A Dialogue Betwixt Experience and a Courtier, Book 4
And Begynnis the Fourt, Makand Mentioun of the Deith. And of the Antichrist. And Generall Iugemēt. And of Certane Plesouris of Glorifier Bodyis. And quhow eueryevery Creature desyris to se the last Day. With ane Exhortatioun be Experience to the Courtiour. &c.
☞(✚)☞
PRVDENT Father ExperienceCour.
Sen ȝe of ȝour beneuolence
Hes causit me for to consydder
Quhow warldlye Pompe, and glore bene slydder
By diuers Storyis, Miserabyll
Quhilkꝭ to reheirs, bene Lamentaby…l
Ȝitt or we passe, furth of this vaill
I pray ȝow geue me ȝour counsaill
Quhat I sall do in tyme cumyng
To wyn the glore, Euirlestyng
¶My Sonne (said he) sett thy intent
To keip the Lordis CommandimentExpe.
And preis the nocht to clym ouer hie
To no warldly Auctoritie
Quho in the warld doith moste reiose
Ar farrest aye frome thare purpose
Wald thow leue warldlye vaniteis
And thynk on foure extremeteis
Quhilkꝭ ar to cum, and that schortlye
Thow wald neuer syn wylfullye
Prent thir four in thy memorye
The Deith, the Hell, and heuinnis glorye
And extreme Iugement Generall
Quhare thow man rander compt of all
Thow sall nocht fail, to be content
Off quyet lyfe, and sobir rent
Considdryng no man can be sure
In erth one hour, for tyll indure
So all warldly prosperitie
Is myxit with gret miseritie
¶ Wer thow Empriour of Asia
Kyng of Europe, and Affrica
Gret Dominator of the sey
And thocht the Heuinnis did the obey
All Fyschis, sowmyng in the strand
All Beist, and Fowle, at thy command
Concludyng thow wer kyng of all
VnderUnder the heuin Imperiall
In that moste heych auctoritie
Thow suld fynd leist tranquilitie
ii. Par. ixExempyll of kyng Salamone
More prosperous lyfe, had neuir none
Eccle. ii.Sic ryches, with so gret plesoure
Had neuer kyng nor Emprioure
With moste profunde Intelligence
And superexcelland Sapience
His plesand Habitationis
Precellit all vtheris Nationis
Gardyngis, and Parkis, for Hartis and Hynd….
Stankis with fysche of diuers kyndis
Moste profunde Maisterꝭ of Musike
That in the warld, wes none thame like
Sic treasour of Gold, and pretious stonis
In erth, had neuir no kyng att onis
He had sewin hundreth lustye Quenisiii. Re▪ xi
And thre hundreth fair Concubenis
In erth, thare wes no thyng plesand
Contrarious tyll his command
Ȝitt all this gret prosperitie
He thoucht it vaine, and vanitie
And mycht neuir fynd repose compleit
Without afflixioun of the spreit
¶Father (quod I) it maruellis meCour.
He haueand sic prosperite
With so gret ryches by mesoure
Nor he had infynite plesoure
¶My Sonne the suth gyf thow wald knawExpe,
The veritie I sall the schaw
Thare is no warldly thyng at all
May satyfie ane mannis Saull
For it is so Insaciabyll
That Heuin, and Erth, may nocht be abyll
One Saull allone to mak content
Tyll it se God Omnipotent
Wes neuer none, nor neuer salbe
Saciate that sycht, tyll that he se
Quharefor my Sonne sett nocht thy cure
Math. viIn erth, quhare no thyng may be sure
Luc. xii.Except the deith, allanerlye
Quhilk followis man continuallye
Tharefor my Sonne, remember the
Within schorte tyme, that thow mon de
Nocht knawing quhen, quhow, in quhat place
Bot as plesit the Kyng of Grace.
FINIS.
❧ Off the Deith.
OF Misarie moste Miserable
Is Deith, and most abhominable
That dreidfurl Dragone with his dartis
Aye reddy for to peirs the hartis
Off euerilk Creature on lyue
Contrar quhose strenth may no man stryue
¶Off dolent Deith, this sore sentence
Wes gyffin throw Inobedience
Off our Parentis, allace tharefore
As I hauehave done declare affore
Quhow thay, and thare Posteritie
Wer all condampnit for to dee
Quhowbeit the flesche to deith be thrall
God hes the Saull maid Immortall
And so of his benignytie
Hes myxit his Iustice, with merciemercy
Tharefor call to remenbrance
Off this fals warld, the variance
Quhow we lyke Pylgramꝭ ewin and morrow
Ay trauellyng throw this vaill of sorrow
Sum tyme in vaine prosperitie
Sum tyme in gret Misaritie
Sum tyme in blys, sum tyme in baill
Sum tyme rycht seik, and sum tyme haill
Sum tyme full ryche, and sum tyme pure
Quharefor my Sonne, tak lytill cure
Nother of gret prosperitie
Nor ȝitt of gret misaritie
Bot plesand lyfe, and hard myschance
Ponder thame boith in one ballance
Considdryng none auctoritie
Ryches, wysedome, nor dignitie
Empyre of Realmes, bewtie, nor strenth
May nocht one day our lyuis lenth
Sen we ar sure, that we moste de
Fairweill all vaine felyscitie.
¶Gretlye it doith perturbe my mynde
Off dolent Deith, the diuers kynd
Thoucht Deith tyll eueryevery man resortis
Ȝitt strykith he in syndrie sortis
Sum be hait Feuerꝭ violence
Sum be contagious Pestilence
Sum be Iustice executioun
Bene put to deith without Remissioun
Sum hangit, sum doith lose thare heidis
Sum brynt, sum soddin in to leiddis
And sum for thare vnleifsum actis
Ar rent and rewin apone the ractis
Sum ar dissoluit by poysoun
Sum on the nycht ar murdreist doun
Sum fallis in to frynasie
Sum deis in Idropesie
And vtheris strange Infirmeteis
Quharein mony ane thousand deis
Quhilk humane Nature dois abhor
As in the Gutt, grauell and gor
Sum in the flux, and feuir quartane
Bot ay the houre of deith vncertane
Sum ar dissoluit suddantlye
Be Cattarue or be Poplesye
Sum doith distroy thame self also
As Hanniball, and wyse Cato
Be thounder, deith sum doith consume
As he did the thrid kyng of Rome
Callit Tullius Hostulius
As wryttis gret Valerius
For he and his houshald attonis
Wer brynt be thounder, flesche and bonis
Sum deith be extreme excesse
Off Ioy, as Valeri doith expresse
Sum be extreme Malancolye
Wyll de but vther Maladye
In Cronicles thow may weill ken
Quhow mony hundreth thousand men
Ar slane sen first the warld began
In battell, and quhow mony one man
Apone the see, doith lose thare lyuis
Quhen schyppis apone roches ryuis
Thocht sum de Naturally throuch aige
Fer mo deis raiffand in one raige
Happy is he, the quhilk hes space
Att his last hour, to cry for grace
Quhowbeit deith be abhominabyll
I thynk it suld be confortabyll
Tyll all thame of the faithfull nummer
For thay depart frome cair and cummer
Frome trubyll trauell, sturt, and stryfe
Tyll Ioy and euirlestand lyfe
¶Polidorus Virgilius
To that effect, he wryttis thus
In Trace, quhen ony chylde be borne
Thare kyn, and freindis, cumis thame beforne
With dolent Lamentatioun
For the gret trybulatioun
Calamitye cummer and cure
That thay in erth, ar to indure
Bot at thare deith and burying
Thay mak gret Ioy and Bankettyng
That thay hauehave past frome misarie
To rest and grett felycitie.
¶Sen deith bene fynall conclusioun
Quhat valis warldly prouisioun
Quham wysedome may nocht contramand
Nor strenth that stoure may nocht ganestand
Ten thousand Mylȝeone of treasoure
May nocht prolong thy lyfe one houre
Efter quhose dolent departyng
Thy spreit sall passe but tarying
Straucht way tyll Ioye Inestimabyll
Or to strang pane Intollerabyll
Thy vyle corruptit carioun
Sall turne in Putrefactioun
And so remane in pulder small
On to the Iugement Generall.
FINIS
Ane schort discriptiōn Of the Antechriste.
Cour.QVOD I) Father I heir men say.
That thare sall ryse affore ye day
Quhilk ȝe call generall Iugemēt
One wyckit mā from sathan sent
And contrar to the law of Christ
Callit the creuell Antechrist
And sum sayis that myscheuous man
Discende sall of the Trybe of Dan
And suld be borne in Babilone
The quhilk dissaue sall mony one
Infydelis sall of eueryevery art
With that fals Propheit tak one part
And quhow that Enoch, and Elias
Sall preche contrar that fals Messias
Bot fynally his fals Doctryne
And he sall be put to rewyne
Bot nother be the fyre nor swourd
Bot be the vertew of Christis wourd
And gyf this be of veryte
The suith I pray ȝow schaw to me
¶ My Sonne (said he) as wryttis IohneExpe.
Thare sall nocht be one man allone
Hauyng that name in speciall
Bot Antechristis in generall
Hes bene, and now ar mony one
And rycht so in the tyme of Iohnei. Iohn .ii
Wer Antechristis as hym self sayis
And presentlye now in thir dayis
Ar rycht mony withouttin dout
Wer thare fals lawis weill souchtout.
¶ Quha wes one greter Antechrist
And more contraryous to Christ
Nor the fals Propheit Machomeit
Quhilk his curste Lawis, maid so sweit
In Turkye, ȝit thay ar obseruit
Quhare throuch the hell, he hes deseruit
All Turkis, Sarazenis, and Iowis
That in the Sonne of God nocht trowis
Ar Antechristis, I the declareii. Iohn .i
Because to Christ thay ar contrare.
Dan. viii☞Daniell sayis in his propheseis
That efter the gret Monarcheis
Sall ryse ane maruellous potent Kyng
Quhilk with ane schameles face sall ryng
Mychtie and wyse in dirk speikyngis
And prospir in all plesand thyngis
Throuch his falsheid and craftynes
He sall flow in to welthynes
The Godlye pepyll he sall noye
By creuell deith, and thame distroye
The kyng of Kyngis, he sall ganestand
Syne be distroyit withouttin hand.
Tessa. ii¶Paull sayis affore the Lordis cumyng
That thare salbe one departyng
And that man of Iniquitye
Tyll all men he sall opened be
Quhilk sall sitt in the holy sait
Contrary God, to mak debait
Bot that Sonne of Perditioun
Salbe put to confusioun
Be power of the haly Spreit
Quhen he his tyme hes done compleit
☞Beleue nocht that in tyme cumyng
One gretar Antechriste to ryng
Nor thare hes bene, and presentlye
Ar now, as Clerkis can espye
Tharefor my wyll is that thow knaw
Quhat euer thay be, that makis one law
Thocht thay be callit Christin men
By naturall reassoun thow may ken
Be thay neuer of so gret valour
Pape, Cardinall, Kyng, or Empriour
Extolland thare Traditionis
Abufe Christis Institutionis
Makand Lawis contrar to Christe
He is ane verray Antechriste
And quho doith fortifye or defend
Sic Law, I mak it to the kend
Be it Pape, Empriour, Kyng or Quene
Gret sorrow, sall be on thame Sene
Att Christis extreme Iugement
Without that thay in tyme repent
FINIS.
Heir follouis a schort Remenbrance of the moste Terrabyll Day of the extreme Iugement.
❧ FATHER said I) with ȝour Lycence
Sen ȝe haith sic ExperienceCour.
Ȝitt one thyng at ȝow wald I speir
Quhen sall that dreidfull day appeir
Quhilk ȝe call Iugement Generall
Quhat thyngis affore that day sall fall
Quhare sall appeir that Dreidfull Iuge?
Or quhow may Faltourꝭ gett refuge
(Quod he) as to thy first questioun
I can mak no solutiounExpe.
Quharefor perturbe nocht thyne intent
To knaw day, hour, nor moment
To God allone, the day bene knawin
Quhilk neuer was to none Angell schawin
Howbeit be diuers coniectourꝭ
And principall Expositourꝭ
Off Daniell, and his Prophicie
And be the sentence of Elie
Quhilkꝭ hes declarit as thay can
How lang it is sen the warld began
And for to schaw, hes done thare cure
How lang thay traist it sall indure
And als how mony ages bene
As in thare warkis may be sene
¶Bot tyll declare thir questionis
Thare bene diuers opinionis
Sum wryttarꝭ hes the warld deuidit
In sex ageis, (as bene desidit
Into Fasciculus Temporum
And Cronica Cronicarum)
Bot be the sentence of Elie
The warld deuydit is in thre
As cunnyng Maister Carioun
Hes maid plane expositioun
How Elie sayis withouttin weir
The warld sall stand sax thousand ȝeir
Off quhome I follow the sentence
And lattis the vther Bukꝭ go hence
Frome the Creatioun of Adam
Two thousand ȝeir tyll Abraham
Frome Abraham, be this narratioun
To Christis Incarnatioun
Rychtso hes bene two thousand ȝeris
And be thir Prophiceis apperis
Frome Christ, as thay mak tyll ws kend
Two thousand tyll the warldlis end
Off quhilkꝭ ar by gone sickirlye
Fyue thousand, fyue hundreth, thre & fyftye
And so remanis to cum but weir
Four hundreth, with sewin and fourtye ȝeir
And than the Lorde Omnipotent
Suld cum tyll his gret Iugement
Christ sayis the tyme salbe maid schortMathow .xxiiii.
As Mathew planelye doith report
That for the warldlis Iniquite
The letter tyme, sall schortnit be
For plesour of the chosin nummer
That thay may passe, frome care and cummer
So be this compt it may be kend
The warld is drawand neir ane end
For legionis ar cum but doute
Off Antechristꝭ, wer thay soucht out
And mony toknis dois appeir
As efter schortlye thow sall heir
Quhow that Sanct Iherome doith indyte
That he hes red, in Hebrew wryte
Off fyftene signis in speciall
Affore that Iugement Generall
Off sum of thame, I tak no cure
Quhilk I fynd nocht in the scripture
One part of thame thocht I declare
First wyll I to the Scripture fare
Mar. xiii¶Christe sayis, affore that day be done
Mathew .xiiii.Thare salbe signis, in Sonne and Mone
The Sonne sall hyde his beymes brycht
So that the Mone, sall gyf no lycht
Sterris be mennis Iugement
Sall fall furth of the Firmament
¶Off this signis, or we forther gone
Sum morall sence, we wyll expone
As cunnyng Clerkis hes declarit
And hes the Sonne, and Mone comparit
The Sonne to the stait spirituall
The Mone, to Princis temporall
Rychtso the sterris, thay do compare
To the lawd common populare
The Mone and sterris hes no lycht
Bot the reflex of Phebus brycht
So quhen the Sonne of lycht is dyrk
The Mone and sterris, man be myrk
Rychtso quhen Pastouris spirituallis
Popis, Byschopis, and Cardinallis
In thare beginnyng schew gret lycht
The Temporall stait, wes rewlit rycht
¶Bot now allace, it is nocht so
Those schynand Lampis bene ago
Thare Radious beymes, ar turnit in reik
For now in erth, no thyng thay seik
Except ryches, and Dignitie
Followyng thare sensualitie
Mony prelatis, ar now ryngand
The quhilkꝭ no more dois vnderstand
Quhat doith pertene to thare offyce
Nor thow can kendyll fyre with yce
Wo to Papis, I say for me
Quhilk sufferis sic Enormite
That Ignorant warldly creaturis
Suld in the kirk, haif ony curis
No maruell thocht the peple slyde
Quhen thay hauehave blynd men to thare gyde
For ane Prelat, that can nocht preche
Nor Goddis law, to the peple teche
Esaye, comparith hym in his warkEsay .lvi.
Tyll ane dum Dog, that can nocht bark
And Christ hym callis in his greif
Moste lyke ane murdrer, or ane theifIohn .x.
The cunnyng Doctour Augustyne
Wolfis and Deuyllis, doith thame defyne
The Canon Law, doith hym defame
That of ane Prelat beris the name
And wyll nocht preche the Diuyne Lawis
As the Decreis planelye schawis
Bot those that hes Auctorite
To prouyde spirituall Dignyte
Mycht geue thay plesit to tak pane
Gar thame lycht all thare Lampis agane
Bot euer allace, that is nocht done
So dirknit bene boith Sonne and Mone
☞War Kyngis lyuis weill declarit
The quhilkꝭ ar to the Mone comparit
Men mycht consydder thare estate
Frome Charitie degenerate
I thynk, thay sulde thynk mekle schame
Off Christ for to tak thare Surname
Syne leif nocht lyke to Christianis
Bot more lyke Turkis, and to Paganis
Turke contrar Turke, makis lytill weir
Bot Christiane Princis, takis no feir
Quhilkꝭ suld aggre as brother to brother
Bot now ilk ane dyngis doun ane vther
I knaw no ressonabyll cause quharefore
Except Pryde, Couatyce, and vaine glore
The Empriour mouis his Ordinance
Contrar the potent Kyng of France
And France rychtso, with gret regour
Contrar his freinde the Empriour
And rycht swa France agane Ingland
Ingland alsso aganis Scotland
And als the Scottꝭ, with all thare mycht
Doith feycht for tyll defend thare rycht
Betuix thir Realmes of Albione
Quhare Battellis hes bene mony one
Can be maid none Affinitie
Nor ȝit no Consanguinitie
Nor be no waye, thay can consydder
That thay may hauehave lang Peace to gydder
I dreid that weir makꝭ none endyng
Tyll thay be boith onder ane kyng
Thocht Christ, the Souerane kyng of grace
Left in his Testment lufe and peace
Our Kyngꝭ frome weir wyll nocht refrane
Tyll thare be mony ane thousand slane
Gret heirschipis maid be see and land
As all the warld may vnderstand
¶Father I thynk that temporall kyngis
May fecht for tyll defend thare ryngis…
For I haif sene the spirituall stait
Mak weir thare rychtis tyll debait
I saw Pape Iulius manfullye
Passe to the feild tryumphantlye
With ane rycht aufull ordinance
Contrar Lues, the kyng of France
And for to do hym more dispyte
He did his Regioun interdyte
¶My Sonne (said he) as I supposeExpe.
That langith weill tyll our purpose
How Soune and Mone, ar boith denude
Off lycht, as Clerkis dois conclude
Comparyng thame, as ȝe hard tell
To Spirituall stait, and Temporell
And commoun peple half disparit
Quhilk to the sterris, bene comparit
Lawd peple followis ay thare heidis
And speciallye in to thare deidis
The moste part of Religioun
Bene …
Quhat d…is auaill religious wedis
Quhen thay ar contrar in thare dedis
Quhat holynes is thare within
Ane wolf, cled in ane Wodderꝭ skin
So be thir to…nis dois appeir
The day of Iugement drawis neir
Now latt ws leif this morall sens
Proceidyng tyll our purpose hens
And of this mater speik no more
Begynning quhare we left affore
Mathew xxiiii.☞The Scripture sayis, efter thir signis
Salbe sene mony maruellous thyngis
Mar. xiiiThan sall ryse trybulationis
Luc xxi.In erth, and gret mutationis
Als weill heir vnderunder as aboue
Quhen vertewis of the heuin sall moue
Sir creuell weir salbe or than
Wes neuer sene sen the warld began
The quhilk sall cause gret Indigence
As darth, hunger, and pestilence
The horribyll soundis of the sey
The peple sall perturbe and fley
Ierome sayis, it sall ryse on heycht
Aboue montanis to mennis sycht
Bot it sall nocht spred ouir the land
Bot lyke ane wall ewin straycht vpstand
Syne sattell doun agane so law
That no man sall the walter knaw
Gret Quhalis sall …umi…is … and rair
Quhose sound redound, sall in the air
All fysche and Monstouris …
Sall cry with soundis odious
That men sall wydder on the erd
And wepyng wary sall thare weird
With lowde allace, and weiaway
That euer thay baid to se that day
And speciallye those that dwelland be
Apone the costis of the see
Rycht so as Sanct Ierome concludis
Sall be sene ferleis in the fludis
The sey with mouyng maruellous
Sall byrn with flammis furious
Rychtso sall byrn fontane and flude
All herb and tre, sall sweit lyk blude
Fowlis sall fall furth of the air
Wylde beistis to the plane repair
And in thare maner mak gret mone
Gowland with mony gryslye grone
The bodeis of dede creaturis…zechiel xx.vii.
Appeir sall on thare Sepulturis
Than sall boith men, wemen and bairnis
Cum crepand furth, of howe Cauernis
Quhare thay for dreid, wer hyd affore
With seych and sob, and hartis sore
Wandryng about, as thay war wode
Affamysit, for falt of fude
Non may mak vtheris confortyng
Bot dule for dule, and Lamentyng
Quhat may thay do, bot weip and wounder
Quhen thay se roches schaik in schounder
Throw trimlyng of the erth and quakyng
Off sorrow than salbe no slakyng
Quho that bene leuand in those dayis
May tell of terrabyll affrayis
Thare ryches, rentis, nor tressour
That tyme sall do thame small plesour
Bot quhen sic wonderis dois appeir
Men may be sure, the day drawis neir
Dan. xiiiThat Iuste men pas sall to the glore
Iniuste to pane for euer more.
Cour.¶Father (said I) we daylie reid
One Artekle in to our creid
Sayand that Christe Omnipotent
In to that generall Iugement
Sall Iuge boith dede and quik also
Quharefore declare me or ȝe go
Geue thare sall ony man or wyue
That day be funding vponupon lyue.
Expe.(Quod he) as to that questione
I sall mak sone solutione
Mat xxiiiiThe Scripture planelye doith expone
Quhen all tokynnis, bene cum and gone
Ȝitt mony one hundreth thousand
That samyn day, salbe leuand
Quhowbeit thare sall no Creature
Nother of day, nor hour be sure
For Christ sall cum so suddantlye
That no man sall the tyme espye
As it wes in the tyme of Noye
Quhen God did all the warld distroye
Sum on the feild salbe lauborand
Sum in the templis Mariand
Sum afore Iugis makand pley
And sum men saland on the sey
Those that bene on the feild going
Sall nocht returne, to thare luging
Quho bene apone his hous aboue
Sall haif no laser to remoue
Two salbe in the Myll grindyng
Quhilkꝭ salbe taking but warnyng
The one tyll euerlestyng glore
The vther loste for euer more
Two salbe lying in one bed
The one to plesour salbe led
The vther salbe left allone
Gretand with mony gryslie grone
And so my Sonne, thow may weill trow
The warld salbe as it is now
The peple vsyng thare besynes
As holy Scripture doith expres
Sen no man knawis the hour nor day
The Scripture biddis ws walk and pray
And for our Syn be penitent
As Christ wald cum Incontinent.
FINIS.
❧the maner quhow Christ sall cum to his Iugement.
Expe.QVHEN al takīnnis bene brocht till end
Thā sal ye sone of god discēd
Hebre. xiiAs fyreflaucht haistely glansyng
Discend sall ye most heuinly kyng
As Phebus in the Orient
Lychtnis in haist the Occident
So plesandlye, he sall appeir
Luc. xxi.Amang the heuinlye cluddis cleir
With gret power, and Maiestie
Aboue the cuntrie of Iudee
As Clerkis doith concludyng haill
Direct aboue the lustye vaill
Actis .i.Off Iosaphat, and Mont Olyueit
All Prophesie, thare salbe compleit
Mat. xxvThe Angellꝭ of the Ordoris Nyne
Inueron sall, that throne Diuyne
With heuinlye consolatioun
Makand hym Ministratioun
In his presens, thare salbe borne
The signis of Cros, and Croun of thorne
Pillar, Nalis, Scurgis, and Speir
With euerilk thyng that did hym deir
The tyme of his grym Passioun
And for our consolatioun
Appeir sall in his handis and feit
And in his syde, the prent compleit
Off his fyue Woundis Precious
Schynand lyke Rubeis Radious
Tyll Reprobatt confusioun
And for fynall conclusioun
He Sittand in his Trybunall
With gret power Imperiall
Thare sall ane Angell blawe a blast…xiiii.
Quhilk sall mak all the warld agast
With hydous voce, and vehement
Ryse dede folk, cum to Iugement
With that, all Reasonabyll Creature
That euer wes formit be Nature
Sall suddantlye start vp attonis
Coniunit with Saull, Flesche, Blude, & Bonis
That terribyll Trumpat, I heir tell
Beis hard in Heuin, in erth, and hell
Those that wer drownit in the sey…
That boustious blast thay sall obey
Quhare euer the body buryet wase
All salbe fundyng in that plase
Angellis sall passe, in the four airtis
Off erth, and bryng thame frome all partisMar. xiii
And with one instant diligence
Present thame to his excellence
☞Sanct Ierome, thoucht continuallye
On this Iugement so ardentlye
He said, quhidder I eit or drynk
Or walk, or sleip, forsuth me thynk
That terrabyll Trumpat lyke ane bell
So quiklye in my eir doith knell
As Instantlye it wer present
Ryse dede folk, cum to Iugement
Geue Sanct Ierome tuke sic ane fray
Allace quhat sall we Synnarꝭ say
¶All those, quhilk funding bene on lyue
Salbe Immortall maid belyue
i Pe. iiii.And in the twynkling of one Ee
Cori. xv.With fyre thay sall translatit be
And neuer for to dee agane
As Diuine scripture schawis plane
Als reddy boith for pane and glore
As thay, quhilk deit lang tyme affore
¶The scripture sayis, thay sall appeir
In aige of thre and thretty ȝeir
Quhidder thay deit ȝoung or auld
Quhose gret mummer may nocht be tauld
That day sall nocht be myst one man
Quhilk borne wes, sen the warld began
Mathew xxvi.The Angellis sall thame separate
As Hird the Scheip doith frome the Gate
And those quhilk bene of Baliallis band
Trymling apone the erth sall stand
On the left hand, of that gret Iuge
But espirance to gett refuge.
i Tess. iiii.¶Bot those quhilk bene Predestinate
Sall frome the erth be Eleuate
And that moste happy cumpanye
Sall ordourit be tryumphantlye
Att the rycht hand of Christe our kyng
Heych in the air, with loude louyng
¶Full Gloriouslye, thare sall compeir
More brycht than Phebus in his speir
The Virgene Marie, Quene of Quenis
With mony ane thousand brycht Virgenis
The Fatheris of the auld Testament
Quhilk wer to God obedient
Father Adam, sall thame conuoye
With Abell, Seith, Enoch, and Noye
Abraham with his faithfull warkis
With all the prudent Patriarkis
Iohne the Baptiste, thare sall compeir
The Principall, and last Messyngeir
Quhilk come bot half ane ȝeir affore
The cumyng of that kyng of glore
Moyses, Esayas, honorabyll
With all trew Prophetis Venerabyll
Dauid, with all the faithfull kyngis
Quhilk verteouslye did rewle thare ryngis
The nobyll Cheiftane Iosue
With gentyll Iudas Machabe
With mony one nobyll Campioun
Quhilk in thare tyme with gret renoun
Manfullye tyll thare lyuis ende
The Law of God, thay did defende
☞With Eue, that day salbe present
The Ladyis of the Auld Testament.
Delbora, Adamis Douchter deir
With the four lusty Ladyis cleir
Quhilk kepit wer, in the Ark with Noye
Sara, and Cithara with Ioye
The quhilkꝭ to Abraham wyffis bene
With gude Rebecka, thare salbe sene
The prudent Wyffis of Israell
Gude Lya, and the fair Rachell
With Iudeth, Hestar, and Susanna
And the rycht sapient Quene Saba
¶Thare sall compeir, Peter and Paull
With Christis trew Disciplis all
Lawrence and Stewin, with thare blyst band
Off Martyris mo, than ten thousand
Gregor, Ambrose, and Augustyne
With Confessoris, ane tryumphand tryne
With sanct Francois, and Dominic
Sanct Bernard, and sanct Benedic
With small nummer, of Monkis and Freris
Off Carmeletis, and Cordeleris
That for the lufe of Christ onlye
Renuncit the warld vnfenatlye.
¶With Elezabeth and Anna
All gude wyffis sall compeir that da
The blyst and holy Magdelane
That day affore hir Souerane
Rycht plesandlye sche sall present
All Synnaris, that wer penitent
Quhilk of thare gylt, heir askit grace
In Heuin with hir, sall hauehave ane place
¶Bot wo beis to that bailfull band
Quhilk sall stand Lawe, at his left hand
Woo than to Kyngis, and Empriouris
Quhilkis wer vnrychteus Conquerouris
For thare glore, and perticular gude
Gart sched so mekle saikles blude
But Ceptour, Crown, and Robe Royall
That day thay sall mak compt of all
And for thare creuell tyrrannye
Sall punyste be, perpetuallye
¶Ȝe Lordis, and Barronis, more and les
That ȝour pure Tennantis dois oppres
Be gret Gyrsome, and dowbyll maill
More than ȝour landis bene auaill
With sore exhorbitant cariage
With merchetis of thare mariage
Tormentit boith in peace and weir
With birdyngis more than thay may beir
Be thay haif payit to ȝow thare maill
And to the Preist, thare teindis haill
And quhen the land agane is sawin
Quhat restis behynd, I wald wee knawin
I traist thay, and thare pure houshauld
May tell of hunger, and of cauld
Without ȝe haif of thame piete
I dreid ȝe sall gett no MercieMercy
That day, quhen Christ Omnipotent
Cumis tyll his generall Iugement.
¶ Wo beis to publict Oppressouris
To tyrrannis, and to transgressouris
To Murdararꝭ, and commoun theifis
Quhilk neuer did mend, thare gret mischeifis
Fornicatoris, and Ockararis
Commoun publict Adulteraris
All pertinat wylfull Arratykis
All fals dissaitfull Sysmatykis
All salbe present in that place
With mony Lamentabyll allace
¶The cursit Cayn, that neuer wes gude
With all scheddaris of saikles blude
Nemrod, fundar of Babilone
With fals Ydolatris mony one
Nynus, the kyng of Asseriay
With gret dule sall compeir that day
Quhilk first Inuentit Ymagery
Quharethrouch come gret Ydolatry
For makyng of the Image Bell
That day his hyir salbe in hell
¶The gret Oppressour, kyng Pharo
The tyrrane Empriour Nero
Sall with thame cursit kyng Herode bryng
With mony vther cairfull Kyng
The creuell kyng Antiochus
With the moste furious Olofernus
Gret Oppressouris, of Israell
That day, thare hyre salbe in hell
¶ With Iudas sall compeir one clan
Off fals Tratouris, to God and man
Thare sall compeir of euerilk land
With Ponce Pylat, one bailfull band
Off temporall and of spirituall statis
Fals Iugis, with thare Aduocatis
Thare sall our Senȝeouris of the cessioun
Off all thare faltis, mak cleir confessioun
Thare salbe sene, the fraudfull failȝeis
Off Schireffis, Prouestis, and of Bailȝeis
Officiallis, with thare Constry Clerkis
Sall mak compt, of thare wrangus werkis
Thay and thare peruerst Procuratouris
Oppressouris boith of ryche and puris
Throw Delaturis, full of dissait
Quhilk mony one gart beg thare mait
Gret dule that day to Iugis bene
That cumis nocht, with thare conscience clene
That day sall pas be Peremptoris
Without cawteill or Dilatoris
No Duplycandum, nor Tryplicandum
Bot schortlye pas to Sentenciandum
Without Contineuationis
Or ony Appellationis
That sentence, sall nocht be retratit
Nor with no man of Law debatit
¶Ȝe Lauboraris, be sey and landis
Perfyte Craftismen, and ryche Merchandis
Leif ȝour dissait, and crafty wylis
Quhilk syllie simpyll folk begylis
Mak recompence heir, as ȝe may
Remembryng on this dreidfull day
¶With Machomeit, sall compeir but doute
Off Antechristis one hydduous route
Byschope Annas, and Cayphas
With hym in cumpany sall pas
With Scrybis, and fals Pharisianis
Quhilk wrocht on Christ gret violensis
With mony one Turk, and Sariscene
With gret sorrow thare salbe sene
Papis for thare traditionis
Contrar Christis Institutionis
With mony one cowle, and clyppit crown
Quhilk Christis Lawis strampit down
And wald nocht suffer for to preche
The veritie, nor the peple teche
Bot Lawitmen, pat to gret torment
Quhilk vsit Christis Testament
All Kyngis and Quenis, thare salbe kend
The quhilk sic Lawis did defend
In that court sall cum mony one
Off the blak byik of Babilone
The Innocent blude that day sall crye
One loude vengeance, full petuouslye
On those creuell bludy bowchouris
Martyrerꝭ of Prophetis and Prechouris
Sum with the fyre, sum with the sworde
Quhilk planely precheit Goddis worde
That day thay sall rewardit be
Conforme to thare Iniquitie
¶The Sodometis, and Gomoriance
On quhome God wrocht so gret vengeance
With Choro, Dathan, and Abyrone
With thare assistance mony one
The holy Scripture, wyll the tell
Quhow thay sank all doun to the hell
With Symon Magus, sall resort
Off proude Preistis, ane schamefull sort
¶That samyn day, thare salbe sene
Mony one creuell cairfull Quene
Quene Semeram, kyng Nynus wyfe
Ane Tygir full of sturt and stryfe
To gydder with Quene Iezabell
Quhilk wes boith couetous and creuell
The fals desaitfull Dalyda
The creuell Quene Clitamistra
The quhilk did murdres on the nyche
Agamenon, boith wyse and wycht
The quhilk wes hir awin souerane Lorde
As Grekis storyis dois recorde
With creuell Quenis, mony one
Quhilk langsum wer, for tyll expone.
¶Ȝe wantoun Ladyis, and burgis wyuis
That now for sydest talis stryuis
Flappand the fylth, amang ȝour feit
Rasyng the duste, in to the streit
That day for all ȝour pomp and pryde
Ȝour talis sall nocht ȝour hyppis hyde
Thir vaniteis, ȝe sall repent
Without that ȝe be penitent
¶With Phitonissa, I heir tell
Quhilk rasit the Spreit of Samuell
That day with hir thare sall resorte
Off rank Wycheis, one sorrowfull sorte
Brocht frome all partis mony one myle
Frome Sauoy, Athell, and Argyle
And frome the ryndes of Galloway
With mony wofull Wallaway.
¶Ȝe Brether of Religioun
In tyme leif ȝour abusioun
With quhilk ȝe haif the warld abusit
Or ȝe that day salbe refusit
I speik to ȝow all generallye
Nocht tyll one Ordoure speciallye
That day all Creature sall ken
Geue ȝe war Sanctis or warldly men
Or gyf ȝe tuk the Skapellarye
That ȝe mycht leif more plesandlye
And gett ane gude grosse Portioun
Or for Godlye Deuotioun
That day ȝour f…ynit Sanctytudis
Sall nocht be knawin be ȝour Hudis
Ȝour Superstitious Ceremoneis
Participand tyll Ydolatreis
Corde, cuttit schone, nor clippit hede
That daye, sall stande ȝow in no stede
For cowlis blak, gray, nor begaird
Ȝe sall that day get no rewaird
Ȝour polit payntit flatterye
Ȝour dissimulat Ypocrasye
That day, thay sall be cleirlye knawin
Quhen ȝe sall scheir, as ȝe hauehave sawin
Tharefore in tyme, be penitent
Or ellis that day, ȝe wylbe schent
¶I pray ȝow hartlie as I may
Remember on that dreidfull day
Ȝe Abbot, Pryor, and Pryores
Consydder quhat ȝe did profes
And quhow that ȝour promotioun
Wes no thyng for deuotioun
Bot tyll obtene the Abbasye
Ȝe maid ȝour wow of Chaistitye
Off powertie, and obedience
Tharefor remord ȝour conscience
Quhow thir thre wowis bene obseruit
And quhat rewarde, ȝe hauehave deseruit
Quharefore repent, quhill ȝe hauehave space
Sen God is lyberall of his grace,
¶Father (quod I) declare to meCour.
Quhare sall our Prelatis ordorit be
Quhilk now bene in the warld leuand
With quhome sall cum that Spirituall band?
(Quod he) as sanct Barnard discryuis
Expe.Without that thay amend thare lyuis
And leif thare wantoun vitious warkis
Nocht with Prophetis nor Patriarkis
Nocht with Martyris, nor Confessouris
The quhilkꝭ to Christ, wer trew prechouris
Thare Predecessouris, Peter, and Paull
That day wyll thame mysken at all
So sall thay nocht, I say for me
With the Apostlis, ordourit be
I traist thay sall dwell on the bordour
Off Hell, quhare thare salbe non ordour
Endlang the Flude of Flagitone
Or on the brais of Acherone
Cryand on Caron, I conclude
To ferre thame ouer, that furious flude
Tyll eternall confusioun
Without thay leif thare abusioun
I traist those Prelatꝭ, more and les
Sall mak cleir compt of thare ryches
That dreidfull day, with hartis sore
And quhat seruice, thay did tharefore
The Princely pomp, nor apparell
Off Pope, Byschope, nor Cardinall
Thare Royall Rentis, nor Dignite
That day sall nocht regardit be
Thare sall no talis, as I heir say
Off Byschoppis, be borne vp that day
Cum thay nocht with thare conscience clene
On thame gret sorrow salbe sene
Without that thay thare lyfe amend
In tyme, and so I mak ane end.
FINIS.
❧ Heir followis the Maner quhov Christ sall geue his Sentence.
QVHEN all thir Congregationis.Expe.
Beis brocht furth frōe al natiōis
Quhilk wilbe wtout lang proces
Thocht I haif maid sum lang degres
For ī ye twinkling of one E
All mankynd, sall presentit be
Affore that Kyngis Excellence
Than schortlye sall he geue sentenceMat. xxv
First sayand to that blysfull band
Quhilk beis ordourit, at his rycht hand
Cum with my Fatheris Bennysoun
And ressaue ȝour possessioun
Quhilk bene for ȝow preordinat
Affore the warld wes first creat
Quhen I wes hungry, ȝe me fed
Quhen I wes naikit, ȝe me cled
Oftymes ȝe gaue me Herberye
And gaif me drynk quhen I wes Drye
And vesyit me, with myndis meik
Quhen I wes presonar and seik
In all sic trybulatioun
Ȝe gaif me consolatioun
¶Than sall thay say, O Potent Kyng
Quhen saw we the, desyre sic thyng
We neuer saw thyne excellence
Subdewit to sic Indigence
Ȝis (sall he say) I ȝow assure
Quhen euer ȝe did ressaue the pure
And for my saik, maid thame supple
That gyft but doute, ȝe gaif to me
Tharefor sall now begyn ȝour glore
Quhilk sall indure for euer more
¶Than sall he luke on his left hand
And say onto that bailfull band
Pas with my Maledictioun
Tyll Eternall Afflixtioun
In cumpany with feindis fell
In euerlestyng fyre of Hell
Quhen I stude naikit att ȝour ȝett
Houngry, thristy, cauld, and wett
Rycht febyll, seik, and lyke to de
I neuer gat of ȝow supple
And quhen I lay in presoun strang
For ȝow, I mycht haif lying full lang
Without ȝour cosolatioun
Or ony supportatioun.
¶Trymling for dreid, than sall thay say
With mony hydous harmesay
Allace gude Lorde, quhen saw we the
Subiect to sic necessitie
Quhen saw we the, cum to our dure
Houngry, thristy, naikit, pure
Quhen saw we the in presoun ly
Or the refusit herbery.
¶Than sall that most precelland Kyng
Tyll those wrachis mak answeryng
That tyme, quhen ȝe refusit the puris
Quhilkis neidfull cryit at ȝour duris
And of ȝour superfluitie
For my saik maid thame no supplie
Refusand thame, ȝe me refusit
With wrecheitnes, so ȝe wer abusit
Tharefor ȝe sall hauehave to ȝour hyre
The euerlestyng byrning fyre
But grace, but peace, or confortyng
Than sall thay cry, full sore weipyng
That we wer maid, allace gude Lorde
Allace, is thare non Misericorde
But thus withouttin hope of grace
Tyne presens of thy plesand face
Allace for ws, it had bene gude
We had bene smorit in our cude.
¶ Than with one rair, the erth, sall ryue
And swolly thame boith man and wyue
Than sall those Creaturis forlorne
Warie the hour, that thay wer borne
With mony ȝamer, ȝewt and ȝell
Frome tyme thay feill, the flammis fell
Apone thare tender bodeis byte
Quhose torment salbe Infinyte
The erth sall close, and frome thare sycht
Sall taking be, all kynde of lycht
Thare salbe gowlyng, and gretyng
But hope of ony confortyng
In that Inestimabyll pane
Eternallye thay sall remane
Byrnand in furious flammys rede
Euer deand, bot neuir be dede
That the small Minuth of one hour
To thame salbe so gret dolour
Thay sall thynk thay haif done remane
Ane thousand ȝeir, in to that pane
Allace I trimyll tyll heir tell
The terribyll Turmentyng of hell
That panefull pytt, quho can deplore
Quhilk mon indure, for euer more
¶Than sall those glorifyit Creaturis
With myrth and infinyte plesouris
Conuoyit with Ioy Angelicall
Passe to the Heuin Imperiall
With Christ Iesu, our Souerane Kyng
In glore, Eternallye to ryng
Off man, quhilk passis the Ingyne
The thousand part, for tyll defyne
Allanerlie of the leist plesoure
Preordinat for one Creature.
ii Pet. iii.¶Than sall one Fyre, as Clerkis sane
Mak all the hyllis and valais plane
Frome erth, vp to the Heuin Impyre
All beis renewit, by that fyre
Purgeyng all thyng materiall
VnderUnder the heuin Imperiall
Boith erth, and walter, fyre, and air,
Salbe more perfyte maid and fair
The quhilkꝭ affore had myxit bene
Sall than be purifyit and maid clene
The erth lyke Christall salbe cleir
And euerilk Planeit, in his speir
Sall rest withouttin more moueyng
Boith sterny heuin, and Christellyng
The first and hiest heuin monabyll
Sall stand but turnyng firme and stabyll
The Sonne in to the Orient
Sall stand, and in the Occident
Rest sall the Mone, and be more cleir
Nor now bene Phebus, in his speir
And als that Lantern, of the Heuin
Sall gyf more lycht, be greis sewin
Nor it gaue sen the warld began
The Heuin renewit salbe than
Rychtso the erth, with sic deuyse
Compair tyll heuinlye Paradyse,
☞So heuin and erth salbe alloneApo. xxi.
As menith the Apostill Iohne
The gret sey sall no more appeir
Bot lyke the Christall pure and cleir
Passyng Imaginatiouni. Cor. ii
Off Man, to mak narratioun
Off glore, quhilk God, haith done prepair
Tyll eueryevery one that cumis thare
The quhilk with eris, nor with eine
Off man may nocht be hard nor sene
With hart it is vnthynkabyll
And with toungis Inpronunciabyll
Quhose plesouris, salbe so perfyte
Haueyng in God, so gret delyte
ii Pet. iii.The space now of one thousand ȝeir
That tyme sall nocht, one hour appeir
Quhilk can nocht comprehendit be
Tyll we that plesand sycht sall se.
ii. Cor. xii¶Quhen Paull wes reuyst in the spreit
Tyll the thrid Heuin, of glore repleit
He sayith, the Secretis quhilk he saw
Thay wer nocht leifsum for to schaw
To no man on the erth leueand
Quharefor preis nocht tyll vnderstand
Quhowbeit thare to thow haif desyre
The Secretis of the heuin Impyre
The more men lukis on Phebus brycht
The more febyll, salbe thare sycht
Rychtso latt no man sett thare cure
To Sers, the heych Diuyne Nature
The more men studye, I suppose
Salbe the more frome thare purpose
To knaw, quhareto sulde men Intend
Quhilk Angellis can nocht comprehend
Bot efter this gret Iugement
All thyng tyll ws salbe patent
Latt ws with Paull, our mynde addres
He beand full of Heuinlynes
Full humilye, he techeit ws
Nocht for to be to curious
Quhowbeit men be of gret Ingyne
To seik the heych Secretis Diuyne
Quhose Iugementꝭ ar vncersiabyllRom. xi.
And strange wayis Inuestigabyll
(That is to say) past out fynding
Off quhome no man may fynd endyng
It sufficith ws for tyll Implore
Gret God, to bryng ws to that glore.
FINIS.
Off certane plesouris of the glorifeit bodeis.
SEn thare is non in erth, may comprehend
The Heuinlye glore, & plesouris Infinyte
Quhairfor my Sone, I pray yt not pretendExpe.
Ouer far to seik, that maner of delyte
Quhilk passit Naturall reasoun to Indyte
That God affore that he the warld creatt
Preparit to thame, quhilk ar predestinat.
All Mortall men, salbe maid Immortall
(That is to say) neuer to de agane
Impassabyll, and so Celestiall
That fyre, nor swerd, may do to thame no pane
Nor hete, nor cald, nor frost, nor wynd, nor rane
Thocht sic thyng wer, may do to thame no deir
Those Creaturis, rycht so salbe als cleir
As flammand Phebus in his Mantioun
Considder than, gyf thare salbe gret lycht
Quhen eueryevery one, in to that Regioun
Sall schyne lyke to the Sonne, and be als brycht
Lat ws with Paull, desyre to se that sycht
To be dissoluit, Paull had A gret desyre
With Christ, to be in tyll the heuin Impyre.
And more attour, as Clerkis can discryue.
Thare maruellous myrthis, beis incomparabyll
Amang the rest, in all thare wyttis fyue
Thay sall hauehave sensuall plesouris delectabyll
The heuinlye sound, quhilk salbe Innarrabyll
In thare eris, continuallye sall ryng
And als the sycht of Christ Iesus our Kyng.
In his tryumphant throne Imperiall
With his Mother, ye Virgene Quene of quenis
Thare salbe sene, the Court Celestiall
Apostolis, Martyris, Confessoris, and Virgenis
Brychtar than Phebus, in his speir that, schynis
The Patriarkis, and Prophetis, Venerabyll
Thare salbe sene, with glore Inestimabyll.
¶And with thare Spirituall Eis salbe sene.
That sycht, quhilk bene most Superexcelland
God as he is, and euermore hes bene
Continuallye, that sycht contempland
Augustyne sayis, he had leuer tak on hand
To be in Hell, he seyng the assence
Off God, nor be in Heuin, but his presence.
¶Quho seis God, in his Diuynitie.
He seis in hym, all vther plesand thyngis
The quhilk with toung, can nocht pronuncit be
Quhat plesour bene, to se that kyng of Kyngis,
The gretest pane, yt dampnit folk dounthryngis
And to the Deuyllis, the most punytioun
It is of god, to want fruitioun.
And mairattour, thay sall feill sic ane smell.
Surmountyng far, the fleure of erthly flowris
And in thare mouth, ane taist as I heir tell
Off sweit, and Supernaturall Sapowris
As thay sall se the heuinlye brycht colowris
Schenyng amang those Creaturis Diuyne
Quhilk tyll discryue, trāscendith mānis Ingyne
¶And als thay sall haif sic agilitie.
In one Instant to passe for thare plesour
Ten thousand mylis in twynkling of one E
So thare Ioyis salbe without missour
Thay sall Reioyis, to se the gret dolour
Off dampnit folk in hell, and thare torment
Because of God it is the Iuste Iugement.
Subtellyte thay sall hauehave maruellouslye
Subponyng that thare wer ane wall of bras
One glorifeit body, may rycht haistellye
Out throw that wall, without Impediment pas
Siclyke as doith the Sone baime throw ye glas
As Christ tyll his Disciplis did appeir
All entres clos, and non of thame did steir.
i. Cor. xv¶Quhowbeit in heuin, thocht euerilk Creature
HaueHave nocht alyke filicitie nor glore
Ȝitt euerilk one sall haif so gret plesure
And so content, thay sall desyre no more
To hauehave more Ioye, thay sall no way Implore
Bot thay salbe all satyfeit and content
Lyke to this rude exempyll subsequent,
Tak ane crowat, one pynte stope, and one quart
One galloun pitschair, one puntioun & one twn
Of wyne, or balme, gyf euerilk one thare part
And fyll thame full, tyll that thay be ouir rwn
The lytill crouat, in comparisoun
Salbe so full, that it may hald no more
Off sic missouris, thocht thare be twenty score.
¶In to the Twn, or in the Pontioun,
So all those vesschellis, in one qualitie
May hald no more, without thay be ouir rwn
Ȝitt haif thay nocht, alyke in quantitie
So be this rude exempyll thow may se
Thocht euerilk one, be nocht alyke in glore
Ar satyfeit, so that thay desyre no more
Thocht presentlye be Goddis prouiance.
Beistis fowlis, and fyschis, in the seis
Ar necessar now, for mannis sustenance
With cornis, herbis, flowris, and fructfull treis
Than sall thare be non sic commoditeis
The erth sall beir no plant, nor beist brutall
Bot as the Heuinnis brycht lyke buriall
Suppone sum be on erth, walkand heir doun,
Or heycht abone, quhare euer thay pleis to go
Off God, thay hauehave ay cleir fruitioun
Boith est, or west, vp doun, or to, or fro
Clerkis declaris plesouris mony mo
Quhilk dois transcend al mortal mānis Ingyne
The thousand part, of those plesouris deffyne.
¶In to the Heuin, thay sall perfytlie knaw.
Thare tender freindis, yare father & yare mother
Thare Predecessouris, quhilkꝭ thay neuer saw
Thair spousis, bairnis, syster, & thare brother
And euerilk one, sall hauehave sic lufe tyll vther
Off vtheris glore, and Ioy, thay sall reioyse
As of thare awin, as Clerkis doith suppose
¶Than salbe sene, that brycht Ierusalem.Apoc. xxi
Quhilk Ihone saw, in his Reuelatione
Esa. lxviWe mortall men, allace ar far to blame
That wyll nocht haif consideratione
And one continuall contemplatione
With hote desyre, to cum on to that glore
Quhilk plesour sall indure for euer more.
Ro. viii.O Lorde our God, and Kyng Omnipotent.
Quhilk knew, or thow the heuin, and erth, creati
Quho wald to the, be inobedient
And so disarue, for to be Reprobatt
Thow knew the nomer, of predestinat
Quhome thow did call, and hes thame Iustifeis
And sall in Heuin with the be Glorifeit.
Grant ws to be Lorde, of that chosin sort
Quhame of thy mercy superexcellent
Did puriffy, as scripture doith report
With the blude of that holy Innocent
Iesu, quhilk maid hym self Obedient
On to the deth, and steruit on the Rude
Lat ws O Lorde, be purgit with that blude.
… viii.¶All Creature, that euer God Creat
As wryttis Paull, thay wys to se that day
Quhen the Childryng of God predestinat
Sall do appeir, in thare new fresche array
i. Cor. xvQuhen Corruptioun, beis clengit clene away
And cheangit beis, thare Mortall Qualitie
In the gret glore, of Immortalitie.
¶And moreattour all dede thyngis corporall.
Onder the Concaue, of the Heuin Impyre
That now to laubour subiect ar and thrall
Sone, Mone, & Sterris, Erth, walter, air, & Fyre
In one maneir, thay hauehave ane hote desyre
Wissing that day, that thay may be at rest
As Erasmus, Exponith Manifest.
¶We se the gret Gloube, of the Firmament
Continuallie, in moueyng maruellous
The Sewin Planetis, contrary thare intent
Ar reft about, with coursse contrarious
The wynd, and See, with stormys furious
The trublit Air, with Frostis, Snaw and Rane,
On to that day, thay trauell euer in pane.
☞And all the Angellis, of the Ordouris Nyne.
Haueand compatioun of our Misareis
Thay wys efter that day, and to that Fyne
To se ws fred, frome our Infirmiteis
And clengit frome thir gret Calamiteis
And trublus lyfe, quhilk neuer sall hauehave end
On to that day I mak it to the kend.
FINIS
❧ Ane Exhortatioun Gyffin be Father Experience▪ vntounto his Sone The Curteour.
Expe.MY Sone now mark weil ī thy memory
Of yis fals warld, ye trublus trāsitory
Quhose dreidfull dayis drawis neir a
Tharfor cal god to be yi adiutory (end
And eueryevery day my Sonne, Memento Mori
And watt not quhen, nor quhare yt thow sal wend
Heir to remane, I pray the nocht pretend
And sen thow knawis the tyme is verray schort
In Christis Blude, sett all thy hole confort.
Math. viBe nocht to myche solyst in temporall thyngis.
Sen yow persauis, Pape, Empriour nor Kyngis
In to the erth, haith no place parmanent
Thow seis ye deith, yame dulefully doun thringis
And rauis yame frome yare rent, ryches & ringis
Tharefor, on Christ confirme thyne hole intent
And of thy callyng, be rycht weill content
Than God that fedis the fowlis of the air
All neidfull thyng for the he sall prepair,
Iob. xiiiiConsydder in thy contemplatioun
Ay sen the warldlis, first Creatioun
Mankynd hes tholit this misary mortall
Ay tormentit with trybulatioun
With dolour, dreid, and desolatioun
Gentiles, and Chosin peple of Israell
To this vnhap, all subiect ar and thrall
Quhilk Misary but doute sall euer indure
Tyll the last day, my Sonne thareof be sure.
That day, as I hauehave maid narratioun
Salbe the day of consolatioun
Tyll all the Childryng, of the chosin noumer
Thare endit beis, thare desolatioun
And als I mak the supplycatioun
In erthlye materis, tak the no more cummer
Dreid nocht to dee, for deith is bot ane slūmer
Leue ane Iuste lyfe, & wt wane Ioyus hart
And of thy guddis, tak plesandlye thy part.
Off our talkeing, now latt ws mak ane end.
Behald quhow Phebus, dounwart dois discend
Towart his palyce, in the Occident
Dame Synthea I se, scho dois pretend
In tyll hir wattry Regioun tyll ascend
With vissage paill, vp frome the Orient
The dew now dounkis, the rossis redolent
The Mareguldis that all day wer reiosit
Off Phebus heit, now cratftelly ar closit
The blysfull byrdis, bownis to the treis
And ceissis of thare heuinlye armoneis
The Cornecraik in the croft, I heir hir cry
The bak, the Howlat, febyll of thare eis
For thare pastyme, now in the ewinnyng fleis
The Nychtyngaill, with myrthfull melody
Hir naturall notis, persith throw the sky
Tyll Synthea, makand hir obseruance
Quhilk on the nycht, dois tak hir dalyance.
I se Polartike, in the North appeir
And Venus ryssing with hir bemes cleir
Quharefor my Sonne, I hald it tyme to go
Wald God (said I) ȝe did remane all ȝeir
That I mycht of ȝour heuinlye Lessonis leir
Off ȝour departyng, I am wounder wo
Tak pacience (said he) it mone be so
Perchance I sall returne, with deligence
Thus I departit, frome Experience.
And sped me home, with hert sychyng full sore
And enterit in my quyet Oritore
I tuke paper, and thare began to wryt
This Miserie, as ȝe hauehave hard afore
All gentyll Redaris, hertlye I Implore
For tyll excuse, my rurall rude Indyte
Thoucht Phareseis, wyll hauehave at me dispyte
Quhilkis wald not yat, thare craftynes wer kend
Latt God be Iuge, and so I mak ane end.
*FINIS.✚
Quod Lyndesay, .1552.
End of the text · David Lindsay, A Dialogue Betwixt Experience and a Courtier (1554)