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SOUTHERN BRANCH
OVERS ofCALIFORNI
LIBRARY
IX>3 ANGELES, CAUR
SELECTIONS
FROM THE
EARLY SCOTTISH POETS
EDITED WITH
INTRODUCTION, NOTES AND GLOSSARY
BY
WILLIAM HAND BROWNE
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IITSRATURE IN THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVKRSITr
BALTIMORE
THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS
1896
f*1
28257
Copyright, 1896, by The Johns Hopkins Press.
JOHN MURPHY & CO., PRINTERS,
BALTIMORE.
INTRODUCTION,
It is a common error to regard the Scottish language
as a corrupted and somewhat barbarous dialect of
English. So far from this being so, the Lowland
Scots is an ancient tongue, at least as ancient as that
spoken on the Thames, and fully as well entitled to
call itself English, as being the direct descendant of
the old Northern or Angle speech.
(^ In the very earliest Old English (or Anglo-Saxon)
•^ literature we find four forms of speech : the Northum-
n. brian north of the Humber, the Mercian or Midland
between the Humber and the Thames, the West Saxon
(0 at the south, and the Kentish in the south-east. Of
Q) these the Northumbrian and the Midland were both
Anglian, or developments of the language of the Angles,
v, J the most numerous and powerful of the conquerors of
i Britain.
^T After the subsidence of the disturbances made in the
<i language by the Norman Conquest — say towards the
end of the thirteenth century — the Midland began to
assume a predominant position, and so became the
parent of modern English ; the southern dialects
1
r
2 INTRODUCTION.
gradually degenerated into local patois; but the North-
ern held its own, and in Scotland was the language of
letters, law, and diplomacy for centuries.
While the people now living between the Forth and
the Tweed, who are really, as will presently be shown,
successors and descendants of an Anglian population,
call themselves Scots, the name Scots originally denoted
an Irish people. The transference of this name came
about in the following way.
In the very earliest accounts that we have of Cale-
donia (as the Romans called the northern part of
Britain) we are told of two races occupying it; the
Picts at the north and the Britons at the south. But,
at the beginning of the sixth century, an Irish chief-
tain with a body of his countrymen calling themselves
Scots, crossed over to the western coast and founded a
kingdom. Those Irish Scots were Christians, and ap-
parently much more advanced in arts and civilization
than the Picts and Britons, and they increased in terri-
tories and power ; and in the eighth century Picts and
Scots were merged into one empire or kingdom under
the King of the Scots. Late in the tenth century the
Britons of Strath clyde were also brought under the
same rule.
While these three peoples, Picts, Scots, and Britons,
were all — the Scots and Britons certainly, and the Picts
almost certainly— of the Keltic stock, they had upon
INTRODUCTION. 3
their southeastern border a people of Teutonic blood.
In the seventh century the great Anglian kingdom of
Northumbria extended as far Dorth as the Forth. In
the succeeding centuries this northern part of Northum-
bria was a debatable land, and the boundary advanced
and receded, until by successive treaties, all that part
north of the Tweed came under the dominion of the
King of the Scots. But even then it was recognized as
an English land, and had its own language, laws, and
customs.
Scotland, however, all this time remained a Keltic
monarchy ; and what we may call the national speech —
meaning the speech of the great majority of the popu-
lation, and of the court and great chiefs — was a Keltic
tongue, the Gaelic. But about the latter half of the
eleventh century all this began to be changed ; the
Angle-speech of Northumbria began to supersede the
Gaelic as the speech of the court and of the laws, and
gradually to thrust it into a subordinate, and even a
discredited position. The causes which led to this
change were chiefly these: Malcolm Canmore, son of
King Duncan by a Northumbrian lady, was half-
Anglian by blood, and more than half by predilection.
Fleeing from the power of Macbeth, he found an asy-
lum at the court of Edward the Confessor, where he
saw an order, dignity, and refinement hitherto unknown
in his comparatively barbarous kingdom, and a land
4 INTRODUCTION.
governed by written laws instead of tribal customs and
the arbitrary pleasure of savage chiefs. Immediately
after the Conquest, Malcolm married the sainted Mar-
garet, sister of Edgar the Atheling, the lineal heir to
the English crown ; a lady whose character and virtues
have been exalted by legend to the miraculous, and
must have profoundly influenced not her husband only,
but the whole people. At the same time, the flight of
great numbers of the English of the north over the
border into Scotland to escape the heavy hand of Wil-
liam, who were heartily welcomed by Malcolm, made
an addition to the Lowland population even more in-
fluential than numerous. From this time forth, the
English-speaking part of the population began to be
predominant, and the royal line more closely identified
with them, losing at the same time its hold upon the
affections and loyalty of the Gaelic population.
The earliest extant specimens of the Anglian speech
of Scotland, are some charters of Edgar in the begin-
ning of the twelfth century ; but the loss of records
leaves us in the dark as to the transformations it under-
went, until the fourteenth century, when we find a rich
and regular literary Scottish, differing but slightly from
the language then in use in Northumbria. This was
now the national language of Scotland, the language
of the court and diplomacy, of the parliament and
the laws, of poets and prose-writers. The writers and
INTRODUCTION. O
speakers, very properly, called it "Inglis," the term
" Scottis " being sometimes applied to the Gaelic.
In the fifteenth century we can perceive that a dif-
ferentiation has taken place between the language ot
literature and the familiar speech of everyday life. The
former is statelier, and adorned with words borrowed
from the Latin and French ; the latter vernacular,
racily idiomatic, and with an extraordinarily rich voca-
bulary of quaint and graphic words and phrases which
were not admitted to the literary speech. Comparison
of Dunbar's serious with his facetious pieces, or of
Douglas's eighth prologue with the others will show
this.
By the time of the Reformation (1560) the literary
speech, as may be seen in the writings of Knox and
others, shows marked southern influences ; and the
accession of James VI to the English crown, and the
removal of the court to London, gave a mortal wound
to the literary Scottish. In London, the northern
tongue was despised as a barbarous dialect ; and the
men of letters who followed James to the capital, such
as Alexander and Aytoun, tried to write the English
of Jonson and Drayton. Their influence reached even
home-staying scholars, like Drummond, in whose works
a Scotticism can rarely be found.
But, though the literary language perished, the
vernacular speech survived, was, doubtless, habitually
6 • INTRODUCTION.
spoken even by scholars and literary men, and was used
in humorous, satirical, and rustic compositions, and in
popular songs. Checked by no standard, it ran into
dialects, which subdivided into local patois. Thus the
Scotch of Burns is not the Scotch of Aberdeen, or
Edinburgh, or Annandale, but that of Ayrshire, much
degraded, phonetically, by the loss of consonants.
The period illustrated by these specimens is that of
the literary language, and covers about two centuries.
Grammatical.
The spelling of the early Scottish scribes is very ar-
bitrary, the same word often occurring with different
spellings in the same sentence. The northern forms of
Wyntoun differ greatly from those of his contemporary
James I, whose southern Scottish was much influenced
by his residence at the English court, and his study of
Chaucer. A few points, however, may be noticed.
The vowels i and y are constantly interchanged, as
feit,feyt (feet). The long o is sometimes represented by
oi or oy, as hoip (hope) roys (rose) ; and the same diph-
thong often replaces u, as roif, rufe; reproif, reprufe.
The vowel u is often represented by the character v,
as vgsum (ugly), and sometimes by w, as wpe (up).
On the other hand, u or w frequently represents the
consonantal v; as leues (leaves), lewyt (left). The
consonants / and v often interchange ; as lufit or luvit
• INTRODUCTION. i
(loved). F is doubled at discretion, as lufe, luiff
(love) : and even initially, asffrawart (insolent), which,
however, was the ancient way of capitalizing the letter.
A long o or a, followed by a consonant, is sometimes
lengthened by an epenthetic and silent I; as chalmir
(chamber) woilk (woke). The combination wh is repre-
sented by quh; as quheill (wheel). The character 3,
when initial represents modern g or y; as jeit (yet)
jett (gate) ; when following I or n, a liquid sound
analogous to the French I mouille, or gne ; as faityie
(Fr. faillir), ensen^e (Fr. enseigne).
The regular vowel equivalents are these :
Modern English ee and ea are represented by ei or ey,
as feit (feet), heyt (heat).
Modern English and oa, by a or ai, as stane (stone),
hair (boar).
Modern English 6 (= u), by u, as cum (come).
Modern English 00, by u or ui, as gude (good), buih
(book).
Modern English ow (diphthongal), by ou, as toun
(town).
Modern English ow (= 5), by aw, as snaw (snow).
Modern English ou (=aw), by 0, as bocht (bought).
The possessive case and plural of nouns are regularly
formed by the suffix is or ys; as the king is quair (the
king's book), by bukis and bellis (by books and bells).
This was sometimes pronounced as a separate syllable,
8 INTRODUCTION.
and sometimes as a simple s, as may be seen from these
lines of Henry son :
"Seis thow not buddis beiris bernis throw,
And giftis garris crukit materis hald full evin?"
(Seest thou not that bribes carry men through,
And gifts make crooked matters hold full straight?)
when the metre shows that the second line is to be read —
"And gifts gars crukit maters hald full evin."
There are also a few weak plurals, such as eyne (eyes) ;
mutation-plurals, as mys (mice), cy (cows) ; and un-
changed plurals, as hors, scheip. Childir (children)
and brether (brethren) are the only representatives of
their class.
The pres. pron. of the 2d pers. pi. takes ye, je in the
nominative, and yow, $ow, in the accusative and dative:
" I trow ye haif bene tussillit with sum tyke,
That garris yow ly sa still" —
(I believe you have been worried by some dog,
That makes you lie so still).
The pres. ind. of the verb is formed thus :
I stand
thou standis we, ye, thai stand or standis 1
he standis
1 Stand when immediately following we, ye, thai, standis after
other words.
INTRODUCTION.
The imperative pi. has both forms, as haffis gude day
(have good day), tak ye na dout (take ye no fear).
The following strong preterits in our texts have stem-
vowels different from those in modern English : —
Kest, lap.
buke, forsuke, fure, leuche, schuke, stude, swoir, tuke,
wesche, wox (woix).
bare (bure), brak, come, schure, spak, stall.
ete, gaif.
berst, clam, fand, faucht, fiang, hang, rong, song,
swang, wan, yald.
baid (bad), draif, grap, raid (rad), raif, rais, straik
(strak).
flawe, crap.
Dawe (dawn) and schawe (show) originally weak,
have taken the strong preterits dewe and schewe.
The preterits and past participles of weak verbs
regularly end in it or yt, as assayit, myssyt. Contracted
forms like bimeist (burnished),/?/^ (defiled), are com-
mon. Weak preterits with vowel-change follow the
general analogies, as tald (told), socht (sought).
The present participle regularly ends in and, and is
kept distinct from the verbal noun in ing or yng ; thus
he wes cumand (he was coming), but at his cumyng (at
his coming).
Phonetic degradation by the loss of consonants is
seen even in Barbour, who has ta, ma, mayss for tak,
10 INTRODUCTION.
male, makis. Other instances, such as lude for lufit
(loved) occur.
The old English pleonastic form with gin and gan,
as " Phoebus gins arise," is replaced in early Scottish
by can and couth; as "out a suerd can draw " = draws
out a sword; "undir buskis couth thai creip" = they
crept under bushes. Do is also used pleonastically, as —
"But ony spot or macull doing spring" —
(Springing without any spot or stain.)
The anomalous form begouth (began) seems to have
arisen from an analogy with couth (could).
The preposition to occurs in the forms to and till, the
former usually before a consonant, and the latter before
a vowel or h; e. g. —
" I will appele to the Pape, and pas till him playne."
Barbour, however, has till ded, till the castell, etc.
A somewhat peculiar idiom is the substantive use of
adjectives, as the bald (the bold one), that tenefull (that
wrathful one), etc. Thus, " quhen the pur present him
had," i. e. " when the poor creature had presented
himself."
The vocabulary shows considerable differences from
that of the Midland tongue. Besides many peculiar
indigenous words, there are a number from the Scan-
INTRODUCTION. 1 1
dinavian, and very many from the French, which were
not current south of the Tweed. In the fifteenth cen-
tury there grew up an affectation of embellishing the
literary language with Latinisms like preclair, sempi-
terne, celicall.
Versification.
Most of the following extracts are in Chaucer's
metres, lines of eight or ten syllables, with the stress
falling on the even syllables. Contrary to Chaucer's
practice, the final e rarely makes a syllable ; and the
scribes seem to have added or dropped this e very arbi-
trarily. James I, however, who was a close imitator of
Chaucer, follows, in the main, his master's use. In the
Kingis Quair adjectives following the definite article,
take e, as
" The scharpe, grene, suete ienepere " —
and the final e is elided in pronunciation, when the next
word begins with a vowel. But in nearly all this poe-
try, the ear is the only guide to the pronunciation of
the final e.
But beside the Chaucerian verse, another form is rep-
resented in these extracts, and that is the ancient four-
stressed alliterative verse, with an indefinite number of
unstressed syllables. Dunbar uses it without rime in
his Twa Mariit Wemen, frequently adding a fifth
stressed syllable : —
12 INTRODUCTION.
/ / / / „ ' ,-
" I drew in deme to the dyk to dirkm eftir myrthis,
/ / / / 7 . „
The dew donkit the daill, and dynant the fouhs."
In The Hoivlat, Rauf Coityar and Kynd Kittok, we
have the two principles combined in a very peculiar
stanza, which King James VI, in his Reulis and Cau-
telis, calls " tumbling verse."
JOHN BARBOUR.
John Barbour, born in Aberdeenshire about 1320, was Archdeacon of
Aberdeen, and held various honorable offices, dying about 1395. His vers-
ified Chronicle, The Bruce, is the earliest poem in the Scottish tongue that
has come down to us. He is believed to have been the author of a legend-
ary account of the ancient Scottish Kings, called The Brut, which is lost,
and some have attributed to him a collection of Legends of Saints, still
extant.
Praise of Freedom.
Alas ! that folk that euir wes fre,
And in fredome wount for to be,
Throw thar gret myschance and foly,
War tretyt than sa wykkytly,
That thar fays thar iugis war ; 5
Quhat wrechitnes may man have mar ?
A ! fredome is a noble thing !
Fredome mayss man to haiff liking ;
Fredome all solace to man giftis,
He levys at ess that frely levys ! 10
A noble hart may haiff nane ess,
Na ellys nocht that may him pless,
Gyff fredome fail^he ; for fre liking
Is sharnyt our all othir thing.
Na he that ay hass levyt fre, 15
May nocht knaw weill the propyrte,
The angyr, na the wrechyt dome
That is cowplyt to foule thyrldome.
13
14 JOHN BARBOUR.
Bot gyff he had assayit it,
Than all perquer he suld it wyt, 20
And snld think fredonie mar to pryss
Than all the gold in warld that is.
Battle of Bannockbum.
In this tyme that I tell of her,
That the battall on this maner
Wes strikin, quhar on athir party
Thai war fechtand richt manfully,
^hemen, swanys, and poveraill, 5
That in the pare to ^heyme vittale
War left ; quhen thai wist, but lesing,
That thair lordis with fell fichtyng
On thair fais assemblit war,
Ane of them-selwyne that was thar 10
Capitane of thame all thai maid ;
And schetis that war sum-deill braid
Thai festnyt in steid of baneris
Apon lang treis and on speris,
And said that thai wald se the ficht, 15
And help thar lordis at thar mycht.
Quhen her-till all assentit war,
And in a rowt assemblit ar,
XV thousand thai war and ma.
And than in gret hy thai can ga 20
With thair baneris all in a rout,
As thai had men beyn stith and stout.
Thai com with all that assemble
JOHN BARBOUR. 15
Richt quhill thai mycht the battale se.
Than all at anys thai gaf ane cry — 25
" Apon thame ! on thame hardely ! "
And thar-with-all cuniand ar thai.
Bot thai war ^eit weill fer avay,
And Yngliss men, that ruschit war
Throu forss of ficht, as I said air, 30
Quhen thai saw cum with sic a cry
Toward thame sic ane cumpany,
That thai thoucht weill als mony war
As at war fechtand with thame thai',
And thai befor had thame nocht seyne, 35
Than, wit }he weill, withouten weyne,
Thai war abasit so gretumly,
That the best, and the mast hardy
That wes in-till the oost that day
Wald, with thar mensk, haue beyn avay, 40
The King Robert be thair relyng,
Saw thai war neir discomfyting,
And his ensen^e can hely cry.
Than with thame of his cumpany
His fais presit so fast, that thai 45
War than in-till sa gret effray,
That thai left place ay mar and mar.
For all the Scottis men that war thar,
Quhen thai saw thame eschew the ficht,
Dang on thame swa with all thar mycht, 50
That thai scalit in tropellis ser,
And till discumfitur war ner ;
And sum of thame fled all planly.
But thai that wicht war and hardy,
That scharne letit till ta the flicht, 55
00
16 JOHN BARBOUR.
At gret myschef mantemyt the ficht,
And stithly in the stour can stand.
And quhen the King of Ingland
Saw his men fle in syndry place,
And saw his fais rout, that was
Worthyn so wicht and so hardy,
That all his folk war halely
Swa stonayit that thai had no mycht
To sty nt thair fais in the ficht,
He was abasit so gretumly (ir >
That he and all his cumpany,
V hundreth armyt weill at rycht,
In-till a frusche all tuk the flycht,
And till the castell held ther way.
And 3eit, as I herd sum men say, 70
That of Wallanch Schir Amer
Quhen he the feld saw vencust ner,
By the ren}e led avay the king,
Agane his will fra the fichting.
And quhen Schir Gelis de Argente 75
Saw the king thus and his men^e
Schape thame to fle so spedely,
He com richt to the kyng in hy
And said, " Schir, sen that it is swa
That }e thusgat }our gat will ga, 80
Hafiis gud day ! for againe will I.
}heit fled I neuir, sekirly,
And I cheiss heir to byde and de
Than till lif heir and schamfully fle."
His brydill than, but mair abaid, 85
He turnyt, and agane he raid,
And on Schir Eduard the Brysis rout
JOHN BARBOUR. 17
That wes so sturdy and so stout,
As dreid of nakyn thing had he,
He prikit, cryand " Argente ! " 90
And thai with speris swa him met,
And swa feill speris on hym set,
That he and horss war chargit swa
That bath doune to the erd can ga ;
And in that place than slayne wes he. 95
Of his ded wes rycht gret pite ;
He wes the thrid best knycht, perfay,
That men wist liffand in his day ;
And did mony a fair iourne.
On Sarisenis thre deren^eis did he, 100
And in-till ilk deren^e of thai
He vencust Sarisenis twa ;
His gret worschip tuk thar ending.
And fra Schir Amer with the kyng
Wes fled, wes nane that durst abyde, 105
Bot fled, scalit on ilka syde.
And thair fais thame presit fast,
Thai war, to say suth, all agast,
And fled swa richt effrayitly
That of thame a full gret party 110
Fled to the wattir of Forth, and thar
The mast part of thame drownit war.
And Bannokburn, betuix the braiss,
Of horss and men so chargit wass,
That apon drownit horss and men 115
Men mycht pass dry atour it then.
And laddis, swanys, and rangall,
Quhen thai saw vencust the battall,
Ran emang thame, and swa can sla
2
18 JOHN BARBOUR.
Thai folk that no defens mycht ma, 120
That it war pite for to se.
I herd neuir quhar, in na cuntre,
Folk at swa gret myschef war stad ;
On a syde thai thair fais had,
That slew thame doune vithout mercy, 125
And thai had on the tothir party
Bannokburne, that sa cummyrsum was
Of slyk, and depnes for till pas,
That thair mycht nane atour it ryde.
Thame worthit, magre thairis, abyde ; 130
Swa that sum slayne, sura drownit war ;
Micht nane eschap that euir com thar.
Siege of Berwick.
Quhen thir folk thus discumfit was
And Scottis men had left the chass,
Thai went thame furthwarde in the land,
Slayand, distroyand, and byrnand.
And thai that at the sege lay, 5
Or it wes passit the fift day,
Had maid thame syndry apparale
To gang eftsonis till assale.
Of gret gestis ane sow thai maid,
That stalward heling owth it had, 10
With armyt men enew thar-in,
And instrumentis als for to inyne.
Syndry scaffatis thai maid vith-all
That war weill hyar than the wall,
JOHN BARBOUR. 19
And ordanit als that by the se 15
The toune suld weill assal^eit be.
And thai vithin, that saw thame swa
So gret apparale schap till ma,
Throu Crabbis consale, that ves sle,
Ane cren thai haf gert dress vp hey 20
Rynand on quhelis that thai mycht bring
It quhar neid war of mast helping.
And pik and ter als haf thai tane,
And lynt and hardiss with brynstane,
And dry treis that weill wald brin, 25
And mellit syne athir othir in ;
And gret flaggatis tharof thai maid,
Gyrdit with irne bandis braid ;
Of thai flaggatis mycht mesurit be
Till a gret tunnys quantite. 30
Thai flaggatis byrnand in a baill
With thair cren thoucht thai till availl,
And gif the sow come to the wall,
Till lat thame byrnand on hir fall,
And with ane stark cheyne hald thame thar 35
Quhill all war brint vp that thar war.
Engynys alsua for till cast
Thai ordanit and maid redy fast,
And set ilk man syne till his ward.
And Schir Valter, the gude Steward, 40
With armyt men suld ryde about,
And se quhar at thar var mast dout,
And succur thar with his men^he.
And quhen thai into sic degre
Had maid thame for thair assaling, . 45
On the Rude-evyn, in the dawing,
50
60
20 JOHN BARBOUR.
The Ingliss host blew till assale.
Than mycht men with ser apparale
Se that gret host cum sturdely ;
The toune enverounyt thai in hy,
And assalit with sa' gud will —
For all thair mycht thai set thar-till —
That thai thame pressit fast of the toune.
Bot thai that can thame abandoune
Till ded, or than till woundis sare, 55
So weill has thame defendit thare,
That ledderis to the ground thai flang,
And vith stanys so fast thai dang
Thair fais, that feill thai left lyand,
Sum ded, sum hurt, and sum swounand.
Bot thai that held on fut, in hy
Drew thame avay deliuerly,
And skunnyrit tharfor na-kyn thing,
Bot went stoutly till assalyng.
And thai abovin defendit ay, 65
And set thame till so harde assay,
Quhill that feill of thame voundit war,
And thai so gret defens maid thar,
That thai styntit thair fais mycht.
Apon sic maner can thai ficht 70
Quhill it wes neir noyne of the day ;
Than thai without, in gret aray,
Pressit thair sow toward the wall ;
And thai within weill soyne gert call
The engynour that takyne was, 75
And gret manans till him mais,
And swoir that he suld de, bot he
Provit on the sow sic sutelte,
JOHN BARBOUR. 21
That he to-fruschyt hir ilke deill.
And he, that has persauit weill 80
That the dede wes weill neir hym till,
Bot gif he mycht fulfill thar will,
Thoucht that he all his mycht vald do ;
Bendit in gret hy than was scho,
And till the sow wes evin set. 85
In hye he gert draw the cleket,
And smertly swappit out the stane,
That evyn out-our the sow is gane,
And behynd hir a litill we
It fell, and than thai cryit hey 90
That war in hir : " furth to the wall !
For dreidles it is ouris all."
The engynour than deliuerly
Gert bend the gyne in full gret hy,
And the stane smertly swappit out. 95
It flaw out, quhedirand, with a rout,
And fell richt evin befor the sow.
Thair hertis than begouth till grow ;
Bot ^eit than with thair myelitis all,
Thai pressit the sow toward the wall, 100
And hass hir set tharto justly.
The gynour than gert bend in hy
The gyne, and swappit out the stane,
That evin toward the lift is gane,
And with gret wecht syne duschit doune 105
Richt by the wall, in a randonne,
And hyt the sow in sic maner,
That it that wes the mast summer,
And starkast for till stynt a strak,
In-swndir with that dusche he brak. 110
22 ANDROW OF WYNTOUN.
The men ran out in full gret hy,
And on the wallis thai can cry,
That thair sowferryit wes thair!
Iohne Crab, that had his geir all Jar,
In his fagatis hass set the fyre, 115
And our the wall syne can thame wyre,
And brynt the sow till brandis bair.
The Bruce, I, 219-240.
X1IJ, 225-356.
XVII, 589-705.
ANDROW OF WYNTOUN.
Thu dittos of Wyntouii's birth and death arc not certainly known. Prom
internal evidence, his Chronicle seems to have been finished before 1424, as
he dues not mention the release and return of James 1. in that year, lie
was a Regular Canon of St. Andrew's, and Trior of St. Serf's in Loch l.evcn.
The Man Bom to be King.
An erle than was nere hym by,
That slwe a man in hys felny,
And for that payne, as hym behowyd,
Prevely he hym removyde
Till a forest nere thare-by ;
And for till lyve thare qwyetly
Wyth his wyff on his tresore,
That he had gaddryd lang before,
ANDROW OF WYNTOUN. 23
A maner plas thar byggyd he
For hym, hys wyff, and hys men^he. 10
The Empryoure than on a day
Rad in huntyng hym to play,
And trawelyd sa lang in that forast
In gamyn, quhill all that day oure past,
And the myrk nycht al suddanly 15
Hym partyd fra his cumpany.
And in that myrk nycht wawerand will,
He hapnyd off cas for to cum till
That ilke new byggyd plas
Quhare that erle than dwelland was. 20
Thare he ressayvyd that Empryowre
Wyth gret reverens and honowre,
And herbryd hym all that nycht,
Quhill on the morne that day wes lycht.
That ilke nycht, as hapnyd thare, 25
The erlys awyn wyffe wes lychtare
Off a knawe barne befor day.
The Empryowre than, quhare he lay,
Herd a woce twys or thrys
Oppynly sayand on this wys : — 30
" This chyld now borne, Empryowre
Shall be, and nest successoure
Till this Conrade, that is syre
And lord now all hale off the Empyre."
Fra this the Empryoure had herd, 35
In till hys thoucht he wes afferde ;
And on the morne rycht ayrly,
Quhen till hym come hys cumpany,
Twa men he bad in prewete
To wayt ane oportunyte, 40
24 ANDROW OF WYNTODN.
And steyle that barne, and wyth it ga
To the wode, and thare it sla ;
And the hart syne till hym bryng,
That he raycht wyt be that taknyng
That the barne all dede suld be, 45
And swa ware brokyn destyne.
The twa men the chyld tuke sone,
The Empryowris byddyng for till have done ;
Bot pyte swa movyd thare thoucht,
That byddyng thai fulfillyd nowcht, 50
Bot in thare gamyn thai slwe a hare :
The hart off it thai wyth thame bare,
And gave it to this Schyre Conrad,
And sayd thai dyd as he thame bad :
That wes, that thai slwe the child, 55
And lefft hym in that forast wild.
It hapnyd a duk to cum rydand
Quhare that that child wes qwyk lyand :
That chyld he tuk, and bare it hame,
And till his wyf than sayd he, " Dame, 60
Bring up this barne now, I pray the,
For he may hapnyn owre ayre to be,
Syne we ar lyk na barne till hawe,
Nothir madyn child, na knawe."
The barne scho tuk than blythly, 65
And browcht hym up rycht tendyrly.
Lang efftyre this, in pylgrinage
This ilke Empryoure hys wayage
Tuk, and in till his way
Wyth this duk he ete a day. 70
Before the burde than standand thare
The dukis brede this childe than schare,
ANDEOW OF WYNTOUN. 25
For he wes yhowng and avenand,
And till all lordis rycht plesand.
Be sura consayt yhit than agayne 75
The Empryowre wald he had bene slayne.
Than to that duk in prewete
He sayd ane errand gret had he
For^het, that the Empryce
Behowyde to do on onywys ; 80
Quharefore he made hym than prayere
That that chyld inycht a lettyr bere
Til hys wyff in prewyte.
The duk hym lewyd, and than he
Wrat in that lettyr on this wys, 85
Be strayt byddyng the Emprys
Scho suld ger that chyld be put to ded
But ony maner off reined.
Gyff scho had gert that lettyr rede,
Thir wordis thare war wryttyne in dede : — 90
" Visa litera, lator illius morte moriatur."
Quhen this child thus lewyd was,
He buskyd hym hys way to pas,
And wyst rycht noucht of this perylle.
Bot it hapnyd in that qwhille, 95
Wyth a prest in till his way
He ete, and bad wyth hym a day.
And as he wes than thare slepand,
A fayre purs he had hyngand.
The prest that purs openyd swne, 100
And fand in it that lettyr dwne,
That he opnyd, and red the payne
The berere off it for to be slayne.
That lettyr away than pwte he qwyte,
26 ANDROW OF WYNTOUN.
And sone ane othir than couth he wryte, 105
As send fra the Empryowre
To the Empryce wyth honowre.
Sayan d :
"Visa litera,filia mea latori tradatar."
" This lettyr sene, ray dochtyre dere
Sone thow spows wyth the herere." 110
He closyd this lettyr curywsly,
And in the purs all prewely
He pwt it, quhare the tothir was.
The child fra slepe thare-efftyr ras ;
Off all this dede wyst he rycht noucht, 115
Bot on his trawale set hys thoucht,
And on his way age furth he past.
To the Emprys at the last
He come, "and present wyth honowre
That lettyr, fra the Empryowre, 120
He sayd wes send ; and honestly
Scho hym resayvyd, and hasty ly
That lettyr scho gert till hyre rede.
And efftyr that rycht sone in dede
Scho gave to that child hyr dochtyr fayre 125
Till hys wyff, syne scho wes ayre
Till hyr lorde the Empryowre,
As off that lettyr the tenowre
Bad, that al swa suld be done.
The Empryowre thare-efftyr sone 130
Hapnyd to cum hame suddenly.
The child remowed hym prewely,
Quhill that he mycht here or se
Gyff that all mycht sykkyre be.
The Empryowre thare-efftyre sone 135
ANDROW OF WYNTOUN. 27
Speryd, how that scho had done
Off the lettyr that he hyr send.
Than tald scho hym fra end till end ;
And sayd scho had fullfillyd welle
All hys byddyng ilka delle. 140
And fra he herd that this wes done
He trowyde he wes the dukys sone,
He held hym payit off that spowsall,
And gave that child full governale
Off hys land wyth hys dochtyr fayre. 145
Destyne swa mad hym ayre
Till Conrade this Empryoure,
And tyll hym hys neyst successoure.
Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, VI, 1185-1332.
28 KING JAMES I.
KING JAMES I.
James I., son of Robert III., and great-grandson of Robert Bruce, was
born in 1394. On the tragical death of his elder brother, the Duke of
Rothesay, James, then about eleven years old, was sent for safety to
France; but the ship which bore him was taken by the English, and the
young prince held as a prisoner by Henry IV. That politic sovereign,
however, treated him rather as a friendly hostage than as a captive: the
prince was educated in all knightly accomplishments, and accompanied
Henry V. on his campaign in France. James was devoted to letters, and
an enthusiastic admirer of Chaucer. During bis captivity he became en-
amored of Lady Jane Beaufort, niece of Henry IV. ; and the rise of this
passion is allegoric-ally described in his Kingis Quair, or "King's Book."
James was released in 1424, married Lady Jane, and at once returned to
Scotland and was crowned. His severity in repressing t lie lawlessness of
his turbulent and rapacious barons, raised up a conspiracy against him,
and on the night of February 20, 1437, he was assassinated by a band of
ruffians in the Black Friars' monastery at Perth. One or two smaller
pieces, beside The Kingis Quair, are attributed to James.
First Sight of his Lady.
Bewailing in my chamber thus allone,
Despeirid of all ioye and remedye,
For-tirit of my thoght, and wo begone,
Unto the wyndow gan I walk in hye,
To se the warld and folk that went forby ;
As for the tyme, though I of mirthis fude
Myght haue no more, to luke it did me gude.
Now was there maid fast by the touris wall
A gardyn faire, and in the corneris set
KING JAMES I.
29
Ane herbere grene, with wandis long and small 10
Railit about ; and so with treis set
Was all the place, and hawthorn hegis knet,
That lyf was non walking there forby,
That myght within scarse ony wight aspye.
So thik the bewis and the leues grene 15
Beschadit all the aleyes that there were,
And myddis euery herbere myght be sene
The scharpe grene suete ienepere,
Growing so faire with branchis here and there,
That, as it semyt to a lyf without, 20
The bewis spred the herbere all about.
And on the smalle grene twistis sat
The lytill suete nyghtingale, and song
So loud and clere the ympnis consecrat
Off lufis vse, now soft, now lowd among, 25
That all the gardyng and the wallis rong
Ryght of thaire song, and on the copill next
Of thaire suete armony, and lo the text :
CANTUS.
" Worschippe, }e that loueris bene, this may, 30
For of }our blisse the kalendis are begonne,
And sing with vs, away, winter away !
Cum, somer, cum, the suete sesoun and sonne !
Awake for schame ! that have }our hevynnis wonne,
And amorously lift up }our hedis all, 35
Thank lufe that list 30U to his merci call."
30 KING JAMES I.
Quhen thai this song had song a lytill thrawe,
Thai stent a quhile, and therewith vnaffraid,
As I beheld and kest inyn eyne adawe,
From beugh to beugh thay hippit and thai plaid, 40
And freschly, in thaire birdis kynd, arraid
Thaire fetheris new, and fret tharae in the Sonne,
And thankit lufe, that had thaire makis wonne.
This was the plane ditee of thaire note,
And there-with-all vnto my-self I thoght 45
" Quhat lyf is this that makis birdis dote ?
Quhat may this be, how cummyth it of ought ?
Quhat nedith it to be so dere ybought ?
It is nothing, trowe I, bot feynit chere,
And that men list to counterfeten chere." 50
Eft wald I think, " O lord, quhat may this be ?
That lufe is of so noble myght and kynde,
Lufing his folk, and suich prosperitee
Is it of him, as we in bukis fynd ?
May he oure hertes setten and vnbynd ? 55
Hath he vpon oure hertis suich maistrye ?
Or all this is bot feyny t fantasye ?
" For gif he be of so grete excellence
That he of euery wight hath cure and charge,
Quhat have I gilt to him or doon offense, 60
That I am thrall, and asd birdis gone at large,
Sen him to serue he myght set my corage?
And gif he be noght so, than may I seyne
Quhat makis folk to iangill of him in veyne ?
KING JAMES I. 31
" Can I noght elles fynd, bot gif that he 65
Be lord, and as a god may lyue and regne,
To bynd and louse, and maken thrallis free,
Than wold I pray his blisfull grace benigne
To hable me vnto his seruice digne ;
And euermore for to be one of tho 70
Him trewly for to serue in wele and wo."
And there-with kest I doun myn eye ageyne
Quhare as I sawe, walking vnder the toure,
Full secretly new cummyn hir to pleyne,
The fairest or the freschest 3onge floure 75
That euer I sawe, me thoght, before that houre,
For quhich sodayn abate anon astert
The blude of all my body to my hert.
And though I stude abaisit tho a lyte,
No wonder was ; for-quhy my wittis all 80
Were so ouercom with plesance and delyte
Onely throu latting of myn eyen fall,
That sudaynly my hert became hir thrall
For euer, of free wyll ; for of manace
There was no takyn in hir suete face. 85
And in my hede I drewe ryght hastily,
And eft-sones I lent it forth ageyne,
And sawe hir walk, that verray womanly,
With no wight mo, bot onely wommen tueyne.
Then gan I studye in my-self, and seyne 90
" A ! suete, ar }e a warldly creature,
Or hevinly thing in liknesse of nature ?
32 KING JAMES I.
" Or are ^e god Cupidis owin princesse,
And cummyn ar to louse me out of band?
Or are ^e verray Nature the goddesse, 95
That have depaynted with 3our hevinly hand
This gardyn full of flouris as they stand?
Quhat sail I think, allace ! quhat reuerence
Sail I minister to ^our excellence?
" Gif 3e a goddesse be, and that }e like 100
To do me payne, I may it noght astert ;
Gif }e be warldly wight that dooth me sike,
Quhy lest God mak 3011 so, my derrest hert,
To do a sely prisoner thus smert,
That lufis pw all, and wot of noght bot wo? 105
And therefore merci, suete ! sen it is so."
Quhen I a lytill thrawe had maid my moon,
Bewailling myn infortune and my chance,
Vnknawin how or quhat was best to doon,
So ferre i-fallyng into lufis dance, 110
That sodeynly my wit, my contenance,
My hert, my will, my nature, and my mynd,
Was changit clene ryght in an-othir kynd.
Off hir array the form gif I sail write,
Toward hir goldin haire and rich atyre 115
In fret- wise couchit was with perllis quhyte,
And grete balas lemyng as the fyre,
With mony ane emeraut and faire saphire ;
And on hir hede a chaplet fresch of hewe,
Off plumys partit rede, and quhite and blewe; 120
KING JAMES I. 33
Full of quaking spangis bryght as gold,
Forgit of schap like to the amorettis,
So new, so fresch, so plesant to behold,
The plumys eke like to the floure-ionettis,
And othir of schap like to the [violettis] 125
And, aboue all this, there was, wele I wote,
Beautee eneuch to mak a world to dote.
About hir neck, quhite as the fyre amaile,
A gudely cheyne of srnale orfeuerye,
Quhareby there hang a ruby without faille 130
Lyke to ane herte schapin verily,
That, as a sperk of lowe, so wantonly
Semyt birnyng vpon hir quhyte throte ;
Now gif there was gud partye, God it wote !
And forto walk that fresche mayes morowe, 135
An huke sche had vpon hir tissew quhite,
That gudeliare had noght bene sene to-forowe
As I suppose ; and girt sche was a lyte ;
Thus halflyng louse for haste, to suich delyte
It was to see her ^outh in gudelihede, 140
That for rudenes to speke thereof I drede.
In hir was }outh, beautee, with humble aport,
Bountee, richesse, and wonimanly facture,
God better wote than my pen can report :
Wisedome, largesse, estate, and connyng sure 145
In euery point so guydit hir mesure,
In word, in dede, in schap, in contenance,
That nature myght no more hir childe auance.
3
34 KING JAMES I.
The Palace of Venus.
Me thoght that thus all sodeynly a lyght
In at the wyndow come quhare that I lent,
Offquhich the chambere wyndow schone full bryght,
And all my body so it hath ouerwent,
That of my sicht the vertew hale iblent ; 5
And that with all a voce vnto me saide,
" I bring the comfort and hele, be noght affrayde."
And furth anone it passit sodeynly,
Quher it come in, the ryghte way ageyne,
And sone, me thoght, furth at the dure in hye 10
I went my weye, nas nothing me ageyne ;
And hastily, by both the armes tueyne,
I was araisit vp in to the aire,
Clippit in a cloude of cristall clere and faire.
Ascending vpward ay fro spere to spere, 15
Through aire and watere and the bote fyre,
Till that I come vnto the circle clere
Off' Signifere, quhare faire, bryght and schire
The signis schone ; and in the glade empire
Off blisfull Venus, quhar ane cryit now 20
So sodaynly, almost I wist noght how.
Off quhich the place, when as I come there nye,
Was all, me thoght, of cristall stonis wroght,
And to the port I liftit was in hye,
Quhare sodaynly, as quho sais at a thoght, 25
It opnyt, and I was anon in broght
KING JAMES I. 35
Within a chamber, large, rowm, and faire ;
And there I fand of peple grete repaire.
This is to seyne, that present in that place
Me thoght I sawe of euery nacioun 30
Loueris that endit had thaire lyfis space
In lovis seruice, rnony a mylioun,
Off quhois chancis maid is mencioun
In diuerse bukis, quho thame list to se ;
And therefore here thaire namys lat I be. 35
The quhois auenture and grete labouris
Aboue thaire hedis writin there I fand ;
This is to seyne, martris and confessouris,
Ech in his stage, and his make in his hand ;
And there-with-all thir peple sawe I stand, 40
With mony a solempnit contenance,
After as Lufe thame lykit to auance.
Off gude folkis, that faire in lufe befill,
Thare saw I sitt in order by thame one
With hedis hore; and with thame stude Gude-will, 45
To talk and play ; and after that anon
Besydis thame and next there saw I gone
Curage, amang the fresche folkis 3ong,
And with thame playit full merily and song.
And in ane othir stage, endlong the wall, 50
There saw I stand, in capis wyde and lang,
A full grete nowmer; bot thaire hudis all,
Wist I noght quhy, atoure thair eyen hang;
And ay to thame come Repentance amang,
36 KING JAMES I.
And made thanie chere, degysit in his wede : 55
And dounward efter that ^it I tuke hede ;
Ryght ouerthwert the chamber was there drawe
A trevesse thin and quhite, all of plesance,
The quhich behynd, standing there I saw
A warld of folk, and by thaire contenance 60
Thaire hertis semy t full of displesance,
With billis in thaire handis, of one assent
Vnto the iuge thaire playntis to present.
And thaire-with-all apperit vnto me
A voce and said, " tak hede man, and behold : 65
fonder thou seis the hiest stage and gree
Of agit folk, with hedis hore and olde ;
3one were the folke that neuer change wold
In lufe, hot trewly seruit him alway,
In euery age, vnto thair ending-day. 70
For fro the tyme that thai coud vnderstand
The exercise of lufis craft the cure,
Was non on lyve that toke so much on hand
For lufis sake, nor langer did endure
In lufis seruice ; for man, I the assure, 75
Quhen thay of ^outh ressauit had the fill,
}it in thaire age tham lakkit no gude will.
Here bene also of suich as in counsailis
And all thar dedis ware to Venus trewe ;
Here bene the princis faucht the grete batailis, 80
In mynd of quhoui ar maid the bukis iiewe;
Here ben the poetis that the sciencis knewe,
KING JAMES I. 37
Throw out the warld, of lufe in thaire suete layes,
Suich as Ouide and Omere in thaire dayes.
And efter thame down in the nexte stage, 85
There as thou seis the ^onge folkis pleye:
Lo ! thise were thay that, in thaire myddill age,
Seruandis were to lufe in mony weye,
And diuersely happinnit for to deye ;
Sum soroufully, for wanting of thaire raakis, 90
And sum in armes for thaire ladyes sakis.
And othir eke, by othir diuerse chance,
As happin folk all day, as ^e may se ;
Some for dispaire, without recouerance ;
Sum for desyre surmounting thaire degree ; 95
Sum for dispite and othir inmytee ;
Sum for vnkyndenes without a quhy ;
Sum for to moch, and sum for ielousye.
And efter this, vpon ^one stage adoun,
Tho that thou seis stond in capis wyde, 100
}one were quhilum folk of religioun
That from the warld thaire gouernance did hide,
And frely seruit Lufe on euery syde
In secrete, with thaire bodyis and thaire gudis.
And lo ! quhy so thai hingen doun thaire hudis : 105
For though that thai were hardy at assay,
And did him seruice quhilum priuely,
}it to the warldis eye it semyt nay ;
So was thaire seruice halfdel cowardy ;
And for they first forsuke him opynly, 110
38 KING JAMES I.
And efter that thereof had repenting,
For schame thaire hudis oure thaire eyne thay hyng.
And seis thou now }one multitude^ on rawe
Standing, behynde }one trauerse of delyte ?
Sum bene of tham that haldin were full lawe, 115
And take by frendis, nothing thay to wyte,
In ^outh from lufe into the cloistere quite ;
And for that cause are curnmyn recounsilit,
On thame to pleyne that so thame had begilit.
And othir bene amongis thame also, 120
That curnmyn ar to court on Lufe to pleyne,
For he thaire bodyes had bestowit so
Quhare both thaire hertes gruchen ther-ageyne,
For quhich, in all thaire dayes, soth to seyne,
Quhen othir lyvit in ioye and in plesance, 125
Thaire lyf was noght bot care and repentance ;
And quhare thaire hertes gevin were and set,
Coplit with othir that coud noght accord ;
Thus were thai wrangit that did no forfet,
Departing thame that neuer wold discord ; 130
Off ^onge ladies faire, and mony lord
That thus by maistry were fro thair chose dryve,
Full redy were thaire playntis there to gyve."
And othir also I sawe compleyning there,
Vpon fortune and hir grete variance, 135
That quhere in loue so wele they coplit were
With thaire suete makis coplit in plesance,
Sche sodeynly maid thaire disseuerance,
ROBERT HENRYSON. 39
And tuke thame of this warldis corapanye
Withoutin cause, there was non othir quhy. 140
The Kingis Quair, St. 30-50; 74-93.
ROBERT HENRYSON.
The name of Henryson or Henderson is so common in Scotland, that we
cannot identify the poet with certainty. A tradition represents him as
having heen a schoolmaster in Dunfermline. A Master Robert Henryson
was a Fellow of Glasgow University in 1462. Dunbar, in a poem written
about 1506, mentions his death as a recent occurrence. Henryson's poems
that have come down to us are The Testament of Cresseid, Orpheus and Eunj-
dice, the Moral Fables, Robene and Makyne, and some shorter pieces.
Robene and Makyne.
Robene sat on gud grene hill,
Kepand a flok of fe ;
Mirry Makyne said him till,
" Robene, thow rew on me :
I haif the luvit lowd and still, 5
Thir yeiris two or thre ;
My dule in dern bot gif thow dill
Doutless but dreid I de."
Robene answerit, " Be the Rude,
Na thing of lufe I knaw ; 10
40 ROBERT HENRYSON.
Bot keipis my scheip under yone wude,
Lo! quhair thay raik on raw.
Quhat hes marrit the in thy mude,
Makyne, to me thow schaw ;
Or what is lufe, or to be lude? 15
Fane wald I leir that law."
" At luvis lair gif thow will leir,
Take thair ane A, B, C :
Be heynd, courtass, and fair of feir,
Wyse, hardy, and fre ;
So that no danger do the deir,
Quhat dule in dern thow dre;
Preiss thee with pane at all poweir,
Be pacient and previe."
20
Robene answerit hir agane : 25
" I wait nocht quhat is lufe ;
Bot I haif mervell in certaine
Quhat makis the this wanrufe.
The weddir is faire and I am fane,
My scheip gois haill aboif ; 30
And we wald play us in this plane,
They wald us bayth reproif."
" Robene thou reivis me roiff and rest ;
I luve bot the allane."
" Makyne, adew ; the sone gois west, 35
The day is neir-hand gane."
"Robene, in dule 1 am so drest,
That lufe wilbe my bane."
ROBERT HENRYSON. 41
" Ga, lufe, Makyne, quhair evir thow list,
For lemman I luve nane." 40
" Robene, I stand in sic a styll,
I sicht, and that full sair."
" Makyne, I haif bene heir this quhyle,
At hame God gif I wair."
" My huny, Robene, talk ane quhyll, 45
Gif thow will do na mair."
" Makyne, sum uthir man begyle,
For hamewart I will fair."
Robene on his wayis went
Als licht as leif of tre ; 50
Mawkyn murnit in hir intent,
And trowit him nevir to se.
Robene brayd attour the bent ;
Than Makyne cryit on hie —
" Now ma thow sing, for I am schent : 55
Quhat alis lufe at me?"
Mawkyne went hame withowttin faill ;
Full wery eftir cowth weip :
Than Robene in a full fair daill
Assemblit all his scheip. 60
Be that sum parte of Mawkynis aill
Out-throw his hairt cowd creip :
He fallowit hir fast thair till assaill,
And till hir tuke gude keip.
" Abyd, abyd, thow fair Makyne ; 65
A word for ony thing :
42 ROBERT HENRYSON.
For all my luve it salbe thyne,
Withowttin departing.
All haill thy liarte for till haif myne
Is all ray cuvating ; 70
My scheip to morne quhill houris nyne
Will neid of no keping."
" Robene, thow hes hard soung and say,
In gestis and storeis auld,
' The man that will nocht quhen he may, 75
Sail haif nocht quhen he wald.'
I pray to Jesu, every day
Mot eik thair cairis cauld,
That first preissis with the to play
Be firth, forest, or fauld. 80
" Makyne, the nicht is soft and dry,
The weddir is warrae and fair,
And the grene woid rycht neir us by,
To walk attour all quhair.
Thair raa najanglour us espy 85
That is to lufe contrair ;
Thairin, Makyne, bath ye and I
Unsene we ma repair."
" Robene, that warld is all away,
And quyt brocht till ane end, 90
And nevir agane thairto, perfay,
Sail it be as thow wend ;
For of my pane thow maid it play,
And all in vain I spend :
As thow hes done, so sail I say, 95
Murne on, I think to mend.
ROBERT HENRYSON. 43
" Makyne, thow howp of all my heill,
My hairt on the is sett,
And evir mair to the be leill,
Quhill I may leif, but lett ; 100
Nevir to faill as utheris faill
Quhat grace that evir I gett."
" Robene, with the I will nocht deill :
Adew ! for thus we niett."
Makyne went hame blyth annewche, 105
Attour the holtis hair :
Robene murnit, and Makyne lewche ;
Scho sang, he sichit sair ;
And so left him, bayth wo and wreuche
In dolour and in cair, 110
Kepand his hird under a huche,
Amangis the holtis hair.
The Garmond of Gude Ladeis.
Wald my gude Lady lufe me best,
And wirk eftir my will,
I suld ane garmond gudliest
Gar mak hir body till.
Off he honour suld be hir hude 5
Upoun hir heid to weir,
Garneist with govirnance sa gude,
Na demyng suld hir deir.
Her sark suld be hir body nixt,
Of chestetie sa quhyt, 10
44 ROBERT HENRYSON.
With scbame and dreid togidder mixt,
The same suld be perfyt.
Hir kirtill suld be of clene Constance,
Lasit with lesum lufe,
The mail^heis of continuance, 15
For nevir to remufe.
Hir gown suld be of gudliness,
Weill ribband with renowne,
Purfillit with plesour in ilk place,
Furrit with fyne fassoun. 20
Hir belt suld be of benignitie,
About hir middill meit ;
Her inantill of humilitie,
To tholl bayth wind and weit.
Hir hat suld be of fair having, 25
And hir tepat of trewth ;
Her patelet of gude pausing,
Hir hals-ribbane of rewth.
Hir slevis suld be of esperance,
To keip hir fra dispair ; 30
Hir gluvis of the gude governance,
To hyd her fyngearis fair.
Hir schone suld be of sickerness,
In syn that scho nocht slyd ;
Hir hois of honestie, I ges, 35
I suld for hir provyd.
ROBERT HENRYSON. 45
Wald scho put on this garmond gay,
I durst sweir by my seill,
That scho woir never grene nor gray
That set hir half sa weill. 40
The Wolf, the Fox, and the Cadgear.
Quhylum thair wynnit in ane wildernes
As myne authour expresslie can declair,
Ane revand Wolf, that levit upon purches,
On bestiall, and maid him weill to fair ;
Was nane sa big about him he wald spair, 5
And he war hungrie, outher for favour or feid,
Bot in his wraith he weryit thame to deid.
Swa happinit him in watching as he went,
To meit ane Foxe in middis of the way ;
He him foirsaw, and fen^eit to be schent, 10
And with ane bek he bad the Wolf gude day.
" Welcum to me," quod he, " thow russell gray : "
Syne loutit doun, and tuke him be the hand —
" Ryse up, Lowrence, I leif thee for to stand.
" Quhair hes thow bene this sesoun fra my sicht ? 15
Thow sail beir office, and my stewart be,
For thow can knap doun caponis on the nicht,
And lowrand law thow can gar hennis de."
" Schir," said the Foxe, " that ganis nocht for me :
And I am raid, gif they me se on far, 20
That at my figure beist and bird will skar."
46 ROBERT HENRYSON.
" Na," quod the Wolf, " thow can in covert creip
Upon thy warae, and hint thame be the heid ;
And make ane suddand schow upon ane scheip,
Syne with thy wappinis wirrie him to deid." 25
" Schir," said the Foxe, " ye knaw my robe is reid,
And thairfoir thair will na heist abyde me,
Thocht I wald be sa fals as for to hyde me."
" Yes," quod the Wolf, " throw buskis and throw brayes,
Law can thow loure, to cum to thy intent." 30
" Schir," said the Foxe, " ye wait weill how it gais,
Ane lang space fra thame thay will feill my sent,
Then will thay eschaip, suppois I suld be schent ;
And I am schamefull for to cum behind thame,
In to the feild, thocht I suld sleipand find thame." 35
" Na," quod the Wolf, " thow can cum on the wind ;
For everie wrink, forsuith, thow hes ane wyle."
"Schir," said the Foxe, "that beist ye micht call blind,
That micht nocht eschaip than fra me ane myle.
How micht I ane of thame that wyis begyle ? 40
My tippit twa eiris, and my twa gray ene,
Garris me be kend, quhair I wes never sene."
Than said the Wolf, " Lowrence, I heir thee lie,
And castis for perrellis thy ginnis to defend,
Bot all thy son^eis sail nocht availl thee, 45
About the busk with wayis thocht thow wend :
Falset will faille ay at the lattir end.
To bow at bidding, and byde nocht quhill thow brest,
Thairfoir I gif thee counsall for the best."
ROBERT HENRYSON. 47
" Schir," said the Foxe, " it is Leutren ye se, 50
And I can nouthir fische with huke nor net,
To take ane banestikill, thocht we baith suld de ;
I had nane uther craft to win my nieit ;
Bot wer it Pasche, that men suld pultrie eit,
As kiddis, lam bis, or caponis in to ply, 55
To beir your office than wald I nocht set by."
Than said the Wolf in wraith, " Wenis thow with wylis
And with thy mony mowis me to mate ?
It is ane auld dog, doutles, that thow begylis ;
Thow wenis to draw the stra befoir the cat." 60
" Schir," said the Foxe, "God wait, I mene not that;
For, and I did, it wer weill worth that ye
In ane reid raip had tyit me till ane tre.
" But now I se he is ane fule, perfay,
That with his maister fallis in ressoning : 65
I did bot till assay quhat ye wald say :
God wait, my mynd wes on ane uthir thing.
I sail fulfill in all thing your bidding,
Quhat ever ye charge on nichtis or on dayis."
" Weill," quod the Wolf, " I wait weill quhat thow sayis.
70
" Bot yit I will, thow mak to me ane aith
For to be leill attour all levand leid."
" Schir," said the Foxe, " that ane word makis me
wraith,
For now I se ye haif me at ane dreid.
Yit sail I sweir, suppois it be nocht neid, 75
Be Juppiter, and one pane of my heid,
I sail be trew to you, quhill I be deid." •
48 ROBERT HENRYSON.
With that ane Cadgear, with capill and with creillis,
Come carpand furth ; than Lowrence culd him spy ;
The Foxe the flewar of the fresche herring feillis, 80
And to the Wolf he roundis privelie, —
" Schir, yone ar hering the Cadgear caryis by ;
Thairfoir I reid that we se for sum wayis
To get sum fische aganis thir fasting dayis.
" Sen I am Stewart, I wald we had sum stuff, 85
And 3'e ar silver-seik, I wait richt weill ;
Thocht we wald thig, yone verray churlische chuff,
He will nocht gif us ane hering of his creill,
Befoir yone churle on kneis thocht we wald kneill ;
Bot yit I trow alsone that ye sail se 90
Gif I can craft to bleir yone carllis ee.
" Schir, ane thing is, and we get of yone pelf,
Ye mon tak travell, and mak us sum supple ;
For he that will nocht laubour aud help him self,
In to thir dayis he is nocht worth ane fle ; 95
I think to wirk as besie as ane be ;
And ye sail follow ane lytill efterwart,
And gadder hering, for that sail be your part."
With that he kest ane compas far about,
And straucht him doun in middis of the way, 100
As he were deid, he fen^eit him, but dout,
And than upon ane lenth unliklie lay,
The quhyte of his ene he turnit up in tway ;
His toung out hang ane handbreid of his heid,
And still he lay, als straught as he wer deid. 105
ROBERT HENRYSON. 49
The Cadgear fand the Foxe, and he wes fane,
And till him self thus softlie can he say, —
" At the nixt bait in faith ye sail be flane,
And of your skyn I sail mak mittennis tway."
He lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay, 110
And all the trace he trippit on his tais,
As he had herd ane pyper play, he gais.
" Heir lyis the Deuill," quod he, " deid in ane dyke.
Sic ane selcouth saw I nocht this sevin yeir;
I trow ye haif bene tussillit with sum tyke, 115
That garris yow ly sa still withouttin steir :
Schir Foxe, in faith, ye ar deir welcome heir ;
It is sum wyfis malisone, I trow,
For pultrie pyking that lychtit hes on yow.
" Thair sail na pedder, for purs, nor yit for gluifis, 120
Nor yit for poyntis, pyke your pellet fra me;
I sail of it mak mittennis to my luifis,
Till hald my handis hait quhair euer I be :
Till Flanderis sail it neuer saill the se."
With that in hy he hint him be the heillis, 125
And with ane swak he swang him on the creillis.
Syne be the heid the hors in hy hes hint ;
The fraudfull Foxe thairto gude tent hes tane,
And with his teith the stoppell, or he stint,
Pullit out, and syne the hering ane and ane 130
Out of the creillis he swakkit doun gude wane.
The Wolf wes war and gadderit spedilie ;
The Cadgear sang, " Hunts up, up ! " upon hie.
4
50 ROBERT HENRYSON.
Yit at the burne the Cad gear luikit about,
With that the Foxe lap quyte the creillis fra. 135
The Cadgear wald haif raucht the Foxe ane rout,
Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day :
Than with ane schout thus can the Cadgear say :
" Abyde, and thow ane nek-hering sail haif,
Is worth my capill, creillis, and all the laif." 140
" Now," quod the Foxe, " I schrevv me and we meit ;
I herd quhat thow hecht to do with my skyn ;
Thy handis sail neuer in thay mittennis tak heit,
Aud thow wer hangit, carll, and all thy kyu.
Do furth thy mercat ; at me thow sail nocht wyn ; 145
And sell thy hering thow lies thair till hie price,
Ellis thow sail wyn nocht on thy merchandice."
The Cadgear trimillit for teyne quhair that he stude.
" It is weill worthie," quod he, " I want yone tyke,
That had nocht in my hand sa mekill gude 150
As staf, or sting, yone truker for to stryke."
With that lychtlie he lap out ouer ane dyke,
And hakkit doun ane staf, for he wes tene,
That hevie wes, and of the holyne grene.
With that the Foxe unto the Wolf couth wend, 155
And fand him be ane hering, quhair he lyis :
" Schir," quod he then, " maid I nocht fair defend ?
Ane wicht man wantit neuer, and he were wyis:
Ane hardie hairt is hard for to suppryis."
Than said the Wolf, " Thow art a barne full bald 160
And wyse at will, in gude tyme be it tald.
EOBERT HENRYSON. 51
" But quhat wes yone the carll cryit on hie,
And schuke his hand," quod he ; " lies thow no feill ? "
" Schir," said the Foxe, " that can I tell trewlie :
He said the nek-hering wes in the creill." 165
" Kennis thow that hering?" "Yea, schir, I ken
it weill ;
And at the creill mouth I had it thryis, but dout ;
The wecht of it neir tit my tuskis out.
" Now suirlie, schir, might we that hering fang,
It wald be fische to us thir fourtie dayis." 170
Than said the Wolf, " Now God nor that I hang,
Bot to be thair I wald gif all my clais,
To see gif that my wappinnis mycht it rais."
Schir," said the Foxe, " God wait, I wischit you oft,
Quhen that my pith micht nocht beir it on loft. 175
<<
" It is ane syde of salmond, as it wer,
And callour pypand lyke ane pertrik ee ;
It is worth all the hering ye haif thair,
Yea, and we had it swa, it is worth sic thre."
Than said the Wolf, " Quhat counsell gevis thow
me ? " 180
"Schir," said the Foxe, " wirk efter my devyis,
And ye sail haif it, and tak you na suppryis.
" First, ye mon cast ane compas far about,
Syne straucht yow doun in middis of the way ;
Baith heid and feit and taill ye mon streik out, 185
Hing furth your toung, and clois weill your ene tway,
Syne se your heid on ane hard place ye lay ;
52 ROBEET HENRYSON.
And dout nocht for na perrell may appeir,
Bot hold yow clois quheu that the carll cumrais neir.
" Aud, thocht ye se ane staf, haif ye na dout, 190
Bot hald yow wonder still in to that steid ;
And hike your ene be clois, as they wer out,
And se that ye schrink nouther fute nor heid :
Than will the Cadgear carll trow ye be deid ;
And in till haist will hint yow be the heillis 195
As he did me, and swak yow on his creillis."
" Now," quod the Wolf, " I sweir thee be ray thrift,
I trow yone Cadgear carll dow nocht me beir."
" Schir," quod the Foxe, " on loft he will yow lift,
Upon his creillis, and do him lytill deir. 200
Bot ane thing dar I suithlie to you sweir,
Get ye that hering sicker in sum place,
Ye sail not fair in fisching in air till Pasche.
'&
" I sail say ' In principio ' upon yow,
And croce your corpis from the top to ta : 205
Wend quhen ye will, I dar be warrand now,
That ye sail de no suddand deith this day."
With that the Wolf gird up sone and to ga,
And caist ane compas about the Cadgear far,
Syne straught him in the gait or he come nar. 210
He laid his halfheid sicker hard and sad,
Syne straught his four feit fra him, and his heid,
And hang his touug furth as the Foxe him bad,
Als still he lay als he wer verray deid,
Rakkand na thing of the carllis favour nor feid, 215
ROBERT HENRYSON. 53
Bot ever upon the nek-hering he thinkis,
And quyte forgettis the Foxe and all his wrinkis.
With that the Cadgear, wavering als the wind,
Come rydand on the laid, for it wes licht,
Thinkand ay on the Foxe that wes behind, 220
Upon quhat wyse revenge him best he micht,
And, at the last, of the Wolf gat ane sicht,
Quhair he in lenth lay streikit in the gait,
Bot gif he lichtit doun or nocht, God wait.
Softlie he said, " I was begylit anis, 225
Be I begylit twyis, I schrew us baith :
That evill bot it sail licht upon thy banis
He suld haif had that lies done me the skaith."
On hicht he hovit the staf, for he wes wraith,
And hit him with sic will upoun the heid, 230
Quhill neir he swounit, and swelt in to that steid.
Thre battis he bure, or he his feit mycht find,
Bot yit the Wolf wes wicht and wan away ;
He micht not se, he wes sa verray blind,
Nor wit reddilie quhither it was nicht or day. 235
The Foxe beheld that service quhair he lay,
And leuch on loft quhen he the Wolf sa seis,
Baith deif and dosinnit, fall swounand on his kneis.
He that of ressoun can nocht be content,
Bot covetis all, is abill all to tyne: 240
The Foxe, quhen that he saw the Wolf was schent,
Said to him self, "Thir hering sail be myne."
I lie, or ellis he was efterwart fyne,
54 ROBERT IIENRYSON.
That fand sic wayis his maister for to greif.
With all the fische thus Lowrence tuke his leif. 245
The Wolf wes neir weill dungin to the deid,
That uneith with his lyfe away he wan,
For with the bastoun weill brokin wes his heid :
The Foxe in to his den sone drew him than,
That had betraisit his maister and the man : 250
The ane wantit the hering of his creillis,
The utheris blude wes rynnand ouer his heillis.
The Uplandis Mous and the Burges 3fous.
Esope, myne author, makis mentioun
Of twa Myis, and thay were sisteris deir,
Of quham the eldest dwelt in ane borrowis toun,
The uther winnit uponland, weill neir;
Rycht solitar, quhyles under busk and breir, 5
Quhylis in the come, and uther mennis shaith,
As outlawis dois and levis on thair waith.
This rural 1 Mous in to the wynter tyde,
Had hunger, cauld, and tholit greit distress ;
The uther Mous that in the burgh can byde 10
Wes gild-brother and maid ane free burgess :
Toll fre als, but custum mair or less,
And fredome had to ga quhair ever scho list
Amang the cheis in ark, and meill in kist.
ROBERT HENRYSON. 55
Ane tyme quhen scho wes full and unfutesair, 15
Scho tuke in mynde hir sister uponland,
And langit for to heir of hir weilfair,
To se quhat lyfe scho had under the wand :
Bairfute, allone, with pykestalf in hir hand,
As pure pilgryme scho passit out of toun, 20
To seik hir sister baith over daill and doun.
Furth mony wilsura wayis can scho walk,
Throw rnosse and muir, throw bankis, busk and breir
Scho ranne cryand, quhill scho cam to ane balk,
" Cum furth to me my awin sister deir ; 25
Cry peip anis ! " With that the Mous culd heir,
And knew her voce, as kinnisman will do,
Be verray kind, and furth scho come hir to.
The hartlie joy, Lord God ! gif ye had sene,
Was kithit quhen that thir twa sisteris met ; 30
And greit kyndenes was schawin thame betuene,
For quhylis they leuch, and quhylis for joy thay gret,
Quhylis kissit sweit, and quhylis in armis plet ;
And thus they fure quhill soberit wes thair mude,
Syne fute for fute unto the chalmer yude. 35
As I hard say, it was ane sober wane,
Of fog and fairn full febillie wes maid,
Ane sillie scheill under ane steidfast stane,
Of quhilk the entres wes nocht hie nor braid ;
And in the samyn thay went but mair abaid, 40
Withoutin fyre or candill birnand bricht,
For commounlie sic pykeris luffis not licht.
56 ROBERT HENRYSON.
Quhen thay were lugit thus, thir selie Myse,
The youngest sister uuto her butterie yeid,
And brocht furth nuttis and peis instead ofspyce: 45
Gif this wes gude fair I do it on thanie besyde.
The b urges Mous prompit furth in pryde,
And said, " Sister, is this your daylie fude? "
" Quhy not," quod scho, " is nocht this raeit rycht
gude?"
" Na, be ray saull, I think it hot ane scorne." 50
" Madame," quod scho, " ye be the mair to blame :
My mother said, sister, quhen we were borne,
That ye and I lay baith within ane wame :
I keip the rate and custume of my dame,
And of my leving in to povertie, 55
For landis haif we nane in propertie."
" My fair sister," quod scho, " haif me excusit :
This rude dyet and I can nocht accord ;
Till tender meit my stomok is ay usit,
For quhylis I fair als well as ony lord. 60
Thir widderit peis, and nuttis, or thay be bord,
Will brek my teith, and mak ray wame full sklender,
Quhilk wes befoir usit to meittis tender."
Weill, weill, sister," quod the rurall Mous,
" Gif it pleis yow, sic thingis as ye se heir, 65
Baith meit and drink, harberie and hous,
Salbe your awin, will ye remane all yeir ;
Ye sail it haif with blyith and merie cheir,
And that suld mak the maissis that ar rude,
Amang freindis richt tender and wonder gude. 70
ROBERT HENRYSON. 57
" Quhat plesure is in feistis delicate,
The quhilkis are gevin with ane glowinand brow ?
Ane gentill hart is better recreat
With blyith curage, than seith till him ane kow :
Ane modicum is mair for till allow, 75
Swa that gude will be kerver at the dais,
Than thrawin vult and money spycit mais."
For all hir merie exhortatioun,
This burges Mous had lytill will to sing,
Bot hevilie scho kest hir brnwis doun, 80
For all the daynteis that scho culd hir bring.
Yit at the last scho said, half in hething :
" Sister, this victuall and your royall feist
May weill suffice unto ane rurall beist.
" Lat be this hole, and cum in to my place, 85
I sail to you schaw be experience,
My Gude Fryday is better nor your Pace ;
My dische weschingis is worth your haill expence ;
I haif housis anew of greit defence;
Of cat, nor fall trap, I haif na dreid." 90
" I grant," quod scho ; and on togidder they yeid.
In stubbill array throw rankest gers and corne,
And under buskis prevelie couth they creip.
The eldest wes the gyde and went beforne,
The younger to hir wayis tuke gude keip. 95
On nicht they ran, and on the day can sleip ;
Quhill in the morning or the laverock sang,
Thay fand the toun, and in blythlie couth gang.
58 ROBERT 1IKNRYSON.
Nocht fer fra thyne unto ane worthie wane,
This burges brocht thame sone quhair thai suld
be ; 100
Without God speid thair herberie wes tane,
In to ane spence with vittell greit plentie ;
Baith cheis and butter upone thair skelfis hie,
And flesche and 'fische aneuch, baith fresche and salt,
And sekkis full of meill and eik of malt. 105
Efter quhen thay disposit were to dyne,
Withouttin grace thay wesche and went to meit,
With all the coursis that cuikis culd defyne,
Muttoun and beif strikin in tai^eis greit;
And lordis fair thus couth they counterfeit, 110
Except ane thing, they drank the watter cleir
Instead of wyne; bot yit they maid gude cheir.
With blyith upcast and merie countenance
The eldest sister sperit at her gaist
Gif that scho be ressone faud difference 115
Betuix that chalmer and hir sarie nest?
" Ye dame," quod scho, " How lang will this lest? "
" For evermair, I wait, and langer to."
" Gif it be swa, ye are at eis," quod scho.
Til eik thair cheir ane subcharge furth scho brocht, 120
Ane plait of grottis, and ane dische full of meill,
Thraf caikkis als I trow scho spairit nocht,
Aboundantlie about hir for to deill ;
And mane full fyne scho brocht insteid of geill,
And ane quhyte candill out of ane coffer stall, 125
In steid of spyce to gust thair mouth withall.
ROBERT HENRYSON. 59
Thus maid thay merie quhill thay micht na mair,
And, Haill Yule, haill ! cryit upon hie ;
Yit efter joy oftymes cummis cair,
And troubill efter greit prosperitie : 130
Thus as they sat in all thair iolitie,
The Spenser come with keyis in his hand,
Opinnit the dure, and thame at denner fand.
Thay taryit nocht to wesche as I suppois,
But on to ga quha that inicht formest win. 135
The burges had ane hoill, and in scho gois,
Hir sister had na hoill to hyde her in ;
To se that selie Mous, it wes greit syn,
So desolate and will of ane gude reid,
For verray dreid scho fell in swoun neir deid. 140
Bot as God wald, it fell ane happy cace,
The Spenser had na laser for to byde,
Nouther to seik nor serche, to skar nor chace,
Bot on he went, and left the dure up wyde.
The bald burges his passing weill hes spyde, 145
Out of her hoill scho come, and cryit on hie,
" How fair ye sister? cry peip, quhair ever ye be ! "
This nirall Mous lay flatling on the ground,
And for the deith scho wes full sair dredand,
For till hir hart straik mony wofull stound, 150
As in ane fever scho trimbillit fute and hand ;
And quhan hir sister in sic ply hir fand,
For verray pietie scho began to greit,
Syne confort hir with wordis hunny sweit.
60 ROBERT HENRYSON.
" Quhy ly ye thus? ryse up my sister deir : 155
Cum to your meit, this perrell is overpast."
The uther auswerit hir, with hevie cheir,
" I may nocht eit sa sair I am agast ;
I had levir thir fourtie dayis fast,
With watter-caill, and to gnaw benis or peis 160
Than all your feist, in this dreid and diseis."
With fair tretie yit scho gart hir upryse,
And to the burde thay went and togidder sat,
And scantlie had they drunkin anis or twys,
Quhen in come Gib-Hunter our iolie cat, 165
And bade God speid : the b urges up with that,
And till the hoill scho went as fyre of flint —
Bawdronis the uther be the bak lies hint.
Fra fute to fute he kest hir to and fra,
Quhylis up, quhylis doun, als cant as ony kid ; 170
Quhylis wald he lat hir run under the stra,
Quhylis wald he wink, and play with her bukhid.
Thus to the selie Mous greit pane he did,
Quhill at the last, throw fortune and gude hap,
Betuix ane burde and the wall scho crap. 1 75
And up in haist behind ane parpalling
Scho clam so hie, that Gilbert micht not get hir,
Syne be the cluke thair craftelie can hing
Till he wes gane, hir cheir was all the bettir;
Syne doun scho lap quhen thair wes nane to let hir, 180
And to the burges Mous loud can scho cry,
" Fairweill, sister, thy feist heir I defy !
ROBERT HENRYSON. 61
" Thy mangerie is myngit all with cair ;
Thy guse is gude, thy gansell sour as gall :
The subcharge of thy service is bot sair, 185
So sail thow find heir-efterwart may fall.
I thank yone courtyne and yone perpall wall,
Of ruy defence now fra ane crewell beist.
Almychty God keip me fra sic ane feist !
" Were I in to the kith that I come fra, 190
For weill nor wo, suld never cum agane."
With that scho tuk hir leif and furth can ga,
Quhylis throw the corne, and quhylis throw the plane.
Quhen scho wes furth and fre scho wes ful fane,
And merilie ruerkit unto the mure. 195
I can nocht tell how efterwart scho fure ;
Bot I hard say, scho passit to hir den,
Als warme als woll, suppose it wes nocht greit,
Full benely stuffit, baith but and ben,
Of beinis, and nuttis, peis, ry and quheit ; 200
Quhen ever scho list scho had aneuch to eit,
In quyet and eis, withoutin ony dreid ;
Bot to hir sisteris feist na mair scho yeid.
62 HOLLAND.
HOLLAND.
From the poem itself we learn that the author of the Howlat was named
Holland, that be lived in (lie forest of Terneway in Moray, and thai he
was a devoted partisan of the house of Douglas. He has been conjecturally
identified with a sir Richard Holland, a priest, who, with certain other
partisans of the Douglas, was excluded from a general pardon in 1482. Hol-
land is mentioned as a distinguished poet by Dunbar and Lyndsay.
In the niyddis of May, at morne, as I nient,
Thro we myrth markit on mold till a grene raeid,
The hemes hlythest of hie fro the son blent,
That all brichtnyt about the bordouris on breid ;
With alkyn herbes of air that war in erd lent 5
The feildis flurist and fret full of fairhed ;
So soft was the sessoun our Souerane dovne sent
Throw the greable gift of his Godhed,
That all was amyable owr the air and the erd ;
Thus, throw thir cliftis so cleir, 10
Withoutin fallowe or feir,
I raikit till ane reveir
That ryally apperd.
This riche revir dovn ran, but resting or ruf,
Throwe ane forest on fold that farly was fair; 15
All the brayis of the brym hair branchis abuf,
And birdis hlythest of ble on blossomes bair ;
HOLLAND. 63
The land lowne was and le, with lyking and luf,
And for to lende by that laike thocht me levar,
Becaus that thir hartes in heirdis couth huf, 20
Pransand and prun^eand, be pair and bejiair:
Thus sat I in solace, sekerly and sure,
Content of the fair firth
Mekle mair of the mirth,
Alsblyth of the birth 25
That the ground bure.
The birth that the ground bure was browdin on breidis
With girss gaye as the gold, and granes of grace,
Mendis and medicyne for mennis all neidis,
Helpe to hert and to hurt, heilfull it was. 30
Undir the cirkill solar thir sauorous seidis
War nurist be Dame Natur, that noble mastress ;
Bot all thar names to nevyn as now it nocht neid is,
It war prolixt and lang, and lenthyng of space,
And I haue mekle matir in metir to gloss 35
Of ane nothir sentence,
And waike is my eloquence,
Tharfor in haist will I hens
To the purposs.
Off that purpos in the place, be pryme of the day, 40
I herd ane petuos appele with ane pur mane,
Solpit in sorowe, that sadly couth say,
" Wa is me, wretche in this warld, wilsome of wane ! "
With mair murnyng in mynd than I meyne may,
Rolpit reuthfully roth in a rude rane: 45
Of that ferly on fold I fell in affray,
Nirar that noys in nest I nechit in ane.
64 HOLLAND.
I sawe ane Howlat in haist vndir ane holyne,
Lukaud the laike throwe,
And sawe his awne schadowe, 50
. At the quhilk he couth growe
And maid govvlyne.
He grat grysly grym and gaif a gret :$owle,
Cheuerand and chydand with churliche eheir ;
" Quhy is my far," quoth the fyle, " fassonit so foule, 55
My forme and my fetherem vnfrely, but feir?
My neb is netherit as a nok, I am bot ane Owle ;
Aganis natur in the nicht I walkin to weir ;
I dare do nocht on the day, but droupe as a dovle,
Nocht for schame of my schape in pert till appeir. 60
Thus all thir fowlis for my filth has me at feid ;
That be I seyne in thar sicht„
To luke out on day licht,
Sum will me dulfully dicht,
Sum dyng me to deid. 65
" Sum bird will bay at my beike, and sum will me byte,
Sum skripe me with scorne, sum skrym at myn e;
I se be my schadowe my schape has the wyte ;
Quhom sail I blame in this breth, a bysyn that I be?
Is nane bot Dame Natur, I bid nocht to nyte, 70
Till accuse of this caise in case that I de ;
Bot quha sail mak me ane mendis of hir worth a myte,
That thus has maid on the mold ane monstour of me?
I will appele to the Pape, and pass till him plane ;
For happin that his Halynace, 75
Throw prayer may purchace
HOLLAND. 65
To reforme my foule face,
And then war I fane.
" Fayne wald I wyte," quoth the fyle, " or I furth
fure,
Quha is fader of all foule, pastour and pape ; 80
That is the plesant Pacock, precious and pure,
Constant and kirklyk vnder his cler cape,
Myterit, as the rnaner is, manswet and mure,
Schroude in his schene weid, schand in his schap,
Sad in his sanctitud, sekerly and sure ; 85
I will go to that gud, his grace for to grap."
Of that bourde I was blythe, and bade to behald,
The Howlet wylest in wyce,
Raikit vnder the rys
To the Pacoke of pryce 90
That was Pape cald.
Befor the Pape quhen the pur present him had,
With sic courtassy as he couth, on kneis he fell ;
Said, " Aue Raby, be the Rud, I am richt rad
For to behald }our Halynes, or my tale tell ; 95
I may not suffys to se ^our Sanctitud sad."
The Pape, wysly i-wis, of worschipe the well,
Gaif him his braid benesoun, and baldly him bad
That he suld spedely speike and spair nocht to spell.
" I come to speir," quoth the spreit, " in to speciall, 100
Quhy I am formed so fowle,
Ay to }owt and to ^owle
As an horrible Owle,
Wgsum our all.
66 HOLLAND.
" I am netherit ane Owll thus be Natur, 105
Lykar a fule than a fowle in figur and face ;
Bysyn of all birdis that euer body bure,
Withoutin caus or cryme kend in this case.
I haue appelit to }our presence, precious and pur,
Askis helpe in till haist at }our Halynes, 110
That }e wald cry apou Crist, that all has in cur,
To schape me a schand bird in a schort space ;
And till accuse Natur, this is no nay ;
Thus, throw ^our halynes, may }e
Make a fair foule of me 115
Or elles, dredles I de
Or myne end day."
"Off thi deid," quoth the Pape, " pite I haife,
Bot apon Nature to pleyne, it is perrell ;
I can nocht say sudanelye, so me Crist saif, 120
Bot I sail call my cardinallis and my counsall,
Patriarkis and prophetis, of lerit the laif;
They salbe semblit full sone, that thow se sail."
He callit on his cubicular within his conclaif,
That was the proper Papeiaye, provde in his appa-
rale; 125
Bad send for his secretar, and his sele sone,
That was the Turtour trewest
Ferine, faithfull, and fast,
That bure that office honest,
And enterit but hone. 130
The Pape commandit but hone to wryte in all landis,
Be the said secretar that the sele ^emyt,
HOLLAND. 67
For all statis of kirk that under Crist standis,
To semble to his summondis, as it wele semyt.
The trewe Turtour has tane with the tythandis, 135
Done dewlie his det as the deir demyt ;
Syne belyf send the letteris in to seir landis,
With the Swallowe so swyft, in speciale expremit
The Papis harrald, at poynt in to present,
For he is forthward to fle, 140
And ay will haue entre
In hous and in hall hie, ,
To tell his en tent.
Quhat suld I tell ony mair of thir materis,
Bot thir lordis belyf the letteris has tane, 145
Resauit thame with reuereiice, to reid as efferis,
And richely the harraldis rewardit ilkane,
Than busk thai but blyn, inony bewschyris,
Grathis tham but grutchyng that gait for to gane.
All the statis of the kirk out of steid steris, 150
And I sail not ^ow rieht now thar names in ane,
How thai apperit to the Pape, and present thaini aye
Fair-farrand and fre,
In a gudly degre,
And manlyke, as thocht me, 155
In myddis of May.
All thus in May, as I ment, in a mornyng,
Come four Fasandis full fair in the first front,
Present tham as patriarkis in thar appering
Benyiig of obedience, and blyth in the bront. 160
A college of cardinalis come syne in a lyng,
That war Crannis of kynd, gyf I richt compt,
68 HOLLAND.
With red hattis ou hed in haile takynning
Of that deir dignite, with worschipe ay wont;
Thir ar fowlis of ettect, but fellony or feid, 165
Spirituale in all thing,
Leile in thar leving
Tharfor in dignite digne
Thay dure to thar deid.
3it endurand the daye to that deir drewe 170
. Swannis suowchand full swyth, swetest of swar,
In quhyte rocatis arrayd ; as I riclit knewe
That thai war bischopis blist, I was the blythar,
Stable and steidfast, tender and trewe,
Off fewe wordis, full wys and worthy thai war; 175
Thar was Pyotis, and Partrikis, and Pluwaris ynewe,
As abbotis of all ordouris that honourable ar;
The Se Mawis war monkis, the blak and the quhyte ;
The Goule was a gryntar,
The Swerthbak a sellerar, 180
The Scarth a fische fangar,
And that a perfyte.
Parfytlye thir Pikmawis, as for priouris,
With thar party habitis present thain thar ;
Heronnis conteiuplatif, elene charterouris, 185
With toppit hudis on hed, and clething of hair ;
Ay sorowfull and sad at evin sang and houris,
Was neuer leid saw thaiin lauch, hot drowpand and
dar ;
Alkyn chennonis eik of vther ordouris
All inaner of religioun, the less and the inair: 190
HOLLAND. 69
Cryand Crawis and Cais that cravis the come,
War pure freris forthward,
That with the leif of the lard,
Will cum to the come ^ard
At ewyn and at morne. 195
3it or ewyn enterit come that bur office,
Obeyand thir bischoppis, and bydand thame by,
Gret Ganeris on ground, in gudly awys,
That war demyt, but dowt, denys douchty ;
Thai mak residence raith, and airly will ryse 200
To kepe the college cleine and the clergye.
The Cok in his cleir cape, that crawis and cryis,
Was chosyn chauntour full cheif in the channonry.
Thar come the Curlewe, a clerk, and that full cunnand,
Chargit as chancillar, 205
For he couth wryte wounder fair,
With his neb for mistar,
Apon the se sand.
Quhen thai had songyn and said, softly and schour,
And playit as of paradys it a point war, 210
In cum iapand the la, as a iuglour,
With castis and with cawtelis, a quaynt caryar :
He gart thaim se, as it semyt, in the samyn hour,
Hunting at herdis, in holtis so hair ;
Sound saland on the se schippis of tour 215
Bernes batalland on burde, brym as a hair;
He couth cary the cowpe of the kingis des,
Syne leve in the sted
Bot a black bun wed :
70 HOLLAND.
He couth of a hennis hed 220
Make a mane mes.
He gart the Empriour trowe, and trewly behald,
That the Corn Crake, the pundar at hand,
Had pyndit all his prys hors in a pundfald
For caus thai ete of the corne in the kirkland. 225
He couth werk wounderis quhat way that he wald :
Mak of a gray gus a gold garland ;
A lang sper of a betill for a berne bald,
Nobillis of nut schellis, and siluer of sand.
Thus iowkit with iuperdys the iangland la : 230
Fair ladyis in ryngis,
Knychtis in caralyngis,
Boith dansis and syngis ;
It semyt as sa.
Sa come the Ruke with a rerd and a rane roch, 235
A bard owt of Irland with " Banachadee ! "
Said, " Gluntow guk dynyd dach hala mischy doch ;
Raike hir a rug of the rost or scho sail ryiue
the!
Mich macmory ach raach mometir moch loch ;
Set hir dovne, gif hir drink ; quhat dele alis the? 240
O Deremyne, O Donnall, O Dochardy droch ! "
(Thir ar his Irland kingis of the Irischerye)
" O Knewlyn, O Conochor, O Gregre Makgranc!
The schenachy, the clarschach,
The benschene, the ballach, 245
The crekery, the corach,
Scho kennis thaime ilkane."
HOLLAND. 71
Mony lesingis he maid ; wald let for no man
To speik quhill he spokin had; sparit no thingis.
The dene rurale, the Ravyn, reprovit him than, 250
Bad him his lesingis leif befor thai lordingis.
The bard worth brane wod, and bitterly couth ban ;
" Thow Corby messinger," quoth he, " with sorowe
thow syngis :
Thow ischit out of Noyes ark, and to the erd wan,
Taryit as a tratour, and brocht na ty thingis. 255
I sail ryiue the, Ravyne, baith guttis and gall ! "
The dene rurale worthit reid,
Stawe for schame of the steid.
The barde held a grete pleid
In the hie hall. 260
In come twa flyrand fulis with a fonde fair,
The Tuchet and the gukkit Golk, and ^eid hiddy-
giddy ;
Ruschit baith to the bard and ruggit his hair ;
Callit him thrys " thevisnek, to thrawe in a widdy."
Thai fylit him fra the fortope to the fut thar. 265
The barde, smaddit lyke a smaik smorit in a smedy,
Ran fast to the dure and gaif a greit rair ;
Socht wattir to wesche him thar out in ane ydy.
The lordis leuch apon loft and lyking thai had
That the barde was so bet : 270
The fulis fonde in the flet,
And mony mowis at mete
On the flure maid.
Syne for ane figonale of frut thai straif in the steid ;
The Tuchet gird to the Golk and gaif him a fall, 275
72 HOLLAND.
Tiaif his taile fra his rig with a rath pleid ;
The Golk gat wpe aganc in the gret hall,
Tit the Tuchet be the tope, ourtirvit his hed,
Flang him flat in the fyre, fetheris and all.
He cryit, " Allace ! " with ain rair, " revyn is my
reid! ^80
I am vngraciously gorrit baith guttis and gall ! "
3it he lap fra the lowe richt in a lyne.
Quhen thai had remelis raucht,
Thai forthocht that thai faucht ;
Kissit samyn and saucht, 285
And sat dovne syne.
All thus thir hathillis in hall heirly remanit,
With all welthis at wiss, and worschipe to wale.
The Pape begynnis the grace, as greably ganit,
Wosche with thir worthyis, and went to counsall. 290
The pure Howlatis appele completely was planyt,
His fait and his foule forme, vnfrely but faile :
For the quhilk thir lordis, in leid nocht to layne it,
He besocht of sucour, as souerane in saile,
That thai wald pray Natur his prent to renewe ; 205
For it was hailc his behest,
At thar alleris request,
Mycht dame Nature arrest
Of him for to rewe.
Then rewit thir riallis of that rath mane, 300
Baith spirituale and temperale that kcnd the case;
And, considerand the causs, concludit in ane
That thai wald Nature beseike, of hir gret grace,
HOLLAND. 73
To discend that samyn hour as thar souerane,
At thar allaris instance, in that ilk place. 305
The Tape and the patriarkis, the prelatis ilkane,
Thus pray thai as penitentis, and all that thar was.
Quhar throw dame Natur the trast discendit that tyde,
At thar haile instance ;
Quhom thai ressaif with reuerens, 310
And bowsorae obeysance,
As goddess and gyde.
" It nedis nocht," quoth Natur, " to renewe oucht
Of }our entent in this tyde, or forthir to tell ;
I wait ^our will, and quhat way }e wald that I
wrocht 315
To reforme the Howlat of faltis full fell.
It sail be done as }e deine, dreid ^e richt nocht :
I consent in this caise to ^our counsall,
Sen my self for 2our saike hiddir has socht,
3e sail be specialy sped or ^e mayr spell. 320
Now ilka foull of the firth a fedder sail ta,
And len the Howlat, sen }e
Off him haue sic pete,
And I sail gar thaim samyn be
To growe or I ga." 325
Than ilk foule of his flicht a feddir has tane,
And lent to the Howlat in hast, hartlie but hone.
Dame Natur the nobillest nechit in ane,
For to ferine this federem, and dewly has done ;
Gart it ground, and growe gayly agane, 330
On the samyn Howlat, semely and sone.
74 HOLLAND.
Tli an was he schand of his schape, and his schroude
schane
Offalkyn colour most cleir beldit abone:
The farest foule of the firth, and hendest of hewes ;
So clene and so colourlyke, 335
That no bird was him lyke
Fro Burone to Berwike
Wnder the bewes.
Tims was the Howlat in herde herely at hicht,
Flour of all fowlis, throw fedderis so fair ; 340
He lukit to his lykame that lemyt so licht,
So propir plesand of prent, provde to repar :
He thocht him maid on the mold makles of mycht,
As souerane him awne self, throw bewte he bair,
Counterpalace to the Pape, our priucis, I plicht; 345
So hiely he hyit him in Luciferis lair,
That all the fowlis of the firth he defowlit syne.
Thus leit he no man his peir ;
Gif ony nech vvald him neir,
He bad tham rebaldis orere 350
With a ruyne.
" The Pape, and the patriarkis, and princis of prow,
I am cummyn of thar kyn, be cosingage knawin ;
So fair is my fetherem, I haf no falowe,
My schrowde and my schene weid schir to be
schawin." 355
All birdis he rebalkit that wald him nocht bowe ;
In breth as a batall wricht full of host blawin,
With vnloveable latis nocht till allow :
Thus wycit he the waleutync thraly and thrawin,
HOLLAND. 75
That all the fowlis with assent assemblit agane 3G0
And plen^eit to Natur
Of this intolerable iniur,
How the Howlat him bure
So hie and so haltane.
So porapos, impertinat, and reprovable, 365
In exces, our arrogant, thir birdis ilkane
Besocht Natur to cess that vnsufferable.
Thar with that lady a lyte leuch hir allane :
" My first making," quoth scho, " was vnamendaTjle,
Thocht I alterit, as ^e all askit in ane ; 370
3 it sail I preif }ow to pleis, sen it is possible."
Scho callit the Howlat in haist that was so haltane :
" Thy pryde," quod the Princess, " approchis our hie,
Lyke Lucifer in estaite ;
And sen thow art so elate, 375
As the Ewangelist wrait,
Thow sail lawe be.
" The rent and the ritchess that thow in rang,
Was of othir mennis all, and nocht of thi awne ;
Now ilk fowle his awne fedder sail agane fang, 380
And mak the catif of kynd, till him self knawin."
As scho has demyt thai haf done, thraly in thrang.
Thar with Dame Natur has to the hevin drawin ;
Ascendit sone, in my sicht, with solace and sang ;
And ilk fowle tuke the flicht, schortly to schawin, 385
Held hame to thar hant and thar herbery,
Quhar thai war wont to remane ;
All thir gudly ar gane,
76 HOLLAND.
And thar levit allano
The Howlat and I. 390
Than this Howlat hidowis of hair and of hydc,
Put first fro p overte to pryce, and princis awne
per;
Syne degradit fra grace, for his gret pryde,
Bannit bitterly his birth, bailefull in beir.
He welterit, he wrythit, he waryit the tyde 395
That he was wrocht in this warld wofull in weir:
He crepillit, he crengit, he carfully cryd,
He solpit, he sorowit, in sighingis seir.
He said, " Allace ! I am lost, lathest of all,
Bysyn in baile beft, 400
I may be a sampill heir eft
That pryde neuer }it left
His feir, but a fall.
"I couth not won in to welth, wretch wast,
I was so wantoun of will, my werdis ar wan ; 405
Thus for my hicht I am hurt, and harmit in haist,
Cairfull and caytif for craft that I can :
Quhen I was hewit as heir allthir hieast,
Fra rule, ressoun, and richt, redles I ran ;
Tharfor I ly in the lyme, lympit, lathast; 410
Now mark }our mirour be me, all maner of man :
3e princis, prelattis of pryde for penneis and prowe
That pullis the pure ay,
3e sail syng as I say,
All }our welth will away, 415
Thus I warne }ow.
HOLLAND. 77
" Think how bair thow was borne, and bair ay will be,
For oucht that sedis of thi self in ony sessoun ;
Thy cude, thy clathis, nor thi cost cnmmis not of the,
Bot of the frnte of the erd and Godis fusoun : 420
Quhen ilk thing has the awne, suthly we se
Thy nakit cors bot of clay, a foule carioun,
Hatit and hawles ; quhar of art thow hie ?
We cum pure, we gang pure, baith king and coiu-
moun.
Bot thow reule the richtuis, thi roume sail orere." 425
Thus said the Howlat on hicht.
Now God, for his gret micht,
Set our sawlis in sicht
Of Sanctis so sere.
The Buhe of the Howlat, St. 1-16, 60-76.
78 HENRY THE MINSTREL.
HENRY THE MINSTREL,
Of the life of Eenry the Minstrel scarce anything is known. John Mair
says that lie was blind from his birth, and composed his Hunk of Wallace
ahoul the time of his (Mair's) infancy, which would be about the middle
of the fifteenth century. We are further told th;it be travelled ahout, recit-
ing his poems at the houses of the rich and noble, who, in return, provided
for his needs. James IV. also gave hiiu money at various times, the latest
recorded gift being iu 1492.
Adventure at Irwlne Water.
So on a tym he desyrit to play,
Iu Aperill the xxiij day,
Till Erewyn wattir fysche to tak he went ;
Sic fantasye fell in his entent.
To leide his net, a child furth with him }eid ; 5
But he, or nowne, was in a fellowne dreid.
His suerd he left, so did he neuir agayne ;
It dide him gud, suppos he sufleryt payne.
Off that labour as than he was nocht sle :
Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanle. 10
Or of the day x hours our couth pas,
Ridand thar come, ner by quhar Wallace was,
The lorde Persye, was captaue than off Ayr;
Era thine he turnde and couth to Glaskow fair.
Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne, 15
Till him raid v cled in to ganand greyne,
And said sone ; " Scot, Martyns fysche we wald hawe."
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 79
Wallace meklye agayne ansuer him gawe ;
" It war resone, me think, yhe suld haif part :
Waith suld be delt, in all place, with fre hart." 20
He bad his child, " Gyff thaim of our waithyng."
The Sothroun said ; " As now of thi delyng
We will nocht tak, thow wald giff ws our small."
He lychtyt doun and fra the child tuk all.
Wallas said than ; " Gentill men gif }e be, 25
Leiff ws sum part, we pray for cheryte.
Ane agyt knycht serwis our lady to day ;
Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away."
" Thow sail haiff leiff to fysche and tak the ma ;
All this forsuth sail in our flyttyng ga. 30
We serff a lord ; thir fysche sail till him gang."
Wallace ansuerd, said ; " Thow art in the wrang."
" Quham dowis thow, Scot ? in faith thow serwis a blaw."
Till him he ran, and out a suerd can draw.
Wilhham was wa he had na wappynis thar, 35
Bot the poutstaff the quhilk in hand he bar.
Wallas with it fast on the cheek him tuk
Wyth so gud will, quhill of his feet he schuk.
The suerd flaw fra him a fur breid on the land.
Wallas was glaid, and hynt it soue in hand ; 40
And with the swerd awkwart he him gawe
Wndyr the hat, his crage in sondre drawe.
Be that the layff lychtyt about Wallas ;
He had no helpe, only bot Goddis grace.
On athir side full fast on him thai dange ; 45
Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang.
Apone the hede in gret ire he strak ane ;
The scherand suerd glaid to the colar bane.
80 HENRY THE MINSTREL.
Ane othir on the arme he liitt so hardely,
Quhill hand and suerd bathe on the feld ean ly. 50
The tothir twa fled to thar hors agayne ;
He stekit him was last apon the playne.
Thre slew he thar, twa fled with all thair niycht
Eftir thar lord ; bot he was out off sicht,
Takand the mure, or he and thai couth twyne. 55
Till him thai raid onon, or thai wald blyne,
And cryit; "Lord, abide; your men ar martyrit doun
Rycht cruelly, her in this fals regioun.
V of our court her at the wattir baid,
Fysche for to bryng, thocht it na profyt maid. GO
We ar chapyt, bot in feyld slayne are thre."
The lord speryt ; " How mony mycht thai be? "
" We saw bot ane that has discumfyst ws all."
Than lewch he lowde, and said ; " Foule mot yow fall ;
Sen ane yow all has put to confusioun. 65
Quha menys it maist, the dewyll of hell him droun ;
This day for me, in faith, he beis nocht socht."
Quhen Wallas thus this worth! werk had wrocht,
Thar hors he tuk, and ger that lewyt was thar ;
Gaif our that crafft, he ^eid to fysche no mar ; 70
Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this drede.
And he for wo weyle ner worthit to weide ;
And said ; " Sone, thir tythings sytts me sor ;
And be it knawin, thow may tak scaith tharfor."
" Wncle," he said, " I will no langar bide ; 75
Thir Southland hors latt se gif I can ride."
Than, bot a child, him seruice for to mak,
Hys emys sonnys he wald nocht with him tak.
This gude knycht said ; " Deyr cusyng pray I the,
(Juhen thow wantts gud, cum fech ynewch fra me." 80
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 81
Syluir and gold he gert on to him geyff.
Wallace inclynys, and gudely tnk his leyff.
Adventure in Gash Forest.
The dyrk regioun apperaud wondyr fast,
In Nouember when October was past,
The day faillit/throu the rycht cours worthit schort; 85
Till banyst men that is no gret comfort,
With thair power in pethis worthis gang ;
Hewy thai think quhen at the nycht is lang.
Thus Wallas saw the nychtis messynger;
Phebus had lost hys fyry bemys cler. 90
Out of the wood thai durst nocht turn that tyd,
For aduersouris that in thair way wald byde.
Wallace thaira tauld that new wer wes on hand,
The Inglismen was off the toune cummande.
The dure thai brak, quhar thai trowyt Wallace was 95
Quhen thai him myst, thai bownyt thaim to pass.
In this gret noyis the woman gat away,
But to quhat steide I can nocht graithlye say.
The Sothroun socht rycht sadlye fra that stede
Throu the South Ynch, and fand thar twa men dede. 100
Thai knew be that Wallace was in the strenth.
About the park thai set on breid and lenth,
With vi hundreth weill graithit in thar armes,
All likly men, to wrek thaim of thar harmes.
A hundreth men chai'git, in armes Strang, 105
To kepe a hunde that thai had thaim amang ;
Im Gyllisland thar was that brachell brede,
6
82 HENRY THE MINSTRKL.
Sekyr off sent to folow thaim at flede.
So was scho vsyt on Esk and on Ledaill ;
Quhill scho gat blude no fleyng mycht awaill. 110
Than said thai all, Wallace mycht nocht away,
He suld be tharis for ocht at he do may.
The ost thai delt in diuers part that tyde.
Schyr Garrat Herroun in the staill can bide ;
Schyr Jhon Butler the range he tuk him till, 115
With thre hundre quhilk war of hardy will ;
In to the woode apon Wallace thai }eid.
The worthi Scottis that wer in mekill dreid,
Socht till a place for till haiff yschet out,
And saw the staill enwerounyt thaim about. 120
Agayne thai went with hydwys strakis Strang,
Gret noyis and dyne was rayssit thaim amang.
Thar cruell deide rycht merwalus to ken,
Quhen xl macht agayne thre hundyr men.
Wallace so weill apon him tuk that tide, 125
Throw the gret preys he maid a way full wide ;
Helpand the Scottis with his der worthi hand :
Fdl faymen he left fey vpon the land.
5het Wallas lost xv in to that steid ;
And xl men of Sothroun part war dede. 130
The Butleris folk so fruschit was in deid,
The hardy Scottis to the strenthis throw thaim ^eide.
On to Tay side thai hasty t thaim full fast,
In will thai war the wattir till haiff past.
Halff couth nocht swym that than with Wallas was ; 135
And he wald nocht leiff ane, and fra thaim pass.
Bettir him thocht in perell for to be
Wpon the land, than wilfully to se
His men droun, quhar reskew mycht be nayne ;
BENRY THE MINSTREL. 83
Agayne in ire to the feild ar thai gayne. 140
Butler be than had putt his men in ray,
On thaim he sett with ane awfull hard assay,
On athir side with wapynnys stiff off' steill.
Wallace agayne no frendschipe lett thaim feill.
Bot do or de, thai wist no mor socour ; 1 45
Thus fend thai lang in to that stalwart stour.
The Scottis chyftayne was ^ong, and in a rage,
Vsyt in wer, and fechtis with curage.
He saw his men off Sothroun tak gret wrang,
Thaim to raweng all dreidles can he gang: 150
For many of thaim war bledand wondyr sar.
He couth nocht se no help apperand thar,
Bot thair chyftayne war putt out off thair gait ;
The bryme Butler so bauldlye maid debait.
Throu the gret preys Wallace to him socht : 155
His awful deid he eschewit as he mocht.
Vndyr ane ayk wyth men about him set :
Wallace mycht nocht a graith straik on him gett :
>hett schede he thaim, a full royd slope was maid.
The Scottis went out, na langar thar abaid. 160
Stewyn off Irland, quhilk hardy was and wicht,
To helpe Wallace he did gret preys and mycht ;
With trew Kerle, douchty in mony deid ;
Wpon the grounde feill Sothroun gert thai bleid.
Sexty war slayne of Inglismen in that place, 165
And ix off Scottis thair tynt was throuch that cace.
Butleris men so stroyit war that tide,
In to the stour he wald na langar bide.
To get supple he socht on to the staill :
Thus lost he thar a hundreth of gret waill. 170
As thai war best arayand Butleris rout,
84 HENRY THE MTNSTREL.
Betuex parteys than Wallace ischit out ;
xvi with him, thai graithit thaim to ga ;
Off all his men he had lewyt no ma.
The Inglismen has myssyt hym ; in hy 175
The hund thai tuk, and folowit haistely.
At the Gask woode full fayne he wald haiff beyne ;
Bot this sloth brache, quhilk sekyr was and keyne,
On Wallace fute folowit so felloune fast,
Quhill in thar sicht thai prochit at the last. 180
Thar hors war wicht, had soiorned weill and lang.
To the next woode twa myil thai had to gang,
Off vpwith erde ; thai }eid with all thair mycht ;
Gud hope thai had for it was ner the nycht.
Fawdoun tyryt, and said, he mycht nocht gang. 185
Wallace was wa to leyff him in that thrang.
He bade him ga, and said the strenth was ner ;
Bot he tharfor wald nocht fastir him ster.
Wallace in ire on the crag can him ta
With his gud suerd, and strak the hed him fra. 190
Dreidless to ground derfly he duschit dede.
Fra him he lap, and left him in that stede.
Sum demys it to ill, and othyr sum to gud ;
And I say her, into thir termys rude,
Bettir it was he did, as thinkis me. 195
Fyrst, to the hunde it mycht gret stoppyn be.
Als Fawdoun was haldyn at suspicioun ;
For he was haldyn of brokill complexioun ;
Rycht stark he was, and had bot litill gayne.
Thus Wallace wist : had he beyne left allayne, 200
And he war fals, to enemyss he wald ga ;
Gyff he war trew, the Sothroun wald him sla.
Mycht he do ocht bot tyne him as it was?
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 85
Fra this question now schortlye will I pass.
Deyine as yhe lest, ye that best can and may ; 205
I bott rahers as my autour will say.
Sternys, be than, began for till apper,
The Inglismen was cummand wondyr ner ;
V hundreth haill was in thair chewalry :
To the next strenth than Wallace couth him hy. 210
Stewyn off Irland, wnwitting of Wallas,
And gud Kerle, baid still ner hand that place,
At the mur syde in till a scrogghy slaid,
Be est Dipplyne quhar thai this tary maid.
Fawdoun was left besid thaim on the land ; 215
The power come, and sodeynly him fand :
For thair sloith hund the graith gait till him ^eid,
Off othir trade scho tuk as than no heid.
The sloith stoppyt, at Fawdoun still scho stude ;
Nor forthir scho wald, fra tyme scho fand the blud. 220
Inglismen dempt, for ellis thai couth nocht tell,
Bot at the Scottis had fochtyn amang thaim sell.
Rycht wa thai war that losyt was thair sent.
Wallace twa men amang the ost in went ;
Dissemblit weylle, that no man suld thaim ken, 225
Rycht in affer, as thai war Inglismen.
Kerle beheld on to the bauld Heroun,
Vpon Fawdoun as he was lukand doune,
A suttell straik wpwart him tuk that tide,
Wndir the chokkeis the grounden suerd gart glid, 230
By the gude mayle bathe hals and his crag bayne
In sondyr straik ; thus endyt that cheftayne.
To grounde he fell, feile folk about him thrang,
Tresoune ! thai criyt, tratouris was thaim amang.
86 HENRY THE MINSTREL.
Kerlye with that fled out sone at a side; 235
His falow Stewyn than thocht no tyme to bide.
The fray was gret, and fast away thai ^eid,
Lawch towart Ern ; thus chapyt thai of dreid.
Butler for woo off vvepyng mycht nocht stynt.
Thus raklesly this gud knycht [haiff] thai tynt. 240
Thai demyt all that it was Wallace men,
Or ellis him self, thocht thai couth nocht him ken.
" He is rycht ner, we sail him haif but faill ;
This febill woode may him litill awaill."
xl thar past agayne to Sanct Jhonstoun, 245
With this dede cors, to berysing maid it boune.
Partyt thar men, syne diners wayis raid ;
A gret power at Dipplyn still thar baid.
Till Dawryoch the Butler past but let ;
At syndry furdis the gait thai wmbeset ; 250
To kepe the wode quhill it was day [thai] thocht.
As AVallace thus in the thik forrest socht,
For his twa men in mynd he had gret payne ;
He wist nocht weill girt' thai war tayne or slayne,
Or chapyt haile be ony jeperte. 255
xiii war left with him, no ma had he.
In the Gask hall thair lugyng haiff thai tayne ;
Fyr gat thai sone, bot meyt than had thai mine.
Twa scheipe thai tuk besid thaim of a fauld,
Ordanyt to soupe in to that sembly hauld ; 260
Graithit in haist sum fude for thaim to dycht:
So hard thai blaw rude hornys wpon hycht.
Twa sende he furth to luk quhat it mycht be;
Thai baid rycht lang, and no tithingis herd he.
Bot boustous noyis so brymly blowand fast : 265
So othir twa in to the woode furth past.
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 87
Nane come agayne, bot boustously can blaw.
In to arret ire he send thai in furth on raw.
Quhen he allayne Wallace was lewyt thar,
The awfull blast aboundyt mekill mayr. 270
Than trowit he weill thai had his lugyng seyne ;
His suerd he drew of nobill mettall keyne,
Syne furth he went quhar at he hard the home.
With out the dur Fawdoun was him beforn,
As till his sycht, his awne hed in his hand ; 275
A croys he maid, quhen he saw him so stand.
At Wallace in the hed he swaket thar ;
And he in haist sone hynt [it] by the hair,
Syne out agayne at him he couth it cast ;
In till his hart he was gretlye agast. 280
Rycht weill he trowit that was no spreit of man ;
It was some dewill, at sic malice began,
He wyst no waill thar langar for to bide.
Vp throuch the hall thus wicht Wallace can glid,
Till a closs stair ; the burdis raiff in twyne, 285
xv fute large he lap out of that in.
Wp the wattir sodeynlye he couth fair ;
Agayne he blent quhat perauce he sawe thair.
Him thocht he saw Faudoun that hugly syr;
That haill hall he had set in a fyr ; 290
A gret raftre he had in till his hand.
Wallace as than no langar walde he stand,
Off his gud men full gret meruaill had he,
How thai war tynt throuch his feyle fantase.
Traistis rycht weill all this was suth in deide, 295
Supposs that it no poynt be of the creide.
Power thai had with Lucifer that fell,
The tyme quhen he partyt fra hewyn to hell.
88 HENRY THE MINSTREL.
Be sic myscheiff giff his men mycht be lost,
Drownyt or slayne amang the Inglis ost ; 300
Or quhat it was in liknes of Faudoun,
Quhilk brocht his men to suddand conf'usioun ;
Or gif the man endyt in ewill entent
Sum wikkit spreit agayne for him present;
I can nocht spek of sic diuinite ; 305
To clerkis I will lat all sic materia be :
Bot of Wallace, furth I will yow tell.
Quhen he wes went of that perell fell,
}eit glaid wes he that he had chapyt swa:
Bot for his men gret murnyng can he ma; 310
Flayt by him self to the Makar off buffe,
Quhy he sufferyt he suld sic paynys pruff.
He wyst nocht weill giff it wes Goddis will,
Kycht or wrang his fortoun to fullfill :
Hade he plesd God, he trowit it mycht nocht be 315
He suld him thoill in sic perplexite.
Bot gret curage in his mynd euir draiff,
Off Inglismen thinkand amend is to haiff.
Visit to the English Camp.
Furth fra his men than Wallace rakit rycht ;
Till him he cald Schyr Jhon Tynto the knycht, 320
And leit him witt, to wesy him selff wald ga
The Inglis ost, and bad him tell na ma,
(^uhat euir thai speryt, quhill that he come agayne.
Wallace dysgysit thus bownyt our the playne.
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 89
Betwix Cultir and Bygar as he past, 325
He was war quhar a werk man come fast,
Dryfande a mere, and pychars had he to sell.
" Gud freynd," he said, " in treuth will thow me tell,
With this chaffar quhar passis thow treuly."
" Til ony, Schyr, quha likis for to by ; 330
It is my crafft, and I wald [sell] thaim fayne."
" I will thaim by, sa God me saifffra payne.
Quhat price lat her, I will tak thaim ilkayne."
' Bot half a mark, for sic prys haiff I tayne.'
" xx*y shillingis," Wallace said, " thow sail haiff. 335
I will haif mer, pycharis and als the laiff.
Thi gowne and hois in haist thow put off syne,
And mak a chang, for I sail geyff the myne ;
And thi aid hud, because it is thred bar."
The man wendweyll that, he had scornyt him thar. 340
" Do, tary nocht, it is suth I the say."
The man kest off his febill weid off gray,
And Wallace his, and payit siluer in hand.
" Pass on," he said, "thou art a proud merchand."
The gown and hois in clay that claggit was, 345
The hud heklyt, and maid him for to pass.
The qwhipe he tuk, syne furth the mar can call ;
Atour a bray the omast pot gert fall,
Brak on the ground. The man lewch at his fair ;
' Bot thow be war, thow tynys off thi chaiffair.' 350
The sone be than was passit out of sicht,
The day our went, and cummyn was the nycht.
Amang Sotheroun full besyly he past ;
On athir side his eyne he gan to cast,
Quhar lordis lay, and had their lugeyng maid ; 355
The kingis pa^one, quhar on the libardis baid,
90 HENRY THE MINSTREL.
Spyand lull fast, quhar his awaill suld be,
And couth weyll luk and wynk, with the ta e.
Sum scornyt him, sum " gleid carll " cald him thar;
Agrewit thai war for thair herroldis mysfayr. 360
Sum sperd at him, how [he] said off the best.
" For xl pens," he said, " quhill thai may lest."
Sum brak a pott, sum pyrlit at his e.
Wallace fled out, and prewale let thaim be :
On till his ost agayne he past full rycht. 305
His men be than had tane Tynto the knycht;
Schyr Jhon the Grayme gert bynd him wondyr fast,
For he wyst weill he was with Wallace last.
Sum bad byrn him, sum hang him in a cord,
Thai swor that he had dissawit thair lord. 370
Wallace be this was entryt thaim amang ;
Till him he ^eid, and wald nocht tary lang.
Syne he gart lous him off thai bandis new,
And said, he was baith suffer, wys and trew.
To souper sone thai bownd but mar abaid. 375
He tald to thaim quhat market he had maid ;
And how at he the Sotheroun saw full weill.
Schyr Jhon Grayme displessit was sumdeill,
And said till him ; " Nocht chyftaynlik it was,
Throw wilfulnes, in sic perell to pas." 380
Wallace ansuerd ; " Or we wyn Scotland fre
Baith }e and I in mar perell mon be,
And mony othir, the quhilk full worthi is."
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 91
Death of Wallace.
On Wednysday the fals Sotheroun furth brocht,
Till martyr him as thai befor had wrocht. 385
Rycht suth it is, a martyr was Wallace,
As Osauold, Edmunt, Eduuard, and Thomas.
Off" men in armes led him a full gret rout.
With a bauld spreit gud Wallace blent about :
A preyst he askyt for God at deit on tre. 390
King Eduuard than cummandyt his clerge,
And said ; " I charge, apayn off loss off lywe,
Nane be sa bauld }on tyrand for to schrywe.
He has rong lang in contrar my hienace."
A blyst byschop sone, present in that plac«, 395
Off Canterbury he than was rychtwys lord,
Agayne the king he maid this rycht record ;
And [said] ; " My selff sail her his confessioun,
Gyff I haiff mycht, in contrar off" thi croun.
And thou throu force will stop me off this thing, 400
I wow to God, quhilk is my rychtwys king,
That all Inglaud I sail her enterdyt,
And make it knawin thou art ane herretyk.
The sacrament off kirk I sail him geift';
Syn tak thi chos, to stervve or lat him leiff. 405
It war mar waill, in worschip off thi croun,
To kepe sic ane in lyff in thi bandoun,
Than all the land and gud at thow has refyd.
Bot cowatice the ay fra honour drefyd.
Thow has [thi] lyff rongyn in wrangwis deid ; 410
That sail be seyn on the, or on thi seid."
92 HENRY THE MINSTREL.
The king gert charge thai suld the byschop ta ;
Bot sad lordys consellyt to lat him ga.
All Inglismen said, at his desyr was rycht ;
To Wallace than he rakyt in thar sicht, 415
And sadly hard his confessioun till ane end.
Hvmbly to God his spreyt he thar coraend,
Lawly him servvyt with hartlye deuocioun
Apon his kneis, and said ane orysoun.
His leyff he tuk, and to West monastyr raid. 420
The lokmen than thai bur Wallace but baid
On till a place, his martyrdom to tak ;
For till his ded he wald no forthyr mak.
Fra the fyrst nycht he was tane in Scotland,
Thai kepyt him in to that sammyn band. 425
Na thing he had at suld haiff doyn him gud ;
Bot Inglismen him seruit off carnaill fud.
Hys warldly lyffdesyrd the sustenance,
Thocht he it gat in contrar off plesance.
Thai xxx l y dayis his band thai durst nocht slaik, 430
Quhill he was bundyn on a skamyll off ayk,
With irn chen^eis that was bath stark and keyn.
A clerk thai set to her quhat he wald meyn.
"Thow Scot," he said, " that gret wrangis has don,
Tin fatell hour, thow seis, approchis son. 435
Thow suld in mynd remembyr thi mysdeid,
At clerkis may, quhen thai thair psalmis reid
For Crystyn saullis, that makis thaim to pray,
In thair nowmyr thow may be ane off thai ;
For now thow seis on fors thou mon decess." 440
Than Wallace said ; " For all thi roid rahress,
Thow has na charge, suppos at I did myss ;
}on blyst byschop has hecht I sail haiff blis ;
HENRY THE MINSTREL. 93
And [I] trew weill, at God sail it admyt:
Tin febyll wordis sail nocht my conscience smyt. 445
Gonford I haiff off way that I suld gang;
Maist payn I feill at I bid her our lang."
Than said the clerk ; " Our king oft send the till ;
Thow mycht haiffhad all Scotland at thy will,
To hald off him, and cessyt offthi stryff; 450
So as a lord rongyn furth all thi lyff."
Than Wallace said ; " Thou spekis off mychty thing.
Had I lestyt, and gottyn ray rychtwys king,
Fra worthi Bruce had rasauit his croun,
I thocht haiff maid Ingland at his bandoun. 455
So wttraly it suld beyn at his will,
Quhat plessyt him, to sauff thi king or spill."
" Weill," said this clerk, " than thow repentis nocht.
Off wykkydness thow has a felloun thocht.
Is nayn in warld at has sa mony slayne ; 460
Tharfor till ask, me think thow suld be bane,
Grace off our king, and syn at his barnage."
Than Wallace smyld [a] littill at his langage.
" I grant," he said, " part Inglismen I slew
In my quarrel, me thocht nocht halff enew. 465
I mowyt na wer bot for to win our awin ;
To God and man the rycht full weill is knawin.
Thi frustyr wordis dois nocht bot taris me ;
I the commaund, on Goddis halff, lat me be."
A schyrray gart this clerk son fra him pass ; 470
Rycht as thai durst, thai grant quhat he wald as.
A Psaltyr buk Wallace had on him euir;
Fra his childeid fra it wald nocht deseuir ;
Betty r he trowit in wiage for to speid ;
Bot than he was dispal^eid off his weid. 475
94 RAUF COIL^EAR.
This grace he ast at lord ClyfFurd that knycht,
To lat him haiff his Psaltyr buk in sycht.
He gert a preyst it oppyn befor him hauld,
Quhill thai till him had done all at thai wauld.
Stedfast he red, for ocht thai did him thar: 480
Feyll Sotheroun said, at Wallace feld na sayr.
Schir William Wallace: I, 367-448;
V, 1-236 ;
VI, 429-493 ;
XI, 1305-1402.
RAUF COIL3EAR.
About 1475.
In the cheiftyme of Charlis, that chosin chiftane,
Thair fell ane ferlyfull flan within thay fellis wide,
Quhair Empreonris and Erlis and vther mony ane
Turnit fra Sanct Thomas befoir the }ule tyde.
Thay past vnto Paris, thay proudest in pane, 5
With mony Prelatis and Princis, that was of mekle
pryde ;
All thay went with the King to his worthy wane,
Ouir the feildis sa fair thay fare be his syde.
All the worthiest went in the morning ;
Baith Dukis and Duchepeiris, 10
Barrounis and Bacheleiris,
Mony stout man steiris
Of town with the King.
RAUF COIL^EAR. 05
And as that Ryal raid onir the rude mure,
Him betyde ane tempest that tyme, hard I tell, 15
The wind blew out of the eist stiflie and sture,
The deip durandlie draif in mony deip dell ;
Sa feirslie fra the firmament, sa fellounlie it fure,
Thair micht na folk hald na fute on the heich fell.
In point thay war to parische, they proudest men and
pure, 20
In thay wickit wedderis thair wist nane to dwell.
Amang thay myrk montanis sa madlie thay mer,
Be it was pry me of the day,
Sa wonder hard fure thay
That ilk ane tuik ane seir way, 25
And sperpellit full fer.
Ithand wedderis of the eist draif on sa fast,
It all to-blaisterit and blew thairin baid.
Be thay disseuerit sindrie, midmorne was past ;
Thair wist na knicht of the Court quhat way the
King raid. 30
He saw thair was na better bot God at the last,
His steid aganis the storme staluartlie straid ;
He cachit fra the Court, sic was his awin cast,
Quhair na body was him about, be fine mylis braid.
In thay montanis, i-wis, he wox all will, 35
In wickit wedderis and wicht,
Amang thay montanis on hicht:
Be that it drew to the nicht
The Kyng lykit ill.
Euill lykand was the Kyng it nichtit him sa lait, 40
And he na harberie had for his behufe ;
96 RA UK COIL^EAR.
Sa come thair ane cant Carll chachand the gait,
With ane capill and twa creillis cuplit abufe.
The King carpit to the Carll withoutVn debait,
" Schir, tell me thy richt name, for the Rude lufe:" 45
He sayis, " men callis me Rauf Coi^ear, as I weill wait ;
I leid my life in this land with mekle vnrufe,
Baith tyde and tyme, in all my trauale ;
Hine ouir seuin mylis I dwell,
And leidis coilis to sell ; 50
Sen thow speiris, I the tell
All the suith hale."
" Sa mote I thrife," said the King, " I speir for nane ill ;
Thow semis ane nobill fallow, thy answer is sa fyne."
"Forsuith," said the Coil^ear, " traist quhen thow
will, 55
For I trow, and it be nocht swa, sum part salbe
thyne."
" Mary, God forbid ! " said the King, " that war bot
lytill skill;
Baith myself and my hors is reddy for to tyne :
I pray the, bring me to sum rest, the weddir is sa schill,
For I defend that we fall in ony fechtine. 60
T had mckill mair nait, sum freindschip to find;
And gif thow can better than I,
For the name of Sanct July,
Thow bring me to sum harbery,
And leif me not behind! " 65
" I wait na worthie harberie heir neir hand
For to serue sic ane man as me think the :
rauf coil^eah. 97
Nane bot mine awin house, maist in this land,
Fer furth in the Forest, amang the fellis hie.
With-thy thow wald be payit of sic as thow fand, 70
Forsuith thow suld be wel-cum to pas hame with me,
Or ony vther gude fallow that I heir fand
Walkand will of his way, as me think the ;
For the wedderis ar sa fell, that fallis on the feild."
The King was blyth quhair he raid, 75
Of the grant that he had maid,
Sayand, with hert glaid,
" Schir, God ^ow for^eild ! "
" Na, thank me not ouir airlie, for dreid that we threip,
For I have seruit the }it of lytill thing to rufe ; 80
For nouther hes thow had of me fyre, drink nor meit,
£Jor nane vther eismentis for trauellouris behufe.
Bot, micht we bring this harberie this nicht weill to
keip,
That we micht with ressoun baith thus excuse,
To-morne, on the morning, quhen thow sail on leip, 85
Pryse at the parting, how that thow dois ;
For first to lofe, and syne to lak, Peter! it is schame."
The King said, " In gudefay,
Schir, it is suith that }e say."
Into sic talk fell thay, 90
Quhill thay war neir hame.
To the Coil^eans hous baith, or thay wald blin,
The Carll had cunning weill quhair the gait lay :
" Vndo the dure beliue ! Dame, art thow in ?
Quhy deuill makis thow na dule for this euill day ? 95
7
98 RAUF COIT^EAR.
For my gaist and I bailh cheueris with the chin,
Sa fell ane weddir feld I neuer, be my gude fay ! "
The gude wyfe [was] glaid with the gle to begin —
For durst scho neuer sit summoundis that scho hard
him say —
The Carll was wantoun of word, and wox wonder
wraith. 100
All abaisit for blame,
To the dure went our Dame,
Scho said, " Schir, ^e ar welcome hame,
And ^our gaist baith."
" Dame, I have deir coft all this dayis hyre, 105
In wickit wedderis and weit walkand full will ;
Dame, kyith I am cummin hame, and kendill on ane fyre;
I trow our gaist be the gait hes fame als ill.
Ane ryall rufe het fyre war my desyre,
To fair the bettir, for his saik, gif we micht win
thair-till; 110
Knap doun capounis of the best, but in the byre,
Heir is bot hamelie fair, do beliue, Gill."
Twa cant knaifis of his awin haistelie he bad :
" The ane of }ow my capill ta,
The vther his coursour alswa; 115
To the stabill swyith ^e ga."
Than was the King glaid.
The Coihear gudlie in feir, tuke him be the hand,
And put him befoir him, as ressoun had bene;
(^,uhcn thay come to the dure, the King begouth to
stand, 120
To put the Coil^ear in befoir, made him to mene.
RAUF COIL^EAR. 99
He said, " thow art vncourtes, that sail I warrand ! "
He tyt the King be the nek, twa part in tene ;
" Gif thow at bidding suld be boun or obeysand,
And gif thow of courtasie couth, thow hes forget it
clene ! 125
Noav is anis," said the Coil^ear, " kynd aucht to creip,
Sen ellis thow art vnknawin,
To mak me lord of my awin ;
Sa mot I thriue, I am thrawin,
Begin we to threip." 130
Than benwart thay ^eid, quhair brandis was bricht,
To ane bricht byrnand fyre, as the Carll bad.
He callit on Gyliane his wyfe, thair supper to dicht ;
" Of the best that thair is, help that we had,
Eftir ane euill day to haue ane mirrie nicht ; 135
For sa troublit with storrais was I neuer stad.
Of ilk airt of the eist sa laithly it laid ;
3 it I was mekle willar than,
Quhen I met with this man."
Of sic taillis thay began, 140
Quhill the supper was graid.
Sone was the supper dicht, and the fyre bet,
And thay had weschin, I-wis, the worthiest was thair:
" Tak my wyfe be the hand in feir, withoutin let,
And gang begin the buird," said the Coil^ear. 145
" That war vnsemand, forsuith, and thyself vnset : "
The King profferit him to gang, and maid ane strange
fair,
100 RAUF COIL^EAR.
" Now is twyse," said the Carll, " rue think thow lies
forget ! "
He leit gyrd to the King, withoutin ony mair,
And hit him vnder the eir with his richt hand, 150
Quhill he stakkerit thair with all
Half the breid of the hall ;
He faind neuer of ane fall,
Quhill he the eird fand.
He start vp stoutly agane — vneis micht he stand — 155
For anger of that outray that he had thair tane.
He callit on Gyliane his wyfe, " Ga, tak him by the
hand,
And gang agane to the buird, quhair }e suld air haue
gane.
Schir, thow art vnskilfull, and that sail I warrand ;
Thow byrd to haue nurtour aneuch, and thow hes
nane ; 160
Thow hes walkit, I wis, in niony wyld land,
The mair vertew thow suld haue, to keip the fra
blame :
Thow suld be courtes of kynd,and ane cunnand courteir.
Thocht that I simpill be,
Do as I bid the ; 165
The hous is myne, pardie,
And all that is heir."
The King said to him self, " This is ane euill lyfe :
3it was I neuer in my lyfe thus-gait leird ;
And I haue oft tymes bene quhair gude hes bene
ryfe, 170
That maist couth of courtasie, in this Christin eird.
EAUF COIL^EAK. 101
Is nane so gude as leif of, and mak na mair stryfe,
For I am stonischit at this straik, that hes me thus
steird."
In feir fairlie he foundis, with the gude wyfe,
Quhair the Coihear bad, sa braithlie he beird. 175
Quhen he had done his bidding, as him gude thocht,
Down he sat the King neir,
And maid him glaid and gude cheir,
And said, " }e ar welcum heir,
Be him that me bocht." 180
Quhen thay war seruit and set to the suppar,
Gyll and the gentill King, Charlis of micht,
Syne on the tother syde sat the Coil^ear:
Thus war thay marschellit but mair, and matchit
that nicht.
Thay brocht breid to the buird, and braun of ane
bair, 185
And the worthyest wyne went vpon hicht ;
Thay beirnis, as I wene, thay had aueuch thair,
Within that burelie bigging, byrnand full bricht.
Syne enteris thair daynteis, on deis dicht dayntelie ;
Within that worthy wane 190
Forsuith wantit thay nane.
With blyith cheir sayis Gyliane,
" Schir, dois glaidlie."
The Carll carpit to the King cumlie and cleir :
" Schir, the forestaris, forsuith, of this forest, 195
Thay haue me all at inuy, for dreid of the deir ;
Thay threip that I thring doun of the fattest.
102 RAUF COII^EAR.
Thay say, I sail to Paris, thair to compeir
Befoir our cumlie King, in dule to be drest ;
Sic mauassing thay me mak, forsuith, ilk ^eir, 200
And }it aneuch sail I haue for me and ane gest.
Thairfoir sic as thow seis, spend on, and not spair."
Thus said gentill Charlis the Mane
To the Coil sear agane :
" The King him self lies bene fane, 205
Sum tyme, of sic fair."
Of capounis and cunningis they had plentie,
With wyne at thair will, and eik vennysoun ;
Byrdis bakin in breid, the best that may be ;
Thus full freschlie thay fure into fusioun. 210
The Carll with ane cleir voce carpit on he,
Said, " Gyll, lat the cop raik for my bennysoun,
And gar our gaist begin, and syne drink thow to me;
Sen he is ane stranger, me think it ressoun."
They drank dreichlie about, thay wosche and thay
rais. 215
The King with ane blyith cheir
Thankit the Coilsear ;
Syne all the thre into feir
To the fyre gais.
Quhen they had maid thame eis, the Coibear tald 220
Mony siudrie taillis efter suppair.
Ane bricht byrnand fyre was byrnand full bald ;
The King held gude countenance, and company bair,
And euer to his asking ane answer he jald ;
Quhill at the last he began to frane farther mair : 225
RAUF COIL^EAR. 103
" In faith, freind, I wald wit, tell gif ^e wald,
Quhair is thy maist wynning?" said the Coil^ear.
" Out of weir," said the King, " I wayndit neuer to tell ;
With ray Lady the Queue
In office maist haue I bene, 230
All thir ^eiris fyftene,
In the Court for to dwell."
" Quhat-kin office art thow in, quhen thow art at
hame,
Gif thow dwellis with the Quene, proudest in pane? "
" Ane chyld of hir chalraer, Schir, be Sanct Jame, 235
And thocht my self it say, maist inwart of ane ;
For my dwelling to nicht, I dreid me for blame."
" Quhat sal I call the," said the Coi^ear, quhen
thow art hyne gane ? "
" Wymond of the Wardrop is my richt name ;
Quhair euer thow findis me befoir the, thi harberie
is tane. 240
And thow will cum to the Court, this I vnderta,
Thow sail haue for thy fewaill
For my sake, the better saill,
And on wart to thy trauaill,
Worth ane laid or twa." 245
He said, " I haue na knawledge quhair the Court lyis,
And I am wonder wa to cum quhair I am vnkend."
" And I sail say thee the suith on ilk syde, I wis,
That thow sail wit weill aneuch or I fra the wend :
Baith the King aud the Quene meitis in Paris, 250
For to hald thair 3ule togiddir, for scho is efter send.
104 RAUF COIL} EAR.
Thair may thow sell, be ressoun, als deir as thow will
prys;
And }it I sail helj) the, gif I ocht may amend,
For I am knawin with officiaris in cais thow cum thair.
Haue gude thocht on my name, 255
And speir gif I be at hame,
For I suppois, be Sanct Jame,
Thow sail the better fair."
" Me think it ressoun, be the Rude, that I do thy red,
In cais I cum to the Court, and knaw bot the ane ; 260
Is nane sa gude as drink, and gang to our bed,
For als far as I wait, the nicht is furth gane."
To ane preuie chalmer beliue thay him led,
Quhair ane burely bed was wrocht in that wane,
Closit with courtingis, and cumlie cled; 265
Of the worthiest wyne wantit thay nane.
The Coil^ear and his wyfe baith with him thay $eid,
To serue him all at thay mocht,
Till he was in bed brocht.
Mair the King spak nocht, 270
Bot thankit thame thair deid.
Vpon the morne airlie, quhen it was day,
The King buskit him sone, with scant of squyary.
Wachis and wardroparis all war away,
That war wont for to walkin mony worthy. 275
Ane pauyot preuilie brocht him his palfray,
The King thocht lang of this lyfe, and lap on in hy ;
Than callit he on the Carll, anent quhair he lay,
For to tak his leif, than spak he freindly.
RAUF coiMear. 105
Thau walkiunit thay baith, and hard he was thair; 280
The Carll start vp sone,
And prayit him to abyde none :
" Quhill thir wickit wedderis be done
I red nocht }e fair."
" Sa mot I thriue," said the King, " me war laith to
byde ; 285
Is not the morne ^ule day, formest of the jeir?
Ane man that office suld beir be tyme at this tyde,
He will be found in his fault that wantis, foroutin
weir.
I se the firmament fair vpon ather syde,
I will returne to the Court, quhill the wedder is
cleir ; 290
Call furth the gude wyfe, lat pay hir or we ryde,
For the worthie harberie that I haue fundin heir."
" Lat be, God forbid," the Coil^ear said,
"And thow of Charlis cumpany,
Cheif King of cheualry, 295
That for ane nichtis barbery
Pay suld be laid."
" ?ea, sen it is sa that thow will haue na pay,
Cum the morne to the Court, and do my coun-
sall:
Deliuer the, and bring ane laid, and mak na delay, 300
Thow may not schame with thy craft, gif thow thriue
sail.
Gif I may help the ocht to sell, forsuith I sail assay,
And als my self wald haue sum of the fewall."
106 RAUF COIL3EAR.
" Peter! " he said, " I sail preif the morne, gif I may,
To bring coillis to the Court, to se gif thay sell
sail." 305
" Se that thow let nocht, I pray the," said the King.
" la faith," said the Coil^ear,
" Traist weill I salbe thair,
For thow will neuer gif the mair
To mak ane lesing. 310
" Bot tell me now lelely quhat is thy richt name ?
I will forget the morne, and ony man me greif."
" Wymond of the Wardrop, I bid not to lane ;
Tak gud tent to my name, the Court gif thow will
preif."
"That I haue said, I sail bald, and that I tell the
plane; 315
Quhair ony Coil^ear may enchaip I trow till encheif."
Quhen he had grantit him to cum, than was the King
fane,
And withoutin ony mair let, than he tuke his leif.
Than the Coil^ear had greit thocht on the cunnand he
had maid ;
Went to the charcoill in by, 320
To mak his chauffray reddy.
Agane the morne airly
He ordanit him ane laid.
Than vpon the morne airlie, quhen the day dew,
The Coi^ear had greit thocht quhat he had vnder
tane ; °»
25
EAUF COII^EAR. 107
He kest twa creillis on ane capill, with coillis anew,
Wandit thame with widdeis, to wend on that wane.
" Mary, it is not my counsall, bet }one man that ^e
knew,
■
To do }ow in his gentrise," said Gyliane.
" Thow gaif him ane outragious blaw, and greit boist
blew ; 330
In faith thow suld have bocht it deir, and he had
bene allane.
For thy, hald }ow fra the Court, for ocht that may be ;
3one man that thow outrayd
Is not sa simpill as he said ;
Thairun my lyfe dar I layd, 335
That sail thow heir and se."
" }ea, dame, haue nane dreid of my lyfe to day ;
Lat me wirk as I will, the weird is mine awin.
I spak not out of ressoun, the suith gif I sail say,
To AVymond of the Wardrop, war the suith knaw-
in. 340
That I haue hecht I sail hald, happin as it may,
Quhidder sa it gang to greif or to gawin."
He caucht twa creillis on ane capill, and catchit on his
way
Ouir the daillis sa derf, be the day was dawin.
The hie way to Paris, in all that he mocht, 345
With ane quhip in his hand,
Cantlie on catchand,
To fulfill his cunnand,
To the Court socht.
108 RAUP COII^EAR.
Graith thocht of the grant had the glide King, 350
And callit Schir Holland him till, and gaif com-
mandment.
(Ane man he traistit in maist, atonr all vther thing,
That neuer wald set him on assay withoutin his
assent,)
" Tak thy hors and thy harnes in the morning ;
For to watche weill the wayis, I wald that thow
went ; 355
Gif thow meitis ony leid lent on the ling,
Gar thame boun to this Burgh, I tell the mine
intent.
Or gyf thow seis ony man cumming furth the way,
Quhat sumeuer that he be,
Bring him haistely to me, 360
Befoir none that 1 him se
In this hall the day."
Schir Holland had greit ferly, and in hart kest
Quhat that suld betakin that the King tald :
Vpon solempnit pie day, quhen ilk man suld rest, 365
That him behouit neidlingis to watche on the wald,
Quhen his God to serue he suld have him drest.
And syne, with ane blyith cheir, buskit that bald,
Out of Paris proudly he preikit full prest,
In till his harnes all hail his hechtis for to hald. 370
He vmbekest the countrie, outwith the toun ;
He saw na thing on steir,
Nouther fer nor neir,
Bot the feildis in feir,
Daillis and doun. 375
RAUP COIL^EAR. 109
He huit and he houerit quhill raidmorne and mair,
Behaldand the hie hillis and passage sa plane ;
Sa saw he quhair the Coil^ear come with all his fair,
With twa creillis on ane capill ; thairof was he
fane.
He followit to him haistely, amang the holtis hair, 380
For to bring him to the King, at bidding full bane.
Courtesly to the Knieht kneillit the Coil^ear,
And Schir Rolland him self salust him agane,
Syne bad him leif his courtasie, and boun him to ga ;
He said, " Withoutin letting 385
Thow mon to Paris to the King ;
Speid the fast in ane ling
Sen I find na ma."
" In faith," said the Coil^ear, " }it was I neuer sa
nyse;
Schir Knieht, it is na courtasie commounis to
scorne : 390
Thair is mony better than I, cummis oft to Parys,
That the King wait not of, nouther nicht nor morne.
For to towsill me or tit me, thocht foull be my clais,
Or I be dantit on sic wyse, my lyfe salbe lorne."
" Do way," said Schir Rolland, " me think thow art
not wise, 395
I red thow at bidding be, be all that we haue sworne ;
And call thow it na scorning, bot do as I the ken,
Sen thow has hard mine intent :
It is the Kingis commandement,
At this tyme thow suld haue went 400
And I had met sic ten."
110 RAUF (JOIL3EAR.
" I am bot ane, mad man, that thow hes heir met ;
I haue na myster to mat'che with maisterfull men ;
Fairand ouir the feildis, f'ewell to fet,
And oft fylit my feit in mony foull fen ; 405
Gangand with laidis, my gouerning to get.
Thair is mony carll in the countrie thow may nocht
ken;
I sail hald that I haue hecht, bot I be hard set,
To Wymond of the Wardrop, I wait full weill quhen."
" Sa thriue I," said Holland, " it is mine intent 410
That nouther to Wymond nor Will
Thow said hald nor hecht till,
Quhill I haue brocht the to fulfill
The Kingis commandment."
Of that ryall array that Holland in raid, 415
Hauf rusit in his hart of that ryall thing ;
" He is the gayest in geir, that euer on ground glaid,
Haue he grace to the gre in ilk iornaying.
War he ane manly man, as he is weill maid,
He war full michtie, with magre durst abyde his
meting." 420
He bad the Coil^ear in wraith swyth withoutin baid,
Cast the creillis fra the capill and gang to the
King,
" In faith, it war greit schame," said the Coil^ear,
" I vndertuk thay suld be brocht,
This day for ocht that be mocht ; 425
Schir Knicht, that word is for nocht
That thow carpis thair!
RAUF COII^EAR. Ill
"Thow huifis on thir holtis, and haldis me heir,
Quhill half the haill day may the hicht haue."
" Be Christ that was cristinnit, and his Mother
cleir, 430
Thow sail catche to the Court, that sail not be to
craue.
It micht be preifit preiudice, bot gif thow suld compeir,
To se quhat granting of grace the King wald the
gaif.
For na gold on this ground wald I, but weir,
Be fundin fals to the King, sa Christ me saue ! 435
To gar the cum and be knawin, as I am command,
I wait not quhat his willis be,
Nor he namit na mair the,
Nor ane vther man to me,
Bot quhome that I fand." 440
" Thow fand me fechand nathing that followit to feid ;
I war ane fide gif I fled, and fand nane affray :
Bot as ane lauchfull man, my laidis to leid,
That leifis with mekle lawtie and laubour in fay.
Be the Mother and the Maydin that maid vs
remeid , 445
And thow mat me ony mair, cum efter quhat sa may,
Thow and I sail dyntis deill, quhill ane of vs be deid,
For the deidis thow hes me done vpon this deir day."
Mekle merwell of that word had Schir Rolland :
He saw na wappinnis thair, 450
That the Coihear bair,
Bot ane auld buklair,
And ane roustie brand.
112 i:auf coiiJear.
" It is lyke," said Schir Rolland, and lichtly he leuch,
" That sic ane stubill husband man wald stryke
stoutly ; 455
Thair is mony toun man, to tuggill is full teuch,
Thocht thair brandis be blak and vuburely ;
Oft fair foullis ar fundin faynt, and als f'reuch.
I defend we fecht or fall in that foly ;
Lat se how we may disseuer with sobernes aneuch, 460
And catche crabitnes away, be Christ counsall I.
Quhair winnis that Wymond thow hecht to meit to-
day?"
" With the Quene, tauld he me ;
And thair I vndertuke to be,
Into Paris, pardie, 465
Withoutin delay."
" And I am knawin with the Quene," said Schir Rol-
land,
" And with mony byrdis in hir bowre, be buikis and
bellis.
The King is into Paris, that sail I warrand,
And all his aduertance that in his Court dwellis. 470
Me tharth haue nane noy of myne erand,
For me think thow will be thair, efter as thow tellis ;
Bot gif I fand the, forrow now to keip my cunnand."
" Schir Kuicht," said the Coil^ear, " thow trowis me
neuer ellis,
Bot gif sum suddand let put it of delay ; 475
For that I hecht of my will,
And na man threit me thair till,
That I am haldin to fulfill,
And sail do quhill I may."
RAUF COILrjEAR. 113
" 3ea, sen thow will be thair, thy cunnandis to new, 480
I neid uane airar myne erand nor none of the day."
" Be thow traist," said the Coil^ear, " man, as I am trew,
I will not haist me ane fute faster on the way ;
Bot gif thow raik out of my renk, full raith sail thow rew,
Or, be the Rude, I sail rais thy ryall array ; 485
Thocht thy body be braissit in that bricht hew,
Thow salbe fundin als febil of thy bone fay."
Schir Rolland said to him self, " This is bot foly
To striue with him ocht mair :
I se weill he will be thair." 490
His leif at the Coil^ear
He tuke lufesumly.
" Be Christ ! " said the Coil^ear, " that war ane foull
seorne,
That thow suld chaip, bot I the knew, that is sa
schynand ;
For thow seis my weidis ar auld, and all to-worne, 495
Thow trowis nathing thir taillis that I am telland.
Bring na beirnis vs by, bot as we war borne,
And thir blonkis that vs beiris, thairto I mak ane bland,
That I sail meit the heir vpon this mure to morne,
Gif I be haldin in heill — and thairto my hand — 500
Sen that we haue na laiser at this tyme to ta."
In ane thourtour way,
Seir gaitis pas thay,
Baith to Paris in fay ;
Thus partit thay twa.
Taill of Ran f Coiljear :
11.1-323; 363-453; 4S0-570.
8
114 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
(1460-1520.)
William Dunbar was born about 1460. After receiving the Master's
degree at St. Andrew's University, he seems to have entered the Francis-
can Order, and travelled through England and Prance. Returning to Scot-
land, he was attached, in his capacity of poet, to the Court of .lames IV.,
and celebrated the marriage of that prince with Margaret, daughter of-
Henry VII., in his poem called The Thrvssil and the Roiss (the Thistle ami
the Rose). He took priestly orders in 1504. Feeling how precarious a
thing was court-favour, he never ceased importuning the King for a bene-
fice, however humble, but never obtained one. Scarce anything is known
of his life after the disaster of Hodden in 151;;, but be is supposed t<> have
died about 1520. His works arc The Thrissil „„<! the Kaiss, the GoMyn Terr/e,
the Dance of the Sewn Deidly Synnis, a Flyling, or jocular dispute with
Kennedy, a brother poet, and a number of smaller pieces, both serious and
jocose. The excellent tale, the 'lim PreirU of Berwick, is attributed to Dun-
bar, but not with absolute certainty.
The Thrissill and the Roiss.
Quhen Merclie wes with variand windis past,
And Appryll had, with her sillier schouris,
Tane leif at nature with ane orient hlast ;
And lusty May, that inoddir is of flouris,
Had maid the birdis to begyn thair houris 5
Amang the tendir odouris reid and quhyt,
Quhois armony to heir it wes delyt ;
In bed at morrow, sleiping as I lay,
Me thocht Aurora, with her cristall ene,
In at the window lukit by the day, 10
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 115
And halsit me, with visage paill and grene ;
On quhois hand a lark sang fro the splene :
" Awalk, luvaris, out of your slomering,
Se how the lusty morrow dois vp spring."
Me thocht fresche May befoir my bed vpstude, 15
In weid depaynt of mony diuerss hew,
Sobir, benyng, and full of mansuetude,
In brycht atteir of flouris forgit new,
Hevinly of color, quhyt, reid, broun, and blew,
Balmit in dew, and gilt with Phebus bemys, 20
Quhill all the houss illumynit of hir lemys.
"Slugird," seho said, " awalk annone for schanie,
And in my honour sum thing thow go wryt;
The lork hes done the mirry day proclame,
To raiss vp luvaris with confort and delyt, 25
9 it nocht incressis thy curage to indyt,
Quhois hairt sum tyme hes glaid and blisfull bene,
Sangis to mak vndir the levis grene."
" Quhairto," quod I, " sail I vpryss at morrow,
For in this May few birdis herd I sing ? 30
Thai haif moir causs to weip and plane thair sorrow ;
Thy air it is nocht holsurn nor benyng ;
Lord Eolus dois in thy sessone ring ;
So busteous ar the blastis of his home,
Amang thy bewis to walk I haif forborne." 35
With that this lady sobirly did smyll,
And said, " Vpryss, and do thy observance ;
Thow did promyt, in Mayis lusty quhyle,
116 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
For to discry ve the Ross of most plesance.
Go se the birdis how thay sing and dance, 40
llluniynit our with orient skyis bryeht,
Annamyllit richely with new asnr lycht."
Quhen this wes said, depairtit scho, this quene,
And enterit in a lusty gairding gent ;
And than, me thocht, full hestely besene, 45
In serk and mantill [eftir hir] I went
In to this garth, most dulce and redolent
Off herb and flour, and tendir plantis sueit,
And grene levis doing of dew doun fleit.
The purpour sone, with tendir bemys reid, 50
In orient bricht as angell did appeir,
Throw goldin skyis putting vp his heid,
(^,u hois gilt tressis schone so wondir cleir,
That all the world tuke confort, fer and neir,
To luke vpone his fresche and blisfull face, 55
Doing all sable fro the hevynuis chace.
And as the blisfull soune of cherarchy
The fowlis song throw confort of the licht ;
The byrdis did with oppin vocis cry,
" O, luvaris fo, away thow dully nycht, 60
And welcum day that confortis every wicht ;
Haill May, hail Flora, haill Aurora schene,
Haill princes Natur, haill Venus luvis quene ! "
Dame Nature gaif ane inhibitioun thair
To ferss Neptunus, and Eolus the bawld, 65
Nocht to perturb the wattir nor the air,
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 117
And that no schouris, nor blastis cawld,
Eflray snld flouris nor fowlis on the fold ;
Scho bad eik Juno, goddes of the sky,
That scho the hevin suld keip amene and dry. 70
Scho ordand eik that every bird and beist
Befoir hir hieness suld annone compeir,
And every flour of vertew, most and leist,
And every herb be feild fer and neir,
As they had wont in May, fro }eir to }eir, 75
To hir thair raakar to mak obediens,
Full law inclynnand with all dew reuerens.
With that annone scho send the swyft Ro
To bring in beistis of all conditioun ;
The restles Suallow commandit scho also 80
To feche all fowll of small and greit renown ;
And to gar flouris compeir of all fassoun,
Full craftely conjurit scho the Yarrow,
Quhilk did furth swirk als swift as ony arrow.
All present wer in twynkling of ane e, 85
Baith beist, and bird, and flour, befoir the quene,
And first the Lyone, gretast of degre,
Was callit thair, and he, most fair to sene,
With a full hardy contenance and kene,
Befoir dame JNatur come, and did inclyne, 90
With visage bawld, and curage leonyne.
This awfull beist full terrible wes of cheir,
Persing of luke, and stout of countenance,
Rycht strong of corpis, of fassoun fair, but feir,
118 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Lusty ofschaip, lycht of deliuerance, 95
Reid of his cullour, as is the ruby glance ;
On feild of gold he stude full mychtely,
With flour delycis sirculit lustely.
This lady liftit vp his cluvis cleir,
And leit him listly lene vpone hir kne, 100
And crownit him with dyademe full deir,
Off radyous stonis, most ryall for to se ;
Saying, " The King of Beistis mak I the,
And the cheif protector in woddis and schawis ;
Onto thi leigis go furth, and keip the lawis. 105
Exerce justice with mercy and conscience.
And lat no small beist suffir skaith, na skornis
Of greit beistis that bene of moir piscence ;
Do law elyk to aipis and vnicornis.
And lat no bowgle, with his busteous hornis, 110
The meik pluch ox oppress, for all his pryd,
Bot in the 30k go peciable him besyd."
Q,uhen this was said, with noyis and soun of joy,
All kynd of beistis in to thair degre,
At onis cryit lawd, " Viue le Roy ! " 115
And till his feit fell with humilite,
And all thay maid him homege and fewte ;
And he did thame ressaif with princely laitis,
(^,uhois noble yre is parcere prostratis.
Syne crownit scho the Egle King of Fowlis, 120
And as steill dertis scherpit scho his pennis,
And bawd him be als just to awppis and owlis,
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 119
As vnto pacokkis, papingais, or crennis,
Arid mak a law for wycht fowlis and for wrennis ;
And lat no fowll of ravyne do efferay, 125
Nor devoir birdis bot his awin pray.
Than callit scho all flouris that grew on feild,
Discirnyng all thair fassionis and effeiris ;
Vpone the awfull Thrissill scho beheld,
And saw him kepit with a busche of speiris ; 130
Concedring him so able for the weiris,
A radius croun of rubeis scho him gaif,
And said, " In feild go furth, and fend the laif ;
And, sen thow art a king, thow be discreit ;
Herb without vertew thow hald nocht of sic pryce 135
As herb of vertew and of odor sueit ;
And lat no nettill vyle, and full of vyce,
Hir fallow to the gudly flour delyce.
Nor latt no wyld weid, full of churlicheness,
Compair her till the lilleis nobilness. 140
Nor hald non vdir flour in sic denty
As the fresche Ross, of cullour reid and quhyt ;
For gife thow dois, hurt is thyne honesty,
Conciddering that no flour is so perfyt,
So full of virtew, plesans and delyt, 145
So full of blisfull augeilik bewty,
Imperiall birth, honour and dignite."
Than to the Ross scho turnyit hir visage,
And said, " O lusty dochtir most benyng
Aboif the lilly, illustare of lynnage, 150
120 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Fro the stok ryell rysing fresche and }ing,
But ony spot or niacull doing spring ;
Cum, blowme of joy, with jemis to be cround,
For our the laif thy bewty is renownd."
A coistly croun with clarefeid stonis brycht, 155
This cumly quene did on hir heid incloiss,
Quhill all the land illumynit of the licht ;
Quhairfoir me thocht all flouris did reioss,
Crying attonis, " Haill be thow, richest Ross !
Hail, hairbis empryce, haill, freschest quene of
flouris, 160
To the be glory and honour at all houris."
Thane all the birdis song with voce on hicht,
Quhois mifthfull soun wes mervelus to heir ;
The mavyss song, " Haill, Roiss most riche and richt,
That doiss vp flureiss vndir Phebus speir; 165
Haill, plant of }owth, haill, princes dochtir deir,
Haill, blosome breking out of the blud royall,
Quhois pretius vertew is imperiall."
The merle scho sang, " Haill, Roiss of most delyt,
Haill, of all flouris quene and souerane ; " 170
The lark scho song, " Haill, Roiss, both reid and quhyt.
Most plesand flour, of michty cullouris twane; "
The nychtingaill song, " Haill, naturis suffragene
In bewty, nurtour and every nobilness,
In riche array, renown and gentilness." 175
The commoun vqce vpraiss of birdis small,
Apone this wyss, "O blissit be the hour
That thow wes chosin to be our principal! ;
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 121
Welcome to be our princes of honour,
Our perle, our plesans and our paramour, 180
Our peax, our play, our plane felicite,
Chryst the conserf frome all aduersite."
Than all the birdis song with sic a schout,
That I annon awoilk quhair that I lay,
And with a braid I turnyt me about 185
To se this court ; bot all wer went away :
Than vp I lenyt, halflingis in affrey,
And thuss I wret, as }e haif hard to-forrow,
Off lusty May vpone the nynt morrow.
The Visitation of St. Francis.
This nycht befoir the dawing cleir,
Me thocht Sanct Francis did to me appeir,
With ane religiouss abbeit in his hand,
And said, " In thiss go cleith the, my serwand ;
Reffuss the warld, for thow mon be a freir." 5
With him and with his abbeit bayth I skarrit,
Lyk to ane man that with a gaist wes marrit :
Me thocht on bed he layid it me abone,
Bot on the flu re delyuerly and sone
I lap thairfra, and nevir wald cum nar it. 10
Quoth he, " Quhy skarris thow with this holy weid ?
Cleith the thairin, for weir it thow most neid ;
Thow, that hes lang done Venus lawis teiche,
122 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Sail now be freir, and in this abbeit preiclie ;
Delay it nocht, it mon be done but dreid." 15
Quod I, " Sanct Francis, loving be the till,
And thaukit mot thow be of thy gude will
To me, that of thy clayis ar so kynd ;
Bot thame to weir it nevir come in my mynd ;
Sweit Confessour, thow tak it nocht in ill. 20
In haly legendis haif I hard allevin,
Ma Sanctis of bischoppis, nor freiris, be sic sevin ;
Off full few freiris that hes bene Sanctis I reid ;
Quhairfoir ga bring to me ane bischopis weid,
Gife evir thow wald my saule gaid vnto hevin." 25
" My brethir oft hes maid the supplicationis,
Be epistillis, sermonis, and relationis,
To tak the abyte, bot thow did postpone ;
Bot ony process, cum on thairfoir annone,
All sircumstance put by and excusationis." 30
" Gif evir my fortoun wes to be a freir,
The dait thairof is past full mony a }eir;
For into every lusty toun and place
Off all Yngland, frome Berwick to Kalice,
I haif into thy habeit maid gud cheir. 35
In freiris weid full fairly haif I fleichit,
In it haif I in pulpet gon and preichit
In Derntoun kirk, and eik in Canterberry ;
In it I past at Dover our the ferry
Throw Piccardy, and thair the peple teichit. 40
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 123
Als lang as I did beir the freiris style,
In me, God wait, wes mony wrink and wyle :
In me wes falset with every wicht to flatter,
Quhilk mycht be flemit with na haly watter ;
I wes ay reddy all men to begyle." 45
This freir that did Sanct Francis thair appeir,
Ane fieind he wes in likness of ane freir:
He vaneist away with stynk and fyrie smowk ;
With him me thocht all the hous end he towk,
And I awoik as wy that wes in w : eir. 50
The Fen^eit Freir of Tungland.
As }ung Awrora, with cristall haile,
In orient schew hir visage paile,
A sweuyng swyth did me assaile,
Off sonis of Sathanis seid ;
Me thocht a Turk of Tartary 5
Come throw the boundis of Barbary,
And lay forloppin in Lumbardy,
Ffull lang in waithman weid.
Ffra baptasing for to eschew,
Thair a religious man he slew, 10
And cled him in his abeit new,
Ffor he cowth wryte and reid.
Quhen kend was his dissimvlance,
And all his cursit govirnance,
Ffor feir he fled and come in France, 15
With littill of Lumbard leid.
124 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
To be a leichc he fenyt him thair,
Quhilk mony a man micht rew evirmair;
For he left nowthir seik nor sair
Vnslane, or he hyne }eid. 20
Vane organis he full clenely carvit,
Quhen of his straik so mony starvit,
Dreid he had gottin that he desarvit,
He fled away gud speid.
In Scotland than, the narrest way 25
He come, his cunnyng till assay ;
To sum man thair it was no play
The preving of his sciens.
In pottingry he wrocht grit pyne,
He murdreist mony in medecyne ; 30
The jow was of a grit engyne,
And generit was of gyans.
In leichecraft he was homecyd ;
He wald haif, for a nicht to byd,
A haiknay and the hurt manis hyd, 35
So meikle he was of myance.
His yrnis was rude as ony rawchtir,
Quhair he leit blude it was no lawchtir,
Full mony instrument for slawchtir
Was in his gardevyance. 40
Vnto no mess pressit this prelat,
For sound of sacring bell nor skellat ;
As blaksmyth bruikit was his pallat,
Ffor battering at the study.
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 125
Thocht he come hame a new maid channoun, 45
He had dispensit with matynnis channoun,
On him come nowthir stole nor fannoun,
Ffor smowking of the smydy.
Me thocht seir fassonis he assail^eit,
To mak the quintessance, and fail^eit ; 50
And quhen he saw that nocht avail^eit,
A fedrem on he tuke,
And schupe in Turky for to fie ;
And quhen that he did mont on he,
All fowill ferleit quhat he sowld be, 55
That evir did on him luke.
Sum held he had bene Dedalus,
Sum the Menatair marvelus,
Sum the Martis smyth Wlcanus,
And sum Saturnus kuke. 60
And evir the cuschettis at him tuggit,
The rukis him rent, the ravynis him druggit,
The hudit crawis his hair furth ruggit,
The hevin he micht not bruke.
The myttane, and Sanct Martynis fowle, 65
Wend he had bene the hornit howle,
Thay set avpone him with a ^owle,
And gaif him dynt for dynt.
The golk, the gormaw, and the gled,
Beft him with buffettis quhill he bled ; 70
The sparhalk to the spring him sped,
Als fers as fyre of flynt.
126 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
The tnrsall gait' him tug tor tug,
A stanchell hang in ilka lug,
The pyot furth his pennis did rug, 75
The stork straik ay but stynt.
The bissart, bissy but rebuik,
Scho was so cleverus of hir clvik,
His [eris] he ruicht not langer bruik,
Scho held thame at ane hint. 80
Thik was the clud of kayis aud crawis,
Of marle^onis, niittanis, and of mawis,
That bikkrit at his herd with blawis
In battell him abowt.
Thay nybbillit him with noyis aud cry, 85
The rerd of thame raiss to the sky,
And evir he cryit on Fortoun, Fy !
His lyfe was in to dowt.
m
He schewre his feddreme that was schene
And slippit owt of it full clene, 90
And in a myre, vp to the ene,
Amang the glar did glyd.
The fowlis all at the fedrein dang,
As at a monster thame amang,
Quhill all the pennis of it owsprang 95
In till the air full wyde.
And he lay at the plunge evirmair,
Sa lang as any ravin did rair ;
The crawis him socht Avith cryis of cair
In every schaw besyde. 100
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 127
Had he reveild bene to the rwikis,
Thay had hiru reviu all with thair clwikis :
Thre dayis in dub amang the dukis
He did with dirt him hyde.
The air was dirkit with the fowlis, 105
That come with ^awmeris and with fowlis,
With skryking, skrymming and with scowlis,
To tak him in the tyde.
I walknit with the noyis and schowte,
So hiddowis beir was me abowte ; 110
Sensyne I curss that cankerit rowte
Quhair evir I go or ryde.
Ane Ballate of Gude Counsall.
To dwell in court, my freind, gife that thow list,
For gift of fortoun in vy thow no degre ;
Behold and heir, and lat thy tung tak rest,
In meikle speiche is part of vanitie ;
And for no malyce preiss the nevir to lie ; 5
Als trubill nevir thy self, sone, be no tyd,
Vthiris to rewill, that will not rewlit be :
He rewlis weill, that weill him "self can gyd.
Bewar quhome to thy counsale thosv discure,
Ffor trewth dwellis nocht ay for that trewth ap-
peiris : 10
Put nocht thyne honour into aventeure ;
Ane freind may be thy fo, as fortoun steiris :
In cumpany cheiss honorable feiris,
128 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
And fra vyle folkis draw the far on syd ;
The Psalnie sayis, Cum sancto sanctus eris: 15
He rewlis weill, that weill him self can gyd.
Haif pacience thocht thow no lordschip posseid,
For hie vertew may stand in law estait ;
Be thow content, of mair thow lies no neid ;
And be thow nocht, desyre sail raak debait 20
Evirrnoir, till deth say to the, chakmait.
Thocht all war thyne this warld within so wyd,
Quha can resist the serpent of dispyt ?
He rewlis weill, that weill him self can gyd.
Ffle frome the fallowschip of sic as ar defamit, 25
And fra fals tungis fulfild with flattry,
Als fra all schrewis, or ellis thow art eschamit ;
Sic art thow callit as is thy cumpany.
Fie perrellus taillis fouudit of iuvy :
With wilfull men, son, argow thow no tyd, 30
Quhome no ressone may seiss nor pacify :
He rewlis weill, that well him self can gyd.
And be thow not ane roundar in the nwke,
For, gif thow be, men will hald the suspect :
Be nocht in countenance ane skornar, nor by luke, 35
But dowt siclyk sail stryk the in the neck.
Be war also to counsall or coreck
Him that extold lies far him self in pryd,
Quhair parrel] is but protieit or effect :
He rewlis weill, that weill him self can gyd. 40
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 129
And sen thow seyis mony thingis variand,
With all thy hart treit bissines and cure :
Hald God thy freind, evir stabill be him stand,
He will the coufort in all misaventeur ;
And be no wayis dispytfull to the peure, 45
Nor to no man do wrang at ony tyd:
Quha so dois this, sicker I ^ovv asseure,
He rewliss weill, that sa weill him can gyd.
The Tiia Mariit Wemen and the Wedo.
Apon the Midsumer ewiu, mirriest of nichtis,
I muvit furth allane, neir as midnicht wes past,
Besyd ane gudlie grene garth, full of gay flouris,
Hegeit, of ane huge hicht, with hawthorne treis;
Quhairon ane bird, on ane bransche, so hirst out hir
notis 5
That neuer ane blythfullar bird was on the beuche
harde :
Quhat throw the sugarat sound of hir sang glaid,
And throw the sauar sanatiue of the sueit flouris,
I drew in derne to the dyk to dirkin eftir myrthis ;
The dew donkit the daill, and dynarit the foulis. 10
I hard, vnder ane holyn hewinlie grein hewit,
Ane hie speiche, at my hand, with hautand wourdis;
With that in haist to the hege so hard I inthrang
That I wes heildit with hawthorne, and with heynd
leveis :
Throw pykis of the plet thorne I presandlie luikit, 15
9
130 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Gif ony persoun wald approche within that plesand
garding.
I saw thre gay ladeis sit in ane grene arbeir,
All grathit in to garlandis of fresche gudelie flouris;
So glitterit as the gold wer thair glorius gilt tressis,
Quhill all the gressis did gleme of the glaid hewis ; 20
Kerumit was thair cleir hair, and curiouslie sched
Attour thair schnlderis douri schyre, schyning full
bricht ;
With curches, cassin thame abone, of kirsp cleir and
thin :
Thair mantillis grein war as the gress that grew in May
sessoun,
Fetrit with thair quhyt fingaris about thair fair sydis: 25
Offferliful fyne favour war thair faceis meik,
All full of flurist fairheid, as flouris in June ;
Quhyt, seiinlie, and soft, as the sweit lillies ;
New vpspred vpon spray, as new spynist rose,
Arrayit ryallie about with niony rich wardour, 30
That nature, full nohillie, annamalit fine with flouris
Off alkin hewis under hewin, that ony heynd knew,
Fragrant, all full of fresche odour fynest of smell.
Ane marbre tabile coverit was befoir thai thre ladeis,
With ryale cowpis apon rawys full of ryche wynys : 35
And of thir fair wlonkes, with tua [that] weddit war
with lordis,
Ane wes ane wedow, I wist, wantoun of laitis.
Thus draif thai our that deir night, with danceis
full noble,
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 131
Quhill that the day did vp daw, and dew donkit the
flouris ;
The morow myld wes and raeik, the mavis did sing, 40
And all remuffit the myst, and the meid smellit;
Silver schouris douue schuke, as the schene cristall,
And berdis schoutit in schaw, with thair schill notis ;
The goldin glitterand gleme so glad it ther hertis,
Thai maid a glorins gle amang the grene bewisr 45
The soft souch of the swyr, and sovne of the stremys,
The sueit sawour of the sward, [and] singing of foulis,
Myght confort ony creatur of the kyn of Adam ;
And kindill agane his curate thocht it wer cald sloknvt.
Than rais thir ryall roisis, in ther riche wedis, 50
And rakit hame to ther rest, through the rise blwmys ;
And I all prevely past to a plesand arber,
And with my pen did report thair pastance most mery.
Meditatioun in Wyntir.
In to thir dirk and drublie dayis,
Quhone sabill all the hewin arrayis,
With mystie vapouris, cluddis and skyis,
Nature all curage me denyis
Off sangis, ballattis, and of playis. 5
Quhen that the nycht dois lenthin houris,
With wind, with haill, and havy schouris,
My dule spreit dois lurk forschoir ;
My hairt for languor dois forloir,
For laik of symmer with his flouris. 10
132 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
I walk, I turne, sleip may I nocht,
I vexit am with havy thocht ;
This warld all ouir I cast about,
And ay the raair I am in dout,
The mair that I remeid have socht. 15
I am assayit on everie syde :
Dispair sayis, ay, " In tyme prowyde,
And get sum thing quhairon to leif ;
Or with grit trouble and mischeif,
Thow sail in to this court abyde." 20
Than Patience sayis, "Be nocht agast:
Hald Hoip and Treuthe within the fast ;
And lat Fortoun wirk furthe hir rage,
Quhen that no rasoun may assuage,
Quhill that hir glas be run and past." 25
And Prudence in my eir sayis ay,
" Quhy wald thow hald that will away?
Or craif that thow may have no space,
Thow tending to ane uther place,
A journay going everie day ? " 30
And than sayis Age, "My freind, cum neir,
And be nocht strange, I the requeir :
Cum, brodir, by the hand me tak,
Remember thow lies compt to mak
Off all thi tyme thow spendit heir." 35
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 133
Syne Deid castis up his ^ettis wyd,
Saying, " Thir oppin sail ^e abyd ;
Albeid that thow were never sa stout,
Vndir this lyntall sail thow lowt :
Thair is nane vther way besyd." 40
For feir of this all day I drowp ;
No gold in kist, nor wyne in cowp,
No ladeis bewtie, nor luifh's blys
May lat me to remember this :
How glaid that evir I dyne or sowp. 45
3it, quhone the nycht begynnis to schort,
It dois my spreit sum part contort,
Off thocht oppressit with the schouris.
Cum, lustie symmer ! with thy flouris,
That I may leif in sum disport. 50
The Ballad of Kynd Kittok.
My Gudame wes a gay wif, bot scho wes rycht gend,
Scho duelt furth fer in to France, apon Falkland
fellis ;
Thay callit her Kynd Kittok, quhasa hir weill kend ;
Scho wes like a caldrone cruke cler vnder kellis ;
Thay threpit that scho deit of thrist, and maid a gud
end. 5
Eftir hir dede, scho dredit nought in hevin for to
duell ;
134 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
And sa to hevin the hie way dreidless seho wend,
3it scho wanderit, and }eid by to aue elriche well.
Scho met thar, as I wene,
Ane ask rydand on a snaill, 10
Et cryit, " Ourtane fallow, haill ! "
And raid ane inche behind the taill,
Till it wes neir evin.
Sa scho had hap to be horsit to her herbry,
Att ane ailhous neir [hevin], it nyghtit thame
thare; 15
Scho deit of thrist in this warkl, that gert hir be so
dry,
Scho neuer eit, bot drank our mesur and inair.
Scho slepit quhill the morne at none, and rais airly ;
And to the ^ettis of hevin fast can the wif fair,
And by Sanct Petir, in at the }et, scho stall prevely : 20
God lukit and saw hir lattin in, and lewch his hert sair.
And thar, ^eris sevin
Scho lewit a gud life,
And wes our Ladyis henwif :
And held Sanct Petir at stryfe 25
Ay quhill scho wes in hevin.
Sche lukit out on a day, and thoght ryght lang
To se the ailhous beside, in till an euill hour;
And out of hevin the hie gait cought the wif gang
For to get hir ane fresche drink, ^e aill of hevin wes
sour. 30
Scho come againe to hevinnis ^et, quhen the bell rang,
Sanct Petir hat hir with a club, quhill a gret clour
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 135
Rais in hir heid, because the wif ^eid wrang;
Thau to the ailhous agane scho ran, the pychans to
pour,
And for to brew and baik. 35
Frendis, I pray you hertfully,
Gif }e be thristy or dry,
Drink with ray Guddame as ^e ga by,
Auys for ray saik.
The Freiris of Berivik.
As it befell, and happinnit in-to deid,
Vpoun a rever the quhilk is callit Tweid ;
At Tweidis mowth thair standis a nobill toun,
Quhair mony lordis lies bene of grit renoune,
Quhair mony a lady bene fair of face, 5
And mony ane fresche lusty galland wass.
In-to this toun, the quhilk is callit Berwik,
Vpoun the sey thair standis nane it lyk,
For it is wallit weill abowt with stane,
And dowbill stankis castin raony ane.; 10
And syne the castell is so Strang and wicht,
With strait towris and turattis he on hicht ;
The wallis wrocht craftely withall ;
The portcules most subtelly to fall,
Quhen that thame list to draw tharne vpoun hicht; 15
That it micht be of na raaner of micht
To win that houss be craft or subteltie.
Quhairfoir it is maist gud allutirly,
13G WILLIAM DUNBAR.
In- to my tynie quhair evir I haif bene,
Moist fair, most gudly, most plesand to be sene ; 20
The tovne, the wall, the castell and the land,
The he wallis vpoun the vpper hand,
The grit croee kirk, and eik the Masoue Dew,
The Jacobene freiris of the quhyt hew,
The Carnieleitis, and the monkis eik ; 25
The four ordouris were nocht for to seik,
Thay wer all in this toun dwelling.
So appinnit in a Maij morning,
That twa of the Jacobyne freiris,
As thay wer wont and vsit mony ^eiris 30
To pass amang thair brethir vpaland,
Wer send of thame best practisit and euunand.
Freir Allane, and Freir Robert the vder ;
Thir silly freiris with wyffis weill cowld glnder;
Rycht wondir weill plesit thai all wyffis 35
And tawld thame ta i 1 is of haly Sanctis lyffis.
Quhill on a tyme thay purposit to pass hame ;
Bot verry tyrit and wett wes Freir Allane,
For he wes awld, and micht nocht wele travel!,
And als he had ane littill spyce of gravell. 40
Freir Robert wes ^oung, and verry hett of blude,
And be the way he bnre both clothis and hude
And all thair geir, for he wes strong and wicht.
Be that it drew neir towart the nicht,
As thay wer cumand towart the tovne full neir; 45
Freir Allane said than, "Gud bruder deir,
It is to lait, I dreid the }et be closit,
And we are tyrit, and verry evill disposit
To luge owt of the toun, bot gif that we
In sume gud houss this nycht mot herbryt be." 50
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 137
Swa wynnit thair ane woundir gude hostillar,
Without the toun, in till a fair manar,
And Syraon Lawrear wes his name ;
Ane fair blyth wyf he had, of ony ane,
Bot scho wes sumthing dynk and dengerous. 55
The silly freiris quhen thay come to the houss,
With fair hailsing and bekking courteslye,
To thame scho anschirit agane in hye ;
Freir Robert sperit eftir the gud man,
And scho agane anschirit thame thane, 60
" He went fra hame, God wait, on Weddinsday,
In the cuntre for to seik corne and hay,
An vthir thingis quhairof we haif neid."
Freir Robert said, " I pray grit God him speid
Him haill and sound in-to his travell," 65
And hir desyrit the stowp to fill of aill,
" That we may drink, for I am wondir dry."
With that the wyfe went furth richt schortly,
And fillit the stowp, and brocht in breid and cheiss ;
Thay eit and drank, and satt at thair awin eiss. 70
Freir Allane said to the gudwyf in hye,
" Cum hiddir, deme, and sett 30W doun me bye,
And fill the cop agane anis to me;"
Freir Robert said, " Full weill payit shall ^e be."
The freiris wer blyth, and mirry tailis cowld tell, 75
And even with that thay hard the prayer bell
Off' thair awin abbay, and than thay wer agast,
Becauss thay knew the ^ettis wer closit fast ;
That thay on na wayis micht gett entre.
Than the gudwyfe thay prayit for cheritie 80
To grant thame herbrye that ane nicht ;
Bot scho to thame gaif anschir with grit hicht,
138 WILLIAM DUNBAII.
" The gudman is fra hame, us I jow tald,
And God it wait, gif I durst be so bald
To herbry freiris in this houss with me : 85
Quhat wald Symon sa, ha, benedicite!
Bot in his absence I abusit his place?
Our deir Lady Mary keip fra sic cace,
And keip me owt of perrell and of schame."
Than auld Freir Allane said, " Na, fair dame, 90
For Godis saik, heir me quhat I sail say,
In gud faith, we will both be deid or day ;
The way is evill, and I am tyrit and wett,
Our ^ettis ar closit that we may not in gett,
And to our abbay we can nocht win in; 95
To causs ws perreiss but help 2e haif grit syu ;
Thairfoir of verry neid we mon byd still,
And ws commit alhaill into }our will."
The gudwyf lukit vnto the freiris tway,
And at the last, to thame culd scho say, 100
" 3e byd nocht heir, be Him that ws all coft ;
Bot gif ^e list to lig vp in ^one loft,
Quhilk is weill wrocht in-to the hallis end,
3e sail fynd stray, and clathis I sail 2ow send ;
Quhair, and }e list, pass on baith in feir, 105
For on no wayis will I repair haif heir."
Hir madin than scho send hir on befoir,
And hir thay followit baith withowttin moir ;
Thay war full blyth, and did as scho thame kend,
And vp thay went, in-to the hallis end, 110
In till a loft wes maid for corne and hay ;
Scho maid thair bed, syne past doun but delay,
Closit the trop and thay remanit still,
In-to the loft, thay wantit of thair will.
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 139
Freir Allane lay doun as he best micht ; 115
Freir Robert said, " I hecht to walk this nicht,
Quha wait perchance sum sport I ma espy?"
Thus in the loft latt I thir freiris ly,
And of the gudwyf now I will speik mair.
Scho wes richt blyth that thay wer closit thair, 120
For scho had maid ane tryst that samyn nicht
Freir Johine hir luvis supper for to dicht ;
Quha dwelland wes in-to that samyne town,
And ane Blak Freir he wes of grit renown.
He govirnit alhaill the abbacy ; 125
Silwer and gold he had aboundantly ;
He had a prevy posterne of his awin,
Quhair he micht ische, quhen that he list, vnknawin.
Now thus in-to the toun I leif him still,
Bydand his tyme ; and turne agane I will 130
To this fair wyfe, how scho the fyre cowld beit,
And thristit on fatt caponis to the speit;
And fatt cunyngis to fyre did scho lay,
Syne bad the madin, in all the haist scho may,
To flawme, and turne, and rost thame tenderly. 135
And to hir chalmer so scho went in hy ;
Scho cleithis hir in a kirtill of fyne reid,
Ane fair quhyt curch scho puttis vpoun hir heid ;
Hir kirtill wes of silk, and silwer fyne,
Hir vthir garmentis as the reid gold did schyne ; 140
On every finger scho weiris ringis two ;
Scho was als prowd as ony papingo.
The burde scho coverit with clath of costly greyne,
Hir napry aboif wes woundir weill besene.
Than but scho went, to se gif ony come, 145
Scho thocht full lang to meit hir lufe Freir Johine.
MO WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Syne schortly did this freir knok at the }ett ;
His knok scho kend, and did so him in lett.
Scho welcomit him in all hir best maneir;
He thankit hir, and said, " My awin luve deir, 150
Haif'thair ane pair of bossis, gud and f'yne,
Thay hald ane gallone full of Gascone wyne ;
And als ane pair of pertrikis richt new slane,
And eke ane creill full of breid of mane;
This I haif brocht to ^ow, my awin luve deir, 155
Thairfoir, I pray }ow, be blyth, and mak gud cheir;
Sen it is so that Semon is fra haine,
I wilbe hamely now with ^ow, gud dame."
Scho sayis, " 3e are full hertly welcome heir,
At ony tyme, quhen that }e list appeir." 160
With that scho smylit woundir lustely ;
He thristit hir hand agane richt prevely,
Than in hett luve thay talkit vderis till.
Thus at thair sport now will I leif thame still,
And tell ^ow off thir silly freiris two 165
Wer lokit in the loft amang the stro :
Freir Allane in the loft still can ly ;
Freir Robert had ane littill jelosy,
For in his hairt he had ane persaving,
And throw the burdis he maid with his botkin 170
A littill hoill on sic a wyiss maid he,
All that thay did thair doun he micht weill se,
And every word he herd that thay did say.
Thair prelat-lyk sat he in to the chyre :
Scho rownis than ane pistill in his eir; .175
Thus sport thai thame, and makis melody :
And quhen scho saw the supper wes reddy,
Scho gois belyfe and cuveris the burde annon,
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 141
And syne the pair of bossis hes scho tone,
And sett thame doun vpoun the burde hir by. 180
And evin with that they hard the gudman cry,
And knokand at the }ett he cryit fast.
Quhen thay him hard then wer thay both agast :
And als Freir Johine wes in a fellone fray ;
He stert vp fast, and wald haif bene away, 185
Bot all for nocht, he micht no way win owt.
The gudwyfe spak than, with a visage stowt,
" 3one is Symone that makis all this fray,
That I micht tholit full weill had bene away ;
I sail him quyt, and I leif half a ^eir, 190
That cummert hes ws thus in sic maneir,
Becauss for him we may nocht byd togidder ;
I soir repent and wo is ^e come hidder,
For we wer weill gif that ^e wer away."
" Quhat sail I do, allace ? " the freir can say ; 195
" Into this case, Lord ! how sail I me beir,
For I am schent and Symon fynd me heir."
" Hyd 30U," scho said, " quhill he be brocht to rest,
In-to ^one troich, I think it for the best ;
It lyis mekle and huge in all ^one nwke, 200
It held a boll of meill quhen that we buke."
Than vndir it scho gart him creip in hy,
And bad him lurk thair very quyetly;
Scho closit him, and syne went on hir way.
" Quhat sail I do, allace? " the freir can say. 205
Syn to hir madin spedyly scho spak,
" Go to the fyre, and the meitis fra it tak ;
Be bissy als, and slokkin out the fyre ;
Ga cloiss ^one burd, and tak away the chyre,
And lok vp all in to ^one almery, 210
142 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Baith meit and drink, with wyne and aill put by ;
The inayne breid als thow hyd it with the wyne;
That being done, thow sowp the houss clene syne,
That na apperauce of feist be heir sene,
Bot sobirly our selfis dois sustene." 215
And syne, withowttin ony mair delay,
Scho castis of hail] hir fresch array ;
Than went scho to hir bed annone,
And tholit him to knok his fill, Symone.
Quhen he for knoking tyrit wes, and cryid, 220
Abowt he went vnto the vdir syd,
And on Alesone fast cold he cry ;
And at the last scho anschirit crabitly,
" Ach, quha be this that knawis sa weill ray name?
Go henss," scho sayis, " for Symon is fra hanie, 225
And I will herbry no gaistis heir perfay ;
Thairfoir I pray jow to wend on ^our way,
For at this tyrae ^e may nocht lugit be."
Than Symone said, " Fair dame, ken ^e nocht me?
I am ^our Symone and husband of this place." 230
" Ar ^e my spous Symone? " scho sayis, " allace,
Be misknawledge I had almaist misgane,
Quha wenit that }e sa lait wald haif cum hame? "
Scho stertis vp and gettis licht in hy,
And oppinit than the }et full haistely ; 235
Scho tuk fra him his geir at all devyiss,
Syne welcomit him on maist hairtly wyiss.
He bad the madin kindill on the fyre,
" Syne graith me meit, and tak 2e all thy hyre."
The gudwyf said schortly, " 3e may trow, 240
Heir is no meit that ganand is for }ow."
"How sa, fair deme? Ga gait me cheiss and breid,
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 143
Ga fill the stowp, hald me no mair in pleid,
For I am verry tyrit, wett and cauld."
Than vp scho raiss, and durst nocht mair be bauld, 245
Cuverit the burde, thairon sett meit in hy,
Ane sowsit nolt fate, and scheipheid, haistely ;
And sum cauld meit scho brocht to him belyve,
And fillit the stowp. The gudman than wes blyth ;
Than satt he doun, and swoir " Be All hallow, 250
I fair richt weill and I had ane gud fallow :
Dame, eit with me, and drink, gif that ^e may."
Said the gudwyf, " Devill inche may I ;
It wer mair meit in to ^our bed to be,
Than now to sit desyrand cumpany." 255
The freiris twa, that in the loft did ly,
Thay hard him weill desyrand cumpany.
Freir Robert said, " Allace ! gud bruder deir,
I wald the gudman wist that we wer heir ;
Quha wait, perchance sum bettir wald he fair ; 260
Fer sickerly my hairt will ay be sair
Gif ^one scheip heid with Symon birneist be,
Sa mekill gud cheir being in the almerie."
And with that word he gaif ane hoist anone.
The gudman hard, and speirit, " Quha is ^one? 265
Methink that thair is men into 2one loft."
The gudwyf ansuerit, with wourdis soft,
" 3one are ^our awin freiris brether tway."
Symone said, " Dame, tell me quhat freiris be thay? "
" 3one is Freir Robert and silly Freir Allane, 270
That all this day hes travellit with grit pane
Be thay come heir it was so verry lait,
Curfur wes rung, and closit wes thair ^ait,
And in ^one loft I gaif thame herberye."
144 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
The gudman said, " Sa God haif part of me, 275
Tha freiris twa ar hairtly welcome bidder:
Ga, call thame doun, that we ma drink togidder."
The gudwyf said, " I reid 30W latt thame be;
Thay had levir sleip nor sit in cumpanye:
To drink and dot it ganis nocht for thame." 280
" Let be, fair dame, thy wordis ar in vane ;
I will thame haif, be Goddis dignite ;
Mak no delay, bot bring thame doun to me."
The gudman said unto the maidin thone,
" Go pray thame baith to come till me annone." 285
And sone the trop the madin oppinit than,
And bad thame baith cum doun to the gudman.
Freir Robert said, " Now, be sweit Sanct Jame,
The gudman is verry welcome hame ;
And for his weilfair dalie do we pray. 290
We sail annone cum doun to him, 3e say."
Than with that word thay start up baith attone,
And doun the trop dely verly thay come ;
Halsit Symone als sone as thay him s6,
And he agane thame welcomit hairtfullie, 295
And said, "Cum heir, myne awin bredir deir,
And sett 30W doun sone besyde me heir.
For I am now allone, as $e may se ;
Thairfoir sitt doun and beir me cumpanye,
And tak 30W pairt of sic gud as we haif." 300
Freir Allane said, " Schir, I pray God 30W saif,
For heir is now annwch of Goddis gud."
Than Symone anscherit, " Now, be the Rud,
3it wald I gift' ane croun of gold for me
For sura gud nieit and drink araangis ws thru." 305
Freir Robert said, " Quhat drinkis wald ^e craif,
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 145
Or quhat meitis desyre ^e for to haif ?
For I haif mony sindry practikis seir
Beyond the sey, in Pareiss did I leir,
That I wald preve glaidly for }our saik, 310
And for ^our datnys, that harbry cowd ws maik.
I tak on hand, and ^e will counsale keip,
That I sail gar ^ow se, or evir I sleip,
Of the best meit that is in this cuntre ;
Of Gascone wyne, gif ony in it be, 315
Or, be thair ony within ane hundreth myle,
It sail be heir within a bony quhyle."
The gudman had grit mervell of this taill,
And said, " [Brother] my hairt will neir be haill
Bot gif ^e preve that practik, or je parte. 320
Be quhat kin science, nigromansy, or art."
Freir Robert said, " Of this }e haif no dreid,
For I can do fer mair, and thair be neid."
Than Symone said, " Freir Robert, I }ow pray,
For my saik, that science ^e wald assay, 325
To make ane sport." And than the freir vprais,
And tuk his buke, and to the flure he gais.
He turnis it our, and reidis a littill space
And to the eist direct he turnis his face,
Syne to the west he turnit and lukit doun, 330
And tuk his buk and red an orisoun.
And ay his eyne wer on the almery
And on the troch quhair that Freir Johine did ly.
Than sat he doun and kest abak his hude ;
He granit, and he glowrit, as he wer woid ; 335
And quhylis still he satt in studeing
And vther quhylis vpoun his buk reding,
And quhylis with baith his handis he wald clap,
10
146 WILLIAM IHM'.Ai;.
And vthir quhylis wald he glowr and gaip,
Syne in the sowth he turn it him abowt, 340
Weill thryiss and mair than lawly cowd he lowt,
Quhen that he come neir hand the alinery.
Thairat our dame had woundir grit invy,
For in hir hairt scho had ane persaving
That he had knawin all hir govirning. 345
Scho saw him gif the almery sic a straik :
Vnto hir self scho said, " Full weill I wait
I am bot schent; he knawis full weill my thocht.
Quhat sail I do? Allace that I wes wrocht!
Get Symon wit, it wilbe deir doing." 350
Be that the freir had left his studeing,
And on his feit he startis up full sture,
And come agane and seyit all his cure.
" Now is it done, and }e sail haif playntie
Of breid and wyne, the best in this cuntre. 355
Thairfoir, fair dame, get up deliverlie,
And ga belyfe unto }one almerie
And oppin it, and se }e bring us syne
Ane pair of bossis full of Gascone wyne ;
Thay hald ane galloun and mair, that wait I weill ; 360
And bring ws als the mayne breid in a creill,
Ane pair of cunyngis, fat and het pypand,
The caponis als }e sail ws bring fra baud,
Twa pair of pertrikis, I wait thair is na ma,
And eik of pluveris se that }e bring ws twa." 365
The gudwyf wist it wes no variance :
Scho knew the freir had sene hir govirnance;
Scho saw it wes no bute for to deny;
With that scho went vnto the almery
And oppinnit, and than scho fand richt thair 370
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 147
All that the freir had spoken of befoir.
Scho stert abak, as scho wer in a fray,
And sanyt hir, and srayland cowd scho say
" Ha, benedicite! Quhat may this bene?
Quha evir afoir hes sic a fairly sene ? 375
Sa grit a marvell as now hes apnit heir?
Quhat sail I say ? He is ane haly freir :
He said full suth of all that he did say."
Scho brocht all furth, and on the burd cowd lay
Baith breid and wyne, and vthir thiugis moir 380
Cunyngis and caponis, as ^e haif hard befoir,
Pertrikis and pluveris befoir thame hes scho brocht.
The freir knew weill, and saw thair wantit nocht ;
But all wes furth brocht, evin at his devyiss.
Quhen Symone saw it appinit on this wyiss, 385
He had grit wondir, and sweris be the mone
That Freir Robert weill his dett had done :
" He may be callit ane man of grit science,
Sa suddanly maid all this purviance
Hes brocht us heir, throw his grit subteltie, 390
And throw his knawlege in filosophie :
In ane gud tyme it wes quhen he come hidder.
Now fill the cop that we ma drink togidder,
And mak gud cheir eftir this langsum day,
For I haif riddin ane woundir wilsome way. 395
Now, God be lovit, heir is suffisance
Vnto ws all throw ^our gud govirnance."
And then annone thay drank evin round abowt
Of Gascon wyne : the freiris playit cop owt.
Thay sportit thame and makis mirry cheir 400
With sangis lowd, baith Symone and the freir,
148 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
And on this wyiss the lang nicht thay ourdraif;
No thing thay want that thay desyrd to haif.
Then Symone said to the gudwyf in by,
" Come heir, fair dame; and sett 2ow doun me hy, 405
And tak pairte of sic gud as we haif heir;
And hairtly I ^ow pray to thank this freir
Of his bening grit busines and cure
That he lies done to us vpoun this flnre,
And brocht us meit and drink haboundantlie, 410
Quhairfoir of richt we aucht mirry to be."
Bot all thair sport, quhen thay war maist at eiss,
Vnto our Deme it wes but littill pleiss.
For vthir thing thair wes in to hir thocht.
Scho wes so red, hir hairt wes ay on flocht, 415
That throw the freir scho sowld discoverit be.
To him scho lukit oft tymes effeiritlie,
And ay disparit in hir hairt wes scho,
That he had witt of all her purveance to.
Thus satt scho still and wist no vdir wane, 420
Quhat evir thay say, scho lute him all allane,
Bot scho drank with thame in-to cumpany
With fenseit cheir, and hairt full wo and bevy.
Bot thay wer blyth annwche, God wait, and sang,
For ay the wyne wes rakand thame amang; 425
Quhill at the last thay woix richt blyth ilk one.
Than Symone said unto the freir annone,
"I mervell mikill how that this may be,
In till schort tyme that }e sa suddanlye
Hes brocht to ws sa mony denteis deir." 430
" Thairof haif }e no mervell," quoth the freir;
"I haif anc pege full prevy of my awin,
Quhen evir I list will cum to me vnkuawin,
WILLIAM DTJNBAE. 149
And bring to me sic thing as I will haif:
Quhat evir I list it neidis me nocht to craif. 435
Thairfoir be blyth, and tak in pacience,
And trest }e weill I sail do diligence,
Gif that }e list, or thinkis to haif moir,
It salbe had, and I sail stand thairfoir,
Incontinent that samyn sail ^e se ; 440
Bot I protest that }e keip it previe,
Latt no man wit that I can do sic thing."
Than Symone swoir and said, " Be hevynnis King
It salbe kepit prevy, as for me.
But, bruder deir, }our servand wald I se, 445
Gif it 30W pleiss, that we may drynk togidder,
For I wait nocht gif ^e ma ay cum bidder
Quhen that we want our neidis sic as this."
The freir said, " Nay, so mot I haif hevynis bliss,
3ow to haif the sicht of my servand 450
It can nocht be ; ^e sail weill undirstand
That ^e may se him graithly in his awin kynd,
Bot ^e annone sowld go owt of }our mynd,
He is so fowll and vgly for to se ;
I dar nocht awnter for to tak on me 455
To bring him hidder heir in-to our sicht,
And namely now, so lait in-to the nicht ;
Bot gif it wer on sic a maner wyiss
Him to translait or ellis dissagyiss
Fra his awin kynd in-to ane vder stait." 4G0
Than Symone said, " I mak no moir debait ;
As pleisis }ow so lykis it to me.
As evir }e list ; bot fane I wald him se."
" In till quhat kynd sail I him gar appeir? "
Than Symone said. " In liknes of a freir, 465
150 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
In quhyt cullour, richt as 2our self it war;
For quhyt cullour will na body deir."
Freir Robert said, that swa it cowld nocht be
"For sic caussis as }e may weill foirse,
That he compeir in to our habeit quhyt : 470
Vntill our ordour it wer a grit dispyte
That ony sic vnworthy wicht as he
In till our habeit men sowld behald or se ;
Bot, sen it pleissis 2ow that ar heir,
3e sail him se in liknes of a freir, 475
In habeit blak, it was his kynd to weir,
In to sic wyiss that he sail no man deir,
Gif }e so do, and rewll sow at all wyiss,
To bald 20 w cloiss and still at my devyiss,
Quhat evir it be 2e owdir se or heir, 480
3e speik no word, nor mak no kynd of steir,
Bot hald 2o\v cloiss, quhill I haif done my cure."
Than said he, "Symone, ^e mon be on the flure,
Neir hand besyd, with staff in to ^our hand :
Haif Je no dreid, I sail }ow ay warrand." 485
Than Symone said, " I assent that it be swa : "
And vp he stert, and gat a libberla
In-to his hand, and on the flure he stert,
Sum thing effrayit, thocht stalwart wes his hairt.
Than to the freir said Symone verry sone, 490
" Now tell me, maister, quhat ^e will haif done?"
" No thing," he said, " bot hald }ow cloiss and still :
Quhat evir I do, tak 2e gud tent thairtill ;
And neir the dur }e hyd }ow prevely,
Aud quhen I bid jow strek, strek hardely ; 495
In to the nek se that ^e hit him richt."
"That sail I warrand," quoth he, "with all my micht."
WILLIAM DUNBAR. 151
Thus on the flure I leif him standand still,
Bydand his tyrae ; and turne agane I will,
How that the freir did take his buke in hy, 500
And turnit our the levis full besely
Ane full lang space ; and quhen he had done swa,
To wart the troch, withowttin wordis ma,
He gois belyfe, and on this wyiss sayis he :
"Ha, how! Hurlybass! now I coniure the 505
That thou vpryss and sone to me appeir,
In habeit blak in liknes of a freir :
Owt of this troch, quhair that thow dois ly,
Thow rax the sone, and mak no dyn nor cry ;
Thow tumbill our the troch that we may se, 510
And unto us thow schaw the oppinlie.
And in this place se that thow no man greif ;
Bot draw thy handis boith in to thy sleif,
And pull thy cowll down owttour thy face;
Thow may thank God that thow gettis sic a grace ! 515
Thairfoir thow turss the to thyne awin ressett ;
Se this be done, and mak no more debait.
In thy departing se thow mak no deray
Vnto no wicht, bot freely pass thy way :
And in this place se that thow cum no moir 520
Bot I command the, or ellis the charge befoir :
And our the stair se that thow ga gud speid :
Gif thow dois nocht, on thy awin perell beid."
With that the freir that vndir the troch lay
Raxit him sone, bot he wes in a fray, 525
And vp he raiss, and wist na bettir wayn,
Bot of the troch he tumlit our the stane :
Syne fra the samyn quhairin he thocht him lang,
Vnto the dure he preisit him to gang,
152 WILLIAM DUNBAR.
With hevy cheir and dreiry contenance, 530
For nevir befoir him happinnit sic a chance.
And quhen Freir Robert saw him gangand by,
Vnto the gudman full lowdly cowd he cry,
" Stryk herdely, for now is tyme to the ! "
With that Symone a felloun flap lait fie ; 535
With his burdoun he hit him on the nek.
He was sa ferce he fell owttour the sek
And brak his heid vpoun a mustard stane.
Be this Freir J oh me attour the stair is gane
In sic wyiss that mist he hes the trap, 540
And in ane myre he fell, sic wes his hap,
Well fourty futis of breid, under the stair;
3eit gat he up with clething nothing fair :
Full drerelie upoun his feit he stude,
And throw the myre full smertly than he 2ude, 545
And our the wall he clam richt haistely,
Quhilk round abowt wes laid with stanis dry.
Of his eschaping in hairt he wes full fane;
I trow he salbe laith to cum agane.
With that Freir Robert start abak, and saw 550
Quhair the gudman lay sa woundir law
Vpoun the flu re, and bleidand wes his heid :
He stert to him, and went he had bene deid ;
And clawcht him up, withowttin wordis moir,
And to the dure delyverly him bure ; 555
And fra the wind wes blawin twyiss in his face,
Than he ourcome within a lytill space.
And then Freir Robert franyt at him fast
Quhat ailit him to be so soir agast?
He said, " }one freir hes maid me thus gait say." 560
" Lat be," quoth he, " the werst is all away.
WILLIAM DUNBAK. 153
Mak rnirry, man, and se ^e raurne na mair,
3e haif him strikin quyt owttour the stair.
I saw him slip, gif I the suth can tell,
Doun our the stair, in till a myr he fell. 565
Bot lat him ga, he wes a graceles gaist ;
And boun pw to 30m* bed, for it is best."
Thus Symonis heid vpoune the stane wes brokin,
And our the stair the freir in my re hes loppin,
And, tap our tail], he fyld wes woundir ill ; 570
And Alesone on na wyiss gat hir will.
This is the story that happinnit of that freir;
No moir thair is, but Chryst us help most deir.
154 GAWIN DOUGLAS.
GAWIN DOUGLAS.
(Iawis- Douglas, born in 1475, belonged to one of the most illustrious
families of Scotland, being the third son of Archibald, Earl of Angus, sur-
named " Bell-the-Cat." He sin. lied at the University of si. Andrews, and
taking priest's orders, w;is rapidly advanced in the Church. After the
marriage of bis nephew, the young Earl of Angus, with the widowed Queen
Margaret, the poet was nominated to the Archbishopric of St. Andrews,
the primacy of Scotland. This high office, however, he <li<l not obtain;
but, aftermuch trouble, was < secrated Bishop of Dunkeld. The tickle
Margaret repudiated ber husband in 1521, and Douglas was deprived of his
bishopric. He was in England at the time, and died in London in 1522.
His works arc The Police of Honour and King Hart, both allegorical poems,
and a translation of the AeneU into Scottish verse; the earliest English
version of any classic. To each book Douglas prefixes a long original pro-
logue and in these prologues we have his most interesting work.
Proloug of the Sevynt Bulk of Eneados.
As brycht Phebus, schene souerane, bevynnis e,
The opposit held of his cbyinmis hie,
Cleir schynand bemys, and goldin symmeris hew,
In lattoun colour altering haill of new;
Kithing no syng of beyt be bis visage, 5
So neir approcbit he his wyntir staige ;
Redy he was to entir the thrid morne
In cloudy skyis vndir Capricorn e.
All thocht be be the hart and lamp of hevin,
Forfeblit wolx his lemand giltly lewyne, 10
Tli row the declyning of bis large round speir.
The frosty regioun ringis of the ^cir,
GAWIN DOUGLAS. 155
The tyme and sessoune bitter cald and paill,
Thai schort days that clerkis clepe brumaill ;
Quhen brym blastis of the northyne art 15
Ourquhelmit had Neptunus in his cart,
And all-to-schaik the levis of the treis,
The rageand storm ourwalterand wally seis ;
Reveris ran reid on spait with watteir broune,
And burnis hurlis all their bankis downe, 20
And landbrist rumland rudely wyth sic beir,
So loud ne rummist wyld lioun or beir.
Fludis monstreis, sic as raeirswyne or quhailis,
For the tempest law in the deip devallyis.
Mars Occident, retrograide in his speir, 25
Provocand stryff, regnit as lord that }eir ;
Rany Orioune wyth his stormy face
Bewalit of the schipman by his rays;
Frawart Saturne, chill of complexioune,
Throw quhais aspect derth and infectioune 30
Bene causit oft, and mortale pestilens,
Went progressiue the greis of his ascens ;
And lusty Hebe, Junois douchtir gay,
Stud spul^eit of hir office and array.
The soill ysowpit into wattir wak, 35
The firmament ourkest with rokis blak,
The ground fadyt, and fauch wolx all the feildis,
Montayne toppis sleikit wyth snaw ourheildis,
On raggit rolkis of hard harsk quhyne stane,
With frosyne frontis cauld clynty clewis schane ; 40
Bewtie wes lost, and barrand schew the landis ;
With frostis haire ourfret the feildis standis.
Soure bitter bubbis, and the schowris snell,
Semyt on the sward ane similitude of hell,
150 GAWTN DOUGLAS.
Reducyng to our mind, in every steid, 45
Goustly schaddois of eild and grisly deid,
Thik drumly scuggis dirknit so the hevyne.
Dym skyis oft furth warpit feirfull levyne,
Flaggis of fyir, and mony felloun flawe,
Scliarp soppis of sleit, and of the snypand snawe. 50
The dowy dichis war all donk and wait,
The law vaille flodderit all wyth spait,
The plane stretis and every hie way
Full of fluschis, doubbis, myre and clay.
Laggerit leys wallowit farnys schewe, 55
Broune muris kithit thair wysnit mossy hewe,
Bank, bra, and boddum blanschit wolx and bair;
For gurll weddir growyt bestis haire ;
The wynd maid wayfe the reid weyd on the dyk,
Bedovin in donkis deyp was every syk ; 60
Our craggis, and the front of rochis seyre,
Hang grit isch schoklis lang as ony spere ;
The grund stude barrand, widderit, dosk and gray,
Herbis, flouris and gersis wallowit away ;
Woddis, forestis, wyth nakyt bewis blout, 65
Stud strypyt of thair weyd in every hout.
So bustuysly Boreas his bugill blew,
The deyr full dern dovnc in the dalis drew ;
Smal byrdis fiokand throw thik ronnis thrang,
In chyrmyng and with cheping changit thair sang, 70
Sekand hidlis, and hirnys thaim to hyde
Fra feirfull thudis of the tempestuus tyde.
The wattir-lynnis routtis, and every lynde
(Juhyslyt and brayt of the swouchand wynde.
Puire laboraris and byssy husband men 75
Went wayt and wery draglyt in the fen ;
GAWIN DOUGLAS. 157
The silly scheip and thair lytill hyrd gromis
Lurkis vndir le of bankis, wodys, and bromys ;
And wthir dantit gretar bestial,
Within thair stabillis sesyt into stall, 80
Sic as rnulis, horsis, oxin and ky,
Fed tuskit baris, and fat swyne in sty,
Sustenit war by mannis gouernance
On hervist and on symmeris purviance.
Widequhair with fors so Eolus schouttis schyll 85
In this congelyt sessioune scharp and chyll,
The callour air, penetrative and puire,
Dasyng the bluide in every creature,
Maid seik warm stovis, and beyne fyris hoyt,
In double garmont cled and wyly coyt, 90
Wyth mychty drink, and meytis confortive,
Agayne the storme wyntre for to strive.
Repaterit weill, and by the chymnay beykyt,
At evin be tyme dovne a bed I me streikit,
Warpit my heid, kest on claythis thrinfauld, 95
For till expell the perrellus peirsand cauld.
I crocit me, syne bownit for to sleip,
Quhair, lemand throw the glas, I did tak keip
Latonia, the lang irksum nycht;
Hir subtell blenkis sched ane wattry lycht, 100
Full hie wp quhyrlyt in hir regioune,
Till Phebus rycht in oppositioune,
Into the Crab hir propir mansioune draw,
Haldand the hycht allthocht the son went law.
Hornit Hebawde, quhilk clepe we the nycht owle, 105
Within hir caverne hard I schout and jowle ;
Laithlie of forme, wyth crukit camschow beik,
Vgsum to heir was hir wyld elriche screik :
158 GAWIN DOUGLAS.
The wyld geis claking eik by nychtis tyde
Attoure the citie fleand hard I glyde. 110
On slummyr I slaid full sad, and sleipt sownd
Quhill the ori^ont wpwart gan rebound.
Phebus crownit byrd, the nychtis orloger,
Clappand bis wyngis thryse had crawin cleir.
Approching neir the greiking of the day, 115
Wythin my bed I waikynnit quhair I lay,
So fast declinis Synthea the mone,
And kais keklis on the ruiff abone.
Palamedes byrdis crouping in the sky,
Fleand on randoune schapin lik ane Y, 120
And as ane trumpat rang thair vocis soun,
Quhais cryis bene pronosticatioun
Off wyndy blastis and ventositeis.
Fast by my chalmir, in heych wysnit treis,
The soir gled quhislis loud wyth mony ane pew, 125
Quhairby the day was dawin weil I knew ;
Bad beit the fyire, and the candill alycht,
Syne blissit me, and, in my wedis dycht,
Ane schot wyndo vnschet a lytill on char,
Persawit the mornyng bla, wan, and har, 130
Wyth cloudy gum and rak ourquhelmyt the air,
The soul^e stythlie, hasart, rowch and hair,
Branchis brattlyng, and blayknit schew the brays,
With hyrstis harsk of waggand wyndilstrays ;
The dew droppis congelyt on stibyll and rynd, 135
And scharp hailstanis, mortfundit of kynd,
Hoppand on tbe thak and on the causay by.
The schot I clossit and drew inwart in by,
Chiverand for cauld, the sessoun was so snell ;
Schup wyth hait flambe to fleme the fresyng fell. 140
GAWIN DOUGLAS. 159
Prolong of the Twelt Bulk.
Dyonea, nycht hyrd, and wach of day,
The staruis chasit of the hevin away,
Dame Cynthea dovn rolling in the see,
And Venus lost the bevvte of hir e,
Fleand eschamyt within Cylenyus cave; 5
Mars onbydrew, for all his grundin glave,
Nor frawart Saturn, from his mortall speyr,
Durst langar in the firmament appeir,
Bot stall abak }ond in his regioun far
Behynd the circulat warld of Jupiter; 10
Nycthemyne, affrayit of the lycht,
Went vndir covert, for gone was the nycht ;
As fresch Aurora, to mychty Tythone spous,
Ischit of hir safron bed and evir hous,
In crammysin cled and granit violat, 15
With sanguyne cape, the selvage purpurat,
Onschot the windois of hyr large hall,
Spred all wyth rosys, and full of balm ryall,
And eik the hevinly portis crystallyne
Vpwarpis braid, the warld to illumyn. 20
The twinkling stremowris of the orient
Sched purpour sprangis with gold and asure ment,
Persand the sabill barmkyn nocturnall,
Bet doun the skyis clowdy mantill wall :
Eous the steid, with ruby hamis reid, 25
Abuf the seyis lyftis furth his heid,
Of cullour soyr, and sum deill brovn as berry,
For to alichtyn and glaid our emyspery,
160 GAWIN DOUGLAS.
The fhunbe owtbrastyng at his neysthyrlys ;
Sa fast Phaeton vvyth the quhip him quhirlys, 30
To roll Apollo his faderis goldin chair,
That schrowdyth all the hevynnis and the ayr ;
Quhill schortly, with the blesand torch of day,
Abil^eit in his lemand fresch array,
Furth of hys palyce ryall ischyt Phebus, 35
Wyth goldin crovn and vissage gloryus,
Crysp haris, brycht as chrysolite or topace,
For quhais hew mycht nane behald his face,
The fyry sparkis brastyng fra his ene,
To purge the ayr, and gylt the tendyr grene, 40
Defundand from hys sege etheriall
Glaid influent aspectis celicall.
Before his regale hie magnificens
Mysty vapour vpspringand sweit as sens,
In smoky soppis of donk devvis wak, 45
Moich hailsum stovis ourheildand the slak ;
The aureat fanys of hys trone souerane
With glyterand glans ourspred the occiane,
The large fludis lemand all of lycht,
Bot with a blenk of his supernale sycht. 50
For to behald, it was a gloir to se
The stabillit wyndis and the cawmyt see,
The soft sessoun, the firmament serene,
The lowne illumynat air, and fyrth amene ;
The syluer scaiyt fyschis on the greit 55
Ourthwort cleir stremis sprynkland for the heyt,
Wyth fynnis schynand brovn as synopar,
And chyssell talis stowrand heyr and thar ;
The new cullour alychtnyng all the landis,
Forgane thir stannyris schane the beryall strandis, 60
GAWIN DOUGLAS. 161
Quhill the reflex of the diurnal bemis
The bene bonkis kest full of variant glemis,
And lusty Flora did hyr blomis spreid
Vndir the feit of Phebus sul^art steid ;
The swardit soyll enbrovd vvyth selcouth hewis 65
Wod and forest obumbrat with thar bewis
Quhois blissfull branchis, porturat on the grund,
With schaddois schene schew rochis rubycund :
Towris, turattis, kyrnellis, pynnaclis hie
Of kirkis, castellis, and ilke fair cite, 70
Stude payntit, euery fyall, fane, and stage,
Apoun the plane grund, by thar awin vmbrage.
Of Eolus north blastis havand no dreyd,
The sul^e spred hyr braid bosum on breid,
3ephyrus confortabill inspiratioun 75
For till ressaue law in hyr barm adoun ;
The cornis croppis and the beris new brerd
Wyth glaidsum garmond revesting the erd ;
So thik the plantis sprang in euery pece.
The feyldis ferleis of thar fructuus flece ; 80
Byssy dame Ceres, and provd Pryapus,
Reiosyng of the planis plenteus
Plenyst sa plesand and maist propirly,
By natur nurist wondir nobilly.
On the fertill skyrt lappis of the ground 85
Streking on breid ondyr the cirkill rovnd,
The variant vestur of the venust vaill
Schrowdis the scherald fur, and euery faill
Ourfret with ful^eis of figuris full diuers,
The spray bysprent with spryngand sproutis dispers ; 90
For callour humour on the dewy nycht,
Rendryng sum place the gers-pilis thar hycht
11
162 GAWIN DOUGLAS.
Als far as catal, the laug symmeris day,
Had in thar pastur eyt and knyp away ;
And blisfull blossummis in the blomyt ^ard 95
Submittis thar hedis in the 3ong sonnis salfgard ;
Ive levis rank ourspred the barmkin wall,
The blomyt hawthorn cled his pikis all ;
Furth of fresch burgionis the wyne grapis }ing
Eudlang the treil^eis dyd on twystis hing. 100
The lowkyt buttonis on the gemmyt treis
Ourspredand ley vis of naturis tapestreis ;
Soft gresy verdour eftir balmy schowris
On curland stalkis smyling to thar flowris ;
Behaldand thame sa mony diuers hew, 105
Sum pers, sum paill, sum burnet, and sum blew,
Sum grece, sum gowlis, sum purpour, sum sangwane,
Blanch it or brovne, fawch fallow mony ane,
Sum hevynly cullorit in celestiall gre,
Sum wattry hewit as the haw wally see, 110
And sum depart in freklys red and quhyte,
Sum brycht as gold with aureat levis lyte.
The dasy dyd on breid hir crownell smaill,
And euery flour onlappit in the daill ;
In battill gyrs burgionys the banwart wyld, 115
The clavyr, catcluke, and the cammamyld ;
The flour delice furth spred his hevinly hew,
Flour dammes, and columby blank and blew ;
Seyr downis smaill on dent de lion sprang,
The }ing grene blomyt straberry levis amaug; 120
Gymp gerraflouris thar royn levys vnschet,
Fresch prymros and the purpour violet ;
The roys knoppis, tetand furth thar heyd,
Gan chyp, and kyth thar Vermel lippis red,
GAWIN DOUGLAS. 163
Crysp scarlet levis sum scheddand, baith attanis 125
Kest fragrant smell amyd from goldin granis ;
Hevinly lylleis, with lokerand toppis quhyte,
Oppynnit and schew thar creistis redymyte,
The balmy vapour from thar sylkyn croppis
Distylland hailsum sugurat hunny droppis, 130
And syluer schakaris gan fra levis hyng,
Wyth crystal sprayngis on the verdour }yng ;
The plane pulderyt with semely settis sovnd
Bedyit full of dewy peirlis rovnd,
So that ilk burgioun, syon, herb, and flour, 135
Wolx all enbalmyt of the fresch liquour,
And bathit hait did in dulce humouris fleit,
Quharof the beis wrocht thar hunny sweit,
By michty Phebus operatiounis,
In sappy subtell exalatiounis. 140
Forgane the cummyn of this prince potent,
Redolent odour vp from rutis sprent,
Hailsum of smell as ony spicery,
Tryakle, droggis or electuary,
Seroppis, sewane, sugour, and synamome, 145
Precyus invnctment, salve, or fragrant pome,
Aromatik gummis, or ony fyne potioun,
Must, myr, aloes, or confectioun.
Ane paradice it semyt to draw neyr
Thyr gal^art gardyngis and ilke greyn herbere. 150
Maist amyabill walxis the amerant medis :
Swannys swouchis throw owt the rysp and redis,
Our al thir lowys and the fludis gray
Seyrsand by kynd a place quhar thai suld lay :
Phebus red fowle hys coral creist can steyr, 155
Oft streking furth hys hekkyll, crawand cleir,
164 GAWIN DOUGLAS.
Amyd the wortis and the rutys gent
Pykland his meit in alleis quhar he went,
Hys wifis, Toppa and Pertelok, hym by
As byrd al tyme that hantis bygamy : 160
The payntit povne, pasand with ploinys gym,
Kest vp his taill, a provd plesand quheil rym,
Yschrowdyt in his fedramine brycht and schene,
Schapand the prent of Argus hundreth ene :
Amang the brounis of the olyve twestis 165
Seyr small fowlis wirkand crafty nestis,
Endlang the hedgeis thyk, and on rank akis,
Ilk byrd reiosyng with thar myrthfull makis.
In corneris and cleir fenystaris of glas
Full byssely Aragne wevand was, 170
To knit hyr nettis and hir wobbys sle,
Tharwith to caucht the myghe and littill fle :
So dusty puldyr vpstowris in euery streyt,
Quhill corby gaspyt for the fervent heyt.
Vnder the bewys beyn in lusty valis, 175
Within fermans and parkis cloys of palys,
The bustuus bukkis rakis furth on raw ;
Heyrdis of hertis throw the thyk wod schaw,
Baith the brokettis, and wyth brayd burnyst tyndis ;
The sprutlyt calvys sowkand the reid hyndis, 180
The }ong fownis followand the dun dayis,
Kyddis skippand throw ronuis eftir rayis.
In lyssouris and on leys litill lainmis
Full tait and trig socht bletand to thar daramis.
Tydy ky lowys, veilys by thame rynnis ; 185
All snog and slekyt worth thir bestis skynnis.
On salt stremis wolx Doryda and Thetis,
By rynnand strandis Nyiuphis and Naedes,
GAWIN DOUGLAS. , 165
Syk as we clepe wenchis and damysellis,
In gresy gravis wandrand by spring wellis, 190
Of blomyt branchis and flowris quhite and rede
Plettand thar lusty chaiplettis for thar hede ;
Sum sing sangis, dansis ledys, and rovndis,
Wyth vocis schill, quhill all the daill resovndis ;
Quharso thai walk into thar caraling, 195
For amorus lays doith all the rochis ryng.
Ane sang, " The schip salis our the salt fame,
Will bring thir merchandis and my lemman hame ; "
Sum other singis, " I will be blyth and lycht,
Myne hart is lent apon sa gudly wycht." 200
And thochtfull luffaris rowmys to and fro,
To leis thar payne, and plene thar joly wo ;
Eftyr thar gys, now syngand, now in sorow,
With hartis pensyve, the lang symmeris morow :
Sum ballettis lyst endyte of his lady, 205
Sum levis in hoip, and sum aluterly
Disparyt is, and sa quyte owt of grace,
His purgatory he fyndis in euery place.
The merll, the mavys, and the nychtingale,
With mery notis myrthfully furth brest, 210
Enforsing thame quha mycht do clynk it best.
The cowschet crowdis and pirkis on the rys,
The styrlyng changeis diuers stevynnys nys,
The sparrow chyrmis in the wallis clyft,
Goldspynk and lyntquhyte fordynnand the lyft ; 215
The gukgo galis, and so quytteris the quaill,
Quhil ryveris rerdyt, schawis, and euery vaill,
And tender twystis trymlyt on the treis,
For byrdis sang and bemyng of the beis.
166 SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount was born in 1400. When yet a young
man he was attached to the Court, and was the special attendant and com-
panion of the infant prince, afterwards James V., preserving this position
after the battle of Flodden had raised his pupil to the throne. From these
relations there grew an affectionate familiarity between Lyndsay and the
young King, of which the poet took advantage in giving his sovereign wise
and virtuous counsels and admonitions, couched in verse. In 152!i he was
made Lyon King-at-Arms, or Chief Herald of Scotland, and was employed
on various missions to foreign courts. He survived James V., and died in
1545. Lyndsay was a sincere patriot, and nearly all his writings tend to
the reformation of evils in church and state. His principal works are The
Dreme, an allegorical poem; The Testament and Complaint of the Papyngo
(the King's Parrot) ; The History of Sguyer Meldrum, The Mbnarche, and a
remarkable interlude, Ane Satyr e of the Thrie Estaitis.
Testament of the Papyngo.
Than scho hir schraue, with deuote contynance,
To that fals gled, quhilk fen^eit hym one freir;
And quhen scho had fulfyllit hir pennance,
Full subtellye at hir he gan inqueir :
" Cheis 30W," said he, " quhilk of ws brother heir 5
Sail haue of all 2our natural! geir the curis
3e knaw none bene more holye creaturis."
"I am content," quod the pure Papingo,
" That ^e, freir Gled, and Corby monk, }our brother,
Haue cure of all ray guddis, and no mo, 10
Sen, at this tyme, freindschip I fynd non vther."
" We salbe to pw trew, as tyll our mother,"
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY. 167
Quod thay, and sweir tyll fulfyll hir intent.
" Off that," said scho, " I tak ane Instrument."
The Pyote said : " Quhat sail myne office bee? " 15
" Ouirman," said scho, " vnto the tother two."
The rowpand Reuin said : " Sweit syster, lat se
3our holy intent ; for it is tyme to go."
The gredie gled said : " Brother, do nocht so ;
We wyll remane, and haldin vp hir hede, 20
And neuer depart frome hir, tyll scho be dede."
The Papingo tharae thankit tenderlye,
And said : " Sen }e haue tane on }ow this cure,
Depart rayne naturall guddis, equalye,
That euer I had, or hes, of dame Nature. 25
First to the Howlet, indigent and pure,
Quhilk on the daye, for schame, dar nocht be sene,
Tyll hir I laif my gaye galbarte of grene.
My brycht depurit ene, as christall cleir,
On to the Bak }e sail thaine boith present, 30
In Phebus presens quhilk dar nocht appeir,
Off naturall sycht scho bene so impotent.
My birneist beik I laif, with gude entent,
Onto the gentyll, pieteous Pillycane,
To helpe to peirs hir tender hart in twane. 35
I laif the Goik, quhilk hes no sang bot one,
My musyke, with my voce angelycall ;
And, to the Guse, 2e geue, quhen I am gone,
My eloquence and toung rethoricall :
And tak and drye my bonis, gret and small ; 40
168 SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
Syne, close tharae in one cais of ebure fyne,
And thame present onto the Phenix, syne,
To birne with hir, quhen scho hir lyfe renewis.
In Arabye ^e sail hir fynde, but weir,
And sail knaw hir be hir moste heuinly hewis, — 45
Gold, asure, gowles, purpour, and synopeir.
Hir dait is for to leif fyue houndreith ^eir :
Male to that bird my commendatioun.
And, als, I mak jow supplycatioun,
Sen of my corps I haue }ow geuin the cure, 50
3e speid jow to the court, but tareyng,
And tak my hart, of perfyte portrature,
And it present onto my Souerane Kyng :
I wat he wyll it clois in to one ryng.
Commende me to his Grace, I }ow exhorte, 55
And of my passioun mak hym trew reporte.
3e thre my trypes sail haue, for ^our trauell,
With luffer and lowng, to part equale amang 30W,
Prayand Pluto, the potent prince of hell,
Geue }e faille, that in his feit he fang 30W : 60
Be to me trew, thocht I no thyng belang ^ow :
Sore I suspect, ^our conscience be to large."
" Doute nocht," said thay ; " we tak it with the charge."
" Adew, brether," quod the pure Papingo ;
" To talking more I haue no tyme to tarye : 65
Bot, sen my spreit mon fra my body go,
I recommend it to the Quene of Farye,
Eternallye in tyll hir court to carye,
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY. 169
In wyldernes, among the holtis hore."
Than scho inclynit hir hed, and spak no more. 70
Plungit in tyll hir mortall passioun,
Full greuouslie scho gryppit to the ground.
It war to lang to mak narratioun
Offsychis sore, with mony stang and stound.
Out of hir wound the blude did so abound, 75
One coumpas round was with hir blude maid reid :
Without remeid, thare was no thyng bot dede.
And, be scho had In manus tuas said,
Extinctit wer hir naturall wyttis fyue ;
Hir hed full softlye on hir schulder laid, 80
Syne ^eild the spreit, with panes pungityue.
The Rauin began rudely to rug and ryue,
Full gormondlyke, his emptie throte to feid.
" Eit softlye, brother," said the gredy Gled :
" Quhill scho is hote, depart hir ewin amang ws ; 85
Tak thow one half, and reik to me ane vther :
In tyll our rycht, I wat, no wycht dar wrang ws."
The Pyote said : " The feinde resaue the fouther.
Quhy mak 2e me stepbarne, and I ^our brother?
3e do me wrang, schir Gled ; I schrew }our harte." 90
" Tak thare," said he, " the puddyngis, for thy parte."
Than, wyt }e weill, my hart wes wounder sair,
For to behalde that dolent departyng,
Hir angell fedderis fleying in the air :
Except the hart, was left of hir no thyng. 95
The Pyote said : " This pertenith to the kyng,
170 SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
Quhilk tyll his Grace I purpose to present."
" Thow," quod the Gled, " sail faill of thyne entent."
The Rauin said : " God ! nor I rax in ane raipe,
And thow get this tyll outlier kyng or duke ! " 100
The Pyote said : " Plene I nocht to the pape,
Than in ane smedie I be smorit with smuke."
With that the Gled the pece claucht in his cluke,
And fled his way: the laue, with all thair mycht,
To chace the Gled, flew, all, out of my sycht. 105
Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis.
Pavper.
Gude-man, will 2e gif me of }our charitie,
And I sail declair ^ow the black veritie.
My father was ane auld man, and ane hoir,
And was of age fourscoir of }eirs and moir ;
And Maid, my mother, was fourscoir and fyfteine; 5.
And with my labour I did thame baith susteine.
Wee had ane meir, that caryit salt and coill ;
And everie ilk ^eir scho brocht vs hame ane foill.
Wee had thrie ky, that was baith fat and fair, —
Nane tydier into the toun of Air. 10
My father was sa waik of blude and bane,
That he deit ; quhairfoir my mother maid great maine.
Then scho deit, within ane day or two ;
And thair began my povertie and wo.
Our glide gray meir was baittand on the feild ; 15
And our lands laird tuik hir for his hyreild.
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY. 171
The vickar tuik the best cow be the heid,
Incontinent, quhen ray father was deid ;
And, quhen the vickar hard tel how that my mother
Was deid, fra-hand he tuke to him ane vther. 20
Then Meg, my wife, did murne, both evin and
morow,
Till, at the last, scho deit for verie sorow.
And, quhen the vickar hard tell my wyfe was deid,
The thrid cow he cleikit be the heid.
Thair vmest clayis, that was of rapploch gray, 25
The vickar gart his dark beir thame away.
Quhen all was gane, I micht raak na debeat,
Bot, with my bairns, past for till beg my meat.
Now haif I tald ^ow the blak veritie,
How I am brocht into this miserie. 30
Diligence.
How did the person ? Was he not thy gude freind ?
Pavper.
The devil stick him ! He curst me for my teind,
And halds me }it vnder that same proces,
That gart me want the Sacrament at Pasche.
In gude faith, sir, thocht he wald cut my throt, 35
I haue na geir except ane Inglis grot,
Quhilk I purpois to gif ane man of law.
Diligence.
Thou art the daftest fuill that evir I saw.
Trows thou, man, be the law to get remeid
Of men of Kirk ? Na, nocht till thou be deid. 40
172 SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
Pavper.
Sir, be quhat law, tell me, quhairfoir, or quhy,
That ane vickar sould tak fra me tlirie ky ?
Diligence.
Thay haue na law, exceptand consuetude,
Quhilk law, to them, is sufficient and glide.
Pavper.
Ane consuetude against the common weill 45
Sould be na law, I think, be sweit Sanct Geill !
Quhair will }e find that law, tell, gif ^e can,
To tak thrie ky fra ane pure husband man ?
Ane for my father, and for my wyfe ane vther,
And the thrid cow he tuke for Maid, my mother. 50
Diligence.
Hald thy toung, man ! It seems that thow war mangit.
Speik thou of preistis, but dout thou will be hangit.
Pavper.
Be Him that buir the cruell croun of thorne,
I cair nocht to be hangit evin the morne.
Diligence.
Be sure, of preistis thou will get na support. 55
Pavper.
Gif that be trew, the feind resave the sort !
Sa, sen I se I get na vther grace,
I will ly doun, and rest mee in this place.
{Pauper lyis doun in tkefeild. Pardoner enteris.)
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY. 173
Pardoner. 60
Bona dies ! Bona dies I
Devoit peopill, gude day I say ^ow.
Now tarie ane lytill quhyll, I pray 30W,
Till I be with 30W knawin.
Wait ^e weill how I am namit ? 65
Ane nobill man, and vndefamit,
Gif all the suith war schawin.
I am, Sir Robert Rome-raker,
Ane perfite publike pardoner,
Admittit be the Paip. 70
Sirs, I sail schaw 30W, for my wage,
My pardons and my pilgramage,
Quhilk ^e sail se and graip.
I giue to the deuill, with gude intent,
This vnsell wickit New Testament, 75
With them that it translaitit.
Sen layik men knew the veritie,
Pardoners gets no charitie,
Without that thay debait it
Amang the wiues, with wrinks and wyles, 80
As all my marrowis men begyles
With our fair fals flattrie.
3ea, all the crafts I ken perqueir,
As I was teichit be ane freir
Callit Hypocrisie. 85
Bot now, allace ! our greit abusioun
Is cleirlie knawin, till our confusioun,
That we may sair repent.
Of all credence now I am quyte ;
174 SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
For ilk man halds me at dispyte, 90
That reids the New-Test'ment.
Duill fall the braine that lies it wrocht !
Sa fall them that the Buik hame brocht !
Als, I pray to the Rude
That Martin Luther, that fals loun 95
Black Bullinger, and Melancthoun
Had bene smorde in their cude.
Be him that buir the crowne of thorne !
I wald Sanct Paull had neuer bene borne ;
And, als, I wald his buiks 100
War never red into the kirk,
Bot amangs freirs, into the mirk,
Op riuen amaug ruiks.
(Heir sail he lay down his geir vpon ane buird, and say :)
My pateDt pardouns }e may se, 105
Cum fra the Cane of Tartarie,
Weill seild with oster schellis.
Thocht }e haue na contritioun,
3e sail haue full remissioun,
With help of buiks and bellis. 110
Heir is ane relict, lang and braid,
Of Fine Macoull the richt chaft blaid,
With teith and al togidder.
Of Collings cow heir is ane home ;
For eating of Makconnals corne, 115
Was slain into Baquhidder.
Heir is ane coird, baith great and lang,
Quhilk hangit Johne the Armistrang,
Of guoie hemp, soft and sound.
Gude, halie peopill, I stand for'd 120
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY. 175
Quha ever beis hangit with this cord
Neids never to be dround.
The culum of Sauct Bryds kow ;
The gruntill of Sanct Antonis sow,
Quhilk buir his haly bell. 125
Quhaever he be heiris this bell clinck,
Gif me ane ducat for till drink, —
He sail never gang to hell,
Without he be of Baliell borne.
Maisters, trow }e that this be scorne? 130
Cum, win this pardoun : cum.
Quha luifis thair wyfis nocht with thair hart,
I haue power thame for till part :
Me think jow deif and dum.
Hes nane of 30W curst wickit wyfis, 135
That haldis }ow into sturt and stryfis?
Cum, tak my dispensatioun.
Of that cummer I sail mak 30W quyte,
Howbeit ^our selfis be in the wyte,
And mak ane fals narratioun. 140
Cum, win the pardoun, — now let se, —
For meill, for malt, or for monie,
For cok, hen, guse, or gryse.
Of relicts heir I haif ane hunder.
Quhy cum $e nocht? This is ane wonder : 145
I trow ^e be nocht wyse.
NOTES,
Page. Line.
13 The text of Barbour's Bruce is preserved in two
MSS., the Cambridge and the Edinburgh, both
written in the last quarter of the 15th century.
The text here followed is that of the Early Eng-
lish Text Society.
13 5 iugis. After Edward I. had assumed the sovereignty
of Scotland, he placed the land under the control
of English barons and other officers, with strict
orders that they should do justice on all rebellious
or contumacious Scots.
14 2 the batlall. The battle of Bannockburn, which se-
cured the independence of Scotland, was fought
on June 24, 1314. The English were commanded
by Edward II. in person, and the Scots by Robert
Bruce. The Scots formed themselves into solid
masses which the English cavalry could not break.
Against these the English sent their archers, whose
shafts could pierce the strongest armour, but Bruce
drove them off by light horsemen. The English
were already losing heart, when the incident re-
lated in the text decided the battle.
15 40 with thar mensk. With their honour ; that is, if it
might have been without loss of honour.
15 43 ensen^e. War-cry, from Fr. enseigne. Knights often
had special cries which served to make known
their persons and to rally their followers.
15 51 scalil. Scattered. Icel. skilja.
15 51 tropellis. From O. Fr. troupeaulx.
12 177
178 NOTES.
Page. Line.
16 71 Schir Amer. Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pem-
broke.
16 75 Schir Gelis de Argente. Gilles de Argentine, one of
the most distinguished knights of his day.
16 87 Schir Eduard. Edward Bruce, brother of King
Robert.
17 113 Bannokburn. A small stream flowing into the
Forth, near Stirling.
18 130 magre lhairis. Magre (Fr. mal grc, fr. Lat. mala
gratia) takes the genitive.
18 5 the sege. Berwick town and castle fell into Bruce's
hands in 1317, and he put it under the command
of Walter the Steward. The Scots were unskilled
in the attack and defence of fortified places, but
they had the help of a skilful Flemish engineer,
John Crab.
18 9 soiv. The Roman vinea, a movable shed to cover a
mining party.
18 10 owth. Outside, over. A contraction of outwith, the
same as loithout.
19 40 Schir Valter. Walter Fitz Alan, High Steward of
Scotland, who married Marjory, daughter of Rob-
ert Bruce, and became the progenitor of the royal
line of Stuart.
19 46 the Bude-evyn. Eve of the feast of the Exaltation
of the Cross, September 13, 1319.
20 54 Bot thai, &c. " But they (the defenders) who gave
themselves up to death," &c. ; that is, who des-
perately risked death.
20 75 The engynour. Not Crab, but an engineer said to be
the most skilful of his time, whom the Scots had
taken from a captured English ship.
21 84 Scho. "She," i. e., that engine.
22 Wyntoun's Cronykil is preserved in a number of
MSS., one in the British Museum, called "the
Royal MS.," being considered the best. The text
here followed is that of Laing's edition of 1872.
jstotes. 179
Page. Line.
22 1 An trie. This story is found in the Gesla Roman-
orum. Morris has wrought it into one of the tales
in his Earthly Paradise.
22 9 maner plus. Manor house. " Place " was often used
for a mansion or chief house. "At Popering, in
the place." Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 1. 9.
28 1 The Kingis Quair. In this poem James I. celebrates,
according to the allegorical fashion of the time,
his love for Lady Jane Beaufort, niece of Henry
IV. Both the style and the language are strongly
influenced by Chaucer, and several passages closely
resemble parts of the poem entitled The Court of
Love. From internal evidence it would seem to
have been written in 1423.
28 The Kingis Quair is preserved in a single MS., writ-
ten about 1475, and now in the Bodleian Library
at Oxford. The text followed is that of the Scot-
tish Text Society.
28 8 the touris wall. James is here imitating Chaucer's
Knightes Tale. As matter of fact, he was hardly
a prisoner at all, and after the death of his father
was styled and treated by Henry as " the King of
Scots, our noble kinsman and ally," and in this
capacity accompanied him in his war in France.
The marriage with Lady Jane was highly ap-
proved at the English Court.
29 27 the copill. Skeat explains : " and with the couple
[stanza] next following, containing their sweet
harmony, and behold the text of it."
29 31 the kalendis. The kalends were the first day of the
month, hence "beginning." So Chaucer speaks
of "the kalendes of hope." Troil. ii, 7.
30 47 cummyth. A Midland form, as is walking in 1. 73.
30 50 counterfeien chere. Simulate an appearance. So
Chaucer, Prol. 139 : " to counterfete chere of
courte."
32 105 lufis jow all. Loves you entirely.
180 NOTES.
Fagc. Line.
32 109 vnknawin. For mknavring, as i-faUyng in the next
line is for i-f alien.
33 124 floure-ionettis. Fr. jaunette. "The yellow water-
lillie." Cotgrave.
33 125 violeltis. Inserted conjecturally. The MS. repeats
thure-ionetlis. Skeat conjectures round crokellis,
which may possibly be correct. Gower, C. A. v,
uses a-oket for some ornamental adjustment of the
hair.
33 134 gndpartye. Skeat explains :" Now, if there was
a good partner (for me);" but this is doubtful.
The word did not bear that meaning at the time,
nor was the poet thinking of the lady as a mate
for him. It is only later that he recognises that
she was "a warldly creature."
34 1 Me Ihoght. After the sight of the lady in the gar-
den, the poet falls asleep, and in a vision is trans-
ported to the Palace of Venus, where he sees the
spirits of dead lovers of all conditions.
34 15 Spere. Sphere. The old astronomers, who placed
the earth in the centre of the universe, conceived
that surrounding space was divided into nine con-
centric hollow spheres, one to each of the seven
planets, one to the fixed stars, and an external
shell called the crystalline, or primum mobile, which
imparted motion to the rest. James seems to con-
ceive the sphere of Venus as lying outside of the
zodiac.
35 43 Off gude follcis. Much of this description closely re-
sembles The Court of Love.
35 44 by thame one. By themselves alone; apart.
37 84 Omere. James could have known of Homer only
by report.
38 118 recounsilit. This seems to mean "reunited with their
loves."
'40 The poems of Henryson are scattered through vari-
ous manuscript collections, the most important of
NOTES. 181
Page. Line.
42
77
42
94
45
1
which are the Bannatyne MS., transcribed by
George Bannatyne in 1578, now in the Advo-
cates' Library, Edinburgh ; the Maitland MS.,
compiled by Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington
in the latter half of the 16th century, and now in
the Pepysian Library, Magdalen College, Cam-
bridge; and the Harleian MS., written in 1571,
now in the British Museum. The Bannatyne
and Maitland MSS. are great storehouses of early
Scottish poetry. The text here followed is that of
Laing, 1865.
40 23 Preiss Ihee, &c. Exert thyself with pains to thy ut-
most power.
41 56 Quhat alis, &c. What ails love with me, i. e., What
has love to do with me? " What eyleth this loue
at me?" Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 1. 74.
I pray. I pray . . . (that) every day may increase, &c.
I spend. I wasted (my love, or, my appeal).
Quhylum, &c. The source of this fable was probably
the French Roman de Renart, where a similar ad-
venture is related.
47 60 to draw (he stra. If a straw or small object is drawn
before a kitten, it will run after it; hence, cun-
ningly to divert any one from his purpose.
48 91 bleir yone carllis ee. To blear the eye = to deceive.
" Counterfeit supposes bleared thine eyne." Shake-
speare, T. S., v, 1.
hunts up. A popular song, still extant.
nek-hering. The largest and finest fish, placed in the
neck of the creel to attract customers.
suppryis. If you do not let yourself be outwitted.
In principio. The beginning of St. John's Gospel ;
apparently used here as a sort of charm.
and to ga. And went ; a Gallicism.
Esope. This fable is found in Babrios, Horace, the
collection which goes under the name of Aesop,
the Fr. Ysopet of the 13th century, and many later
fabulists.
49
133
50
139
51
182
52
204
52
208
54
1
Page.
Line.
55
18
56
46
57
74
182 NOTES.
under the wand. In the woods.
I do it on thame besyde. I refer it to them.
than seith till him ane kow. Than if one boiled a cow
for him.
58 122 thraf caikkis. Unleavened cakes, biscuit. In the
Ormulum we are told that the bread of the He-
brew offerings was "all theorf without leaven."
59 132 spenser. One who has charge of a spence : butler or
steward.
59 138 greit syn. Apparently used for "pity." Perhaps
we should read " pyne."
61 184 gansell. A piquant sauce. From a cookery book of
the 15th century we learn that it was made of
pepper, saffron, onions, &c.
62 The Buke of the Howlat has been preserved in two
MSS., the Bannatyne (1578) before mentioned,
and the Asloan, written early in the 16th century,
and now in the Library of Lord Talbot de Mala-
hide. The text followed is that of the Scottish
Text Society.
62 1 In the myddis, &c. A parable founded on the old
fable of the daw in borrowed feathers, anciently
attributed to Aesop. The combination of the long
alliterative line with rime is an interesting blend-
ing of the two systems of versification.
63 18 le. A.-S. Meo, protection, shelter, whence mod. "lee."
The lee side of anything is the side turned from
the wind, and therefore sheltered.
granes of grace. Delightful or salubrious plants.
wilsome of wane. At a loss: lit. "astray of thought."
couth growe. Shuddered ; couth is pleonastic.
a nok. Donaldson (Suppt. to Jamieson) would ren-
der "an oak:" "my beak is gnarled like an oak."
But, beside the fact that an owl's beak is smooth,
a nok is a hook. In Jok and Jynney we are told
of "ane spindill wantand ane nok."
63
28
63
43
64
51
64
57
NOTES. 183
Page. Line.
64 70 I bid nocht to nyte. I wish not to deny, i. e., I do not
deny it.
66 113 this is no nay. It is not to be denied. " The briddes
singe, it is no nay." Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 1. 55.
69 207 for mistar. At need.
69 209 schoure. Jamieson would read a schoure, and defines
"part or division of music," giving no authority.
69 210 a point. A musical piece. The musical notes were
formerly called "points;" hence "counterpoint."'
69 213 he gart thaim se, &c. Tricks of this kind were the
stock in trade of the mediaeval tregetours, or jug-
glers.
"Ther saugh I Colle tregetour,
Upon a table of sicamour,
Pleye an uncouth thing to telle:
I saugh him carien a wind-melle
Under a walsh-note shale."
Chaucer, H. F. 1297.
See also Douglas' Palice of Honour.
'>
69 215 schippis of tour. Great ships with towers for archers
at the stern.
70 228 sper of a betill. Staff or handle of a beetle or maul.
70 236 A bard, &c. Holland, like all Lowlanders, delights
in ridiculing the barbarous manners and uncouth
speech of the Kelts. His Gaelic is very corrupt,
and almost unintelligible. Banachadee is beannach-
aidh Dhe, "the blessing of God;" a common salu-
tation. A Keltic scholar, cited by Diebler, sug-
gests, for 1. 237, " An cluinn thu guth, a dhuine
dhroch, olaid mise deoch," i. e., "Can't you hear
a word, bad man ? I can take a drink."
70 244 the schenachy. The bard seems to be vaunting his
accomplishments. Schenachy is seanachaid, a teller
of tales or histories ; clarschach is a harp ; corach
may be coronach, a chant.
1 84 NOTES.
Page. Line.
71 264 thevisnek. Thief 's neck, i. e., gallows-bird.
72 283 remelis. The Bannatyne MS. has remyllis. Possibly
remedis, remedies, i. e., for their hurts.
74 357 battdl. Donaldson (Supp. to Jam.) writes batall-
wricht, and defines " braggart."
74 359 Thus wycit he, &c. Obscure. The Bannatyne MS.
reads viciit, which may be from Fr. vicier. The
valentine is the pairing-time of birds. The mean-
ing seems to be that the Howlat, by his overbear-
ing and morose behaviour, spoiled all the happi-
ness of the mating-time. That the poem opens in
mid-May, is, perhaps, no valid objection to this
explanation. If wycit is an eccentric spelling of
weisit, or wissil, it means "directed, managed."
76 404 wretch wast. Wast seems to be a contraction of wast-
rie, prodigal, spendthrift.
76 407 for. Despite of. We still say "for all his fine prom-
ises."
76 408 hewit. Exalted (heaved).
76 410 lympit. Not found elsewhere. It seems to mean
lamed, or crippled. Cf. " Lympish, claudus."
Munip. Vocab.
77 419 cude. Christening cloth. A white cloth laid over
an infant when brought to baptism.
77 423 hawks. Without havings or possessions. B. has
hafles.
78 This poem, whose full title is The Aclis and Deidis
of the illustere and vail^eand Campioun, Schir William
Wallace, Knicht of Ellerslie, exists in a single MS.,
dated 1488, preserved in the Advocates' Library,
Edinburgh. Early printed editions are numerous.
It has been reprinted by the Scottish Text Society,
whose text is here followed.
78 3 Erewyn wattir. Irwine water, a small river of Ayr-
shire, emptying into the Firth of Clyde.
78 5 child often means attendant, servant.
NOTES. 185
Page. Line.
78 13 Persye. Henry de Percy, Earl of Northumberland,
and nephew to John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey,
Edward's governor of Scotland, was Warden of
Galloway in 1296.
78 17 Martyns fische. There seems to be no explanation of
this phrase.
79 33 dowis should probably be thowis, i. e., " Whom dost
thou call ' thou ' ? " as Wallace had just done. To
thou any one was insulting.
79 36 pouistaff. Either a poke-staff, to drive the fish
out of their hiding-places, or the handle of a
dip-net.
79 42 awkwart. Awk is "the wrong way" or " back-fore-
most." An awkwart stroke is a back-handed
stroke.
he and thai. Wallace and his assailants.
cusyng. Applied to any kinsman.
The dyrk, &c. Wallace had appointed to visit a
woman in Perth, who, under threat of death, be-
trayed him to the English, but gave Wallace warn-
ing. He fled from the town in disguise, and re-
joined his men, slaying at the South Inch two
Englishmen who were following him. Here the
extract begins.
81 85 The day, &c. The day failed, from the (cause that)
the direct course (of the sun) grew short.
81 87 worthis gang. It becomes necessary to go. So ii,
200: " in presoune me worthis to inysclieyff ;" I
must needs die in prison. Cf. p. 18, 1. 130.
thai brak. The English garrison of Perth.
Gyllisland. Gilsland, a barony in Cumberland.
Ledaill, Liddesdale.
Stewyn. Stephen of Ireland, and Kerle, or Kerlie,
were two of Wallace's most brave and faithful
companions in arms.
84 177 the Gask woode. The forest of Gask, near Perth.
80
55
80
79
81
83
81
95
81
107
82
109
83
161
86
238
86
245
86
249
86
257
87
275
87
294
186 NOTES.
Page. Line.
84 199 gayne. Fawdoun had joined them not long before,
and as he had not travelled far, his sudden ex-
haustion was suspicious.
85 213 scrogghy slaid. A valley with stunted or "scrog"
bushes.
85 214 Be est Dipplyne. East of Dupplin, a castle near
Pertb.
Em. The river Earn.
Sand Jhonsloun. St. Johnstoun, the ancient name
of Perth.
Daivryoch. Dalreoch on the Earn.
Uask Hall. In the Gask forest, near Perth.
As till his sycht. As to his sight ; as it seemed to him.
294 feyle fantase. Feyle (fell) is usually "fierce," "cruel,"
but here seems to be "unhappy," "disastrous."
His fancy that the English were at hand, caused
him to send out his men.
88 311 offbuffe. One MS. has abufe.
89 325 Cultir and Bygar. Biggar is a town in Upper Lan-
arkshire, and Culter an adjacent village.
89 327 pychars. A similar story, including the potter, is
told of Hereward the Saxon. See Gesla Here-
wardi, c. 24.
89 356 libardis. The lions passant of England were form-
erly called leopards.
90 360 herroldis mysfuyr. According to our poet, Edward had
sent a squire, his nephew, and two heralds to
Wallace, summoning him to surrender. Wallace
struck off the squire's head, and after cutting out
the tongue of one herald, and plucking out the
eyes of the other, sent them back to Edward with
the head. Of course this is mere fiction.
91 387 Osauold, &c. Oswald, King of Northumbria, d. 642;
Edmund, King of East Anglia, d. 870; Edward
II., King of the English, d. 978; Thomas a Beket,
Archbishop of Canterbury, d. 1170; all martyrs.
91 405 sterwe has here the meaning, "put to death."
NOTES. 187
Page. Line.
92 422 a place. Wallace was executed in Smithfield, Lon-
don, August 23, 1305.
92 441 rahress seems a metathesis of raherss. The first edition
has reheirss, rehearsal, speech.
94 476 Clyffurd. Robert de Clifford, Warden of the marches.
94 1 This poem exists in but a single copy, printed at St.
Andrews in 1572. The author is unknown. It
comprises two adventures: the collier's entertain-
ment of the king and his subsequent visit to court,
and his combat with a Saracen and its results.
Rauf Coi^ear is mentioned by Dunbar and Gawin
Douglas. The text given is that of the Scottish
Text Society.
deip. Perhaps dreip, the drip or dash of rain.
sperpellit. Scattered. O. Fr. esparpiller.
traist, &c. The meaning seems to be : "trust me or
not, as you please ; but if you do not find me a
good fellow, it will be partly your own fault."
Sand July. St. Julian, the patron saint of travellers.
with-thy. Instrumental case. " On condition that."
to keip. Inserted conjecturally. The text published
by the Scottish Text Society reads " to heip."
98 98 git. Usually sport, but here seems to be work or
service.
99 128 kynd audit to creip. A proverbial expression, mean-
ing "Nature (or breeding) is bound to show it-
self." In the Towneley Mysteries (Paslores) we
find "Kynde will crepe where it may not go,"
i. e., "Nature will creep where it cannot walk."
Rauf says that this is an occasion on which the
King's breeding ought to show itself, or else he is
ignorant (of good manners).
99 134 Two lines wanting in the original.
99 143 begin the buird. Take the highest seat at table and
be seated first. " Bischop Bawdwyn abof bi-gene}
the table." Gawayne, 112. See also Chaucer, Prol.
95
17
95
26
96
55
96
63
97
70
97
83
103
240
104
276
104
277
106
309
188 NOTES.
Page. Line.
52; John the Reeve, iii, 44; and The Cokwolds
Daunce.
100 153 hefaind. The text appears corrupt.
100 170 gude. Good men.
101 193 dois glaidlie. Enjoy yourself; be merry. "Syttdowne
and do gladly." Wright's Chaste Wife, 24. "Do
gladly, Sir Knight, said Robin." Lytel Gesle of
Robin Hood.
thi herberie is iane. Thy lodging is secured.
pauyol. A servant of some kind. Jamieson (im-
probably) conjectures pavisot, shield-bearer.
thocht long. Grew weary or impatient.
Lhow will neuer, &c. You will nevermore venture to
tell a lie.
106 316 enchaip. Probably an error for eschaip. Where any
collier may come off safely, I trust to prosper.
107 331 he hud bene allane. We should probably read, " and
he had nocht bene allane."
war the suith. If the truth were known.
myster. Either " skill," " craft," or " need."
nor hecht. Perhaps we should read na hecht.
with magre. With evil (hostile) intent. " He would
be full mighty who .... durst abide."
Ill 431 that sail not be to crane. There shall be no question
about that.
Ill 439 noraneuther. Than another.
111 446 mat. Probably the same as amate, daunt, intimidate.
Or a misprint for mar, hinder, trouble.
112 468 be buikis and bellis. A common oath. The books
and bells are those used in the Services of the
Church. Of. 174, 1. 10.
forrow. Apparently the only instance of this verb.
to new. To renew ; here to keep, perforin.
The poems of Dunbar bave been gathered from
several MS. collections, of which the Pannatyne,
Maitland,and Asloan are the most important. The
text follows that of the Scottish Text Society.
107
340
110
403
110
412
110
420
112
473
113
480
114
NOTES. 189
Page. Line.
114 5 houris. Acts of worship at stated hours of the day,
but here used for chants or hymns. The canoni-
cal hours were nocturnes, matins, lauds, tierce,
nones, vespers, and complines.
114 6 odouris. Here used for " flowers." One is tempted
to conjecture that the word was originally collouris
or cullouris. See 1. 142.
115 12 the splene. The spleen was supposed to be the seat
of sudden emotions.
116 57 cherarchy. Hierarchy. Here used for angels, who
were arranged in hierarchies.
117 83 Yarrow. The milfoil.
118 96 reid of his cullour. Dunbar is describing the royal
arms of Scotland, which are, in heraldic terms,
" or, a lion rampant, gules, within a double tres-
sure, flory, counterflory." The double tressure,
or border of two narrow linesj with fleurs-de-lis,
was said to have been added to the blazon of King
Achaius, by Charlemagne. "The armes of the
realme of France, with the armes of the realme
of Scotland, he coupled togither .... of this
maner. The Lione he settis in the midis ; than
tua lynes on the vthir syd, wouen in threid of
golde, to quhilkis ingeniouslie ar coupled the lil-
lies inwouen, inwounde, and drawin throuch."
Leslie, Hisiorie of Scotland, v.
bowgle. Wild bull, fr. Lat. buculus. Hence bugle-horn.
pareere proslratis. " Parcere prostratis scit nobilis
ira leonis." Lat. prov.
a law. One law.
both reid and quhyt. Because in Margaret the blood
of both York and Lancaster blended.
122 28 to tak the abyle. It would appear from this that Dun-
bar had never taken the final vows.
122 34 Kalice. Calais then belonged to England, and was
its most southern city, as Berwick-upon-Tweed
was the most northern.
118
110
118
119
119
124
120
171
190 NOTES.
Page. Line.
123 The Fen^eit Freir. This grotesque poem has a his-
torical basis. One John Damian, an Italian monk,
who pretended to have the secret of transmuting
base metals into gold, by virtue of the philoso-
pher's stone, or "quintessence," as he called it,
ingratiated himself with James IV., who not only
wasted much money on his experiments, but gave
him the rich abbey of Tungland. In 1508 he
undertook to fly from Stirling Castle to France,
by the help of artificial wings of feathers, but fell
and broke his thigh. He attributed this mishap
to the fact that " thair was sum hen fedderis in
the wingis, quhilk yarnit the mydding and not
the skyis." See Lesley, History of Scotland.
123 1 crislall haile. Dr. Gregor explains this, crystal (or
clear) salutation.
vane organis. Veins.
myance. Means, resources. Fr. moyens.
gardevyance. Cupboard. Fr. garde-viandes.
sacring bell. The bell rung at the elevation of the
Host. The skellat (O. Fr. eschellele) was the bell
which called the monks to their devotions.
125 65 Sancl Martynis fowle. Several kinds of hawks are
named. St. Martin's fowle is the harrier hawk,
in Fr. oiseau de St. Martin. The tarsall is the male
of the peregrine falcon ; the stanchell is the kes-
trel ; the marlejone, the merlin, a species of falcon.
129 The Tua Mariit Wemen. Only the opening and clos-
ing lines of this piece are given.
132 28 craif, &c. Crave what you cannot possess for any
length of time.
133 37 sail je abyd. Probably an error for the abyd, await
thee, as the poet is addressed in the 2d pers. sing,
throughout.
133 Kynd Kittok. It is not certain that this bit of gro-
tesque humour is by Dunbar. Kittok, Kitty, a
diminutive, like "hillock," &c.
124
21
124
36
124
40
124
42
NOTES. 191
Page. Line.
134 11 ourtane fallow. Hail, overtaken fellow ! The phrase
"hail fellow well met" is still in use.
135 The Freiris of Berwik. This tale is found in both the
Bannatyne and Maitland MSS. It is not certain
that it is by Dunbar ; but no other author has been
suggested. A somewhat similar story is the fab-
liau Le povre clerc (Bee. des Fab., No. 132) of the
13th century. It was several times handled by
German, English, and Italian writers.
136 26 the four ordouris. The orders of friars were the Fran-
ciscans (1210), Dominicans or Jacobins (1216),
Carmelites (1245), and Augustinians (1256). The
Jacobins wore a white habit and black mantle,
hence they are frequently called the Black Friars.
137 82 with gret hicht. In a very high (or peremptory) man-
ner.
blakfreir. Here an Augustinian.
thocht lang. Was impatient.
ane pislill. Originally "epistle," but often used for
"story," "tale," as in "The Pistill of Susan," the
story of Susanna. Cf. Chaucer, Wyf of Bathes Tale,
1. 165 : "Tho rouned she a pistel in his ere."
145 317 ane bony quhyle. A pretty while, a reasonable time.
145 321 nigromansy. Necromancy (used generally for magic) ;
so spelled by a false etymology from Lat. niger, as
if "the black art."
147 399 cop owt. To drink cop owl was to empty the cup at
a draught. Cf. carouse, fr. Ger. gar aus.
152 538 mustard slane. A flat stone for grinding mustard upon.
154 Douglas's version of the Aeneid exists in five manu-
script copies : the Cambridge (1525), in the library
of Trinity College, Cambridge ; the Elphynstoun
(1527) and the Ruthven (1535) both in the library
of the University of Edinburgh ; the Lambeth
(1545) at Lambeth Palace; and the Bath (1547)
in the possession of the Marquis of Bath. The
text follows Small's edition of 1874.
139
124
139
146
140
175
192 NOTES.
Pago. Line.
154 2 chymmis. Mansion. Fr. chefmes.
154 4 lattoun colour. Colour of brass. " Phebus wex old,
and hewed lyk latoun," Chaucer, Frank. T., 517.
154 8 Capricorne. The sun enters this sign at the winter
solstice.
154 11 speir. Orbit. As the sun passes from the equinox
to the winter solstice, his apparent path seems to
decline.
155 31 pestilens. Cf. Chaucer, K. T., 1611.
157 99 Latonia. The moon, identified with Diana or Arte-
mis, daughter of Latona.
157 103 propir mansioune. See note infra. As the moon en-
tered the sign of Cancer, she was in opposition to
the sun in Capricorn, and would rise as the sun
set.
157 105 Hebawde. A word apparently formed from the Fr.
hibou. The edition of 1553 has "the horned
byrd."
158 112 rebound. Spring or shoot up, viz. the dawn.
158 115 greiking. Dawning. Lit. " graying."
158 119 Palamedes byrdis. Cranes. An ancient tradition ran
that Palamedes, a hero of the Trojan war, added
the letter Y to the Greek alphabet, taking the
form from that of a flock of migrating cranes. Cf.
Philostratus, Her. 9.
158 129 on char. Char (fr. A.-S. cyrran, to turn) is a hinge.
Hence our "ajar."
159 Prolong. Douglas considered this the best of his
thirteen prologues. He calls it " a pearl of May,"
and directs that its capital initials shall be illu-
minated in gold.
159 1 Dyonea. Venus. As this planet is both evening and
morning star, it is called "night herd and watch
of day."
159 3 Dame Oynthea. The planets, in their revolutions,
seem to pass successively through the twelve signs
of the zodiac. The astrologers called these signs
NOTES.
193
Page. Line.
" houses," and held that the influences of each
planet were strengthened or weakened according
to the house it was in. The sun and the moon
had each a "proper house" (domus propria), the
former in Leo and the latter in Cancer; and each
of the other planets two, one diurnal and one noc-
turnal. There were also the "alien house" (do-
mus peregrina), the "exaltation," and the "dejec-
tion." The annexed diagram will show part of
these "dignities."
p exaltatio
2 domus prop, nocturna
y domus prop, diurna
D domus propria
© domus propria
9 domus prop, nocturna
2 dejectio
© exaltatio
D domus peregrina
9 domus peregrina
$ exaltatio
© domus peregrina
fj domus propria
nocturna
]) dejectio
© dejectio
$ domus propria
diurna
159 11
The moon (Cynthia), is coming down from her
exaltation in Taurus. Venus is passing from her
domus nocturna, in Taurus, into Gemini, the domus
diurna of Mercury ("Cyllenius' cave"), where she
has no dignity. The apparent motion of Mars is
twice as slow as that of Venus ; hence he is said
to draw back. Douglas is here imitating Chaucer's
Compleynt of Mars.
Nycthemyne. Nyctimene, daughter of Epopeus, King
of Lesbos, was fabled to have been changed by
Athena into an owl. Ovid, Met. ii, 590.
13
161
71
161
81
163
134
1 94 NOTES.
Page. Line.
159 24 munlill wall. Lit. the curtain, or stretch of wall be-
tween towers.
159 25 Eous. One of the horses that drew the car of Phoe-
bus, or the Sun.
fyall. Tower, turret. Prob. from Lat. faia.
Pryapus. Priapus, the god of gardens.
bedyil. Lit. "bedyed," but used by Douglas for
wetted, drenched, as in his Aen., I, iv, 31. " Thair
lyniuiis be salt watter bedyit."
163 145 Sewane. No satisfactory explanation has been given
of this word. "Savin" and "soap" (Fr. savon)
have been conjectured. It seems to be some aro-
matic drug or spice.
164 164 Argus. Changed by Juno into a peacock. Ovid
Mel. i, 722.
164 170 Arayne. Arachne, changed by Athena into a spider.
Ovid, Met. vi, 5.
164 179 brokeltis. Young deer, whose horns have not bemin
to branch.
164 179 and ivith. And those with.
164 180 calvys. Three species of deer are mentioned. The
young of the hind was called a calf; that of the
doe, a fawn ; and that of the roe, a kid.
164 187 Doryda. Doris and Thetis were marine deities;
nymphs and naiads dwelt in rivers.
165 191 guhite and rede. Cf. Chaucer, K. T., 195.
166 The collected works of Lyndsay first appeared in
an edition printed at Edinburgh in 156S, and
were often republished. The extract from the
Papyngo follows Laing's edition, and that from
the Satyre, the reprint by the Early English
Text Society.
167 34 pillycane. The pelican was supposed to nourish its
young with blood drawn from its own breast.
169 88 fouther. Lit. a load of 125 lbs., here "pack," "lot."
Cf. p. 172, 1. 56.
171
36
172
46
173
75
NOTES. 195
Page. Line.
170 16 hyreild. Heriot; the best beast or other chattel,
claimed by the lord of the fief on the death of a
vassal.
171 17 the vickar, &c. As a mortuary, or gift claimed by the
priest of a parish on the death of a parishioner.
171 32 cursed me. Excommunicated me for not paying my
tithes. This weapon of the Church was very
freely used, even in ordinary processes for debt,
and was especially vexatious and oppressive. See
Knox, Hist, i, 39.
grot. Groat ; four-penny piece.
Sanct Geill. St. Giles, or Egidius (7th century).
New Testament. This must have been Tyndale's ver-
sion (printed in England in 1537), as this play was
presented in 1540, and the Geneva version of the
New Testament was not made until 1557. Lynd-
say, it will be observed, refers below to Lutherans,
not to Calvinists.
174 96 Bullinger. Henri Bullinger (1504-1575) and Philip
Melanchthon (1497-1560) were distinguished the-
ologians of the Reformation.
174 106 Cane. Khan.
174 112 Fine Macoull, Fingal, the legendary hero of Erse
and Gaelic tradition.
174 118 Armistrang. John Armstrong of Gilnockie, a famous
border-reiver of the Debatable Land, rather treach-
erously put to death by James V. in 1530.
174 120 for\l. For it, as beid for be it, p. 151, 1. 523. "I
stand answerable for it."
175 123 Sanct Bryd. St. Bridget (A. D. 436-523).
175 124 Sanct Antony. St. Antony the Hermit lived in the
fourth century. An absurd popular legend repre-
sented him as accompanied on his journeys by
a pig.
175 129 Baliell. Belial.
GLOSSARY.
a, ah.
a, a, one.
abaid, delay.
abaisit, abashed, dismayed.
abandowne, abandon, give
up.
abasit, dismayed.
abate, surprise.
abbeit, habit, dress.
abill, able, liable.
abiljeit, dressed.
aboife, abone, above.
aboun, abovin, above.
abound, gush.
abufe, above.
abyte, habit.
aduertance, retinue.
affeir, affer, appearance, be-
haviour.
aferde, afferde, afraid.
affray, affright, alarm.
afoir, before.
agane, agayne, ageyne, again,
against.
aggrewit, aggrieved.
aill, ailment, trouble.
aill, ale.
aip, ape.
air, before, formerly.
airar, earlier.
airlie, airly, early.
airt, quarter of the heavens.
aith, oath.
akis, oaks.
a-lawe, down, downward.
aleyes, alleys, walks.
alhaill, entirely, altogether.
alichtyn, light, illuminate.
alis, ails.
alkyn, all kind.
allace, alas.
allane, allayne, alone.
alleis, alleys.
allevin, allowed, admitted.
allir best, the very best.
allkin, all kind.
allow, approve.
all quhair, everywhere.
allthir, of all.
all-thocht, although.
allutirly, altogether, utterly.
almery, cupboard, press.
als, as, so, also.
alsone, as soon, quickly.
197
198
GLOSSARY.
alswa, also.
alsweill, as well.
aluterly, altogether.
amaile, enamel.
amene, pleasant.
amerant, amaranthine.
amorettis, true-love-knots.
and, and, if.
ane, a, one, any, alone.
ane (in), anon, at once.
anent, opposite.
anew, enough.
anis, once.
annamyllit, enamelled.
anneuche, anuche, enough.
annone, anon.
annwch, enough.
anschir, answer.
anys, once.
apayn, under penalty.
apon, upon, to, in.
aport, demeanour.
apparale, preparations, appa-
ratus.
appin, happen.
aray, array, order.
arayand, arraying, re-form-
ing.
argow, argue, reason.
ark, chest, box.
armony, harmony.
armyt, armed.
array, dress, appearance.
arrest, determine.
art, quarter of the heavens.
as, ask.
ascens, ascension.
ask, lizard,
aspye, espy,
assaill, accost.
assail?eit, tried, attempted,
assale, assail, assault,
assal^eit, assailed,
assay, try, attack, trial,
astert, started, rushed,
astert, avoid,
asur, azure.
at hicht, highly, eminently,
at, that, those that,
athir, each, either, or.
atour, over, through,
attanis, attonis, at once,
attone, together,
attour, over, through,
auance, improve, exalt.
auld, old.
aureat, golden,
availl, avale, let down,
avay, away.
avenand, handsome, prepos-
sessing,
avpone, upon,
awaill, avail, advantage,
a walk, awake,
awin, awne, own.
awnter, adventure,
awoilk, awoik, awoke,
awp, curlew,
awyn, own.
awys, fashion,
ay, always,
ayk, oak.
ayre, heir, heiress,
ayrly, early.
GLOSSARY.
199
bad, abode, remained,
baid, both,
baid, delay,
baid, stopped,
baile, bale, misery.
bair, bare, mere.
bair, bore.
bair, boar.
bairfute, barefoot.
bairn, child.
bait, stopping-place.
baith, both.
baittand, feeding.
bak, bat.
balas, rubies.
bald, bold.
balk, ridge of land.
ballat, ballet, ballad.
balm, perfume.
ban, curse.
band, agreement.
band, bond, bondage.
bandoun, command, service,
control,
bane, ready, willing,
banestikill, stickleback (small
fish),
banis, bones,
bannyt, cursed,
banwart, ranunculus,
banyst, banished,
bar, boar.
barganer, quarreller.
barm, bosom,
barmkyn, outer wall, wall,
barnage, baronage, nobility.
barne, child, fellow.
bar rand, barren.
basnet, helm.
bastoun, stick, cudgel.
batall, (see note).
batalland, combating.
bath, bathe, both.
bathit, bathed.
battill, luxuriant.
battis, blows.
bawd, bade.
bawdronis, name of a cat,
Grimalkin,
bawld, bold,
bayth, both.
be, by, in, by the time that,
be, bee.
bedonkit, drenched,
bedovin, wet.
bedyit, bedewed, wet.
beft, beat, beaten,
begouth, began,
begylit, beguiled,
behald, behold,
behowyd, behoved,
behufe, behoof, advantage,
beid, be it.
beike, beak,
bein, bean,
beir, cry, noise,
beir, bear (animal),
beir, behave,
beir, bear (carry),
beirn, man, person,
beis, bees,
beis, is, shall be.
beit, kindle.
200
GLOSSARY.
bek, bow.
belang, belong.
beldit, formed.
belive, belyf, quickly.
beming, humming.
bemys, beams.
ben, inner room.
bene, are, is.
bene, pleasant, comfortable.
benely, comfortably.
benesoun, blessing.
bening, benyng, benign.
bent, grass, sedge, grassy field.
benwart, to the inner room.
ber, barley.
berere, bearer.
beriall, beryall, beryl, like
beryl, pellucid,
berne, warrior, man.
berysing, burial,
besene, provided, equipped,
attired,
besie, busy,
bestial, cattle,
bet, beaten, beat,
bet, kindled,
betill, (see note),
betraisit, betrayed,
be tyme, betimes, early,
beuche, beugh, bew, bough.
bewalit, bewailed,
bewschyris,, beaux sires,
nobles,
bewte, beauty,
beykyt, warmed,
beyn, beyne, comfortable,
pleasant.
beyn, beyne, been.
bid, desire, request,
biggyng, house, building,
bikkrit, battered, shot,
billis, petitions.
birneist, polished,
birnyng, burning,
birst, burst.
bissart, buzzard (hawk),
bissy, busy,
bla, lurid.
blaister, bluster, storm,
bland, bond, engagement,
blank, white.
blanschit, bleached, discol-
oured,
blaw, blow,
blawin, blown,
blayknit, blackened,
ble, hue, colour,
bleidand, bleeding,
bleir, deceive,
blenk, glance, beam,
blent, looked, beamed,
blesand, blazing,
bletand, bleating,
blin, stop, cease,
blist, blissit, blessed,
blomyt, blooming,
blonk, horse,
blout, bare,
blude, bluide, blood,
blwmys, blossoms,
blyn, blyne, stop, delay,
blyth, cheerful, glad,
bocht, bought, redeemed,
boddum, bottom land.
GLOSSARY.
201
bodin, equipped, arrayed.
boist, noise, abuse, brag.
boith, both.
boll, measure.
bone, bane, death.
bone fay, good faith.
bonk, bank.
bony, bonnie, pretty.
bord, bored, pierced.
bordouris, borders.
bordourit, bordered.
borrowis, borough.
boss, stone bottle, jug.
bost, wind, brag, fuss.
bot, but, unless.
bot, reward.
bot giff, unless.
botkin, bodkin.
boun, ready.
boun, make ready, set out.
bourde, jest.
boustous, violent.
bowgle, wild bull.
bownyt, prepared, proceeded.
bowsome, submissive.
bra, bank, brae.
brache, brachell, hound,
brach.
braid, broad,
braid, start,
braiss, banks,
braissit, braced, armed,
braithlie, violently,
brand, brand, ember,
brand, sword,
brane wod, brain-mad.
brastyng, bursting, darting.
14
brattlyng, rattling.
braun, brawn.
bray, bank.
brayd, strode, went.
brayt, roared.
brede, breid, bread, pastry.
breid, breadth.
breid, breidis (on), about,
abroad,
breir, brier.
brerd, sprouting, growth,
brest, break,
brether, brethren,
brichtnyt, brightened,
brin, burn,
brint, burned,
brocht, brought,
broket, deer two years old.
brokill, fickle, treacherous,
bromys, broom-plants,
bront, appearance,
brounis, thickets,
brovn, brown,
browdin, embroidered,
bruikit, blackened, grimed,
bruke, enjoy, attain, keep,
brumaill, wintry,
brym, fierce,
brym, margin,
brynnand, burning,
brynt, burned,
bryntstane, brimstone,
bubbis, blasts, gusts,
buffe (off), above,
bugill, horn, trumpet,
buik, book,
buir, bore.
202
cm.SSARY.
buird, board, table,
buke, book,
buke, baked,
bukhid, blind-man's-buff,
bukkis, bucks,
buklair, buckler,
bun wed, rag- wort.
bur, bure, bore,
burde, board, table,
burdoun, staff,
burelie, handsome,
burgionys, shoots, grows,
burgioun, shoot, sprout,
burne, brook,
burneist, burnished,
burnet, pale brown,
burnyst, shining,
busk, bush,
busk, make ready, adorn.
buskit, made ready, dressed.
buskyd, made ready.
busteous, bustuus, violent,
bold.
bustuysly, violently.
but, without, unless.
but, outside, outer room.
bute, advantage.
button, bud.
by, buy.
byde, bide, remain.
byggyd, built.
byrd, behoved.
byrdis, ladies, damsels.
byre, stable, outhouse.
byrn, burn.
byrnand, burning.
bysprent, sprinkled, studded.
bysyn, monster.
cachit, wandered, went.
cadgear, carrier.
cai, jackdaw.
caill, cold.
cais, case.
caldrone cruke, pot-hook.
call, drive.
callour, fresh, cold.
calvys, calves, fawns.
cammamyld, camomile.
camschow, bent, hooked.
cankerit, spiteful.
cant, brisk, gay, playful.
cape, cope.
capill, horse.
caralyng, carolling.
carll, fellow.
carp, speak, say, ask.
carpand, going.
cart, car, chariot.
caryar, performer.
carye, frequent, dwell.
cas, chance.
cassin, cast, placed.
cast, hap, fortune.
cast, trick.
cast, cast about, seek.
castin, made, dug.
catall, cattle.
catch, go.
catche, chase, drive.
catcluke, trefoil.
caucht, catch.
caucht, put.
I cauld, cold.
GLOSSARY.
203
causay, pavement,
cawmyt, calmed,
cawtel, trick, juggling,
celicall, celestial,
ces, put a stop to.
chachand, going, plodding
along,
chaffar, merchandise,
chaft blaid, jawbone,
chaiffair, merchandise,
chaip, escape, get off.
chaiplet, chaplet.
chair, car, chariot,
chakmait, checkmate,
chalmer, chamber,
chancis, fortunes,
chang, exchange,
channonry, canonry.
channoun, canon, canonical,
chapyt, escaped,
char (on), ajar,
charterouris, Cistercian
monks,
chass, chase, pursuit,
chauffray, merchandise.
chauntour, precentor.
cheace, chase.
cheiftyme, reign.
cheir, countenance, behaviour.
cheis, cheiss, choose.
cheis, cheese.
chennon, canon.
chen^e, chain.
cheping, chirping.
cherarchy, angels (hierarchy).
chere, cheerfulness, joy.
chere, countenance.
cheryte, charity,
cheuer, shiver, chatter,
cheverand, chiverand, shiv-
ering,
cheyne, chain,
chokkis, cheeks,
chose, choice,
chuff, churl, miser,
chydand, complaining,
chyftaynlik, like a chieftain,
chyld, attendant,
chymmis, mansion,
chyp, open, split,
chyre, chair,
chyrm, chirp, cry.
chyssell, chisel-shaped ?
circulat world, orbit,
claggit, clogged, mired,
clais, claithis, clothes,
clam, climbed,
clavyr, clover,
claucht, clawcht, clutched,
pulled.
clayis, clothes.
cled, clad.
cleikit, seized.
cleir, clear, bright, clearly.
cleith, clothe.
cleket, trigger.
cler, plain, clear.
clething, clothing.
cleuch, steep bank, ravine,
glen.
cleverus, tenacious.
clew, ravine, glen.
clift, valley, dale.
clippit, inclosed.
204
GLOSSARY.
clois, cloys, close, inclosed,
shut,
clour, lump,
clud, cloud,
cluik, cluke, claw, talon,
clutch,
cluvis, claws,
clyft, cleft,
clynk, chime, sing,
clynty, stony, rocky,
coft, bought, redeemed,
coill, coal.
coil;ear, collier,
coird, cord,
collep, beaker,
columby, columbine,
compas, circuit,
compeir, appear,
compt, account,
confert, conford, comfort,
confortive, comforting,
strengthening,
connyng, intelligence,
consale, consall, counsel,
consayt, conceit, fancy,
consuetude, custom,
continuance, steadfastness,
contrar, despite,
cop, cup.
copill, (see note),
coplit, united,
corage, courage, heart,
coreck, correct,
corby, crow,
corpis, body.
correnoch, a Highland chant.
cosingage, kinship.
couchit, trimmed,
cought, could, did.
coumpas, circuit,
counterpalace, equal ?
courtass, courteous,
courtyne, curtain,
couth, could, knew,
cowardy, cowardice,
cowatice, covetousness.
cowp, cowpe, cup.
cowplyt, united,
cowschet, wild dove,
cowth, could, knew, did.
crabitly, crossly,
crabitnes, ill-temper, surli-
ness.
crag, crage, neck,
craif, desire,
crammysin, crimson,
craw, crow,
crawand, crowing,
crawin, crowed,
creill, pannier, basket,
creip, creep,
creische, fat.
creist, crest,
cren, crane,
crengit, cringed,
crepillit, crept, crawled.
crewell, cruel,
croce, cross.
croce, to sign with the cross,
croppis, tops, heads,
croup, cry hoarsely.
croun, crovn, crown,
crowd, coo. .
crownell, coronal.
GLOSSARY.
205
crows, brisk, bold, gay.
croys, cross.
cruke, book.
crysp, curling.
cubicular, chamberlain.
cude, christening cloth.
cuik, cook.
culd, could, did.
culit, cooled.
culum, tail.
cum, come.
cumand, coming.
cummer, annoy, annoyance.
cummerlik, gossippy.
cummyn, come, coming.
cummyrsum, cumbersome,
hard to pass.
cun, can.
cunnand, covenant, agree-
ment.
cunnand, knowing, skilful.
cunning, cunyng, rabbit.
cuplit, fastened
curage, spirit.
curch, kerchief.
cure, care, charge, office.
curfur, curfew.
curland, curling.
curywsly, skilfully.
cuschet, wood-pigeon, wild
dove.
custom, toll, tax.
cusyng, cousin, kinsman.
cuvating, desire.
daft, silly, stupid,
daill, dale.
dang, smote, beat.
dantit, daunted, intimidated.
dar, lost in thought.
dasy, daisy.
dasyng, benumbing.
davall, plunge.
dawing, dawn.
day, doe.
de, die.
debait, debeat, contention,
contend for.
decess, die.
dede, death,
defend, forbid,
defend, defence,
defowlit, disparaged, vilified,
defundand, pouring down,
degysit, disguised,
deid, death, dead,
deif, deaf,
deill, part,
deill, deal,
deip, (see note),
deip, deep,
deir, dear, dearly,
deir, harm,
deis, dais, table,
deit, died,
dele, part,
dele, devil,
deliuer, hasten,
deliuerance, action,
deliuerly, quickly,
delle, part,
delt, divided, shared,
deme, dame,
deme, judge, deem.
206
GLOSSARY.
dempt, judged, deemed,
demyng, censure,
demyt, deemed, decreed,
denner, dinner,
dent de lion, dandelion,
dente, dainty,
denty, dignity, esteem,
denys, deans,
depart, divide, share,
departing, division, sharing,
departing, separating,
depaynted, painted.
depnes, depth,
depurit, clear, brilliant,
deray, disturbance,
deren^e, combat,
derf, bold, strong,
derfly, strongly, heavily,
dern, secret, secretly,
derrest, dearest,
dert, dart,
derworthi, precious,
des, dais, table,
despeired, desperate, despair-
ing,
destyne, destiny,
det, duty,
deuchty, doughty,
devallyis, descend, plunge,
devit, deafened,
devoir, devour,
devoit, devout,
devyis, plan, direction,
dew, dawned,
dey, deye, die.
deyme, judge, deem,
deyp, deep.
deyr, dear,
deyr, deer,
dicht, prepare,
dicht, prepared, decked,
dicht, treat, maltreat,
digne, worthy, honourable,
dill, share,
dirk, dark.
dirkin, lie in wait,
dirkit, dirknit, darkened,
discryve, describe,
discumfist, discomfited,
discure, discover, reveal,
diseis, discomfort,
dispal^eid, despoiled,
disparyt, despairing, desper-
ate,
dispers, dispersed,
displesance, displeasure,
dissagyis, disguise,
dissawit, deceived, betrayed,
disseuerance, separation .
dissymlit, dissembling,
ditee, ditty, song,
dochtyr, daughter,
do furth, carry forth,
dois, does, do.
dolent, dolorous,
dome, doom, fate, lot.
donk, moist, moisture,
doon, do.
dooth, doth, causes,
dosinnit, dazed, stupefied,
dosk, dusky,
dot, grow stupid,
doubbis, puddles,
douchty, doughty.
GLOSSARY.
207
doune, down,
dout, fear, danger,
doute, doubt,
dovle, fool.
dow, be able, have power,
dowbill, double,
dowchtyr, daughter,
dowis, (see note),
dowy, dreary, melancholy,
doyn, done,
draglyt, betnired.
draif our, made merry,
draiff, drove,
drawe, drawn,
drawin, withdrawn,
dre, endure, suffer,
dredit, feared,
dredles, doubtless,
drefyd, drove,
dreichlie, regularly, in turn,
dreid, fear, doubt,
dreidles, doubtless,
dreiry, sad.
drerelie, sadly, dismally,
drest, beset.
drest him, addressed himself,
droggis, drugs,
droupe, droop,
drowpand, drooping,
drublie, wet.
druggit, dragged,
drumly, foggy, misty,
dryfande, driving,
dryve, driven,
dub, puddle.
duchepeiris, twelve peers,
paladins.
duill, dole, misery.
duk, duke.
dukis, ducks.
dulce, sweet.
dule, wo, sorrow, sad.
dulfully, dolefully.
dungin, beaten.
durandlie, constantly.
dure, door.
dure, continue.
dusche, dash, blow.
duschit, dashed, fell.
dwne, put.
dycht, prepare, dress, dressed.
dyk, dyke, ditch.
dynarit, made a noise.
dyne, din.
dyng, beat.
dynk, saucy, bold.
dynt, stroke, blow.
e, eye.
ebure, ivory.
ee, eye.
effeiris, efferis, befits, be-
hoves.
effeiris, qualities.
effeiritlie, timidly.
effray, efferay, alarm, disturb.
effrayitlie, in a frightened
manner.
eft, again.
efter, eftir, eftyr, after, accord-
ing to.
eft-sones, eftsonis, soon after,
again.
eild, age.
208
(iLoWSAKV.
eik, increase.
eik, also.
eir, ear.
eird, earth, land.
eis, ease, comfort.
eisment, easement.
ellis, else, otherwise.
elriche, elfish, unearthly.
elyk, alike.
emang, among.
erne, uncle.
emeraut, emerald.
emyspery, hemisphere.
enbalmit, embalmed, per-
fumed.
enbrovd, embroidered.
enchaip, (see note).
encheif, succeed.
endlang, along.
endurand, during.
ene, eyes.
eneuch, enew, enough.
engyne, genius, intellect.
engynour, engineer.
ensen^e, battle-cry. ■
enterdyt, interdict.
entre, entres, entrance.
enverounyt, enwerounyt, sur-
rounded.
erd, earth.
eris, ears.
ersche, Gaelic.
eschamyt, ashamed.
eschap, eschaip, escape.
eschew, avoid, shun.
esperance, hope.
ess, ease.
est, east.
ete, ate.
euir, ever.
evir, ivory.
evyn, just, even, exactly.
ewin, ewyn, evening, eve.
exerce, exercise.
expremit, designated.
eyen, eyes.
eyme, uncle.
eyne, eyes.
eyt, eaten.
facture, form, figure,
faile, error, mistake,
faill, sward, turf,
faille, defect, ilaw.
failye, fail?he, fail, lack,
fair, appearance, behaviour,
fair, fare, go.
fair-farrand, having a goodly
appearance,
fairhed, beauty,
fairly, marvel,
fairn, fern,
fais, foes,
fall, befall,
fallow, associate,
fallow, fallowe, companion,
falowe, equal,
falset, falsehood,
fame, foam,
fand, try.
fand, found,
fane, glad,
fane, vane, pennon,
fang, catch, get, take.
GLOSSARY.
209
fangar, catcher.
fannoun, scarf.
fanys, pennons, vanes.
far, appearance.
farest, fairest.
farly, wondrously.
fame, fared.
farnys, ferns.
fasand, pheasant.
fassonit, fashioned.
fassoun, fashion, kind.
fauch, fawch, ^ray-brown,
brownish.
faucht, fought.
fauld, fold.
fay, faith.
faymen, foemen
fays, foes.
fe, sheep, cattle.
febill, mean, poor.
febillie, poorly.
fechand, bringing.
fechtand, fighting.
fechtine, fight, combat.
fed, fat.
fedder, feather.
federem, fedramme, plum-
age, suit of feathers.
feid, feud, hostility.
feill, perceive.
feill, perception, knowledge.
feill, many.
feir, companion, company.
feir, behaviour.
feir of weir, array of war.
feld, felt.
fele, many.
15
fell, fierce, cruel.
fell, rock, rocky hill.
fell, many.
felloune, wicked, terrible.
felny, felony.
fen, mud, mire.
fend, defend.
fenyit, fen^eit, pretended.
fenystar, window.
fer, far.
ferly, marvel, wonder.
ferly, ferlyfull, wondrous.
fermans, inclosures.
ferme, fasten.
ferre, far.
ferryit, farrowed, pigged.
fers, ferss, fierce.
festnyt, fastened.
fetherem, plumage, suit of
feathers,
fetrit, fastened,
fewall, fewaill, fuel,
fewte, fealty.
fey, slain, dead,
feyle, fell, disastrous,
feynd, fiend,
feynyt, feigned,
feyt, feet,
ffeynd, fiend,
ffrawart, insolent, violent,
ficht, fight,
fieind, fiend.
figonale, basket, fruit-basket,
firth, inlet.
firth, plain, open country,
flag, flash,
flaggat, faggot.
210
GLOSSARY.
flan, tempest.
flane, Hayed.
flambe, llatne.
flang, Hung.
flap, blow.
flatling, prostrate.
flawe, blast.
flawme, baste.
flayt, complained.
fle, fly.
fleand, living.
flece, fleece.
fleich, cajole, wbeedle, Hatter.
fleit, flow, float.
fleme, drive away, put to
flight,
flet, inner room,
flewar, flavour, scent,
flicht, flight,
flicht, plumage,
flocht, flutter,
flodderit, flooded,
floure, flower.
flour dammes, lady's bower
(flower).
flour delice, iris, fleur-de-lis.
floure ionettis, yellow lilies.
fludis, Hoods, waters.
flureiss, flourish.
flurist, flourished.
flusch, pool.
flyrand, fleering.
flyttyng, departure.
fog, moss.
foill, foal.
foirse, see before, perceive.
fold, field, earth.
fonde, foolish,
fonde, went,
forby, by, besides,
for'd, for it.
fordynnand, filling with noise,
forfeblit, weakened,
forfet, fault,
forgane, against,
forgit, made, fashioned,
forloir, perish, pine. •
forloppin, fugitive,
formest, first, chief,
foroutin, forouchtin, without,
for-quhy, because,
forrow, proceed,
fors (on), perforce,
forschoir, dejected,
forss, force.
forsuth, forsooth.
forthocht, repented.
forth ward, ready, prompt,
forward.
for-thy, therefore.
forthyr, furtherance, assist-
ance.
for-tirit, tired out.
fortope, fore-top.
fo^eild, requite.
forget, forjhet, forget, forgot-
ten.
foullis, birds.
foundis, proceeds.
fouther, load, pack, lot.
fown, fawn.
fra, from, from that.
fra, from the time that.
fra hand, off-hand.
GLOSSARY.
211
frane, ask.
franyt, asked.
frawart, adverse, malignant.
fray, fright, disturbance.
fre, free, noble.
freik, man, fellow.
freir, friar.
freklys, freckles, spots.
freschlie, joyously.
fresyng, freezing, frost.
fret, trimmed, adorned.
fret-wise, ornamental fashion.
freuch, insolent, bold.
fro, from.
fructuus, fruitful, luxuriant.
frusch, throw into disorder.
frusche, confusion, rout.
frustyr, vain, useless.
fudder, load, pack.
fude, food.
fuill, fule, fool.
fu^eis, leaves.
fundin, found.
fur, furlong, furrow.
furd, ford.
fure, went on, fared.
furrit, furred.
furth, forth, on.
furthewarde, onward.
fuson, fusoun, abundance,
bounty,
fut, foot.
fyall, turret, spire,
fyld, defiled,
fyle, foul, foul one.
fylit, defiled,
fyr, fyir, fire.
fyre-flaucht, lightning,
fyrth, plain, open country.
ga, go.
gadder, gather.
gaddryt, gathered.
gaf, gaif, gave.
gaine, gone.
gaip, gape.
gairding, garden.
gais, goes.
gaist, ghost, spirit.
gaist, guest.
gait, road, way.
gait, get.
galbarte, coat.
galis, calls, cries.
galland, gallant.
gal^ard, beautiful, gay.
gamyn, sport, hunting.
ganand, fit, becoming.
gane, gone.
ganer, gander.
gang, go.
ganis, profits, suits.
gansell, sauce.
gar, make, cause.
gardevyance, cupboard.
garding, garden.
garmond, garmont, garment,
dress,
garneist, garnished,
garth, inclosure.
gat, gait, way, road,
gawe, gave, smote,
gawin, gain, profit,
gayne, gone, travelled.
212
GLOSSARY.
geill, jelly.
geir, apparatus, tools.
geir, property.
geis, geese.
gekkis, mocks.
gemmyt, studded.
gend, gent, fair, elegant,
amiable, pleasant,
generit, engendered,
gentrise, mercy, courtesy,
ger, cause, make,
ger, gear, property,
gerraflouris, gillyflowers,
gers, grass.
gers-pilis, blades of grass,
gert, caused, made,
gestis, tales,
gestis, beams, joists,
geue, give,
geue, if.
gevis, givest.
geyff, give,
gif, give, grant,
gif, gife, if.
giffis, gives, give,
gilt, offended, sinned,
giltly, golden,
gin, snare, device,
gird, went,
girs, grass.
glaid, went, glided, cut.
glaid, glad.
glaidlie, gladly, joyously,
glar, mud.
glave, sword,
gle, sport,
gled, kite.
gleid-carll, lire-man.
gloir, glory.
glos, treat of, recite.
glowrit, stared.
glowmand, gloomy.
gluder, talk, wheedle.
gluif, glove.
glytrand, glittering.
goik, cuckoo.
gois, goes.
goldspynk, goldfinch.
golk, cuckoo.
gone, go, pass.
gorrit, gored, wounded.
gormaw, cormorant.
gormondlyke, greedily.
gouernance, conduct, care,
management.
gouerning, livelihood.
goule, gull.
goustly, ghastly, ghostly.
governale, rule.
govirnance, govirning, be-
haviour, conduct.
gowlis, red.
gowlyne, howling, lamenta-
tion.
graid, prepared, ready.
graip, handle, grasp.
graith, direct, straight.
graith, ready.
graith, prepare.
graithit, prepared, equipped.
graithly, readily.
grane, groan.
granis, grains, pollen.
granit, deep red.
GLOSSARY.
213
grant, agreement,
grap, obtain,
grat, wept,
grathit, adorned,
gravis, groves.
gre, degree,
gre, prize, honour,
greable, gracious,
grece, gray,
gree, degree, step,
greif, molest, hurt,
greiking, dawning (graying),
grein, green,
greit, weep,
greit, great, large,
greit, gravel,
grene, green,
gresy, grassy.
gret, wept,
gretumly, greatly,
greyn, green,
greyne, fabric,
grit, great.
grot, groat, four-penny piece,
grottis, groats, coarse meal,
ground, take root,
growe, shudder, shiver,
growyt, shuddered,
gruchen, grudge, repine,
grund, ground, earth,
grundin, ground, sharpened,
gruntill, snout,
grutchyng, reluctance, hesi-
tation,
grynd, grinned,
gryntar, keeper of a granary,
gryse, pig.
gudame, grandmother.
gudeliare, goodlier, fairer.
gudelihede, beauty.
guddis, goods, possessions.
gukgo, cuckoo.
gukkit, silly.
gum, mist.
gurll, stormy.
gus, guse, goose.
gust, flavour.
gyans, giants.
gyff, if.
gylt, gild.
gym, brilliant.
gymp, gay.
gyn, gyne, engine.
gynour, engineer.
gyrd, strike.
gyrdit, bound, hooped.
gyrs, grass.
gys, fashion, custom.
hable, enable, fit.
haboundanle, abundantly,
hams, have (imper.).
haif, haiff, have,
haiknay, hackney,
haill, hail,
haill, healthy, sound,
haill, whole, entire, all.
hailsing, saluting,
hailsum, healthful,
hair, haire, gray, hoar,
hairtfullie, heartily,
hairtly, hearty,
hait, warm,
hakkit, hacked.
214
GLOSSARY.
hald, hold, keep,
haldin, held, kept,
hale, whole, entire,
halely, entirely, altogether,
halfdel, half,
halff, behalf, sake,
half heid, side of the head,
halflyng, partly,
hals, neck,
halsit, saluted,
hals-ribbane, neck-ribbon,
haltane, haughty,
haly, holy,
halynace, holiness,
hamely, hamelie, homely,
familiar.
hame, home.
hamewart, homeward.
hamis, hames (part of har-
ness).
handbreid, handbreadth.
hang, hung.
hantis, practises.
hapnyn, happen, chance.
happy, lucky.
har, hoar, gray.
har, sharp, piercing.
harberie, lodging, shelter.
hard, harde, heard.
hardis, hards of flax.
hardely, boldly, strongly.
hames, armour.
harrald, herald.
harsk, rough.
hartlie, hearty.
hasart, frozen.
hatr»nt, hatred.
hauld, stronghold,
hautand, haughty,
having, behaviour,
havy, heavy,
haw, pale,
hawles, destitute,
hecht, intend, promise,
hecht, proposed, promised,
hecklyt, hooked, clasped,
hede, head,
hegeit, hedged,
hegis, hedges,
heich, high,
heid, head,
heild, cover,
heilie, haughty,
heill, health, welfare,
heir, here,
heir eft, hereafter,
heirly, splendid, noble,
heit, heat,
hekkyll, hackles,
heklyt, hooked, clasped,
helf, help,
heling, covering,
hely, loudly,
hend, kind, gracious,
hent, seize, seized,
henwif, hen-wife, poultry-
keeper,
her, hear,
herbere, shrubbery,
herbry, entertain, lodge,
herely, noble, splendid,
herrold, herald,
hert, heart,
her-till, to this.
GLOSSARY.
215
hertis, harts.
hervist, harvest.
hes, has.
het, hot.
hething, mockery.
hevyne, heaven.
hewit, hued, coloured.
hewit, exalted.
hewy, heavy.
hey, heych, high, aloud.
heyd, head.
heynd, gentle, gracious.
heynd, man, person.
heyr, here.
heyrd, herd.
heyt, heat.
hicht, height, loftiness.
hiddy-giddy, up and down.
hidowis, hideous.
hidlis, hiding-places.
hie, high.
hie (on), aloud.
hiely, hastily, swiftly.
hienace, highness, dignity.
hine, hence.
hing, hang.
hint, seize, seized, taken.
hint, clutch.
hippit, hopped.
hirnys, corners, nooks.
hoill, hole.
hoip, hope.
hoir, hoary.
hois, hose.
hoist, cough.
holsum, wholesome.
holt, woodland, wooded hill.
holyne, holly,
hone, delay,
honest, honourable,
honestly, honourably, cour-
teously,
hore, hoary, gray,
hornit, horned,
hornys, horns,
hote, hot.
houerit, hovered,
houndreith, hundred,
hostillar, inn-keeper,
hout, holt, wood,
hovit, lifted,
howp, hope,
hoyt, hot.
huche, heugh, steep bank,
hude, hood,
huf, huif, tarry, wait,
hugly, "gl.V.
huit, waited, watched,
huke, hook,
huke, outer garment,
hunde, hound,
huny, honey,
hwntyng, hunting,
hy, hye, haste,
hycht (upon), loudly,
hydwys, hideous,
hyit, hied,
hynd, kind, gracious,
hyndis, hinds, female deer,
hyne, hence, thence,
hyng, hang,
hyngand, hanging,
hynt, seized,
hyr, her.
216
GLOSSARY.
hyrd gromis, herd-boys,
hyreild, heriot.
hyrst, clump, bunch, thicket,
hyt, hit, struck.
ia, jay.
iangill, prate.
iangland, chattering.
iapand, japing, mocking.
iblent, blinded, dazzled.
ielousye, jealousy.
ienepere, juniper.
ilk, ilka, each, every.
ilk, same.
ilkane, each one.
illustare, illustrious.
in, dwelling, house.
influent, powerful.
infortune, misfortune.
inhibitioun, prohibition.
iniur, injury.
inmytee, enmity.
inqueir, inquire.
intent, thought.
inthrang, pressed in.
intill, in, into.
in to, in.
inuy, invy, dislike, enmity,
annoyance,
invnctment, ointment,
inwart, intimate,
iowkit, juggled.
ioye, joy.
irne, iron.
ische, issue, come forth,
ischit, ischyt, issued,
isch schoklis, icicles.
ithand, constant, incessant.
iuge, judge.
iuperdys, tricks.
ive, ivy.
i-wis, indeed, truly.
ja, jay.
janglour, tale-bearer.
jeperte, chance.
jem, gem.
joly, pleasing.
jornaying, jousting, combat.
journe, day's work, feat of
arms,
jow, juggler.
kai, kay, jackdaw, chough,
keip, heed, attention,
keip, take heed, watch,
keklis, cackle, chatter,
kell, caul, cap, coif,
kem, comb,
kemmit, combed,
ken, know, tell,
kend, known,
kendill, kindle,
kepand, keeping,
kepit, guarded,
kerver, carver,
kervit, cut.
kest, cast, threw,
kest, cast, pondered,
kest, lot, fortune,
kethat, cassock,
keyne, keen,
kirklyk, clerical,
kirsp, lawn.
GLOSSARY.
217
kist, chest.
kith, neighbourhood.
kith, show, display, make
known.
kithit, shown,
knaif, boy, servant,
knawe barne, male child,
kneis, knees,
knet, entwined, close,
knap, snap, pull,
knop, bud.
knyp, nipped,
kuke, cook,
ky, kine, cows,
kyddis, kids, young of the
roe-deer,
kyith, make known (imper.).
kyn, lineage, race,
kynd, nature, instinct,
kyrnellis, battlements,
kyth, show, make known.
laggerit, drenched, soaked.
laid, lay.
laid, blew.
laid, load.
laid, exacted, charged.
laif, rest, remainder.
laip, lap.
lair, lore.
laiser, leisure.
laith, loth.
laithlie, loathly, ugly.
laitis, manners.
lakkit, lacked.
lammis, lambs.
landbrist, flood, torrent.
16
lane, conceal,
langit, lounged, lingered,
lap, leaped, sprang,
lap on, mounted,
lard, laird, master,
largesse, liberality,
laser, leisure,
lasit, laced,
lat, hinder,
lat, let.
lath, hateful,
latis, manners,
lattin, let.
latting, letting,
lattoun, brass, brazen,
laubour, labour,
lauch, laugh.
lauchfull, law-abiding, loyal,
laue, lave, rest, remainder,
laverock, lark,
law, lawe, low.
lawch, low, down,
lawd, loud,
lawtee, loyalty,
layik men, laymen,
le, lee, sheltered, shelter,
leche, physician,
ledderys, ladders,
ledys, lead,
leiche, physician,
leichecraft, medicine, sur-
gery,
leid, lead.
leid, persons, people,
leid, language, learning,
leide, carry,
leif, live.
7ak , £/*7K.eS j ^{Tta^/'a&ZZr
L'lX
GLOSSARY.
leif, leave.
leif, leaf.
leif, permit.
leigis, subjects.
leile, leill, faithful.
leip on, mount.
leir, learn, teach.
leird, taught.
leis, lose, get rid of.
leit, let, allowed.
leit gyrd, let drive, struck.
lelely, truly, honestly.
lemand, flaming, shining.
lemman, lemmane, love,
sweetheart,
lemys, beams.
lemyng, blazing,
lemyt, blazed, shone,
lende, tarry, linger, dwell,
lent, tarrying,
lent, leaned,
lent, given, bestowed,
lenth, length,
lenthyng, lengthening.
lentren, Lent (fast ).
lerit, clergy,
lesing, lying, lie.
lest, please, pleased,
lesum, lawful,
lestyt, lasted, held out.
lesyng, lie, falsehood.
let, hinder, hindrance, delay.
letit, prevented,
lett, cessation.
leuch, leuche, laughed,
leues, leaves,
levair, preferable.
levand, living,
levir, rather,
levis, leaves, C{.uq^
levit, left,
levyne, lightning,
levys, lives,
levys, leaves,
levyt, lived,
lewche, laughed,
lewit, lived,
lewyd, left.
lewyd, liclieved.
lewyne, lightning, light,
lewyt, left,
ley, meadow,
hand, lying,
libard, leopard,
libberla, staff!, club,
licht, light, bright,
lichtit, alighted.
lichtlie, lightly.
lif, live,
liffand, living,
lift, sky, air.
liking, happiness, pleasure,
lig, lie.
lime, clay, mud, slime,
ling, moor, heath,
ling, line,
list, please,
listly, at pleasure,
lofe, loif, praise,
loft (apon), aloud,
lokerand, curling.
lokman, executioner,
loppin, leapt.
I lork, lark.
GLOSSARY.
219
lorne, lost.
losyt, lost.
loueris, lovers.
loun, knave.
loure, crouch.
louse, lous, loose, with
loosened garments,
loutit, stooped, bowed,
lovit, praised,
lowe, fire.
lowkyt, closed, fastened,
lowne, tranquil, calm,
lowng, lungs.
lowrand, crouching, lurking,
lowt, bow.
lowys, lochs, lakes,
lowys, low, bellow,
luche, laughed,
lude, loved,
lufe, luiff, love,
lufesumly, amicably,
luffer, liver,
luffis, love,
lug, ear.
luge, lodge,
lugit, lodged,
lugyng, lodging,
luif, palm of the hand, hand,
luik, look,
lukand, looking,
luke, look.
Iun3ie, loins,
lute, let.
luvaris, lovers,
lyand, lying,
lychtare, delivered,
lychtit, alighted.
lyf, person, being,
lyff, body,
lyft, sky, air.
lyk, be pleased,
lykame, body,
lyking, pleasure,
lylleis, lilies,
lyme, mire,
lympit, crippled,
lynde, linden,
lyng, line,
lynt, flax,
lyntquhyte, linnet,
lyssour, pasture,
lyst, like to.
lyte, little, small,
lyve (on), alive,
lyvit, lived,
lywe, life.
ma, more,
ma, may.
ma, make.
macht, matched, contended,
macull, defect, stain,
madin, maid,
magre, maugre, despite,
magre, ill-will, hostile pur-
pose,
maid, made,
mai^heis, eyelets,
maine, moan,
mais, makes, make,
maiss, mess, dish,
maist, most, largest,
maistrye, force, power,
makis, mates.
220
ULOSSARY.
makles, matchless.
malisone, curse.
manace, manans, threats,
threatening.
manassyng, threatening.
mane, mane-breid, tine
white bread.
mane, moan.
maner, manar, manor, man-
sion.
mangerie, food, provision.
mangit, deranged.
manswet, gentle, affable.
mantemyt, maintained.
mantill wall, screening wall.
mar, more.
mar, trouble, distress, binder.
mark, a mark (f of a pound).
mark, march, walk-.
marle^on, merlin, hawk.
marrit, troubled.
marrow, companion.
martoune, martin.
martris, martyrs.
mason dew, Maison Dieu,
hospital.
mast, most, greatest.
mat, trouble.
matche, contend.
matchit, matched, arranged.
mate, bailie.
mavis, mavyss, thrush.
maw, gull.
mayle, armour.
mayne breid, white bread.
mayss, makes.
meid, meadow.
meir, mare.
meit, meat.
meit, comely, becoming.
meirswyne, porpoise.
mekle, mekil, great, much.
mellit, mingled.
menatair, Minotaur.
mendis, remedies.
mendis (ane), amends.
mene, declare.
mene (maid to), offered.
mensk, honour.
ment, said.
ment, mingled.
ment, went forth.
menys, laments.
men;e, mendie, company,
train,
mer, wander, go astray,
mer, mere, mare,
mercat, merchandise,
merket, walked, proceeded.
merle, merll, blackbird.
merl;on, merlin, hawk,
merwalus, marvellous,
merwell, marvel,
mess, mass,
mesure, deportment,
mesurit, measured,
meyne, declare, say.
meyl, meat, food.
micht, might, strength,
midding, dung-heap.
middis, midst,
mikill, much,
mirk, march, walk,
mirk, dark.
GLOSSARY.
221
mime, mirry, merry, gay.
misfayr, misadventure.
misgane, gone amiss.
misknawlege, mistake.
mistar (for), at need.
mittane, hawk.
mo, more, beside.
moddir, mother.
moich, moist.
moir, more.
mold, earth, land.
mon, must.
mone, moon.
mont, mount.
moon, moan, complaint.
mortall, deadly.
mortfundit, deadly cold.
mot, may.
mowis, grimaces.
mowyt, moved, stirred up.
mude, mind, feelings.
mur, muir, mure, moor.
murdreist, murdered.
mure, demure.
murne, mourn.
must, musk.
mvddir, mother.
myance, means, resources.
mycht, might, ability.
myddis (in), amid, in the
middle.
myghe, gnat.
mylioun, million.
mynd, memory, remem-
brance.
myngit, mixed.
myr, mire.
myr, myrrh,
myrk, dark.
myschef, mishap, disadvan-
tage.
mysfayr, mishap, disaster,
myss, amiss,
myssyt, missed,
myster, skill, art.
myterit, mitred,
myttane, kind of hawk.
na, no, not, nor.
naedes, naiads.
naine, none.
nait, need.
nakyn, no (no kind).
nakyt, naked, bare.
nane, none, nothing.
napry, table-linen.
nar, near.
narrest, nearest.
nayne, none.
neb, beak, bill.
nech, near.
nechit, drew near.
neidlingis, of necessity.
neir, near.
neir, draw near, approach.
nek-hering, (see note).
ner, near.
nest, next.
netherit, deformed.
nevyn, name, call.
new, renew.
neyst, next.
neysthyrlys, nostrils.
nicht, night.
■l-l-l
GLOSSARY.
nichtit, grew night.
nirar, nearer.
nixt, next.
nocht, not, nought.
nok, hook, crook.
nolt, cow, cattle.
none, noon.
not, note, declare.
nouther, neither.
nowcht, nought, not.
nowmer, nowmyr, number.
noy, hindrance, molestation.
noyis, noys, noyss, noise.
noyne, noon.
nuke, nwke, corner.
nurist, nourished.
nys, skilfully, curiously.
nyse, foolish.
nyte, deny.
obeysand, obedient.
obumbrat, overshaded.
occiane, ocean.
Occident, in the west.
ocht, aught.
odouris, flowers (odours).
of, of, off'.
off buffe, above.
off way, away.
omast, topmost.
onbydrew, withdrew, drew
hack,
one, alone.
onlappit, opened, unfolded.
on loft, aloft, up, .aloud,
onon, anon.
onschot, opened.
onwart, addition, profit.
onywys, any wise.
or, ere, before.
ordanit, prepared.
orere, back.
orere, go back, decline.
orfeuerye, goldsmith's work.
orisoun, orysoun, prayer.
orizont, horizon.
orloger, clock.
ost, host.
other, othir, or, either.
ouerthwart, across.
ouerwent, overcome, over-
came.
ouirman, arbitrator, umpire.
our, over.
ourcome, recover.
ourdraif, passed, spent.
ourfret, adorned.
ourheildand, covering up.
ouris, ours.
ourkest, overcast.
ourquhelm, overturn.
ourquhelmyt, covered, tilled.
ourtane, overtaken.
ourthwort, across.
ourtirvit, turned over.
ourwalter, toss.
out-our, outtour, over.
outray, outrage.
out-throw, throughout,
through.
outwith, outside of.
owdir, either.
owsprang, sprang out.
owtbrastyng, bursting out.
GLOSSARY.
223
owth, on, over, outside,
owttour, over.
pace, Easter.
pacock, pacoke, peacock.
palys, pales.
pal;one, pavilion.
pallat, skin.
pane, apparel.
pane, pains.
pansing, thinking, thoughts.
papeiaye, parrot.
papingo, parrot.
parische, perish.
parpalling, partition.
parrell, peril.
partit, particoloured.
partrik, partridge.
party, particoloured.
party, side.
partye, (see note).
pasand, pacing.
pasche, Easter.
passit, past.
passioun, suffering, death.
pastance, pastime.
patelet, ruff.
pauyot, (see note).
payit, content, satisfied.
payne, penalty.
payntit, painted.
peax, peace.
pece, place, spot.
peciable, peaceable.
pedder, pedlar.
pege, page.
peir, peer.
peir, peer.
peirs, pierce.
peirsand, piercing.
peis, peas.
pelf, ware.
pellet, skin.
per, peer.
perance, appearance, sight.
perfay, in faith.
perfyte, perfect.
perllis, pearls.
perpall, partition.
perqueir, perquer, by heart.
perreiss, perish.
perrell, danger, difficulty.
pers, blue-gray.
persand, piercing.
persauit, perceived.
persing, piercing.
pert (in), openly.
persoun, person, parson.
pertrik, partridge.
peryll, peril.
pete, pity.
peth, path.
petuos, piteous.
peure, poor.
pew, cry of a bird.
pietie, pity.
pieteous, pious.
pik, pitch.
pikis, spikes.
pikmaw, tern.
pillycane, pelican.
pirkis, perches.
piscence, might, puissance.
pistill, tale.
224
GLOSSARY.
pite, pity.
pith, strength.
plane, plain.
plane, straight, straightway.
plane, lament.
planyt, explained.
plas, place.
playnt, complaint.
pleid, contention, debate.
pleid, pull, pluck.
pleiss, please, pleasure.
plene, complain.
plenished, furnished.
plenyst, replenished.
plen^he, complain.
plen^eit, complained.
pless, please, pleasure.
plet, clasped, entangled,
folded.
plettand, plaiting, twining.
pleyne, disport, play.
pleyne, complain.
plicht, plight, assure.
pluch, plough.
plumys, plumes.
pluver, pluvar, plover.
ply, plight, good or bad con-
dition.
point, (see note).
pome, scent-ball.
port, gate.
portcules, portcullis.
portrature, form, figure.
porturat, portrayed.
posseid, possess.
pot, pit.
pottingry, pbarmacy.
pout-staff, (see note).
poveraill, poor people, rab-
ble.
povne, peacock.
power, army, force.
power, ability.
poynt, lace, tag.
pransand, prancing.
practik, craft, art.
preif, try, endeavour.
preif, proof.
preik, spur.
preisit, reckoned.
preiss, exert, attempt.
prent, stamp, appearance.
presandlie, quickly.
pressyt, moved forward, ad-
vanced.
prest, quickly.
prest, priest.
previe, secret, private.
preving, proving.
prewale, privily.
prewete, prewyte, secresy,
preys, throng, press.
preys, effort.
prikit, spurred.
prochit, approached.
prompit, advanced, started.
promyt, promise.
provit, proved, showed.
prow, eminence.
pruff, prove, endure.
prun;eand, decking them-
selves.
prymros, primrose.
prys, price.
GLOSSARY.
225
prys, valuable.
pryse, value.
pryss, prize.
puddyngis, puddings, intes-
tines.
puire, pure.
pulderyt, studded.
puldyr, dust, powder.
pull, pluck, plunder.
pultrie, poultry.
pundar, pound-keeper.
pundfald, pound (inclos-
ure).
pungityue, piercing.
pur, poor.
purchace, procure, succeed.
purches, plunder.
purfillit, trimmed.
purpurat, purple.
purviance, provision.
pwte, put.
pychar, pitcher.
pyk, pitch.
pyke, get, steal.
pykis, spikes.
pykeris, thieves.
pykestalf, pike-staff.
pykland, pecking.
pyndit, pounded (put in a
pound).
pyot, magpie.
pypand, shining.
pyrlit, thrust.
pyte, pity.
quaking, quivering,
quhail, whale.
17
quhair, where.
quhairon, whereon.
quhais, whose.
quhar, quhare, where.
quhar, aware.
quharefor, quhairfoir, where-
fore.
quharso, wheresoever.
quhat-kin, what kind.
quheill, quhele, wheel.
quheit, wheat.
quhen, when.
quhedirand, roaring, whiz-
zing.
quhilk, which.
quhill, until, while.
quhilum, once, formerly.
quhip, whip.
quhirlys, drives. .
quhislis, whistles.
quhite, white.
quhither, whether.
quhois, whose.
quhy, why.
quhyle, quhyll, time.
quhylis, sometimes.
quhylum, whilom, once.
quhyne stane, whinstone.
quhyrlit, whirled, drove.
quhyslyt, whistled.
quhyt, quhyte, white.
quyk, qwyk, alive.
quyt, requite, repay.
quyt, quite, completely.
quytter, twitter.
qwhipe, whip.
qwyte, quite, entirely.
226
GLOSSARY.
ra, roe.
raby (see note at end of
Glossary.)
rad, afraid.
rad, rode.
radius, radiant.
raftre, rafter.
rahers, repeat.
rahress, (raherss ?), speech?
raid, rode.
raid (to be), to fear.
raif, raiff, tore, broke.
raik, range, advance, pro-
ceed.
raike, reach.
raip, raipe, rope.
rair, roar.
rais, hack, damage.
rais, arose-
raith, early, quick, soon.
rak, go, move.
rak, vapour.
rakand, going about.
rakkand, recking, caring.
raklessly, recklessly, care-
lessly.
ran, rane, voice, clamour.
randoune, rush, swift course.
rang, reigned.
rangall, camp-followers.
rank, luxuriant.
rany, rainy.
rape, rope.
rapploch, a coarse stuff,
frieze.
ras, rose.
rate, rule.
rath, early, quick, urgent,
hasty,
raucht, reached, brought,
rauchtir, rafter,
rauin, ravyne, raven,
raw, rawe, row, company,
flock,
raweng, revenge,
rax, reach,
rax, stretch (hang).
rax, rouse,
ray, array,
ray, roe.
rebaldis, ribalds,
rebalkit, rebuked,
rebuik, rebuke, check,
record, reply,
recouerence, recovery,
recounsilit, (see note),
recreat, refreshed,
red, advise,
red, frightened,
reddilie, easily,
redis, reeds,
redles, without counsel, at a
loss,
reducyng, bringing,
redymyte, adorned,
reffuss, refuiss, renounce,
refyd, plundered, seized,
regne, reign,
reid, red.
reid, advice,
reid, counsel, plan,
reid, stomach,
reid raip, rope of rushes,
reid weyd, reed, bulrush.
GLOSSAKY.
227
reik, reach.
reioss, rejoice.
reiosyng, rejoicing.
reivis, bereavest, robbest.
relyng, giving way.
remed, remedy.
remelis, remedies?
remuffit, drove away.
renk, way.
ren^e, rein, bridle.
repair, repar, resort, resort
ing, concourse,
repaterit, refreshed, fed.
reproif, rebuke, blame,
requeir, require, request,
rerd, shout, noise, uproar,
rerdyt, resounded,
resauit, ressayvyd, received,
ressett, abode,
ressoun, reason,
ressoning, reasoning, debate,
reuin, raven,
reulit, arranged,
revand, robbing, plundering,
reveir, river,
revesting, clothing,
revyn, torn, split,
rew, take pity,
rewill, rewl, rule,
rewth, pity,
richt, right,
richtuis, righteously,
rig, back,
ringis, reigns,
rise, bushes.
rise blwmys, blossoms on
bushes.
ritchess, riches,
ro, i-oe.
rocat, rochet (bishop's ves-
ture),
roche, rough,
rochis, rocks,
roid, rude,
roiff, quiet, peace,
rois, rose,
rok, reek, vapour,
rolk, rock,
rolk, hoarse,
rolp, croak,
rong, rang,
rong, rongyn, reigned,
ronnis, bushes, brambles,
ross, rose,
rost, roast,
roth (rolk?), hoarse,
roume, kingdom, estate,
roun, round, whisper,
roundar, whisperer,
roustie, rusty,
rout, blow,
rout, host, crowd,
rout, noise, roar,
routtis, roars, roar,
rovndis, rounds, dances,
rowch, rough,
rowm, spacious,
rowmys, roam,
rownar, whisperer,
rowp, croak,
rowte, crowd,
rowt, blow,
royd, rude, large,
royn, red.
228
GLOSSARY.
roys, rose,
rubycund, reddish.
rud-evyn, Holy-Cross eve.
rude, rough,
rude, rud, cross, rood,
ruf, pause, rest,
ruf, peace, comfort,
rufe, comfortable,
rufe, rough, fierce,
rug, piece,
ruge, pull,
ruggit, pulled,
ruiff, roof,
ruik, ruke, rook,
rumland, rumbling,
rummist, roared,
ruschit, driven back, disor-
dered,
rusit, admired,
russell, red one (fox),
rutis, roots,
rwik, rook,
ryal, royal,
rycht, right,
rycht (at), completely,
rychtwys, rightful,
ryfe, plentiful, abundant,
ryiue, tear, rend,
rym, rim, circle,
rynd, bark,
rynnand, running.
, rynnis, run.
rys, branches, twigs,
rysp, rushes,
ryue, tear.
sa, so.
sacring, consecrating.
sad, sad, grave, serious.
saif, save.
saile, hall.
sair, sore.
saland, sailing.
salbe, shall be.
said, sold.
salfgard, protection.
sail, shall, shalt.
salmond, salmon.
salust, saluted.
samyn, together.
samyn, same.
sangwane, blood-red.
sanyt her, crossed herself.
sar, sare, sore.
sarie, sorry.
sark, shirt, under-garment.
saucht, were reconciled.
saull, soul.
sayr, pain.
scaffatis, scaffold.
scaith, harm, damage.
scalit, scattered.
scarth, cormorant.
schadowe, schaddo, shadow,
reflection,
schakaris, pendants, hanging
drops,
schand, elegant, handsome,
schane, shone,
schap, schape, shape,
schap, make, prepare,
schap, schape, dispose, set
about,
schapand, figuring.
schapin, shaped,
schare, cut.
GLOSSARY.
229
schaw, show,
schaw, grove,
schawin, shown,
sched, schede, parted, sepa-
rated,
scheddand, parting, opening,
scheill, shelter,
scheill, cold,
scheip, sheep,
schene, bright, clear,
schent, disgraced, abashed,
scherand, cutting, trenchant,
scherald, cut, ploughed,
scherp, sharpen,
schetis, sheets.
schew, showed, appeared,
schewre, cut open, ripped,
schill, cold,
schill, shrill,
schiltrum, squadron,
schir, sir.
schir, bright,
scho, she.
schone, shoes,
schot wyndo, loop-hole,
schour, schowr, shower,
schour, (see note),
schout, shout,
schout, shoot, blow,
schow, push, spring,
schoyt, shout,
schrew, wicked person,
schrew, beshrew.
schroude, garment,
schroude, clad,
schrowdis, covers,
schrywe, shrive.
schuke, shook.
schup, undertook, set about.
schynand, shining, splendid.
schyre, sheer.
schyrray, sheriff.
scorne, mockery, jest.
screik, shriek.
scrogghy, bushy.
scug, shadow, shade.
se, see.
se, sea.
sedis, proceeds.
sege, seat, siege.
seik, seek.
seik, sick.
seill, happiness, salvation.
seir, many, various, separate.
seith, boil.
sek, sack.
seke, seek.
sekerly, sekirly, surely,
safely,
sekyr, sure, safe,
selcouth, strange, strange
thing,
sele, seal,
selie, simple, poor,
sell, self, selves,
sellerar, cellarer,
selwyne, self, selves,
sely, simple, poor,
se maw, sea-mew, gull,
semble, assemble,
semblit, assembled,
sembly, seemly, handsome,
semyt, seemed,
sen, since.
230
GLOSSARY.
send, sent.
sene, seen.
sens, incense.
sensyne, since then, since.
sent, scent.
ser, sere, many, various.
serk, shirt.
seroppis, sirups.
seruand, servant.
service, treatment.
serwis, deservest.
serwyt, worshipped.
sesoun, sessioune, sessoun,
season,
sesyt, settled, established,
set, became, suited,
set by, decline,
setten, fix, bind,
settis, sprouts.
sewane, (see note).
sey, sea.
seyne, see, learn.
seyne, seen.
seyr, many, various.
seyre, sheer?
seyrsand, seeking.
shrave, confessed.
sic, such.
sichit, sighed.
sicht, sigh.
sicht, sight.
sicker, safe, sure.
sickerness, security.
signifere, the zodiac.
sike, sigh.
sillie, simple, poor.
silver- seik, penny less.
sirculit, surrounded.
skaith, injury, harm.
skamyll, bench.
skar, take fright, scare.
skeins, shelves.
skellat, bell, convent-bell.
sklender, slender, lank.
skripe, mock.
skryke, shriek.
skrym, strike.
skrym, scream.
skunnyrit, shunned, retired.
skyrt lappis, outskirts.
sla, slay.
slaid, slipped, glided.
slaid, valley, hollow.
slak, valley.
slaw, slow.
sle, sly, crafty.
sle, slack.
sleif, sleeve.
sleikit, smooth, sleek.
sleip, sleep.
slekyt, sleek.
sloith, sloth, sleuth-hound.
slokkin, quench, extinguish.
sloknyt, quenched.
slomering, slumbering.
slope, breach.
slyk, mud,
slwe, slew.
smaddit, defded, begrimed.
smaik, fellow.
smaill, small.
smedy, smithy, forge.
smert, smart, pain.
smertly, smartly, sharply.
GLOSSARY.
231
smorde, smorit, smothered.
smuke, smvke, smoke.
smydy, smithy, forge.
snawe, snow.
snell, sharp, keen.
snog, snug, trim.
snypand, cutting.
socht, sought.
soiorned, rested, tarried.
soir, sorrel, russet.
solempnit, solemn.
solpit, dejected.
son, sone, soon.
son, sun.
son^eis, excuses.
soppis, showers, wreaths of
vapour,
sort, pack, crowd,
soth, truth,
souch, sound, breeze,
souerane, sovereign, royal,
soul^e, soil,
sound, safe,
soune, sovne, sound,
soung, sung.
sounjie, excuse, negligence,
sow, moveable shed,
sowk, suck,
sowld, should,
sowng, sung,
sowp, sweep,
sowp, sup.
soyne, soon,
soyr, sorrel, russet,
spait, freshet,
spangis, spangles,
sparhalk, sparrow-hawk.
speir, ask.
speir, sphere, orbit.
speit, freshet, flood.
speit, spit (for roasting).
spell, relate, tell.
spence, store-room.
spend, wasted.
spenser, steward.
sper, spear, staff, handle.
sperit, asked.
sperpellit, scattered.
speryd, speryt, asked.
speyr, sphere.
spows, spouse.
spows, espouse.
sprang, streak.
spray, branch.
spray ngis, streaks.
spreit, spirit, sprite, goblin.
sprent, sprang.
spruklit, sprutlit, speckled.
sprynkland, darting.
spu^eit, despoiled.
spynist, thorny.
squyary, attendance of
squires,
stabillit, stilled, calmed,
stad, placed, beset,
stage, storey,
staill, main body,
stakker, stagger,
stall, stole.
stalward, stalwart, strong,
stanchell, kind of hawk,
stane, stone,
stang, pang,
stankis, moats, ditches.
232
GLOSSARY.
stannyns, gravel, gravelly
bottoms.
stanys, stones.
starn, star.
start, contention, brawling.
stawe, stole.
steid, place.
steid, steed, horse.
steill, steel.
steir, move, go.
steir, stir, motion.
steird, stirred.
stekit, stabbed.
stent, ceased, stopped.
stepbarne, step-child.
ster, bestir.
steris, move, set forth.
sterve, sterwe, die (slay?).
stevyn, voice.
steyr, move.
stibyll, stubble.
sting, pole.
stint, ceased.
stith, strong, brave.
stonayit, stonischit, as-
tounded, dismayed.
stoppel, plug, stopper.
stoppyn, stopping, check.
storme, stormy.
stound, pain, pang.
stound, moment, time.
stour, conflict.
stovis, stoves.
stovis, mists, vapours.
stowp, bowl.
stowrand, rushing.
stra, straw.
straid, strode.
straif, strove, contended.
straik, struck.
strak, stroke, blow.
strand, stream.
straucht, stretch, stretched.
straught, straight.
stray, straw.
strayt (be), strictly.
streik, strek, stretch.
strek, strike.
stremowr, streamer.
strenth, stronghold.
streyt, street.
strikin, cut.
stro, straw.
stroyit, destroyed.
strypyt, stripped.
stubill, sturdy.
stude, stood.
study, stithy, anvil.
stuff, provision.
sture, strong, brave.
sturt, disturbance, brawl.
styll, state, condition.
stynt, cessation.
stynt, resist, check, stop.
stythlie, stiffly, strongly ;
hard,
subcharge, entree, second
course,
succur, succour,
suddand, sudden,
suete, sweet,
suffer, patient,
suffragene, vicegerent,
suffys, bear, endure.
GLOSSARY.
233
sugurat, sugared, sweet.
suich, such.
suirlie, surely.
suith, truth.
suld, should.
sul^art, shining.
sul^e, soil.
sum, some, one.
sum-deill, somewhat.
sumeuer, soever.
summer, beam, girder.
summoundis, commands,
summons.
suowchand, sweeping, rust-
ling.
supple, assistance.
suppois, suppos, perhaps, in
case that, even if.
suppryis, outwit, get the
better of.
suppryis, surprisal, outwit-
ting.
sustene, sustain.
sutelte, craft, skill.
suth, truth.
suttell, dexterous.
swa, so, such.
swak, toss, hurl.
swannys, swans.
swanys, peasants, groom.
swap, fling, hurl.
swar, neck.
swardit, grassy.
sweir, lazy.
sweir, swore.
sweirness, sloth.
swelt, died.
18
swerthbak, black gull.
swevyng, dream.
swirk, spring.
swith, strongly, quickly, very.
swndir, sunder.
swochand, swowchand,
sweeping, rustling,
swoir, swour, swore,
swouchis, rustle,
swounand, swooning,
swounit, fainted,
swyith, swyth, strongly,
quickly, very,
swyr, dale,
swyth, strong, swift,
sycht, sight,
syk, ravine, hollow,
sykkyre, sure, safe,
sylkyn, silken,
syluir, silver,
symmer, summer,
synamome, cinnamon,
syndry, sundry, various,
syne, then, afterwards,
syng, sign,
syngand, singing,
synopar, synopeir, cinnabar,
deep red.
syon, scion,
sytts, grieve.
ta, two.
ta, toe.
ta, take.
taill, story.
tais, toes.
tai^e, tailye, slice.
■j:i I
GLOSSARY.
tait, tight, plump.
tak keip, watch.
take, taken.
takin, takyn, token, emblem.
taknyng, takynning, token,
proof,
takyne, taken,
tald, told,
tane, taken,
tane, set out.
taris, delay,
tarsall, falcon,
teind, tithe,
tene, anger, angry,
tene, sorrow, sad.
tent, heed, notice,
tepat, tippet.
ter, tar.
tetand, peeping.
teuch, tough.
teyne, anger.
thai, they, those.
thairto, moreover.
thak, thatch.
thame, them.
thar, their.
thar, there.
thare-efftyr, thereafter.
tharth, behoves.
thartill, thereto.
their, these.
ther-ageyne, against it.
thesaurer, treasurer.
thevis-nek, thief's neck, gal-
lows-bird.
thig, beg.
thine, thence.
thir, these.
thise, these.
tho, then.
tho, those.
thocht, though.
thocht, thoght, thought.
thoill, thole, tholl, endure,
allow,
thone, then,
thoucht, thought,
thourtour way, cross-roads.
thraf caik, unleavened cake,
biscuit.
thraly, violently, fiercely.
thrang, throng.
thrang, thick.
thrawe, twist, strangle.
thrawe, time.
thrawin, surly, angry.
threip, quarrel.
threip, blame, accuse.
threit, threaten, threat.
threit, compelled by threats.
threpit, charged, asserted.
thrid, third.
thrinfauld, triple.
thring, strike.
thrissill, thistle.
thrist, thirst.
thrist, thrust, press.
throwe, through, into.
thryis, thrice.
thud, assault, beating.
thusgat, thus, in this manner.
thyrldome, thraldom.
ticht, tied.
till, to.
tA
t/r>>
EA
«;-!<•«/
GLOSSARY.
235
tippit, pointed,
tissew, under-garnient.
tit, pull, drag,
tit, pulled, seized,
to-blaisterit, blustered,
stormed,
to-forrow, before,
to-fruschyt, broke to pieces,
shattered,
toke, took,
tone, taken,
topace, topaz,
tope, topknot,
toppit, tufted,
toung, tongue,
tour, tower,
towsill, maltreat,
trace, way.
trade, track,
traist, sure, assured,
traistis, believe (imper.).
translait, transform,
trap, step.
trast, faithful, trusty,
trauerse, curtain,
travell, labor,
trawale, travel, journey,
treil^eis, trellis,
treis, trees, poles,
tretie, entreaty,
tretyt, treated,
trevesse, curtain, screen,
treyis, trees, logs,
trimill, tremble
trimland, shaking,
troch, troich, trough,
trone, throne.
trop, trap-door,
troppellis, small parties,
squads,
trow, true,
trowe, believe, think,
trowit, trowyde, believed,
expected,
truker, cheat, knave,
trumpour, braggart, preten-
der,
tryakle, remedy, medicine,
trymlit, trembled,
trypis, entrails,
tuchet, lapwing,
tueyne, twain, two.
tuggill, tackle, strive with,
tuke, took,
tumit, emptied,
tumlit, tumbled,
turatt, turret.
turss, betake, pack off.
turtour, turtle-dove.
tuskit, tusked.
tussillit, worried.
twa, tway, two.
twest, twist, twyst, twig.
twyne, part, separate.
tyde, time.
tydy, fine, handsome.
tyit, tied.
tyke, dog.
tyndis, tines, antlers.
tyne, lose, be lost, perish.
tynys, wilt lose.
tyrit, tyryt, tired.
tyt, seized.
tythandis, tidings.
236
GLOSSARY.
unburely, rude, unhandsome.
uneith, hardly,
unfutesair, not foot-sore,
fresh.
unliklie, unnaturally,
upcast, taunt, jesting,
uponland, in the country.
upwith, rising, ascending.
vaille, vale.
vald, would.
vane, vein.
variance, avoidance.
vdder, vder, other, each
other.
veilys, calves.
vencust, conquered, over-
came.
ventositeis, blasts, gusts.
venust, beautiful.
vermel, vermilion.
ves, was.
veyne, vain.
vgsum, ugly.
vittale, provisions.
vmbekest, reconnoitred.
vmbrage, shadow.
vmest, outer.
vnaffraid, fearless.
vnburely, rude, unhandsome
vncourtes, discourteous.
vnderta, undertake
vneis, vneith, hardly.
vnfrely, ugly.
vnkend, unknown.
vnknawin, ignorant, un-
known.
vnrufe, trouble, disquiet.
vnsasiable, insatiable.
vnschet, opened.
vnsell, wretched.
vnsemand, unseemly, un-
becoming.
vnset, unseated.
vnweildable, unwieldy.
voce, voice.
voundit, wounded.
vplandis, country, rural.
vpraiss, uprose.
vpspred, sprung.
vpspringand, arising.
vpstowris, is stirred up,
arises.
vpwarpis, throws open.
vpwith, ascending.
vse, use.
vsyt, used, practised.
vther, other.
vult, countenance.
vnsemand, unbecoming.
wa, woe.
wa, sorry, reluctant.
wach, guard.
wag, move, advance.
waggand, wagging, shaking.
waike, weak.
waikynnit, awoke.
waill, avail, advantage.
waill, choice, value.
waill, choose.
wait, know, knows.
waith, booty, game.
waithman, hunter.
GLOSSAKY.
237
waithyng, hunting, game.
wak, wet.
wald, open country, wold.
wald, would.
wale (to), at choice.
walentyne, St. Valentine's
day.
walk, walkin, wake, watch,
wallowit, wallowed, beaten
down,
wally, billowy,
walxis, wax, grow,
wame, womb, belly,
wan, dark.
wan, won, gained, arrived,
wan, vain,
wan away, got away,
wand, branch, tree, paling,
wandit, wound, bound,
wane, dwelling,
wane, plenty,
wane, counsel,
wanrufe, trouble,
wantis, is wanting,
wap, fling.
wappinnis, weapons, teeth,
war, aware, cautious,
warand, warrand, warrant,
ward, guard, post,
wardour, verdure,
wardrop, wardrobe,
wardropar, chamberlain,
warit, gave forth,
warldly, earthly,
warp, throw,
warpit, wrapped,
waryit, cursed.
watter-caill, broth without
meat,
wattir-lynn, waterfall,
waucht, wauchtit, quaffed,
wawerand, wandering,
wayage, voyage, journey,
wayfe, wave,
wayis, wise, manner,
wayn, counsel,
wayndit, hesitated,
wayt, wet.
we, wei, bit, small portion,
wecht, weight,
wedder, weather, storm, blast,
wede, weid, garment,
wedow, widow,
weid, mad.
weill, well,
weip, weep,
weir, injury, mischief,
weir, doubt, fear,
weir, war.
weir, wear,
weird, fate, destiny,
we it, wet.
wele, weal, welfare,
welterit, wallowed,
wend, go.
wend, thought,
wer, wire,
wer, war.
werd, fate, destiny,
weryit, worried,
wes, was.
wesche, wash,
weschyngis, washings,
wesy, reconnoitre.
238
GLOSSARY.
wevand, weaving.
weye, way.
weyle, well,
weyne, hesitation.
wgsum, ugly,
wiage, journey,
wicht, strong, brave,
wicht, wight, person,
widderit, withered,
widdie, widdy, withe, gal-
lows-rope,
widequhair, far and wide,
will, astray, lost, at a loss,
wilsome of wane, void of
counsel, at a loss.
wilsum, wandering, lost.
win, go.
win, dwell.
winnis, dwells.
winnit, dwelt.
wirrie, worry.
wischit, wished.
wiss, wish.
wit, know, knowledge.
withouttin, without.
with-thy, on condition that
wlonk, lady, gay one.
wmbeset, besot.
wo, woeful.
wobbys, webs.
woce, voice.
wod, mad.
wod, wood,
woddis, woods.
wode, woid, wood.
woid, mad.
woir, wore.
woll, wool,
wolx, grew,
won, dwell, abide,
wondyr, wonderfully, ex-
tremely.
woo, woe.
worschip, honour, fame,
worth, worthit, become,
became, grew,
worthis, behoves, is neces-
sary,
worthit, behoved, was neces-
sary,
worthy n, become,
wortis, plants,
wosche, washed,
wote, knows.
wounder, wonderfully, ex-
tremely,
wount, wont,
wourd, word,
wox, became,
wp, wpe, up.
wpland, country,
wpon, upon,
wpwart, upward,
wrait, wrote,
wraith, wroth, angry.
wrang, wrong,
wrangwis, wrongful, un-
righteous,
wrat, wrote,
wreuch, wretched,
wrink, trick, device,
wryttyne, written.
wthir, other,
wttraly, utterly.
GLOSSARY.
239
wude, mad.
wude, wood,
wy, man.
wyce, looks, appearance,
wycht, man, person,
wycit, (see note),
wydderit, withered,
wydequhair, far and wide,
wyf, wife, woman,
wyis, wise,
wyis, wise, way.
wykkyt, wicked,
wyle, craft,
wylest, vilest,
wyly coit, jacket,
wyndilstray, spire of dry
grass,
wyne, wine,
wynning, dwelling,
wynnit, dwelt,
wyre, cast, hurl,
wys, wise.
wysnit, withered, leafless,
wyst, know, knew, known,
wyte, know,
wyte, blame, fault.
ybought, bought,
ydy, eddy, pool.
ye, yea, yes.
yeid, went,
yeyt, yhit, yet, still,
yhowng, young.
ympnis, hymns,
yneuch, ynewch, enough,
yre, ire.
yrnis, irons,
yschet, issued,
yschrowdyt, dressed,
ysowpit, soaked, sopped,
yude, went.
jait, gate.
;ald, 3aild, yielded, gave up.
fallow, yellow.
3ar, ready.
3ard, yard, garden.
^awmer, outcry.
^eid, went.
^eit, jheit, yet.
3 et, 3 ett, gate.
^harnyt, longed for, desired.
3he, ye.
3heman, yeoman.
3hemyt, 3emyt, kept, had
charge of.
3heyme, guard.
3ing, young.
3ond, yonder.
3one, yon.
3ong, 3onge, young.
30wle, yell, outcry.
30wt, hoot.
3ude, went.
3ule, Yule, Christmas.
240 ADDITIONAL NOTES.
ADDITIONAL NOTES.
p. 65, 1. 94. Aue Baby. Hail, Rabbi (or Master).
" God lyketh nat that Raby men us calle."
Chaucer, Sam. T. 479.
72, 276. pleid. Perhaps " attack, "" assault."
90, 359. gleid carll. Should have been defined "squinting
fellow," from (/ley, askance.
SOUTHERN BRANCH
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