Brief Commendation of Uprightness, Poems

Brief Commendation of Uprightness · Poems

ANE BREIF COMMENDATIOVN OF VPRICHTNES

SEN that we ſe men till hauehave ſtudyit ay.

Into this eirth ſic ſtrenthis to prepair

As micht be ſaifgaird to thame nicht and day,

Quhen ony danger dang thame in diſpair.

Wald thow gude Reider hauehave ane ſtrenth preclair,Prouer. 10.12.13.18. Eccleſi. 9. Pſal. 25.27.91.Prov 10:12Prov 10:13Prov 10:18Ps 25:27Ps 25:91

Maiſt ſtrang and ſtark to rin to in diſtres

This lytill ſchedull ſchortly ſall declair

How that the ſureſt Towre is vprichtnes.

Quhilk vprichtnes we may deſcriue to be:

Ane traid of lyfe conforme to Godds command,Iob. 31.Job 31

Without all poyſoun of Hypocriſie

Or turning to or fra, from hand to hand.Prouer. 5.Prov 5

Bot ſtoutly at the word of God to ſtand.

Eſchewing alwayis it for to tranſgres

Not bowing back for thame that contramand.Pſalm. 18.Ps 18

This wayis we may deſcriue this vprichtnes.

For firſt thair is na Caſtell, Towre, nor Toun,

Nor raturall ſtrenth, as Alexander ſayis,Q. Curt. li. 7

Bot mānis Ingyne may vincous and ding doun,

As that he had experience in his dayis,

Na ſtrenth was ſure to thame that was his fais:

The Craig in Aſia did beir witnes,Q Curt. li. 7

Howbeit in hicht vntounto the ſky it rais,

It was ouercum for laik of vprichtnes.

Euin ſa that bailfull Bour of Babilone,Q. Curt. li. 5 Ieremi. 5….

Na ſaifgaird was to Darius we reid,

Suppois it was ane maiſt ſtrang Dongeone,

And mony ma I micht declair in deid,

Bot ſic exempillis Foraine nane we neid,

Quhat ſurenes fand the Biſchopis halynes,

Into Dunbartane quhair he pat his Creid.

It was not half ſa ſure as vprichtnes.

Pſalm. 33.40.60. Eſai. 31. Ieremi. 17Ps 33:40Ps 33:60Isa 31The force of men gif ony will obtend,

Kinred, or freinds to be ane gaird maiſt ſtrang,

All is bot vane, thay can not man defend,

For quha mair ſurely into Royat rang,

Q. Curt. lib. 10.Nor the greit Conquerour his freindis amang,

Ȝit was he poyſonit as ſum dois expres,

Intill his Camp quhilk he had led ſa lang,

Than quhat is force of man till vprichtnes.

Riches and rent we ken dois not abyde,

Prouer. 11. Eccle. 5. Iob. 1. Pſalm. 49. 1. Timot. 6. Zephan. 1. Eccleſi. 2. Nahum. 3.Prov 11Eccl 5Job 1Ps 49:1Zeph 1Nah 3Bot flitts and fochis euer to and fra,

Than vane it is in thame for to confyde,

Sen that we ſe thame aſweill cum as ga,

Thairfoir my freindis ſen that the cace is ſa,

That warldly ſtrenth can hauehave na ſickernes,

Sum vther ſaifgaird ſurely we mon ha,

Quhilk is nocht ellis bot only vprichtnes.

Bot ſum perchance that winks mair wylelie,

Will ſay thay wait ane wyle that I na wiſt,

With iouking thay will Iangill craftelie,

And on thair feit will ay licht quhen thay liſt:

Thinking all ſurenes thairin to conſiſt:

Hypocriſie is quent with quyetnes,

Bot all begylit thay ar into the miſt.

For nathing can be ſure but vprichtnes.

For quhat become of fals Achitophell,

2. Sam. 17.2 Sam 17For als far as he ſaw befoir his neis,

The Scripture ſchawis I neid not heir to tell.

The lyke of this in mony Hiſtoreis,

Pſalm. 7. Eſter. 7.Ps 7I micht bring furth that to my purpois greis,

How Hypocrites into thair craftynes,

Thame ſelfis hes trappit with greit miſereis,

Becaus thay did eſchew all vprichtnes.

Bot quha ſa euer on the vther ſyde.

Eſter. 6.Hes preiſsit peirtly to leif vprichtlie,

Da…i. 6.And be the treuth bound bauldly till abyde:

Hes euer had the maiſt ſecuritie.

For thay had God thair buckler for to be,

Quhome we mon grant to be ane ſtrang fortres,Pſalm. 76. Pſalm. 89.Ps 76Ps 89

Of quhome the Deuill can not get victorie,

Nor all the enemeis of vprichtnes.

Think weill my freindis this is na fenȝeit fair,

For quha ſa liſt of Dauid for to reid,1. Sam. 17.18.19.20.21.22 29.33. 2. Sam. 2.3.5 8.15.16.18.20. …. Sam. 23.1 Sam 17:181 Sam 17:191 Sam 17:201 Sam 17:211 Sam 17:222 Sam 2:32 Sam 2:5

May ſe quhat enemeis he had alquhair,

And ȝit how ſurely he did ay proceid.

Becaus he walkit vprichtly in deid.

He was mair ſure from Saulis cruelnes,

Nor gif ten thouſand men intill his neid,

Had with him bene ſyne lackit vprichtnes.

Of ſic exempills we micht bring anew,

Bot ane thair is that preifis our purpois plane

Of Daniell that Propheit wyſe and trew,Dani. ….

How oft was he in danger to be ſlane.

Into the Lyonis Den he fand na pane.Dani. 3.

The thre Children the fyre did not oppres.

I think this only Hiſtorie micht gane,

To preif how ſure ane Towre is vprichtnes.

Bot ȝit becaus exempills fetchit far,

Mufis not ſo muche as thay thingis quhilk we ſe,

I purpois ſchortly now for to cum nar,

VntoUnto the but quhair cheifly I wald be:

That is to ſchaw the prufe befoir ȝour Ee.

Of thir premiſsis, as all mon confes

That hes ſene God wirking in this countrie,

How ane hes bene preſeruit in vprichtnes.

It is Iohne Knox in deid quhome of I mene,

That feruent faithfull ſeruand of the Lord,

Quhome I dar bauldly byde at till hauehave bene,

Ane maiſt trew Preicheour of the Lordis word.

I rak nathing quhat Rebalds heir record,

Quha neuer culd ſpeik gude of godlynes.

This man I ſay eſchaipit fyre and ſword,

And deit in peace, in praiſe of vprichtnes.

… that this may be maid ma…e manifeſt:

P…ll … thing in ſpeciall,

Tuiching this Lamp, on lyfe quhill he did leſt,

Firſt he diſcendit bot of linage ſmall.

Amos. i. 7. Mark. 1.Amos 1:7Mark 1As commounly God vſis for to call,

The ſempill ſort his ſummoundis til expres.

1. Cor. 1. Iaco. 2.1 Cor 1Sa calling him, he gaue him giftis with all

Maiſt excellent beſyde his vprichtnes.

For weill I wait that Scotland neuer bure,

In Scot… …id ane man mair Eloquent.

Into pe… adin… alſo I am ſure,

Was nane in Europe that was mair potent.

In Greik and Hebrew he was excellent,

And als in Latine toung his propernes,

Was tryit trym quhen ſcollers wer preſent.

Bot thir wer nathing till his vprichtnes.

For fra the tyme that God anis did him call,

To bring thay ioyfull newis vntounto this land,

Quhilk hes illuminat baith greit and ſmall,

He maid na ſtop bot paſsit to fra hand,

Idolatrie maiſt ſtoutly to ganeſtand:

And cheifly that greit Idoll of the Mes.

Howbeit maiſt michtie enemeis he fand,

Ȝit ſchrinkit he na quhit from vprichtnes.

The greuous Galayis maid him not agaſt,

Althocht the Prelats gold in greit did geif,

Ouir ſchipburd in the ſey him for to caſt,

He fand ſic grace thay ſufferit him to leif.

Ȝea, mairatour thay did him not miſcheif,

As thay did his Companȝeounis mair and les,

With pynefull panis quhen thay thair pythis did preif,

God fa prouydit for his vprichtnes.

In Ingland ſyne he did eſchaip the Ire,

Of Ieſ…bell, that Monſtour of Mahoun.

In Scotland nixt with terrour him to tyre,

Thay brint his picture in Edinburgh Toun.

Bot ſon to Scotland … …e …id him bo…,

Quhat ba… he h… bid di… to may goe,

Send … and they Deuills he good …ng doun,

In ſpyte … ane that haitit …p… h…nes.

Thay that hes bene cheif in Authoritie,

For the maiſt part had him at deidly feid,

Ȝit he eſchaipit all thair crueltie,

Howbeit oftymes thay did deuyſe his deid,

Ȝea, ſum … bin preſitely be the heid,

Quha vndertake his Di…igs for to dre…,

Ȝit bauldly be his baner he abaid,

And did not ſoule ane ioit from vprichtnes.

Bot cheifly anis he was put to ane preace,

Quhen that the Quene of treſſoun did accuſe him

Befoir hir Lordis in haly Rudehous place.

Quhair clawbacks of the Court thocht till abuſe him

Sa prude…ly this Propheit yair did vſe him,

Into refuting of thair fuliſchenes.

That all the haill Nobilitie did ru…e him,

And praiſit God for his greit vprichtnes.

Quhen Quene & Court culd not get him cōuict,

Bot ſa wer diſapointit of thair pray,

Thay fryit in furie that he ſchaipit quick,

Ȝit at the leiſt to get thair wills ſum way,

Thay wald hauehave had him wardi… for ane day,

In Daueis Towre, ȝea, for ane hour or les,

It was denyit for ocht the Quene culd ſay.

Thair micht be ſene how ſure was vprichtnes.

Bot in quhat perrell trow ȝe he was laſt,

Quhen Edinburgh he left with hart full fair,

Doutles na les nor ony that hes paſt,

In ſpyte thay ſpak that him thay ſuld not ſpair,

Thay ſuld him ſchuit into the Palpet thair

Becaus he did rebuke thair fylthenes,

And miſchant murther that infects the air,

Ȝ… God preſeruit him in Vpri…h…nes.

Mony … dangers nor I can declair,

Be ſey and land thi… Propheit did ſuſtens,

In France and Ingland, Scotland, heir and thair,

Quhilk I refer to thame that mair hes h…e,

Intill his company and ſic things ſene.

Bot this far ſchortly I hauehave maid progres,

To preif how God maiſt ſurely dois mantene,

Sic as continew intill vprichtnes.

For this Excellent ſeruand of the Lord,

VntoUnto the deith was haitit as we knaw,

For ſinceir preiching of the Lordis word

With Kingis, Princes, hie eſtait and law,

Ȝit in thair Ire him micht thay not ouirthraw,

He did depart in peace and pleſandnes:

For all the troublis that he hard vsus ſchaw

That he ſuſtenit for lufe of vprichtnes.

And this is merwell gif we will conſidder,

Ane ſempill man but warldly force or aide,

Aganis quhome Kings and Princes did confidder,

How he ſuld fend from furie and thair fead,

Syne leaue this lyfe with liſt for all thair plaid,

He had ane ſurer gaird we mon confer,

Nor ony warldly ſtrenth that can be maid,

Quhilk was nathing bot only vprichtnes.

Bot ſum may ſay quhairto ſuld thow prefer

This vprichtnes quhilk thow extolls ſa hie

Vntill all warldly ſtre…this that euer wer?

Sen that the contrair daylie we may ſe,

How vpricht men ar murtherit miſchantlie,

Gene. 4. Math. 14. 2. Chro. 24. Math. 27.Gen 4Matt 142 Chr 24Matt 27As firſt was Abell with greit cruelnes,

Gude Iohne the Baptiſt, and als Zacharie,

Ȝea, Chriſt him ſelf for all his vprichtnes.

Euſeb To. 4 fol. 7.Peter and Paull with mony ma ſenſyne.

And of lait ȝeiris in Ingland as we knaw,

Vide Sleidanum.How mony piteouſly was put to pyne.

And now in France that ſchame is for to ſch…w.

Iames our gude Regent rakkin in that …aw,

Quha had rung ȝit wer not his richteouſnes.

Sa, I can ſe nathing ſa ſone ouirthraw,

Man in this eirth as dois this vprichtnes.

To this I anſwer into termis ſchott,

Quhen warldly ſtrenth is vincuſt and maid waiſt,Prouer. 12.Prov 12

With it man tynis baith courage and comfort,

Quhen it is tynt quhairin he pat his traiſt:

Bot quha that deith in vprichtnes dois taiſt,Prouer. 11. Math. 16.Prov 11Matt 16

Sall hauehave the lyfe that leſts with ioyfulnes,

Sa thay ar ſure, becaus thay ar imbraiſt

Be the Eternall for thair vprichtnes.

Bot this ſa lichtly we may not pas by:

I grant in deid quha preiſsis vprichtlie

To ſerue the Lord mon firſt thame ſelfis deny,Math. ….

And na wayis dres to daut thame daintelie

Bot thame prepair for troublis Identlie,2. Timo. …. Pſalm. 14. 1. Pet. 5. Iob. 1.Ps 141 Pet 5Job 1

For troublis ar the bage thay mon poſſes,

Sen Sathan ceiſis not continuallie

To troubill thame that followis vprichtnes.

Q…hylis harling thame befoir Princes & Kings,Luc. 11.Luke 11

As rauing Reb…lds rudelie to be rent,

Accuſing thame of troubling of all things,1. Reg. 1…. 1. Reg. 12.1 Kgs 11 Kgs 12

As cankerit Carlis that can not be content,

Except all things be done be thair conſent:

Now ſcornit, now ſcurgeit,Math. …7. Ieremi. …8. A…. 12.Matt 7 now bād with bitternes

Impriſonit, and ſindrie faſsiounis ſchent,

And ſum tymes dreuin to deith for vprichtnes.

This is thair lote oftymes I will not lane

Into this eirth that vſe to be vpricht,

Bot quhat of this my purpois ȝit is plane:

That is, that thay ar ſurer day, and nicht,Pſalm. 51. Pſalm. 1…8.Ps 51Ps 1:8

For all this wo, not ony wardly wicht.

For in thair conſcience is mair quyetnes

In greiteſt troubl…s, not the man of micht

Hes in thair Caſtells, without vprichtnes.

For qullen Belſhazzer greit King of the …iſt.

Dani. 5.Ane thouſand of his Princes had gart cal…,

Drinkand the wyne befoir thame at the Feiſt,

Intill his prydefull Pomp Imperiall:

Euin in the middis of this his mirrie hall.

He ſaw ane ſicht that ſank him in ſadnes,

Quhen he perſauit the fingers on the wall,

Wryting his wrak for his vnvprichtnes.

Quhat ſall I ſay I neid not till inſiſt,

To ſchaw how thay to God that dois Rebell,

In thair maiſt micht can not be haldin bliſt,

For in this warld thay do begin thair hell,

Gene. 4. Eſai. 66. Prouer. 15.Gen 4Isa 66Prov 15As Cayin did that ſlew the iuſt Abell,

Within thair breiſt thay beir ſic bailfulnes,

That toung of man can not the teynd part tell,

Of inwart torments for vnvprichtnes.

Prouer. 14.Prov 14Bot thay that walks vprichtly with the Lord,

In greiteſt troublis wantis not inwart reſt,

Act. 5.Acts 5As the Apoſtillis doung for Godds word,

Reioyſit that for Chriſt ſa thay wer dreſt,

Act. 13. Act. 16.Acts 13Acts 16Peter in priſone ſleipit but moleſt.

Paull in the ſtocks and Sylas with glaidnes,

Did ſing ane Pſalme at midnicht, ſa the beſt

Surenes that man can hauehave, is vprichtnes.

Sa be this ſurenes now I do not men…,

That Godds ſeruands ar neuer tane away,

Be cruell men, for the contrair is ſene,

For God oftymes of his Iudgements I ſay,

Letts thame ſo fall, as thocht befoir the day:

To plague the warld for thair vnthankfulnes,

Eſai. 3. Heb. 11.Isa 3Heb 11Quhilk is not worthie of ſic men as thay.

Bot I mene this be ſtrenth of vprichtnes.

That quhen it pleſis God to let thame fall,

Act. 7. 2. Timot. 4.Acts 7:2Thay hauehave ſic in wart comfort without cair,

That thay depart with ioy Angelicall.

Of lyfe aſſurit that leſtis for euer …it.

And ȝit ſum tyme he doi… his ſeruands ſpair,

To let the Tyrannis ſe his michtenes,Eſai. 41. Ierem. 1.4….Isa 41Jer 1:4

In ſpyte of thame, that he can his alquhait.

Preſerue maiſt ſurely intill vprichtnes.

Quhilk we hauehave ſene as we can not deny,

Into Iohne Knoxis michtie preſeruatioun,

Quhilk till our comfort we ſuld all apply,

I mene that ar the Faithfull Congregatioun.

Sen he departit with ſic conſolatioun,

Euin as he leuit, he deit in Faithfulnes,

Being aſſurit in Chriſt of his Saluatioun,

As in the end he ſchew with vprichtnes.

Sa is he paſt from pane to pleſure ay,

And till greit eis doutles vntill him ſel…,

Bot for ane plague till vsus I dar weill ſay,

As ſair I feir we fall heir ſchortly tell,

Schir wink at vice beginnis to tune his bell.

Bot on this heid na mair I will digres,

That gude men hes mair reſt in all perrell

Nor wickit in thair welth but vprichtnes.

Then ſen alwayis we ſe that men ar ſure

Throw vprichtnes quhidder thay liue or die,Pſalm. 19.Ps 19

Let all gude Criſtianes Imploy thair cure,

In thair vocatioun to leif vprichtlie,

And cheiflie let all preicheouris war…it be,

That this day God and the gude …aus profes,Tit. 1.Titus 1

Na way is to wink at ſic Impietie

And cheifly do…, withſtand all vprichtnes.

Taking exempill of this Propheit plane,

Quhome heir befoir we breuit in this bill,

Quha Godds reuelit will wald neuer lane,

Quhen men begouth for to delyte in ill,

He wald not wane ane wy for na mān is will

For to rebuke Erle, Barrone, or Burges,

Quhen in thair wickit wayis thay walkit ſtill.

Follow this Lamp I ſay of vprichtnes.

Let nouther lufe of freind, nor feir of ſais,

Muſe ȝo… to mank ȝour Meſſage, or hald bak

Ane iot of ȝour Commiſsioun ony wayis

Pſalm. 40. Eſai. 5.Ps 40Isa 5Call ay quhite, quhite, and blak, that quhilk is blak,

Ane Gallimafray neuer of thame mak:

2. Timoth. 22 Tim 2Bot ane gude cans diſtingue from wickitnes,

This kynd of phrais ſumtymes this Propheit ſpak

Q…hen he ſaw ſum not vſing vprichtnes.

2. Timot. 2.In generall do not all things inuolue,

Thinking ȝour ſelfis diſchargeit than to be,

Thocht na mānis mynd in maters ȝe reſolue:

For (ȝit till vſe this ſame mānis Elogie)

Num. 2….24Num 2:24To ſpeik the trouth, and ſpeik the treuth trewlie,

Is not a thing (ſaid he) brethren doutles.

Thairfoir ſpeik trewly but Hypocriſie,

G…f ȝe wald hauehave the praiſe of vprichtnes.

2. Timot. 4.Let vice ay in the awin cullouris be kend

But beiring with, or ȝit extenuatioun

Act. 17.Acts 17Schawing how heichly God it dois offend,

Eſai. 52. 2. Timot. 5.Isa 52:2Spairing na ſt…it that make preuaricatioun,

Let it be ſene till all the Congregatioun,

That ȝe ſic haiereo… hauehave at wickitnes

That ȝe mon dampne thair greit abhominatioun,

Quha planely f…chtis aganis all vprichtnes.

Pſalm. 38. Pſalm. 41.Ps 38Ps 41Q…hilk …od of doctrine gif ȝe anis begin

I grant the Deuill and warld will be agane ȝow

The feid of frem…it, and crai…ing of ȝour kin

Firſt ȝe … …he …yne terrour to conſtraine ȝow

To ſyle the ſuith, and ſunȝe, I will plane ȝow.

Nehum. 1. Pſalm 31. Pſalm. 34.Ps 31Ps 34The Ȝock is not ſa licht as ſum dois ges.

Bot ȝit hauehave ȝe na dreid quha do diſdane ȝow,

Sen that ȝour fortres ſure is vprichtnes.

For pleis it God ȝout lyfe to lenthen heir,

Thocht all the warld ag…nis ȝow wald conſpyre,

Thay ſ…ll not hauehave the power ȝow to deir,

Albeit thay rage and rin wod in thair Ire,

And gif that God thinks gude be ſword or fyre,

To let ȝow fell b…ay in reddynes:

Being aſſurit that heuin ſalbe ȝour hyre,2. T…. ….

Becaus ȝe endit ſa in vprichtnes.

Let not the luſe of this lyfe temporall,

Quhilk ȝe mon loſe, but let quhen ȝe leiſt wene

Stay ȝow to cois with lyf… Celeſtiall;

Quhen euer that the chois cūmis thame betwene.

Chriſtis ſentence in ȝour gardene keip ay grene,

Quha ſauis his lyfe ſall lois it not the les,Math. 14.Matt 14

Quhilk euin into this warld he… oft bene ſene,

Quhat gaine is than to deny vprichtnes?

Than to conclude, ſen in thir dangerous dayis

Sa mony terrours Tyranis caſts befoir ȝow

Call vponupon God to ſtrenthen ȝow alwayis

That with his haly Spre…t he will decoir ȝow

As he hes done his ſeruands ay befoir ȝow

That ȝe may neuer wink at wickitnes

With Gun & Gainȝe thocht thay boiſt to got ȝowEſai. ….

Sen that ȝour Towre ſa ſure is vprichtnes.

¶FINIS.

M. I. D.

❧ ANE SCHORT DISCVRS OF THE ESTAITIS, quha hes caus to deploir the deith of this Excellent ſeruand of God.

THOW pure contempnit Kirk of God,

In Scotland ſcatterit far abrod,

Quhat leid may let the to lament:

Sen baith the Tyger and the Tod,

Maiſt cruellie cummis the to rent.

Thow wants ane watcheman that tuke tent,

Baith nicht and day that nocht ſuld noy the,

Allace thow wants that Inſtrument,

That was thy Lanterne to conuoy the.

Thy … that fellow …licht,

Was gude Iohne Knox, and … vp…icht,

… …is deith thow daylie may deplo…,

His preſence maid thy bewtie bricht,

And all thy doings did docoir,

He did him h…illi… indeuoir,

Thy richteous actioun to manten…,

And libertie to the reſtoir,

Pleading thy caus with King and Quene.

He neuer hu…t benefice,

Nor catchit was with Co…tice,

Thocht he had offers …ony one:

And was als meit for ſic Office

As outher gellie lok or Iohne,

His mynd was ay ſa the vponupon.

Thy only weilfair was his welth,

Thairfoir lamentſen he is gone,

That huik it nathing for thy helth,

Lament Aſſemblie Generall,

At thy Con…ention in ane, and all,

For thow will mis ane Moderatour,

Quhais preſence mufit greit, and ſmall,

And t…rifeit baith theif and tratour,

With all vn…e… he Ru…i…tour,

Th…i… ioukers durſt not kyith thair cure,

For feir of Faſting in the Fratour,

And tynſall of the charge thay bure.

Bot now I feir that thow ſall ſe,

Greit miſsing of that man to be,

Quhen craftie heidis ſall na mair hyde,

The hurde of thair Hypocriſie,

Bot all ſinceirne: ſet a ſyde,

With policie will all things gyde,

Thir Balamis birds fair may thow fei…:

Thairfoir be Godds buke abyde,

And to ſic Bablers giuegive na en.

GiueGive …range opinio…nis …nteris in,

Tak tent quha ſic things dois begin,

And with ſic matoris mynts to mell,

For Sathan coiſis not fra fin,

The Kirk of Chriſt ſeiking to quell,

Sic foly faill not to refell:

For quhen the reik beginnis to ryfe,

The fyre will follow as thay tell,

Be it not quencheit be the wyſe.

Bot cheifly murne and mak thy mane,

Thow Kirk of Edinburgh allane,

For thow may re… by all the reſt,

That this day thow wants ſickin ane,

Thy ſpeciall Paſtour: and the beſt

That ony Kirk had Eiſt, of weſt.

He did comfort the in all cair,

And the foirwairnd of thy moleſt,

Quhanby thow micht thy ſelf prepair.

Thair was na troubile come to the,

Bot he foirſpak it oppinlie,

Thocht ſum the mater than did mock,

Gif he ſpak ſuith now thow may ſe,

This day thy heid is in the ȝock,

God ſend the blyithnes of this block,

And freith the from thy fals aboue the,

For tho… art the maiſt feruent flock

That Scotland beiris, as deid dois proue the.

And giuegive God ſa h in dills the beſt,

Allace quhat ſill cum of the reſt,

Except repentance …n and red:

It is ane Mirrour manifeſt,

Of dule and dolour to be dred,

To fall on thame this barret bred.

Bot till our purpois to returne,

Thocht of this feir thow ſalbe fred,

Ȝit hes thow mater for to murne.

Becaus that watchem…n …

That the in puritie did plant,

And comfortit thy Congregatioun:

Bot ȝit thocht he be gane…l grant

The Lord can ſend the conſolatioun,

Gif thow giuegive him dew adoratioun,

He will not leaue the comfortles.

As alreddy thow he…, probatioun,

God grant thy Preicheours vprichtnes.

¶Ȝe Lords alſo that doit frequent,

The Loft in Sanct Geills Kirk lament,

That Bogill thair that ȝe hard blaw,

With quhome quhyles ȝe wer ſmall content,

For the ſchai…p threitnings he did ſchaw:

Ȝit thay maid ȝow ſum quhat ſtand a…,

Thocht not ſo muche as naid requyrit:

This day in graue he lyis full law,

Quhilk langtyme was of him, deſyrit.

For ſeing all things not go weill,

He ſaid thair ſuld not mis ane reill.

That ſuld the chaifeſt walkin vp.

Gif he ſaid ſuith this day ȝe feill,

Luke gif God hes begun to quhup,

Bot thair byds ȝit ane fowrer Cup▪

Except ȝour manere ȝe amend,

The dreggs but dout als ȝe ſall ſup,

From quhilk danger God ȝow defend.

Sanctandrois als not to leif out,

His deith thow may deploir but dout,

Thow knaw is he lude the by the laue

For firſt in the he gaue the rout,

Till Antechriſt that Romiſche ſlaue,

Preicheing that Chriſt did only ſaue.

Bot laſt, of Edinburgh expreſt.

Quhen he was not far fra his graue,

He come to the by all the reſt.

God grant that thow may thankfull be,

For his greit graces ſchawin to the,

In ſending the his feruands trew,

Amen. Thow heiris na mair of me.

Bot Kyle, and Cuninghame may rew,

Als ſair as ony that I ſchew,

To quhome this darling was maiſt d…ir.

And vther gentill men anew,

Quhome I hauehave not reheirſit heir.

Than laſt of all to turne to ȝow,

That wer our brethren, bot not now:

God grant agane ȝe may cum ham…,

For we ſuld wis ȝour weill I vow,

As alſo did this man be Name,

Thocht ſum ſaid he did ȝow defame,

He prayit to God that ȝe micht turne,

That ȝe micht ſchaip Eternall ſchame,

Thairfoir ȝour part is als to murne.

For doutles he was mair ȝour freind,

Nor thay that win kit, or manteind

Ȝour fuliſche factioun and vnfair.

In deid that ȝe ſuld not ſuſteind,

He thunderit threitnings to the air,

To terrifie ȝow mair and mair,

And rug ȝow back that ȝe micht rew:

For he knew perſeueird ȝe thair,

Ȝe wer bot ſchipwrak but reſkew.

Than all this land thow may lament,

That thow lacks ſic ane Inſtrument,

Till ſum not pleſand, ȝit, ſa plane,

That all the godly was content.

Allace his lyke he left not ane,

Nor I feir fall not ſe agane:

Bot ȝit let vsus nawayis diſpair,

For quhy our God dois ȝit remane,

Quha can and will for his prepair.

For thocht his deith we do deploi…,

Ȝit is he not our God thairfoir:

As wickit warldlings wald obtend,

Gone is ȝour God quhairin ȝe gloir.

The le…ing God we mak it kend,

Is he, on quhome …e do depend,

Quha will not leaue vsus in diſtres,

Bot will his ſeruands till vsus ſend,

Till gyde vsus throw this wildernes.

Thairfoit letting thir Bablers be,

Quhais cheif Religioun is to lie,

And all Godds ſeruands to backbyte,

Traducing this man principallie:

Let thame ſpow out in tha… diſpyte,

All that thay will be word or wryte.

Lyke as him ſelf is into gloir,

Sa ſall all ages ay recyit,

Iohne Knoxis Name, with greit d…coir.

¶FINIS.

❧ QVAM TVTVM SIT PROPVGNACVLVM, DEO ſine fuco inſeruire, ex mirifica eximij Dei ſerui IOANNIS KNOXII, in tranquillum vitae exitum, illuſis omnibus impiorum conatibus, conſeruatione, & eius exemplum ſequi, monemur.

QVEM petiere diu crudeles igne tyranni,

Saepius, & ſerro quem petiere duces.

Occubuit (mirum) nullo violatus ab hoſte,

Eximius Chriſti KNOXIVS ille ſator.

Nam pater Aethereus Regum moderatur habenas,

Electoſque poten… protegit vſque ſuos.

Muniat hinc igitur noſtras fiducia mentes,

Ne m…rs nos tetricis terreat vlla minis,

Quó que minus trepidi ſiſtamus tramite recto,

Huſu… …e pige it viuere more viri.

¶FINIS.

Quod M. I. D.

End of the text · John Davidson, Brief Commendation of Uprightness (1573)