand

Nor to pronunce of wordis ten thousand

In strange langage sine wait not quhat it menis

I thynk sic pattryng is not worth twa prenis.

☞Vnlernit peple, on the holy day.

Solemnitlye thay heir the Euangell soung

Nocht knawyng quhat, y^e preist dois sing nor say

Bot as ane Bell, quhen that thay heir it roung

Ȝit wald the Preistis, in to thare mother toung

Pas to the Pulpitt, and that doctryne declare

Tyll lawid pepyll, it wer more necessare.

¶ I wald Prelattis, and Doctouris of the Law

With ws lawid peple, wer nocht discontent

Thocht we in to our vulgare toung did knaw

Off Christ Iesu, the lyfe and Testament

And quhow that we sulde keip commandiment

Bot in our language, lat ws pray and reid

Our Pater Noster. Aue. and our Creid.

¶I wald sum Prince, of gret Discretioun.

In vulgare language, planelye gart translait

The neidfull lawis, of this Regioun

Than wald thare nocht, be half so gret debait

Amang ws peple of the law estait

Geue eueryevery man, the veryte did knaw

We nedit nocht to treit thir men of law.

Tyll do our nychtbour wrang, we wald be war

Gyf we did feir, the lawis punysment

Thare wald nocht be, sic brawlyng at the bar

Nor men of law, loup to sic royall rent

To keip the law, gyf all men war content

And ilk man do, as he wald be done to

The Iugis wald get lytill thyng ado,

¶The Propheit Dauid Kyng of Israell.

Compyld the plesand Psalmes of the Psaltair

In his awin propir toung as I heir tell

And Salamone, quhilk wes his sone and air

Did mak his buke, in tyll his toung vulgare

Quhy suld nocht thare sayng, be tyll ws schawin

In our language, I wald the cause wer knawin.

Lat Doctoris wrytt thare curious questionis

And argumentis, sawin full of Sophistrye

Thare Logick, and thare heych Opinionis

Thare dirk Iugementis, of Astronomye

Thare Medecyne, and thare Philosophye

Latt Poetꝭ schaw, thare glorious Ingyne

As euer thay pleis, in Greik, or in Latyne.

¶Bot lat ws haif the bukis necessare.

To commoun weill and our Saluatioun

Iustlye translatit, in our toung Vulgare

And als I mak the Supplicatioun

O gentyll Redar, haif none Indignatioun

Thynkand I mell me with so hie matair

Now to my purpose, fordwart wyll I fair.

FINIS.

❧ Heir followis the Creatioun of Adam, and Eue.

QVHEN God had maid y^e heuinīs brycht

The Sone, & Mone, for to geue lycht

The sterry heuin, & Christellyne

And be his Sapience diuyneGen. i.

The planetꝭ in yair circlis round

Quhirling about w^t merie sound

Off quhome Phebus, was principall

Iuste in his Lyne Eclipticall

And gaue be Diuyne Sapience

Tyll eueryevery Ster thare Influence

With motioun continuall

Quhilk doith indure perpetuall

And farrest frome the heuin Impyre

The erth, the walter, air, and fyre

He cled the erth, with herbis, and treis

All kynd of fysches in the seis

All kynd of best, he did prepair

With fowlis, fleyng in the air

Thus be his word, all thyng was wrocht

Without materiall maid of nocht

So be his wysedome Infinyte

All wes maid plesand and perfyte,

Quhen heuin, and erth, and thare contentis

Wer endit with thare Ornamentis

Than last of all, the Lord began

Off most vyle erth, to mak the man

Nocht of the Lille, nor the Rose

Nor Sypertre, as I suppose

Nother of gold, nor precious stonis

Off erth he maid flesche blude and bonis

To that intent, God maid hym thus

That man sulde nocht be glorious

Nor in hym self, no thyng suld se

Bot matere of humylite

Quhen man wes maid, as I hauehave tald

Gene. ii.God in his face, did hym behald

Brathand in hym, ane lyflie spreit

Quhen all thir werkis wer compleit

He maid man, to his simylitude

Precelland in to pulchritude

Dotit with gyftis of Nature

Aboue all erthlye creature

Syne plesandlye did hym conuoye

To ane regioun repleit with Ioye

Off all plesour, quhilk bair the pryce

And callit erthly Paradyce

And brocht be Diuyne prouience

All beistis, and byrdis, tyll his presence

Adam did craftelye Impone

Ane speciall name, tyll eueryevery one

And to all thyngis materiall

He namyt thame in speciall

Quhow he thame namyt ȝitt bene kend

And salbe to the warldlis end

In to that gardyng of plesance

Two treis grew, most tyll auance

Aboue all vther, quhilk bair the pryce

In myddis of that Paradyce

The one wes callit the tre of lyfe

The vther tre, began our stryfe

The tre to knaw boith gude and euyll

Quhilk be perswatioun of the Deuyll

Began our misarie and wo

Bot lat ws to our purpose go.

¶Quhow God gaue Adam strait commāde

That tre to twyche, nocht with his hand

All vther fructis of Paradyce

He had hym eit at his deuyce

Sayand gyf thow eit of this tre

With dowbyll deith, than sall thow dee

Tharefore I the command be war

And frome this tree, thow stand afar

Ȝitt Father Adam wes allone

But cumpanye of ony one

Than thocht the Lord, it Necessare

Tyll hym to Creat ane helpare

¶God patt in Adam sic Sapour

That for to sleip, he tuke plesour

And laid hym down apone the grounde

And quhen Adam wes slepand sounde

He tuke ane Rib, furth of his syde

Syne fyld it vp, with flesche and hyde

And maid ane Woman of that bone

Fairar of forme, wes neuer none

Than tyll Adam Incontinent

That fair Lady, he did present

Quhilk schortlye said, for to conclude

Thow art my flesche, my bonis, and blude

And Virago, he callit hir than

Quhilk is Interpreit, maid of man

Quhilk Eua, efterwart wes namyt

Quhen for hir falt, sche wes diffamyt

Than did the Lord thame Sanctyfie

Saying Incres, and Multyplie

Be this, men suld leif all thare kyn

And with thare Wyffis mak dwellyn

And for thare saik, leif Father and Mother

And lufe thame best, aboue all vther

For God hes ordanit thame trewlye

To be two saulis, in one bodye

¶My wytt is waik, for tyll Indyte

Thare heuinlye plesouris Infinyte

Wes neuer none, erthlye Creature

Sen syne had sic perfyte plesoure

Thay had puyssance Imperiall

Aboue all thyng materiall

Als cunnyng Clerkis, dois conclude

Adam preceld, in pulchritude

Most Naturall and the farest man

That euir wes sen the warld began

Cxcept Christ Iesu, Goddis Sonne

To quhome wes no comparisone

And Eua, the fairest Creature

That euer wes formit be nature

Thocht thay wer naikit, as thay wer maid

No schame ather, of vther haid

Quhat plesour mycht ane man haif more

Nor haif his Lady hym before

So lustye, plesand, and perfyte

Reddy to serue his appetyte

Thay had none vther cure I wys

Bot past thare tyme, with Ioye and blys

Wyld Beistis, did to thame repair

So did the Fowlis of the air

With noyis most Angelycall

Makand thame myrthis Musicall

The fyschis soumand in the strandis

Wer holelye at thare commandis

All Creaturꝭ with ane accorde

Obeyit hym, as thare souerane Lorde

Thay sufferit nother heit, nor cald

With eueryevery plesour that thay wald

Als to the deith, thay wer nocht thrall

And rychtso suld we hauehave bene all

For he and all his Successouris

Suld hauehave possedit those plesouris

Syne frome that Ioye materiall

Gone to the glore Imperiall

Thay had geue I can rycht discryue

Gret Ioy, in all thare wyttis fyue

In heiryng, seyng, gustyng, smellyng

Induryng thare delytesum dwellyng

Heiryng the byrdis armoneis

Taistyng the fructis, of diuers treis

Smellyng the balmye dulce odouris

Quhilk did proceid, frome fragrant flowris

Seyng so mony heuinlye hewis

Off blomes brekyng on the bewis

Off twycheyng als, thay had delyte

Off vtheris bodeis, soft and quhyte

But doute, Induryng that plesour

Thay lussit vther Paramour

No maruell bene thocht swa suld be

Consyderyng thare gret bewte

Als God gaue thame command expres

To multyplie, and tyll incres

That thare seid, and successioun

Mycht pleneis eueryevery Natioun

¶I lyst nocht tarye tyll declare

All properteis of that place preclare

Quhow herbis, and treis, grew ay grene

Nor of the temporat air serene

Quhow fructis, Indeficient

Ay alyke rype and redolent

Nor of the Fontane, nor the fludis

Nor of the flowris pulchritudis

That mater Clerkis dois declare

Quharefore I speik of thame na mare

The Scripture makꝭ no mentioun

Quhow lang thay rang in that Regioun

Bot I beleue, the tyme wes schorte

As diuers Doctouris dois reporte

FINIS

❧ Of the Miserabyll Transgressioun of Adam.

❧ FATHER? Hov happinnit y^e mischance

(Quod I) schaw me the circumstance

Declaryng me that cairfull caceCour.

Quhow Adam lost that plesand place

Frome hym and his Successioun

Quhow did proceid that transgressioun

(Quod he) efter my rude Ingyne

I sall rehers the that rewyneExpe.

Quhen God the Plasmatour of all

In to the heuin Imperiall

Did Creat all the Angellꝭ brycht

He maid one Angell, most of mycht

To quhome he gaif preheminence

Aboue thame all in sapience

Because all vther he did prefer

Namit he wes brycht Lucefer

He wes so plesand, and so fair

He thocht hym self, without compair

And grew so gay and glorious

He gan to be presumptuous

And thocht that he wald sett his sait

In to the north and mak bebait

Agane the Maiestie Diuyne

Quhilk wes the cause of his rewyne

For he incurrit Goddis Yre

And banyst frome the heuin Impyre

With Angellis mony one Legioun

Quhilkꝭ wer of his opinioun

Innumerabyll, with hym thare fell

Sum lychtit in the lawest hell

Sum in the sey did mak repair

Sum in the erth, sum in the air

That most vnhappy cumpanye

Att Father Adam had Inuye

Parsaueyng Adam, and his seid

In to thare places to succeid

Gene. iii.The Serpent, wes the subtellest

Aboue all beistis and craftyest

Than Sathan, with ane fals intent

Did enter in to that Serpent

Imagenyng sum craftye wyle

Quhow he mycht Adam best begyle

And gar hym brek commandiment

Bot to the woman, first he went

Traistyng the better to preuaill

Full subtellye did hir assaill

With facund wordis, fals and fair

He grew with hir familiair

That he his purpose mycht auance

Beleuand in hir, Inconstance

¶ Quhat is the cause, Madame (said he)

That ȝe forbeir, ȝone plesand tre

Quhilk bene but peir most pretious

Quhose fruct bene moste delytious

I Nyll (quod sche) thare to accord

We ar forbyddin, be the Lord

The quhilk hes geuin ws lybertie

Tyll eait of eueryevery fruct and tre

Quhilk growis in to Paradyse

Brek we command, we ar nocht wyse

He gaue tyll ws ane strait command

That tre to twyche, nocht with our hand

Eit we of it, without remede

He said but dout, we sulde be dede

Beleue nocht that (said the Serpent)

Eit ȝe of it, Incontinent

Repleit ȝe sall be with Science

And haif perfyte Intelligence

Lyke God hym self, of euyll and gude

Than haistellye for to conclude

Heiryng of this prerogatyue

Sche pullit doun the fruct belyue

Throw counsall of the fals Serpent

And eit of it, to that intent

And patt hir Husband in beleue

That plesand fruct, gyf he wald preue

That he suld be als Sapient

As the gret God Omnipotent

Thynk ȝe nocht that ane plesand thyng

That we lyke God, suld euer ryng

He herand this Narratioun

And be hir solistatioun

Mouit be prydefull ambitioun

He eit on that conditioun

The principall poyntis, of this offence

War pryde, and Inobedience

Desyring for to be Equall

To God, the Creature of all

Allace Adam, quhy did thow so

Quhy causit thow this mortall wo

Had thow bene constant firme and stabyll

Thy glore had bene Incomparabyll

Quhare wes thy consyderatioun

Quhilk had the Dominatioun

Off eueryevery leuyng Creature

That God had formit be Nature

Tyll vse thame at thy awin d…uyse

Wes thow nocht prince of Paradyse

Wes neuer man, sen syne on lyue

That God gaue sic Prerogatyue

He gaif the strenth, aboue Sampsone

And sapience more than Salomone

Ȝoung Absolone, in his tyme moste fair

To thy bewte, wes no compair

Arestotyll, thow did precell

In to Phylosophie, naturell

Virgill in tyll his Poetrye

Nor Cicero, in tyll Oratrye

War neuer half so Eloquent

Quhy brak thow Goddꝭ commandiment

Quhare wes thy wytt, that wald nocht flee

Far frome the presens of that tree

Gaif nocht thy Maker the fre wyll

To take the gude, and leif the euyll

Quhow mycht thy forfalt be excusit

That Goddꝭ commandiment refusit

Throuch thy wyffis perswasioun

Quhilk hes bene the occasioun

Sen syne that mony nobyll men

Be the euyll counsall of wemen

Alluterlye distroyit bene

As in the Storeis may be sene

Quhilk now, we neid nocht tyll declair

Bot fordwart tyll our purpose fair.

Quhen thay had eaitin of the frute

Off Ioye, than wer thay destitute

Than gan thay boith, for to thynk schame

And to be naikit, thocht defame

And maid thame Breikꝭ, of leuis grene

That thair secreitꝭ, suld nocht be sene

Bot in the stait of Innocence

Thay had none sic experience

Bot quhen thay war to Syn subiectit

To schame and dreid, thay war coactit

And in ane busk, thay hid thame cloce

Aschamit of the Lordis voce

Quhilk callit Adam be his name

(Quod he) my Lord, I thynk gret schame

Naikit to cum, to thy presence

Thow had none sic experience

Quod God, quhen thow wes Innocent

Quhy brake thow my commandiment

Allace (quod Adam) to the Lorde

The veritie, I sall recorde

This woman that thow gaif to me

Gart me eit, of ȝone plesand tre

Rychtso the woman hir excusit

And said, the Serpent me abusit

Than to the Serpent, God said thus

O thow Dissauer venimous

Because the woman, thow begylit

Frome thyne furth, sall thow be exylit

Curst and waryit, sall thow be

So sall thy seid, be efter the

Cauld erth, salbe thy fude also

And creipand on thy breist sall go

Als I sall putt Inamite

Betuix the woman euer and the

Betuix thy seid, and womanis seid

Salbe continuall mortall feid

Quhowbeit thow hes wrocht thir myscheuis

It sall nocht be as thow beleuis

Sic seid salbe in woman sawin

That thy power, salbe doun thrawin

Treddyng thy heid, that thow may feill

And thow sall tred hym on the heill

This was his promys, and menyng

That the Immaculat Virgyng

Sulde beir the Prince Omnipotent

Quhilk suld tred doun, that fals Serpent

Sathan, and all his companye

And thame confunde alluterlye.

Quod I, geue Sathan prince of hellCour.

Spak in the Serpent as ȝe tell

And beistis can no way syn at all

Quhy wes the Serpent maid so thrall

I heir men say affore that hour

The Serpent had ane fair figour

And ȝeid straucht vp vpone his feit

And had his membris all compleit

As vtheris beistis vpone the bent

Expe.(Quod he) for he wes Instrument

To Sathan, in this Miserie

Puneist he wes, as ȝe may se

As be experience thow may knaw

Expres in to the commoun Law

Ane man conuickit for bewgrye

The beist is brynt, als weill as he

Quhowbeit the beist be Innocent

And so befell, of the Serpent

It was the Feynd, sull of dispyte

Off Adamis fall, quhilk had the wyte

As he hes had of mony mo

Bot tyll our purpose lat ws go.

¶Than to the woman, for hir offence

God did pronunce, this sore sentence

All plesour, that thow had afforrow

Sall cheangit be in lestyng sorrow

Quhare that thow suld, with myrth and Ioy

HaueHave borne thy byrth, butt pane or noy

Now all thy bairnis sall thow bair

With dolour, and continuall cair

And thow salbe, for oucht thow can

Euer subiectit to the man

Be this sentence, God did conclude

Wemen frome lybertie denude

Quhilk be experience ȝe may se

Quhow Quenis, of moste hie degre

Ar vnderunder moste subiectioun

And sufferis moste correctioun

For thay lyke byrdis in tyll ane cage

Ar keipit ay vnderunder thirlage

So all wemen in thare degre

Suld to thare men, subiectit be

Quhowbeit sum ȝit wyll stryue for stait

And for the maistrye mak debait

Quhilk gyf thay want, boith ewin and morrow

Thare men wyll suffer mekle sorrow

Off Eue, thay tak that qualite

To desyre Soueranite

And than tyll Adam, said the Lord

Because that thow hes done accord

Thy wyll, and harknit to thy wyfe

Now sall thow lose this plesand lyfe

Thow wes tyll hir obedient

Bot thow brake my commandiment

Curste and baren, the erth salbe

Quhare euer thow gois, tyll that thow de

But laubour, it sall beir no corne

Bot Thirsyll, Nettyll, Breir, and Thorne

For fude, thow gettis none vther beild

Bot eait the herbis, apone the feild

Sore laubouryng, tyll thy browis sweit

Frome thyne furth, sall thow wyn thy meit

I maid the of the erth certane

And thow in erth, sall turne agane

Than maid he thame Abilȝement

Off skynnis, ane raggit rayment

Thame to preserue frome heit and cauld

Than grew thare dolour mony fauld

Now Adam ar ȝe lyke tyll ws

With ȝour gay garment glorious

To thame thir wordis, said the Lorde

Than cryit thay boith Misericorde

Quhen frome that Garth, with hartis sore

Baneist thay wer, for euer more

On to this wracheit vaill of sorrow

With daylie laubour ewin and morrow

Efter quhose dolorous departyng

The Lord gaue Paradyce in kepyng

Tyll ane Angell of Ierubin

That none suld hauehave entres thare in

Att the quhilk entres, he did stand

With flammand fyrie sweird in hand

To keip that Adam, and his wyfe

Sulde nocht taist of, the tre of lyfe

For geue thay of that tre had preuit

Perpetuallye, thay mycht hauehave leuit

So Adam, and his Successioun

Off Paradyce, tynt possessioun

And be this syn Originall

War men to Miserie maid thrall

My Sonne now may thow cleirly se

This warld began with misere

With miserie, it doith proceid

Quhose fyne sall dolour be and dreid

Cour.Father (quod I) quhat kynd of lyfe

Led Adam with his lustye wyfe

Efter thare bailfull banesyng?

(Quod he) continuall womentyngExpe.

My hart hes ȝitt compassioun

Quhow thay went wandryng vp and doun

Weipyng with mony lowde allace

That thay had lost, that plesand place

In wyldernes to be exilde

Quhare thay fand nocht, bot beistis wylde

Manesyng thame, for tyll deuore

Quhilkꝭ all obedient war affore.

Father (quod I) in quhat countreCour.

Did leif Adam, efter that he

Was banesit frome that delyte

Clerkis (quod he) hes put in wryte

Quhow Adam dwelt, with mekle baillExpe.

In Mamber, in that lusty vaill

Quhilk efter was, the Iowis land

Quhare ȝit his Sepulture dois stand

I lyste nocht tary, tyll discryueGene. iiii

The wo of Adam, nor his wyue

Nor tell, quhen thay had Sonnis two

Cayn, and Abell, and no mo

Nor quhow curst Cayn, for Inuy

Did slay his Brother creuelly

Nor of thare murnyng, nor thare mone

Quhen thay but Sonnis, wer left allone

Abell lay slane, vpone the ground

Curst Cayn flemit, and Vagabound

Nor quhow God of his speciall grace

Send thame the thrid Sonne fair of face

Most lyke Adam, of slesche and blude

Seth was his name, gratious and gude

Nor quhow blynd Lameth, raikleslye

Did slay Cayn, vnhappelye

Adam as Clerkis dois discriue

Begat with Eue his wofull wyue

Off men Childryng thretty and two

And of Dochteris alyke also

Be this thow may weill vnderstand

That Adam saw, mony ane thowsand

That of his body, did discend

Or he out of the warld did wend

Gene. v.Adam leifit in erth, but weir

Compleit, nyne hundreth and thretty ȝeir

And all his dayis war bot sorrow

Rememberyng boith ewin and morrow

Off Paradyce, the prosperitie

Syne of his gret miseritie

His hart mycht neuer be reiosit

Remembryng quhow the heuin wes closit

Frome hym and his successioun

And that be his transgressioun

Efter his deith, as I heir tell

His Saul discendit to the hell

And thare remanit presoneir

In that Dungeoun, thre thousand ȝeir

And more, so did boith euyll and gude

Tyll Christ for thame, had sched his blude

Than be that most precious ransoun

Thay wer delyuerit of presoun

I hauehave declarit now as I can

The miserie of the first man.

FINIS.

Heir followis quhov God Distroyit all Leueand Creature in erth, for Syn, And Drownit thame be ane Terribyll Flude, in the tyme of Noye.

PRVDENT Father Experience.Cour.

Declare to me, or ȝe go hence

Quhat wes the cause, God did distroye

All Creature in the tyme of Noye

(Quod he) I trymmyll for to tell

That Infortune, quhow it befellExpe.

The cause bene so abhominabyll

And the mater so miserabyll

Bot for to schaw the Circumstance

Manefestlye of that myschance

First I mon gar the vnderstand

Quhow Adam gaif expresse commandGene vi.

That those quhilkꝭ come of Sethis blude

Because thay wer gratious and gude

Suld nocht contract with Cainnis kyn

Quhilkꝭ wer Inclynit all to Syn,

Tyll obserue that commandiment

Cain past in the Orient

With his wyfe, callit Calmana

Quhilk was his awin Syster alswa

Quhare his ofspryng, did lang remane

Besyde the Montane of Tarbane

And Seth did lang tyme lede his lyfe

With Delbora, his prudent wyfe

Quhilk wes his Syster gude and fair

In Damassene, maid thare repair

In that countre of Sethis clan

Discendit mony holy man

So lang as Adam wes leueand

The peple did obserue command

Quhen he wes dede, and laid in ground

And peple greitly did abound

And Cayn slane, as I hauehave schawin

And Sethis dayis, all ouer blawin

The Sonnis than of Sethis blude

Seand the plesand pulchritude

Off the Ladyis, of Caynnis kyn

Quhowbeit thay knew weill, it wes Syn

Opprest with sensuall lustis rage

Did tak thame in to Mariage

And so corruptit wes that blude

The gude with euyll, and euyll with gude

Than as the peple did incres

Thay did abound in wickitnes

As holy Scripture dois rehers

Quhilk I abhor, to putt in vers

Or tell with toung, I am nocht abyll

The suthe bene so abhominabyll

Quhow men, and wemen, schamefullye

Abusit thame selfꝭ, vnnaturallye

Quhose foull abhominatioun

And vncouthe fornicatioun

I thynk gret schame, to putt in wryte

All that Paull Orose, doith indyte

Quhilk gyf I wald at lenth declair

It wer yneuch, to fyill the air

Gret Clerkꝭ of Antiquiteis

Hes wryttin mony trew storeis

Quhilkꝭ ar worthy to be commendit

Quhowbeit thay be nocht comprehendit

At lenth in the Diuyne Scripture

Bot I sall do my besye cure

To tak the best (as I suppose)

That moste pertenis my purpose

And with support, of Christ our kyng

I purpose to confirme no thyng

Off the Auld Hystoricience

Contrarious, tyll his excellence

Quhowbeit sum mennis Traditionis

Contrar Chrystis Institutionis

Off thame thocht sum thyng I declair

Now latt ws proceid forthermair

And with ane Language lamentabyll

Declare this mater miserabyll,

Cour.¶Father the causis wald I knaw

Quhy thay of nature, brak the Law

Expe.I traist (quod he) that wyckitnes

Generith throw sleuthfull ydilnes

The Deuyll with all the craft he can

Quhen he persauis ane ydill man

Or woman geuin tyll ydilnes

He gettis eaisalye entres

And so be this occasioun

And be the Feindis perswasioun

The hole warld vniuersalye

Corruptit was alluterlye.

Cour.Quhat wes the cause, thay ydill ware

That cace (quod I) to me declare

Expe,(Quod he) be my Imaginatioun

For laik of vertuous Occupatioun

For of Craftꝭ, thay had small vsage

Off Marchandyce, nor lawborage

The erth than wes so plentuous

Off fruct, and Spyce, delicious

The herbis wer so confortabyll

Delytesum and Medicinabyll

The Fontannis fresche and redolent

To laubouryng, thay tuke lytill tent

All maner of beistis at thare plesour

Did multyplie, without laubour

The tyme betuix Adam and Noye

To se the erth, it wes gret Ioye

Plantit with precious treis of pryce

Four famous Fludis of Paradyce

Ran throw the erth, in syndrie partis

Spreddyng thare branchis, in all airtis

The walter was so strang and fyne

Thay wald nocht laubour to mak wyne

The fruct, and herbis, wer so gude

Thay maid no cair, for vther fude

And so the peple tuke no cure

Bot past thare tyme, at thare plesure

Ay fyndand new Inuentionis

To fulfyll thare Intentionis

So that the Lord Omnipotent

That he maid man, did hym repent

And schew on tyll his Seruand Noye

That he wald all the warld distroye

Except hym self, and his Meinȝe

Allace (quod Noye) quhen sall that be?

Than said the Lord, sen thow so speris

I sall Prolong, sax score of ȝeris

Tarying vpone thare repentence

Or I fulfyll my Iust Sentence

In the mene tyme, fall thow to warke

Incontinent, and beild ane Arke

Quhilk Noye began, Obedientlye

And wrocht on it Continuallye

And to the peple daylie precheit

To cry for grace, he to thame techeit

And to thame planelye did declair

That God his wand no more wald spair

Bot on thame he wald wyrk vengence

To Noye ȝit gaue thay no credence

And so thay wer Incounsolabyll

Vsyng thare luste abhominabyll

And tuke his precheyng in dispyte

Ay followyng thare foull delyte

More and more, tyll that dulefull day

Quhilk all the warld, pat in affray

Cour.¶Father, ȝe gart me vnderstand

Quhen Adam brak the Lordꝭ command

Tyll agment his afflictioun

God gaue his Maledictioun

On to the erth, quhilk wes so fair

That it suld barren be, and bair

And without laubour beir no corne

Nor fruct, bot thirsyll, breir, and thorne

Now say ȝe in, the tyme of Noye

To se the erth, it wes gret Ioye

Plantit with fructis gude and fair

The suthe of this, to me declair

Thir sayingꝭ two, gar me consydder

Quhow ȝe mak thame, agre to gydder

God maid that promys, sickerlye

Quhowbeit, it come nocht instantlye

Expe.(Quod he) as Clerkis dois conclude

Bot efter quhen the furious Flude

Distroyit the erth, alluterlye

Than come that promys sickerlye

Ewin siclyke as God gaue command

Adam to twyche nocht with his hand

Nor eait of the, forbiddin tree

Geue he did so, that he sulde dee

Quhowbeit he deit nocht but weir

Efter that day nyne hundreth ȝeir

Rychtso the Propheit EsayasEsay .ix.

Speikand of Christ, the gret Messias

Sayand the Bairne, is tyll ws borne

To saif mankynd quhilk is forlorne

As he had bene borne Instantlye

Ȝit wes he nocht borne veralye

Efter that saying mony one ȝeir

As in the Scripture, thow may heir

Ane thousand ȝeir, quho reknyth rycht

Is bot one hour, in Goddis sychtii. Pet. iii

Exemplis mony, I mycht tell

Wer it nocht tedious, for to dwell

Tyll our purpose, latt ws proceid

Schawand the heycht, and lenth and breid

And qualitie, of Noyis Arke

Quhilk wes ane rycht excellent warke

Off Pyne tre, maid bound weill about

Laid ouer with pik, within and out

Iunit full close, with nalis strong

And wes thre hundreth Cubittꝭ long

Fifty in breid, thretty in heycht

Thre Chalmeris Iunit weill and wycht

And euerilk loft, aboue ane vther

Withouttin anker, air, or ruther

Ane rycht Cubeit, as I heir tell

Off misour now, mycht be ane ell

In the myd syde, ane dur thare wes

For Beistis, ane easy entres

This Ark quhilk was boith lang and lairge

Maid in the bodum, lyke one Bairge

Couerit with burdis weill abufe

Moste lyke ane housse, with sett on rufe

Quhose rigyng wes ane Cubeit braid

Quharein thare wes, ane wyndo maid

Sum sayis, weill closit with Christall cleir

Quharethrouch the day lycht, mycht weil appeir

This Work the more wes to be prysit

Because be God, it wes deuysit

Gen. vii.The makyng of this Ark, but weir

Indurit weill ane hundreth ȝeir

¶Quhē Noye had done compleit this wark.

God did hym close, within the Ark

With hym his Wyfe, and Sonnis thre

With thare thre Wyfis, but mo menȝe

And of all foulis of the air

Off euerilk kynd, enterit ane pair

Rychtso two Beistis, of euerilk kynde

For quhy, it wes the Lordis mynde

That generatioun suld nocht faill

Quharefor of Fameill, and of Maill

Off euerilk kynd wer keipit two

Bot to rehers, myne hart is wo

The dolent Lamentatioun

That tyme of euerilk Natioun

Sayand allace ane thousand syis

Quhen wynd, and rane, began to ryis

The Roikꝭ with rerd, began to ryue

Quhen vglie cluddis, did ouerdryue

And dirkynnit so, the Heuinnis brycht

That Sonne, nor Mone, mycht schaw no lycht,

The terrabyll trymling of erth quaik

Gart Biggyngis bow, and Cieteis schaik

The thounder raif, the cluddis sabyll

With horrabyll sound, appouentabyll

The fyreflauchtis flew, ouerthorte the fellis

Than wes thare nocht, bot ȝowtis and ȝellis

Quhen thay persauit, without remede

All Creature, to suffer dede

All Fontanis frome the erth vp sprang

And frome the Heuin, the rane doun dang

Fourty dayis, and fourty nychtis

Than ran the Peple, to the heychtis

Sum clam in cragis, sum in treis

And sum to heychast montanis fleis

With more terrour nor I can tell

Bot all for nocht, the fludis fell

And wynd did rowt, with sic ane reird

That euerilk wycht, waryit his weird

Cryand allace, that thay wer borne

Into that flude, to be forlorne

Men mycht no help, mak to thare wyfis

Nor ȝit support thare bairnis lyfis

The Fludis rose, with so gret mychtis

That thay ouer couerit all the heychtis

Thay mycht no more, thare lyuis lenth

Bot swame so lang, as thay had strenth

And so with cryis Lamentabyll

Endit thare lyuis Miserabyll

Aboue montanis, that wer moste hie

Fifty Cubitis, rose the see

Men may Imagyne in thare mynd

All Creature, in to thare kynd

Boith Beistꝭ, and Foulis in the air

In thare maneir, maid mekle cair

The Fyschis thocht thame euyll begyld

Quhen thay swame throuch the woddis wyld

Quhalis tumbland amang the treis

Wyld Beistis, swomand in the seis

Byrdis with mony pietuous pew

Afferitlye in the air thay flew

So lang as thay had strenth to flee

Syne swatterit doun in to the see

No thyng in erth, wes left on lyue

Beistis, nor Foulis, Man, nor Wyue,

God holelye did thame distroye

Except thame in the Ark with Noye

The quhilk lay fleittand on the flude

Welterand amang the stremes wode

With mony terrabyll affrayis

Remanit ane hundreth and fyfty dayis

In gret langour, and heuynes

Or wynd, or rane, began to ceis

Sumtyme effectuouslye prayand

Sumtyme the Beistis vesiand

For be the Lordis commandiment

He maid prouisioun suffecient

For Noye dwelt in that Ark but dout

Ane ȝeir compleit, or he come out

Quhow at more lenth, in holy wryte

This dulefull storye, bene IndyteGen. viii

And quhow that Noye, gan to reiose

Quhen Conductis of the heuin did close

So that the Rane, no more discendit

Nor the flude, no more ascendit

Quhen he persauit the heuinnis cleir

He send furth Corbe Messingeir

In to the Air, for to espy

Geue he saw ony montanis dry

Sum sayis the Rauin, did furth remane

And come nocht to the Ark agane

Furth flew the Dow, at Noyis command

And quhen scho did persaue dry land

Off ane Olyue, scho brak ane branche

That Noye mycht knaw the walter stanche

And thare no more, scho did sudiorne

Bot with the branche, scho did returne

That Noye mycht cleirly vnderstand

That felloun Flude, was decressand

And so it did, tyll at the last

The Ark vpone the ground stak fast

On the tope of ane Montane hye

Into the land of Armanye

And quhen that Noye, had done espye

Quhow that the erth, began to drye

Than dang he doun, the durris all

And lowsit thame, the quhilk wes thrall

The foulis flew, furth in the air

And all the Beistis, pair, and pair

Past furth to seik, thare pastorages

Thare wes than, bot aucht Personages

Noye, his thre Sonnis, and thare wyuis

On erth, that left was with thare lyuis

Quhome God did blys, and Sanctyfie

Sayand incres, and multyplie

God wait geue Noye, wes blyith and glaid

Quhen of that presoun, he wes fraid

Quhen Noye had maid, his Sacrifyce.

Thankand God, of his Benifyce

He standand on mont Armanye

Quhare he the countre, mycht espye

Ȝe may beleue, his hart was sore

Seyng the erth, quhilk wes affore

The Flude so plesand, and perfyte

Quhilk to behald, wes gret delyte

That now was barren maid and bair

Afore, quhilk fructuous was and fair

The plesand treis, beryng fructis

Wer lyand rewin vp, be the rutis

The holsum herbis, and fragrant flouris

Had tynt boith vertew, and cullouris

The feildis grene, and fluryst meidis

Wer spulȝeit of thare plesand weidis

The erth quhilk first, wes so fair formit

Wes be that furious flude deformit

Quhare vmquhyle wer, the plesand planis

Wer holkit Glennis, and hie montanis

Frome clattryng cragis, gret and gray

The erth was weschin, quyte away

❧Bot Noye, had gretast displesouris

Behauldand, the dede Creatouris

Quhilk wes ane sycht, rycht Lamentabyll

Men, Wemen, Beistis, Innumerabyll

Seyng thame ly, vpone the landis

And sum wer fleityng on the strandis

Quhalis, and Monstouris, of the seis

Stickit on stobbis, amang the treis

And quhen the Flude was decressand

Thay wer left welteryng on the land

Affore the Flude, duryng that space

The sey wes all, in to ane place

Rycht so the erth, as bene desydit

In syndrie partis, wes nocht deuydit

As bene Ewrope, and Asia

Deuydit ar, frome Africa

Ȝe se now diuers Famous Ilis

Stand frome the mane land mony mylis

All thir gret Ilis, I vnderstand

War than equall, with the ferme land

Thare wes none sey, Mediterrane

Bot onelyonly, the gret Occiane

Quhilk did nocht spred, sic bulryng strandis

As it dois now, ouirthort the landis

Than be the ragyng of that flude

The erth of vertew, wes denude

The quhilk afore, wes to be prysit

Quhose bewtie than, wes dissogysit

Than wes the Maledictioun knawin

Quhilk wes be God, tyll Adam schawin

I reid quhow Clerkis dois conclude

Induryng that moste furious flude

With quhilk the erth, wes so supprest

The wynd blew furth, of the southwest

As may be sene, be experience

Quhow throw the watterꝭ violence

The heych montanis, in eueryevery art

Ar bair forgane, the southwest part

As the Montanis, of Parraneis

The alpis, and Rochis, in the seis

Rycht so the Rochis, gret and gray

Quhilk standis into Norroway

The heychast hyllis, in eueryevery art

And in Scotland, for the moste part

Throuch weltryng of, that furious flude

The Cragis of erth, war maid denude

Trauellyng men, may consydder best

The montanis bair, nyxt the southwest

¶Declare (quod I) or ȝe concludeCour.

Quhow lang leuit Noye, efter the flude

(Quod he) in Genesis, thow may heirExpe.

Quhow that Noye, wes sax hundreth ȝeir

The tyme of this gret punysmentGene. ix.

And aye to God obedient

And wes the best of Sethis blude

And als he leuit efter the Flude

Thre hundreth and fyfty ȝeris

As the sam scripture wytnes beris

And wes or he Randerit the spreit

Nyne hundreth, and fyfty ȝerꝭ compleit

To schaw this storie Miserabyll

At lenth my wyttis ar nocht abyll

And als my Sonne, as I suppose

It langis nocht tyll our purpose

To schaw quhow Noyis Sonnis thre

Gan to Incres and multyplie

Nor quhow that Noye, plantit the wyne

And drank tyll he wes dronkin syne

And sleipit with his membris bair

And quhow Cham, maid for hym no cair

Bot leuch, to se his Father so

Quhowbeit his Brether wer rycht wo

Nor quhow Noye, but restrictioun

Gaue Cham his Maledictioun

And put hym vnderunder Seruytude

To Sem and Iaphet, that war gude

Nor quhow God maid ane conuenent

With Noye, to mak no punysment

Nor be no Flude, the peple droun

In signe of that conditioun

His Rane Bow sett, in to the air,

Off diuers Heuinlye colouris fair

For to be ane perpetuall sing

Be Flude to mak no punyssing

This Story, geue thow lyste to knaw

At lenth the Bibyll sall the schaw