A Dialogue Betwixt Experience and a Courtier, Book 3
¶And Begynnis the Thrid Part.
And in the first, Makand Narratione of ye Misarabyll Distructioun of the Fyue Ciereis, callit Sodome, Gomore, Syboin, Segore, and Adama, with thare hole Regioun, and ane schort Discriptioun of the Secund, Thrid, and Ferd. Monarcheis. With ye Misarabyll Distructioun of Ierusalē And last of the Spirituall Monarchie.
❧ FATHER I pray ȝow to me tell
Quhat notabyll thyngis that befellCour.
Duryng the Kyng of Asseriens
Quhilk had so lang prehemynens
I mene of vther Nationis
VnderUnder thare dominationis
That may be done in termys schorte
(Said he) as storyis doith reporteExpe.
Induryng this first Monarchie
Become that wofull misarie
Off Sodome, Gomore, and thare Regione
As Scripture makis MentioneGen. xix.
Quhose peple wer so sensuall
In fylthie Synnis vnnaturall
The quhilk in to my vulgar veirs
My toung abhorris to reheirs
Lyke brutall beistis by thare myndis
Vnnaturally abusit thare kyndis
By fylthie stynkand Lychorie
And most abhominabyll Sodomie
As holy scripture doith discryue
In that countre wer Citeis fyue
Quhilk wer Sodome, and Gomora
Seboin, Segore, and Adama
Amang thame all, funde wes thare none
Vndefylit, bot Lott, allone
☞Holy Abraham dwelt neir hand by
Quhilk prayit for Lott, effectuously
For God maid hym aduertysment
That he wald mak sic punyschement
To Lott two Angellis God did sende
Hym frome that furye tyll defende
Quhen the peple of that regioun
Saw the Angellis cum to the toun
Transformit in to fair ȝoung men
Thay purposit thame for to ken
And abuse thame vnnaturallye
With thare foule stynkand Sodomye
Off that gude Lott, wes wounder woo
And offerit thame his Douctheris twoo
Thame at thare plesour for tyll vse
Bot thay his Douctheris did refuse
And than the Angellis be thare mycht
Those men depryuit of thare sycht
And so perfors leitt thame allone
To Lottis lugyng, quhen thay wer gone
Thay hym commandit haistelie
For tyll depart of that Citie
That foule vnnaturall Lychorie
A vengeance to the hewin did crye
The quhilk did mofe God tyll sic yre
That frome the hewin Brintstone and fyre
With awfull thoundryng, ranit doun
And did consume that hole regioun
Off all that land chapit no mo
Except Lott, and his Douctheris two
His wyfe wes turnit in A stone
So wyfles wes he left allone
For scho wes Inobedient
And kepit no commandiment
Quhen the Angell gaif thame command
Sone tyll depart out of that land
He monyste thame vnderunder gret pane
Neuer to luke, bakwart agane
Quhen Lottis wyfe, hard the thoundring
Off flammand fyre and lychtnyng
The vgly cryis lamentabyll
Off peple most appouentabyll
For none of thame had fors to flee
Scho ȝarnit that sorrowfull sycht to see
And as scho turnit hir anone
Scho wes transformit in a stone
Quhare scho remanis tyll this daye
Off hir I hauehave no more to saye
To schaw at leynth I am nocht abyll
That pietious proces lamentabyll
Quhow Ceteis, Castellis, Tounis and Towris,
Villagis, Bastailȝeis, and Bowris
Thay wer all in to poulder drewin
Forrestis, be the ruttis vprewin
Thare Kyng, thare Quene, and peple all
Ȝong and auld, brynt in poulder small
No Creature wes left on lyfe
Foulis, Beistis, Man, nor Wyfe
The erth, the Corne, herb, frute, and tre
The Babbis, vpone the Noryse kne
Rycht suddantlye in one Instent
Vnwerly come thare Iugement
As it come in the tyme of Noye
Quhen God did all the warld distroye
For that self Syn of Sodomye
And most abhominabyll bewgrye
That vyce at lenth for tyll declare
I thynk it is nocht necessare
¶Quhen all wes brynt, flesche, blud, & bonis
Hyllis, valais, stokis, and stonis
The Cuntre sank for to conclude
Quhare now standith ane vglye flude
The quhilk is callit the dede see
Nixt to the cuntre of Indee
Quhose stynkand strandis blak as tar
The flewre of it, men felith on far
In tyll Orocius, thow may reid
Off that cuntre, the lenth and breid
Of lenth fyftye mylis and two
And fourtene myle in breid also.
☞Lott of his wyfe wes so agast
That he tyll A. wyld Montane past
Off cumpanye he had no mo
Except his lustye Douchteris two
And be thare prouocatioun
As Moyses makith narratioun
Allone in to that montane wylde
His Douchteris boith, he gat with chylde
For thay beleuit in thare thocht
That all the warld wes gone to nocht
As it become of that Natioun
Thynkand that Generatioun
Wald faill, withoute thay craftellye
Gar thare Father with thame to lye
And so thay fand ane crafty wyle
Quhow thay thare Father mycht begyle
And causit hym, to drynk wycht wyne
Quhilk men to Lychorye doith Inclyne
Quhen he wes full, and fallin on sleip
His Douchteris quyetlye did creip
In tyll his bed, full secreitlye
Prouokand hym with thame to lye
And knew nocht quhow he wes begylde
Tyll boith his Douchteris wer with chylde
And bure two Sonnis in certane
Thay beand in that wyld Montane
Off quhome two Nationis did proceid
As in the scripture thow may reid
In the quhilk scripture thow may se
Att lenth this wofull misarie
¶This misarie become but weir
Frome Noeis flude, thre hundreth ȝeir
To gidther with four score and alewin
As comptit Carione full ewin
And efter Noeis deith I ges
Ane and fourtye ȝeir thare wes
Quhen Abraham was of aige I wene
Foure score of ȝeris, and nynteine
Quhen this foule Syn of Sodomye
Was puneisit so regorouslyie
Gret God Preserue ws in our tyme
That we commit nocht sic ane cryme.
¶Tiddius It wer for me to tell
This Monarche, duryng quhat befell
And wounderis that in erth wer wrocht
Quhilk to thy pupose langith nocht
Exod. i.As quhow the peple of Israell
Did lang tyme in to Egypt dwell
And of thare gret puneisioun
Throuch Pharois persecusioun
And quhow Moyses, did thame conuoye
Exod. xiiii.Throuch the reid sey, with mekle Ioye
Quhare kyng Pharo, rycht misarably
Wes drownit with all his huge army
And quhow that peple wandrand wes
Fourtye ȝeris, in wyldernes
Exod. xxMoyses that tyme as I heir saye
Ressauit the Law on Mont Sinay
That tyme Iosue throuch IordanIosue. iii
Led those peple to Canaan
Quhare Saule, Dauid, and Salamone
With Hebrew Kyngis mony one
Did rychelye ryng in that countre
Induryng this first Monarche
¶The Sege of Thebes, misarabyll
Quhare blude wes sched Incomparabyll
Off nobyll men, in to those dayis
With vtheris terribyll affrayis
As quhow the Grekis wrocht vengeance
Apone the nobyll Troyiance
Because that Pareis, did conuoye
Perfors fair Helena to Troye
Quhilk wes king Menelaus wyfe
Quhare mony one thousand loste thare lyfe
¶That tyme the vailȝeant Hercules
Out throuch the warld did hym addres
Quhare he did mony ane douchtye deid
As in his storye thow may reid
And quhow throuch Dyonere his wyfe
That Campione did lose his lyfe
In flammand fyre, full furiouslye
The deith he sufferit creuellye
¶That tyme Remus, and Romolus
Did found that Citie most famous
Off Rome standing in Italie
As in thare storye thow may se
Wald thow reid Titus Leuius
Thow suld fynd warkis wounderus
Quhose douchtye deidis ar weill kende
And salbe to the warldis ende
Thocht thay he gan with creueltie
And endit with misaritie
As bene the maner to conclude
Off all scheddaris of saikles blude.
¶In Grece the ornat Poetry
Medecene, Musike, Astronomy,
Duryng this first Monarche began
Be Homerus, that famous man
To gydder with Hesiodus
As diuers Auctoris, schawis ws
It wer to lang to put in ryme
The bukꝭ quhilk thay wret in thare tyme
Thir wer the actis principell
That Monarche duryng quhilk befell
Gen. xviiAs for gude Abraham and his seid
In to the Bibyll thow may reid
Quhow in this tyme as I heir tell
Began the Kyngdome Spirituell
As I hauehave schawin to the affore
Quharefor I speik of thame no more.
FINIS.
Ane Schort Discriptioun of the secund. thrid. and ferd Monarche.
❧ FATHER (said I) quhilk wes the mā.Cour.
That the nyxt Monarchye began
Cyrus (said he) the kyng of Pers
As Cronicles, hes done rehersExpe.
Prudent and full of Pollicye
Began the secunde Monarchye
For he wes the most godly kyng
That euer in Pers or Mede did ryng
For he of his Benyngnitie.ii. Para. xxxxi.
Delyuerit frome Captyuitie
The hole Peple of Israell
In to the tyme of Daniell
The quhilkis had bene presoneris
In Babilone sewin score of ȝeris
Tharefor God of his grace benyng
Gaif hym ane diuyne knawleging
Duryng his tyme as I heir tell
He vsit counsall of Daniell
Carione, at lenth doith specifie
Off his maruellous Natyuitie
And of his vertuus vpbrynging
And quhow he vincuste Cresus king
With mony vther vailȝeant deid
As in to Carione, thow may reid
Quhose Successioun did indure
Tyll the tent Kyng, thareof be sure
¶Bot efter his gret conquessyng
Rycht miserabyll wes his endyng
As Herodotus, doith discryfe
In Scythia he lost his lyfe
Quhare the vndantit Seethianis
Vincuste those nobyll Persianis
And efter that Cerus wes dede
Quene Tomyre hakkit of his hede
Quhilk wes the quene of Seethianis
In the dispyte of Persianis
Scho kest his heid, for to conclude
In tyll ane vessell full of blude
And said, thir wourdis creuellye
Drynk now thy fyll, gyf thow be drye
For thow did aye blude schedding thryste
Now drynk at laser gyf thow lyste
Efter that Cyrus successioun
Off all the warld had possessioun
¶ Tyll Allexander with swerd and fyre
Obtenit perfors the thrid Impyre
Quhilk wes the king of Macedone
With vailȝeant Grekis mony one
In battell fell and furious
Vincuste the mychtie Darious
Quhilk wes the tent and the last kyng
Quhilk did efter king Cyrus ryng
As for this potent Empriour
Allexander the Conquereour
Geue thow at lenth, wald reid his ryng
And of his creuell conquessyng
In Inglis toung, in his gret buke
Att lenth his lyfe, thare thow may luke
Quhow Allexander that potent Kyng
Wes twelf ȝeris in his Conquessyng
And quhow for all his gret conquest
He leuit bot ane ȝeit in rest
Quhen be his Seruand secretlye
He poysonit wes full pietuouslye.
¶Lucane doith Allexander compair
Tyll thounder, or fyreflaucht, in the air
One creuell Planeit, A mortall weird
Doun thryngand peple, with his sweird
Ganges that most famous flude
He myxit with the Indianis blude
And Euphrates, with the blude of Pers
Quhose creueltie for to rehers
And saikles blude, quhilk he did sched
War rycht abhominabyll to be red
Efter his schort prosperitie
He deit with gret miseritie.
¶Itt wer to lang for to dissydit
Quhow all his realmes wer deuydit
Aye quhill that Cesar Iulyus
Quhen he had vincust Pompeyus
Wes chosin Emperiour and kyng
Abufe the Romanis for tyll ryng
That potent Prince wes the first man
Quhilk the ferd Monarche began
And had the hole Dominioun
Off euerilk land and Regioun
Quhose successouris, did ryng but weir
Ouer the warld, mony one hundreth ȝeir
Bot gentyll Iulyus, allace
Rang Empriour, bot lytill space
Quhilk I thynk petye tyll deplore
In fyue MonethMonth and lytill more
By fals exhorbitant treasoun
That prudent Prince, wes trampit doun
And murdrest in his counsall hous
By creuell Brutus, and Cascius
¶Efter that Iulyus wes slane
Did ryng the gret Octauiane
Off Empriouris one of the best
Duryng his tyme, wes peace and rest
Ouer all the warld, in ilk regioun
As storyis makith mentioun
And als I mak it to the plane
Duryng the tyme of Octauiane
The Sonne of God our Lord Iesew
Tuke mankynd of the Virgine trew
Math. ii.And wes that tyme in Bethelem borne
To saif mankynde, quhilk wes forlorne
As Scripture makith narratioun
Off his blyst Incarnatioun
¶Now haif I tald the as I can
Quhow the four Monarchyis began
Bot in thy mynde thow may consydder
Quhow warldly power bene bot slydder
For all thir gret Impyris ar gone
Thow seis thare is no Prince allone
Quhilk hes the hole Dominioun
This tyme of eueryevery Regioun
¶Father quhat reasone, had those kyngisCour.
Reuarris to be of vtheris ryngis
But ony rycht or Iuste querrell
Quhairthrouch that thay mycht mak battell
And commoun pepyll to dounthryng
To this (said I) mak answeryng
My Sonne (said he) that sall be done
As I best can, and that rycht soneExpe.
¶Thir Monarcheis, I vnderstand
Preordinat wer, by the command
Off God, the Plasmatour of all
For to doun thryng, and to mak thrallDani.
Vndantit Peple vitious
And als for to be gratious
To thame quhilk vertuous wer and gude
As Daniell heth done conclude
At lenth in tyll his Propheseis
Quhow thare suld be four Monarcheis
His secund Chepture, thow maye see
Quhow efter the first Monarchie
Quhen Nabuchodonosor kyng
Ane Ymage sawe, in his slepyng
With austeir luke, boith heych and breid
And of fyne pure Gold, wes his heid
His breist, and armes, of syluer brycht
His wamb of Copper, hard and wycht
His loynis, and lymmis, of Irne, rycht strong
His feit of clay, Irne myxt among
Frome A montane thare come allone
But hand of man, A mekle stone
Quhilk on that Figourꝭ feit did fall
And dang all doun in poulder small.
¶Off quhose Interpretatioun
Doctouris doith mak Narratioun
The hede of gold, did signifye
First of Asserianis Monarchye
The syluer breist, thay did apply
To Persianis, quhilk rang secundly
The wambe of copper, or of brasse
Thridly to Grekis, comparit wasse
His loynis, and lymmis, of Irne, and steill
Clerkis hes thame comparit weill
To Romanis, throuch thare diligence
To hauehave the Feird Preemynence
Abufe all vther Natioun
Be this Interpretatioun
The myxit feit, with Irne, and clay
Did signifye this letter day
Quhen that the warld sulde be deuydit
As efterwart salbe disydit
To Christ is signifyit the stone
Quhose Monarche sall neuer be gone
For vnderunder his Dominioun
All Princis sall be trampit doun
Quhen that gret kyng Omnipotent
Cumis to his generall Iugement
His Monarche than salbe knawin
As efter sall be to the schawin
☞ And als the Scripture, sall the tell
Quhow in the aucht of Daniell
He saw in to his visioun
Be ane plane expositioun
Quhow that the Grekis, sulde wyrk vengeence
Vpone the Medis, and Persience
Comparand Grekis, tyll ane Gote
With ane horne, fers, furious, and hote
Quhilk slew the Ram, with hornis two
Comparit tyll Pers, and Mede, all so
And so be Daniellꝭ prophesyis
All thir gret mychtie Monarchyis
The quhilkis all vther realmes supprysit
Be the gret God, thay wer deuysit
As he of Tytus the Romane
Sonne and Air, to Vespasiane
Maid hym ane Furious Instrument
To put the Iowis, to gret torment
Quhilk I purpose or I hyne fair
Schortlie that p…ocesse to declair
✚FINIS.*
Of ye most miserabyl and most terrabill distructioun of Ierusalem.
Cour.❧ FATHER (said I) declare to me.
Induryng this ferd Monarchie
The maist Infortune that befell
Expe.My Sonne (said he) that sall I tell
The moist and manyfest misarie
Became apon the gret Cetie
Ierusalem, quhen it wes supprest
As storyis makis manifest
Bot as the Scripture doith deuyse
Baru. vi.Ierusalem wes distroyit twyse
First for the gret Idolatrye
Quhilk thay commyttit in Iowrye
The honour aucht to God allone
Thay gaif Figuris, of stoke and stone
Affore Christis Incarnatioun
Come this first desolatioun
Fyue hundreth ȝeris, four score and ten
In Cronicles, as thow may ken
Quhow Nabuchodonosor kyng
That famous Citie, did doun thryng
Thare Kyng, with peple mony one
Brocht thame all bound to Babilone
Quhare thay remanit Presoneris
The space of thre score and ten ȝeris
And that first desolatioun
Wes callit the Transmigratioun
Wes no man left in all thare landis
Bot Purellis lauborand with thare handis
Tyll mychtie Cyrus, king of Pers
As Daniell heth done rehers
Wes mouit be God, for tyll restore
The Iowis, quhare that thay wer afore.
¶ Geue I neglect, I wer to blame
The last Sege of Ierusalem
Quhose rewyne wes most miserabyll
And for to tell, rycht terrabyll
Wes neuer in erth, Cetie nor toun
Gatt sic extreme distructioun
The townis of Tyre, Tebes, nor Troye
Thay sufferit neuer half sic noye
The Emprioure Vespasiane
He did deuyse that Sege certane.
¶Thare wes the Prophesie compleit
Quhilk Christ spake on mont OlyueitLuc. x. xxi.
Quhen he Ierusalem beheld
The teris frome his eine disteldMath. xiii.
Seand be Diuyne prescience
The gret distructioun and vengence
Quhilk wes to cum, on that Cetie
His hart wes persit with Petie
Sayand Ierusalem, and thow knew
Thy gret rewyne, sore wald thow rew
For no thyng I can to the schaw
The veritie, thow wyll nocht knaw
Nor hes in consydderatioun
Thy holy visitatioun
Thy peple wyll no way considderMath. xxiii.
Quham gadtherit I wald haif to gidder
As errand scheip, bene with thare hirdis
Or as the Hen, gadderis hir byrdis
VnderUnder hir wyngis tenderlye
Quhilk thay refusit dispitfullye
Quharefor sall cum that dulefull day
That no remedy mak thow may
Thy Dungiounis sall be dung in schounder
So that the warld, sall on the wounder
Thy tempyll now most tryumphand
Sall be tred doun amang the sand
Mathew iiii.And as he said, so it befell
As heir efter I sall the tell.
Cour.¶Schaw me (said I) with circumstance
The speciall cause of that myschance
Expe.(Quod he) as scripture doith conclude
For scheddyng of the saikles blude
Off Prophetis quhilkꝭ God to thame send
And als because, that thay myskend
Iesu the Sonne of God Souerane
Quhen he amang thame did remane
For all the Myraklis, that he schew
Maliciouslye thay hym mysknew
Thocht be his gret power diuyne
The walter cleir, he turnit in wyne
Ihon .ii.And be that self power and mycht
To the blynde borne, he gaif the sycht
And gaif the crukit men thair feit
And maid the lypir haill compleit
Ihon .xi.He halit all, and rasit the dede
Ȝit held thay hym at mortall fede
Because he schew the veritieMath.
Thay did conclude that he sulde de
☞The Byschoppis, princis of the preistis
Thay grew so boildin in thare breistisMathew xxvii.
The Scrybis, the Doctouris of the law
Off God nor man, quhilkis stude none aw
On Christ Iesu, to wyrk vengeance
Rycht so the fals Pharesiance
Ane Sect of fenȝeit Religioun
Deuysit his confusioun
And send thare seruandis at the last
And with strang cordis, thay band hym fast
Syne scurgit hym, boith bak and sydeIho. xix.
That none for blude, mycht se his hyde
Thare wes nocht left ane penny breid
Vnwoundit frome his feit tyll heid
In maner of dirisioun
Thay plett for hym, ane creuell croun
Off prunȝeand thornis scharpe and lang
Quhilk on his hewinlye heid thay thrang
Syne gart hym for, the gretter lack
Beir his awin Gallous, on his back
Tyll the vyle place of Caluare
Quhare mony ane thousand man mycht se
¶That Innocent, thay tuke perforce
And platt hym bak wart to the Croce
Throuch feit and handis, gret nalis thay thryst
Tyll blude aboundantlye out bryst
Without grunschyng, clamor or crye
That pane he sufferit patientlye
And for agmentyng of his grefis
Thay hangit hym, betuix two thefis
Quhare men mycht se the bludy strandis
Quhilkꝭ sprang furth of his feit and handis
Frome thornis thristit on his heid
Ran doun the bulryng stremis reid
In the presens of mony one man
That blude royall on roches ran
Schortly to say that heuinlye Kyng
In extreme dolour, thare did hyng
Tyll he said, Consumatum est.
With A loude crye, he gaif the gaist
Quhen he wes dede, thay tuke one dart
And peirst that Prence, outthrouch the hart
Fra quham thare ran, walter and blude
The erth than trymblit to conclude
¶Phebus did hyde his beymes brycht
That throuch the warld thare wes no lycht
The gret vaill of the tempyll raue
The dede men rais, out of thare graue
And in the Cetie did appeir
As in the Scripture thow may heir
Than Ioseph, of Abaramathie
Did bury hym, rycht honestlie
Bot ȝit he rose, full gloriouslye
Ihon, xxOn the thrid day tryumphandlye
With his Disciplis, in certane
Fourtye dayis he did remaneActis .i.
Efter that to the heuin ascendit
Thir Iowis no thyng thare lyfe amendit
Nor gaif no credens, tyll his sawis
As at more lenth, the storye schawis
Bot creuellye thay did oppres
All men that Christꝭ name did profes
And persecutit mony one
Thay presonit, boith Peter and IhoneActis .v.
And Stewin, thay stonit to the dede
Frome Iames the les, thay straik the hedeActis .v.
This wes the cause, in conclusioun
Off thare creuell confusioun
¶The prudent Iow, Iosephus sayis
That he wes present in those dayis
And in his buke, makith mentioun
Quhow efter Christis Ascentioun
The space of twa and fourty ȝeris
Began those creuell mortall weris
The secund ȝeir of Vespasiane
Quhare mony takin wer and slane
Iosephus planely doith conclude
Wes neuer sene sic one multytude
Affore that tyme, in to the toun
Quhilk come for thare confusioun
Thare gret Infortune so befell
That all the Princis of Israell
Conuenit agane the tyme of Peace
Bot tyll returne thay had no grace
The bald Romanis, with thare Chiftane
Tytus the Sonne of Vespasiane
Thare Army, ouer Iudea spred
Than all men to the Ciete fled
Beleuand thare to get releif
Bot all that turnit, to thare myscheif
¶The Romanis lappit thame about
That be no waye, thay mycht wyn out
Sax MonethMonth, did that Sege indure
Quhare loste wer mony one creature
Quhilkꝭ thare in misary did remane
Tyll thay wer takin all or slane
Duryng the tyme of this assailȝe
Thare meit, and drynk, and all did failȝe
For thare wes sic ane multytude
That thousandꝭ deit for falt of fude
Necessitie gart thame eit perforsse
Dog, Catt, and Rattone, Asse, and horsse
Ryche men, behuffit tyll eait thare gold
Syne deit of hunger mony fold
Sic hunger wes without remeid
The quik behufit tyll eit the deid
The fylth of Closettꝭ, mony eit
To lenth thare lyfe, thay thocht it sweit
¶The famous Ladyis of the toun
For falt of fude, thay fell in swoun
Quhen thay mycht gett none vther meit
Thay slew thare propir Bairnis to eit
Bot all for nocht dispytfullye
Thare awin sowldiouris full gredelye
Reft thame that flesche, most misarabyll
And thay with murnyng lamentabyll
For extreme hunger ȝald the spreitLuc. xxiiii.
Thare wes the Prophesie compleit
As Christ affore maid narratioun
The day of his grym Passioun
Quhen that the Ladyis for hym murnit
Full pietuouslye he to thame turnit
And said, douchterrꝭ murne nocht for me
Murne on ȝour awin posteritie
Within schort tyme sall cum the day
That men of this Ciete sall say
Quhen thay ar trappit in the snair
Blyst be the wamb, that neuer bair
The baren papis, than thay sall blys
That dulefull day, ȝe sall nocht mys
This prophesie, it come to pas
That day with mony lowde allas
Sic sorrowfull lamentatioun
Wes neuer hard in that natioun
Seand those lustye Ladyis sweit
Deand for hunger in the streit
Thare husbandis, nor thare chyldring
Mycht geue to thame na conforting
Nor ȝit releif thame of thare harmis
Bot atheris deand in vtheris armis
Efter this wofull Indigence
Amang thame rose sic Pestilence
Quhare in thare deit mony hounder
Quhilk tyll declare, it wer gret wounder
¶And for fynall conclusioun
Those weirlyke wallis, thay dang doun
Prince Tytus, with his Chewalrye
With sound of trompe, Tryumphandlye
He enterrit in that gret Ciete
Bot tyll declare I thynk piete
The panefull clamour horrabyll
Off woundit folk, most miserabyll
Thare wes nocht ellis, bot tak and slay
For thare mycht no man wyn away
The strandis of blude ran throuch the stretis
Off dede folk, trampit vnderunder fetis
Auld Wedowis in the preis wer smorit
Ȝoung Virginis, schamefully deflorit
The gret Tempyll of Salamone
With mony A curyous caruit stone
With perfyte pynnakles, on hycht
Quhilkꝭ wer rycht bewtyfull and wycht
Quhare in ryche Iowellꝭ, did abound
Thay ruscheit rudlye to the ground
And sett in tyll thare furious yre
Sancta, Sanctorum, in to fyre
And with extreme confusioun
All thare gret Dungionis thay dang doun
¶Thare bursin wer the boildin breistis
Off Byschoppis princis of the preistis
Thare takin wes, the gret vengeence
On fals Scrybis, and Pharisience
All thare payntit Ipocrasie
That tyme mycht mak thame no supplie
That day thay dulefullye repentit
That to the deith of Christe consentit
Thocht it wes oure Saluatioun
Itt wes to thare Dampnatioun
The vengeance of the blude saikles
Frome Abell tyll ZachariesMathew xxiii.
That day apon Ierusalem fell
Bot tiddius it wer to tell
The gret extreme confusioun
And of blude, sic effusioun
Wes neuer slane so mony ane man
At one tyme, sen the warld began
The Iowis that day gat thare desyre
Quhilk thay did aske, in to thare yre
As bene in Scripture, specifyit
The day quhen Christe wes Crucifyit
Quhen Ponce Pylat, the precedent
Said to thame, I am InnocentMath. xxvii
Off the Iust Blude, of Christ Iesus
Thay cryit, his Blude lycht vponupon ws
And on our Generatioun
Thay gat thare Supplicatioun
That day, with mony cairfull cry
Thare blude wes sched aboundantly
¶ Iosephus wryttith in his buke
His Cronicle quho lyste to luke
Duryng that creuell Sege certane
Wer alewin hundreth thowsand slane
Off Presonaris weill tauld and sene
Foure score of thousandis, and sewintene
Out of the land thay did expell
All the peple of Israell
And for thare gret Ingratytude
Thay leif ȝit vnderunder Seruytude
Thare is no Iow, in no cuntre
Quhilk hes one fute of propertie
Nor neuer had, withouttin weir
Sen this day fyuetene hundreth ȝeir
Nor neuer sall, I to the schaw
Tyll that thay turne to Christis law
¶Sum sayis, that Iowis mony fald
Wer thretty for ane penny sald
As Iudas sauld the Kyng of Glore
For thretty pennyis, and no more
¶Efter that mony wer myscheuit
Quhen nouellꝭ past, quhow lang thay leuit
Apone thare Gold, withouttin doute
Thay slyt thare bellyis, to sers it oute
The rest in Egypt, thay did sende
Presonaris, to thare lyuis ende
Tytus tuke in his cumpanye
Gret nummer, of the most worthye
With hym to Rome, he led thame bound
Syne creuelly did thame confound
His victory for tyll decore
And for agmentyng of his glore
Gart put thame in to publict placis
Quhare all folk, mycht behald thare facis
Syne with wyld Lyonis creuellye
He gart deuore thame dulefullye,
¶This hie Tryumphand mychtie toun
At Pasche, wes put to confusioun
Because that in the tyme of Peace
Thay Crucifyit the Kyng of grace
Sum hes this mater done indyte
More Ornatly, than I can wryte
Quharefor I speik of it no more
OnelyOnly to God, be laude and glore.
FINIS.
Off ye miserabyllend Off Certane tyrane Princis. And speciallye, the Begynnaris, of the Four Monarcheis.
NOVV hauehave I done declare at thy desyris
As thow demandit in to termys schort
And quhow began, the principall impyris
As Cronicle and Scripture dois report
Quhairfor my Sone I hartly ye exhort
Perfytlie prent in yi remēbrance
Off this Inconstante warld the variācpage missing
Quharefor my Sonne, I mak it to the kend
This warld I wait, is drawand to ane end
¶Tokynnis of darth, hunger, and pestilence
With creuell weris, boith be sey and land
Realme aganis realme, with mortall violence
Quhilk signifyis, the last day ewin at hand
Quharefor my Sonne be in thy faith constand
Rasyng thy hart to God, and cry for grace
And mend thy lyfe, quhil thow hes tyme & space.
FINIS.
Heir followis the fyft Spirituall, And Papall Monarchie.
Cour.❧ FATHER Is thare no Prince ringand
Quhilk hes the warld now at cōmand
As had the Kyngis of Asserianis
The Persis, Grekis, or the Romanis
Quho hes now most Dominioun
Off euerilk land and Regioun
Expe.¶Thare is no Prince, my Sonne (said he)
That hes the principall Monarche
Abufe the warld vniuersall
With hole power Imperiall
As Alexander, or Darius,
Or as had Cesar Iulyus
For Orient, and Occident
To thame wer all obedient
Nochtwithstandyng, I fynd one kyng
Quhilk in tyll Europe doith ryng
That is the potent Pope of Rome
Impyrand ouir all Christindome
To quhome no Prince, may be compare
As Canon lawis, can declare
All Princis of the Occident
Ar tyll his grace obedient
For he hes hole power compleit
Boith of the body and the spreit
Quhilk neuer had no prince affore
Except the mychtie kyng of glore
To Christe he is gret Lewtennand
In holy Peteris Saitt syttand
So he is of all kyngis Kyng
Quhilkꝭ in to Europe now doith Kyng.
¶And as the Romane Empriouris
Hauyng the warld vnderunder thare curis
Had Princis, Knychtis, and Campionis
Rewlaris in tyll all Regionis
Vphaldyng thare Aucthoritie
Vsyng Iustice and polisie
¶Rycht so this potent pope of Rome
The Souerane kyng of Christindome
He hes in tyll ilk countre
His Princis of gret grauytie
In sum countreis, his Cardinallis
In thare moste precious apparallis
Archibyschoppis Byschoppis thow may se
Defendyng his auctoritie
With vther potent Patriarkis
Collegis full of cunnyng Clerkis
Abbottis, and Priourꝭ, as ȝe ken
Misrewlaris of relegious men
Officiallis, with thare Procuratouris
Quhose langsum law, spolȝeis the puris
Archidenis, and Denis, of dignitie
Gret Doctouris of Diuynitie
Thare Chantouris, and thare Sacristanis
Thare Tresoureris, and thare subdenis
Legionis of preistis Seculeris
Personis, Vicaris, Monkis, and Freris
Off diuers Ordouris mony one
Quhilk langsum wer, for tyll expone
In syndrie habitꝭ as ȝe ken
Diffrent frome vther Christin men
Fair Ladyis of Relegioun
Proffessit in eueryevery Regioun
Fals Heremitis, fassonit lyke the freris
Proude parische clerkis, and pardoneris
Thare Gryntaris, and thare Chamberlanis
With thare temporall Courtissianis
Thus all the warld be land and sey
His Sanctitude, thay do obey
Nocht onelyonly his spirituall kyngdome
Bot the gret Empriour of Rome
And Kyngis of euerilk regioun
That day quhen thay resaue thare crown
Thay mak aith, of fidelytie
Tyll defende his auctorytie
Moreouir, with humyll reuerence
Thay mak tyll hym obedience
Be thare selfis, or Ambassaldouris
Or vtheris ornate Oratouris
Quho doith ganestand his Maiestie
His lawis or his Lybertie
Or haldis ony opinioun
Contrar his gret Dominioun
Outher be way of deid or wourdis
Ar put to deith, be fyre or swourdis
Sanct Peter stylit wes, Sanctus,
Bot he is callit, Sanctissimus,
His style at lenth, gyf thow wald knaw
Thow moste go luke the Canon law
Boith in the Sext and Clementene
His staitly style, thare may be sene
Thare sall thow fynd, reid gyf thow can
Quhow he is nother God norman,
☞ Quhat is he than, be ȝour IugementCour.
Quod I, me thynk hym different
Far frome our Souerane Lord Iesus
And tyll his kynd contrarious
For Christ wes God, and naturall manIhon. ….
Gyf he be nother, quhat is he than.
¶The Canon law my Sonne (said he)
That questioun wyll declare to theExpe.
It doith transcend my rude Ingyne
His Sanctitude for tyll defyne
Or to schaw the aucthoritie
Pertenyng to his Maiestie
So gret one Prince, quhare sall thow fynd
That Spiritually may louse and bynd
Nor be quhame synnis ar forgyffin
Be thay with his Disciplis schrewin
Quhame euer he byndis, by his mycht
Thay boundin ar, in Goddis sycht
Quhame euer he lowsis in erth heir doun
Ar lousit be God in his Regioun
Als he is Prince of Purgatorie
Delyuering Saulis, frome paine to glorie
Off that dirke Dungeoun but doute
Quham euir he plesis, he takis thame oute
Oure secreit synnis eueryevery ȝeir
We mon schaw to sum preist or freir
And tak thare absolutioun
Or ellis we gett no remyssioun
So be this way, thay cleirly ken
The secretꝭ of all seculare men
Thare secretꝭ we knaw nocht at all
Thus ar we to thame bound and thrall
Quhat euir thare Ministeris commandis
Most be obeyit without demandis
Quharefor my Sonne, I say to the
This is ane maruellous Monarche
Quhilk hes power Imperiall
Boith of the body and the Saull
¶Father (quod I) declare to meCour.
Quhow did begyn this Monarche
(Quod he) Christ Iesus God and ManExpe.
That Impyre gratiouslye began
Nocht be the fyre, nor be the swourdeEphi. i.
Bot be the vertew of his wourde
And left in tyll his Testament
Mony ane deuote documentLuc. ix.
With his Successouris to be vsit
Thocht mony of thame be now abusit
For Peter and Paull, with all the rest
Off thare Brethrin maid manifest
The law of God, with trew intent
Precheing the Auld and New Testament
Thay led thare lyfe in pouertie
Deuot, oun and Humilytie
As did thare Maister Christ Iesus
And war nocht half so glorious
As thare Successourꝭ now in Rome
Impyrand ouer all Christindome.
¶Efter the deth of Peter and Paull
And Christis trew Disciplis all
Thare Successouris within few ȝeris
As at more lenth thare storye beris
Full craftelye clam to the heycht
Frome Spirituall lyfe, to temporall mycht.
¶Father or we passe forther more
Quhen did begyn thare temporall gloreCour.
Sonne (said he) thow sall vnderstandExpe.
Or euer ane Pape gat ony land
Two and thretty gude papis in Rome
Ressauit the crown of Martyrdome
Bot nocht the Thrinfald Diadame
To weir thre crownis, thay thocht gret schame
Tyll Syluester the Confessoure
Frome Constantene, the Emprioure
Ressauit the Realme of Italie
Rychtso of Rome, the gret Cetie
That wes the rute of thare ryches
Than sprang the well of welthynes
Quhen that the Pape wes maid ane kyng
All Princis bowit at his biddyng
This Act wes done withouttin weir
Frome Christis deith, thre hundreh ȝeir
¶Than Lady Sensualitie
Tuke Lugeing in that gret Cetie
Quhare scho sensyne, hes done remane
As thare awin lady Souerane
Than Kyngis in tyll all Nationis
Maid Preistis gret fundationis
Thay thocht gret mereit and honour
To contrafait the Empriour
As did Dauid of Scotland kyng
The quhilk did founde, duryng his ryng
Fyftene Abbayis, with temporall landis
Withouttin teindis and offerandis
Be quhose holy simplicite
He left the Crown in pouerte
Now haif I schawin the as I can
Quhow thare temporall Impyre began
Ascendyng vp aye gre by gre
Abufe the Empriourꝭ Maieste
So quhen thay gat amang thare handis
Off Italie, all the Empriours landis
Efter that, in ilke cuntrie
Sprang vp thare temporalite
With so gret ryches, and sic rent
That thay gan to be negligent
In makyng Ministratioun
To Christis trew Congregatioun
And tuke no more paine, in thare precheing
And far les trauell, in thare recheing
Changeing, thare Spiritualitie
In temporall Sensualitie
¶Father thynk ȝe that thay ar sureCour.
That thare Impyre sall lang indure
Apperandlye, it may be kende
Quod he, thare glore sall hauehave ane endeExp….
I mene thare temporall Monarchie
Sall turne in tyll humylitie
Throuch Goddis wourde, without debait
Thay sall turne, to thare first estait
As Daniellis Prophesie apperis
Thareto sall nocht be mony ȝeris
Quhowbeit Christis faith, sall neuer faill
Bot more and more, it sall preuaill
Thocht Christis, trew congregatioun
Suffer gret trybulatioun
…our.¶Father (said I) be quhat reassoun
Thynk ȝe thare Impyre may cum doun
Consydderyng thare preheminence
…xpe.Quod he, for Inobedience
Math. xxviii.Abusyng the commandiment
Quhilk Christ left in his Testament
Ihon .xvVsyng thare awin traditioun
…ti, i.More than his Institutioun
¶For Christ in his last conuentioun
The day of his Ascentioun
Tyll his Disciplis gaif command
That thay suld passe, in eueryevery land
To teche and preche, with trew intent
His law, and his commandiment
None vther office, he to thame gaif
He did nocht bid thame seik nor craif
Cors presentꝭ, nor offerandis
Nor gett Lordschipis of temporall landis
¶Bot now it may be hard and sene
Baith with thyne eiris, and thyne eine
Quhow Prelatis now in eueryevery land
Takis lytill cure of Christꝭ command
Nother in to thare deidis nor sawis
Neglectyng thare awin Canon lawis
Vsyng thame selfis contrarious
For the most part to Christ Iesus
Mat. iiii.Christ thocht no schame to be ane Precheour
And tyll all peple, of trewth ane techeour
Ane pope, byschope, nor Cardinall
To teche nor preche, wyll nocht be thrall
Thay send furth Freris for to preche for thame
Quhilk garris the peple now abhor thame
¶Christ wald nocht be ane temporall kyngIhon .vi.
Rychely in to no realme to ryng
Bot fled temporall auctorite
As in the Scripture thow may se
All men may knaw quhow popis ryngis
In Dignitie abufe all kyngis
Als weill in temporalitie
As in to Spiritualitie
Thow may se be experience
The popis Princely preheminence
In Cronicles geue thow lyst to luke
Quhow Carion wryttis in his buke
Ane Notabyll Narratioun
The ȝeir of oure Saluatioun
Alewin hundreth, and sax and fyftie
Pope Alexander presumptuouslie
Quhilk wes the thrid pope of that name
To Fedrike Empriour did diffame
In Veneis, that tryumphand town
That nobyll Empriour gartly down
Apone his wambe, with schame and lake
Syne tred his feit apone his bake
In toknyng of obedience
Thare he schew his preheminence
And causit his Clergy, for to syng
Thir wourdis efter following.
¶ SVPER Aspidem & basiliscum ambulabis:
Et conculcabis leonem & draconem.
¶Than said this humyll Empriour
I do to Peter, this honour
The Pope answerit, with wordis wroith
Thow sall me honour, and Peter boith
☞Christ for to schaw his humyll spreit
Did wasche his pure Disciplis feit
The Popis holynes I wys
Wyll suffer Kyngis, his feit to kys
Birdis had thare nestis, and toddis, thare den
Luc. ix.Bot Christ Iesus, Saiffer of men
In erth, had nocht ane penny breid
Quhare on he mycht, repose his heid
¶Qhowbeit the Popis excellence
Hes Castellis of Magnifycence
Abbottis, Byschoppis, and Cardinallis
Hes plesand palyces royallis
Lyke Paradyse, ar those prelattis places
Wantyng no plesoure, of fair faces
Ihone, Androw Iames, Peter, nor Paull
Actis .iiiiHad few housis, amang thame all
Frome tyme thay knew the veritie
Thay did contempne, all propertie
And wer rycht hartfully content
Off meit, drynk, and Abilȝement
¶To saif Mankynde that wes forlorne
Christ bure ane creuell crown of thorneIho… ▪ i…
The Pope thre crownis for the nonis
Off gold, poulderit with pretious stonis
Off gold, and syluer, I am sure
Christ Iesus tuke bot lytill cure
And left nocht quhen he ȝald the spreit
To by hym self, ane wynding scheit.
¶Bot his Successoure gude Pope Iohne.
Quhen he deceisit in Auinione
He left behynd hym one treassoure
Off gold and syluer by mesoure
Be one Iuste computatioun
Weill fyue and twentye myllioun
As dois Indyte Palmerius
Reid hym, and thow sall fynd it thus,
¶Christis Disciplis wer weill knawin
Throuch vertew, quhilk wes be thame schawin
In speciall feruent charitie
Gret pacience, and humylite
The popis floke, in all regionis
Ar knawin best, be thare clyppit crounis
Christ he did honour MatromonyIhon .ii.
In to the Cane of Galaly
Quhare he be his power Diuyne
Did turne the walter in to Wyne
And als chesit sum Maryit men
To be his seruandis as ȝe ken
And Peter duryng all his lyfe
He thocht no Syn, to haif ane wyfe
Ȝe sall nocht fynd in no passage
Quhare Christ forbiddith mariage
Bot leifsum tyll ilk man to marye
Quhilk wantis the gyft of Chaistitye
¶The Pope hes maid the contrar lawis
In his kyngdome as all men knawis
None of his preistis dar marye wyfis
VnderUnder no les paine nor thare lyfis
Thocht thay haif Concubynis fyftene
In to that cace, thay ar ouersene
Quhat chaistytie, thay keip in Rome
Is weill kend ouer all christindome
Mat, xvii¶Christ did schaw his obedience
Onto the Empriouris excellence
And causit Peter for to pay
Trybute to Cesar, for thame tway
Paull biddis ws be obedient
To Kyngis as the most excellent
¶The contrar did Pope Celistene
Quhen that his Sanctytude serene
Did crown Henry the Empriour
I thynk he did hym small honour
For with his feit he did hym crown
Syne with his fute, the crown dang doun
Sayand I haif Auctoritie
Men tyll exalt to dignitie
And to mak Empriouris and kyngis
And Syne depryue thame of thare Ryngis
Peter be my Opinioun
Did neuer vse sic Dominioun
Apperandlye be my Iugement
That Pope red neuer the new Testament
Gyf he had lernit at that lore
He had refusit sic vaine glore
As Barnabas Peter and Paull
And rycht so Christis Disciplis all
¶The Capitane CorneliusActis
Quhen Sanct Peter come tyll his hous
Tyll worschyp hym fell at his feit
Bot Sanct Peter, with humyll spreit
Did rais hym vpe with diligence
And did refuse sic Reuerence
¶Rychtso Sanct Iohne the Euangelist
The Angellis feit he wald haif kistApoca. xix. & x
Bot he refusit sic honoure
Sayand I am bot Seruitoure
Rychtso thy fallow and thy brother
Gyff glore to God, and to none vther
¶Alykewyis Barnabas and PaullAct. xiiii.
Sic honour did refuse at all
In Listra, quhare thay wroucht gret werkis
The preist of Iupiter, with his clerkis
And all the peple with thare auyse
Wald haif maid to thame Sacrifyse
Off quhilk thay wer so discontent
That thay thare clothyng raif and rent
And Paull amang thame rudely ran
Sayand I am ane mortall man
Gyf glore to God, of kyngis kyng
That maid heuin, erth, and eueryevery thyng
Sen Peter and Paull, vaine glore refusit
With Popis quhy sulde sic glore be vsit
Peter, Andro, Iohne, Iames, and Paull
And Christis trew Disciplis all
Be Goddis worde, thare faith defendit
To byrne, and skald, thay neuer pretendit
The pope defendis his traditioun
Be flammand fyre without remissioun
Quhowbeit men breik the law Diuyne
Thay ar nocht put to so gret pyne
For huredome, nor Ydolatrye
For Incest nor Adultrye
Or quhen ȝoung Virginnis ar deflorit
For sic thyng, men ar nocht abhorit
Bot quho that eitis flesche in to lene
Ar terriblye put to torment
And gyf ane preist happinnis to marye
Thay do hym baneis, cursse, and warye
Thocht it be nocht aganis the law
Off God, as men may cleirlie knaw
Betuix thir two, quhat difference bene
Be faithfull folke, it may be sene
Sic Antithesis mony mo
I mycht declare quhilkꝭ I lat go
And may nocht tary to compyle
Off ilk ordour, the staitlye style
The seilye Nun, wyll tkynk gret schame
Without scho callit be Madame
The pure Preist, thynkꝭ he gettꝭ no rycht
Be he nocht stylit lyke ane Knycht
And callit schir, affore his name
As schir Thomas, and schir Wilȝame
All Monkrye, ȝe may heir and se
Ar callit Denis, for dignite
Quhowbeit his mother mylk the kow
He man be callit Dene Androw
Dene Peter, dene Paull, and dene Robart
With Christ thay tak ane painfull part
With dowbyll clethyng frome the cald
Eitand and drynkand, quhen thay wald
With curious Countryng in the queir
God wait gyf thay by heuin full deir
My lorde Abbot, rycht venerabyll
Ay marschellit vpmoste at the tabyll
My lord Byschope, moste reuerent
Sett abufe Erlis in Parliament
And Cardinalis, duryng thare ryngis
Fallowis to Princis, and to Kyngis
The Pope exaltit in honour
Abufe the potent Empriour
The proude Persone I thynk trewlye
He leidis his lyfe rycht lustelye
For quhy, he hes none vther pyne
Bot tak his teind and spend it syne
Bot he is oblyste be resoun
To preche on tyll perrochioun
Thoucht thay want precheing sewintene ȝeir
He wyll nocht want ane boll of beir
Sum Personis hes at thare command
The wantoun Wencheis of the land
Als thay hauehave gret prerogatyffis
That may depart ay with thare wyffis
Without Diuors, or summondyng
Syne tak ane vther but woddyng
Sum man wald thynk ane lustye lyfe
Ay quhen he lyst to chenge his wyfe
And tak ane vther of more bewte
Bot Secularis wantꝭ that lyberte
The quhilk ar bound in mariage
Bot thay lyke Rammis in to thair rage
Vnpissillit rynnis amang the ȝowis
So lang as Nature in thame growis
¶And als the Vicar, as I trow
He wyll nocht faill to tak ane kow
And vmaist claith (thoucht babꝭ thame ban)
Frome ane pure selye housband man
Quhen that he lyis for tyll de
Haiffeing small bairnis two or thre
And hes thre ky withouttin mo
The Vicare moist hauehave one of tho
With the gray cloke, that happis the bed
Howbeit that he be purelye cled
And gyf the wyfe de on the morne
Thocht all the babis suld be forlorne
The vther kow he cleikꝭ awaye
With hir pure coit of roploch graye
And gyf within tway dayis or thre
The eldest chyild hapnis to de
Off the thrid kow, he wylbe sure
Quhen he hes all than vnderunder his cure
And Father and Mother boith ar dede
Beg mon the babis without remede
Thay hauld the Corps at the kirk style
And thare it moste remane ane quhyle
Tyll thay gett sufficient souerte
For thare kirk rycht, and dewite
Than cumis the Landis Lord perfors
And cleiks tyll hym ane herield hors
Pure laubourars, wald that law wer doun
Quhilk neuer was fundit be resoun
I hard thame say onder confessioun
That law is brother tyll Oppressioun
¶ My Sonne I hauehave schawin as I can
Quhow this fyft Monarchie began
Quhose gret Impyre for to report
At lenth the tyme bene all to schort.
FINIS
❧ Heir followis ane Discriptioun of the court of Rome.
Cour.FATHER (said I) quhat rewll keip thay ī rome
Quhilk hes the Spirituall Dominatioun
And Monarchie, abufe all Christindome
Schaw me I mak ȝow supplicatioun
Expe.My Sonne, wald I mak trew narratioun
(Said he) to Peter, & Paul, thocht thay succeid
I thynk thay preue nocht that in to thare deid.
For Peter Androw & Iohne war fyschearꝭ fyne
Off men and wemen to the christin faith
Bot thay haif spred thare Net with huik and lyne
On rentis ryche, on gold, and vther graith
Sic fyscheing to neglect thay wylbe laith
For quhy, yai haif fyscheit in ouerthort ye strandis
Ane gret part trewlye of all temporall landis
¶With that the tent part of all gude mouebyll
For the vphaldyng of thare digniteis
So bene thare fyscheing, wounder profitabyll
On the dry land als weill as on the seis
Thare herywalter, thay spred in all countreis
And with thare hois nett, daylie drawis to Rome
The most fyne gold, that is in Christindome
¶I dar weill say, within this fyftie ȝeir
Rome hes ressett furth of this Regioun
For Bullis & Benefyce (quhilk thay by full deir)
Quhilk mycht ful weil haif payit a kingꝭ ransōn
Bot war I worthye for to weir ane crown
Preistis suld no more, our substance so consume
Sendyng ȝeirlye so gret ryches to Rome
In to thare Tramalt nett, thay fangit ane fysche
More nor ane quhaill worthye of memorye
Of quhome thay hauehave had mony dayntay dysche
Be quhome thay ar exaltit to gret glorye
That maruelous monstour, callit Purgatorye
Howbeit tyll ws, it is nocht amyable
It hes to thame bene veray profytable.
Latt thay that fructfull fysche eschaip thare nett.
Be quhome thay haif so gret commoditeis
Ane more fatt fysche, I traist thay sall nocht gett
Thocht thay wald sers, ouerthort the occiane seis
Adew the daylie dolorous Derigeis
Selye pure preistis may syng wt hart full sorye
Want thay that painefull palyce Purgatorye.
Fairweill Monkrye, wt Chanoun Nun, & Freir
Allace thay wylbe lychtleit in all landis
Cowlis wyll no more be kend in kirk nor queir
Lat thay ye fructfull fysche, eschaip thare handis
I counsall thame to bynd hym fast in bandis
For Peter, Androw, nor Iohne culde neuer gett
So profytable ane Fysche in to thare nett.
¶Thare Merchandyce, in tyll all Nationis.
As prentit lede, thare walx, and perchement
Thare pardonis and thare Dispensationis
Thay do exceid sum temporall princis rent
In sic trafyke, thay ar nocht neglygent
Off benefyce thay mak gude marchandyce
Throuch Symonye quhilk thay hald lytill vyce
Ioh. xxi.Christ did command Peter to feid his scheip
And so he did feid thame full tenderlye
Off that command thay take bot lytill keip
Bot Christis scheip, thay spolȝe petuouslye
And with the woll thay cleith thame curiouslye
Lyk gormād wolfis, thay tak of thame thare fude
Thai eit yair flesche, & drynkꝭ boith mylk & blude
¶For that office thay serue bot lytill hyir.
I thynk sic Pastourꝭ, ar nocht for to pryse
Quhilk can nocht gyde yare scheip about ye myir
Thay ar so besye in thare merchandyse
Mat. xvi.Thocht Peter wes porter of Paradyse
That plesand passage craftelye thay close
Throuch thame rycht few gettꝭ entres I suppose
Mathow .xxiii.¶Christ Iesus said (as Mathew did report
Wo be to Scribes, and to Pharisience
The quhilkis did close, of Paradyse the port
Off thame we haif the sam experience
To enter thare; thay mak small deligence
Thay tak sic cure in temporall besynes
Rychtso frome ws thay stop the plane entres.
Those spiritual keis quhilkꝭ Christ to Peter gaif
Thare colour cleir wt reik, and rowst ar fadit
Vnoccupyit thay hald thame in thare neif
Off that office thay serue to be degradit
With Goddis worde without that thay remeid it
Oppinyng ye port quhilk lāg tyme hes bene closit
That we may enter with thame and be reiosit.
¶Contrar tyll Christis Instytutioun
To thame that deis, in habit of ane FreirIohn .x.
Rome hes thame grantit full remissioun
To passe tyll heuin, straucht way withoutin weir
Quhilk bene in Scotland vsit mony ane ȝeir
Be thare sic vertew in ane Freris hude.
I thynk in vane, Christ Iesu sched his blude.
Wald God the Pope quhilk hes preheminence
With aduyse of his counsall generall
That thay wald do thare detfull deligence
That Christis law mycht keipit be ouir all
And trewlye precheit baith to gret and small
And geue to thame Spirituall Auctorite
Quhilk culde perfytlie schaw the Verite.
Quho can not preche a preist sulde not be namit
As may be preuit be the law Diuyne
And be the Canon law, thay ar defamit
That takis Preistheid, bot onelyonly to that fyne
Tyll all vertew thare hartis thay suld inclyne
In speciall to preche with trew intentis
And minister the neidfull Sacramentis.
As for thare Monkis thair chanounis and thare Freris
And lustye Ladyis of Religioun
I knaw nocht quhat to thare office efferis
Bot men may se thare gret abusioun
Thay ar nocht lyke, in to conclusioun
Nother in to thare wourdis nor thare warkis
To the Apostolis, Prophetꝭ, nor Patriarkis.
Geue presentlye thare Prelatꝭ can nocht preche
Than latt ilke Byschope haif ane Suffragane
Or successour, quhilk can the peple teche
On thare expensis ȝeirlye to remane
To cause the peple frome thare vyce refrane
And quhen ane prelate, hapnith to deceace
Than put ane perfyte precheour in his pleace
Do thay nocht so, on thame sall ly the charge
Geueand vnhable men auctorite
As quho wald mak ane steirman tyll ane barge
Off ane blynd borne, quhilk can no dainger so
Geue that schyp drown, forsuth I say for me
Quho gaif that steirman sic commissioun
Suld of the schip, mak restitutioun
☞The humane Lawis, that ar contrarius.
And nocht conformyng to the Law diuyne
Thay suld expell and hald thame odius
Quhen thay persaue, thame cum to no gude syne
Inuentit bot be sensuall mennis Ingyne
As that law quhilk forbiddis mariage
Causyng ȝoung Clerkis byrne in lustis rage
¶Difficill is Chaistite tyll obserue.Rom. vi….
But speciall grace, lauboure, and abstinence
In tyll our flesche, aye ryngith tyll we sterue
That first Originall syn, Concupiscence
Quhilk we throuch Adamis Inobedience
Hes done Incur, and sall indure for euer
Quhill that our saull and body deith disseuer
Tharefor God maid of Mariage the band
In Paradyse (as Scripture doith recorde)Gene. ii.
In Galelie rycht so I vnderstand
Wes mariage honourit be Christ our LordeIhon .ii.
Auld Law, and New, thare to thay do concorde
I thynk for me, better that thay had sleipit
Nor tyll hauehave maid ane law, and neuer keipit
¶ Tuke nocht Christ Iesu his Humanitie,Math, i.
Off ane Virgene, in mariage contractit
And of hir flesche, cled his DiuynitieLuc. i
Quhy haif thay done that blysfull band deiectit
In thare Kyngdome, wald God it wer correctit
That ȝoung prelattis, mycht mary lustye wyffis
And nocht in sensuall luste, to leid thare lyffis.
Did nocht Christ cheis, of honest maryit men.
Als weill as thay that kepit Chaistitie
For to be his Disciplis as ȝe ken
As in the Scripture cleirlye thay may se
Thay keipit styll thare wyffis with honeste
As Peter, and his spousit Bretherin all
Obseruit Chaistitie Matrymoniall.
i Tim. iiiiBot now apperis the prophesie of Paull
Quhow sum suld ryis, in to the latter aige
That frome the trew faith sulde depart and fall
And suld forbid, the band of Mariaige
Als thow sall fynd, in to that sam passaige
Thay sulde cōmand frome meitis tyll abstene
Quhilk God creat his pepyll to sustene
Bot sen the Pope, our Spirituall prince & kyng
He dois ouerse sic vyces manifest
And in his kyngdome sufferith for to ryng
The men be quhome the veritie bene supprest
I excuse nocht hym self more than the rest
Allace how suld we membris be weill vsit
Quhen so our spirituall heidis bene abusit
¶The famous ancient Doctor Auiceane.
Sayis quhen euyl rewme descendis frome ye heid
In to the membris, generith mekle peane
Without thare be maid haistalye remeid
Quhen that cald humour dounwart dois proceid
In Senownis, it causis Arthetica
Rychtso in to the handis crampe Chiragra.
¶Off Malideis it generis mony mo.
Bot gyf men gett sum Souerane preserue
As in the theis Siatica Passio
And in the breist, sumtyme the strang Caterue
Quhilk causis men rycht haistellye to sterue
And podagra, difficill for to cure
In mennis feit, quhilk lang tyme dois indure
So to this moste tryumphant court of Rome
This simylitude full weill I may compare
Quhilk hes bene heirschyp of all Christindome
And to the warld ane euyll examplare
That vmquhyle was Lod sterre, & Lumynare
And the moste sapient Sors of sanctytude
Bot now allace vair of Beatytude.
Thare Kyngdome may be callit Babilone
Quhilk vmquhyle was ane brycht HierusalemApo. xviii
As planelye menis the Apostill Iohne
Thare moste famous Citie hes tynt the fame
Inhabitarꝭ thareof, thare nobyll name
For quhy, thay haif of Sanctis Habitacle
To Symon Magus maid ane Tabernacle
And horribyll vaill of euerilk kynd of vyce
Ane laithlye Loch of stynkand Lychorye
Ane curssit Coue corrupt with Couatyce
Bordourit aboute with pryde and Symonye
Sum sayis ane systerne full of Sodomye
Quhose vyce in speciall gyf I wald declair
It wer aneuch, for tyll perturbe the air.
¶Off treuth the hoill Christin Religioun.
Throuch thame ar scandalizat and offendit
It can nocht faill bot thare abusioun
Affore the Throne of God it is ascendit
…uc. xiii.I dreid but doute, without that thay amend it
…po. xviiiThe plaiges of Iohnis Reuelatioun
Sall fall vpone thare Generatioun.
☞O Lord quhilk hes the hartis of euerilk kyng
In to thy hand, I mak the Supplicatioun
Conuert that Court, that of thair grace benyng
Thay wald mak generall reformatioun
Amang thame selfis, in euerilk Natioun
That thay may be ane holy exemplair
Tyll ws thy pure lawid commoun populair
¶Hungrit allace, for falt of Spirituall fude.
Because frome ws bene hyd the veritie
O Prince quhilk sched for vsus thy precious blude
Kendle in ws the fyre of Charitie
And saif ws frome Eterne Misaritie
Now lauboryng in to thy Kirk Militant
That we may all cum to thy kirk Tryumphant.
AMEN.
Heir endis the thride Part.