D258  OOMPLATNT  0?  SCOTO  \XD.  written    in    15K   wfi^K^ffl,,^ 
 and  Grloasary,  by  J.  Leyden,  large  Sfo.  ///!  morocco  extra,  top  edge  oils, 
 Mm  Edinburgh,  L801 
 
 elationi-between  the  "  Three  Rotates". io  Scotland 
 end  of  the  first  half  of  the  16th  century,  b  attributed  to  three  persons  :  Sir 
 ]»   I..:,  bav,  Sir  Jas.  Inglia,  and  Wedderburn. 
 
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COMPLAYNT 
 
 0» 
 
 SCOTLAND. 
 
 FRI.NTED    BT    D.    W1HI30N, 
 
 EDINBUKGB, 
 
.♦^  /i  ,-////^ /— ^ — 
 
 / 
 
CTje 
 of 
 
 WRITTEN    IN 
 
 1548. 
 
 WITH 
 
 A  PRELIMINARY   DISSERTATION, 
 
 AND 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 JRetoetfj  fortlje  to  t!ic  mti,  geriouslp, 
 JFor  tboujf)  oin  tor^tpngc0  apcre  to  be  rune, 
 Vex  notfotfbietamjpnctc,  t\)tj>  Do  indu&e 
 
 *5E1ic  piulje  of  a  mater  most  fnutuouslp* 
 
 EDINBURC  11: 
 
 PRINTED    FOR    ARCH11MI.D    CONSTABLE. 
 AND  SOLD  BY  MUSS.  T.  CADELL  Jl 
 AND  \V.   DAVIES,   1  ■ 
 
 i8ci. 
 
To   RICHARD  HEBER,  Esq. 
 
 THIS  EDITION  OF 
 
 THE  COMPLAYNT  OF  SCOTLAND> 
 
 UNDERTAKEN  AT  HIS  SUGGESTION, 
 IS  INSCRIBED, 
 
 IN     TESTIMONY    OF    SINCERE    ESTEEM    AND 
 FRIENDSHIP, 
 
 BY    HIS    VERY    FAITHFUL 
 
 HUMBLE  SERVANT, 
 
 J.  LEYDEN. 
 
PRELIMINARY 
 
 DISSERTATION. 
 
....  lRY  dissertation. 
 
 I.  Of  the  Author. —  It  is  the  commoun  and  accus- 
 "  tomit  maner  of  all  them  that  dois  prohemiate  on  ony 
 "  vther  mannis  wark,  cheiflie  to  trauell  about  twa 
 "  pointis.  The  ane  is,  to  declair  the  properteis  of  the 
 "  author  ;  not  only  externall,  as  his  original!,  birth,  vo- 
 "  catioun,  estair,  strenth,  giftis  of  the  bodie,  substance, 
 u  &  maneir  of  leuing  ;  but  alswa  internall,  as  the  quali- 
 
 -,  habites,  and  dispositionis  of  the  minde,  his  in- 
 "  gyne,  knawlcdge,  wisdome,  giftis  of  the  spreit,  and  all 
 "  vthcr  vertewis,  quhilk  culd  iustly  be  knawin  to  haue 
 "  bene  in  him. — The  vther  is,  to  declair  his  maner  of 
 u  wryting,  the  utilitie  of  his  warkis,  and  quhat  frute, 
 **'  profit  and  commoditie  may  ensew  and  follow  to  the 
 "  diligent  reidar  and  reuoluar  of  the  samin."  l  Though 
 it  be  still  practicable  to  show  "  the  maner  of  wryting  n 
 adopted  in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  it  is,  however, 
 
 dingly  diflicult  to  "  declair,  M  with  any  degree  of 
 probability,  not  to  mention  certainty,  either  the  name 
 or  "  the  properteis  of  the  author. "  In  the  early 
 periods  of  the  literary  history  of  Scotland,  it  . 
 to  have  been  reckoned  an  useless  labour  to  record 
 the  history  or  life  of  an  author,  while  his  character 
 and    habits    survived    in    the    memory    of  his    f: 
 
 b 
 
 *    Henry  Charter::.'  Pi cfacc   to  tl.c  warkis  of  Sir 
 Edin.  159J.     ^to. 
 
mporaries,  the  only  authentic  source, 
 most  instances,  from  which  his  biography  could  pos- 
 sibly be  derived.  Thus,  Charteris,  the  editor  of  Lindsay's 
 poetical  works,  declines  relating  the  history,  or  deline- 
 ating the  character  of  his  author,  because  his  memory 
 was  still  recent.  "  Seing  it  is  not  monie  zeiris  past, 
 "  (says  he)  sen  it  hes  plesit  the  eternal  God,  to  call 
 "  our  Authour  out  of  the  miserabill  and  troubilsum  ca- 
 "  lamiteis  of  this  transitorie  lyfe,  vntill  his  cclestiall 
 "  joy  and  heuinlie  habitatioun  ;  swa  that  the  memorie 
 "  of  him  is  bot  as  zit  recent,  and  not  out  of  the  bar- 
 "  tis  of  monie  zit  leuand,  to  quhome  his  hail  fnaner 
 <c  of  life  was  better  knawin  than  unto  me  •,  I  think  it 
 u  not  greitlie  neidfull  to  tary  the  thairon,  bot  will  re- 
 "  mit  thee  to  leirne  it  at  their  mouthis.  "  This  absurd 
 opinion,  that  men  are  better  instructed  by  the  bio- 
 graphy of  their  ancestors,  than  by  that  of  their  con- 
 temporaries, has  not  only  substituted  a  number  of  incon- 
 gruous romances  for  real  biography,  and  just  pictures 
 of  life  and  manners  ;  but  has  deprived  us  entirely  of 
 materials  for  the  history  of  some  literary  characters 
 which  have  reflected  great  honour  on  their  country. 
 
 In  the  general  wreck  of  our  literary  history,  it 
 ought  not  to  excite  our  surprise,  that  few  notices 
 should  remain,  concerning  a  political  work  adapted  to 
 a  particular  period,  and  in  which  all  the  Three  Estates 
 of  Commons,  Nobility,  and  Clergy,  are  severely  cen- 
 sured. Whoever  was  the  author  of  the  Complaynt  of 
 Scotland,  he  appears  to  have  been  a  true  patriot  j  and, 
 as  such,  his  views  could  not  coincide  with  those  enter- 
 tained by  any  of  the  factions  which  distracted  and 
 desolated  Scotland,  not  only  in  the  minority,  but 
 during   the   reign,    of   the    unfortunate   Mary.     The 
 
 work 
 
work  was  published  at  an  important  crisis,  imme- 
 cdiately  after  the  battle  of  Pinky.  The  principles 
 of  the  Reformation  had  already  made  considerable  pro- 
 gress in  that  country;  a::J  the  opposition  of  pi 
 interests  soon  assumed  the  appearance  of  a  religious 
 contest.  But  if  we  regard  the  influence  of  religion  on 
 the  political  relations  of  Scotland,  instead  of  mention- 
 ing the  Catholic  and  Protestant  parties,  we  may 
 .propriety  speak  of  the  French  and  English  factions. 
 The  prevalence  of  the  Protestant  interest,  which,  hi 
 the  most  early  struggles,  bail  been  chiefly  supported  by 
 the  assistance  of  England  ;  and  afterwards,  the  union 
 of  the  Crowns,  in  the  person  of  James  VI.,  tended  to 
 moderate  that  spirit  of  rancour  which  reiterated  inju- 
 ries and  insults  had  produced  between  the  sister  king- 
 4oms,  and  which  pervades  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland 
 in  all  its  acrimony.  These  causes  conspiring, 
 without  the  intervention  of  a  proscription,  have  sunk 
 this  political  and  satirical  work  into  that  neglect,  in 
 h  it  continued  for  160  years.  / 
 
 The  first  person  by  whom  the  Complavnt   of  & 
 land   is  mentioned,  is  James  Watson,  who  publi 
 from  I  ,  a  short  history  of  printing  in  1 7 13  ; 
 
 ,  as  its  date,    154c,  in  contradiction 
 to   the   work  itself,  the  con  b,  from  a 
 
 calculation  which  it  contains,  is  undeniably  referred  to 
 1548,  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  intended  th 
 
 :  the  sairu  I  he  Complaint 
 
 of  Set  mon  title  about  this 
 
 of  the  divisions  of  Li; 
 
 u  The  C 
 Conunounweil]  of  ■..!,"  and 
 
 rork  alluded  to  I  • 
 
entitled,  "  The  Complaint  of  Scotland, "  occurs  in 
 jor  Picrson's  Collection,  which,  according  to  . 
 printed  on  one  side,  has  no  date,  and  exhibits  the  name 
 of    neither  author   nor  printer.     In  the   Gentleman's 
 Magazine  for  November  1791,  a  copy  of  this  Poe. 
 given  from  a  black  letter  sheet,  which  the  transcriber 
 J.  R.  conjectures  to  have  been  printed  at  Edinburgh  in 
 1567  by  R.  Lekpreuik.     It  apparently  relates  to  the 
 murder  of  Henry  Stewart,  Lord  Darnley,  and  consists 
 of  twenty-four  stanzas  of  five  lines  .  '.ngy 
 
 "  Adew  all  glaidness,  sport,  and  play ; 
 "  Adew,  fair  weill,  baith  nycht  and  d 
 "  All  thingz  that  may  mak  mirrie  cheir, 
 u  Bot  sich  rycht  soir  in  halt,    and  say, 
 
 "  Allace,  to  graif  is  gone  my  deir  !  " 
 It  is  not  probable  that  "Watson  alluded  to  this  perform- 
 ance ;  but  if  he  intended  the  real  rt  of  Scot- 
 land, the  date  must  have  been  an  error  of  the  \ 
 That  he  might  have  seen  a  copy,  is  extremely  probable  •, 
 for  he  seems  to  have  been  acquainted  with  some  books, 
 of  which  no  copies  are  known  at  present  to  be  extai 
 Of  this  kind,  is  the  Tale  of  Rauf  Collyear.      If  compo- 
 sitions be  neglected  by  the  learned  and   c  nd 
 not   calculated   to  attain   popularity  among   the   lev 
 classes,  an  impression  almost  vanishes  in  the  lapse  oi 
 a  century.     Accident  may  preserve  a  few  str 
 copies  a  little  longer  ;  but,  if  not  deposited  in  a  r  1 
 lie  library,  a  second  century  almost  unavo'.. 
 nates  their  existence. 
 
 The  next  p  :rsoo  who   mentions   ihe   C 
 Scotland,  is  Dr  Mackenzie,  in  his  Lives,  vol.  in.  p.  42. 
 1722.     He  assigns  it,  without  hesitation,  to  Sir  ] 
 Inglis,  Knight.     In  Catalog.  Bib!.  Harleianae,  17 
 
the   same  work  is   mentioned  twice,  and,   in  both  in- 
 it  mces,  a  .-burn  or  Wedderburn.     It 
 
 occurs,    first,    in    vol,  i.    N°837i.;    and    afterwards, 
 vol.  iv.   N°  12  /  -  hese  slight    and  contradictory 
 
 notices  constitute  a]  ifonnation   which  has  been 
 
 as  yet  discovered  concerning  the  author.  Mr  Pi, 
 ton,  who  discovered  the  copy  in  the  Bri 
 assumes  the  position,  that  "Wedderburn  is  the  author, 
 on  the  authority  of  the  Harleian  Catalogue.  But 
 such  an  authority  as  that  on  which  he  depends,  is  just 
 better  than  no  authority  at  all,  and  can  never  be  deemed 
 satisfactory.  The  only  argument  that  can  be  deduced 
 from  it,  amounts  to  no  more  than  a  slight  probability. 
 Because  the  compiler  of  the  Harleian  Catalogue  gives 
 Vedderburn  as  the  name  of  the  author,  a  presumption 
 arises,  that  the  copy,  from  which  he  extracted  the  title, 
 had  a  titlc-pa^e  bearing  the  name  of  the  author ;  though 
 at  the  same  time  il  admitted,  that  no  perfect 
 
 in    any    copy 
 
 if  this  can  imed  in  the  case  of  the  Com- 
 
 piler of   the   Harleian   Catalog: 
 
 with  still  greater  force  to  Dr  Mackenzie,  who  is 
 a    more   ancient   authority, 
 
 s  it  to  Sir  Jai  is,  Knight.     Herbert  ' 
 
 ;  ill  Mackenzie  and  the  ( 
 
 cribed  fr< 
 tradition.      Th 
 
 copied  t;  v   vary   il 
 
 graphy,  but  the  two  titles  in  the   I 
 considerably  from  each 
 
 v  from  a  COD 
 
 •  An 
 
io 
 
 N°  8371.  "  Vedderburn's  Complaintc  of   Scotlandc, 
 
 "  vyth  ane  exortatione  to  the  thre  cstaits  to  be  vigU 
 "  lante  in  the  deffens  of  their  public  veil,   1549." 
 N°  12,070.  "  Vedderburn's  Complainte  of    Scotland, 
 "  with  ane  exortatione  to  the  three  estates  to  be  vi- 
 "  gilant  in  defence  of  their  public  weel,   1549.  " 
 Mackenzie  gives  "  Scotland's   Complaint  against  her 
 "  three  Sons,  the  Nobility,  Clergy,  and  Commons. 
 "  Imprinted  at  St  Andrews  in  1548.  " 
 If  any  conclusion  can  be  deduced  from   this  discre- 
 pancy, it  must  militate  strongly  against  the  accuracy  of 
 both  Mackenzie  and  the  Compiler  of  the  Harleian  Cata- 
 logue.   Herbert  adds,  "  Is  it  not  highly  probable,  consi- 
 "  dering  the  subject  and  the  time,  that  the  book  should  be 
 "  printed  privately;  and,  if  the  printer  was  in  danger,  was 
 <c  it  not  necessary  for  the  author  to  conceal  his  name  r 
 w  If  the  author's  name  was  mentioned  on  the  title- 
 u  page,  what  occasion  to  omit  it  at  the  end  of  the  de- 
 cc  dication  ?     This  copy  in  the  Museum,  is  so.  packed 
 <c  and  cooked,  that  it  cannot  reasonably  be  pronounced 
 "  a  second  edition  ;  especially  as  the  contents  given  by 
 c<  Mackenzie,    appear   evidently  to   have   been    taken 
 "  from  a  copy  of  this  edition,  and   his   quotations  of 
 "  the  songs  and  herbs  from  the  interpolated  leaves, 
 "  though  not  so  correctly  as  might  have  been.     May 
 "  not  the  title-page,  as  the  book  is  so  neatly  printed, 
 Ci  have  had. as  neat  a  compartment,  and  so  have  been 
 u  transposed  into  collections  of  that  sort ;  the   subject 
 "  of  the  book,  as   to  the  main   intention,    becoming 
 u  obsolete,  on  the  happy  union  of  the  two  nations  ; 
 u  though  the  book  itself,  as  long  as  it  can  be  preserv- 
 11  cd,  will  ever  remain,  in  point  of  language,  customs, 
 "  &c.  a  curious  relic  of  antiquity,  a  genuine  Scotish 
 
 "  classic  ?  " 
 
II 
 
 u  classic  ?  "  The  conjecture,  of  the  suppression  oi 
 the  title-page,  however,  is  contradicted,  by  a  frag- 
 ment of  one  being  preserved  in  the  copy  in  the  pos- 
 session of  the  Duke  of  Roxburgh,  which,  I  am  in- 
 formed, only  contains  The  Ccmp.  Had  It  been  cus- 
 tomary to  transpose  the  title-page,  or  any  of  the 
 chapters,  into  collections  of  a  similar  kind,  it  is  dif- 
 ficult to  conceive,  that  both  the  book,  and  the  frag- 
 ments of  it,  should  have  become  so  extremely  rare, 
 that  in  the  year  1800,  only  four  copies  should  be 
 known ;  and  that  neither  the  work  itself,  nor  its 
 mutilated  fragments,  should  have  fallen  into  the  hands 
 of  collectors,  or  have  been  mentioned  by  the  curious. 
 The  observations  of  Herbert  concerning  the  interpolated 
 leaves,  apply,  net  only  to  the  IVIuseum  copy,  which  he 
 consulted,  but,  with  equal  force,  to  the  three  other  co- 
 pies which  are  known  to  be  extant ;  and,  as  the- 
 pies  coincide  in  the  leaves  which   seem  to  have 
 
 lied,  as  well  as  in  the  erroneous  numbering  of  the 
 ,  they  rather  excite  a  presumption,  that  the  Com- 
 playnt  of  Scotland  never  appeared  in   any  other   form 
 (Han  that  of  a  single  edition,  in  1548,  according  to  I 
 
 ie,  and  according  to  a  calculation  in  the  v. 
 p.  55.  ;  or  in  1549,  according  to  the  Compiler   of  the 
 Harleian  Catalogue. 
 
 The  question  concerning  the  author  of  the  G 
 playnt,  rests  upon   two  contradictory    assertions, 
 of  them  completely  devoid  of  collateral  evidence.     As 
 neither    Mackenzie,    nor    the   Compiler    of    the    Har- 
 leian  Catalogue,  adduce  any  authority  for  their  differ- 
 ent  assertions,  we  should   next   examine   whctlu  > 
 James   Inglis,  Knight,    or   Wedderbui'n,   be    t] 
 probable    author,    from    the    nature    of    tluir    n 
 live   political   and  religious  principles,    and   from   the 
 
 CO] 
 
complexion  of  ictions  in  which  they  \vn 
 
 ".    ■   inquiry,  however,  is  nearly   as  obscure 
 ■  original  one.      If    Mackenzie   was    not    solely 
 vague  conjecture,  or  obscure  tradition,  h< 
 
 tjd  to  cite  any  authority  on  which  he  founded. 
 
 :  he  terms  the  life  of  Sir  James  Inglis,  Knight, 
 
 besides  a  careless  analysis  of  the   Complaynt   itself,  irt 
 
 which  tlie  orthography  of  the  passages  he  cites  is  partly 
 
 modernized,  contains  few  incidents,  except  a  me 
 
 Live  of  the  battle  of  Pinky,  compiled  from  Lev 
 lie,  Drake,  Goodwin  and  Speed.  He  asserts,  that  Sir 
 James  Inglis  was  born  in  Fife,  of  an  ancient  family  ; 
 studied  at  St  Andrews  •,  finished  his  education  at  Paris  \ 
 and  afterwards,  returning  to  Scotland,  by  his  skill 
 in  poetry,  ingratiated  himself  with  James  V.  At  the 
 death  of  that  prince,  he  became  an  abettor  of  the 
 French  faction ;  but,  after  the  disastrous  battle  of* 
 Pinky,  in  which  he  commanded  a  troop  of  cavalry, 
 he  retired  to  Fife,  where,  "  amid  the  innocent  amuse- 
 "  ments  of  a  country  life, "  says  Mackenzie,  he  com- 
 posed several  treatises,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  "  of 
 
 we  have  still  extant,  one  called    Scot] 
 
 "  Complaint,  printed  at  St  Andrews  in  1548;  by  which 
 
 appears,  that  he  was  well  seen  in  the  Grecian  and 
 
 "  Roman  histories  •,  and   was   a   great  mathematician 
 
 "  and  philosopher  ;  a  most  faithful  and  loyal  subject ; 
 
 id    a  great  lever  of  his   country."     The  author 
 
 elates,  that  he  died  at  Cuiross  in    155*4  ;  and 
 
 attributes  to  him  "  Poems,  consisting  of  songs,  bal- 
 
 "  Luis,    plays  and  farces,    in   MS. "      This    assertion, 
 
 however,  with  another,  "    that  he  composed   several 
 
 "  tragedies,    comedies,    and  ether  poems,    that  were 
 
 "  highly  applauded  by  the  best  judges  of  the  age, " 
 
 apparently 
 
'3 
 
 apparently  rest  on  no  other  authority  than  that  of 
 Lindsay,  in  the  Prolog  to  the  Complaint  of  the  Papin- 
 go.  ■ 
 
 "  And  in  the  Court  bin  present  in  thif  dayis, 
 That  ballattis  breuis  lustely,  and  layis  ; 
 Quhilkis  to  our  prince  daily  thay  do  present ; 
 Quha  can  say  mair  than  Schir  James  Inglis  a 
 In  ballattis,  farsis,  and  in  plesand  playis  ?' 
 Bot  Culros  hes  his  pen  maid  impotent ; 
 Kid,  in  cunning  and  practik  richt  prudent ; 
 And  Stewart,  quha  desiris  ane  staitlie  style, 
 Full  ornate  warkis  daily  dois  compyle.  " 
 The  general  satire  published  by  Lord  Ilailes,  is  attri- 
 buted to  Schir  James  Inglis  by  the  Maitland  folio   ms., 
 though  the  Bannatyne  ms.  ascribes  it  to  Dunbar.  * 
 
 A  person  of  this  name  appears  to  have  been  secre- 
 tary to  Queen  Margaret  in  1 5 15,  and  is  probably  the 
 same  who  is  styled  Chancellor  of  the  Royal  Chapel  of 
 Stirling,  in  a  charter -of  19th  February  1527,  & 
 Cal.  ;  to  whom  a  letter  of  James  V,  requesting  to  bor- 
 row a  book  on  alchemy,  still  exists,  and  who  was  mur- 
 dered by  the  Baron  of  Tulliallan  in  153 1,  Leslie^  p. 
 433.  ;  at  which  period  he  seems  to  have  been  Ab- 
 bot of  Culrot>s.  As  the  incidents  in  the  life  of  this 
 person,  which  can  be  determined  by  histoi 
 dencc,  are  so  widely  different  from  those  related 
 by  Mackenzie,  had  this  author  cited  any  historical 
 documents-  in  his  narration,  it  might  have  been  pre- 
 sumed, that  the  Sir  James  Inglis,  whose  life  he  af- 
 fects to  write,  was  quite  a  different  person  from 
 the  Abbot  of  Culross.     He  positively  denominates  Sir 
 
 c  Jar. 
 
 1  I.iuctesay's  Waikis,   p.  1F5.     Edin.  I59Z,   4to. 
 >  Uaauatyjje  Poems,  p  41. 
 
1 4 
 
 Tnglis  a  Knight ;  and  if  this  could  be  depended 
 on,  it  would  prove  him  to  have  been  a  secular  man, 
 and  a  different  character  from  the  Abbot  of  Culross. 
 But  it  is  very  probable,  that  Mackenzie  only  subjoined 
 this  title,  because  he  found  him  denominated  knight, 
 without  considering  that 
 
 u  The  pure  priest  thinkis  he  gettis  na  richt, 
 Be  he  nocht  stilit  like  ane  knicht, 
 And  call  it  Schir  befoir  his  name  ; 
 As  Schir  Thomas,  and  Schir  Williame.  " 
 
 Lyndesays  Monarchic,  p.  133.  Ata. 
 Eilui.  1592. 
 If  Mackenzie's  relation  was  derived  from  tradition,  or 
 from  any  species  of  vague  memorandums,  perhaps  the  his- 
 tory of  the  Abbot  may  have  been  unconsciously  confound- 
 ed with  that  of  John  Inglis,  whose  company  acted  plays 
 and  interludes  at  the  marriage  of  James  IV.  in  1503  \ 
 d's  Colled,  vol.  iv.  258.  This  John  Inglis,  who,  in 
 Lindsay  of  Pitscottie's  history,  has  the  title  of  Marshal,  is 
 recorded  to  have  been  present,  while  a  young  man,  along 
 with  Sir  David  Lindsay,  Lyon  Herauld,  when  the  ap- 
 parition appeared  to  James  IV.  at  Linlithgow.  In  an 
 extract  from  Sir  Henry  Herbert's  book  of  Offices,  pub- 
 lifhed  in  Chalmers'  Apology  for  the  believers  in  the 
 Shakcspear  papers  (p.  617.),  this  person  is  said  to  be  the 
 same  with  John  English  the  player,  to  whom  an  entry 
 is  recorded  of  10s.  paid  by  order  of  Henry  VII.  It  is 
 d,  that  he  is  the  most  ancient  manager  of  players 
 on  record. 
 
 The    history   of    Vedderburn,    or    Wedderburne, 
 mentioned  as  author  of  The  Complaynt,  by  the  Com- 
 piler of    the    Harleian    Catalogue,    is    still    more 
 scure,  if  possible,  than  that  of  Sir  James  Inglis.     His 
 
 very 
 
*5 
 
 riarrie  is  unknown  •,  and  the  only  circumstance 
 that  can  be  supposed  to  relate  to  him,  is  solely 
 founded  on  the  trivial  coincidence  of  surname.  In 
 a  ms.  history  of  the  estate  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland, 
 (penes  Mr  Paton),  written  by  Mr  Row,  minister  of 
 Perth,  the  contemporary  of  Sir  David  Lindsay,  Sir 
 David  Li-  Poesies,   Wedderburnes  Psalmes    and 
 
 Godlie  Balia:ids,  &c.  are  mentioned.  Now,  it  is  pre- 
 sumed, in  the  first  place,  that  by  Wedderburne's 
 Psalms  and  Godlie  Ballands,  is  intended — A  Compen- 
 dious Book  of  Godlie  and  Spiritual  Sangis  and  Ballatis, 
 printed  by  Andro  Hart  in  1621  :  and,  secondly,  it  is 
 presumed,  upon  the  same  degree  of  evidence,  that  this 
 Wedderburne  mentioned  in  Row's  ms.,  is  the  Vedder- 
 burne  of  the  Compiler  of  the  Harlcian  Catalogue.  This 
 conjecture  is  likewise  thought  to  be  confirmed  by  al- 
 lusions in  the  "  Godlie  Ballatis"  to  some  of  the  songs 
 
 ioned  in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  ;  but  it  is  evi- 
 dent that  so  trivial  a  coincidence  can  never  amount  to  a 
 proof. 
 
 In  the  Bannatync  ms.  occur  three  poems  attributed 
 to  Wedderburn  ;  but,  whether  the  same  person  with 
 the  preceding,  is  quite  uncertain.     They   are  the  fo!- 
 
 ig — 
 
 My  hive  was  fals,  and  full  of  flatterie — 
 
 I  think  tliir  men  are  very  fals  and  v. 
 
 O  man,  transformit  and  unnatural!  ! 
 The  late  Mr  Plummer  of  Middlestead,  an  able  an- 
 tiquary, fuggested,  in  a  letter  to  Mr  D.  Herd,  that 
 Wedderburn  might  as  probably  be  the  name  of  the 
 printer  of  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  as  of  the  author. 
 h  is  true,  this  is  only  a  conjecture  ;  but  when  a  subject 
 is  entirely  1  .   positive  -ture 
 
 rly  as  good  as  another. 
 
 r    ii  In 
 
In  this  state  of  uncertainty  with  respect  to  extc< . 
 evidence,  perhaps  we  are  justified  in  having  recourse  to 
 that  internal  evidence,  which  arises  from  an  examina- 
 tion of  the  work  itself;  especially  as  it  is  scarcely  pos- 
 bibl e  that  any  thing  in  the  form  of  evidence  can  have 
 less  weight  than  those  arguments  which  have  already- 
 been  adduced.  Though  aware  of  the  fallacious  nature  oi 
 such  speculations,  their  frequent  futility,  and  the  slight 
 degree  of  conviction  which  they  are  calculated  to  pro- 
 duce, I  am  not  deterred  from  hazarding  an  opinion, 
 which  early  occurred  to  my  own  mind,  and  which  suc- 
 cessive inquiries  have  tended  to  confirm.  It  is  true,  that 
 when  a  person  has  inadvertently  adopted  an  opinion, 
 the  bias  which  his  mind  receives,  represents  objects  in  a 
 proportion  and  colouring,  which,  in  the  eyes  of  an- 
 other, they  never  affume.  As  I  have  therefore  reason 
 to  suspect,  that  some  arguments,  which,  to  me,  ap- 
 pear to  possess  considerable  force,  may,  by  others, 
 be  deemed  wholly  unsatisfactory,  it  is  with  consider- 
 able diffidence  that  I  propose  my  opinion,  especially  as 
 the  discovery  of  a  single  copy,  with  the  author's  name 
 on  the  title  page,  would  essentially  injure  any  inductive 
 argument  of  the  following  species. 
 
 That  roughness  of  style,  which  characterizes  the 
 compositions  of  an  early  period,  is  often  united  with 
 strength  of  colouring,  energy  of  sentiment,  and  peculiar 
 rity  of  manner.  From  the  want  of  native  models,  too, 
 even  the  first  translations  exhibit  an  air  of  originality. 
 In  the  selection,  and  collocation  of  words,  a  singulari- 
 ty of  manner  is  perceptible  ;  and  compositions  are  cha- 
 racterized by  peculiarities  of  idiom  and  phraseology. 
 From  such  peculiarities  of  style,  when  verse  is  com- 
 pared  with  verse,  and  prose  with  prose,  it  is  often, 
 
 practicable 
 
*7 
 
 practicable  to  identify  the  compositions  of  an  author  j 
 but,  when  prose  is  compared  with  verse,  it  is  much 
 more  difficult  to  detect  this  peculiarity  of  manner. 
 When  I  ascribe  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  to  Sir 
 David  Lindsay  of  the  Mount,  an  author,  whose  com- 
 positions, that  have  been  edited,  are  entirely  in  verse, 
 I  am  sensible  how  little  confidence  can  be  placed 
 in  any  argument  derived  from  the  similarity  of  style. 
 Cut  there  is  a  style  of  thinking,  as  well  as  of  writ- 
 ing ;  a  style,  which  every  author  finds  infinitely 
 more  difficult  to  disguise,  than  that  which  depends 
 on  the  collocation  of  phrases,  and  the  form  of 
 words.  Diverfity  of  topics,  or  subjects  of  discus- 
 sion, require  different  combinations  of  ideas ;  but 
 the  general  laws  of  association  are  seldom  essen- 
 tially changed  :  the  mind  retraces  the  same  succes- 
 sion of  ideas,  and  reverts  with  fondness  to  its 
 favourite  objects.  If  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  be 
 the  solitary  production  of  an  unknown  and  anony- 
 mous author,  his  memory  has  faded  for  ever  •,  but  if  it  be 
 composition  of  an  author,  whose  other  productions 
 are  still  extant,  we  may  expect  to  detect  some  trai 
 the  same  style  of  thinking,  and  the  same  favourite  sub- 
 jects of  discussion.  In  the  compositions  of  every  au- 
 thor, there  are  many  circumstances  introduced,  which 
 may  be  termed  adventitious  ;  many  ideas,  very  slight- 
 ly connected  with  the  principal  subject,  which  are 
 linked  with  it  by  accidental  association.  Now,  the 
 more  accidental  the  introduction  of  these  circumstan- 
 md  the  more  slightly  they  are  connected  with  the 
 proper  subject,  the  stronger  is  the  argument  which  n  - 
 suits  from  such  a  coincidence.  We  shall  now  attempt 
 to  point  out  some  of  these  coincident 
 
 And. 
 
it 
 
 And,  fii  -  attend  to  the  title  of  thcOompI 
 
 of  Scotland.  It  has  already  been  stated,  that  the  title 
 of  "  Complaynt  of  Scotland, "  dees  not  appear  to  have 
 uncommon  at  the  period  of  its  original  publica- 
 tion ;  at  the  same  time,  it  is  certain,  that  there  is  no 
 positive  proof  of  such  a  title  having  been  used  by  any 
 other  author  than  Sir  David  Lindsay.  The  titles  of 
 Lindsay's  works,  form  such  a  scries  of  Complaints,  as 
 is  almost  unparalleled  in  literary  history.  His  earliest 
 compositions  are—"  the   complaint  of   our   soue- 
 
 "    RANE  LORDIS    PAPINGO  ',  " "    THE    COMPLAYNT    OF 
 
 "  schir  dauid  lyndesay  cf  the  Mont,  knicht,  &C. 
 "  directit  to  the  Kingis  grace  ;  " — "  the  complaint 
 "  of  bagsche,  the  Kingis  auld  hound-,"  aha,  what 
 is  more  immediately  to  the  purpose,  one  of  the  divi- 
 sions of  his  Dreme  is  entitled — "  the  complaint  of 
 "  the  COMMOUN  Weill  of  Scotland.  "  This  coin- 
 cidence of  title  is  strengthened  by  an  additional  circum- 
 stance of  congruity.  After  the  general  title  of  the 
 Complaynt  in  the  Harleian  Catalogue,  the  addition  fol- 
 lows— "  vyth  ane  exortatioxe  to  the  thre  estaits 
 "  to  be  vigilante  in  the  defrens  of  their  public  veil.  " 
 Now,  Lindsay  has  likewise  composed  "  a  satire  upon 
 K  the  thre  estaits,  in  commendatione  of  vertue,  and 
 "  vituperatione  of  vyee.  "  It  may  likewise  be  proper 
 to  observe,  that  the  last  division  of  the  fourth  book  of 
 the  Monarchy,  is  entitled,  "  Ane  exhokTatioun  be 
 4{  Experience  to  the  Courteour  j  "  and  one  or  the  divi- 
 sions of  the  Dreme  is  termed  "  The  exhortatioun 
 tt  to  the  Kingis  grace.  " 
 
 The  author  of  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  intro- 
 duces in  "  die  Prolog  to  the  Redar"  (p.  12.),  an  ela- 
 borate apology  for  using  "  the  domestic  Scottis  Ian- 
 
»9 
 
 "  gage  rnaist  intelligible  for  the  vlgarc   pepil.  "      In" 
 various  passages,  he  imitates   Gawain  Douglas,  who, 
 though  he  positively  denies  the  comparative  poverty  of 
 the   Scotish  language,   is   yet  forced  to  e  for 
 
 die   use  of  "  mony  vordis  of  antiquite,   the  quhilkis 
 cu!d  nocht  be  translatit.  " 
 
 "  Besyde  Latyne  our  langage  is  imperii 
 Quhilk  in  sum  part  is  the  cause  and  th 
 Quhy  that  Virgillis  vers  the  ornate  bewte 
 Infill  our  toung  may  not  obseruit  be  ; 
 For  thar  bene  Latyne  wordes  mony  sin 
 That  in  our  leid,  ganand  translation  has  nane ; 
 Les  than  we  mynnis  thare  sentence  and  grauite, 
 And  zit  skant  weil  exponit :  quhay  trow  is  not :: 
 Lat  thaym  interpret  aniptui  and  homo  ; 
 With  mony  hundreth  other  terms  mo, 
 Ouhilks  in  our  langage,  soithly,  as  I  wene, 
 
 v  men  can  tell  cieirly  quhat  thay  mene. 
 Befuix  genus  %  sex  us,  and  spirits, 
 Diuersite  in  our  leid  to  scik  I  ceisse.  "  * 
 first  instance,  of  ammal  ,  which  the  | 
 
 hop  adduces,  is  likewise  cited   by  the   author   cf 
 :,  who  seem-,  .pic   of  tt 
 
 and  hinvj  (p.  27.))  to  allude  to  the   term 
 and  species y  likewise  particularized.     If  Lindsay  be  the 
 
 ily  accou.  ,  as  we  know  the  I 
 
 m  iii  which  h 
 .  >r. 
 M  Allace  for  ane  quhilk  lamp  v.  as  in  this  J 
 Ol  el<  !  balmy  strand  -y 
 
 And  in  1  u 
 
 the  carbunckle  bin  chi 
 
 r.  Douglas'  Mnad,  p   9.     EUdJimao'*  c< 
 
20 
 
 And  as  Phebus  dois  Cynthia  precell, 
 Sa  Gawin  Dowglas,  Bischop  of  Dunkell, 
 Had,  quhen  he  was  into  this  land  on  lyuc, 
 Abufe  vulgar  poctis  prerogative.  " 
 
 Lindesafs  Warhis^  p.  185.     1592. 
 The  author  of  the  Complaynt  (p.   26.),  after  men- 
 tioning  various   Latin    terms,    which   refer   to   parti- 
 cular institutions  and  customs,  declares,  that  if  such 
 words   were   reje&ed   in   translation,    the  phrases   of 
 antiquity  would  be  lost  and  confounded.     This,  how- 
 ever,   is   no   apology   for   using    the   popular   iScotish 
 dialect,  but,  on  the  contrary,  a  strong  reason  for  not 
 using  it.     But,  when  he  alludes  to  his  deficiency  of 
 skill  in  the  Latin  language,  and  is  anxious  to  vindicate 
 himself  u  contrar  the  detractione  of    inuyful  clerkis 
 "  that  ar  mair  expert  in  Latyne  tong,  "  we  perceive  the 
 drift  of  his  apology  to  be  the  same  with  that  of  Lind-.- 
 say,  in  his  "  Exclamatioun  to  the  reider,  tiutching  the 
 "  wryting  in  vulgare  and  maternall  language, "  in  the 
 first  book  of  his  Monarchy. 
 tc  Gentill  reidar,  haue  at  me  na  despite, 
 Thinkand  that  I  presupteouslie  preted 
 In  vulgar  toung  so  hie  ane  mater  to  write  -, 
 Bot  quhair  I  mis,  I  pray  the  til  amend ; 
 Til  y  unlernit,  I  wald  the  caus  wer  kend, 
 Of  our  most  miserabill  trauell  and  torment, 
 And  how  in  earth  na  place  be  permanent. 
 
 Howbeit  that  diuers  deuot  cuning  clerkis, 
 In  Latyne  toung  hes  writte  sindrie  buikis, 
 Our  unleirnit  knawis  litle  of  thir  werkis, 
 More  than  thay  do  the  rauing-  of  the  ruikis  : 
 Quhairfoir,  to  colzearis,  carters,  and  to  cuikis, 
 
 To 
 
11 
 
 To  Jok  and  Thome,  my  ryme  salbe  direct!?, 
 With  cunning  men  howbeit  it  wilbe  lackit. 
 
 Aristotell  nor  Plato,  I  heir  sane, 
 Wrait  nocht  thair  hie  philosophic  naturall, 
 In  Duche,  nor  Dence,  nor  toung  Italiane  , 
 Bot  in  thair  most  ornate  toung  maternally 
 Quhais  fame  and  name  dois  reigne  perpetual : 
 Famous  Uirgill,  the  prince  of  poetrie, 
 Nor  Cicero,  the  flour  of  oratrie, 
 
 Wrait  not  in  Caldie  laguage,  nor  in  Grew, 
 Nor  zit  into  the  language  Saracene  , 
 Nor  in  the  naturall  language  of  Hebrew  ; 
 Bot  in  the  Romane  toung,  as  may  be  sene, 
 Quhilk  was  yair  proper  laguage,  as  I  wene  ,— 
 Ouhe  Romanis  rang  dominatouris  in  deid, 
 The  ornate  Latine  wes  thair  proper  leid. 
 
 In  the  mein  time,  quhen  y  thir  bald  Romance 
 Ouer  all  the  world  had  the  dominioun, 
 Maid  Latin  sculis,  thair  gloir  for  to  auance, 
 That  thair  laguage  micht  be  ouer  all  comoun  : 
 To  that  intent,  be  my  opinioun, 
 Traisting  that  thair  impyre  suld  ay  indure  , 
 Bot  of  fortoun,  alway  thay  wer  not  sure.  n 
 
 After  declaring  his  opinion,    that  the  diversity  of 
 languages  originated  from  the  malediction  of  God,  he 
 — 
 u  Notwithstanding,  I  think  it  greit  plesour, 
 Quhair  cunning  men  hes  languages  anew, 
 That  in  thair  zouth,  be  diligent  labour, 
 
 d  II.: 
 
Hes  leirnit  Latin:,  Greik,  and  au!d  Hebrew  ; 
 That  I  am  not  of  that  sort,  soir  I  rew  ; 
 Quhairfoir  I  wald  all  builds  necessare, 
 For  our  faith  wer  intill  our  toung  vulgare — 
 
 — Sanct  Hierome,  in  his  proper  toung  Romane, 
 The  law  of  God  trewlie  he  did  translate, 
 Out  of  Hebrew  and  Greik  in  Latine  plane  ; 
 Quhilk  hes  bene  hid  fro  us  lang  time,   God  wait, 
 Unto  this  time  ;  bot  efter  my  consait, 
 Had  Sanct  Hierome  bene  born  into  Argdey 
 Into  Irisch  toung>  his  buikis  had  done  compyle. 
 Lindesay's  Works,  qtoy  1592,  p.  14,  15,  16. 
 
 In  this  manner,  Lindsay  vindicates  the  use  of  the 
 vulgar  Scotish  dialect,  which,  he  contends,  ought  to 
 be  preferred  to  Latin,  both  in  the  institutions  of  law 
 and   theology ;    though   he   admits  that  curious  que- 
 stions of  philosophy  may  be  properly  discussed  in  the 
 learned  languages. 
 "  Lat  doctouris  write  yair  curious  questiounis, 
 And  argumentis  sawin  full  of  sophistrie  -, 
 Thair  Logick,  and  thair  heich  opiniounis  ; 
 Thair  dark  judgements  of  astronomie  •, 
 Thair  medicine  and  thair  philosophic  : 
 Lat  poetis  schaw  thair  glorious  ingyne, 
 As  euer  thay  pleis,  in  Greik  or  in  Latyne.  " 
 As  he  proceeds  to   urge  the  necessity  of  employing 
 the  vulgar  language,- in  subjects  relating  to  "  commoun 
 wcill,    and   our  saluatioun, "    he  suddenly  recollects, 
 that  his  own  work  included  many  curious  questions  of 
 philosophy,  and  therefore  concludes  his  apology  with  a 
 particular  request  of  exemption. 
 
 "  Bot 
 
23 
 
 4i  Bet  1st  us  Inue  tTie  buikis  necessare 
 To  csmmtjun 
 Justly  transJ 
 
 And  aL  I  m.ik  tne  supplies  neon, 
 O  gentiK  reidar  \  haue  na  tndigoati 
 ^Tbittkazid  I  mdZ  trie  i  . — ■ 
 
 Now  to  my  purj: 
 
 -Trise  afcnd 
 
 and  declares,  -  &ukl  oodit  be  ooer  temerair  to 
 
 set  for  die  Lis  ingyne,'*  p.  19.; 
 
 and  d  to  the  anaosing  of 
 
 the  public  TeiL  his  pen,  **  p. 
 
 15.  redar  to 
 
 correct  him  famili  •  :,  and  til  intc: 
 
 ■tione  of  die  coin- 
 pilatiane   of  1  r  of  toe  com- 
 
 mie or  \  -     It  may 
 
 be  pr- 
 
 -  atnor  tc 
 
 d  to  tin-  .  ct,  but  v. 
 
 ..h  could  only 
 
 - 
 not  em;'  in  for 
 
 r  ru- 
 
24 
 
 At  this  period,  similar  apologies  for  using  the  1 
 lish  language  in   literary  compositions,  were  not   un- 
 common ;   and  perhaps  it  may  not  be  improper  to  con- 
 trast these  apologies  of  Scotish  authors,  with  that  of 
 an  English  contemporary. 
 
 "  As  for  the  Lattine  or  Greeke  tongue,  euerye 
 tiling  is  so  excellentlye  done  in  them,  that  none  can  do 
 better ;  in  the  Englishe  tongue,  contrary,  euery  thing 
 in  a  maner  so  meanlye,  both  for  the  matter  and  hande- 
 linge;  that  no  man  can  do  worse.  For  therein  the 
 learned,  for  the  most  part,  haue  bene  alwayes  most 
 redye  to  write ;  and  they  which  had  least  hope  in 
 Lattine,  haue  bene  most  bould  in  Englishe :  when 
 surelye  euerye  man  that  is  most  ready  to  talke,  is  not 
 most  able  to  write.  He  that  will  write  well  in  any 
 tongue,  must  folow  this  counsell  of  Aristotle ;  to 
 speake  as  the  commoun  people  do,  to  thinke  as  wise 
 men  do  ;  ande  so  shoulde  euerye  man  understand  him, 
 and  the  iudgement  of  wise  men  alowe  him.  Manye 
 Englishe  writers  haue  not  done  so  ;  but  usinge  straunge 
 wordes,  as  Lattine,  French,  and  Italian,  do  make  ail 
 thinges  darke  and  harde.  Ones  I  communed  with  a 
 man,  which  reasoned  the  Englishe  tongue  to  be  enrich- 
 ed and  encreased  thereby ;  sayinge,  Who  will  not 
 prayse  that  feast  where  a  man  shall  drincke  at  a  dinner 
 both  wyne,  ale,  and  beere  ?  Truly,  quoth  I,  they  be 
 al  good,  euery  one  taken  by  himself  alone  ;  but  if  you 
 put  malmesye  and  sacke,  redde  wyne  and  white,  ale 
 and  bcere,  and  al  in  one  pot,  you  shall  make  a  drinke. 
 neither  easye  to  be  knowen,  nor  yet  wholsome  for  the 
 bodye.  " 
 
 Ascham's  Preface  to  ToxophiluSy  qto,  Lend.  T 54^- 
 
 Though,  at  the  revival  of  literature,  the  tyranny  of 
 custom  imposed  this  task  on  many  of  the  earliest  writ- 
 ers 
 
crs  in  the  vulgar  dialects,  yet  I  do  not  consider  that  cus- 
 tom invalidates  my  conjecture.  Before  the  publication  of 
 the  Complaynt,  the  Royal  patronage  in  Scotland  had 
 been  long  successfully  employed  in  supporting  our  na- 
 tive literature,  and  bursting  the  shackle^  of  authority, 
 which  preferred  verse  to  prose,  and  dead  languages  to 
 to  the  living.  So  early  as  1490,  John  de  Irlandia,  a 
 priest,  concerning  whose  history  a  few  notices 
 be  afterwards  adduced,  has  composed  a  digest  of 
 Practical  Theology,  in  the  vulgar  language,  for  the 
 use  of  James  IV.  The  Porteous  of  Noblenes,  trans- 
 lated from  the  French  by  Andrew  Cadiou,  was  printed 
 at  Edinburgh  in  1508  bv  Chepman  and  Myllar,  the  year 
 after  they  obtained  the  Royal  patent  x.  The  Scotish 
 history  of  Bocthius,  translated  by  Bellenden  at  the 
 command  of  James   V,   was  printed   in  ad   a 
 
 translation  of  the  first  five  books  of  Livy,  by  the  same 
 author,    at    the    same  command,  sti 
 
 Scotish  acts  of  Parliament .  reign 
 
 of 
 
 1    4  ll  licence,  dated  September  15th  1507,  for  bung- 
 
 ing home  a  printer's  press,  with   all  stuff  belonging  thereto,  ai 
 jiments  to  u<^e  the  same,    for  imprinting  the   books  of   laws,    c\ 
 grantee  .  i.ilrow   M\llar,    burgesses  oi 
 
 burgh,   occurs  in  the  third  beck  of  Privy  Seal,  fol.  129.     A 
 man,  "  Thomas  Dat.!.!-cr:e,  a  northlande.man,  borne oq  I 
 
 ted    Royal  pi  inter  in    154"?,  and   printed  tl  . 
 Liament,  the  only  known  copy  of  which  is  in  vellum, 
 and  preserved  in  tl 
 
 v->  of   the  Scctish  Parliament  were,  in  1566,  printed  Ly  ! 
 I.ekprtvick.    Concerning  this  edition,  the  following  curious  circumstance 
 is  mentioned  in  Bysset's  Roh>  rtcs,  ms.     ••  Th. 
 
 "  imprinted  be  ye  said  Lekprerick,  war  colt  fra   him  in  all  i 
 u  be  umqll  Mr  James  Makgill   (t  entire,   clerk  of  register 
 
 •'  for  the  tyme,  and  for  the  maist  pi 
 ?'  schorl  refter,   few  or  tunc  culd  t< 
 
 "  and  sell  tl.arcof  be  the  licgis.  " 
 
26 
 
 of  James  V,  were  printed,  by  Royal  authority,  i: 
 vulgar  dialect.  These  facts  are  sufficient  to  demon- 
 ]y  attention  of  the  Scotish  nation  to  their 
 native  literature,  in  prose  compositions  as  well  as  in 
 verse ;  while  they  detract  from  the  propriety  of  apo- 
 logising for  the  use  of  the  "  vulgare  and  maternal 
 language,  "  and  consequently  render  this  coincidence 
 between  Lindsay  and  the  author  of  the  Compi 
 more  remarkable.  It  is  true,  that  men  of  learning 
 and  original  genius,  at  this  period,  generally  affect- 
 ed a  wider  sphere  of  reputation,  than  their  vernacular 
 tongues  afforded  them  a  prospect  of  attaining.  The 
 first  vernacular  authors  in  every  language,  are  the 
 poets,  who,  according-  to  the  nature  and  style  of  their 
 compositions,  partly  employ  common  language,  and  part- 
 ly adopt  foreign  words  and  idioms.  The  admission  of 
 foreign  idioms,  and  the  resuming  of  antiquated  terms  and 
 phrases,  give  an  adventitious  air  of  dignity  and  grandeur 
 to  the  poetical  style.  The  first  prose  authors-have  great- 
 er difficulties  to  encounter.  As  there  are  no  native  mo- 
 dels to  which  their  style  can  be  adapted  ;  no  dignified 
 class  of  words,  which  have  not  been  debased  by  popu- 
 lar use  :  if  they  attempt  a  plain  and  intelligible  style, 
 they  incur  the  hazard  of  meanness  and  vulgarity ; 
 while,  if  they  endeavour  to  avoid  a  flat  and  tri 
 they  risk  the  censure  of  affectation.  Though  the 
 of  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  be  often  simple  and  un- 
 affected in  the  choice  and  collocation  of  words,  a. 
 frequently  terse  and  pithy  in  an  eminent  degree,  t! 
 author  sometimes  displays  an  affectation  of  "  ynk.  • 
 home  terms,  "  a  pomp  of  expression  which  could  not 
 be  very  intelligible  to  the  common  people  ;  a  fault  se- 
 icrely  censured  by  Smith  in  his  Arte  of  Rhetorikc. 
 
27 
 
 "  Some  seeke  so  farre  for  outlrndish  Englishe,  that 
 they  forget  altogether  their  mother's  language.  Ande 
 I  dare  swear  this,  if  some  of  their  mothers  were  aliue, 
 thei  were  not  able  to  tel  what  thei  saie  ;  and  yet  these 
 fine  Englishe  clerkes  wil  saie  thei  speak  in  their  mother 
 tongue,  if  a  man  should  charge  them  for  counterfeityng 
 the  Kinges  Englishe.  I  know  them  that  thinke  rheto- 
 rike  to  stand  wholie  upon  darkc  wordes  ;  and  he  that 
 can  catche  an  ynkehorne  term  by  the  taile,  hym  thd 
 compt  to  be  a  fine  Englishman,  and  a  good  rhetori- 
 cian ' .  "  So  far,  however,  is  the  author  from  advert- 
 ing to  this  obvious  defect  of  his  style,  that  he  is  an- 
 xious to  vindicate  himself  from  an  error  of  an  opposite 
 kind,  as   evidently  appears   from   the   pa  'ready 
 
 quoted.  In  the  same  manner,  Lindsay  vindicates  the 
 simplicity  of  his  "  rurall  vers.  " 
 
 I  lois  my  time,  allace  for  to  reL 
 Sic  unfrutefull  and  vaine  descriptioun  ; 
 Or  write  into  my  raggit  rurall  vers. 
 Mater  without  edilicaticun  : 
 Considering  how  that  mine  intentioun, 
 Bene  till  deploir  the  mortall  miseries, 
 With  continual]  cairfull  cal 
 
 Consisting  in  this  wretchit  vaile  of  sorrow  \ 
 Bot  sad  sentence  suld  haue  ane  sad  indyte  : 
 So  tennis  bricbt>  I  list  not  for  to  borrow, 
 Of  murning  mater  men  ties  na  delyte, 
 With  roustie  termls  tha'irfoir  will  1  itr. 
 With  sorrowfull  sichis  ascending  from  the  -^plcnc, 
 And  bitter  teiris  distelling  from  mine  enc 
 
 />.  3.  (5*  4.  Pro/ 
 
 1  Smith's  Arte  of  Rhctorikc,  fol.  82.    1553.    Ap.  Wj 
 
o.8 
 
 CJa  hence,  pure  Buik,   quhilk  I  haue  done  indyte 
 
 In  rurall  ryme  in  mater  of  despyte, 
 
 Contrair  the  warldis  variatioun  ; — 
 
 Of  rethorik  here  I  p  roc  lame  the  quyte ; 
 
 Idolatouris,  I  feir,  sail  with  the  flyte, 
 
 Becaus  of  them  thou  makis  narratioun  ; 
 
 Bot  cure  thow  not  the  indignatioun 
 
 Of  hypocritis,  and  fals  Pharisience, 
 
 Howbeit  on  thee,  they  crie  ane  loud  vengence. 
 
 Requeist  the  gentill  reidar  that  thee  reklis, 
 Thocht  ornate  termis  into  thy  parke  not  spreidis? 
 As  they  in  thee  may  haue  experience ; 
 Thocht  barrane  feildis  beiris  nocht  bot  weidis, 
 Zit  brutall  beistis  sweitlie  on  them  feidis, 
 Desire  of  thame  nane  uther  recompence, 
 Bot  that  they  wald  reid  thee  with  patience  ; 
 And  gif  they  be  in  onie  way  ofFendit, 
 Declair  to  them  it  sail  be  weill  amendit. 
 
 Epistill  Nuticupatory. 
 Another  coincidence,  to  which  I  am  inclined  to 
 give  some  weight,  is  of  a  still  more  adventitious 
 nature,  and  consequently  the  argument  derived  from 
 it,  is  of  the  greater  importance.  In  the  fifth  chap- 
 ter, p.  54,  in  which-  the  author  treats  of  the  opi- 
 nions of  certain  ancient  philosophers,  concerning  the 
 duration  of  the  world,  he  cites  the  following  computa- 
 tion from  the  Chronicle  of  Carion  : 
 
 "  Now,  to  confound  the  opinione  of  Socrates,  and 
 "  to  confound  al  them  that  vil  nocht  beleue  that  the 
 u  varld  is  near  ane  finall  end,  i  vil  arme  me  vitht  the 
 "  croniklis  of  master  Ihone  Carion,  quhar  he  allegis 
 "  the  prophesye  of  helie,  sayand,  that  fra  the  begyn- 
 
 "  nyng 
 
*  nyng  of  the  varld,  on  to  the  consummatione  of  It, 
 u  sal  be  the  space  of  sex  thousand  zeir.  the  quhiik  sex 
 w  thousand  zeir  salbe  deuydit  in  thre  partis-  the  first 
 *c  tua  thousand  zeir,  the  varld  sal  be  vitht  out  ony  spe- 
 "  cefeit  lau  i  vrit,  quhiik  vas  the  tyme  betuix  adam 
 "  and  Abrahara.  the  nyxt  tua  thousand  zeir,  vas  the 
 "  lau  of  circancisione,  vhJit  ane  institutione  of  diuyne 
 "  policie,  and  vitht  adorarione  of  God,  quhiik  vas  the 
 "  tyme  betuix  adam  ande  the  incarnatione,  quhen  crist 
 tf  ilius  resauit  our  humanite  for  our  redemptione.  the 
 "  thrid  tua  thousand  zeir  sal  be  betuix  the  incarnatione 
 "  and  the  htSL  aduent,  quhiik  salbe  the  consummatione 
 a  of  the  varld.  "     .  is  a  curious  fact,  that  Lind- 
 
 say has  introduced  the  same  calculation  in  the  fourth 
 book  of  his  Monarchic,  (p.  152.)  edit.  1592. 
 
 Sum  wryteris  hes  the  warid  deuydit, 
 
 In  sex  ages,  as  bene  decydit, 
 
 Into  Fasciculus  Trmporum9 
 
 And  Cronica  Cronkorum  c 
 
 Bot  be  the  sentence  of  Elie, 
 
 The  warld  deuydit  is  in  thre  ; 
 
 As  cunning  Maister  Carioun 
 
 Hes  maid  plaine  expositloun, 
 
 How  Elie  sayis  withoutin  weir, 
 
 The  warld  sail  stand  sex  thousand  zeir, 
 
 Of  quhome  I  follow  the  sentence, 
 
 And  lattis  the  uther  builds  go  hence : 
 
 From  the  creation  of  Adam, 
 
 Twa  thousand  zeir  till  Abraham. 
 
 From  Abraham,  be  this  narratioun, 
 
 To  Ghristifl  incarnatioun, 
 
 Richt  sa  hes  bin  twa  thousand  zeiris. 
 
 find  be  tliir  prophtcyis  appeiris, 
 
 e  From 
 
3° 
 
 From  Christ,  as  thay  mak  till  us  kend, 
 Twa  thousand  till  the  warldis  end  ; 
 Of  quhilkis  ar  by  gone  sickerlie 
 Fyue  thousand  fiue  hundreth  thre  and  fifte  : 
 And  sa  remanis  to  come  but  weir  ■    - 
 Four  hundreth  with  seuin  and  fourtie  zeir. 
 As    the   Chronicle    of  Cario,    an  eminent  mathe- 
 matician, is  the   authority  cited  both  by  Lindsay  and 
 the  author  of   the  Complaynt,  this  coincidence  does 
 not  afford  a  conclusive  proof  of  their  identity  ;  but, 
 as  it  is    not  of  a  mere  general   nature,  but  extends 
 to  various  minute  particulars,  it  ought  not  to  be  light- 
 ly rejected.     As  the  concluding  lines  of  the  preced- 
 ing citation,  determine  the  year  in    which  Lindsay's 
 Monarchy  was  originally  published  -,  so,  the  parallel 
 passage  of  the  Complaynt  accurately  determines  its 
 cera.      "  Efftir  the  supputatione  of  He/ie,   as  master 
 "  Ihone  Carion  hes  rehersit,    the  varld  hes  bot  four 
 <c  hundretht  fyfty  tua   zeir  tyl  indure,  be   cause  that 
 "  ther  is  fiue  hundrethe  fourty  audit   zeir  by  past  of 
 "  the  foir  said  sex  thousand  zeir.  "  (p.  55.)     Both  au-. 
 thors  express  their  opinion  that  the  latter  period  of 
 2000  years  shall  be  shortened. 
 
 "  Christ  sayis  the  time  salbe  maid  schort, 
 As  Mathew  planelie  dois  report ; 
 That  for  the  warldis  iniquitie, 
 The  latter  time  sail  schortnit  be  ; 
 For  plesour  of  the  chosin  number, 
 That  thay  may  pass  from  cair  and  cumber  ; 
 Sa  be  this  compt  it  may  be  kend, 
 The  warld  is  drawand  neir  ane  end.  " 
 
 Lindesays  Monarchy ,  p.  153. 
 « —  "  Bot  thir  last  tua  thousand  zeir,  as  master  ihone 
 carion  allegis  in  the  prophesye  of  Helie,  sal  nocht  be 
 
 completit, 
 
3i 
 
 completit,  be  rason  that  the  clay  of  iugement  sal  be  an- 
 tecipet,  be  cause  of  them  that  ar  his  electis,  as  is  vrityn 
 in  the  xxiiii  cheptour  of  Sanct  Mathow,  (p.  55.) — This 
 veil  considrit,  maye  be  ane  probabil  rason  that  the  varld 
 is  neir  ane  end.  "  (p.  56.) 
 
 Again,  both  authors  represent  the  precise  period  of 
 the  world's  termination  as  uncertain,  though  they  both 
 declare,  unequivocally,  that  many  of  the  figns  preced- 
 ing it  had  been  accomplished.  Lindsay  thus  expresses 
 himself  concerning  the  uncertainty  of  its  termination : 
 "  Quhairfoir  perturbe  not  thine  intent, 
 
 To  knaw  day,  hour,  or  moment : — 
 
 To  God  alone  the  day  bene  knawin, 
 
 Quhilk  neuer  was  to  nane  angell  schawin. — />.  152. 
 
 Sen  na  man  knawis  the  hour  nor  day, 
 
 The  scripture  biddis  us  watch  and  pray, 
 
 And  for  our  sin  be  penitent, 
 
 As  Christ  wald  cum  incontinent.  " — p.  160. 
 — "  Eftir  the  vordis  of  Sanct  Mathou,  the  consumma- 
 tione  of  the  varld  sal  be  haistiar  nor  foure  hundretht 
 fyftye  &  tua  zeir  •,  zit  God  lies  nocht  affixt  ane  certan 
 day  to  fal  vitht  in  the  said  terme  of  iiii.  c.  lii  zeir,  as  is 
 rehersit  in  Sanct  Mathou,  de  die  autem,  &c. — ther- 
 for  ve  haue  mister  to  be  vigilant  &  reddy,  sen  the 
 terme  of  cristis  camming  is  schort,  and  the  day  uncer- 
 tain. "— {p.  55,  56.) 
 
 A  similar  coincidence  appears  in  the  ideas  of  these 
 writers  concerning  the  accomplishment  of  the  signs 
 which  precede  the  termination  of  the  world.  The  au- 
 thor of  the  Complaynt  says,  "  Quha  listis  to  reide  al 
 the  xxiiii  cheptour  of  Sanct  Mathou,  tha  sal  ptrsaoe 
 ruidently  that  the  varld  is  verray  neir  aneemlc,  be  rason 
 that  mony  of  the  bingis  and  taikkyn>  that  precedes  the 
 
 e  ii  day 
 
day  of  iugement,  that  ar  expremit  in  the  foirsaid  chep- 
 tour,  ar  by  past,  and  the  remanent  are  nou  presently 
 in  our  dais  :  "  p.  55. 
 Lindsay  observes — 
 
 "  For  legionis  ar  cum,  but  dout, 
 
 Of  Antichristis,  wer  thay  soucht  out ; 
 And  mony  takins  dois  appeir, 
 As  efter  schortly  thow  sail  heir  :  "  p.  153. 
 He  then  proceeds  to  enumerate  a  variety  of  signs,  chief- 
 ly figurative  or  allegorical,  referring  to  the  same  24th 
 chapter  of  Matthew  j    and  then  concludes  with  ob- 
 serving— 
 
 "  Sa  be  thir  takinnis  dois  apeir, 
 
 The  day  of  iudgement  drawis  neir  in  p.  157. 
 In  these  passages,  the  minute  and  circumstantial  coin- 
 cidences are  so  numerous,  that  the  argument  deduced 
 from  them  is  little  weakened,  though  we  admit  that 
 the  computation  to  which  they  both  refer,  is  quoted 
 from  the  same  author,  and  also  that  such  computa- 
 tions were  agreeable  to  the  taste  of  the  age. 
 
 The  following  is  the  original  passage  of  Canon's 
 Chronicle,  according  to  Gwalter  Lynne's  translation, 
 1550. 
 
 "  He  that  wyll  reade  historyes  to  profyt,  the  same 
 must  comprehcnde  all  the  tymes  sence  the  foundacyon 
 of  the  worlde  into  a  certayn  order.  For  there  were 
 some  that  diuyded  the  worlde  therfore  in  seuen  ages, 
 and  haue  rekened  them  diuersly  :  but  those  where  they 
 endeuour  to  sett  an  order,  they  do  nothynge  but  sett 
 all  thynges  wythout  order.  As  for  me,  I  wyll  folow 
 the  renowmed  sayenge  of  Ely  the  prophet,  whych  hath, 
 excellently  dyuyded  the  worlde  into  the  ages*,  wyth  the 
 whyche   he    sheweth  the    greatest  chaunges  of    the 
 
 worlde^ 
 
AM 
 
 :  j 
 
 worlde,  also  what  tyme  it  behoued  Christ  to  come, 
 and  how  longe  thys  state  of  die  worlde  ought  to  last : 
 and  thus  it  is 
 
 The  Sayenge  of  Helias  house  : 
 The  worlde  shall  stande  syxe  thousand  yeres,  and  after 
 shall  it  falle — 
 
 Two  thousand  yeares  wythout  the  lawe  -, 
 Two  thousand  yeares  in  the  law  ; 
 Two  thousand  yeares  the  tyme  of  C 
 vf  these  yeares  be  not  accomplyshed,  oure  synnes 
 bhall  be  the  cause]  are  greaie  and  many.  " 
 
 But,  a  coincidence  of  a  still  more  remarkable  na- 
 ture, is,  that  which  subsists  between  the  general  de- 
 sign of  Lindsay's  Monarchy,  and  that  of  the  first  five 
 chapters  of  the  Compb.-  late  to  "  the  cause 
 
 of  the  mutatione  of  monarchis.  "  Though  the  author 
 of  the  Complaynt  announces  that  it  is  his  object  "  to 
 rse  the  cause  and  occasione  of  the  onmersiful  af- 
 ilictione  of  the  desolat  realme  of  Scotland,  "  p.  10,  he 
 soon  digresses,  aj  lie  proceeds  to  investigate  the 
 
 >use  of  the  mutation  of  monarchies.     New,  if  we 
 suppose,  for  a  moment,  that  Lindsay,  who  ' 
 from  court  in  .  at  the  time  of  the  publica- 
 
 tion of  the  Complaynt,  employed  in  ion  of 
 
 his  Monarchy,  nothing  will  appear  more 
 this  anticipation.     It  will  likewise  follow,  that  it 
 Monarchy  which  i->  announced  in  the  conclusion  of  the 
 Prologue  to  the  Complaynt,  in  these  ap] 
 "  Thy  cheretabil  correctione  maye  be  ane  prou„cationc 
 
 r  me  studye  mair  attentiulye   in  the  m    • 
 that  i  intend  to  Bet  furtht,   the  quhilk  i    : 
 sal  be  vcrray  neceatair  tvl  al  them  t] 
 rerteonalye,  Lndurand  the  schorl 
 
gij   percgrinationc  ;   and   sa   fayr  veil  :  "    p.  28. — This 
 annunciation  corresponds  with  the  subject  of  the  Mo- 
 narchy ;  the  prologue  to  which  work  presents  the  author 
 meditating  on  the  instability  of  human  affairs. 
 "  Musing  and  meruelling  on  the  miserie, 
 
 From  day  to  day,  in  eirth  quhilk  dois  meres  ; 
 
 And  of  ilk  stait  the  instabilitie, 
 
 Proceding  of  the  restless  besiness, 
 
 Quhairon  the  maist  part  dois  thair  minde  addres 
 
 Inordinatlie,  on  hungry  couetice, 
 
 Vaine  gloir,  dissait,  and  other  sensuall  vice.  " 
 And  afterwards,  in  the  Dialogue  between  Experience 
 and  the  Courtier — 
 
 "  Thou  seis  quhat  mutabiliteis, 
 
 Quhat  miserabill  calamiteis  ; 
 
 Quhat  troubill,  trauell,  and  debait, 
 
 Seis  thow  in  euery  mortall  stait : 
 
 Begin  at  pure  law  creaturis  ; 
 
 Ascending  syne  to  senatouris  ; 
 ,To  greit  princes  and  potestatis,  &c. — p.  9. 
 
 Bot  ordourlie  for  to  begin, 
 This  miserie  proceidis  of  sin  ; 
 Bot  it  war  lang  to  be  defynit, 
 How  all  men  ar  to  sin  inclynit ; 
 Quhen  sin  aboundantlie  doith  ring, 
 Justly  God  makith  punisching  ; 
 Quhairfoir  greit  God  into  his  handis, 
 To  dant  the  warld,  hes  diuers  wandis  \ 
 Efter  our  euill  conditioun, 
 He  makis  on  us  punitioun, 
 With  hounger,  derth,  and  indigence  ; 
 Sum  tyme  greit  plagis  and  pestilens  ; 
 
 And 
 
3S 
 
 And  sum  tyme  with  his  bludy  wand, 
 Throw  cruel  weir  be  sey  and  land.  " — -p.  i  o. 
 "  The  mutations  of  euerye  varldly  thyng, "  says  the 
 author  of  the  Complaynt,  "  is  certane,  quhou  beit 
 that  prosperous  men  prouidis  nocht  to  resist  the  occa- 
 sions of  the  mutabiliteis  ;  quliilk  occasions  ar  ay  vigi- 
 lant to  suppcdit  &  to  spulze  al  them  that  ar  ingrate 
 of  the  benefecis  of  gode  :"  p.  30. — "  Euere  thyng  hes 
 ane  tyme  ;  for  mutations  of  varldly  felicite  is  ane  na- 
 tural habitude,  quhilkis  is  the  cause  that  na  thyng  re- 
 manis  lang  constant  in  ane  prosperus  stait ;  and  that  is 
 the  special  cause  that  al  dominions  altris,  dechaeis, 
 ande  cummis  to  subuersione  :  "  p.  32.  In  the  same 
 manner,  the  cause  of  these  mutations  of  monarchies 
 and  dominions,  is  attributed  to  disobedience  or  sin,  for 
 the  punishment  of  which  they  are  inflicted — "  As  the 
 hie  monarchis,  lordschips  ande  autoriteis,  ar  stablit  be 
 the  infinite  diuyne  ordinance,  and  mcntemit  be  the 
 sempiternal  prouidens,  siclyik  ther  ruuyne  cummis  be 
 the  sentence  gyfhn  be  the  Bouerane  consel  of  the  di 
 sapiens,  the  quhilk  doune  thringis  them  fra  the  liie 
 trone  of  ther  imperial  dominations,  ande  garris  them 
 fal  in  the  depe  fosse  of  seruitude,  and  ther  magnificens 
 in  ruuyne,  and  causis  conquerours  to  be  conquest, 
 ande  til  obeye  ther  vmquhile  subiectis  be  dreddour, 
 quhome  of  befor  thai  commandit  be  autorite.  This 
 decreit  procedis  of  die  diuyne  iustice,  be  rason  that 
 princis  and  vthirs  of  autorite  becumis  ambitius  ande 
 presumpteous,  throucht  grite  superfluite  of  veltht ; 
 ther  for  he  dois  chestee  them  be  the  abstractione  of 
 that  superfluite  : "  p.  29. — "  The  special  cause  - 
 scurge  that  hes  affligit  us,  Iks  procedh  of  our  di 
 diens  contrar  the  commande  of  gode  3  ande  the   1 
 
36 
 
 of  our  disobediens  hcs   procedit  of  ane  varldly  a 
 
 Sc  cupidite  that  we  haue  touart  the  vile  corrup- 
 of  the  varld  : "  p.  48.     Thus,  also,  Lindsay,   in 
 the  Epistill  Nuncupatorie — 
 
 "  And  caus  them  cleirlie  for  till  understand, 
 That  for  the  breiking  of  the  Lordis  command, 
 His  thrinfall  wand  of  flagellatioun  • 
 
 Hes  scurgit  this  pure  realme  of  Scotland 
 Be  mortall  weiris,  baith  be  sey  and  land  ; 
 With  monie  terribill  tribulatioun  : 
 Thairfoir  mak  to  them  true  narratioun, 
 That  all  the  weiris,  this  derth,  hunger,  and  pest, 
 Was  not  bot  for  our  sinnis  manifest.  n 
 The  enumeration  of  the  miseries  with  which  Scot- 
 land had  been  afflicted,  is  not  only  simijar,  but  intro- 
 duced both  by  Lindsay  and  the  author  of  the  Com- 
 playnt,  in  their  respective  prefaces. 
 
 "  The  special  cause  of  our  affiictioune  hes  proce- 
 dit of  thre  vehement  plagis,  quhilk  hes  almaist  sue-* 
 cumbit  pure  cuntre  in  final  euertione ;  that  is  to 
 the  cruele  inuasions  of  oure  aid  enemeis,  the  universal 
 pestilens  and  mortalite  that  hes  occurrit-  mercyies  a- 
 mang  the  pepil,.  ande  the  cont~ntione  of  diuers  of  the 
 thre  estaitis  of  Scotland:"  p.  1,  2. — What  are  : 
 ,  but  Lindsay's — 
 
 — "  Mortall  weiris  baith  be  sey  and  land, 
 With  monie  terribill  tribulatioun, — 
 — The  weiris,  this  derth,  hunger,  and  pest, 
 — This  mortall  miserie, 
 Be  sword  and  fyre,  derth,  pest  and  pouertie  ? ;i 
 Lyndcsays  Epistill  'Nuncupatorie, 
 The  author  of  the  Complaynt,  p.  44,  evidently  con- 
 siders a  young  prince  as  one  of  the  curses  of  God ; 
 
 though 
 
37 
 
 though  he  attempts  to  explain  away  his  quotation,  by 
 declaring  that  "  the  terme  zouthed  suld  be  undirstandin 
 for  ignorance  and  inconstance,  and  nocht  for  zong  of 
 zeiris.  "    This  was  likewise  a  favourite   sentiment  of 
 Lindsay ;  for  he  puts  the  following  declaration  into  the 
 mouth  of  "  Johne  the  commoun  weill :  " — 
 "  Als  zit  to  the  I  say  ane  vther  thing  ; — 
 I  se  richt  weill  that  prouerbe  is  full  trew, 
 Wo  to  the  realme  yat  hcs  ouir  zong  ane  king  !  n 
 
 p.  256. 
 This  coincidence,  which  we  have   noticed,  extends 
 equally  to  the  events  which  are  the   subjects  of  obser- 
 vation, the  causes  assigned  for  these  events,  and  the 
 reflections  to  which  they  give  rise  ;  and  it  may  there- 
 fore be  inferred  with  propriety,  that  it  is  rather  the  re- 
 sult of  intentional  imitation,  than  of  accidental  resem- 
 blance.    But,  if  this  coincidence  be  the  efFect  of  imi- 
 tation,   it   is    much  more  probable,  that  a  person  of 
 Lindsay's  genius  would  borrow  from  his  own  prior  com- 
 position, than   from  that  of  any  other  person.     This 
 probability  is   likewise   strengthened  by  the  fact,  that 
 this  coincidence,  in  the  particular  illustrations,  is  much 
 more  striking  than  in  the  general  propositions.     Thus, 
 "  Behald  how  God,  ay  sen  the  warld  began, 
 lies  maid  of  tyrane  kingis  instrumentis, 
 To  scurge  pepill,  and  to  kill  mony  ane  man, 
 Ouhiikis  to  his  law  wer  inobedien 
 Quhen  tluy  had  done  pcrfurmeis  his  intentis, 
 in  danting  wrangous  pepill  schamefull    , 
 He  sulTerit  thame  be  scurgit  cruellie. 
 
 Euin  as  the  scule-maister  dois  mak  ane  wand, 
 To  dant  and  ding  scolaris  of  r 
 
 f   '  The 
 
33 
 
 The  quhilkis  will  nocht  study  at  his  command"  y 
 He  scurgis  thame,  and  onelie  to  that  fyne, 
 That  thai  suld  to  his  trew  counsell  inclyne ; 
 Quhen  thai  obey,  and  meisit  bene  his  ire, 
 He  takis  the  wand,  and  castis  into  the  fyre. " 
 
 p.  119,  120. 
 "  Ane  boreau  or  hangman  is  permittit  be  ane  prince 
 to  scurge  and  to  puneise  transgressours,  and  there  efftir 
 that  samyn  boreau  is  stikkit  or  hangit  eftiruart,  for  his 
 cruel  demeritis,  as  is  the  end  of  them  that  settis  ther 
 felicite  to  skatter  &  to  skail  blude*  Siclyike  the  cruel 
 inglis  men  that  hes  scurgit  us,  hes  nocht  dune  it  of 
 manhede  or  visdome,  nor  of  ane  gude  zeil,  bot  rather 
 the  supreme  plasmator  of  hauyn  ande  eird  hes  per- 
 mittit them  to  be  boreaus,  to  puneise  us  for  the  mis- 
 knaulage  of  his  magestie.  Quhar  for  i  treist  that  his 
 diuine  iustice  vil  permit  sum  vthir  straynge  natione  to 
 be  mercyles  boreaus  to  them,  ande  til  extinct  that  false 
 seid,  ande  that  incredule  generations  "  p.  41. — "  The 
 father  takkis  the  vand  or  scurge  to  puneise  his  sonne 
 that  hes  broken  his  command  ;  ande  quhen  his  sonne 
 becummis  obedient,  the  father  brakkis  the  vand,  and 
 castis  it  in  the  fyir.  "  p.  42. 
 
 u  Efter  this  trowbill,  as  the  propheit  sayis, 
 Quhen  God  sail  se  our  humbill  repentence, 
 Till  strange  pepill  thocht  he  hes  geuen  licence 
 To  be  our  scurge,  induring  his  desire, 
 Will,  quhen  he  list,  that  scurge  cast  in  die  fire. " 
 Epi  still  Nuncupatorie. 
 u  The  realme  of  the  assiriens  vas  the  scurge  of  gode 
 to  puneise  the  pepill  of  israel  for  ther  disobediens  ;  bot 
 fra  tyme  that  the  pepil  of  israel  vas  reterit  fra  ther  vice, 
 gode  distroyit  there  scurge."  p.  41. 
 
 The 
 
39 
 
 The  same  resemblance  appears  in  the  enumeration  of 
 the  different  monarchies. 
 
 "  First  rang  the  kingis  of  Assyrianis, 
 
 Secondly  rang  the  Persianis, 
 
 The  Greikis  thridlie,  with  sword  and  fyre, 
 
 Perforce  obtenit  the  thrid  impyre  ; 
 
 The  fourt  monarchic,  as  I  heir, 
 
 The  Romanis  bruikit  mony  ane  zeir. "    p.  57. 
 "  The  fyrst  monarche  of  the  valid  vas  translatit  fra 
 the  assiriens  to  them  of  Perse,  ande  fra  Perse  to  the 
 Greikis,  and  translatit  fra  the  Greikis  to  the  Romans.  " 
 
 P-32. 
 
 A  coincidence  may  likewise  be  observed,  in  the  man- 
 ner in  which  these  authors  allude  to  the  residence  of 
 Queen  Mary  in  France.  Lindsay,  addressing  his  book, 
 thus  expresses  himself  in  "  the  Epistill  Nuncupa- 
 torie  "— 
 
 "  We  haue  na  king,  thee  to  present,  allace, 
 Quhilk  to  this  country  bene  ane  cairfull  cace  ; 
 And  als  our  Quene  of  Scotland  heritour, 
 Scho  dwellis  in  France,  I  pray  God  saue  her  grace  •, 
 It  war  too  lang  for  thee  to  ryn  that  race, 
 .    And  far  langer  or  that  zoung  tendir  flour 
 Bring  hame  to  us  a  king  and  gouernour. 
 Allace  thairfoir,  we  may  with  sorrow  sing, 
 Quhilk  must  sa  lang  remane  without  ane  king.  " 
 The  author  of  the  Complaynt,  addressing  the   Queen 
 Regent  of  Scotland,  could  not  employ  the   same   lan- 
 guage, as  Lindsay  apostrophizing  his   book  ;  yet,  not- 
 withstanding the  necessary  distinction  between   prose 
 and    poetry,    no    inconsiderable    resemblance    may    be 
 traced  in  the  manner  of  mentioning  the   - 
 "  Ande  als  zour  grac  j  beand  absent  fra  /our  only  zong 
 
 f  ij  dochter, 
 
4o 
 
 dochter,  our  nobil  princes  and  rychteous  heretour  of 
 Scotland,  quha  is  presentlye  veil  tretit  in  the  gouernance 
 of  hyr  fadir  of  lau,  the  maist  illustir  potent  prince 
 of  the  maist  fertil  and  pacebil  realme  vndir  the  ma- 
 chine of  the  supreme  olimp,  quhar  that  zour  grace 
 mycht  remane  and  duel  amang  the  nobil  princis  Sc 
 princessis  of  France,  quhilkis  ar  zour  natiue  frendis  of 
 consanguinite  &  affinite,  ande  ther  ze  mycht  possess 
 abundance  of  all  pleseirs  most  conuenient  for  zour  no- 
 bilite  ;  bot  zit  the  feruent  loue  that  zour  grace  baris 
 touart  that  tendir  pupil  zour  only  dochter,  "  &c.  p.  4. 
 The  identity  of  many  of  the  historical  examples  in 
 Lindsay's  Monarchy,  and  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland, 
 corroborates  strongly  the  argument  deduced  from  the 
 coincidence  of  some  considerable  portions  of  these  two 
 works,  in  their  general  plan  and  execution. 
 
 Thus,  the  death  of  Cyrus  is  related  with  the  same 
 circumstances  of  barbarity  in  Queen  Thomyris.  "  Kyng 
 Cirus  vas  nocht  contentit  of  his  auen  realme,  bot  vald 
 pas  to  conques  sithia  ;  zit  thomaris  gart  hym  be  con- 
 tent, quhen  sche  pat  his  hede  in  ane  pope  ful  of  bluid, 
 sayand  til  it,  O  cirus,  thou  culd  neuyr  be  saciat  of 
 menis  blude,  bot  nou  thou  maye  drynk  thy  HI  of 
 blude.  "  p.  126. 
 
 w  Bot  efter  his  greit  conquesing, 
 
 Richt  miserabill  was  his  ending, 
 
 As  Herodotus  dois  discryue  : 
 
 In  Scithia  he  lest  his  lyfe, 
 
 Quhair  the  vndantit  Sckhianis 
 
 Uincust  these  nobill  Persianis. — 
 
 And  efter  that  Cyrus  was  deid, 
 
 Quene  Tomyre  hakkit  of  his  heid, 
 
 Quhilk 
 
4i 
 
 i^uliilk  vas  the  quenc  of  Scithianis, 
 
 In  the  despyte  of  Persianis  : 
 
 Scho  kest  his  heid,  for  to  conclude, 
 
 Intill  ane  uessell  full  of  blude, 
 
 And  said  thir  wordis  cruelly, 
 
 Drink  now  thy  fill,  gif  thow  be  dry  *, 
 
 For  thow  did  ay  blude  schedding  thrist, 
 
 Now  drink  at  laisour  gif  thow  li^t.  " 
 
 Lindfsays  Works,  p.  104. 
 In  Gwalter  Lynne's  translation  of  Carion's  Chronicle-, 
 the  fact  is  mentioned  in  these  terms  :  "  Howbeit  He- 
 vodotus  wryteth,  that  the  Perses  lykewise  were  ouer- 
 throwen  of  the  cruel  natyon,  and  that  Cyrus  hymself 
 was  alayen  in  that  battayl,  and  that  Tomyris  the  quene 
 cast  his  hede  into  a  pottful  of  mens  blood,  and  sayde, 
 wyth  hygh  reproch,  Satiate  the  selfe  now  wyth  blude, 
 wherewyth  thou  neuer  couldest  be  fylled.  "  fol.  36. 
 The  same  observation  applies  to  the  victory  of  Han- 
 at  Cannae.  "  Ther  is  ane  ezempil,  quhou  that 
 cftir  the  dolorus  battel  of  Cannes,  quhar  that  the  nobil 
 counsul  emilius  paulus  was  slain,  with  xliii  thousand  of 
 the  mai^t  nobiilis  of  italic,  quhen  tliat  annibal  send  to 
 -e  thre  muis  of  gold  ringis,  quhilkis  he  hed  gottin 
 on  the  fingaris  of  the  maist  nobil  roman-, 
 plane,  fu:  aionial  of  his  grit  ''  p.  175. 
 
 &     2  72. 
 
 "  Duke  Hanniball  the  Strang  Chartagiane, 
 
 The  danter  of  the  Roman  is  pompe  and  glorie, 
 
 Be  his  power  wer  mony  thousand  slane, 
 
 As  may  be  red  at  tenth  intill  his  storie, 
 
 At  Cannas,  quhair  he  wan  the  vietorie ; 
 
 On  Romania  handis,  that  deid  lay  on  t'  id, 
 
 Hire  heipit  buschellis  war  of  ringis  found. 
 
 Into 
 
42 
 
 Into  that  mortall  battell  I  heir  sane, 
 Of  the  Romanis  maist  worthie  weiriouris, 
 By  prcsonarls,  war  fourty  thousand  slane, 
 Of  quhome  thair  was  thretty  wise  Senatouris, 
 And  xx  lordis,  the  quhilkis  had  bin  pretouris, 
 That  deit  to  in  defence  of  thair  cuntrie, 
 And  for  till  bald  thair  land  at  libertie.  " 
 
 Lindesafs  Works,  p.  ill. 
 The  only  other  instance,  which  it  appears  necessary 
 to  select,    is  that  of   Sardanapalus.     "  Sardanapalus, 
 kyng  of  Sirrie,  clethit  hym  in  vemens  claitis,  &   span 
 on  ane  roc.  " — Lindsay,  who  details  the  history  of  Sar- 
 danapalus at  some  length,  has  the  following  passage  : 
 "  And  as  ane  woman  he  was  cled, 
 With  wemen  counsalit  and  led, 
 And  schamefullie  he  was  settand, 
 With  spindill  &  with  rock  spinnand.  " 
 
 Lindesafs  Works>  p.  95. 
 This  coincidence  is  the  more  striking,  because  the 
 citation  from  the  Complaynt  occurs  in  the  margin, 
 in  a  passage  where  it  was  only  necessary,  for  the 
 discussion,  to  state  that  Sardanapalus  was  an  ef- 
 feminate prince.  Many  other  historical  examples 
 occur  in  both  works,  and  are  adduced  for  nearly 
 the  same  purposes,  as  Semiramis,  Hercules,  Mithri- 
 dates.  Indeed,  the  historical  sources,  to  which  Lind- 
 say and  the  author  of  the  Complaynt  have  had  re- 
 course for  their  instances,  are  nearly  the  same.  The 
 authorities  cited  by  Lindsay,  are,  Virgil,  Cicero,  St 
 Jerome,  Orosius,  Josephus,  Diodorus,  Boccace,  Ethe- 
 sias,  Eusebius,  Livy,  Carion's  Chronicle,  Herodotus, 
 uf  Alexander  "  in  Inglische  toung,  in  his  greit, 
 
 buke, " 
 
43 
 
 bukc,  "  Avicenna,  Valerius  Maximus,  Polydorus  Vir- 
 gilius,  Fasciculus  Temporum  &  Cronica  Cronicorum, 
 St  Augustine,  and  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  with 
 the  Apocrypha.  Those  quoted  in  the  Complaynt  of 
 Scotland,  are,  Chato,  p.  II.;  Diodorus,  p.  12.  •,  Aris- 
 toteles  Politicks,  p.  16.  •,  Cicero,  p.  141.;  De  Oflic. — 
 Parad. — De  Finibus  *,  Persius,  p.  17.  \  Plutarch,  p.  19.; 
 Justin,  p.  44.  ;  John  Carion,  p.  54.  •,  Josephus,  p.  72.  *, 
 Lactantius,  p.  79. ;  St  Augustine — Juvenal,  p.  124.5 
 Boccace,  p.  1 26.  ;  Seneca,  the  tragic  writer,  p.  1 26.  ; 
 Titus  Livius,  p.  145.;  Valerius  Maximus,  p.  145.', 
 Sallust,  p.  168.;  Thucydides,  p.  179.;  Mimus  Publi- 
 anus,  p.  198.  *,  the  Priests  of  Peblis,  p.  223.  ;  Boetius, 
 p.  237. ;  Phileremo  Fregoso,  p.  265. ;  x  Vincentius, 
 p.  267.  Besides  these,  references  occur  to  the  Civil 
 and  Canon  law,  to  the  Annals  of  Rome,  p.  284,  and, 
 m  many  instances,  to  the  Old  and  New  Testament, 
 when  the  Bible  of  Junius  is  always  quoted. 
 
 Lindsay's 
 
 *    Of  Fregoso,  the  following  account  occurs  in   De   Bure   Biblio- 
 graph.  N°  3483  &  4- 
 
 Opcre  di  Messer  Phileremo  Antonio  Fregoso  ;   cioc, 
 II  ris©  di  Dtmotriio  et  Pianto  di  Heraclito. 
 
 In  Milano,   per  Zanoto  di  Castlor.t,  IJJJ,  4-'». 
 Opera  nova  del  medeiimo  Cavalier  Fregoso  nella  quale   si  contien*, 
 I.amento  d'amore  Mendicante ;  Dialogo  di  Mu>.ica  ;    Pergoletta   do   \c 
 laudi  d'amore  :  Discorsi  cottidiani  non  vulgare  de  lo  instituto  naturale; 
 dcla  Probiti  et  de  i  tre  Peregrini. 
 
 /*    Milui:»  per    BarUhmeo   da    Crema   ad  initantia   de 
 Mtner  *Joannc  Jacobo  et  fratelli  de  L>*n**ct   /'  *nn» 
 1515,   in  4*. 
 De  Bure  remarks,  M  Ces  deux   volumes  sc   rasscrnMcnt  ordinaire- 
 ment  et  compltttent  l'cdition  des  Poesies  de  cet  auteur  ;  les  exc- 
 -0  sont  rair. 
 
44 
 
 Lindsay's  Dream,  a  work,  which,  like  the  «Com*~ 
 play nt  of  Scotland,  combines  sound  advice  and  poignant 
 satire,  with  all  the  learning  of  the  age,  strong  moral 
 observation,  and  considerable  powers  of  description, 
 likewise  exhibits  various  vestiges  of  that  similarity 
 which  we  have  attempted  to  trace  between  the 
 Complaynt  and  the  Monarchy  of  that  author.  The 
 machinery  of  the  Dream  is  similar  to  that  which 
 prevails  in  all  the  visionary  poems  of  the  early  pe- 
 riods. The  poet  first  displays  his  descriptive  powers 
 in  depicting  a  rural  scene.  He  is  then  met  very  oppor- 
 tunely by  "  ane  lady  of  portrature  perfite,  "  whom  he 
 discovers  to  be  Dame  Remembrance,  and  who  transports 
 him,  with  wonderful  rapidity,  through  all  the  regions 
 of  nature  and  existence,  and  conducts  him  safely  back 
 to  the  cave  where  his  journey  had  commenced.  In  the 
 rural  scene,  the  Song  of  the  Lark  is  uncommonly' 
 poetical. 
 
 SONG  OF  THE  LARK. 
 
 Allace,  Aurora  !  the  sillie  lark  can  cry, 
 Quhair  hes  thou  left  thy  balmy  liquour  sweit 
 That  us  reiosit,  we  mounting  in  the  sky  ? 
 Thy  siluer  droppis  are  turnit  into  sleit : 
 O  ifair  Phebus,  quhair  is  thy  holsum  heit  ? 
 Quhy  tliolis  thou  thy  heuinly  plesand  face 
 h  mystie  vapouris  to  be  obscurit  allace  ? 
 
 Quhair  art  thou,  May,  with  June,  thy  sister  schene, 
 V^iII  burdourit  with  daseis  of  delyte  ; 
 And  gentill  July  with  thy  mantil  grene, 
 E.iamilit  with  rosis  reid  and  quhyte  ? 
 Now,  auld  and  cauld  Januar,  in  dispite, 
 
 Reiffis 
 
45 
 
 Reiffis  from  us  all  pastime  and  plesure. 
 Allace,  quhat  gentill  hart  may  this  indure  ! 
 
 Ouirsylit  ar  with  cloudis  odious 
 The  goldin  skyis  of  the  Orient, 
 Changing  in  sorrow  our  sang  melodious, 
 Quhilk  we  had  wont  to  ling  with  gude  intent, 
 Resoundand  to  the  heuinnis  firmament ; 
 Bot  now  our  day  is  chan^it  into  nicht.  " 
 
 Liadtsays  Worhs^  p.  227. 
 A  rural  scene  is  likewise  introduced   in  the  chaptei 
 of  the  Complaynt,  entitled,  "  Ane    Monolog  of   the 
 Actor  ;  "    but,  in  some  respects,  it  resembles  more  the 
 Prologue  of  the  Monarchy,  than  that  of  the  Dream  ; 
 for,  in   the   one,    "   fresche    Flora    spreads   forth   her 
 jqueynt   and   curious   tapestrie ; "    and,    in    the  other, 
 "  the  tender  flouris  are  lurking  law   under   dame 
 ture's   mantill.  "      In  the   Complaynt,  "  rayr   D 
 the  lantern  of  the  i:  pail,  quhen 
 
 Titan  hed  extinct  tlie  light  of  hyr  Lunp.  n     In  the  Pro* 
 logue  of  the  Monarchy, 
 
 "  Cynthia  the  horn  it  niehtis  quene, 
 
 Scho  loist  hir  licht,  and  led  ane  lawcr  [ 
 From  time  her  souerane  lord  that  scho  had  sene, 
 And  in  his  presence  wazit  dirk  and  pai 
 And  ouer  hir  ill.  " 
 
 Jn   other  respects,    however,   the  Monologue  accords 
 
 with  the  Prologue  of  the  Dream.     Ti 
 of  the  Complaynt  "  beand  sopit  in 
 to  the  see  syde  :  than  under  a  hi  uch,  he  hears 
 
 mony  hun  niis  that  .>une 
 
 vitht  the  land  rusche,  quhilk   maid  ane  fellounc  :>ound, 
 throcht  viikyng  of  the  Slielland  vallis  of  the  brym 
 
46 
 
 &  than  he  sits  doun  to  see  the  flouyng  of  the  fame.  W 
 Lindsay,  in   he  Prologue  to  the  Dream,  describes  near- 
 ly the  s   ne  process  of  observation,  when  he  says, 
 "  Pensiye  in  '-art,  passing  ful  soberlie, 
 Unto  the  sey,  forwart  I  fure  anone, 
 The  ;ey  -as  forth*  the  sand  was  smooth  and  dry  : 
 
 I :,'■  doun  I  musit  mine  alone, 
 
 Till  that  I  spyit  a  lytill  caue  of  stone — 
 
 — 1  vist  not  at  quhat  end  to  bt 
 Bor  sat  - :  ill  in  that  caue,  quhair  I  micht  se 
 The  weiter-ng  of  the  wants  up  and  down — 
 The  skowknd  craig  me  couerit  from  the  sleit.  " — 
 After  th  •   description  of  the  scene,  both  Lindsay 
 and  the  author  of  the  Complaynt  represent  themselves 
 as  f  'ling  asleep,  when  their  respective  visions  are  pre- 
 sented to  them.     "  Morpheus,  that  slepye  gode,  "  says 
 the  author  of  the  pomplaynt,  "  assailzeit  al  my  mem- 
 hris,  and  opressit  my  dull  melancolius  nature — quhar 
 for  on  neid  forse,  i  vas  constrenzeit  to  be  his  sodiour  : 
 than,  in  ane  takyn  of  obedie:is,  i  maid  hym  reuerens  on 
 on  my  rycht  syde  on  the  cald  eird,  ande  i  maid  ane  cod 
 of  ane  gray  stane.  " — f.  105.     Lindsay  climbs  into  a 
 little  cave  of  stone,  and  meditates,  "  till  Morpheus  with 
 sieip  his  spreit  opprest,  "  when  "  constranit  he  was  to 
 'virhoutin  moir.  "     The  author  of  the  Complaynt 
 is  drive.  1  from  the  shore  to  the   green  fields,  which  he 
 had  lett,  by  the  disagreeable   scene  of  a  fight  at  sea. 
 u  The  reik,  smeuk,  and  the  stink  of  the  gun  puldir, 
 fylit  al  the  ayr,  m  list  lyik  as  plutois  paleis  hed  been 
 birhand  in  ane  bald  fyir,  quhilk  generit  sic  mirknes 
 and  myst,  that  i  culd  nocht  see  my  lyntht  about  me  : 
 quhar  for  i  rais,  and  returnit  to  the  fre&che  feildis  that 
 
 i 
 
47 
 
 i  cam  fra.  "— />.  65.     Lindsay's  Dream,  in  like  manner, 
 terminates  by  the  view  of  a  ship  firing  guns  at  se  . 
 "  With  that  ane  schip  did  spedely  aproch., 
 Ful  plcsandly  sailing  upon  the  deip, 
 And  sine  did  slaik  hir  sailiis,  and  gaa  to  creip 
 Toward  the  land  anent  quhair  that  I  lay  ; 
 Bot  wit  ze  weill,  I  gat  ane  fellone  fray. 
 
 All  her  cannounis  scho  let  crak  at  anis, 
 Doun  schuke  the  strimaris  from  the  top  castcll, 
 Thay  spairit  not  the  poulder  nor  the  stanis, 
 Thay  schdt  thair  boitis  &  doun  yair  ankeris  fell. 
 The  marinaris  thai  did  sa  zout  and  zell, 
 That  haistelie  I  stert  out  of  my  dreme.  " 
 
 Lindesays  Works,  p.  257. 
 The  astronomical  system  detailed  by  Lindsay  in  his 
 Dream,  differs  not  essentially  from  that  which  the  prin- 
 cipal shepherd  in  the  Complaynt  delivers  to  his  coi  ipa- 
 nkxil  •,  but  this  coincidence  is  of  slight  importance, 
 since  the  same  system  is  common  to  all  the  writers  of 
 the  middle  ages. 
 
 A  coincidence  of  a  much  more  important  nature, 
 is  that  which  may  be  traced  between  the  allege 
 character,  Johne  the  Commounwt :. 
 and  the  third  and  youngest  sone  of  Dame  Scoti  in  the 
 Complaynt.  Johne  the  Commounwcill  app<  trs  to 
 Lindsay,  "  but  hors,  on  fute,  with  a  richt  mclancolious 
 countenance.  " 
 
 "  Quhais  raiment  was  ;;1  raj  l,  and  rent, 
 
 With  visage  lene  as  he  had  fastit  Lent  — 
 With  scrip  on  hip,  and  p\ 
 The  youngest  son  of  Dan 
 on  hii  svde  on  die  cald  eird,  ande  a! 
 
4* 
 
 tyn  and  raggltj  makand  ane  dolorus  lamentatione  andJ 
 ane  pkeouse  complaynt.  "  The  import  of  his  com- 
 plaint is  the  same  with  that  of  Johne  the  Commoun- 
 weill ;  the  same  disorders  in  Church  and  State  are  re- 
 prehended ;  the  same  miseries  of  the  Commons  lament- 
 ed •,  and  the  same  vices  stigmatized  in  the  Nobility  and 
 Clergy.  But  this  allegorical  character,  "  Johnie  the 
 Commoun  Weill  of  Fair  Scotland,  "  likewise  appears 
 in  Lindsay's  "  Satire  on  the  Thre  Estaitis,  "  Interlude 
 VII ;  and  here,  his  complaints  are  much  louder  than  in 
 the  Dream,  and  have  a  ilill  clearer  analogy  to  those  of 
 the  youngest  son  of  Dame  Scotia  in  the  Complaynt. 
 He  is  thus  introduced — 
 
 KING. 
 
 "  The  Commoun  "Weill  has  bene  amang  his  fais. 
 
 JOHNIE. 
 
 Ye,  that,  syr,  garris  the  Commoun  weill  want  clais. 
 
 CORRECTIOUN. 
 
 Quhome  upon  compiene  ye,  or  quho  maks  you  dc  • 
 baitis  ?  ' 
 
 JOHNIE. 
 
 Syr,  I  compiene  upoun  the  King,  and  all  the  Thre 
 
 Estaitis. 
 As  for  our  reverend  faders  of  Spiritualise, 
 Ar  led  be  Covetyce,  this  carle,  and  Temporalitie  ; 
 And  als  ye  se,  Temporalitie  hes  need  of  correctioun, 
 Quhilk  hes  langtyme  bene  led  be  publick  oppressioun/' 
 Lindesays  Interludes,  ab.  Pinkertcri ; 
 Scotish  Poems,  vol.  v.  p.  1 59. 
 In   like   manner,    the   younger    son  of  Dame  Scotia, 
 who  represents  the  Commons  of  Scotland,  "  compleins 
 and  murmyrs  the  crualte  of  his  tua  brethir,  The  No- 
 billis   &   Clergie,  "  who  were  "  ambitius  in  ther 
 stait,  and  couetuse  of  gudis ; "  and  declares  that  he  is 
 
 «  left 
 
49 
 
 a  left  desolat  in  the  handis  of  vrangus  oppressours,  " 
 p.  193-5. 
 
 M  Thir  peur  Commounis  daylie  as  ye  may  sie, 
 Declynes  doun  till  extreme  povertie ; 
 For  some  ar  heichtit  so  into  thair  maill, 
 Thair  wynning  will  nocht  find  thame  water  caHI. 
 How  kirkmen  heicht  thair  teindis  it  is  weill  knawin, 
 That  husbandmen  noways  may  hald  thair  awin. 
 And  now  begynnis  a  plaig  upcun  thame  new, 
 That  Gentellmen  thair  steadings  takkis  in  f 
 Thus  mon  thai  pay  grit  fairm,  or  leifF  the  stad, 
 And  sum  are  planelie  hurlit  out  be  the  had, 
 That  ar  destroyit,  without  God  on  thame  rew. 
 Lindt'safs  Interludes ',  p.  16 1— 2. 
 "  I  dee  daly,  trocht  the   necessite  that  I  hef  of  the 
 gudis  that  I  fan  vitht  my  laubyrs.     My  cornis  and   my 
 cattell  ar  reft  fra  me.     I  am   exilit  fra   my  takkis  and 
 fra  my  steddyngis.     The  malis  and  fermis  of  the  grond 
 that  I  laubyr,  is  hychtit  to  sic  ane  price,  that  it  is  fors 
 to  me  and  vyf  and  bayrns  to  drynk  vattir.     The  teyndis 
 of  my  cornis  ar   nocht   alanerly  hychtit  abufe  the  ferti- 
 lite  that  the  grond  maye  bayr,  bot  as  veil  thai  ar  tane 
 furtht  of  my  handis  by  my  tua  tirran  brethir,  n  p.  15 
 A  parallel  passage  likewise  occurs  in  the  fourth  book 
 of  the  Monarchy. 
 
 "  Ze  Lordis  and  Barronis  mair  ami 
 That  zour  pure  tennantis  dois  opres, 
 Be  greit  gersome  and  doubil  mail, 
 Mair  than  zour  landis  bene  auail, 
 With  sore  exorbitant  cariage, 
 With  markcheitis  of  thair  manage  i 
 Tormentit  baith  in  peice  and  v. 
 With  burdinnis  mair  than  thai  may  beir : 
 
5° 
 
 Be  they  haue  payit  to  zou  thair  mail, 
 And  to  the  preist  their  teindis  hail, 
 And  quhen  the  landis  agane  is  sawin, 
 Quhat  restis  behind,  I  wald  wer  knawin.  " 
 
 p.  16$. 
 These  coincidences,  so  minute  and  particular,  muse 
 he  admitted  to  be  the  more  important,  because,  it  was 
 characteristic  of  Lindsay,  above  all  men  of  his  age, 
 to  have  assiduously  laboured  to  procure  the  redress  of 
 the  abuses  to  which  they  allude.  "  Quhat  labouris 
 tuik  he, "  says  his  editor,  Gharteris,  u  that  the  landis 
 of  this  cuntrie  micht  be  set  out  in  fewis,  efter  the  fas- 
 soun  of  sindry  vther  realmis,  for  the  incres  of  policie 
 and  riches  ?  Bot,  quhat  hes  he  profitit  ?  Quhen  ane 
 pure  man,  with  his  haill  race  and  ofspring,  hes  labourit 
 out  thair  lyfis  on  ane  litel  peice  of  ground,  and  brocht 
 it  to  sum  point  and  perfectioun,  then  must  the  lairdia 
 brother,  kinsman,  or  surname,  haue  it,  and  the  pure 
 man,  with  his  wyfe  and  bairnis,  schot  out  to  beg  thair 
 meit.  He  that  tuik  lytill  labouris  on  it,  man  enjoy  the 
 frutes  and  commoditeis  of  it ;  he  man  eit  up  the  sweif 
 and  labouris  of  the  pure  man's  browis.  Thus  the  pure 
 dar  mak  na  policie  nor  bigging,  in  cais  thay  big  them- 
 selfis  out.  Bot  althocht  men  wink  at  this,  and  ouir- 
 luik  it,  zit  he  sittis  abone  that  seis  it,  and  sail  judge  it. 
 He  that  heiris  the  sichis  and  complaints  of  the  pure 
 cpressit,  sal  not  for  euer  suffer  it  unpunischit.  Quhat 
 hes  he  writtin  alswa  aganis  this  heriald  hors,  deuisit 
 for  manie  pure  mannis  hurt  ?  bot  quha  hes  demittit  it  ? 
 Finallie,  quhat  oppressioun  or  vice  hes  he  not  repreuit  ?" 
 This  discussion,  which,  from  the  very  nature  of 
 the  investigation,  is  dry  and  repulsive,  would,  by  a  far- 
 ther prosecution  of  the  inquiry,  only  become  equally  tire- 
 some 
 
5* 
 
 some  and  tedious.  Eut  the  same  similarity  which  I 
 have  noticed,  might  be  traced  between  various  pas- 
 sages of  the  Satire  and  of  the  Complaynt,  which  stig- 
 matize the  same  vices,  lament  the  same  abuses,  and 
 regret  the  same  discords  of  the  three  Estates ;  par- 
 ticularly, where  the  insolence  of  the  Nobility,  the 
 nee  of  the  Clergy,  and  the  disaffection  of  the 
 Borderers,  are  mentioned.  Such  are  those  parti- 
 cular coincidences,  which,  combining  with  the  ge- 
 neral impression  produced  by  the  work,  induce 
 me  to  ascribe  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  to  Sir  Da- 
 vid Lindsay  of  the  Mount.  In  the  course  of  the  in- 
 vestigation, I  have  frequently  found  myself  in  the  situa- 
 tion of  a  modern  botanist,  who  attempts  to  reduce  die 
 plants,  described  in  such  a  vague  and  unscientific  man- 
 ner by  Dioscorides  and  Pliny,  to  the  accurate  classifi- 
 cation of  Linnaeus.  The  foliage  of  the  plant,  in  these 
 ancient  authors,  is  often  very  accurately  characterized  j 
 but  the  minuteness  of  ihe  description  of  the  K 
 does  not  compensate  the  defective  delineation  of  the 
 flower,  upon  which  the  modern  classification  dep 
 The  investigation  which  I  have  attempted,  is  not  only 
 one  of  the  most  difficult  which  is  compv  in  the 
 
 art  of  Criticism,  but  the  charge  of  futilir,  vs  in- 
 
 cident to  researches  of  this  kind.     I  fear   it  mn 
 admitted,  that  the  diiRculty  of  an  investigation,  is  of- 
 ten no  criterion  of  its  utility.     The  same  acuteiiL 
 been  exhausted,  in  numbering  the  grains  of  sand  con- 
 tained in  the  universe,  which  might  have  invented  the 
 logarithmic  calculus  •,  the  same  dexterity  has  been  \ 
 ed   in   constructing    the   automaton  of   a   By,    v 
 might  have  perfected  the  steam  engine  ;  the   saw 
 genuity  has  been  lavished  in  determining  the  Iminacu* 
 
52 
 
 iate  Conception  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  which  might  havf 
 discovered  the  laws  of  gravitation.  But,  in  this  re- 
 spect, the  science  of  antiquities  resembles  that  of  ma- 
 thematics, in  which  the  most  important  results  have 
 .often  been  deduced  from  investigations,  which  at  first 
 seemed  totally  inapplicable  to  practice.  In  antiquitiesj 
 therefore,  no  inquiry  ought  to  be  neglected,  because 
 jts  practical  tendency  is  not  immediately  apparent ;  for, 
 wherever  the  science  has  been  fixed  upon  solid  principles., 
 future  investigations  have  demonstrated  the  utility  of  re- 
 searches, which  have  been  reckoned  yain  and  trivial  by 
 cursory  observers.  Though  the  persons,  therefore,  who 
 attempt  to  revive  the  dim  and  fading  characters  in  the 
 mouldering  records  of  tradition,  are  liable  to  be  classed 
 with  erudite  triflers,  and  must,  in  the  estimation  of  the 
 many,  forfeit  their  pretensions  to  science  or  to  taste  ; 
 I  shall  neither  regret  the  difficulty,  nor  the  unpleasant 
 nature  of  this  discussion,  if  it  contributes,  in  any  re- 
 spect, to  determine  the  true  author  of  the  Complaynt 
 of  Scotland.  The  nature  of  such  an  investigation  cer- 
 tainly requires  a  minuteness  and  a  particularity,  which, 
 in  any  other  case,  must  be  deemed  extremely  im- 
 pertinent. In  comparing  one  prose  work  with  another, 
 a  person  is  in  the  situation  of  an  anatomist,  who  com- 
 pares two  human  skeletons  which  resemble  each  o-r 
 other  in  the  great  outlines,  however  they  vary  in  mi- 
 nute particulars.  But  he,  who  compares  a  prosaic 
 work  with  a  poetical  one,  is  like  a  comparative  anato- 
 mist, who  contrasts  the  skeleton  of  an  animal  with 
 that  of  a  man,  and  who,  therefore,  requires  the  most 
 steady  judgment,  and  the  most  accurate  attention, 
 to  observe  similarities  as  well  as  diversities.  The  lan- 
 guage of  prose   is  so  materially  different  from  that 
 
53 
 
 of  poetry,  that  any  coincidence  which  can  be  traced 
 between  two  such  dissimilar  works  as  the  Poems  of 
 Lindsay,  and  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  derives  addi- 
 tional importance  from  that  very  circumstance. 
 
 After  the  coincidences  which   I  have   attempted  to 
 trace,  it  may  be  proper  to  consider  the  probable  objec- 
 tions to  this  hypothesis.     These  seem   chiefly  to  result 
 from  the  improbability  that  Lindsay  would  imitate  his 
 own  compositions  ;  from  the  improbability  that   Lind- 
 say, contrary  to  his  usual  practice,  would  satirize  the 
 nobility  more  than  the  clergy  ;  and  from  the  improba- 
 bility that  Lindsay,  who   publickly  inscribes  his  name 
 to  his  other  works,  would  have  refused  to  acknowledge 
 the  Complaynt  of  Scotland.     With  respect  to  the  first 
 objection  :  It  is  only  necessary  to   state,  that  Lindsay 
 not  only  repeats  his  own  sentiments  in  different  words, 
 but  often  borrows  whole  verses  from  the  works  which 
 he  had  composed  at  a   more  early  period.     With  re- 
 gard to  the  second  :  At  a  period  of  such  imminent  dan- 
 i  that  which  succeeded  the  battle  of  Pinky,  it  could 
 not  be  the  object  of  a  patriot  to  irritate  any  class  of  men, 
 but  to  unite  every  class  for  the  defence  of  the  country. 
 Lindsay,  in  his  poetical  works,   seldom  mentions  the 
 h  in  terms  of  acrimony  :  yet,  in  his  satire,  p.  i6r, 
 he  exhorts  the  Estates  to  provide  for  war  in  the  time  of 
 peace  ;  and,  in  one  passage,  p.  97,  mentions  the  Eng- 
 lish in  the  appropriate  terms  of  the  Complaynt. 
 "  Quhar.  cummer  haif  we  had  in  Scotland, 
 •Be  our  aivld  itmemeis  cf  England  / 
 Had  not  bene  the  support  of  France, 
 We  had  bene  brocht  to  grit  mischance.  " 
 With  regard  to  the  last  objection,  various  reasons,  of 
 a  political  nature,  have  already  been  mer  a  Inch 
 
 h 
 
54 
 
 might  render  it  dangerous  for  the  author  to  avow  him- 
 self, especially  at  a  crisis  of  such  uncommon  hazard  and 
 perplexity  as  that  which  succeeded  the  battle  of  Pinky. 
 This  danger  seems  to  be  obscurely  insinuated,  in  the 
 sentence  of  Cicero,  annexed  to  the  conclusion  of  the 
 work,  between  which,  and  the  scope  of  the  text,  it  is 
 otherwise  difficult  to  perceive  any  immediate  connexion. 
 Nihil  est  turpius,  quam  sapientis  vitam>  ex  insipientium  ser- 
 mone  pendere.  Could  an  anonymous  writer  express, 
 in  more  apposite  terms,  the  danger  to  which  he 
 conceived  himself  exposed  by  a  discovery  ?  This 
 will  appear  still  more  probable,  if  it  be  consider- 
 ed, that  at  the  period  in  which  the  Complaynt  was 
 composed,  Lindsay,  having  retired  from  the  court 
 of  the  Regent  in  disgust,  had  no  powerful  protector 
 to  insure  his  safety  from  personal  resentment,  nor  any 
 faction  to  support  him  against  the  intrigues  of  his  ene- 
 mies. 
 
 The  only  other  prose  work  in  which  Lindsay  can 
 be  conceived  to  have  had  any  concern,  is  of  so  tech- 
 nical a  nature,  and  so  little  susceptible  of  the  peculi- 
 arities in  the  style  and  manner  of  an  author,  that  it 
 tends  very  little  to  elucidate  the  subject.  This  work 
 is  a  ms.  collection  of  Tracts  on  Heraldry,  which  Lind- 
 say's office  of  Lyon  King  at  Arms,  probably  induced 
 him  to  collect  and  compile  for  his  own  use.  The  tracts 
 seem  to  be  chiefly  translated  from  the  French  and  Latin. 
 Several  of  them  are  imperfect ;  and  some  appear  to  be 
 only  detached  memoranda.  The  ms.  seems  to  be  the 
 autograph  of  Lindsay  ;  the  orthography  is  similar  to 
 that  of  the  Complaynt  >  the  th  and  the  v,  the  v  and 
 the  wy  are  frequently  interchanged,  as  in  many  mss.  of 
 
 tha 
 
55 
 
 the  same  age.  As  these  tracts  are  not  solely  interest- 
 ing to  the  herald,  but  greatly  elucidate  many  of  the 
 forms  of  chivalry,  a  few  extracts,  which  could  be  con- 
 veniently detached,  are  subjoined. 
 
 The  ms.  is  inscribed,  by  Sir  James  Balfour — "  Col- 
 Jectanea  Domini  Dauidis  Lindesay  de  Mounthe,'  militia 
 Leonis  Armorum  Regis  ;  "  with  the  date,  "  1 1.  Octr. 
 1586  5  "  and  is  catalogued  W.  4.  13*  in  the  library  of 
 the  Faculty  of  Advocates.     It  contains, 
 
 I.  "  The  office  of  kingis  at  armes,  heraulds,  &  ser- 
 iaundis  of  armes  ; "  which  commences — "  Arthour, 
 sone  to  ye  duk  of  Bertaigne,  Erie  of  Richemont,  Lord 
 of  Portmay,  Constable  of  France,  till  all  yame  his 
 lr«  sail  se,  greeting. — Dated  at  Touris  the  vii  day  of 
 Februare,  the  zeir  of  God  1447  zeiris. 
 
 II.  "  The  law  of  armes,  w'in  lystis.  " 
 When  the  lists  are  set,  and  the  parties  ready — 
 
 "  Than  salbe  bro*  ane  buik  of  the  haly  evangell, 
 and  ane  takin  of  the  crucifix  of  or  lord  Iesu  Chryst 
 laid  yrupoun,  and  the  appellatioun  laid  betuix.  The 
 appello1"  van  sail  hy  on  his  hand,  and  sweir  the  grit 
 ay  all  out,  yat  all  is  trew  yat  he  hes  said  upone  that 
 falss  untrew  man,  efter  the  forme  of  his  appellatioun, 
 and  yat  he  wait  weill  the  vyer  hes  a  falss  untrew  cmcr- 
 rell  to  defend  :  sythall  h?  hes  nowther  herb  nor  stane 
 of  wirtew,  nor  wiehecraift  or  sorcerye,  nor  na  vyer 
 thing  to  help  him,  bot  w  God  and  his  gude  querrall, 
 and  his  awin  tua  handis,  and  be  yat  buke,  and  all  haly 
 buke,  and  be  the  takin  of  the  crucifix,  and  be  his  p 
 of  paradij,  &  be  all  the  wordij  contenit  in  J;: 
 in. 
 
 h  ij  «  And 
 
56 
 
 "  And  thir  ar  the  wapinnis  yat  ar  custumit  an4 
 usit  in  singular  battell  win  barreis  •,  that  is  to  say,  ane 
 speir  of  competent  lenth,  ane  fals  sterap,  or  ane  aix, 
 ane  lang  swerd  and  ane  schort  swerd,  and  ane  knyf  at 
 ilk  end. 
 
 "  It  is  to  be  vnderstand,  yat  zit  my  cum  ane  vyer 
 impediment,  or  war  ;  yat  ye  burrois  ar  bundin  for  sic 
 criminall  actionis,  to  entr  yame  in  barreis  on  the  pe- 
 rempto1  day,  deid  or  quik.     It  my  fall  sa,  yat  ye  ap- 
 pellor  deis  befoire  ye  day  j  his  burrois,  qlk  ar  bund  un- 
 der grit  panis,  cumis  and  enteris   his   deid   corpis  win 
 the  barreis,  to  freith  yame  of  yair  burrowgangi     The 
 defender,  lyk  as  he  fand  burrowis,  is  enteiit   win  the 
 barreis,  he  findis  the  prouour  deid,  and  he  cannot  sley 
 ane  slane  man,  and  he  himself  unpurgit  of  the  cryme 
 qlk  the  prouor  yat  yair  is  deid,   put   upon  him.     Than 
 lies  he  na  recouer  bot  to  cast  his  deid  corpis  or  the  bar- 
 reis or  ye  day  be  gane,  or  ellis  the  freindis  of  ye  deid 
 may  allege  yat  ye  levand  man  hes  tint  his  actioun,  and 
 aske  him  to  be  justifeit  yrfoire. 
 
 "  I  haue  hard  yat  ye  samen  impediment  come   anis 
 to  preif  in  the  kinrik  of  spainze,  yat  quhan  ye  deid 
 man  wes  laid  win  the  barreis,  he  was  ea  hawie,  yat  ye 
 levand  man  wes  not  of  my  to  put  his  deid  ccrpis  cut 
 of  barreis,  and  all  the  day  wes  in  hand  y\vith,  qu  the 
 sone  wes  ganc  doun  •,  and  yan  ye  freindis  of  the   deid 
 man  come  befoire  ye  iuge,  and  askit  ye  law  of  armes, 
 and  allcgit  yat  ye  perempture   day  was  past,  and  y 
 freind  had  wounc  his  actioune  •,  for  he  had  nather  said 
 the  word,  nor  wes  not  put  out  of  the  feild,  yo5  he  A 
 deid  :  and   sua,  be  the  law  of   armes,  the  deid   man 
 wan  the  quyk  ;  and  he  demandit  als  culpable  of  yat 
 actioun  ;  and  vis  wald  the  law  of  armes  :  <x  sum  sayis, 
 
57 
 
 yat  as  yls  quyk  man  wald  haue  castln  ye  deid  man  of 
 the  barrels,  he  fell  bakwart  on  his  bak,  and  ye  deid 
 man  on  his  breist,  and  culd  not  awoid  him  of  him 
 q11  the  day  wes  past  *,  and  sua,  be  the  law,  he  wes 
 iugit  in  the  eryme,  and  justifeit  yrfoir. 
 
 III.  "  The  ordinance  and  mancr  how  turnayis  wes 
 wont  to  be  m:iid,  and  the  harness  for  knytis  and  squyaris, 
 and  quhat  dilferens  suld  be  in  ye  abulzcment  betuix 
 knytis  and  squyaris,  and  how  ye  cry  suld  be  maid.  " 
 
 The  manner  in  which  a  knight  and  a  squire  should 
 be  armed,  is  thus  described  :  "  First,  ane  harness  of 
 .  jampes,  cowerit  w  ledder,  sowit  \v  pointis,  the  lenth 
 of  the  jampe  to  ye  kne,  and  tua  attaiches  lairge  for  to 
 atteiche  yame  into  his  brayer  :  Item,  cuisses  and  poul- 
 lanis,  arinit  w  leddir  :  Item,  hoisis  of  maile  abone  the 
 harness  of  jambes,  attaches  to  the  brayer,  as  said  is, 
 abone  the  cuisses  •,  and  ane  payir  of  gilt  spurris,  qlk 
 salbe  knyt  w  ane  small  corde  about  the  jambe,  yat 
 spur  turnc  not  under  the  fut :  Item,  vus  anciena  et 
 vues  espaultrere  ,    panet  manches,    qlk   salbe 
 
 knot  be  the  cuivre,  w  all  his  aggreppes  sus  lea  espaujjks 
 8:  one  soutcllier,  upone  the  feit  bcfoire  :  Item,  bra- 
 thieris  knet  to  the  schulderis  of  the  cup-re  :  Item,  bacy- 
 nct  a  tout  lc  howsone,  and  ane  cscusson  of  balane  upone 
 the  nek,  cowerit  with  ledder,  w  ye  lonncres  for  to  i 
 to  the  brayer  or  ye  cuyvre  •,  and  upone  the  bacynet  a 
 coyf  ol  r  ofrroy  befoire  on  tire  fronte, 
 
 quha  will,  and  a  wyn  bred  to  put  in  the  kny'is  handis  : 
 Ittm,  a  beaume  &  ye  tymbre,  sie  as  he  will:  Item, 
 tua  chenzeis  knet  to  ye  breist  cf  the  cuyvre,  ane  for  ye 
 swerd,  ye  vyer  for  ye  bastoun,  and  tu.i  risieril 
 
 fastin  vc  beaume. 
 
 The 
 
5« 
 
 "  The  abilzement  of  ye  squyar  salbe  ewin  ly 
 ye  knyis,  except  yat  he  suld  haue  na  hoiss  of  maile,  na 
 corset  of  maile  upone  his  basynet,  bot  he  suld  haue 
 ane  chaplete  of  mont  aubieu,  and  he  suld  haue  na  bra- 
 theres,  and  of  vyer  thingis  may  arme  him  as  ane  kny, 
 and  suld  haue  na  sautour  at  his  sadill. " 
 
 Many  of  the  observations  on  the  signification  of 
 animals,  fowls,  and  fishes  in  heraldry,  are  extremely 
 curious. 
 
 "  The  Leopard  is  ane  ry  cruell  beist,  and  in  takin 
 of  crueltie  and  hardynes,  he  hes  his  face  ewir  to  ye 
 folk  ;  and  as  sayis  Isodore  in  his  vii  buk,  he  is  generir 
 be  adultry  of  the  part  and  the  lyones,  and  is  ane  beist 
 ry  deliuer,  sua  yat  oftymes  he  deis  be  force  of  leping  ; 
 and  cowattis  blude  mervalouslie,  and  is  spottit  w  mony 
 color,  and  signifyis,  yat  he  yat  first  bure  it  wes  cruell, 
 hardy,  and  deliuer.  And  sum  sayis  yat  Marlin  ye  pro- 
 pheite  wes  ye  first  man  yat  bure  it,  becaus  he  wes 
 borne  of  faarie  in  adultre  ;  and  ry  sua  ye  first  duk  of 
 Guyenne  wes  borne  of  a  fee,  and  yrfoir  the  armes  of 
 Guyenne  ar  of  a  leopard.  And  is  ane  beist  yat  be  ye 
 princis  and  lordis  hes  ay  borne,  and  zit  beiris  in  armo- 
 rie  ;  but  he  yat  beiris  him  in  his  propir  color  suld  be 
 ane  bastard,  and  yairfoir  na  princis  beiris  him  in  his 
 werry  color,  bot  yai  beir  him  in  vyer  color  in  significa- 
 tioun  of  his  propertie  and  not  of  his  nature. 
 
 "  The  Gryffon  is  ane  ry  grit  beist  of  body  and 
 force,  sua  yat  he  be  his  force  wald  beir  on  hy  an  armit 
 man,  and  eftir,  as  Isodorus  sayis,  ye  griffonis  keipis 
 ane  montaigne  qlk  is  in  Asie,  in  the  qlk  aboundis  gold 
 and  prctious  stanis  of  ry  grit  valor ;  and  signifeis,  yat 
 he  yat  bare  it  first  wes  ane  man  austere,  terrible,  and 
 
 double 
 
59 
 
 double  in  his  deidis,  and  covetous,  yat  \vout  modera- 
 tioun  keipis  his  gold  sua  yat  he  will  not  distribute  it 
 amang  his  suldiouris,  bot  kepis  it,  and  waittis  not 
 quhome  to  he  keipis  it. 
 
 "  The  modewarp  is  ane  blind  beist,  haifand  anc 
 gronze  in  forme  of  ane  pore,  euir  beand  worseland  in  the 
 eird  ;  and  signifeis,  yat  he  yat  bure  it  first,  hes  bene  a 
 theif  and  brigand,  hydand  him  daylie  in  woddis  and 
 cauernis,  pilzend  and  reifand  •,  for  it  is  said  comonly, 
 he  yat  euill  dois,  hattis  ye  ly. 
 
 "  The  Unicorne  is  ane  strenthy  beist,  the  qlk  is 
 lyk  ane  hors  of  body,  bot  scho  hes  feit  of  ane  eliphant, 
 and  taile  of  ane  hart,  and  hir  voice  is  marvalouslie 
 fleand  ;  and  abone  in  the  middis  of  her  heid,  ane  merva- 
 lous  home,  scheynand  and  thrawand  ewin  to  ye  eird  ; 
 the  qlk  is  sa  stark  and  sa  scharp,  yat  it  peirsis  w  it  all 
 yat  it  ouertakis,  and  na  man  may  byde  it ;  for  na  in- 
 gyne  may  be  in  ye  warld,  and  may  not  be  tane  leifand, 
 bot  gif  ye  huntaris  send  ane  gratious  virgine  quhair  the 
 unicorne  repairis ;  for  it  is  hir  nature  to  byde  andrepos  in 
 the  virginis  skirt,  and  takis  all  ye  feirtnes  fra  hir  •,  and 
 on  this  maner  hunteris  sleyis  yame,  and  signify  is,  he 
 yat  first  bure  yame  in  armes  wes  stark  in  mony  mai 
 and  his  voice  fleis,  and  is  fleand  to  his  innemeys,  and 
 yat  he  had  wit  in  his  intent  and  in  his  heid,  atror  all 
 vyeris  to  cum  to  his  intent,  and  all  his  rest  wes  in 
 deidis  of  virginitie. 
 
 "  The  Phenise  is  ane  foule  yat  haldis  hir  in  Arabic, 
 and  yair  is  na  ma  in  all  the  warld,  and  is  weill  als  grit 
 as  ane  aigle,  and  hes  create  in  ye  heid  of  ye  ane  p' 
 and  the  vyer,  and  ye  fedderis  about  his  nek  u  h\  to  ft 
 fyne  gould  of  arabie,  bot  bene'  to  ye  taill  is  of  purpre 
 colour,  and  ye  taile  of  roisc,  as  the  Arabiensbeiii*  wit- 
 
nes,-  quha  lies  sene  yame  mony  tymes,  and  yai  say  Ire 
 leilis  vl  hundre'  zeiris,  and  vyeris  sayis  his  lyf  leatea 
 vii1  h.  z>  in j  and  mair,  bot  the  maist  pairt  he  eildis  in 
 v  h.  zeiris  ;  and  quhen  it  cumis  to  ye  termes  of  his 
 lyfe,  his  nature  findis  him  to  accuse  him  of  his  deid, 
 for  to  "Snue  ane  new  lyfe,  and  at  ye  end  passis  to  ane 
 gu  z  .:e,  and  of  gude  sauor,  and  makis  ane  moutall 
 quhair  he  g?.rris  the  fyre  talc,  and  syne  enteris  yairiii 
 ev,  n  to  ye  sone  rysing,  and  quhen  he  is  brint,  of  the 
 cinderis  rysis  ane  worme  yat  lies  lyfe,  and  the  secund 
 day  of  his  nassance  is  maid  lyk  ane  litil  chikkin,  the 
 thrid  day  is  all  grit  and  growin  as  he  suld  be,  and 
 fleyis  and  passis  to  ye  place  quhair  his  habitatioun  is. 
 sum  sayis  yat  it  wes  fund  be  the  prouest  of  ane  citfe 
 callit  heliopolis,  quhair  the  phenise  regnit  as  is  befoir 
 said,  and  signifyis,  yat  he  that  first  in  armes  bure  him 
 wes  fair,  and  of  fair  fassoun  of  memberis,  and  ianger 
 lefand  nor  ony  vyeris,  qlk  regenerit  him  be  his  heit  of 
 fyre  cf  cowetise,  yat  he  assemblit  to  and  brint  him  in 
 the  plesance  yrcf,  qlk  daylie  put  him  agane  to  his  firsti 
 estait,  and  yat  in  fyre  wout  fulfilling  of  pane  suld  euir 
 mair  lest. 
 
 "  The  Fapegault  is  ane  foule,  as  sayis  Isodore,  qlk 
 is  ry  fair,  and  is  grene  \  bot  hir  neb  and  hir  feit  ar 
 reid,  and  hes  far  mair  toung  and  mair  bly1  yan  ony  vyr 
 foule,  quhairthrow  scho  sayis  and  speikis  articulatly 
 lyk  ane  man  qlk  is  leirit  hir  of  hir  zoutheid  w  in  the 
 secund  zeir  of  hir  aige,  for  fra  yen  furtht,  scho  is  hard 
 and  forgetfull ;  and  ye  philosophor  sayis,  quha  will  not 
 lerne  hir  in  hir  zoutheid,  scho  will  not  speik  bot  jar- 
 gon, and  scho  hes  ane  stane  in  her  nib  sa  stark,  qlk 
 in  all  hir  necessite  is  scheld  for  keping  of  hir  body  ; 
 and  efter  the  philosophor,  in  the  tent  buke  xlii  cheptor, 
 
 and 
 
6i 
 
 2nd  he  fall  fra  hichf  upone  stanes,  he  putis  his  neb  bc- 
 foir,  qlk  keipis  all  his  body.  Alsua  he  vsis  ye  neb  in 
 steid  of  hand,  takand  in  his  fcit  yat  is  necessary  to  him  ; 
 and  puttis  not  ye   ta  fa  r,  qll  he  haue 
 
 put  in  his  neb  it  yat  he  haldis  ;  and  climis  fast  about  his 
 caige,  of  ane  v  .  nor  vyer  foulis  dois  •,  and  is  ane 
 
 foule  yat  lordis  and  ladyis  desyris  to  be  sene  in  yair 
 hous  >  and  signifyis,  he  yat  first  bure  him  in  armes  wes 
 ane  plesand  man,  and  wald  be  sen  cled  w  fair  color, 
 and  his  feit  and  visage  war  of  fair  fassone  and  color,  and 
 ry  plesand  and  wes  propir,  and  culd  speik  diuers  lan- 
 gagis,  and  yat  he  did  w  gud  will,  and  in  his  defence 
 in  aduersltie,  and  to  defend  him  fra  his  innemeis  w  his 
 mouth  and  his  tounge  he  did  yame  mair  greuance  yan 
 w  ony  vyer  thing,  and  wes  ane  ry  sueit  man,  and  for 
 /antenance  and  Strang  maner  of  ganging  men  lukit 
 w  gude  will  to  him  ;  and  wes  euir  in  all  places  w  lordis 
 and  ladyis  for  his  fair  speiche  and  his  mancris,  qlk 
 strangeris  luihs  wcUl  to  see. 
 
 u  The  Basilique  is  ane  fische  in  mancr  of  ane  ser- 
 pent, and  is  sa  ry  full  of  wcinoume,  yat  he  scheynis 
 all  \vout,  and  the  sy  and  the  straik  of  him  beiris  vcin- 
 cum  far  and  neir,  for  quhy  he  corruptis  the  air,  and 
 distrois  the  trcis,  and  sleyis  the  foules  fleand,  and  w  his 
 Ink  slais  men,  and  he  is  of  grimes  of  VI  fate,  and  hes 
 quhyt  spottis  and  creste  as  ane  cok  to  ye  mvdis  of  his 
 body  ;  and  notwstanding  tliat  he  is  sa  forcy  and  sa 
 dangerous,  ye  hasiliquty  (the  '.y  intend- 
 
 ed), qlk  is   litill   as  ane  mowse  quyte  under  the  body, 
 him  ;  and  wit  ze  yat  Alcxr  Eand   \.imc,  and  gart 
 ma!;  grit  ampolles  of  glace,  and   gart   men   entir   yrin, 
 qlk  saw  y  |  yai  saw  yame  not.  i  reportit 
 
 how  j  fj  and  be  •  fend 
 
 i 
 
62 
 
 larfei  to  draw  and  sky  the  basilique,  vat  men  call;" 
 the  king  of  serpentis  5  and  signifyes,  he  yat  first  bure 
 it  in  armes  doutit  of  all  thingis,  and  wes  sa  full  of  fu- 
 ror  and  wednes,  yat  euery  man  wes  rad  for  him  ;  and  his 
 furor  wes  sa  wennemous,  yat  gud  and  ewill  far  and  neir. 
 dowtit  him,  and  drew  neir  him,  and  of  his  neirnes  wes 
 sa  traint,  yat  gart  ye  folkis  be  sone  deid  ;  and  quhen  he 
 wald  he  gart  sla  ye  folkis  be  ye  commandement  of  his 
 langage,  to  fulfill  his  will ;  and  be  ye  werkis  yat  he  did, 
 ye  foules  fleand  doutit  him,  and  wes  bot  sex  fut  of  her, 
 spottit  w  spottis  in  diuers  places,  &  had  creste  of  ane 
 cok,  and  crisp  hair,  and  be  ane  litill  man,  \v  ane  quhyt 
 face  and  aeblakbody,  wes  discomfit,  &  craignit  verres 
 of  face,  abone  all  vyer  thingis. 
 
 "  Aspide  is  ane  maner  of  ane  venncmous  serpent, 
 and  is  of  mony  maneris  •,  and  quhen  he  byttis  ye  folkis, 
 he  garris  yame  die  of  thirst,  an  vyr  garris  slep  oil  yai 
 die,  and  sum  vyeris  garris  bleid  to  deid,  and  gangis 
 oftymes  w  eppin  mouth,  and  quhen  he  streinzies  ony 
 ■w  his  teith,  yat  man  suellis  sa  qll  he  tynis  the  lyf,  and 
 fur1  w  stinkis  and  rottis  sa  mervalously,  yat  he  is  lyk  to 
 be  ye  dewill.  And  wittis  yat  aspide  beiris  in  his  heid 
 ye  ry  cleir  and  scheinand  stane  yat  men  callis  eschar- 
 buncie  ;  and  quhen  the  inchanto1"  yat  wald  tak  it  away 
 sayis  the  wordis  of  his  inchantment,  incontinent  quhen 
 he  persauis  him,  he  fichis  the  ane  of  his  eiris  in  the 
 eird,  and  in  ye  vyer  putis  his  taile  in  sic  maner,  yat  he 
 worthis  deif,  and  not  herand  ye  wordis  coniureuses ;  Sc 
 signifyis,  he  yat  first  bure  him  in  armes  wes  of  mony 
 mervallis,  and  yame  yat  he  haitit  he  punist  yame,  and 
 tormentit  in  diuers  maneris,  and  had  oftymes  his  mouth 
 oppin  to  greif  vyer  folkis,  and  it  yat  he  held  he  strein- 
 zeit  as  it  war  the  dewill,  and  had  grit  wit  in  his  heid, 
 
 fair. 
 
53 
 
 fair  cieirnes  scheynand  of  beaute  as  ane  cscharbi. 
 and  quhen  inchantoris  or  dissauaris  of  wordis  addresses 
 yame  to  him,  he  closis  his  understanding,  and  will  nojt 
 heir  yame,  in  dreid  he  war  thair  throw  dissauit. 
 
 w  Apotaine  is  ane  fische  qlk  is  callit  hors  foule,  be- 
 caus  he  ifi  bred  on  the  fludis  of  Nile  •,  for  his  bak  and 
 his  voice  and  his  sydis  is  lyk  ane  hors,  his  clowis  ar  clo- 
 win  as  ane  ox,  and  teith  as  ane  bair,  and  ane  thl 
 taile.  he  gangis  bakwartis  for  ye  waiting  of  men,  and 
 quhen  he  eitis  or  mekle,  and  persauis  yat  he  is  seik, 
 and  yat  he  suld  enfoundre  for  ouirmekill  eiting,  he 
 gangis  abone  ye  cauernes  new  maid,  qll  the  blude 
 springis  of  his  feit  in  grit  effusioun,  and  be  yat  menis 
 heillis  himself ;  and  signifyis,  he  yat  bure  him  first  in 
 armes,  was  ane  man  failzeand  in  diuers  maneris,  and 
 of  ry  strange  langage  to  dissaif  and  eit  bot  ye  peple,  and 
 yrby  foundit  to  dLtructioun  qll  he  failzeit,  qll  of  his 
 blude  wes  tane  puniticun,  be  cruell  and  hard  folkis  of 
 -deiciis. 
 
 "  The  Cheualeir  of  sey,  qlk  in  Latin  is  callit  Icoron, 
 is  ane  monstre  in  the  sey,  yat  in  his  fot  pain  is  in 
 forme  of  ane  armit  kny,  and  lies  his  heid  armit  as  \.- 
 ane  heaume,  and  is  ry  grit,  and  his  skyne  is  hard  and 
 ferme,  and  on  his  nv;k  hlngia  ane  grit  scheild,  and  is 
 hungin  w  star1,  ,  sua  yat  be  na  force  yat  scheild 
 
 may  be  tane  IV  nd  htfl   Bimis  and  bandis  stark, 
 
 quhairw1  he  strykis  sairly,  and  is   of  hard   lyfc,  for  w 
 grit  paine  may  he   be  alanc,  bot   W  mcllis  of   irne,  nod 
 oftymes  mowis  weir  in  the  BCy  ;  and  quhen  he  fee 
 he  rysis  abone  the  wall1  lyk  as  he  had  grit  will  to  fecht, 
 &  he  is  fund  oftymes  in  the  ley  of  13ritaignc  •,  and 
 
 ,  lie  yat  bure  him  first  in  ;  e   nian  de- 
 
 syrand  to  fecht  for  to  get  honor,  and   ay   blv    to  be  ar- 
 
 j    ij 
 
64 
 
 mit,  and  WCS  liard  and  ferme  in  all  thingis,  and  about 
 his  nek  had  w  blynes,  ordre,  or  demonstrance  of  riches, 
 Starkly  boundin  in  his  curage,  sua  yat  be  na  force  yai 
 my  not  depart  him  of  honor  of  office,  bot  be  armes 
 of  irne  of  ry  hie  puissance,  and  he  raif  and  facht 
 oftymes  agains  his  inncmeis,  and  yrin  wes  attdntif,  and 
 fand  himself  wilful  He  in  the  landis  of  Britaigne,  quhair 
 he  mouit  oftymes  weir  upon  his  inncmeis,  &  ry  weill 
 will  It  to  fecht  w  yame. 
 
 "  Delphine  is  ane  fische  in  the  scy,  as  Aristotle 
 sayis,  yat  w  gud  will  followis  the  Sailis  of  marineris, 
 and  is  ye  maist  suift  thing  yat  is  in  the  scy  ;  for  it  tie- 
 passes  throw  and  throw  ye  sey  as  it  wer  fleand,  and 
 passis  mony  togidder,  and  ye  marineris  persauis  be 
 yame  quhen  ye  tempest  suld  cum,  and  yai  pas  cow- 
 monly  wersland  throw  ye  sey,  lyk  as  fouldre  chassit 
 yame  •,  Be  wit  ze  the  delphin  beiris  &  engeneris  ten  mo- 
 netis,  and  nurissis  w  hir  milk,  and  quhen  yai  ar  weill 
 zoung,  yai  cuele  yame  ye  bettir,  and  yai  leif  weill 
 thretty  zeiris,  as  sais  the  marineris,  and  hes  in  hi;:, 
 mouth  lang  hair  and  narrer  his  nature  yan  vyris  fisches 
 hes  ;  and  na  fische  of  wattir  niowis  the  toung  bet  yo 
 delphin,  and  may  not  draw  his  end  i;!s  lang  as  he  is  in 
 ye  wattr  qll  he  wyne  to  the  air  abone  ;  and  hes  voice 
 Jyk  to  ane  man  gretand.  Mony  of  yame  passis  to  ye 
 sey  of  Poitoun  in  printemps  to  nuvis  yair  zoung  fische, 
 for  ye  plenty  of  fresche  watteris,  and  ye  entrc  is  on  the 
 ry  syde,  and  ye  ische  is  on  the  kar  syde,  becaus  yai  se 
 not  wciil  on  the  kar  syde,  bqt  on  the  ry  syde  apertly  •, 
 and  wit  ze,  yat- on  the  nude  of  Nyle,  yair  is  ane  maner 
 of  delphin,  qlk  hes  on  his  schoukleris  ane  eschric  lyk 
 to  ane  eye  qrw  he  slais  the  cocodrille  ;  and  als  we  find 
 in  auld  historeis,  yat  ane  bairne   of   Campaigne  nurist 
 
 ane 
 
65 
 
 |Mie  delphin  hng  tyme  \v  breid,  and  mad  him  sa  pre- 
 uie  qll  he  raid  him  •,  bot  ye  barne  diet  zoung  ;  and 
 quhen  ye  delphin  persauit  ye  deid  of  ye  barne,  he  hed 
 sa  grit  dule  qll  he  deit.  And  ane  vyer  yair  wes  in  Trace 
 and  babylon,  yat  luffit  ane  barne  sa  weill  yat  eftir  yai 
 playit  tcgiddir,  ye  barne  fled,  and  he  wald  haue  fol- 
 louit,  qll  he  put  him  on  ye  sand,  and  yair  wes  he  tane. 
 Mony  mervailles  ar  cum  of  vis  fische  for  ye  luf  he  hes 
 to  men  ;  and  for  his  properteis  and  his  nature,  ye  del- 
 phin beiris  ye  name,  and  yair  lord  is  euir  callit  Delphin, 
 and  beiris  it  in  his  armes,  and  is  the  first  prince  yat 
 euir  bure  it  for  ye  nature  of  him  and  his  land,  qlk 
 suld  be  lyk  to  ye  samen  fische. 
 
 "  It  is  to  understand,  yat  na  menstrale  sail  weir 
 his  lord  or  princis  armes  as  ane  herrald  dois.  Bot 
 he    sail    beir   it   ewin    on    ye    middis    of   his    bi 
 
 w    ane    round    circle  about   ye   seheild,    qlkis    is 
 callit   ane   besigell    in    armes,    and    yat   is   ye    di 
 ence  bctu'  of  armes  and  menstrallis,  quhairby 
 
 yai  sail  be  knawin.     Except  alancrlie  trumpctti  , 
 is  callit  ye  bell   of  armes,  and   he  sail  haue  na  tx 
 about  ye  K>t  ane  litiil  fassone  of  ane   trumpet 
 
 hingand  at  ye  k  of  ane  seheild,  quhairby  he 
 
 knawin  be  vyer  menstreliis.  M 
 
 "  IV.  The  buk  of  cctcarmouris,  and  how  gentil- 
 men  salbc  knawin  rrome  cluirles. 
 
 a  V.  The  buke  of  the  ordor  of  cheunlric  or  kny- 
 heid.  " — 'i  )  last  ti  .  m   to  he  met 
 
 transcript  of  the  third  part  of  the  1>; 
 
 on  Heraldry  by  the  Lady  Juliana 
 ,  which  .1481. 
 
 "  VI.  The  translation!]  out  of  Latin  into    Inj 
 I 
 
66 
 
 "  VII.  The  coronatioun  of  the  Emperior.  " 
 After  these  tracts,  different  memorandums  concern- 
 ing matters  of  heraldry  occur,  written  in  a  much  later 
 hand.     Of  these,  the  most  curious  is  "  the  aith  of  a 
 kny  : — 
 
 "  i.  I  sail  defend  the  evangell  presantlie  preachit 
 win  this  realme,  at  my  pouer. 
 
 2.  I  salbe  kill  and  trew  to  my  prince  and  soueranc. 
 
 3.  I  sail  do  honor  and  reuerance  to  all  ordoris  of 
 chevalrie,  and  to  ye  nobill  office  of  armes. 
 
 4.  I  sail  fortifie  and  defend  justice  to  my  pouer, 
 and  y  wout  fauor  or  feid. 
 
 5.  I  sail  haunt  and  exerce  ye  office  of  chevalrie, 
 and  help  all  y  ar  of  ye  samyn  ordor,  gif  yai  haue  neid, 
 after  my  pouer. 
 
 6.  I  sail  never  fie  from  my  prince  and  maister,  nor 
 follow  w  dishonor  in  tyme  of  mellee. 
 
 7.  I  sail  defend  my  natiff  land  fra  all  alieneris  and 
 and  strangeris,  w  my  pouer. 
 
 8.  I  sail  defend  all  wedowis,  orphelines,  and  mai* 
 denis  of  guid  fame. 
 
 9.  I  sail  do  diligence  quhairsoever  I  heir  yair  is  any 
 murthereris,  revaris,  or  maisterfull  thevis  that  suppres- 
 sis  ye  puir,  to  bring  yame  to  ye  law,  w  my  pouer. 
 
 10.  I  sail  manteme  ye  nobill  ordo'  of  chevalrie  w 
 hors,  harnes,  and  knylie  abilzament,  at  my  pouer. 
 
 1 1 .  I  sail  inquyre  and  seik  to  haue  ye  knauledge  of 
 all  ye  articles  and  poyntes  contcnit  in  ye  buikis  of  che- 
 valrie, and  to  observe,  keip,  and  fulfill  all  ye  premisses^ 
 w  my  pouer.  I  obliss  me,  sa  help  me  god,  be  my 
 awin  hand,  and  be  god  himself.  " 
 
 When  Lindsay  compiled  this  collection,  Heraldry 
 had  attained  an  adventitious  importance,  of  which  we 
 
 can 
 
67 
 
 can  hardly  form  an  adequate  idea.  By  combining  bla- 
 zonry, and  the  forms  of  ceremony,  with  a  whimsical 
 morality,  mystical  theology,  and  a  species  of  chemistry- 
 no  less  mysterious,  it  had  gradually  erected  itself  into 
 a  kind  of  universal  science,  which  comprehended  every 
 species  of  knowledge  that  could  adorn  the  damsel  or 
 knight,  that  could  animate  or  soften  the  rugged  ge- 
 nius of  Chivalry.  Like  Free  Masonry,  a  plant  of 
 the  same  stock,  it  is  conversant  in  the  occult  qua- 
 lities of  numbers  and  emblems,  and  may,  without 
 much  impropriety,  be  denominated,  Chivalry  Spirit- 
 ualized. Thus,  there  are  nine  precious  stones,  nine 
 virtues  of  precious  stones,  nine  orders  of  angels, 
 nine  dignities  of  regality,  nine  articles  of  gentleness, 
 and  nine  vices  contrary  to  gentleness.  Like  Free 
 Masonry,  too,  it  has  a  species  of  history  of  its  own, 
 and  a  traditionary  genealogy  of  its  heroes,  which 
 has  no  similarity  whatever  to  the  records  of  authentic 
 history.  To  illustrate  these  remarks,  I  shall  adduce  a 
 lore  extracts  from  this  curious  ms. 
 "  Thair  wes  nane  vyer  ordor  bot  tua,  wcdlok  I 
 and  knyheid  eftir.  Anc  kny  wes  maid  befoir  ony  cot 
 armor  ;  and  Olibron  wes  ye  first  kny  yat  euir 
 Astcriall  his  fader  come  be  ye  ry  lyne  of  yat  gentill 
 man  Japhet,  and  saw  ye  peple  multiply,  and  had  no 
 gouernor ;  and  ye  cursit  peple  of  Sem  (Ham  ?)  warir 
 nganis  yame.     Olibron  wes  ye  strongest  and  manliest 
 
 in  his  tymc,  and  ye  peple  cryit  on  Olibron  ; 
 yair  maister  and  yair  gouernor.  Ane  thousand  men 
 wcr  muhiplyet  of  Japheth's  lyne.  Astcriall  maid  to 
 his  sone  anc  garland  about  his  heid  of  ix  diuers  preti- 
 OU9  sr mis,  in  takin  of  cheualrie,  to  be  ane  goueuu.'  <>t 
 UN  thousand  men  :  and  to  yis  day   • 
 
 name 
 
68 
 
 name  in  Latin  ;  that  is  to  say,  miles,  anc  gouerno*  of 
 ane  tliousand  men.  Olibron  knelet  to  Asteriall  his  fa- 
 der, and  asket  his  blissing.  Asteriall  tuk  Olibronis 
 sword,,  yat  wes  Japhetis  fawcon,  yat  Tuball  maid  be- 
 foir  ye  flude,  and  smot  flatling  IX  tymes  upone  ye  ry 
 schulder  of  Olibron,  in  takin  of  ye  IX  vertewis  of  ye 
 foirsaid  pretious  stanis,  and  gaif  him  his  blissing,  vf 
 ane  charge  to  keip  ye  IX  vertewis  of  cheritie  now  fc  !- 
 lowing  yat  ze  sail  heir. 
 
 "  Thair  be  V  temporall  virtewis,  and  foure  gosuy 
 wertewis  of  cheritie.  The  V  temporall  virtewis  bene 
 yir  :  He  sail  not  turne  his  bak  to  his  innemy  to  fie  : 
 The  secund  is,  yat  he  sail  trewlie  heild  his  promeis  to 
 his  freind,  and  also  to  his  fa  :  The  thrid  is,  he  saibe 
 fre  of  met  and  drink  to  all  his  men  about  him  :  The 
 fourt  is,  he  sail  uphald  madynis  ry  :  The  fyft  is,  yat 
 he  sail  uphald  wedowis  ry.  And  yir  ar  ye  foir  ver- 
 tewis of  cheritie  gostly  :  The  first  is,  he  sal  honor  his 
 fader  and  moder  :  The  secund  is,  he  sail  do  na  harme 
 to  ye  puir :  The  thrid  is,  he  sail  be  mercifull :  The 
 fourt  is,  he  sail  hald  w  ye  sacrifice  of  ye  grit  god  of 
 hevin.  And  yan  Asteriall  did  mak  to  Olibron  ane  tar- 
 gat  of  oliue  tre,  w  thre  corneris,  tua  abone  his  face, 
 and  ane  doun  to  ye  grund  word,  in  takin  yat  yis  Oli- 
 bron wes  ye  cheif  of  all  ye  blade  of  ye  thre  sones  of 
 Noe. 
 
 "  As  teches  Troiainoure  (quho)  makis  mentioun  of 
 yair  lynnage  and  affinitie,  the  said  Olibron  had  tuo  sones, 
 named  Gcntiiius  and  Farolius.  The  eldest  sone,  Gen- 
 tilius,  inhabit  him  w  all  ye  ofspring  the  landis  of  Ara- 
 bie,  unto  ye  making  of  Troye,  Canaan,  Ethiopie,  and 
 Minor  Asie,  and  Constantinople,  and  maid  citcis  and 
 t-ownis,  fra  Olibronis  tyme  to  Trogilius  tyme  yat  maid 
 
 Troye  j 
 
69 
 
 Troye  ;  qlk  Troye  wes  maid  in  the  cuntrey  of  Asie, 
 upone  ye  eist  syde  of  Constantinople  ; — the  qlk  Gen- 
 tilius  first  maid  takynnis  in  armes,  yat  for  ye  skill  of 
 his  pcple,  Gentilius  suld  be  knawin  of  dignitie,  befoir 
 all  vyer  signers.  The  foirsaid  Olibron  wes  inspyrit  v^ 
 ye  haly  gaist,  eftir  ye  angell  gaif  him  ye  ordorof  kny- 
 heid  :  he  maid  ane  grit  daile  of  lawe  of  armes,  qlk  is 
 maid,  and  wes  befoir  ony  lawis  and  commandis.  Than 
 Gentilius  had  ane  dochter  callit  Arphagus,  ye  first  yat 
 wes,  yat  set  color  in  tairgis,  and  liknit  yame  to  ye  diuers 
 coloris  of  ye  pretious  stanes,  befoir  ye  manheid  and  dig- 
 nitie of  armes,  becaus  yat  Olibron  ye  first  kny,  wes 
 maid  w  pretious  stanis.  Than  Farolius  ye  secund  sone, 
 and  ye  youngar  of  Olibroun,  inhabit  him  in  ye  landis 
 of  Tartaric,  Basane,  Lybie,  and  Pharoun,  and  maid  ye 
 citie  of  Phargagia  in  ye  land  of  Pharoun. — Trogilius  had 
 thre  sonnes  in  troye  :  The  eldest  wes  callit  Arbaidus  j 
 ye  secund  wes  callit  Erewfilix  ;  the  thrid  Arbegraganus, 
 (of  quhome)  be  ry  lyne  come  Hector  of  troy,  throw 
 all  ye  warld  ane  of  ye  IX  wordiest.  Of  ye  eldest  sone 
 Arbaidus,  eftir  ye  distructioun  of  troye,  be  ry  lyne 
 come  Brutus,  of  ye  qlk  ry  lyne  of  brutus,  win  certane 
 proces  of  zeiris,  come  Arthor,  ane  of  ye  IX  worthy, 
 threw  all  ye  warld,  be  law  of  armes  callit.  OiF  ye 
 secund  sone  Erewfilix,  Saragen  in  Sartagia,  eftir  ye 
 destructioun  of  troye,  come  Iulius  Cesar,  and  enterit 
 in  Britaigne,  upone  caice,  mony  winteris  befoir  king  Ar- 
 thor,  and  is  conteint  throw  all  ye  warld  ane  of  ye  IX 
 worthy. — 
 
 "  The  foure  virtewis   of  Chevalrie   bene  yir  :    Y< 
 first  is,  ju-jt  in  his  byhestis,  clemeneie   of  his 
 
 to  haue  cf  ye  pure  ;  to  be  gratiou^  to  his  pi 
 cris  ;  to  be  reucrent  and  fayful  to  his  god.      1 
 h,  yat  he  be  wyss  in  big  battell  •,  prudent  in  liis  focht- 
 
 k  ma ; 
 
7o 
 
 and  having  mynde  of  his  wittis.  'f'he 
 thrid  is,  yat  he  be  not  slaw  in  his  weiris  *,  luke  befoir 
 yat  his  querrell  be  trew  ;  thank  god  euir  of  his  victo- 
 rie  ;  and  to  haue  mesure  in  his  sustenance.  The  fort 
 is,  to  be  Strang,  and  stand  fast  in  his  gouernance  ;. 
 to  houp  to  haue  ye  victorie,  and  avoid  not  fra  ye  feild, 
 and  not  to  schame  his  cotarmor ;  alsua,  yat  he  be  not 
 bostfull  of  his  manheid;  luk  yat  he  be  cu(r)teous, 
 lawlie  and  gentill,  and  wout  rebaldrie  in  his  language. 
 "  Thair  beine  IX  articles  of  gentilnes,  and  of  yame 
 
 V  beine  amarous,  &  for  souerane.  The  V  amorous 
 gentilnes  ;  lordlie  of  countenance,  traitable  in  language, 
 wys  in  his  ansr,  perfyte  in  gouernance,  and  cheirfull 
 to  fayfulnes.  The  four  souerane  (articles  of)  gentilnes 
 bene  ;  few  ayis  in  suering,  bowsum  to  goddis  bidding, 
 knawing  his  awin  birth  in  bering,  and  to  dreid  his  so- 
 uerane to  offend. 
 
 "  Thair  beine  IX  vices  contrarie  to  gentilnes,  of  ye 
 qlk  V  bene  indeterminable,  &   for-  determinable.     The 
 
 V  undeterminable  bene  ;  ane,  to  be  full  of  sleuth  in  his 
 weris  ;  ane  vyer,  to  be  full  of  boast  in  his  manheid  \ 
 the  thrid,  to  be  full  of  cowartnes  to  his  innemy  ;  the 
 fourt,  to  be  full  of  lechoure  in  his  body  ;  and  ye  fyft, 
 to  be  full  of  drinking  and  dronkelaw.  And  the  vyer 
 foure  determinable  :  that  is  to  say  ;  ane,  to  revoke  his 
 aw(in)  challenge  ;  and  vyer,  to  slay  his  prisoner  w  his 
 awin  handis  *,  the  thrid,  to  avoid  fra  his  soueranis  ba- 
 ner  in  ye  feild  ;  and  ye  fourt,  to  tell  his  souerane  fals 
 teillis.  " — 
 
 Heraldry,  displays  some  of  its  traces  in  every 
 form  of  society,  in  every  nation,  whether  civilized 
 or  barbarous.  Its  simplest  form  exhibits  the  tattowed 
 symbolical  figures,  which  discriminate  the  barbarous 
 
 tribes 
 
p 
 
 bribes  of  the  Negroes  and  Malays.  An  additional  step 
 conducts  us  to  the  hieroglyphical  emblems,  traced  with 
 ruddle  or  coloured  earth,  by  the  Northern  Indians  of 
 America,  on  their  bucklers  of  the  bark  of  trees,  when 
 they  recommend  themselves  to  their  gods,  before  en- 
 countering their  enemies.  Of  this  kind,  are  the  sym- 
 bols and  devices  which  iEschylus  assigns  to  the  Grecian 
 warriors  at  the  siege  of  Thebes.  From  such  ruck 
 blems,  the  transition  is  easy,  to   the  blazonry  of  the 
 
 i  ages.  The  peculiarity,  however,  of  the  system 
 of  Heraldry,  at  that  period,  consists,  not  in  the  devices 
 and  blazoned  figures,  but  in  the  usages  with  which 
 these  were  connected.  At  that  period,  Heraldry  swells 
 into  a  vast  system,  which  extends  to  all  the  social  re- 
 lations, and  comprehends  equally  the  duties  of  mora- 
 lity, the  articles  of  religion,  and  the  literature  of  the 
 time.  But,  when  Heraldry  extended  to  all  the  rela- 
 tions of  social  life,  it  did  not  equally  comprehend  all 
 thcmeml.  il  society.     It  was  an  exclusive 
 
 tern,  which  had  no  affinity  with  the  forms  of  peace, 
 but  presented  a  living  image  of  war.  But*  when 
 the  artists  of  that  period  had  attained  a  respectable 
 rank  in  society,  by  the  wealth  which  their  skill  en- 
 abled them  to  procure,  they  for  ..to  an 
 order,  and  modelled  their  system  according  to  the  forms 
 of  Chivalry.     Thi                  origin  of  F&Efi  Masonry. 
 
 in  tint  order  ;  the 
 crccy  and  ceremony  of  its  forms  its  of- 
 
 ,  and  of  its  lodges  or  brotherhoods. 
 institution  of  Masonry  comi.  .  >m  no  wi 
 
 jnalevolent  motives  in  its  founders  -,  from  no  c 
 of  secret  societies,  hostile  to  the  into 
 jnd  of  social  order;  but,  in 
 
 k  ij 
 
72 
 
 an  inferior  or  secondary  order  of  Chivalry,  adapted  to 
 the  habits  of  those  who  were  excluded  from  the  first  •, 
 an  order  of  Peace  and  Fraternity,  opposed  to  the  or- 
 der of  Arms  and  War. 
 
 II.  Of  the  Nature  of  the  JVork. — A  historian,  of  ex- 
 tensive erudition,  and  indefatigable  research,  terms  the 
 Complaynt  of  Scotland  "  a  most  curious  piece,  well 
 written,  and  fraught  with  great  learning — the  only 
 classic  work  in  old  Scotish  prose  ■ .  "  As  neither  read- 
 ing, nor  the  practice  of  composition,  had  become  ei- 
 ther a  fashion  or  an  amusement,  r.t  the  early  period 
 when  that  work  was  composed,  he  who  should  expect 
 elegance  or  taste  in  so  ancient  a  Scotish  classic,  would 
 highly  be  disappointed.  But,  if  he  expect  ancient 
 manners  to  be  delineated  with  rough  but  impressive 
 energy  5  if  he  expect  the  economy  of  civil  polity  to  be 
 characterized,  and  the  state  of  factions  and  parties  to 
 be  forcibly  described  •,  he  will  probably  be  disposed  to 
 class  this  work  with  those  authentic  monuments  which 
 throw  a  certain  and  steady  light  upon  history  and  man- 
 ners. However  injudicious  our  ancient  authors  maybe 
 reckoned,  in  the  selection  of  their  materials,  and  the  ar- 
 rangement of  their  topics;  however  defective  in  the  arts 
 of  composition,  and  the  polish  of  style,  they  can  never 
 divest  themselves  of  the  manners  and  habits  of  think- 
 ing, familiar  to  the  age  in  which  they  lived.  It  is  this 
 circumstance,  which  stamps  a  real  value  on  the  rudest 
 compositions  of  an  early  period  ;  a  value,  which  con- 
 tinually increases  with  their  antiquity.  It  was  this  cir- 
 cumstance, which  induced  the  late  accurate  and  ju- 
 dicious 
 1   rinkatcn's  Maitland  Poems,  p.  53Z. 
 
73 
 
 /dicious  Lord  Hailes  to  declare,  that  "  if  the  study 
 of  Scotish  history  should  ever  revive,  a  new  edition  of 
 Inglis's  Complaint  would  be  an  acceptable  present  to 
 the  public  l .  "  That  the  Complaynt  is  well  written, 
 and  fraught  with  great  learning,  will  be  admitted  by 
 every  one,  who  compares  it  with  compositions  in  prose 
 of  the  same  period.  The  style  of  remark  is  shrewd 
 and  forcible,  though  frequently  quaint  and  affected ; 
 and  the  arrangement  of  the  materials,  though  some- 
 times careless,  is  not  devoid  of  method.  The  refining, 
 logical  mode  of  demonstrating  the  plainest  truisms, 
 was  the  fault  of  the  age,  as  it  had  formerly  been  that 
 of  the  scholastick  philosophers  -,  and  some  traces  of  the 
 habit  may  be  observed  in  the  Complaynt.  The  author 
 displays  a  degree  of  erudition,  which,  in  a  refined 
 age,  would  be  denominated  pedantry,  but  which,  at 
 that  early  period,  did  not  deserve  so  severe  an  appel- 
 lation. After  the  discovery  of  the  ancient  models,  the 
 general  admiration  which  they  excited,  while  it  esta- 
 blished the  principles  of  taste  upon  a  sure  basis,  pro- 
 duced, in  an  equal  degree,  a  servility  of  understanding, 
 which  never  considered,  that  u  no  ancient  of  them  all 
 was  so  old  as  Common  Sense.  "  For  this  reason,  the  au- 
 thor of  the  Complaynt,  instead  of  establibhing  his  opini- 
 on by  solid  and  rational  arguments,  is  often  contented 
 with  exhibiting  his  authority  or  "  excmpil.  *'  Thh 
 cies  of  reasoning,  however  inconclusive,  is  attended  with 
 the  singular  advantage,  that  it  informs  us  what  kind  of 
 reading  was  fashionable,  and  what  authors  were  popu- 
 lar when  the  work  was  composed.  A  list  of  authors 
 cited  in  the  Complaynt,  has  already  been  exhibited 
 (in  p.  43.) ;  but  it  maybe  farther  remarked,  t! 
 
 1   Hailes'  Bannatync  Poems,  p.  279. 
 
74 
 
 no  instance  does  the  original  of  a  Greek  author  appear 
 to  be  quoted. 
 
 The  work  is  naturally  divided  into  three  parts,  of 
 which  the  first  may  be  properly  denominated,  the  Com- 
 plaint of  the  author  ;  the  second,  the  Monologue  of 
 the  author ;  and  the  third,  the  Dream  of  the  author, 
 or  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland.  In  the  first,  the  author, 
 deeply  afflicted  by  the  miseries  of  his  country,  begins 
 to  speculate  concerning  their  causes.  In  the  second, 
 which  has.  little  connexion  either  with  the  first  or  third, 
 a  variety  of  rural  scenes  and  occupations  are  depicted, 
 which  are  ingeniously  diversified  with  a  sea  fight,  and 
 a  dissertation  on  natural  philosophy.  This  division  is 
 terminated  by  the  author  into  a  profound  sleep,  during 
 the  unsuccessful  experiment  of  shutting  his  eyes,  and 
 looking  through  his  eye-lids  ;  and,  in  the  third  part, 
 he  relates  his  dream  or  vision.  The  subject  of  the 
 third  part  is  the  same  with  that  of  the  first — the  mise- 
 ries of  Scotland  ;  but  the  description  is  more  particu- 
 lar, and  the  machinery  isv  allegorical. 
 
 The  "  Epistil  to  the  Quenis  Grace,  "  which  is  pre- 
 fixed, may  be  properly  considered  as  a  part  of  the 
 work,  as  it  paints,  in  strong  colours,  the  unhappy 
 state  of  the  country,  distracted  by  the  threefold  e- 
 vil  of  invasion,  pestilence,  and  civil  discord.  It  com- 
 mences in  a  highly  metaphorical  strain  ;  the  author 
 seems  elevated  by  his  subject ;  and  he  "  shoots  the 
 glittering  shaft  of  praise  "  over  a  whole  cloud  of  he- 
 roines, celebrated  in  the  pages  of  Plutarch  and  Boc- 
 cace.  Valeria,  Clelia,  Lucretia,  Penelope,  Cornelia, 
 Semiramis,  Thomyris,  and  Penthesilea — the  famous 
 deeds  of  all  these  heroines  are  declared  to  be  unworthy 
 of  being  compared  with  tho  exertions  of  the  Queen 
 
 Regent, 
 
75 
 
 Regent,  against  the  ravening  wolves  of  England.     The 
 germ  of  her  nobility  not  only  brings  forth  the  branches 
 and  tender  leaves  of  virtue,    but  the  salubrious  and 
 wholesome  fruit  of  honour,  for  the  healing  of  a  deso- 
 late and  wasted  nation.     Ysicrata  never  endured  great- 
 er hardships  attending  Mithridates  in  his  most  perilous 
 situations,  than  the  Queen  Regent  sustains  every  day. 
 All  these  heroines  are  celebrated  in  Lydgate.     Penthe- 
 silea  is  denominated,  in  Lydgate's  Troye  Boke,  "  the 
 Hardy  Queen  of  Femynye,  "  a  region  whiGh  that  au- 
 thor places  between  Europe  and  Asia. 
 "  And  of  this  land  was  Pantasilia,     * 
 Whylom  lady  and  chyefe  gouernesse, 
 Full  renowmed  of  strength  and  hardinesse 
 Thrugh  out  y  worlde  both  in  length  &  brede. 
 And  yet  in  sothe  to  speake  of  womanhead, 
 For  all  her  myghte  she  had  a  huge  pryse, 
 For  both  she  was  vertuous  and  wyse, 
 Wonder  ,  and  had  an  honest  name, 
 
 Notwythstandynge  the  excellence  of  Fame 
 Of  hir  renowne  in  armes  and  in  glorye  *, 
 For  of  conquest  and  of  high  victf n 
 
 most  sourmountynge  out  of  dl 
 Of  any  woman  that  I  can  of  rede.  " 
 H  Ysicrata,  "  another  heroine,    is   likewise  character- 
 ized by  Lydgate,  in  his  translation  of  Boccacio's  FaU  of 
 Prince*,  1.  6.  c.  3. 
 
 "  Mithridate  makyng  his  lodgyng  place 
 
 Under  that  hyll,  when  it  drew  to  nyght, 
 The  troubly  heuen  w  thundring  gan  mana. 
 The  firy  leuyn  dyrked  hath  lr> 
 The  cloudy  mone,  ccfipscd  of  her  lyght, 
 
 med 
 
76 
 
 Astonied  hym  by  unware  violence, 
 That  he  stode  confuse  of  all  prouydence. 
 
 He  was  by  tempest  and  unware  darkenesse, 
 Almost  made  wery  of  hys  wofull  lyfe  -, 
 
 Yet  I  fynde  of  very  kyndnesse, 
 
 Hipsicrata,  whiche  that  was  hys  wyffe, 
 Nouther  for  werre,  nor  no  mortall  stryfe, 
 
 Left  him  neuer  ;  disguysed  of  vysage, 
 
 Folowed  him  arayed  as  a  page.  " 
 From  the  praise  of  the  Queen  Regent,  he  proceeds 
 to  that  of  her  ancestors,  from  Godfrey  of  Boulogne,  to 
 her  father  the  Duke  of  Guise,  many  of  whose  actions  he 
 celebrates,  but  particularly  his  quelling  the  formidable 
 insurrection  of  the  peasants  on  the  Upper  Rhine.  This 
 insurrection  of  the  serfs  or  peasants,  which  originated 
 in  the  oppression  of  the  nobles,  and  whose  lead- 
 ers avowed  every  principle  of  anarchy  and  irreligion, 
 while  their  conduct  exhibited  every  species  of  enormity, 
 afforded  an  admirable  example  of  the  dreadful  effects 
 of  civil  dissension.  Of  this  insurrection,  the  follow- 
 ing account  is  given  by  Carion  : 
 
 "  The  same  yeare,  were  raysed  in  Germany  hor- 
 rible and  neuer  afore  herde  commotions  by  uplandishe 
 men  in  Elsace,  Schwaben,  Frankenland,  Thuringen,  and 
 those  contreis  that  lye  by  the  Rhene.  This  commotion 
 was  alayed  by  the  great  force  &  amies  of  the  princes, 
 so  that  within  the  space  of  thre  monethes  nerehande, 
 were  slaine  in  battaill  aboue  ane  hundreth  thousand 
 upladysh  men,  none  other  wyse  then  as  beastes.  More- 
 ouer,  one  called  Schapler  wrote  XII  artickes  of  the 
 Christe  libertie,  among  the  whiche  this  was  euen  the 
 chefest ;  Tribute  ought  not  to  be  geuen  to  the  magi- 
 strate 
 
n 
 
 strate  or  superioritie.  By  thys  doctrine,  upon  hope  to 
 get  libertie,  the  gretest  part  of  the  rustikes  beyng  en- 
 flamed,  it  is  said  to  haue  taken  weapons  agaynst  their 
 lawfull  magistrate.  In  the  towne  of  Thuringen,  called 
 Mulhausen,  was  a  preacher  called  Thomas  Mynter. 
 The  same  preached  openly  that  he  shoulde  restore  the 
 decayed  state  of  the  churche  ;  and  dyd  boiste,  that  re- 
 uelacions  were  priuely  shewed  him  ;  and  that  Gedeon's 
 sword  was  geuen  hym  to  roote  out  the  tyranny  of  the 
 ungodly.  He  led  forth  by  heapes  the  uplandish  men, 
 and  commaunded  the  houses  of  gentlemen  to  bee  spoyled, 
 and  the  goodes  of  monasteries  to  be  polled  and  waisted. 
 But  when  die  rustical  armies  spoiled  every  where  with- 
 out order,  the  Prince  of  Saxony,  and  Landgraue  of 
 Hesse  destroied  them." — (foL  188.)  "  Suche, "  says 
 Carion,  "  is  the  ordre  where  the  deuell  is  capytayne, 
 that  neither  nurtour,  honestye,  nor  yet  the  feare  of 
 God  is  regarded.  " 
 
 Cdiicffs  Chronicle,  Lynnes  trans/. J "of.  207.  1550. 
 The  author  of  the  Complaynt  professes  to  dedicate  the 
 first  labour  of  his  pen  to  the  Queen  Regent,  which,  he 
 asserts,  however  devoid  of  real  merit,  will  demonstrate  the 
 zeal  and  attachment  of  the  author.  It  is  curious  to  ob- 
 serve the  similarity  of  the  complimentary  s: 
 the  author  adopts,  10  that  which  is  employed  in  the 
 solemn  speeches  of  some  barbarous  tribes.  An  author 
 who  describes  the  cust  inner*  of  the  Mic- 
 
 makis  and  Maricheets,  Indian  t:  merly  depend- 
 
 ent on  the  government  of  Cape  Breton,  1  ,  that  at 
 
 their  festal  entertainments,  it  is  customary  for  some 
 person  of  note  to  rise  and  address  the   master  t 
 
 ch  highly  metaphorical  and  en 
 He  compares  him  to  the  turpentine  tree,  which   I 
 
 1  fails 
 
78     . 
 
 fails  to  yield  its  gum  in  all  seasons ;  to  a  medicinal 
 herb  found  by  those  who  frequent  the  lakes  in  canoes, 
 and  then  launches  into  the  praises  of  his  ancestors. 
 €t  How  great  art  thou,  through  thy  great  great  great 
 grandfather,  whose  memory  is  still  recent  among  us 
 from  tradition,  for  the  plentiful  huntings  he  used  to 
 make  !  There  was  something  of  miraculous  about 
 him,  when  he  assisted  at  the  beating  of  the  woods 
 for  elks,  or  other  beasts  of  the  fur. — But,  what  has 
 not  thy  great  grandfather  done  with  respect  to  the 
 beavers,  those  animals  almost  men  ?  He  had  a  par- 
 ticular gift  of  knowing  the  favourite  places  of  those 
 animals  for  building  their  huts. — But  now  let  us  ra- 
 ther sp*ak  of  your  great  grandfather,  who  was  so 
 expert  at  making  of  snares  for  mouse-deer,  martins, 
 and  elks.  He  had  particular  secrets,  absolutely  un- 
 known to  any  but  himself,  to  compel  these  sort  of 
 creatures  to  run  sooner  into  his  snares  than  those  of 
 others ;  and  he  was  accordingly  always  so  well  pro- 
 vided with  furs,  that  he  was  never  at  a  loss  to  oblige 
 his  friends. — Now,  let  us  come  to  your  grandfather, 
 who  has  a  thousand  and  a  thousand  times  regaled 
 the  youth  of  his  time  with  seals.  How  often,  in 
 our  young  days,  have  we  greased  our  hair  in  his 
 cabin  ! — But  now  we  come  to  your  father  :  there 
 was  a  man  for  you  !  .  He  used  to  signalize  himself 
 in  every  branch  of  the  chase,  but  especially  in  the 
 art  of  shootit-g  the  game,  whether  flying  or  sitting. 
 He  never  missed  his  aim  * .  " 
 
 The  title  "  Epistil  to  the  §uen\s  Grace, "  is  in  the  man- 
 ner of  Lindsay,  wjio  has  prefixed  to  his  Dream  "  Ane 
 
 Epistill 
 
 1   Account  of  the  Micmakis  and  Marichccts;  translated  from  the 
 unpublished  French  original.     London,  1758.     8vo. 
 
79 
 
 Epistill  to  the  Kingis  Grace ;  "  and  to  his  Monarchy,  an 
 "  Epistill  Nuncupatorie.  "  But  the  invective  against  the 
 English  "  wolfis,"  displays  still  greater  similarity  to  his 
 peculiar  stvle,  and  may  be  illustrated  by  the  following 
 passage,  extracted  from  his  Collections  on  Heraldry. 
 "  The  Woolf  is  ane  rawisand  beist,  and  of  cruell  ap- 
 partenance,  and  hes  his  maist  virtew  in  his  feit,  in 
 maner  of  the  lyoun  ;  and  quhat  thing  he  grippis  w 
 his  feit,  he  lattis  not  gang ;  and  for  ye  wodnes  of 
 reif  and  rapacitie,  he  devouris  and  worreis  ony 
 beist  yat  he  findis.  And  gif  he  be  oppressit  or  in- 
 iurit  w  ony  yat  hurtis  him,  he  rynis  alsone  upone 
 his  fellow,  as  on  him  yat  did  ye  ewill ;  as  sayis  Iso- 
 dore  in  his  VII.  buke  ;  and  betakinnis,  he  yat  bure 
 it  first  in  armes  wes  cruell,  raifand,  and  stark  man 
 on  fut,  and,  for  wodnes  to  compleit  his  will,  did  w 
 gude  will  slau'ter  and  homiceid,  and  quhen  he  wes 
 skaythet  or  hurt  in  battell  or  vyer  wyss,  he  ran  als 
 sone  on  his  nychtbure,  as  yame  yat  did  him  ye  e- 
 will  \" 
 
 In  the  Prologue  which  follows  the  Epistle,  the  au- 
 thor palliates  the  defects  of  his  composition,  and  at- 
 tempts to  evade  the  charge  of  presumption,  by  alleging 
 his  desire  of  promoting  the  public  utility.  Every  craft, 
 says  he,  is  necessary  for  the  public  good  •,  and  he  that 
 has  the  gift  of  traduction,  or  composition,  his  faculty 
 is  as  honourable,  useful,  and  necessary,  as  that  of  the 
 mariner,  merchant,  cordiner,  carpenter,  captain,  or  ci- 
 vilist.  To  an  author  who  professes  to  address  the 
 common  people,  such  an  apology  was  the  more  neces- 
 sary, as  the  influence  of  literary  compositiens,  at  that 
 period,  was  far  from  being  extensive.  As  few  of 
 the  commons  could  read,  the  most  exquisite  composi- 
 
 1  ij 
 *   Lindcsay's  Collections  rditiflj  to  HculJry.     mj. 
 
So 
 
 tion  in  prose  could  never  equal  in  popularity  the  song  of 
 a  minstrel.  Besides  the  superior  facility  of  being  un- 
 derstood, as  well  as  recollected,  the  beauty  of  style,, 
 and  the  harmony  of  language,  are  always  more  obvious 
 in  verse  than  in  prose.  "  Many  men  there  ben,  "  says 
 Chaucer,  "  that  wrth  eeres  openly  sprad  so  machc 
 swalowen  the  deliciousnesse  of  iestes  and  of  ryme,  by 
 queynt  knittinge  coloures,  that  of  the  goodnesse  or  of 
 the  badnesse  of  the  sentence  take  they  litel  hede,  or  el* 
 none. — Some  men  there  ben  that  painten  with  colours 
 riche,  and  some  with  vers,  as  with  red  inke,  and 
 some  with  coles  and  chalke ;  and  yet  is  there  good 
 matter  to  the  leude  people  of  ■  thylke  chalkye  pur- 
 treyture,  as  hem  thinketh  for  the  tyme,  and  afterward 
 the  syght  of  the  better  colours  yeuen  to  hem  more  ioye 
 for  the  first  leudenesse  V  As  the  learned  affected  to 
 despise  every  composition  written  in  the  vulgar  dialects, 
 the  author  of  the  Complaynt  is  anxious  to  vindicate  his 
 use  of  the  popular  Scotish  language,  to  the  philoso- 
 phers, historians,  and  orators  of  that  nation.  He  ad- 
 duces, for  this  purpose,  the  same  plea  which  had  been 
 alleged  by  Chaucer  and  Lydgate.  Chaucer  urges  the 
 point  in  forcible  terms  :  "  And  for  rude  wordes  and 
 boistous  percen  the  herte  of  the  hcrer  to  the  inrest 
 point,  and  planten  there  the  sentence  of  thinges, 
 so  that  with  litel  helpe  it  is  able  to  spring.  This 
 booke,  that  nothynge  hath  of  the  great  floode  of 
 wytte,  ne  of  scmelyche  colours,  is  doluen  with  rude 
 wordes  and  boistous,  and  so  drawe  togider  to  ma- 
 ken  the  calthers  therof  ben  the  more  redy  to  hent 
 sentence.  In  latin  and  french,  hath  many  soueraine 
 wittes  had  great  delyte  to  indite,  and  haue  many 
 noble    thinges   fulfilde  •,    but    certes   there  ben   some 
 
 that 
 
 x  Chaucer's  Prologue  to  the  Testament  of  Love* 
 
8r 
 
 that  speaken  their  poisye  mater  in  Frenche,  of  whiche 
 speche  the  frenche  men  haue  as  good  a  fantasye  as 
 we  haue  in  heryng  of  Frenche  mens  Englyshe  ;  and 
 many  termes  ther  ben  in  Englyshe,  which  vnneth  we 
 Englishe  men  connen  declare  the  knowleginge.  How 
 should  than  a  frenche  man  borne  soche  termes 
 conne  iumpere  in  his  matter,  but  as  the  jay  chater- 
 eth  Englishe.  Right  so  truely  the  understandyng  of 
 Englishmen  woll  not  stretche  to  the  priuye  termes 
 in  Frenche,  whatso  euer  wee  bosten  of  straunge  lan- 
 gage.  Let  than  clerkes  enditcn  in  latin,  for  they 
 haue  the  propertie  of  science,  and  the  knowinge  in 
 that  facultie,  and  lette  Frenchemen  in  their  Frenche 
 alse  enditen  their  queinte  termes,  for  it  is  kyndely  to 
 their  mouthes ;  and  let  us  shewe  our  fantasies  in 
 suche  wordes  as  we  lerneden  of  our  dames  tongue.  "  ■ 
 Thus  also  Lydgate  : 
 
 "  Suche  language  as  open  is  and  playne, 
 Is  more  accepted,  as  it  is  often  scne, 
 Then  straunge  termes  which  be  not  understand, 
 Namely  to  folkes  that  dwel  upon  the  land.  "  2 
 The  practice  of  prefixing  apologetic  prefaces  to  w. 
 in  the  vulgar  dialect,  or  written  in  a  simple  unaff 
 btyle,  had    hardly   fallen   into  desuetude  in  the  reign 
 of  James  VI.     The  early  specimen  of  vernacular  com- 
 position exhibited  by  that  Prince,  probably  tended,  i  i 
 no  ^mall  degree,  to  render  such  a  practice  unnect\ 
 yet,  even  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I,   we  find   Abacuck 
 Byssett,  servant  to  Sir  John  Skeane,  employing  th 
 lowing  curious  apology  for  a  plain  style,   in   the 
 face  to  his  "  Rolment  of  Courtis.  "     ms. 
 
 "  I  haue  nocht  bene  copious  in  langaige  be  far  die- 
 
 ■  Chaucer's  Prologue  to  the  Testament  of  Love. 
 a  Lydgatc's  Prologue  to  John  Bochas. 
 
Vin  uncouth  evil-placed  termcs,  and  multiplicatioun  of 
 M-ordis,  be  paraphraces,  and  circumloquitioun  of  speich, 
 silogismes,  and  refutatioun  of  argumentis  be  parablis 
 or  comparisouns.  Nor  haue  I  adhered  to  auld  pro- 
 verbis,  or  bywordis,  fair  flatterand  fenzeit  and  allur- 
 and  fictiouns,  uttered  be  archadiciens,  maid  up,  contre- 
 fait,  and  fraising  langaige,  nor  haue  I  used  minzearde 
 nor  effeminate  tantting  invectiue,  nor  skorneful  wordis, 
 vane  saterik,  or  lowse  wcwsting  and  wauntting  speich- 
 es.  Nor  haue  I  ouer  fauerablie  or  luifinglie  loved  or 
 prased,  or  zit  haue  I  ouer  disdainefullie  detracted,  lak- 
 ed,  or  outbraided  in  ony  wayiss.  Nather  zit  haue  I 
 prophained  nor  abused  the  halie  and  sacreit  scriptouris, 
 be  unlerned  and  unskilfull  applicatiounis,  as  sum  of 
 the  vulgar  and  raschest,  railling,  simpilest  comounis 
 dois  efter  yr  awin  vaine  fantasticall  fantasies,  with(out) 
 ony  authorise,  schame,  understanding,  or  knawlege. 
 Bot  be  the  contrare,  I  haue  writtin  reuerendlie  and  spair- 
 inglie,  usand  my  awin  maternal  Scottis  langaige  or  mo- 
 ther toung,  as  we  call  it,  in  als  pithie,  schoirte,  and 
 compendious  termes,  and  clene  dictionare,  according  to 
 my  simpill  iudgment  &  knawlege  for  oppyning  up  and 
 declaratioun  of  the  truth  of  my  intensiounis  of  the  ma- 
 ter or  purpoiss  in  hand,  and  making  it  sensabill  to  un- 
 lerned and  vulgare  sortis  understanding.  " 
 
 In  the  Prologue,  p.  i<5.  our  hurt  nature  is  mention- 
 ed, in  allusion  to  the  doctrine  of  Original  Sin.  The 
 following  account  of  that  doctrine  is  the  earliest,  which, 
 in  our  language,  occurs  in  a  Scotish  writer. 
 
 "  Originale  sin  is  infectioun  in  our  body,  and  ob- 
 ligacioun  in  our  saule,  to  haue  originale  justice,  and 
 cbligacioun  of  baith  saule  and  body  to  graue  ;  and  it 
 has  mony  euill  froitis  yat  folouis  of  it.  In  ye  first, 
 throw  it,  the  ressoune  of  man  is  Tallin,  fra  his  sciens 
 
 and 
 
83 
 
 and  noble  state  to  gret  blindnes  and  ignorance  •,  and 
 sone  eftir  ye  transgressioun  of  Adam,  all  the  waurld. 
 fell  in  sic  ignoraunce,  yat  ye  naturall  ressoune  was 
 blindit,  and  ye  peple  fell  in  gret  idoiatrie  ;  and  yarfor, 
 ye  rulis  and  licht  of  naturall  ressoune  ye  haly  scriptur 
 behufit  to  teich  and  schaw  us,  for  ye  gret  blindnes  we 
 fell  into.  The  secund  is,  the  deordinacioun  of  ye  will 
 of  man  agane  ressoune,  and  inclinacioun  of  it  *,  for 
 ressoune  is,  throw  ye  originale  syn,  sa  waik  in  us,  yat 
 ye  sensualite,  wout  ordor  of  ressoune  or  honeste,  fo- 
 louis  ye  desyr  and  plesaunce,  and  obeyis  not  to  ye  bri- 
 dill  of  ressoune.  The  thiid  is,  ye  rebellioun  of  the 
 sensuale  appetit  agane  ressoune,  and  of  yat  how  we  ar 
 inclinit  to  fleschly  plesaunce  and  lust,  experiens  schawis 
 our  gretlie.  The  feird  is,  that  amaibt  all  maner  of 
 bestis  ar  inobedient,  contrar,  and  repugnaunt  to  man ; 
 for  ressoune  wauld,  that  als  sone  as  ye  man  commit 
 syn  was  inobedient  to  his  souerane,  that  is,  to  god, 
 t  god  subiekkit  to  him,  war  dishobeysaunt  to 
 him.     The  lift  euill,   &  noysum  froit  of  yis 
 
 is  cternall  dcid,  and  temporall  hunger  and  thiist, 
 licit,  cauld,  and  all  maner  of  vexatioun  and  infin. 
 
 Concerning  the  natural  advantages  of  the  body  of 
 man,  in  his  state  of  innocence,  the  same  author  makes 
 some  curious  reflections.  "  And  in  y  state  i 
 generacioun  of  men  and  women  naturally  as  now, 
 nocht  for  ye  perpetuacioun  of  man,  yat  yan  was  im- 
 mortal, bot  for  ye  nowmer  and  multitud  of  the 
 chosin  for  etc  mail  beatitud.     Ami    as    ye    man   in   yjt 
 
 ,uld  haue  tane  na  mar  nurisinc 
 ent  for  him,  bot  was  direkkit  be  wUdomc 
 sua  the  man  was  rulit  be  ressoune  8c    the  «  ill   of 
 in   ^u;.racioun   &   multiplicacioun  of  humane  I 
 and  be  vis  way  may  be  susienit,  ) 
 
 dan 
 
s4 
 
 dampnit  suld  not  haue  bene  producit  in  that  state ;  and 
 the  ressoune  and  wytt  of  man  in  yat  stat  suld  haue 
 knawin  quhen  ye  mater  had  bene  disponit  for  genera- 
 cioun,  and  yan  suld  haue  usit  ye  werk  of  generacioun, 
 and  euir  in  yat  operacioun  suld  haue  folouit ;  for  be 
 wit  &  ressoune  yai  had  conuenit  togidder  for  y  caus, 
 and  not  wther  way.  And  yat  carnale  operacioun  yat 
 tyme  had  bene  done,  corrumpand  virginitie  ;  bot  yan 
 it  had  bene  honorable  as  virginite,  yol  now  virginite  be 
 prefereit,  for  ye  grit  filth  yat  is  now  in  yat  operacioun 
 suld  nocht  haue  bene,  yan  na  schame  mar  of  yai  mem- 
 bres  nor  yar  use,  na  is  now  of  seing  or  hering,  and  yan 
 ye  wit  and  ressoune  of  man  had  not  bin  blindit  na 
 brokin  in  yat  werk  as  now  ;  for  all  yat  was  in  ye  man 
 yat  tyme  was  generit  be  ressoune. — In  yat  operacioun 
 suld  haue  bene  mar  dilectacioun  and  luf  yan  now ;  for 
 ye  natur  was  mar  perfit,  and  doand  yat  werk  had  bene 
 meryt,  obeyand  to  ye  command  of  god.  " 
 
 These  extracts  are  given  from  a  ms.  system  of  Theo- 
 logy, composed  by  John  de  Irlandia  in  1490,  and  pre- 
 served at  Edinburgh  in  the  library  of  the  Faculty  of 
 Advocates  (W.  4.  4.),  apparently  in  the  autograph  of 
 the  author.  This  work  exhibits  a  curious  specimen  of 
 the  Scotish  language  at  that  period  ;  .and  the  style,  as 
 well  as  the  orthography,  are  more  uniform,  and  ap- 
 proach nearer  the  modern  standard,  than  those  of  some 
 writers  who  lived  almost  a  century  later.  The  subject  of 
 the  work  precludes  it  from  being  printed ;  and,  on  that 
 account,  the  extracts  adduced  have  been  the  more  copious. 
 On  a  blank  page  of  the  last  leaf  is  the  following  inscrip- 
 tion :  "  Hoc  opus  fuit  compilatum  apud  Edinburgh  ob 
 reuerenciam  n"  saluatoris  dni  ihu  et  sui  matris,  et  pro 
 utilitate  Scotorum  regis  Jacobi  Quarti,  cleri  et  sui  po- 
 
 puli3 
 
85 
 
 puli,  a  mIJ  Johanne  de  Irlandia,  sacrse  theologlse  pro- 
 iessore  Parisiensi,  Rectore  de  Foresta,  anno  1490. — 
 Orate  pro  eo.  " 
 
 John  de  Irlandia  entered  student  of  theology  in  the 
 College  cf  Navarre  in  1446,  and  received  the  degree 
 of  Doctor  in  1475  '•  *n  I47I»  however,  he  seems  to 
 have  visited  Scotland  ;  for  Ferrerius  Pedemontanus  re- 
 lates, that  James  III,  at  that  period,  recalled  from  Pa- 
 ris a  famous  theologian,  John,  surnamed  Irlandus,  of 
 Scotish  extraction,  and  promoted  him  in  the  church. 
 He  adds,  that  he  was  a  man  equally  illustrious  for 
 piety  and  virtue,  for  learning,  and  the  talents  of  a  popu- 
 lar teacher  * .  Du  Launy  reckons  him  of  Irish  extrac- 
 tion ;  a  supposition  favoured  by  his  own  subscription 
 at  the  conclusion  of  his  work,  which  runs  thus  : 
 M  Writtin  and  completit  in  Edinburgh,  be  yi  humyl 
 orator,  Johne  of  Irland,  creit  and  promouit  in  Parys, 
 the  zer  of  the  incarnacioun  a  thowsand  four  hundreth 
 and  nynty  zereis.  " — In  1479,  ne  was  employed  by  the 
 French  King  as  ambassador  to  Scotland  ;  an  honour, 
 says  Du  Launy,  never  conferred  upon  a  Frenchman  in 
 Scotland.  The  object  of  his  mission  was,  to  excite 
 the  Scotish  Prince  to  take  up  arms  against  England  ; 
 an  object  which,  at  that  time,  he  was  unable  to  accom- 
 plish, but  in  which  he  succeeded  in  the  following  year. 
 He  denominates  himself  Rector  of  "  Foresta  "  (Forres) 
 in  1490  ;  but,  according  to  Dempster,  he  died  Arch- 
 deacon of  St  Andrews  }  .  Dempster  gives  the  fol- 
 lowing account  of  his  writings  :  "  Scripsit,  In  Magis- 
 tral!! 
 
 ■  Da  Launy  Hist,  tie  1'  Uniters.  Ac  Paris. 
 1  Ferrcri  Fctkmoiit.  Supplcm.  in  Hist  Bor 
 *   Dempster:  llh:  Ecclc*  1.  9.  p.  39-. 
 
86 
 
 lYum  Sentcntiarum  Lib.  IV  •,  Condones  Sacras ;  Re- 
 conciliationis  Modum  ad  Jacobum  III.  super  dissidio 
 cum  Duce  Albania?  ;  Epistolas  vide  excusas  Lutetian.  " 
 The  first  of  these  works  seems  to  be  the  system  of 
 Theology,  of  which  a  specimen  has  been  exhibited. 
 The  following  extract  may  be  considered  as  an  addi- 
 tion to  Literary  history. 
 
 "  And  sene  the  doctrine  of  Arestoteles,  of  Plato, 
 of  Cicero,  all  lawis  and  haly  writ  is  put  in  prose  and 
 sic  maner  of  speking,  and  no1  in  metyr  nor  ryme, 
 and  yat  lovis,  as  I  said  befor,  Aristoteles  in  his  retho- 
 rik.  I  haue  maid  yis  work  in  yis  maner  of  speking, 
 in  ye  commoune  langage  of  yis  cuntre  j  bot  in  ye 
 toung  yat  I  knaw  bettir,  yat  is  Latin,  I  maid  to  yi  fa- 
 der of  gud  mynd  thre  bukis  of  the  concepcioun  vir- 
 ginale  in  Paris,  and  twa  lovingis  and  laudacionis  in 
 meter  ;  ane  in  the  honor  of  the  blissit  lady  and  virgin  ; 
 ane  wther  in  ye  honor  of  hir  byrth  of  hir  blist  sone 
 Ihus.  I  knaw  y  Gower,  Chauceir,  the  monk  of  berry, 
 and  mony  wther,  has  writtin  in  Inglis  tong  richt  wisly* 
 induceand  personis  to  lefe  vice,  and  folow  wertuis.- 
 And  yai  suld  be  gretlie  thankit  yarof ;  for  in  yar  bukis 
 yai  teich  a  tragedy  yat  schawis  in  yis  waurdly  plesaunce, 
 in  the  begynnyng.  gret  plesaunce  and  dilectatioun ;  and 
 in  the  ende,  all  maner  of  sorow  and  displesaunce  ;  bot 
 ye  hie  materis  of  theologie  ar  tuichit  in  thir  bukis  in 
 my  maner  of  speking  ;  and  tho1  my  langage  be  not  in 
 ryme,  nor  plesand  to  p*  of  pepil,  it  will  be  plesand  to- 
 yame  yat  lufis  Ihu  and  yar  saule  -,  for  ye  sentens  is  ye 
 haly  wryt,  and  law  of  ihu  ;  and  euil  disponit  personis, 
 quheyir  yai  will  or  nocht,  yai  mone  obey  to  ye  law  of 
 
 Ihux 
 
87 
 
 :  thingis  yat  ar  wvittin  heir  *,  for  ye  maist 
 principale  of  my  saw  is  standis  starklie  in  haly  writt, 
 and  ye  laif  is  declaim  be  reasoune  naturale,  and  be  the 
 maist  and  grecest  doctouris  yat  has  bene  of  tyme  befor 
 in  Paris  ;  and  for  ye  honor  of  god,  and  proffit  of  yi 
 hienes  and  pepiJ,  I  Iiaue  maid  vis  laubour.  And  for 
 caus  yat  yi  reahne  has  bene,  and  zit,  as  I  understand, 
 ar  errouris  and  heresiis  lurkand,  I  saU,  on  the  thrid 
 buk  folowand,  treit  of  the  faith  catholic  of  Ihii,  and 
 in  the  heid  and  artdculis  of  it ;  and,  sene  I  haue  spokin 
 samekle  of  this  noble  and  haly  virgin,  I  will,  on  ye 
 end  of  yis  buk,  writ  ane  orisoune  yat  Galfryde  Chau- 
 ceir  maid,  and  prayit  to  yis  lady  ;  and  yo*  I  be  no1  elo- 
 quent in  yis  toung,  as  was  yat  noble  poet,  I  will  writ 
 her  twa  orisounes  in  Lattin,  yat  I  maid  of  yis  noble 
 &  excellent  lady,  and  send  furtli  of  Paris  with  a  buk 
 that  I  maid  of  hir  conceptioun  to  yi  fader  of  gud  mynd. 
 The  first  is  of  ye  gret  bono1  and  dignite  of  yis  lady  ; 
 and  ye  sccund  is  of  hir  noble  and  haly  byrth  of  hir 
 blist  son  Ihus. " 
 
 The  "  Orisoune  of  Chauceir  "  is  curious,  and  has 
 never  been  printed.     Its  authenticity  dci  babi- 
 
 lity  from  the  antiquity  c  -ihority  by  which   it  is 
 
 ascribed  to  him. 
 
 "  Orisoune  to  the  IL\ey  Vi 
 
 Moder  of  god,  and  virgin  wndefould, 
 O  biisfull  quene,  ojn.  ice  ! 
 
 Praye  you  for  me  yat  am  in  syn  ymouid, 
 One  to  yi  s  \  .   , 
 
 That  of  his  mercy,  yo1  I  be  nyce 
 
 m  Jj  And 
 
88 
 
 And  necligent  in  keping  of  his  law, 
 
 His  hie  mercy  my  soule  on  to  him  drawe. 
 
 Thou  moder  cf  mercy,  wey  of  indulgence, 
 That  of  all  wertu  art  superiatif, 
 
 Sauor  of  saulis,  throu  yi  beneuolence  •, 
 
 O  humyll  lady,  mayde,  moder,  and  wjtc, 
 Causar  of  pes,  strynthar  of  woe  and  strive  , 
 
 Mi  prayer  to  yi  sone  yat  yow  present, 
 
 Sene  of  mi  gilt  hooly  I  me  rapent. 
 
 Bemyng  comfort  of  us  wreichis  a  lie, 
 Be  at  myn  ending  quhen  y  I  sail  deye  ; 
 
 O  well  of  piete,  oneto  ye  I  call, 
 
 Ffuifillit  of  sweetnes,  holp  me  for  to  weye 
 Agane  ye  feynd,  yat  w  his  handis  tweye, 
 
 And  all  his  my,  wil  pluk  at  ye  ballance 
 
 To  wey  us  doune,  kep  us  from  his  mischance. 
 
 And  for  you  art  ensample  of  chastite, 
 And  of  all  vyrtuis,  worschip  and  honor, 
 
 Abone  all  women  blissit  mot  you  be  : 
 Now  speik,  now  prey,  wnto  or  saluiour, 
 That  he  me  send  suych  grace  and  fauor, 
 
 That  all  the  heit  and  byrnyng  licherye 
 
 He  slok  in  me,  blissit  madene  maryt. 
 
 Most  blissit  lady,  cieir  licht  of  the  day  ; 
 
 Tempil  of  our  lord,  and  woce  of  all  gudnco  , 
 
 That  by  yi  prayer  wipeth  clene  away 
 The  filth  of  our  soulis  wikitnes: 
 Put  fur1  yi  hond  -,  help  me  in  my  distres, 
 
 And 
 
89 
 
 And  fro  temptaeioun,  lady,  deliuer  me 
 Of  wikit  thov,  for  yi  benignite. 
 
 So  that  the  will  fulnllit  be  of  yi  sone, 
 And  yat  of  ye  holigost  he  me  illumyn  ; 
 
 Prey  you  for  us,  as  euir  hes  bene  ye  wone, 
 Al  suich  emprice  solely  bene  yin  •, 
 For  suich  ane  aduocat  may  no  man  devin, 
 
 As  you,  lady,  our  grevis  to  redres  ; 
 
 In  yi  refuce  is  all  our  seknes. 
 
 Thou  schapin  art  be  goddis  ordinaunce, 
 To  prey  for  us,  flour  of  humilite  ; 
 
 Quhairfor  of  yen  office  haue  remembraunce, 
 Lest  that  the  feynd,  throw  his  subtilite, 
 That  in  await  Iycth  for  to  caucht  me, 
 
 Me  neuir  ouircum  w  his  trechery  ; 
 
 Wnto  my  soule  belle,  lady,  you  me  gy. 
 
 Thou  art  the  way  of  our  redempcioun, 
 Ffor  crist  of  the  dedenyt  for  to  tak  ; 
 
 Both  flesch  and  blood,   to  yis  entencioun, 
 Upone  a  croce  to  dyene  for  our  sak  : 
 His  precius  deth  maid  ye  feyndis  quaik, 
 
 And  cristin  folk  for  to  reiosene  euir, 
 
 Help  fiom  his  mercy  yat  we  no1  desseuir. 
 
 Remember  eik  upone  the  sorow  and  peync, 
 That  you  sufferit  into  his  passioun, 
 
 Quhen  watter  and  bind  out  of  his  ene  tweyn, 
 Ffor  sorow  of  him  ran  by  yi  cheke  doune  •, 
 And  bone  you  know.  jne 
 
 Of 
 
9o 
 
 O  f  h:s  deing,  was  for  to  saif  mankind  ; 
 You  moder  uf  mercy,  haue  yat  in  thi  mynd, 
 
 Weill    uchtene  we  the  worship  and  honor, 
 Pa  ace  of  crist,  floure  of  virginite  *, 
 
 Seing  yat  ir  one  ye  was  laid  die  cur, 
 
 To  her  the  lord  of  hevin,  of  erth  &  see, 
 And  of  all  thingis  yat  formyt  euir  my  be, 
 
 Cf  hevyivs  king  you  was  predestinat, 
 
 To  h.  d  our  saulis  of  thyn  sic  hie  estait. 
 
 Thy  madynis  warrbe,  in  quhilk  that  or  lord  lay  j 
 Thy  pappis  quhit,  yat  gaf  him  souk  alsoo  ; 
 
 Unto  our  saufBng,  blissit  be  you  ay  ; 
 
 The  birth  of  crist,  our  thraldome  put  us  fro  : 
 Joy  and  honor  be  now,  and  euir  moo, 
 
 To  him  and  the,  that  un  to  liberte 
 
 Fra  thraldome  haue  us  bro',  blissit  be  ze» 
 
 By  the,  lady,  ymaked  is  the  pes 
 
 Betuix  angellis  and  man,  it  is  no  dout ; 
 
 Blissit  be  god,  yat  suich  a  moder  ches, 
 Ye  passing  bounte  spredeth  all  about ; 
 Yol  yat  our  hertis  sterne  be  and  stout, 
 
 You  cast  to  crist  befor  us  suich  a  meyne, 
 
 That  all  our  gilt  forgevin  be  as  clene. 
 
 Paradis  yettis  all  opin  bene  tlirou  the, 
 
 I  brokin  bene  the  yettis  ek  cf  hell  j 
 be  ye  waurld  restorit  is  pardee  ; 
 Of  all  wertu  you  art  ye  spring  and  well ; 
 By  die,  all  gudnes,  schortlie  for  to  tell, 
 
 In 
 
9* 
 
 In  hevin  and  erth  be  yine  ordinance, 
 Preserued  is  our.sauhs  sustenaunce. 
 
 Now,  sene  you  art  of  suich  autorite, 
 
 You  petius  lady,  and  virgin ,  L  Jf*™"  •  1 
 
 Pray  yi  deir  sone,  my  gilt  forgeue  it  me, 
 
 Of  ye  request,  I  know  weill  doutles  : 
 
 Than  spar  not  to  put  the  furth  in  pres, 
 To  prey  for  us,  cristis  moder  so  deir  \ 
 Ffor  ye  prayer  he  will  beneyngly  heir. 
 
 Apostill  and  frend  familiar  of  crist, 
 
 And  virgin,  ychose  of  him,  sanct  Johne  ; 
 
 Schynyng  apostle  and  euuangelist, 
 
 And  best  belouit  amangis  yame  ichone  ; 
 With  our  lady,  I  pray  ye,  you  be  one, 
 
 That  on  to  crist  sal  for  us  al  preye  ; 
 
 Do  yis  for  us,  cristis  darling,  I  seye. 
 
 Mary  and  Johnne,  O  hevynis  gemmis  tweyne, 
 O  lichtis  twoo,  schynyng  in  ye  presence 
 
 Of  our  lord  god,  now  doth  zor  lusty  pc 
 
 To  wesche  away  our  cloude  full  of  offence  ; 
 So  yat  wc  mycht  maken  resistence 
 
 Agane  the  feynd,  and  mak  him  to  be  waile, 
 
 That  zor  prayer  may  us  so  moche  availl. 
 
 Ze  bene  the  twoo,  I  know  weraly, 
 
 In  quhich  the  fader  God  can  eckfy, 
 By  his  sone  only  gottin  specially 
 
 To  him  a  hous,  quharfor  to  zou  I  cry, 
 
 Bccth  Icichis  of  our  synfull  malady, 
 
 • 
 
9* 
 
 Prayeth  to  god,  lord  of  misericord, 
 Our  old  giltis  that  he  no1  record. 
 
 Be  ze  our  help,  and  our  protectiourr, 
 Sene  for  mercy  of  zor  benignite, 
 
 The  preuilege  of  his  dilectioun 
 
 In  zou  confermyt  God,  upone  the  tre 
 Hanging  ;  and  to  one  of  zou,  said  he, 
 
 Richt  in  this  wys,  as  I  rchers  now  can, 
 
 Behold  and  see,  lo  heir  yin  sone,  woman  ! 
 
 And  to  that  vther,  heir  is  yi  moder  loo ! 
 Yan  prey  I  zou  for  that  gret  sueitnes 
 
 Of  the  haly  luf  yat  god  betuix  zou  twoo 
 With  his  mouth  maid  and  of  his  hie  nobleV 
 Commandk  hath  zou  throu  his  blissitnes, 
 
 As  moder  and  sone  to  help  us  in  our  neid. 
 
 And  for  our  synnis  mak  or  hartis  bieid. 
 
 Un  to  zou  tweyne  now  I  my  soule  commend, 
 Mary  and  Johne  for  my  saluacioun, 
 
 Helpeth  me  yat  I  my  lif  may  mend, 
 Helpeth  now  that  the  habitacioun 
 Of  the  holy  gost,  our  recreacioun, 
 
 Be  in  my  hart  now  and  euirmor, 
 
 And  of  my  soule  wesch  away  the  sor. 
 
 After  the  prologue,  the  author,  in  order  to  disco- 
 ver whether  the  series  of  disasters  which  had  almost 
 ruined  the  Scotish  nation,  portended  the  final  extermi- 
 nation of  that  people,  or  was  intended  by  the  Deity  for 
 the  correction  of  their  vices,  proceeds  to  investigate  the 
 general  cause  of  the  mutation  of  monarchies  and  states. 
 
 He 
 
He  determines,  that  that  these  revolutions  ought  to  be 
 considered  as  the  p  rrts  of  heaven,  inflicted  on 
 
 great  national  vices  ;  he  corroborates  his  position  by 
 the  citation  of  dive  ire;  vigorously 
 
 controverts  the  opinions  of  different  philosophers  con- 
 cerning the  influence  of  permanent 
 state  of  the  natural  wen  I 
 
 erful  exhortations  to  an  and  breathes  a    I 
 
 spirit  of  vengeance  against  "  the  aid  enemeis.  "     The- 
 historical  examples  are  chiefly  adduced  from  B 
 andCarion;  but  the  painting  exhibits,  in  some  instances, 
 the  strength  and  richness  of  the  ancient  romanc 
 when  the  author  mentions  the  silver  columns  and  ivo- 
 ry portals  of  the  citadel  of  Troy. 
 
 Lydgate's  account  of  Troy  and  Castle  Uion,  is  ex- 
 tremely curiou  i  ..hibits  a  successful  instan< 
 
 igrafting  of  Oriental  fictions  upon  the  clai 
 stories  of  Greece  and  Rome. 
 
 "    The  I  -rtly  to  cone! 
 
 Three  dayes  iourne  and  Iyke  die  latitu 
 
 That  net  yon, 
 
 Of  suche  another  of  foundacion  ; . 
 
 So  huge  of  c  nor  of  such  largesse, 
 
 Nor  toe  f  fayren  . 
 
 edifyed  or  lusty  to  the 
 . 
 
 Amon, 
 
 Meynt  in  t!  ,:t, 
 
 lit — 
 D 
 
94 
 
 And  at  the  corner  of  cuery  wall  \\ 
 A  crowne  of  golde  with  ryche  stones  yfre. 
 That  shone  full  bryght  againe  the  sonne  shene  -y 
 And  cuery  towre  bretexed  was  so  clene, 
 Of  chose  stone  that  were  not  ferre  asonder, 
 That  to  bcholde  it  was  very  wonder — 
 And  through  the  wall  their  fomcn  for  to  lette. 
 At  euery  toure  were  great  gennes  sctte.  " 
 He  declares  that  he  has  not 
 
 "  language  picked  for  the  rone?, 
 
 To  tell  the  sotyll  ioynyng  of  the  stones, 
 Nor  howe  they  put  in  stede  of  mortere 
 In  the  ioyntcurcs,   coper  gylte  full  clere. — 
 The  stretes  paued  both  in  fength  and  brede, 
 In  cheker  wyse  with  stones  whyte  and  reade.  " 
 His  description  of  Castle  Ylion  is  in  the  same  strain  of 
 romantic  fiction. 
 "  The  crest  of  which,  in  place  where  lowest  was, 
 Upreysed  was  full  syxe  hundred  pase ; 
 Builded  of  marbell  full  royall  and  full  strong?. 
 
 And  many  other  ryche  stone  amonge 
 
 And  the  walks  within  and  eke  without 
 Endlonge  were  with  knottes  grauen  cleane 
 Dcpeynt  with  asure,  gold,  sinople,  and  grene. 
 That  verely  when  so  the  sonne  shone 
 Upon  the  golde  meynt  amonge  the  stonne, 
 They  gaue  a  lyght,  withouten  any  were, 
 As  doth  Apollo  in  his  midday  sphere, 
 And  all  the  windowes  and  eche  fenestr.dl 
 Wrought  were  of  beryl  and  of  cleare  chrystal.  '? 
 Describing  the  hall  of  Priam,  he  sav$ — 
 
 "  And 
 
95 
 
 1  outward  was  the  wall, 
 ibre,  noble  in  special!, 
 alf  of  cedre,  as  I  reherse  can, 
 And  the  remnaunt  of  the  riche  Hcban, 
 Which  most  ii  able  as  I  dare  specif  ye, 
 With  stone  to  ioyne  by  craft  of  carpentrye; 
 For  they  of  tymber  haue  the  soueraynte. 
 And  for  to  telle  of  this  Heban  tree, 
 Lyke  in  bekes  sothely  as  I  finde 
 It  comcth  out  of  Ethiop  and  Ynde, 
 Blacke  as  is  geate,  and  it  wyll  waxe  anone, 
 When  it  is  koruc  as  harde  as  any  stone, 
 And  cuer  more  last  wil,  and  endure, 
 And  not  corrupt  with  water  nor  moysturc.  " 
 Tn  this  hall  was  placed — 
 
 "  A  horde  of  Heban  and  of  Yucry  white, 
 So  egally  ioyncd,  and  so  clone, 
 That  in  the  worke  there  was  no  ryft  sene. 
 h  in  the  hall  in  the  vthcr  sj 
 '.tas  lyne  in  the  opposyte, 
 Of  pured  metal  and  of  stones  clere, 
 in  brede  and  length  a  full  rych  aultere, 
 On  which  there  stode,  of  fygure  and  vysnge, 
 Of  riaassy  golde  a  wonderful  ymage, 
 Ab  to  be  honoured  in  that  high  searo, 
 Onely  in  name  of  Jupyter  the 
 And  the  statue  for  all  his  huge  weyght, 
 Fyfteae  cubyte*  compleyt  was  of  I 
 A  crowne  of  golde  high  upon  his  heade, 
 
 h  heavenly  saphyrea,  and  mony  ruby  redde, 
 Fret  enuyron  with  vthcr  Btonei  of  hu< 
 i  i  '.-■'>  .  were  d 
 
 n  ij  W] 
 
0 
 
 Whyte  pcreles,  massy,  large  and  roi 
 
 And  for  most  chefe  all  diakenesse  to  confour 
 
 A  carbuncle  was  set  as  kyng  of  stones  all, 
 
 To  recomforte  and  gladden  all  the  hall, 
 
 And  it  to  enlumine  in  the  black  night 
 
 With  the  freshenes  of  his  ruddy  light. — 
 
 Into  the  paleyis,  as  they  together  gone, 
 
 That  paued  was  all  of  Jasper  stone, 
 
 Of  a  tree  that  amaydes  stode, 
 
 On  which  to  loke  they  thought  it  did  them  good, 
 
 Musyng  where  it  were  artifyciall, 
 
 Erecte  or  sette  by  magyfce  naturall. — 
 
 Of  whiche  the  stocke,  of  Guydo  as  is  tolde, 
 
 lit  sothfastnesse  was  of  pured  golde, 
 
 Whiche  shone  as  bryght  as  the  somer  sonnc, 
 
 To  enlumyne  thinges  that  weren  donne. 
 
 And  the  body,  as  a  maste,  was  ryght 
 
 Proporcyoned,  most  goodly  to  the  syght,    - 
 
 Substanciall,  and  of  huge  strengthe, 
 
 And  twelue  cubytes  the  body  was  of  length  ; 
 
 And  the  croppe  rounde,  and  large  of  brcde, 
 
 And  in  compasse  gan  flourishe  so  &  sprede, 
 
 That  all  the  playne  aboute  enuyrowne, 
 
 With  the  bowes  was  shadowed  up  and  downc, 
 
 The  riche  braunches  and  thejeues  fayre, 
 
 Twayne  and  twayne  ioyned  as  a  payre  ; 
 
 One  of  gold,  another  syluer  shene, 
 
 And  meynt  among  w  stones  whyte  and  grcne, 
 
 Some  rede,  and  some  sapher  hewed, 
 
 And  euery  day  the  blomes  were  renewed. 
 
 And  the  blossoms  with  many  sundry  suyte, 
 
 For  stones  Inde  it  bare  in  stede  of  fruyte.  " 
 
 The 
 
57 
 
 The  proportion,  the  size,  and  the   strength   of  the 
 Tower  of  Babylon,  is  celebrated  in  die  Complaynt, 
 well  as  the   ingenuity  of  the   artificers.     Lydgate  has 
 celebrated  the  same  qualities  of  this  magnificent  pile. — 
 "  For  to  this  daye  touchynge  the  great  myghte 
 Of  this  towre,  whych  Babell  men  it  cal, 
 ■n  fro  ferre  may  haue  thereof  a  sight ; 
 It  surmounteth  other  towres  all, 
 Of  whych  werke  thus  it  is  befal, 
 Of  serpentes  and  many  a  great  dragon 
 It  is  now  called  chefe  habitacion. 
 
 That  no  man  dare  as  they  it  se, 
 
 For  wycked  eyre,  and  for  corrupcion, 
 a  great  space,    and  in  a  great  cour  I 
 Approche  so  nere  y  meruaylous  dongion  ; 
 So  venemous  was  that  mansion 
 And  so  hcrible  that  no  man  dare  approche — 
 Lyke  to  a  mountayne  builded  on  a  roche. 
 
 that  had  thereto  repaire, 
 This  tower  attaineth  unto  the 
 And  transeendeth  the  region  of  the  circ  ; 
 
 The  stones  and  the  siment  were  made  of  such 
 
 matere, 
 And  the  ioyninge  so  stedfast  and  entier, 
 Though  fyre  and  water  both  dyd  it  assaile, 
 Litle  or  nought  their  pouer  shoulde  auayle.  " 
 
 Lydgal  ,  /'/.  4.      1 56 1. 
 
 The  spirited  invective  of  the   author  of  the   Com- 
 playnt against    those  who  acknowledged    the    iniluenc^ 
 of  Dame  Fortune  in  "  the  Bllbvei 
 of  prospcritye,  "  is  lcveli 
 
9^ 
 
 Boccacc,  his  I  r    Lydgate,   Gower,   and  a 
 
 of  their  imitators,  all  of  whom  have  represented  For- 
 tune as  the  prime  dispenser  of  the  happiness  and  mi- 
 sery of  human  life.  "  To  shewe  Fortune's  vari- 
 ance, "  is  the  object  of  Lydgate's  translation  of  Boc- 
 cace,  De  Casibus  vlrorum  illustriuyn; 
 "  By  example,  as  there  is  no  rose 
 
 Springyng  in  garden,  but  there  be  sum  thornc  ; 
 Nrcther  fayrer  blossome  then  nature  list  dispose, 
 Then  mai  their  bcuty,  as  men  hath  sene  to  forn, 
 With  bitter  winds  be  from  the  braunches  born  ; 
 Ne  none  so  high  in  his  estate  contune 
 Fie  from  the  wayling  and  daungcr  of  Fortune.  " 
 The  allegorical  representation  of  Fortune,  in  the  mid- 
 dle ages,  though  it  borrowed  some  terrible  graces  from 
 the  northern   mythology,  was  not,  in  its  essential  cha- 
 racteristics, different  from  the  classical  divinity  of  Greece 
 and  Rome.     Lydgate's  description  of  Fortune,   in  die 
 Prologue  to  the  "  syxte  booke  of  John   Bochas, "  ex- 
 hibits greater  strength  of  colouring,  and  power  of  fan- 
 cy, than  that  author  generally  attains,  even  when  he 
 traces  the  footsteps  of  the  Italian  poets. 
 
 "  VVhyle  Bochas  pensyfe  stode  in  hys  library, 
 Wyth  chere  oppressed  pale  in  his  vysage, 
 Somdeale  abashed,  alone,  and  solitary, 
 To  hym  sppered  a  monstruous  ymage, 
 Parted  on  twayne  of  colour  and  coragc  ; 
 Her  ryght  syde  full  of  somer  flour.  ;, 
 The  tother  oppressed  w  winter  stormy  shoures. 
 
 Bochas  astoined,  full  feareful  to  abrayde 
 
 Whan  he  behelde  the  wonderful  fygure 
 Of  Fortune,  thus  to  hym  selfe  he  sayd, 
 
 What 
 
99 
 
 .it  may  this  meane  ?  is  this  a  crcatu. 
 Or  a  monstre  transfourmed  agayne  natt 
 Whose  breniung  even  spercle  of  their  light 
 As  do  the  sterres  the  frost v  wynter  nyght. 
 
 And  of  lier  chere  ful  good  rn  v, 
 
 Her  face  semyng  cruel  and  r. 
 
 And  by  clisdaync  1       .        ,;  of  loke  ; 
 
 Her  heare  untrussed,  harde,  sharpe,  and  horyble, 
 Frowardc  of  shape,  lothsome  &  odib! 
 
 An  hundred  hande's  she  had  of  eche  parte, 
 
 In  sondry  wj  rc>  departe. 
 
 Some  of  her  handes  lyft  up  men  aloite 
 
 To  live  estate  of  worldly  dignil 
 Anbti  ".pcd  full  unsc 
 
 Which  cast  anotl  ire  : 
 
 rtc  ; 
 Gaue  some  a'1  rood  nan 
 
 ..nother  of  sclaund 
 
 ]  [er  habyte  was  of  ma 
 •  blue  of  I 
 - 
 
 r  chaunge  and  double 
 A  ;  ',  drede  meyntwyth  hardiru 
 
 ite  for  clennesse,  lyke  sone  for  to  fai 
 X  for  mourning,   russet  (ov  ;. 
 
 Her  colours  meynf  of  wolles  more  than  i 
 
 Some  why];:  I 
 
And  as  a  swalowe  geryshe  of  her  flyghte, 
 Twene  slowc  and  swifte,  now  croked  now  upright; 
 Nowe  as  a  craple  lowe  corbed  doun, 
 Now  as  a  dwery,  and  nowe  a  champion. 
 
 Now  a  cowarde  durst  not  come  in  prees  ; 
 
 Nowe  somwhyle  hardy  as  a  lyon  ; 
 Now  lyke  Ector,  nowe  dredful  Thersites  -, 
 
 Nowe  was  she  Cresus,  nowe  Agamenon  ; 
 
 Now  Sardanapallus  of  condicion  ; 
 Nowe  was  she  mannishe,  nowe  was  she  feminyne  \ 
 Now  coude  she  rayre,  and  now  falsly  shyne. 
 
 Now  a  Mermayde,  angelyke  of  face, 
 
 A  tayle  behind,  very  serpentyne  ; 
 Nowe  debonaire,  now  frowarde  to  do  grace  ; 
 
 Nowe  as  a  lambe,  tretable  and  benigne  ; 
 
 Now  lyke  a  woife,  of  nature  to  maligne  ; 
 Now  Sirenes,  to  synge  folke  aslepe, 
 Tyl  Caribdis  drowne  them  in  the  depe. 
 
 Thus  Bochas,  considringe  her  figure, 
 Al  her  features  in  order  he  gan  behoi< 
 
 Her  bredth,  her  lengthe,  her  shape  and  her  stat 
 An  hundred  handes  and  armes  there  he  tolde, 
 Wherof  astoined  his  herte  gan  wexe  colde  ; 
 
 And  arhonge  al  her  membres  euerychonc, 
 
 Hym  sempte  she  had  no  fete  upon  to  gon, " 
 
 The  speech  of  Dame  Fortune  to  Boccace,  and  the  de- 
 lineation of  her  active  qualities,  are  marked  by  the  cha- 
 racteristic feebleness  of  Lydgate  ;  yet  some  instances 
 of  vigorous  description  may  be  selected. 
 
 «  Why 
 
101 
 
 "  Why  shoulde  men  put  me  in  blame, 
 
 To  folowe  the  nature  of  my  double  play  ? 
 With  new  buddes  doth  not  Vcr  the  same, 
 Whan  primroses  appere  fresh  and  gay  ? 
 To  day  they  shewe,  to  morowe  gon  away  ; 
 Somer  after  of  floures  hath  foyson, 
 Tyl  June  wyth  sythes  after  mowe  them  doun. — 
 
 The  erth  is  clad  in  motlayes  whyte  and  rede, 
 Whan  Estas  entreth  with  vyolettes  sote  ; 
 
 The  greues  are  grene,  &  in  euery  mede, 
 The  bawm  fleteth  which  doth  to  herts  bote  ; 
 August  passed,  againe  into  the  rote, 
 
 By  course  of  nature  y  vertue  doth  resorte  ; 
 
 To  reuolucion  of  kynde  I  me  reporte.  " 
 
 Though  Gower  frequently  personifies  Fortune,  yet 
 in  the  Prologue  of  his  Com  essio  Amantis,  he  ex- 
 plains himself,  by  declaring,  that  Fortune  always  ori- 
 ginates from  a  man's  own  conduct. 
 
 The  second  division  of  the  Complaynt,  dcnomi-- 
 nated  the  Monologue  of  the  Author,  though  per- 
 haps, at  this  distant  period,  the  most  curious,  lias 
 the  least  connexion  with  the  proper  subject  of  the 
 work.  It  is  here,  then,  that  the  author  may  be 
 expected  to  display  the  peculiar  turn  of  his  mind ; 
 to  introduce  his  favourite  topics  of  discussion  \  to 
 exhibit  his  strongest  associations  of  ideas  :  and  I 
 fore,  the  coincidences  with  Lindsay,  which  have  been 
 remarked  in  this  division,  are  the  more  important  and 
 striking.  The  introduction  of  the  Monologue  is  abrupt 
 and  inartificial.  The  author,  fati-ucd  with  etudy, 
 for  recreation  walks  int.  ,  to  inhale  die 
 
 I  of  the  springing  grass,  and  tlu 
 
 u 
 
102 
 
 Otis  flowers.  At  the  foot  of  a  mountain,  he  reai. 
 river,  clear  as  beryl,  in  which  the  sportive  fish,  skim- 
 ming wantonly,  display  their  vermeil  fins,  and  shining 
 silvery  scales.  The  green  banks  of  the  river  are  shad- 
 ed with  overhanging  trees,  amid  the  branches  of  which, 
 the  moving  chorus  of  the  birds  imitates  artificial  music. 
 This  scene  is  depicted  with  the  pencil  of  a  poet.  The 
 Northern  gales  of  the  Borrowing  Days  shake  the  fra- 
 grant fruit-blossoms  from  the  trees,  and  pursue  them 
 over  the  fields  ;  and  the  author  is  so  delighted  with  his 
 excursion,  that  he  continues  it  all  night.  He  traverses 
 a  green  forest,  till  the  sun  elevates  "  his  awful  golden 
 face, "  and  the  fields  begin  to  imbibe  the  fresh  dew  ; 
 till  his  ears  are  assailed  with  the  confused  sounds  of 
 birds  and  beasts,  mingling,  without  H  temperance  or 
 tune,  "  with  the  echoes  of  the  rocks  and  caverns.  The 
 enumerating  the  particular  cries  of  animals,  instead 
 of  describing  the  general  effect  of  the  sounds  they  e- 
 mitted,  though  it  indicates  an  incorrect  taste,  is  ex- 
 tremely curious,  as  it  affords  us  an  opportunity  of  ap- 
 preciating the  copiousness  of  the  language  employed 
 by  our  author.  In  this  enumeration,  we  may  expect 
 to  find  many  of  the  "  barbir  agrest  termis, "  for  the 
 use  of  which,  he  apologises  in  his  Prologue.  The 
 peasants  of  every  country,  express,  by  appropriate 
 terms,  the  cries  of  those  animals  with  which  they  are 
 best  acquainted  \  but  authors,  who  employ  the  refined 
 language  of  the  higher  classes,  are  seldom  acquainted 
 with  these  popular  terms,  and  still  less  frequently  able 
 to  use  them,  without  detracting  from  the  elegance  of 
 their  compositions.  Compositions  in  the  vulgar  dialect  of 
 the  peasantry,  are,  on  this  account,  always  desirable  to 
 the  philologist,  who  investigates  the  history  and  qualities 
 
 of 
 
io3 
 
 of  any  language.  Ancient  authors  frequently  mei 
 persons  who  are  supposed  to  have  understood  the  lan- 
 guage of  birds.  By  this,  we  are  probably  to  under- 
 stand, the  dexterous  imitation  of  their  several  cries  •,  a 
 species  of  science,  from  which  the  original  hunters  ci 
 the  forests  derived  a  considerable  part  of  their  sul 
 ence.  In  the  panegyrical  orations  of  the  Micmac  In- 
 dians, this  power  of  imitation  constitutes  a  principal 
 topic  of  praise.  "  He  was  particularly  remarkable  for 
 decoying  of  bustards,  by  his  artificial  imitations.  We 
 are  all  of  us  tolerably  expert  at  counterfeiting  the  cry 
 of  those  birds  ;  but,  as  to  him,  he  surpassed  us  in  cer- 
 tain inflexions  of  his  voice,  that  made  it  impossible  to 
 distinguish  his  cry  from  that  of  die  birds  then. selves. 
 He  had,  besides,  a  particular  way  of  motion  with  his  bo- 
 dy, that,  at  a  distance,  might  be  taken  for  the  clapping 
 of  their  wings,  insomuch  that  he  has  often  deceived  our- 
 selves, and  put  us  to  confusion,  as  he  started  out  of  his 
 hiding  place.  "  x  From  this  circumstance,  the  imitation 
 of  the  peculiar  cries  of  animals,  and  the  acquisition  of 
 the  terms  by  which  these  were  denominated,  became  a 
 necessary  part  in  the  education  of  young  men.  Son i 
 tiges  of  this  practice  occur  in  da  quity.    Thus, 
 
 according  to  SpartLn,  "   Gets  fuit  has  qux- 
 
 stiones,  grammaticis  proponere,    ut  dieerent,    singula 
 animalia   quomodo  vocv.m  eraitterent,  velut  agni  ba- 
 lant,    porcelli   grunniunt,    palumbes    minurriunt, 
 sscviunt,    leones    rugiunt,    leopardi   rictant, 
 barriunt,  rame  coaxant,  cqui   hinniur.r,  liunt, 
 
 tauri  mugiunt.  "  2      In  the  enigmatic 
 Ileidrek  and  Geot,  i.i  the   licrvarar  Saga,  many   allu- 
 
 o  ij  sions 
 
 »    Account  of  the  Micmakis  and  Marichcets.     Loll 
 :  partiani  Vita  Gctac,  c.  v. 
 
104 
 
 sions   to   the   habitudes  of  animals  and  birds,  occur. 
 After  the  revival  of  literature,  the  terms  by  which  a- 
 nimal  cries  were  denominated,  greatly  engaged  the  at- 
 tention of  the  learned  ;  and  many  glossaries  of  them 
 were  formed,  which  have  as  yet  remained  inedited  ;  as 
 those  of  Salmasius  and  Bondamius.     From  the  first  of 
 these,  some  extracts  are  produced  by  Wolfius,  in  his 
 Casauboniana,  p.  56 — 63. ;  and  from  the  latter,  Bur- 
 man  exhibits  some  emendations,   in  his  Anthol.   Vet. 
 Poet.   Latin,  vol.  ii.    p.  423,  4.     Valckenaer,  in  his 
 Animadv.  ad  Amnion.  1.  2.  c.  18,  has  compared  the 
 power  of  the  Greek  language  with  the  Latin,  in  the 
 expression  of  animal  sounds.     But  poets,  as  well  as 
 critics,  have  attempted  to  discriminate  such   sounds, 
 and  have  indulged  themselves  in  arranging  them   ac- 
 cording to  the  laws  of  rythm.     Of  this  structure,  is 
 the  supposititious  poem  De  Philomela,  attributed  to  O- 
 vid,  and  printed  in  the  early  editions  of  his  works  ; 
 and  also  a  poem,  De  Vocibus  Animalium,  printed  by 
 Burman  in  his  Anthologia,  from  the  MS.  of  Vossius ; 
 which  thus  commences — 
 "  Quis  volucrum  species  numeret,  quis  nomina  discat  ? 
 Mille  avium  cantus,  vocum  discrimina  mille, 
 Nee  nostrum  fateor  tantas  discernere  voces.  " — 
 In  "  the  Assemble  of  Foules, "  attributed  to  Chaucer, 
 a  very  curious  enumeration  of  birds  occurs,  in  which 
 some  are  characterized  by  the  sounds  which  they  emit. 
 "  There  might  men  the  roiall  Egle  finde, 
 
 That  with  his  sharp  looke  perseth  the  son  ; 
 And  other  Egles  of  a  lower  kinde, 
 
 Of  whiche  that  clerkes  well  deuisen  con  : 
 There  was  the  tirante  with  his  fethers  don 
 And  grene  ;  1  mean  the  Goshaukc,  that  doth  peine 
 '  To  birdes,  for  his  outragious  rauine. 
 
 The 
 
105 
 
 The  gentle  Faucon,  that  with  hi 
 
 The  kyngis  hand,  the  bardie  Sperhauke  ei 
 
 The  Quales  foe,  the  Merlion,  that  pel 
 Hymself  full  oft,  the  larke  fcr  to  s 
 There  was  the  Doue,  with  her'iyen  meek; 
 
 The  ielous  Swan,  ayenst  his  death  that  singeth ; 
 
 The  Oule  eke,  that  of  deth  the  bode  bririgeth. 
 
 The  Crane,  the  Geant,  with  his  trompes  soune ; 
 
 The  theif  the  Chough,  and  the  chattring  I 
 The  scomyng  Jaie,  the  eles  foe  the  Heroune  ; 
 
 The  fals  Lapwing,  full  of  trecherie  ; 
 
 The  Stare,  that  the  counsaile  can  be  Wrie  ; 
 The  tame  Ruddocke,  and  the  coward  Kite  ; 
 The  Cocke,  that  horiloge  is  of  thrcpes  lite. 
 
 The  sparow,  Venus  son,  &  the  Nightingale, 
 That  cleapeth  forthe  the  freshe  kaues  newe  ; 
 
 The  Swalowe,  murdrer  of  the  bees  smale, 
 That  maken  honie  of  floures  freshe  of  hew 
 The  wedded  Turtell,  with  his  hartc  tri 
 
 The  Pecocke,  with  his  angell  fethers  bright; 
 
 The  Fesaunt,  scorncr  of  the  Cocke  by  night. 
 
 The  waker  Gose,  the  Cuckowe  euer  v.: 
 
 The  Popingcie,  full  of  delica 
 The  Drake,  stroier  of  his  own  kinde  ; 
 
 The  Storke,  wreker  of  aduoutrie  ; 
 
 The  bote  Cormeraunt,  full  of  glotonia ; 
 The  Rauin  and  the  Crow.-,  with  her  voice  o(  Ci 
 The  Throstell  olde,  and  the  frost: 
 
 Qhauctrs  Assev..  uUstfiL  : 
 
 These  characteristics  are  almost  all  mentu 
 descanted  upon  at  greater  length  by  L 
 
io6 
 
 Collections  upon  Heraldry,  which  have  been  already 
 !.     From  many  descriptions  of  birds,  I  have  se- 
 lected those  of  the  "  Corbell  &  Tourtre. " 
 
 "  The  Corbell  is  ane  foull  yat  dontis  sa  mekill  hir 
 birdis,  yat  scho  nurissis  yame  not,  nor  trowis  not  yat 
 yai  be  hirris,  qll  scho  se  yame   blak  fedderit ;  and  fra 
 yen  furth,  scho  luifis  yame,  and  feidis  yame  diligentlie. 
 Thai  leif  on  carionis  ;  and  first  yai  tak  the  ene,  and 
 syne  the  harnis.     And  this  foule  come  not  agane  to  ye 
 ark  of  Noe,  becaus  he  fand  grit  carionis   quhair  he 
 baid  5  and  is  ane  foule  of  lang  lyffe  ;  and  attour  all 
 beistis,  makis  freindschipe  with  the   Rennart,  for  the 
 Rennart  is  subtill  in  taking  of  prayis  ;  for  alsua  and 
 i  him  alane  and  sleipand,  yat  he   suld   do  him 
 r.«.ne  ewili ;  and  he  hes  fleyand  cryis,  and  consawis  be 
 the  luking  of  his  ene  w  his  femmell ;  and  fechtis  and 
 takis  noise  w  all  beistis  and  foullis,  bot  w  ye  Rennart ; 
 -,   yat  he  yat  bure  him  first  in  armes  wes 
 blak,   &  lufit  his  blak  freindis  ;  and  yai  yat  war  quhyt 
 tit  yame  of  his  linage,  and  wes  oftymes  jalous  yat 
 te  thingis  war  ry  not  to  him,  bot  gif  he  persauit 
 sum  pl  of  blak  *,  and  voyagit  forto  tak  his  praye,  and 
 t  gif  it  wes  weill  or  honbIc  ;  bot  quhen  scho 
 him,  aisit  him,  wout  courtasie  ;  and  doand  yus 
 b  guylit  men  wilfullie,  and  maid  him  freind  to  yame 
 y.t  tuke   subtily  praye   about   ye  princis,  yat   gif  his 
 I  failzeit,  he  my  haue  of  yairis,  and  gif  yai  fand 
 
 nd  upone  his  praye,  yai  wald  do  nor  sufFre 
 ,  ie  to  be  done  ony  noysome  thing  to  him,  and 
 1  s  luxurious  w  sy  of  ye  ene,  mair  yan  of  deid, 
 
 >ifiit  ene  abone  all  thing,  and  wes  craint  of  voice 
 ..  apache,  be  the  qlk  he  wes  horrible  mervalous.  " 
 
 *  The 
 
io7 
 
 u  The  Tourtre  is  ane  foule,  sucit  and  simple, 
 cheist,  and  hes  ane  sueit  sang,  and  lies  yat  propirtie, 
 yat  quhen  scho  tynis  hir  fellow,  scho  haidis  hir  solitar- 
 ly,  and  ye  folkis  yat,  ( sic )  hantis  ye  desertis,  and  sittis 
 not  on  na  grene  thing,  and  seikis  gardinis,  secreit  and 
 mark  places  *,  and  signifyis,  yat  he  yat  bure  yame  first 
 in  armes,  wes  ane  simple  man,  and  sueit  of  langage, 
 and  chaist ;  and  quhen  he  tint  his  fallow,  he  become 
 solitaire,  and  haitit  ye  warld,  and  all  joyositie,  and 
 socht  not  bot  desertis  and  solitaris,  to  mak  his  prayer 
 and  orisonis.  " 
 
 The  fictions  of  the  middle  ages,  concerning  the 
 properties  of  birds  and  other  animals,  may  be  general- 
 ly traced  to  the  authors  of  classical  antiquity,  among 
 whom  the  natural  historians  are  almost  as  fabulous  as 
 the  poets.  The  natural  historians  of  Greece  and 
 Rome,  adopted,  in  the  literal  sense,  popular  errors, 
 and  allegorical  fictions  j  and  the  poets  only  gave  con- 
 sistency and  method  to  their  relations.  The  practice 
 of  augury,  the  Metamorphoses  of  Ovid  and  of  Li- 
 beralis,  with  the  original  works  from  which 
 thors  drew  their  relations,  which  have  perished  like  the 
 Ornithogonia  of  Baeus,  quoted  by  Liberalis,  all  t 
 to  render  the  properties  of  animals  a  subject  of  curious 
 disquisition  ;  while  the  Fables  of  .^Esop,  and  Pluedrus, 
 contributed  greatly  to  the  same  purpose.  But  it  is  to 
 the  Egyptians  and  Hindus,  that  we  must  look  for  die 
 origin  of  these  fictions.  In  the  ancient  Hindu  1 
 imitated  by  the  Grecian  JEsop,  and  the  Lok- 
 
 man,  birds  and  animals  are  the  chief  interlocutors. 
 From  the  allegorical  nature  of  these  fables,  a  strong 
 suspicion  arises,  that  they  were  connected  with  the  be- 
 lief in  the  transmigration  of  souls. 
 
io8 
 
 bles  were  probably  well  known  to  the  ancient  Egyp- 
 tians, among  whom  the  practice  of  hieroglyphical  writ- 
 ing must  likewise  have  tended  to  render  the  proper- 
 ties of  animals  an  object  of  investigation.  Thus,  the 
 explanations  of  Egyptian  symbolical  figures,  by  Hora- 
 pollo,  Clemens  Alexandrinus,  and  Epiphanius,  consist 
 of  a  series  of  observations  on  the  properties  of  ani- 
 mals, intermixed  with  remarks  concerning  vegetables 
 and  natural  phenomena.  The  Greeks,  who  originally 
 adopted  the  Oriental  fictions,  in  process  of  time  re- 
 stored them,  with  numerous  additions  *,  and  the  pro- 
 perties of  birds,  and  other  animals,  were  carefully 
 studied  by  the  Syriac  and  Arabic  proficients  in  occult 
 science.  The  Syriac  author  of  the  history  of  animals, 
 edited  by  Tychsen,  has  not  only  derived  a  considerable 
 part  of  his  materials  from  classical  authors,  but  has 
 added  many  Oriental  fictions.  J  This  may  likewise  be 
 observed  of  the  curious  poem  on  the  properties  of  ani- 
 mals by  Manuel  Phile,  *  whose  fictions  are  partly  O- 
 riental  and  partly  classical,  and  whose  phraseology  is 
 more  elegant  than  his  versification. 
 
 The  scene  in  the  Complaynt,  has  not  the  merit  of 
 being  an  accurate  description  of  nature.  Domestic 
 fowls  are  mingled  with  those  of  the  moor,  the.  wood, 
 the  river,  and  the  sea  ;  and,  to  complete  the  concert, 
 the  nightingale,  a  bird  which  was  never  a  native  of 
 Scotland,  is  introduced  as  singing  her  sweet  notes  all 
 the  night  long. 
 
 "  Traducit  Philomela  insomnem  carmine  noctem, 
 Nos  dormire  facit,  se  vigilare  docet.  "  3 
 
 Lindsay 
 
 *  Physiolc^us  Syrus,  edit.  Syriace  ab  Olao.  G.  Tychsen.  Ros- 
 toch  1795- 
 
 *  *I.\H  trtpi  Zuuv  UierrTOf,  a  J.  C.  Pauw.     1730. 
 3  Antholog.  JLat.  Euimajini,  vol.  ii.   p.  443. 
 
io9 
 
 Lindsay  often  indulges  his  fancy  in  characterizing 
 birds  by  their  peculiar  cries  ;  and  the  same  mode  o£ 
 composition  has  been  employed  by  Holland  in  his 
 Herniate,  by  Montgomery  in  his  Cherry  and  Slae,  and 
 by  Birrell  in  his  Passage  of  the  Pilgrimer.  It  is  plea- 
 santly ridiculed  by  Randolph  in  his  Amyntas,  in  a  pas- 
 sage, the  primary  intention  of  which  is  to  expose  divi- 
 nation by  birds.  The  interlocutors  are  Thestylis,  Jo- 
 castus,  and  Mopsus. 
 
 "  Thest.  Can  birds  speak  ? 
 
 Joe.       In  Fairyland  they  can  :  I  have  heard  them  chirp 
 
 Very  good  Greek  and  Latin. 
 Mops.    And  our  birds 
 
 Talk  better  far  than  they  :  a  new  laid  egge 
 Of  Sicily,  shall  out-talk  the  bravest  parrot 
 In  Oberon's  Etopia. 
 Thest.  But  what  languages 
 
 Doe  they  speak,  servant  ? 
 Mops.    Several  languages  ; 
 
 As  Cawation,  Chirpation,  Hootation, 
 Whistleation,  Crowation,  Cackleation, 
 Shrcekation,  Hissation — 
 Thest.  And  Foolation  ? 
 
 Mops.    No,  that's  our  language  ;  we  ourselves  speak 
 that.  " 
 Randolph' 's  Amytitasy  Lender?,  1652,  p.  7. 
 In  the  sea  scene  which   immediately  succeeds,  the 
 minuteness  of   description    employed    by    the    author, 
 1  rely  averse  to  every  principle   of  taste   i:i  com- 
 position, except  in  a  work  professedly  scientific  :  But 
 from   this  very  circumstance,  it  derives   an   aduii 
 .  .   (1   many 
 long  fallen  into  desuetude  j  and  many  sea  u 
 
 P  by 
 
116 
 
 by  which  the  different  parts  of  a  ship,  and  the  dif- 
 ferent operations  and  manoeuvres  of  navigation,  were 
 formerly  denominated.  These  cheers  and  terms  are 
 chiefly  of  Norman  and  Flemish  origin,  and,  with  many 
 others  of  a  similar  kind,  were  preserved  to  a  late  peri- 
 od, by  that  singular  race  of  men,  the  fishers  of  the 
 eastern  coast  of  Scotland,  many  of  whom  have  hardly, 
 at  this  day,  abandoned  the  peculiar  habits  and  phraseo- 
 logy by  which  they  were  long  distinguished  from  the 
 pastoral  and  agricultural  inhabitants  of  the  interior  parts 
 of  the  country.  As  the  progressive  improvement  of 
 naval  architecture,  is  a  subject  which  still  requires  con- 
 siderable elucidation,  the  preservation  of  these  terms 
 supplies  us  with  some  important  facts  in  the  history  of 
 that  art ;  especially  as  Strutt  has  preserved  a  curious 
 description  of  an  English  vessel  of  the  same  period, 
 with  an  inventory  of  its  furniture,  copied  from  a  ms. 
 in  the  Cottonian  Library.  * 
 
 "  Thys  is  the  inventory  of  the  great  barke  Vyen- 
 wyd,  by  youre  humble  servant  Christopher  Morres, 
 the  6  day  of  October,  the  23  year  of  our  soverayne 
 king  Henry  the  8th. 
 
 Item,  in  primus,  the  shype  with  one  overtop  ■  j  Item, 
 the  fere  castell,  and  a  cloos  tymber  deck  from  the  mast 
 forward,  whyche  was  made  of  lait :  Item,  above  the 
 fore  cast  ell ',  a  decke  from  the  mcytie  mast  afterward  : 
 Item,  a  nyew  Mayne  Mast  of  spruce  a,  with  a  nyew 
 staye,  hounsyd  5,  and  skarvyd  4  with  the  same  wood; 
 
 whyche 
 
 1  Strutt  copied  the  following  explanations  of  terms  from  a  ms.  in 
 the  Harleian  Library 
 
 1   cverhpp,  or  orlop,  the  deck. 
 
 a  a  sort  of  firr  so  called. 
 
 "3    bounsyJ,  bound  round. 
 
 *  iiarvjd,  or  star/,d)  one  piece  of  timber  let  into  another  in  a  firm 
 joint. 
 
Ill 
 
 whyche  mast  ys  of  length  from  the  bourne  to  the  step, 
 25  yards  ;  the  mayne  mast%  about  the  patnas,  ys  23 
 hands  about:  Item,  a  nyew  mayne  yaerd  of  sprue:,  o: 
 oon  piece. 
 
 Item,  the  takyll  pertaynyng  to  die  said  mayne  waste, 
 .6  takells  on  a  syd. 
 
 Item,  9  shroivds,  and  a  bade  staye  on  either  syd. 
 
 Ifem,  in  all  the  sayd  tahylles,  6  shyvcrs  s  of  br. 
 that  is  to  saye,  4  shyvers  in  their  pennants,  and  two  in 
 the  boiuser  tahylls. 
 
 Item,  a  payer  of  thyes  6,  and  a  payer  of  hay/yards  : 
 Item,  a  gywr  7  with  2  brasing  shyvers  ;  item,  the  mayne 
 parrel,  with  trussys,  and  2  dryughs ;  item,  2/p/fr  8  ;  item, 
 two  braesys  ;  item,  two  tregets  ;  item,  a  mayne  lerse ,• 
 item,  a  bonnet  9  haul/  ivorren,  with  shoutts,  tacks,  and 
 bollyngs  ;  item,  a  niew  mayne  top  ;  item,  a  /c/>  mof/,  U*d 
 a  /;/>  fay/'j  with  all  theyr  apparrell. 
 
 Item,  a  mayne  myssyn  mast ;  and  a  mc.yn  myssyn  yaerd 
 of  spruce,  of  oon  p 
 
 Item,  a  p.i)vr  of  hayllaerds,  and  a   fpr  for  the 
 mysscn  yaerd ;     item,   5  shrouds    on    cyclic 
 item,  a  mayne  myssen  haul/  a  top  ;  item,  I 
 tayie  haulf  ivorren. 
 
 Item,  a  bonaventure  mast ;   with  a  jmri  of  spruce,  of 
 oon  pece,  with  3  shrouds  on  a  syde. — Item,  a  p.. . 
 haylimrds  :  item,  a  fj*  with  haulf  a  top. — Item,  a 
 
 .'  Sajp/fj   J"^;v   ivorren.     Item,   a  /»*r  WArf,  witli  3 
 
 p  ij  tak 
 
 *   slyvers  or  sheevers,  the  puilics  which  run  in  the  blocks,  w\ 
 brass  or  woo  1. 
 
 6    Thyet%  or  ties,  the  ropes  by  which  the  yards  do  hang. 
 1    (Jy-jcr,  a  block  in  which  the  ibfCKN  run. 
 8    /-  ..liich  Ixrlorif  to  the  y.. 
 
 y    Z>W/!r/,  :   sail. 
 
112 
 
 takylls,  and  7  shroudys  on  a  syd  ;  with  a  tye  and  a  pay- 
 er of  hayliards,  with  4  brasyn  shyvers  : — item,  a  fore 
 sayle  yaerd  with  the  apparrells  ;  2  trussys ;  item,  2  lysts; 
 1  braessys  ;  two  top  sayll  shotitts  ;  2  bollyngs  : — afore 
 staye  ;  \tcm,fcer  sayll  shoutts  ;  two  tacks  suche  as  they 
 be  : — \tcrc\,foer  sayle  koors,  with  2  bonnctts,  sore  iv:rren ; 
 item,  afoer  top  mast,  with  a  yaerd,  with  sayle  s,  and  ta- 
 fy//  pertayning  to  yt. 
 
 Item,  a  bowsprytt  of  coke.  Item,  a  jprytf  sayle  yaerd, 
 skarryd,  with  a  spryti  sayle  sore  tuorren. 
 
 Item,  4  ankarrs  with  2  old  cabulls  : — and  another  old 
 cabull,  whyche  they  say  ys  in  the  watar. 
 
 Irem,  towe  katt  hswks  '  6 ;  and  two  fysche  hoivls  l  ■  ; 
 item,  4  pollys  with  brasyn  shyvers ;  item,  a  snatche polly  $ 
 a  luffhoke  ■  *  ;  item,  2  ^//y/  for  the  mayne  top  sayle ; 
 item,  2  great  dubbell  pollys,  with  woddyn  shyvers  \ — item, 
 a  great  .fjwg.r  polly,  with  woddyn  shyver  ;  item,  1 7  ^//yj- 
 great  and  small ; — item,  4  kuyll  of  small  rs/>j\r  of  roers 
 stuff ;  item,  4  boye  ropys,  good  and  bad  •,  a  fyd  or* 
 yeron  * 3  (iron)  •,  item,  a  slype  kettell  of  24  gallons  \ — 
 item,  a  pytche  pott  of  brasse  ;  item,  a  gry'idyng  stoen ; — 
 item,   a  rrow^  of  yeron  \ — item,  a  pytche  trouth. 
 
 Item,  a  pompc  with  3  £o#.ryj  ;  and  3  pompe  stavys  -, — 
 item,  3  compassys  and  a  kev.nyng  glass  ' 4  ; — item,  5  /a//- 
 ternnes. 
 
 Item, 
 
 1  °  J5Tatf  boutcs,  or  catt  hooks,  to  fasten  the  anchor. 
 
 1  «    Fyssbchookc,  belonging  to  ihefysb,  therefore  so  called. 
 
 1  *    Luff  book ,  a  teidSI  with  a  ioc/b. 
 
 1  3    A^yi  of  iron,  an  instrument  used  for  splicing  ropes. 
 
 1  4  htmy tig  glass,  a  spy  glass,  or  telescope. 
 
 Strutt's  Horda  Angel  Cynnan,  vol.  iii.  $%. 
 Ihtparrell  (p.  III.  1.  13.)  is  the  withy  which  fastens  the  yard  arm 
 co  this  mart ;  in  small  fishing  Scotish  Tends  :e:  med  the  vnlhi.    Edit. 
 
"3 
 
 Item,  a  great  boat  pertayrmyng  to  die  sbyppe  ;  with 
 a  davydy  with  a  skyver  of  brass  •, — item,  XII  owev 
 a  schulb. 
 
 Hereafter  followeth  the  crdennns  pertaynnyng  to 
 the  sayde  shype.  Item,  in  primis,  two  brazyn  pecys 
 called  kannon  pecys  en  stohyes  ,    which  v.ayith — 
 
 C.    QUART.    LB. 
 
 the  one        9:3:11!                            c.  lb. 
 
 the  other   10     :     1     :     1 7  3  whole  weight    20  :  28 
 
 Item,  2  payer  of  shod  ivhegUs  nyew  ; — item,  2  lad- 
 yfig  ladylls. 
 
 Starbord  Syde. 
 
 Item,  oon  port  pece  of  yeron,  cast  with   2  cham- 
 bers;— item,  a  port  pece  of  yeron,  with  oon  ckamk 
 Item,  a  Spanyche  s/yng,  with  on 
 
 Larbord  Syde. 
 
 Item,  oon  port  pece  with   2  1 
 other    port  pece,  with  oon  cheamber.%  which  chacmber 
 at  made  for  the  sayd  pece. 
 
 In  the  Forecasstell. 
 
 Item,  a  small  s/yng,  with    2  .  r ;  item,   an- 
 
 other pece  of  yeron  with  2  chaombers,  the   oon  bro- 
 
 Lindsay,  in  his  poetical   works,  occasionally  intro- 
 duces marine  terms,  and  is  sometimes  minute  in  i 
 numeration,    as   in  the   following   pass.r  (  iptive 
 
 of  a  storm  : 
 
 u  Wa;  never  seen  sic  wind  and  r.me, 
 Nor  of  sdiipmen,  UC  clittcr  clatter. 
 
ii4 
 
 Sum  bad  haill ;  sum  bad  stand  by  ; 
 
 On  ste'irburde  !  hoiv  !  alluffl  fyfy! 
 
 Quhill  all  the  raipis  began  to  rattill 
 
 Was  nevir  wy,  sa  fleid  as  I. 
 
 Quhen  all  the  sailis  plaid  britill  brattill. 
 
 To  se  the  wawis  it  was  a  wounder ; 
 
 And  wound  that  raif  the  sailis  in  schunder.  " 
 
 Lindesay's  Interludes,  ap,  Pinkerton's 
 Scstis/j  PoemSy  1792,'W.z/.  1 03-4. 
 About  the  period  in  which  Lindsay  flourished,  al- 
 lusions to  sea  terms  were  peculiarly  fashionable,  and 
 the  art  of  love  was  even  accommodated  to  the  terms  of 
 navigation.  The  Fleming  Bark,  inaccurately  published 
 in  Ramsay's  Evergreen,  and  various  scraps  of  poetry, 
 preserved  in  the  Bannatyne  Ms.,  and  devoid  of  every 
 other  species  of  merit,  may  illustrate  this  circumstance, 
 as  well  as  "  Quyntene  Schaw's  Advyce  to  a  Cour- 
 tier ■ .  " 
 
 The  enumeration  of  the  different  kinds  of  ordinance, 
 engines,  and  weapons  employed  in  a  sea  fight,  at  that 
 early  period,  is  equally  curious  and  useful,  for  the  il- 
 lustration of  ancient  Naval  Tactics.  The  Complaynt 
 only  describes  the  preparations  for  battle,  as  the  eye  of 
 a  distant  spectator  could  not  be  expected  to  penetrate 
 the  involving  clouds  of  smoke  ;  but  Chaucer,  in  his  le- 
 gend of  Cleopatra,  with  his  usual  vigour  of  conception 
 and  power  of  description,  represents  the  actual  scene. 
 "  And  in  the  see,  it  happed  hem  to  mete ; 
 
 Up  goeth  the  trumpe,  and  for  to  shoute  and  shete. 
 And  painen  him  to  set  on  with  the  sunne  : 
 With  grisly  sowne  out  goth  the  great  gonne, 
 
 And 
 
 *  Phikcrton's  Maitfcnd  Poems,  p,  158. 
 
"5 
 
 And  hertely  thei  hurtlen  in  al  at  ones 
 And  fro  the  top,  doune  cometh  the  great  stones 
 In  goth  the  grapenel  so  fulle  of  crokes, 
 Among  the  ropes  ran  the  shering  hoke>, 
 In  with  the  polaxe,  preaseth  he  and  he, 
 Behinde  the  maste,  beginneth  he  to  flie, 
 And  out  againe,   and  driueth  him  ouer  borde  ; 
 He  sticketh  him  upon  his  speares  orde, 
 He  rent  the  saile  with  hokes  like  a  sithe, 
 He  bringeth  the  cuppe,  and  bideth  hem  be  blith, 
 He  poureth  peesen  upon  the  hatches  slider 
 With  pottes  ful  of  lime,  thei  gone  to  gider.  " 
 Chancer \r  Legend  of 'Cleopatra,  f.  200,    1561. 
 In  describing  the  flight  of  Cleopatra  from  the   battle, 
 the  splendor  of  the  royal  barge  is  marked  by  one  very 
 picturesque  trait : 
 
 "  Fleeth  eke  the  Quene,  with  al  her  purple  saile.  " 
 In  this  description,  Chaucer  probably  adhered  to  the 
 costume  of  his  own  age.  In  a  refined  state  of  society, 
 where  simple  elegance  is  preferred  to  gorgeous  magni- 
 ficence, it  is  difficult  to  form  a  conception  of  the  gaw- 
 dy  splendor  of  the  middle  ages.  Harold  of  Norway 
 presented  a  magnificent  ship  to  King  Athelstan,  the 
 head  of  which  was  inlaid  with  gold,  the  sails  were  of 
 purple,  and  the  deck  was  elegantly  gilded  x.  The 
 fleet  of  Canute  the  Dane  was  still  more  splendid.  The 
 ships  were  richly  gilded  with  gold  and  silver  \  and  on 
 the  top  of  the  mast  of  each  vessel,  was  the  gilded  fi- 
 gure of  some  bird,  which  turned  on  a  spindle  with  the 
 wind,  to  indicate  the  point  from  which  it  blew.  The 
 sterns  of  the  vessels  were  adorned  with  various  G 
 cut  in  metal,  and  gilded  with  gold  and  Silver.  On  one 
 was  the  statue  of  a  man  \  on  another,   a  gold 
 
 *  W.  Malmcsbur.  dc  Gestis  Reg.  Angl.  I.  II.  c.  6 
 
u6 
 
 on  a  third,  a  dragon  of  burnished  brass ;  and  on  a 
 fourth,  a  furious  bull,  with  gilded  horns.  This  bril- 
 liant spectacle,  joined  with  the  bright  reflection  of  the 
 polished  arms  and  shields  of  the  warriors,  struck  the  spec- 
 tators with  terror  ■ .  According  to  Froissart,  the  vessels 
 of  the  French  fleet  prepared  for  the  invasion  of  Eng- 
 land in  the  tenth  year  of  Richard  II,  were  painted  with 
 arms,  and  gilded  \  their  banners,  pennons,  and  stand- 
 ards, were  formed  of  silk  ;  and  the  masts,  which  glit- 
 tered like  gold,  were  painted  from  the  top  to  the  bot- 
 tom. When  the  ancient  popular  ballads,  therefore, 
 describe  the  masts  of  a  vessel  as  shining  like  gold  or 
 silver,  or  mention  the  "  sails  of  light  green  silk,  and 
 the  tows  of  taffety  *,  "  they  probably  adhere  more? 
 strictly  to  the  antique  costume,  than  a  cursory  observer 
 would  be  apt  to  imagine. 
 
 Neither  do  the  ancient  vessels  of  the  Northern  na- 
 tions appear  to  have  been  of  a  contemptible  size.  Be- 
 fore the  invention  of  cannon,  the  most  serviceable  and 
 commodious  war  vessels,  especially  for  piratical  expe- 
 ditions, were  a  species  of  long  barges,  which  admitted 
 the  application  of  numerous  oars,  hence  termed  "  worm- 
 footed  "  by  Lycophron* 
 
 ■  at  <Tf  ■zzctpbtvoy.Tovov  QtTiv 
 IvKotst^oi   Gfivov  ivu-srts  a-crutxi;.  3 
 
 Of  this  kind  are  some  of  the  most  celebrated  ancient 
 vessels  ;  as,  the  Dragon  of  Harold  Harfagre,  and  the 
 Long  Serpent  of  Olave  Tryggueson,  which  carried 
 thirty  banks  of  oars,  very  large  and  high,  with  a  gild- 
 ed serpent  on  the  prow.     These  long  vessels  were,  by 
 
 the 
 
 *   Encomium  Emma?,  p.  166.  ' 
 
 a  Scott's  Minstrelsy  of  the  Scotish  Border,  vol.  \\.—Fld.  Snog  of 
 the  Lass  of  Lochroyan. 
 
 3   ATKO#POxN02  AMfyvSpx.    y.  %%, 
 
ii7 
 
 the  Saxons,  denominated   Keeles.      In  the  eleventh 
 century,  many  of  these  vessels  were  capable  of  con- 
 taining 1 20  men.    Of  galleys,  two  kinds  were  employed, 
 the  one  of  which  was  only  rowed  with  oars  ;  the  other, 
 frequently    denominated    the    galejsse,    combined    the 
 effect  of  both  oar  and  sail.     Thus,  in  the  romance  of 
 Richard  Cceur  de  Lion,  ap.  Strutt, 
 "  Were  the  maryners  glad  or  wrothe, 
 He  made  them  seyle  and  rowe  bothe ; 
 That  the  galley  gede  so  swyfte, 
 So  doth  the  fowle  by  the  lyfte. 
 Some  of  the  latter  kind  had  triple  banks  of  oars  raised 
 over  each  other  ;  and,  according  to  Mat.  Paris,  were 
 capable  of  containing  60  men  in  iron  armour,  besides 
 the  sailors  who  managed  the  vessel,  and   104  rowers. 
 Gallyettls  were  a  small  species  of  gallies.     Balengers 
 were  small  sailing  vessels.     Carikes,  or  Hulkcs,  were 
 large  sailing  vessels,  the  largest  of  which  seem  to  have 
 been  denominated  Bttccas, 
 
 The  early  Scotish  poets  sometimes   make   satirical 
 allusions  to  the   splendor  of  the  vessels  described   in 
 songs  and  romances  ;  as  in  the  following  passage  : 
 "  Quhen  schippis  of  tour,  and  ba. ■'.  , 
 
 Be  thowsand  sailis,  rycht  swiftly  ordir  saill  -y 
 Thair  tnastis  of  gold,  and  all  thair  vdir  [ 
 The  west  wind  wappin  in  thair  tuill  ; 
 
 v.md  thair  cours  with  mony  hem  7, 
 
 Pulland  down  sailis,  I  md  at  EUd 
 
 Than  will  my  reaerend  lady  \\w  tm  me." 
 Bullad  of  Impossibilitit'Sy  1 
 
 The  invention  of  cannon  rem! 
 emteroctv  .  libs  of  fessels  ne< 
 
 ry  ;  the  management  of  the  rigging  became  m 
 
 q 
 
u8 
 
 plex  ;  and,  in  engagements,  the  tops  were  manned 
 with  archers.  A  sea  fight  no  longer  consisted  in  a  de- 
 sperate and  bloody  struggle  of  warriors  upon  a  narrow 
 and  slippery  platform ;  but  the  combatants  endeavoured 
 to  gain  advantage  by  manoeuvring  the  vessels,  and  em- 
 ploying formidable  missiles.  Stowe  describes  a  naval 
 battle  between  the  English  and  Spaniards,  which  il- 
 lustrates the  mode  of  fighting  at  that  period.  As  the 
 Spanish  vessels  were  more  lofty  than  those  of  the  Eng- 
 lish, the  latter  were  dreadfully  annoyed  with  stones 
 and  quarrels  from  the  tops,  till  the  superiority  of  the 
 English  archers  forced  the  Spanish  arbalisters  to  "  shade 
 themselves  with  tables  of  the  ships  ■ .  "  The  principal 
 object  in  manoeuvring,  was,  to  attain  the  windward  of 
 each  other,  when  those  who  manned  the  tops  sprinkled 
 powdered  quicklime,  with  great  effect,  in  the  faces  of  their 
 enemies,  and  attempted  to  set  fire  to  the  rigging  by  dif- 
 ferent kinds  of  combustibles.  This  practice  is  mention- 
 ed by  Mathew  Paris.  "  Misimus  igitur  super  eos,  spe- 
 cula ignita — et  phialas  plenas  cake,  arcubus,  perpauca 
 hastilia,  ad  rnodum  sagittarum  super  hostes  jaculan- 
 tes\M 
 
 For  setting  fire  to  the  vessels  of  an  enemy,  during 
 an  engagement,  a  species  of  Greek  fire  seems  to  have 
 been  sometimes  employed.     Thus, 
 "  Wherefore  their  galeys  eche  day  ther  gan  us  fynd, 
 With  ores  many  about  us  they  dyd  wynd  •, 
 With  wyld  fyre  oft  assayled  us  day  and  night 
 To  brenne  our  ships  in  that  they  could  or  might. 
 Harding1  s  Chronicle,  foL  212. 
 From  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  that  able  and  spi- 
 rited Prince,  James  I.  of  Scotland,  the  number  of  regu- 
 lations 
 
 *   Stowe's  Chronicle,   p.  385. 
 »  Mat.  Paris,  Hist.  p.  1090-1. 
 
II9 
 
 latlons  which  relate  to  hipping  and  foreign  commerce, 
 evince,  that  the  atten;on  of  th.j  Scotish  nation  Mis 
 particularly  directed  to  maritime  affairs ;  and,  from 
 their  success  in  different  encounters  with  the  Por- 
 tugueze  and  English,  it  may  be  inferred,  that  in 
 the  construction  and  size  of  their  vessels,  they  were 
 not  inferior  to  other  European  nations.  The  ship  of 
 the  celebrated  Andrew  Barton,  which  was  taken  by 
 the  valiant  sons  of  the  Earl  of  Surry  in  1 5 1 1 ,  when  ad- 
 mitted into  the  English  navy,  was  only  inferior  to  the 
 Great  Harry  built  in  1504.  In  15 12,  the  Scotish  na- 
 vy, which  consisted  of  forty-fix  fhips  of  war,  contained 
 four  of  more  than  300  tons  burden,  and  two  of  ico 
 tons.  But  the  description  of  the  Great  Michael,  a 
 sel  of  enormous  magnitude  built  by  James  IV,  may 
 serve  still  more  to  elucidate  the  state  of  the  Scotish 
 navy.  It  is  preserved  by  Lindsay  of  Pitjcotric  ;  and  in 
 the  following  citation,  the  text  is  corrected  by 
 of  his  history  preserved  in  the  Advocates  Librai 
 
 "  This  ship  was  twell  scoir  of  foot  in  length, 
 threttie  sex  footis  within  the  walls.     She  foote 
 
 .thick  of  the  walls,  of  cuttit  treslis  of  oak,  and  boards 
 on  every  side,  so  stark,  and  so  thick,  tl 
 could  doe  at  her.  She  cumbered  all  Scotlande  to  put 
 her  to  the  see  •,  and  quhen  she  waa  committit  to  float, 
 with  her  masts  and  sails  compleit,  with  tows  and  an- 
 chors efFeiring  thereto,  she  was  counted  to  the  king,  to 
 fourtie  thousand  pounds  of 
 
 cannones  quhilk  si.  To   ivitt>  She  bare  many 
 
 canno.  |  with   three   gre.it   b 
 
 two  behind,  in  her  (leek,  and  one  before  ;  v  i 
 hundred   shott  of   small  artaillziariej  that   ; 
 
 (j  ij 
 
120 
 
 myand  and  battert,  falcon  and  quarter  falcon  slings, 
 pestilent  serpentens,  and  double  dogs,  with  hagtor  and 
 culvering,  corsbows  and  handbows.  She  had  three 
 hundred  marinellis  to  governe  hir,  six  scoir  of  gunneris 
 to  use  hir  artaillziarie,  and  ane  thowsand  men  of  warr, 
 by  capitanes,  skipperis,  and  quarter  masteris.  "  x  The 
 vessel  described  in  the  Complaynt,  is  a  galeasse.  This 
 species  was  much  broader,  as  well  as  longer,  than  the 
 galley,  and  was  navigated  both  by  sails  and  oars.  Be- 
 sides guns  on  each  side  of  the  deck,  interspersed  be- 
 tween the  banks  of  oars,  they  had  both  artillery  and 
 small  arms  planted  on  the  forecastle  and  stern. 
 
 The  names  of  the  different  kinds  of  ordinance,  are 
 derived  from  the  French  and  Flemish  languages.  "  The 
 Flemangre, "  as  Minot  terms  them,  early  excelled  in 
 the  formation  and  management  of  artillery.  So  late  as 
 the  reigns  of  Henry  VII.  and  VIII,  Flemish  gunners 
 were  retained  in  England,  for  the  purpose  of  intro- 
 ducing the  art  of  founding  cannon.  Peter  Bawd,  an 
 alien,  is  mentioned  by  Stowe  as  gunfounder  to  Edw. 
 VI.  For  a  considerable  time  after  the  invention  of 
 fire  arms,  the  Scotish  nation  seems  to  have  preferred 
 the  use  of  the  bow  in  war.  Among  the  statutes  of 
 James  I,  various  regulations  occur,  respecting  the  prac- 
 tice of  archery,  and  the  importation  of  "  harnes  and 
 armouris,  with  speir,  schaftis,  bowis  and  stauis  ; "  but 
 the  use  of  artillery  seems  to  have  attracted  the  atten- 
 tion of  government,  only  in  the  reign  of  James  II, 
 when  we  find  the  following  regulation,  dated  1456: 
 "  Item,  It  is  thocht  speidfull,  that  the  king  mak  requeist 
 to  certane  of  the  greit  Burrowis  of  the  land,  that  ar  of 
 
 ony 
 
 Lindsay  of  rit.«cottie's  History,  folio,  p.  107. 
 *  Stowe's  Chronicle,  p.  584. 
 
121 
 
 ony  mycht,  to  mak  cartis  of  weir,  and  In  ilk  cart  twa 
 gunnis,  and  ilk  anc  to  haue  tua  chalmers,  with  the  re^ 
 manent  of  the  graith  that  efferis  thairto,  and  ane  cun- 
 nand  man  to  schute  thame  •,  and  gif  thay  haue  na  craft 
 in  the  schuting  of  thame,  as  now,  thay  may  leir  or  the 
 tyme  cum,  that  will  be  neidful  to  thame.  w  '  As  the 
 Scotish  were  more  closely  connected  with  the  French 
 than  with  the  Flemish,  they  seem  to  have  been  in- 
 structed in  the  art  of  founding  artillery,  by  artificers  of 
 that  nation.  The  first  Scotish  founder  seems  to  have 
 been  Robert  Borthwick,  who,  according  to  Lindsay  of 
 Pitscottie,  founded  the  Seven  Sisters,  cannon  of  su- 
 perior size,  and  exquisite  form.  '  He  inscribed  the 
 following  thundering  line  upon  his  artillery — 
 
 "  Machina  sum  Scoto,  Borthwic,  fabricata  Roberto." 
 
 Borthwick  probably  derived  his  knowledge  fror 
 French  assistant.    In  the  ninth  book  of  Pviv\ 
 96,  occurs  a  letter  to  Peris   Rowan,  Frenchman,  ser- 
 vant to  umquhile  Robert  Borthwick,  making   the   said 
 Peris  principal  master-maker  and  inciter   of  "  our  so- 
 verane  Lordis  gum  is  and  art 
 
 ed  Edinburgh,  April  1532.  Notwithstanding  these 
 exertions,  the  defect  of  artillery  and  fire  arms  was  so 
 sensibly  experienced   in  Seotlar.  .1   the  seventh 
 
 Parliament  of  James  V,  1540,  a  regulation  was  foi 
 which  states,  that   "   became   not.  .iilarie   nor 
 
 harnes    can   be    furnished    or    made  , — without 
 
 the  gamin  be  brocht  name  by  merchants  :  therefore, 
 it   is  statute   &   ordained,    that  everie  mcrch.md 
 land    foorth  of   this    rcalme,    01 
 
 >    Acts  of  t lie  Scotish  Parliametv  !    j2. 
 
 1    L: 
 
122 
 
 extending  to  ane  last  of  gudes,  sail  bring  hame,  as 
 oft  as  he  saillis,  or  sendis  his  gudes,  at  everie  time, 
 twa  Hagbut.tes  of  Crockett,  or  maa,  as  his  packe  may 
 furnish,  with  powder  and  calmes,  for  furnishing  of 
 the  samin,  or  else  als  meikle  mettall  as  will  make 
 the  saidis  Hagbuttes,  with  powder  effeirand  thare- 
 to. "  x  In  the  same  Parliament,  regulations  were 
 formed  for  arming  the  realm  with  fire-arms,  by  a  spe- 
 cies of  land-tax,  in  the  proportion  of  "  ane  Hagbutte 
 of  Founde,  called  Hagbute  of  Crochert,  with  their 
 calmes,  bullettes,  &  pellockes  of  leed  or  irone,  with 
 powder  convenient  thereto,  for  everie  hundreth  pound 
 of  land  ; — twa  culveringes  for  ane  hundreth  marke 
 land, — and  ane  culveringe  for  ane  fourty  pound  land, 
 with  calmes,  lead,  and  powder  gainand  thereto.  " 
 
 For  a  considerable  time  after  the  invention  of  ar- 
 tillery and  fire  arms,  they  were  only  partially  adopted. 
 The  cross-bow  ^nd  long-bow  still  maintained  their 
 ground  ;  and,  even  in  sieges,  the  ancient  powerful  bat- 
 tering engines  continued  to  be  employed  in  common 
 with  cannon.  Thus,  in  the  Complaynt,  p.  64,  the 
 cross-bow  and  hand-bow  are  enumerated  with  the  dif- 
 ferent kinds  of  artillery  and  fire  arms.  Froissart  relates, 
 that  when  Edward  III.  besieged  Calais,  "  every  ship 
 was  well  garnysshed  with  bombardes,  crosbowes,  ar- 
 chers, springalles,  and  other  artyllary.  "  a  The  same 
 conjunction  may  be  observed,  in  Lydgate's  Reflections 
 on  the  destruction  of  the  Tower  of  Babel. 
 
 t(  Buyld  up  your  castles,  reyse  them  up  tyghte, 
 Of  adamantes  wyth  yron  stronge  ybounde  *, 
 
 With 
 
 1    Act?  of  the  Scotisli  Parliament,  p.  134-5. 
 oisaart's  Chronicle,  a  Berners,  vol.  i.  c,  133. 
 
"3 
 
 With  square  stones  large,  and  huge  of  hyght, 
 Reyse  up  your  walles  most  mighty  and  profound, 
 And  shit  your  dungeons  with  mighty  chenes  round : 
 
 Lette  men  of  armes,  who  euer  wake  or  slepe, 
 _ht  and  daye  your  watche  so  straitly  kcpe — 
 
 For  though  your  strengthes  so  assured  be, 
 That  none  engine  may  thereto  atta 
 
 Gunne  ne  himberdes  by  no  subtilte, 
 
 Shot  of  arrcwb/astf  ne  touche  of  dundayne  \ 
 Yet  god  that  is  lord  and  souerayne, 
 
 Whiche  lyche  desertes,  can  both  spyl  and  saue, 
 
 May  confounde  it  with  an  erth-quaue. 
 
 God  hath  a  thousande  handes  to  chastyse, 
 
 A  thousande  dartes  of  punicion, 
 A  thousand  boives  made  in  diuers  wyse, 
 A  thousand  arroivblastes  in  his^dongeon  ; 
 Ordeyned  echeon  for  castigacion  ; 
 But  where  he  findeth  mekenes  and  repentaunce, 
 Mercy  is  maistresse  of  his  ordinaunce. 
 
 Lydgates  Bochas,  c.  Hi.  ' 
 
 The 
 
 »  The  favourite  practice  of  ringing  changes  upon  the  names  of  the 
 different  kinds  of  artillery  and  fire-arms,  which  was  so  frequently 
 adopted  by  the  early  French  and  English  Poets,  has.  in  modern  times, 
 been  found  incompatible  with  sublimity  or  pathos,  and  has  «nly  been 
 attempted  in  the  ludicrous  or  burle:quc,  where  the  mere  name  of  any 
 species  of  fire-arms  adds  considerably  to  the  effect ; — as  in  the  - 
 composed  by  St  Amand — 
 
 "   Cy  git  nn  fou  nommv  Pasquet, 
 
 Qui  mourut  d'un  coup  de  mo*squ:tt 
 
 Lorsqu  'il  voulut  le?er  la  crete. 
 
 Quant  a  moi  jc  crois  que  lc  sort 
 
 Lui  mit  du  plomb  dedans  la  t£te, 
 
 Pour  le  rendre  sage  a 
 
124 
 
 The  following  account,  given  by  an  old  French  au- 
 thor, of  the  different  kinds  of  cannon  employed  at  the 
 siege  of  "  Falaise, "  in  the  reign  of  Charles  VII.  of 
 France,  is  extremely  curious. 
 
 "  Qui  vouldroit  tout  du  long  descripre, 
 
 Lartillerie  belle  et  notable  ; 
 II  faudroit  une  heure  ale  dire, 
 
 Et  quasi  il  est  increable. 
 
 Canons  vulgaires,  couleuurines, 
 
 Ribaudequins,  grosses  bombardes, 
 Coullars,  crapaudins,  serpentines, 
 
 Pour  abatre  murs  tours  et  gardes. 
 
 Engins  a  tauldiz  &  manteaulx, 
 
 Boulles  de  fer,  artillerie 
 Pour  eueiller  villes  chasteaulx, 
 
 Et  la  faire  une  effundrerie. 
 
 Cestoit  grant  esbahissement, 
 
 De  veoir  les  fossez  boulleuers, 
 Que  len  faisoit  soudainement, 
 
 Trenchees  et  mines  en  trauers.  "  x 
 
 From  an  unpublished  poem,  on  the  defeat  of  the 
 Spanish  Armado,  by  Alexander  Hume,  minister  of  the 
 gospel  at  Logie,  1598,  some  curious  passages  maybe 
 selected  concerning  Naval  affairs,  and  the  manner  of 
 arming  vessels  for  war  at  that  period.  The  author  en- 
 titles it,  "  The  Triumphe  of  the  Lord  after  the  maner 
 
 ,      of 
 
 1  Les  Vigiles  de  la  mort  du  roi  Charles  Septiesmc— — par  MaUtrc 
 Marciai  de  Paris  dit  Dauvergne,  procureur  en  Parlemcnt.  Paris 
 1493. 
 
125 
 
 and  delineates  a  triumphal  procession,  si- 
 milar to  those  of  the  ancient  Romans,  in  which  the 
 spoils  of  conquered  enemies  were  exhibited.  For  a 
 religious  poem,  it  has  considerable  invention  and  ori- 
 ginality. 
 
 u  Richt  as  the  prynce  of  daye  beginnes  to  spring, 
 And  larkes  aloft  melodiouslie  to  sing, 
 Bring  furthe  all  kynde  of  instrumentcs  of  were, 
 To  gang  befoir,  and  male  ane  noyce  cleir  ; 
 Gar  trumpetis  sounde  the  awfull  battellis  blast, 
 On  dreadfull  drummes  gar  stryke  alarum  fast ; 
 Mak  showting  shalmes,  and  peircing  phipheris  shill, 
 Cleene  cleave  the  cloouds,  and  pcirce  the  hiest  hill ; 
 Caus  michtelic  the  weirlie  nottis  breike, 
 On  hieland  pipes,  Scottes  and  Hybernicke  ; 
 Let  heir  the  shraichs  of  deadlie  clarions, 
 And  syne  let  of  ane  volie  of  cannouns. 
 
 Quhill  what  for  reike,  rude  rumisching,  and  reardc, 
 The  heavinis  resound,  and  trimbling  tak  the  eird  ; 
 Let  enter  syne  in  proper  painted  cairtes, 
 The  buting  riche  Lrocht  from  ye  fardest  pairtes  ; 
 And  ample  praye,  quhilk  great  Jehovah  wan 
 Ffrom  his  fierce  fais,  sen  first  ye  world  began. 
 There  sail  be  seine  the  ensignies  displayed, 
 Bricht  banne::'j  braid,  and  srandardis  wcill  arnyed; 
 Sum  quhyte  and  reid,  sum  zallow,  grene  and  bl 
 Quhilk  god  perforce  out  of  there  hands  threw  , 
 The  poi  tratures  of  euery  vanqueist  toun, 
 Of  cittadailles,  and  rampiers  of  renowne  ; 
 The  ly&elye  for;:  ,   hirge  and  d< 
 
 The  motJalls  grit  of  castclla  ehb  to  keepe. 
 
 r 
 
126 
 
 The  forme  of  forths  invincible  to  sec, 
 Of  michtie  walls  and  ramforst  toures  so  hee, 
 Demoleist  all  into  ane  burcTs  nest, 
 With  great  and  just  artaillierie  celest  : — 
 Sa  sail  be  seine  the  figoures  of  the  flottes, 
 With  fearfull  flagges,  and  weell  calfutred  botts 
 Of  gallayes  swift,  and  monye  gaillayes, 
 Quhilk  throw  the  sies  but  peirell  tho1  to  pas, 
 Ffair  seemelye  schipps  of  four  fyve  hundre1  tunnes, 
 All  furnischit  full  of  fyre  works,  and  of  gunnes  *, 
 Quhereof  befoirce  yere  wes  sum  captives  led, 
 Sum  cleene  defeate,  sum  fugitiues  and  fled  ; 
 Yet  from  the  Lord  na  way  culd  finde  to  flee, 
 But  in  thare  flicht  were  tossed  on  die  see. 
 
 The  waltring  wals  and  raiging  windye  blast, 
 Maid  up  there  towes,  and  caus'd  them  hew  yr  mast, 
 And  syne  were  cast,  for  all  there  brags  and  boast, 
 Some  on  ane  schald,  sum  on  ane  yron  coast ; 
 Some  gaid  in  tua  buird  on  ane  forrane  land, 
 Sume  on  ane  rocke,  some  on  ane  quhirling  sand  •, 
 Quhile  nane  were  saif  unperischt  to  be  found, 
 Boat  menn  and  all  went  to  the  wattir  grounde  : 
 Let  follow  next,  in  order,  to  be  seine, 
 Thair  armour  cleare,  and  warelyk  wapons  scheine, 
 Harde  halccreetis,  helmettis,  and  hewmontis  brycht, 
 Tichts,  haberschonnes,  habrikis,  and  harneis  licht. 
 
 Murrions  for  mene  of  fute,  and  schyning  scheilds, 
 Bairding  for  hors  appoynted  for  the  feildis, 
 Gantlettis  ourgilt,  wambraisses  gaineand  weill ; 
 Corslettis  of  pruife,  and  monye  targe  of  steelle, 
 
 Some 
 
127 
 
 irneist  bricht,  sum  dorred  diverslie, 
 That  men  may  muse  sic  precious  geir  to  see; 
 Thilk  samyne  wise  example  for  to  give, 
 Draw  in  on  heips  theire  armour  offensive  •, 
 Great  ordinance,  and  feilding  peeces  fell ; 
 Mustettis  maist  meit,  with  men  of  armes  to  mell ; 
 1 1  igbuttis  with  luntes,  pistolles  with  rowels  fyne  ; 
 Swift  fierie  darts,  devysde  be  great  ingyne  ; 
 Crcsbowes  of  waight,  and  Gnosick  gainzies  kein  ; 
 Strong  pousing  pickes,  the  charge  plaist  to  sustene. 
 
 Bunsches  of  speares,  and  launces  licht  and  long  j 
 Steell  axe  and  masse,  for  bairdit  horbois  stron /  ; 
 Syne  airmyng  swoirdes,  and  vther  grundin^j 
 Ouhilk  made  na  steade  whenn  they  were  rendered  slaues; 
 Thair  gunnes  misgaue,  their  speeris  lyke buinwands brake  \ 
 Thair  fainted  hartcs  for  feare  retear'd  abacke  ; 
 Their  threasoures  great,  wheerin  they  put  there  trust, 
 To  !  .  orld  salbe  maid  manifest ; 
 
 Let  men  cxnres,  appoynted  be  to  beir 
 Thair  siluer  heapes,  in  plaices  of  siluer  cleere. 
 i  e  siiuer  warke,  and  precious  ornaon 
 follow  in  order,  and  nixt  subsequent : 
 Xoucht  t<  .  bat  to  yere  shame  and  fcorn, 
 
 Thair  cunzeit  gold  in  bassines  sail  be  borne.  " 
 
 Alexander  Humis  Poems t  ms. 
 
 After  the  sea  scene,  our  author  delineates  one  of  a 
 A  nature,  which  is  rather 
 representation  of  t1:  rs  and  OC< 
 
 • 
 The  occupation  of  the  shepherd,  bed   by  I 
 
 minute  and  charact  i  with 
 
 rij 
 
128 
 
 a  hood,   or  ci  covering   for   the  head   and  shoulders. 
 which  conveniently  admitted  the  additional  envelope  of* 
 the  plaid.     He  amuses  his  solitude  with  the  buckhorn 
 and  corn  pipe,  while  his  flocks  graze   along  the  low 
 grounds  and  declivities,  towards   the  dry  hills,  where 
 they  arrive  about  the  hours  of  taking  his  meals,  when 
 he  is  visited  by  his  wife  or  daughter,  who  prepare  him 
 a  seat,  by  spreading  the  soft  yellow  moss  of  a  lea-ridge 
 with  rushes,  sedge,  and  meadow-sweet.     This  simple 
 representation  is  accurately  copied  from  nature  ;  and 
 the  original  may  still  be  seen  in  some  of  the  wild  pasto- 
 ral districts  of  Scotland.     As  the  flocks  of  sheep,  after 
 grazing  some  hours,  are  always  disposed  to  rest,  in  the 
 sunny  days  of  Summer,  basking  themselves  on   some 
 dry  acclivity  -,  a  concourse  cf  shepherds,  for  a   social 
 meal,  enlivened  with  songs  and  stories,  and  occasional- 
 ly diversified  by  a  dance,  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon 
 incident.     The  different  kinds  of  food  mentioned  by 
 our  author,  are  strictly  pastoral,  and  all  of  them  well 
 known  in  Scotland.     The  resemblance  of  the  domestic 
 oeconomy  which  prevailed  on  the  Scotish  Border,  even 
 to  a  late  period,    with  the  domestic   manners  of  the 
 Welch  in  the  middle  of  the  14th  century,  is  extremely 
 curious,  and  demonstrates,  that  in  pastoral  and  moun- 
 tainous countries,  a  similarity  of  manners  may  be  per- 
 petuated, among  kindred  races,  even  when  a  diversity  of 
 language  has  been  introduced. 
 "  They  ete  brede  colde  and  hote 
 
 Of  barley  and  of  ote, 
 
 Erode  cakes  rounde  and  thynne, 
 
 As  well  semeth  so  great  kynne. 
 
 Selde  thay  ete  brede  of  whete, 
 
 And  selde  they  done  ones  ete. 
 
 They 
 
129 
 
 They  haue  gruell  to  potage, 
 
 And  leke  is  kynde  to  companage. 
 
 Also  butter  mylke  and  chese, 
 
 In  shape  endlonge  and  corner  wese. 
 
 Suche  messes  they  ete  snelle, 
 
 And  that  maketh  them  drynke  well. 
 
 Mete  and  ale  that  hath  myght 
 
 Thcron  they  spende  day  and  nyght. 
 
 Euer  the  reder  is  the  wyne, 
 
 They  holde  it  the  more  fyne. 
 
 Whan  they  drynke  at  the  ale, 
 
 They  telle  many  a  lewde  tale ; 
 
 For  when  drynke  is  an  hondlynge, 
 
 They  ben  full  of  janglyng. 
 
 At  mete,  and  after  eke, 
 
 Her  solace  is  sake  and  leke. 
 
 The  hubbonde  in  hifl  wyse 
 
 Telleth  that  a  grete  pryse, 
 
 To  gyve  a  caudron  with  gruwele 
 
 To  them  that  sitten  his  mcle  -, 
 
 He  deleth  his  mete  at  the  mele, 
 
 And  giueth  euery  man  his  dele  ; 
 
 And  all  the  ouerplu^c 
 
 He  kepeth  to  his  owne  use. — 
 
 They  haue  in  gret  maugery 
 
 ILirpc,  tabour,  and  pype,  for  mynstraL 
 
 They  here  corps  with  sorowe  gn 
 
 And  blowe  loude  borne*  of  ghcet. 
 
 rhey  praybe  fa^t  troyan  blode 
 
 For  therof  came  all  theyr  brode. 
 
 Neyghe  kyiule  they  wyll  be, 
 
 Though  the  y  paSSCD  an  C  degre. 
 
 Rimulfs  PclychroTiicofiy  translated by  Tit 
 and  enlarged  by  Wjnkin  dc  If 
 
 The 
 
130 
 
 The  circumstance,  mentioned  in  the  Complaym, 
 of  every  shepherd  carrying  a  spoon  in  the  "  lug  of 
 his  bonnet,  "  is  extremely  characteristic.  Reapers,  and 
 mossing  parties,  as  they  are  denominated,  for  digging 
 peats,  frequently  provide  themselves  with  spoons, 
 which  they  carry  about  with  them,  as  well  as  shepherds. 
 From  this  simple  and  natural  description  of  the  shep- 
 herd life,  the  author  absurdly  digresses  into  a  pro- 
 found lecture  on  Astronomy  and  Natural  Philosophy, 
 and  makes  "  a  rustic  pastour,  distitut  of  urbanite,  and 
 of  speculatione  of  natural  philosophe,  indoctryne  his 
 nychtbours,  as  he  hed  studeit  Ptholome,  Auerois,  Aris- 
 totel,  Galien,  Ypocrites  or  Cicero,  quhilk  var  expert 
 practicians  in  methamatic  art.  "  This  "  tedious  melan- 
 colie  orison, "  as  the  author  with  great  propriety  terms 
 it,  is  fortunately  interrupted  by  the  impatience  of  the 
 shepherd's  wife,  whose  character  is  certainly  better  pre- 
 served than  that  of  her  husband.  The  shepherds  then 
 relate  tales  or  stories  in  verse  and  prose ;  and  their 
 wives,  by  singing  "  sweet  melodious  sangis, "  supply 
 their  part  of  the  entertainment,  which  terminates  in  a 
 general  dance  to  the  music  of  eight  different  kinds  of 
 instruments  ;  after  which,  the  shepherds  collect  their 
 flocks,  and  drive  them  tumultuously  to  the  folds. 
 
 The  generic  names  of  die  various  dances  mentioned 
 in  the  Complaynt,  are  of  French  origin,  though  the 
 particular  airs  are  all  Scotish.  The  Ring-dance,  in 
 which  every  aged  shepherd  leads  his  wife  by  the  hand, 
 and  every  young  shepherd  the  maid  whom  he  loves 
 best,  was  formerly  a  favourite  in  the  south  of  Scotland, 
 though  it  has  now  gone  into  desuetude.  It  was  the 
 common  dance  at  the  Kirn,  or  feast  of  cutting  down 
 tfxe  grain,  and  was  always  danced  with  peculiar  glee 
 by  the  reapers  of  that  farm  where  the  harvest  was  first 
 
 finished. 
 
*3* 
 
 finished.  On  these  occasions,  they  danced  on  an  emi- 
 nence, in  the  view  of  the  reapers  in  their  vicinity,  to 
 the  music  of  the  Lowland  Bagpipe,  commencing  the 
 dance  with  three  loud  shouts  of  triumph,  and  thrice 
 tossing  up  their  hooks  in  the  air.  The  intervals  of  la- 
 bour during  Harvest  were  often  occupied  in  dancing 
 the  Ring,  to  the  music  of  the  piper  who  formerly  at- 
 tended the  reapers.  The  custom,  of  the  piper  playing 
 behind  the  reapers,  which  has  now  fallen  into  desue- 
 tude, is  alluded  to  in  Hamilton's  Elegy  on  the  Piper  of 
 Kilbarchan  : 
 
 "  Or  wha  will  cause  our  shearers  shear  ? 
 Wha  will  bend  up  the  brags  of  weir  ?  "  x 
 This  dance  is  still  retained  among  the  Scotish  High- 
 landers, who  frequently  dance  the  Ring  in  the  open  fields, 
 when  they  visit  the  south  of  Scotland  as  reapers,  dur- 
 ing the  Autumnal  months.  The  Rinceadh-fada,  Rin- 
 key,  or  field  dance  of  the  Irish,  performed  in  circles, 
 with  a  variety  of  brisk  evolutions,  seems,  from  the  de- 
 scription of  it  given  by  the  elegant  and  ingenious  Mr 
 Walker,  to  be  extremely  similar  to  the  Ring-dance  *. 
 The  following  extract  from  an  unpublished  poem  of 
 great  antiquity,  throws  considerable  light  upon  the 
 manners  of  the  Scotish  peasantry,  their  dances,  and 
 musical  instruments  •,  though  die  scene  of  intemperate 
 riot  which  it  describes,  forms  a  complete  contrast  to 
 the  simplicity  of  manners  delineated  in  the  Comp 
 "  Than  dyn  rais  and  dirray, 
 
 Stok  hortiis  blew  stout  ; 
 
 Mony  on  ischit  out ; 
 
 Gibby  on  his  gray  meir, 
 
 And  Fergy  on  his  sow  fair  •> 
 
 «   Watson's  Collect,  of  Scotish  Poems,  vol.  i.  p.  2$. 
 Walker's  Historical  Memoirs  of  the  Irish  Bards,  p.   1 
 
i3* 
 
 Hoge  Hygin  byge-hand  hint, 
 And  Symy  yat  was  sone  brint, 
 With  his  lad  Lowry, 
 And  his  gossep  Glowry. 
 Fergy  in  frunt  past, 
 And  Fynny  followit  him  fast ; 
 Thurlgill  thrang  till  a  club, 
 So  ferss  he  flaw  in  a  dub, 
 Quhil  Downy  him  abak  drewgh  : 
 Than  Rawny  of  ye  Reid-hewch, 
 With  Gregry  the  bowman, 
 For  lufe  of  his  leman, 
 Licht  lap  at  a  lyn, 
 He  felzeit,  and  he  fell  in  ; 
 And  Hoge  was  sa  haisty, 
 That  he  sualterit  him  by  ; 
 Quhill  Thoby  tarior  him  tuk 
 To  land  with  a  scheip  cruk  ; 
 Schiphirdis  schowit  to  schore  ; 
 And  Fergy  Flitsy  zeid  befoir, 
 Chiftane  of  that  chef  chak, 
 A  ter  stowp  on  his  bak ; 
 With  his  lad  luddroun, 
 And  his  hound  hund  droun  : 
 Mony  schiphird  with  him  his, 
 Ffro  brokis,  brois,  and  brymis, 
 Off  two  ram  crukit  hornis, 
 Thair  baner  on  a  birk  born  is ; 
 With  Barmyberd  thair  baner  man, 
 And  his  cousing  Cachcran  ; 
 Thair  menstrall  Diky  Doyt, 
 Ffur  befoir  on  ijloyt; 
 
 Than 
 
*33 
 
 Than  dansit  Doby  Drymouth, 
 "  'The  sone  scheme  in  the  soiuth  ;  n 
 And  as  tliay  lukit  on  a  lee, 
 Thay  saw  an  vyer  menze  *, 
 Than  all  thay  fled  full  afferd  ; 
 And  the  maister  schipherd, 
 Ffergy  Flitsy,  befoir, 
 Tho1  wes  litil  on  his  store ; 
 His  feit  maid  sic  dynnyng, 
 He  lackit  breth  for  rynnyng. 
 How  !  quo  Hobby,  herk  me, 
 We  neid  no1  to  fordir  fle  ; 
 Zone  folk  our  aw  in  frendis  ar, 
 I  know  be  thair  banar  : 
 Thane  wer  thay  nevir  half  so  fane, 
 And  glaidly  turnit  all  againe  ; 
 And  knew  be  thair  array, 
 That  all  nolt  hirdis  wer  thay, 
 That  ischit  out  to  the  cry, 
 And  thair  baner  borne  by, 
 Of  crum  home  the  cowis  taill, 
 Festnit  on  a  lang  flail  : 
 Besyd,  thair  capitane  I  trow, 
 Callit  wes  Colyne  Cuckow  ; 
 And  Davy  Doyte  of  the  dale, 
 Was  thair  mad  menstrale  : 
 He  blew  on  a  pype  he 
 JMaid  of  a  bo  fit  bourtre. 
 Waytstath  him  by 
 Dansit,  and  Dandy, 
 
 thrid  fallow  schip  he  saw, 
 That  thay  wundcrwcill  knaw  ; 
 The  swynehirdis  in  a  rout 
 And  Sueribum,  wfch  Jy*  wxt, 
 
J34 
 
 Wes  captane  of  thame  thair', 
 And  borne  wes  his  banair 
 Vpoun  a  schule  for  to  schaw  \ 
 A  flekkit  follis  skyn  faw, 
 With  terlether  tyit  hy, 
 Quho  bur  it  but  Bolgy  ? 
 And  Clarus  the  lang  clype, 
 Playit  on  a  bag  pype. 
 Haggysheid  and  Helly, 
 Ballybras  and  Belly 
 Dansit,  and  his  sone  Samyn, 
 Than  all  assemblit  w  a  gamyn, 
 And  all  the  menstralis  attonis, 
 Blew  up  and  playit  for  the  nonis, 
 Schiphird,  nolt  hirdis, 
 And  swynhirdis  outgirdis, 
 Ffor  to  dance  merily, 
 A  maister  swynherd  swanky.  " 
 
 Cockelbieys  Sow,   ap.  Bannatyne  Ids.  z 
 The  figures  of  dances  mentioned  in  the  Complaynf. 
 were  equally  popular  in  the  Courts  of  England  and 
 
 Scotland. 
 
 1  Cockelby's  Sow  is  a  satirical  poem  of  considerable  antiquity,- 
 though  posterior  to  the  days  of  Chaucer,  whose  Tale  of  the  Nonnes 
 Priest  is  quoted  in  the  third  canto  : 
 
 "  The  first  wes  the  samyn  Chanticleer  to  hike, 
 Of  quhome  Chaucer  treitis  into  his  buke. 
 Cowkellbis  Sow  is  enumerated  among  the  heroes  of  romance,  repre- 
 sented in  the  Mirror  of  Venus,  in  G.  Douglas'  Palace  of  Honour, 
 part  III.  st.  48. 
 
 "  I  saw  Raf  Coilzear  with  his  thrawin  brow, 
 
 Crabbit  Johne  the  Reif,  and  auld  Cnukdlp'u  So-w.  ** 
 In  Dunbar's  General  Satyre,  it  is  alluded  to  in  the  following  passage  ; 
 *'  Sic  knavis  and  crakkaris  to  play  at  carts  and  dyce, 
 Sic  halland  schackkaris  quhilk  at  Co-w&eliyis  gryce 
 
 Are  haldin  of  pryce  when  lymaris  do  convene.  "  l 
 
 It 
 *  Hailcs'  Bannatyne  Poems,  p,  44. 
 
Scotland.  The  Pavan,  a  solemn  majestic  dance,  of 
 Spanish  origin,  was  originally  performed  by  nobles 
 dressed  with  a  cap  and  sword,  lawyers  in  their  robes, 
 
 s  ij  and 
 
 It  is  likewise  mentioned  in  an  unedited  poem   in  the  Bannatyne  us., 
 ^vhich  will  be  afterwards  quoted,   in  these  terms : 
 *'  To  reid  quha  will  this  gentill  geist, 
 
 Zc  herd  it  no1  at  Cokilby's  feist.  " 
 The  poem  consists  of  three  cantos,  besides  the  "  Prohemium.  "  The 
 versification  of  the  first  canto,  is  different  in  its  structure  from  that  of 
 the  other  two.  The  humour  is  coarse  ;  and  the  allusions,  referring 
 probably  to  local  and  temporary  circumstances,  are  not  obvious  at  this 
 ^distance  of  time  ;  yet  it  displays  mapy  curious  traits  of  the  manners  of 
 the  vulgar.  The  commencement  of  the  "  Prohemium  "  demonstrates 
 it  to  have  been  written  during  the  ara  of  Minstrehy. 
 *'  Quhen  riallest,  most  redowttit,  and  he, 
 
 Magnificent,  crownit,  kingis  in  maieste, 
 
 Princes,  duces,  and  marquis  curious, 
 
 Erlis,  barrouns,  and  knyris  chevclrous, 
 
 And  gentillmen  of  he  genolegye, 
 
 As  scutiferais,  and  squieris  full  courtlye, 
 
 Ar  assemblit  and  sett  in  a  rycll  se, 
 
 With  nam  it  folkis  of  he  nobilite, 
 
 Thair  talk  that  tyme  to  table  honorable, 
 
 Bsfoir  lordinsis  and  ladcis  amiable, 
 
 U  of  singing  and  iawis  of  solace, 
 
 Quhair  melody  is  ye  mirth  full  maistrace  ; 
 
 Ermy  deidis  in  auld  day  is  done  afoir, 
 
 Croniculis,  gestis,  storcis,  and  mich  moir, 
 
 Manestralis  amang  musicianis  merely, 
 
 To  half  hartis  in  heuinly  harmony  ; 
 
 So  semis  it  weill  yat  suthly  so  war  ay ; 
 
 Quhat  is  the  warld  without  plesance  or  play  ?  " 
 After  the  ««  Prohemium,  "  the  first  Canto  of  the  poem  begins— 
 u  Heir  I  gife  zou  cais, 
 
 Umquhile  a  merry  man  wais 
 Callit  Cokkclbc  ; 
 
 He  had  a  simple  blak  sow, 
 
 And  he  sold  hir — but  how? 
 For  penncis  thre,  "  Sec. 
 
136 
 
 and  ladies  in  gowns  with  long  trains  ;  the  motion  of 
 which,  in  the  dance,  was  supposed  to  resemble  the 
 tail  of  a  peacock,  the  bird  from  which  the  dance  is  sup- 
 posed to  have  derived  its  name.  From  the  Pavan,  a 
 lighter  air,  denominated  the  Galliard,  was  formed  ;  so 
 that  every  Pavan  had  its  corresponding  Galliard.  Pavans 
 and  Galliards  frequently  occur  in  the  musical  composi- 
 tions even  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and,  among  some 
 verses  annexed  to  Hume  of  Logie's  ms.  Poems,  I  find 
 "  Certaine  wise  sentences  of  Salomon,  to  the  tune  of 
 "Wigmore's  Galliard.  " — The  "  Brauls  and  Branglis  " 
 were  dances,  in  which  the  motions  and  gesticulations 
 were  rapid  *,  and  similar  to  these  was  the  Coranto,  a 
 kind  of  running  dance.  Philips  says,  the  Braule  was  a 
 kind  of  dance  in  which  several  persons  danced  together 
 in  a  ring,  holding  one  another  by  the  hand.  The 
 Bransle  of  Poitiers,  is  mentioned  by  Morley.  Sir 
 ^Thomas  Elyot  seems  inclined,  from  his  propensity 
 to  allegory,  to  derive  the  term  from  the  English 
 verb  to  braivl ;  "  they  may  be  well  resembled  to 
 the  Braule  in  daunsyng  •,  for  in  our  Englyshe  tong 
 we  saie,  men  do  brau/e,  when  between  them  is  an 
 altercation  in  wordes.  "  ■  This  author's  observations 
 on  the  origin  of  dancing,  are  curious.  "  It  is  to  be 
 consydered  that  in  the  said  ancient  -time,  there  were 
 diuers  maners  of  daunsyng,  whiche  varied  in  the 
 names,  likewyse  as  they  did  in  tunes  of  the  instrument, 
 as  semblablye  we  haue  at  this  daye.  But  those  names, 
 some  were  generall,  some  were  speciall ;  the  generall 
 names  were  gyuen  of  the  uniuersal  fourme  of  daunsing, 
 wherby  was  represented  the  qualities  or  conditions  of 
 sundry  astates  •,  as  the  maiestie  of  princis  was  shewed 
 
 in 
 
 1  The  Bokc  named  the  Gouernour,  deuised  by  Sir  Thomas  EN  ot, 
 Kny§ht;  London,  1546,  f.  71. 
 
»37 
 
 in  that  daunsc  whyche  was  named  Eumelia,  and  belong- 
 ed to  tragedies  ,  dissolute  motions  and  wanton  counte- 
 naunces,  in  that  which  was  called  Cordax,  and  pertain- 
 ed to  comedies,  wherin  men  of  base  hauiour  only  daun- 
 sed.  Alsoo  the  forme  of  battayle  and  fyghtynge  in  ar- 
 mure,  was  expressed  in  those  daunses,  whiche  were 
 called  Emplie.  Also  there  was  a  kynde  of  daunsyng 
 called  HormuSy  of  all  the  other  most  lyke  to  that 
 whiche  is  at  this  time  used,  wherin  daunsed  yong 
 menne  and  maydens  ;  the  manne  expressynge  in  his 
 motion  and  countenance,  strength  and  courage,  apt  for 
 the  warres  ;  the  maydcn,  moderation  and  shamefast- 
 nessc,  whiche  represented  a  plesaunte  coniunction  of 
 fortitude  and  temperauncc.  In  stede  of  these,  we  haue 
 now  Base  daunsesy  bargenettes,  paupns,  turgions  and 
 roundcs.  And  as  for  the  speciall  names,  thei  were  ta- 
 ken as  they  be  now,  either  cf  the  names  of  the  first  in- 
 uentours,  or  of  the  measure  and  noumbre  that  they  do 
 conteine,  or  of  the  fyrste  wordes  of  the  dittie,  whiche 
 the  songc  comprehcndeth  wherof  the  daunce  was  made. 
 \\\  euerye  of  the  sayde  daunccs,  there  was  a  concinni- 
 tie  of  meuynge  the  foote  and  body,  expressyng  some 
 pleasant  or  profitable  afTectes  or  motions  of  the  ir.ynde."1 
 The  Bargcnctt  mentioned  in  this  passage  is  supposed  by 
 Hawkins  to  signify  a  shepherd  dance.  2  The  Roundel, 
 Roumle,  or  Roundelay,  seems  to  have  been  a  species 
 of  die  Ring  or  circular  dance,  which  had  a  strik- 
 ing similarity  to  the  ancient  Palilia.  This  dance, 
 about  the  period  in  which  the  Complaynt  was  compos- 
 ed, was  gradually  supplanted  in  England 
 rice   dance,    which,    in   early    writers,    is    termed 
 
 •    Elyot's  Goucrnour,  f.  68. 
 
 -  -.kins'  History  of  Music,  vol.  ii.  p.  IJ4. 
 
i38 
 
 Mor'uco.  This  dance,  though  not  mentioned  in  the 
 Complaynt,  seems  to  have  been  early  known  in  Scot- 
 land \  for  it  is  mentioned  in  the  popular  poem  of  Christ 
 Kirk  on  the  Green. 
 
 "  He  vse  him  self  as  man  discreit, 
 And  up  tuk  Moreis  dans.  " 
 
 The  following  passage  of  Higden  may  illustrate 
 some  of  the  musical  terms  employed  in  the  Complaynt, 
 
 "  (R)  Here  wyse  men  I  tell,  that  Pictagoras  pass- 
 ed som  tyme  by  a  smythes  hous,  and  herde  a  swete 
 sowne,  and  accordynge  in  the  smytynge  of  foure  ha- 
 mers  upon  an  anueit,  and  therfore  he  lette  weye  the 
 hamers,  and  found  that  one  of  the  hamers  weyed 
 twyes  so  moche  as  another.  Another  weyed  other 
 halfe  so  moche  as  another ;  and  another  weyed  so 
 moche  as  another  and  the  thyrde  dele  of  another. 
 As  though  the  fyrste  hamer  were  of  syx  pounde,  the 
 seconde  of  twelue,  the  thyrde  of  eyght,  the  fourth  of 
 IX. — When  these  accordes  were  founden,  Pictagoras 
 gaue  them  names,  and  so  that  he  called  in  nombre, 
 double,  he  called  in  sownes  Dyapason,  and  that  he 
 called  in  nombre  other  halfe,  he  called  in  sowne  Dya- 
 pente,  and  that  that  in  nombre  is  called  alle  and  the 
 thyrde  dele,  hete  in  sownes  Dyatesseron,  and  that 
 that  in  nombres  is  called  alle  %2?  the  eyghteth  dele,  hete 
 in  tewns  Double  Dyapason.  As  in  melodye  of  one 
 strenge,  yf  the  strynge  be  streyned  enlonge  upon  the 
 holownesse  of  a  tree,  and  departe  euen  atwo  by  a 
 brydge  sette  there  under  in  eyther  part  of  the  strenge, 
 the  sowne  shall  be  Dyapason,  if  the  strenge  be  streyn- 
 ed and  touched.  And  yf  the  strenge  be  departed  euen 
 in  thre,  and  the  brydge  sette  under,  soo  that  it  departe 
 bytwene  the  twey  deles  and  the  thyrde,  then  the  lenger 
 
 dele 
 
*39 
 
 dele  of  the  strenge,  yf  it  be  touched,  shall  gyue  a 
 sowne  called  Dyatesseron.  And  yf  it  be  departed  in 
 nyne,  and  the  boy  dye  sette  under  bytwene  the  laste 
 parte  and  the  other  dele,  and  the  lenger  dele  of  the 
 strenge,  yf  it  be  touched,  shall  gyue  a  sowne  that  hete 
 Tonus.  "  ' 
 
 The  enumeration  of  musical  instruments  used  by 
 the  shepherds  in  their  concert,  not  only  supplies  an 
 important  chasm  in  the  history  of  Scotish  music,  by 
 informing  us  what  instruments  were  popular  at  that 
 period,  but  enables  us,  from  the  compass  of  these  fa- 
 vourite instruments,  to  appreciate  the  comparative  an- 
 tiquity of  our  most  popular  airs.  The  musical  instru- 
 ments mentioned  in  the  Complaynt,  are  eight  in  num- 
 ber ;  "  The  drone  bag  pipe  ;  "  the  pipe  maid  of  one  blcd- 
 dir  and  of  ane  reid ;  the  trump  ;  the  corne  pipe  ,•  the 
 pipe  maid  cf  ane  gait  home;  the  recordar ;  the J$dd:f9 
 and  the  quhissil.  "  The  history  of  the  Bagpipe  has 
 been  ably  elucidated  by  Mr  Walker,  in  the  historical 
 memoir  already  quoted.  As  few  instruments  are  more 
 simple  in  their  construction,  or  better  adapted  to  the 
 noisy  riot  of  rustic  merriment,  the  bagpipe,  in  some  of 
 its  forms,  has  been  tire  favourite  of  the  populace  in  al- 
 most every  country.  Of  this  instrument,  a  late  writer 
 says,  "  It  is  the  voice  of  uproar  and  misrule  ;  and 
 the  music,  calculated  for  it,  seems  to  be  that  of 
 real  nature,  and  of  rude  passion.  "  x  Many  curi- 
 ous circumstances  in  the  history  of  the  bagpipe  dur- 
 ing the  most  ancient  periods,  have  been  pointed  out 
 in  the  curious  DifTertation  on  that  subject  by  Signor  Ca- 
 nonico  Orazio  Maccari  of  Cortona.     Among  the   Ita- 
 
 «   Ranulf's  Polychronicon,  I495,  f.  101. 
 
 3   Robcrtion's  Inquiry  into  the  Fiac  Art,,  p.  40?* 
 
140 
 
 han  peasantry,   especially  the  shepherds  of  Calabria, 
 it  seems   to   have   been    almost    as  great   a  favourite 
 as    among   the    peasants    of    Scotland.      The    learn- 
 ed Italian  quotes,  from  an  eclogue  of  Mantuano,  the 
 following  lines,  descriptive  of  a  shepherd  playing  on 
 the  "  cornamusa,  "  which  convey  a  faithful  representa- 
 tion of  a  player  on  the  Highland  Bagpipe. 
 "  Et  cum  multifori  Tonius  cui  Tibia  buxo 
 Tandem  post  epulas  et  pocula,  multicolorem 
 Ventriculum  sumpsit,  buccasque  inflare  rubentes 
 Incipiens,  oculos  aperit,  ciliisque  levatis 
 Multotiesque  alto  flatum  e  pulmonibus  haustum 
 Utrem  implet,  cubito  vocem  dat  Tibia  presso 
 Nunc  hue,  nunc  illuc,  digito  saliente.  ' 
 About  the  same  period,  the  bagpipe  seems  to  have  been 
 the  favourite  instrument  of  the  French  peasantry,     ft 
 is  mentioned  in  a  pastoral  dirge  on  the  death  of  Charles 
 VIL  of  France,  in  which  many  traits  of  the  shepherd 
 life  in  that  region  are  exhibited. 
 "  A  tout  ma  houlette, 
 Et  cornemusette, 
 Sur  la  belle  herbette, 
 
 Je  me  gogooye  5 
 Avec  bergerette, 
 Plaisant  joliette, 
 Besant  la  bouchette  : 
 
 Si  doulce  que  soye, 
 Les  tetins  pinsoye, 
 Puis  la  renuersoye, 
 Dessoubz  la  saulsoye 
 Tastant  la  fossette ; 
 Las  dieu  scet  quelle  ioye, 
 En  lair  je  saultoye, 
 
 Et 
 
I4i 
 
 Et  chansons  chantoye, 
 Comme  une  alouette.  "  ' 
 From  the  earliest  period,  the  bagpipe  has  been  p0-» 
 pular  among  the  Scotish  peasantry  ;  and,  both  in  the 
 Highlands  and  Lowlands,  seems  gradually  to  have  sup- 
 planted the  harp.  It  is  a  curious  circumstance,  that 
 Giraldus  Cambrensis,  about  1 1 88,  mentions  the  pipe 
 as  a  Welch  instrument,  while  he  does  not  notice  it  in 
 his  enumeration  of  the  musical  instruments  of  Scotland 
 and  Ireland.  "  Ireland, "  says  he,  "  makes  use  of 
 only  two,  the  harp  and  the  drum.  Scotland  has  three, 
 the  harp,  the  drum,  and  x  the  chorus,  (probably  the 
 crwth)  ;  and  Wales  has  the  harp,  the  pipes,  and  the 
 chorus.  "  *  Anterior  to  this  period,  about  942,  the 
 same  instruments  are  enumerated  in  one  of  the  institu- 
 tions of  Howel  Dha.  "  Every  chief  bard  to  whom 
 the  prince  shall  grant  an  office,  the  prince  shall  provide 
 him  an  instrument  •,  a  harp  to  one,  a  crwth  to  another, 
 and  pipes  to  a  third  ;  and  when  they  die,  the  instru- 
 ments ought  to  revert  to  the  prince.  "  5  A  late  writer, 
 ascribing  to  the  Scotish  Gael  in  particular,  what  Ari- 
 stides  Quintilianus  had  asserted  of  the  ancient  Celtic 
 tribes  in  general,  has  introduced  the  opinion,  that  the 
 bagpipe  has  prevailed,  from  the  earliest  ages,  in  the 
 Highlands  of  Scotland.     Of  su<  -  inion,   certain- 
 
 ly there  is  no  direct  evidence  :  on  the  c<  ,  it  seems 
 
 more  probable,  from  the  V  v  ad- 
 
 duced, that  this  instrument  passed  fi  .  h  to 
 
 the  Scotish  Highlanders,  through  the  medium  of  the 
 Lowlanders.    Among  the  ornaments  of  Melrose  A! 
 
 t 
 
 1    Lei  vigilcs  dc  la  mort  du  Roi  Charles  Septiesmc,  par   V. 
 .  dit  Danva 
 
 a    Girald.  Cambr.   C  f  ap.  X. 
 
 1    LtZcs  Wulliae,  p 
 
142 
 
 the  figure  of  a  bagpipe,  inflated  by  the  mouth,  is  re- 
 presented  ;  and  as  these  ornaments  appear  to  be  of  equal 
 antiquity  with  the  structure,  whatever  be  the  period 
 of  its  erection,  this  fact  will  demonstrate  the  Low- 
 landers  to  have  been  early  acquainted  with  the  High- 
 land bagpipe.  But  the  use  of  this  instrument  among 
 the  Lowlanders,  is  no  evidence  that  the  proper  Low- 
 land bagpipe  was  unknown  to  them.  In  Peblis  to  the 
 Play,  and  Cockilbfs  Sowy  the  bagpipe  is  mentioned, 
 but  without  any  characteristic  circumstance,  except 
 that,  in  the  latter  poem,  it  is  appropriated  to  the 
 swine-herds,  a  class  of  men  numerous  at  one  pe- 
 riod on  the  English  Border,  but  never  known  to 
 have  been  common  in  Scotland.  The  instrument 
 of  Habbie  Simson,  the  piper  of  Kilbarchan,  cele- 
 brated by  Hamilton  in  an  elegy  already  quoted,  was 
 undoubtedly  the  Highland  bagpipe.  In  the  middle 
 counties  of  Scotland,  the  Highland  bagpipe  has  always 
 been  more  popular  than  on  the  Border.  But  the  in- 
 strument of  John  Hastie,  town  piper  of  Jedburgh,  a- 
 bout  the  same  period,  was  undeniably  the  Lowland 
 bagpipe  •,  and,  within  these  ten  years,  was  seen  by 
 the  editor,  in  the  possession  of  his  descendant,  whose 
 family  had  been  the  hereditary  town-pipers  of  Jedburgh, 
 at  least  for  the  space  of  three  hundred  years.  On  the 
 traditions  of  a  family,  occupying  this  hereditary  sta- 
 tion, some  confidence  may  certainly  be  reposed.  Now, 
 the  tradition  of  the  family,  of  the  town  of  Jedburgh,  and 
 of  the  country  in  its  vicinity,  strongly  avers  this  to  have 
 been  the  identical  bagpipe  which  his  ancestor  bore  to 
 animate  the  Borderers  at  the  battle  of  Flodden.  The 
 pipers  of  the  Border,  though  not  known  to  have  been 
 formed  by  any  regular  institution,  rivalled  the  fame 
 even  of  the  Highlanders  •,  and,  at  least  in  the  opinion 
 
 of 
 
M3 
 
 of  their  countrymen,  were  supposed  to  excel  them  in 
 musical  skill,  as  well  as  graceful  execution.  In  the 
 official  capacity  of  town-piper,  they  commanded  a 
 much  higher  degree  of  respect  from  the  peasant- 
 ry, than  wandering  musicians ;  and,  traversing  the 
 country  at  particular  seasons,  chiefly  in  Spring,  for 
 collecting  seed  oats  from  the  farmers,  and  at  Autumn, 
 about  Harvest-home,  they  exhibited  the  last  remains 
 of  minstrelsy  among  the  Borderers.  This  practice  is 
 alluded  to  in  the  Elegy  on  John  Hastie,  '    and  shows, 
 
 t  ij  that 
 
 1  Poetical  Museum,  printed  at  Hawick  1784,  p  59.  This  excel- 
 lent Dirge,  which  elucidates  so  much  the  manuers  of  the  Border 
 Pipers,  is  subjoined. 
 
 "  Elegy  on  JOHN  HASTIE,  town-piper  or  Jedburgh. 
 "  O  death  !  thou  wreck  of  young  and  auld, 
 How  slie,  and  O  how  dreadfu'  bald  ! 
 Thou  came  unlook'd  for,  nor  anes  tald 
 
 What  was  the  crime ; 
 But  Hastie  at  the  mouth  turn'd  cald 
 
 Just  at  his  prime. 
 
 We  mourn  the  loss  o'  mensfu'  John  ; 
 Yet  greet  in  vain  since  he  is  gone  : 
 A  blyther  lad  ne'er  buir  a  drone, 
 
 Nor  touch'd  a  lill ; 
 Nor  pipe  inspir'd  wi*  sweeter  tone, 
 
 Or  better  skill. 
 
 Not  Orpbeui  auld,  with  lyric  sound, 
 Wha  in  a  ring  gard  stancs  dance  round, 
 Was  ever  half  so  much  rcnown'd 
 
 For  jig  and  solo- 
 Now  he  lies  dum  aoeath  the  ground, 
 
 And  we  maun  follow. 
 
 At  brydcls,  whan  his  face  we  saw, 
 Lads,  lasses,  bridegroom,  bride  and  a', 
 
i44 
 
 that  the  more  respectable  and  affluent  pipers  disdained 
 to  perambulate  the  country  in  a  mendicant  manner. 
 
 "  Not 
 
 Smiling,  cry'd,  Johnie  come  awa', 
 
 A  welcome  guest : 
 
 The  inchanting  chanter  out  he'd  draw 
 
 His  pleas'd  us  best. 
 
 The  spring  that  ilk  ane  Iik'd  he  kend; 
 Auld  wives  at  sixty  years  wad  stend  ; 
 New  pith  his  pipe  their  limbs  did  lend, 
 
 Bewitching  reed ! 
 ■Las  !  that  his  winsome  sell  sou'd  bend 
 
 Sae  soon  his  head. 
 
 Whan  bagpipes  newfangled  lugs  had  tir'd, 
 They'd  sneer;  then  he,  like  ane  inspir'd, 
 We's  fiddle  their  faggin  spirits  fir'd, 
 
 Or  e'er  they  wist ; 
 Gi'  every  taste  what  they  desir'd, 
 
 He  never  mist. 
 
 Then  with  new  keenness  wad  they  caper, 
 He  sliely  smudg'd  to  see  them  vapour ; 
 And,  if  some  glakit  girl  shou'd  snapper, 
 
 He'd  gi'  a  wink, 
 Fie  lads,  quoth  he,  had  aft",  ne'er  stap  her, 
 
 She  wants  a  drink. 
 
 If  a  young  swankie,  wi'  bis  joe, 
 In  some  dark  nook  play'd  bogle-bo, 
 John  (hook  his  head,  and  said,  why  no  ; 
 
 Can  flesh  and  blood 
 Stand  pipe  and  dance,  and  never  show 
 
 Their  metal  good. 
 
 Not  country  squire,  nor  lord,  nor  laird, 
 
 But  for  John  Hasty  had  regard  : 
 
 With  minstrels  mean  he  ne'er  wad  herd, 
 
 Nor  fash  his  head : 
 
 Now 
 
'45 
 
 "  Not  country  squire,  nor  lord,  nor  laird, 
 But  for  John  Hasty  had  regard. 
 
 Now  he's  recciv'd  his  last  reward — 
 
 Poor  man  he's  dead. 
 
 He  hated  a'  your  sneaking  gates, 
 To  play  for  bear,  for  pease,  or  ates ; 
 His  saul  a?pir'd  to  higher  fates, 
 
 O  mensfu'  John  : 
 Our  tears  come  rapping  down  in  speats, 
 
 Since  thou  art  gone. 
 
 Whan  other  pipers  steal 'd  away, 
 He  gently  down  his  join  wad  lay  ; 
 Nor  hardly  wad  tak  hire  for  play, 
 
 Sic  was  his  mense  ! 
 We  rair  aloud  the  ruefu'  day 
 
 That  took  him  hence 
 
 John,  whan  he  play'd,  ne'er  threw  his  face, 
 Like  a'  th;  girning  piper  race; 
 But  set  it  aff  we  sic  a  grace, 
 
 That  plcas'd  us  a' : 
 Now  dull  and  dririe  is  our  case, 
 
 Since  John's  awa'. 
 
 Ilk  tune,  mair  serious  or  mair  gay, 
 
 To  humour  he  had  sic  a  way  ; 
 
 He'd  look  pcrcise,  and  smile  and  play, 
 
 As  suited  best : 
 But  Death  has  laid  him  in  the  clay 
 
 Well  may  he  rest. 
 
 A  fiddle  spring  he'd  let  us  hear, 
 
 I  think  they  ca'd  it  "   Nidgc-ntdgc-ntar  ;  n 
 
 He'd  gi'  a  punk,  and  look  sac  queer, 
 
 Without  a  joke, 
 You'd  swore  he  spoke  words  plain  and  clfltr, 
 
 With 
 
146 
 
 With  minstrels  mean  he  ne'er  wad  herd — 
 
 He  hated  a*  your  sneaking  gates, 
 
 To  play  for  bear,  for  pease  or  ates  ; 
 
 His  soul  aspir'd  to  higher  fates  " — 
 Another  characteristic  circumstance  in  this  poem,  de- 
 termines the  common  bagpipe  employed  at  this  period 
 to  be  of  the  Lowland  species. 
 
 "  John,  whan  he  played,  ne'er  threw  his  face, 
 
 Like  a'  the  girning  piper  race ;  " 
 an  expression  of  countenance  which  a  Lowland   piper 
 might  assume  with  facility,  but  which  must  have  been 
 
 utterly 
 
 It  did  ane  good  to  hear  his  talc, 
 O'er  a  punch  bowl,  or  pint  o'  ale ; 
 Nae  company  e'er  green'd  to  skaill, 
 
 If  John  was  by  : 
 Alas!  that  sic  a  man  was  frail, 
 
 And  born  to  die. 
 
 But  we  his  mem'ry  dear  shall  mind, 
 While  billows  rair,  or  blaws  the  wind  ; 
 To  tak  him  hence  Death  was  no  kind— — 
 
 0  dismal  feed ! 
 We'll  never  sic  anither  find, 
 
 Since  Johnic's  dead. 
 
 Minstrel's  of  merit,  ilk  ane  come, 
 Sough  mournfu'  notes  o'er  Johnic's  tomb ; 
 Through  fields  of  air  applaud  him  heme      — 
 
 1  hope  he's  weel : 
 His  worth,  nae  doubt,  has  sav'd  him  from 
 
 The  raeikU  de'il. 
 
 EPITAPH. 
 
 Here  lies  dear  John,  whase  pipe  and  drone, 
 
 And  fiddle  aft  has  made  us  glad ; 
 Whase  checrfu*  face  our  feasts  did  gnce,— — 
 
 A  sweet  and  merry  lad.  ■• 
 
M7 
 
 utterly  impracticable  for  a  Highland  piper,  who  inflat- 
 ed his  instrument  with  his  mouth. 
 
 Hamilton  of  Bangour,  in  an  unedited   poem,  enti- 
 tled "  The  Maid  of  Gallowshiels,  "  has  celebrated  the 
 Piper  of  that  village.     The  poem  is  of  the  Heroi-comic 
 kind,  and  celebrates  die  contest  between  the  Piper  and 
 Fiddler  concerning  the  love  of  the  Maid  of  Gallowshiels. 
 The  author  proposed  to  extend  it  to  twelve  books ;  but 
 has  completed  only  the  first,  and  a  fragment  of  the  se- 
 cond.    In  the  first,  the  Fiddler  challenges  the  Piper  to 
 a  trial  of  musical  skill,  and  proposes  that  the  maid  her- 
 self should  be  the  umpire  of  the  contest. 
 "  Sole  in  her  breast,  the  favourite  youth  shall  reign, 
 Whose  hand  shall  sweetest  wake  the  warbled  strain : 
 And  if  to  me  the  ill-fated  piper  yield, 
 As  sure  I  trust  this  well  contested  field, 
 High  in  the  sacred  dome  his  pipes  I  raise, 
 The  trophy  of  my  fame  to  after  days, 
 That  all  may  know,  as  they  the  pipes  survey, 
 The  Fiddler's  deed,  and  this  the  signal  day. — 
 All  Gallowshiels  the  daring  challenge  heard, 
 Full  blank  they  stood,  and  for  their  piper  fcar'd. 
 Fearless  alone,  he  rose  in  open  view, 
 And  in  the  midst  his  sounding  bagpipe  threw.  " 
 The  history  of  the  two  heroes  is  related,  with  various 
 episodes  ;  and  the   piper  deduces  his  origin  from  Colin 
 of  Gallowshiels,    who    bore   the  identical   bagpipe   at 
 the  battle  of  Harlaw,  with  which  his  descendant  re- 
 solves  to  maintain   the   glory  of  the  piper  race.     The 
 second  book,  the  subject  of  which  is  the  trial  of  skill, 
 commences  with  the  following  exquisite  description  of 
 the  bagpipe  : 
 "  Now  in  his  artful  hand  the  Bagpipe  held, 
 Elate,  the  Piper  wide  surveys  the  field. 
 
 OVt 
 
O'er  all,  he  throws  his  quick  discerning  eyes. 
 And  views  their  hopes  and  fears  alternate  rise. 
 Old  Glenderule,  in  Gallowshiels  long  fam'd, 
 For  works  of  skill  the  perfect  wonder  fram'd, 
 His  shining  steel  first  lop'd,  with  dext'rous  toil, 
 From  a  tall  spreading  Elm  the  branchy  spoil. 
 The  clouded  wood  he  next  divides  in  twain, 
 And  smoothes  them  equal  to  an  oval  plane. 
 Six  leather  folds  in  still  connected  rows, 
 To  either  plank  conformed,  the  sides  compose ; 
 The  wimble  perforates  the  base  with  care, 
 A  destin'd  passage  op'ning  to  the  air  *, 
 But  once  inclos'd  within  the  narrow  space, 
 The  opposing  valve  forbids  the  backward  race. 
 Fast  to  the  swelling  bag,  two  reeds  combin'd 
 Receive  the  blasts  of  the  melodious  wind. 
 Round  from  the  turning  loom,  with  skill  divine 
 Embost,  the  joints  in  silver  circles  shine  : 
 In  secret  prison  pent,  the  accents  lye, 
 Until  his  arm  the  lab'ring  artist  ply  : 
 Then,  duteous,  they  forsake  their  dark  abode, 
 Fellows  no  more,  and  wing  a  sep'rate  road. 
 These  upward,  through  the  narrow  channel  glide, 
 In  ways  unseen,  a  solemn  murmuring  tide  : 
 Those,  thro'  the  narrow  path,  their  journey  bend 
 Of  sweeter  sort,  and  to  the  earth  descend. 
 O'er  the  small  pipe,  at  equal  distance,  lye 
 Eight  shining  holes,  o'er  which  his  fingers  fly. 
 From  side  to  side  the  aerial  spirit  bounds  ; 
 The  flying  fingers  form  the  passing  sounds, 
 That,  issuing  gently  through  the  polished  door, 
 Mix  with  the  common  air,  and  charm  no  more. 
 
 This 
 
149 
 
 i  his  gift,  long  since,  old  Glcnderule  consigned, 
 The  lasting  witness  of  his  friendly  mind, 
 To  the  fam'd  author  of  the  pipers  line/ 
 Each  empty  space  shone  rich  in  fair  design  : 
 Himself  appears  high  in  the  sculptur'd  wood, 
 As  bold  in  the  Harlean  field  he  stood. 
 Serene,  amidst  the  dangers  of  the  d 
 Full  in  the  van  you  might  behold  him  play. 
 There,  in  the  humbler  mood  of  peace,  he  stands  ; 
 Before  him,  pleas'd,  are  seen  the  dancing  bands. 
 In  mazy  road;  the  flying  ring  they  blend, 
 So  lively  fram'd,  they  seem  from  earth  t'  ascend. 
 Four  gilded  straps  the  artist's  arm  surround  ; 
 
 i  knit  by  clasps,  and  two  by  buckles  bound. 
 His  artful  elbow  now  the  youth  essays, 
 A  tuneful  squeeze  to  wake  the  sleeping  lays. 
 
 h  labouring  bellows  thus  the  smith  inspires, 
 To  frame  the  polish'd  lock,  the  forge's  fires. 
 Concealed  in  ashes  lie  the  flamed  below, 
 Till  the  resounding  lungs  of  bellows  blow  ; 
 Then  mounting  high,  o'er  the  illumin'd  room, 
 Spreads  the  brown  light,  and  gilds  the  dusky  gloom  j 
 The  bursting  sounds,  in  narrow  prisons  pent, 
 Rouze,  in  their  cells  loud  rumbling  for  a  vent. 
 Loud  tempests  now  the  deafened  ear  assail  •, 
 Now,  gently  sweet,  i:>  breathed  a  sober  gale  : 
 As  -  hawk  his  mountain  nest  forsak 
 
 ce  for  his  prey  his  rus'!' 
 The  air,  impelled  by  th'  unharmonious  shock, 
 Sounds  clatterir  rupt  through  all  the  rock  ; 
 
 Bi::  to  smooth, . 
 
 1  let  winnov.  ,  and  sw;::  .  "  l 
 
 u  B 
 
 »   Hamilton  of  Btngoar'l  ms.  Poems.     I  owe  ti  I 
 
 to  the  valuable  frk 
 
J5° 
 
 Besides  the  characteristic  melodies  of  the  Lowland 
 of  Scotland,  the  Borders,  particularly  the  middle  and 
 west  Marches,  possessed  a  peculiar  style  of  music,  well 
 adapted  to  the  bagpipe,  the  wild  and  ferocious  expres- 
 sion of  which,  corresponded  to  the  fierce  and  energe- 
 tic character  of  the  Border  clans.  The  original  airs  of 
 the  Gathering  songs  and  Historical  ballads,  have  no  in- 
 considerable resemblance  to  the  martial  tunes  of  the 
 Welch,  Irish,  and  the  Scotish  Highlanders,  and  form- 
 ed the  favourite  music  of  the  Border  pipers ;  among 
 whom,  the  perfection  of  the  art  was  supposed  to  con- 
 sist in  being  able  to  sing,  dance,  and  play  on  the  bag- 
 pipe, at  the  same  time.  I  recollect  to  have  heard  dif- 
 ferent pipers  applauded  for  this  excellence.  With  the 
 town  pipers,  there  is  the  utmost  reason  to  believe,  that 
 many  ancient  airs  have  perished.  The  last  piper  of 
 Jedburgh,  whom  I  have  often  heard  play  on  the  bag- 
 pipe in  infancy,  always  affirmed,  that  he  was  acquaint- 
 ed with  some  ancient  airs  unknown  to  every  other  per- 
 son. I  only  recollect  the  Hunting  cf  the  Fox}  which, 
 from  its  uncommon  expression,  and  the  irregularity  of 
 its  modulation,  seemed  to  have  a  strong  resemblance  to 
 a  Highland  pibrach. 
 
 The  Lowland  bagpipe  commonly  had  the  bag  or  sack 
 covered  with  woollen  cloth  of  a  green  colour  \  a  prac- 
 tice which  likewise  prevailed  in  the  northern  counties 
 of  England.  Hence,  probably,  the  term  ".  woollen 
 bagpipe. "  In  a  ms.  Cantus  of  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
 teenth century,  which  contains  a  great  number  of  the 
 songs  in  Forbes'  Aberdeen  Cantus,  with  a  variety  of 
 others,  likewise  set  to  the  fashionable  music  of  that  pe- 
 riod, the  quaint  artificial  harmony  of  counterpoint  \ 
 a  song,  descriptive  cf  the  shepherd  life,  occurs,  in  which 
 
 the 
 
the  bagpipe  is  mentioned  as  the  favourite  instrument 
 of  the  shepherd?. 
 
 "  The  life  of  a  shepherd  is  void  of  all  care, 
 
 With  his  bag  and  his  bottle  he  maketh  good  fare  •, 
 llz  hath  yon  green  meadow  to  walk  in  at  will-a, 
 With  a  pair  of  fine  bagpipes  upon  a  green  hill-a. 
 Tringdilla,  tringdilla,  tringdown-adown-di] 
 With  a  pair  of  fine  bagpipes  upon  a  green  hill-a.  n 
 MS.  Cantusy  penes  Mr  Russell. 
 Though  the  bagpipe  seems,  at  an  early  period,   to 
 have  supplanted  the  harp,  especially  in  the   Lowlands 
 of  Scotland,  yet,  even  in  these  districts,  the  latter  in- 
 strument appears  not  to  have  been   wholly  unknown. 
 In  the   popular  songs  of  the  Border,  this  instrument  is 
 frequently  mentioned  ;  as  in    Thomas  the  Rhymer  and 
 the   §£uten  of  El/land,   Binnorls  or   the    Cruel  Sister; 
 and  particularly  the  Harper  of  Lochftiaberty  in  Scott's 
 i  rklsy  of  the  Border.     The  country  was  fre- 
 quently traversed  by  Irish  harpers,  the  name  of  one  of 
 whom  is  mentioned  by  Pennycuik  ;  l    but  the   song  of 
 the  harper  of  Lochmaben  is  sufficient   to  demon 
 that  the  harper  was  sometimes  stationary  in 
 In  a  whimsical  poem  in  the   Jknnatyne    MS.,   which 
 thus  commences — 
 
 "  Listis,  lordis,  I  sail  7.ou 
 
 Off  ane  vcrry  grit  marvell  " — 
 among  other  articles  of  inchantment  for  conjurl 
 •,  we  find  the  following  : 
 "  — of  ane  zallow  wol>  the  warp  ; 
 
 ;-rob;iblo 
 with  wire,  rather  than  the   Welch   I 
 
 u  ij 
 
 1    Pcnnycuik's  Description  of  Twee Jdalc.     E 
 
!$1 
 
 hair,  was  that  with  which  the  Scotish  Lowland 
 acquainted.  In  a  ludicrous  poem  in  the  Bannatyru 
 on  king  Berdok  of  Babylon,  who  wooed  the  golk,  "  sc- 
 ir,  "of  Maryland,  and  was  pursued  and  besieg- 
 ed by  the  king  of  Fary,  assisted  by  "  the  kingis  of 
 Pechtis  and  Portingaiil,  the  king  of  Naipiilis,  and  Na- 
 vern  alhaill,  "  it  is  said — 
 
 "  Weill  cowd  he  play  on  the  clarseho'  &  lute.  " 
 This  was  the  harp  known  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 
 It  is  enumerated  as  one  of  the  instruments  with  which 
 the  Irish,  or  rather  Erse  Bard,  in  Holland's  Houlate, 
 was  acquainted. 
 
 "  The  Chenachy,  the  Clarshach, 
 The  Beneschene,  the  Ballach, 
 The  Crekrye,  the  Ccrach, 
 
 Scho  kens  yame  ilk  ane.  " 
 To  the  Irish  harp,  the  Welch  bards,  the  rivals  of 
 the  Irish  both  in  poetry  and  music,  appear  not  to  have 
 been  partial.  By  Davydd  ap  Gwilym,  who  flourished 
 about  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,  its  sound  is 
 compared  to  the  screaming  of  young  sprawling  crows 
 in  the  rain,  to  the  gabbling  of  a  lame  goose  a 
 corn,  and  to  the  rumbling  of  a  rough  mill-stream. 
 
 '  The  pipe  maid  of  ane  bh  I  of  cne  re'ul^  the 
 
 second  pastoral  instrument  of  music,  in  the  Complaynt, 
 is  the  original  and  simple  form  of  the  bagpipe,  or  corne~ 
 muse.  The  simplicity  of  its  structure  renders  it  the 
 favourite  of  shepherd  boys,  as  its  formation  is  scarcely 
 more  difficult  than  the  whistle.  The  trump,  or  Jew's 
 harp,  is  chiefly  confined  to  boys ;  yet  I  have  Ik 
 peasant  occasionally  play  on  it  with  no  unpleasing  ef- 
 fect, while  others  danced  to  its  sounds,  in  the  absence 
 of  more  perfect  instruments.     Martin,  who  describes 
 
 with 
 
J53 
 
 considerable  naivete  the  manners  of  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  St  Kilda,  sayp,  M  the  trump,  or  Jew's  harp,  is 
 the  only  musical  instrument  they  have,  which  disposes 
 them  to  dance  mightily  "  '.      J  the   favourite 
 
 musical  instrument  of  the  Scotish  witches  about  the 
 close  of  the  sixteenth  century  ;  and  as  it  must  have 
 formed  a  delectable  accompaniment  to  the  purring  of 
 their  grimalkins,  it  must  be  owned;  rabk 
 
 taste  was  displayed  in  its  selection. 
 
 The  corne  pipe  is  probably  Chaucer's  "  pipe  maid 
 of  grene  corne.  "  *  It  is  still  formed  by  shepherd  boys, 
 and  its  compass  varies  .  v  displayed  in 
 
 its  formation.  I  have  heard  tones  produced  from  it  in 
 the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  which  I  have  more  than 
 once  mistaken  for  those  of  the  bagpipe. 
 
 The  pipe  maid  of  en:  is   the   stock  and 
 
 horn,  or  "  buck  home  "  of  the  Scotish  peasantry,  formed 
 by  inserting  a  reed  or  pipe  into  ahc  h  gives  a 
 
 full  and  mellow  expression  to  the  sound.     The  reed  or 
 en  formed  of  the  I  I  elder  branch, 
 
 i:ch  practice  there  is  an  allusion  in  Coc::llby's 
 Sow,  where  "  the  •  I  of  a  borii  bourne,  *'  is 
 
 toned  as  the  appropriate  musical  instrument  i 
 
 "  nolt  hirdis.  "     'I  ,rn  mentioned  in  the  same 
 
 ;,  is  merely  a   species  of  bugle,    or  c; 
 
 ,  used  for  giving  an  alarm,  like 
 
 stoc,  a  brazen  tube  formed  like  the  horn  of  a  cow,   and 
 
 employ  peaking  trumpet.      '.  edio 
 
 to  be  only  an  improved 
 .  of  the  stock  and         .,    .      .  ■  .   ,   in 
 
 .nict>  of   the  pipe  01 
 
 irt 
 
 «    Martin's  Voyage  to  St  Kilda,  p.  38. 
 *  Chaucc:  ,  III.  133. 
 
If* 
 
 in  a  horn.  The  Welch,  according  to  Higden, 
 ployed  these  "  homes  of  gheet,"  as  he  terms  them, 
 at  their  funerals.  The  stock  and  ^or«-may  likewise  be 
 considered  as  synonimous  with  the  M  chalemaulx  dc 
 Cornouaille  "  in  the  Romaunt  of  the  Rose,  rendered 
 by  Chaucer,  "  hornpipes  of  Cornewaile.  "  In  Mercians 
 Les  Vigiles  de  la  mort  du  Roi  Charles  Septiesme,  the 
 Horn  pipe  is  likewise  mentioned  as  a  favourite  pastoral 
 instrument. 
 
 "  Viuent  pastoureaulx, 
 Brebiz  &  aigneaulx, 
 Moutons  a  troppeaux, 
 
 Bergiers  pastourelles, 
 A  tout  leurs  gasteaulx, 
 Farciz  de  beaulx  aulx, 
 Pastez  de  naueaulx 
 
 Au  lart  et  groiselles. 
 Comes  challiimelles, 
 Danssez  sauterelles, 
 Filles  et  pucelles, 
 
 Prenez  voz  chappeaulx. 
 De  roses  vermeilles, 
 
 Et  ses  beaulx  rainceaulx. 
 Tous  plains  de  prunelles, 
 Faictes  tournebouelles, 
 Sur  prez  &  sur  treilles, 
 Au  chant  des  oyseaulx.  " 
 From  the  following  passage  of  the   Roman  de  U 
 Rose,  the  chalemaulx  and  chalemelle  appear  not  to  have 
 been  exactly  the  same  instruments. 
 "  Puis  met  in  cymbales  sa  cure, 
 Puis  prent  freteaulx,  et  si  fretele, 
 Et  chalemaulx,  et  chalemelle^ 
 
 Et 
 
Et  puis  taboure,  et  flute ,  et  tymbre, 
 
 Et  citole,  et  trompe,  et  cheuriey 
 
 Et  si  psaltirionne  et  v/«?/*, 
 
 Tl'unejoliete  viels ; 
 
 Puis  prent  sa  m///^  et  se  travaille 
 
 Aux  instrumens  de  Cornouaille, 
 
 Et  espringue  et  sautele  et  3^/^.   " 
 There  can  be   no  doubt  but  this   instrument    is    the 
 "  liltyng  horn  "  of  Chaucer,  such 
 "  As  haue  these  little  heerde  gromes, 
 
 That  kepen  beastes  in  the  bromes.  "  * 
 The  stock  and  horn  was  so  formed,  that  the  parts 
 could  be  easily  separated,  while  the  horn  might  be  em- 
 ployed as  a  bugle,  and  the  pipe,  as  a  simple  pipe  or  whis- 
 tle. The  stock  horn,  in  the  stria  sense,  is  the  cornet,  or 
 crumborn  of  the  Germans,  the  shalmey,  or  chalumeau^ 
 used  with  die  trumpet  at  tilts  and  tournaments.  Thus, 
 "  Trumpettis  and  schahnis  with  a  schout 
 
 Played  or  the  rink  began.  "  * 
 The  shalmele  is  enumerated  by  Gower  amon: 
 instruments  of  music  in  the  court  of  Vci 
 "  In  suche  accorde  and  such  a  sov 
 
 Of  buvibarde  and  of  clarioivnr. 
 
 With  carnemusi  and  shah,. 
 
 That  it  was  halfe  a  mannes  hcle 
 
 So  glad  a  noyse  for  to  here.  " — 
 It  is  curious  that  the  pipe  is  excluded  from  u  the  con> 
 panie  of  Elde,  "  in  the  Court  of  Venus. 
 "  But  yet  I  hcrde  no  pipes  there 
 
 To  make  mirthe  in  mannes  ere  ; 
 
 «    Chaucer's  House  of  Fame,  f.  t8o.     Ij6l. 
 EfCTfTtfj),  vol   ii.  p   1-7. 
 
'56 
 
 But  the  musike  I  might  knowe 
 
 For  olde  men  which  sowncd  lowe, 
 
 With  harpe  and  lute  and  the  citole : 
 
 The  houeyda?ice  and  the  carole) 
 
 In  such  a  wise  as  loue  hath  bede,- 
 
 A  softe  paas  thei  daunce  and  trede.  "  " 
 The  Caroll  dance  is  mentioned  in  Clariodus  and  Melia- 
 des,  MS. 
 
 K  Thay  fand  the  king  with  joy  and  grete  plesancey 
 With  ladies  enterit  in  ane  caroll  dance.  " 
 The  Recordar  was  a  small  species  of  flute,  or  ra- 
 ther flageolet,  and  has  always  been  a  favourite  instru- 
 ment of  the  Scotish  shepherds.  In  Cockelbys  Sow,  the 
 "floyt"  is  the  appropriate  instrument- of  the  shep- 
 herds, as  the  pipe  of  "  borit  bourtre  "  is  that  of  the 
 '*  nolt  hirdis.  "  The  Recordar  was  sometimes  made  of 
 the  elder  bough,  and  denominated  Sambuca.  "  Sambu- 
 c?,  "  says  Trevisa  in  his  translation  of  Bartholomseus 
 de  Propriem.  Rerum,  "  is  the  ellerne  tree  brotyll,  and 
 tbe  bowes  therof  ben  hole  we  and  voyde  and  smothe, 
 and  of  these  same  bowes  ben  pipes  made  and  also  some 
 maner  symphony.  "  The  Recordar  is  mentioned  in  the 
 description  of  a  concert  in  an  ancient  metrical  ro- 
 mance. 
 
 "  When  silence  beine  of  wind  and  minstrellie, 
 
 And  burd  beine  servit  by  and  by, 
 
 The  luitis  beine  sayit  and  the  stringis, 
 
 The  squyeris  dansing  alway  in  the  springis  ; 
 
 The  barpis  beine  sayit  at  the  full, 
 
 To  make  hartis  mirrie  that  war  dull ; 
 
 The  Guthtrone  with  triumph  did  record  ; 
 
 The  cleare  symball  with  the  mirrie  cord; 
 
 The 
 
 1   Gower%>  Confessio  Aroantis,  f.  19c*!. 
 
l57 
 
 The  Didcat  playit  also  with poriat'.. 
 Sad  hevie  myndis  to  make  exultatiue. 
 The  dulse  hose fiddtll  with  the  recor 
 Assayit  war,  and  set  at  ane  missoure  *, 
 Out  of  Irland  ther  was  ane  clersche.  " — 
 
 The  clersche  is  probably  the  Irish  clarseach,  or  harp  ;  bat 
 it  may  be  observed,  that  Dure!,  describing  the  pomp 
 and  pageantry  with  which  Queen  Anne  was  received  at 
 her  public  entry  into  Edinburgh,  May  19.  1590,  men- 
 tions a  musical  instrument,  which  he  denominates  the 
 he  pipe. 
 
 "  Organs  and  Regals  thair  did  carpe, 
 
 With  thair  gay  goldin  glittring  strings  ; 
 
 Thair  wes  the  Hautbois  and  the  Hat 
 
 Playing  most  sweit  and  pleasant  springs  ; 
 
 And  sum  on  Lutis  did  play  and  sing, 
 
 Of  instruments  the  onely  king. 
 
 and  Virgin eds  were  heir, 
 With  Girthorns  r  odious; 
 
 Trumpits  and  Timbrels  maid  -,rret  b 
 With  instruments  melodious. 
 
 The  and  the  St 
 
 Wil 
 
 itrum,    or 
 
 I 
 
 •1  in- 
 strui  1 
 closyd  in  lether  in  cytl: 
 
 I     | 
 !  cpmyth  full  swetc  notes.  "     A  l  Jail, 
 
 Ml. 
 
t58 
 
 the  Recordar  was  one  of  the  favourite  instruments  of 
 Henry  VIII.  The  fiddUl,  a  musical  instrument  of 
 great  antiquity,  has,  in  the  Scotish  Lowlands,  nearly 
 supplanted  the  Bagpipe.  From  the  number  of  ms. 
 cant  us  of  the  two  last  centuries,  dispersed  through  die 
 Lowlands,  it  seems  to  have  been  long  a  very  favourite 
 instrument.  But  the  origin  of  the  Fiddle  ascends  to  a 
 very  high  antiquity.  It  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
 ancient  Metrical  Romances  and  Legends  ;  and,  in  some 
 of  these,  the  highest  degree  of  female  beauty  is  ex- 
 pressed by  the  simile,  sweet  as  the  cream  of  milk,  or 
 the  music  of  a  fiddle.  The  two  following  poetical 
 fragments,  in  praise  of  women,  at  the  same  time  that 
 they  exemplify  this  position,  present  a  curious  picture 
 of  the  peculiar  style  of  gallantry  to  the  fair  sex,  adapt- 
 ed to  the  age  of  Chivalry.  The  intermixture  of  reli- 
 gion, which  blended  itself  with  their  most  criminal  ac- 
 tions *,  the  subjects  from  which  their  poetical  figures 
 were  derived  ;  the  similarity  of  the  composition  to  the 
 amorous  verses  of  the  Troubadours,  render  them  worthy 
 of  preservation,  independent  of  the  light  they  reflect  on 
 the  history  of  our  language.  The  first  Fragment  ap- 
 pears from  Warton's  Additions  to  vol.  ii.  p.  103,  of 
 his  History  of  Poetry,  to  be  preserved  in  the  Digby 
 ms.,  where  it  is  thus  announced :  "  Ci  comence  le 
 cuntent  par  entre  le  Mavis  et  Rossignole."  "  Somer  is 
 cumen  with  loue  to  tonne.  "  Perhaps  the  second  may 
 be  that  entitled,  M  Ci  comence  la  manere  que  le  ameur 
 est  pur  assaier.  "  "  Loue  is  soft,  loue  is  swete,  louc 
 is  good  sware.  " 
 
 Frag- 
 
*S9 
 FRAGMENT  I. 
 
 The  THROSTEL  COK  and  NIGHTIS'C 
 
 "  With  blosme  and  with  briddes  roun  ; 
 The  notes  of  the  hase!  spri. 
 The  dewes  d:rken  in  the  <.:  . 
 The  notes  of  the  niztingale  ; 
 This  foules  miri  jingeth. 
 
 Ich  herd  a  striif  bitvithen  to, 
 That  on  of  we!e,  that  other  of  wo, 
 
 Bitven,hem  to  yferc ; 
 That  on  herieth  wimcn  jr'  ben  hende^ 
 Tint  other  he  wald  fa  we  schendc ; 
 
 This  striif  ze  mow  yherc. 
 
 The  niztingale  hath  ynome, 
 To  spekc  for  wimen  atte  frome, 
 
 Of  schame  he  wald  hem  were  ; 
 The  thrustel  Cok  he  speketh  ay, 
 lie  seyt  hi  niztes,  and  hi  day, 
 
 That  thai  ben  fendes  fere. 
 
 For  thai  hi  traicn  eni  man, 
 That  mest  bileueth  hem  on, 
 
 Thri  thai  be  milde  of  chere ; 
 Thei  ben  fal«,  and  fikel  to  fo 
 !  wcrcheth  wo  in  cuerilond, 
 
 It  were  better  y*t  bye  DCTC 
 
 it.    Schame  it  is  to  blame  leuedi. 
 Foe  thai  ben  hende  of  curtail, 
 Y  rede  that  thou  lete  : 
 neuer  brechc  non  so  str 
 No  with  rizt  no  with  « 
 
 mizt  bctc. 
 
i6o 
 
 Y  sauzten  Jieno  that  ben  wrothe, 
 It  maktth  leuc  that  is  lothc, 
 
 With  gan-.e  men  schuld  hem  pett  \ 
 This  wavld  wer  nouzt  zif  wimc  nere, 
 ked  thai  ben  to  mannes  fere, 
 Nis  nothing  half  so  swete. 
 
 The  Thros.   I  may  wimen  heri  nouzt, 
 
 For  thai  ben  fills,  and  fikei  of  thouzt 
 So  me  is  don  to  understand; 
 
 Y  take  witnes  of  mani  and  Lie. 
 That  richc  were  of  worldes  vale, 
 
 And  fre  to  senden  hem  sond. 
 
 Thei  thai  ben  f:;ir  and  briztin  hewe, 
 Thai  ben  fals,  fikei,  ontrewe, 
 
 &  worchcth  wo  in  ich  lond  ; 
 King  Alisaunder  meneth  hi  of  hem, 
 In  the  world  nis  non  so  crafti  men., 
 
 No  non  so  riche  of  lond. 
 
 The  Nizt.   Thristel  Cok,  thou  art  wode, 
 Or  thou  canst  to  litel  gode, 
 Wimen  for  to  schende  ; 
 It  is  the  best  drurie, 
 And  meat  thai  cun  of  cum 
 Nis  nothing  al  so  hende. 
 
 Her  leue  is  swetter  y  wis, 
 Than  the  braunche  of  licoris, 
 
 Lofsum  thai  ben  and  hende  ; 
 Wcle  swetter  is  her  breth, 
 7  han  ani  milke  other  meth, 
 
 And  louelich  in  armes  to  w< 
 
 The  Tiros.  Niztir.gale,  thou  hast  wrong, 
 As  ich  finde  in  mi  song, 
 
 For  ich  hold  with  the  riz-.  ; 
 Y  take  witnesse  of  Wawain, 
 That  crist  zaf  mizt  &  main, 
 
 And  trcwest  was  cf  kni~t. 
 
i6| 
 
 co  wide  so  he  hadde  ridcn  ar 
 Fals  fond  he  neuer  non 
 
 Bi  day  no  bi  nizt : 
 Foule  for  thi  fals  mouthe, 
 Thine  sawes  schal  be  wide  couthe, 
 
 Alizt  whare  thou  lizt. 
 
 cfl£  Nizt.   Ic  haue  leue  to  alizt  here 
 In  orchard  &  in  erbere 
 
 FRAGMENT  II. 
 
 LAI  IN  PRAISE  OF  WOME 
 
 »        *         •         *         * 
 V  Bot  fals  men  make  her  fingres  feld, 
 
 And  doth  hem  wcpe  wcl  sore  to  rewe, 
 
 Her  res 
 Thurch  wroches  that  cr  untrewe, 
 Wimen  bene  holdcn  lcs. 
 
 Chosen  ttiai  be  to  manes  fere, 
 
 lizt  in  amies  for  to  wendc ; 
 Zif  ani  man  may  it  here, 
 
 Of  a  schrewe  yl  wil  wimen  schendc, 
 I  spake  for  hem  and  make  hem  skere, 
 
 And  say  that  thai  er  gode  and  hende  ; 
 When  thou  art  ded  and  leid  on  here, 
 
 Into  blis  thi  soulc  schal  wende, 
 
 '     . 
 
 He  was  born  of  wimen  kindc, 
 
 ous  bure  blody  side. 
 
 Dcr  worther  drouri  wot  y  non, 
 
 Than  woman  is  and  wi>c  ol   rede; 
 
 Gold  no  silucr  no  richc  ston, 
 Is  non  so  douhti  in  didc  ; 
 
 Thai  make  Willam,  Roberd,  and  Jon, 
 Jn  ioic  &  bus  he  k\t  to  lede ; 
 
x6z 
 
 That  elles  schuld  spille  flesche  and  bon, 
 
 And  ly  and  dwine  hem  selue  to  dede, 
 
 Thurch  pina : 
 Birddes  blisted  mot  ze  be, 
 
 For  loue  of  virgine. 
 
 Eizen  gray,  and  browes  brent, 
 
 That  bere  this  birddes  brizt  on  ble; 
 In  eueri  lond  ther  thai  be  lent, 
 
 Is  ful  of  mirthe  and  iciifte ; 
 It  is  a  sond  that  god  hath  sent, 
 
 In  erthe  to  gladi  man  with  gle  ; 
 Were  wimen  out  or  lond  ywent, 
 
 Al  our  bliss  were  brouzt  on  kne, 
 
 Wei  lawe  ; 
 Hou  schuld  men  ani  corn  repe, 
 
 Ther  no  sede  is  souwe. 
 
 Feir  and  swete  is  wimanes  viis, 
 
 The  man  that  wil  hem  wele  behold ; 
 White  and  rede  so  rose  on  riis, 
 
 Louely  lithe  her  here  yfold  ; 
 With  eize  for  heued  and  nose  tretus, 
 
 Al  bemes  thai  han  in  wold ; 
 For  loue  of  on  that  berth  the  priis, 
 
 Y  prais  hem  bpthe  zong  and  old, 
 
 Bidene ; 
 Whoso  Iocketh  hem  in  lore, 
 
 He  wretthes  hcuen  quene. 
 
 Gentelri  is  plaine  as  y  zou  telle, 
 
 In  wiman  it  springeth  in  ich  a  lizth ; 
 Thai  er  meke,  and  nothing  felle, 
 
 Hcnde  in  halle,  as  hauke  I  frizth  ; 
 He  shall  be  cursed  with  boke  and  belle, 
 
 That  ani  vilaine  mengeth  he  with, 
 To  rest  hem  in  the  pine  of  helle, 
 
 Ther  neuer  more  schal  be  no  gritb, 
 
 No  bote ; 
 Y  wold  rede  no  cursed  wroche, 
 
 Ozain  our  Icucdi  to  mote. 
 
 Harps, 
 
163 
 
 Harpe*   V\ofitbtl,  no  sautri, 
 
 Noither  with  eld,  no  with  zong, 
 Is  non  so  swete  to  sittcn  by, 
 
 As  wiman  ther  thai  speke  with  tor.g, 
 Her  speche  restcth  a  man  wel  ncy, 
 
 Bitvene  his  liuer  and  his  long ; 
 That  doth  his  hcrt  rise  on  «'  hie,  " 
 
 So  clot  that  lith  in  clay  y  clong, 
 
 Who  that  lucketh  wiman  in  lore, 
 Y  rede  he  do  no  more. 
 
 So  sore, 
 
 In  al  this  world  was  neur  no  clerk 
 
 Seththen  Adam  was  formed  and  Eue ; 
 No  man  that  wered  breches  no  scrk, 
 
 That  wimanes  vcrtu  couthe  screue. 
 Than  were  it  to  me  ful  derk, 
 
 A  thing  that  schuldest  min  hert  grcue, 
 For  to  ginne  swiche  a  wcrk, 
 
 That  neuer  man  no  mizt  in  cheue 
 
 To  thende. 
 Y  take  wittnes  at  our  leuedi, 
 
 That  wimen  cr  gode  &  hende. 
 
 King  and  emperour  and  kni/t, 
 
 Alle  thai  were  of  wiman  bore; 
 And  God  was  in  a  woman  lizt, 
 
 And  elles  were  alle  this  world  forlore ; 
 For  it  is  a  thing  that  bereth  rizt, 
 
 Atuix  the  crop  and  the  more  ; 
 Amid  the  tre  the  front  was  pizt, 
 
 That  Ihu  was  done  on  rode  fore, 
 
 To  win  re 
 
 Our  soules  out  of  hclle, 
 
 That  were  bounden  in  sinne. 
 
 l.uf  is  alle  in  woman  kft, 
 
 And  chosen  thai  be  for  triricr  in  tour  ; 
 Thenncs  tharf  hem  neuer  be  raft ; 
 
 Thai  oiay  thcr  line  with  grct  km 
 
1 64 
 
 In  a  chamber  of  leuely  craft ; 
 
 No  tharf  hem  dout  of  no  schour ; 
 Ozain  al  thing  wiman  schaft, 
 
 Of  alle  londes  thai  bere  the  flour, 
 
 As  oucr  alle  other  floures, 
 Rose  yrailed  on  riis. 
 
 Man  that  bar  god  al  mizt, 
 
 Help  nou,  Ich  haue  nede 
 For  wimanes  honour  to  fizt, 
 
 Hou  thai  er  hende  in  ich  a  dede  ; 
 Of  hem  it  springeth  day  and  nizt, 
 
 Swete  morseles  this  lord  to  fede; 
 Front  that  is  so  michel  omut, 
 
 Men  yarmed  stef  on  stede, 
 
 God  ziue  hem  ioie  and  blis, 
 And  liif  to  last  long. 
 
 Note  of  the  niztingale, 
 
 Y  >ett  at  nouzt  in  time  of  may; 
 No  other  foulcs  gret  &  smale, 
 
 That  sit  and  singen  her  lay ; 
 Ozaines  a  fotile  that  sit  in  sale, 
 
 With  outen  cage  cu  clad  in  say ; 
 Hir  no'e  absteth  mannes  bale, 
 
 Ther  nis  no  wizt  that  can  say  n3y 
 
 We  auzt  for  our  leuedi  loue, 
 Honour  wiman  zif  we  couthc. 
 
 &  priis  j 
 
 And  strsng 
 
 With  mouthe ; 
 
 Of  al  vertus  wiman  is  rote, 
 
 Say  no  man  nay  for  it  is  so ; 
 Of  al  bale  thai  be  bote, 
 
 To  help  a  man  of  vneouthe  wo, 
 Thai  beren  salues  that  ben  swote, 
 
 To  helc  me  and  other  mo  ; 
 To  n-ake  a  man  to  lepe  with  fot, 
 
 That  ere  was  sike  and  mizt  nouzt  go, 
 
 No  stoude; 
 
1 6s 
 
 Wiman  is  comfort  to  man, 
 To  bring  him  out  of  bond. 
 
 Pcrlis  priis  and  paruink, 
 
 Is  woman  viis  in  eni  plas; 
 No  may  ne  clerk  write  with  ink, 
 
 The  swetnesse  that  thai  han  in  face. 
 No  in  his  hert  him  bi  think, 
 
 Allehis  wittes  thei  he  chace; 
 Winaen  ther  thai  sit  on  benk, 
 
 Hou  mizti  thai  ere  &  ful  of  grace, 
 
 For  god  for  ous  in  a  wiman, 
 His  bigging  hath  y  bilt. 
 
 Quen  of  heuen  ich  am  thi  man, 
 
 In  crthe  to  speke  for  thine  ost ; 
 Helpe  mc  leuedi  for  y  no  can, 
 
 For  to  abate  the  wreche  bost ; 
 Hem  that  schende  gode  wiman, 
 
 That  ieie  of  hem  in  erthe  is  most ; 
 Al  our  blis  of  wimen  gan, 
 
 Swctc  leuedy  thou  it  wost, 
 
 Tor  thou  bar  that  ich  bcrn, 
 That  brouzt  ous  allc  to  blis. 
 
 Fulfill  ; 
 
 Y  wi», 
 
 Rose  no  no  hli  flour, 
 
 No  wodcrof  that  springeth  on  heth, 
 Is  non  so  swete  in  his  odour, 
 
 Forsothe  so  is  wimannes  breth  ; 
 Piment,  clare,  no  no  licoi'.r, 
 
 Milke,  perre,  no  no  mcth  ; 
 And  who  so  hucth  hem  with  honour, 
 
 No  dye  he  neuer  schamely  dcth, 
 
 jGr>d  lat  neuer  her  soulei, 
 For  non  sinncs  be  spilt. 
 
 Thurch  gilt 
 
 tf« 
 
i66 
 
 Spice  with  schip  in  time  of  pes, 
 
 That  com  sailand  out  of  the  southe  , 
 Rapeli  raikand  on  ares, 
 
 Ouer  the  se  that  ebbeth  and  flouth ; 
 Is  non  so  swete  in  his  reles, 
 
 So  is  a  cosse  of  worn  manes  mouthe, 
 For  priis  of  spices  ichir  chcs, 
 
 Most  of  vertu  and  nam  couthe ; 
 
 It  is  eueraliche  newe, 
 Both  lat  and  early. 
 
 Trewe  as  treacle  er  thai  to  fond, 
 
 Clere  of  colour  so  is  the  winne ; 
 Thai  ben  birddes  of  godes  sond, 
 
 Loueliche  to  leggcn  under  line; 
 Mani  and  fele  ther  ben  in  lond, 
 
 For  sothe  y  say  that  on  is  min, 
 Where  so  that  y  wake  or  stonde, 
 
 Y  wis  ichaue  a  mele  fin, 
 
 Lufsum  fair  and  hende, 
 Trewe  and  trusti  in  word. 
 
 Bontable  is  woman  nes  thouzt. 
 
 It  stiketh  ther  thai  han  it  sett ; 
 Thei  another  hir  hath  bi  souzt, 
 
 Sche  wil  held  that  sche  hath  hett ; 
 I  say  forsothc  hem  helpeth  nouzt, 
 
 No  schal  hem  neuer  be  the  bett ; 
 Bot  fals  werkes  that  men  han  wrouzt, 
 
 Maken  oft  her  leres  wet ; 
 
 Ther  a  woman  loue  is  sett 
 Loth  hir  is  to  lete. 
 
 Thei  a  schrewe  on  woman  lyze, 
 Hir  godenis  is  neuer  the  las ; 
 
 Zete  he  may  happen  ar  he  dye, 
 Thurch  tvelue  monthes  for  to  pas ; 
 
 For  why. 
 
 In  hord 
 
 Wei  wef:. 
 
 He 
 
167 
 
 Heize  on  galwes  his  mete  to  fi, 
 
 And  under  him  grese  bothe  ox  and  asse  ; 
 
 And  as  a  dogge  in  feld  to  ly, 
 Wolues  and  houndes  to  don  his  masse, 
 
 Bi  nut ; 
 
 For  we  auzt  for  our  leuedi  loue, 
 Hold  wiman  to  rizt. 
 
 Babnlon  is  a  lond  of  lede, 
 
 That  mani  man  hath  ben  inne  ; 
 Nouzt  al  the  minstrels  that  ben  kidde, 
 
 Out  of  that  lond  into  linne ; 
 With  harpe,  no  fithel,  sautri,  ther  midde, 
 
 Orgens  that  er  ioued  with  ginne, 
 No  mizt  nouzt  telle  half  the  gode  hede, 
 
 That  a  gode  woman  is  with  inne, 
 
 To  thende ; 
 Who  that  seit  wiman  schame, 
 
 Y  wis  he  is  vnkende. 
 •         *         »         * 
 
 These  veres  are  transcribed  from  the  Auchinleck  MS.,  a  collection 
 of  metrical  legends  and  romances,  in  the  Library  of  the  Faculty  of 
 Advocates,  where  it  is  catalogued  W.  4.  I.  The  beginning  of  the  first 
 Fragment  b  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Song  on  Spring,  Ritson's 
 Ancient  Songs,  p.  31.;  but  the  resemblance  soon  ceases.  In  the 
 eighth  verse,  there  seems  to  be  an  allusion  to  the  Romance  of  Alex- 
 ander, as  his  opinion  of  women  is  cited.  The  same  sentiment  is  ex- 
 pressed in  the  old  French  version  of  Secreta  Secketorum  Aristo- 
 TEtis.  u  Alexandre  nayes  la  fiance  en  oeutrcs  ne  en  faiz  de  femmes, 
 &  ne  croy  une  en  elks.  Mais  sc  nccc-sitc  est  <jue  faisc  le  tc  conuicne  a 
 la  foiz,  si  croy  en  celle  que  tu  auras  csprouec  amie  loyallc.  Car  (^lanc 
 femme  tetraillc  &  mainiknt,  soicz  certain  que  tu  cs  aussi  comme  vng 
 vcau  mis  en  sa  garde.     <  st  en  sa  main  ,  ct  fuy  1  -.  ■  11 
 
 mortclz.— Car  moult  grant  foison  de  princes,  de  rois,  o\ 
 en  ont  estx  honiz  ;  ct  ont  auanchic  leurs  jours  ct  leurs  mjrts  p  .1 
 malices  ct  cm;cmiueux  be 
 
 Sar»  Stereitr.  Aruttt.  mi. 
 
 y  >j 
 
i68 
 
 The  fiddle  is  one  of  the  musical  instruments  employed 
 at  the  celebration  of  Sir  Guy  of  Warwick's  marriage, 
 in  the  metrical  Romance  of  that  title. 
 u  Ther  was  trumpes  and  tabour, 
 Fithely  croivde,   &  harpour, 
 Her  craftes  for  to  kithe ; 
 Organisters  and  gode  stinours, 
 Minstrels  of  mouthe,  and  mani  dysours 
 
 To  glade  the  bernes  blithe. 
 Ther  nis  no  tong  may  telle  in  tale, 
 The  ioie  that  was  at  that  bridale, 
 
 With  menske  and  mirthe  ; 
 For  ther  was  al  maner  of  gle 
 That  hert  mizt  think  other  eyze  se, 
 As  ze  may  list  and  lithe.  "  x 
 This  instrument  is  likewise  mentioned  in  the  ancient 
 metrical  romance,  denominated  The  King  of  Tars, 
 "  Atte  his  bridale  was  noble  fest, 
 Riche  real  and  onest, 
 
 Doukes,  kinges  with  croun  ; 
 For  ther  was  melodi  with  the  mest, 
 Of  harpf  of  fithely  and  of  grest. 
 
 To  lordinges  of  renoun. 
 Ther  was  zeuen  to  the  menstrels* 
 Robes  riche  and  mani  iuwels, 
 
 Of  erl  and  of  baroun. 
 The  fest  lasted  fourtenizt, 
 With  mete  and  drinke  anouz  aplizt, 
 Plente  and  grete  fousoun.  "  * 
 This  instrument  seems  to  have  been  extremely  po- 
 pular among  the  citizens  of  Edinburgh,  at  the  period 
 in  which  the  Complaynt  was  written  ;  for,  a  few  years 
 
 afterwards, 
 
 *   Romance  of  Sir  Guy  of  Warwick,     his. 
 *  King  of  Tars,  ms. 
 
169 
 
 afterwards,  when  Mary  returned  from  France,  accord- 
 ing to  Brantome,  they  serenaded  her  with  a  concert 
 "  de  meschants  violons,  et  petits  rebecs.  " 
 
 The  £hihissil,  or  whistle,  is  the  popular  appellation 
 of  every  species  of  flute,  fife,  or  flageolet  *,  and  shep- 
 herd boys  display  their  dexterity  in  forming  them  of 
 very  different  substances,  from  the  perforated  elder,  to 
 the  green  willow  bough,  part  of  the  bark  of  which  is 
 skilfully  taken  off,  and  afterwards  superinduced,  when 
 the  ligneous  part  of  the  instrument  is  prepared. 
 
 The  lute  is  likewise  mentioned  in  the  Complaynt, 
 p.  100.  ;  and  seems  to  have  been  an  instrument  well 
 known  in  Scotland  at  this  period,  though  it  is  not  as- 
 signed to  the  shepherds.  At  the  marriage  of  James  IV, 
 that  Prince  is  recorded  to  have  played  before  his  bride 
 on  the  Clarychordes  and  Luet.  ■  It  is  mentioned  in 
 Holland's  Houlate,  who,  about  1450,  enumerates  a 
 great  variety  of  musical  instruments,  many  of  which 
 are  now  unknown. 
 
 "  All  thus  our  lady  yai  lofe  with  lyking  and  lift, 
 Menstralis  and  musicianis  mo  than  I  menc  may, 
 The  psaltery ,  the  citholisy  the  soft  at bar if /, 
 The  croiude,  and  ye  monycordis,  ye  gytbornis  gay, 
 The  rote  and  ye  recordour,  ye  ribus,  the  rift, 
 The  trump  and  ye  taburn,  ye  tympanc  but  tray, 
 The  lilt  pype  and  ye  lute,  the  cithill  znAfift, 
 The  Dulsate  and  ye  Dulsacordis,  ye  schalm  of  assay, 
 The  amyable  orgauis  usit  full  oft, 
 Clarions  loud  knellis, 
 Portatibis  and  bellis, 
 Symbacclanis  in  ye  cellis 
 Yat  sounds  m>  4t  soft.  "  * 
 
 *  Leland's  Collect.  App.  III.  p.  184.     1770. 
 
 *  Holland's  Houlate,  ap.  Banuatyuc  mi.     f.  jot. 
 
ifi 
 
 The  Lute  is  likewise  mentioned  by  Douglas  in  the  Ma- 
 lice of  Honour. 
 
 "  In  modulation  hard  I  play  and  sing, 
 
 Taburdoun,  pricksang,  discant,  countering, 
 Cant  organe,  figuratioun,  and  gemmell ; 
 On  croud,  lute,  harpe,  with  monie  gudlie  spring  ;• 
 Schalmes,  clariounis,  portativis,   hard  I  ring, 
 
 Monycord,  organe,  tympane  and  cymbell  ,• 
 Sytholl,  psalterie,  and  voices  sweet  as  bell, 
 Soft  releschingis  in  dulce  deliuering, 
 
 Fractionis  diuide,  at  rest,  or  clois,  compell.  "  7 
 Many  of  the  instruments  enumerated  in  the  two 
 last  quotations,  seem  never  to  have  been  popular  in 
 Scotland ;  they  were  probably  confined  to  amateurs  of 
 the  higher  classes,  and  the  Clergy,  for  the  instruction 
 of  whom  in  the  science  of  music,  an  institution  was 
 formed  at  Stirling  by  James  I. 
 
 The  philosophical  dissertation  of  the  shepherd,  com- 
 mences with  an  encomium  on  the  pastoral  life,  which 
 he  asserts  "  was  of  an  excellent  reputatione  in  thai  days 
 quhen  the  goldin  varld  rang.  "  Remote  from  the  in- 
 fection of  the  atmosphere,  and  the  corruption  of  cities, 
 the  shepherds  inhale  the  temperate  air  of  the  fragrant 
 fields.  Free  from  the  perturbation  of  malevolent  pas- 
 sion, the  serenity  of  their  mind  is  adapted  to  profound 
 speculation ;  and  accordingly,  they  are  represented  as  the 
 original  discoverers  of  the  Circles  and  Revolutions  of  the 
 spheres,  of  all  the  secrets  of  "  astronomye,  phisic,  and 
 natural  philosophic  "  This  is  no  representation  of 
 real  life  •,  it  is  the  fairy  dream  of  the  golden  age.  The 
 shepherds  of  the  Complaynt  may  almost  rival  the  Bra- 
 mins  of  Palladius,  who  are  represented  as  reposing  se- 
 renely 
 »   Palicc  of  Honour,  Part  I.  St.  4*. 
 
i7l 
 
 redely  on  leaves,  and  meditating  in  a  shady  forest, 
 bibing  the  water  of  temperance  from  a  pure  fountain, 
 the  breast  of  nature ;  and  feeding  on  the  curd  of 
 pressed  milk,  which  increases  the  purity  of  the  mind.  l 
 The  system  of  philosophy  detailed  by  the  shepherd,  is 
 the  Aristotelian,  which  is  like  wise  adopted  by  Go 
 and  Lindsay.  In  Lindsay's  Monarchy,  philosophical 
 observations  are  only  incidentally  mentioned :  In  Gower, 
 a  rapid  view  of  natural  philosophy  is  introduced,  with 
 great  propriety,  as  delivered  by  Aristotle  to  his  pu- 
 pil Alexander.  The  origin  of  the  sciences  of  Astro- 
 nomy, Cosmography,  Ctography,  and  Topography,  is 
 deduced  from  the  Oriental  legend  of  the  pillars  of  Seth, 
 preserved  by  Josephus.  This  fiction,  which  seems  to 
 have  been  derived  from  the  Egyptians,  and  probably 
 had  no  other  signification,  than  that  the  hieroglyj 
 columns  of  that  nation  are  inscribed  with  celestial  ob- 
 servations, was  equally  adopted  by  the  Jewish,  Ara- 
 bian, and  Christian  authors  of  the  middle  ages.  Mur- 
 tadi,  d  1  from  the  Arabs  of  Egypt,  and  acq\ 
 
 ed  with  the  native  traditions  of  the   country, 
 the  origin  cf  the  pyramid^  to  the  desire  of  the  ar. 
 Egyptians  to  preserve  their  occult  sciences  during 
 Deluge,  by  inscribing  them  on  the  interior   walls  of 
 these   prodigious   structures.  }       L 
 authors  of   the    middle  ages,  has  adopted   the   i 
 of  the  pillars  formed   "  to  '.  iter  or  for 
 
 leucn.  " 
 
 "   And  for  that  Adam  did  pr* 
 
 1     riAAAAAlOT    tarffi    tu»    Tpa>u 
 *  Gowcr's  Confcsbio  Amanti?,    I.  ". 
 3   Ml  Davics  of 
 
 1678,  p.  31. 
 
"With  water  ones,  and  stande.  in  jeopardy  -, 
 Next  with  fire  which  no  man  might  flee  : 
 But  Seth's  children,  which  all  this  did  see, 
 Made  two  pyllers  where  men  might  graue, 
 From  fire  and  water  the  charets  for  to  saue. 
 
 That  one  was  made  of  tyles  harde  ybake, 
 Fro  touche  of  fire  to  saue  the  scripture  -, 
 
 Of  harde  marble  they  did  another  make, 
 Against  water  strongly  to  endure, 
 To  saue  of  letters  the  prynt  and  the  figure  ; 
 
 For  their  cunnyng  afore  gan  so  prouide, 
 
 Agayne  fire  and  water  perpetually  to  abyde.  "  ■ 
 
 Higden,  who  relates  that  the  books  of  Seth  were  in- 
 closed within  two  pillars,  adds,  "  Men  sayth  that  the 
 pyler  of  stone  escaped  the  floode,  and  yet  it  is  in  Sy- 
 rya.  "  * 
 
 An  enumeration  of  the  obsolete  topics  of  the  Aristo- 
 telian philosophy  discussed  in  the  Complaynt,  is  unne- 
 cessary *,  they  are  the  same  which  occur  in  every  com- 
 pend  of  that  philosophical  system  :  more  concisely  ex- 
 pressed, however,  and  better  arranged,  than  in  the  me- 
 trical philosophy  of  Gower.  Like  Gower,  the  author 
 of  the  Complaynt,  in  various  places,  inculcates  the 
 truth  of  judicial  astrology,  and  the  influence  of  the 
 constellations  on  human  affairs.  "  Doubtles,"  says  he, 
 "  man,  beast,  and  all  other  thing  that  ever  was  procre- 
 ated on  the  earth,  are  subject  to  their  operation,  and 
 receive  alteration  from  their  influence.  "  He  does  not, 
 how  »er,  assert  their  influence  to  be  irresistible,  but 
 exhorts  mankind,  by  virtue,  to  resist  their  malignant 
 
 conjunctions. 
 
 1    Lydgate's  Bochas.  f.  51.     1561. 
 
 a  Ranulf  s  Polychronicon,  f.  59.     I49J. 
 
*73 
 
 conjunctions.  In  the  middle  age9,  the  study  of  Astro- 
 logy was  constantly  united  with  astronomical  pursuits  ; 
 and  this  is  probably  the  true  reason  why  so  abstru 
 study  as  that  of  Astronomy  was  prosecuted  with  so 
 much  avidity,  when  other  scientific  pursuits  were  ne- 
 glected. Gower,  with  great  accuracy,  defines  the  ob- 
 jects of  these  kindred  sciences, 
 
 "  Astronomie  is  the  science 
 
 Of  wisedome  and  of  high  conninge, 
 Which  maketh  a  man  knowleching 
 Of  sterres  in  the  firmament, 
 Figure,  circle,  and  mouement, 
 Of  eche  of  hem  in  sondrie  place  •, 
 And  what  betwene  hem  is  of  space, 
 Howe  so  they  moue  or  stonde  fast ; 
 All  this  it  telleth  to  the  last. 
 Assembled  with  astronomic, 
 Is  eke  that  ilke  astrologie, 
 
 whiche  in  iudgement  accounteth, 
 The  erTecte  what  euery  sterre  amountcth, 
 And  howe  they  rausen  many  a  wonder 
 To  the  climates  that  stond  hem  under.  "  ' 
 Sometimes,  however,  Astrology  has  a  more  extensive 
 and  abstruse   signification.     By  a   species   of  m\ 
 philosophy,  current  among  Jews,  Christians,  and  Ma- 
 hometans, in  the  dark  ages,  the  body  of  man   is   sup- 
 posed to  be   formed   of  certain   elementary   principles 
 corresponding  to  the  primary  elements   of  nature,  and 
 regulated  by  To   these  material   princi- 
 
 ples, the  powers  of  his  mind   again  correspond.     The 
 Celestial  and   I  o(  nature,  the  Structure 
 
 of  the  human  body,  and  the  faculties  of  the  soul,  are 
 
 z  .fore, 
 
 ■   Cowcr'a  Confcssio  A  mantis,  f.  144 
 
174 
 
 therefore,  according  to  this  philosophy,  mutually  em-* 
 bicmatical  of  each  other.  According  to  this  system, 
 "  the  subject  of  Astrology  is  twofold,  the  Macrocosme, 
 and  Mlcrocosme ;  or  the  greater  and  lesser  worlds  : 
 The  greater  world,  is  this  same  fabric,  great  house, 
 or  huge  tabernacle,  in  which  we  all  dwell  and  live  ; 
 which  consists  of  the  four  elements,  fire,  air,  water, 
 earth  ;  and  heaven  :  and  is  twofold  ;  risible  as  to  its 
 body,  and  invisible  as  to  its  soul  and  spirit.  The  les- 
 ser world  is  man,  the  son,  and  offspring  of  the  greater 
 world,  as  being  one  extract  composed  of  the  whole 
 great  world  •,  who  likewise  is  twofold  ;  outward  and 
 visible  as  to  his  body  ;  inward  and  invisible  as  to  his 
 soul  and  spirit.  ''  The  object  of  Astrology  is  to  un- 
 fold "  these  abstruse,  inward,  and  invisible  powers 
 that  lye  hid  under  the  outward,  corporeal,  and  visible 
 things  of  nature  :  as,  What  the  first  matter  may  be,  of 
 which  the  world  was  made  ?  What  are  the  elements, 
 and  the  things  made  out  of  them,  that  have  their  being, 
 likewise,  in  them  ?  What  is  their  creation,  essence, 
 nature,  property,  and  operation  or  effects,  inward  and 
 outward  ?  What  the  various  powers  and  virtues  are 
 in  the  stars  cf  heaven  ?  What,  and  how  they  operate  ? 
 What  secret  virtues  lye  hid  in  the  fowls,  in  the  fishes, 
 in  metals,  minerals  and  gemmes  ?  What  in  every 
 species  of  herbs,  plants,  and  vegetables  ?  What  in 
 the  animals,  beasts,  and  reptiles,  through  the  whole  fa- 
 brick  of  the  world  ?  And,  lastly,  What  that  mass  of 
 dust  or  slime  may  be,  of  which  the  body  of  Adam  was 
 made  ?  From  whence  received  he  his  soul,  and  what 
 it  is  *,  and  whence  had  he  his  spirit,  and  what  likwise 
 it  was  ?  l     The  popular  belief  in  Astrology,  or  p/anet- 
 
 castingy 
 *   Astrology  Theclceizcd,  ms.  penes  me. 
 
*75 
 
 casfifig,  is  hardly   extinct  in   the   south   or   Scotland  ; 
 and  many  of  the   popular   stories  still   hinge    upon   it. 
 To  this  study,  the  Moss  troopers  of  the  marches 
 peculiarly  addicted  ;  and  many  of  the  ch; 
 
 i  they  endeavoured  to  counteract  the  ma- 
 lignant influence  of  their   91  _ed   at  a   ver 
 period. 
 
 The  popular  arguments  by  wl  author  of  the 
 
 ■Complaynt   endeavours    to    demonstrate   the    spherical 
 form  nth,  and  the  existence  of  Antipodes 
 
 curious   and   chara  of   the   age.     In   Tre 
 
 translation   of  Higden's  Polyehronicon, 
 of  Antipodes  is   strenuously   denied,  in   conformity  to 
 the  orthodox  taste  of  the  time.     "  Touchynge   i 
 podes  that  men  speketh  of,  and   syngeth   that  they  be 
 men  in  the  other  syde  of  the  erthe,  and  theyr  fete  to- 
 warde  oures,  and  theyr  hede   yondev.  ,d   treden 
 
 hyderwird  ;  that  may  be   trowed   by  nO  reason  ;  there 
 is  no  storye  that  maketh  us  haue  kii  but  onely 
 
 essyng   of    mankynde,    such    a    tale    is    foi 
 Thoughe  the  !1   about,  and  som  dele 
 
 hangynge  wit'  downesse   of  heuen,  nethclesse 
 
 the  erthe  is  not  bare  in  that  syde,  fo  ed  & 
 
 closed  within  t!  r;  and  thoughe  it  ire  8c 
 
 not  so  closed,  yet  foloweth  not  that  men  sholdc  dwelle 
 there.  "  ■     The  popular  opinion,  which,  in  every  na- 
 tion, originally  represents  the  earth 
 seems  frequently   to  have   confounded   the   . 
 or  under   ground 
 
 ions  of  the  North*  rn  . 
 Litcd  ^s  of  mountains.      I 
 
 fy 
 
 Ranulf  s  Polychronicon,   f.  59      1495. 
 
i76 
 
 ty  with  this  idea,  Gervase  of  Tilbury,  discussing  the 
 subject  of  the  Antipodes,  in  his  Otia  Imperialia,  re- 
 lates the  story  of  a  swineherd  in  England,  who  descend- 
 ed through  a  cavern  named  Bech,  till  he  reached  a  po- 
 pulous region,  illuminated  with  the  sun,  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  which  were  engaged  in  the  labours  of  harvest, 
 though  the  surface  of  the  earth  was  covered  with 
 snow.  x  The  incredulity  of  a  credulous  age  concern- 
 ing the  Antipodes,  gave  oiigin  to  an  ingenious  sati- 
 rical apologue  of  an  ancient  German  author,  beautifully- 
 translated  in  Herder's  Scattered  Leaves.  The  Anti- 
 podes are  represented  as  adorned  with  every  virtue  ; 
 and  this  circumstance  is  the  cause  of  the  incredulity 
 of  a  vicious  age. 
 
 After  the  pastoral  scene,  a  botanical  one  is  present- 
 ed. The  attention  of  the  author,  as  he  traverses  "  anc 
 onmauen "  meadow,  is  suddenly  attracted  by  the  va- 
 riety of  flowers,  grasses,  and  medicinal  herbs  •,  and  he 
 pauses  to  notice  their  pharmaceutical  properties.  The 
 medical  virtues  of  plants  were  supposed  to  be  closely  con- 
 nected with  the  influence  of  the  celestial  constellations  •, 
 and  consequently  the  study  of  Pharmacy,  in  the  mid- 
 dle ages,  was  only  an  appendage  of  judicial  Astrology. 
 Certain  stars  were  supposed  to  preside  over  certain  mi- 
 nerals and  plants,  which  corresponded,  in  virtue,  to 
 the  qualities  of  the  star.  To  use  the  expressions  of 
 Gower, 
 
 "  And  sondrily  to  euerichone, 
 A  gras  belongeth,  and  a  stone  ; 
 Wherof  men  worchen  many  a  wonder, 
 To  set  thynge  both  up  and  under.  "  * 
 
 Thus, 
 
 *  Otia  Tmperialia,  ap.  Scriptor.  rer.  Brunsvic.  vol.  I.  p.  979- 
 
 *  Gower's  Confessio  Amantis,  f.  148. 
 
*77 
 
 Thus,  the  herb  Fenell,  the  finkil  of  the  Complaynt, 
 corresponds  to  the  Chrtstal,  and  is  assigned  to  the 
 star  Clota  or  Pliades  by  Gower ;  the  "  Celidone 
 fresshe  and  grene,  "  corresponds  to  the  stone  Gorgon- 
 za,  and  is  under  the  domination  of  the  star  Ariall. 
 In  the  Complaynt,  the  leaves  of  the  olive,  poplar,  and 
 osier,  are  discoloured  by  the  operation  of  the  stars  ; 
 and  trie  Helytropium  or  sun-flower,  which  at  that  pe- 
 riod seems  to  have  been  denominated,  among  the  pea- 
 sants, by  the  French  appellation  Soucye,  opens  and 
 shuts  its  leaves  by  the  influence  of  the  sun.  Most  of 
 the  medical  properties  of  the  simples  mentioned  in  the 
 Complaynt,  are  attributed  to  them,  in  the  common  phar- 
 macopoeias of  that  or  rather  books  of  medical 
 receipts.  The  pharmac  ledge  of  the  mid- 
 dle ages  was  chiefly  derived  from  the  Arabian  and 
 h  Physicians,  of  whose  opinions,  especially  con- 
 cerning the  medical  virtues  of  simples,  the  Liber  Sera- 
 pionis,  a  compilation  from  Arabic  writers,  exhibits  a 
 sort  of  compend.  A  similar  work  to  this,  is  that  of 
 Constantinus  Monachus  Cassinei  ,  pre- 
 served, like  the  former  treatise,  in  MS.,  in  the  Library 
 of  the  Fatuity  of  Advocates.  It  is  not,  however,  to 
 ed,  that  the  barbarous  verses  of  Macer  de 
 Virtutibus  Herbarum,  or  the  llortulus  of  Strabus,  a 
 monk  of  Fulda,  w€  I  ;  which  enumerate  al- 
 most ail  the  plants  mei  i  the  Complaynt,  and 
 frequently  ascribe  to  t:.  among  a 
 multitude  of  others,  «  I  ry  to 
 each  other.  Macer  m  ....  it y  of  the 
 herb  fennel, 
 
 "  Tradunt  authores,  ejus  juvenesccre  gust u 
 Serpentes,  et  ob  hoc  senibus  pi\ 
 
 J   Macer  dc  Focniculo,  Ensiles,     j 
 
Before  Cowley  wrote  his  verses  "  De  Plantls,  "  a  work 
 of  considerable  elegance  and  poetical  merit,  had  been 
 composed,  on  the  same  subject,  by  Mark  Alexander 
 Boyd,  which  deserves  to  be  inserted  in  any  future  edi- 
 tion of  the  Deliciae  Poetarum  Scotorum.  This  author 
 has  combined  the  mythological  history  of  plants  with 
 their  description ;  but  seldom  alludes  to  their  medical 
 qualities.  The  titles  of  his  poems  are,  i.  Rosa; 
 2.  Viola  ;  3.  Lilium ;  4.  Hyacinthus  ;  5.  Papaver  ; 
 6.  Petilius  ;  7.  Nardus  ;  8.  Thymbra  ;  9.  Linum  ; 
 10.  Calendula  •,  11.  Iris  ;  12.  Crocus.  l  On  the  sub- 
 ject of  Calendula,  there  is  an  allegorical  poem,  which 
 occasionally  exhibits  strength  of  description,  and  con- 
 tains some  poetical  passages,  though  the  versification  is 
 generally  harsh  and  unmusical.     It  thus  commences  : 
 
 "  My  Herball  booke,  in  Folio,  I  vnfold, 
 
 I  pipe  of  plants,  I  sing  of  sommer  flowers ; 
 But  chiefly  on  the  mayden  Marygold, 
 
 And  of  the  Daisie,  both  braue  Belamours  ; 
 Trophies  for  kings,  imprese  for  emperours, 
 Garlands  to  beare  upon  the  braue  ensignes 
 Of  knights,  of  peeres,  of  princely  Palladines. 
 
 Then,  Flora,  come,  thou  florishing  fair  queen, 
 Oh  child  of  Maia,  thou  must  be  my  muse, 
 
 To  gird  my  temples  with  thy  gawdy  grene, 
 And  with  my  fuming  flowers  my  front  infuse, 
 With  roses,  paunsyes,  pinkes,  as  poets  use, 
 
 With  laurer  bay,  and  Baucis  neuer  old, 
 
 For  to  attend  my  virgin  Marygold.  "  * 
 
 In  the  third  division  of  the  Complaynt,  which  may- 
 be denominated  the  "  Dream  of  the  Author, "  he  re- 
 turns 
 
 «  Mark  Alexander  Boyd's  mss.  A.  7.  12. 
 *  T,  Cutwode's  Caltha  Poetarum. 
 
i79 
 
 turns  from  the  descriptive  sketches  of  the  Monologue, 
 to  the  proper  subject  of  die  work,  the  pathetic  deline- 
 ation-of  the  miseries  of  his  country,  and  the  method 
 in  which  these  might  be  alleviated.  The  Dream  com- 
 mences with  the  allegorical  representation  of  Dame 
 Scotia  and  her  three  sons,  Nobility,  Clergy,  and  Com- 
 mons. Though  these  characters  are  delineated  in  the 
 best  manner  of  the  author,  some  traces  of  that  incon- 
 sistency which  generally  accompanies  the  personifica- 
 tion of  a  collective  body,  occasionally  attaches  to  them. 
 There  are  certain  habits,  which  are  characteristic  of  a 
 body  of  men  in  their  collective  capacity,  which  are  not 
 competent  for  an  individual  to  assume.  The  vestiges  of 
 individual  existence,  therefore,  and  the  trivial  occupa- 
 tions which  are  not  characteristic  of  a  particular  class, 
 sometimes  intermingle  with  the  grand  general  qualities  by 
 which  the  allegorical  personage  is  distinguished.  Sco- 
 tia is  represented  as  a  lady  of  noble  extraction,  in  deep 
 affliction  •,  her  golden  hair  disordered  and  dishevelled  y 
 her  golden  crown  tottering  on  her  head.  The  red 
 lion,  blazoned   on  a   field   of  gold  bordered  with  the 
 
 r?e  fifty  appears  wounded  on  her  shield  ;  and  her 
 mantle  is  jo  rent  and  torn,  that  the  various  d< 
 by  which  it  is  adorned  are  almost  crazed.  The  mantle 
 is  blazoned  with  figures  of  different  kinds.  On  the 
 upper  border,  are  embroidered  weapons,  and  accoutre- 
 ments of  war,  characteristic  of  Nobility  ;  on  the  mid- 
 dle, characters,  books  and  figures,  emblematic  of  the 
 occupations  of  the  Clergy  ;   while,  on  the  lower  border, 
 
 presented  various  figures  emblematic  of  hi 
 traffic,  and  mechanical  arts,  in  allusion  to  the  1 
 occupations  of  the  Commons.    At  the  period  when  H<  - 
 i.  Idiv  flourished,  an  emblematic   m.mtlc   of  tl 
 
 attr;' 
 
I$6 
 
 attributed  to  an  allegorical  personage,  would  neither  ap- 
 pear quaint  nor  affected  :  on  the  contrary,  such  charac- 
 ters were  frequently  represented  in  the  Masques  and  Pa- 
 geants of  the  time.  The  ignorance  of  the  allegorical 
 personage  who  represents  the  Clergy,  is  admirably 
 pourtrayed  by  a  single  characteristic  trait.  He  is  de- 
 scribed as  clothed  in  a  long  gown,  sitting  in  a  chair, 
 with  an  aspect  of  great  gravity,  holding  in  his  hand  a 
 book,  "  the  glaspis  of  which  are  fast  lokkyt  with 
 rouste.  "  Scotia  vehemently  expostulates  with  her 
 three  sons,  whose  mutual  divisions  and  discords  had 
 produced  their  mutual  disasters  ;  inveighs,  in  a  severe 
 and  acrimonious  tone,  against  the  cruelty  and  perfidy 
 of  the  English  ;  corroborates  her  assertions,  by  exam- 
 ples drawn  from  history  ;  stigmatizes  domestic  treach- 
 ery ;  and  exhorts  to  unanimity  in  repelling  the  hostili- 
 ties of  their  "  aid  enemeis,  "  which  she  declares  will 
 be  "  ane  mair  auful  scurge,  nor  that  the  realme  of 
 France  and  the  Empire  hed  tane  querrel  contrar  Ing-r 
 land.  "  To  this  severe  objurgation,  the  third  son  re- 
 plies, by  accusing  his  two  elder  brethren  of  pride,  op- 
 pression, and  cruelty,  and  objects  their  vices,  in  vin- 
 dication of  his  own  conduct.  Dame  Scotia  refuses  to 
 admit  this  vindication,  and  addresses  her  three  sons 
 successively,  in  a  series  of  severe  admonitions,  in  which 
 she  censures  their  particular  vices  ;  exposes  their  pecu- 
 liar crimes  •,  reiterates  warmly  her  exhortations  to  un- 
 animity ;  and  endeavours  to  inflame  them  against  the 
 common  enemy,  by  a  recapitulation  of  the  injuries  they 
 had  sustained.  Such  is  the  outline  of  that  part  of  the 
 work,  which  may  be  properly  denominated  the  Com- 
 playnt  of  Scotland.  It  exhibits  many  curious  indica- 
 tions of  the  state  of  factions,  and  of  the  mutual  acri- 
 mony 
 
i8i 
 
 mony  of  the  two  nations  ;  it  presents  many  character- 
 istic traits  of  domestic  manners,  and  contains  some  al- 
 lusions to  historical  facts.  But  these  historical  allu- 
 sions seldom  relate  to  either  Scotland  or  England; 
 they  almost  constantly  refer  to  Greece  and  Rome. 
 Though  the  author  appears  occasionally  to  have  had  re- 
 course to  the  compendious  Chronicles  or  Systems  of  e- 
 vents,  which  were  so  common  at  this  period,  the  re- 
 ferences to  the  Latin  classics,  at  least,  are  stated  with 
 correctness  and  precision.  Before  this  period,  Douglas 
 had  executed  his  translation  of  Virgil,  and  Ballantyne  his 
 version  of  the  five  books  of  Livy.  From  this  inedited 
 version,  I  transcribe  the  two  following  citations,  which 
 may  be  compared  with  the  parallel  passages  of  the 
 Complaynt,  (p.  145.  &  205.)  where  the  same  facts  are 
 narrated.  The  first,  is  the  history  of  Sextus  Tarqui- 
 nius  ;  the  second,  the  condemnation  of  the  sons  of 
 the  elder  Brutus,  by  their  father. 
 
 "  Quhen  he  saw  his  power  sufficient  to  every  pur- 
 pois  and  aventure  yat  my  fall,  he  send  ane  of  his  fa- 
 miliaris  to  inquire  at  his  fader  in  rome  quhat  he  desirit 
 him  to  do,  for  ye  goddis  has  shewn  to  him  sic  favoure, 
 yat  he  may  do  allane  all  thingis  yat  he  list  in  ye  ciete 
 of  gabyius.  King  tarquyne  gaif  na  answere  be  his 
 wordis  to  yis  messinger ;  ffor  he  traistit  him  (as  I  be- 
 lieve) nocht  faithfull,  and  for  yat  causs,  wald  no'  op- 
 pin  his  mynde  to  him.     No'yeles  he  enterit  with   yis 
 
 •  nger  in  ane  quiet  garding,  apperandlie  as  he  had 
 
 richt  pensive  and  musing   in  his   mynde   of  sum 
 
 hie  materis,  ay  gangand  up  and  doun   ye   said  garding 
 
 but  ony  wourdis,  and  in  ye  mene   tymc,  he   straik   of 
 
 ye  hedis  of  thech<  sbollis,  ay  quharc  yai  war  hicsr,  with 
 
 lub.     Th  1  ye  abiding  &  desiring  hi, 
 
 2  a 
 
I&2 
 
 deliuerancc,  v,  '    .hit  and   wery,  yat  he  return:; 
 
 to  gabios  but  ony  ansuere,  and  schew  to  tarqnius  sex- 
 tus  all  ye  behauingis  and  contenance  (as  he  saw)  of  his 
 fader,  and  how  his  fader  list  nocht  douze  to  speik 
 with  him,  uncertaine  quheyr  ye  samyn  was  throw  ire 
 or  haterent  yat  he  bure  aganis  his  son,  or  gif  it  was 
 throw  his  insolent  pride.  Sextus  tarqnius  knawing 
 weill  be  his  hed  coiecturaciounis  quhat  his  fader  desirit 
 him  to  do,  began  to  accuse  sindrie  of  ye  maist  nobil 
 of  gabios  for  certaine  crimes  be  yame  comittit  aganis 
 yare  ciete,  and  in  ye  mene  tyme  slew  ane  part  of  yame 
 as  convickit  afore  ye  pepill,  and  utheris  slew  be  occa- 
 sioun  made  aganis  yame  be  invie  and  partialite  of  par- 
 tie.  Mony  utheris  war  slaine  opinlie  be  vane  occasi- 
 oun.  Utheris  quhar  na  crymes  nor  occasioun  nor  fait 
 mycht  be  gottin  war  slane  quietlie  out  of  ye  ciete,  and 
 utheris  war  banist  aganis  yare  wil  ;  and  schortlie  all  ye 
 guds  of  yame  quhilks  war  owther  slane  or  absent,  was 
 dividit  amang  ye  comoun  pepill,  throw  quhilk  ye  said 
 pepill  war  sa  tane  with  ye  sweitnes  of  ye  estaitis  and 
 guds  falling  to  yame  be  ychand  slauchter  of  yare  no- 
 billis,  yat  yai  war  blindit,  and  my  no1  knaw  ye  haisty 
 damage  cumyn-  to  yare  comoun  wele,  quhil  at  last  yare 
 ciete  was  sa  destitut  and  nakit  of  wisdome,  gud  coun- 
 sel and  support,  yat  it  was  made  ane  facil  pray.  — 
 
 Quhen  ye  gudis  of  terquynis  war  confiscate  and 
 delt  amang  ye  pepill,  as  said  is.  The  zoung  nobillis  for 
 yare  tressoun  committit  war  adiugit  to  ye  deith,  2nd 
 war  ye  mare  opinlie  punyst  yat  brutus  was  decernit  be 
 ye  faderis  to  punys  ye  tressoun  of  his  aune  sonnys. 
 And  yocht  Brutus,  be  faderlie  piete,  suld  haue  bene 
 removit  fra  ye  sicht  of  ony  punycioun  made  on  his 
 sonnys,  zit  fortoun  gaif  to  him  sa  excellent  fortitude, 
 
 yat 
 
be  was  ye  principall  punissair  of  thare  ofTens.  The 
 nobill  children  stude  bundin  at  ane  staik,  amang  quham 
 was  thus  and  tyberius  ye  sonnys   of  br  be  pe- 
 
 pill  beheld  litil  ye  remanent  conspiratouris,  bot  I 
 vare  ene  alanerlie  to  behald  thir  sonnys  of  Drutu-, 
 had  na  les  miseracioun   of  vare  punycio;  of  ye 
 
 tressoun  be  yame  comrnittit  be  quhilk  yai  justelie  de- 
 seruit  yare  dcith.  The  pepill  had  grete  wound ir  quhat 
 suld  haue  movit  yir  sonnys.  of  Brutus  to  haue  icUiderit 
 sa  tressonably  yare  natiue  cuntre  recentlie  recoverit. 
 Thare  fader  Brutus,  ye  deliuerare   of  he  fa- 
 
 dcris  yameself  and  tuery  vthir  thm^i-  to  the 
 
 Romane  goddis  and  pepill,  in   to   ye   handis  of  lucius 
 Tarquyne,  sum  tyme  king,   bot  yan  exiid  acid 
 to  yare  public  weil  ;  considering  ye   dignite   consiilare 
 began  be  ye  hous  of  Junius.     Als  sone   as  ye  faderis 
 war  ordourit  in  yare  set  burreouris  come  to  pu- 
 
 nys   yir   c  ,    and  quhen  ye   i  :ouris 
 
 had  scurgit  yame  with  wandis,  yai  straik  of  yare  hedis 
 with  ane  ax.    The  fader  Br.. 
 
 ..11  punycioun  maid  on  his  sonnys,   be: 
 derlie  piete  bchcid  ye  punyciei;:.  ,  and 
 
 ye  remanent  coj  uris  on  y  ier   as  yai 
 
 ruit,  yat  he  mycht  be  yaredirow,  ane  notabil 
 cxempill  baith  of  piete  nee  for  punycioun  of 
 
 all  offence  comrnittit.     The 
 
 trde  to  be  ge- 
 vin  of  ye  comoun  gudc   to  yis  senrandi*  iit  ye 
 
 tressoun,  and  n 
 maid  him  i  Lome.  ■ 
 
 I   ij  The 
 
 1    Ballantyne,  \\!>.o  was  a  p 
 to  this  vcrsi.-j.-  |        ^$  wcil   as   to   his   translate 
 
 • 
 
1 84 
 
 -  The   allusions   in   the   Complaynt   to   the  Scotish 
 history,    are   not   numerous,   and  refer  either  to   the 
 
 exterminating 
 
 Boethius.    It  presents  that  able  monarch  James  V.  in  the  amiable  light 
 of  a  patron  of  our  native  literature. 
 
 *'  Here  begynnys  the  Proloug,  apoun  ye  traductioun  of  Titus  Li- 
 Vius,  be  maister  Johnne  Ballantyne,  Archden  of  Murray. 
 
 Armipotent  lady  Bellona  serene, 
 
 Goddes  of  wisdome  and  jcoperdyis  of  were, 
 
 Sister  of  Mars  and  ledarc  of  his  rene, 
 And  of  his  batallis  awfull  messingeir, 
 Thy  werelyke  trumpett  thoundcr  in  myne  ere, 
 
 The  horribill  battellis  and  yffbludy  harmes, 
 
 To  write  of  Romanis,  ye  nobil  men  of  amies. 
 
 And  bricht  Appollo  with  ye  cours  eterne, 
 That  makis  ye  frutes  spring  on  euery  ground, 
 
 And  with  ye  mychty  influence  dois  governe 
 The  twynkland  sternes  about  ye  mappamound,, 
 Thy  fyry  visage  on  my  vers  difFound, 
 
 And  quykin  ye  spretis  of  my  dull  ingyne, 
 
 With  rutiland  bemes  of  ye  low  dyvine. 
 
 And  ze  my  souerane  be  lyne  continewall, 
 Ay  cum  of  kingis  zour  progenitouris, 
 
 And  writis  in  ornate  stile  poeticall, 
 
 Quick  flowand  vers  of  rethorik  cullouris 
 Sa  freschlie  springand  in  zouie  lusty  flouri?, 
 
 To  ye  grete  comfoitc  of  all  trew  Scottismen, 
 
 Be  now  my  muse  and  ledare  of  my  pen. 
 
 That  be  zoure  hclpe  and  fauoure  gfacius, 
 
 I  may  be  able,  as  ze  commandit  me, 
 To  follow  ye  prince  of  storie,  Liuius, 
 
 Quhais  curious  ressouns  ton  it  ar  so  hie. 
 
 And  euery  sens  sa  full  of  maieste, 
 That  so  he  passis  vther  stories  all, 
 .As  sjjuef  Diane  dois  ye  sternis  small. 
 
 And 
 
i»5 
 
 exterminating  wars  of   Edward  I,  or  to  the  ravage* 
 of  {he  English   in  the  period  immediately  preceding 
 
 And  schortlie  for  to  tell  I  will  assay, 
 
 How  sobirly  begouth  ye  romane  bludc ; 
 Thare  oommoun  wcill  augmentand  day  be  day, 
 
 And  mony  zeris  under  kingis  stude  ; 
 
 And  syne  how  yai  proude  terquyne  did  exclude, 
 With  tyrannye  quhen  he  aboue  yame  rang, 
 And  all  his  lynnage  out  of  yare  ciete  dang. 
 
 And  yan  how  stoutlie  Brutus  was  providit, 
 And  gart  ye  pepill  with  mychty  aithis  swere, 
 
 Neuer  with  kingis  eftir  to  be  gidit, 
 
 £ot  wc  two  consullis  changit  euery  zere, 
 
 And  quhen  maist  troubill  and  pcrrell  did  apperc 
 
 How  yai  create  ane  prudent  dictatoure, 
 
 On  lie  sex  moncthis  to  be  gouernourc. 
 
 Followis  how  Romanis  to  ye  Crekis  went, 
 And  brocht  ten  tabillis  of  yare  constitutions ; 
 
 And  becaus  yc  samyn  was  nocht  sufficient 
 Of  euery  douttis  to  gif  desicionis, 
 With  two  vthir  tablis  yai  made  addiciounis. 
 
 Thir  tuelf  tablis,  as  ye  storie  schawls, 
 
 War  ye  first  foundment  of  ye  civill  lawis. 
 
 Apperis  be  sindrie  boundis  of  yis  storie, 
 That  na  thing  in  the  hicht  Is  permanent; 
 
 Nor  in  ye  samyn  may  hane  tranqutllite. 
 Ffor  as  of  rome  the  empire  and  regyment 
 Ffia  romane  kingis  unto  consullis  went, 
 
 Sa  fra  ye  consullis  be  ane  vncouth  gisc. 
 
 It  come  to  t«i  men  on  ye  samyn  wi.»e. 
 
 Thir  ten  mfti,  eftir  yare  creacioun, 
 
 Renowne  and  favoure  of  all  ye  cictc  p 
 And  doand  justice  but  appdl»ciouu; 
 
f$<5 
 
 the  composition  of  the  work.     Of  the  first  species, 
 is  the  mention  of  the  Black  Parliament  of  the  Barns 
 
 Thare  cours  about  on  euery  mater  sat, 
 
 Quhil  at  yc  last  yai  war  exterminat 
 Ffor  siclikc  crymis  as  ye  kingis  did. 
 Thus  ye  empire  agane  to  consullis  zeid. 
 
 Sa  knichtly  dedis  in  bukis  historiall 
 
 Sail  neuer  be  fundin  quhil  ye  warld  induris ; 
 Seand  how  fortoun  rollis  as  ane  ball 
 The  liffe  of  man  with  sindrie  aventuris ; 
 And  how  ye  state  of  mortall  creaturis 
 Has  nevir  mare  knawlage  as  myne  auctor  beris, 
 Of  suddand  fall  yan  quhen  it  leist  apperis. 
 
 Qnhat  realme  and  cieteis  for  fait  of  justice  lost, 
 Quhat  vailzeand  campiounis  &  dukis  militare, 
 
 Ffor  fait  of  wisdome  bene  tynt  with  all  yare  oist, 
 Myne  auctor  schewis ;  and  sum  tyme  will  declare 
 The  damage  of  divisioun  populare, 
 
 Quhilk  haistelie,  quhare  na  Concorde  is  socht, 
 
 The  comoun  weill  resoluis  in  to  nocht. 
 
 Be  mony  exemplis  dois  yis  storie  preif 
 
 Of  tressoun,  falzett,  and  rebellioun, 
 The  fynale  end  is  no  thing  bot  myschefe  : 
 
 And  as  na  wrangis  nor  iniure  war  done 
 
 Amang  ye  romanis  but  punycioun, 
 Richt  so  ze  may  in  to  yare  storie  rede, 
 Conding  reward  for  euery  nobil  dedct 
 
 Of  awful  I  batallis,  ye  crafty  gouernance, 
 
 The  wise  array,  ye  manlie  jeopardie, 
 Ze  may  find  here  with  mony  doutsum  chance/ 
 
 Als  quyk  as  yai  war  led  afore  zor  ee. 
 
 Ze  may  also  be  mony  stories  see 
 Quhat  besynes  may  profitt  or  avance 
 Zoure  princclie  state  with  fermc  continuance. 
 
 Considdci 
 
.87 
 
 of  Ayr,  p.  144.  where  "  sextene  scoir  of  the  maist  no 
 billis  of  the  cuntre  "  were  hanged  "  tua  and  tua  ouer 
 
 ane 
 
 Considder  of  romanis  in  all  yare  tymc  bywent, 
 
 Baith  wikkit  fortune  and  prospcriteis ; 
 Noc  fell  to  yame,  quhen  yai  war  necligent 
 
 In  divyne  seruice  bot  trubil  and  distres; 
 
 And  be  ye  contrare  ze  sail  fynd  expres, 
 Quhen  yai  relligious  and  devote  war  found, 
 All  welth  and  grace  with  honour  did  habound. 
 
 Ze  may  als  se  how  goddis  did  invade 
 
 The  Romane  pepil  with  derth  and  pestilence, 
 
 Becaus  yare  sacrifice  war  nocht  deulie  made 
 As  aucht  to  be,  with  glorc  and  reuerence ; 
 Syne  how  of  goddis  ye  cruell  violence, 
 
 Be  erdly  wit  couth  ncuer  be  pecifyit, 
 
 Quhil  be  sum  mcretis  yare  ire  ware  satifyit- 
 
 Throw  quhilk  apperis  ane  notabil  doctryne 
 
 To  us  yat  has  ye  trew  rclligioun, 
 To  mak  us  fcruent  in  ye  law  divyne, 
 
 And  for  offence  to  drede  punycioun  ; 
 
 Sen  sic  vane  faith  and  superstitioun 
 Prcservit  ye  pepill  quhen  it  was  deuly  servit 
 1  fra  euery  vengeance  yat  yare  syn  descruit. 
 
 To  schuw  all  proffittis  I  wil  no1  pretend, 
 
 Quhilk  ye  first  decade  of  yis  werk  dois  bere  ; 
 
 I'for  yocht  I  spendit  ane  monctht  to  ye  end, 
 Thare  suld  zit  rest  ane  Iargcare  feild  til  ere. 
 Than  all  my  plcuch  myc  teill  into  ane  zerc  ; 
 
 iior  in  quhat  sortc  zourc  hicnea  will  dclite, 
 
 Ze  may  gett  stories  to  zourc  appetite, 
 
 Ridit  proffittabill  till  vndcrmyndc  zoure  fiis, 
 
 And  for  to  lerc  ye  arte  of  chcvelrie  ; 
 Scuid  how  romaais  be  aarc  VCftcv 
 
 Abocc 
 
ane  balk ; "    a  fact  which  rests  on  the  authority  of 
 Henry  the  Minstrel,  and  the  relations  of  Arnald  Blair, 
 
 and 
 
 Abonc  all  pepill  in  riches,  honcste, 
 
 Relligioun,  manhede,  witt  and  equite ; 
 And  finallie  how  yai  all  cuntreis  wan, 
 Be  jeopardies  abone  ingyne  of  man. 
 
 And  war  sa  Strang  yat  na  thing  my*  doun  cast 
 Thare  souerane  pouer,  nor  mak  ye  samyn  decline, 
 
 War  nocht  yair  regeit  on  yame  self  at  last, 
 With  civil  batellis  and  weris  intestyne : 
 Bot  I  wil  na  thing  schew  of  yare  rewyne, 
 
 Ffor  yat  war  nocht  ye  way,  I  understand, 
 
 To  dant  ye  province  quhilk  I  tuke  on  hand, 
 
 For  I  intend  of  yis  difficill  werk 
 
 To  mak  ane  end,  or  I  my  lauboure  stynt  I 
 
 War  not  ye  passage  and  stremes  ar  sa  stark, 
 Quhare  I  haue  salit  full  of  crag  and  clynt, 
 That  ruddir  and  takillis  of  my  schip  ar  tynt, 
 
 And  yus  my  schip,  without  ze  mak  supporte, 
 
 WH  peris  lang  or  it  cum  to  ye  port. 
 
 Note.     In  a  later  hand,  the  following  verses  are  annexed  : 
 
 Ffyve  buikes  ar  here  by  Ballantyne  translated, 
 
 Rcstis  zet  ane  hundred  threttie  fyue  behind ; 
 Quhilkis  if  ye  samyn  war  alsweill  compleated, 
 
 Wald  be  ane  volume  of  ane  monstrous  bind. 
 Ilk  man  perfytes  not  quhat  they  once  intend, 
 
 So  fraill  and  brittle  ar  our  wretched  dayes  ; 
 Let  sume  man  then  begine  qr  he  doeth  end, 
 
 Giuc  him  ye  first,  tak  yame  ye  secund  praise. 
 No,  no  !  to  Titus  Liuius  giue  all, 
 That  peerles  prince  for  feattis  historicall. 
 
 A.  Heme,  St  Leonardes, 
 
 From  these  verses,  it  may  be  inferred,  that  only  the  translation  of  the 
 first  fire  books  of  Ljvy  was  completed  by  Ballantyne. 
 
189 
 
 and  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  mentioned  in  the 
 chapters  of  XI.  book  of  the  Scotichronicon,  amissing  in 
 the  Scotish  mss.  Similar  to  this,  is  the  account  (p.  149.) 
 of  the  statutes  of  Edward  II.  made  on  the  field  of  Ban- 
 nockbum.  But  the  most  curious  piece  of  historical 
 information  which  we  receive  from  the  Complaynt,  is, 
 the  singular  circumstance,  that  the  foundations  of  the 
 English  edifices  erected  by  Edward  I.  still  remained  vi- 
 sible in  all  the  boroughs  of  Scotland  when  this  work 
 was  composed.  The  historical  allusions  of  a  later 
 date,  evince  the  imperfect  subjugation  of  Ireland  before 
 the  reign  of  Elizabeth  ;  and  demonstrate,  that  certain 
 Irish  chieftains  "  in  the  vyild  forestis  and  hillis,  and  on 
 the  strait  montanis,  "  (p.  148.),  had  never  owned  alle- 
 giance to  the  English  sovereign.  These  independent 
 Irish  lords  are  denominated,  in  an  act  of  James  I.  of 
 Scotland,  "  the  gude  auld  freindis  of  Erischerie  of  Ire- 
 land. n  l  Indeed,  so  little  was  the  paramount  autho- 
 rity of  England  over  the  kingdom  of  Ireland  acknow- 
 ledged by  the  Scotish  nation,  that  the  assumption  of 
 the  title  of  King  of  Ireland  by  Henry  VIII.  highly  irri- 
 tated the  Scotish  Monarch.  The  words  of  L 
 are,  "  Nam  regis  nostri  autoriias,  aliquantulum  \ 
 batur  imminui,  quod  Anglus  totius  Hibernian,  seregem 
 rcnunciari  jussit,  cujus  aliqua  par$  Scoti  regis  dil 
 a  multis  seculis  tenebatur.  "  '  But  the  caus< 
 bitterness    and    animosity  between    the    rival    nati 
 
 ' .   had   been    gradually  dating   during  the 
 
 of  James  A',    bang   artfully  fomented  by 
 French  Cabinet,  burst  into  explosion   in    the 
 
 minority  of  Mary.     Tt  t  of  an  union  of  the 
 
 •  \  :    of  the  SeotUh  \6,  fol  11. 
 
 ,  Dc  RcLu  '  tar.  p.  455. 
 
190 
 
 two  crowns,  instead  of  moderating  their  ancient  ran- 
 cour,  seems  only,  by  concentrating  its  force,  to  have 
 caused  it  to  blaze  forth  with  redoubled  fury  ;  and  the 
 series  of  bloody  and  destructive  inroads  of  the  English 
 arms  into  Scotland,  excited  a  degree  of  exasperation, 
 which,  in  the  lapse  of  more  than  two  centuries,  has 
 hardly  subsided.  The  preponderance  of  the  French  in- 
 terest, though  it  precipitated  hostilities,  failed  to  unite  the 
 Scotish  nation  in  repelling  the  common  danger ;  while 
 the  fatal  discord  of  parties  palsied  every  effort,  and  tar- 
 nished  the  ancient  glory  of  their  arms.  The  author  of  the 
 Complaynt  vehemently  exhorts  the  neutral  Scotish  men 
 (p.  283.)  who  had  declined  to  take  "  ane  plane  part  with 
 Ingland  nor  with  Scotland, "  to  defend  their  country 
 to  the  last  extremity.  This  neutral  party  consisted  of 
 those  who  supported  the  contract  between  the  Prince 
 of  England  and  the  Princess  of  Scotland.  Against  a 
 second  party  (p.  169.)  who  betrayed  the  Scotish  coun- 
 sels to  the  English  court,  he  inveighs  still  more  bitterly, 
 and  denounces  them,  as  traitors,  to  perpetual  infamy. 
 Of  the  crime  of  treason,  the  Scotish  Borderers,  whose 
 local  situation  produced  frequent  intercourse  with  their 
 English  neighbours,  are  particularly  accused  *,  though 
 their  intercourse  with  the  English  seems  to  have  been 
 more  frequently  that  of  foes  than  of  friends,  and 
 though  their  friendship  was  never  more  cordial  than 
 that  of  banditti  or  robbers.  The  Borderers,  divided 
 into  a  variety  of  septs,  clans,  or  surnames,  connected 
 with  each  other  by  their  habits  of  mutual  rapacity,  and 
 inhabiting  an  intermediate  territory,  to  which  both  na- 
 tions had  occasionally  asserted  their  claims  -y  having  no 
 common  interest  with  either  country,  had  early  organ- 
 ized, for  themselves,  a  system  of  rapacity,  which  both 
 
 Scotland 
 
19I 
 
 Scotland    and    England    found    it   difficult   to  repress. 
 They  commonly  adhered  to  Scotland  ;  but   if,   as   fre- 
 quently happened,  they  were  exposed,  without   assist- 
 ance, to  tlte  attacks  of  a  superior  English  force,  they 
 were    seldom    averse    to    receive    assurance    of    that 
 nation.     In   many   instances,  too,    uniting  their  arms 
 with  those  of  the  enemies  of  Scotland,    they    carried 
 their  ravages  into  those  cultivated  districts  of  the  inte- 
 rior, which   were  sometimes,   during  peace,   the  scene 
 of  their  depredations.     In  i547>  the  Borderers  of  the 
 West  Marches,  to  the  number  of  7008  men,  took  as- 
 surance of  Lord  Wharton,  the  English  Warden,  and 
 bound  themselves,  by  oath  and   pledges,  to   serve   the 
 King's  Majesty  of  England.  '      From  various   instru- 
 ments of  vindication,  however,  stil  extant,  there  ap- 
 pears to  have  been  some  foundation  for  the  assertion, 
 (p.  211.)  that  the  assured  men,  if  vigorously  support- 
 ed, would  "  preif  as  gude  Scottis  men,  eftir  there  qua- 
 lite,  as  ony  Scottis  man  of  Scotland  that  vas  neuer  as- 
 sured. n     h\   a  renunciation   of  assurance   by    Robert 
 Lord  Maxwell,  dated  Drumfreis,  Novr  28.  1545,  the  fol- 
 lowing strong  expressions  occur  :  "  Dominus  Maxwell 
 — revocat  et  renunciat  quod  nullius  deinde  Bint  robon* 
 vcl  effectus — quicquid  per  dictum  Cartum  dicti   Regis 
 AnglLe  intra   regnum  suum   Majcstatis  compulsum  ob 
 metum  et  periculum  sue  vite,"   &c.  ■      On  April  28th 
 j  548,  was  issued  a  "  proclamatioun,  commanding  the 
 inhabitant^  of  Lowthian,  Mers,  Tiviotdaill,  Lawder- 
 daiil,  and    Forest    of   Ettrick,   quho   war   assurit  with 
 Ingland,  to  cum  to  the  Govcrnour  upon   the   Monan- 
 2  b  ij  d.iy 
 
 1   Nicholson  and   Burn's  History  of  Wcstrmucl M  1   II  ' 
 VOL  I.      Int rod.  p.  6. 
 
 *  lladdinston's  Colkctiom  of  Chum r-. 
 
192 
 
 clay  at  evin,  to  the  armie,  to  tak  pairt  with  the  eneme^s 
 of  Ingland  ;  assuring  thame  tliat  they  sail  haif  ane  frie 
 remissioun  for  byganes,  excepting  such  personis  as  ar 
 presentlie  under  the  proces  of  treasoun  ;  with  certifi- 
 catioun  that  quha  faillis  sail  be  reputt  ane  traittour.  "  ■ 
 But  the  further  elucidation  of  this  subject  is  render- 
 ed unnecessary,  by  the  publication  of  the  Minstrelsy 
 of  the  Border,  a  work  in  which  the  peculiar  fea- 
 tures of  Border  history  and  manners  are  placed  in  a 
 point  of  view  equally  new  and  interesting.  But  the 
 ravages  of  war,  and  the  famine  produced  by  the  de- 
 struction of  the  growing  corn,  and  the  waste  and  un- 
 cultivated state  of  the  arable  grounds,  were  not  the  only 
 miseries  which,  at  this  unhappy  period,  harassed  the 
 distracted  country  of  Scotland  •,  the  Complaynt  (p.  2.) 
 likewise  mentions  the  universal  pestilence  and  mortality. 
 For  more  than  a  century  after  the  composition  of  tliisr 
 work,  the  pestilence,  under  which  appellation  every  ma- 
 lignant epidemic  seems  to  have  been  included,  continued, 
 at  intervals,  to  ravage  the  country.  But  besides  the 
 general  appellation,  particular  terms  were  sometimes 
 applied  to  it,  with  the  signification  of  which  we  are 
 now  unacquainted.  The  following  passage  occurs  in 
 an  old  annalist :  "  Ther  wes,  twa  zeiris  before  this 
 tyme,  ane  grate  uniuersall  seiknes  through  the  maist 
 part  of  Scotland  ;  uncertane  quhat  seiknes  it  wes,  for 
 ye  doctors  could  not  tell,  for  ther  wes  no  remeid  for  it, 
 and  ye  comons  called  it  Cowdothe.  "  x  Popular  tra- 
 ditions concerning  the  pestilence  are  common  over  all 
 Scotland  \  numerous  stories  relate  to  its  ravages  ;  and 
 large  flat  stones  are  pointed  out,  under  which  "  the 
 
 pest n 
 
 »   Keith's  Catalogue  of  Scotish  Bishops.     Appendix,  p.  si- 
 *  Marjoricbanki)'  Aanalls,  from  1514  to  1,594-  A.  7. 15. 
 
pest  "  is  supposed  to  be  buried,  and  which  the  pea-' 
 sants  are  careful  never  to  move.  The  Bannatyne  ms., 
 which  seems  to  have  been  compiled  during  the  ravage 
 of  a  pestilence,  from  the  following  verses  at  the  con- 
 clusion, 
 
 "  Heir  endis  this  buik,  writtin  in  tyme  of  pest, 
 Quhcn  we  fra  labor  was  compeld  to  rest, "   &c. 
 contains  "  Ane  prayer  for  the  pest, "  attributed,  in  a 
 later  hand  than  the  poem,  to   R.  Henrysone,  which 
 thus  commences  : 
 
 "  O  eterne  God,  of  power  infinyt.  " 
 The  stanza  generally  concludes, 
 
 "  Preserve  ws  fra  this  perrelus  pestilens.  " 
 
 Among  the  political  artifices  employed  by  the  English 
 court,  for  the  subjugation  of  Scotland,  during  the  mi- 
 nority of  Mary,  the  aid  of  superstition  appears  not  to 
 have  been  neglected.     Availing  themselves  of  the  pro- 
 pensity of  the  populace  to  credit  mystery,  the   avidity 
 with   which  prophetical  rumours  are  circulated, 
 the   exaggerations   of    ignorance    and    terror,    certain 
 u  misteous  propheseis  of   Merlyne, "  contained  in  d. 
 "  poietical  beuk,  oratourly  dytit, "  were  circulated  a- 
 mong  the  common  people  of  both  realms.     The  obvi- 
 ous intention  of  promulgating  these  Prophecies* 
 rather  to  dispirit  the  Commons  of  Scotland,  and  sub- 
 jugate their  courage,  by  familiarizing   their  minds  to 
 the  idea  of  being  conquered,  than,    as   the  author  of 
 the  Complaynt  supposes,   to  vindicate   to  foreign  prin- 
 ces, the  invasions  of  the  English.     The  book  alluded 
 to,  p.  127,  is  probably  "    A  Tretise  of  Merlyn,  "  or 
 his  Prophesies  in  verse,  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Yv 
 in  1529,  and  afterwards   by  John   Hawkynj   in 
 The  character  to  whom  these  Prophecies  are  asci 
 
194* 
 
 is  Merlin  the  Wild,  whose  memory,  in  the  South  of 
 Scotland,  still  lives  in  tradition.     His  history  is  thus 
 related  by  Trevisa,  describing  the  island  of  Bardsey  : 
 "  Men  saye  that  Merlyn  there  buryed  is, 
 
 That  hyght  also  Siluestris. 
 
 There  were  Merlyns  tweyne, 
 
 And  prophecyed  beyne  ; 
 
 One  hcte  Ambrose  and  Merlyn, 
 
 And  was  igoten  by  gobelyn. 
 
 In  Decia  at  Carmerthyn, 
 
 Under  kynge  Vortygeryn, 
 
 He  tolde  his  prophecye, 
 
 Even  in  Snowdonye, 
 
 At  the  hede  of  the  water  of  Conewaye  ; 
 
 In  the  syde  of  Mount  Eriri, 
 
 Dynas  Embreys  in  Walshe, 
 
 Ambrose  hylle  in  Englyshe, 
 
 Kynge  Vortygere  sate  on 
 
 The  watersyde  and  was  full  wone  ; 
 
 Then  Ambrose  Merlyn  prophecyed. 
 
 Another  Merlyn  of  Albyn  londe, 
 
 That  now  is  named  Scotlonde, 
 
 And  he  had  names  two, 
 
 Siluestris  and  Calidonius  also, 
 
 Of  that  wood  Calidoni, 
 
 For  there  he  tolde  his  prophecy, 
 
 And  hete  Siluestris  as  well ; 
 
 For  whan  he  was  in  batell, 
 
 And  sawe  abowe  a  grysly  kynde, 
 
 And  fyll  anone  out  of  his  mynde, 
 
 And  made  no  more  abood, 
 
 But  ran  anone  into  the  wood. 
 
 Trey. 
 
}9$ 
 
 Trev.  Silucstris  is  wood, 
 
 Other  wylde  of  mode, 
 
 Other  ellys, 
 
 That  at  the  wood  he  dwelles. 
 Ran.    Siluestris  Merlyn 
 
 Tolde  prophecy  well  and  {\u  ; 
 
 And  prophecyed  well  &  sure, 
 
 Under  kynge  Arthure, 
 
 Openly  &  not  so  close, 
 
 As  Merlyn  Ambrose. 
 
 There  ben  hylles  in  Snowdonyc 
 
 That  ben  wonderly  hye, 
 
 With  heyght  as  grete  awaye 
 
 As  a  man  may  go  a  day, 
 
 And  hete  eriri  in  walshe 
 
 Snowy  hylles  in  englyschc.  "  ■ 
 
 This  Merlin,  according  to  the  Welsh  Triads,  was  one 
 
 of  the  three  principal  bards  of  Britain,  and  flourished 
 
 about  the   year   560.     lie  studied   under  the  famous 
 
 >oin,  travelled  over   all  Britain   and  France,  and 
 
 ie  equally  illustrious  for  his  valour  in   battle,  and 
 
 ill  in  poetry.     He  is  said   to,,  have   been  born  at 
 
 Krerthevin,  near  the  Forest  of  Kelyddon,  in   the 
 
 South    of    .Scotland,    and    is    generally   denominated 
 
 Myrddin    ap    Morvryn,    or    Myrddin    Wyllt.       After 
 
 the   unsuccessful   wars   of   his  Ion!    Gwenddolaw  ap 
 
 Ceidio,  he  retired  into  Wales,  and  was  present  at  the 
 
 fatal  battle  of  Camlan,  where  h(  own  nephew. 
 
 In  consequence  of  this  disaster,  and  the  reproaches  of 
 
 as  seized  \  dj  returning  to 
 
 nd,  buried  himself  in  his  native  (  acre, 
 
 lucid  intervals  of  frenzy*  he  lamented  his  un- 
 
 »   R  luon'icon,  J-  40. 
 
ig6 
 
 happy  situation,  in  wild  pathetic  strains,  some  of  which 
 still  survive.  "  I  am  a  wild  terrible  screamer  •,  afflic- 
 tion wounds  me  not,  raiment  covers  me  not — My  rea- 
 son is  gone  with  the  gloomy  sprites  of  the  mountain, 
 and  I  myself  am  pensive.  "  '  His  Afallenau  or  Orch- 
 ard, a  beautiful  poem,  is  preserved  by  Jones  •,  *  his 
 Hoianau  is  quoted  by  Owen  in  his  Dictionary,  under 
 Gorvoz,  and,  according  to  Lhuyd,  many  of  his  poems 
 are  preserved  in  the  Black  Book  of  Caermarthen,  a  ms. 
 in  the  Llanvorda  Collection.  He  is  afterwards  sup- 
 posed to  have  returned  to  North  Wales,  and  to  have 
 been  buried  in  the  Isle  of  Enlli  or  Bardsey.  The  Scot- 
 ish  tradition,  however,  differs  essentially  from  the  re- 
 lation of  the  Welch  bards,  concerning  the  place  of  his 
 interment,  and  positively  asserts  that  he  died  and  was 
 buried  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Tweed,  near  Peebles. 
 The  situation  of  his  grave  is  accurately  indicated  by 
 one  of  the  prophetic  rhymes  of  tradition,  which  runs 
 thus  : 
 
 n  When  Tweed  and  Powsail  meet  at  Merlin's  grave, 
 Scotland  and  England  one  king  shall  have.  " 
 The  fame  of  Merlin,  as  a  prophet,  who  foretold  many 
 future  events,  in  his  dark  and  mysterious  rhymes, 
 seems  always  to  have  flourished  in  those  districts  of 
 Scotland  in  which  the  Welch  language  was  spoken, 
 previous  to  the  conquests  of  the  Northumbrian 
 Saxons  •,  but  he  is  sometimes  confounded  with  Mer- 
 lin Emrys  or  Ambrosius,  and  represented  as  the  son  of 
 a  daemon.  The  popular  account  of  his  birth,  how- 
 ever, is  essentially  different  from  that  of  the  elder  Mer- 
 lin, detailed  in  the  romance  of  Arthour  and  Merlin, 
 
 who 
 
 *  Owen's  Welch  Dictionary,  -viJ.  Agro,  Certhryziad. 
 
 *  Jones'  Relick*  of  the  Welch  Bards,  p.  24. 
 
»9? 
 
 who  i  tl fie  son  of  oaten 
 
 .i:ig.  "     Merlin,   in  the   Romance,  thus 
 _s  his  own  origin. 
 "  A  it  was  that  me  begat, 
 
 And  pelt  me  in  an  holy  f 
 1 1 :  wende  haue  had  an  iuel  f 
 Ac  ai  icham  turned  to  gode  ; 
 Ae  thurch  kende  of  hem  yean  bo 
 Telle  of  thing  that  is  ago, 
 And  al  thing  that  is  nou, 
 Whi  it  is,  and  what,  and  hou 
 Of  other  thing  that  is  to  come 
 Telle  y  can  nouzt  al  and  some.  "  ■ 
 The  Scotish  Merlin,  is  represented  as  the  son  of  a 
 river-mermaid,  by  whom  he  was  educated  till  he  ar- 
 rived at  the  age  of  three  years,  when  he  was  delivered 
 to    fris    father   by  his    mother,  with  this   declaration, 
 "  Gin   ye  school  him  as  weel  as  I  hae  skeeled  him,  a* 
 the  deils    o*    Hell  winna  cheat  him.  "     This    origin, 
 ver,  is  likewise  attributed,  by  popular   tradition, 
 to  Michael  Scot,  a  character,   whose  superior  learning 
 and  genius  were  sufficient  to  procure  him  the  denomi- 
 nation  of   magician   and    sorcerer    in   tl 
 To  both  these  persona.  lion  attri- 
 
 butes the  formation  of  the  Catrail,  a  trench 
 part  of  great  antiquity,  apparently   intended   to  d 
 the    inhabitants   of  the    East  coi 
 
 t.     It  i^  supposed  to  ha  by  the   a- 
 
 gency  of  d  have   di- 
 
 vided England  and  Scotlaial,  .  have 
 
 passed  between  Ci  Mer- 
 
 ,  however,  di  ed  from  Michael 
 
 ■ 
 
 1    Ar.  m* 
 
198 
 
 [atter,  by  n.     The   supposed   prep! 
 
 chara.  quently  been  employed  for 
 
 political  purposes;  and  numerous  prophecies  attributed 
 to  th<  prosaic,  in  French  and  English, 
 
 exist  in  different  libraries.  They  are  cited  both  by 
 rroy  of  Monmouth,  and  Robert  of  Gloucester, 
 and  also  by  Laurence  Minot,  who  says,  that,  at  that 
 early  period,  numerous  writings  were  ascribed  to  this 
 perso: 
 
 "  Lien  may  rede  in  romance  right, 
 Of  a  grete  clerk  that  Merlin  hight ; 
 Ful  many  bokes  er  of  him  wreten, 
 Als  thir  clerkes  wele  may  witten  -, 
 And  zit  in  many  preve  nokes, 
 May  men  find  of  Merlin  bokes.  " 
 In  his  illustrations  of  Minot,  Mr  Ritson  has  cited 
 certain   "  Prophecies  of  Merlin, "  of  great  antiquity, 
 from  the  Cotton   ms.  f     Warton    cites  a  translation, 
 from  the  French,  of  some  of  these  rhymes,  which  thus 
 commences  : 
 
 "  Listeneth  now  to  Merlin's  saw, 
 AvA  I  woll  tell  to  aw, 
 What  he  wrat  for  men  to  come, 
 Nother  by  grefFe,  ne  by  plume.  "  * 
 Of  the  two  Merlins,  the  elder,  who,  in  the   ms.  Ro- 
 mance, is  constantly  denominated  "  Merlin  the  gode 
 felawe,  "  is  reckoned  by  the  Welch  Bards  more  ob- 
 scure than  the  other,  who  has  always  been   most  po- 
 pular in  Scotland.      The  Scotish  Merlin  is  represent- 
 ed as  a  savage  or  wild  beast,  in  that  fa'rrago  of  pro- 
 phetical  verses   still  current    in  Scotland,  which   are 
 ascribed   to  Thomas  Rymer,  Bede,  and  the  Marvel- 
 lous Merlin,  &c.  and  which,  from  the  political  allu- 
 sions 
 1  Ritson's  Poems  of  Laurence  Minot,  p.  a6.  and  96. 
 3  Warton's  History  of  English  Poetry,  yol.  iii. 
 
i99 
 
 sions  which  they  contain,  i  :  accurate 
 
 Lord  Hailes,  to  a  period  somewhat  anteri  com- 
 
 position of  the  Complaynt.     The  folio-. 
 "  the  Prophesie  of  Waldhave,"   plainly  allude  to  the 
 Welch  traditions,  concerning  the  madness  of  Met.' 
 account  of  the  slaughter  of  his  nephew. 
 "  He  was  formed  like  a  freik,  all  his  four  quart :     , 
 And  then  his  chin  and  his  face  haired  so  th 
 With  hair  growing  so  grim,  fearful  to  bee — 
 By  trouble  of  my  kin,  that  I  am  off  cv . 
 Hath  me  turned  into  this  care,  and  careful  memade.-^ 
 In  woods  and  wilderness  where  my  way  lies — 
 Here  in  wilderness  I  dwell,  my  weird  for  to  dree — 
 Go  musing  upon  -  "  * 
 
 It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  though  almost  all  the  print- 
 ed prophecies  plainly  refer  to  Merlin  Ambrosius  as  their 
 author,  yet  tins  circumstance  in  no  degree   affect 
 popular^tradition  of  die  South  of  Scotlan 
 riably  ascribe  them  to  the  Scotish  Merl 
 
 As  the  English  had  employed   the  prophecies  of 
 Merlin  as  a  p, '  ,  to  intimidate  the  min 
 
 the  Scotish  nation,  the  author  of  the  Coinj- , 
 sionately  expresses  his  hope   that  the   "  diabolic  pro- 
 phane  pro] 
 
 uris,  "  like  the  ami 
 
 ,    would    receive    an.  lent    to 
 
 counter-; 
 
 : 
 
 medled  I 
 
 aray, 
 
 I 
 
 i  ( 
 
 *   T:..  .  ■.<  Rymcr,  A 
 
200 
 
 his'aray  of  whatsomeuer  degre  that  he  be.  T: 
 prophecyed  an  holy  anker  in  kyng  Egelfredus  tyme  itj 
 this  maner  (Henricus  lihro  Sexto)  :  Englyshe  men  for 
 as  muche  as  they  use  them  to  dronkelewnes,  to  tre 
 Sc  to  rechelesnes  of  goddes  house,  fyrr.te  by  Danes, 
 and  thenne  by  Normans,  and  at  the  thyrde  tyme  by 
 Scottes,  that  they  holde  moost  wretches,  and  lest 
 worth  of  al  other,  they  schal  be  ouercome.  "  '  Dur- 
 ing the  unsuccessful  wars  of  the  English  against  Robert 
 Bruce,  this  prophecy  seems  to  have  had  a  powerful  ef- 
 fect on  their  desponding  minds  ;  for  the  same  author, 
 in  another  passage,  says,  "  The  Scottes  wexed  strong- 
 er aiul  stronger  thyrty  yeres  togyder,  unto  Kyng 
 Edwardes  tyme,  the  thyrde  after  the  Conquest,  and 
 bete  down  Englyshemen  aft,  and  Englyshe  places  that 
 were  nygh  to  thcyr  marches.  Some  seyd  that  that 
 myshappe  fell  for  softnesse  of  Englyshemen  j  and  some 
 sayde,  that  it  was  goddes  owne  wreche,  as  the  pro- 
 phecye  sayd,  that  Englyshemen  sholde  be  destroyed  by 
 Danes,  by  Prenshemen,  and  by  Scottes.  " 
 
 The  contemptuous  idea  of  the  Scotish  nation  im- 
 plied in  this  passage,  forms  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
 opinion  of  the  author  of  the  Complaynt,  expressed  in 
 his  comparative  view  of  the  characters  of  the  two  na- 
 tions (p.  165.),  and  illustrates  the  powerful  influence  of 
 national  prejudice.  Higden  has  characterized  both 
 nations,  but  in  a  very  different  manner  from  our 
 author,  though  with  an  equally  partial  pencil:  "  Scottes. 
 ben  light  of  herte,  straunge  and  wylde  ynough,  but  by 
 medlyng  of  Englyshe  men  they  ben  moche  amended  : 
 they  ben  cruell  upon  theyr  enmyes,  &  hateth  bondage 
 moost  of  ony  thynge,  and  holde  for  a  foule  slouthe  yf 
 a  man  deye  in  his  bed,  &  grete  worshyp  yf  he  dye  in 
 
 ye 
 
 1   Raauifs  PoWchronicon,  fol.  37. 
 
Ae.     Th : 
 
 ',  aJid  eten  selde   whan   th  up  ;  an 
 
 fleshe,  fyshej  mylke  and  frute,  moi  :  and 
 
 thoughe  thayben  fayre  cc  ihappe,  they  ben  defouled, 
 and  made  nnsemely  yn  h  the)T  c  -ynS* 
 
 They  prayse  faste  the  i  .ders, 
 
 and  despysen  other  mennes  doynge.    Theyi  lei 
 fruytfull  ynou 
 
 this  character,  the  authority  of  Girakhis  is  cited.  The 
 English  are  thus  delineated — "  In  beryng  outward, 
 they  ben  mynstral  -  in  talkynge,  grcte 
 
 spekers  ;  in  etynge  and  clrynkvnge,  glotcns ;  in  gader- 
 ynge  of  catellj  hucksters  and  tauerners;  in  araye, 
 tourmentours  ;  in  wym  ;  irauayll,  Tan- 
 
 taly  ;  in  talkynge  lude,  Dedaly  •,  in  beddes,  Sardana- 
 chirches,  mawmetes  ;    in  courtes,  thonder  ; 
 on  Ay  in  preuelege  of  clergye   and  in  prebendes,  die 
 themsell 
 It  is  not, however,  solely  ires  of  general  raj 
 
 I  character,  modify, 
 dices,  that  the  Comphynt  i  ;    but  the  manners 
 
 and  habits  of  the  different  classes  of  socL 
 
 marked 
 
 *    Ranulf's  Polychronicon,  f.  56. 
 
 The  animosity  of  the  English  haa  frequently  di5p!j> r  }  itadf  in  vi- 
 rulent poetical  invectives  against  the  Scotish  national  character.  To 
 evince  thU  assertion,  it  is  only  necessary  to  allude  to  the  names  of 
 Minot,  Skclton,  Cleveland  a:  'J  lie  .Scoti  h  Poets  1 
 
 few  examples  of  this  species  of  illibe 
 
 by  A.  Montgomery,  author  of  the  Cherry  and   Slae,  shows  th 
 have  not  been  able  to  escape  contamination  entirely. 
 
 Ane  Answer  to  ane  In^lis  railar  praysing  his  awin  Genalogy. 
 Ze  Inglische  hursone  sum  tyme  will  avar.t 
 
 Zour  progeny  fromc  I  e  ; 
 
 And  sum  tyrr. 
 
 As  Angli    •  ane; 
 
2C2 
 
 marked  by  strong  and  characteristic  traits.  At  this  pe- 
 riod, the  feudal  system  existed  in  all  its  vigour,  and 
 its  appearances  in  Scotland  were  not  materially  differ- 
 ent from  the  features  which  the  rest  of  Europe  present- 
 ed. About  nine  tenths  of  the  members  of  civil  society, 
 employed  in  agriculture  and  the  mechanical  arts,  and 
 equally  devoid  of  armour  and  weapons,  were  completely 
 subjugated  by  the  other  tenth,  who  were  armed  with  de- 
 structive weapons,  arrayed  in  armour  of  proof,  and  who 
 divided  their  time  between  active  war,  martial  exercises, 
 and  pleasure.  This  division  formed  -a  peculiar  and 
 privileged  order,  whose  conduct  was  regulated  by  their 
 own  maxims,  who  had  formed  to  themselves  a  set  of 
 virtues  and  vices  adapted  to  their  artificial  manners  and 
 habits,  and  whose  institutions  and  maxims  combined 
 in  the  formation  of  the  vast  system  of  Chivalry. 
 Their  courage  displayed  itself  in  a  species  of  martial 
 enthusiasm,  which  produced  a  restless  spirit  of  adven- 
 ture :  their  gallantry  to  the  fair  sex  rivalled  the  fana- 
 ticism of  a  superstitious  age  •,  and  they  adored,  with  e- 
 qual  fervour,  God  and  the  Ladies.  Chivalry  flattered, 
 and  called  into  exertion  the  most  active  and  powerful 
 principles  of  human  nature,  and  consequently  its  vir- 
 tues exhibited  a  degree  of  extravagance,  and  were 
 ill  adapted  to  the  duties  of  common  life.  Moral- 
 ists, as  they  cannot  model  human  nature  according  to 
 
 their 
 
 Except  ye  feyndis  with  Lucifer  yat  fell ; 
 Avant  zow  villane  of  that  Lord  allane, 
 
 Tak  thy  progeny  from  Pluto  prence  of  hell ; 
 
 Becaus  ze  use  in  hoiilis  to  hyd  zor  sell, 
 Anglus  is  cum  from  Angulus  in  dcid, 
 
 Abuivc  all  vdcris  Brutus  bure  ye  bell, 
 Qiiha  slew  his  fader  howping  to  succcki. 
 
 Than  chus  zow  line  of  thair  I  rek  not  ader, 
 
 Tak  Beelzebub  or  Eiutus  to  zur  fader.  " 
 
 JBannatyne  MS. 
 
2oj 
 
 their  ideas  of  abstract  perfection,  are  under  the  neces- 
 sitv  of  accommodating 
 
 mann  forms  of  society.     In  c  ..refore,  to 
 
 regulate  the  spirit  of  Chivalry,  and  correct  its  most 
 dangerous  extravagancies,  the  rules  of  mors 
 dexterously  interwoven  with  the  system  of  war,  and  the 
 allegorical  spirit  of  the  age  connected  the  virtues  of 
 knighthood  with  the  blazonry  of  arms,  and  the  forms 
 of  heraldry.  Among  the  first  specimens  of  the  typo- 
 graphical art,  were  some  Moral  adapt- 
 ed to  the  use  of  the  Knights  and  Nobles.  Thus,  in 
 England,  so  early  as  147 1,  we  find  "  A  Boke  of 
 Noblesse  "  published,  if  Tanner's  mss.  can  be  depend- 
 ed on ;  and  in  the  reign  of  that  gallant  Prince, 
 James  IV,  among  various  romances  of  Chivalry,  M  the 
 Porteous  of  Noblenes,  "  a  moral  I  translated 
 from  the  French,  and  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  Higher 
 Orders,  was  published  by  the  first  Scotish  printers. 
 The  following  fragment  of  this  work  is  the  only  part 
 of  it  known  to  be  preserved,  and  is  one  of  the  eai 
 specimens  of  Scotish  prose. 
 
 "  Fragment  of  the  Porteous  of  Noblenes.  * 
 
 «  *  •  # — nor  compt  0f  js  nf  that 
 
 genee,  quhilk  awaykynis  all  othir  vertues.    Quhat 
 
 or 
 
 *    "  Porteous,  or   pertuis,  quasi  porta  twj,  ane  catalogue  contc- 
 nand  the  names  of  the  persones  indited  to  the  ju  tice  air,  quhilk  i 
 and  dclirered  be  the  Justice   Clerk  to  the  Crowncr,  to  In.  tttad 
 arreitted  be  him,  to  compeirc  and  ans*crc  to  >ik  •cmsatioms  and 
 as  salbe  impute  unto  them  :  and   the   Porteous  conuins   tl  . 
 thame  quha  are  of  new  indited,  and  the  names  of  them  i, 
 dited  of  Auld  and  of  hitore,  and  cempeired  not.  "     Sktnt 
 ral  sense,  it  signified  a  vade  mecum,  or  manual 
 
£04 
 
 or  quhat:  is  ane  man  worth,  that  musis  and  lyis  in  slo- 
 gardy,  that  will  have  ane  soft  bed,  ane  full  wame,  re- 
 :  Qg  at  ear ,  ,  day  be  day,  and  wolk 
 
 be  wolke,  and  rekis  not  nor  takis  na  cornpt  how  all 
 thing  pas,  what  bs  wonnyn  or  quhat  be  tynt,  and  will 
 have  men  befor  hym,  bair  heid,  kneland,  and  saynge 
 that  he  is  ane  nobill,  quhiik  is  gret  merual,  quhair  his 
 awne  dedis  schewis  y  contrair.  bot  quha  that  is  a  no- 
 bill,  he  leris  quhair  of  seruis  diligence,  that  awaiknis  all 
 othir  vertuis.  O  nobill  man,  the  wyne  graip  rottis  and 
 deis  gif  it  ly  at  the  erd,  undir  the  leif ;  the  micheif  and 
 fallawise  and  consulis  a  man;  and  diligence,  that  awaik- 
 nis all  vertues  in  trauail,  makis  of  ane  rud  and  unmirist 
 man,  ane  man  cunning  hert,  and  weill  manerit. 
 
 The  ix  vertu  in  nobill  man  is  Clenelynes. 
 
 The  hert  set  in  nobilnes,  and  desirand  hie  honour, 
 sulde  despise  all  filth  and  unhonesti,  for  he  desprisis 
 his  nobilnes  that  takes  keip  and  tent  to  other  menis 
 guyding,  and  kepis  noght  hym  selue  clene.  he  than 
 suld  nothir  say  nor  do  thing  that  war  to  discomede, 
 nor  that  myght  empair  or  skaith  ane  othir  ma,  nor  y 
 my  mynise  his  awne  lose  and  honour,  gif  he  avis  it 
 thoght  and  lukit  weill  to  hym  selue,  y  takis  tent  and 
 keip  to  all  othir  men,  foul  spelling  and  mekill  mys- 
 saing  or  flityng,  or  ane  unhonest  deuise  to  the  man  that 
 is  sene  and  behaldyn  be  mony  men,  for  honeste,  is  re- 
 quirit  to  keip  in  saif  gard  tham  that  take  compt  and 
 keip  of  othir  mennis  guyding.  O  nobill  man,  be  clene- 
 lines  of  p"son,  plesand  and  fair  hauyng,  thay  keip  tham 
 fra  filth,    y  takis  keip  to  all  other  men.  v 
 
 The  tent  vertu  in  ane  nobiil  man  is  Larges. 
 
 Larges  in  all  caise  is  sa  curtase  and  avenad,that  it  ple- 
 sis  to  itself,  and  proffittis  all  otheris  *,  for  it  is  the  rent  of 
 
 honour, 
 
205 
 
 honour,  quhairof  the  aiie  wynnis  profit, the  othir  mereite. 
 It  proffittis  y  takar  and  delitis  the  ginger,   and  amendis 
 and  settis  thame  baith  in  right,    thair  is  nathing  : 
 larges  dispendis,  for  he  dispendis  all  his  gudis  be 
 dom,  and  to  larges,  allway,   gudis  ciimis  and  abound  is. 
 bot  the  prodigal  man,  spedand  without  mesure  and  provi- 
 sion,  waistis  aud  destrovis.  larges  than  y  profitis  and  ekis 
 hymself,  and  plesis  and  cotetis  all  otheris  as  . 
 all  vertuis  in  this  warlde.    The  reward  takin,  oblii 
 taker,  and  acquitis  y  giffer  of  his  gret  bounte.     Thing 
 thairfor  giiEn  is  bettir  than  all  the  foif  5  for  gudis  hid, 
 report  bot  litill  thanke,  joy,  or  pleseir  ;  and  auarice  is 
 waryit,  and  haldyn  abhominabre,  be   sa  mekill  y  scho 
 closis  hir  hand,  and  ghiis  to  na  man.     And   it  c  funis 
 ofttymes  to  y  auaricius,  that  ane  othir  spedis,  and  puttis 
 to  the  wynd,  y  gudes  that  he  gaderit  with  gret  trouble 
 and   pane.     And  gif  thair  cuis  to  hym  wexat 
 or  trouble,  thair   is  na  man  )  coptb  or  sett  is   tfc         , 
 suppois   it  confund   hym.    bot  larges  gettis  all    : 
 frendis,   and  help,   y  is  the  teerrar  of  a 
 warlde.     Heirfor  r.ne  fre  liberal  her- ,  1  nobilnes 
 
 mhabitis,  sulde  noght  be  scars,  •  1>  bot  blith  :r, 
 
 and  mair  jocud  to  gif  than   to  tak  ; 
 and  succuris  a  mai., 
 
 deid  is  sic,  that  g(od)  will  y:  or,  be 
 
 I  tinis 
 
 .iildii 
 aga  to  hi^  maister;  for  I 
 rentis,  that  is  ues  in  thi  1 
 
 O  nobill  m        •  nan  y  lauis  honour,  foi 
 
 H  schift  in  him  confoundis.     J3e 
 larges,  the  herds  <j\  men  ax  pene  and  undi 
 techai  of  all  vertuis  in  thi> 
 
 2  d 
 
206 
 
 -The  leuynt  vertu  in  nobill  man  is  Sobirnes. 
 
 Quhen  gud  desire,  that  intedis  to  asced,  and  cum  to 
 
 hyght,  puttis  the  thoght  to  cum  to  honour,  than  sulde 
 
 ane  man  haulde  and  reul  hym  sobirly,   &  eschev  dis^ 
 
 temperace  of  wyne  and  heit,   that  turnys  gud  avise  in 
 
 folly,  greuis  strenth,   dois  wrang,  and  hurtis  the  natur, 
 
 troublis  the  peace,  movis  discord,   &   leuis  all  thing 
 
 unperfite.      Bot  quhay   y  will  draw  sobirnes  to  hym, 
 
 scho  is  helplie,  of  littill  applesit,  help  of  the  wittis,  wache 
 
 to  hele,  keper  of  y  body,  and  cotynewal  lynthare  of  the 
 
 lif.    for  to  excess   there  thair  may  neuir  come  gud  nor 
 
 profit,  ner  body  nor  life  is  neuir  the  bettir,  and  sa  it 
 
 tynis  all  maner  continence,  voce,  aynd,  lythenes,   and 
 
 troloure.     A  gluton  allway  has  sum  seiknes  or  sorow  j 
 
 he  is  heuy  fat  and  foule,  his  lif  schortis,  and  his  ded 
 
 approchis.     Thair  is  na  man   y   beualis,   or  menys   a 
 
 man,  gif  he  dravis  him  nocht  to  sobirnes,  as  scho  y  all 
 
 man  plesis,  help  of  the  wittis,  wache  of  y  hele,  keper  of 
 
 the  body,  and  lynthar  of  the  lif.     And  he  y  can  reule 
 
 his  mouth  that  is  uschare  to  y  hert,  how  sulde  he  cu 
 
 to  knawlege  to  have  guyding  of  gret  thingis.    glutony 
 
 allway  leuys  hie  honour,  and  graithis  allanerly  dede  to 
 
 .■/if.    ane  ful  wame  is  neuer  at  eas  bot  slepand,  for 
 
 Other  thingis  he  neuer  thinkis,  dois,  nor  dremis,   bot 
 
 sobirnes  gym's  all  thingis  in  sufficience.     And  to  al 
 
 thinge  that  vertu  is,  for  scho  is  help  of  y  wittis,  wache 
 
 to  the  hele,  kepar  of  the  body,  and  lynther  of  the  lif. 
 
 The  xn  vertu  in  ane  nobil  man  is  Perseuerace. 
 
 O  excellent  hie  and  godly  vertu,  myty  quene  and 
 lady,  perseuerace,  y  makes  perfit,  fulfillis,  and  endis  all 
 thingis,  for  quhay  y  kepis  thy  faithfull  and  treu  techinge, 
 fyndis  without  stop  the  way  of  louynge,  peas,  and  suffi- 
 
 cience. 
 
207 
 
 cience.  thow  oure  cumis  all  thing,  be  thy  secure  con- 
 stance,  that  tiris  neuer  to  suffre.  Thou  our  cumis 
 wanhap,  y  passis  fortune,  and  in  all  placis,  scho  gyffis 
 to  the  victory.  Than  be  resone  thou  gettis  the  crcwnc, 
 quhen  all  vertuis  gyms  to  the  ouirhand,  &  be  thy 
 gidyng,  cuis  to  hie  loutng.  Thay  sulde  wcil  adoure  y , 
 as  lady  maistres  &  patrone,  sen  the  end  makes  al  tliinge 
 to  be  louit.  Thou  art  scho  that  examinis  al  hertis,  & 
 as  the  goulde,  chesis  out  y  fynit  hertis  in  treuth,  and 
 leaute,  be  thy  huyl  sufferace ;  and  quhay  y  to  y  assuns 
 and  deliueris  himselfc,  thou  rasis  him  quhen  he  is  to 
 fall,  and  giffis  him  sustenance  and  comfort,  bot  y  febil 
 hert  castyn  in  variance,  spillis  and  tynis,  in  schort  space, 
 all  y  it  dois  •,  inuy  brekis  sic  folkis,  thay  want  vertai  in 
 defalt  of  fathe,  tyris  thame,  and  honour  habandois 
 thame  •,  thay  ar  punist  \  Lady  god  thank  y  •,  for  gude 
 me  has  gude,  y  to  gude  attedis.  And  al  noblys  y  seikis 
 to  hie  worschip,  gife  thay  be  wise  &  will  awcr 
 serue  thfe,  sen  y  ende  makis  al  warkis  to  be  louit,  he 
 dois    na  thing   y  begynis  &   endis  noght ;    and   y   in 
 
 .irkis  inclynis  him  to  variance.     Quben  y  wa 
 hie,  worthy,  and  louable,  gif  y  undirtaking  turn  , 
 
 perfeit  end,   his  labour  passis  as  at  noght.     At  — 
 
 manys  out  of  remebrance,  &  y  is  atouf  m< 
 
 preif  &  schamc,   for  thair  a  man   tynis   his  name  and 
 
 his  science,   &  his  gudis,  incotenet,  ar  tynt  an 
 
 noght.     Bot  quhay  that  with  right  ordanys,  and 
 
 his  doings,   &  to  a  perfit  end,  in  treuth  and  laute,  pcr- 
 
 furnysis  tham,  his  gudis  thi  tham  to  be  amendit 
 
 .it.      And  thay  y  incotinct  &    haisty  ycildis 
 .  to  advcrsiic,    may  furwith  disauov 
 n  the  ende  in  all  thingis  maki 
 
 I  ij  bj 
 
2cS 
 
 :'t.     O  nobil  man,  thay  ar  noblis  that  dispendit 
 thair  I  uth  and  laute,  and  defendis 
 
 lorde,  ho  knot  of  thair  faith, 
 
 sun  be  louit. 
 
 Noblis,  >ur  matynis  in  this  bukc, 
 
 And  wisely  luk  ye  be  not  contrefeit ; 
 Nor  to  retrete  sen  leaute  seilds  na  nuke, 
 And  god  forsuke  breuily  for  to  treit 
 All  that  nils  ar,  and  noblis  contrefeit. 
 Heir  endis  the  Porteous  of  Noblencs,  translatit  out 
 cf  fraii<rhe,    in    Seottis,   be   maistir  Andrew    Cadiou, 
 impretit   in   y    southt  gait  of  Edinburgh,   be    Walter 
 Chapma   &  Andrew  Millan,   y    xx  dai  of  aperile  the 
 yhere  of  god 
 
 mccccc  &  viii  yheris.  " 
 
 But  the  virtues  of  Chivalry,  like  those  of  a  more 
 modern  period,  were  more  frequently  the  theme  of  the 
 moralist  and  minstrel,  than  exhibited  in  the  character 
 of  the  knight.  A  perfect  knight,  in  the- days  of  Chi- 
 valry, when  the  virtues  of  knighthood  were  accurately 
 defined,  was  as  rare  a  phenomenon,  as  a  virtuous  man 
 in  those  modern  days,  in  which  all  the  rules  of  mo- 
 rality have  been  investigated.  The  rapacity  of  the  no- 
 bles was  often  extreme ;  and,  invested  with  absolute 
 power  over  their  vassals,  they  frequently  exercised 
 the  most  relentless  tyranny  upon  that  class  of  men. 
 In  the  Complaynt,  the  oppression,  which  the  nobles 
 exercised  on  the  commons,  is  stigmatized  in  the  se- 
 verest terms  ;  their  exactions  on  their  vassals  is  strong- 
 ly reprobated,  as  well  as  their  overbearing  pride  and 
 extravagant  profusion  in  dress.     In  the  feudal  ages, 
 
 plunder 
 
239 
 
 plunder  and  pillage  were  the  sport  of  warriors ;  and 
 they  boasted  in  appropriating  the  fruit  of  their  rapine 
 to  lavish  profusion.  "  If  I  devoted  myself  to  rob- 
 bery, "  said  an  ancient  knight,  "  it  was  not  from  the 
 desire  of  acquiring  riches  ;  but  for  the  pleasure  of 
 spending  them. "  l  The  ancient  nobles  seem  to  have 
 arrogated  to  themselves  a  right  of  robbing  on  the  pub- 
 lic roads  within  their  proper  domains.  Undaunted 
 bravery  was  substituted  in  the  place  of  all  the  virtues  ; 
 and  when  a  chief  of  remarkable  military  prowess  ap- 
 peared, the  destructive  emanations  of  his  spirit  beamed 
 round  him  like  streams  of  fire,  and  kindled,  to  a  fiercer 
 blaze,  the  flames  of  civil  discord  and  intestine  war. 
 In  the  following  passage  of  an  ancient  satirist,  some 
 of  the  abuses  of  Chivalry  are  bitterly  exposed : 
 
 u  And  thilke  that  han  al  the  welc,  in  froth,  and  in  fclJ, 
 Bothen  eorl,  and  baroun,  a  kniht  of  o  sheld, 
 Alle  theih  beth  isworne  holi  churche  holde  to  rihte, 
 
 Sanz  faiile ; 
 And  nu  ben  theih  the  ferst  that  hit  sholen  assaile. 
 
 Hii  brewen  strut  5d  stutise,  there  as  sholde  be  pes, 
 Hii  sholde  gon  to  the  holi  lond,  and  maken  there  her 
 
 res, 
 And  fihtc  there  for  the  croiz,  and  shewe  the  ordre 
 
 of  kniht, 
 And  awreke  ihu  crist  with  launce  and  speir,  to  fihtc, 
 
 And  sheld, 
 And  nu  ben  theih  houns  in  halle,  and  hares  in  the 
 
 fcldc. 
 
 »  Histoirc  dc$  Troubadours,  Vol.  I.  p 
 
"  l£nihte$  sholde  weren  weden,  in  here  maner, 
 After  thzt  the  ordre  asketh,  also  wel  as  a  frere, 
 Nu  ben  thcih  so  degysed,  and  diuerseliche  idizt, 
 Unnethe  may  men  knowe  agleman  from  a  kniht, 
 
 Wel  neih ; 
 Sois  meknesse  driuen  adoun,  and  pride  is  risen  on 
 heih. 
 
 Thus  is  the  ordre  of  kniht  turned  up  so  doun, 
 Al  so  wel  can  a  kniht  chide  as  any  skold  of  a  toun, 
 Ilii  sholde  ben  al  so  hende  as  *ny  leuedi  in  londe, 
 And  for  to  speke  alle  vilainie  nel  nu  no  kniht  wonde, 
 
 For  shame  ; 
 And  thus  knihtshipe  acloied,  and  waxen  al  fotlame. 
 
 Knihtshipe  is  acloied,   and  deolfulliche  idizt ; 
 Kunne  a  boy  nu  breke  a  spere,  he  shal  be  made  a 
 
 kniht ; 
 And  thus  ben  knihtes  gadered  of  vnkinde  blod, 
 And  enuenimeth  that  ordre  y  sholde  be  so  god, 
 
 And  hende  ; 
 Ac  o  shrewe  in  a  court  many  man  may  shende.  "  " 
 
 Of  the  extensive  influence  of  heraldry  in  the  feu- 
 dal ages,  some  notices  have  already  been  adduced. 
 Genealogy  formed  a  subordinate  branch  of  this  fantas- 
 tic science ;  and,  by  the  additional  importance  which 
 it  attached  to  rank,  tended  still  more  to  inflame  the 
 vanity  of  the  higher  classes.  This  vanity  is  severely 
 censured  by  the  author  of  the  Complaynt ;  who  de- 
 clares, that  antiquity  of  descent,  and  the  possession  of 
 
 coat- 
 »  Satire  on  Simony,  m;.     Apparently  of  the  beginning  of  the 
 14th  century. 
 
11 1 
 
 coat-armour,  can  never  be  place  of 
 
 personal  merit.     "  Ze  prpfesse  zou  men, 
 
 bot  zour  w  ze  ar  bot   i 
 
 Ze  wald  be    reput    and    callit    vertuous    and  honest, 
 quhou  be  it  that  ze  did  ncuyr  ane   honest  act,  and  ze 
 reput  vthir  men  for  vilanis,  that  did  neuyr  ane  vilaine 
 act.     It  aperis  that  quhen  zour  nobil  predecessou. 
 cessit,   thai  tuke  ther  vertu  and  gentreis  vicht  them  to 
 ther -sepulture,  and   thai  left  na  thing  vitht  zou  bot  the 
 stile  of  tliere  gentreis,"  (p.  242.)     The  arms,  sa;. 
 that  ye  bear  in  your  shields,  and   in  the  seals  of 
 signets,  which  are  sculptured  on  your  walls,   and  bla- 
 zoned on  your  windows  of  glass,  were   given  to    • 
 ancestors  for  the  noble  deeds  they  a  j  by  bear- 
 
 ing their  arms,  you  engage  to  tread  in  their  fteps  •,  or 
 you  deserve  to  be  degraded  from  rank,  and  divested  of 
 your  honourable  arms,  (p.  231.)  This  origin  of  coat- 
 armour  and  blazonry,  was  always  maintained  by  the  he- 
 ralds, and  is  plainly  asserted  in  the  Lindsay  ...  .  of 
 '  Jry. 
 "  Armes  war  maid  in  auU  tyines,  for  tokynis  to  ken 
 ye  persones,  and  in  takeqing  to  ken  the  virtewis  qlk 
 suld  be  in  nobless  :  and  ye  estait  quhairof  it  hes,  cwery 
 noble  suld  beir  in  armes,  thingis  vat  bure  signifieatioun, 
 and  quhairin  men  my1  appropre  ye  vertewis  of  him, 
 and  ye  knawlegc  of  his  estait  quhairof  yat  he  is  cume  : 
 and  heii throw  ar  put  mony  and  diuerss  thingis  in  ar- 
 morie,  and  all  hes  prop. 
 
 ye  creatioun  of  him   yat  beiris   armes  ;  and   ye 
 knawlege  yat  men  findis  of  armes,   yat  aes  of 
 
 Josue,  qlk  wes  the  first  worthy  that  tuk  armes,  quhair- 
 by  may  I 
 
 '  :idis  to  per] 
 
 . 
 
212 
 
 eftir  him  Dauid,  and  Judas  Machabeus,  and  Alcxr,  and 
 mony  vyeris  prinsis.  "  ■  In  the  "  Disputisoun  bitven 
 the  bodi  and  the  saule,  "  (a  very  curious  ancient  poem 
 in  the  Auchinleck  ms.,  and  which  appears  from  it  to  be 
 likewise  extant  in  the  Digby  ms.)  the  private  manners 
 of  Chivalry  are  elucidated  in  strong  energetic  language  ; 
 and  many  of  the  same  vices  reprobated,  which  are 
 branded  in  the  Complaynt. 
 
 As  y  lay  in  a  winter's  nizt, 
 
 In  a  tlroupening  bi  for  the  day, 
 Me  thouzt  y  seize  a  sclli  sizt, 
 
 Abodi  open  abere  lay  ; 
 He  hadde  ben  a  modi  knizt, 
 
 And  Iitel  serued  god  to  pay; 
 Forlorn  he  had  his  Hues  lizt ; 
 
 The  ghost  moued  out  and  wald  away. 
 
 When  the  ghost  it  ichuld  go, 
 
 It  bi  went  and  with  stode ; 
 Biheld  the  bodi  that  it  comfro, 
 
 With  reweful  chere  and  dreri  mode ; 
 And  seyd,  alias  !  and  wale  wo  ! 
 
 Thou  fikel  fksche,  thou  fals  blod, 
 Whi  liistow  stinking  so, 
 
 That  whilom  was  so  wilde  &  vw  . 
 
 Thou  that  were  ywont  to  ride, 
 
 So  fair  on  hors  in  and  out ; 
 A  qucint  knizt  ykid  ful  wide, 
 
 Als  a  lioun  fers  and  prout ; 
 Wher  is  now  thi  michel  pride, 
 
 And  thi  lede  that  was  so  loude  ? 
 Whi  liistow  now  so  bare  of  side, 
 
 Yprickcd  in  a  poure  shroude  ? 
 
 Whare 
 
 !    L'mdesav's  Collection:  relating  to  Heraldry,  us. 
 
213 
 
 Whare  ben  al  Urine  worthliche  wede  ? 
 
 Thine  jomers  with  thine  riche  hed  ? 
 Thi  proude  palfraise  and  thi  stede, 
 
 That  thou  about  in  destrer  led  ? 
 Thine  haukes  that  wer  won  to  grede, 
 
 And  thine  erehoundes  that  thou  fed ! 
 Methinkes  thine  be  ful  guede, 
 
 Nou  alle  thine  frendes  be  fro  the  fled. 
 
 Whar  bin  thine  markes,  and  thine  poundes, 
 
 Thi  folk  and  thi  fair  fyzc  ? 
 Thi  riche  tresonr  bi  rof  and  greunde, 
 
 Thi  brizt  broches,  reny,  and  beize  ? 
 Who  durst  the  bede  stroke  or  wounde, 
 
 When  thi  baner  was  rered  on  heize  ? 
 Yuel  artow  proued  in  astounde, 
 
 Thi  tayl  is  cutted  the  ful  neize. 
 
 Whar  be  thine  cokes  snelle, 
 
 That  schuld  go  to  graythe  thi  mete  ; 
 With  swot  spices  for  to  smelle, 
 
 That  thou  were  neuer  ful  to  frcte  : 
 To  make  thi  foule  fltsche  to  swelle, 
 
 That  wildc  wormes  schal  now  ete  ? 
 And  ich  haue  the  peyne  of  hclle, 
 
 Thurch  thi  glotonic  and  gcte. 
 
 Whare  bin  thine  castcls  and  thine  tour?, 
 
 Thine  chaumbers  and  thine  heize  hallc, 
 That  payntcd  wcr  with  prout  flours, 
 And  thine  riche  robes  alle. 
 
 qtrilts,  and  thine  couertours, 
 I  .m!  the  purpel  palle  ? 
 Wrecfac 
 
 To  morn  thou  :>clult  thtr  in  falle. 
 
 1  thi  glewe, 
 1  etc, 
 
 Tiumpcrs  that  thine  trump 
 
 Hen  ■ 
 
 2  c 
 
214 
 
 Riche  robes  held  and  ncwe, 
 
 For  to  glewc  the  ther  thou  set  ? 
 
 Tregcttours  that  wer  untrewe, 
 Of  the  hye  hadde  gretc  bizete. 
 
 For  to  here  thi  word  ful  wide, 
 And  maky  of  the  rime  and  raf, 
 
 •         *         *         *         * 
 
 Largeliche  of  thine,  thou  zaf 
 
 Thi  pouer  zede  al  beside, 
 
 Eucr  thou  hem  oner  haf, 
 And  zif  thai  com  in  thine  unride, 
 
 Thai  were  ystriken  with  a  staf. 
 
 Of  the  pouer  thou  it  nam, 
 
 That  mani  a  glotoun  ete  and  drank  ; 
 Thou  no  rouztest  neuer  of  wham, 
 
 No  who  ther  fore  sore  swank; 
 The  riche  was  welcom  ther  he  cam, 
 
 The  pouer  was  beten  that  he  stank  ; 
 Now  alle  is  gon  in  godes  gram, 
 
 And  thou  hast  wreche  litel  thank.— 
 
 Thi  wiif  no  wil  no  more  wepe 
 
 Now  may  thine  nizbours  Hue, 
 
 Wreche,  thatow  hast  wo  y  urouzt 
 Thou  stentest  neuer  with  hem  to  striuc, 
 
 Til  thai  were  to  pouert  brouzt ; 
 He  was  thi  frende  that  wald  the  ziuc, 
 
 And  thi  fo  that  zaf  the  nouzt : 
 The  curs  is  comen  that  now  wil  cliue, 
 
 That  mani  a  man  hath  the  besouzt- 
 
 Now  beth  the  bedes  on  the  lizt, 
 
 Wreche,  ther  y  se  the  lie, 
 That  mani  a  man  bad  day  and  nizt, 
 
 And  lay  on  her  knes  to  crie  : 
 Alias !    that  ich  wreched  wizt ! 
 
 Schal  so  gilteles  abie 
 Thine  misdedes,  and  thine  vnrizt, 
 
 And  for  the  hard  rain.es  dric. 
 
 The 
 
2I5 
 
 The  vices  of  the  Nobility,  their  blind  rapacity,  and 
 \he  occasional  enormities  in  which  they  indulged,  na- 
 turally generated  a  ferocious  and  turbulent  spirit  in  the 
 Commons,  and  sometimes  produced  a  violent  reaction. 
 Though  the  Nobles  and  Heads  of  Clans  in  Scotland, 
 were  united,  in  powerful  associations,  by  mutual  bonds 
 of  manrent  *  and  protection,  yet,  the  frequent  disso- 
 lution of  these  associations,  and  the  increase  or  dimi- 
 nution of  particular  feudal  domains,  by  producing  a 
 number  of  broken  clans,  attached  to  no  ostensible 
 chief,  accustomed  to  violate  legal  restraint,  and  resist 
 constitutional  authority,  raised  up  powerful  bands  of 
 lawless  men,  who,  like  the  Roberdesmen  in  England, 
 and  the  oppressive  great  companies  well  known  on  the 
 Continent  during  these  ages,  committed  every  species 
 of  depredation.  Thus  the  author  of  the  Com} 
 declares,  p.  263,  that  he  had  seen  nine  or  ten  thou- 
 sand men  collected,  in  an  illegal  manner,  for  the  vio- 
 lent ejection  of  tenants,  and  the  per  1  of  other 
 enormities.     The  dreadful  picture  of  civil  dissensions 
 
 2  e  ij  which 
 
 1    The  feudal  practice  of  manrent  is  alluded  to  in  some  of  the  an- 
 cient metrical  romances  ;   as, 
 
 Tho  was  he  crl  of  great  anour, 
 Doweo  in  ailc  Aquiteync  ; 
 Eothe  c.  |j  of  tour, 
 
 :V.k  of  him  was  ful  f'eync  : 
 O;  •  '.at  lontl, 
 
 el     u    ....    wtyn. 
 
 i  lllOtlC  his  sword  he  have, 
 ■An.l  \iSy  rcsavc 
 
210 
 
 which  he  has  presented,  p.  260,  leaves  us  no  room  to 
 wonder  at  the  progress  of  the  English  arms  in  Scotland 
 at  this  period. 
 
 In  the  address  to  the  Spiritual  State,  our  author 
 animadverts,  with  great  severity,  on  the  vices  of  that 
 order ;  he  applies  to  them,  Plutarch's  apologue  of 
 the  crab  instructing  her  young  ;  and  declares  that 
 the  punishment  they  inflicted  on  heretics,  unaccom- 
 panied with  the  reformation  of  their  own  order,  is 
 only  like  "  vlye  cast  on  ane  heyt  birnand  fyir.  "  Buc 
 the  most  curious  part  of  this  address,  is  the  exhorta- 
 tion to  the  Order,  to  change  their  spiritual  habits, 
 "  bayth  coulis  and  syde  gounis,  in  steil  iakkis  and  in 
 cotis  of  mailze  ;  "  and  assist  their  countrymen  to  re^ 
 pel  the  invasions  of  their  enemies.  Various  warlike 
 priests  occur  in  Scotish  history  ;  but  a  martial  temper 
 seems  not  to  have  been  characteristic  of  the  Order ; 
 for  the  author  of  one  of  the  metamorphosed  Spiritual 
 Songs,  suggests,  that 
 
 "  Ane  hundreth  thousand  they  waid  see 
 Yocket  intill  ane  field, 
 Under  their  speir  and  shield, 
 
 Bot  with  the  wyues  they  wald  be. "  l 
 Gower,   however,   whom   Lindsay,    in  numerous   in- 
 stances, has    imitated,  particularly   in    his    Monarchy, 
 laments  that  in  his  age, 
 
 "  In  to  the  sworde,  the  churche  kaie 
 
 Is  turned,  and  the  holy  bede 
 
 Into  cursynge.  "  * 
 But   if  the   priests   of  the  early  part  of  the  16th  cen- 
 tury weie  not  addicted  to  the  performance  of  martial 
 
 exploits, 
 
 1    Godly  and  Spiritual  Sangis  Sc  Eallattis. 
 
 ,l  I  am  wo  for  thir  wolfis  so  wild.  " 
 *   Gowcr's  Confcssio  Amantis,  f.  %. 
 
2I7 
 
 exploits,  they  appear,  at  least,  to  have  been  fond  of 
 hearing  them  related,  if  we  credit  the  authority  of 
 Barclay. 
 
 "  There  be  no  tidlnges  nor  nuelties  of  warre, 
 
 Nor  other  wonders  done  in  any  straunge  lande  ; 
 
 Whatsoeuer  they  be,  and  come  they  neuer  so  fatfe, 
 The  priestes  in  the  queere  at  first  haue  them  in  hande, 
 While  one  recounteth  the  other  to  understand 
 
 His  fayned  fable,  barkening  to  the  gl; 
 
 Full  little  aduerteth  howe  the  seruice  goes. 
 
 The  battayles  done  perchaunee  in  small  Britayne, 
 In  Fraunce  or  Flanders,  or  to  tlie  worldes  ende, 
 
 Are  told  in  the  quere,  or  some,  in  wordes  vayne, 
 In  midst  of  matins  in  steede  of  the  Legende  ; 
 And  ether  gladly  to  heere  the  same  intende, 
 
 Much  rather  than  the  seruice  for  to  ht 
 
 The  Rector  Chori  is  made  the  me.^ 
 
 I  in  the  morni  i  they  come  to  th 
 
 The  one  beginn  j 
 
 The  ot  h  th  their  eares  it  to  heave, 
 
 :ng  it  instede  of  the  inuitorie  ; 
 
 respons  in  time  an  '  y; 
 
 Robinhood, 
 Or  other  trifles  that  scant] y  are  so  goov:. 
 
 From  the  h.  turcs  of  the  ages  of  Chivalry, 
 
 the  stiff  formality,  and  rapacious  activity  of  the  Nobles, 
 
 gnorance  and  indolence  of  tli 
 lawless  turbulence  of  the  Commons,  we  turn  « 
 sure  to  co 
 
 ^finstrel.     Though  numerous  minute  and  chai 
 
 I    Barclay's  Ship  of  Foolc*,  f.  182. 
 
218 
 
 3c  traits  of  the  habits  and  customs  of  a  former  pe- 
 riod occur  in  the  Complaynt,  yet,  perhaps,  we  find 
 nothing  more  truly  valuable,  than  that  view  of  the  po- 
 pular literature  of  Scotland,  which  the  enumeration  of 
 the  current  romances,  songs,  and  dances,  presents. 
 The  known  sera  of  Scotish  romance,  corresponds  to 
 that  of  Scotish  song  ;  for  the  dirge  of  Alexander  III. 
 is  the  earliest  specimen  of  our  native  song-writing  pre- 
 served, as  the  Sir  Tristrem  of  Thomas  Rymour  de 
 Ercildoun  is  supposed  to  be  the  most  ancient  romance. 
 Barbour,  in  the  middle  of  the  14th  century,  quotes 
 the  "  Rom  any  s  off  worthi  Ferambrace,  "  and  com- 
 pares his  hero  to  "  Gaudifer  de  Laryss. "  '  Wyn- 
 towne  mentions  "  the  gret  gest  of  Arthure  and  the 
 ,  awyntyre  of  Gauane,"  as  well  as  "  the  pystyl  of  Swete 
 Swsane."  *  Many  more  romances,  and  heroes  of 
 Chivalry,  are  mentioned  by  Lindsay,  and  other  Scotish 
 writers.  Metrical  romances  were  among  the  first  spe- 
 cimens of  printing  exhibited  by  the  Scotish  press. 
 Religion  herself  cherished  the  genius  of  romantic  fic- 
 tion j  and,  after  the  alarm  excited  by  the  Lollards, 
 and  other  heretics,  this  species  of  reading,  or  rather 
 recitation,  seems  not  to  have  been  more  eagerly  em- 
 braced by  the  laity,  than  warmly  inculcated  by  the 
 clergy.  To  check  the  progress  of  heresy  among  the 
 populace,  some  of  the  first  compositions  in  English 
 prose  appear  to  have  been  composed,  as  the  Speculum 
 Vite,  or  Mirour  of  the  Lif  of  Jhu  Crist,  translated, 
 with  additions,  from  the  Latin  of  Bonaventure,  in 
 1 410,  for  the  use  of  "  lewde  men  and  women,  and 
 hem  that  bene  of  simple  understondinge. "  For  a  si- 
 milar purpose,  though  at  a  later  period,  John  de  Ir- 
 landia  in  Scotland  composed  his  system  of  theology. 
 
 This, 
 
 1   Barbour's  Bruce,  III.  437. 
 
 -   Wyutownis  Cronyki!,  rcl.  I.  p   113. 
 
219 
 
 This,  however,  seems  to  have  been  regarded  by  tab 
 clergy  as  a  work  of  supererogation  ;  and  they  com- 
 monly adopted  a  safer  method  of  defence,  by  encou- 
 raging the  perusal  of  books  of  chivalry,  in  preference 
 to  those  which  treated  of  theological  subjects.  Thus, 
 Hoccleve  advises  Sir  John  Oldcastell  to  desist  from  the 
 study  of  "  holy  writ,"  and  peruse  Lancelot  de 
 Lake,  Vegece,  or  The  Siege  of  Troie  or  Thebes; 
 or,  if  he  be  absolutely  determined  to  read  the  Bible,  to 
 confine  his  studies  to  Judicum  Regum,  Josue,  Ju- 
 dith, Paralipomena,  and  Machabe  ;  than  which," 
 adds  he, 
 
 "  More  autentic  shalt  thou  fynde  noon 
 Ne  more  pertinent  to  chivalrie.  "  x 
 
 Adapted  to  the  habits  of  a  martial  age,  and  fostered 
 by  the  directors  of  religion,  the  romances  of  Chivalry 
 took  so  strong  a  hold  of  the  minds  of  the  Scotish  na- 
 tion, that  they  resisted  the  morose  prescription  of  the 
 reformers,  and  survived  the  keenest  attacks  of  ridicule 
 and  satire,  till  they  were  gradually  expelled  by  the  in- 
 troduction of  a  new  set  of  manners.  The  Reforma- 
 tion, in  order  to  attain  the  deeper  influence  over  the 
 minds  of  men,  commenced  its  career  by  overturning 
 all  their  ancient  habits  ;  and  as  Mahomet  began  his 
 mission  by  proscribing  the  Persic  romanc  ch,  at 
 
 that  period,  were  the  delight  of  the  Arabian  tribes,  so, 
 in  Scotland  and  England,  the  artillery  of  ecclesi. 
 censure  was  directed  against  the  "  unprofitable  M  read- 
 ing of  romances,  and  the  "  profane  "  recitation  of  po- 
 pular songs.  The  profane  ballads,  as  they  v 
 initiated,  were  metamorphosed  into  godly  and  spiritual 
 songs  ;  and  some  of  the  tender  pabtoral  airs,   wt 
 
 Mason's  llocclcre,  p.  I*. 
 
220 
 
 tnbutcd  to  the  composition  of  the  devil.  In  i^o*, 
 the  misapplication  of  poetical  powers  is  piously  de- 
 plored by  Hume  of  Logie  ;  who  regrets,  that  they 
 should  ever  be  employed  on  the  "  naughtie  subject  of 
 fleschlie  and  unlawful  love."  "  In  princes  courts,  *' 
 says  he,  "  in  the  houssis  of  great  menn,  and  at  the 
 assembleis  of  zong  gentlemen  &  zoung  damesels,  the 
 chiefe  pastyme  is  to  sing  prophaine  sonets,  and  vaine  . 
 ballattis  of  love,  or  to  rehers  some  fabulos  faites  of 
 Palmerine,  Amadis,  or  uther  suche  lyke  reveries,  and 
 suche  as  either  have  the  airte  or  vane  poeticke,  of 
 force,  they  must  show  themselves  cunning  followeris 
 of  the  dissolute  ethnike  poets,  bothe  in  phrase  and 
 substaunce,  or  else  they  salbe  had  in  no  reputaunce, 
 Alas  !  for  pittie,  is  this  the  richt  use  of  a  Christianes 
 talent  ?  "  x  This  author,  who  unites  fluency  of  versi- 
 fication, and  strength  of  poetic  diction,  with  consider- 
 able descriptive  powers,  particularly  in  the  poem  in- 
 tituled, "  Of  the  Day  Estiuall, "  declares,  in  his  pre- 
 face, that  he  composed  the  songs  in  his  youth  for  the 
 glory  of  God.  In  the  same  manner,  Sternhold,  in 
 England,  according  to  Wood,  undertook  a  metrical 
 version -of  the  Psalms,  in  order  that  the  courtiers  might 
 sing  them  instead  of  their  sonnets  ;  "  but, "  adds  he, 
 "  they  did  not,  only  some  few  excepted. "  Among 
 the  English  Puritans,  and  the  Scotish  Presbyterians, 
 the  same  train  of  thinking  prevailed  in  the  17th  cen- 
 tury j  and  Vaughan  thus  stigmatizes  the  taste  for  the 
 tales  of  antiquity,  which  during  that  period  had  never 
 
 been  quite  eradicated. 
 
 "  Unhappy 
 
 »  Home's  Poems,  MS.  Preface.  It  appears  from  Ames,  that  these 
 poems  were  printed  in  1599,  and  dedicated  to  Lady  Culros,  under  the 
 title  of  •'  Hymnes  or  Sacred  Sengs,  wherein  the  right  use  of  poetry 
 may  be  espied,  by  Alexander  Hume. " 
 
221 
 
 u  Unhappy  are  those  scribes  who  catch  no  soules, 
 For  Christ,  if  so  they  may,  by  holy  scroules  ; 
 And  much  to  blame  are  those  of  carnal  brood, 
 Who  loath  to  taste  of  intellectual  food, 
 Yet  surfeit  on  old  tales  of  Robin  hood, 
 Of  Friers  cowles,  or  of  Saint  Benet's  hood, 
 Of  Patrik's  broiJes,  or  of  St  George's  launce, 
 Of  errant  knights,  or  of  the  Fairy  daunce : 
 But  yee,  who  are  born  of  intellectual  seed, 
 Scorn  your  best  part  with  honeyed  gall  to  feed.  "  x 
 
 The  Tales  and  Romances  enumerated  in  the  Com- 
 playnt,  may  be  arranged  in  three  classes,  British,  French, 
 and  Classical,  according  to  the  heroes  which  they  cele- 
 brate, or  the  subjects  to  which  they  relate. 
 
 In  the  first  division,  may  be  included  all  those  Ro- 
 mances, the  heroes  of  which  may  be  referred  to  Bri- 
 tain, whether  they  be  of  the  Celtic,  Saxon,  or  Nor- 
 man periods,  and  those  whose  subjects  are  still  known 
 pular  tales.  It  is  not,  however,  intended  to  in- 
 sinuate, that  these  Romances  were  originally  composed 
 by  natives  of  this  island  ;  the  contrary  position  is,  in 
 various  instances,  more  probable  ;  but  this  arrangement 
 is  adopted  for  the  sake  of  perspicuity,  as  the  original 
 authors  are  mostly  unknown,  and  as  the  Normans  of 
 the  I  .land  and  the  Continent  were  mutually  accustomed 
 to  borrow  from  the  compositions  of  each  other.  When 
 a  Romance    a<  r...  ilarity,  it  generally  became 
 
 the  subjeel    of  a  ludicrous  much  of 
 
 .the    original    I;  .!.      I    ha 
 
 many  bur1  .  h    have   been  in- 
 
 tended to  ridicule   the   4t   (  ,hood   and 
 
 'me.     In   the   Bannatyne  mad!  burl 
 
 2  1  poem 
 
 ■  .uijhan's  C'huixh  Militant.     LunJun,   i 
 
222 
 
 poem  is  preserved,  which  commences  in  the  same 
 manner  as  "  The  Warres  of  the  Jewes  ; "  an  allitera- 
 tive poem  cited  by  Warton. 
 
 "  In  Tyberyus  tyme  the  trewe  emperour.  "  ■ 
 In  the  repetition  of  an  unskilful  reciter,  the  metrical 
 romance,  or  fabliau,  seems  often  to  have  degenerated 
 into  a  popular  story  ;  and  it  is  a  curious  fact,  that  the 
 subjects  of  some  of  the  popular  stories  which  I  have 
 heard  repeated  in  Scotland,  do  not  differ  essentially  from 
 those  of  some  of  the  ancient  Norman  fabliaux  presented 
 to  the  public  in  an  elegant  form  by  Le  Grand.  Thus, 
 when  I  first  perused  the  fabliaux  of  the  Poor  Scholar,  2 
 the  Three  Thieves,  3  and  the  Sexton  of  Cluni,  A  I  was 
 surprized  to  recognize  the  popular  stories  which  I 
 had  often  heard  repeated  in  infancy,  and  which  I  had 
 often  repeated  myself,  when  the  song  or  the  tale,  recit- 
 ed by  turns,  amused  the  tedious  evenings  of  Winter. 
 From  this  circumstance,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
 many  of  the  Scotish  popular  stories  may  have  been 
 common  to  the  Norman  French.  Whether  these  tales 
 be  derived  immediately  from  the  French,  during  their 
 long  and  intimate  intercourse  with  the  Scotish  nation, 
 or  whether  both  nations  borrowed  them  from  the  Cel- 
 tic, may  admit  of  some  doubt.  In  this  division,  we 
 may  place, 
 
 I.  The  Prophysie  of  Merlin. — In  the  account 
 of  Merlin,  which  has  already  been  given,  his  Prophe- 
 cies have  be^rr  mentioned  ;  but  as  they  are  enumerated 
 among  tales  and  romances,  it  is  probable,  that  in 
 this  passage,  the  metrical  romance  of  Merlin,  which 
 
 contains 
 
 1    Warton's  Hist,  of  Poetry,  vol.  I.  p.  311. 
 *  Le  Grand's  Fabliaux,  vol.  IV.  p.  I. 
 5   III.  308. 
 4    IV.   2J2. 
 
223 
 
 contains  numerous  prophecies  of  the  elder  Merlin,  and 
 in  Latin,  is  entitled,  Merlini  Vita  et  Prcphetix,  may 
 be  intended.  The  romance  of  Merlin,  which,  in  some 
 mss.  forms  a  distinct  poem,  in  the  Auchinleck  ms.  is 
 only  the  introduction  of  the  long  and  apparently  im- 
 perfect poem  of  "  Arthour  and  Merlin,  "  which  con- 
 sists of  various  distinct  rapsodies  or  episodes.  It  is  a 
 species  of  Cyclic  poem  ;  and  as  it  details  the  radical 
 story  of  a  very  extensive  class  of  metrical  poems,  all 
 the  romances  of  the  Round  Table  might  be  conn 
 with  it  as  episodes  or  cantos,  without  any  material  alte- 
 ration of  the  plan. 
 
 The  different  episodes  generally  commence  with  a 
 descriptive  passage,   in  the  following  manner: 
 
 "  Mirrie  time  is  Auerille, 
 
 Than  scheweth  michel  of  our  will 
 
 In  feld  and  mede,  floures  springeth, 
 
 In  grene  wodc,  foules  singeth  •, 
 
 Vong  man  wcxeth  jolif, 
 
 And  than  proudeth  man  and  v. 
 
 The  barouns  com  to  Fortiger, 
 
 And  grettcn  him  with  glad  chcr  ; —  n 
 
 "  Miri  time  it  is  in  May, 
 Then  wexcth  along  the  day ; 
 Floures  schewen  h<  r  horjoun  -, 
 Miri  it  i  >  in 
 
 Foulcs  miri  in  n  th  i 
 
 Dai  h ; 
 
 A  barou 
 
 1  grettcn  him  with  glad  chcr. 
 
 2  f  ii 
 
224 
 
 Mine  it  is  in  time  of  June, 
 
 When  fenel  hongeth  abrod  in  toun, 
 
 Violet  and  rose  flour 
 
 Woneth  than  in  maidens  bour  ; 
 
 The  sonne  is  hot,  the  day  is  long  ; 
 
 Fouleth  make  miri  song  -, 
 
 King  Arthour  bar  coroun, 
 
 In  Cardoile  that  noble  toun —  " 
 This  romance,  in  the  Auchinleck  mss,  terminates 
 with  the  rescue  of  king  Leodegan,  the  father  of  Gay- 
 nour  or  Gvenour,  from  Rion  and  Antour  ;  and  con- 
 sists of  above  10,000  lines.  It  commences  with  a  reli- 
 gious invocation,  like  other  metrical  romances,  which 
 as  duly  begin  with  invoking  Jesus  Christ,  or  his  mo- 
 ther Mary,  as  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans,  with 
 invoking  the  Muse,  or  as  the  Mahometans,  with  call- 
 ing on  the  name  of  Allah.  "  Every  man,  "  says  an 
 Arabian  author,  "  who  has  a  design,  and  begins  not 
 the  prosecution  of  it  with  the  praise  of  God,  is  either 
 dumb,  or  incapable  of  compassing  his  enterprize.  "  ' 
 The  ancient  minstrels  seem  to  have  adopted  the  same 
 opinion.  After  some  reflections  on  the  propriety  of 
 sending  children  to  school  to  learn  French  and  Latin, 
 the  author  declares,  that  he  composes  his  tale  in 
 English,  because  many  noblemen  did  not  understand 
 French. 
 
 "  Mani  noble  ich  haue  yseize 
 
 That  no  Freynsche  couthe  seye.  " 
 II.     Wallace.     This  work,  the  composition  of  a 
 Scoto-Saxon  minstrel,  has  long  been  popular  in  almost 
 every  quarter  of  Scotland.     Various  editions  in   i2mo 
 
 were 
 "  I   Murtadi's  Egyptian  History,  translated  by  Davies,  p.  7. 
 
225 
 
 were  early  circulated  among  the  common  people,  and 
 with  the  works  of  Sir  David  Lindsay,  and, 
 
 III.  The  Bruce,  a  similar  metrical  history  of  an 
 illustrious  Scotish  hero,  formed  a  sort  of  popular  clas- 
 sics. In  the  pastoral  districts  of  the  South  of  Scotland, 
 many  shepherds,  at  a  late  period,  were  able  to  repeat 
 the  greater  part  of  all  these  compositions  ;  and  I  have 
 often  heard  it  observed,  that  these  rude  minstrels  were 
 commonly  the  most  unlearned.  This  observation  ap- 
 plies, with  still  greater  force,  to  the  reciters  of  ancient 
 Gaelic  poems  among  the  modern  Highlanders,  many 
 of  whom  are  unable  to  read  or  write.  The  life  of  a 
 shepherd  admits  of  much  reflection  ;  and  perhaps  few 
 situations  can  be  more  agreeable  to  a  mind  that  has  ac- 
 quired some  materials  of  thinking,  and  is  not  disturb- 
 ed by  ambition  and  the  more  restles  i 
 
 pherd  is  fond  of  theological   .  h   in 
 
 Scotland  often  happens,  he   frequently  be  a  rus- 
 
 tic polemic.     I  have  known  several 
 
 rt  of  the 
 Bible.     Another  favourite  object  of  study,  i 
 history  ;  and  as  few  books  are  ^o  much  calculated  fa 
 (if y 'national  prejudices  and  partiality  as  the   Vv'.\: 
 and  the  Bruce,  no  history  obtain.;  uion. 
 
 The  most  brilliant  episodes  .  ionally  chaunl 
 
 monotonous  legendary  airs.     I:i  inner,   m   . 
 
 ries  are  melted  down  into 
 
 dies.      Metrical   i  ,   and 
 
 songs  celebrating  i: 
 ed  from  time  to  time  ; 
 
 i  btain  popularity,  are    • 
 of  the  original  mel 
 in  this  manner,  accumulate.     Two  : 
 
226 
 
 which  relate  to  Wallace,  are  preserved  in  the  Medley  - 
 in  Constable's  ms.  Cantus. 
 
 "  Wallace  parted  his  men  In  three, 
 And  sundrie  gaits  are  gone.  " 
 The  other  commences, 
 
 "  Now  will  ye  hear  a  jollie  gest, 
 
 How  Robinhood  was  Pope  of  Rome, 
 And  Wallace  King  of  France.  " 
 "  The  Gude  Wallace,  "  another  fragment,  is  printed 
 in  Johnson's  Musical  Museum,  p.  498.     Of  rhyming 
 distichs,  some  are  serious,  and  some  ludicrous.     I  re- 
 collect to  have  heard  the  following  on  Wallace  : 
 "  Wallace  wight,  upon  a  night, 
 Coost  in  a  stack  o'  bear, 
 And  ere  the  morn  at  fair  day-light 
 Twas  a'  draff  to  his  mare.  " 
 A  similar  distich  is  sometimes  repeated  concerning  the 
 Burning   of   the    Barns  of    Ayr.      Besides  Barbour's 
 Bruce,  it  appears,  that  a  poem  of  a  similar  title   was 
 written  by  Peter  Fenton,  a  monk  of  Melrose,  in  1369. 
 IV.     The  Tale  of  the  King  of  Estmureland's 
 Marriage  to  the  King's  daughter  of  Westmureland. 
 This  may  probably  be  the  original   of  the  romantic 
 tale  of  King  Estmere  in  Percy's  Reliques  of  Ancient 
 English  Poetry,     Estmureland  is  probably  Northum- 
 berland,   the   eastern  coast    of   England,    opposed  to 
 Westmoreland,  as    a    term   of  relative    position.      In 
 Clariodus  and  Meliades,  Estureland  is  the  country  of 
 the  Easterlings,  or  Flemings.     King  Easter  and  King 
 Wester,  are  mentioned  in  the  popular  Ballad  of  "  False 
 Foodrage."  *      But  a  learned  antiquary  conjectures,  that 
 this  is  probably  the  ancient  romance  of  Hornchild. 
 
 V. 
 
 1   Scott's  Minstrelsy  of  the  Border. 
 
227 
 
 V.  Skail  Gillenderson,  the  King's  son  of 
 Skellye. 
 
 VI.  The  Tale  of  Sir  Euan,  Arthur's  knight. 
 The  hero  of  this  romance,  Euan,  Twain,  or  Owen, 
 was  an  illustrious  British  chieftain,  the  son  of  Urien, 
 prince  of  Reged,  a  territory  which  seems  to  have  com- 
 prehended the  forests  of  the  South  of  Scotland.  In 
 this  district,  the  traditions  of  Arthur  and  Merlin  arc 
 not  quite  forgotten,  though  they  are  much  less  preva- 
 lent than  in  Strathmore.  Warton  cites  the  romance 
 of  Ywain  and  Gawain.  x  A  metrical  legend,  entitled 
 Sir  Owain,  occurs  in  the  Percy  and  Auchinleck  mss. 
 It  records  the  same  adventures  in  St  Patrick's  Purgato- 
 ry, which  are  related  by  Mat.  Paris,  (sub  anno  1 1 53) 
 and  contains  some  highly  poetical  passages.  As  the 
 knight  is  termed  a  Northumbrian,  by  the  historian,  ( 
 
 of  Reged,  a  district  which  probably  included  some  part 
 of  Northumberland,  may  perhaps  be  intended.      Owen 
 ap  Urien  is  celebrated  by  Taliessin  &  Llwarch  lk-n,  and, 
 in  the  Triades,  is  styled  one  of  "  the  blessed  rulers  of  the 
 ible  of  Britain.  "     GrufTydd  Lhwyd,  in  140c,  allu-.i 
 his  encounter  with  the  Black  Knight   of  the   - 
 Warton  status,  on  the   authority  of  T.   Mes 
 Florilegium,  p.  86,   Paris,    1624,   that  "  Sir  Ow< 
 was  composed  by  Henry,  a  Cistercian  Monk  of  Saltrv, 
 in  Huntingdonshire,  in  1140. 
 
 VII.  Rauf    Collzear.       According    to    A: 
 
 u  the  Taill   of  Rauf   Coilzcar,  Low  Ik    harbreit    king 
 Charles,"   was    printed    at   St  Andrew,    b\   Lekpreuik. 
 i6mo,   1572.     This  personage  is  mentioned  by    D 
 las  in  the  Palace  of  Honour  : 
 
 -   I 
 
 1    Wanton's  History  •  Vol.  III.  r    | 
 
 a   3 one*'  Rctickl  p.  41. 
 
228 
 
 "   I  saw  Raf  Qoilzear  with  his  thrawan  brow, 
 Crabbit  Johne  the   Reif,   and    auld  Cowkellpis 
 sow.  "  * 
 He  also  occurs  in  Dunbar's  Address  to  the  King  : 
 "  Quhen  servit  is  all  udir  man, 
 Gentill  and  sempill  of  every  clan, 
 
 Kyne  of  Rauf  Colyard,  and  Johne  the  Reif  ; 
 Nathing'  I  get,  na  conquest  than  ; 
 Excess  of  thocht  dois  me  mischeif.  " 
 VIII.     Gauen  and  Gollogras.     This   romance 
 was  printed  by  Chepman  and  Myllar  at  Edinburgh,  so 
 early  as  1508.     Wyntown  mentions  a  "  Huchowne  of 
 the  Awle  ryall,  "  as  the  author  of  a   "   Gest  hystory- 
 ale," 
 
 "  That  cunnand  was  in  literature, 
 He  made  the  gret  Gest  of  Arthure, 
 And  the  Awyntyre  of  Gawane, 
 The  Pystyl  als  of  swete  Swsane. "  s 
 Dunbar,  in  his  "  Lament  for  the  Deth  of  the  L I 
 karis, "  mentions  Clerk  of  Tranent,  who  made  the  "  A- 
 venters  of  Sir   Gawane."     Whether  Huchowne  and 
 Clerk  be  different  persons,  and  whether  this  romance 
 be  the  composition  of  either,  is  quite  uncertain.     The 
 only  thing  which  can  be   inferred  with  certainty,   is, 
 that  Sir  Gawan  was   a  favourite  character  with  the 
 Scotish  poets  ;  a  circumstance  accounted  for  by  his 
 Northern  origin,   and  his  reputation  for  ancient  cour- 
 tesy ;  especially  among  the  Welch,  by  whom  he  is  de- 
 nominated Gwalchmai,  the  gel  den-ton gued  warrior  and 
 bard.     The  proper  title  of  "  Sir  Gauen  and  Sir  Gala- 
 
 ron 
 
 *   Palace  of  Honour,  Part  III.  st.  48. 
 a  Hailes'  Bannatyne  Poems,  p.  65. 
 3  Wyntownis  Cron)  kil,  Yol.  I.  p.  112, 
 
22Q 
 
 ton  of  Galloway, "  printed  in  Pinkerton's  Ancient 
 Poems,  in  1792,  is  the  "  Aunter  of  Sir  '  n    x 
 
 IX.  Lancelot  du  Lac.  No  ancient  romance 
 of  this  title  seems  to  be  preserved  ;  but  the  adventures 
 of  this  knight  form  numerous  episodes  in  the   \\\ 
 
 of  the  Sangreal,  the  Mort  d' Arthur,  and  other  "  Gests." 
 The  French  romance  of  this  title,  in  modernized  prose, 
 was  first  printed  at  Paris,  in  1494  •,  which  edition  was 
 followed  by  several  others. 
 
 X.  "  Arthour  Knycht  lie  raid  on  nycht, 
 
 With  gyltin  spur  and  candil  lycht.  " 
 The  romance,    of   which   these    lines    seem   to  have 
 formed  the  introduction,  is  unknown  ;  but  I  have  often 
 heard  them  repeated  in  a  nursery  tale,  of  which  I  only 
 recoiled  the  following  ridiculous  verses : 
 
 "  Chick  my  naggie,  chick  my  naggie ! 
 How  mony  miles  to  Aberdeagie  ? 
 
 Ltj  and  eight,  and  other  eight, 
 We'll  no  win  there  \\V  candle  light 
 
 FLORIMOND  OB  All!  IH 
 
 That  bleu  the  dragon  be  the  u 
 The  name  ol   this  hero  occurs  in  Ro^wall  and   Lilian, 
 a    metrical   roi  <  bal- 
 
 lad   in  the    street:;   of    Ldinburgh  ;    though   with    the 
 ion  of  th  ige,   in  which  some  of 
 
 the  i.  Chivalr.  pd  : 
 
 11  Call  yourself  1 1 
 
 Call  yourself  Sir  Porteou 
 Or  else  the  won 
 
 Call  you  the  noble  Pi 
 Wh<  fair  and  com 
 
 1    Ritson's  Mi;  !  -6. 
 
130 
 
 cause  that  I  love  you  so  vfd$t 
 Let  your  name  be  Sir  Lion  dale  \ 
 Or  great  Florint  of '  Albanic, 
 My  heart,  if  ye  bear  love  to  me  •, 
 Or  call  you  Lancelot  du  Lake, 
 For  your  dearest  true-love's  sake  ; 
 Call  you  the  Knight  of  arms  green, 
 For  the  love  of  your  Lady  sheen.  *  * 
 XIL    The  Tale  of  "  Syr  Waltir  the  bald  Les- 
 lye.  "     This  seems  to  have  been  a  romance  of  the 
 Crusades.     Sir  Walter  Lesly  accompanied  his  brother 
 Norman  to  the  East,  in  the  Venetian  expedition,  to 
 assist  Peter  king  of  Cyprus ;  where,  according  to  For- 
 dun,  "  cceperunt  civitatem   Alexandrinam  tempore  ul- 
 timi  regis  David.  "  a     After  the  death  of  his  brother, 
 he  became  Earl  of  Ross,  and  Duke  of  Leygaroch  in 
 France.     Tire  romance  of  his  exploits  is  supposed  to 
 be  lost. 
 
 XIII.  Robene  Hude  and  Litjl  Jkone.  This 
 is  probably  the  "  Geste  of  Robyn  Hode, "  originally 
 printed  by  "Wvnken  de  Worde,  and  republished  by 
 Ritson  in  his  Robinhcod,  who  has  detailed,  with  mi- 
 nute accuracy,  almost  every  known  circumstance  con- 
 cerning tliis  famous  outlaw.  The  story  of  this  outlaw 
 was  extremely  popular  in  Scotland  ;  and  his  Gest  was 
 published  by  Chepman  and  Myllar,  in  1508.  The 
 Scotish  copy  varies  from  the  English  one,  only  in  some 
 of  the  most  trivial  minutiae  of  orthography.  The  ori- 
 ginal airs  of  the  Robinhood  songs,  many  of  which  are 
 well  known  in  the  South  of  Scotland,  have  never  been 
 
 collected. 
 *   A  pleasant  history  of  RoswALt  AND  Lilian,  declaring  the 
 occasion  of  Roswall  his   removing  from  his  native  kingdom  to  the 
 kingdom  of  Bealm.     Edinr.    1663,   black  letter,  846  lines. 
 1  Forduni  Scotichronicon,  L.  xvi.  c.  15. 
 
'-3* 
 
 collected.     In  their  style,  they  have  some  resemblance 
 to  the  historical  ballads  of  the  Border. 
 
 XIV.  The  Talc  of  the  Ycl  pne.  This 
 seems  to  have  been  originally  a  romance  of  Faery, 
 and  was  probably  converted,  by  popular  tradition,  into 
 a  historical  ballad,  which  is  still  pi  and  pub- 
 lished in  Scott's  Minstrelsy  of  the  Border.  Fragments 
 of  it  first  appeared  in  Herd's  Sc 
 
 Johnson*  Museum,  under  the  titles  i  I  i*  and 
 
 Tarn  Lyn. 
 
 XV.  The  Ryng  of  the  Roy  Robert.     In  ^ 
 kenzic's  Li/res,  vol.  I.,  and  Pinkerton's  list  of  the  poems 
 in   the   Folio   Maitland  ms.,  this  poem   is  ascribed  to 
 Deine  David  Steill.     It  begins, 
 
 w  Iu  to  the  ring  of  the  rov  Robert.  M 
 A  modernized  copy  is  printed  in   "V\ 
 of  Scotish  Poems,  p.  2,  which. 
 
 "  Dureing  the  rejgne  of  the  Royal  Rob 
 
 XVI.  ir  and  Syr  I 
 ized  copy  of  this  romance  is  pi\ 
 
 of  the  original  editor  of  t;  tent   Eng- 
 
 ,ii5h  Poetry.     It  is  divided  i 
 of  about  1470  1 
 
 "  It  ffell  -nine  time  in  thi 
 There  <i-  ; 
 
 The 
 
 Tii. 
 
 I  le  man 
 »   ''  I  ouj  a  i' 
 
 In  the  world 
 
 2    y 
 
*32 
 
 Neither  for  gold,  nor  yctt  for  good, 
 Nor  for  no  highnesse  of  his  blood, 
 Without  he  wold  with  swoords  dint, 
 
 Win  every  battle  where  he  went. 
 
 There  was  in  that  same  time, 
 A  curteous  knight  called  Sir  Gryme  •, 
 And  of  Carwicke  lond  was  hee, 
 He  was  a  wise  man,  and  a  wittye  \ 
 Soe  there  was  in  that  same  place, 
 A  young  knight  men  called  Egace  ; 
 But  his  name  was  Sir  Eger, 
 For  he  was  but  a  poure  bachelour —  " 
 Carwicke  is  probably  Carrick  in  Galloway.     A  mo- 
 dernized copy  of  this  romance,  containing  about  2,800 
 lines,   was   printed   at    Aberdeen,   in  171 1,  under  the 
 title  of  "  Sir  Eger,  Sir  Graham*,  and  Sir  Graysteel. " 
 It  appears  to  have  been  extremely  popular  in  Scotland 
 at  an  early  period ;  for  Hume  of  Godscroft,  in  his  hi- 
 story of  the  family  of  Douglas,  relates  that  James  V. 
 was  accustomed,  in  familiar  conversation,  to  denominate 
 Douglas  of  Kilspindie  "  his  Gray-steill.  "  ,     This  hero 
 is  likewise  mentioned  in  Lindsay's  interludes  : 
 "  This  is  the  sword  that  slew  Gray-steill, 
 Nocht  half  a  myle  beyond  Kynneill.  "  2 
 A  brief  "Explanation  of  the  Life,  or  a  Prophecy  of  the 
 Death  of  the   Marquess  of  Argyle,   composed  in  Sco- 
 tish  rhyme  by  C.  C,   and  printed  in  1686,  4to,  is  ap- 
 pointed to  be   sung  according  to  the   tunc  of  "  old 
 Gray-steel.  " 
 
 XVII. 
 
 1  Hume  of  Godscroft's  History  of  the  Family  of  Douglas,  Vol.  I. 
 P.  107. 
 
 1  Lindsay's  Interludes.  Ap.  Pinkcrtcn's  Scotish  Pccms,  Vol.  II. 
 p.  18. 
 
233 
 
 i 
 
 XVII.     Beuis  of  Southamtoun.     This  romance 
 is  preserved  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.,  and  begins, 
 "  Lordinges  herkneth  to  mi  talc, 
 Is  merier  than  the  niztingale, 
 
 That  y  schil  singe  *, 
 Of  a  knizt  ich  wil  zou  roune, 
 Beues  a  knizt  of  Hamtoun, 
 Withouten  lesirig.  " 
 In  the  third  folio,  this  stanza  is  changed  for  the  short 
 couplet,  which  begins, 
 
 "  Saber  Beues  to  his  hous  hadde, 
 Miche  of  that  leuedi  he  dradde —  " 
 A  .  "  the  French  Tale  "  is  repeatedly  quoted,  it  ap- 
 pears to  be  a  translation  from  that  language.  A  mo- 
 dernized copy  was  printed  by  Pinson,  without  date. 
 As  it  is  full  of  combats  and  feats  of  Chivalry,  from 
 beginning  to  end,  it  was  a  favourite  composition,  in 
 the  middle  ages,  and  is  frequently  quoted  by  ancient 
 writers,  though  it  contains  '  al  beauties.    Some 
 
 beautiful  passages  might,  however,  be  extracted.     Jo- 
 liane,  the  mistress  of  S  ,  i    thu    >:      .       i — 
 
 "  Josiane  that  maid  het, 
 
 Hive  Bchon  wer  gold  upon  liire  fet  ; 
 So  faire  zhe  was,  and  bri/t  oi  mi 
 Ase  snow  upon  the  rede  blod.  " 
 The  popularity  of  this  romance,  appears  to  1 
 
 nimonly  extensive.     Lhuyd 
 fstori    Bonn  o  Mimton.      The  Italian     had   Buovo, 
 d'Antona,  in  their  own  Um  \S. 
 
 Will.    TbeTale  of  the  Tin,  i   Wi 
 
 is  unluckily  lost,  am!  tin-  cha- 
 
 ;act<  is,    in  which  tTM     •     in 
 
 I,  are  nearlv  effaced  from,  me  M  m 
 
23+  . 
 
 creed  of  tradition."  The  Weird  Sisters  were  probably 
 the  pdrca  of  classical  antiquity,  delineated  in  the  terri- 
 fic attributes  of  the  Gothic  deities.  In  Scandinavian 
 mythology,  their  names  were  Urda,  Valdandi,  ami 
 Skulda.  Malone,  in  his  chronological  order  of  Shake- 
 spear's  Plays,  article  Macbeth,  says,  "  In  the  additions 
 to  Warner's  Albion's  England,  which  were  first  print- 
 ed in  1 6 1 6,  the  story  of  the  three  Fairies,  or  Weird 
 Elves,  as  he  calls  them,  is  shortly  told.  " 
 
 XIX.  The  Tale  of  the  Wolf  of  the  Warldis 
 End,  is  likewise  lost,  as  no  MS.  copy  has  been  pre- 
 served. The  romance,  for  the  convenience  of  sing^ 
 ing  or  narration,  has  probably  been  melted  down  by 
 tradition  into  detached  fragments,  from  which  songs 
 and  nursery  tales  have  been  formed.  I  have  heard 
 fragments  of  songs  repeated,  in  which  the  "  well  of 
 the  warldis  end  is  mentioned,"  and  denominated  "  the 
 well  Absalom, "  and  "  the  cald  nvell  sae  weary. " 
 According  to  the  popular  tale,  2  lady  is  sent  by  her 
 stepmother  to  draw  water  from  the  well  of  the  world's 
 end.  "  She  arrives  at  the  well,  after  encountering  many 
 dangers  ;  but  soon  perceives  that  her  adventures  have 
 not  reached  a  conclusion.  A  frog  emerges  from  the 
 well,  and,  before  it  suffers  her  to  draw  water,  obliges 
 her  to  betrothe  herself  to  the  monster,  under  the  pe- 
 nalty of  being  torn  to  pieces.  The  lady  returns  safe  ; 
 but  at  midnight  the  frog-lov  trs  at  the  door,  and 
 
 demands  entrance,  according  to  promise,  to  the  great 
 consternation  of  the  lady  and  her  nurse. 
 
 "  Open  the  door,  my  hinny,  my  hart, 
 Open  the  door,  mine  ain  wee  thing ; 
 And  mind  the  wcrds  that  you  &  I  spak 
 Down  in*tr^e  meadow,  at  the  weil-spring.  " 
 
 The 
 
 i 
 
'J 
 
 The  frog  is  admitted,  and  addresses  her — 
 "  Take  me  up  on  your  knee,  my  dearie, 
 Take  me  up  on  your  knee,  my  dearie  •, 
 And  mind  the  words  that  you  &  I  spak 
 At  the  cauld  well  sac  weary.  " 
 The  frog  is   finally   disenchanted,    and    appears    as   a 
 prince,  in  his  original  form. 
 
 In  the  romance  of  Roswall  and   Lilian,  it  is  said, 
 that 
 
 "  The  knight  that  kept  the  Parent  ice//, 
 Was  not  so  fair  as  Roswall. " 
 Whether  these  circumstances  have  any  relation  to  this 
 romance,  I  cannot  determine. 
 
 XX.  The  Tale  of  the  Red-Etin  with  the  thre 
 heads. 
 
 XXI.  The  Tale  of  the  Giants  that  eat  qmci: 
 
 MEN. 
 
 XXII.  The  Tale  of  the  Three-footed  dog  of 
 Norroway. 
 
 These  romances   are  lost,  or  only  exist  as  popular 
 tales.     The    Red-Etin   is    still    a    popular   characl 
 Scotland  ;  and,  according   to    th  mology  of 
 
 iiis  name,  is  always   represented  as  an  in  pliable 
 nvandizer  on   red   or  raw  ilelh  ;  and 
 the  story  of  Jack  and  the  Bean-stalk, 
 "  Snouk  butt,  snouk  ben, 
 
 I  find  the  smell  o'  earthly  men.  " 
 In   Beaumont  and   Fletcher's  Knigl  irning 
 
 Pesde,  die  giants  and  etins  are  mentioned.  ' 
 
 The  idea  of  the  giants  who  devoured  quick  n 
 is  probably  derived  from  the   Cyclop,,  as  the] 
 
 Beaumont  and  Flechcr'i  IMav 
 
236 
 
 nerally  placed  in  Etaland  ;  by  which,  I  presume,  cither 
 Italy  or  the  country  of  giants  is  signified. 
 
 I  have  never  heard  the  Three-footed  Dog  of  Nor- 
 way mentioned  in  a  popular  tale'-,  but  suspect  the  story 
 to  be  similar  to  that  of  "  the  Black  Bull  of  Norway,  " 
 which  is  common  in  Scotland,  and  forms  the  ground- 
 work of  one  of  Musacus'  Popular  Tales  of  the  Germans.  ■ 
 
 XXIII.  On  fut  by  Forth  as  i  culd  found. 
 Unknown. 
 
 XXIV.  The  Pure  Tynt.  Probably  the  ground- 
 work of  the  Fairy  tale  of  "  the  pure  tint  Rashy- 
 coat,  "  a  common  nursery  tale. 
 
 XXV.  The  Canterbury  Tales  of  Chaucer. 
 
 XXVI.  The  Mervellis  of  Mandiveil.  Print- 
 ed by  Wynken  de  "Worcle,   1499. 
 
 XXVII.  The  Golden  Targe  of  Dunbar. 
 Printed  at  Edinburgh,  by  Chepman  and  Myllar,  1508. 
 
 XXVIII.  The  Paleis  of  Honour,  by  G.  Dou- 
 glas. 
 
 The  greater  part  of  these  metrical  romances  are 
 translated  from  the  French,  though  probably  not  with- 
 out considerable  embellishments  from  fancy  or  tradi- 
 tion. Still,  however,  it  may  be  reckoned  dubious, 
 whether  the  original  stories  be  of  British  or  of  Nor- 
 man growth  ;  though,  from  different  causes,  they  might 
 be  inferior  in  popularity  to  the  Norman  versions  cr 
 refaccimentos.  To  the  romances  of  the  second  class, 
 in  which  the  characters  are  of  French  or  Norman  origin \ 
 the  Norman  trouveurs  have  a  more  appropriate  claim. 
 Even  some  of  these,  however,  do  not  appear  to  have 
 been  of  Norman  origin.     Thus — 
 
 I.     Arthour  of  Litil   Bretangze,    seems  to 
 
 have  been  originally  an  Armorican  story.     The  history 
 
 •  of 
 
237 
 
 of  Arthur,  an  Armorican  knight,  was  translated  from 
 the   French  by  Henry  Lord  Berners,   the  translator  of 
 Froissart.  x     This   hero   of  chivalry  is   mentioned  by 
 Chaucer  in  the  Romaunt  of  the  Rose,  where  La; 
 holds  by  the  hand  "  a  knight  of  prise, 
 
 Was  sibbe  to  Arthour  of  Bretaume.  "  * 
 II.     The  Bald  Braband. 
 '    III.  Ferrand,  Earl  or  Flanders,  that  mareit 
 the  Devil.     The   romance   of  Ferrand  is   lost ;  but 
 the  story  is  probably  the  same  which  is  related  by  Ger- 
 vase   of  Tilbury,  "  de  Domina  castri  de  Espervel, M  3 
 and  by  Bowmaker,  of  the  ancestor  of  the  Planta; 
 family.  4 
 
 IV.  The  Tale  of  the  Four  Sons  of  Ay: 
 Ducange,  in  his  GlofTary  (ad  Mimstelli),   quotes  the 
 fragment  of  an  old  Chronicle,  which  declares,   that 
 
 "  Les  Quatres  Fil .  I  [aimon,  et  Charlon  li  plus  gr.: 
 
 were  among  tlie  heroes  of  Chivalry, 
 "  De  quoy  cils  Menestriers  font  les  nobles  Roma] 
 
 V.  ThkTaleoi  the  Brig  of  the  Mantri 
 The   romance  of  this  nam<  :  ;  but  the 
 story,  a,  Mr  Pink                   observed,  is   alluded    to  in 
 Barbour's  Bruce  ;   where  ir  i:,  said,  I 
 
 " wtrybUl)  and  y  t."  s 
 
 VI.  Th     £ 
 
 VII.  I  of  Nok 
 
 This  rom;  pular 
 
 in    France.      An    old    I 
 
 !    "  Robert  le  DiablCj       i  .  -tier  ; 
 
 1   Walton's  Hi  tory  ol  I 
 ■  Chaucer's  Romaunt  <  .  1561,   1    [ax. 
 
 <):i.\  [mperuli  1  ap   S<  ript.  Rer*  Bran  • 
 4  Fordonl  Brotichron  ill,  vol.  1.  p 
 
 rboui  crton ,  \  1  j    p 
 
238 
 
 and  another,  on  the  same  subject,  occurs  in  Bib). 
 iBleue,  vol.  I.  Warton,  on  the  authority  of  Beau- 
 champ,  mentions  a  French  morality  on  this  subject, 
 entitled,  "  Comment  il  fut  enjoient  a  Robert  le  Diable, 
 fils  du  Due  de  Normandie,  pour  ses  mesfaits,  de  faire 
 le  fol  sans  parler,  et  depuis  N.  S.  eut  merci  delui.  " 
 An  excellent  edition  of  the  English  metrical  romance 
 was  published,  at  London,  in  1798,  by  J.  Herbert, 
 from  an  ancient  illuminated  MS.,  which  the  editor 
 supposes  to  have  been  transcribed  from  an  ancient  edi- 
 tion in  4to,  printed  either  by  Pynson,  or  Wynken  de 
 Worde. 
 
 VIII.  Claryades  and  Maliades.  Of  this  ro- 
 mance, a  fine  MS.,  of  the  latter  part  of  the  16th  cen- 
 tury, is  preserved  in  the  New-Hailes  Library.  Though 
 the  end,  and  seven  folios  of  the  beginning,  be  want- 
 ing, it  contains  above  13,000  lines,  and  is  divided  into 
 five  books.  The  Romance  has  all  the  peculiarities  of 
 Scotish  diction  and  orthography  j  but  appears,  accord- 
 ing to  the  author's  declaration  in  the  fifth  book,  to  be 
 a  translation  from  the  French. 
 
 "  Nocht  can  my  pen  discryue  nor  zit  advance, 
 His  valiant  dcidis  nor  his  chevalrie, 
 So- far  as  might  be  reasouh  satiffiie, 
 He  that  in  French  has  red  this  historie ; 
 To  sic  ane  rethorick  ather  be  laud  and  glorie, 
 As  unto  him  that  did  this  buik  compyle, 
 In  French  illumining  v\  ith  his  golden  style  ; 
 I  he  that  did  it  cut  of  French  transleat, 
 Hes  it  depaint  of  languag  full  ornat, 
 And  lustie  termis  richt  poeticall  5 
 Bot  I  the  third,  and  secundest  of  all, 
 
 Czn~ 
 
239 
 
 Cannot  so  meitter,  as  thay  put  in  prose  ; 
 Full  oft  they  put  the  nettill  for  the  rose, 
 And  oft  the  bindweid  for  the  lillie  quhyte. " — 
 The  poem  seems  to  have  been   composed   for  reci- 
 tation, as  the  author  sometimes  mentions  his  auditors ; 
 as  in  the  second  book, 
 
 "  It  sould  me  vex  and  eik  my  awditouris, 
 For  to  indyte  the  half  of  thair  dolouris.  " 
 The  countries  of 
 
 "  Garnat,  Galice,  France  &  Spainze, 
 Ingland,  Irland,  Esture  &  Castelzie,  " 
 are  enumerated  in  this  romance ;  and  the  "  kingrik  of 
 England"  is  ranked  as  "  nixt  vnder  France,  of  lawde, 
 honor,  and  fame."  The  Bishop  of  "  Durhame,"  and  the 
 Knight  of  Northumberland,  are  mentioned  in  different 
 passages,  as  well  as  "  Sir  Gilzam  de  la  Forrest  of 
 Scotts  regioun,"  and  "  Sir  Hew  de  la  Bas  of  that  na- 
 tione. "  Before  each  of  the  books,  a  blank  space  is 
 left,  apparently  for  the  prologue  •,  the  insertion  of 
 which  is,  however,  omitted  by  the  transcriber,  except 
 in  the  fifth  book,  which  commences, 
 
 "  In  Mayis  seasoune,  soft  and  sweit, 
 When  balmie  liquor  dois  on  it, 
 
 And  bellis  brekis,  and  blomis  on  breid, 
 And  pleas.mtlic  enamellit  is  the  meid. 
 All  ower  depaintit  with  cullouris  new  " — 
 Here  the  transcriber  bi\  abruptly. 
 
 Several  characters  of  claa  icaJ   antiquity 
 tioned  in  Clariodus  and  Melkdefl  i  but  th 
 are  more  famous  in  Gothic  romance,  than  in  the  an- 
 cient authors.      It    nuv  when 
 the  author  men!::  ;                                     ,i    u  ,  \ 
 Apollo,  1  .             and  Penelope,"   th.it  h 
 
 2  h    ij 
 
240 
 
 those  convenient  chronicles  of  the  middle  ages,  which 
 superseded  the    necessity   of   consulting  the  classics ; 
 especially  as  he  likewise  mentions  "  Panthasilla,  Can- 
 das,  Palexine,  Dormigill,  Grisshald,"  with  "  Queen  Pro- 
 serpina and  the  court  of  Fari."     The  number  of  simple 
 and  beautiful  passages  in  this  romance,  the  minute  de- 
 lineation of  the  pomp   and  circumstance  of  Chivalry, 
 the  decorous  reserve  of  the  female  character,  ~  and  the 
 accurate  description  .of  the  forms  of  tournaments,  and 
 other  festal  entertainments,  strongly  suggest  the  pro- 
 priety of  publishing  either  the  whole  of  the  work,  or 
 such  a  series  of  extracts,  as  might  illustrate  the  man- 
 ners of  the  interesting  period  to  which  it  refers.     As 
 it  is  possible   another  MS.  may  exist  in  some  private 
 library,    from  which  the  defects   of  the  New-Hailes 
 copy  may  be  supplied,  it  may  be  proper  to  give  the 
 beginning  and  end  of  that  MS.     It  begins  with  the 
 combat  of  Clariodus  and  the  Lombard  Knight, 
 "  Bricht  as  ane  angell  schyning  in  his  weid, 
 With  force  of  speir  upon  his  mightie  steid  " — 
 It  ends  with  the  tournament  in  France,  in  which  Cla- 
 riodus is  proclaimed  "  Elu  Count  a  la  bell.  " 
 "  Ane  moneth  out,  did  lest  this  tournay, 
 
 That  the  knights  did  him  counter  day  by  day  " — 
 This  romance  is  probably  alluded  to  in  Roswall  and 
 Lillian, 
 
 "  For  blyther  was  not  Meledas, 
 When  as  she  married  Claudius ; 
 Nor  Belsant,  that  most  pleasant  flower, 
 When  she  got  Ronald  to  paramour.  " 
 IX.     Ypomedon.     The  hero  of  this  romance  is  a 
 Norman,  though  his  name  be  derived  from  the  Theban 
 war.    He  is  son  of  Ermones  King  of  Apulia,  and,  by 
 
 his 
 
his  courtesy  and  skill  in  hunting,  gains  the  affections 
 of  the  heiress  of  Calabria,  whom  he  visits  in  disguise. 
 Warton,  r  who  has  exhibited  some  extracts  from  this 
 romance,  is  of  opinion  that  it  is  translated  from  the 
 French  ;  and  Tyrwhitt  1  finds  that  a  romance  of  this 
 title  was  written  in  French  by  Hue  de  Roteland,  an 
 Englishman,  about  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century. 
 In  the  third  class  of  romances,  the  heroes  and  he- 
 roines of  classical  antiquity  are  introduced  in  the  cha- 
 racters of  the  Knights  and  Dames  of  Chivalry  ;  and 
 the  costume  and  manners  of  the  middle  ages,  are  en- 
 grafted on  the  stories  .of  Greece  and  Rome.  As  reli- 
 gion and  morality  had  been  closely  interwoven  with 
 the  texture  of  the  system  of  Chivalry,  and  as  this  inti- 
 mate connexion  had  been  drawn  still  closer  by  the  Cru- 
 sades; the  terms  of  Chivalry  are  also  applied  to  religion. 
 The  soldier  who  pierced  our  Saviour's  side,   is  i 
 
 a  knight,  who  was  made   "  to  take  his  speare 
 in  his  hande,  and  justen  wytli  JtSUS  ;"  ■  and  the  (. 
 tian  is  denominated  the  knight  of  Christ.      '1 
 exhorts  Timothy    "    to    traueil    as   a   g<>>;d    biyzte   of 
 Crist  Ihii, "   in   teaching   other  men  ;    anil   :» 
 man  holdynge  knyzthode   to  god,,   urtwrappith  hj 
 in  worldly  needes.  "  *     The   confusion   which   thi 
 termixture  of  terms   produced,  it   1 
 must  have  been   little  inferior   to   the  ludicrous  combi- 
 nations of  gods  and  heroes  in  the  mythol 
 of  the  ancients.      Accordingly,   We  find,   in  < 
 ancient  romances,  the  worship  of  Pagan  deii 
 cd  to  the  Mahometans,  and  these  deiti<  e  them    I 
 presented  as  saints. 
 
 u 
 
 1  Warton's  Hut.  of  J'.n   ! 
 
 *  Tyrwhitt's  Canterbury  Talcs   4tO,   *  'I ■  i    | 
 
 3  Vision  of  Pierce  Plowman,   Patni  i3. 
 
 4  WTckliU  lament,   I  Tim 
 
^42 
 
 "  Amiztful  Malioun  he  gan  to  seyn, 
 And  Teruagaunt  of  michel  meyn, 
 
 In  zou  was  neuer  no  gile ; 
 Seyn  Jubiter,  and  Apolin, 
 Astirot,  and  seyn  Jouin, 
 Helpe  now  in  this  perile. "  ■ 
 It  is  extremely  to  be  regretted,  that  so  few  romances 
 of  this  class  are  preserved,  as  they  are  no  less  illus- 
 trative of  the  ancient  vernacular  language,  of  the  man- 
 ners and  habits  of  the  middle  ages,  than  those  compo- 
 sitions, in  which  the  characters,  as  well  as  the  costume, 
 are  peculiar  to  the  period  of  Chivalry.     It  is  not  im- 
 probable, but  the  compositions  of  Gower  and  Lydgate, 
 who  seem  to  have  had  a  predilection  for  classical  sto- 
 ries, might,  by  the  superior  popularity  which  they  at- 
 tained, supersede  the  more  ancient  romances,  and  oc- 
 casion their  sinking  into  oblivion.     The  compositions 
 of  this  class,  mentioned  in  the  Complaynt,  are, 
 
 I.  The  Tale  of  Porteus  and  Andromeda. 
 
 II.  The  Tale  of  Hercules  and  the  Hydra 
 with  Seven  Heads. 
 
 III.  The  Tale   o'f   the  Transformation  of 
 Acteon. 
 
 IV.  The  Tale  of  Pyramus  and  Thisbe. 
 
 V.  The  Amours  of  Leander  and  Hero. 
 
 VI.  The  Tale  of  Jupiter  and  15. 
 
 VII.  The  Tale  of   Jason  and  the  Golden 
 Fleece. 
 
 VIII.  The  Tale  of  the  Golden  Apple. 
 
 IX.  The  Tale  of  Dedalus  forming  the  La- 
 byrinth FOR  THE  MlNOTAURUS. 
 
 X.  The  Tale  of  Midas. 
 
 XI. 
 
 x    King  of  Tars,  MS. 
 
243 
 
 XI.  Opheus  King  of  Portingal.  Whether 
 any  romance  of  this  particular  title  exists,  is  uncertain, 
 Orpheus  is  probably  the  name  intended  ;  but  I  know 
 no  romance,  in  which  he  is  represented  as  King  of 
 Portingal.  In  the  Auchinleck  ms.,  however,  he  is  re- 
 presented as  King  of  Winchester ;  and  it  is  possible, 
 that  Portingal  may  be  a  trivial  variation  of  the  same 
 story.  The  romance,  in  the  Auchinleck  ms.,  is  en- 
 titled Orfco  &  Heurodis  ;  and  begins, 
 "  Orfeo  was  a  king, 
 
 In  Inglond  an  heize  lording  ; 
 
 A  stalworth  man  and  hardi  bo, 
 
 Large  and  curteys  he  was  also  ; 
 
 His  fader  was  comen  of  king  Pluto, 
 
 And  his  moder  of  king  Juno  •, 
 
 That  sum  tyme  were  as  godes  yholde, 
 
 For  aventours  that  thai  dede  and  told. 
 
 This  king  soiourned  in  Traciens, 
 
 That  was  a  cite  of  noble  defena  ; 
 
 For  Winchester  was  cleped  tho 
 
 Trac  .  ottten  no.  " 
 
 The  name  of  Winchester  renders  it  probable,  that 
 this  beautiful  romance,  in  which  the  Gothic,  or  per- 
 haps Celtic  mythology  of  the  Fairy  court,  is  intro- 
 duced, is  of  Welch  origin.  In  the  Mort  d' Arthur,  l 
 *he   city  of  Camelot,  a  famous  resident  rthur, 
 
 which  contained  the  Round  Tal  lid  to  be  Win- 
 
 chester ;  to  which  city,  the  name  of  K. K 
 
 lias    observed,  is    given    by    GeoJfroy    of    Mon- 
 mouth ;  x   from  which  we  may  infer,  th 
 al  of  Gwent,  01  Gwynneth. 
 
 »    Mort  d'Arthor,  Part  I.  c   44- 
 -   v»  -ux,  Vol.  I.  p.  246. 
 
244 
 
 The  romance  of  Orfeo  and  Heurodis  consists  of 
 about  560  lines  ;  the  versification,  for  the  period  in 
 which  it  seems  to  have  been  composed,  is  flowing  and 
 harmonious,  and  the  story  is  adapted  to  the  manners 
 of  Chivalry.  Heurodis  is  carried  away  by  die  king  of 
 the  Fairies,  and  is  recovered  by  Orfeo,  in  the  disguise 
 of  a  minstrel.  Unlike  the  classical  story,  the  cata- 
 strophe terminates  quite  successfully.  The  description 
 of  Fairyland  is  equally  beautiful  for  the  composition, 
 and  curious  for  the  mythology.  The  account  of  Fairy 
 hunting,  coincides  with  the  popular  superstition,  beau- 
 tifully delineated  in  that  passage  of  the  scarce  and  cu- 
 rious poem,  entitled  "  Albania  ; "  which  begins, 
 M  E'er  since  of  old  the  haughty  Thanes  of  Ross,  " 
 
 &c.  « 
 As  this  passage  has  been  often  cited,,  it  is  better  known 
 than  the  following,  from  our  romance  : 
 "  He  mizt  se,  him  bi  sides, 
 
 Oft  in  hot  undertides, 
 
 The  king  o  fairy,  with  his  rout, 
 
 Com  to  hunt  him  al  about ; 
 
 With  dim  cri,  and  bloweing, 
 
 And  houndes  also  with  him  berking, 
 
 Ac  no  best  thai  no  nome, 
 
 No  neuer  he  nist  whider  thai  bi  come.  " 
 Besides  this  romance,  the  classical  story  of  Or- 
 pheus is  the  subject  of  one  of  Henrysone's  poems, 
 which  was  printed  by  Chepman  and  Myllar  in  1508, 
 under  the  title  of  "  the  traitie  of  Orpheus  kyng,  and 
 how  he  yeid  to  hewen  &  to  hel  to  seik  his  quene.  " 
 The  morality  of  this  poem  is  better  than  the  poetry, 
 which  is  much  inferior  to  that  of  many  of  Henrysone's 
 
 productions* 
 1    Albania,  p.  19.— London  173.7. 
 
»45 
 
 productions.     This  author  united  a  powerful  alle 
 cal  genius  with   considerable  descriptive   powers  ;  nor 
 was  he  devoid  of  that  dry,  naif  humour,  which  charac- 
 terizes his  master,  Chaucer. 
 
 Besides  the^e  romances,  the  "  Tale  of  the  Priests  of 
 Pebles"  is  cited  in  the  Complaynt,  p.  223,  as  a  popular 
 composition.  Indeed,  this  enumeration  of  popular 
 tales  and  romances,  cannot  be  considered  as  com- 
 though  it  marks  the  peculiar  taste  of  the  author  of  the 
 Complaynt.  "  The  Maying  of  Chaucer,"  a  copy  of 
 the  "  Complaint  of  the  Llaek  Knight,"   i  0  the 
 
 Scotish  id        ,  printed  in  150S,  as   "  Sir 
 
 :our  of  Artoys,  "  a  metrical  romance,  alluded  to 
 in  "  Cockelby's  Sow  •, "  which  animal,  it  is  said, 
 
 M  gaif  a  batell  curious, 
 
 To  Eglamoir  of  Artherus.  ** 
 Douglas  mention,  u  Peirs  Plowman,  "  w  Maitland 
 upon  auld  Beird  Gray,"  "  How  the  "Wran  cam 
 
 ,  "  "  Gilbert  with  the  white  hand,  "  "  11  ow 
 Hay  of  Nauchton  slew  in  Madin  land.  n  ■  Madin 
 land,   is   probably   the   country   of  the    .\ 
 
 nerly  to  I  ject  of  some  popu- 
 
 lar Scotish  so.  r  the  foll<  11  in  a 
 
 medley  in  Constat  .  Cantus  : 
 
 "  Wee  be  all  of  Maiden  I 
 ,  you  ma] 
 Doug] 
 
 Dun! 
 
 Beatoun, 
 
 2  i  — M  sum 
 
 >   1  .  -58. 
 
246 
 
 — cc  sum  time,  wist  not  quhair  to  liyde  his  he'd, 
 
 Bot  disagysit,  like  Johne  the  Raif,  he  zeid. "  x 
 Lindsay  likewise  mentions  the  "  Spreit  of  Gv,  "  pro- 
 bably alluding  to  the  romance  of  "  Gy  of  Warvvicke.  " 
 
 In  a  MS.  poem  of  Weddcrburne,  an  allusion  oc 
 to  another  romance — 
 
 "  Zung  Pirance,  the  son  of  erle  Dragabald, 
 Was  dirlit  with  lufe  of  fair  Meridiane  ; 
 Scho  promest  him  hir  luve  evin  as  he  wald, 
 And  in  ane  secret  place  gart  him  remane, 
 Blawand  ane  kandill  by  art  magic; ane, 
 In  frost  and  snaw  quhill  day  licht  on  the  mome."  ! 
 A  considerable  number  of  the  romances  here  recited,  ap- 
 pear to  have  been  equally  popular  in  England,  about  the 
 period  of  the  Complaynt;  for,   the  language  in   which 
 they  were  composed,  was  understood  with  equal  facili- 
 ty, in  both  kingdoms,  and  the  manners  of  the  lower 
 classes  were  not  essentially  different.     In  "   a  Letter  ; 
 whearin,  part  of  the  entertainment  vntoo  the  queen  v. 
 Maiesty,  at  Killingwoorth  castl  in  Warwik   Sheir,   in 
 the  Soomerz  Progress,  1575,  is  signified,  "  we  are  pre- 
 sented with  the  following  curious  enumeration  of  ro- 
 mances and  songs,  which  were  then   popular  in  ; 
 land. 
 
 "  Captin  cox,  an  od  man  I  prom:/  von  :  by  profes- 
 sion a  mason,  and  right  skilfull,  very  cunning  in  fens, 
 and  hardy  az  Gawin  \  for  his  tonsword  hangs  at  his 
 tablz  eend  :  great  ouersight  hath  he  in  matters  of  sto- 
 rie  :  for  as  for  King  Arthurz  book,  Huon  of  Burdeaus, 
 The  foour  suns  of  Aymcn,  Beuys  of  Hamton,  The 
 squyre  of  lo  degree,  The  knight  of  courtesy  and  the 
 
 lady 
 
 1   Lindsay's  Works,  p.  204-     I 
 3    Bannatync  MS. 
 
Lay  Faguell,  Frederik  of  Gene,  Syr  Eglamoour,  Syr 
 Tryamoour,  Syr  Lamweil,  Syr  Isenbras,  Syr  Gawyn, 
 Olyuer  of  the  castl,  L  $,  Virgels  life, 
 
 The  castl  of  Ladiez,  The  wido  Edyth,  The  King  and  the 
 Tanner,  Frier    Rous,    Howleglas,  Gargantua,  Robin- 
 hood,  Adam    BeJ  Ciim  of  the  Clough  &   William  of 
 Cloudcdey,  The  Churl  and  the  Burd,  The  seuen  Wise 
 lapt  in  a  Morels  skin,  The  sak  full  of 
 nuez,  The  Seargeaunt  that  became  a  Fryar,  Skogan, 
 i  Cloout,  The  Fryar  and  the  Boy,  Elynor  Rum- 
 ming,  and  the  Nutbrooun  maid,  with   many  moe  then 
 vn.  heere  :    1  beleeue  he  haue  them  all  at  hiz 
 rs  endz.     Then  in  philosophy,  both  morall  &  na- 
 turall,  I  think  he  be  az  naturally  ouerseen :  beside  poe- 
 trie  and  astronomie,   and  oothcr  hid  sciencez,  as  I  may 
 by  the  oaaberty  of  hiz  books :  whearof  part,  az  I 
 mber;  The  sheperdz  kalender,  The  ship  of  Foolz, 
 The  booke  oi'  Fortune,  Stans  puer  ad 
 to    the    Spitlhouse,    Julian    of 
 -it,  The  Castle  of  Loue,  The  booget 
 I  mery  Tale/,  The  book  of 
 Ridel  ororz  of  wemen,   The   pi 
 
 'um  of  a  peniwoorth  of 
 
 wit:   I  :  •!.!)'/,    Youth  and  Charitie, 
 
 ,  l  npacient  poucrtie,  and  heer  with, 
 
 Doctor  Baord  health.     What  sh<x  Id  1  re- 
 
 .i  bunch  of  ballet  -  I  aun- 
 
 n  hil  i  So  vro 
 
 Troly  in  j 
 
 bek  ; 
 I 
 
 I  bound  with  a  w 
 And  si 
 
 2    i    ij 
 
248 
 
 merides)  I  wcene  hee  can  sheaw  from  Jasper  Laec  ct 
 Antwarp,  vnto  Nostradam  of  Frauns,  and  thens  vnto 
 oour  John  Securiz  of  Salsbury.  To  stay  you  no  longer 
 heeriii,  I  dare  saye  hee  hath  az  fair  a  library  for  thees 
 sciencez,  and  az  many  goodly  monuments,  both  in 
 prose  &  poetry,  &  at  afternoonz,  can  talk  as  much 
 without  book,  az  ony  Inholder  betwixt  Drainfoord  and 
 Bagshot,  what  degree  soeuer  he  be,  "   &c.  ■ 
 
 This  comparative  view  of  the  poetical  taste  of  the 
 sister  kingdoms,  will  show,  that  many  of  the  romances, 
 which  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Scotish  Low- 
 landers,  were,  at  the  same  period,  popular  in  England. 
 Indeed,  from  the  similarity  of  language  and  manners, 
 it  is  extremely  probable,  that  the  same  minstrels  might 
 occasionally  exhibit  their  performances  in  both  coun- 
 tries. Accustomed  to  a  wandering  and  unsettled  life, 
 they  were  generally  welcomed  wherever  they  came  ; 
 and,  wherever  they  came,  they  were  anxious  to  recom- 
 mend themselves,  by  accommodating  their  recitations 
 to  peculiar  taste,  or  local  prejudices.  When  Orpheus 
 is  roughly  questioned  by  the  fairy  king  concerning  his 
 intrusion  into  the  court  of  that  monarch,  the  minstrel 
 replies, 
 
 "  Lord,  quath  he,  trowe  ful  wel, 
 Y  nam  bot  a  pouer  menstrel  •, 
 And,  Sir,  it  is  the  maner  of  ous, 
 To  seche  mani  a  lordes  hous, 
 Thei  we  nouzt  welcom  no  be, 
 Zete  we  mot  proferi  forth  our  gle.  *  z 
 The  history  of  the  Provencal  Troubadours,  of  the 
 Norman  Trouveurs,  and  of  the  English  Minstrels,  has 
 
 been 
 
 1   Dugdale's  History  of  Warwickshire,  p.  1 66. 
 1  Orfeo  and  Heurodis.   us. 
 
249 
 
 been  investigated  with  equal  learning  and  ingenuity  ; 
 much  curious  and  valuable  information  concerning  the 
 Welch  and  Irish  bards  has  been  exhibited  to  the  pub- 
 lic *,  but  the  state  of  the  Minstrels  in  the  Scotish  Low- 
 lands, has  been  left  in  great  obscurity.  This  subject, 
 though  intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  ro- 
 mance, popular  songs,  and  poetry  in  Scotland,  is  ex- 
 tremely obscure,  and  the  researches  of  the  editor  have  not 
 enabled  him  to  elucidate  it.  In  Cockelby's  Sow,  a  bard 
 is  introduced  in  the  most  contemptible  company,  at  the 
 "  mangery  "  of  a  harlot ;  as  in  the  following  passage — 
 "  A  lunatyk,  a  sismatyk, 
 
 An  heretyk,  a  purspyk, 
 
 A  Lumbard,  a  Lolard, 
 
 An  usurer,  a  bard, 
 
 An  ypocreit  in  haly  kirk, 
 
 A  burn-grenge  in  the  dirk.  "  r 
 Dunbar,    who    himself  had  some   pretensions    to  the 
 character  of  minstrel   or   bard,  cor. 
 degree,  the  contempt  which  he  perceived  to  be  falling 
 upon  the  order,  by  excluding  them  from  the  infcrn.il 
 regions, 
 
 "  Na  menstralls  playtt  to  thamc  but  dowt, 
 For  glemen  thaire  wer  haldin  out 
 
 Be  day  and  eke  by  nicht.  "  l 
 But  it  was  not  solely  disrespect  and  conten  | 
 the  minstrels  had  to  encounter.     In  an  ancient  S 
 law,  which  is    commonly  attributed    to  ,   it   is 
 
 ordered,  that   "   all    vagaboundis,  fuilis,  bardut  skiui- 
 laris,  and  sic  lyke  idill  peopill,  talbe  brynt  on 
 and  skurged  with  Windif,  bot  gyf  t\ 
 
 1    Cockelby's  Sow,  ms. 
 
 a  Hailci'  Bannatync  Putins,  p. 
 
250 
 
 io  v  leving.  "     It   is   probable,  however; 
 
 this  regulation  extende  I  only  to  wandering  minstrels, 
 who.se  vagrant  habits  of  life  had  a  natural  tendei 
 lead  them  to  be  guilty  of  various  irregularities.  It  has 
 already  been  mentioned  (p.  65.)  that  the  laws  of  He- 
 raldry prescribed  the  manner  in  which  a  minstrel  was 
 required  to  wear  the  arms  of  his  prince  or  lord  ;  and 
 ?.$  the  nobility  of  a  great  part  of  Scotland  were  of  Nor- 
 man extraction,  and  frequently  held  possessions  both 
 in  Scotland  and  England,  it  is  impossible  to  suppose 
 that  they  would  not  imitate  the  manners  of  the  Nor- 
 man Barons  in  fo  important  a  practice  as  that  of  main- 
 taining minstrels  attached  to  their  particular  {11^ 
 
 opinion  is  corroborated  by  the  existence  of  some 
 fragments  of  genealogical  poems  in  Scotland  ;  such  as, 
 "  An  account  of  the  Dunbars,  Earls  of  Moray,  and 
 of  the  family  of  Sir  Alexander  Dunbar  of  Westfield,  " 
 dated  1554?  in  the  archives  of  the-  Westfield  family. 
 It  thus  begins  : 
 "  The  douhty  deidis  with  mycht  armipoter.r, 
 
 In  short  sentens  of  nobillis  to  conclude, 
 My  wit  is  weak  and  insufficient, 
 
 For  our  defence,  vat  largelie  bled  yair  bhacle.  x  ' 
 Fragments  of  a  similar  poem,  relating  to  the  Arbuth- 
 not  family,  as  I  am  informed  by  a  gentleman  who  heard 
 the  character  of  Hugh  le  Blond,  the  ancestor  of  the 
 family,  recited  ;  were  lately  current  among  die  de- 
 pendents of  that  house.  Scot  of  Satchell's  History 
 of  the  name  of  Scott,  is  a  later  work,  of  a  similar 
 kind ;  which,  however,  marks  the  antiquity  of  the 
 practice:  as,  about  the  middle  of  the  17th  cen- 
 tury,   the    ancient  customs    were    by    no   means    e- 
 
 radicated 
 
 1  History  of  Moray, 
 
251 
 
 radicated  from  the  Scotish  Border.      Of   the  genius 
 of  the    Scotish  it    is    difficult    to    form 
 
 an  accurate   i  ,  as  so  few   compositions,  which 
 
 can  be  certainly  referred  to  them,  are  extant.     A  con- 
 
 f  the  names  of  earl, 
 preserved  ;  but,  to  very  few  of  these,  could  the  ter 
 minstrel  be  applied  with  propriety.  Henry,  the  au- 
 thor of  tl  has  perhaps  the  best  claim  to  this 
 character  ;  since,  according  to  Major,  h  d  his 
 food  and  clothing  by  *  atation  of  histories  or 
 *s  "  before  the  nobles  of  the  land.  l  I  have  found 
 no  mention  of  a  "  king  of  the  minstrels"  in 
 
 From  the  intimate  connexions  of  die  Scotish  Low- 
 's and 
 Galloway,  as  well  indis 
 
 of  Erischerie  i 
 
 1  y  had  th  with 
 
 j  the  Irish, 
 
 sys- 
 
 of    Ban  i     the 
 
 ed   only   at  a    I 
 
 count  of  |  ubdued  Iri  ;h  ti 
 
 *  the  bai 
 t  Woo  oquent  o- 
 
 ■  ile."  * 
 
 ■  \  the 
 
 •,  by  rep  athers 
 
 ,''   devoutly'  e-  holy 
 
 at  a  deuill  !  "     Thi 
 
 i 
 
 1    V  14. 
 
 :  1'.  L'Si. 
 
2*52 
 
 "  —was  no  famous  oratour,  nor  craftle  manne  of  law, 
 
 Which  from  a  but  of  muskadine,  a  tunne  of  malmessie  drawe,  " 
 
 in  his  rude  style,  and  barbarous  versification,  descants 
 on  the  attachment  of  the  Irish  to  their  own  poetical  his- 
 tory. After  describing  the  rustic  fashion  of  their  en- 
 tertainments, he  adds, 
 
 V  Now  when  their  gutts  be  full,  then  comes  the  pastime  in  ; 
 The  bard  and  harper,  melodie  unto  them  doe  beginne ; 
 This  barde  he  doeth  reporte,  the  noble  conquests  done, 
 And  eke  in  rimes  shewes  forthe,  at  large,  their  glorie  thereby  wonne. 
 Thus  he  at  randome  ronneth,  he  prickes  the  rebells  on, 
 And  shewes  by  such  externall  deeds  their  honour  lyes  upone. 
 And  more  to  stir  them  up  to  prosecute  their  ill, 
 What  greate  renowne  their  fathers  gotte,  thei  showe  by  riming  skill. 
 And  thei  most  gladsome  are,  to  heare  of  parents  name, 
 As  how,  by  spoiling  konest  men,  thei  wonne  suche  endlesse  fame; 
 Wherefore,  like  graceless  graftes  sprong  from  a  wicked  tree, 
 Thei  growe,  through  daily  exercise,  to  all  iniquity. " 
 
 The  attachment  of  the  Scotish  Highlanders  to  the 
 subjects  of  their  native  poetry,  was  not  inferior  to  that 
 of  the  Irish  •,  and  Carswell,  Bishop  of  the  Isles,  in  the 
 preface  to  his  Irish  Liturgy,  published  in  1566,  ac- 
 cuses his  countrymen  of  neglecting  the  sacred  scrip- 
 tures, from  their  fondness  for  the  histories  of  the  "Mi- 
 lesians, Tuath  de  Danans,  and  Fingalians.  Nor  were 
 the  Lowlanders  quite  unacquainted  with  these  Celtic 
 heroes,  though  they  did  not  hold  them  in  high 
 estimation.  In  Barbour's  Bruce,  the  Lord  of  Lorn, 
 with  great  propriety,  compares  the  Scotish  hero  to 
 Gowmacmorne,  '  one  of  the  most  celebrated  champion s, 
 among  the  tribes  of  Irish  extraction.  In  the  early  edi- 
 tions of  that  poem,  Fingal  is  likewise  mentioned.  It 
 is  possible,  some  Gaelic  Poem  may  be  still  preserved, 
 which  may  explain  this  allusion.    In  the  "  Houhte  "  of 
 
 Holland  j 
 1   Barbour's  Bruce,  a  Pinkerton,  L.  III.  p.  66. 
 
*53 
 
 Holland,  an  Irish  Bard,  acquainted  with  all  the  Kings 
 of  the  "  Erchrie,  "  is  personated  by  the  raven.  In 
 the  "  Historie  of  Squyer  Meldrum, "  and  also  in  his 
 Interludes,  Lindsay  has  mentioned  Gowmacmornj  as 
 a  well  known  character.  Thus,  the  Squire  replies  to 
 the  challenge  of  the  English  champion, 
 
 "  Thocht  thou  be  greit  liko  Gowmacmorne, 
 Traist  weill  I  sail  zou  meit  the  morne. "  " 
 And  in  the  Interludes, 
 
 "  I  trow  yone  be  grit  Gowmakmorne.  "  * 
 In  the  Interlude  of  the  "  Droichis, "  not  only 
 "  worthie  king  Arthour  and  Gawane  "  are  mention- 
 ed, but  likewise  the  Gaelic  -  Fyn  Mackowll  and  Gow- 
 macmorne,  who  must,  of  consequence,  at  that  time, 
 have  been  characters  popular  among  a  Lowland  au- 
 dience. Had  these  personages  been  introduced  to  re- 
 present their  particular  characters  in  the  Interludes,  this 
 inference  might  not  have  been  logical  j  but  as  they  are 
 merely  mentioned  in  rapid  allusions,  the  consequer.ee 
 seems  to  follow  undeniably.  To  vindicate  the  au- 
 thority, or  the  authenticity  of  the  Irish  or  Gaelic 
 poems,  which  have  been  presented  to  the  public,  is 
 not  only  foreign  to  the  present  investigation,  but 
 would  require  a  knowledge  of  the  various  Celtic  dia- 
 lects, which  die  editor  by  no  means  possesses.  He  can- 
 not, however,  avoid  remarking,  that  the  Irish  or  G.ic- 
 lic  Bards,  in  the  most  early  periods  of  Scotish  history, 
 were  held  in  much  higher  approbation,  than  in  the 
 cr  •,  and  were  even  admitted  to  exhibit  in  encc 
 
 of  Majesty.      Thus,  at   the   coronation   of   A 
 
 2  k  HI, 
 
 1    Lindsay*!  Motoric  of  Sq 
 1   Undsay'i   loterhi  I 
 
 il.  i    18. 
 
254 
 
 III,  his   genealogy  to  Fergus  I.  was  recited  by  a  Gae- 
 lic Bard,  dressed  in  a  scarlet  tunic.  ' 
 
 For  the  original  establishment  of  Minstrels  or  Bards, 
 among    the    Celtic    tribes   of  Ireland,  Scotland,  Man, 
 Wales,  Cornwall,  and  Armorica,  it  is  needless  to  have 
 recourse  to  the  institutions  of  Druidism.     Druidism  is 
 itself  so  obscure,  that  it  can  hardly  be  expected  to  elu- 
 cidate any  other  subject.     But  it  is  an  established  fact, 
 that,  among  the  Celtic  tribes,  the  order  of  Minstrels  was 
 more  numerous,  more  respectable,  and  of  more  exten- 
 sive  influence,  than   in   any  nation  of  Gothic   origin. 
 The  origin  of  romantic  fiction   is  a  most  curious  sub- 
 ject of  investigation,  but  involved  in  the  greatest  ob- 
 scurity.     Those  who   have  most  deeply  investigated 
 the  subject,  have  formed  opinions  extremely  different  > 
 but  the  facts  which  they  allege  in  support   of   their 
 respective    theories,  are  better  calculated  to  establish 
 their   own  opinions,    than  to  invalidate    those  of    o- 
 thers.     The   two  systems  which  have  attracted  most 
 attention,  may  be  denominated  the  Gothic  and  the  A- 
 rabic.     Of  the   Gothic   system,  Mallet,  the  ingenious 
 author  of  the   history  of  Denmark,    notwithstanding 
 his  numerous  blunders,  may  be  regarded  as  the  au- 
 thor.    During  a  long  residence  at  the  Court  of  Den- 
 mark, he   imbibed  a  taste  for  the  native   literature  of 
 that  country  ;  and,  in  glowing  and  eloquent  language, 
 he  delineates  the  characteristic  features  of  the  Icelandic 
 poetry,  and  illustrates  its  probable  influence  upon  the 
 literature  of  the  middle  ages.     His  elegant  translator 
 has  adopted  the   same   opinion ;  and,  in  his  Essay  on 
 Romances,  a  adduces  a  variety  of  arguments  to  sup- 
 port 
 
 *   Forduni  Scotichronicon,  1.  x.  %. 
 
 2  Reliqucs  of  Ancient  English  Poetry,  Vol.  III.  4th  edit. 
 
255 
 
 port  it.     This  opinion  has   likewise  been  embraced  by 
 Pinkerton.     The  Arabic  system  is  of  higher  antiquity, 
 and  probably  originates  from  the  Spanish  writers,  who 
 ascribe   all   the   peculiarities   cf  their  poetry  and   lan- 
 guage, to  the  innovations  introduced  by  the  Moors.     It 
 is  maintained  by  Warburton,  in  his  remarks  on  Love's 
 Labour  Lost,  and   supported  with  copious  illustrations 
 by  Warton,  in  his  preliminary  dissertation  to  the  Hi- 
 story of  English  Poetry.     According  to   this   system, 
 all  the  peculiar  ideas  of  the   Oriental  nations  are  as- 
 cribed to  the  Arabians  ;  and  every  circumstance  in  the 
 romances  of  Chivalry,  which  bears  any  species  of  re- 
 semblance to  the   Arabian  fables,  is   immediately  sup- 
 posed to  evince  their  Oriental  origin.     The  Mcriscosf  or 
 Song-romances  of  Spain,  are  supposed   to  be  the  mo- 
 dels of  the  romances  of  Chivalry  •,  the  fiestas  de  las  ca- 
 nas,  of  the   Gothic   tournaments  •,    and   the  Dou* 
 rokby  or  twelve  champions  of  Cai  Cosrou,  of  the 
 peres    of   Charlemagne,    and    afterwards    of    Artl 
 twelve  knights  of  the  Round  Table.     To  this  s\ 
 the  original  editor  of  the    Reliques  of  English   ft 
 replies,  that  the   Moriseos   cf  the   Spaniards   have  no 
 kind  of  resemblance  to  their  romances  of  Chivalry,  or 
 historias  de  Cavallerias  ;   that  th<  the   Ma- 
 
 hometans, particularly  their  in  with  thi 
 
 sex,  were  totally  averse   from   the    spirit 
 that  the   ancient   Minsl  Found 
 
 ignorance  of  Mahometan  c 
 tons,  or  Armorie:ms,   whom  Watt*  I 
 been  the  first  to  adopt  the   Arabic 
 
 ,•  the  mo.st   dissimilar  to   the    M 
 manners,  habits,    ;mk!  I  ;  while  no  proi 
 
 France  was  more  remote  in  situ 
 2  k  ij 
 
256 
 
 they  inhabited.  He  farther  remarks,  that  the  Arabic 
 original  of  the  romances  of  Chivalry,  is  invalidated  by 
 the  subjects  of  the  most  ancient  of  these  compositions; 
 which  are  not  Moorish,  but  British,  or  Armorican, 
 The  oldest  Spanish  romances  are  reckoned  translations 
 from  the  Norman  French.  According  to  Herberay, 
 the  original  of  Amadis  de  Gaul,  the  first  romance 
 printed  in  Spain,  was  written  in  the  dialect  of  Picar- 
 dy  :  Now,  we  are  assured  by  the  elegant  Tressan,  that 
 the  dialect  of  Picardy  is  almost  exactly  similar  to  the 
 Norman  French  of  the  ancient  fabliaux.  l  It  must 
 be  observed,  however,  that  this  last  objection  applies 
 with  almost  equal  force  to  the  opinion  which  the  inge- 
 nious editor  himself  maintains.  If  the  subjects  of  the 
 romances  of  Chivalry  be  not  Moorish  or  Arabian,  nei- 
 ther are  they  Scandinavian.  The  Icelanders,  like  the 
 Normans,  have  celebrated  many  of  their  native  chiefs 
 in  their  Sagas  •,  but  the  subjects  of  many,  are  Welch 
 or  Armorican.  Thus,  in  Peringskiold's  list  of  Scandic 
 mss.,  in  the  Royal  library  of  Stockholm,  besides  a  me- 
 trical history  of  king  Arthur,  which  records  his  league 
 with  Charlemagne,  the  following  titles  occur  :  Sagan 
 af  Ivent,  Eingland  Kappe  j  the  history  of  Ewain, 
 Arthur's  best  beloved  knight  in  England,  containing  his 
 combats  with  the  Giants  and  Blacks.  This  is  undoubt- 
 edly the  romance  of  Ewain  mentioned  in  the  Complaynt. 
 Sagan  af  Herra  Bewus  ;  the  romance  of  Sir  Bevis. 
 Sagan  af  Artus  Fagra  ;  the  voyage  of  Arthur  the 
 Fair,  and  his  two  brothers,  to  the  remotest  regions  of 
 India,  in  quest  of  the  Phcenix,  to  cure  their  father.  I 
 suspect  this  to  be  the  "  Tale  of  Arthur  knycht,  he 
 rade  on  nycht,  "  &c.  in  the  Complaynt.     Trojoman- 
 
 NA 
 
 1  Tressan,  version  d*Amadis  de  Gaule,  Vol.  I.    Discours  Prelim. 
 
257 
 
 NA  Saga  ;  the  history  of  the  Trojans,  commencing 
 with  Jason  and  Hercules.  Brettomanxa  Saga  ;  the 
 history  of  the  Bretons,  deducing  their  origin  from 
 Troy.  Sagan  af  Karla  Magnuse  og  Koppum 
 Hans  ;  the  history  of  Charlemagne  and  his  knights, 
 comprehending  the  exploits  of  Oddegeir,  Holland,  Or- 
 uel,  Huon,  and  Ferragus,  with  the  fight  of  "  Runsi- 
 vald.  "  '  Almost  all  the  Scandic  poems,  preserved 
 of  Icelandic  origin,  and  ascend  to  no  high  antiquity. 
 The  Niflunga  Saga,  the  most  ancient  of  their  historical 
 tracts,  refers  to  Teutonic  or  German  authorities. 
 The  Germans  themselves,  according  to  Adelung  and 
 Eichhorn,  translated  their  first  romances  from  the  Nor- 
 man French,  selecting,  with  particular  care,  those 
 which  related  to  the  ancient  British  heroes,  as  Tris- 
 tram, Gawain,  and  the  other  Knights  of  the  Round 
 Table.     Thus,  the  Lancelot  du  Lac  of  Arnaud  D. 
 
 translated   by  Ulric  of  Zezam   in  1 190;  and  Sir 
 Tristram,   by    Godfrey  of  Strasbur;:,  in  1250.  *     The 
 fame  of  Sir  Tristram   among   die    Got!. 
 not  inferior  to  that  of  Guy  of  Warwick   among  the 
 Saracens  ;  and  when  ti  f  a  Lombard 
 
 opened  in  1339,  his  sword  was  marked  with  this  in- 
 scription, "  Ce!  C  CT  Tristant  va\  qui 
 occist  l'Amoroyt  d'YiLi-.t. ''  } 
 
 Struck  by  the  force  of  these  objections  to  the  Ara- 
 bic and  Scandinavian  systems,  an  ingenious  writ^  1 
 whose  observations  I  have  availed  myself,  suggests  Ar- 
 morica  as  the  (  romantic  fiction  ;  and  the  • 
 
 arguments  by  which  that   is   rendered   probable,  apply 
 
 N\  ill* 
 I    Wanlcy,  ap.  Hit  kes  T! ICI :uhu«,   Vol.  I!,  p.  314-5 
 
 »   EkMiorn'i  (iod:  cfatt  der  Cultur,  p. 
 
 1   G.  dc  la  ilamma,  ap,  Scriptor.  It&l  IOS& 
 
258 
 
 with  still  superior  force  to  Cornwall  and  Wales.  The 
 inhabitants  of  these  districts,  in  common  with  Armo- 
 rica,  spoke  one  dialect  of  the  Celtic  language,  which, 
 with  some  local  variations,  had  so  great  a  resemblance, 
 that  they  understood  each,  without  much  difficulty. 
 "  Cornubienses  vero  et  Armoricani,  Britonum  lingua 
 utuntur  fere  persimili ;  Cambris  tamen  propter  origi- 
 nem  et  convenientiam,  in  multis  adhuc  et  fere  cunctis, 
 intelligibili. "  *  The  remains  of  the  Celtic  language 
 may  be  considered  as  branching  into  two  principal  dia- 
 lects, each  of  which  is  divided  into  three  different  pa- 
 tois. The  two  principal  dialects  are  the  Welch  and 
 Irish.  The  first  is  divided  into  Welch,  Armorican, 
 and  Comish  ;  the  second  into  Irish,  Scotish,  Gaelic, 
 and  Manks  ;  for  "  the  Irish,  Erse,  and  Manks, "  ac- 
 cording to  an  Irish  poet,  "  are  three  sods  of  one  na- 
 tive soil.  "  *  Of  the  first  class,  all  the  dialects  seem 
 to  have  been  written  languages,  at  a  very  early  period. 
 The  tribes,  by  whom  they  were  spoken,  had  lived  long 
 under  the  Roman  government,  and  could  scarcely  have 
 avoided  receiving  a  tincture  of  Roman  learning.  They 
 had  long  been  converted  to  Christianity ;  and  had  con- 
 sequently been  made  acquainted  with  the  Scriptures. 
 They  were  never  mixed,  or  incorporated  with  the  Go- 
 thic tribes, to  whom  they  either  opposed  a  vigorous  resist- 
 ance, or  granted  a  precarious  kind  of  homage;  and  there- 
 fore it  may  be  presumed,  that  they  preserved  their  pe- 
 culiar manners  and  habits.  The  Norman  Trouveurs, 
 accordingly,  refer  almost  constantly  to  Breton  originals  ; 
 and  the  Welch  boast  the  possession  of  some  very  an- 
 cient poems.     In  the  time  of  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  they 
 
 ascribed 
 
 *  Gyraldi  Cambriae  Descr. 
 
 *  Collectanea  de  Rebus  Hibernicis,  Vol.  IV.  55 1. 
 
 / 
 
259 
 
 ascribed  an  antiquity  of  ten  centuries  to  some  of  their 
 poetical  compositions.     Perhaps  this   antiquity  may  be 
 a  little  exaggerated  •,  but   if  the  state  of  Britain,   ante- 
 rior to  the  invasion  of  the  Saxons,  be  considered,  it  i> 
 by  no  means  improbable,  that  the  Mountain  trib 
 Wales  should  possess  very  ancient  compositions.     The 
 Bretons,  or  Cimbric  tribes,  slowly  resigned  their  i 
 pendence,  to  the  Saxons,  and  the  Celtic  tribes  of  Scotland. 
 After  the  Saxons  had  seized  upon  the  eastern  coasts  of 
 the  island,  they  seem  still  to  have  occupied  the  we 
 coast,  from  the  extremity  of  Cornwall  to  the   Frith  of 
 Clyde.     Governed  by  different  independent  chieftains, 
 who,  so  far  from  acting  in   concert  against  their  ene- 
 mies, were  frequently   engaged   in  mutual  hostilities, 
 the  most  accessible  districts  were  successively  occupied 
 by  their  Saxon  invaders  •,  and  the  mountainous  regions 
 being  thus  insulated,  and  prevented   from   aiding  each 
 other,  gradually  contracted  their  territories,  till  they  fi- 
 nally lost  their  independence.    Cornwall,  or  We^r  YV 
 as  it  is  often   denominated,  gradually  lost  Devonshire 
 and  Somersetshire,   and,  being  separated  from  W 
 was  entirely  reduced,  soon  after  the  Norman  conquest. 
 Wales,  divided  into  three  principalities,  still   maintain* 
 ed  its  independence  till  the   reign  of  Edward   1.  ;   ami, 
 even  in  a  later  period,  made  some  spirited  efforts  to  ac- 
 quire its  freedom.     The   Bretons  of  the   North, 
 probably  occupied   an  extensive   tract    of  countr\ 
 tending  from  Wales  to  the    Frith  of  Clyde,  ! 
 peated  attacks  of  the  Scots,  PfctS,    Ds»C  , 
 were,  at  a  verv  early  period,    separated  into  I 
 visions.      Weakened    by  a  considers  it  illtD 
 
 Wales  in  876,  ifCaradocof  Llancarvon,  01 
 
 polator,  can  be  tTU  i'  bst  pril 
 
i6o 
 
 bria  or  Cumberland,  and  Cambria  or  Strath -Clyde, 
 resigned  their  independence  ;  the  first  submitting  to 
 the  Saxons  in  945  ;  the  second  to  the  Scots  in  970. 
 From  these  districts,  the  Welch  language  seems  to 
 have  been  gradually  extirpated  ;  but,  as  the  inhabitants 
 long  preserved  their  peculiar  manners,  and  enjoyed 
 their  own  laws,  it  is  extremely  probable,  that  their  hi- 
 stories, or  traditions,  would  influence  the  early  litera- 
 ture of  Scotland.  According  to  Innes,  certain  char- 
 ters of  Malcolm  IV.  and  William,  to  the  See  of 
 Glasgow,  are  addressed,  "  Francis  et  Anglicis,  Sco- 
 tis  et  Galweiensibus  et  Walensibus,  et  omnibus  ec- 
 clesiae  S.  Kentegerni  de  Glasgo. "  The  law  of  the 
 Scots  and  Brets,  is  mentioned  in  an  instrument  quot- 
 ed by  Sir  D.  Dalrymple,  so  late  as  1304.  x  Armo- 
 rica,  according  to  the  Welch  historians,  was  colo- 
 nized by  the  provincial  Britains,  in  the  fourth  centu- 
 ry, under  Maximus,  a  Roman  general,  and  Conan, 
 lord  of  Meiriadoc.  A  migration  of  the  Welch  is  men-» 
 tioned  by  Llwarch-hen ;  and,  according  to  Gildas, 
 many  of  the  Britains,  when  assailed  by  the  Saxons — 
 "  Transmarinas  petebant  regiones,  cum  ululatu  magno, 
 ceu  celeusmatis  vice,  hoc  modo  sub  velorum  sinibus 
 cantantes,  Dc  disti  nos  tanquam  oves  escarum^  et  in  genti- 
 bus  dispersisti  nos.  a  Armorica,  as  well  as  provincial 
 Britain,  raised  the  standard  of  revolt  against  Honorius, 
 to  favour  the  designs  of  the  rebel  Constantine  -,  and 
 never  again  resumed  its  allegiance.  After  the  conver- 
 sion of  Clovis,  it  yielded  a  kind  of  nominal  subjection 
 to  the  Francic  monarchs ;  but  long  preserved  its  pecu- 
 liar manners  and  laws  as  a  feudatory  state.     Even  after 
 
 this 
 
 *   Hailes'  Annals,  Vol.  I.  p.  487,  4to. 
 
 2  Gildas,  ap.  Historic  Britann.  Script,  tres,  a  Bertram,  p.  87. 
 
this  submission  to  the  Franks,  the  connexion  bet 
 the  Armoricans,  "Welch  and  Cornish,  w.is  preserved, 
 without  interruption,  till  the  eleventh  century.  To  this 
 intercourse,  the  Abbe  Lebeuf  is  inclined  to  attribute 
 the  characteristic  harshness  of  the  Norman  or  romance 
 language.  ■  As  the  Normans  in  the  vicinity  of  Ar- 
 morica,  had  more  intercourse  with  its  inhabitants,  than 
 with  any  other  tribe  of  Celtic  origin,  and  had,  like 
 them,  an  order  of  reciters,  it  was  very  natural  that  they 
 should  adopt  many  of  the  legends  or  stories  of  the  Bre- 
 tons. Accordingly,  a  Norman  translation  of  twelve 
 Breton  Lais>  by  die  poetess  Marie,  is  preserved  in  the 
 British  Museum,  the  titles  of  which  are  enumerated  in 
 theHarleian  Catalogue,  Eliduc,  Launval,  Guigemar,  &c. 
 In  the  conclusion  of  Eliduc,  the  following  passage  oc- 
 curs : 
 
 "  Del  aventure  de  ces  trcis 
 Li  auncien  Britun  curteis, 
 Firent  lc  lai  pour  remember 
 QJhum  nel  dcust  pas  oublier.  "  * 
 
 A  version  of  the  Lai  le  Frei/i,  another  of  these  poems, 
 a  fragment  of  which  is  preserved  in  the  Auchinkc 
 thus  commences  : 
 
 11   Wc  redeth  oft,  and  findeth  y  i 
 And  this  clerkcs  ucle  it  wite, 
 Laycs  that  ben  in  harpinj, 
 Ben  y  foundc  oi  tali  thing  : 
 Sum  bethe  of  wer,  and  sum  of  wo; 
 And  sum  of  ioie,  and  mirthc  a'- 
 And  sum  of  trecheiic,  and  ^ni  of  gile ; 
 Of  old  auentours  that  fcl  while  ; 
 And  sum  of  bom  tits,   and  libaudy  ; 
 And  mani  thcr  bcth  of  fairy  ; 
 
 2    1  Ol 
 
 »    Lebeuf,  Recherche?,  ap.  Mem.  de  Litt    torn.  xtu.   ; 
 9  Warton'*  History  of  Poetry,  | 
 
262 
 
 Of  al  thingeth  that  men  seth, 
 
 Mcst  oloue  for  sothe  thai  beth. 
 
 In  breteyne  be  hold  time 
 
 This  layes  were  wrouzt,  so  seith  this  rime; 
 
 When  kinges  mizt  our  y  here, 
 
 Of  ani  meruailes  that  ther  were  : 
 
 Thai  token  an  harp  in  gle  and  game, 
 
 And  makcd  a  lay  and  zaf  it  name; 
 
 Now  of  this  anentours  that  weren  y  fallc, 
 
 Y  can  tel  sum  at  nouzt  alle  ; 
 
 Ac  herkneth  lordinges  sothe  to  sain, 
 
 Ichil  zou  telle  Lay  le  frayn. 
 
 Bi  fel  a  cas  in  breteyne, 
 
 Where  of  was  made  Lay  le  frain ; 
 
 In  Ingliche  for  to  tellen  y  wis, 
 
 Of  an  asche  for  sothe  it  is, 
 
 On  en  saumple  fair  with  alle, 
 
 That  sum  time  was  bifalle.  "  * 
 
 The  romance  of  Emare,  likewise  professes  to  be  of 
 Armoric  origin,  as  the  author  declares, 
 
 "  Thys  ys  on  of  Brytayne  layes, 
 That  was  used  by  old  dayes.  "  * 
 
 Another  of  the  Breton  Lais,  is  The  Erle  of  Tho- 
 Louse,  a  metrical  romance,  of  which  the  following 
 lines  are  cited  by  Warton  : 
 
 **  In  romance  this  gest, 
 
 A  Ley  of  Britayrt  called  I  wys.  "  5 
 The  song  of  Sir  Gcwther,   is  taken  from  one  of  the 
 Layes  of  Britanyc ;  and  Chaucer  attributes  the  same 
 origin  to  his  Frankeleins  Tale. 
 
 "  Thise  olde  gentil  Bretons  in  hir  dayes, 
 Of  diverse  aventures  maden  layes, 
 Rimeyed  in  hir  first  Breton  tonge ; 
 Which  layes  with  hir  instruments  they  songc.  "  * 
 
 The 
 
 x  Lay  le  Freyn.     Ms. 
 
 2  Tyrwhitt's  Canterbury  Tales,  vol.  i.   p.  91.     4to. 
 
 3  Warton's  Hi  tory  of  English  Poetry,  vol.  ii.  p.  103. 
 
 4  Tyrwhitt's  Canterbury  Tales,  vol.  i.  p.  447.     4*c* 
 
263 
 
 The  opinion  which  Pelletier  insinuates,  that  the 
 Armorican  tongue  is  incapable  of  poetical  harmony,  is 
 too  absurd,  to  be  seriously  mentioned  ;  and  could  only 
 have  been  rendered  more  ridiculous,  by  his  immediate- 
 ly mentioning  one  Armorican  legend  in  verse,  and  quot- 
 ing other  two  poetical  works  in  his  Dictionary.  Sca- 
 liger  said  facetiously  of  the  Biscayans,  "  they  say  that 
 they  understand  each  other  •,  but,  for  my  part,  I  do  not 
 believe  them  : "  but  it  is  scarcely  more  diilicult  to  con- 
 ceive an  idea  of  a  language  incapable  of  being  under- 
 stood, than  to  form  a  conception  of  one  incapable  of 
 metrical  harmony.  To  the  British  laiss  Warton  is  in- 
 clined to  refer  La  Lai  du  corney  the  original  of  the  in- 
 chanted  cup  of  Ariosto.  To  all  these  we  may  add, 
 the  romance  of  "  Orfeo  and  Heurodis,  "  the  author  of 
 which  ^says, 
 
 44  Harpours  in  Bictainc,  after  than, 
 Herd  hou  this  mernaile  bi  gan; 
 And  made  her  of  a  lay  of  gode  likeing, 
 And  nempned  it  after  the  king  : 
 That  lay  Orfeo  is  y  hote, 
 Godc  is  the  Lay,  swete  is  the  note.  "  * 
 
 The  romance  of  Sir  Degairee,  seems  likewise  to  be 
 of    Armoric    origin;    for,  alter    the    enunciation, 
 story  begins, 
 
 "  In  lit  el  Erct.iyght  was  a  kyn,r, 
 Of  grct  pocr  in  alle  thing.  "  * 
 
 That  class  of  romances  which  relate  to  Charlemagne 
 and  his  twelve  peers,  ought  probably  to  be  referred   to 
 the  same  source ;  since    they   ascribe    to   that   French 
 monarch,  the  feats  which  were  performed  by 
 rican  chief.     The  grand  source  : 
 lous  history  of  Chirlemagn  r  is  ; 
 the  supposititious  history  ascribe* 
 
 2  1  ij 
 
 1  ( 
 
264 
 
 Turpin,  which,  in  11 22,  was  declared  to  be  genuine, 
 by  Papal  authority.  The  history  of  this  work,  is  ex- 
 tremely obscure  •,  but,  as  it  contains  an  account  of  the 
 pilgrimage  of  Charlemagne  to  Jerusalem,  its  composi- 
 tion must  have  been  posterior  to  the  Crusades.  The 
 Abbe  Velly  has  shewn,  that  the  principal  events1 
 which  figure  in  the  romantic  history  of  that  monarch, 
 have  no  relation  to  him  whatever,  though  they  are 
 historically  true  of  the  Armorican  chieftain,  Charles 
 Martel.  It  was  this  hero,  whose  father  was  named 
 Pepin,  and  who  had  four  sons  *,  who  performed  various 
 exploits  in  the  forest  of  Ardenne  against  the  four 
 sons  of  Aymon  ;  who  warred  against  the  Saxons  ; 
 who  conquered  the  Saracens  at  Poictiers  :  It  was  he 
 who  instituted  an  order  of  knighthood  ;  who  deposed 
 the  Duke  of  Aquitain ;  and  who  conferred  the  dona- 
 tion of  the  sacred  territory  on  the  See  of  Rome.  Is  it 
 not,  therefore,  more  probable,  that  the  history  and  ex- 
 ploits of  this  hero,  should  be  celebrated  by  the  minstrels 
 of  his  native  country,  than  that  they  should  be,  for  the 
 first  time,  narrated  by  a  dull  prosing  monk,  some  cen- 
 turies after  his  death  ?  Is  it  not  more  probable,  that 
 when  the  fame  of  Charlemartel  had  been  eclipsed  by 
 the  renown  of  Charlemagne,  the  monkish  abridger  of 
 the  songs  of  the  minstrels  should  transfer  the  deeds  of 
 the  one,  to  the  other,  by  an  error  of  stupidity, 
 than  that  he  should  have  deliberately  falsified  history, 
 when  he  had  no  purpose  to  serve  ?  The  ingeni- 
 ous author  to  which  I  have  already  referred,  seems 
 to  have  pointed  out  the  source  of  this  error.  ■  In  the 
 Armoric  language,  meur  signifies,  great,  mayne ;  and 
 marra,  a  mattock,  martel ;  so  that  instead  of  Charle- 
 magne and  Charles  Martel,  we  have  Charlemeur  and 
 
 Charlemarra  > 
 
 ■  Enquirer  No.  XIX.  ap.  Monthly  Mag,  Feb.  1800. 
 
205 
 
 Charlemarra  ;  names  which,  from  the  similarity  of 
 sound,  might  easily  be  confounded.  A  similar  blunder 
 has  been  committed  by  the  Norman  Trouveur,  who 
 transferred  the  characteristic  epithet  of  Caradoc,  from 
 the  Welch  or  Armorican,  to  the  Romance  language. 
 In  the  Welch  Triades,  the  invincible  Caradoc  is  deno- 
 minated Freich  fras,  from  braich  an  arm,  and  bras 
 strong,  thick,  or,  in  Armoric,  brech  bras,  strong  arm  ; 
 and  of  this  epithet  the  Norman  formed  his  brise-brasy 
 break-arm,  which  occurs  in  the  fabliau  Le  court 
 mantel.  '  The  author  of  the  monkish  history  of 
 Charlemagne,  likewise  refers  to  ancient  songs  •,  for  he 
 says  of  Earl  Oell,  "  De  hoc  canitur  in  cantilena,  usque 
 ad  hodiernam  diem.  "  *  Another  class  of  romances 
 relate  to  Arthur  and  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table. 
 These  are  probably  of  Welch  origin.  According  to 
 Tressan,  all  the  Norman  romances  of  the  Round 
 Table,  though  versified  immediately  from  the  Latin  of 
 Rusticien  de  Puise,  were  originally  derived  from  the 
 ancient  and  fabulous  chronicles  of  Melchin  and  Te- 
 lezin.  J  Telezin  is  obviously  Taliessin,  and  Mel- 
 chin is  probably  the  Melgin  mentioned  as  one  of  the 
 earliest  bards  or  historians  by  Edmund  Prys  about 
 1580.  4  Taliessin  celebrates  some  of  the  deeds  of  Ar- 
 thur, as,  the  battle  of  Badon  ;  and  Melchin  mentions 
 his  Round  Table.  "  Had  it  not  been  for  music  and 
 poetry,  "  say  the  Welch,  "  even  the  deeds  of  Arthur 
 had  inevitably  perished.  "  Besides  numerous  fabliaux 
 relating  to  Arthur  and  his  knights,  as,  Le  Court 
 
 HI, 
 
 ■   Way's  Fabliaux,  vol.  i.  p.  »;,6. 
 
 »   Turpini  Uiror.  c.  XI.  ap.   Wartun's  Hiit    of   English    Poetry, 
 vol.  i.  Prelim.  Dissert. 
 
 J   Tressan,    Corps  d'Extraits   tie    Remans   de   Chcvjlciie,    \ 
 Prelim.  Discoms,  p.  15 
 
 4  Jones'  Rclicksof  the  Welch  Bards,  p.  1 3 
 
i66 
 
 iel,  &c.  Lhuyd  has  enumerated  various  ancient  MS.  ro- 
 mances in  the  Welch  language,  among  which  are 
 Lhyver  y  Grea/y  the  history  of  Arthur  and  his  knights* 
 He  also  mentions,  Yst:ri<z  Saint  Greal ,-  Tstori  Idrian 
 cmheraudr  ag  Ipotis  ysprydol,  and  Tstori  Boun  oy  Ham- 
 tun.  *  The  language  of  these  poems  and  romances,  is 
 confessed  to  be  obsolete,  by  the  Welch  themselves, 
 which  is  a  strong  proof  of  their  high  antiquity  ;  espe- 
 cially when  it  is  considered  how  careful  that  nation 
 were,  to  prevent  innovations  in  their  language.  "  A 
 qua  novitate,  "  says  Davies,  "  nos  semper  adeo  abhor- 
 ruimus,  ut  legibus  cautum  fuerit,  ne  Bardi  vocum 
 novitati  operam  darent,  sed  vetustte  lingux  custodes, 
 etiam  constitutis  praemiis,  designarentur.  "  2  Geoffrey 
 of  Monmouth,  in  the  preface  to  his  British  history, 
 states,  as  a  known  fact,  that  the  actions  of  Arthur  and 
 his  successors,  were  at  that  period  orally  celebrated  by 
 the  British  bards.  As  this  assertion  relates  to  a  fact, 
 of  general  notoriety  in  his  own  time,  and  as  it  has 
 never  been  contradicted ;  whatever  opinion  we  form  of 
 that  author's  veracity,  this  circumstance  must  be  ad- 
 mitted as  an  historical  fact.  But  if  we  admit,  that,  in 
 the  songs  of  the  Welch  bards,  the  deeds  of  Arthur  and 
 his  knights  were  celebrated  in  the  12th  century,  the 
 improbability  of  an  ancient  document  being  found  in 
 the  Welch  or  Armorican  language,  from  which  Geof- 
 frey translated  his  British  history,  is  annihilated.  Be- 
 sides, Geoffroi  Gaimar,  whose  metrical  history  in  the 
 Norman  or  Romance  language  was  written  before  1 146, 
 or  about  twenty  years  after  the  composition  of  Geof- 
 frey of  Monmouth's  British  history,  declares,  that  he  a- 
 
 mended 
 
 1    Lhuyd's  Arcnsologia,  p.  264. 
 
 *  Davies'  Prsef.  in  Gram.  Cambro-Britt. 
 
267 
 
 mended  or  corrected  the  latter  work  by  means  of 
 mss.  '       Of  the  Welch    supposed   original,    enti 
 "  Brut-y-Brenhined, "  no  very  ancient  mss.  exist ;  but 
 it  varies  considerably  from  the  Latin  of  Geoffrey , 
 ticularly  in  the  names  of  persons  ;  and  some  of 
 author's  supposed  interpolations  are  omitted.  *     The 
 reason  assigned  by  "Warton,  for  reckoning  the  Welch 
 copy  a  translation  from  the  Latin  of  Geoffrey,  That 
 Britannia  is  rendered  Bryttaen^  instead   of  Prydn 
 inconclusive;  as  it  may  with  equal  propriety  be  reckoned 
 an  evidence  of  the  Armoric  original  of  the  work.    AYith 
 the  history  of  the  Britains,  are  closely  connected  the  ro- 
 mantic fictions  concerning  Troy,  Thebes,  and  the  Ar- 
 gonautic  expedition.     Perhaps  these  may  be  considered 
 as  modifications  of  the  vestiges  of  Roman   learning, 
 which  was  never  quite  extirpated  in  Britain  and  Armo- 
 riea.     That  the  ancient  British  bauls  were  accustomed 
 to  appropriate  to  their  own  nation,  the  tales  of  clas 
 antiquity,  seems  to  be  evinced  by  the  passage  ah 
 quoted  from  the  romance  of  "  Oifeo  and  Keurodis,* 
 in  which  Orpheus  i^  reprc  King  of 
 
 tcr,  which  the  bar  I  i. hilly 
 
 denominated  Traciens,  or  Thrace.     Besides,  the  enthu* 
 siastic  attachment  which  th<  early  di  | 
 
 the  idea   of  their  Trojan   origin,   can   scarcely  be 
 plained,   on  the  supposition  >r~  that    notion   being   first 
 started  by  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth,  about  the  mid< 
 the  1 2th  century.     In  1284,  Archbishop  Peckham,  h 
 his   injunctions  to    the  diocese  of  St  Asaphj  1 
 them  to  boast  no  more  of  tl  ion  to  the 
 
 cd  and  fugitive  Trojans,  but  to  •  [<  .  y  in  the  1 
 
 i    Ellis'  Specifhcns  of  the  early  I  n 
 •»    Monii'  1 
 
268 
 
 cross  of  Christ.  T  Trevisa,  in  his  translation  of  Hig- 
 den's  Polychronicon,  ironically  suggests  this  descent 
 of  the  "Welch,  as  a  reason  for  describing  Wales  be- 
 fore England. 
 
 "  Now  this  boke  takcth  on  hondc, 
 
 Wales  before  Englonde; 
 
 So  take  I  in  my  tales, 
 
 And  wende  into  Wales, 
 
 To  that  noble  blood 
 
 Of  Pryamus  good, 
 
 Knowledge  for  to  wynne, 
 
 Of  grete  Inpiters  kynne, 
 
 For  to  have  in  mynde, 
 
 Dardanus  kynde.  "  * 
 
 As  the  Welch  tribes  in  Scotland  long  preserved  their 
 peculiar  laws  and  manners,  a  presumption  arises,  that 
 their  traditions  would  give  a  tincture  to  the  early  litera- 
 ture of  Scotland  j  a  presumption,  which  derives  addi- 
 tional strength  from  the  early  attachment  of  the  Scotish 
 writers  to  the  stories  of  Arthur  and  his  knights.  Ro- 
 bert de  Brunne  ascribes  the  romance  of  Sir  Tristrem  to 
 Thomas  of  Erceldoune.  Wyntowne,  as  has  been  men- 
 tioned, ascribes  to  Huchowne  of  the  Awle  Ryale  the 
 "  Gest  of  Arthure,  "  and  the  "  Awyntyre  of  Ga- 
 wane,  "  as  well  as  a  "  gest  hystoryale, "  which  seems 
 to  have  been  a  metrical  version  of  Geoffrey,  accom- 
 modated to  the  Scotish  taste  *,  for  it  is  termed  u  the 
 Gest  of  Broyttys  auld  stery.  "  Dunbar  likewise  a- 
 scribes  "  the  Aventers  of  Gawane  "  to  a  poet,  whom 
 he  denominates  Clerk  of  Tranent.  From  the  Welch 
 or  Armoric  bards,  it  is  probable  that  the  Irish  derived 
 many  of  their  rornances  of  giants,  fairies,  ladies,  and 
 cavaliers  ;  as  there  is  a  translation  of  Huon  of  Bour- 
 deaux  in  that  language.     According  to  Mr  Walker, 
 
 many 
 
 *    Concil.  Wilkins,  torn.  ii.  p.  106.     J737. 
 »  Ranulf's  Polychronicon,  f.  38. 
 
26g 
 
 many  marvellous  tales  are  relited  of  a  tcr. 
 named  Forrochy  or  Ferragh^  from   whom  he  imagines 
 the  Sir  Ferraugh  of  Spencer  to  be  derived.  x      T 
 probably  the  Ferragus,  or  Veruagu,  of  the  Trouveurs, 
 from  whom  the  name  is  adopted  by  Boiardo  and   / 
 sto.     He  is  described  as  a  tremendous  giant. 
 "  He  hadde  tventi  men  strengthe, 
 And  fourti  fct  of  ien^the, 
 
 Thilke  panim  hede; 
 And  four  fet  in  the  face, 
 Ymetcn  in  the  place, 
 
 And  f.ften  in  brede. 
 His  nose  was  a  fot  and  more, 
 His  browe  as  brest!es  wore, 
 He  that  it  seize  it  sede  : 
 He  ioked  lothelicbc, 
 And  was  as  swart  as  piche, 
 Of  him  men  mizt  adrcde.  "  ■ 
 
 The  Irish  was  probably  a  written  language,  at  a  more 
 early  period  than  that  of  any  other  nation  in  t] 
 of  Europe,  without  the  Roman  pale.     In  the  da 
 period  of  the  mid  ,  Ireland  not  only  had  fre- 
 
 quent communication  with  die  moot  l.  d   na- 
 
 tions on  the  Continent ;  but  I 
 
 the  most  civilized  countries  of  Europe.     Besides  the 
 learned  ecclesiastics  which  • 
 this  country  excelled  in  mu-ic  and  peel!  , 
 der  of  reciters  of  romantic 
 
 extirpated.     According   to   Sir  Tempi* 
 
 stories  of  knights,  giant 
 
 ed  the  subjects  of  the  oral  recil  the   b  . 
 
 In  the  Highlands   of  Scotland,  .. 
 2  m 
 
 ■    Walker's  Irish  Bards,  p.  96. 
 
 *    Roland  and  \ 
 
 3   Tcmp.v  4. 
 
bling  prevails;  and  as  Scotland  is  often  the  scene  of  the 
 Irish  tales,  so  the  romantic  fables  of  the  Scotish  Gael 
 frequently  relate  to  Ireland  and  Norway.  One  of  the 
 tales  in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland  is  denominated  "  The 
 Three-footed  Dog  of  Norway. "  Skail  Gillenderson,  pro- 
 bably Skald  Gillenderson,  is  likewise,  I  suspect,  a  Scan- 
 die  story.  Though  many  of  the  heroes,  in  the  romances 
 of  Arthur  and  his  Knights,  are  Irish,  it  does  not  ap- 
 pear that  these  romances  ever  attained  popularity  among 
 the  Irish  tribes.  According  to  a  Welsh  Triad,  "  three 
 nations  corrupted  what  was  taught  them  of  the  Bard- 
 ism  of  the  Bards  of  the  Isle  of  Britain,  by  blending 
 with  it  vague  notions  ;  and  on  that  account  they  lost 
 it.  "  These  nations  were  the  Gwyzelians,  or  Irish, 
 the  Cymry  Llydaw,  or  Armoricans,  and  the  Ellmyn, 
 or  Cimbric  tribes  of  Germany.  ■  The  subjects  of  the 
 Irish  tales  are  humorously  described  in  a  poem,  quot- 
 ed by  Mr.  Walker,  entitled  "  Hesperi-Neso-graphia,  ■* 
 and  composed  by  a  Mr  Jones. 
 
 "  Romantic  tales  they  to  him  told, 
 
 Of  giants  in  the  days  of  old ; 
 
 Whose  legs  by  much  are  longer  than 
 
 The  height  even  of  the  tallest  man. 
 
 Wh«se  monstrous  teeth,  with  which  they  tore, 
 
 Were  long  as  tusHs  of  any  boar. 
 
 How  one  of  them  did  break  the  skull, 
 
 With's  fist,  of  a  robustious  bull ; 
 
 And  on  his  shoulders  bore  the  beast 
 
 Twice  fourteen  furlongs  at  the  least 
 
 Unto  his  cave,  and,  as  some  say, 
 
 Did  eat  him  every  bit  that  day. 
 
 The  next  btrange  story  which  his  ears 
 
 Received,  was  of  some  wolves  and  bears, 
 
 Who  once  were  men  of  worth  and  famc„ 
 
 But,  by  enchantment,  brutes  became ; 
 
 And 
 
 *  BritUk  Triads,  ap.  Monthly  Magazine,   ApriJ  l8ol. 
 
2JI 
 
 And  would,  if  tales  sing  truth,  obtain 
 Their  former  human  shape  again  : 
 That  then  through  all  the  western  ground, 
 The  crooked  harp  with  joy  should  sound  ; 
 And  that  a  monarch  of  their  own 
 Should  sit  upon  the  western  throne.  "  » 
 
 It  is  curious  to  observe  the  coincidence  of  this  Irish 
 tradition,  with  that  of  the  Welch,  concerning  the  re- 
 turn of  their  Arthur  ;  who,  as  Lydgate  expresses  it, 
 
 "  — is  a  King  crowned  in  Faerie, 
 
 With  sceptre  and  sword,  and  with  his  royalte, 
 And  shall  resort,  as  Lord  and  Sovereigne, 
 Out  of  Faerie,  and  reigne  in  Brytaine.  " 
 
 The  Irish  or  Gaelic  historical  poems*  many  of 
 which  are  still  current  among  the  Irish,  and  the  Scot- 
 ish  Highlanders,  have  the  appearance  of  episodes,  or 
 rhapsodies,  detached  from  larger  poems,  of  which  they 
 seem  to  have  formed  a  part ;  and  a  series  of  them,  re- 
 lating to  Fingal  and  his  heroes,  arranged  with  due  at- 
 tention to  their  own  allusions,  would  certainly  form  a 
 curious  historical,  or  rather  Cyclic  poem.  This,  I  am 
 induced  to  believe,  Macpherson  has  done,  though  cer- 
 tainly without  due  attention  to  the  fidelity  incumbent 
 on  an  editor.  Perhaps  such  an  arrangement  as  is  ex- 
 hibited in  Ritson's  Robinhood,  even  at  the  present 
 time,  is  not  quite  impossible.  Many  reciters  of  ro- 
 mantic tales  and  ancient  songs,  still  exist  in  the  High- 
 lands of  Scotland  ;  and  it  is  probable  many  more  may 
 be  found  in  Ireland.  The  wild  romantic  ballads, 
 which  are  still  common  in  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland, 
 it  is  probable,  have  a  similar  origin.  Many  of  them 
 have  the  appearance  of  episodes,  which,  in  the 
 gress  of  traditional  recitation,  have  been  del 
 from  the  romances  of  which  they  originally  fori 
 2  m  ij 
 
 1    Walker's  Memoir  -  ;  1* 
 
1J2 
 
 part.  Several  of  the  ancient  songs  in  the  Reiiques  of 
 ancient  English  poetry,  and  In  the  Minstrelsy  of  the 
 Border,  are  of  this  description.  The  popular  song  of 
 Lord  William  and  Fair  Annie,  a  fragment  of  which 
 has  been  published  in  Herd's  Songs,  under  the  title  of 
 "  Wha  will  bake  my  bridal  bread, "  is  obviously  bor- 
 rowed from  the  Breton  Lai  le  Frayn,  already  mention- 
 ed. The  popular  songs,  which  relate  to  dragons  and 
 monsters,  authenticate  their  legitimate  derivation  from 
 the  tales  of  Chivalry.  Another  class  of  popular  songs, 
 which  describe  the  unnatural  involvements  of  the  pas- 
 sion of  Love,  may,  with  propriety,  be  referred  to  the 
 ancient  romances.  Such  are  Lizie  IVan,  The  Bony 
 Hindy  The  Broom  bloobis  bo*iyy  the  Broom  blooms  fair. 
 Such  perplexing  incidents  as  these  songs  describe,  are 
 frequent  in  romance,  which  often  presents  the  most 
 dreadful  situations"  that  imagination  can  conceive.  The 
 son  of  Sir  Eglamour  of  Artoys  marries  his  mother, 
 as  does  Sir  Degairee. 
 
 u  Lo  !  what  chaunce  and  wonder  strong 
 Bitideth  mani  a  man  wiz  wrong, 
 That  comez  in  to  an  vncouthe  thede 
 And  spousez  wif  for  ani  mede  ; 
 And  knowes  no  thing  of  hire  kin, 
 Ne  schc  of  his  neither  more  ne  min ; 
 And  bez  iwedded  to  gider  to  libbe, 
 Par  auentere  and  bez  neghz  sibbe.  "  « 
 
 In  both  these  instances,  however,  a  timely  explanation 
 ensues  -,  but  not  so  in  the  Legend  of  Sir  Gregori,  where 
 the  following  horrid  eclaircissement  takes  place, 
 
 11  Sche  scyd,  alias,  mi  foule  won, 
 
 So  sinful  no  was  neuer  no  nothci ; 
 Now  icham  wedded  to  mi  son, 
 That  on  me  bi  zat  mi  brother.  " 
 
 Upon 
 
 *  Sir  Degairee,  MS. 
 
273 
 
 Upon  this,  Gregory  becomes  hermit,  and  descends  in- 
 to a  caverned  rock,  in  which  a  dwelling   w; 
 "  wel  depe  at  the  se  grounde  -, "  in  which  he  causes 
 himself  to  be  shut  up,  and  the  key  to  be  cast  into  the 
 ■  se  grounde.  " 
 
 '*  Thcr  in  was  his  vroning 
 
 To  seuenteen  winter  weren  agon, 
 Withouten  mete,  withouten  drinkc, 
 
 Bot  dewc  that  fcl  on  the  marbd  ston. "   » 
 
 The  historical  songs,  were  a  species  of  short  ro- 
 mances, which  seem  frequently  to  have  been  intro- 
 duced, for  the  sake  of  variety,  into  those  more  ex- 
 tended poems  which  were  recited  by  fyttes  or  cantos. 
 Even  the  long  romances  seem  to  have  been  chaunted 
 to  particular  tunes  ;  for  the  tune  of  old  Gray  Steel  is 
 mentioned  ;  and  the  metrical  romance  of  Roswall  and 
 Lilian  was  very  lately  sung,  to  a  particular  tune,  in 
 Edinburgh.  In  the  Complaynt,  various  musical  airs, 
 accommodated  to  popular  dances,  are  mentioned,  which 
 derive  their  names  from  historical  songs  or  metrical 
 romances,  as  John  Enmstrangis  Dance  %  Robene  HuJe, 
 and  probably  Thorn  of  Lynt  which  I  imagine  to  b. 
 ly  a  local  pronunciation  of  Tamlene,  enumerated  a- 
 mong  the  romances.  The  fragment  of  Tamlene,  print- 
 ed in  Johnson's  Scotish  Museum,  is  entitled  u  Tarn 
 Lin  j "  and  it  is  extremely  probable  that  both  forms  of 
 the  word  are  corruptions  of  Thomalin  or  Tomlin,  % 
 name  which  occurs  in  the  enumeration  of  rustic 
 names  in  the  Pleugh  Song,  a  strange  medley  in 
 bes'  Aberdeen  Cantus. 
 
 44  And  if  it  be  your  proper  will, 
 Gar  call  your  hynd*  all  you  lill ; 
 
 Cinkin 
 »   Legend  of  Sir  Grr$oii,  MS 
 
*74 
 
 6inkin  and  WillkirV, 
 Hankin  and  Rankin, 
 Tarbute  and  Tamlin.  " 
 
 The  tale  of  the  Young  Tamlene,  is  alluded  to  in  art-* 
 other  medley  in  the  same  Cantus,  where  the  name  is 
 made  Thomlin. 
 
 '*  The  pypcrs  drone  was  out  of  tunc, 
 Sing  Young  Thomlifty 
 Be  merry,  be  merry,  and  twise  so  merrie, 
 With  the  light  of  the  moon.  " 
 
 The  air  of  Tamlene,  is  extremely  similar  to  that  of* 
 *  The  Jew's  Daughter. "  The  Bace  of  Voragon,  is 
 probably  another  instance  of  the  metrical  romance,  ad- 
 apted to  a  musical  air.  Voragon  may  be  a  corrup- 
 tion of  Veruagu,  or  Ferragus,  a  romance  which  seems 
 to  have  been  popular  both  in  Britain  and  Ireland.  In 
 the  list  of  songs  which  were  popular  in  Scotland  at 
 the  period  when  the  Complaynt  was  composed,  we 
 find  few  which  are  still  extant ;  and  as  no  very  ancient 
 sets  of  Scotish  airs  exist,  it  is  impossible  to  determine, 
 with  absolute  certainty,  whether  those  songs  which  are 
 still  preserved,  were  originally  chaunted  to  their  mo- 
 dern airs.  Musical  airs  generally  receive  their  deno- 
 minations from  the  songs  which  are  adapted  to  them  j 
 and  as  various  songs  are  often  adapted  to  the  same 
 tune,  the  air  receives  its  name  from  the  most  popular. 
 Hence,  the  various  names  which  some  tunes  have 
 in  different  districts,  and  the  frequent  changes  of  the 
 name  of  the  same  tune.  Many  of  the  songs  of  Burns, 
 are  adapted  to  airs  which  are  known  to  have  existed 
 long  before  that  admirable  poet  Was  born,  though  they 
 do  not  appear  in  any  collection  of  musical  tunes ;  yet, 
 it  may  be  presumed,  that  in  a  few  years  these  airs  will 
 be  generally  known  by  the  names  of  the  songs  which  he 
 
 has 
 
*75 
 
 has  adapted  to  them.  But  simple  melodies  are  less  in- 
 jured by  tradition,  than  the  songs  to  which  they  belong. 
 Music  is  an  universal  language,  which  speaks,  in  the 
 same  intelligible  tone,  to  all  ages  and  denominations  of 
 men.  The  peasant  feels  that  its  voice  is  addressed  to 
 the  various  emotions  of  his  heart.  It  soothes  the  unea- 
 siness of  his  soul ;  it  alleviates  the  fatigue  of  labour, 
 and  amuses  the  tiresomeness  of  solitude.  He  learns 
 to  love  the  airs  with  which  he  has  often  been  dc 
 ed  in  his  infancy  ;  and  the  pleasureable  associations 
 with  which  they  are  connected,  increase  with  die  num- 
 ber of  his  years.  The  peasant  may  change  a  tune,  from 
 the  inaptitude  of  his  ear  •,  but  he  is  no  musical  compos- 
 er, to  alter  or  mangle  the  airs  with  which  he  is  ac- 
 quainted. He  has  not  learned  his  favourite  airs  from 
 a  music-master,  or  in  a  scientific  manner  ;  but  he  has 
 acquired  them  in  his  infancy,  in  the  bosom  of  his  fa- 
 mily ;  and,  in  their  tones,  he  bear?  the  voice  of  his 
 mother,  of  his  sister,  of  his  youthful  love.  There  is 
 no  fibre  of  his  heart  which  does  not  vibrate  to  some 
 of  his  well  known  strains  : — you  cannot  improve  them 
 to  him  •,  you  cannot  restore  him  the  tones  of  . 
 tion,  which  he  loses  by  any  alteration.  Even  if  he 
 has  heard  those  martial  airs  which  celebrated  the 
 deeds  of  his  ancestors,  sung  by  their  descendants,  his 
 Own  relations,  who  are  no  more  ;  would  he  change 
 these  rude  barbarous  strains,  for  the  most  delectable 
 harmony  which  ever  flowed  to  the  enraptured  ear  of 
 mortals  ?  No  !  The  peasant  will  not  change  or  modify 
 his  ancient  musical  airs,  till  you  drive  him  into  civi- 
 lized life,  and  obliterate  the  nt  tradu 
 tion.     This   is   no  picture 
 
 time,  when  I  should  ha  t  •  of  » 
 
 kind 
 
276 
 
 kind  of  sacrilege,  who  should  have  changed  the  an- 
 cient airs  of  Johnie  Armstrong,  or  the  Gude  Wal- 
 lace, The  airs  of  most  Scotish  tunes,  which  are  still 
 chaunted  in  the  pastoral  districts  of  Scotland,  are  much 
 more  simple  than  the  sets  which  are' found  in  collec- 
 tions, and  which  have  passed  under  the  hand  of  a 
 composer.  This  seems  to  me  to  be  a  strong  argument 
 for  their  antiquity.  Historical  songs,  from  the  nature 
 of  their  subjects,  are  less  liable  to  be  affected  by  tradi- 
 tion, than  those  of  any  other  class.  Of  this  kind,  five 
 songs  are  mentioned  in  the  Complaynt ;  three  of  which 
 are  stiil  preserved,  The  Battle  of  ike  Harlaiv,  The  Hunts 
 of  Cheviot,  ■  The  Percy  ijf  Montgomery,  which  was  pro- 
 bably a  Scotish  copy  of  the  Battle  of  Otterburn,  not 
 exactly  the  same  with  any  edition  extant.  The  Song 
 of  Gilquhiskar  is  probably  lost,  as  well  as  the  Song  of 
 the  Chevalier  de  la  Beaute,  who  was  left  as  Pro-regent 
 in  Scotland  when  John  Duke  of  Albany  retired  to 
 France,  in  the  minority  of  James  V,  and  who  was 
 murdered  in  15 15.  Of  the  other  songs  enumerated 
 in  the  Complaynt,  seven  are  metamorphosed  in  the 
 Collection  of  Godly  Ballads  attributed  to  Wedder- 
 burne  ;  1.  Allone,  I  veip  in  grit  distress.  2.  Rycht 
 sorily  musing  in  my  mynde.  3«'0  mine  hart,  hay 
 this  is  my  sang.  4.  Greuit  (gryuous)  is  my  sorrow. 
 5.  Allace,  that  samyn  sueit  face.  6.  Huntis  vp  ;  an 
 air  likewise  accommodated  to  a  particular  dance.  It 
 is  mentioned  in  a  poem  on  May,  by  Alexander  Scott,  in 
 the  Bannatyne  MS.  ;  and,  in  the  Muses'  Threnodie, 
 we  hear  of  "  Saint  Johnston's  Hunts  up.  "  7.  In  ane 
 mirthful  morow  ;  which  is  probably  the  song  M  Into  a 
 mirthful  May  morning, "  in  Forbes*  Aberdeen  Can- 
 ton 
 *   Reliqucs  of  Ancient  English  Poetry,  Vol.  I.  p.  \. 
 
277 
 
 tus.  8.  Al  Cristin  mennis  dance  j  the  appropriate  air 
 of  the  song,  "  Be  blyth  all  Christin  men,  and  sing.  " 
 
 Seven  of  these   songs  are  either  English,  or  com- 
 mon to  England  and  Scotland.      I.  Pastance  vitht  glide 
 companyc.     This    is    conjectured    to    be    the    E: 
 "  Paste  tyme  in  good  a  -, "  termed  "  ; 
 
 Ballet,"  in  an  ancient  MS.   in  the  ion  of  Mr 
 
 Ritson,  who  is  inclined  to  attribute  it  to  Henry  VIII, 
 "  who,"  according  to  Hall,  "  was  accustomed  to  amuse 
 himself  with  playing  at  the  recorders,  flute,  viro:. 
 and    in   setting   of  songes,   or   making   oi 
 
 2.  Cou  thou  me  the  raschis  grene.  "  Colle  to  me  the 
 rysshys  grene, "  is  the  chorus  of  an  old  English  song.  * 
 
 3.  Kyng  Villzamis  note,  supposed,  very  improbably, 
 to  be  the  Kingis  notey  sung  by  Nicholas,  in  Chaucer's 
 Miller's  Tale.  4.  Huntis  up:  According  to  Putten- 
 ham,  u  one  Gray  acquired  the  favour  of  Henry  VIII, 
 and  afterwards  that  of  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  Protec- 
 tor, for  making  "  eertaine  merry  ballades,  "  wl 
 
 one  chiefly  was,  The  Hunte  is  up,  the  hunte  is  up." 
 5.  Brume,  In  ng  is  mend 
 
 Laneham,  ng  the  literary  collection  of  Caj 
 
 Cox,  the  mason  of  C  )ventry.     And  Mr  Rit 
 from  an  old  I  ,  the  following  line 
 
 ne  on  hill  lull ; 
 Bromc,  Lron.e  on  Ilia."  hill, 
 '1  he  gentJ    bronw  cm  Hhic  i 
 
 Ancient  So 
 
 den's   Complaint.  7.    1 
 
 »    Ril  I  Uf.  p.  53. 
 
278 
 
 wise  1  leham;  arid  a  copy  of  vj 
 
 with  this  •  ted  in  Ritson's  Ancient  Songs. 
 
 The  song  in  the  C  r,  is  denominated 
 
 w  Trolee  lolc-:  the  English  song 
 
 does  f]  f  the  chorus.     "  Tro- 
 
 lee lolee, "  seeir-.  to  have  been  almost  as  common  a 
 *n,  or  chorns,  as  "  hey  Jerry  down."  It  appears 
 from  a  medley  in  Constable's  MS.  Cantus,  of  the  latter 
 part  of  the  17th  century,  to  have  been  the  original 
 chorus  of  the  modern  "  Waly  waly.  " 
 
 '*  Key  troly  loly,  love  is  joly, 
 A  whyle,  whill  it  is  new  ; 
 When  it  is  old,  it  grows  full  cold, 
 te  worth  the  love  untrue.  n 
 
 From  this  instance,  it  seems  reasonable  to  infer, 
 that  various  ancient  Scotish  airs  may  still  exist  under 
 modern  names-  I  do  not  consider  the  existence  of  a 
 song  or  poem,  in  Scotish  or  English  orthography,  to 
 be  any  decisive  proof  of  its  original ;  for,  before  the 
 beginning  of  the  1 6th  century,  the  English  and  Sco- 
 tish dialects  were  so  slightly  different,  that  a  trivial  va- 
 riation of  the  orthography  is  all  that  is  necessary  to 
 assign  a  composition  to^either  kingdom. 
 
 Of  the  remaining  songs,  1 .  ft  Stil  undir  the  leyuis 
 grene, "  a  poem  of  very  considerable  merit,  is  found  in 
 Pinkerton's  Maitland  Poems.  '  The  air  of  this  tune 
 seems  to  have  been  accommodated  to  a  dance,  wKich 
 is  denominated  "  Leuis  Grene. "  2.  "  The  frog  cam 
 to  the  myl  dur.  "  Mr  Warton  mentions  a  ballad  "  of 
 a  moste  straunge  weddinge  of  the  frogge  and  the 
 mouse,"  licensed  by  the  stationers  in  1580.  Many 
 confused  and  obscure  rhymes  concerning  the  marriages 
 of  cats,  mice,  frogs,  and  rats,  tenaciously  retain  their 
 
 hold 
 
 1  Pinkerton's  Maitland  Poems,  p.  205. 
 
) 
 
 hold  of  the  memories  of  mi  .Scot- 
 
 land.    The  following  may  sen 
 
 "  The  frog  (cat)  sat  in  the  mill-duor,  spin,  Spin,  spia 
 n  by  came  the  little  mouse,  rin,  rin,  ri: 
 
 The  mouse  proposes  to  join  her  in 
 quires, 
 
 "  But  where  will  I  get  a  spindk,  fai 
 when  the  frog  desires  it  to  take 
 
 "  The  auld  mill  ltwer  "  or  lever. 
 
 3.  "  Billie,  vil  thou  cum  by  a  lute, 
 
 And  belt  the  in  Sanct  Francis  cc 
 In  Constable's  MS.  Cantus,  the  following  lines  of  this 
 song  are  introduced  into  a  medJ 
 
 *•  Billie,  will  ye  cum  by  a 
 
 And  ttr  <ur  pin,  trow  lo- 
 
 4.  "  Al  musing  of  merueilis   a; 
 
 .  se  of  this  song  occurs  in  the  same  1 
 "  All  mu-ingof  merrells  in  the  mid  morne, 
 Through  a  slunk  in  a  slaid,  amisse  have  I  gone; 
 I  heard  a  song  ir;i  beside,  that  reft  from  me  my  - 
 But  through  my  dream,  as  I  dreamed, 
 
 5.  "  O  li  ht  Flora  quenc."    Thi 
 ful  song  is  pr 
 
 and  a] 
 
 veral  variations,  is  pi 
 
 6.  u 
 The  ori<;  ■ 
 parody,    in    wl 
 
 known  in  the  S01  > 
 
 "  Our  guidm-:, 
 
 Che  mantlo, 
 \\r.  n  his  heid,  and  his  b  — 
 
 Y. 
 
 worthy  of 
 
28o 
 
 ther  means,  to  trace  the  evanescent  vestiges  of  our  na- 
 tional song. 
 
 7.  "  Bag  lap  and  a', "  is  a  well  known  air  *,  and, 
 as  Mr  Dalyell  has  observed,  preserved  in  Oswald's 
 Collection.  ■  I  believe  the  song  might  be  still  reco- 
 vered. 
 
 8.  The  air,  of  "  Fut  before  gossep, "  is  supposed 
 to  belong  to  the  Witch  song, 
 
 "  Commer,  goe  yc  before,  commer,  goe  ye; 
 
 Gif  ye  will  not  goe  before,  commer  let  me.  "  a 
 — quoted  by  Mr  Ritson.     Another  Witch  song,  "  The 
 silly  bit  chicken,  "  is  still  popular  in  the  South  of  Scot- 
 land.    The  first  verse  runs  thus, 
 
 "  The  silly  bit  chicken,  gar  cast  her  a  pickle, 
 And  she'll  grow  mickle,  and  she'll  grow  mickle ; 
 And  she'll  grow  mickle,  and  she'll  do  glide, 
 And  lay  an  egg  to  my  little  brude.  " 
 
 Of  the  numerous  Scotish  songs,  the  fragments  of 
 which  are  still  preserved  by  tradition,  only  those  of  the 
 historical  class,  can  be  referred  to  any  certain  sera,  ex- 
 cept they  have  had  the  fortune  to  be  accidentally  quot- 
 ed. But  the  songs  which  are  of  this  class,  seldom  have 
 any  superior  marks  of  antiquity.  Thus,  "  Goe  from  my 
 n  which  is  quoted  by  Beaumont  and  Flet- 
 cher, in  the  Knight  of  the  Burning  Pestle,  and  is  like- 
 wise metamorphosed  into  a  spiritual  song,  might  easily 
 impose  upon  a  person,  as  a  composition  of  modern 
 date.  I  have  heard  it  sung ;  and,  from  the  style, 
 should  never  have  attributed  to  it  the  antiquity  which  it 
 justly  claim.  Another  of  these  fallacious  compo- 
 sitions, which  might  baffle  the  acuteness  of  criticism, 
 is  the  very  ancient   song,  "  Hey  now  the  day  dr.zvis, " 
 
 which 
 
 "    Da'yeU's  Fragments  of  Scotish  History,  p.  58. 
 
 2  Ritson's  ScotL-h  Songs,  Vol.  I.  Prelim.  Disc;  p.  Il6. 
 
28l 
 
 which  is  not  only  metamorphosed  Into  a  spiritual  song, 
 but  quoted  by  G.  Douglas  and  Dunbar  ;  and  must 
 have  been  known  in  England  before  1500,  as  the  cho- 
 rus is  assumed  in  a  musical  ms.  of  that  period.  '  The 
 original  song,  at  least  that  which  is  alluded  to  in  the 
 Elegy  on  the  Piper  of  Kilbarchan,  occurs  in  a  ms.  of 
 the  Drummond  collection,  which  contains  poems  by 
 Captain  A.  Montgomerie,  and  is  deposited  in  the  Col- 
 lege Library  at  Edinburgh.  The  song,  which  I  sus- 
 pect to  be  ancient,  begins, 
 
 "  Hay  now  the  day  dawis, 
 The  jolie  cok  era  wis, 
 Now  shrowds  the  shawis, 
 
 Throu  natur  anone; 
 The  thissell  cok  cry  is, 
 On  lovers  vha  ly is, 
 Now  skaillis  the  skyis, 
 
 The  nicht  is  neir  gone.  "  2 
 
 The  Songs  and  Dances,  mentioned  in  the  following 
 passage   of  Cockelby's   Sow,    a   poem   anterior   to   the 
 time  of  both  Douglas  and  Dunbar,  mubt  ha 
 ed  to  the  15th  century.     A  a   picture  of 
 
 c  rustic  festivity,  it   n  ifely  infei 
 
 they  are  among  those,  which,  at  that  period,  were  most 
 popular  among  the  It,- 
 
 "  And  li is  coosing  Copyn  Cull, 
 
 «   Ffoul  of  belli,  ful full,  M 
 Led  the  dance  and  began, 
 
 us  "   Joly  Ummmt 
 Sum  trottet,  "  '/  u/j,  " 
 
 Sum  bait*  Bast,  " 
 
 Sum  u  /  1  I   '  ,  '  1   ■ 
 
 Sum  M  Col:  tfVW  thou  >j!l   . 
 
 11   Tivs iL. ink  at 
 
 1   Rtl 
 
 a  Montgomeric' 
 
1%! 
 
 Sum  "  Lincolne,  "  sum  "  L'ndjay, " 
 Sum  "  jfoly  lemman,  daivis  it  not  day, 
 Sum  M  Be  zone  ivodsyd"  singis, 
 Sum  "  Late  I  ait  in  evinnyng'u,  " 
 Sum  "  Joly  Martene,  ixiith  a  mol,  " 
 Sum  "  Lulalew  lute  coi,  " 
 Sum  bakkit,  sum  bingit, 
 Sum  crakkit,  sum  cringit, 
 Sum  movit  "  most  mak  revell, " 
 Sum  «■  Symon  sonis  of  <j)uhynfeU,  " 
 Sum  "  Maister  Peir  de  Ctnzatet  " 
 And  vyir  sum  "  in  Ceusate,  " 
 At  leser  drest  to  dance  ; 
 Sum  "  Ourfute,  "  sum  "  Orli*n:ey  " 
 Sum  "  Rusty  bully,  ivlth  a  bek, 
 dind  every  mete  in  vyeris  nek  ; 
 Sum  vsit  the  dansis  to  deme, 
 Of  Cipres  and  Boheme ; 
 Sum  the  faitis  full  zarne, 
 Off  Portingall  and  Naverne ; 
 Sum  counterfeit  the  gyis  of  Spane, 
 Sum  Italy,  sum  Almaine ; 
 Sum  noisit  Napillis  anone, 
 And  vyir  sum  of  Arragone ; 
 Sum"  the  Cane  of  Tartary,  " 
 
 Sum  "  tbe  Soldane  cf  Surry.  " 
 
 Than  all  arrayit  in  a  ring, 
 Dansit  "  tny  deir  derling.  "       — 
 Thay  movit  in  thair  mad  muting, 
 And  all  thay  falit  in  futing  ; 
 For  werit  wes  thair  menstralis, 
 Thair  instruments  in  tonis  felis ; 
 And  all  thair  plat  pure  pansis, 
 Coud  no:  the  fete  of  ony  dansis ; 
 Bot  such  thing  as  affciris 
 To  hirdis,  and  thair  mancris ; 
 Ffor  thay  hard  speik  of  men  gud, 
 And  small  thairof  understud ; 
 Bot  hurlit  furth  upoun  heid, 
 A  cojoyne  cull  coud  thame  ledc  ; 
 
 And 
 
283 
 
 And  ?o  thay  wend  tl 
 And  did  bot  practit,  and  pransit; 
 Bot  quhen  thay  had  all  done, 
 It  was  a  tratlyng  out  of  tune.  "  " 
 
 Of  the    airs  mentioned    in  this  poem,   I  suspect 
 "  Twysbank  "  to  be  the  appropriate  tune  of  a 
 preserved  in  the  Bannatyne  ?»is.  which  commences, 
 
 "  Quhen  Tayis  bank  wes  blomit  brycht.  " 
 w  Ouirfute  and  Orliance,  "  are  mentioned  in  a  curious 
 poem  on  the  "  laying  of  a  gaist, "  in  the  Bannatyne 
 MS.,  which  begins, 
 
 u  Listis,  Lordis,  I  sail  zou  tell.  "  - 
 Lutecok  is  mentioned  in  Constable's  MS.  Cantus,  as  like- 
 wise "  My  deir  derling,  "  which  is  there  termed  "  My 
 dayes  darling.  "  Lindsay  mentions,  in  his  Complaynt, 
 the  air  of  "  Ginlertont "  \\  hich  he  had  been  accustom- 
 ed to  play  on  his  lute  to  James  V.  during  the  minority 
 of  that  Prince.  A  verse  of  this  song  occurs  in 
 stable's  MS.  Cantu 
 
 "  I  would  go  twentie  mile,  I  would  go  tv.;\ 
 
 I  would  go  twentie  mile  on  my  Lair  foot, 
 Ginkertoune,  Ginkcrtounc,  till  hear  him,  Ginkcrtounc, 
 PUy  on  a  lute.  " 
 From  the  medley  songs  of  this  curious  Cantu 
 arc  probably  transcribed  from  die  first   edition  of 
 Aberdeen    Camus,    w .  -tains    the    PI 
 
 song,  likewise  found  in  this  ms.,  1  transcribe  thi 
 lowing  scraps  of  ancient  so.  :"  which  I  have 
 
 heard  sung,  and  believe  diey  may  srill  exist* 
 
 1    Cockelby's  Sow,  ms. 
 a   The  "  Gaist,  "  in  this  poem,  ;:»  married  I 
 And  ban  kyng  of 
 
 And  thay  gat  them  bctwene, 
 Orpbeut  King%  and  £!/■ ' 
 This  probably  alludes  to  some 
 
4S4 
 
 CI  The  nock  is  out  of  Johncs  bow—— 
 First  when  Robin  good  bow  bare, 
 
 Wcs  never  bairne  so  bold-— 
 Sing  soft-a,  sing  soft-a, 
 Of  our  door  pins  ye  know  the  gins, 
 
 Yee  tirled  on  them  full  oft-a 
 
 Methinks  thy  banks  bloome  best 
 
 Haill,  gouke,  how  manie  years— 
 The  maveis  on  a  tree  she  sat, 
 
 Singing  with  notes  clear 
 
 — — Joly  Robin, 
 
 Goe  to  the  greenwood  to  thy  lemman 
 
 Titbore,  tatbore,  what  corn  maw  ye  .' 
 
 Aiken  brake  at  barnes  door, 
 What  horse  in  the  towne 
 
 Shall  I  ride  on  ? 
 
 Come  all  your  old  malt  to  me, 
 Come  all  your  old  malt  to  me, 
 And  yee  shall  have  the  draffc  again, 
 
 Tho'  all  our  dukes  should  die 
 
 Thy  love  leggs  sore  bunden-a 
 
 The  rcill,  the  rcill  of  Aves, 
 The  joliest  reill  that  ever  wes— 
 What  in  a  zeapin  carle  art  thou  !— — 
 All  of  silver  is  my  bow— — 
 Johne  Robison,  Johne  Robison, 
 
 That  fair  young  man  Johne  Robisonc 
 
 —Goe  to  the  green  wood, 
 My  good  love,  goe  with  me— 
 I  bigged  a  bour  to  my  lemman, 
 In  land  is  none  so  fair— 
 The  hum  lock  is  the  best- a  seed 
 
 That  anie  man  may  sow  ; 
 When  bairnes  greets  after  bread, 
 
 Give  them  a  home  to  blow 
 The  ring  of  the  rash,  of  the  gowan, 
 In  the  coole  of  the  night  come  my  lemman, 
 And  yellow  haire  above  her  brow 
 
 ■Silver  wood,  and  thow  wer  myne. 
 Come  reike  mee  the  rowan  tree- 
 Come 
 
285 
 
 Come  row  to  mc  round  about,  bony  dowic 
 
 So  sweetly  sings  the  nightingale, 
 
 For  loue  trulie  loly  lola 
 
 All  the  moane  that  I  make,  sayes  the  goodman, 
 
 Who's  have  my  bony  wyfe,  dead  ul.en  I  am  : 
 
 "   Care  for  thy  wynding  sheet,   false  lurdan, 
 
 For  I  shall  gctt  ane  vther  when  thow  art  gone " 
 
 Besides  these  fragments,  this  curious   Camus  co- 
 several  others  ;  as,  a  scrap  of  M  My  gudame,  "  tl 
 rody  of  which  was  printed  in    1508   by   Chepman   and 
 Myllar,  and  lias  been  reprinted  by  Pinkerton  in  his 
 Scotish  Poems,  1792. 
 
 11  My  gudame  for  ever  and  ay-a, 
 Was  never  widow  so  gay-a       * 
 The  begger  sett  his  daughter  well,  &c— — • 
 The  fryare  had  on  a  coule  of  ridd, 
 Htc  spyed  the  prettie  wench  komeing  her  head,  &c— — 
 
 Be  soft  and  sober  I  you  pray,  &c 
 
 I  and  my  cummer,  my  cummer  and  I, 
 
 Shall  never  part  with  our  mouth  so  dry——  " 
 
 The  last  of   these  fragments    is  a   scrap  of   the  well 
 known  song,  "  Todlen  hame.  "     In  a  ms.  collection  of 
 airs  adapted  to  the  Lyra  Viol,  written  soon   after  the 
 Revolution,  I  find  the  following  airs  :  "/Over  th< 
 to  Maggie  ;  "    "  Robin  and  Jonnet  j 
 thou    dye  ;  "    Money   in   both    the  pockets  5 "    " 
 lady's  goune  ;  "  «  Bonie  Name  j  "    4k  Weggic,    1 
 love  thee  ;  "    "  Where  Ilellcn  1. 
 
 strogin  •,  "     "  Hallo  even  ;  "     "    1  hippie    man    IS   he;" 
 nk  will  never  be  done}"  u   Jocke   the 
 laird's  brother  ;  "   "   Bonie  fcasi 
 you-,"  "The  Cillitlou 
 
 went  to  the  wood  ;  "    u  Sweet   WlHi<  ;  "    ,l    <"> 
 
 ''illie ;  "  «  Tweed 
 
2S6 
 
 (she  bolbit)  tf  «  Full  fe  my  eyes  •,  "  «  When  the  bryd 
 cam  ben,  she  becked  ;  "  "  The  Colleyrs  daughter  \  " 
 «  Foull  take  the  wars  •, "  "  The  milkeine  pell  •, n 
 "  The  bbnie  brookit  lassie,  blew  beneath  the  eyes.  " 
 
 These  minute  notices,  had  the  history  of  Scotish 
 song  never  become  a  subject  of  discussion,  might  have 
 tve  been  deemed  trivial  or  superfluous.  But  as  it  has 
 not  only  been  the  subject  of  much  speculation,  but  al- 
 so of  curious  inquiry,  perhaps  they  may  contribute  to 
 the  elucidation  of  a  question,  which  only  admits  of  this 
 kind  of  illustration,  and  where  the  minutest  notices  are 
 often  the  most  desirable.  As  the  ancient  Scotish  airs 
 received  their  names  from  the  songs  to  which  they  were 
 appropriated,  I  have,  in  this  discussion,  constantly  re- 
 garded the  existence  of  an  air  or  dance,  as  a  proof  of 
 the  existence  of  an  ancient  song.  The  ms.  collection 
 which  I  have  quoted,  is  not  indeed  of  great  antiquity  ; 
 but  as  it  approaches  the  sera  of  the  Revolution,  it  enables 
 us  to  advance  a  step  beyond  Ramsay  •,  and  as  it  shows 
 that  these  songs  were  popular  at  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
 lution, it  renders  it  probable,  that  their  origin  is  of  a 
 much  older  date.  Indeed,  the  sera  of  the  Revolution 
 seems  to  be  that  of  the  decline  of  Scotish  music  and 
 song.  Until  that  period,  the  remains  of  the  bards 
 or  minstrels,  existed  in  almost  every  quarter  of  the 
 Scotish  Lowlands ;  but,  after  that  sera,  scarcely  any 
 vestige  of  them  can  be  traced.  They  do  not  appear  to 
 have  been  branded  on  the  cheek  with  a  hot  iron,  ac- 
 cording to  an  ancient  law  already  quoted  ;  neither  were 
 they  yoked  in  the  plough,  instead  of  the  ox,  accord- 
 ing to  a  law  of  Macbeth  ;  "  but  they  sunk  under  the 
 silent  and  slow  pressure  of  neglect  and  contempt.     Mr 
 
 George 
 
 1  Barrington's  Observations  on  the  Statutes,  p.  294. 
 
287 
 
 George  Martine  01  Clermont,  who  i 
 Been  secretary  to  Sharp,  Archbishop  of  St  -,  no- 
 
 tices the  approaching  extinction  of  the  order.     " 
 bards  at  length  degenerated,  by  degrees,  into  common 
 ballad  makers ;  for  I  t  hemselves  up  to  the  making 
 
 of  mystical  rhymes,  and  to  magic  and  necromancy. — To 
 our  fathers  time,   and  ours,  something  remained,  and 
 still  does,  of  this  ancient  order ;  and  they  are  called  by 
 others,  and  by  themselves  Jockies,  who  go  about 
 ging,  and  use  still  to  recite  the  sluggornes  of  mc 
 the  true  ancient  surnames  of  Scotland,  from  old  i 
 rience  and  observation.    Some  of  them  I  have  discours- 
 ed,  and  found  to   have  reason  and  discretion.     One  at 
 them  told  me,   there  were   not  now  tweh  ;n  in 
 
 the  whole   isle  •,  but  he   remembered   the   time   when 
 they  abounded,  s-o  as,  at  one  time,  he  was  one  of 
 that  usuallie  met  at  St  Andrew-.  "  l 
 
 In    these    illustrations  of   di;.  pro- 
 
 duced in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  th 
 not  flatter  himself  with  the  hope  of  avoiding  num 
 mistakes.     The  science  of  Am 
 of  minute  particulars,  the  result  of  . 
 tion  ;  and  derives    important   c 
 apparently  so  trivial,  as  to  dud 
 An  error,  in  itself  of  :  trivial  n 
 
 productive  of  i 
 
 nute    seed    of    a   plant,    which   1001 
 spreading   tree.     C 
 of  in  !ity  of  ( 
 
 of  the  topics  which   h  Btured  to 
 
 lump  nee  would   have  been  ijuitv 
 
 able.     But,  while  he  has  endeavoured  to 
 lurements  of  novelty,  li 
 
 2  0 
 
 1   Marline's  Rcliquict  Divi  Andrea,  p.  J. 
 
288 
 
 evidence  of  authority,  when  argument  did  not  produce 
 conviction.  Many  of  his  desultory  remarks,  might 
 perhaps  have  appeared,  with  greater  propriety,  in  the 
 form  of  notes  ;  but  he  preferred  the  continuous  form 
 of  a  Dissertation,  as  giving  a  more  complete  view  of  the 
 subject.  From  the  nature  of  the  evidence  adduced, 
 he  scarcely  expects  his  remarks  concerning  the  Author 
 of  the  Complaynt  to  produce  conviction  ;  but  he  has 
 endeavoured  to  state  the  impression  made  on  his  own 
 mind  ;  and,  at  all  events,  the  coincidences  which  he 
 has  noticed,  may  be  regarded  as  curious.  Many  of 
 the  historical  examples  mentioned,  occur  in  Gower, 
 Lydgate,  and  Wyntowne,  as  well  as  the  Latin  chro- 
 niclers ;  and,  consequently,  the  historical  coincidences 
 may  perhaps  be  easily  explained,  if  considered  sepa- 
 rately ;  but,  united  with  the  rest,  certainly  strengthen 
 the  argument.  Those,  however,  who  place  greater 
 confidence  in  the  authority  of  the  Harleian  Catalogue, 
 than  the  editor,  will  be  of  a  different  opinion.  With 
 respect  to  the  Heraldic  ms.  quoted,  though  some  de- 
 tached fragments  may  perhaps  have  been  compiled  or 
 translated  by  Lindsay,  it  is  doubtful,  whether  any  con- 
 siderable part  of  it  can  possibly  be  attributed  to  that 
 author.  The  Book  of  "  Cotearmouris, "  and  that  of 
 the  Order  of  Chivalry,  may  probably  be  attributed  to 
 Lady  Juliana  Berners.  The  titles,  however,  and  the 
 subjects  of  some  of  the  tracts,  coincide  with  those  of 
 the  ms.  translation  of  Bonnet's  book  of  Battles  Ar- 
 mour and  the  Order  of  Chivalry,  into  Scotish,  in  1456  j 
 a  work  which  appears  to  have  been  seen  by  Mackenzie, 
 and  which  he  ascribes  to  Sir  Gilbert  Hay.  Perhaps 
 the  extracts  adduced  from  this  ms,  may  contribute  to 
 elucidate  this   obscure  point  of  literary  history.     The 
 
 extracts 
 
289 
 
 extracts  from  Irland's  Theological  System,  and  Ballen- 
 tine's  Livy,  with  the  reprint  of  the   fragment  or 
 Porteous  of  Noblenes,  are  contributions  to  the  history 
 of  Scotish  prose  ;  the   poetical  extracts  have  generally 
 a  merit  of  their  own.     Though  the  authority  of  Irland 
 is  not  to  be  lightly  disregarded,  some  suspicions   may 
 perhaps  be  entertained,  that  the  "  Orisoune  of  Chau- 
 cer "  ought  rather  to  be  attributed  to   Lydgatc. 
 of  whose  religious   compositions  occur   in  the  Banna- 
 tyne  MS.     The   unexpected  length   to  which   these  re- 
 marks have  extended,  renders  it  impossible  for  the  edi- 
 tor to  subjoin,  as  he   originally  intended,  an  examina- 
 tion of  the  style  of  the  Complaynt,  with  an  essay  on 
 the  history  of  the  Scotish  language.     It  only  remains, 
 therefore,  to  state  the  process,  which  has  been  observ- 
 ed, in   preparing,   for    the    press,    an    edition,    v. 
 claims    the  merit    of  scrupulous   fidelity,  with    v 
 ever  defects  it  may  be    incumbered.      (  Com- 
 
 playnt of  Scotland,  only  four   copies   are  known  to  be 
 extant  ;  one  of  which  i  1  the    British 
 
 scum;    another  belongs   to   111 
 
 Roxburgh  ;  a  third  to  John  M'Gowan  Esq.  ;  and 
 the  fourth  to  Mr  (».  Paton.  All  these  copies 
 were  imperfect ;  but  three  of  them  have  been  com- 
 pleted from  each  other.  The  tv  beeu 
 constantly  u-xd  in  this  edition  ;  and  the  Museum 
 copy  has  been  occasionally  consulted.  '  For  ( 
 nience  of  reference,  the  pages  in  this  edition 
 respond  exactly  with  those  of  the  ancient  The 
 orthography  of  the  original,  however  barbarous  or  ir* 
 ,  I 
 
 • 
 
 *    For  this  favour,   I   beg  lenre  ( 
 Hcbcr,  Mr  EUif, 
 
290 
 
 of  obvious  typographical  blunders.  With  all  his  re- 
 spect for  ancient  authors,  the  editor  has  never  ceased 
 to  recollect,  that  no  ancient  of  them  all,  is  so  old  as 
 common  sense  •,  and  he  is  ready  to  admit,  that  the  pre- 
 servation of  an  obvious  typographical  error,  has  always 
 appeared  to  him,  as  flagrant  a  violation  of  common 
 sense,  as  the  preservation  of  an  inverted  word  or  let- 
 ter ;  a  species  of  inaccuracy,  which  the  most  rigid  an- 
 tiquary does  not  hesitate  to  correct.  To  enable  every 
 person  to  determine,  whether  this  licence  has  been  a- 
 bused,  a  list  of  such  alterations  is  subjoined.  In  mar- 
 ginal quotations  of  classical  authors,  which  were  ge- 
 nerally very  erroneous,  without  being  capable  of  illus- 
 trating any  point  of  orthography  or  grammar,  the  true 
 reading  has  been  silently  restored.  With  respect  to 
 the  pun&uation,  as  that  of  the  original  was  almost 
 constantly  erroneous,  without  any  attention  to  sy- 
 stem, it  has  been  corrected  when  necessary  ;  and  the 
 semicolon,  which  does  not  occur  in  the  original,  has 
 been  sometimes  employed.  In  this  edition,  the  letter 
 z  has.  been  constantly  retained  as  the  representative  of 
 V  ;  a  practice  severely  reprobated  by  Pinkerton,  J  who 
 asserts,  that  the  y  consonant,  and  the  common  z,  are 
 carefully  distinguished  in  all  the  old  editions  of  authors. 
 I  might  have  adduced,  in  my  favour,  the  authority  of 
 Ruddiman,  and  the  original  editor  of  the  Reliques  of 
 ancient  English  poetry  -,  but  little  attention  had  been 
 paid  to  authority,  had  not  the  Complaynt  itself  exhi- 
 bited evidence,  that  these  two  sounds  are  represented 
 by  the  same  character.  The  words,  zeil,  p.  41,  zenith, 
 p.  76,  and  zodiac,  p.  77,  &c.  are  printed  with  the 
 same  initial  character,  as  zou  or  zour.  As  the  an- 
 cient 
 1   Pinkerton's  Maidand  Poems,  p.  52c. 
 
291 
 
 cient  character,  derived  from  the  Saxon,  represei 
 both  sounds,  the  uniform  substitution  of  the  modern 
 z,    with  the    same   plenitude   of    power,    did   not  ap- 
 pear to   be    a  gross    violation   of   propria  the 
 same  time,   the   use  of  the  ancient  z  would  certainly 
 have  been  preferable,    could    it    have   been  procured. 
 Neither   is  the  assertion    of  Pinkerton,  that  the  capi- 
 tals   of    the    Z    and    the    T  consonant,    are    ai 
 distinguished,   to  be   considered   as  accurate  ;    for,  in 
 Charters'  edition  of  Lindsay  in  1592,  Hart's  edition  of 
 the  Godlie  Ballads,  and   almost   every   other   old  edi- 
 tion   of    a    Scotish    author,     they    arc    used    indiscri- 
 minately.    In  the  Complaynt,  the   v   consonant   occa- 
 sionally supplies  the  place  of  r,  as,  p.  40,  firxH 
 forgets ;  but  this  orthography  seems  to  originate   from 
 the  Scotish  pronunciation,  which,  even  at  present,  em- 
 ploys a  y  in  this,  and  similar  instances.     In  the  ( 
 sary,  without  affecting   to  trace   etymologies,  the  edi- 
 tor has  generally    adduced    such   tynonymu  from 
 cognate  languages,  as  he  appi\                                  d  to 
 elucidate  the   origin,  or   the   history   of  the   vocable  -, 
 but,  in  cases   of  difficulty,  lie  has  chiefly  relied  on  his 
 familiar  acquaintance,  from  his  infancy,  with  the  Scot- 
 ish Border  dialect  ;  a  dialect,  in   which   he    I 
 heard   many   words    in    common    use,  of  which 
 sarists  have   not   even  attempted   an  explanation.     To 
 render  this  part   of  the   work  in  some  degree  amu 
 he  has  sometimes  addueed  apposite  p                nun  books 
 and  MSS.  which  he  has  had  an  opportunity  of  consult- 
 ing •,  and  he  ha,  availed  himself  of  1 
 elucidating  popular  opinions  and  superstitions  ;   which, 
 from  their  fleeting   and    un-ubst.mti.il   nature, 
 ject  to  slow  and   almost  imperceptible 
 
change.  To  such  popular  opinions  and  traditions, 
 there  arc  numerous  allusions  in  our  oldeft  and  most 
 respectable  writers,  which  presented  no  difficulty  to 
 their  contemporaries  ;  and  hence,  the  necessity  of  ex- 
 plaining these  allusions,  has  seldom  been  perceived,  till 
 the  opportunity  was  lost.  Though  he  thinks  that  these 
 traditions  may  often  illustrate  both  history  and  litera- 
 ture, he  is  unconscious  of  yielding  them  an  improper 
 deference,  where  any  other  kind  of  evidence  could  be 
 procured.  But  where  the  steady  light  of  history  fails, 
 the  dark  lantern  of  tradition  is  all  that  remains  to  shed 
 an  uncertain  glimmering  beam  over  the  darkness  of  the 
 ages  that  have  passed  away.  "  Cura  non  deesset  si 
 qua  ad  verum  via  inquirentem  ferret :  nunc  fama  re- 
 rum  standum  est,  ubi  certam  derogat  vetustas  fidem.  " 
 Liv.  1.  vii.  c.  6. 
 
 ERRATA    IN    THE    DISSERTATION. 
 
 p.  13.  1.  20.  for  James  V.  read  James  IV. 
 
 25.        9.  ..  has  ..  had 
 
 74.      14.  after  author     supply  falling 
 
 116.  note.  for  snog  read  song 
 
 158.      17.  ..  their  ..  the 
 
 191.      Jj.  -.  stil  ..  still 
 
 193.  last  line,  after  ascribed  supply  by  tradition 
 
 212.        4.  dele  from  it 
 
 242.      19.  for  Porteus  -    read  Perseus 
 
 258.        5.  after  each        supply  other 
 
 IN    THE    GLOSSARV. 
 
 Though  the  Redshank  be  a  provincial  name  of  the  Fieldfare,  it  pro- 
 perly denotes  a  species  of  Scolopax. 
 
 Tresses  might  with  more  propriety  be  defined  rings  or  travellers  en- 
 compassing the  masts  of  vessels ;  and  then,  to  vire  the  tros- 
 w,  will  simply  signify,  to  veer  the  trasses. 
 
€f)C 
 of 
 
TO  THE 
 EXCELLENT  ANDE  ILLVSTIR 
 
 MARIE  QUEEN  OF  SCOTLANDE, 
 
 THE  MARGAREIT  ANDE  PERLE 
 OF  PRINCESSIS. 
 
 J.  he  immortal  gloir,  that  procedis  be  the 
 rycht  lyne  of  vertu,  fra  zour  magnanime 
 aliasing  of  the  public  veil  of  the  affligit  re- 
 alme  of  scotlande,  is  abundantly  dilatit  athort 
 al  cuntreis,  throucht  the  quhilk  the  precius 
 germe  of  zour  nobiiite,  bringis  nocht  furthtj 
 alanerly,  branchis  ande  tendir  leyuis  of  ver- 
 tu :  bot  as  veil  it  bringis  furtht  salutiffere  8c 
 hoilsum  frute  of  honour,  quhilk  is  ane  immor- 
 tal ande  supernatural  medicyne,  to  cur, 
 to  gar  conuallesse  althe  langorius  desolat  8b 
 affligit  pepil,  quhilkis  ar  al  mast  disparit  of 
 mcnnis  supple,  ande  reddy  to  be  venquest  & 
 to  be  cum  randrit  in  the  subiection  ande  ca- 
 ptiuite  of  our  mortal  aid  enemeis,  be  rason 
 that  ther  cruel  inuasions  aperis  to  be  onre- 
 medabil.     The  special  cause  oi  our  ajlli<  I 
 
 A 
 
2  ANE  EPISTIL 
 
 ne  hes  procedit  of  thre  vehement  plagis  qu- 
 hilk  hes  al  maist  succumbit  oure  cuntre  in  fi- 
 nal euertione.  that  is  to  save,  the  cruele  inua- 
 sions  of  oure  aid  enemeis,  the  uniuersal  pesti- 
 ;  ande  mortaiite,  that  hes  occurit  mercy- 
 les  amang  the  pepil,  ande  the  contentione  of 
 cliuerse  of  the  thre  estaitis  of  scotlad.  throucht 
 the  quhilk  thre  plagis,  the  uniuersal  pepil  ar 
 be  cum  distitute  of  iustice  policie  ande  of  al 
 verteus  bysynes  of  body  ande  saul.  Ande 
 nou,  illustir  princes,  engendrit  of  magnanime 
 genoligie,  &  discendit  of  Royal  progenitu- 
 ris,  zour  regement  ande  gouernyng,  ande  alse 
 zour  honorabii  amplitude  of  verteouse  digni- 
 te  incressis  daly  in  the  contenual  auansing 
 of  the  deffens  of  oure  cuntre,  quhar  for  zour 
 heroyque  vertu  is  of  mair  admiratione,  nor 
 vas  of  Valeria  the  dochtir  of  the  prudent  con- 
 sul publicola,  or  of  cloelia,  lucresia,  penolope, 
 Cornelia,  semiramis,  thomaris,  penthasillie, 
 or  of  ony  vthir  verteouse  lady  that  plutarque 
 or  bocchas  hes  discriuit,  to  be  in  perpetual 
 memore.  for  al  thair  nobil  actis  ar  nocht  to  be 
 comparit  to  the  actis  that  zour  prudes  garris 
 daly  be  exsecut,  cotrar  the  cruel  vofrls  of  in- 
 gland.     The  quhilkz  volffis  ar  nocht  the  ra-' 
 
TO  THE  QVENIS  G  .  . 
 
 uand  sauuage  volftis  of  strait  monf 
 vyild  fforrestis,  that  deuoris  noit  ; :  Ap 
 
 for  ther  pray:  bot  rather  tha  ar 
 fis  quhilkis  hes  eu": 
 Ande  nou  sen  the  deceis  of  oure  nol 
 stir  prince  Kying  iamts  the  fyift,  z  -  ju- 
 
 hile  faythtful  lord  and  hisbanJ,  tha  said  ra- 
 uisant  volfis  of  ingland    hes  intendit  a 
 iust   veyr   be  ane  sinister  inuentit  fa! 
 contrar  our   realme,  in  hope  to 
 vniuersal   floe  of  oure   scottis   natione,  ande 
 to  extinct  oure  generatione  furtht   of  reme- 
 morance  :   Bot  nochthelcs  godG9  of  his  ciuy- 
 ne  bounte,  heiland  cornpassione  of  his   pure 
 afHigit    pepil,    ande    alse    beand   mouit   con- 
 trar the  rauisant  volfis  of  ingland,   he  of  hi,> 
 grace  hes  inspirit   zou   to  he  i  ratnent 
 
 to  delyuir   vs   fra   the  captiuite   of  the  cr 
 philaris  the  protector  of  ingland  in- 
 
 spirit queen   esthcr  to  delyuir  iue  ie- 
 
 uis  quhen   thai   &    mordochen 
 ly  accusit,  and   alse    per^ecutit    be   amm 
 be  for  assuerus  kyng  of  iude.  i 
 vedou  iudich  vas  inspirit   to   delyuir   I 
 uis  fra  the  crualte  of  that  infideil  >li- 
 
 phernes.    Ther  is  na  p. 
 
 A    ij 
 
4  ANE  EPISTIL 
 
 that  this  pistil  procedis  of  assentatioe  or  adu- 
 latioe,  cosiderant  that  ve  maye  see  perfytlye 
 quhou  that  zour  grace  takkis  pane  to  duelle 
 i  ane  straynge  ciitre  distitute  of  iustice.  Ande 
 als  zour  grace  bead  abset  fra  zour  only  zong 
 dochter,  our  nobil  princes,  and  rychteous  he- 
 retour  of  scotlad  :  quha  is  presentlye  veil  tretit 
 1  the  gouernace  of  hyr  fadir  of  lau,  the  maist 
 illustir  potet  prince  of  the  maist  fertil  &  pace- 
 bil  realme,  vndir  the  machine  of  the  supre- 
 me olimp,  quhar  that  zour  grace  mycht  re- 
 mane  &  duel  amag  the  nobil  princis  &  prin- 
 cessis  of  France,  quhilkis  ar  zour  natiue  fren- 
 dis  of  consanguinite  ande  affinite,  ande  ther 
 ze  mycht  posses  abudance  of  al  pleiseirs  most 
 conuenient  for  your  nobilite,  bot  zit  the  fer- 
 uent  loue  that  zour  grace  baris  touart  that 
 tender  pupil  zour  only  dochtir,  ande  for  the 
 delyuring  of  hyr  heretage  furtht  of  captiuite, 
 ze  daly  of  zour  gudnes  induris  as  grit  pane, 
 as  the  quee  ysicrata  indurit  vitht  hyr  lorde  me- 
 tredates.  zour  grace  deseruis  nocht  to  be  callit 
 ane  nobil  alanerly,  trocht  zour  verteous  ver- 
 kis,  bot  as  veil  ze  suld  be  callit  ane  nobil  of  ge- 
 nolligie,  be  rason  that  ze  ar  discendit  of  the 
 maist  vailzeant  princis  that  ar  vndir  the  cape 
 
TO  THE  QVENIS  GRACE.  5 
 
 of  hauyn.  ther  can  nocht  be  ane  mair  ample 
 probatioe,  nor  is  the  famous  atentic  croni 
 of  diuers  realmes,  ande  alse  the  verteouse  vcr- 
 kis  dune  be  zour  antecessours  in  oure  dais  ar 
 euident  til  vs  in  this  present  seicle.  In  the  fyrst 
 zour  grace  is  discendit  of  the,  quhilkis  be  ther 
 vertu  ande  be  ther  victore*  actis  hes  kepit  ande 
 deffendit  the  liberteof  ther  subiectis  in  sure  pa- 
 ce ande  traquilite,  ande  hes  repulsit  vailzeant- 
 ly  al  externe  violens.  zour  foir  grandscheir 
 godefroid  of  billon  kyng  of  iherusalem,  hes 
 nocht  alanerly  kepit  ande  deffendit  his  pepil 
 ande  subiectis  of  loran,  fra  his  prochane  ene- 
 meis  that  lyis  contigue  about  his  cuntre  :  bot 
 as  veil  be  his  magnanyme  proues  ande  mar- 
 tial exsecutione,  he  delyurit  the  holy  land  of 
 a  furtht  of  the  handis  £c  possessione  of  the 
 infideil  pagans :  quhar  for  the  vniuersal  histo- 
 riagrephours  hes  baptist  hym  to  be  ane  of  the 
 principal  of  al  the  nyne  noblis.  for  quha  vald 
 cosidir  the  Jonginquite  of  his  martial  voyai 
 ande  the  grite  forse  of  the  oriental  pepil,  ande 
 the  multitude  of  infidelis  ande  pagan  princis, 
 quhilkis  impeschit  hym  in  that  barbir  strayn- 
 ge  cuntre  be  diuerse  cruel  battellis :  this 
 cosidrit,  thai  sal  fynd  that  his  magnanyme  he- 
 
ANE  EPISTIL 
 
 Chariis 
 due  of  bur- 
 guncze 
 was  the 
 gradscheir 
 to  thi  em- 
 prionr 
 Chariis  the 
 fyift  kyng 
 of  spagze. 
 
 roique  ande  martial  entreprise,  vas  conuoyit 
 &  succurrit  be  ane  diuyne  miracle,  rather  nor 
 be  the  ingyne  of  men.  it  vil  be  ouer  prolixt  to 
 rehers  all  the  vailzeant  actis  of  baudouyne 
 his  broder  ande  successour  to  the  realme  of 
 ierusalem,  ande  na  les  prolixt  to  rehers  of  his 
 successours,  quhilkis  var  zour  predecessours, 
 kyngis  of  secilie,  dukis  of  aniou  caiabre  ande 
 of  loran.  i  suld  nocht  forzet  the  tryumphant 
 victore,  exsecut  ande  conqueist  be  the  vail- 
 zeant ande  nobil  rene  inuictissime  kyng  of 
 secilie  due  of  caiabre  ande  loran  zour  gud- 
 scheir,  contrar  that  potent  prince  Charles  due 
 of  Burgungze,  quhilk  vas  repute  to  be  ane  of 
 the  maist  nobil  men  of  veyr  in  cristianite:  zit 
 nochtheles,  he  vas  vequeist  ande  slane,  be  syde 
 the  toune  of  nancy,  be  the  foir  said  rene  zour 
 gudscheir:  quhar  for  it  aperis  veil(illustir  prin- 
 ces) that  ze  ar  discendit  doune  lynyalye  of  the 
 that  hes  been  propungnatours  for  the  libertee 
 of  ther  cuntre  ande  subiectis.  Siklyke  the  no- 
 bilnes  of  zour  vmquhile  fadir  broder  anto- 
 nius,  due  of  caiabre  loran  ande  of  bar,  quha 
 maye  be  comparit  to  the  deuot  kyng,  Numa 
 p5pilius,  the  sycond  kyng  of  rome,  for  his  pru- 
 dens  ande  dixtirite,  be  rason  that  he  hes  kepit 
 
TO  THE  QVENIS  GRACE.  J 
 
 his  subiectis  in  liberte  but  oppressioe,  quhou 
 beit  his  cuntre  lay  betuix  tua  of  the  maist  po- 
 tent princis  that  ringis  in  this  varld  :  that  is  to 
 say,  the  catholic  kyng  of  spaze  elect  empriour 
 on  ane  syde,  ande  the  maist  potet  cristyn  kyng 
 of  France  on  the  tothir  syde,  the  quhilkis  tua 
 richekyngis  hes  hed  diuerse  Lymes  birnad  mor- 
 tal veyr  contrar  vthirs,  zit  nochtheles  zour  nc- 
 bil  fadir  broder  due  of  calabre  ande  loran  hes 
 kepit  his  landis  in  liberte  fra  ther  oppressioe, 
 the  quhilk  he  did  be  vailzeantnes  ande  pru- 
 dens.  Siklyke  that  maist  sapiet  prince  ande  pre- 
 lat  fadir  in  gode,  ihone  of  loran  be  the  permif- 
 sione  diuyne,  Cardinal  of  the  apostolic  seige, 
 archebischop  of  narbon,  abbot  of  cluny,  fekke, 
 ande  of  sanct  ouyne,  quha  is  zour  fadir  bro- 
 der,  quhilk  be  his  prudens  for  the  public  veil 
 off  cristianite,  hes  been  mediatour  betuix  di- 
 uers  forane  princis,  to  trcit  pace  ande  Concor- 
 de in  diuerse  cuntreis,  as  in  ytalie  germanie  i!a- 
 dris  ande  spanze,  quha  hes  nocht  alanerly  vsit 
 hym  lyik  ane  sperutual  pastor,  bot  as  veil  he 
 hes  vsit  hym  lyik  ane  vailzeant  captan,  for  ane 
 verteous  captain  can  nocht  exsecut  ane  mair 
 vailzeant  act  as  quhen  he  purchessis  pace  ande 
 cocord,  vytht  out  diminutide  of  his  rycht,  an- 
 
AN£   1:  PIS  TIL 
 
 de  vitht  out  domage  slauchtir  or  hayrschip  to 
 be  amag  the  pepil,  as  this  nobil  prelat  hes  du- 
 ne diuerse  tymes,  vytht  out  dirrogatioe  of  his 
 speritual  dignite.  Nou  (illustir  princes)  i  vil 
 reherse  of  zour  nobil  ande  vailzeant  fadir,  the 
 due  of  guise,  lieutenant  general  to  the  kyng  of 
 France,  of  all  the  cuntre  of  champayngze  ande 
 brie :  his  actis  vald  be  prolix  to  reherse,  quhil- 
 kis  hes  been  laitly  exsecutit  in  oure  dais.  The 
 memor  of  ane  of  his  actis  is  recent,  quhen  he 
 pat  ane  garnison  of  tua  thousand  men  vitht 
 in  the  toune  of  sanct  quintyne,  rycht  vailzeat- 
 ly,  contrar  the  vil  of  thretty  thousand  of  his 
 enerneis,  quhar  he  gart  mony  of  his  enemeis 
 resaue  ther  sepulture  be  for  the  said  toune, 
 vytht  out  domage  or  hurt  til  his  men  of  veyr, 
 quhar  for  euerye  man  maye  meruel  of  his 
 dexterite,  vertu,  ande  martial  sciens.  his  ma- 
 gnanyme  proues  did  ane  vthir  vailzeant  act, 
 he  beand  bot  sex  thousand  men,  he  held  in 
 subiectione  fourty  thousand  at  the  seige  of 
 perone,  ther  durst  none  of  that  grit  cSpanye 
 pas  bakuart  nor  forduart,  be  rason  of  the  mo- 
 ny assaltis  ande  escarmuschis  that  he  maid  co- 
 trar  them,  quhar  that  he  sleu  mony  of  them, 
 vytht  out  domage  tyl  his  men  of  veyr,  be  that 
 
TO  THE  QVENIS  GRACE.  9 
 
 industreus  martial  act,  he  renforsit  the  toune 
 vitht  victualis,  hagbutaris,  ande  muniti5s.  for 
 the  hagbutaris  past  neir  to  the  camp  of  ther 
 enemeis,  ande  entrit  in  the  toune  but  resistan- 
 ce, be  cause  that  zour  nobil  fadir  held  the  grit 
 armye  of  enemeis  valkad  on  ther  tothir  syde, 
 throucht  the  grit  assaltis  ande  escarmuschis 
 that  he  maid  contrar  them.  The  toune  of  sa- 
 uerne  baris  vytnes  of  his  deleget  vailzeantnes, 
 that  he  maid  contrar  the  iminet  dangeir  that 
 vas  cumrnand  on  the  realme  of  France,  at  that 
 tyme  quhen  ane  multitude  and  infinit  num- 
 mir  of  me  of  veyr,  ande  vthirs  that  lyuit  vitht 
 out  lau,  discendit  fra  the  hicht  of  germanye. 
 thai  var  of  diuerse  sectis,  haldant  straynge  opi- 
 nions contrar  the  scriptour.  thai  purport  to 
 copel  al  cristianite  tyl  adhere  to  ther  peruerst 
 opinione:  zit  nochtheles  ther  disordinat  intcn- 
 tioe  vas  haistyly  repulsit  ande  extinct  be  the 
 martial  sciens  of  zour  nobil  &  vailzeant  fadir. 
 Thir  vailzeant  actis  of  zour  predecessours 
 (illustir  princes)ande  zour  grit  prudes,  makkts 
 manifest,  that  zour  grace  is  ane  rycht  nobil, 
 baytht  of  vertu  ande  of  genoligie.  al  thir  thin- 
 gis  befor  rehersit,  i  beand  summond  be  iiusti- 
 'uiione  of  ane  gucle  zeil,  lies  tane  ane  tei 
 
 B 
 
10  ANE  EPIST1L 
 
 rare  consait  to  present  to  zour  nobil  grace  anc 
 tracteit  of  the  fyrst  laubir  of  my  pen.  bot  zit  i 
 vas  lang  stupefact  ande  timide  for  fait  of  ane 
 pereptoir  coclusione,  i  nocht  heffand  ane  per- 
 fyte  determinatione  of  quhat  purpos  or  mater 
 that  var  maist  necessair  ande  honest  to  be  dila- 
 tit  :  than  dredour  ande  schame  beand  repulsit 
 fra  my  melancolius  cogitations,  i  began  to  re- 
 uolue  the  li^rarye  of  my  vndirstanding,  ande 
 i  socht  all  the  secreit  corneris  of  mygazophile, 
 ;jgfnaginant  vitht  in  the  cabinet  of  my  interior 
 thochtis,  that  ther  var  na  mater  mair  conue- 
 nient  ande  necessair  for  this  present  dolorus 
 tyme,  nor  to  reherse  the  cause  ande  occasione 
 of  the  onmersiful  afflictioe  of  the  desolat  real- 
 me  of  Scotland,  the  quhilk  desolatione  hes  oc- 
 currit  be  the  mischance  of  fureous  mars,  that 
 hes  violently  ocupeit  the  domicillis  of  tran- 
 quil pace,  that  sueit  goddes  of  humaine  felici- 
 te.  the  quhilk  tracteit  ihef  dediet  ande  direckyt 
 to  zour  nobil  grace,  in  hope  that  zour  grace 
 vil  resaue  it  as  humainly  as  it  var  ane  riche 
 present  of  grit  conseques.  it  vas  the  custum  of 
 perse,  that  none  of  the  subiectis  durst  ciim  in 
 the  presens  of  ther  kyng,  bot  gyf  tha  brocht  fu 
 gyft  or  present  to  be  delyurit  til  hym  efferad 
 
TO  THE  QVIZN1S  GRA'  II 
 
 for  ther  qualite.  the  historigraphours  r 
 of  ane  pure  man  of  perse,  quha  be 
 countrit  kyng  darius.  this  pare  man  throucht 
 grit  pouerte  hed  no  thyng  to  pn 
 kyng  efftir  the  custum  of  pse,  quhar  for  he  ran 
 til  ane  reueire  that  ran  neir  by,   &  brocht 
 palmis  of  his  handis  ful  of  that  fresche  vattir 
 to  the  kyng  for  ane  present,  that  nobii 
 persauand  the  gude  vil  ande  hartly  obediens 
 of  this  pure  man,  he  resauit  that  litil  quantite 
 of  cleen  vattir  as  humainly  as  it  hed  been  ane 
 riche  preset  of  gold,  ande  he  gart  delyuir  to  the 
 said  pure  ma  sex  thousand  peces  of  gold,  and  Etignnm 
 ane  goldin  vattir  lauar.  fra  this  exepil   cum-  dan 
 mis  ane  vlgare  adagia,  quhilk  sais,  that  quhen  JS]!£**" 
 ane  pure  man  makkis  ane  sacrefeis,  &  throucht 
 his  pouerte  he  vantis  ensens  to  mak  th 
 mons  of  his  sacrefeis,  that  sacrefeis  sal  be  acce-  ], 
 ptabil  befor  the  goddis,  be  cause  that  be  doi     ' 
 sa  mekil  as  his  pissance  maye  distribute,  it  is 
 vrytin  in  Sanct   marc,  quhou  oure  saluiour 
 estemeit  ande  commedit  the  oblatione  of  tua 
 half  penneis  that  vas  offrit  in  the   tempil   be 
 ane  pure  vedou  that  hed   pa   mair   mone] 
 nor  he  estemeit  the  grite  offrandis   that    \ 
 offrit  be  riche  opulent  men.   Nou  I 
 b  ij 
 
12  PROLOG 
 
 sione  (illustir  princes)  my  esperance  is  sa  grite, 
 venissetau-  that  i  beleif  that  zour  grace  vil  resaue  this  tra- 
 
 tem  una  vi-  ,  ° 
 
 duapauper:  cteit  as  humainly  as  kyng  darius  resauit  the 
 minuta"0  clene  vattir  fra  the  pure  man  of  perse,  this  tra- 
 quod  est      ctejt  |s  na  bettir  nor  as  mekil  vattir,  bot  zit  my 
 
 quagrans.  <  / 
 
 Mard.  13.  gude  vil  &  hartly  intentione,  ande  my  detful 
 obediens,  excedis  the  hartly  intentione  of  the 
 pure  ma  that  orTrit  the  fayr  vattir  to  kyng  da- 
 rius, prayand  to  god  to  preserue  zour  grace  in 
 perpetual  felicite. 
 
 PROLOG  TO  THE 
 REDAR. 
 
 Amasis   the  sycond,  quhilk   vas  the   last 
 
 kyng  ande  indegete  of  the  egipties,  (ande,  as 
 
 indigetes      diodore  rehersis,  he  vas  the  fyift  legislator 
 
 ofe^ptqu-  of  egipt),  maid  ane  ordinance    contrar  the 
 
 b'ccvl  vef-    v*ce  °^  Ycumcs?  tnat  Ql  n^s  subiectis  of  egipt 
 teousepvin-  Var  oblist,  vndir  the  pane  of  dede,  to  bring 
 
 ces  qunc  .  ...  , 
 
 thai  lyuit.  euery  zeir  ther  nanus,  in  vnt,  to  the  pro- 
 uest  of  the  prouince  quhar  ther  remanyng 
 vas,  ande  ther  to  testife  the  stait  of  ther  va- 
 
TO  THE  REDAR. 
 
 *3 
 
 catione,  ande  the  maneir  of  ther  lyirfag.  be 
 this  politic  ordinance,  the  egiptiens  var  ::idti- 
 cit  tyl  adhere  to  vertu,  ande  to  leyrne  raj 
 craftis,  ande  mecanyke  occupatios,  mai-t  co- 
 modius  ande  couenient  for  the  public  veil  of 
 egipt.     Tha  efFtir  this  ordinance  of  amasis, 
 the  Gymniosophistes  institut  ane  mair   strict  cvmniaw- 
 ordinance  amang  the  pepil  of  inde  :  that  is  to  phiion- 
 say,  that  ane  person  suld  nocht  be  admittit  to  fnhd°c"^f 
 resaue  his  corporal  refectione  quhil  on  to  the  hilkis  vafi 
 tyme  that  he  hed  manifest  realye,  or  ellis  be  ritht 
 certan  testificatione  the  frutis  of  his  laubours  °i"L^r°f 
 of  the  daye  precedent,  the  seueriteof  thir  strict  thcr  ****- 
 
 .  , .  ounc  apcns 
 
 ordinance  var  augmentit  be  ane  edict  or  seso-  to  be  rather 
 stris  the  grit  kyng  of  egipt :   for  he  statut  ane  j^^00* 
 ordinance  til  excerse  his  propir   childir  ande  I 
 the  zong  princis  ande  getil  men  of  his  court 
 to  vse  them  til  indure  excesse  of  laubirs  :  he 
 statut  that  none  of  them  suld  tak  ther  refectio- 
 ne quhil  thai  hed  gone  ande  run  the  tyme  of 
 fife  or  sex  houris  :   to  that  effect,  that  thrcucht 
 sic  excerse,  ther  membris  mycht  be  purgit  fra. 
 corruppit    humours,    the    quhilkis    humours 
 nocht  beand  degeistit,  mycht  be  occasione  to 
 dul  ther  spreit,  ande  to  mak  thcr  hod\  on  abil 
 to  resist  ydilnes.  thir  ordinances  of  i.. 
 
14  PROLOG 
 
 ptiens  are  verray  necessair  to  be  vfit  in  al  real- 
 mys,  be  rason  that  the  maist  part  of  the  pepil, 
 throucht  ther  natural  fraigilite,  consumis  the 
 maist  part  of  ther  dais  in  ydilnes.  This  detesta- 
 tione  that  i  haue  rehersit  of  ydilnes,  par  chan- 
 ce maye  be  iugit  be  inuyful  ignorantis,  that 
 i  condampe  my  self  in  sa  far  as  thai  persaue 
 me  nocht  ocupeit  vitht  mecanyc  byssynes.  nou 
 to  confound  ignorant  detrakkers,  i  vil  arme 
 me  vitht  the  vordis  of  publius  scipio,  as  ci- 
 cero  rehersis  in  the  prologe  of  the  thrid  beuk 
 of  his  officis,  sayand,  that  scipio  vas  neuyr  les 
 ydil  as  quhe  he  aperit  to  be  idil,  nor  he  vas  nei- 
 uyr  les  solitair  as  quhe  he  aperit  to  be  solitair, 
 for  quhe  he  aperit  to  be  ydil,  tha  he  vas  solist  I 
 his  mynde  anent  the  gouuernyng  of  the  pu- 
 blic veil,  ande  quhen  he  aperit  to  be  solitar, 
 than  he  vas  speikand  vitht  hym  self  anent  his 
 auen  byssynes,  &  sa  he  vas  neuir  ydil  nor  soli- 
 tair, quhou  beit  that  he  aperit  sum  tyme  in  the 
 sycht  of  the  vulgaris  to  be  ydil  &  solitair.  nun- 
 quam  se  minus  ociosum  quam  cum  ociosus, 
 nee  minus  solum  quam  cum  solus  esset.  i  vil 
 apply  thir  vordis  to  my  self,  for  quhou  beit 
 that  the  laubir  vitht  the  pen  &the  studie  on  spe- 
 culative of  vertu  apeir  to  be  ydilnes,  zit  thai  ar 
 
TO  THE  REDAR.  15 
 
 no  ydilnes  bot  rattier  ane  solist  byssynes  of  the 
 body  &  of  the  spreit.  ande  nou  sen  gode  hes 
 nocht  dotit  me  vitht  speculatione  of  liberal 
 scies  nor  philosophe,  nor  vitht  stryntht  of  my 
 body  til  indure  seruile  subiectioe,  nor  zit  vitht 
 no  art  nor  mecanyc  craft,  ther  for  i  vii  help  to 
 the  auansing  of  the  public  veil  vitht  my  stu- 
 dye  &  vitht  my  pen.  In  the  antiant  dais,  the 
 romans  var  mair  renforsit  in  curageus  entre- 
 prisis  be  the  vertu  of  the  pen,  ande  be  the  per- 
 suasions of  oratours,  nor  thai  var  renforsit  be 
 the  sourdis  of  men  of  veyr.  Euerye  craft  is  ne- 
 cessair  for  the  public  veil,  ande  he  that  hes  the 
 gyft  of  traductione,  compiling  or  teching,  his 
 faculte  is  as  honest,  as  crafty,  ande  as  necessair, 
 as  is  to  be  ane  marynel,  ane  marchant,  ane  cor- 
 dinar,charpenteir,  captan,  ciuilist,  or  ony  vthir 
 crafFt  or  scies.  ther  is  na  degreis  of  vertu  arnag 
 the,  for  gyf  ane  craft  or  sciens  be  gude,  tha  it  is 
 as  gude  as  ony  craft  can  be,  for  al  sortis  of  ver- 
 teo'  facultes  ar  of  ane  lyik  vertu,  as  cicero  sais 
 1  the  thrid  of  his  paradoxis,  that  ane  gude  ma 
 can  be  na  bettir  nor  ane  vthir  man  that  is  gu- 
 de, for  gyf  ane  man  be  gude,  than  he  is  as  gu- 
 de as  ony  gude  man  can  be  :  siclyik  gyf 
 craft  be  gude,  than  it  is  as  gude  as  ony  craft 
 
lG  PROLOG 
 
 can  be,  ther  for  ane  ma  of  ane  craft  suld  nocht 
 detest  ane  vthir  sort  of  craft,  considerand  that 
 oure  hurt  nature  hes  nocht  dotit  ane  man  til 
 vse  al  craftis.  Aristotil  sais  in  the  fyrst  beuk  of 
 his  politiques,  that  nature  hes  nocht  maid  ane 
 Nihil  cni     man  lyik  gladius  delphicus.    The  significatio- 
 ui^quaie^  ne  °f  gladius  delphicus  is  of  this  sort,  delphos 
 statuarii      js  ane  solemnit  place,  on  the  hyl  of  pernasus, 
 giadiu  ob     quhar  ther  standis  ane  tempil  dedicat  til  appol- 
 sedvn^q     1°«  ther  cam  daly  to  that  tempil  diuerse  pure 
 ad  vnum.     mcn  -m  pilgremage.  ther  duelt  on  that  hil  smy- 
 this.  8z  forgearis  of  yrn  ande  steil,  the  quhilkis 
 cuid  mak  ane  instrament  of  yrn  conuenient 
 for  mony  officis,  for  tha  vald  gar  ane  instra- 
 ment serue  for  ane  hammyr,  ane  turkes,  ane 
 file,  ane  sourd,  ane  knyf,  ande  ane  borrel.  this 
 sort  of  instramentis  var  sellit  to  pure  pilgryms 
 that  hed  nocht  mekil  moneye  to  by  ilk  instra- 
 ment be  the  self :  ande  be  cause  that  instramet 
 scruit  til  mcny  officis,  ther  for  it  vas  callit  gla- 
 dius delphicus.  of  this  sort  aristotil  makkis  ane 
 coparisone,  sayand  that  nature  hes  nocht  maid 
 ane  man  abil  for  euerye  craft  or  office,  bot 
 nature  hes  maid  ane  man  abil  to  be  ane  prin- 
 ce, ane  abil  to  be  ane  ser  uand,  ane  abil  to  be  ane 
 clerk,  ane  abil  to  be  ane  craftis  man,  be  rason 
 
TO  THE   REDAR. 
 
 that  oure  hurt  nature  b  idit  oure  co; 
 
 xions  to  be  of  diuerse  qualiteis,  ande  for  that 
 cause  ve  sal  fynd  amang  ane  thousand  men,  *V|!-C  ^ 
 ane  thousand  consaitis  ande  ane  thousand  co- 
 ditions.    for  that  cause  anstotil  hes  said  in 
 politiques,  that  in  ilk  comunite  ther  is  ane  mul-  ^ 
 titude,  ande  ilk  ane  hes  sum  part  of  vertu  of 
 
 r  tar  vno. 
 
 diuerse  degreis,  ande  ilk  ane  of  thir  degreis  ar 
 ordand  til  help  vthirs  in  necessite.    Cicero  gy-  „ 
 uis  ane  exempil  in  his  retoric,  quhou  that 
 citinaris  of  cartomat  in  ytalye,  sende  for  ane 
 excellet  payntur,  callit  eracleon.  thai  promest 
 to  gyf  hym  ane  grit  some  of  moneye,   for  to 
 paynt  ane  fayr  ymage  of  the  deeffe  iuno.    than 
 eracleon  gart  al  the  fayr  ande  best  lyik   z 
 vemen  of  that  cite  cum  in  his  presens,  ande 
 he  chesit  fife  of  the  best  lyik  a 
 to  be  his  patrone.   quhen  he  hed  coiitei:. 
 spyit  the  proportions  &  propretcis   of  nat 
 of  thir  fife  ladeis  he  chesit  the  face  of  ai 
 een  of  ane  vthir,  the  handis  of  the  thti 
 hayr  of  the  feyrd,  the  armis,  the  myddil,  ande 
 the  feit  of  the  fyift ;  of  this  sort  he  fori 
 patrone  of  the  ymage  of  iuno,  efftir  t!. 
 portione  of  dint 
 ■ 
 
I 8  PROLOG 
 
 al  his  patrone  in  ane  special  lady,    for  sche 
 
 that  vas  pleysand  of  hyr  luce,  vas  nocht  pley- 
 
 .      sand  of  hyr  hayr,  ande  sche  that  hed  plesand 
 
 es  .  '  J  r 
 
 .  hed  nocht  pleysand  een,  ande  sche 
 >ro_  that  hed  ane  veil  proportionet  body,  hed  euil 
 ,eri"  proportionet  feic  ;  ande  to  conclude,  he  culd 
 nocht  get  ane  lady  in  special,  that  vas  sufficiet 
 to  be  his  patrone,  nor  zit  that  culd  be  compa- 
 rit  til  gladius  delphicus,  quhilk  vas  ane  instru- 
 ment that  seruit  til  mony  officis.  be  this  cx- 
 empil  ve  maye  cosidir,  that  nature  hes  nocht 
 dotit  ane  person  to  be  qualifeit  to  cxcerse 
 al  sortis  of  craftis  ;  for  that  cause  ariftotil  sais 
 that  al  sortis  of  craftis  suld  cccur  to  gyddir, 
 ande  ilk  ane  til  help  vthirs,  as  nature  proui- 
 dit  fyrst  in  the  begynnyng.  thir  prolixt  vor- 
 dis  befor  rehersit,  ar  ane  preparatiue,  cotrar 
 the    detractione    of   inuyful    clerkis    that    ar 
 
 Non  ta  ea-  #  ■* 
 
 que  recta  mair  expert  in  latyne  tong  nor  i  am,  quhil- 
 tur^qium"  kis  vil  nocht  set  furtht  ane  gude  verk  tyl  in- 
 que  praua    ^uce  t]le  pepil  to  vertu,  nor  zit  vil  correct  my 
 
 sunt  fasti-  11  J 
 
 diis  adhe-     ignorat  error  ;  bot  rather  thai  ar  mair  propt 
 
 ci&de  on.  to    repreif   ane    smal   ignorant  fait,    nor  to 
 
 commende  ane  grit  verteous  act ;  bot  zit  no 
 
 man  suld  decist  fra  ane  gude  purpose,  quhou 
 
 beit    that   detractione   be   armit   vitht   inuy 
 
TO  THE   REDAR.  I  9 
 
 reddy  to  suppedit  e>:   tyi  impung  ane  - 
 
 verk  :  for  quhat  eu  to 
 
 compile  ane  verk  to  content  euerye   m 
 
 suld  fyrst  drynk  furtht  the  occc 
 
 quhou   beit,  that   th 
 
 accuse  or  to  repreif  my  verkis,  ::it   ik 
 
 les  i  suld  nocht  be  ouer  temerai 
 
 ane  verk  that  surpassis  m 
 
 that  seikis  hyr  meyt  in  the  myddi 
 
 pe  sa  lang  amang  the  fyltht,  quhil  sche 
 
 furtht  sum  aid  khyfe  that  hes  been  fynt,  . 
 
 quhilk  knyfe  cuttis  hyr  throt  eftifuart,  as  i  sail 
 
 apply  ane  exempil  coformand  to  this  sam 
 
 purpose,  as  eftir  follouis. 
 
 *[  Annibal,  that  vailzeant  cartagicn,  beand 
 venquest  be  nobil  scipion,  past  for  refuge   t\l 
 anthiocus  kyng  of  sirrie,  quha  vas  at  that  ty- 
 me  ane  vailzeant  prince  :  he  resauit 
 his  realme,  ande  in  his  protectione,  an 
 hym  grit  honour  ande   reuerens.    ane   pri 
 can  nocht  schau   hym  mair  nobil,  nor   mair 
 verteouse,  as  quhen  lie  resauis  in  his 
 ane  desolat  prince,  distitut 
 disparit  of  consolatione,  quhilk  he  vio- 
 
 lently allligit  be  aduerse  fortoune.     thir   I 
 princis  vsit  oft  to  \  i 
 
 cij 
 
ilO  TROLOU 
 
 recreatione,  ande  to  pas  til  hounting,  ancle  til 
 vthir  gammis,  conuenient  for  thcr  nobilite. 
 at  sum  tyme  thai  vald  pas  to  the  sculis,  to 
 heir  the  lecture  of  ane  philosophour  callit 
 phormion,  quha  remanit  in  the  toune  of 
 ephisye,  ande  techit  natural  ande  moral  philo- 
 sophic to  the  zog  men  of  the  cuntre.  on  ane 
 day,  thir  tua  princis  be  chance  entrit  in  the 
 achademya,  to  heir  ane  lesson  of  philosophic 
 techit  be  the  said  phormion,  philosophour.  he 
 persauand  thir  tua  princis  entir  in  his  scule, 
 he  changit  the  mater  of  that  present  lectu- 
 re, ande  but  prouisioe,  he  began  to  teche  the 
 ordour  of  the  veyris,  cleclarand  quhou  that 
 paptans  suld  ordour  battellis  contrar  ther 
 enemeis.  this  philosophour  techit  sa  prc- 
 fundly  the  maneir  of  the  ordoryng  of  bat- 
 tellis in  presens  of  thir  tua  princis,  that  thai 
 that  herd  hym  neuyr  of  befor,  meruellit 
 nocht  alanerly  of  his  quyk  ingyne,  bot  as 
 veil  thai  th:  :  hym  daly  vnr  in  grit  acl- 
 
 miratione.  it  is  the  nature  of  ane  man  that 
 hes  ane  it,   ande  yne, 
 
 that  ande  questione  is   fami- 
 
 tyl  hyra.    kyng  anthiocus 
 cause  he  hed  sic  ane  prude 
 
TO  THE   REDAR.  21 
 
 in  his  cuntre  :  quhar  for  he  inquirit  annibal, 
 quhat  iugement  he  hed  of  his  philosophour 
 phormion.  Annibal  ansuert  vitht  as  hardy 
 curage  as  quhen  he  venqueist  the  romans  at 
 the  battel  of  cannes ;  for  ane  vailzeant  prin- 
 ce tynis  nocht  his  curage,  quhou  beit  that 
 aduerse  fortune  resist  his  felicite,  bot  rather 
 hes  gude  hope  that  dame  fortoune  vil  mit- 
 tigat  hyr  auen  crualte.  this  vas  the  ansuer  of 
 annibal  tyl  anthiccus,  in  the  presens  of  phor- 
 mio :  Nobil  prince  anthioc',  i  hef  seen  mony 
 aid  men  tyne  ther  vyt,  bot  i  sau  neuyr  sa 
 grite  ane  fule  amang  them  al  as  is  th) 
 sophour  phormion,  for  he  maye  be  callit  the 
 mirrour  of  folye.  ther  c"i  nocht  be  ane  mair 
 folye,  as  quhen  ane  ydiot,  distitute  of  knau- 
 lage,  presumis  to  teche  or  to  leyrne  ane  man 
 that  hes  baytht  speculatione  and 
 i  pray  the  to  tel  me  (kyng  anthiocus)  quhat 
 hart  can  thole,  or  quhat  tog  can  be  stil,  quhe 
 thai  see,  or  hen  is  tcl,  of  the  presumptcous  con- 
 sait  Off  thy  vane  philosophour,  quhilk 
 been  newest  al  his  dais  in  ane  solitar  achadc- 
 mya  of  greicc,  ancle  zit  he  dar  be  sa  bold 
 to  present  hym  befor  prince  annibal,  to  i 
 put  ande  tyl   indoclr}  I 
 
::  prolog 
 
 veyris  ande  of  the  batellis,  as  he  var  prince  of 
 affrica,  or  captan  of  rome  :  for  verite  he  hes 
 ane  smal  iugement  of  sic  maters,  or  ellis  he 
 estemeis  vs  to  be  litil  experementit  in  the 
 veyris.  be  his  vane  consaitis  that  he  hes  stu- 
 deit  on  beukis,  he  beleuis  to  leyrne  annibai 
 the  prettik  of  the  veyris,  ande  the  conques- 
 singis  of  realmis.  o  kyng  anthiocus,  al  the 
 goddis  vait,  quhat  defferens  is  betuix  philo- 
 sophic techit  in  sculis,  ande  betuix  the  stait 
 of  captans  in  the  ordoring  of  batellis  on  the 
 feildis  ;  ande  quhat  defferens  is  to  vrit  vitht 
 ane  pen,  &  the  vsing  of  ane  speyr  vailzeantly 
 in  battel ;  ande  quhat  defferens  is  ther  be- 
 tuix mony  beukis,  ande  ane  captan  heffand 
 his  enemye  befor  his  ee.  Ther  is  diuerse  me 
 that  can  blason  the  veyris  in  the  tauerne,  or 
 at  the  fyir  syde,  amang  the  vulgar  ignorant 
 pepil  ;  bot  i  fynd  nocht  mony  that  dar  haszar- 
 de  ther  lyue  cotrar  ther  enemeis.  O  anthio- 
 cus, thy  philosophour  phormion  sau  neuyr 
 the  iunyng  of  ane  battel,  vitht  cruel  eschar- 
 mouschis  in  the  ryding  of  forrais  :  he  sau  ne- 
 uyr the  array  of  men  of  veyr  brokyn,  ande 
 tua  armeis  myxt  amang  vthirs,  fechtand  be 
 fellone  forse,  quhar  the  defluxione  of  blude 
 
TO  THE   R.EDAR. 
 
 bed  payntit  ande  cullourt  all  the  feildis  : 
 herd  neuyr  the  dolorus  trompet  sounde  be- 
 for  the  iunyng  of  ane  battel,  nor  zit  he   1. 
 de  it  neuyr  sound  to  gar  the  men  of  veyr  re- 
 tere  fra  ane  dangeir  :  he  persauit  neuyr   the 
 trason   of  ane    party,  nor  the   couuardeis   of 
 ane  vthir  party  :  he  sau  neuyr  t^e  litil  nu 
 mir  of  them  that  fechtis,  nor  the  grite  num- 
 mir  of  them  that  fieis  for  dreddour.     O   an- 
 thiocus,    thy    philosophour    suld    teche    the 
 thyng  that  he  hes  studeit  at  the  sculis,  &  the 
 thing  that  he  hes  seen  vitht  his  een,  to  them 
 that  vas  neuyr  at  the  sculis,  ande  to  the   that 
 vas  neuyr  pretykkit  in  the  veyris,  rather  nor 
 til  vs,  that  hes  been  cxperimentit  in  the  i 
 ris  al  oure  dais,     the  prettik  of  th  is   is 
 
 mair  facil  to  be  leyrnit  on  the  feildis  of  al 
 ca,  nor  1  the  sculis  of  greice.    Thou  vait,  k 
 anthiocus,  that  thi  ande   threit;. 
 
 hef  beene    excersit   in    the   veyris,  baytht   in 
 ytalie  ande  in  spangze,  quhar   that    i 
 hes  schauen  hyr  rycht  aduerse  contrar  me, 
 is  hyr   vse   to   do   to   them   that  kkis 
 
 difficil  entrepricis,  as  thou  may  sc 
 riens  ;  for  or  i  hed  ane  beyrde, 
 ane  captan,  ande  nou,  quhcn  my  beyrd  i. 
 
PROLOG 
 
 cum  quhyt,  1  am  be  cum  ane  seruand.  1  sueir 
 to  the  (kyng  anthiocus)  be  the  gode  mars,  that 
 gyf  ony  persone  vald  speir  at  me  the  maneir 
 of  the  gouernyng  of  ane  battel,  i  vait  nocht 
 quhat  ansuere  to  mak,  be  raison  that  battel- 
 lis  consistis  vndir  the  gouernance  of  fortu- 
 ne, ande  nocht  in  the  ingyne  of  men,  nor 
 in  the  multiplie  of  pepil.  all  veyris  ar  be- 
 gun be  princis  on  ane  iust  titil,  ande  syne  pro- 
 cedis  be  visdofne  ;  bot  the  ende  of  the  veyris 
 consistis  in  the  chance  of  fortune.  Ther  for, 
 it  is  grit  folye  to  thy  philosophour  til  vndir- 
 tak  to  leyrn  the  ordiring  of  battellis  vitht  in 
 his  solitair  achademya  :  it  var  mair  necessair 
 ande  honest  for  hym  to  vse  his  auen  profes- 
 sion ande  faculte,  nor  to  mel  vitht  ony  facul- 
 te  that  passis  his  knaulage.  annibal  said  mo- 
 ny  vthir  gude  purposis  tyl  anthiocus,  anent 
 this  samyn  purpose,  as  plutarque  rehersis  in 
 his  apothigmatis. 
 
 *["  This  exempil  tendis,  that  al  prudet  men 
 hes  mair  occasione  to  condamp  &  repreif  this 
 raggit  naykyt  tracteit,  nor  annibal  hed  occa- 
 sione to  repreif  the  philosophour  phormion  ; 
 for  my  dul  rude  brane  suld  nocht  hef  been  sa 
 temerair  as  to  vndirtak  to  correct  the  imper- 
 
TO  THE  REDAR.  2$ 
 
 fectioe  of  ane  comont  veil,  be  cause  the  maist 
 part  of  my  knaulage  is  the  smallest  part  of 
 ray  ignorance  :  zit  nochtheles  i  hope  that 
 vyise  men  vil  reput  my  ignorace  for  ane  mor- 
 tifeit  prudens,  be  rason  of  my  gude  intentio- 
 ne  that  procedis  fra  ane  aiTectiue  ardant  fa- 
 uoir  that  i  hef  euyr  borne  touart  this  affligit 
 realme  quhilk  is  my  natiue  cuntre.  Nou  heir  i  NulIus  ,0- 
 
 i*     i   «i  7  •         1  •  •  i  ,      cus  nobis 
 
 exort  al  philosophouns,   histongraphours,  ^'  duidor  esse 
 oratours  of  our  scottis  natione,  to  support  &  tria#  pa~ 
 ti!  excuse  my  barbir  arrest  termis:  for  i  thocht  ?icc' ad 
 
 .         .  -         .  Marc,  fa- 
 
 it nocht  necessair   til   hef  fardit   ande   lardit  mi.   4. 
 
 this  tracteit  vitht  exquisite  tennis,  quhilkis 
 ar  nocht  daly  vsit,  bot  rather  i  hef  vsit  dome- 
 stic scottis  langage,  maist  intelligibil  for  the 
 vlgare  pepil.  ther  hes  bene  diuerse  transla- 
 tors ande  cSpilaris  in  aid  tvmvs,  that  tuke  fcrmoac 
 gnte  plescir  to  contrarait  ther  vlgare  langa-  ni,qnino- 
 ge,   mixad   ther   purposis   vitht  oncoutht  ex-  ^ss  c 
 
 or  rather  to  say  mair  Qc  offi. 
 iyii,  fru  ande  sum  of  the 
 
 vord  of  ther  purpose 
 to  be  ful  abis  half  ane  myle  of  lyntht, 
 
 as  ther  vas  ane  callit  hermes,  quhiUc  par  in 
 his  verkis  thir  I  mturbabu- 
 
 tur,  co:;  itani,  innunierabilibus,  so* 
 
2  6  PROLOG 
 
 Iicitudiriibus.  ther  vas  ane  vthir  that  vrit  in 
 
 his  verkis,  gaudet  honorificabilitudinitatibus. 
 
 al   sic   tennis   procedis   of  fantastiknes  andc 
 
 •glorius   consaitis.  i   hef  red   in  ane   beuk  of 
 
 ane  preceptor  that  said  til   his   discipulis,  lo- 
 
 quere  verbis  presentibus,  &  vtere  morib'  an- 
 
 tiquis  :  that  is  to  save,  thou  sal  speik  comont 
 
 ,ge,  ande  thou  sal  lyue  eftir  the  verteous 
 
 maneirs  cf  antiant  men.   zit  nochtheles   ther 
 
 is  mony  vordis  of  antiquite  that  i  hef  reher- 
 
 in  this  tracteit,  the  quhilkis  culd  nocht  be 
 
 translatit  in  oure  scottis  langage,  as  auguris, 
 
 auspices,  ides,  questeours,  senaturus,  censours, 
 
 pretours,  tribuns,   ande  mony  vthir  romane 
 
 dictions:  ther  for  gyf  sic  vordis  suld  be  disusit 
 
 Verba  in-     or  detekkit,  than  the  phrasis  of  the  antiquite 
 
 no  q««  iii-  vald  be  confundit  ande  adnullit :  ther  for  it  is 
 
 stdqueln-  necessa*r  at  sum  tyme  til  myxt  oure  langage 
 
 ciicarct  vo-  yitfa  part  0f  termis  dreuyn  fra  lateen,  be  ra- 
 
 luntatem.  r  \ 
 
 cic.  pro  a.  son  that  oure  scottis  tog  is  nocht  sa  cope  as 
 is  the  lateen  tog,  ande  alse  ther  is  diuerse  pur- 
 posis  &  propositions  that  occurris  in  the  la- 
 ting  tong  that  can  no  be  translatit  deuly  in 
 oure  scottis  langage  :  ther  for  he  that  is  expert 
 in  latyn  tong  suld  nocht  put  reproche  to 
 the  compilation,  quhou  beit  that  he  fynd  sii 
 
 cec:n. 
 
TO  THE   REDAR* 
 
 purposis  traslatit  1  sccttis  that  ace 
 vitht  the  lateen  i 
 this  propositione,  homo  est  ai 
 terme  homo  sig 
 man  :  bot  ther  is  nocht  ane  sc 
 signifeis  baytht  man  ancle  vom: 
 mal  signifeis  al  thyng  that  bes  lyue 
 sensibil,bot  ther  is  nocht  ane  scottis  ten 
 signifeis  al  quyk  sensibil  thyng,   ther  f 
 propositione,  mulier  est  homo  is   treu. 
 zit  ve  suld  nocht  saye  that  ane  voma  is  .. 
 man.     Ande  siclyik  this   propositione,  homo 
 est  animal  is  treu,  ande  zit  ve  suld  nocht  say 
 that  ane  man  is  ane  beyst.  of  this  sort  ther  is 
 baytht  termis  ande  propositions  in  latec 
 the  quhilk  vilbe  difficil  to  translait  the: 
 rehersit  thir  vordis,  in  hope  to  eschaip! 
 tractione  of  inuyful  grama 
 mair  prompt  to  reprehende  ane  smal  fait,  : 
 tha  ar  to  commed  ane  vertc  t.  Nou  for 
 
 conclusionc  of  this  pro! 
 redar)  to  correct  mc  famili; 
 te,  ande  til  interpreit  my  ; 
 blye,  for  dcutles  the  motione  of  the   i 
 latione  of  this  tracteit  proc< 
 passione  that  i  hef  of  the  pi 
 d  ij 
 
1$  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 it  dois  of  presumptione  or  vane  gloir.  thy  che- 
 retabil  correctione  maye  be  ane  prouocatio- 
 ne  to  gar  me  study*  mair  attentiulye  in  the 
 nyxt  verkis  that  i  intend  to  set  furtht,  thequhilk 
 i  beleif  in  gode  sal  be  verray  necessair  tyl  al 
 them  that  desiris  to  lyue  verteouslye  indurad 
 the  schort  tyme  of  this  oure  fragil  peregrina- 
 tione,  8c  sa  fayr  veil. 
 
 THE  COMPLAYNT  OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 THE  FYRST  CHEPTOVR  DEOLARIS 
 THE  CAUSE  OF  THE   MUTA- 
 TIONS OF  MONARCHES. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 Jl\s  the  hie  monarches,  lordschips,  ande  au- 
 toriteis,  ar  stablit  be  the  infinite  diuyne  ordi- 
 nance, ande  mentenit  be  the  eternal  pre- 
 ludes, siclyik  ther  ruuyne  cummis  be  the 
 sentence  gyifin  be  the  souerane  consel 
 of  the  diuyne  sapiens,  the  quhilk  doune 
 thringis  them  fra  the  hie  trone  of  ther  im- 
 perial dominations,  ande  ganis  them  fal  in 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 the  depe  fosse  of  seruitude,  an.  ni- 
 
 ficens  in  ruuyne,  ande  causis  coquerours   to  R??n.u*_ 
 be   cqquest,    ande   til   obeye    ther  vmquhile  *«  •. 
 subiectis    be    dreddour£quhom:    of  be   for  iUKas 
 thai   commadit   be   autorite.  Ms    decreit  ^s™oi£~ 
 
 procedis  of  the  diuyne  iustice,  be  rason  that  E-l:-  10- 
 princis  ande  vthirs  of  autorite  becumis  am. 
 bitius  ande  presumpteous,  throucht  g: ' 
 perfluiteof  veltht:  ther  for  he  dois  chestee  I 
 be  the  abstractione  of  that  superfluite :  that  is 
 to  say,  he  possessis  vthir  pure  pepil  that  knauis 
 his  gudnes,  vitht  the  samyn  reches  that 
 hes  tane  fra  the  that  hes  arrogant!  \aa- 
 
 uen  hym.  Ane  pottar  vil  mak  of  ane  masse  of 
 mettal  diuerse  pottis  of  deferent  fassons,  8c 
 syne  he  vil  brak  the  grite  pottis  quhen  thai 
 pleyse  hym  nocht,  ande  he  makkis  smal  pot- 
 tis of  the  brokyn  verk  of  the  grite  pottis,  ande 
 alse  of  the  mettal  ande  mater  of  the  smal  pot- 
 tis he  formis  gri  .  this  exempil  may  be 
 applyit  to  the  subuertions  ande  mutations  of 
 realmis  ande  dominions,  ande  of  al  varldly 
 prosperite.  chiklir  that 
 
 incressis  quhil  thai   be  : yit 
 
 stryntht  of  men  :  L  ,  tha  begyri  to 
 
 decresse  ande  declin 
 
30  the  complaynt 
 
 siklyik  lordschips  ande  digniteis  lies  incres- 
 sing,  declinatione,  ande  exterminatione.  the 
 mutations  of  euerye  varldly  thyng  is  certane, 
 quhou  beit  that  prosper*  men  prouidis  nocht 
 to  resist  the  occasions  of  the  mutabiliteis  :  qu- 
 hilk  occasions  ar  ay  vigilant  to  suppedit  &  to 
 spulze  al  them  that  ar  ingrate  of  the  benefe- 
 cis  of  gode.  the  mutations  of  monarchis  ande 
 dominions,  ar  manifest  in  the  holy  scriptur, 
 ande  in  the  verkis  of  the  maist  famous  anciat 
 historigraphours.  quhar  is  the  grite  ande  riche 
 tryumphand  cite  of  nynyue,  quhilk  hed  thre 
 dais  iournais  of  circuit  ?  at  this  tyme  ther  is 
 nocht  ane  stane  stadant  on  ane  vthir.  Quhar 
 is  the  grite  tour  of  babilone  ?  the  quhilk  vas 
 biggit  be  ane  maist  ingenius  artifeis,  of  pro- 
 portion, quantite,  ande  of  stryntht.  it  aperit 
 to  be  perdurabil  ande  inuyncibil,  bot  nou  it  is 
 desolat,  ande  inhabit  be  serpens  ande  vthir 
 venemuse  beystis.  Quhat  sal  be  said  of  the  ri- 
 che tryumphant  toune  of  troye,  ande  of  ca- 
 stell  ylione,  quhilk  hed  al  the  portis  of  euoir 
 bane,  ande  the  pillaris  of  fyne  siiuyr  ?  bot  at 
 this  tyme  ane  fut  of  hicht  of  the  vallis  can 
 nocht  be  sene,  for  al  the  grond  of  the  palecis 
 of  that  tryumphand  toune  ande  castel,  is  ouer- 
 
OP   SCOTLAND.  31 
 
 gane  vitht  gyrse  ande  vild  scroggis.  Qiih: 
 the  grite  toune  of  thebes  ?  quhilk  vas  foundit 
 be  cadmus  the  sone  of  agenoir,  the  quhi 
 at  that  tyme  the  maist  pepulus  toune  abufe  the 
 eird.  it  hed  ane  hiidretht  tourettis  ande  pc 
 bot  nou  at  this  tyme  thcr  is  no   thyng  quhar 
 it  stude  bot  barrane  feildis.  Siklyik  lacedemo- 
 nya,  quhar  the  legislator  ligurgus  gef  to  the  pe- 
 pil  strait  famous  lauis,  of  the  quhilk  ane 
 part  ar  vsit  presently  in  the  vniuersal  varld,  is 
 nocht  that  nobil  toune  extinct  furtht  of  reme- 
 morance  ?  Quhat  sal  be  said  of  athenes,  the 
 vmquhile  fontane  of  sapien..,  ande  the  spring 
 of  philosophee:  is  it  nocht  in  perpetual  subuer- 
 sione  ?  Quhar  is  the  toune  of  cartage  that  dan- 
 tit  the  elephantis,  ande  vas  grytumly  dout; 
 drcd  be  the  roman  nocht  brynt  in  \ 
 
 dir  ande  asse?  ande  nou  the  grond  of  it  is  pa- 
 stour  for  bestial,  quhat  sal  be  said  of  the  fu 
 monarche  of  romc,  quhilk  dantit  ande  subde- 
 uit  al  the  varld?  is  nocht  nou  the  superioriteof 
 it  partit  ande  diuidit  i  mony  ande  diuerse  par- 
 tis, conformand  to  the  vordis  of  lucan,  quha 
 said  that  the  vecht  of  romc  suld  gar  it  ryuc 
 mony  partis:  the  vecht  of  it  it  nocht  the 
 
 vecht  of  hauy  vailis,  housis,  Stonis,  ande  vthir 
 
_oJ 
 
 materials  :  bot  rather  it  signifeit  the  vecht  of 
 the  inexorbitant  extorsions  that  it  committit 
 on  the  vniuersal  varld,  quhilk  is  the  cause  that 
 the  mcnarche  of  it  is  diuidit  amang  mony  di- 
 verse princis.  of  this  sort  euere  thyng  hes  anc 
 tyme,  for  mutations  of  varldly  felicite  is  ane 
 natural  habitude,  quhilkis  is  the  cause  that  na 
 thyng  remanis  lung  constant  in  ane  prosperus 
 stait  :  ande  that  is  the  special  cause  that  al  do- 
 minions altris,  d  ,  ande  cummis  to  sub- 
 uersione.  The  fyrst  monarch e  of  the  varld 
 vas  translatit  fra  the  assiriens  to  them  of  per- 
 se, ande  fra  perse  to  the  greikis,  and  translatit 
 fra  the  greikis  to  the  romans,  fra  the  romans 
 to  the  franche  men,  ande  fra  the  franche  men 
 to  the  germanis.  ande  quhou  be  it  that  the  pe- 
 pil  knauis  thir  mutations  to  be  of  verite,  zit 
 ther  is  nocht  mony  that  knauis  the  cause  of 
 thir  mutations,  be  rason  that  the  iugement  of 
 gode  (quhilk  virkis  al  thyng)  is  ane  profoud 
 onknauen  deipnes,  the  quhilk  passis  humaine 
 ingyne  to  comprehende  the  grounde  or  li- 
 mitis  of  it:  be  cause  oure  vit  is  ouer  febil,  oure 
 Sapicn.  9.  ingyne  ouer  harde,  oure  thochtis  ouer  vol- 
 lage,  ande  oure  zeiiis  ouer  schort.  Ther  is  mo- 
 ny ignorant  pepil  that  imputis  the  subuersios 
 
 Quis  enl 
 cogitabit 
 senium  do 
 mini  aur 
 quis  consi- 
 liarius  ei' 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 ande  mutations  of  prosperite,  to  proceid   of  : 
 
 .  r .  . 
 
 fortoune  :  sic  consaitis  procedis  of  the  gen 
 lite  ande  pagans  doctryne,  ande  nocht 
 dis  lau,  nor  zit  of  moral  philosophic  :  quhou  ' 
 be  it  that  iuuenal   hes  said,  that  fortoune  is 
 the  cause  that  ane  smal  manascendis  to  digni-  sole, 
 teis,  ande  that  ane  grite  man  fallis  in  ruuyne.  Ecc'cs' 8' 
 Sic  opinions  suld  nocht  be  haldin  nor  beie-  Si  f 
 uit  y  for  ther  is  no  thing  in  thisvarld  that  cum-  d 
 mis  on  mankynde  as  prosperite  or  aduersi-  jct51 
 te,  bot  al  procedis  fra  the  dyuyne  pouer,  a 
 
 .  .  ,.  ...  consule  rc- 
 
 vntyne  in  the  xi.  cheptour  or  ecclesiasticus,  thor. 
 bona  &  mala,  vita  &  mors,  paupertas  &  hone-  &&% 
 stas,  a  deo  sunt.  Ther  for  it  maye  be  said,  that  t:cJ 
 al  thai  that  imputis  aduersite  or  prosperite  co 
 proceid  of  fortune,  thai  maye  be  put  in  the  nu- 
 myr  of  them  that  Sanct  paul  prophetizit  iu 
 the  sycond  epistil  to  tymothic,  erit  enim  tcm- 
 pus,  cum  sanam  doctrinam  non  sustinebunt, 
 &  ce.   Ande  alse  the  prophet  esaye,  spekend 
 the  spreit  of  gode,  he  gyfns  his  maledictionc 
 on  al  the  that  beleuis  that   fortoune   hes  ony 
 pouuer,  quhar  he  vritis  in  the  lxv.  cheptour,  ve 
 qui  fortune  ponitis  nunsam  tanquam  d 
 
 This  contradictione  that  i  hef  rehersit  cdtnur 
 fortoune,  is  be  cause  that  mony  ignorant 
 
 E 
 
34  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 pil  hes  confermit  ane  ymaginet  onfaythtful 
 opinione  in  ther  hede,  sayand  that  the  grite 
 afflictione  quhilk  occurrit  on  oure  realme  in 
 September  mvxlvii.  zeris,  on  the  feildis  be- 
 syde  mussilburgh,  hes  procedit  fra  the  mal  ta- 
 lent of  dame  fortoune,  the  quhilk  ymaginet 
 opinione  suld  be  detestit ;  for  fortune  is  no 
 thyng  bot  ane  vane  consait  ymaginet  in  the 
 hartis  of  onfaythtful  men.  Zit  nochtheles, 
 quhen  i  remembir  on  the  cruel  dolourus  di- 
 structione  of  oure  nobil  barrons,  &  of  mo- 
 ny  vthirs  of  the  thre  estaitis,  be  cruel  ande  on- 
 mercyful  slauthyr,  ande  alse  be  maist  extreme 
 violent  spulzee  ande  hairschip  of  ther  moua- 
 bil  gudis  in  grite  quantite,  ande  alse  oure  aid 
 enemeis,  be  traisonabil  seditione,  takkand  vio- 
 lent possessione  of  ane  part  of  the  strynthis 
 ande  castellis  of  the  bordours  of  oure  real- 
 me, ande  alse  remanent  vitht  in  the  plane  ma- 
 ne landis  far  vitht  in  oure  cuntre,  ande  vio* 
 lentlye  possessand  ane  certan  of  our  burghis, 
 villagis  ande  castellis,  to  ther  auen  vse  but  co- 
 tradictione  ;  ande  the  remanent  of  the  pepil 
 beand  lyik  dantit  venqueist  slauis  in  maist  ex- 
 treme vile  subiectione,  rather  nor  lyik  prudet 
 cristin  pepi!,  quhilkis  suld  lyue  in  ciuilite  poli 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  35 
 
 &  be  iustice  vndir  the  gouernace  of  ane  chri- 
 stin  price.  Al  thir  thingis  cosidrit,  causit  me  to 
 reuolue  diuerse  beukis  of  the  holy  scriptur, 
 &  of  humanite,  in  hope  to  get  ane  iust  iuge- 
 met,  quhiddir  that  this  dolor*  afflicrione  be 
 ane  vand  of  the  fadir  to  correct  &  chestie  the 
 sone  be  mercy,  or  gyf  it  be  ane  rigorus  mercy- 
 Ies  decreit  of  ane  iuge,  to  exsecute  on  vs  ane 
 final  exterminatione.  than  eiltir  lang  contene- 
 uatioe  of  reding  on  diuerse  sortis  of  beukis, 
 i  red  the  xxviii.  of  deutrono,  the  xxvi.  of 
 leuitic,  &  the  thrid  of  ysaye,  the  quhilk  causit 
 my  trublit  spreit  to  trymmyl  for  dreddour, 
 ande  my  een  to  be  cum  obscure  throutht  the 
 multiplie  of  salt  teyris,  ande  throucht  the  la- 
 mentabil  suspiring  that  procedit  fra  my  dolo- 
 rus  hart,  be  rason  that  the  sentens  ande  contc- 
 neu  of  thyr  said  cheptours  of  the  bibil,  gart 
 me  cosaue,  that  the  diuyne  indignationc  tied 
 decretit  ane  extreme  ruuyne  on  oure  realme  ; 
 bot  gyf  that  ve  retere  fra  oure  vice,  ande  also 
 to  be  cum  vigilant  to  seik  haisty  I 
 medycyne  at  hym  quha  gyffis  al  grace  ande  co- 
 fort  to  them  that  ar  maist  clistitute  of  men- 
 upple. 
 
 B  ij 
 
$6  THE  COMPLAINT 
 
 THIR  CIIEPTOURS  THAT  EFTIR    FOLLOUIS,    IX- 
 
 PLANIS  THE  THRETNYNG  ANDE   MENAS- 
 
 SING   OF  CODE  CONTRAR  OBSTI- 
 
 NAT,  VICIUS  PEPIL. 
 
 CAP.    II. 
 
 '  si       It  is  vrityne  in  the  xxviii.    of  deutronome, 
 
 audi  re  » 
 
 beris  voce     thir    vordis  :     Gyf    thou    obeyis    nocht    the 
 tui?»ciiictC   voce   of    the    lorde    thy    gode,    ande    kepis 
 maUdkti-5  nocnt   his    ordinance,    thir    maledictions   sal 
 ones,  erisin  cum  on  the  :  thou  sal  be  cursit  on  the  feildis, 
 maiedictus.  thou  sal  be  cursit  in  the  cite  ;   the  lord  sal 
 Deut' 2  *     send   maledictione   ande    tribulatione    on   al 
 thy  byssynes  ;   the  lord  sal  sende  pestilens  on 
 the,  the  heyt  feueir,  droutht,  the  sourde,  tem- 
 pest, ande  all  euil  seiknes,  ande  he  sal  perse- 
 cut  the,  quhil  he  hef  gart  the  perise  :  thou  sal 
 thole  iniuris  &  spulze,  ande  ther  sal  be  na  ma 
 that  can  saue  the  :  thou  sal  spouse  ane  vyfe, 
 Quod  si       bot  ane  vthir  sal  tak  hyr  fra  the  be  forse  :  thou 
 tis  me,*ego  sa^  big  ane  house,  bot  thou  sal  neuyr  duel  in 
 
 quoque  hec    [t  .     fay  Qx  sa}  fa  sJane  ^gfo,.  fay  e£ne     &  faQU 
 iaciam  vo-  *  J  ' 
 
 bis,  visita-  sal  get  nane  of  hym  tyl  eyt :  thy  flokkis  of 
 
 locker  iiT  scheip  sal  be  gyffin  to  thy  enemeis  ;  the  on- 
 
 afdore6  &  coutnt  ande  straynge  pepil  sal  eyt  the  frute  of 
 
 Led.  *6.  the  eyrd  that  thou  hes  lauborit.    Leuic.  xxvi. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  37 
 
 moyses  sais,  be  the  spreit  of  gode,  gyf  ze  obe- 
 ye  nocht  my  command,  i  sal  visee  zou  vitht 
 dreddour,  vitht  fyir,  ande  vitht  suellieg  :  ze  sal 
 sau  the  cornis  on  zour  feildis,  bot  zour  ene- 
 meis  sal  eit  it  :  zour  enemeis  sal  be  zour  ma- 
 sters, ande  ze  sal  flee  fast  for  dreddour,  quhen 
 ther  sal  be  litil  dangeir,  &  there  sal  be  no  man 
 follouuand  zou  ;  ande  gyf  ze  remane  obsti- 
 nat  ande  vil  nocht  be  correckt,  i  sal  strik  zou 
 vitht  ane  plag,  seuyn  tymes  mair  vehement ; 
 for  i  sal  gar  the  sourde  cum  on  zou  to  reuen- 
 ge  my  alliance ;  ande  quhen  ze  ar  assemblit  to- 
 gyddir  vitht  in  zour  tounis,  i  sal  send  the  pe- 
 stilens  amang  zou,  ande  i  sal  delyuir  zou  I  the  Ecceeni 
 handis  or  zour  enemeis.  domin' «- 
 
 «[  It  is  vritin  in  the  thrid  cheptor  of  esaye  thir  £^uaah*£ 
 vordis :  behold  the  dominator  ande  the  lorde  «*-■ 
 of  armis,  the  quhilk  sal  tak  fra  hit;  ride  udai 
 
 fra  iuda,  the  mychty  ande  the  sterk  ma,  the  vi- 
 ctuelis,  the  men  of  veyr,  the  iugis,  the  pre- 
 cheours.  i  sal  gyf  them  zong  childir  to  be  ther 
 kynges,  ande  eiYement  men  sal  be  ther  domi- 
 natours  ;  ande  the  pepil  ilk  ane  sal  r\  isc  cStrar 
 vthirs,  ande  ilk  man  sal  be  aduersair  tyl 
 nychtbour  :  zong  childir  sal  reproche  aid 
 men,  ande  mecanyc  lauberaris  sal  repro 
 
3  ft  oMPLAYNT* 
 
 gentil  men,         Esaye  iii. 
 
 ACTOR.       CHAP.  111. 
 
 X  he  kyng  anchises  lamentit  the  distructioe 
 of  the  superb  troy,  exsecutit  be  the  princis 
 of  greice  :  the  queene  rosaria  regrettit  hir 
 spouse  kyng  dari',  quhe  he  vas  venqueist 
 be  grite  allexander  :  the  prophet  hieremye 
 vepit  for  the  stait  of  the  public  veil  of  ba- 
 billone,  quhen  it  vas  brocht  in  captiuite : 
 kyng  dauid  lamentit  his  sone  absolon,  quhen 
 Ioab  sleu  hym  :  cleopatra  vas  lyike  to  dee 
 in  melancolie,  quhen  hyr  loue  marcus  an- 
 tonius  vas  venquest  be  the  empriour  agu- 
 stus  :  the  consule  marcus  marcellus  regrettit 
 hauyly  the  cite  of  Syracuse,  quhen  he  beheld 
 it  birnad  in  ane  bold  fyir  :  Crisp  salust  regret- 
 tit the  euyl  gouernyng  of  the  public  veil  of 
 rome  :  the  patriarche  Iacob  lamentit  the  ab- 
 sens  of  his  sone  Ioseph  :  the  kyng  demetrius 
 regrettit  hauyly  the  slauchtir  of  his  fadir 
 antigonus,  at  the  battel  of  maraton  :  zong 
 octouia  lametit  hauyly  the  slauchtir  of  his 
 fadir  adoptiue  cesar,  that  gat  xxii.  straicie- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  39 
 
 kis  vitht  pen  knyuis  in  the  capitol  :  thir  no- 
 
 bil    personagis    deplorit    the    calamiteis    that 
 
 occurrit  in  ther  dais  ;  bot  i  hef  as  grit  cause 
 
 to  deploir   the   calamiteis   that   ringis   prei 
 
 ly  virht  in  ouer  realme,  throucht  the  vice  of 
 
 the  pepil.     &  quhou  beit  that  the   thretnyng 
 
 of   gode    conrrar   vs    be   verray   seueir   ande 
 
 extreme,  zit  noch'hcles  i  hope   that    his   au- 
 
 ful  scur.^e  of  aperand  exterminatioe  sal   cha- 
 
 ge  in  ane  faderly  correctione,  sa  that  ve  vil 
 
 knau  his  mageste,  ande  to  retere  fra  ouer  vi-  si  in  Prc- 
 
 ce  ;  for  he  hes  promest  grace  tyl  ai  them  that  ambui™™ 
 
 repentis,  ande  til  al  them  that  kepis  his  com-  ritj*  da,bo 
 
 r  ■  Tobis  plu- 
 
 mand,  as  is  vrityn  in  the  xxvi.  cheptor  of  le-  uias  tepo- 
 uitic  thir  vordis  as  follouis  :  Gyf  ze  keip  my  &tcmp« 
 ordinance,  i  sal  send  zou  rane  on  zour  croud  gnct  gc.~ 
 
 7  o  men  sun 
 
 in  conuenient  tyme  ;  zour  feildis   sal  bryng  dubopacx 
 
 r        1  •  -ii  r  1    in  finibus 
 
 iurtht  conns  ;  zour  treis  sal  bayr  frute  ;  ze  sal 
 eyt  zour  breyde  in  suficiens  ;  ze  sal  sleipt  at  LcU1' 2 
 zour  eyse.  i  sal  sende  pace  amang  zou,  the 
 sourde  of  vengeance  sal  nocht  pas  throucht 
 zour  cuntre  ;  ze  sal  follou  zour  enemeis,  ande 
 zour  sourdis  sal  gar  them  fal  befor  zou  ;  fine 
 of  zou  sal  follou  &  chaisse  ane  hundrerhi. 
 ane  hundraht  of  zou   sal   t  ten   thou- 
 
 sand; ande  zour  enemeis  sal  fal  to  the   grdd 
 
4° 
 
 THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 .  ua 
 
 in  ge- 
 tcm  trusit, 
 propter  in- 
 iuiticias  & 
 rniuersos 
 <2olos. 
 Eccle.  TO. 
 
 Sob,  ca.  2. 
 
 venquest  in  zour  presens,  sa  that  ze  vil  dbeye 
 to  my  command. 
 
 ^[  O  quhat  familiar  promese  is  this  that 
 god  hes  promeist  tyl  al  them  that  vil  obey 
 til  his  command  !  quhar  for  gyf  ve  refuse  this 
 grit  promes,  i  suspect  that  his  iustice  sal  ex- 
 tinct oure  generatione  furtht  of  rememora- 
 ce,  ande  that  he  vil  permit  our  aid  enemeis, 
 or  sum  vthir  straynge  natione,  til  ocupie  & 
 posses  our  natural  natiue  cuntre.  bot  zit  i 
 hope  in  gode  that  our  obstinatione  sal  altir 
 in  obediens,  quhilk  sal  be  occasione  that  flue 
 of  vs  sal  chaise  ane  hundretht  of  our  aid  ene- 
 meis, ande  ane  hudretht  of  vs  sal  chaisse  ten 
 thousand  of  them  furtht  of  our  cuntre,  as  is 
 rehersit  in  the  foir  said  xxvi.  cheptoiir  of  leui- 
 tic.  for  quhou  be  it  that  god  hes  permittit 
 the  inglis  men  to  scurge  vs,  as  he  permittit  sa- 
 than  to  scurge  the  holy  man  lob,  it  follo- 
 uis  nocht  that  god  vil  tyne  vs  perpetualye, 
 nor  zit  it  follouis  nocht  that  the  cruel  inglis 
 men,  quhilkis  ar  boreaus  ande  hang  men  per- 
 mittit be  god  to  puneis  vs,  that  thai  ar  in 
 the  fauoir  of  god,  for  the  exsecutione  of  god- 
 dis  punitione  on  vs,  as  i  sal  explane  be  ane 
 exempil  of  comparisone.    ane  boreau  or  hang 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 man  is  permlttit  be  ane  price  to  scurge  a: 
 to  puneise  trasgressours,  ande  the 
 samyn  boreau  is   stikkit  or  hang  it   eftiruart 
 for  his  cruel  demeritis,  as  is  the  end  of  th 
 that  settis  ther  felicite  to  skattir   8c   to   skail 
 blude.    Siklyike  the  cruel  inglis  men  that 
 scurgit  vs,  hes  nocht  dune  it  of  manhede  or 
 visdome,  nor  of  ane  gude  zeil  :  bot  rather  the 
 supreme  plasmator  of  hauyn  ande  eird 
 permittit  them  to  be  boreaus,  to  puneis 
 for  the  mysknaulage  of  his  magestie.    Quhar 
 for  i  treist  that  his  diuine  iustice  vil  permit 
 sum  vthir  straynge  natioe  to  be  mercyles  bo- 
 reaus to  them,  ande  til  extinct  that  false  seid 
 ande   that    incredule    generatione    furtht    of 
 rememorance,  be  cause  thai  ar,  ande  also  hes 
 beene,   the  special  motione  of  the  iniust  \ 
 lis  that  hes  trublit   cristianite   thir   sex   hun- 
 dretht  zeir  by  past,  quha   listis   to  reide   the 
 prophesye  of  ysnye,  tha  sal  fynd  ane  exempil 
 coformand  to  this  samyn  purpos,  quhou  that 
 the  realme  of  the  assiriens  vas   the  scurge  of 
 gode  to  puneise  the  pepil-of  israel   for   ther 
 disobediens.  bot  fra  tyme   that   the  pepil   of 
 israel  vas  reterit  fra  ther  vice,  gode  distr< 
 there  scurge,  that  is  to  save,  he 
 
4-  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 the  kyng  of  the  assirriens,  ande  transportit 
 his  realme  in  the  subiectione  of  the  kyng  of 
 perse  ande  meid.  Sikliyk  the  grite  toune  of  ba- 
 billon  vas  permittit  be  gode  to  scurge  the  pe- 
 pil  of  israel:  ande  ther  eftur  quhen  the  israelie- 
 teis  var  reterit  fra  ther  inniquite,  gode  delyu- 
 rit  them  fra  the  captiuke  of  babillon,  ande  di- 
 srroyit  that  grite  toune,  ande  maid  it  ane  de- 
 sert inhabitabil  for  serpens  ande  vthir  venesu 
 beystis.  Euyrie  thing  is  corruppit  be  ane  vthir 
 corruppit  complexione.  ane  file  is  ane  instru- 
 ment to  file  doune  yrn,  ande  ane   synnar  is 
 
 Id  ane  instrument  of  the  diuyne  iustice  to 
 puneise  ane  vther  synnar.  the  file  that  filit  the 
 yrne  is  vorne  ande  cassin  auaye  as  ane  thing 
 onutil  to  serue  to  do  ony  gude  verk:  bot  the 
 yrn  that  hes  beene  filit  be  the  forgear  or 
 be  ane  smytht,  is  kepit  to  serue  to  the  neces- 
 site  of  men.  the  father  takkis  the  vand  or 
 the  scurge  to  puneise  his  sonne  that  hes  bro- 
 kyn  his  command,  nne  be- 
 
 curr  :t,  the  i 
 
 ande  castis  it  in  thelyir  :   I  i  '  f  his  sonne 
 
 A\is  contrar  the  co: 
 
 n  the  father  takkis  ane  barton  or  su  vthir 
 in  to  puneise  his  so. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  4$ 
 
 tis  fatherly  discipline,  ande  vsis  rigorus 
 treme  punitione.  ane  ox  that  repun^nis   the 
 brod  of  his  hird,  he  gettis  doubil  broddis,  & 
 he  that  misprisis  the  correctione  of  his  pr 
 ptor,  his  correctione  is  changit  in  rigorus  pu- 
 nitione. 
 
 QUHOU  THE  ACTOR  CONTERRIS  THE  PAS3AGIS  OT 
 
 THE  THRID  CHEPTOUR  OF  YSAYE  VITHT 
 
 THE  AFFLICTIONE  OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 CHAP.  IIII. 
 
 V  l   maye   persaue  for  certan,  that  ve  haue 
 bene  scurgit  vitht  al  the  plagis  that  ar  b. 
 rehersit  in  the  xxviii  cheptour  of  deuterono- 
 me,  that  is  to   say,  vitht   p<  ,   viiht  the 
 
 sourde,  vitht  bn  r  our  duelling 
 
 housis,  vitht  spulze  of  our  cornis  ande  cat!  j6. 
 
 Siclyik  as  it  is  be  for  rehersit  in  tl  o£ 
 
 tkj  ve  haue  sauen  oure  feildis  t<  'iu- 
 
 fe  of  oure  enemers,  ve  haue  fled  fa  .ire 
 
 ieis,  quhen  ther  \  the 
 
 perscuuad  vs,  ande  Lie  that 
 
 ve  haue  I 
 
 I 
 
44  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 contenit  in  the  thrid  cheptour  of  esaye,  qu. 
 
 Esaye.  3.  c.  sajs  that  the  lord  sal  tak  auaye  the  mychty 
 men  &  the  sterk  men  fra  hierusalem  ande  fra 
 iuda,  that  is  to  saye,  the  lord  hes  tane  fra  vs 
 oure  lordis  ande  barons  ande  mony  vthir  no- 
 bil  men  that  vald  haue  deffendit  vs  fra  oure 
 aldenemeis.  the  said  cheptour  sais  that  the  lord 
 sal  tak  the  iugis  ande  the  prechours.  that  pas- 
 sage of  ysaye  maye  be  veil  applyit  tyl  vs,  for 
 as  to  the  iugis  ande  iustice  that  ringis  present- 
 ly in  oure  cuntre,  god  maye  sende  vs  bettir 
 quhen  he  pleysis.  ande  as  to  the  precheours,  i 
 reffer  that  to  the  vniuersal  auditur  of  oure  real- 
 me.  the  foir  said  thrid  cheptour  sais,  that  the 
 
 SSkyn     PeP^  °f  i^erusalem  ande  iuda  ilk  ane  sal  ryise 
 
 otsirrie  contrar  vthirs.  that  passage  of  the  text  nedis 
 nocht  ane  alligoric  expositione,  for  the'  expe- 
 riens  of  that  passage  is  ouer  manifest  in  oure 
 
 roc-  cuntre.  the  said  cheptour  of  esaye  sais  that  effe- 
 
 Iust'tie.li.1.  .  .  .  ..  ._         . 
 
 menet  men  sal  be  superiors  to  lherusale  ande 
 iuda.  that  passage  is  ouer  euident  in  oure  cun- 
 tre, for  ther  is  maye  of  the  sect  of  sardanapa- 
 lus  amang  vs,  nor  ther  is  of  scipions  or  ca- 
 millus.  the  foir  said  cheptour  of  esaye  sais  that 
 the  lord  sal  gyf  to  iherusalem  ande  iuda  zog 
 kyngis  to  gouuerne  the.  that  passage  of  esaye 
 
 clethit  hym 
 in  vemens 
 ciaitis,  & 
 span  on  ane 
 
Or  SCOTLAND. 
 
 raid  be  veil  cosidrit,  ande  nocht  to  be  vndir- 
 standin  be  the  letteral  exposirione,  as  diuerse 
 of  the  maist  famous  doctours  of  the  k.) 
 hes  rehersit:  for  quhou  be  it  that  oure  zong  il- 
 lustir  princes  be  ane  tendir  pupil,  ande  nocht 
 entrit  in  the  aige  of  puberte,   that  folk 
 nocht  that  hyr  zouthed  is  ane  plage  sende  be 
 god  to  scurge  vs,  for  the  zouthed  of  ane  prin- 
 ce or  of  ane  princesse  is  nocht  the  cause  of 
 ruuyne  of  ane  realme,  nor  zit  the  perfyit  ai 
 of  ane  price  is  nocht  the  cause  of  the  gude  gou- 
 uernyng  of  ane  public  veil.  Roboam  kyng  of  $•  r 
 israel  beand  fourty  zeir  of  aige,  he  tynt  ten  tri- 
 bis  of  his   realmis  throucht  misgouuernance  2.  Para.  16. 
 that  procedit  of  euil  counsel*    Ande  in  oppo- 
 sit,  Osias  vas  bot  aucht  zeir  of  aige  quhen 
 vas  vnctit  kyng,  &  quhou  be  it  of  his  zout-  nscrlcriw, 
 hed,  zit  he  gouuernit  veil  the   cuntre  ande 
 the  public  veil,  ther  for  as  the  eloquent  ci 
 ro  sais,  ve  suld  nocht  leuk  to  the  aige,  1101 
 the  zouthed  of  ane  p'son,   bot  rather  to  ther 
 vcrtu.  ve  haue  diuerse  uthir  exemplis,  quhou 
 that  realmis  hes   beene  veil  gouuerni 
 the  princis  var  in  tendir  ai 
 ande  flandris,  quhen  charlia  elect  empriour 
 vas  bot  thre  zeir  of  aige.  ande  quhou  L  c 
 
46  THE  COM  PLAY 
 
 Eccic.  10.  that  Salomon  hes  said,  cursit  be  the  eird  that 
 hes  ane  zong  prince,  thai  vordis  ar  to  be  vn- 
 dirstandin  of  inconstant  superiors  of  ane  cu- 
 tre  that  ar  nocht  in  ane  accord  to  gouuerne 
 the  public  veil,  nor  zit  hes  ane  constant  sub- 
 stancial  counsel  to  gouuerne  ane  realme  qu- 
 hen  the  prince  or  princes  ar  i  tendir  aige,  ther 
 for,  that  terme  zouthed  suld  be  vndirstandin 
 for  ignorance  &  inconstance,  ande  nocht  for 
 zong  of  zeiris,  for  euyre  inconstant  or  igno- 
 rant person  is  aye  repute  ande  comparit  to 
 zong  childir  that  hes  na  discretione.  Sanct 
 1.  Corin.  paul  vritis  to  the  corinthiens  that  var  pepil 
 I4'  in  perfect  aige.   quod  he,  my  bredir,  be  ze 
 
 nocht  in  zour  vit  lyik  childir,  bot  ze  sal  be  of 
 litil  maleise,  ande  of  profond  knaulage.  par- 
 chance  sum  inuyful  detrakkers  vil  maling  co- 
 trar  me,  sayand  that  i  suld  nocht  haue  applyit 
 nor  conferrit  the  xxviii  of  deutero.  nor  the 
 xxvi  of  Leuitic,  nor  the  thrid  of  esaye,  to  the 
 affiictione  of  our  cuntre,  be  rason  that  the  cd- 
 tenu  of  thir  for  said  cheptours  var  said  to  the 
 pepil  of  israel,  ande  nocht  to  the  pepil  of  scot- 
 land,  thir  detrakkers  maye  saye  as  veil  that 
 the  ten  commandis  var  gyffin  to  the  pepil  of 
 Israel,  ande  nocht  tyl  cristin  men,  ande  sic 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  47 
 
 lyik  thai  maye  saye  that  the  doctryne  of  the 
 euangelistis  is  nocht  to  be  kepit  be  rristin  me. 
 siclyik  thai  may  saye  that  the  epistylis  of  paul 
 sulci  be  kepit  be  the  romans,  corrinthiens,  ep-  Quecunqus 
 
 ■  •       o    1  •  •  •  scnpta  sunt 
 
 pheseis,  &  be  vthir  nations  that  he  vrit  to  in  ad  nostram 
 his  dais,  ande  nocht  to  be  kepit  be  vs  that  pro-  sC0ripruA 
 fessis  vs  to  be  cristin  men.    Sic  opinions  ande  sunt:  V- 
 
 r  per  patien- 
 
 allegeance   suld  nocht   haue  audiens  amang  tii&con- 
 cristi  pepil.  for  ther  is  no  thyng  said  I  the  scri-  SCrTpturara 
 ptour,  bot  it  is  said  generelye  tyl  al  the  that  JJJJJ  habc" 
 hes  resauit  the  zoilk  ande  the  confessione  of  R°m-  ij. 
 crist.  Sanct  paul  vritis  to  the  romans,  sayand, 
 euyrye  thing  that  is  vritin  in   the   scriptur   is 
 vrityn  tyll  oure  edefkatioe :  thir  vordis  maye 
 suffice  til  adnul  the  pcrucrst  opinions  of  inuy- 
 ful  calumniaturis  ande  of  secret  detrack- 
 
 OF    DIUERS    OPINIONS    THAT    THE     PAGAN     PHILOS'l* 
 PHOURS     HELD    OF    THE    CONDITIONS    AM 
 INDURING     OF    THE     VARLD,    AM 
 QUHOU   THE  ACTOR  DECLARIS 
 THAT    THE     VARLD    IS 
 .    am:    ende. 
 
 CHAP.   T. 
 
48  THE  COKPJ 
 
 The  special  cause  of  the  scurge  that  hcs 
 ailligit  vs,  hes  procedii  of  our  disobediens  c6- 
 trar  the  command  of  god.  Ande  the  cause 
 of  our  disobediens  hefc  procedit  of  ane  varldly 
 Facitc  vo-    ag*ectione  ande  cupidite  that  ve  haue  touart 
 
 bis  amicos  * 
 
 demamona  the  vile  corruptioe  of  this  varld  that  the  scri- 
 
 Luc.  16.      ptour  callis  mammon,  quhilk  ve  hald  for  ane 
 
 souerane  felicite,  bet  nochtheles  it  is  bot  ane 
 
 corn:pit  poison,  in  sa  far  as  ve  can  nocht  serue 
 
 gode  ande  it  to  gyddir.   as  Sanct  mathou  hes. 
 
 said,  ze  may  nocht  serue  god  ande  mamon. 
 
 ther  is  ane  vthir  cause  that  makkis  vs  disobe- 
 
 tt^deoM*-  dient.  niony  of  us  beleuis  in  our  consait  that 
 
 vireetma-  tiier  js  na  thyng  perdurabil  bot  the  varld  ala- 
 
 Mat.6.  ca.  nerly.  sic  abusione  procedis  of  onfaythtful- 
 
 nes   ande  of   oure  blynd    affectione,  quhilk 
 
 makkis  vs  sa  brutal,  that  ve  vait  nocht  quhat 
 
 thing  the  varld  is,  nor  quhou  lang  it  sal  indu- 
 
 re,bot  rather  ve  beleue  that  it  sal  be  perpetual. 
 
 ther  for  oure  cupidite  constrenzeis  vs  to  desi* 
 
 re  prolongatione  of  oure  dais,  that  ve  maye 
 
 vse  the  blynd  sensual  felicite  of  it,  quhilk  mo- 
 
 ny  of  vs  thynkis  mair  comodius  ande  neces- 
 
 sair  for  our  veilfayr,  nor  ve  thynk  of  the  sem- 
 
GF  SCOTLAND.  49 
 
 peternal  olimp.  Bot  vald  ve  considir  the  difli- 
 nitione  of  the  varld,  than  i  beleue  that  oure 
 solistnes  ande  vane  opinione  vald  altir  in  ane 
 faythtful  consait.  Ther  is  mony  that  sp<J 
 of  the  varld,  &  zit  thai  vait  nocht  quhat  thing 
 is  the  varld.  the  pagan  philosophours  held 
 mony  vane  opinios,  &  tynt  mekil  tyme  i  vane 
 questions  &  speculations,  ande  hes  tormentit 
 the  spreitis,  drauand  &  copiland  mony  beu- 
 kis,  quhilkis  ar  set  furtht  in  diuerse  cuntreis : 
 bot  zit  ther  vas  neuyr  ane  final  accordance  co- 
 cludit  amag  them  :  for  of  the  final  verite  that 
 thai  socht,  thai  gat  litil,  ande  the  ignorance 
 that  thai  haue  put  in  vrit,  is  verray  mekil,  be 
 rason  that  the  smallest  part  of  ther  ignorance 
 in  supernatural  cacis,  excedit  the  maist  part 
 of  ther  knaulage.  Plato,  'aristotel,  pithagoras, 
 empedocles,  epecurius,  thales,  &  mony  vthir 
 of  the  pagan  philosophours,  hes  hed  grite 
 defferens  ande  contentionc  to  paynt  ande  di- 
 scriue  the  origyne  ande  propriete  of  the  varld. 
 Pithagoras  said,  that  the  varld  is  ane  thing, 
 &  it  that  ve  cal  vniuersal  is  ane  vthir  thyng. 
 the  philosophour  thales  said  that  ther  is  bot 
 ane  varld.  the  astrologien  metrodore  a 
 mit  that  ther  is  mony  &  infmit   varldis. 
 
 o 
 
5° 
 
 THE   COMPLAYNT 
 
 leucus  the  philosophour  said  that  the  varld 
 is  eternal.  Plato  said  that  the  varld  hed  ane 
 begynnyng,  ande  sal  haue  ane  end.  epicurius 
 said  that  the  varld  is  ronde  lyik  ane  boule,  & 
 empedocles  said  that  the  varld  is  lang  &  r on- 
 de  lyik  ane  eg.  Socrates  techit  in  his  achade- 
 my  a,  say and,  that  eftir  seuyn  ande  thretty 
 thousad  zeiris,  al  thingis  sal  retourne  to  that 
 sammyn  stait  as  thai  began,  ande  he  to  be 
 borne  agane  in  his  mother  voymbe,  ande  to 
 be  neurist  til  his  aige,  ande  sal  teche  philoso- 
 phic in  athenes.  dionisius  sal  exsecute  his  aid 
 tirranye  in  siracuse.  Iulius  cesar  sal  be  lord  of 
 rome,  ande  annibal  sal  conques  ytalie.  scipio 
 sal  put  cartage  to  sac  ande  to  the  sourde,  an- 
 de grit  Allexander  sal  venques  kyng  darius. 
 of  this  sort,  al  thingis  that  ar  by  past  sal  re- 
 turne  agane  to  there  fyrst  stait.  My  purpos  is 
 nocht  to  speik  of  this  material  varld  that  is 
 maid  of  the  four  elementis,  of  the  eird,  the 
 vattir,  the  ayr,  ande  the  fyir  :  bot  rather  i  vii 
 speik  of  the  varld  that  garris  vs  mysknau  go- 
 de,  ande  disobedient  tyl  his  command,  quhe 
 the  creator  of  al  thingis  cam  in  this  varld  to 
 redeme  vs  fra  the  eternal  captiuite  of  sathan, 
 he  complenit  ande  repreuit  the  varld,  bot  zit 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  5  I 
 
 he  repreuit  nccht  the  eird,  the  vattir,  the  a 
 nor  the   fyir,  for  thai  fbure  elementis   Lrac 
 nocht  his  command,    i  haue  herd  diuers  pcpil 
 regret,  maling,  ande  mak  excl,  n- 
 
 trar  the  varld,  sayand,  o  false  varld  !  o  i 
 bil  varld  !  o  dissaitful  varld  !  o  inconstat  vai 
 o  malicius  varld  !  ande   zit   thai   kneu   nocht 
 quhat  thing  is   the   varld.     eftir   my   purp 
 that  varld  that  the  pepil  malingnis,  is   nocht 
 
 ,  .    ,  .    ,  .  ,        r      .     ,      ciu 
 
 ane  substancial  material   mas,  maid  or  ejjrd,  ain 
 vattir,  ayr,  &  fyir,  bot  rather  it  is  the  euyl  lyfe 
 of  the  pepil  that  conuersis  viciuslye,  ande  the  !  -1-4  "• 
 prince  of  this  last  varld  is  the  deuyl,  the  qu- 
 hilk  sal  be  cassin  furtht,  as  is  rehersit  in   the 
 euangel  of  Sanct  ihone.     this  varld  is   nocht 
 formit  of  the  fouer  elementis,  as  of  eird,  vat- 
 tir, ayr,  ande  fyir,  as  gode  creat  the  material 
 varld  in  the  begynnyng,  bot  rather  it  i 
 of  seuyn  elementis  of  sathans  creatione,  tl 
 is  to  saye,  auereise,  ambitione,  luxure,  erudi- 
 te, dissait,  onfaythtfulnes,  dissimulate 
 insaciabil  cupidite.    allace  !   al  thir  seuyn  e 
 mentis  that  this  la.t  varld  is  creat  of,  ar  01 
 abundand   vitht  in  oure  affligit    realme,  i 
 hilk  is  the  cause  of  the  calamite   that   it 
 duris.   bot  var  ve  as  solist  to  co 
 
5^  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 te  of  this  last  varld  as  Salomon  considrit  It, 
 Cuque  me    than  doutles  ve  vald  be  verray  solist  to  i\ 
 
 ponuertisse     ,1  .  r  .  ....  .  . 
 
 ad  vniucrsa  tne  muasions  or  it,  quhilk  prouokis  vs  to  vice  : 
 
 fcxcrat^     or  var  ve  as  sollst  tJ1  impung  the  occasione  of 
 nun*  mee     Syn,  as  ve  ar  solist  to  seik  remeid  contrar  the 
 
 vidiin  om-  .  .  .  .... 
 
 nibus  va-  exterior  accidentis  that  oit  occurns  til  hurt 
 affirti^e  oure  body,  than  doutles  our  sensual  cupidite 
 animi.  va|j  be  cum  mortefeit  ande  venqueist.  Oft 
 tymys  ve  seik  remeide  to  keip  vs  Ira  euyi  acci- 
 dentis that  hurtis  oure  body,  as,  quhen  the  su- 
 ne  castis  oure  grite  heyt,  ve  pas  vndir  the  vm- 
 bre  or  the  schaddou  :  quhen  ve  ar  tirit  to  gag 
 on  oure  feit,  ve  ar  solist  to  seik  horse  to  ryde  : 
 quhe  the  rane  cummis,  ve  pas  vndir  the  thak, 
 or  vthir  couuert  place  :  quhen  vc  ar  thristy,  ve 
 seik  drynk  :  quhen  the  plag  of  pestilens  occ ur- 
 ns, ve  ar  solist  to  seik  ane  cleene  duelling  pla- 
 ce vndir  ane  temperat  climat.  Bot  in  opposit, 
 quhen  auereise  assailzeis  vs,  ve  seik  nocht  the 
 vertu  of  liberalite,  nor  quhen  vile  luxure  tru- 
 blis  vs,  ve  adhere  nocht  to  the  vertu  i 
 perance  ande  contenens  :  quhen  ire 
 VS,  ve  seik  nocht  the  vertu  of  patiens  :  quhen 
 arrogans  ande  ambitione  enti  hax> 
 
 tis,  ve  seik  nocht  the  vertu  of  humilite.    ande 
 nou,  be  cause  that  ve  seik  na  remeid  co:r 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  53 
 
 our  disordinat  cupidite,  nor  zit  re§istis  the  oc- 
 casions ande  temptations  of  the  prouocatios 
 of  vice,  ve  becum  haistylye  venqueist,  be  ra- 
 son  that  oure  smal  resistace  generis  grit  har- 
 dynes  in  the  aduerse  party  of  oure  saul.  ther 
 is  ane  mair  odius  thing  amang  vs ;  for  al  the 
 vicis  that  oure  cupidite  prouokis  vs  to  com- 
 mit, our  blynd  atFectioe  garris  vs  beleue  that 
 tha  ar  supreme  vertu  ande  felicite,  be  cause 
 thai  ar  pleisand  tyl  oure  fragil  nature  ;  the 
 quhilk  is  the  principal  occasione  that  ve  con- 
 uerse  sa  viciusle,  as  this  miserabil  scsual  lyif 
 var  perpetual,  ande  as  the  dede  hed  na  pou-  ji  vhmnt 
 uer  to  sla  oure  bodeis,  &:  as  there  var  nocht  *10lesta"- 
 
 3  qua  mors 
 
 ane  hel  to  torment  oure  saulis,  bot  as  ther  nulla  *- 
 
 r  i      i        r      i  •       •        r       •  quatur  & 
 
 var  ane  lenzet  hel  or  the  poietis  fictions,  as  veiut  in- 
 virgil  hes  set  furtht  in  the  sext  beuk  of  his  u'fictofo^ 
 eneados.    Bot,  as  i  hef  befor  rehersit,  i  suspect  rct- 
 that  there  is  oucr  mony  that  beleuis   in  the 
 cpinionc  of  Socrates,  that  is  to  save,  that  the 
 varld  sal  indure  seuyn  ande  thretty  thousand 
 zeiris.  bot  admittand,  vndir  protestatione,  that 
 Socrates  opinione  var   of  verit.  ocrates 
 
 iiocht  baid  that  the  terme  of  oure  lyuc 
 dais  sal  pas  the  course  of  nature,  tliat  is  to 
 ;aye,  to  pas  the  course  of  ane  hundretht  zcir. 
 
54  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ve  haue  experiens  daly,  that  quhar  ane  man 
 lyuis  anc  hundretht  zeir  in  ony  cuntre,  ane 
 hundretht  lyuis  nocht  ane  hundretht  mo- 
 netht.  Nou,  to  confound  the  opinione  of  So- 
 crates, ande  to  confound  al  them  that  vil 
 nocht  beleue  that  the  varld  is  neir  ane  final 
 ende,  i  vil  arme  me  vitht  the  croniklis  of  ma- 
 iler ihone  carion,  quhar  he  allegis  the  prophe- 
 sye  of  helie,  sayand,  that  fra  the  begynnyng 
 of  the  varld,  on  to  the  consummation  of  it, 
 sal  be  the  space  of  sex  thousand  zeir.  the  qu- 
 hilk sex  thousand  zeir  sal  be  deuydit  in  thre 
 partis,  the  fyrst  tua  thousand  zeir,  the  varld 
 sal  be  vitht  out  ony  specefeit  lau  1  vrit,  quhilk 
 vas  the  tyme  betuix  adam  ande  abraham. 
 the  nyxt  tua  thousand  zeir  vas  the  lau  of  cir- 
 concisione,  vitht  ane  institutione  of  diuyne 
 policie,  ande  vitht  adoratione  of  god,  quhilk 
 vas  the  tyme  betuix  Abraham  ande  the  in- 
 carnatione,  quhen  crist  ihus  resauit  our  huma- 
 nite  for  our  redemptione.  the  thrid  tua  thou- 
 sand zeir  sal  be  betuix  the  incarnatione  & 
 the  last  aduent,  quhilk  sal  be  the  cosummatio- 
 ne  of  the  varld.  bot  thir  last  tua  thousad  zeir 
 (as  master  ihone  carion  allegis  in  the  prophe- 
 sye  of  helie)  sal  nocht  be  completit,  be  rason 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  $  $ 
 
 that  the  daye  of  iugement  sal  be  antecipet, 
 be  cause  of  them  that  ar  his  electis,  as  is  vri- 
 tyn  in  the  xxiiii.  cheptour  of  Sanct  mathou, 
 &  nisi  breuiati  fuissent  dies  illi,  non  fieret  sal- 
 ua  omnis  caro  :  sed  propter  electos  breuiabu- 
 tur  dies  illi.  quha  listis  to  reide  al  the  xxiiii. 
 cheptour  of  Sanct  mathou,  tha  sal  persaue  eui- 
 dently  that  the  varld  is  verray  neir  ane  ende, 
 be  rason  that  mony  of  the  singis  &  taikkyns 
 that  precedis  the  daye  of  iugemet  that  ar  ex- 
 premit  in  the  foirsaid  cheptour,  ar  by  past,  8z 
 the  remanent  ar  nou  presently  in  oure  dais  : 
 ther  for,  efftir  the  supputatione  of  helie,  as  ma- 
 stir  ihone  carion  hes  rehersit,  the  varld  hes 
 bot  four  hundretht  fyfty  tua  zeir  tyl  indure, 
 be  cause  that  ther  is  hue  hundrethe  fourty 
 aucht  zeir  by  past  of  the  foir  said  sex  thousad 
 zeir  ;  bot  eftir  the  vcrdis  of  Sanct  mathou,  the 
 cdsummatione  of  the  varld  sal  be  haistiar  nor 
 foure  hudretht  fyftye  &  tua  zeir ;  zit  god  hes 
 nocht  aflixt  ane  ccrtan  daye  to  fal  vitht  I  the 
 said  terme  of  iiii.  c.  hi.  zeir,  as  is  rehersit  in 
 Sanct  mathou,  de  die  aute  ilia  &  hora,  nemo 
 scit  neque  ageli  celoru,nisi  solus  pater,  ther  for 
 ve  haue  mistir  to  be  vigilant  ande  reddy,  sen 
 the  terme  of  crisis  dimming  is  schort,  ande 
 
$&  THE  COMPLAVNT 
 
 the  daj  oncertane,  as  is  said  in  the  foir  said 
 euangel.  vigilate  ergo  quia  nescitis  qua  hora 
 dominus  vester  venturus  sit.  this  veil  consi- 
 drit,  maye  be  ane  probabil  rasa  that  the  varld 
 is  neir  ane  ende,  quhilk  suld  be  occasione  til 
 haue  it  in  detestatione,  ande  til  haue  premedi- 
 tatione  of  the  future  eternal  beatitude  &  feli- 
 cite,  that  gode  hes  promeist  til  al  them  that 
 haldis  it  in  abhominatione. 
 
 ANE   MONOLOG  OF  THE  ACTOR. 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 JL  he  solist  ande  attentiue  laubirs  that  i 
 tuke  to  vrit  thir  passagis  befor  rehersit, 
 gart  al  my  body  be  cum  imbecille  ande 
 verye,  ande  my  spreit  be  cum  sopit  in  sad- 
 nes,  throucht  the  lang  conteneuatione  of 
 studie,  quhilk  did  fatigat  my ,  rason,  ande 
 gart  al  my  membris  be  cum  impotent,  than, 
 til  eschaip  the  euyl  accidetis  that  succedis 
 fra  the  onnatural  dais  sleip,  as  caterris,  hede 
 verkis,  ande  indegestione,  i  thocht  it  ne- 
 cessair  til  excerse  me  vitht  sum  actyue  re- 
 creatione,  to  hald  my  sprctis  valkand  fra  dul^ 
 
OF  SCOTLAND*  59 
 
 iies.  than,  to  exsecute  this  purpose,  i  past  to 
 the  greene  hoilsum  feildis,  situat  maist  como- 
 diusly  fra  distemprit  ayr  ande  corruppit  in- 
 fectione,  to  resaue  the  sueit  fragrant  smel  of 
 tendir  gyrssis,  ande  of  hoilsum  balmy  flouris 
 maist  odoreferant.  besyde  the  fut  of  ane  litil 
 montane,  there  ran  ane  fresche  reueir  as  cleir 
 as  berial,  quhar  i  beheld  the  pretty  fische  va- 
 tounly  stertland  vitht  there  rede  vermeil  fyn- 
 nis,  ande  there  skalis  lyik  the  brycht  siluyr.  on 
 the  tothir  syde  of  that  reueir,  there  vas  ane 
 grene  banc  ful  of  rammel  grene  treis,  quhar 
 there  vas  mony  smal  birdis  hoppad  fra  busk 
 to  tuist,  singand  melodius  reportis  of  natu- 
 ral music  in  accordis  of  mesure  of  diapason 
 prolations,  tripla  ande  dyatesseron.  that  ha- 
 uynly  ermonyie  aperit  to  be  artificial  music. 
 in  this  glaidfui  recreatione  i  conteneuit  quhil 
 phebus  vas  discedit  vndir  the  vest  northt  vest 
 oblique  oriszone,  quhilk  vas  entrit  that  sa- 
 myn  daye  in  the  xxv.  degre  of  the  sing  of  ge- 
 mini,  distlit  hue  degreis  fra  oure  symmyr  sol- 
 stice, callit  the  borial  tropic  of  cancer,  the  qu- 
 hilk, be  astrolog  supputatione,  accordis  vitht 
 the  sext  daye  of  iune.  there  eftir  i  entrit  in 
 ane  grene  forre>t,  to  contempil  the  tcdir  zong 
 
5$  TK£   COM PL AT NT 
 
 frutes  of  grene  treis,  be  cause  the  borial  bh- 
 
 stis  of  the  thre  borouing  dais  of  marche   hed 
 
 chaissit  the  fragrat  flureise  of  euyrie  frute  tree 
 
 iaqucru-      far  athourt  t-he  feildis.    of  this  sort  i  did  spa- 
 
 bescebat  •  ,        ,  ,  ,    .  , 
 
 stcllis  au-  ceir  VP  ancle  doune  but  sleipe,  the  maist  part 
 rora  fuga-  0f  t}le  myrt  nyCht,  instantly  there  eftir  i  per- 
 Enei.  2.  sauit  the  messengeiris  of  the  rede  aurora, 
 quhilkis  throucht  the  mychtis  of  titan  hed 
 persit  the  crepusculyne  lyne  matutine  of  the 
 northt  northt  est  orizone,  quhilk  vas  occasio- 
 ne  that  the  sternis  &  planetis,  the  dominotours 
 of  the  nycht,  absentit  them,  ande  durst  nochc 
 be  sene  in  oure  hemispere,  for  dreddour  of 
 his  auful  goldin  face.  Ande  als  fayr  dyana, 
 the  lantern  of  the  nycht,  be  ca  dym  ande  pail, 
 quhen  titan  hed  extinct  the  lycht  of  hyr  lap 
 on  the  cleir  daye.  for  fra  tyme  that  his  lustrat 
 beymis  var  eleuat  iiii.  degres  abufe  oure  obli- 
 que oriszcne,  euery  planeit  of  oure  hemespeir 
 be  cam  obscure,  ande  als  al  corrupit  humidi- 
 teis,  ande  caliginus  fumis  &  infekkit  vapours, 
 that  hed  bene  generit  in  the  sycond  regione 
 of  the  ayr  quhen  titan  vas  visiad  antepodos. 
 thai  consumit  for  sorrou  quhen  thai  sau  ane 
 sycht  of  his  goldin  scheaip.  the  grene  feildis, 
 for  grite  droutht,  drank  vp  the  drops  of  the 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  59 
 
 frcsche  deu,  quhilk  of  befor  hcd  maid  dikis  k 
 dailis  verray  done,     there  eftir  i  herd  the  ru 
 mour  of   rammasche  foulis  ande  of  beystis 
 that  maid  grite  beir,  quhilk  past  besyde  bur- 
 nis  k  boggis  on  grene  bankis  to  seik  ther  su- 
 stentatione.     there  brutal  sound  did  redond  to 
 the  hie  skyis,  quhil  the  depe  hou  cauernis  of 
 cleuchis  k  rotche  craggis   ansuert  vitht   ane 
 hie  not,  of  that  samyn  sound  as  thay  beystis 
 hed  blauen.    it  aperit  be  presumyng  k  presu- 
 posing,  that  blaberand  eccho  hed  beene  hid  in  Metlumor- 
 ane  hou  hole,  cryand  hyr  half  ansueir,  quhen  p' °  J' 
 narcissus  rycht  sorye  socht  for  his   saruandis, 
 quhen  he  vas  in  ane  forrest,  far  fra  ony  fol- 
 kis,  k  there  eftir  for  loue  of  eccho  he  drou- 
 nit  in  ane  drau  vel.     nou  to  tel  treutht  of  the 
 beystis  that  maid  sic  beir,  &  of  the  dyn  that 
 the  foulis  did,  ther  syndry  soundis  hed  nothir 
 temperance  nor  tune,     for  fyrst  furtht  on  the 
 fresche  feildis,  the  nolt  maid  noyis  vitht  mo- 
 ny  loud  lou.     baytht  horse  k  meyris  did  fi 
 nee,  k  the  folis  nechyr.   the  bullis  bega  to  bul- 
 lir,  quhen  tru  scheip  began  to  blait,  be  cause 
 the  calfis   began   tyl   mo,  quhen   the 
 berkit.    than  the  suyne  bega  to  quhryne  quhc 
 thai  herd  the  asse  tair,  quhilk  gan  the  hcv. 
 ii  ij 
 
60  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 kekkyl  quhen  the  cokis  creu.  the  chekyns  be- 
 gan to  peu  quhen  the  gled  quhissillit.  the  fox 
 follouit  the  fed  geise,  &  gart  the  cry  claik.  the 
 gayslingis  cryit  quhilk  quhilk,  &  the  dukis 
 cryit  quaik.  the  ropeen  of  the  rauynis  gart 
 the  eras  crope,  the  huddit  crauis  cryit  varrok 
 varrok,  quhen  the  suannis  murnit,  be  cause 
 the  gray  goul  mau  pronosticat  ane  storme. 
 theturtil  began  for  to  greit,  quhen  the  cuschet 
 zoulit.  the  titlene  follouit  the  goilk,  ande  gart 
 hyr  sing  guk  guk.  the  dou  croutit  hyr  sad  sang 
 that  soundit  lyik  sorrou.  robeen  and  the  litil 
 vran  var  hamely  in  vyntir.  the  iargolyne  of 
 the  suallou  gart  the  iay  i  angil.  than  the  ma- 
 ueis  maid  myrtht,  for  to  mok  the  merle,  the 
 lauerok  maid  melody  vp  hie  in  the  skyis.  the 
 nychtingal  al  the  nycht  sang  sueit  notis.  the 
 tuechitis  cryit  theuis  nek,  quhen  the  piettis 
 clattrit.  the  garruling  of  the  stirlene  gart  the 
 sparrou  cheip.  the  lyntquhit  sang  cuntirpoiiu 
 quhen  the  oszil  zelpit.  the  grene  serf 
 sueit,  quhen  the  gold  spynk  chant  it.  the  : 
 schank  cryit  my  fut  my  fut,  &  the  oxee  ^ 
 tueit.  the  herrons  gaif  ane  vyild  skrech  as  the 
 kyl  hed  bene  in  fyir,  quhilk  gart  the  quhapis 
 for  fleyitnes  fie  far  fra  hame.    Tha  eftir  quhe 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  6  I 
 
 this  dvn  vas  dune,  i  dreu  me  doune  throucht 
 mony  grene  dail.  i  beand  sopit  in  sadnes,  i 
 socbt  neir  to  the  see  syde.  than  vndir  ane  hin- 
 gand  heuch,  i  herd  mony  hurlis  of  stannirs  & 
 stanis  that  tumlit  doune  vitht  the  land  rusche, 
 quhilk  maid  ane  felloune  sound,  throcht 
 virkyng  of  the  suellad  vallis  of  the  brym  seye. 
 than  i  sat  doune  to  see  the  fiouyng  of  the  fa- 
 me, quhar  that  i  leukyt  far  furtht  on  the  salt 
 flude.  there  i  beheld  ane  galiasse  gayly  grathit 
 for  the  veyr,  lyand  fast  at  ane  ankir,  and  hyr 
 salis  in  hou.  i  herd  monv  vordis  aman^  the  ma- 
 
 »  o 
 
 rynalis,  hot  i  vist  nocht  quhat  thai  menit.  zit 
 i  sal  reherse  and  report  ther  crying  and  ther 
 cal.  in  the  fyrst,  the  master  of  the  galiasse  gart 
 the  botis  man  pas  vp  to  the  top,  to  leuk  far 
 furtht  gyf  he  culd  see  ony  schips.  than  the  bo- 
 tis man  leukyt  sa  lang  quhil  that  he  sau  ane 
 quhyt  sail,  than  he  cryit  vitht  ane  skyrl,  quod 
 he,  i  see  ane  grit  schip.  than  the  maister  quhis- 
 lit,  and  bald  the  marynalii  lay  the  cabil  to  the 
 cabilstok,  to  veynde  and  veye.  than  the  mary- 
 nalis  began  to  veynd  the  cabil,  vitht  mony 
 loud  cry.  ande  as  ane  cryit,  al  the  laif  cryit 
 in  that  samyn  tune,  as  it  hed  bene  ecco  in  ane 
 hou  hcuch.   and  as  it  aperit  to  me,  thai  cryit 
 
THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 thir  vordis  as  eftir  follouis.  veyra  veyra,  vey- 
 raveyra.  gentil  galladis,  gentil  galladis.  veyn- 
 de  i  see  hym,  veynd  i  see  hym.  pourbossa, 
 pourbossa.  hail  al  ande  ane,  hail  al  and  ane. 
 hail  hym  vp  til  vs,  hail  hym  vp  til  vs.  Than 
 quhen  the  ankyr  vas  halit  vp  abufe  the  vat- 
 tir,  ane  marynel  cryit,  and  al  the  laif  follouit 
 in  that  sam  tune,  caupon  caupona,  caupon 
 caupona.  caupun  hola,  caupun  hola.  caupun 
 holt,  caupon  holt,  sarrabossa,  sarrabossa.  than 
 thai  maid  fast  the  schank  of  the  ankyr.  And 
 the  maistir  quhislit  and  cryit,  tua  men  abufe 
 to  the  foir  ra,  cut  the  raibandis,  and  lat  the 
 foir  sail  fal,  hail  doune  the  steir  burde,  lufe 
 harde  a  burde.  hail  eftir  the  foir  sail  scheit, 
 hail  out  the  bollene.  than  the  master  quhislit 
 ande  cryit,  tua  men  abufe  to  the  mane  ra,  cut 
 the  raibandis,  and  lat  the  mane  sail  and  top 
 sail  fal,  hail  doune  the  lufe  close  aburde,  hail 
 eftir  the  mane  sail  scheit,  hail  out  the  mane 
 sail  boulene.  than  ane  of  the  marynalis  began 
 to  hail  and  to  cry,  and  al  the  marynalis  ans- 
 uert  of  that  samyn  sound,  hou  hou.  pulpela 
 pulpela.  boulena  boulena.  darta  darta.  hard 
 out  steif,  hard  out  steif.  afoir  the  vynd,  afoir 
 the  vynd.  god  send,  god  send,  fayr  vedthir, 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  63 
 
 fayr  vedthir.  mony  pricis,  mcny  pricis.  god 
 foir  lend,  god  foir  lend,  stou,  stou.  mak  fa. 
 belay.  Than  the  master  cryit,  and  bald  renze 
 ane  bonet,  vire  the  trossis,  nou  heise.  than  the 
 marynalis  began  to  hew  vp  the  sail,  cryand, 
 heisau,  heisau.  vorsa,  vorsa.  vou,  vou.  ane 
 draucht,  ane  lang  draucht.  mair  maucht,  mair 
 maucht.  zong  blude,  zong  blude.  mair  mude, 
 mair  mude.  false  flasche,  false  flasche.  ly  a  bak, 
 ly  a  bak.  lag  suak,  lag  suak.  that  that,  that  that. 
 thairthair,thairthair.  zallouhayr,  zallou  hayr. 
 hips  bayr,  hips  bayr.  til  hym  al,  til  hym  al. 
 viddefullis  al,  viddefuls  al.  grit  and  smal,  grit 
 and  smal.  ane  and  al,  ane  and  al.  heisau,  hei- 
 sau. nou  mak  fast  the  theyrs.  Than  the  master 
 cryit,  top  zour  topinellis,  hail  on  zour  top  sail 
 scheitis,  vire  zour  listaris  and  zour  top  sail  tros- 
 sis, &  heise  the  top  sail  hiear.  hail  out  the  top 
 sail  boulene.  heise  the  myszen,  and  change  it 
 ouer  to  leuart.  hail  the  linche  and  the  schei- 
 tis, hail  the  trosse  to  the  ra.  tha  the  master  cryit 
 on  the  rudir  man,  mait  keip  ful  and  by,  a  luf. 
 cuna  hiear.  holabar,  arryua.  steir  clene  vp  the 
 helme,  this  and  so.  than  quhen  the  schip  vas 
 taiklit,  the  master  cryit,  boy  to  the  top.  schaik 
 out  the  flag  on  the  top  mast,  tak  i  zour  top  salis, 
 
6*  1 "ill-    CCr.irLAYNT 
 
 and  thirl  them,  pul  doune  the  nok  of  the  ra  in 
 daggar  vyise.  marynalis,  stad  be  zour  geyr  in 
 taiklene  of  zour  salis.  euery  quartar  master 
 til  his  auen  quartar.  boitis  man,  bayr  stanis  & 
 lyme  pottis  ful  of  lyme  in  the  craklene  pokis 
 to  the  top,  and  paueis  veil  the  top  vitht  paue- 
 sis  and  mantillis.  Gurmaris,  cum  heir  &  stand 
 by  zour  artailzee,  euyrie  gunnar  til  his  auen 
 quartar.  mak  reddy  zour  canons,  culuerene 
 moyens,  culuerene  bastardis,  falcons,  saikyrs, 
 half  saikyrs,  and  half  falcons,  slangis,  &  half 
 slangis, quartar  slangis,  hede  stikkis,  murdresa- 
 ris,  pasuolans,  bersis,  doggis,  doubil  bersis, 
 hagbutis  of  croche,  half  haggis,  culuerenis, 
 ande  hail  schot.  ande  ze  soldartis  &  conpang- 
 zons  of  veyr,  mak  reddy  zour  corsbollis,  h-^Ld 
 bollis,  fyir  speyris,  hail  schot,  lancis,  pikkis, 
 halbardis,  rondellis,  tua  handit  sourdis  and 
 tairgis.  than  this  gaye  galliasse,  beand  in  gude 
 ordour,  sche  follouit  fast  the  samyn  schip  that 
 the  botis  man  hed  sene,  and  for  mair  speid 
 the  galliasse  pat  furtht  hir  stoytene  salis,  ande 
 ane  hundretht  aris  on  euerye  syde.  the  ma- 
 ster gart  al  his  marynalis  &  men  of  veyr  hald 
 them  quiet  at  rest,  be  rason  that  the  mouyng 
 of  the  pepil  vitht  in  ane  schip,  stoppis  hyr  of 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  TJ5 
 
 hyr  faird.  of  this  sort  the  said  galiasse  i 
 tyme  cam  on  vynduart  of  the  tothir 
 tha  eftir  that  thai  hed  hailsit  vthir  . 
 them  reddy  for  battel,  than  quhar  i  sat  i  hard 
 the  cannons  and  gunnis   mak  mony  hiddeqs 
 crak  duf,  duf,  duf,  duf,  duf,  duf.  the  bar  sis  and 
 falcos  cry  it  tirduf,  tirduf,  tirduf,  tirduf,  tirduf, 
 tirduf.  than  the  smal  artailze  cryit,  tik  tak,  tik 
 tak,  tik  tak,  tik  tak.  the  reik,  smeuk,  and  the 
 stinkof  thegunpuldir,fylital  the  ayr  maist  I 
 as  plutois  paleis  hed  been  birnand  in  ane  bald 
 fyir,  quhilk  generit  sik  mirknes  &  myst  that  i 
 culd  nocht  see  my  lyntht  about  me.  quhar  for 
 i  rais  and  returnit  to  the  fresche  feildis  that  i 
 ca  fra,  quhar  i  beheld  mony  hudit  hiruis  blau- 
 uand  ther  buc  hornis  and  ther  corne  pipis,  cal- 
 land  and  conuoyand  mony  fat  floe  to  bj 
 on  the  feildis.  than  the  scheiphirdis  pat  there 
 scheip  on  bankis  and  brais,  and  on  dry  hi 
 to  get  ther  pastour.  tha  i  beheld  the  scheiphir- 
 dis vyuis  and  ther  childir   that   brocht   there 
 mornyng  bracfast  to  the  scheiphirdis.  tha  the 
 scheiphyrdis  Vyuis  cuttit  raschis   and   se^gis, 
 and  gadrit  mdny  fragrat  grene  meduart,  \ 
 thequhilkis  tha  couurit  the  end  of  ane  leyc  rig, 
 &  syne  sat  douneal  to  gyddir  to  tak  th\ 
 1 
 
66  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ctione,  quhar  thru  maid  grit  chcir  of  eu\ 
 sort  of  mylk  baytnt  of  ky  inylk  &  zoue  mylk, 
 sueit  mylk  and  sour  mylk,  curdis  and  quhaye, 
 sourkittis,  fresche  buttir  ande  salt  buttir,  rey- 
 me,flotquhaye,  grene  cheis,  kyrn  mylk.  euyrie 
 scheiphird  hed  ane  home  spune  in  the  lug  of 
 there  bonet  :  thai  hed  na  breyd  bot  ry  caikis 
 and  fustean  skonnis  maid  of  flour,  than  eftir 
 there  disiune,  tha  began  to  talk  of  grit  myrry- 
 nes  that  vas  rycht  plesand  to  be  hard.  1  the 
 fyrst,  the  prencipal  scheiphirde  maid  ane  ori- 
 sone  tyl  al  the  laif  of  his  conpangzons  as  eftir 
 follouis. 
 
 ^f  Oze  my  frendis  that  ar  scheiphirdis,  ve 
 hef  grit  cause  to  gyf  thankis  to  god  for  the 
 hie  stait  and  dignite  that  he  hes  promouit  vs 
 to  posses,  the  quhilk  stait  prefferris  al  vthir 
 faculte  of  this  varld,  baytht  in  honour  and  in 
 profeit.  for  sen  the  varld  vas  creat  scheinhir- 
 disprefferrit  al  vthir  staitis.  quhar  for  the  maist 
 anciant  nobilis  that  hcs  bene  in  aid  tymis,  tha 
 detestit  yrbanite,  and  desirit  to  lyne  in  villa- 
 gis  and  landuart  tounis  to  be  scheiphiidis,  or 
 to  laubir  rustic  ocupation  on  the  hoilsum 
 dis,  as  diuerse  historigraphours  hcs  maid  : 
 tione.  for  in  aid  tymis  pastoral   and  ] 
 
OF   SCOTLAND.  6j 
 
 ocupatione   vas  of   ane    excellent  reputatio- 
 ne,  for  in  thai  dais   quhen   the  golciin   varld 
 rang,  kyngis  and  princis  take  mair  delyit  on 
 the  feildis  and  forrestis  to  keip  bestialite  and 
 to  manure  come  landis,  nor  thai  did  to  rema- 
 ne  in  pretoral  palecis  or  in  tryumphand  citeis. 
 riche  kyng  amphion  vas  verray  solist  to  keip 
 his  scheip,  and  at  enyn  quhen  thai  past  to  the- 
 re faldis,  scheip  cottis  and  Kudgens,  he  pi 
 befor  them  on  his  harpe.    Siklyik  kyng  dauid 
 hed  mair  affectione  to  play  on  his  harpe  amag 
 his  flokkis  of  scheip,  nor  he  hed  to  be  gouuer- 
 nour  of  the  pepil  of  Israel,  ande  appollo,  that 
 the  poietis  callis   the  god  of  sapiens,   he 
 scheiphird  tokeipkyngadmetus  scheip.  siklyik 
 the  nobil  romas  in  aid  tymis  var  nocht  escha- 
 mit  to  laubir  and  to  manure  the  bara.\ 
 vitht  there  auen  handis,  to  gar  the  eird  becum 
 fertil  to  bayr  al  sortis  of  corne,  tiri 
 spice,  as  ve  bef  c::empil  of  the  prudent  quin- 
 tus  cincir.atus,   quha  vas  chosyn  be  the  senat 
 to  be  dictatur  of  rome,  at  that  samyn  tym 
 vas  arand  the  land  vitht  his  auen  band  at  the 
 pleuch.  siklyik  the  us  cathon  cen- 
 
 sor of  rome  olist  on  the  art  of  agre- 
 
 culture.  :  ro- 
 
63  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 me  set  his  hail  felicite  on  the  manuring  of  the 
 feildis.  ande  alse  the  tua  vailzeant  romans,  fa- 
 bricius  and  curius  dentatus,  var  nocht  escha- 
 mit  til  excerse  them  on  the  culture  of  the  feil- 
 dis. Siklyik  numa  pompilius,  that  deuot  kyng 
 of  rome,  statut  that  the  senaturis  of  rome  suld 
 keip  there  scheip,  as  is  rehersit  1  ane  verse  that 
 i  hef  red  of  ane  senatur,  pascebatque  suas  ipse 
 senator  oues.  Siklyik  paris  the  thrid  soune  of 
 kyng  Priam  of  troy  vas  ane  scheiphird,  and 
 kepit  bestialite  on  rnontht  ydea.  And  alse  the 
 nobil  Scipio,  quhilk  vas  vailzeant  ande  no  les 
 prudent,  he  conqueist  aflrica,  and  pat  cartage 
 to  sac,  and  subdeuit  numance,  and  venqueist 
 Annibal,  and  restorit  the  liberte  of  rome.  than 
 1  his  aige  of  lij  zeir,  he  left  the  toune  of  rome, 
 ande  past  to  remane  the  residu  of  his  dais  in 
 ane  landuart  village  betuix  pezole  &  capue 
 in  ytalie,  and  there  he  set  his  felicite  on  the 
 manuring  of  the  corne  land,  &  in  the  keping 
 of  bestialite.  Ande  alse  lucullus,  that  prudent 
 consul  of  rome,  quha  hed  conqueist  diuerse 
 battellis  contrar  the  parthiens,  than  in  his  last 
 dais  he  left  the  toune  of  rome,  and  past  to  duel 
 in  ane  village  besyde  naples,  quhar  that  he  ex- 
 cersit  hym  on  rustic  occupatione  ande  on  be- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  69 
 
 stialite.  Siklyik  the  nobil  Empriour  dioclesia, 
 eftir  that  he  hed  gouuernit  the  empire  xviij 
 zeir,  he  left  the  tryumphand  toune  of  rome,  & 
 past  til  ane  village  be  syde  florens,  and  ther  he 
 vsit  the  lauboring  of  the  cornis  and  vynis,  8c 
 on  bestialite.  Ande  alse  the  prudent  due  pere- 
 cles,  quha  hed  the  gouuerning  of  the  comont 
 veil  of  athenes  xxxvj  zeiris,  zit  in  his  aige  of 
 Ix  zeiris,  he  left  the  glorius  stait  of  athenes,  & 
 past  to  remane  in  ane  litil  village  quhar  he  set 
 his  felicite  to  keip  nolt  and  scheip.  quhat  sal 
 be  said  of  the  patriarchis  Abraam,  Isaac  &  la- 
 cob,  and  of  the  princis  8c  prophetis  of  Israel  ? 
 var  thai  nocht  hirdis  8z  scheiphirdis  ?  for  ther 
 prencipal  vacatione  vas  on  the  neuresing  of 
 bestialite.  Ther  for  (O  ze  my  copanzons  schei- 
 phirdis and  hirdis)  ve  hef  grit  cause  to  gloir 
 and  to  gyf  thankis  to  god  for  the  grit  dignite 
 that  ve  posses,  for  ther  is  na  faculte,  stait,  nor 
 vacatione  in  the  vniucrsal  varld,  that  can  be 
 conparit  til  oure  stait.  for  al  vthir  staitis  of  al 
 degreis,  baytht  temporal  and  speritual,  that 
 remanis  in  tryumphand  citeis  and  burrou- 
 stounis,  ther  ringis  na  thing  amang  them  bot 
 uiareis,  inuy,  hatrent,  dispyit,  discention,  &: 
 mony  vthir  detcstabil  vicis :  and  alse  there  bo- 
 
yo  ::  COMPLAYNf 
 
 ar  subiect  tyl  al  sortis  of  seiknes,  be  rason 
 of  the  corrupit  infeetione  and  euyl  ayr  that  is 
 generic  in  ane  cite  quhar  maist  confluens  of 
 pepil  resortis,quhilk  causis  pestilens  and  diuer- 
 se  vthir  sortis  of  contagius  maladeis,  Sz  alse 
 ocasione  that  the  maist  part  of  them  endis  ther 
 the  intemperans  of  ther  moucht  in  eyting  & 
 drynkyng,  consumis  ther  stomakis  &  al  ther 
 mebris,  quhilk  is  occasioe  that  the  maist  part 
 of  tha  endis  ther  dais  in  there  green  zouthed. 
 hot  it  is  nocht  siclyik  of  vs  that  ar  scheiphir- 
 dis,  for  ve  lyif  on  the  fragrant  feildis  quhar 
 ve  ar  neureist  vitht  the  maist  delicius  tempe- 
 rat  ayr,  and  ther  is  nothir  hatrent,  auareis  nor 
 discord  amang  vs,  nor  there  is  nothir  detra- 
 ction, leysingis,  nor  calumniations  amang  vs. 
 ve  hef  cherite  to  god,  &:  loue  tyl  our  nycht- 
 bours,  and  the  maist  part  of  vs  hes  gude  hail 
 in  our  body  quhil  ve  be  ane  hundretht  zeir. 
 ande  alse  quhou  be  it  that  the  riche  and  opu- 
 lent pctestatis  that  dueillis  in  citeis  and  bur- 
 roustounis,  reputis  vs  that  ar  scheiphis  to  be 
 Ignorat,  iaciuil,  &  rude  of  ingyne,  zit  nochthe- 
 les  al  the  sciencis  and  knaulage  that  thai  ascri- 
 be and  proflessis  to  be  dotit  in  them,  hes  fyrst 
 procedit  fra  our  faculte,  nocht  alanerly  in  the 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  J  1 
 
 inucntlone  of  natural  mecanyc  consaitis,  bot 
 as  veil  the  speculatione  of  supernatural  thin- 
 gis,  as  of  the  firmament  and  of  the  phnetis, 
 the  quhilk  knaulage  ve  hef  prettikyt  throucht 
 the  lang  contemplence  of  the  motions  and  re- 
 uolutions  of  the  nyne  hauynis.  Siklyik  phi- 
 sic,  astronomye  and  natural  philosophic,  var 
 fyrst  prettikit  and  doctrine!  be  vs  that  ar  schei- 
 phirdis,  for  our  faculte  knauis  the  natur  and 
 the  vertu  of  the  sternis  and  planetis  of  the  spe- 
 re,  and  of  the  circlis  contenit  in  the  samyn:  for 
 throucht  the  lang  studie  and  contemplene  of 
 the  sternis,  ve  can  gyf  ane  iugement  of  diuer- 
 se  futur  accedentis  that  ar  gude  or  euvl,  ne- 
 cessair  or  domageabil  For  man  or  beyst:  for  it 
 is  manifest  that  scheiphirdis  hes  discriuit  and 
 definit  the  circlis  and  the  mouyng  of  the  spe- 
 ris,  as  i  sal  reherse  to  zou  that  ar  zong  schei- 
 phyrdis,  to  that  effect  that  ze  may  hef  specula- 
 tine  of  the  samyn.  In  the  fyrst,  ihosephus  the 
 historigraphour  that  treittis  of  the  antiquite 
 of  the  ieuis,  rehersis  in  his  fyrst  beuk,  that  the 
 childir  of  seth  (quhilk  vas  the  soune  of  Ada) 
 var  t  inuentours  of  the  art  of  astrono- 
 
 mic, and  in  tours  of  the  cele 
 
 jnouimentis,  the  quhilk  art  thai  gratii 
 
72  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 lettrls  (for  the  vtilite  of  there  posterite)  In  tua 
 tablis  of  stane.  ane  of  the  tabilis  vas  of  baikyn 
 stane,  and  the  tothir  tabil  of  onbaykyn  stane. 
 the  quhilk  thing  thai  did,  be  cause  thai  hed 
 herd  ther  father  seth  reherse,  that  his  father 
 Adam  hed  prophetyszit  that  the  varld  sal  end 
 be  vattir  and  be  the  fyir,  and  for  that  cause  the 
 baikyn  stane  vald  thole  the  fyir,  &  the  onbakyn 
 stane  vald  thole  the  vattir,  and  of  this  sort 
 the  art  of  astronomie  suld  ay  remane  oncon- 
 sumit.  ande  thai  tua  tablis  hes  bene  regester 
 and  fundatione  til  al  them  that  hes  studeit  in 
 cosmOgraphie,  geographie,and  in  topographic 
 There  for,  to  mak  ane  diffinitione  of  cosma- 
 ghraphie  (as  far  as  ve  scheiphirdis  hes  cdtem- 
 plit)  it  is  ane  vniuersal  discriptione  of  the 
 varld,  contenand  in  it  the  four  elementis,  the 
 eird,  the  vattir,  the  ayr,  and  the  fyir,  the  sone 
 and  mane,  and  ai  the  sternis:  ther  for  ane  ma 
 that  desiris  tyl  hef  ony  iugement  of  cosma- 
 ghraphie,  he  suld  fyrst  contempil  and  consi- 
 dir  the  circlis  of  the  spere  celest  :  for  be  that 
 distinctione  of  the  said  circlis,  it  sal  be  facil  to 
 knau  the  distance  of  diuerse  cuntreis  that  lyis 
 vndir  the  said  circlis,  baytht  of  there  longitu- 
 de znd  of  ther  latitude,  and  the  proportione 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 of  the  climatis,  and  the  diuersite  oi 
 
 nychtis  of  the  four  quartars  of  the  varld,  and 
 
 it  sal  declair  the  mouyng,  deua 
 
 clinatione  of  the  sone,  mune,  and  of  t] 
 
 nis  fixt,  and  sternis  erratic,  and  it  sal 
 
 the  eleuatione  of  the  polis,  and  the  lynia 
 
 rallelis,  and  the  meridian  circlis,   and  diuerse 
 
 vthir  documentis  and  demonstrations  mathe- 
 
 matikis. 
 
 •[  Nou  fyrst  to  speik  of  the  mouyng  of  the 
 spere,  and  of  the  diuisione  of  the  hauynis, 
 sal  knau  that  the  varld  is  diuidit  in  tua  partis, 
 that  is  to  say,  the  fyrst  part  is  the  regione  ele- 
 mentair,  quhilk  is  subiect  til  alterationeand  to 
 corruptione-  the  nyxt  part  of  the  varld  is  cal- 
 lit  the  regione  celest  (quhilk  phiiosophours  cal- 
 lis  quinta  essentia)  vitht  in  the  concauite   of 
 the  quhilk  is  closit  the  regione  elementar.  this 
 said  regione  celest  is  nothir  variabil  nor  cor- 
 ruptabii.  it  is  diuidit  in  ten  speris,  and  the  gri- 
 test  spere  quhilk  is  the  outuart  spere,  inci 
 in  it  the  spere  that  is  nyxt  til  it,  k  sa  be  p 
 gressionc  anil  ordur,  euyrie  spere  inclosis  the 
 spere  that  is  nerest  tyl  it.  in  the  fyrst,  there 
 ne  elementair   is  inclosit  vitht  in  the  spere  of 
 the  mune,  and  nyxt  it  is  the  spere  of  mercu- 
 
 K 
 
74  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 rius,  and  syne  the  spere  of  venus,  and  nyxt  it 
 is  the  spere  of  the  sone,  and  abufe  and  about 
 it  is  the  spere  of  mars,  and  syne  the  spere  of 
 lupiter,  and  than  the  spere  of  Saturnus.  and 
 ilk  ane  of  thir  speris  hes  bot  ane  sterne  or  pla- 
 nete  that  mouis  in  the  zodiac  contrar  the  mu- 
 uyng  of  the  fyrst  mobil  that  ve  cal  the  let  spe- 
 re. nyxt  thir  speris  is  the  firmament,  quhilkis 
 callir  the  hauyn,  or  the  spere  of  the  sternis,  and 
 about  it  is  the  nynte  spere,  caliit  the  hauyn  cri- 
 stellyne,  be  cause  that  there  can  nocht  be  na 
 sternis  seen  in  it.  Al  thir  nyne  speris  or  hauy- 
 nis  ar  inclosit  vitht  in  the  tent  spere,  quhilk  is 
 caliit  the  fyrst  mobil,  the  quhilk  makkis  reuo- 
 latione  and  course  on  the  tua  polis  fra  day  to 
 
 c  in  the  space  of  xxiiij  houris  fra  orient 
 til  Occident,  and  returnis  agane  to  the  orient, 
 bot  the  mouyng  of  the  tothir  nyne  hauynis 
 is  fra  the  Occident  to  the  orient,  quhilkis  con- 
 trar to  the  mouyng  of  the  tent  spere  caliit  the 
 fyrst  mobil.  zit  nochthelcs  the  mouyng  of  the 
 
 j  mobil  is  of  sic  vie;  renzeis 
 
 the  tothir  ryne  speris  or  hauynis  to  pas  vitht 
 
 it  fra  orient  iyl  Occident,  quhilk  is  contrar  to 
 
 *ri  natural  mouyng,  there  for  the  co- 
 
 pulsit  retro^raid  mouyng  is  rtrono? 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  JS 
 
 mours,  motusraptus  accessus,  &  recessus  stel- 
 larum  fixarum.  al  the  thyng  that  circuitis 
 this  last  tent  hauyn  or  fyrst  mobil,  is  immobil 
 and  mouis  nocht  :  there  for  it  is  callit  the  ha- 
 uyn empire,  quhar  the  trone  diuine  standis,  as 
 effermis  the  famous  doctours  of  the  k\ 
 Nou  to  proceid  in  the  discriptione  of  the  spe- 
 ris  of  the  hauynis.  in  the  fyrst,  ze  sal  yma 
 ane  lyne  that  passis  throucht  the  spere  lyik 
 til  ane  extree  of  ane  cart,  callit  axis  spere,  qu- 
 hilk  is  the  rycht  dyametre  of  the  spere,  on  the 
 quhilk  lyne  or  extre  the  speris  &  hauynis  tur- 
 nis  on.  tha  at  the  endis  of  the  said  lyne,  ze  sal 
 ymagyne  tua  sternis,  quhilk  ar  callit  the  tua 
 polis  of  the  firmament,  ane  of  them  standis  at 
 the  northt,  quhilk  is  callit  the  pole  artic, boreal, 
 or  septetrional.  it  aperis  til  vs  in  our  habitatio- 
 ne,  be  rason  that  it  is  eleuat  abufe  our  orizo- 
 ne.  the  tot  hi  r  Sterne  standis  ar  the  southt,  and 
 it  is  callit  the  pole  antartic  austral  or  meridio- 
 nal, it  is  ay  hid  fra  vs,  for  it  aperis  neuyr  in  our 
 hemispere  be  rason  that  it  is  vndir  our  orizo. 
 ze  sal  vndirstand,  that  the  sterne  quhilk  the 
 schciphirdis  and  marynalis  callis  the  north 
 sterne,  that  sterne  is  nocht  the  pole  artic,  for 
 the  pole  artic  is  bot  ane  ymaginet  point,  di 
 
THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 iiij  degreis  fra  that  sterne  that  ve  cal  the  northt 
 sterne,  the  quhilk  sterne  is  callit  alrukaba.  and 
 alse  ze  sal  vndirstand,  that  the  soucht  sterne 
 that  is  eleuat  abufe  the  orizon  of  them  tnat 
 duellis  bezond  the  equinoctial,  it  is  callit  ca- 
 napus.  ther  for  it  suld  nocht  be  callit  the  pole 
 antartic,  for  the  pole  antartic  is  bot  ane  ymagi- 
 net  point,  quhilk  standi s  iiij  degreis  fra  the 
 sterne  that  is  callit  canap\  There  is  ane  vthir 
 circle  callit  orizone,  the  quhilk  cuttis  the  spere 
 in  tua  partis,  there  is  tua  sortis  of  orizons,  ane 
 is  callit  the  rycht  orizon,  the  tothir  is  callit  the 
 oblique  orizone.  thai  that  hes  there  zenith  in 
 the  equinoctial,  thai  hef  the  rycht  orizon,  bera- 
 son  that  the  tua  polis  ar  in  there  orizon,  ande 
 thai  that  hes  ane  oblique  orizon,  ane  of  the 
 polis  is  eleuat  abufe  ther  orizon,  ande  the  to- 
 thir pole  is  hid  vndir  there  hemispeir  and  ori- 
 zon. Ther  is  ane  vthir  circle  in  the  spere  cal- 
 lit meridian,  the  quhilk  gais  betuix  the  tua  po- 
 lis rycht  abufe  our  hede.  than  quhen  the  sune 
 cummis  fra  the  orient  to  that  circle,  it  is  iust 
 tuelf  houris  of  the  daye,  &  quhe  the  sune  is  in 
 oppesit  til  our  meridian  vndir  our  orizo,  tha 
 it  is  mydnycht.  There  is  ane  vthir  circle  of 
 the  spere,  callit  the  circle  equinoctial,  the  qu- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 hiik  deuidis  the  spere  in  tua  partis,  it  is  of  ane 
 lyikdistancefra  the  tua  polis.  it  is  callit  equino- 
 ctial, be  cause  that  quhen  the  sune  cummis  til 
 it,  than  the  day  and  the  nycht  ar  of  ane  lyntht 
 in  euerye  part  of  the  varld,  and  that  occurris 
 tua  tymis  ilk  zeir,  that  is  to  say,  quhcn  the  su- 
 ne cummis  in  the  fyrst  degre  of  aries,  quhilk 
 is  the  xj  daye  of  marche,  £:  in  the  fyrst  degre 
 of  libra,  quhilk  is  the  xiij  day  of  September. 
 Ther  is  ane  vthir  grit  circle  in  the  spere,  callit 
 the  zodiac,  the  quhilk  deuidis  the  circle  equi- 
 noctial i  tua  partis,  the  zodiac  is  deuidit  i  tuelf 
 partis,  and  ilk  part  is  callit  ane  sing,  the  quhilk 
 zodiac  extendis  til  tuelf  singnis,  callit  Aries, 
 Taurus,  Gemini,  Cancer,  Leo,  Virgo,  Libra, 
 Scorpio,  Sagittarius,  Capricornus,  Aquarius, 
 Pisces.  Ande  euyrie  sing  is  diuidit  in  xxx 
 degrei*.  Ther  is  tua  vthir  circlis  in  the  spere 
 callit  colures.  ane  of  them  passis  be  the  zodiac 
 in  the  begynnyng  of  Aries  and  Libra,  quhil- 
 kis  ar  tua  singnis  equinoctialis  the  tothir  cir- 
 cle passis  in  the  begynnyng  of  Cancer  and  Ca- 
 pricorn, quhilk  ar  tua  solstice  singnis.  Ther 
 ar  four  vthir  litil  circlis  in  the  spere.  ane  is  cal- 
 lit the  tropic  of  Cancer,  quhilk  is  the  solstice 
 of  symmyr.  it  is  distat  xxiij  degreis  xxx  mu- 
 
y  3 
 
 fra.  the  equinoctial  touart  septemtrion, 
 quhen  the  sune  ciiis  til  it,  than  it  is  the  langest 
 day  of  the  zeir  to  them  that  duellis  betuix 
 the  pole  artic  and  the  equinoctial.  The  circle 
 of  capricorne  is  callit  the  solstice  of  vyntir. 
 n  the  sune  cumis  til  it  passand  touart  the 
 pol  antartic,  than  thai  that  duellis  betuix  the 
 equinoctial  and  the  pole  antartic,  hes  ther  lan- 
 gast  day  of  the  zeir,  &  tha  ve  hef  the  schortest 
 of  the  zeir.  The  circle  artic  is  xxiij  degreis 
 xxx  munitis  fra  the  pole  artic.  siclyik  the  circle 
 antartic  is  xxiij  degreis  xxx  munitis  fra  the 
 pole  antartic.  £c  alse  the  septemtrional  solstice 
 callit  the  tropic  of  cacer,  is  xxiij  degreis  xxx 
 munitis  fra  the  equinoctial,  and  the  meridio- 
 nal solstice  of  Capricorn  is  xxiij  degreis  xxx 
 munitis  fra  the  equinoctial.  The  point  that  is 
 rycht  abufe  our  hede  is  callit  zenych,  the  qu- 
 hilk  is  iiij  scoir  and  ten  degreis  distant  fra  our 
 orizon,  ande  as  oft  as  ve  change  fra  place  to 
 place,  as  oft  ve  sal  hef  ane  vthir  zenycht,  and 
 the  place  that  is  direct  ccntrar  til  our  zenych 
 is  callit  antipodes,  tha  that  duellis  in  thai  par- 
 tis, thai  hef  ther  solis  direct  contrar  til  our  so- 
 lis,  ande  thai  hef  the  hauyn  for  ther  zenych  as 
 veil  as  ve,  &  quhen  ve  hef  the  langest  day  of  sy- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  79 
 
 myr,  than  thai  hef  the  schortest  day  In  \ 
 tir,  ande  quhen  thai  hef  symmyr,  than  ve  hef 
 vyntir.  zit  nochtheles,  lactantius  fir  mien,  l 
 famous  doctor  of  the  holy  kyrk,   in  I 
 beuk,  in  the  xxiiij  cheptor,  he  scornis  the  ma- 
 thematicies  that  us  antipodos :  5c  sykl 
 
 Sainct  agustyne  de  ciuitate  dei,  in  the  ix  che- 
 ptour  of  his  seuynt  beuk,  allegis  mony  freuol 
 argumentis  contrar  the  antipodos  :  quhar  for 
 it  aperi  hir  tua  doc- 
 
 lactantius,  var  mair  expert'  in  theologie  nor 
 thai  var  in  cosmographie,  cosiderand  that  ther 
 is  sa  mony  probabil  rasons   that   ;  faat 
 
 the  eird  is  round,  ande  that  the  eird  is  the  cen- 
 tir  of  the  ix  hauynis,  and  that  the  sune  circui- 
 ts and  gais  about  the  eird  euyrie  xxiiij  hou- 
 for  ve  maye  see  be  exr  that  quhen 
 
 the  sune  rysis  at  our  est  orizon,  than  it  ascen- 
 dis  quhil  it  cum  til  our  meridian, 
 eftir  it  declynis  and  passis  vndir  our  vest  ori- 
 zon, quhilk  is  ane  man'  kyn  that  the  su- 
 ne gais  about  al  the  eird  :  quhar  for  it  ap 
 veil,  that  thcr  is  pepil  di 
 alse  vehef  ai  hat 
 the  eird  am!                                            .  uttand 
 that  sum  man  vald  set  ane 
 
THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ydc,  and  syne  this  man  departand  in  ane 
 schip  fra  that  mark,  sailand  quhil  he  be  furtht 
 of  the  sycht  of  the  said  mark,  than  he  beand 
 in  the  body  of  the  said  schip  quhen  he  hes  tynt 
 the  sycht  of  his  mark,  than  he  montis  and  pas- 
 sis  vp  to  the  top  of  the  schip,  and  than  he  per- 
 sauis  his  mark  perfytly,  the  quhilk  he  culd 
 nocht  persaue  in  the  body  of  the  schip,  quhou 
 be  it  that  the  body  of  the  schip  be  nerar  his 
 mark  nor  is  the  top  of  the  schip.  this  exempil 
 makkis  plane  that  the  eird  is  rond.  Siklyikane 
 man  beand  on  the  hede  of  ane  hil,  he  vil  see 
 ane  schip  farrar  on  the  seye  nor  he  vil  see  at 
 the  fut  of  the  hil,  quhou  be  it  that  the  fut  of 
 the  hil  be  nerar  the  said  schip  nor  is  the  hede 
 of  the  hyl.  i  hef  rehersit  thir  vordis  to  gar  ob- 
 stinat  ignorant  men  consaue  that  ther  is  anti- 
 podos,  that  is  to  say,  that  there  is  pepil  that 
 duellis  vndir  our  feit.  i  suld  hef  rehersit  of  be- 
 for,  quhou  that  thai  that  hes  the  equinoctial 
 for  ther  zenych,  ande  hes  the  tuapolis  in  ther 
 orizon,  thai  hef  tua  symmyrs  and  tua  vintirs 
 euyrie  zeir.  for  ther  fyrst  symmyr  is  quhe  the 
 sune  entris  in  the  fyrst  degre  of  aries,  quhilk  is 
 in  the  xj  day  of  marche,  and  ther  fyrst  vintir 
 is  quhen  the  sune  entris  in  the  fyrst  degre  of 
 
OF  SCOTLAND^  8  I 
 
 cancer,  quhilk  accordis  vitht  the  xij.  day  of 
 lime  ;  and  ther  sycond  symmyr  is  quhen  the 
 sune  entris  in  the  fyrst  degre  of  libra,  quhilk 
 accordis  vitht  the  xiiij.  daye  of  September  ;  8c 
 ther  sycod  vintir  is  quhe  the  sune  entris  I  the 
 fyrst  degre  of  Capricorn,  quhilk  accordis  vitht 
 the  xij.  day  of  decebcr.  the  tua  vintirs  that  thai 
 hef  ar  nocht  verray  vehemet  cald,  bot  ther  tua 
 symmyrs  ar  vondir  birnand  heyt,  quhilk  is 
 occasione  that  the  pepil  that  duellis  vndir  the 
 equinoctial  ar  blac  of  ther  cullour.  And  fra 
 tyme  that  the  sune  be  past  the  equinoctial, 
 touart  the  meridian  tropic  of  Capricorn,  than 
 thai  that  dueillis  vndir  the  northt  pole,  thai 
 hef  ane  conteneual  nycht  and  no  day,  quhil 
 on  to  the  tyme  that  the  sune  return,  8z  is  en- 
 trit  in  the  fyrst  degre  of  Aries,  the  rason  of 
 thir  lang  nychtis  is,  be  cause  that  the  sune 
 beand  past  the  equinoctial,  touart  the  meridio- 
 nal tropic,  than  it  is  al  that  tyme  vndir  the  ori- 
 zon  of  them  that  hes  the  northt  pole  for  ther 
 zenych.  Siklyik,  quhen  the  sone  cumis  fra  the 
 equinoctial,  passand  touart  the  septemtrional 
 tropic  of  cancer,  than  thai  that  duellis  vndir 
 the  meridional  pole,  hes  cotcneual  nycht  qu- 
 hil the  sone  returne  agarie  to  the  fyrst  d< 
 
 L 
 
THE  COMFLAYXT 
 
 of  libra,  be  rason  that  quhen  the  sone  is  northt 
 fra  the  equinoctial,  than  it  is  vndir  the  orizori 
 of  them  that  hes  the  meridional  pole  for  ther 
 zenych ;  k  sa  be  this  narratione,  thai  that  duel- 
 lis  vndir  the  pole  artic,  hes  ane  conteneual 
 nycht  half  ane  zeir  to  gyddir,  and  the  tothir 
 half  zeir  thai  hef  coteneual  day  and  no  nycht 
 half  ane  zeir  to  gyddir  ;  and  it  is  of  the  samyn 
 sort  to  them  that  duellis  vndir  the  pol  antar- 
 tic.  And  nou,  sen  i  hef  declarit  the  circlis  of 
 the  spere,  i  vil  speik  of  the  reuolutions  and  of 
 the  nature  of  the  vij.  planetis.  O  ze  scheiphir- 
 dis,  ze  sal  contempil  in  the  firmamet  ane  ster- 
 
 Satum.  ne  callit  saturn,  quhilk  is  hie  abufe  al  the  laif 
 of  the  planetis,  and  for  that  cause  it  aperis  ver- 
 ray  litil  to  mennis  sycht.  it  makkis  reuolutio- 
 ne  in  thretty  zeir,  and  returnis  to  the  samyn 
 point  that  it  cam  fra.  it  makkis  ane  circle  fra 
 Occident  til  orient,  contrar  the  fyrst  mobil.  it  is 
 of  ane  cald  frosty  natur.     Nyxt  saturne  stan- 
 
 iupitcr.  dis  the  spere  &  hauyn  of  Iupiter,  quhilk  mak- 
 kis the  cours  &  circuit  in  tuelf  zeiris.  it  is  of 
 ane  temperat  natur,  be  cause  it  flandis  in  the 
 myd  vay  betuix  the  caldnes  of  Saturn  &  the 
 byrnand  heyt  that  Mars  induris  throucht  the 
 vicinite  of  sol.     Ande  nyxt  to  Iupiter  standis 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  S3 
 
 the  hauyn  and  spere  of  Mars,  quhilk  sum  men  ****** 
 califs  Hercules,  it  reuoluis  in  ane  circle  in  tua 
 zeiris.  it  is  inflammit  in  ane  feruent  he; 
 
 ascendis  fra  the  sone.  Nyxt  to  Mars  standis 
 the  hauyn  of  the  sone,  the  quhilk  makkis  reuo-  So1- 
 futione  in  thre  hudretht  thre  scoir  of  degrcis, 
 quhilk  is  the  space  of  ane  zeir.  the  verteous 
 heyt  of  it  temperatis  al  the  sternis  of  the  fir- 
 mament. Nyxt  vndir  the  spere  of  the  soune 
 stadis  the  spere  8c  hauyn  of  Ven',  quhilk  is  ane  Vcm,s- 
 grit  sterne  of  ane  meruelous  lustir.  i  the  mor- 
 nyng  it  aperis  ane  lang  tyme  or  the  soune  ryi- 
 se,  and  gyffis  ane  grit  lycht.  at  that  tyme  it  is 
 callit  lucifer,  be  cause  it  auancis  the  day  befor 
 the  crepusculine.  and  siclyik  it  aperis  vet  ray 
 haisty  on  fayr  day  lycht,  quhen  the  soune  di- 
 scendis  vndir  the  vest  orizon  :  at  that  tyme  it 
 is  callit  vesper,  be  cause  it  prolongis  the  day. 
 sum  men  callis  it  Iuno,  and  sum  callis  it  isis. 
 al  thing  that  the  eird  procreatis  is  confortit  be 
 it,  be  rason  of  the  vertu  of  the  fresche  deu  that 
 discedis  fra  it.  it  makkis  ane  onstabil  reuolu- 
 tion  in  thre  hundretht  xlviij.  dais,  and  ay  it  is 
 vitht  in  xlvj.  degrcis  fra  the  soune.  Nyxt  vn- 
 dir the  spere  of  Venus,  standis  the  ha- 
 uyn of  Mercurius,  quhilk  sum  men  callis  ap-  Maori 
 Lij 
 
&±  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 polio,  quhilk  makkis  reuolutione  nyne  dais 
 mair   haistiar   nor   dois   venus,  bot  it   aperis 
 nocht  sa  grit  as  Venus,  it  is  ay  sene  befor  the 
 soune  rysing,  and  haisty  eftir  that  the  soune  is 
 cum  to  the  vest  orizon,  &  it  is  ay  xxij.  degreis 
 neir  to  the  soune.    The  last  and  the  nerest  pla- 
 net, quhilk  is  callit  the  mune,  the  quhilk  is  ane 
 familiar  frende  to  the  eird,  the  creator  of  al 
 thingis  ordad  it  to  be  ane  remeid  cotrar  mir- 
 knes  of  the  nycht.  it  is  the  maist  admirabil  Ster- 
 ne of  the  firmainet.  the  diuersite  &  the  varia- 
 ce  of  it  hes  trublit  the  vndirstading  of  the  that 
 coteplit  it,  be  ras5  that  su  tyme  it  grouis  &  su 
 tyme  it  decressis,  quhilk  is  contrar  the  natur  of 
 vthir  sternis ;  for  sum  tyme  it  aperit  neukyt, 
 heffand  hornis,  and  sum  tyme  it  vas  al  rond, 
 and  sum  tyme  it  vas  bot  half  rond  ;  sum  tyme 
 It  vald  schau  lycht  half  the  nycht,  and  sum  ty- 
 me it  vald  schau  lycht  al  the  nycht,  &  su  tyme 
 it  vald  be  thre  dais  to  gyddir  nocht  sene ;  6c  al- 
 he  reuolutione  &  circuit  of  it  maid  as 
 in  xxvij.  dais  &:  viij.  hcuris,  as  the  pla- 
 net satuvn  did  i  thretty  zeir.    Nou  i  vil  rehers 
 the  cause  of  the  variance  ande  the  muta^ 
 of  1  urs  of  the  Mune.    ze  sal  vndirstand, 
 
 that  the  mutaiione  and  variance  of  the  mu«- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 ne,  in  sa  mony  diuerse  sortis,  procedis  as  i  sal 
 reherse.  The  mune  is  ane  thik  masse,  round 
 lyik  ane  boule  or  bal,  heffand  no  lycht  of  hyr 
 self;  for  sche  and  al  the  vthir  sternis  resauis 
 ther  lycht  fra  the  soune.  there  for,  sa  mekil  of 
 the  mune  that  hes  hyr  aspect  touart  the  sou- 
 ne, hes  lycht  ;  bot  the  tothir  half  cf  the  mune, 
 that  hes  no  aspect  to  the  soune,  resauis  no 
 lycht.  The  cause  cjuhy  that  the  mune  schauis 
 lycht  one  tyme,  and  is  obscure  ane  vthir  ty- 
 me,  is  be  rason  that  sche  is  mcir  suift  in  hyr 
 retrograid  cours  nor  the  soune  is :  for  cf  hyr 
 auen  propir  mouyng  fra  Occident  til  orient 
 in  the  zodiac,  sche  cummis  euyrie  xxvij.  dais 
 viij.  houris  vndir  the  samyn  degre  that  the  so- 
 ne  is  i  til.  at  that  tyme  the  vulgaris  ^ais  that  the 
 mune  is  in  the  coiunctioj  vitht  the  sone.  Sum 
 tyme  the  mune  is  in  oppositione,  that  is,  quhe 
 the  mune  &  the  soune  ar  in  appocit  dec. 
 tha  ve  see  the  maist  part  of  the  lycht  that  the 
 mune  hes  resauit  Bra  the  scune.  the  vulgaris 
 sais,at  that  tyme,  that  the  mune  is  ful,  zit  noch- 
 theles  ti.e  mune  is  ay  ful,  as  veil  at  the  coniun- 
 ction  as  at  the  a  ,  bot  quhen  the  mu> 
 
 ne  is  in  the  cclip.s.    ioi  in  the  tyme  of  the  ecli- 
 pis,  the  eird  is  betuix  the  mune  and  the  sou- 
 
86  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ne,  quhilk  is  occasione  that  the  mune  resauis 
 no  lycht  fra  the  soune  at  that  tyme.  There  is 
 ane  vthir  admiration  of  the  variant  course  of 
 the  mune,  for  sche  resauis  mair  lycht  in  hyr 
 oppositione  fra  the  soune,  nor  aperis  tyl  vs. 
 The  quhilk  i  sal  preif  be  this  rason.  Ane  grit 
 roundnes  of  lycht  sal  gyf  lycht  to  mair  nor 
 the  half  of  ane  les  roundnes,  be  rason  that  the 
 superfice  of  ane  grit  roundnes  hes  ane  largear 
 aspect  touart  ane  roundnes  of  ane  les  quan- 
 tite,  nor  ane  smal  roundnes  can  hef  touart 
 ane  grit  roundnes.  There  for,  sen  the  soune  is 
 of  ane  gritar  quatite  nor  is  the  mune,  be  that 
 cause,  mair  nor  the  half  of  the  mune  resauis 
 lycht  fra  the  soune.  bot  zit  ve  see  nocht  sa  me- 
 kil  lycht  in  the  mune  as  sche  hes  resauit  fra 
 the  soune  in  hyr  appositione.  Ane  parso  that 
 behaldis  ane  roundnes  of  ane  gritar  quanti- 
 te  nor  is  the  space  betuix  his  tua  een,  that 
 parson  sal  nocht  see  sa  mekil  as  is  the  half  of 
 that  roundnes,  be  rason  that  the  superfice  of 
 that  roundnes  is  of  mair  quantite  nor  is  the 
 space  or  largenes  that  is  betuix  his  tua  een. 
 The  edips  ^[  Nou  i  vii  reherse  the  cause  of  the  eclipsis 
 wime!  of  the  soune  and  mune.  ve  may  persaue  mani- 
 festlye,  that  the  eclips  of  the  soune  cummis 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  Sj 
 
 be  the  interpositione  of  the  mune  betuix  vs 
 and  the  soune,  the  quhilk  empeschis  and  ob- 
 fusquis  the  beymis  of  the  soune  fra  our  sycht. 
 Siklyik,  the  mune  is  in  eclips  be  the  obiectio-  Ec 
 ne  of  the  eird,  the  quhilk  eird  empeschis  the 
 soune  to  gyf  lycht  to  the  mune.  of  this  sort, 
 the  soune  is  maid  obscure  til  vs  quhe  it  clips, 
 be  cause  the  vmbre  and  schaddou  of  the  bak 
 of  the  mune  is  betuix  vs  and  the  soune.  And 
 alse  the  mune  is  maid  obscure  quhen  it  clips, 
 be  rason  that  the  vmbre  and  schaddou  of  the 
 eird  empeschis  hyr  to  resaue  lycht  fra  the  sou- 
 ne. ther  for  i  may  efferme,  that  the  myrk 
 nycht  is  na  vthir  thyng  bot  quhen  the  soune 
 and  mune  ar  vndir  our  orizon. 
 
 \  Nou,  to  speik  of  the  influens  and  constel- 
 lation of  the  soune  and  mune,  and  of  the  ster- 
 nis,  doutles  man  &  beyst,  ande  al  vthir  thyng 
 that  euyr  vas  procreat  on  the  eird,  ar  subiecc 
 to  ther  operatioe,  &  rasauis  alteratioe  throucht 
 there  influens.  The  speculatione  and  contem- 
 platione  of  mennis  ingyne  culd  neuyr  consa- 
 ue  ane  final  determinatione  of  the  soune,  mu- 
 ne, and  of  the  sternis.  fra  ther  operations 
 and  constellations  procedis  tempest,  stormis, 
 fayr  veddir,  foul  veddir,  heyt,  cald,  pestik ' 
 
cooalesefens,  rane,  frost  and  snau,  andal  vthir 
 accidentis  that  cummis  on  theeird,  and  on  man 
 and  beyst :  bot  zit,  at  sum  tyme,  god  almychty, 
 be  his  diuync  permissione,  mittigatis,  augmen- 
 ts, or  dimuneuis  baytht  the  gude  operations 
 and  euil  operations  of  the  planetis,  efferand 
 for  the  vertu  and  vice  that  ringis  amang  the 
 pepil.  ve  ar  veil  experiments,  that  quhen  ther 
 
 tipleis-  ane  grit  numir  of  sternis  1  the  equi- 
 noctial of  Libra,  or  in  the  solstice  of  capri- 
 
 :,  at  that  tyme  ther  pccurris  grit  tempestis 
 and  tormentis  of  euyl  veddir.  Ande  alsa,  at 
 that  tyme,  men  and  vemen  of  ane  tendir  com- 
 plexione,  ar  in  dangeir  of  diuers  maladeis,  as 
 of  fluxis,  caterris,  collie  and  gut,  and  to  diuers 
 vthir  contagius  seiknes.  Sic  lyik,  throucht  the 
 
 ratione  of  the  sternis,  the  oliue,  the  popil,  & 
 the  oszer  tree,  changis  the  cullour,  and  ther 
 Ieyuis,  at  ilk  tyme  quhen  the  soune  entris  in 
 the  tropic  of  Cancer,  sic  lyik,  the  dry  mynt 
 that  hingis  in  ane  house,  resauis  sum  ver- 
 tu of  the  eird,  quhen  the  soune  entris  in  the 
 fyrst  degre  of  capricorne.  Siklyik,  ther  is  ane 
 eirb  callit  helytropium, '  the  quhilk  the  vulga- 
 ris callis  soucye  ;  it  hes  the  Ieyuis  appin  as  lag 
 
 he  soune  is  in  our  hemispere,  and  it  closis 
 
OF  SCOTLAND,  89 
 
 the  leyuis,  quhen  the  soune  passis  vndir  our 
 orizon.  Siklyik,  oistirs  and  mussillis,&:  al  vthir 
 schel  fysche,  grouis  and  incressis  in  ther  natu- 
 ral qualite,  eftir  the  coniunctione  of  the  mu- 
 ne,  quhil  on  to  the  tyme  of  the  appositioe.  tha 
 eftir  the  appositione,  thai  schel  fische  dimune- 
 uis  and  grouis  les,  and  of  ane  var  qualite. 
 
 Siklyik  ther  is  ane  sterne  callit  canis.  the  euyl 
 constellatione  of  it  begynnis  at  the  sext  daye 
 of  iulye,  and  endis  at  the  xx.  daye  of  agust. 
 the  natur  of  it  is  contrar  tyl  euyrie  thyng  that 
 is  procreat  on  the  eird.  The  tyme  of  the  ope- 
 ratione  of  it  in  our  hemispere,  is  callit  be'  the 
 vulgaris  the  caniculair  dais,  the  euyl  natur  of 
 it  inflammis  the  soune  vitht  ane  onnatural 
 vehement  heyt,  the  quhilk  oft  tymis  trublis 
 and  altris  the  vyne  in  ane  pipe  in  the  depe  ca- 
 ue,  ande  alse  it  generis  pestilens,  feuyrs,  &  mo- 
 ny  vthir  contagius  seiknes.  quhen  it  ringis  in 
 our  hemispere,  than  dogis  ar  1  dangeir  to  ryn 
 vod,  rather  nor  in  ony  vthir  tyme  of  the  zeir. 
 Siklyik  ther  is  mony  vthir  euyl  accidctis  that 
 occurris  throuch  the  euyl  constellations  of 
 the  planetis  and  of  the  sternis  ;  ande  alse  sum 
 of  them  erris  and  altirs  oft  tymis  fra  ther  am" 
 natural  course,  quhilk  is  ane  taikyn  and  sing  of 
 
 M 
 
CjO  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 prodigeis  precedent  euyl  accidentis  that  ar  tyl 
 occur   on  princis   or   superiors  of  ane   real- 
 me.  thehistorigraphours  rehersis,that  there  vas 
 thre  sonnis  sene  at  one  tyme  in  the  lyft,  befoir 
 the  ciuil  veyris  that  occurrit  betuix  anthoni' 
 and  agustus  cesar ;  and  alse  the*r  vas  thre  munis 
 sene  in  the  lyft,  quhen  domitius  caius  and  fla- 
 uius  lucius  var  consulis  of  rome.    Siklyik  the- 
 re is  diuerse  vthir  sternis  of  ane  euyl  constel- 
 lation, quhiik  pronosticatis  future   euyl  acci- 
 dentis. ther  is  ane  sterne  that  aperis  nocht  oft 
 in  our  hemispere,  callit  ane  comeit.  quhen  it  is 
 sene,  ther  occurris  haistyly  eftir  it   sum  grit 
 myscheif.  it  aperis  oft  in  the  northt.  it  aperis 
 oft  in  the  quhyt  circle  callit  circulus  lacteus, 
 the  quhiik  the  marynalis  callis  vatlant  streit. 
 su.  tyme  it  vil  apeir  lyik  lang  bludy  hayr,  su  ty- 
 me lyik  ane  dart,  su  tyme  lyik  ane  bludy  speyr. 
 it  aperit  in  the  lyft  lyik  ane  sourd  be  for  the 
 detht  of  Iulius  cesar,  and  alse  it  aperit  lyik  ane 
 trumpet,  quhen  the  kyng  of  perse  straik  ane 
 battel  contrar  the  grecians.    sum  tyme  it  hes 
 aperit  lyik  tua  gait  buckis  iustad  cotrar  vthirs. 
 Nou  to  speik  of  the  generatione  of  the  rane, 
 it  is  ane  exalatione  of  humid  vapours,  gene- 
 rit  in  calme  veddir  abufe  the  vattirs  on  the 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  $1 
 
 eird,  and  syne  ascendis  in  the  sycond  regione 
 of  the  ayr,  quhar  that  it  coagulatis  in  ane  thik 
 clud:  than  the  sternis  of  ane  euyl  con-tellatio- 
 ne  brakkis  that  clud  :  than  it  lallis  on  diuerse 
 parcis  of  the  eird,  in  diuerse  sortis  of  schouris, 
 sum  mair,  sum  les  ;  sum  be  grit  vehemens  and 
 tempest,  and  sum  tyme  in  soft  &  varme  schou- 
 ris.  1  the  antiat  dais  there  vas  sene  grit  meriiel- 
 lis  in  the  rane,  quhilkis  signifeit  prodigies 
 of  future  euyl  accidetis.  In  the  tyme  that  mar- 
 cus  actilius  and  cayus  portius  var  consulis  of 
 rome,  the  lyft  did  rane  mylk,  and  on  the  mor- 
 ne  it  ranit  rede  blude.  siclyik,  quhen  lucius  vo- 
 lumnius  and  sergius  sulpitius  var  consulis  in 
 rome,  the  lyft  did  rane  rau  flasche.  And  alse, 
 quhen  the  vailzeant  roman,  marcus  crassus, 
 vas  slane  be  the  parthiens,  the  lyft  did  rane 
 yrn.  Siklyik,  quhen  lucius  paulus  and  ca 
 marcellus  var  consuls  in  rome,  the  lyft  did  ra- 
 ne grit  quantite  of  vol  ;  and  alse,  quhen  titus 
 annius  milo  vas  slane,  the  lyft  did  rane  tile  sta- 
 nis.  Nou,  to  speik  of  the  generatioe  of  the  deu, 
 it  is  ane  humid  vapour,  generit  in  the  sycond 
 regione  of  the  ayr  in  ane  fair  calme  nychr,  & 
 syne  discendis  in  ane  temperat  caldnes  on  the 
 grene  eirbis  in  smal  droppis.  The  hayr  rym 
 M  i j 
 
Ql  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 is  ane  cald  deii,  the  quhilk  fallis  in  my  sty  va- 
 pours, and  syne  it  fresis  on  the  eird.  the  myft, 
 it  is  the  excrement  or  the  superfluite  of  the 
 cluddis,  the  quhilk  fallis  fra  the  ayr  I  ane  sueit 
 rane,  quhilk  rane  can  nocht  be  persauit  be  the 
 sycht  of  men.  Hail  stonis  is  ane  congelit  rane, 
 quhilk  fallis  on  the  eird  be  grit  vehemens,  and 
 it  fallis  rather  on  the  day  lycht  nor  on  the 
 nycht.  The  snau  is  ane  congelit  rane,  frosyn 
 and  congelit  in  the  sycond  regione  of  the  ayr  ; 
 bot  it  is  nocht  sa  ferine  and  hard  congelit  as  is 
 the  hail  stonis ;  zit  nochtheles  it  remanis  lan- 
 gar  onmeltit,  be  rason  that  it  fallis  aye  in  cald 
 vedthir,  ande  the  hail  stonis  fallis  comontly  in 
 symmyr.  The  thoundir  is  ane  corrupt  fume 
 generit  on  the  eird,  of  vapours,  and  syne  it  asce- 
 dis  in  the  sycond  regione  of  the  ayr,  and  con- 
 gelis  in  diuerse  massife  cluddis,  quhilk  stoppis 
 and  empeschis  the  operatione  of  the  planetis 
 to  excerse  ther  natural  course,  than  the  vehe- 
 mens of  the  planetis  brakkis  thai  cluddis,  fra 
 the  forse  ol  the  quhilk  there  cumis  fyir  and 
 ane  grit  sound,  quhilk  is  terribil  to  be  hard,  & 
 that  terribil  sound  is  the  thyng  thatve  cal  the 
 thondir;  bot  or  ve  heir  the  thondir,  ve  see  fyrst 
 the  fyir,  quhou  be  it  that  thai  proceid  at  ane  in- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  93 
 
 stant  tyme.  the  cause  that  ve  see  the  fyire  or  ve 
 heir  the  thoundir,  is  be  rason  that  the  sycht 
 and  cleirnes  of  ony  thing  is  mair  suyft  touart 
 vs  nor  is  the  sound.  The  euyl  that  the  thon- 
 dir  dois  on  the  eird,  it  is'dune  or  ve  heir  the 
 crak  of  it.  Oft  tymis/ve  vil  see  fyir  slaucht, 
 quhou  be  it  ther  be  na  thodir  harde.  The  thon- 
 dir  slais  mony  beystis  on  the  feildis  ;  85  quhe 
 it  slais  ane  man  that  is  sleipand,  he  sal  be  fun- 
 din  dede,  and  his  ene  close  ;  and  quhen  it  slais 
 ane  valkand  man,  he  sal  be  fundin  dede,  and 
 his  ene  appin.  The  thoundir  is  maist  dange- 
 rous for  man  andebeyst,  quhen  there  cummis 
 na  rane  vitht  it.  The  fyir  slaucht  vil  consume 
 the  vyne  vitht  in  ane  pipe  in  ane  depe  caue,  8c 
 the  pipe  vil  resaue  na  skaytht.  the  fyir  slaucht 
 sleu  ane  man  on  the  feildis,  and  it  meltit  the 
 gold  that  vas  in  his  bag,  and  it  meltit  nocht  the 
 vax  of  ane  seyl  that  vas  i  that  samyn  bag.  In  ro- 
 me  there  vas  ane  nobil  princesse  callit  martia 
 grit  vitht  child  ;  sche  vas  on  the  feildis  for  hyr 
 recreatione,  quhar  that  the  fyir  slaucht  straik 
 hyr,  &  sleu  hyr  nocht,  hot  zit  it  sleu  the  child 
 in  hyr  voyme.  There  is  thre  thyngis  that  ar 
 neuyr  in  dangeir  ol  thoundir  nor  fyir  slaucht, 
 that  is  to  saye,  the  laurye  tree :  the  sycond  is  the 
 
94  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 selcht,  quhilk  sum  men  callis  the  see  volue :  the 
 thrid  thyng  is  the  eyrn,  that  fleis  sa  hie.  The 
 historigraphours  rehersis,  that  tybereus  Cesar, 
 empriour  of  rome,  hed  euyr  ane  hat  of  laure 
 tree  on  his  hede,  and  alse  he  gart  mak  his  pail- 
 zons  and  tentis  on  the  feildis,  of  selcht  skyn- 
 nis,  to  that  effect  that  he  mycht  be  furtht  of 
 the  dangeir  of  the  thoudir  and  fyir  slaucht. 
 The  best  remeid  cotrar  thoudir  &  fyir  slaucht, 
 is  to  men  and  vemen  to  pas  in  hou  cauernis 
 vndir  the  eird,  or  in  depe  cauis,  be  cause  the 
 thoundir  dois  maist  domage  tyl  hie  placis. 
 
 ^[  Nou,  to  speik  of  the  cause  and  of  the  natur 
 of  the  vynd,  eftir  the  discriptione  of  theschei- 
 phirdis  and  hirdis  of  the  antiant  dais,  ze  sal 
 undirstand,  that  the  vynd  is  no  vthir  thyng 
 bot  ane  vapour  or  exalatione,  heyt  and  dry, 
 generit  in  the  concauiteis  and  in  the  bouellis 
 of  the  eird,  the  quhilk  ascendis  and  discendis 
 vp  and  doune  betuix  the  eird  and  the  sycond 
 region  of  the  ayr.  The  marynalis  at  this  pre- 
 sent cyme  hes  set  furtht  and  discriuit  thretty 
 tua  sortis  of  vyndis ;  bot  ve  that  ar  scheiphir- 
 dis,  hes  no  iugement  bot  of  viij.  sortis  of  vyn- 
 dis, of  the  quhilk  numir  ther  is  iiij.  callit  vyn- 
 dis cardinal,  and  the  tothir  iiij.  ar  callit  vyn* 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  Q$ 
 
 dis  collateral,  the  fyrst  cardinal  vynd  is  callit 
 auster  or  meridional  vynd,  quhilk  the  vulga- 
 ris callis  southyn  vynd.  it  is  heyt  and  humid 
 of  natur.  it  generis  thondir  cluddis,  and  smal 
 soft  ranis,  ande  alse  it  is  the  cause  of  pestilens, 
 and  of  vthir  cotagius  seiknes.  The  nyxt  car- 
 dinal vynd  is  callit  subsolan'  or  orietal,  quhilk 
 the  vulgaris  callis  estin  vynd,  quhilk,  throucht 
 the  vertu  of  the  soune,  is  heyt  and  dry  of  na- 
 tur. it  is  hoilsum  for  man  and  beyst,  and  alse 
 it  nureseis  al  thyng  that  the  eird  procreatis. 
 The  thrid  cardinal  vynd  is  callit  septemtrio- 
 nal  or  borial,  quhilk  vulgaris  callis  northin 
 vynd.  it  is  cald  and  dry,  of  ane  melancolic  na- 
 tur. it  is  hoilsum  for  man  and  beyst  that  ar 
 kepit  fra  excessif  caldnes,  bot  it  is  verray  con- 
 trar  &  noysum  to  the  frutis  of  the  eird.  The 
 feyrd  cardinal  vynd  is  callit  fauonius  or  oc- 
 cidental, quhilk  vulgaris  callis  vestin  vynd.  it 
 is  cald  and  humid,  of  ane  flegmatic  natur.  it  is 
 neuresant  for  the  frute  of  the  eird,  bot  it  is  con- 
 trar  tyl  tendir  complexions  that  ar  subfect  tyl 
 seiknes.  Nou,  to  speik  of  the  iiij.  collateral  vyn- 
 dis.  the  fyrst  is  callit  auster  aphricus,  quhilk  is 
 betuix  auster  and  fauonius.  it  is  callit  be  the 
 vulgaris  southt  vest,    it  generis  baytht  humi- 
 
*)5  T&E  COMPLAi. 
 
 diteis  &  maledeis.  The  nyxt  colateral  vynd 
 is  callit  furo  auster,  quhilk  is  betuix  auster  & 
 subsolanus.  the  vulgaris  callis  it  southt  est.  it 
 is  heyt  and  dry  of  natur,  and  it  generis  clud- 
 dis  and  maladeis.  The  thrid  collateral  vynd 
 is  cailit  aquilon,  quhilk  is  betuix  septemtrion 
 and  subsolanus.  the  vulgaris  callis  it  northest. 
 it  is  cald  and  dry  of  natur.  it  is  mair  hoilsum 
 tyl  ane  person  nor  it  is  pleysand.  it  is  contrar 
 to  the  frutis,  fleureis,  and  eirbis  of  the  eird. 
 The  feyrd  collateral  vynd  is  callit  circius, 
 quhilk  is  betuix  septemtrione  and  fauonius. 
 the  vulgaris  callis  it  nortuest.  it  is  cald  &  dry 
 of  natur.  it  generis  snau,  tempest,  &  vehement 
 itormis.  it  is  verray  noisum  til  al  the  that  oc- 
 cupeis  baytht  be  see  and  land.  Al  thir  thin- 
 gis  befor  rehersit,  of  the  circlis  of  the  speir,  & 
 of  the  hauynis  and  planetis,  is  said,  to  gar  zou 
 considir  that  man  kynd  is  subiect  to  the  plane- 
 tis and  to  ther  influens.  ther  for  ve  suld  pre- 
 pair.and  prouid  to  resist  ther  euyl  constella- 
 tions, for  quhou  be  it  that  thai  ar  the  instra- 
 Sapiens  do-  mentis  of  god,  zit  nochtheles  he  of  his  gudnes 
 StrisbltUr  res*stis  tnere  euyl  influens,  fra  tyme  that  ve  be 
 cum  obedient  tyl  his  command. 
 Actor. 
 
O?  SCOTLAND, 
 
 97 
 
 ^[  Quhen  the  scheiphird  hed  endit  his  pro- 
 lixt  oriso  to  the  laif  of  the  scheiphirdis,  i  mer- 
 uellit  nocht  litil  quhen  i  herd  ane  rustic  pa- 
 stour  of  bestialite,  distirut  of  vrbanite,  and  of 
 speculatione  of  natural  philosophe,  indoctry- 
 ne  his  nychtbours  as  he  hed  studeit  ptholome, 
 auerois,  aristotel,  galien,  ypocrites  or  Cicero, 
 quhilk  var  expert  practicians  in  methamatic 
 art.  Tha  the  scheiphirdis  vyf  said,  my  veil 
 belouit  hisband,  i  pray  the  to  decist  fra  that 
 tideus  melancolic  orison,  quhilk  surpassis  tJiy 
 ingyne,  be  rason  that  it  is  nocht  thy  facul- 
 tee  to  disput  in  ane  profund  mater,  the  qu- 
 hilk thy  capacite  can  nocht  comprehend,  ther 
 for,  i  thynk  it  best  that  ve  recreat  our  selfis 
 vytht  ioyus  comonyng  quhil  on  to  the  tymc 
 that  ve  return  to  the  scheip  fald  vytht  our 
 flokkis.  And  to  begyn  sic  recreatione  i  thynk 
 it  best  that  euyrie  ane  of  vs  tel  ane  gude  tavl 
 or  fabil,  to  pas  the  tyme  quhil  enyn.  Al  the 
 scheiphirdis,  ther  vyuis  and  saruadis  var  glaid 
 of  this  proposition  than  the  eldest  sclieiphird 
 began,  and  al  the  laif  follouit,  ane  be  ane  in 
 ther  auen  place,  it  vil  be  ouer  prolixt,  and  no 
 les  tideus  to  rchcrse  them  aganc  vord  be  vord. 
 bot  i  sal  reherie  sQ  of  ther  namys  that  i  herd. 
 
 N 
 
^8  TliE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 sum  vas  in  prose,  &  sum  vas  in  verse  :  sum  var 
 storeis,  and  sum  var  flet  taylis.  Thir  var  the 
 namis  of  them  as  eftir  follouis.  the  taylis  of 
 cantirberrye.  Robert  le  dyabil  due  of  Normil- 
 die,  the  tayl  of  the  volfe  of  the  varldis  end, 
 Ferrand  erl  of  Flandris  that  mareit  the  deuyl, 
 the  taiyl  of  the  reyde  eyttyn  vitht  the  thre 
 heydis,  the  tail  quhou  perseus  sauit  androma- 
 da  fra  the  cruel  mostir,  the  prophysie  of  mer- 
 lyne,  the  tayl  of  the  giantis  that  eit  quyk  men 
 on  fut  by  fortht  as  i  culd  found,  vallace,  the 
 bruce,  ypomedon,  the  tail  of  the  thre  futtit 
 dog  of  norrouay,  the  tayl  quhou  Hercules 
 sleu  the  serpent  hidra  that  hed  vij  heydis,  the 
 tail  quhou  the  kyng  of  est  mure  land  mareit 
 the  kyngis  dochtir  of  vest  mure  land,  Skail 
 gillenderson  the  kyngis  sone  of  skellye,  the 
 tayl  of  the  four  sonnis  of  aymon,  the  tail  of 
 the  brig  of  the  mantribil,  the  tail  of  syr  euan 
 arthours  knycht,  rauf  collzear,  the  seige  of  mil- 
 Ian,  gauen  and  gollogras,  lancelot  du  lac,  Ar- 
 thour  knycht  he  raid  on  nycht  vitht  gyltin 
 spur  and  candil  lycht,  the  tail  of  floremond  of 
 albanye  that  sleu  the  drago  be  the  see,  the  tail 
 of  syr  valtir  the  bald  leslye,  the  tail  of  the  pu- 
 re tynt,  claryades  and  maliades,  Arthour  of 
 
GF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 II til  bertangze,  robene  huds  and   litil   ihone, 
 the  meruellis  of  madiueil,  the  tayl  of  the  . 
 
 tamlene,  and  of  the  bald  braband,  the  ryng  of 
 the  roy  Robert,  syr  egtir  and  syr  gryme,  be- 
 uis  of  southamtonn,  the  goldin  targe,  the  pn- 
 leis  of  honour,  the  tayl  quhou  acteon  vas  ti 
 formit  in  ane  hart,  and  syne  slane  be  his  auen 
 doggis,  the  tayl  of  Pirramus  and  tesbe,  the  tail 
 of  the  amours  of  leander  and  hero,  the  tail 
 quhou  Iupiter  transformit  his  deir  loue  yo  in 
 ane  cou,  the  tail  quhou  that  iason  van  the  gol- 
 din fleice,  Opheus  kyng  of  portingal,  the  tayl 
 of  the  goldin  appil,  the  tail  of  the  thre  veird 
 systirs,  the  tayl  quhou  that  dedalus  maid  the 
 laborynth  to  keip  the  mostir  minotaurus,  the 
 tail  quhou  kyng  midas  gat  tua  asse  luggis  on 
 his  hede  be  cause  of  his  auereis. 
 
 ^[  Quhen  thir  scheiphyrdis  lied  tald  al  thyr 
 pleysand  storeis,  than  thay  and  ther  vyuis  be- 
 gan to  sing  sueit  melodius  sangis  of  natural 
 music  of  the  antiquite.  the  ioure  marmadyns 
 that  sang  quhen  thetis  vas  mareit  on  month 
 pillio,  thai  sang  nocht  sa  sueit  as  did  thir  schei- 
 phyrdis, quhiikis  ar  callit  to  name,  partheno- 
 pie,  leucolia,  illigeatempora,  the  feyrd  callit  L- 
 gia,  for  thir  scheiphirdis  excedit  al  thir  fourf 
 
 N    i j 
 
100  THE  COMTLAYNT 
 
 marmadyns  in  melodius  music,  i  gude  ace. 
 dis  and  reportis  of  dyapason  prolations,  and 
 dyatesseron.  the  musician  amphion  quhilk  sag 
 sa  dulce,  quhil  that  the  stanis  mouit,  and  alse 
 the  scheip  and  nolt,  and  the  foulis  of  the  ayr, 
 pronuncit  there  bestial  voce  to  sing  vitht  hym. 
 zit  nochtheles  his  ermoni,  sag  prefferrit  nocht 
 the  sueit  sangis  of  thir  foir  said  scheiphirdis. 
 Nou  i  vil  reherse  sum  of  the  sueit  sangis  that 
 i  herd  amang  the  as  eftir  follouis.  in  the  fyrst, 
 pastance  vitht  gude  companye,  the  breir  byn- 
 dis  me  soir.  Siil  vndir  the  leyuis  grene,  Cou 
 thou  me  the  raschis  grene,  allace  i  vyit  zour 
 tua  fayr  ene,  gode  zou  gude  day  vil  boy,  lady 
 help  zour  presoneir,  kyng  viilzamis  note,  the 
 lang  nounenou,  the  cheapel  valk,  faytht  is  the- 
 re none,  skald  abellis  nou,  The  abirdenis  nou, 
 brume  brume  on  hil,  allone  i  veip  in  grit  di- 
 stres,  trolee  lolee  kmmen  dou,  bille  vil  thou 
 cum  by  a  lute  and  belt  the  in  Sanct  Fr:v 
 cord,  The  frog  cam  to  the  myl  dur,  the  s  . 
 of  gilquhiskar,   rycht   soirly  in  my 
 
 mynue,  god  sen  the  due  hed  byddin  in  Fran- 
 ce, and  delaubaute  hed  r*t  .1  hame,   al 
 musing  of  meruellis  amys  bef  i  gone,  ISIa; 
 fayr  ze  vil  forfayr,   o  lusty  in  aye  vitht  flora 
 quene,  O  myne  hart  hay  this  is  my  sang,  the 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  IC1 
 
 battel  of  the  hayrlau,  the  hunttis  of  cheuet, 
 Sal  i  go  vitht  zou  to  rumbelo  fayr,  Greuit  is 
 my  sorrou,  turne  the  sueit  ville  to  me,  My  lu- 
 fe  is  lyand  seik,  send  hym  ioy,  send  hym  ioy, 
 fayr  luf  lent  thou  me  thy  mantil  ioy  ;  The 
 perssee  &  the  mongumrye  met,  that  day,  that 
 day,  that  gentil  day  ;  my  luf  is  laid  apon  ane 
 knycht,  allace  that  samyn  sueit  face,  in  ane 
 myrthtful  morou,  my  hart  is  leiniton  the  lad. 
 5[  Thir  scheiphirdis  ande  there  vyuis  sang 
 mony  vthir  melodi*  sangis,  the  quhilkis  i-hef 
 nocht  in  memorie.  than  eftir  this  sueit  celest 
 armonye,  tha  began  to  dance  in  ane  ring,  euy- 
 rie  aid  scheiphyrd  led  his  vyfe  be  the  hand, 
 and  euyrie  zong  scheiphird  led  hyr  quhome 
 he  luffit  best.  Thcr  vas  viij  scheiphyrdis,  and 
 ilk  ane  of  them  hed  ane  syndry  instrament  to 
 play  to  the  laif.  the  fyrst  hcd  ane  drone  bag 
 pipe,  the  nyxt  hed  ane  pipe  maid  of  ane  bled- 
 dir  and  of  ane  reid,  the  thrid  playit  on  ane 
 trump,  the  feyrd  on  ane  corne  pipe,  the  fyft 
 playit  on  ane  pipe  maid  of  ane  gait  home,  the 
 sext  playt  on  ane  recordar,  the  seuint  plait  on 
 ane  fiddil,  and  the  last  plait  on  ane  quhissil. 
 kyng  amphion  that  phi  n  his  harpe 
 
 quhcn  he  kepit  his  Bcheip,  nor  zit  appollo  the 
 godof  sapiens, that  kepit  kyng  adnictus  scheip, 
 
102  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 vitht  his  sueit  menstralye,  none  of  thir  tua 
 playit  mayr  cureouslye  nor  did  thir  viij  schei- 
 phyrdis  befor  rehersit;  nor  zit  al  the  scheiphir- 
 dis  that  virgil  makkis  mention  in  his  bucoli- 
 kis,  thai  culd  nocht  be  comparit  to  thir  foir 
 said  scheiphyrdis  ;  nor  orpheus  that  playit  sa 
 sueit  quhe  he  socht  his  vyf  in  hel,  his  playing 
 prefferrit  nocht  thir  foir  said  scheiphirdis;  nor 
 zit  the  scheiphyrd  pan,  that  playt  to  the  god- 
 dis  on  his  bag  pype,  nor  mercurius  that  playit 
 on  ane  sey  reid,  none  of  the  culd  preffer  thir 
 foirsaid  scheiphirdis.  i  beheld  neuyr  ane  mair 
 dilectabii  recreati5e.  for  fyrst  thai  bega  vitht 
 tua  bekkis  and  vitht  a  kysse.  euripides,  iuuenal, 
 perseus,horasse,nornane  of  the  satiric  poiettis, 
 quhiikis  mouit  ther  bodeis  as  thai  hed  bene 
 dansand  quhen  thai  pronuncit  ther  tragiedeis, 
 none  of  them  kepit  moir  geomatrial  mesure 
 nor  thir  scheiphyrdis  did  in  ther  dansing.  Nor 
 ludius  that  vas  the  fyrst  dansar  of  rome,  culd 
 nocht  hef  bene  comparit  to  thir  scheiphirdis. 
 it  vas  ane  celest  recreatio  to  behald  ther  lycht 
 lopene,  galmouding,  stendling  bakuart  &  for- 
 duart,  dansand  base  dansis,  pauuans,galzardis, 
 turdions,  braulis  and  branglis,  buffons,  vitht 
 mcny  vthir  lycht  dacis,  the  quhilk  ar  ouer  pro- 
 Jixt  to  be  rehersit.  zit  nochtheles  i  sal  reher§ 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  Dj 
 
 sa  mony  as  my  ingyne  can,  put  in  memorie.  in 
 the  fyrst,  thai  dancit,  al  cristyn  mennis  dance, 
 the  northt  of  Scotland,  huntis  vp,  the  comout 
 entray,  lang  plat  fut  of  gariau,  Robene  hude, 
 thorn  of  Iyn,  freris  al,  ennyrnes,  the  loch  of  sle- 
 ne,  the  gosseps  dance,  leuis  grene,  makky,  the 
 speyde,  the  flail,  the  lammes  vynde,  soutra, 
 cum  kyttil  me  naykyt  vantounly,  schayke 
 leg  fut  befor  gossep,  Rank  at  the  rute,  baglap 
 and  al,  ihonne  ermistrangis  dance,  the  alman 
 haye,  the  bace  of  voragon,  dangeir,  the  beye, 
 the  dede  dace,  the  dance  of  kylrynne,  the  vod 
 and  the  val,  schaik  a  trot,  than  quhen  this  dan- 
 sing. vas  dune,  tha  departit  and  past  to  cal  the- 
 re scheip  to  ther  scheip  cottis.  thai  bleu  vp  the- 
 re bagpipis.  than  the  bel  veddir  for  blythtnes 
 bleyttit  rycht  fast,  and  the  rammis  raschit  the- 
 re heydis  to  gyddir.  than  the  laif  of  ther  fat 
 flokkis  follouit  on  the  fellis  baytht  zouis  and 
 lammis,  kebbis  and  dailis,  gylmyrs  and  dil- 
 mondis,  and  mony  herueist  hog.  than  i  depar- 
 tit fra  that  companye,  and  i  entrit  in  ane  on- 
 mauen  medou,  the  quhilk  abundit  vitht  al 
 sortis  of  holisu  flouris,  gyrsis,  and  cirbis  maist 
 conuenient  for  medycyn.  in  the  fyrst,  i  sau  ane 
 erb  callit  barba  aaron,  quhilk  vas  gude  remeid 
 for   emoroyades  of  the  fundament,  i  sau  vir- 
 
104  THE  COMFLAYNT 
 
 met,  that  vas  gude  for  ane  febil  stomac,  &  sou- 
 rakkis,  that  vas  gude  for  the  blac  gulset.  i  sau 
 mony  grene  seggis,  that  ar  gude  to  prouoke 
 the  flouris  of  vemen.  i  sau  the  vattir  lille,  qu- 
 hilk  is  ane  remeid  contrar  gomoria.  i  sau  tan- 
 say,  that  is  gude  to  purge  the  neiris,  and  ennet- 
 seidis  that  consumis  the  ventositeis  of  the  sto- 
 mac.  i  sau  muguart,  that  is  gude  for  the  suffo- 
 catione  of  ane  vomans  bayrnis  hed.  i  sau  vey- 
 ton,  the  decoctione  of  it  is  remeid  for  ane  sair 
 hede.  i  sau  betis,  that  is  gude  conirar  constipa- 
 tione.  i  sau  borage,  that  is  gude  to  cofort  the 
 hart,  i  sau  cammauyne,  quhilk  is  gude  for  ane 
 scabbit  moutht.  i  sau  hemp,  that  coagulis  the 
 ilux  of  the  sparine,  i  sau  madyn  hayr,  of  the 
 quhilk  ane  sirop  maid  of  it  is  remeid  contrar 
 the  infectione  of  the  melt,  i  sau  celidone,  that 
 is  gude  to  help  the  sycht  of  the  ene,  &  expres- 
 ses, that  is  gude  for  the  fluxis  of  the  bellye.  i 
 sau  corriandir,  that  is  gude  for  ane  aid  hoste.  i 
 sau  sinkil,  that  slais  the  virmis  of  the  bellye.  i 
 sau  fumeterre,  that  tempris  ane  heyt  lyuyr.  i 
 sau  brume,  that  prouokis  ane  person  to  vome 
 aid  feume.  i  sau  raschis,  that  prouokis  men 
 to  sleip.  i  sau  ysope,  that  is  gude  to  purge 
 congelie  fieume  of  the  lychtnis.  i  sau  mony 
 vthir   eirbis   on   thai    fresche   fragrant   feil- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I05 
 
 dis.  ande  als  i  sau  mony  landuart  grumis  pas 
 to  the  corne  land  to  laubir  there  rustical  ocu- 
 patione.  al  this  be  me  veil  contemplit,  ande 
 beand  contentit  of  that  pleysand  nychtis  re- 
 creatione,  i  maid  me  reddy  to  returne  to  the 
 toune  that  i  cam  fra,  to  proceid  in  the  compi- 
 ling of  my  beuk.  Bot  morpheus  that  slepye  go- 
 de,  assailzeit  al  my  membris,  ande  oppn. 
 my  dul  melacolius  nature,  quhiik  gart  al  my 
 spreitis  vital  ande  animal  be  cum  impotent  S: 
 paralitic:  quhar  for  on  neid  forse,  i  vas  costren- 
 zeit  to  be  his  sodiour.  than  in  ane  takyn  of 
 obediens,  i  maid  hym  reuerens  on  my  rycht 
 syde  on  the  cald  eird,  ande  i  maid  ane  cod  of 
 ane  gray  stane.  than  i  purposit  to  preue  ane 
 prettic.  i  closit  my  een  to  see  gyf  i  culd  leuk 
 throucht  my  ee  liddis.  bot  my  experiens  vas 
 sune  expirit.  for  tua  houris  lang,  baytht  my 
 eene  greu  as  fast  to  gyddir  as  thai  hed  bene 
 gleuit  vitht  glar  or  virht  gleu.  i  beand  in  this 
 sad  solitar,  soune  sopit  in  sleipe,  ane  hauy  me- 
 lancolius  dreyme  perturbit  the  ioure  quarta- 
 ns of  my  dullit  brane,  the  quhiik  dreyme  i  sal 
 reherse  in  this  gros  dyit  as  neir  the  verite  as 
 my  rememorance  can  declair  to  my  rude  in- 
 gyne. 
 
 o 
 
lo6  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 THE  VISIONE  THAT  APERIT  BEFOR  THE 
 ACTOR  IN  HIS  SLEIPE. 
 
 CHAP.    VII. 
 
 In  my  dullit  dreyme  ande  sopit  visione,  i 
 thocht  that  ther  aperit  to  me  ane  lady  of 
 excellent  extractione  ande  of  anciant  geno- 
 lygie,  makkand  ane  melancolius  cheir  for 
 the  grite  violens  that  sche  hed  sustenit  &: 
 indurit.  it  aperit  be  hyr  voful  contenens, 
 that  sche  vas  in  grite  dout  ande  dreddour 
 for  ane  mair  dolor  us  future  ruuyne  that 
 vas  aperand  to  succumb  hyr  haistylye,  in 
 the  maist  extreme  exterminatione.  hyr  hayr, 
 of  the  cullour  of  fyne  gold,  vas  feltrit  &  tra- 
 chlit  out  of  ordour,  hingand  ouer  hyr  schul- 
 dirs.  sche  hed  ane  croune  of  gold,  hingand  & 
 brangland,  that  it  vas  lyik  to  fal  doune  fra  hyr 
 hede  to  the  cald  eird.  sche  bure  ane  scheild, 
 in  the  quhilk  vas  grauit  ane  rede  rampand 
 lyo  in  ane  feild  of  gold,  bordoryt  about  vitht 
 doubil  floure  delicis.  This  rede  lyon  vas  hurt 
 in  mony  placis  of  his  body,  the  acoutremen- 
 tis  ande  clethyng  of  this  dolorus  lady,  vas  ane 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I07 
 
 syde  mantil  that  couurit  al  hyr  body  of  ane 
 meruelouse  ingenius  fassoune,  the  quhilk  hed 
 bene  tissu  ande  vrocht  be  thre  syndrye  fas- 
 sons  of  verkmenschips.  the  fyrst  part,  quhilk 
 vas  the  hie  bordour  of  hyr  mantil,  there  vas 
 mony  precius  stanis,  quhar  in  ther  vas  grauit 
 scheildis,speyris,sourdis,  bayrdit  horse  harnes, 
 ande  al  vthir  sortis  of  vaupynis  ande  muni- 
 tions of  veyr.  in  the  middis  of  that  mantil, 
 there  vas  grauit  in  carrecters,  beukis,ande  figu- 
 ris,  diuerse  sciensis  diuyne  ande  humain,  vitht 
 mony  cheretabil  actis  ande  supernatural  mira- 
 clis.  on  the  thrid  part  of  that  mantil,  i  beheld, 
 brodrut  about  al  hyr  tail,  al  sortis  of  cattel 
 ande  profitabil  beystis,  al  sortis  of  cornis,  eyr- 
 bis,  plantis,  grene  treis,  schips,  marchant- 
 dreis,  ande  mony  politic  verkmanlumis  for 
 mecanyc  craftis.  This  mantil,  quhilk  hed  be- 
 ne maid  &  vrocht  in  aid  tymys  be  the  prude t 
 p~decessours  of  this  foyr  said  lady,  vas  reuyn 
 &  raggit  i  mony  placis,  that  skantly  mycht  i 
 persaue  the  storeis  ande  figuris  that  hed  bene 
 grauit,  vrocht,  ande  brodrut  in  aid  tytnis  in 
 the  thre  partis  of  it.  for  the  fyrst  part  of  it  vfi- 
 tit  mony  of  the  scheildis  ande  harnes  that 
 vas  fyrst  vrocht  in  it,  ande  ane  vthir  part 
 
 o  ij 
 
ICS  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 the  scheiklis  <k  harnes  var  brokyn  ande  rou- 
 stit,  ande  reddye  to  fal  ande  tyne  furtht  of 
 the  bordour  of  that  mantil.  Siklyik  the  plei- 
 sand  verkmenschips  that  vas  in  the  middis  of 
 hyr  mantil  vas  seperat  fra  vthirs,  ande  altrit 
 fra  the  fyrst  fassone,  that  na  man  culd  extract 
 ony  profkabii  sentens  nor  gude  exempil 
 furtht  of  ony  part  of  it.  Nou  to  speik  of  the 
 thrid  part  of  hyr  mantiL  it  vas  verst  grathit, 
 ande  spylt  be  ane  grit  deflerens  nor  vas  the 
 tothir  tua  partis  of  that  mantil  :  for  it  aperit 
 that  al  the  grene  treis,  cornis,  bestialite,  me- 
 canyc  craftis,  ande  schips,  ande  marchandrei- 
 se,  that  hed  bene  curiouslye  vrocht  in  aid  ty- 
 mis  in  the  bordour  of  the  tail  of  that  mantil, 
 vas  spilt  ande  distroyit,  ande  the  eird  vas  be- 
 cum  barran  &  stirril,  ande  that  na  ordinance 
 of  policye  culd  be  persauit  in  it,  nor  esperan- 
 ce  of  releif.  Nou  to  conclude  of  the  fassone  of 
 this  ladeis  mantil,  it  vas  baytht  altrit  in  cul- 
 lour  ande  in  beaulte,  ande  reuyn  in  mony 
 placis,  hingand  doune  raggit  in  pecis  in  sic 
 ane  sort,  that  gyf  thay  hed  bene  present  that 
 vrocht  ande  maid  it  in  the  begynnyng,  thai 
 vald  haue  clair  myskend  it,  be  rasone  that  it 
 vas  sa  mekil  altrit  fra  the  fyrst  fassone.   This 
 
OF  SCOTLAND,  IC9 
 
 amigit  lady  beand  of  this  sort  troublit  ande 
 disaguisit,  ande  al  hyr  gaye  clathis  reuy 
 raggit,  throucht  the  grite  violens  that  sche 
 hed  sustenit,  sche  began  to  suspire  lamentabil 
 regrettis,  vitht  mony  salt  teyris  distiliat  dou- 
 ne  fra  hyr  piteous  ene.  this  desolat  amigit 
 lady  beand  in  this  perplexite,  ande  disparit 
 of  remeid,  sche  began  to  contempil  the  vi  J- 
 thrid  barran  feildis,  quhilkis  in  vthir  tymis 
 hed  bene  fertil  in  al  prosperiteis,  quhar  sche 
 persauit  cummand  touart  hyr  thre  of  hyr 
 auen  natiue  natural  sonnis.  The  eldest  of 
 them  vas  in  harnes,  traland  ane  halbert  be- 
 hynd  hym,  beand  al  affrayit  ande  fleyit  for 
 dreddour  of  his  lyue.  The  sycond  of  hyr  so- 
 nis  vas  sittand  in  ane  chair,  beand  clethd  in 
 ane  sydegoune,  kepand  grite  grauite,  heffand 
 ane  beuk  in  his  had,  the  glaspis  var  fast  lokkyt 
 vitht  rouste.  hyr  zongest  sone  vas  lyand  plat 
 on  his  syde  on  the  cald  eird,  ande  al  his  clathis 
 var  reuyn  ande  raggit,  makkand  ane  dolorus 
 lamentatione,  ande  ane  piteouse  complaynt. 
 he  tuke  grite  pane  to  ryise  vp  on  his  fcit,  bot 
 he  vas  sa  greuouslye  ouer  set  be  violens,  that 
 it  vas  nocht  possibii  til  hym  to  stand  rycht 
 vp.  Than  quhen  this  lady  persauit  hyr  thre  ^6- 
 
IIO  THE   COMPLAYNT 
 
 nis  in  that  Iangorius  stair,  sche  began  to  repro- 
 che  them  inuectyuely  of  ther  necleges,  cou- 
 uardeis  ande  ingratitude  vsit  contrar  hyr  :  the 
 quhilk  reproche  sche  pronuncit  vitht  mony 
 dolorus  suspiris  the  quhilk  be  aperens  proce- 
 dit  fra  ane  trublit  spreit,  desolat  of  consolatio- 
 ne,  ande  disparit  of  remede.  than  i  beand  in 
 my  sopit  melancolius  dreyme,  i  thocht  that  i 
 inquirit  of  hyr  stile,  of  hyr  duelling  place,  & 
 of  the  dolorus  cause  of  hyr  lamentabil  re- 
 grettis.  Sche  ansuert  vitht  ane  dolorouse  con- 
 tenens,  quod  sche,  my  name  is  callit  the  affli- 
 git  lady  dame  scotia.  vthir  tymis  i  haue  tryu- 
 phit  in  gloir  ande  prosperite,  bot  nou  aduer- 
 se  fortoune  hes  bene  inuyful  contrar  my 
 Nihil  est  ve^  favr>  quhilk  is  the  cause  that  my  trium- 
 um  mira-    phant  sta^  js  succumbit  in  decades,  ther  can 
 
 bile  quam      L 
 
 ex  beato      nocht  be  ane   mair  vehement  perplexite  as 
 
 c fFeci  miser.  ,  i_  i    •  •*.         ^  i« 
 
 cic.  part,     quhen  ane  person  beand  in  prosperite  at  his 
 
 ora<  hartis  desire,  ande  syne  dechays  in  miserabil 
 
 aduersite.  thir  vordis   maye  be   applyit   ande 
 
 conferrit    vitht   the   dolorouse  accidetis   that 
 
 hes  persecutit  me.  for  i  that  hes  bene  in  maist 
 
 fortunat  prosperite,   nou  i  am  inuadit  ande 
 
 Cari  sunt     affligit  be  my  aid  mortal  enemeis  be  the  maist 
 
 pinquiPfa0-"   extreme  assaltis  that  ther  pouuer  can  exse- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  Ill 
 
 cute,  the  quhilk  i  beleuit  til  haue  resistit  be  mi1Ia_rcs» 
 
 1  sed  oes  om- 
 
 the  support  ande  supple  of  my  thre  sonnis,  mu  chanu- 
 that  standis  heir  in  my  presens,  be  rason  that  cdpkctitm) 
 thai  ar  oblist  be  goddis  lau,  ande  be  the  lau  of  p™^"*- 
 
 o  '  mo  bonus 
 
 nature,  to  be  my  deffens   conrrar  al   externe  dubitabit 
 inuasions,    bet    thai    haue  schauen  them  self  pcteresici 
 in  grat  dissymilit  ande  couuardis   in   the   iust  JU^*06*11" 
 deffens  of  my  veil  fayr,  as   thou   sal   heir  be  cic-  cff- l 
 this  reproche  that  i  sal  pronunce  to  them  in 
 thy  presens,  as  eftir  follouis. 
 
 QUHOU  THE  AFFLIGIT  LADY  DAME  SCOTIA  RE- 
 
 PROCHIT  HYR  THRE  SONNIS,  CALLIT 
 
 THE  THRE  ESTAITIS  OF 
 
 SCOTLAND. 
 
 CHAP.   vni. 
 
 Ignorant,  abusit,  ande  dissaitful  pepil,  gone 
 by  the  paht  vaye  of  verteouse  knaulage,  be- 
 and  of  ane  effemenet  courage,  degradit  fra 
 honour,  ande  degenerit  fra  the  nobilite  of 
 zour  foir  fadirs  &  predecessours,  O  quhat 
 vanhap,  quhat  dyabolic  temptatione,  quhat 
 misire,  quhat  maledictioe,  or  quhat  venge- 
 ance is  this  that  hes  succumbit  zour  honour, 
 
112  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ande  hes  blyndit  zour  ene  fra  the  perspec- 
 V^tH^e   tioe  of  zour  extreme  ruuyne  ?  allace,  quhy 
 
 quepafiie    haue  ze  nocht  pytie  of  me  zour  natural  mo- 
 
 or'tct e  0P~    ther,  or  quhy  haue  ze  no  pytie  of  zour  selfis  ? 
 
 Cic.ktulo.   anace?  qUhat  oratour  can  dyscryue,  blame,  or 
 
 repreue  zour  necleges,  couuardeis,  ande  zour 
 
 ingratitude  ?  allace,  quhy  remembir  ze  nocht 
 
 that  natur  hes  oblist  zou  til  auance  the  salute 
 
 ande  defFens  of  zour  public  veil  ?  ande  quhat 
 
 N6 est  ma-  thai  be  (as  Cicero  sais)  that  hurtis  the  public 
 
 ?aiid'pro-~    ve^3  tha  deserue  as  grite  reproche  as  tha  hed 
 
 ditorpatrie,      jjjt  traisonablye  the  realme  to  there  ene- 
 
 quam  cois  J 
 
 vtiiitatis      meis  ;  for  the  proditione  of  ane  realme  succe- 
 <ksertor       dis  to  the  hurt  of  the  public  veil,  allace,  than, 
 amwhit?"  ^hy  V^  ze  nocht  haue  misericord  &  pytie  of 
 ant  vtiiita-   zour  natiue  cuntre,  quhar  that  ze  var  enge- 
 ci'c.  de  fini.  nerit,  borne,  ande  neureist,  ande  zour  frendis 
 and  childir  hes  zour  sustentatione  in  it  ?  alla- 
 ce, the  natiuite  of  ane  man  suld  be  litil  prisit, 
 ande  his  lang  Hue  dais  les  desirit  quhen  ther 
 procedis  na  frute  of  his  laubirs  bot  for  his  aue 
 singulir  vtilite,  ande  nocht  for  the  public  veil, 
 allace,  the  natural  loue  of  zour  natiue  cuntre 
 suld  be  inseperablye  rutit  in  zour  hartis,  con- 
 siderand  that  zour  lyuis,  zour  bodeis,  zour  ha- 
 bitatione,  zour  frendis,  zour  lyuyngis,  ande 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  II3 
 
 aan,  zour  hail,  zour  pace,  zour  refu 
 the  resteof  zour  eild,  ande  zour  sepull 
 in  it.  than  allace  quhy  ar  ze  nocht  sol  3:  to  def- 
 fende  the  liberte,  ande  to  saue  the  dominione 
 of  it  ?  i  maye  say  ande  conferme  be  raisone, 
 that  al  pepil  ar  disnaturalit  fra  there  gude  na- 
 ture, quhilkis  in  necessite  enforsis  the  nocht, 
 at  there  pouer,  to  purches  8c  til  auance  the  pu- 
 blic veil  of  there  natiue  cuntre,  it  beand  di-.ti- 
 tut  of  supple,  &  desolat,  throucht  grite  perse- 
 cutione  of  mortal  enemeis ;  for  thai  that  vil 
 nocht  expose  there  bodeis  ande  gudis  to 
 perrel  ande  dangeir,  for  the  iust  defFens  of  the- 
 re honour,  lyuis,  frendis,  ande  gudis,  bot  ra- 
 ther vil  thole  them  selfis,  ther  public  veil, 
 ther  natiue  cutrc,  to  perrcis  al  to  gyddir,  thai 
 ar  mair  brutal  nor  brutal  beystis*  it  ap< 
 that  the  lau  of  nature  is  mair  perfytly  acom- 
 plcist  in  brutal  beystis,  nor  it  is  in  zou  that 
 professis  to  be  natural  men  ;  for  zour  verkis 
 testifeis  that  zc  ar  mair  disnaturellit  nor  is 
 brutal  beystis  that  hes  na  vndirstanding  of 
 raison.  the  foulis  of  t! 
 
 *  paitu 
 
 nestis  vitht  there  nebbis  an 
 
 lyons,     voluis,     foxii,    dogis,    vil     d< 
 there  cauernc  I  pis,  vitht  t:. 
 
 p 
 
2  14  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 perns  mil-    tethe  &  feit.  Allace,  this  sair  complaynt  i 
 
 Jos  casus  y  r      J 
 
 reformi-  me  rycht  hauy,  bot  the  litil  support  that  i  vil 
 tus.  get  of  zou  is  far  hauyar  ;  for  ze  quhilkis  suld 
 sustene,  deftende  ande  releif  me,  ze  ar  the  ad- 
 uerse  party  of  my  prosperite  ;  for  in  the  stede 
 of  reuarde  ande  gratitude  that  ze  ar  oblist 
 to  gyf  to  me,  ze  purches  ande  auancis  my  di- 
 structione  for  zour  particular  veil.  My  aid  ene- 
 meis  hes  persecutit  me  outuartly  in  cruel  vey- 
 ris  be  fyir  ande  sourde  ;  bot  the  veyr  that  ze 
 mak  inuartly  contrar  me,  be  auereise  k  ambi- 
 tione,  is  mair  cruel,  my  mortal  enemeis  pui- 
 chessis  to  raif  my  liberte,  ande  to  hald  me  in 
 ane  miserabil  subiectione  ;  bot  ze  hald  me  in 
 ane  mair  seruitude,  be  zour  disordinat  necle- 
 gens  ande  couuardise.  my  aid  enemeis  dois  me 
 grite  domage  vitht  ane  grite  armye  of  men 
 of  veyr,  be  see  ande  be  land;  bot  ze,  vndir  the 
 cullour  of  frendschip,  purchessis  my  final  ex- 
 terminatione,  for  fait  of  gude  reul  ande  gou- 
 uernance.  Ande  alsa,  ze  ar  sa  diuidit  amang 
 zour  selfis,  that  nocht  ane  trouis  ane  vthir;  for 
 thrcucht  the  suspetione  that  ilk  ane  of  zou 
 hes  of  vthirs,  euyrye  ane  of  zou  seikis  his  par- 
 ticular r  Jeif :  for  sum  of  zou  ar  fled  ftfr  vitht 
 in  the  cuntre,  sum  of  zou  ar  fled  to  the  hiili^ 
 
SCOTLA]  IT5 
 
 le  sum  of  zou  remanis  in  zoure  auen  bou- 
 rn the  inglis  Biennis  assurance,  ande  sum 
 of  zou  :ir  be  cum  neutral  men,  lvik  to  the  ri- 
 idars  that  dueillis  on  the  debatabil  landis.  of 
 this  sort  ze  haue  run  to  zour  auen  distructio- 
 ne.  ande  ijuhou  be  it  of  al  thir  particular  on- 
 lcifui  consaitis  t  iiaue  vsit  to    saue   zou 
 
 fra  the  crualte  of  ingland,  zit  the  maist  subtel 
 nor  the  maist  dissymilit  of  zou  al  is  nocht  sa- 
 ue ;  for  as  sune  as  the  inglis  men  dreymis  that 
 ze  haue  failzet  to  them,  than  thai  repute  zou 
 for  there  mortal   enem  mair  nor   thai 
 
 repute  ony  scottis  man  that  vas  neuyr  assurit. 
 ande  quhe  ze  haue  fulfillit  the  inglis  mennis 
 desyre,  &  hes  helpit  to  distroye  zour  natyue 
 cuntre,  zit  the  inglis  men  sal  neuyr  cal  zou 
 ane  vthir  vurd  but  ant  scottis,  and  zc  sal 
 
 neuyr  be  reput  bot  for  barbir  slauis,   as  zour 
 croniklis  vil  testifee  ;   and  alse  the  practic  of 
 yis  present  tyme  makkn  it  manifest,  al  the  gu- 
 de  treittyng  that  scottis  men  gettis  in  inc 
 tigis  in  ane  vile  seruitude. 
 
1 1 6 
 
 THE  C0MFLAYN? 
 
 ^[  QtJHOU   THE  AFFLIGIT  LADY   EXORTIS    THE    THKl 
 
 ESTAITIS    TO    TAK     EXEMP1L    OF    D1UERSE 
 
 CUNTREIS    THAT   GODE    HES   RELE- 
 
 UIT    FRA  PERSECUTIONE. 
 
 CHAP.   IX. 
 
 ILcce  non 
 est  abbre- 
 uiata  ma- 
 ims domi- 
 ni  vt  sal- 
 nare  "ne-^ 
 queat. 
 
 O  ze  my  thre  sonnis,  i  exort  zou  to  praye 
 to  releif  zou  of  zour  afllictione,  &  alse  to  put 
 zour  handis  to  verk  to  help  zour  selfis,  tha. 
 doutles  god  sal  be  mersyful  to  zou,  &  he  sal 
 fulfil  his  promes  that  is  vrityn  in  the  xxvi 
 of  leuitic.  that  is  to  saye,  fiue  of  zou  sal 
 chaisse  ane  hudretht  of  zour  enemeis,  &  ane 
 hundretht  of  zou  sal  chasse  ten  thousand  of 
 zour  enemeis  ;  for  god  is  as  mychty  nou  as 
 euyr  he  vas.  it  is  vrityn  in  the  lix  of  Esaye 
 thir  vordis,  Behold,  the  hand  of  the  lorde  is 
 na  scheortar  nor  it  vas,  na  it  maye  saue  zou  : 
 nor  his  eyris  ar  nocht  stoppit,  bot  he  maye 
 heir  zou  :  bot  zour  iniquiteis  hes  maid  diui- 
 sione  betuix  zou  ande  hym,  ande  zour  synnis 
 hes  hid  his  face  fra  zou. 
 
 ^[  Ze  maye  persaue  be  thir  vordis  of  Esaye, 
 that  the  scurge  that  hes  affligit  zou,  is  ane  pu- 
 
be.  a. 
 
 OF    SCOTLAND.  WJ 
 
 nitione  for  zour  demeritis ;  ande  alse  ze  maye 
 persaue  be  this  sammyn  text,  that  zour  grite 
 afflictione  ande  tribil  sal  turne  in  ioye  ande 
 prosperite,  gyue  sa  beit  that  ze  vil  retere  fra 
 zour  vice,  ze  haue  mony  manifest  exemplis  of 
 diuerse  cuntreis  that  hes  bene  scurgit  be  the 
 hand  of  gode,  ande  hes  bene  in  dangeir  of  fi- 
 nal extermination  ;  zit  nochtheles  gode  of 
 his  grace  hes  restorit  them  eftiruart  in  ane 
 mair  abundand  prosperite  nor  thai  var  of  be- 
 for,  fra  tyme  tha  be  cam  obedient  til  his  ma-  iM 
 gestie.  Quhar  is  there  ane  mair  euident  exem- 
 pil  nor  is  in  the  bibii  in  the  fyrst  beuk  of  the 
 machabeis,  quhou  anthiocus  kyng  of  sirrie, 
 be  vsurpatione  ande  tirranrye,  subdeuit  the  cu- 
 tre  of  iuda  ande  the  cite  of  ierusalem?  he  spul- 
 zeit  the  tempil,  ande  reft  the  golJin  alter,  the 
 chandelaris  of  lycht,  ande  al  the  goldin  ves- 
 chel,  ande  the  tabil  of  propositione,  the  cou- 
 pis,  tassis,  crouettis,  crounis,  ande  al  the  gol- 
 din ornamentis  of  the  sanctuar.  he  sleu  r 
 veme  ande  childir,  zong  ande  aid,  ande  bryn1: 
 there  housis.  the  remanent  of  the  pepil  var  co- 
 strenzeit  to  He  to  strait  montanis  ande  deseir- 
 tis  for  refuge  ;  for  al  ihcrusalcm  ande  mekil  of 
 la  vas  put  tyl  extreme  cfosolatione.  At 
 
T*B  '  :  cqmpj 
 
 tymc,  ane  man  of  Israel  callit  matathias,  the 
 neuo  of  Symeon  the  hie  preist,  vas  sittand  on 
 
 the  hil  of  modirr,  ande  his  fine  sonnis  besyde 
 bym,  callit  Iflhannam  gaddes,  symon  thasi, 
 iudas  machabeus,  eleazar  abaron,  ande  ieho- 
 nathan  aphus.  thir  fiue  bredir  var  soir  vepand 
 for  the  desolatione  of  iuda  ande  iherusalem. 
 Joseph*  <k    Than  matathias   there   father   said   to  them, 
 
 anti.  l         iL 
 
 Li.  12.  c.  3.  van  n2P  be  on  me,  aliace  that  euyr  1  vas  bor- 
 ne, to  see  the  distructione  of  my  pepil,  &  the 
 tribulatione  of  the  holy  cite  of  iherusalem, 
 quhilk  is  violetlye  possest  be  my  enemeis.  aid 
 ande  zong  ar  slane  on  the  reuis  but  mercy,  & 
 the  remanent  of  the  cuntre  ar  in  captiuite,  or 
 ellis  fled  to  the  strait  montanis  for  refuge,  al- 
 iace, quhat  bettir  vil  ve  be  to  lyue  ony  lagar, 
 cosiderand  of  this  myscheif  that  is  fallin  on 
 oure  cuntre.  Aliace,  my  fiue  sonnis,  ipraye  zou 
 to  be  zelaturs  of  the  lau  of  gode,  ande  to  gy- 
 ue  zour  saulis  for  the  alliance  of  zour  foir 
 fathirs,  ande  remembir  of  the  verkis  thai  ha- 
 
 Genesis  %%.  ue  dune  to  there  generations,  ande  than  ze  sal 
 resaue  grite  gloir  ande  eternal  name,  tak  gode 
 
 Gene.  4i.  for  zour  protector,  ande  ze  sal  prospir.  vas 
 nocht  oure  father  Abraham  faythful  in  te- 
 ptatione,  quhilk  vas  repute  til  hym  for  iusti- 
 
Cx:  SCOTLAND.  I  19 
 
 ce  ?  Iosepli  h:ipit  the  cdmad  of  the  lau,  qui 
 he  vas  p'secutit,  there  for  he  vas  maid  lieute- 
 to  phar  .    phinehes  oure 
 
 foir  I  preist  of  the  tepil  for 
 
 the  zeil  that  he  hed  to  the  lau  of  god.   Iosue  losue. 
 for  the  keping  of  his  promi    vas   maid   capta. 
 of  Israel.  Dauid,  for  the  pltie  rhat  he  hed  of  a.samueh. 
 the  pepil  that  vai  le  ohilistie] 
 
 conqueist  the  royal  sege  of  Israel.  Ananias,  Dmyelj. 
 Azarias  and  misael,  var  delyuerit  fra  the  flam 
 of  the  fyir,  throucht  the  faitht  that  tha  hed  to 
 god.  Danyel,  throucht  his  simplicite  and  meik-  Daniel.  6, 
 nes,  vas  delyuerit  fra  the  throttis  of  the  lyos. 
 Of  this  sort  (o  ze  my  fiue  sonnis)  ze  may  be- 
 leue,  that  fra  generation  to  generatione,  that 
 al  thai  that  puttis  there  hope  1  god  sal  nocht 
 be  distroyit.  quhen  matathias  hed  endit 
 his  miserabil  and  piteous  regret,  in  presens 
 of  his  hue  sonnis,  than  his  thrid  sone,  callit 
 Iudas  machabeus,  past  athort  the  montanis 
 and  desertis,  and  gaddyryt  to  giddyr  al  the 
 desolat  bannest  pepil,  and  vltht  ane  gryc  cu- 
 rage,  hetiand  hope  in  god,  thai  cam  com: 
 anthiocus,    and    vc:  irailzeanl 
 
 and  also  venqueist  al  the  1-r  .Hates  that   1 
 part  takers  vitht  \   and  ther  cftir  thai 
 
120  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 formit  the  distructioe  of  the  tepil,  and  vsit  ex- 
 treme punitione  on  the  tratours  and  conspi- 
 ratours,  and  thai  gart  extreme  necessite  be- 
 cura  prosperus  vertu  :  for  thai  changit  the  dis- 
 payr  of  mennis  help  in  esperance  of  goddis 
 help  :  quhar  for,  throucht  the  mytht  of  god, 
 venqueist  men  be  cam  conqueriours,  and  fu- 
 gityuis  be  cam  assailzeours,  and  humil  affligit 
 pepil  of  ane  Iy til  numer  be  cam  lordis  and 
 maisters  of  ane  gryt  multiplie  of  tirras.  The- 
 re is  ane  vthir  exempil  of  gedeon,  in  the  ty- 
 me  of  the  cruel  oppression  that  the  kyng  of 
 iudku.  8.  madian  did  on  the  pepil  of  Israel,  gedeo,  vitht 
 thre  hundretht  men,  discumfeist  ane  hudretht 
 and  tuenty  thousant  men,  and  he  delyuerit 
 the  remanent  of  the  pepil  of  Israel  fra  capti- 
 uite  and  misere,  zit  nochtheles  he  vas  ane  pu- 
 re lauberar  of  lytil  reputatione,  and  discendit 
 of  smal  linage  of  the  tribe  of  menasses.  quhar 
 for  ve  may  persaue,  that  quhar  the  grace  of 
 god  and  the  vertu  of  men  ar  coniunit  to  gid- 
 dir,  there  is  no  leiful  thing  onpossibil  to  be 
 exsecut.  And  oft  tymis  god  puttis  in  the  po- 
 uer  of  men  the  thing  that  mennis  viz  ca  nocht 
 beleue  that  it  is  possibil  to  be  done.  There 
 is  ane  vthir  exempil  of  darius  kyng  of  perse. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  7  I 
 
 that  entrlt  in  grece  vitht  ane  hundretht  thou- 
 sand fut  men,  and  ten  thousand  men  of 
 mis.  At  that  tyme  thair  vas  gryt  sedition  and 
 discentione  amang  al  the  gryt  personagis  of 
 grece,  quhair  for  athenes  vas  of  ane  opinion 
 to  randir  them  to  darius,  be  rason  that  the 
 grekis  var  diuidit  amag  the  selfis.  Bet  noththe- 
 les  god  sterit  vp  ane  due  in  athenes  callit  mil- 
 tiades,  quhilk,  vitht  ten  thousand  men,  discum- 
 feist  al  kyng  darius  gryt  armye,  and  delyuerit 
 al  grece  furtht  of  captiuite. 
 
 ^[  Thair  is  ane  vthir  exepil,  of  xerxes  kyng 
 of  perse,  the  sone  of  kyng  darius,  quha  gadde- 
 rit  ane  armye  of  thre  scoir  and  ten  thousand 
 men  of  armis  of  his  aue  realme  of  perse,  and 
 alse  he  hed  of  strangearis  that  var  his  frendis, 
 and  of  his  allya,  to  the  niimer  of  thre  hun- 
 dretht thousand  men,  as  iustin  rehersis ;  and 
 also  he  brocht  sa  mony  schipis  to  grece  vitht 
 al  ordonnance,  quhilkis  closit  al  the  reueirs, 
 quhairfor  it  vas  moist  lyk  that  he  hed  maid 
 ane  brig  of  tre  to  couuer  al  the  see.  zit  noth- 
 theles  his  pride  vas  sune  put  doune  ;  for  leoni- 
 des,  kyng  of  lacedemonia,  cam  be  hynd  the 
 gryt  armye  of  perse  vitht  four  hundretht  lace- 
 demoniens,  and  escharmouschit  xerxes 
 
122  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 armye,  and  sleu  tuenty  thousand  persuns  be-, 
 tuix  tua  hillis.  zit  noththeles,  the  remanent 
 of  his  gryt  armye  past  til  athenes,  quhilkis 
 var  reddy  to  be  randrit  til  xerxces,  throucht 
 the  counsel  of  ane  prince  of  athenes  callit  cir- 
 cilus,  quha  hed  secret  intelligens  vitht  xer- 
 xes  kyng  of  perse,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that 
 he  seducit  diuerse  grit  personagis  to  rebel  co- 
 trar  athenes.  bot  the  prudet  themistocles  vas 
 cotrair  til  his  opinione  (sayad)  O  nobil  vail- 
 zeat  pepil  of  athenes,  ze  suid  keyp  the  liberte 
 of  zour  cutray,  &  notht  to  thole  the  p  sans  to 
 bezour  supiors;  for  fratymethat  ze  be  subiect 
 til  xerxes,  al  zour  honest  policie  sal  be  aboleist, 
 &  al  verteo'  industrie  sal  be  brocht  to  notht ; 
 for  the  psas  sal  do  vitht  zour  vyuis  and  chel- 
 dyr  at  there  pleseir,  as  it  is  manifest  quhou 
 thai  haue  dune  til  vthir  partis  of  grece  that 
 is  nou  in  thair  subiection  :  there  for  it  is  mair 
 honest  to  dee  in  the  deffens  of  zour  liberie, 
 nor  to  liue  lyik  venqueist  slauis  in  captiuite. 
 Throcht  the  counsel  of  themistocles,  al  the 
 atheniens  tuke  gryt  curage  contrar  the  gryt 
 armye  of  perse,  and  also  the  vemen  of  the  tou- 
 ne  stanet  cyrsilus  to  deitht  be  cause  of  his  euil 
 counsel.    Than  the  atheniens  and  ther  allya, 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  12 j 
 
 be  gryt  vailzeantnes,  assailzet  the  persans  be 
 escharmouschis  and  incursions,  quhil  that 
 exerxes  and  his  gryt  armye  var  constrenzeit 
 to  depart  fra  grece.  of  this  sort  god  turnit  the 
 hazard  of  fortoune,  and  tuke  vengeance  on 
 xerxes  gryt  pryde,  quhilk  suld  be  ane  gryt  ex- 
 empil  til  al  princis,  that  thai  gyf  notht  the- 
 re trest  in  ane  particular  pouer  of  multiplie 
 of  men,  bot  rathere  to  set  there  trest  in  god  : 
 for  xerxes,  vitht  four  hundretht  thousand 
 men,  purposit  til  vsurpe  the  dominione  of 
 al  grece  ;  bot  fra  the  tyme  that  the  greikis  ac- 
 cordit  amang  them  selfis,  ane  sobir  companye 
 of  greikis  chaissit  the  persans  furtht  of  grece. 
 It  is  notht  sex  scoir  of  zeiris  sen  the  inglis- 
 men  var  violent  dominatours  of  mekill  of 
 Piccardye,  and  of  al  Normandye,  Gascunze, 
 guien,  and  of  mekil  of  France  ;  and  the  kyng 
 of  ingland  vas  crounit  kyng  of  Frace  in  Pa- 
 ris ;  bot,  as  god  vald,  he  vas  schamefully 
 chaissit  furtht  of  France,  and  his  pepil  slane 
 doune  be  gryt  multiplie.  The  exepill  of  the 
 persecutione  of  oure  auen  cuntre  is  manifest 
 til  vs  al,  quhou  the  inglismen  var  violent 
 vsurpatours  of  al  scotlad,  est,  vebt,  and  ncrtht, 
 cjuhur  thai  ducllit  paciablie,  and  vsit  thare  aue 
 
124  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 lauis.  thai  blggit  triumphand  edeficis  in  al 
 the  burrous  of  Scotland,  as  the  grondis  of  the- 
 re fundatioe  makis  manifest  presently  at  this 
 tyme.  kyng  eduard,  throucht  supple  and  tra- 
 son  of  ihone  Balzol  andvthir  scottis  tratours, 
 vas  cronit  kyng  of  scotlad  vitht  in  the  toune 
 of  breuic  ;  and  the  rychteous  kyng  of  Scotland, 
 Robert  bruce,  durst  nocht  remane  in  no  pace- 
 bil  place,  he  tint  threttyne  battellis  contrar 
 inglismen  :  then  he  fled  furtht  of  Scotland  to 
 norouay  to  saue  his  lyue.  zit  nochtheles  god 
 almythty  hauand  pitie  of  our  affligit  ciitray, 
 he  restorit  Robert  bruce  to  the  crone,  quha 
 rytht  vailzeantly  brocht  the  realme  in  guid  or- 
 Ad  genem  jour   vitht  gryt  cofusion  til  our  aid  enemis. 
 
 cerens  sine  %  . 
 
 cede  &  Be  thir  exemplis  ze  maye  euidently  persaue, 
 
 pUaud,C  that  god  almychty  tholis  notht  violent  vsur- 
 
 K-esCn& '  Patours  °f  realmes  to  ring  lang,  bot  rather  he 
 
 sicca  mor-  scurgis  and  distroys  the  tirrans,  and  he  resto- 
 
 te  tiranni.  .  m.    .  ..  .  . 
 
 iuuenal.  ns  the  amjgit  mnocentis  til  ane  guide  stait. 
 The  famous  historiographours  and  cronik- 
 lis  of  al  cuntreis  makis  manifest  of  the  mi- 
 serabil  ruynis  that  god  sendis  on  vrangus  co- 
 questours,  quhilkis  be  ambitione  and  oultra- 
 geus  pryde  hes  be  thair  tyrrany  inuadit  vthir 
 cuntrays,  and  eftiruart  hes  tint  there  auen  cu- 
 
OP   SCOTLAND*  I  2  J 
 
 tray,  and  there  self  hes  maid  ane  euil  end.  The 
 queen  semeramis  vas  nocht  contentit  vitht 
 sirrie  and  babillon,  bor  sche  vald  pas  to  mak 
 veyre  contrar  ethiope  and  Inde  ;  sche  vas  sla- 
 ne  vitht  hyr  auen  son.  Hercules  vas  nocht  ex- 
 tent vitht  the  gryt  cutray  of  libie  and  of  creit, 
 bot  vald  pas  to  conques  the  occian  see  ;  than 
 ane  voman  poysonit  hym  vitht  ane  sark.  Mi- 
 tridates  vas  nocht  content  of  his  auen  realme 
 of  pont,  bot  vald  pas  in  batel  contrar  the  ro- 
 manis.  he  dred  neuyr  to  dee  bot  be  poyson, 
 quhair  for  he  bure  ay  apon  hym  tuety  leyuis 
 of reu,  tua  kyrnellis  of  nutis,  &  tua  feggis,  and 
 ane  lytil  quatite  of  salt,  the  quhilkis  he  mixt 
 al  to  giddyr,  and  thai  mixtions  he  eit  euyrie  mSjatis 
 daye  vitht  ane  fastan  stomak,  to  keip  hym  fra  contra  *c- 
 poysonyng.  that  confectione  vas  callit  to  na- 
 me eftiruart,  antidctu  mitridatis.  bot  zit  that 
 drog  culd  notht  saue  his  lyif  fra  his  sone  that 
 sleu  hym.  kyng  philip  vas  notht  content  of 
 the  ryche  realme  of  macedone,  quharfor  he 
 past  and  perturbit  al  greice  ;  bot  syne  he  vas 
 slane  vitht  ane  of  his  auen  sodiours.  Grite  ale- 
 zander  vas  notht  content  of  al  the  varld,  bot 
 syne  ane  drynk  of  poyson  gait  hym  be  con- 
 tent of  ane  sepulture  of  fiue  futc  of  lyntht 
 
10.6  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 or  there  by.  xerxes  vas  nocht  cotetit  of  tiiai 
 realmys,  perse  and  meid,  bot  ane  of  his  official 
 ris  contentit  hym  vitht  ane  dagar  throucht 
 the  hart,  kyng  cirus  vas  nocht  cotentit  of  his 
 auen  realme,  bot  vald  pas  to  conques  sithia  ; 
 zit  thomaris  gart  hym  be  content,  quhen  sche 
 pat  his  hede  in  ane  pipe  ful  of  bluid,  sayand 
 til  it,  O  cirus,  thou  culd  neuyr  be  saciat  of  me- 
 nis  blude,  bot  nou  thou  maye  drynk  thy  hi  of 
 iustin.  blude.  Annibal,  that  redoutit  capitan,  trium- 
 phit  in  conquessing  of  vthir  realmis,  bot  in 
 his  last  days  he  vas  fugitiue  fra  al  cutreis,  and 
 for  melancolye  he  poysonnit  hym  self.  It  is 
 nocht  necessair  to  multiplie  ouer  mony  of 
 thir  exemplis.  there  for,  quha  listis  to  reid  the 
 Bocchas.  tragedeis  of  lucius  seneque,  or  ihone  Bocchas, 
 seneque,  in  in  his  buik  of  the  ruuyne  of  nobillis,  thai  sal 
 dds!"56"  fyn^  a^  cruel  vsurpatours  of  vthir  cuntreis 
 mak  ane  mischeuous  ende.  There  for  i  ho- 
 pe in  god  that  vitht  in  schort  days  the  p'rote- 
 ctour  of  ingland,  and  his  cruel  counsel,  sal  be 
 put  in  the  croniklis  in  as  abhominabil  stile  as 
 vas  philaris,  dionysius,  nero,  callugala,  or  do- 
 mician,  the  quhilkis  maid  ane  mischeuous  en- 
 de, for  the  violent  inuasions  of  vthir  princis 
 cuntreis  but  ony  iust  titil. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  12J 
 
 THE  ACTOR  DECLARIS  QUHOU  THE    INGLISMBN 
 CIFIS  VANE   CREDENS   TO  THE  PRO- 
 PHESIES  OF   MERLYNE. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  he  oratours  of  Ingland,  at  there  protectors  Ctmtato  ■ 
 instance,  hes  set  furtht  ane  buik,  quhair  be  thai  ciuitatib* 
 intende  to  preue  that  Scotland  vas  anecolone  of  pXiiUx- 
 indad  quhe  it  vas  fvrst  inhabit,     there  rasos  ami"ibus 
 
 01  \  ...      condite,  co- 
 
 that  thai  allege  aperis  to  them  to  be  inuinci-  ionic  nun- 
 bil,  quhou  beit  thai  be  bot  freuol.  there  specia-  Augu.' de- 
 le intentione  is   to   gar   there  cruel  inuasions  f?1  dc!- 
 
 o  t     .  Li.  10.  ca 
 
 perpetrat  contrar  oure  realme,  apeir  in  the  pre- 
 sens  of  forrain  princis,  that  thai  haue  ane  iust 
 titil  to  mak  veyr  contrar  vs.  and  quhou  beit 
 that  the  said  poietical  beuk  be  dytit  oratour- 
 ly  to  persuaid  the  vulgar  ingnorans  til  ad- 
 here til  inuentit  fablis  contrar  the  iust  verite, 
 zit  notheles  realmis  ar  nocht  conquest  be  bui- 
 kis,  bot  rather  be  bluid.  there  is  ane  passage  in 
 the  said  beuk,  the  quilk  the  inglismen  hes  ane 
 ardant  desyr  to  se  it  cum  til  effect.  The  tenor 
 of  the  passage  sais,  that  it  var  verray  necessare 
 
123  THE  COMPLAYN? 
 
 for  the  veilfayre  of  ingland  and  Scotland,  that 
 baytht  the  realmis  var  coniunit  to  giddir,  and 
 to  be  vndir  the  gouuernyng  of  ane  prince, 
 and  the  tua  realmis  to  be  callit  the  ile  of  ber- 
 tan,  as  it  vas  1  the  begynnyng,  quhe  the  troia 
 brutus  conquest  it  fra  the  giantis.  and  also  the 
 inglismen  gifis  ferme  credit  to  diuerse  propha- 
 ne  propheseis  of  merlyne,  and  til  vthir  aid  cor- 
 ruppit  vaticinaris,  to  quhais  ymaginet  verkis 
 thai  gyue  mair  faitht  nor  to  the  prophesie  of 
 ysaye,  Ezechiel,  leremie,  or  to  the  euangel  : 
 the  quhilkis  prophane  prophetis  and  vatici- 
 naris  hes  affermit  in  there  rusty  ryme,  that 
 Scotland  and  ingland  sal  be  vndir  ane  prince. 
 The  ardant  desire,  and  the  disordinat  aueri- 
 sius  affectione,  that  inglismen  hes  to  be  violet 
 dominatours  of  oure  cuntray,  hes  prouokit 
 them  to  mak  cruel  veyris  contrar  vs  thir  mo- 
 ny  zeiris  bypast,  to  that  effect  that  there  diabo- 
 lic prophane  propheseis  may  be  fulfillit,  nocht 
 regardand  gyue  the  vil  of  god  hes  permittit 
 be  his  diuyne  gudnes  that  sic  propheseis  cum 
 til  affect  :  nor  zit  thai  considyr  nocht  that  al 
 propheseis  hes  doutsum  and  duobil  expositio- 
 ns, zit  nochtheles  i  hope  in  god  that  the  rycht 
 sens  of  there  prophane  prophesye  sal  be  ful- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  129 
 
 fi'ilit  in  this  generatione,  and  that  inglifmen 
 sal  get  there  desire  to  there  perpetual  confu- 
 sione.  the  inglifmen  exponis   the  prophesye 
 of  merlyne  to  there  auen  affectione,  as   the 
 iueis  exponit  the  prophesie  of  cayphas.  Cay- 
 phas  of  ane  euyl  intent  spak  treu  prophesye; 
 bot  zit  he  and   the   iueis  interpret  it   to   the 
 vrang  sens,  quhilkvas  cause  of  there  auen  con- 
 damnation.  Of  this  sort,  cresus  kyng  of  lidie 
 exponit  and  interpret   the   ansuer  of  apollo 
 to  the  vrang  sens,  quhen  the  cruel  veyris  vas 
 betuix  hym  and  cirus  kyng  of  pers  and  meid» 
 At  that  time  the  tua  gryt  battellis  of  onnume- 
 rabil  men  of  veyr  var  campit  neir  to  giddir, 
 except   that   the  reueir  of  almy  ran  betuix 
 them.  On  the  morne,  kyng  cresus  past  to  the 
 oracle  of  appollo  in  the  tcmpil  of  delphos, 
 desyrand  to  knau  the  fyne  of  the  veyris   that 
 vas  sa  cruel  betuix  hym  and  kyng  cirus.  Ap- 
 pollo gaue  to  kyng  cresus  ane  doutsum  ansue- 
 reof  ambiguite.  this  vas  his  ansuer.  cresus  per- 
 det  almi  trasgressa  maxima  rcgna.  This  vord 
 perdet  is  ane  verb  equiuocum.  it   signifeis  to 
 distroye,  and  it  signifies  to  tyne.  it  is  vritin  in 
 the  fyft  psalme  of  Daukl,  perdes  omnes  qui 
 loquuntur   mendacium.     the    expositione   of 
 
1$0  THE    COMPLAYNT 
 
 this  passage  signifies  nocht  that  god  tynis 
 them  that  ar  learis  ;  for  god  can  tyne  na  thing, 
 there  can  no  thing  be  tynt,  bot  quhen  he  that 
 tynis  ane  thing,  and  syne  knauis  nocht  quhair 
 it  is:  bot  god  knauis  al  thing,  of  this  sort  kyng 
 Cresns  per-  cresus  exponit  the  ansuer  of  appollo  of  ane 
 transgressa  sens,  and  appollo  faid  his  ansuer  of  ane  vthir 
 reraaT*  sens#  Cresus  interpret  that  verb  perdet  for  to 
 distroye ;  and  for  that  cause  he  and  his  gryt 
 armye  past  ouer  the  reueir  of  almi,  in  hope  to 
 distroye  kyng  cirus.  bot  cirus  venquest  cresus 
 and  al  his  gryt  armye  ;  the  quhilk  mischeif  ca 
 on  kyng  cresus  for  the  vrang  interpretatione 
 of  the  ansuer  of  appollo  \  for  he  considerit 
 nocht  that  perdet  vas  ane  verb  equiuocum, 
 quhilk  hed  ane  expositione  of  ambiguite. 
 
 There  is  ane  syklik  exempil  of  pirrus  kyng 
 of  eporite,  that  past  to  the  oracle  of  appollo  til 
 inquyre  of  the  fyne  of  the  veyris  that  vas  be- 
 tuix  hym  and  the  romanis.  appollo  gaue  ane 
 doutsum  ansuere  of  this  sort ;  dico  te  pirre  ro- 
 manos  vincere  posse.  Pirrus  exponit  that  ver- 
 se of  this  sort,  pirre  dico  te  vincere  romanos. 
 bot  appollo  said  it  of  ane  vthyr  sort,  pirre  di- 
 co romanos  te  vincere  ;  as  cam  til  effect  eftyr- 
 uartj  for  the  romanis  venquest  kyng  pirrus,, 
 
SCOTLAND,  I3X 
 
 and  chaiffsit  hym  furtht  of  Italic     There  is 
 
 ane  vthir  exempil  of  ferrand  erl  of  Fladeris, 
 
 quha  maid  mortal  veyr  contrar  the  kyng  of  ^2U^n 
 
 Frace.  he,  his  mother  and  his  vyfe,  past  til  ane  thatteilb 
 
 augure  in  holland,  til  inquyre  of  the  fyne   of  that  ar  to 
 
 the  veyris  betuix  hym  and  the  kyng  of  Fran-  SJjth^ 
 
 ce.  the  augure  ansuert,  quod  he,  thou  sal  entir  gement 
 .    «    •         ,    .  ,  •         that  thal 
 
 in  Pans,  quhair  that  gryte  tryumphe  and  loye  haueof 
 
 sal  be  maid  at  thy  entrcs.  ferrand  beand  rycht  c-[  £  *£" 
 glaid  of  the  ansuere  of  his  augure,  he  enterit  I  ther  flcins* 
 France  vitht  ane  gryt  armye ;  bot  or  he  cam 
 to  Paris,  he  ^nd  his  armye  var  venqueist,  and 
 he  vas  tane  presoner  and  led  to  paris.  than  al 
 the  parisiens  maid  gryt  triuphe  and  ioye  for 
 blythtnes  because  that  ferrand  there  mortel 
 enemye  vas  disconfeist.  Of  this  sort,  ferrand 
 exponit  the  ansuere  of  his  augure  til  ane  vrag 
 sens.  Thir  exemplis  may  be  conferrit  and  ap- 
 plyit  vicht  the  prophesies  of  merlyne,  to  the 
 quhilk  the  inglismen  giffis  mair  confides  nor 
 thai  gif  to  the  euangel,  be  cause  that  there  aid 
 prophane  prophescis  sais,  that  inglad  and  scot- 
 lad  sal  be  baitht  vndir  ane  prince,  on  this  mi- 
 steous  prophescis,  thai  haue  intedit  veyris  co- 
 trar  Scotland,  in  hope  to  conques  it.  bot  as  i 
 hauc  befor  rehersit,  i  bcleue  that  there  prophc- 
 
132 
 
 THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 sie  sal  cum  til  effect,  bot  nocht  to  their  inter, 
 and  that  ingland  and  Scotland  sal  be  ane  mo- 
 narche  vndir  ane  prince  in  this  generatione, 
 coformand  til  ane  prophesie  that  i  haue  red 
 in  the  inglis  chronyklis,  in  ane  beuk  callit  pol- 
 ichornicon,  the  quhilk  prophesie  sais,  that  in- 
 gland sal  be  first  conqueist  be  the  deynis,  and 
 syne  be  the  saxons,  and  thirdly  be  the  Nor- 
 mandis;  and  there  last  conquessing  sal  be  con- 
 quest be  the  scoctis,  quhome  inglismen  hal- 
 dis  maist  vile  ;  and  fra  that  tyme  furtht,  inglad 
 and  Scotland  sal  be  bot  ane  monarche,  and  sal 
 lyue  vndir  ane  prince  ;  and  sa  inglis  men  sal 
 get  there  prophesie  fulfillit  to  there  auen  mi- 
 scheif. 
 
 QlJHOU   THE   PRETENDIT   KYNGIS  OF' INGLAND  HES  NO 
 1UST  TITIL  TO  THE  REALME  OF    INGLAND,    NOTHIR 
 BE   ELECTIONE  NOR   BE    SUCCESSIONE,    AND  QU- 
 HOU THAI   PRETENDIT   KYNGIS  OF    INGLAND 
 HES     PRACTIKYT    ANE     CRAFTY    DIS- 
 SAIT  CONTRAR  VALIS  AND  YRLAND. 
 
 CHAP.    ZI. 
 
 Thir  vordis  befor  rehersit  (O  ze  my  thre 
 sonnis)  suld  prouoke  zou  to  tak  curaige ; 
 ther  for  i  vald  that  hope  of  victoree  var  aug- 
 metit,  &  dreed  var  banest  fra  zou.  vald  ze 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I33 
 
 al  perpend  zour  iust  defens  and  querrel,  tha 
 hardines  and  curage  vald  returne  vitht  in 
 zour  hartis.  and  fyrst  ze  suld  considyr  the 
 pepil,  and  the  titil  of  them  that  persecutis  zou 
 be  on  iust  veyris.  quhen  ze  hef  veil  socht 
 the  verite,  ze  sal  fynd  that  it  is  the  false  blude 
 that  discendit  of  sergestes  and  engestes,  qu- 
 hilk  var  tua  saxons  that  cam  vitht  aleuin 
 thousand  saxons  fra  thair  auen  cuntra  to  sup- 
 port and  supple  the  kyng  of  grit  bertanze, 
 quhilk  is  nou  callit  ingland,  quha  vas  opprest 
 be  cruel  ciuil  veyris.  than  eftir  that  thir  tua  sa- 
 xons hed  venquest  the  enemes  of  the  kyng  of 
 bertanze,  thai  trasonablie  banest  the  rythteus 
 kyng  and  his  posterite  fra  the  realme.  and  sen- 
 synethat  false  blude  hes  possest  that  cuntre  vio- 
 lently be  tyrranye,  and  the  maist  part  of  thay 
 tirran  kyngis  that  hes  succedit  of  that  fals  blu- 
 de hes  beene  borreaus  to  their  predecessours, 
 as  the  croniklis  of  ingland  makis  manyfest,  as 
 of  henry  the  first  of  that  name,  quhilk  vas  ba- 
 nest fra  the  crone.  Siklik  henry  the  thrid 
 banest  fra  the  crone  be  his  second  sone  Ri- 
 chart.  ihone  kyng  of  ingland  gart  slay  the  h< 
 tours  of  his  predecessours,  and  brukit  the  real- 
 me tuenty  zcirs,  and  syne  ther  eftir  he  vas  ba- 
 
'34  'ri*F<  COMPLAYNT 
 
 nest,  and  eftir  that  kyng  eduard  vas  gart  ( 
 meserablye  in  preson.  syklik  Richart  the  sy- 
 cond  vas  cruelly  slane  be  his  auen  men  ;  and 
 ther  eftir  hery  the  saxt  lossit  his  liyf  be  eduard 
 the  thrid  of  that  name,  than  eftir  hym  succe- 
 dit  rechart  the  thrid,  quha  gart  sla  the  childir  of 
 eduard  the  thrid,  and  sa  brukitthe  cuntre  certa 
 tyme,  and  ther  eftir  vas  exilit  fra  the  crone,  and 
 henry  the  seuynt,  be  the  support  and  supple  of 
 the  kyng  of  France,  gat  the  crone  of  ingland; 
 and  sa  none  of  them  hed  rytht  to  the  crone  of 
 ingland  :  ergo,  thai  hef  na  titil  to  the  crone  of 
 Scotland.  Al  this  veil  considerit,  suld  inflam 
 zour  hartis  vitht  curage  to  resist  ther  cruel  vra- 
 gus  assaltis,  &  to  menteme  be  vailzeantnes  the 
 iust  defens  of  zour  natyf  cutre.  ze  knau  quhou 
 thai  and  there  forbears  hes  beene  zour  aid  mor- 
 tal enemes  tuelf  hundretht  zeiris  by  past,  ma- 
 kand  cruel  veir  contrar  zour  predecessours  be 
 fyir  and  suerd,  dayly  distroyand  zour  feildis, 
 villagis  and  buroustounis,  vytht  ane  ferme  pur- 
 pos  to  denud  Scotland  fra  zour  generatione  ; 
 and  there  vas  neuer  faitht  nor  promes  kepit 
 be  them,  bot  aye  quhen  ze  beleifit  til  hef  hed 
 maist  sure  pace  betuix  zou  and  them,  than  thai 
 lay  at  the  vacht,lyik  the  aid  subtil  doggis,  by  dad 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I35 
 
 quhil  conspiratione  or  discentione  sulci  ryes 
 amang  zou.  than  be  there  austuce  and  subtili- 
 te  thai  furnest  vitht  money  baitht  the  par 
 aduersaris  to  slay  doune  vderis,  quhilk  vas 
 ane  reddy  passage  to  gar  them  conqueis  our 
 realme  vitht  out  straik  or  battel,  throcht  the 
 occasio  of  the  social  ciuil  and  intestyne  veyre 
 that  rang  sa  cruelly  throucht  our  cutre.  Vale- 
 rius maximus  rehersis  ane  exempil  confor- 
 mand  to  this  samyn  purpos.  quhen  the  athe- 
 niens  and  the  lacedemoniens,  (quhilkis)  var 
 the  tua  maist  famous  tounis  vitht  in  the  mo- 
 narche  of«greice,  thair  raise  ane  discention 
 and  discord  betuix  the  said  tua  tounis.  than 
 darius  kyng  of  perse,  quha  hed  euer  ane 
 ardant  desyir  to  conqueis  greice,  be  cause 
 the  greiciens  hed  euer  been  mortal  enemes 
 til  hym  and  til  hh  predecessours,  and  specials 
 the  toun  of  athenes  resistit  hym  mair  in  his 
 veyris  nor  did  al  the  remanent  of  greice  ;  for 
 that  cause  he  send  his  prouest  tasifernes  vitht 
 gold  and  siluer  to  lacedemonia  to  furneis  the 
 in  there  veyris  contrar  the  atheniens.  at  that 
 tyme,  alcibiades  vas  bannest  fra  athenes,  and 
 excommunicat  be  the  prcstifi  of  there  tcmpil, 
 cftir  the  consuetude  of  there  lau.  than  alci ' 
 
136  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 des  past  for  refuge  to  the  lacedemoniens,  quha 
 var  mortal  enemes  to  the  atheniens :  he  vas  re- 
 sauit  rytht  honorabilye,  and  gat  gryt  credit 
 amang  them,  quhilk  vas  occasion  that  throcht 
 his  consel,  and  throu  the  gold  that  the  prouest 
 tacifernes  hed  brocht  to  lacedemonia  fra  his 
 maisterkyng  darius,  the  lacedemoniens  tryum- 
 phit  contrar  the  atheniens.  alcibiades  persauad 
 that  lacedemonia  vas  aperand  to  be  superior 
 of  athenes,  he  said  to  the  prouest  of  kyng  da- 
 rius, schir,  ze  suldnocht  furneis  the  lacedemo- 
 niens vitht  sa  grit  quantite  of  gold  and  siluer 
 contrar  athenes  ;  for  gif  athenes  be  conquest 
 be  the  lacedemoniens,  than  the  lacedemonies 
 sal  be  superiors  of  al  greice  ;  and  fra  tyme  that 
 thai  be  pacibil  gouuernours  of  greice,  and  hes 
 no  ciuil  veyris,  discord,  nor  discention  amag 
 them,  than  doutles  thai  sal  intend  veir  cotrar 
 zour  maister  darius  kyng  of  perce,  as  there  for- 
 bears did  1  alld  tymis.  there  for  i  think  it  maist 
 couenient  that  kyng  darius  furneis  lacedemo- 
 nia bot  vitht  sa  mekil  money  as  may  keip  the 
 on  venquest  be  the  atheniens,  and  als  it  var 
 verray  necessair  that  kyng  darius  furnest  the 
 atheniens  vitht  sa  mekil  money  as  may  resist 
 the  lacedemoniens,  and  that  sal  gar  al  the  cun- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  37 
 
 trey  of  greice  hef  perdurabil  veyr  aiming 
 selfis,  and  than  kyng  darius   may  eysily  con- 
 queis  greice,  vitht  litil  dommage  to  his  cm. 
 the  prouest  of  darius  adherit  to  the  ccuns. 
 alcibiades,  and  send  nocht  sameikil  monye  to 
 the  lacedemoniens  as  mytht  gar  the  conquti  s 
 athenes,  nor  zit  he  send  nocht  so  litil  money 
 that  throcht  necessite  thai  suld  leaue  or  desist 
 fra  the  veyris.  of  that  samyn  sort  he  send  mo- 
 ney to  athenes  to  defend  them  contrar  the  la- 
 cedemonies.  and  sa,  be  the  counsel  of  alcibia- 
 des, darius  kyng  of  perce  coqueist  mair  of  grei- 
 ce, vitht  ane  hundretht  tallentis  that  he  distri- 
 buit  secretly  amang  the  grecians,  to  mentene 
 there  ciuil  veyris,  ilk  ane  cotrer  vderis,  nor  he 
 conquest  be  forse,  vitht  ten  thousand   tallen- 
 tis. As  hary  the  eycht  kyng  of  ingland  did 
 the  empriour  &  to  the  kyng  of  Frece  i  the 
 of  gode  ane  thousand  hue   hundretht   tuenty 
 foure  zeris,  he  professit  hym  self  to  be  neutral, 
 bot  zit  he  furnest  the  empriour  vitht  sex  thou- 
 sand fut  men,  and  tua  hundretht  lycht  horse, 
 on  his  auen  expesis,  quhen  the  kyng  of  Frfice 
 vas  past  ouer  the  alpes  to  seige  paue.  ande 
 that  samyn  kyng  hary  lent  to  the  kyng  oi'  Fra- 
 ce  aucht  scoir  of  thousandis  t&gel  BObiis,  of 
 
 s 
 
133  THE  COMPLAVM 
 
 the  quhilk  the  empriour  vas  surly  aduertest ; 
 for  quhen  the  kyng  of  France  ande  his  armye 
 var  derlait  be  the  due  of  Burbon,  the  viceroy 
 of  naples,  the  marquis  of  pesquaire,  and  the 
 marquis  of  gonnast,  thir  said  princis  gat,  in 
 the  spulze  of  the  France  men,  the  kyng  of  Fra- 
 cis  pose,  quhilk  vas  al  in  engel  noblis  ;  ande 
 alse  thai  gat  the  kyng  of  inglandis  preua  vri- 
 ting,  quhilk  he  hed  sende  to  the  kyng  of  Fran- 
 ce at  the  seige  of  paue.  of  this  sort  the  kyng 
 of  ingland  playit  vitht  baytht  the  handis,  to 
 gar  the  empriour  and  the  kyng  of  France  ilk 
 ane  distroye  vthirs.  (O  ze  my  thre  sonnis)  the 
 discention  &  discord  that  ryngis  amang  zou 
 hes  done  mair  distructioe  til  our  realme  nor 
 quhen  the  gryt  armye  &  pouer  of  inglad  in- 
 uadit  zou.  the  experiens  of  this  samyn  is  ma- 
 nifest, quhou  that  the  kyngis  of  ingland  hes 
 bene  mair  solist  to  hef  pace  &  fauoir  of  scotlad, 
 quhe  iustice  &  cocord  gcuuernit  the  thre  cstai- 
 tis  of  scotlad,  nor  tyl  hef  hed  the  fauoir  &:  pa- 
 ce of  al  the  riche  realmis  that  the  empriour 
 possessis.  and  in  oppesir.  quhen  the  kyngis  of 
 ingland  persauis  discord,  discentioe,  ciuii  vey- 
 ris,  iniusteis  &  diuisionc,  vitht  in  Scotland,  tha 
 thai  forgie  fenzet  querrellis  contrar  our  real- 
 
SCOTLAND.  I39 
 
 me,  in  hope  that  ilk  scottis  man  sal  be  mortal 
 enemye  til  his  nychtbour.  Quhar  for  i  exort 
 zou,  zou  my  thre  sonnis,  that  ze  be  delegent 
 to  remeide  zour  abusios  of  the  tymis  by  past, 
 tjuhilk  sal  neuir  cum  til  effect  bot  gyf  that  ze 
 remoue  &  expel  discentione,  discord  and  ha- 
 trent  that  ringis  amang  zou;  for  gyf  ze  be  ene- 
 meis  to  zour  selfis,  tha  quhy  suld  the  kyngis 
 of  inglad  be  accusit  quhe  thai  inted  veyris  ca- 
 trar  zou,  considerant  that  thai  hef  bene  euyr 
 zour  aid  enemeis  ?  i  vald  spere  quhat  castel  can 
 be  lang  kepit,  quhen  the  enemeis  seigis  it 
 cruelly  vitht  out,  and  vitht  1  the  said  castel  ther 
 ringis  mortal  feyr  amang  the  soudartis,  men 
 of  veyr,quhilkis  suld  lyf  I  ane  mutual  &  faytht- 
 ful  accord  1  defies  of  the  said  castel  cotrar  ex- 
 terne  violes  ?  this  veil  cosidrit,  suld  be  occasioe 
 to  gar  zou  expel  hatret,  diuisioe,  &  auaricius 
 lyffing  furtht  of  zour  hartis,  S:  alse  it  suld  pro- 
 uoke  zou  to  remebir  of  the  nobil  actis  of  zour 
 foir  fathers  &  p"decessours,  quha  deifedit  this 
 realmebe  there  vailzeatnes,  6c  alse  reducit  the- 
 re liberte,  quhilk  vas  ane  kagtyme  in  captiui- 
 te,  be  the  machination  of  zour  aid  encmes,  ?s 
 ze  may  reid  in  diuersis  passis  of  zour  cronikil- 
 li^'.  And  sen  zc  knau  that  god  hes  schauC 
 
I40  TlliL  COM  PL  AY  NT 
 
 fauoir  to  zour  foirbearis,  throcht  the  quhilk 
 thai  hcf  vequeist  thair  enemes,  and  brocht  the 
 rcalme,  be  visdome  &  manhede,  1  sykkyr  pace, 
 quhou  beit  thai  var  onequal,  baytht  1  niimer 
 &  puissance,  to  zour  aid  enemes,  ze  suld  mak 
 ane  mirrour  of  there  nobil  actis  ;  for  se  ze  knau 
 that  zour  aid  enemes  lies  intendit  to  conqueis 
 &  to  subdieu  zou  to  there  dominione,  nocht 
 throcht  there  manhede  &  visdome,  bot  rather 
 throcht  the  discetioe  that  ringis  amag  zou,  ze 
 suld  schau  zou  verteous  &  vailzeant  in  zour 
 rytht  defece.  for  quhe  zear  in  accord,  &  lyuis 
 in  traquilite,  zour  aid  enemes  sendis  ther  im- 
 bassadours  to  desyre  pace  &:  fauoir,  quhilk  is 
 mair  necessair  to  the  nor  it  is  honest,  conside- 
 ring of  there  grit  pouer  &  mytht  be  see  &  be 
 land,  bot  nochtheles,  the  mair  reches  that  thai 
 posses,  the  mair  schame  redondis  to  the,  &  the 
 mair  gloir  is  zouris,  sen  thai  hef  beene  vequist 
 be  zou  diuerse  tymes,  quhome  thai  held  maist 
 vile  and  febil.  and  nou,  sen  ze  knau  the  apering 
 dangeir  of  zour  natif  cuntre,  ze  suld  prudent- 
 ly consult  to  escheu  al  dangeir  ;  and  to  begyn 
 sic  gude  ordour,  ze  suld  prouide  al  vays  to  re- 
 moue  discentione,  sedetione,  and  auaricius  lyf- 
 fyng,  quhilk  may  induce  hatrent,  inuy  and 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I4I 
 
 rancor  amang  zou,  to  that  effect  that  ilk  perso- 
 ne  may  lyf  eysylye  on  his  auen  iust  coques, 
 and  that  none  of  the  realine  hef  occasione  to 
 do  extorsions  til  vthyris ;  for  sic  gude  pollycie, 
 veil  ordorit,  sal  cause  the  cuntre  to  increse  in 
 gloir,  honour  and  reches,  and  dreddor  to  zour 
 enemes,  quha  ar  verray  solist  and  vigilant  to 
 conques  zou.  ther  prouisione  of  diuerse  sortis 
 is  vonder  grit,  nocht  alanerly  be  gryt  mul- 
 titude of  men  of  veyr,  and  ane  grit  nauen  of 
 schipis  be  seeyburde,  bot  as  veil  be  secret  ma- 
 chinatioe  to  blynd  zou  be  auereis,  presentand 
 to  zou  gold,  siluyr,  and  grit  promessis  of  here- 
 tagis,  to  persuaid  zou  to  commit  traison  con- 
 trar  zour  faitht,  honour  and  comon  veil,  qu- 
 hilk  is  ane  rycht  passage  to  bring  zou  and  zour 
 posterite  til  ane  vile  8c  final  exterminatione. 
 vald  ze  maturly  consydir  the  subtilite  of  in- 
 glismen,  ze  sal  fynd  them  aperand  faichtful 
 and  humain  in  thair  aduersite  ;  bot  quhc  thai 
 ar  in  prosperite,  thai  ar  ingrat  tirras  and  cruel 
 abuf  al  vdir  nauione.  Och,  quhou  dangerus 
 is  it  til  ony  sort  of  pepil  til  hef  ane  cruel  tir- 
 ran  ryngand  abuf  them  :  and  to  eschaip  sic  tir- 
 ranny  zour  forbears  hes  debatit  zour  cuntre 
 this  mony  zeiris  be  grit  manhede  and  visdo- 
 
142  THE  COMPLAV 
 
 me,  quhou  beit  it  vas  in  dangeir  to  be  in  find 
 euersione.  the  croniklis  vil  certifie  zou  quhou 
 thae  zour  nobil  predecessours  and  foir  bears 
 var  slane,  and  the  comont  pepil  brocht  to  vile 
 seruitude  ane  lang  tyine  be  the  saxons  blu- 
 de.  and  zit  sic  calamite  and  persecutione  indu-. 
 rit  bot  for  ane  tyme.  for  god  almythty,  that 
 knauis  zour  iust  defens,  hes  euer  schauen  gryt 
 fauoir  touart  zou,  therfor  ze  suld  tak  curage 
 in  zour  iust  querrel.  ze  hef  no  cause  to  dispayr 
 for  fait  of  supple,  for  zour  predecessours  hes 
 been  in  mair  dangeir  quhen  zour  strynthis 
 and  casrellis  hes  nocht  been  sa  defensabil,  nor 
 zit  the  cutre  heffand  supple  of  na  forane  prin- 
 ce. It  is  tideous  to  rehers  the  grit  calamiteis, 
 the  sair  battellis,  and  the  cruel  slauchtyr  that 
 vas  cruelly  exsecutit  on  scoctis  men  ;  and  to 
 conclude,  al  the  cuntre  vas  in  extreme  subie- 
 ctione  fourty  zeirs,  and  possest  be  our  aid  ene- 
 mes.  Bot  nochtheles,  god  almythty  valknit 
 vitht  his  grace  the  hartis  of  zour  predeces- 
 sours, as  he  did  to  sampson,  Dauid,  and  iudas 
 macchabeus,  contrar  the  enemes  of  Israel, 
 quhair  for  al  zour  cuntre  vas  delyuerit  fra  ca- 
 ptiuite,  to  the  grit  domage  of  reches,  and  effu- 
 vsione  of  blude  on  zour  aid  enemes.    ze  vait 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I43 
 
 veil  that  the  ciuil  and  intestyne  veir,  and  the 
 discentione  and  discord  and  rancor  that  ryn- 
 gis  amang  zou,  is  the  speciale  cause  of  the  in- 
 glismenis  inuasions  and  of  zcur  miserite  ;  for 
 zour  aid  enemes,  quhou  beit  of  ther  puissans, 
 vald  neuer  hef  maid  sic  incursions  ande  hair- 
 schips  on  the  bordours  and  limitis  of  zour  cu- 
 tre,  var  nocht  zour  sclfls  maid  ane  reddy  pas- 
 sage to  the  throcht  the  occasione  of  zour  auen 
 discentions  that  ryngis  amang  zou.  ther  for 
 it  is  necessair  thai  zeal  perpend  that  sic  discen- 
 tione be  nocht  the  cause  of  zour  auen  distru- 
 ctione  and  final  ruyne  of  zour  natione.  the 
 kyng  of  ingland  knauand  the  discention  that 
 ryngis  amang  zou,  he  vil  tretcheris  and  pro- 
 mes  grit  reches  til  ony  of  zou  that  vil  adhere 
 til  hym  contrar  zour  comont  veil  ;  bot  fra  ty- 
 me  that  he  get  dominione  of  the  cuntre,  ze 
 sai  be  his  sklauis  in  extreme  seruitude,  zour 
 vyfis  and  doctheris  deflorit  be  the  onbridilit 
 lust  of  zour  aid  enemes,  and  violently  led  auay 
 befoir  zour  facis  be  the  extreme  lauis  of  the 
 veyr.  zour  gold  and  siluyr.  and  vthirgudis,  pu- 
 blic and  priuat,  sal  be  distril  ut  and  disponk 
 amang  them,  the  frutis  and  cornis  of  zour 
 grond  to  be  vsit  at  1 '  J  ze  sa! 
 
J44  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 be  compellit  to  laubir  the  naikyt  feildis  vitht 
 zour  auen  handis  to  there  proffet.  ze  sal  nocht 
 alanerly  be  iniurit  be  euil  vordis,  bot  als  ze 
 sal  be  violetly  strykkyn  in  zour  bodeis,  quhar- 
 for  ze  sal  lyf  in  mair  thirlage  nor  brutal  bestis, 
 quhilkis  ar  thirlit  of  nature.  And  ony  of  zou 
 that  consentis  til  his  fals  conques  of  zour  cu- 
 tre,  ze  sal  be  recompenssit  as  zour  forbears 
 var  at  the  blac  perliamet  at  the  bernis  of  ayre, 
 quhen  kyng  eduard  maid  ane  conuocatione 
 of  al  the  nobillis  of  Scotland  at  the  toune  of 
 ayre,  vndir  culour  of  faitht  and  cocord,  quha 
 comperit  at  his  instance,  nocht  heffand  suspi- 
 tione  of  his  tresonabil  consait.  than  thai  be- 
 and  in  his  subiectione  vndir  culour  of  famili- 
 arite,  he  gart  hang,  cruelly  and  dishonestly,  to 
 the  numer  of  sexten  scoir  of  the  maist  nobil- 
 lis of  the  cuntre,  tua  and  tua  ouer  ane  balk, 
 the  quhilk  sex  tene  scoir  var  cause  that  the  in- 
 glismen  conquest  sa  far  vithtin  zour  cuntre. 
 Ze  may  reid  the  croniklis  of  al  cuntreis,  and  ze 
 sal  fynd,  that  quhen  forain  princis  hes  violet- 
 lye,  but  iust  titil,  gottin  dominatione  on  vthir 
 cuntreis,  tha  in  the  begynnyng  thai  haue  tre- 
 tit  and  flatterit  the  principal  inhabitans,  quhil 
 on  to  the  tyme  that  thai  var  pacebil  domina- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND,  I45 
 
 tours:  and  there  eftir  thai  haue  vsit  there  dissy- 
 milit  intet  on  the  pepil,  and  hes  distroyit  the, 
 as  kyng  eduard  did  at  the  bernis  of  ayre 
 befor  rehersit.  There  is  ane  exempil  confor- 
 mand  to  this  samen  purpos  rehersit  be  vale-  Tit'  iiui* 
 nus  maximus,  and  in  titus  liuius,  quhou  that 
 tarquinus  superbus  the  sext  kyng  of  rome, 
 quhilk  maid  cruel  veyre  contrar  the  cite  of 
 gabine  til  hef  hed  it  subdeuit  to  the  dominio- 
 ne  of  rome.  bot  that  nobil  cite  defTendit  the- 
 re liberte  rytht  vailzeantly.  his  sone  sextus 
 tarquinus  vas  In  grit  melancolye  be  cause  his 
 father  culd  nocht  conques  that  cite  be  fors, 
 nor  be  loue,  nor  zit  be  flattery,  ther  for  he  de- 
 partit  fra  his  father  vitht  ane  fezet  displeseir, 
 and  past  to  the  cite  of  gabine,  makand  ane  pit- 
 teus  complanit  on  the  crualte  of  his  fader  co- 
 trar  hym,  prayand  to  them  of  gabine  that  thai 
 vald  be  his  deifens  contrar  his  father,  and  he 
 sal  be  subiect  to  that  cite  imperpetual.  the  cite 
 of  gabine,  throcht  there  facilnes,  gef  hasty  cre- 
 dit to  sextus  tarquinus,  and  resauit  hym  and 
 trettit  hym  be  grit  familiaritc.  than  day  be 
 day  be  his  fayr  vordis,  thai  gd  hym  credcns 
 in  sic  ane  sort,  that  al  the  pepil  be  ca  ohediet 
 til  hym.  than  he  send  ane  of  his  farhiliaris  til 
 
 T 
 
I40  THE   COMPLAYNT 
 
 his  fader  tarquinus  superbus,  declarad  quhou 
 he  hed  conqueist  the  fauor  of  al  the  pepil, 
 desyrand  his  fatheris  counsel  quhou  he  suld 
 vse  hym  to  hald  them  in  subiectione.  the  mes- 
 sager  of  sextus  past  to  tarquine  superbe,  de- 
 clarand  his  message,  quhar  he  gat  aid  tarquine 
 1  ane  garding.  bot  aid  tarquine  gef  nay  ansuer 
 to  the  messanger,  bot  tuike  his  staf,  and  syne 
 past  throcht  his  gardin,  and  quhar  that  he  gat 
 ony  chasbollis  that  greu  hie,  he  straik  the  hei- 
 dis  fra  them  vitht  his  staf,  and  did  no  thyng 
 to  the  litil  chasbollis.  the  messengeir  gat  nay 
 ansuer  be  tong  fra  aid  tarquine,  bot  returnit 
 til  gabine  til  his  maister  sextus  tarquin'  quha 
 askit  ane  ansuer  of  his  message,  the  messenger 
 tald  quhou  his  father  send  nay  ansuer  be 
 tog,  bot  past  vp  and  doune  his  gardyng  vitht 
 his  staf  cuttand  doune  the  hie  chasbollis. 
 than  sextus  tarquinus  kneu  veil  his  fatheris 
 mynd,  that  his  counsel  vas  to  strikof  al  the  he- 
 dis  of  the  principal  men  of  the  cite  of  gabine, 
 and  than  the  remanent  of  the  pepil  durst 
 nocht  reuolt  contrar  hym.  of  this  sort  the  no- 
 bil  cite  of  gabine  vas  disauit  be  flatterye  and 
 facilnes  of  gyffing  credit  til  ane  tirrane.  sex- 
 tus tarquinus  vsit  his  father  counsel,  for  he 
 
OF  SCOTLAND, 
 
 distroyit  and  sleu  al  the  principal  lordis  of  . 
 bine,  as  kyng  eduard  did  to  the  lordis  of  scot- 
 lad  at  the  bernis  of  ayre.  The  onfaithful  cruel 
 act  that  kyng  henry  the  aucht  vsit  contrar 
 land  and  valis  quhen  he  be  ca  ther  superiors, 
 suld  be  mirrour  and  ane  exempli  til  al  scot- 
 land  :  for  he  vsit  the  samen  practik  contrar 
 irland  and  valis  as  sextus  tarquinus  exsecut 
 on  the  cite  of  gabine,  and  as  kyng  eduard 
 exsecutit  en  the  barrons  of  Scotland  at  the 
 bernis  of  ayre  :  for  quhou  beit  that  the  kyng 
 of  ingland  nou  present  be  discendet  of  the 
 blude  of  valis,  zit  nochtheles  the  pepil  of  va- 
 lis ar  in  sic  subiectione  that  thai  dar  neuer  ry- 
 de  bot  iiij  to  giddir,  and  als  that  nane  of  the 
 sal  cum  vitht  in  the  mane  cuntrc  of  ingland 
 vitht  out  ane  certificat  fra  the  sceref  to  gar  it 
 be  knauen  that  thai  hef  sum  speciale  byssynes 
 vitht  in  ingland.  and  als  ther  sal  nane  that  is 
 borne  i  valis  beyr  office  i  valis,  nor  >:it  in  in- 
 gland. and  alsa  the  principal  men  of  valis  ar 
 subiect  to  pas  to  the  veyris  in  propyr  person 
 contrar  Scotland  or  cdtrar  France  quhen  euer 
 thai  ar  char  git  be  the  kyng  of  ingladis  lettris. 
 Bot  at  the  first  apoyntement  that  vaa  accordit 
 betuix  the  kyng  of  ingland  and  the  lordis  of 
 T  ij 
 
14-3  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 valis,  he  promest  them  grit  liberte,  quhii 
 hed  resauit  the  castellis  and  strynthis  of  valis, 
 and  hed  put  inglis  captans  in  the.  bot  incon- 
 tinent ther  efter,  he  gart  strik  the  heidis  fra  al 
 the  lordis  of  valis,  and  fra  the  principal  bar- 
 ronis.  and  syklik  to  spek  of  irland,  quhen  the 
 kyng  of  ingland  vas  accordit  vitht  the  lordis 
 of  irland,  and  that  he  hed  resauit  ane  certa  of 
 castellis,  and  sum  of  the  principal  tounis,  than 
 ane  lang  tyme  eftir  he  tretit  the  lordis  of  ir- 
 land vitht  fayr  vordis,  and  gef  them  riche 
 gyftis,  quhil  he  be  his  subtilite  gart  tuelf  of 
 them  cum  to  london,  quha  cam  at  his  com- 
 mand, be  cause  thai  dreid  na  cruelte.  than  in- 
 contynent  he  gart  strik  the  hedis  fra  the  said 
 tuelf  lordis  of  irland.  and  sen  sine  ai  the  irlad 
 men  ar  sklauis  til  hym,  excepand  ane  certan 
 that  kepis  them  sel  on  the  strait  montanis  of 
 irland,  quhilkis  vil  nocht  obeye  to  his  tyrra- 
 nye,  for  thai  hed  rather  remane  in  cald  and 
 hunger  in  the  vyild  fcrestis  andfi  hiHi 
 there  liberte,  ncr  for  to  be  in  his  captiuite  to 
 be  I  nd  hedit  as  he  hes  dune  causles  til 
 
 mony    vthyr   innocent    men.     The  exrortio- 
 ne  that  the  kyngis  of  ingli  lane  to  ; 
 
 predecessours,  is  manifest  to  zou  al.  the  chro- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  149 
 
 niklis  rnakis  manifest  quhou  that  kyng  eduard, 
 eftir  that  he  hed  ouer  run  al  zour  cuntre, 
 hed  brocht  al  the  pepil  til  extreme  c^p:;iiite, 
 quhar  for  compulsione  and  necessite  causit  the 
 til  obeye,  and  to  mak  homage  til  ingland.  tha 
 the  crualte  of  this  said  kyng  eduard,  nocht  sa- 
 teffet  nor  saceat,  he  brocht  fra  ingland  ane  hu- 
 dretht  thousand  men,  and  als  he  brotht  ane 
 freir  vitht  hym  callit  conraldus,  the  quhilk 
 freir  hed  commissione  to  mak  ane  chronikil 
 of  the  actis  that  kyng  eduard  and  his  hun- 
 dretht  tousand  men  suld  do  in  Scotland,  this 
 ^aid  grit  armye  of  ingland  beand  befor  ban- 
 nochtburne,  kyng  eduard  maid  ane  perlamct 
 vitht  in  his  camp  vitht  ane  certa  of  stated 
 ordinace,  quhilk  vasputi  vryitbethe  said  freir. 
 This  vas  the  tenor  of  the  said  ordinance,  in 
 the  fyrst,  he  ordand  thre  vaupynschauyngis  to 
 be  maid  al  on  ane  day  in  Scotland  be  scoctis 
 men  in  thre  of  the  farrest  placis  of  Scotland, 
 as  in  til  the  marse,  in  gallouaye,  and  in  the 
 northt  of  scotlande,  and  at  thay  vappynscha- 
 uyngis,  al  the  vaupynis  and  armour  of  scot- 
 land  to  be  delyuerit  to  the  inglismen  to  be  ke- 
 pit  in  castcllis  quhil  on  to  the  tyme  that  the 
 lad  inted  to  mak  voir  aganis  vlhyr 
 
rjO  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 cuntres.  the  nixt  statut  he  ordand  that  na 
 scottis  man  suld  veyr  na  vaupyn  bot  ane  knif 
 of  fife  inche  of  lyntht,  vitht  out  ane  point,  in 
 the  thrid  statut,  he  ordand  that  na  scottis  man 
 suld  duel  in  ane  house  that  vas  loftit,  bot  ra- 
 ther in  ane  litil  cot  house,  in  the  ferd  he  ordad 
 that  na  scottis  man  suld  veir  ony  clais  bot 
 hardyn  cotis.  in  the  fyft  artikle  he  ordand 
 that  the  scottis  men  of  Scotland  suld  be  partit 
 in  thre  partis,  the  first  part  suld  remane  i  scot- 
 land,  to  laubeir  the  cornis  on  the  grond.  the 
 sycond  part  suld  be  send  in  ingland  to  be  ser- 
 uandis  to  laubyr  thair  grond.  and  the  thrid 
 part  of  them  of  the  best  lyik  men  suld  be  ba- 
 nest  fra  Scotland,  and  to  hef  ane  lecens  to  pas 
 in  ony  straynge  cuntre  to  seik  ther  gude  auen- 
 ture.  This  cruel  ordinace  vas  maid  i  the  kyng 
 of  ingland  campt  befor  bannothtburne.  he 
 beleifit  at  that  tyme  that  al  vas  his  auen.  than 
 god  almythty  quhilk  beheld  his  pryde  and  ar- 
 rogance and  his  onmerciful  intent,  he  valknyt 
 vitht  his  spreit  the  hartis  of  the  nobil  men  of 
 Scotland,  the  quhilkis  in  ane  feu  numer  cam 
 vitht  ane  hardy  curage  contrar  kyng  eduard, 
 and  sleu  thretty  thousand  of  his  me,  and  chais- 
 sit  hym  self  thre  scoir  of  my  lis  vitht  in  inglad. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  151 
 
 And  in  ther  returnyng  hamuart,   thai  vaistit 
 and  brynt  norththumyrland  and  mony  vthir 
 plaicis  of  ingland.  this  battel  \  as   fochtyn  at 
 bannothburne,  as  the  inglis  croniklis  rehersis 
 mair  large,  the  quhathetetis,pailzos,&  spoulze 
 of  the  inglis  armye  vas  tane  &  gaddrit  vp  be 
 scottis  me,  thai  gat  the  forsad  inglis  freir  coral- 
 dus  vithtin  kyng  eduardis  tent,  &  als  thai  gat 
 thyr  forsaid  artiklis  &c  ordinace  quhilk  the  in- 
 glismen  purposit  to  execut  on  the  scottis  me. 
 bot  inglisme  tuik  nocht  god  to  be  their  cheif- 
 tane,  bot  rather  vsit  there  auc  arrogat  mynde  ; 
 therfor  their  gryt  poucr  hed  na  grace  to  fulfil 
 ther  entreprice.  this  exepil  is  vodir   probabil 
 that  inglismen  vil  vse  this   samyn   crualte  on 
 zou  al,  gif  sa  beis  that  ze  cum  subiect  to  the. 
 ze  knau  that  thir  tuelf  hundretht  zeirs  thai  leit 
 zou  neuyr  hef  pace  xvi  zeir  to  giddir,  boi 
 ther  tyrranye  rcdodit  aye  to  their  auen  disho- 
 nestye  and  domage.  and  quhou  beit   at  sum 
 tyme  zour  cuntre  gat  grit  skaytht  be  them,  sic  Incr 
 thing  suld  nocht  ^ar    zou   tyne  zour  curacis,  exitu$  pu- 
 for  the  chancis  of  veir  ar  nocht  certan  to   na  ma. 
 party,   al  thir  vordis  befor  said  ar  rehersit,  to  Jj!?J^. 
 that  effect  that  zour  facilnes  be  nocht  sedusit  pc  »poBm- 
 
 ii-  1,1  •  r,,.  temia& 
 
 be  their  astuce  and  subtil  persuasions,     litus  exulu 
 
THE   COMPLA**  . 
 
 encrtit  Sr     Jiuius  rehersis  anc  exempil  in  his  nynt  beuk 
 
 prrcutitr.b  r  ' 
 
 confbrmand  to  this  samyn  purpos,  quhilk  vas 
 eiiir  the  fundatione  of  rorne  420  zeris.  at  that 
 tyme  their  vas  in  rome  tua  consulis,  ane  cal- 
 lit  titus  viterius,  and  the  tothyr  callit  spur- 
 Tiflhu'  ius  posthumus,  quha  var  committit  to  be 
 :b'  9*  cheiffis  and  captans  of  the  armye  of  the  ro- 
 mans,  to  pas  contrar  the  samnetis,  quhilkis 
 bed  maid  mortal  veyr  thertty  zeir  to  giddir 
 VaieruTs  cotrar  rome.  the  caplaof  the  samnetis  vas  cal- 
 Libro  7.  lit  pontius,  quhilk  vas  the  sone  of  ane  vail- 
 zeant  man  callit  hereneus,  quha  vas  exempit 
 fra  the  veyris,  and  fra  the  gouernyng  of  the  pu- 
 blic veil,  be  raison  of  his  grit  aige.  The  grit  ar- 
 mye of  the  samnites  campit  them  secretly  be- 
 syde  ane  place  callit  furce  caudide,  the  quhilk 
 place  hed  ane  narrou  entres  &  narrou  isching, 
 and  vithti  it  their  vas  mony  cragis  and  vyild 
 treis.  that  place  stude  betuix  tua  strait  monta- 
 nis  inhabitabil  and  onmontabil.  In  the  myd- 
 dis  of  it  their  vas  ane  large  grene  plane  feild. 
 than  quhen  the  samnetis  var  their  logit  and  ca- 
 pit,  thai  var  aduertist  be  ther  exploratours  and 
 spyis,  quhou  that  the  romans  var  campit  neir 
 them  in  ane  place  callit  calacia.  than  pontius 
 the  captan  of  the  samnetis  causit  ten  of  his 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  53 
 
 knychtisto  cleltht  them  lyik  hyrdis,  and  he  get 
 them  cattel,  nolt,  ande  scheip  to  keip,  giffand 
 them  command  to  pas  vitht  tha  cattel  on  ■' 
 feildis  be  syde  the  romans,  and  in  ane 
 
 syndry  part  be  hym  self,  say  and  to  them, 
 ony  of  the  romans  cuis  and  inquiris  at  ony 
 of  zou  quhair  our  armye  is  campit,  ze  sal  ans- 
 uer,  that  ve  ar  past  to  apuilya  to  gif  ane  assalt 
 to  the  cite  of  lucere,  quhilk  partenis  to  the  ro- 
 mans,  than  thir  neu  maid  hyrdis  past  vitht  be- 
 stial, quhar  thai  var  rccontrit  be  the  forreours 
 and  exploratours  of  the  romanis,  quha    led 
 them  al  ten  befor  the  tua  consulis  that  var  ca- 
 ptans  to  the  romans.  quhen  thir   ten  hyrdis 
 var  exemnit  seueralie  ilk  ane  be  hym  self,  qu- 
 har the  samnete  armye  vas  campit,  thai  ansue- 
 rit  as  ther  captan  pontius  hed  giiTin  them  co- 
 mand  ;   to   the  quhilk  vordis  the  romans  gef 
 credit,  be  rason  that  thai  al  beand  ane  be  ane  HancM- 
 examit  condiscendit  in  ane  ansuer.  than  the  st°ni  COi' 
 romans  hefland   sic  ane  feruent  loue  to  the 
 cite  of  lucerc,  quhilk  vas  of  their  anciant  alya, 
 thai  raisit  ther  camp  to  pas  to   reskeu   luc 
 fra  the  gamnetes.  ther  vas  tua  |  pas 
 
 betuix  the  romans  camp  and  lucere.   the  first 
 passage  vas  plane  and  plesand  be  f  • 
 
 u 
 
154  THE  COIvIPLAYNT 
 
 bot  it  vas  ouer  lang  about,  the  nixt  parage 
 vas  ful  of  roche  cragis,  and  verray  strait  and 
 narou,  bot  zit  that  passage  vas  verray  schort. 
 than  the  romas,  for  haist  that  tha  hed  to  saif 
 that  cite  of  lucere,  thai  tuke  that  narrou  strait 
 passage,  and quhen  thai  var  entrit  in  it,  the  sam- 
 netes  be  grit  subtilite  hed  gart  cut  doun  grit 
 treis,  Sc  brae  doune  roche  cragis,  quhilkis  thai 
 pat  1  grit  nuer  at  the  entres  and  at  the  ischyng 
 furtht  of  that  strait  passage,  and  als  thai  set 
 monv  of  ther  men  of  veir  amanc:  the  cin^is 
 to  empesche  the  romans  that  thai  culd  nothir 
 returne,  nor  zit  to  pas  forduart.  quhen  the  re- 
 mans var  disauit  of  this  sort,  thai  var  lykly  to 
 dispayr  for  the  displeseir  and  melancole  that 
 aflligit  the.  bot  the  samnetes  var  vondir  glaid 
 fra  tyme  that  thai  hed  the  romas  in  that  piid- 
 fald,  quhar  thai  culd  nothir  fecht  nor  fie,  def- 
 fend  nor  resist,  bot  on  verray  neid  thai  be- 
 huffit  to  remane  vencust  vitht  out  straik  or 
 battel,  the  sanetes  bead  in  this  grit  blythtncs 
 be  cause  of  ther  happy  chance,  thai  determit 
 to  send  ane  message  til  aid  herenius,  quha 
 the  father  of  ther  captan  pontius,  til  hef  Ins 
 cpinione  and  consel  quhou  thai  suld  vse 
 cotrar  the  romanis  that  thai  hed  clcsit  vithtin 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I55 
 
 them,  this  aid  herenius  send  his  ansuer  and  c5- 
 sel,  and  bald  the  samnetes  gyf  the  romans  ther 
 fre  liberte  to  pas  hame  saue,  vitht  out  hurt  of 
 ther  honour,  bodys  or  guidis.  the  armye  of  the 
 samnetes  nocht  bead  sateffit  nor  contentit  of 
 this  ansuer  of  herenius,  thai  send  the  messen- 
 ger agane  til  hym  til  hef  ane  bettir  conseL  tha 
 aid  herenius  send  ane  vthir  ansuer,  and  bald 
 them  slaye  al  the  romas,  and  nocht  to  lat  ane 
 of  them  return  vitht  ther  lyif.  quhen  the  sam- 
 netes herd  the  tua  discordabil  consellis  of  he- 
 renius, thai  culd  nocht  meruel  aneutht  of  his 
 onconstant  ansuer,  quhar  for  pontius  his  sone 
 suspekit  that  his  father  dottit  in  folie  throcht 
 his  grit  aige,  zit  noththeles  he.vald  nocht  con- 
 clude na  exsecutione  contrar  the  romas  quhil 
 he  hed  spokyn  vitht  his  father  :  therfor  \  i 
 the  consent  of  the  samnettes,  he  send  for  his  la- 
 ther to  cum  to  their  camp,  quha  cam  at  his  co- 
 mad  i  ane  charriot,  be  cause  he  mytht  nothir 
 ryde  nor  gag  be  cause  he  vas  decrepit  i 
 lie  beand  aryuit,  his  sone  pontius  sperit  quhou 
 he  suld  vse  hym  contrar  the  romans  that  var 
 inclosit  betuix  the  tua  strait  montans.  the  aid 
 herynyus  changit  nocht  his  tua  fyrst  cor. 
 lis  that  he  hed  send  to  them:  hot  zit  he  d 
 
156 
 
 THE  COMPLAVNT 
 
 to  them  the  cause  of  thyr  tua  defFerent  consel- 
 lis,  sayand ;  my  sone  pontius,  and  ze  my  frendis 
 of  samnete,  the  first  consel  that  i  send  to  zou 
 the  quhilk  i  think  for  the  best,  that  is  to  say,  i 
 consellit  zou  to  thole  al  the  romans  and  ther 
 guidis  depart  saifly  in  liberte  but  ony  hurt  or 
 displeseir  ;  than  throtht  that  grit  benefice  that 
 ze  hef  schauen  to  them  of  ther  free  vil  &  vitht 
 ane  guide  mynde,  thai  vil  allaya  the  vitht  zou, 
 quhilk  sal  cause  ferme  and  perpetual  pace  to 
 be  betuix  rome  and  samnete.  the  tothir  cosei 
 that  i  send  to  zou,  i  ordand  zou  to  slay  doune 
 al  the  romans,  and  nocht  to  saif  ane  of  them, 
 for  than  it  sal  be  ane  lang  tyme  or  the  romas 
 can  purches  sa  grit  ane  armye  contrar  zou.  & 
 sa  ze  maye  lyif  in  pace  and  surete  ane  lang  ty- 
 me, considerand  that  the  grit  pouer  and  the 
 maist  nobilis  of  rome  ar  in  this  present  armye 
 inclosit  to  giddir.  ane  of  thir  tua  consellis  is  ne- 
 cessar  to  be  vsit,  and  the  thrid  consel  ca  nocht 
 be  gifin  to  zou  for  zour  veilfair.  than  pontius 
 and  the  princis  of  samnete  nocht  beand  coten- 
 tit  of  thir  tua  cosellis,inquyrit  at  aid  herenyus, 
 sayand,  ve  think  it  bettir  to  tak  ane  myd  vaye 
 betuix  vs  and  them  to  saif  their  lyiffis,  and  to 
 resaif  them  as  venxust  pepil,  and  ther  eftir  ve 
 
0?  SCOTLAND.  1 57 
 
 sal  male  strait  lauis  and  ordinance  quhilk  ve  sal 
 compel  them  til  obeye.  aid  herynyus  ansuert, 
 that  sentens,  says  he,purchessis  na  frendis,  nor 
 it  makis  na  reconsiliatione  of  enemes,  therfor 
 ze  suld  animaduert  varly  to  quhat  pepil   that 
 ze  purpos  to  vse  sic  iniurius  rigor,  for  ze  knau 
 the  nature  of  the  roma  pepil  is  of  sic  ane  sort, 
 that  gif  thai  resaif  oultrage,  and  beis  vencust 
 be  rigor  be  zou,  thai  can  neuer  hef  rest  in  ther 
 spreit  quhil  that  thai  heif  reuengit  zour  crual- 
 te,  for  thai  ar  of  ane  vendicatife  nature,  and 
 the  displeseir  that  thai  sal  resaif  be  zou  sal  euer 
 remane  in  their  hartis  quhil  thai  hef  reuengit 
 the  iniurius  defame  that  ze  haue  perpetrat  co- 
 trar  them,  thyr  tua  sentensis  of  herynyus  var 
 repulsit  and  nocht  adinittit,  therfor  he  departit 
 and  returnit  1  his  chariot  to  samnite  to  end  the 
 residu  of  his  days,  the  romans  beand  inclosit 
 betuix  thir  tua  montans,   thai   purpofit  mony 
 maneyrs  to  ische  furtht  fra  that  strait  place,  & 
 to  pas  to  fecht  in  fair  battel  contrar  the  samnc- 
 tes ;  bot  al  ther  laubyr  vas  i  vane,  for  thai  var 
 sa  strait  closit  that  thai  culd  nothir  pas  bakuart 
 nor  forduart.  than  thai  send  ther  legatis  to  de- 
 sire concord  and  pace  at  the  samneties,  or  eh 
 to  desire  battel  on  the  plane  fcildw.  pontius 
 
15&  THE  COMPLAYKT 
 
 aimiert  to  the  legatis  of  theromans:  quod  he, 
 the  battel  is  fochtyn  al  reddy  ;  &  quhou  beit 
 that  ze  ar  al  vencust,  zit  none  of  zou  vil  confes- 
 se  zour  euil  fortoune,  ther  for  ve  gif  zou  for 
 ane  final  ansuer,  that  al  zour  armye  sal  be  spul- 
 zit  of  zour  armour  and  of  zour  clais,  except 
 ilk  ane  salhef  ane  singil  coit  on  zou,&  ther  eftir 
 ve  sal  put  zour  cragis  1  ane  zoik  to  be  ane  per- 
 petual takyn  that  ze  ar  vencust  be  vs,  and  alsa 
 ze  sal  delyuer  til  us  the  villagis,  castellis,  and 
 vthir  placis,  the  quhilkis  zour  predecessours 
 conquest  fra  vs  in  aid  tymis,  and  alsa  ze  sal  lyif 
 and  obeye  til  our  lauis.  and  gif  this  ansuer  vil 
 nocht  cotent  the  romas,  i  gif  zou  expres  char- 
 ge that  ze  returne  nocht  heir  agane.  the  lega- 
 tis of  the  romans  returnk  to  the  camp  of  the 
 romans  vitht  the  ansuer  of  pontius,  the  quhilk 
 ansuer  did  mair  displeseir  to  the  romans  nor 
 that  potius  ansuer  hed  been  to  sla  the  al  cruel- 
 ler for  in  aid  tymes  ther  culd  nocht  be  ane  gri- 
 tar  defame  nor  quhen  ane  mannis  crag  vas 
 put  in  the  zoik  be  his  enemye,  for  that  defame 
 and  punitione  vas  haldin  mair  abhominabil 
 and  vile  nor  the  punitione  that  trespassours 
 indurit  in  the  galeis  for  demeritis.  hot  zit  ther 
 vas  no  remeid  to  saif  the  romans*  therfor  ex- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  59 
 
 treme  necessite  vas  resauit  for  vertu.  than  induobn, 
 throcht  the  counsel  of  ane  nobil  romane  cal-  gieaa'ma- 
 lit  lucius  lentulus,  thai  condiscendit  to   cheis  j"*  ,.euiu.s- 
 
 est  eligedu. 
 
 the  leyst  of  tua  euillis,  and  til  indure  that  vile 
 punltione  rather  nor  til  hef  been  cruelly  slane.  cicc. 
 than  the  cruel  samnetes  ordand  the  instriimct  &£ 
 of  the  zoik  of  this  sort  as  i  sal  rehers.  ther  vas 
 tua  speyris  set  fast  in  the  eyrd,  and  ane  vthir 
 speyr  set  &  bundyn  athort  betuix  the  tua  spey- 
 ris that  stude  vp  fra  the  eyrd  lyik  ane  gallus. 
 than  the  desolat  and  vencust  romans  var  con- 
 strezet  to  pas  vndir  that  zoik  ane  and  ane;  bot 
 the  tua  consellaris,  quhilkis  var  captans  to  the 
 romans,  thai  var  compel  lit  to  pas  fyrst  vndir 
 that  zoik  vitht  out  their  harnes  or  vaupynnis. 
 than  the  remanent  of  the  romans  foilouit  ilk 
 ane  eftir  his  aue  degre.  on  euerye  syde  of  this 
 zoik  ther  vas  ane  legione  of  the  armye  of  sam- 
 netes vitht  ther  sourdis  drauen  in  ther  handis, 
 quhar  thai  manneist  and  scornit  the  sillie  ro- 
 mans that  var  in  that  gryt  vile  perplexite.  O 
 ze  my  thre  sonnis,  this  defame  and  vile  puni- 
 tione  of  the  samnites  perpetrat  contrar  the  ro- 
 mas,  vas  verray  cruel  :  bot  doubtles  thai  that 
 ar  participant  of  the  cruel  inuasione  of  inglis 
 men  contrar  their  natyue  cuntreye,  ther  cr; 
 
l6o  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 gis  sal  be  put  in  ane  mair  strait  zoik  nor  the 
 samnetes  did  to  the  romans,  as  kyng  eduard 
 did  til  scottis  men  at  the  blac  parlament  at  the 
 bernis  of  ayr,  quhen  he  gart  put  the  craggis  of 
 sexten  scoir  in  faldomis  of  cordis,  tua  and  tua 
 ouer  ane  balk  of  the  maist  principal  of  them 
 that  adherit  til  hym  1  his  oniust  querrel  quhe 
 he  vrangusle  brotht  mekil  of  Scotland  in  his 
 subiectione.  this  protector  of  ingland  purpo- 
 sit  til  vse  this  samyn  crualte  in  the  zeir  of  god 
 ane  thousand  fyfe  hundretht  fourty  seuyn 
 zeris,  in  the  monetht  of  marche,  quhen  the  var- 
 dan  of  the  vest  marchis  of  ingland  ca  to  hald 
 ane  vardan  court  on  the  vest  marchis  of  scot- 
 land  vitht  in  the  schirefdome  of  galloua,  as 
 Scotland  hed  been  in  pacebil  subiectione  to  the 
 crone  of  ingland ;  bot,  as  god  vald,  the  maister 
 of  maxuel,  the  lard  of  doumlanrik,  and  diuer- 
 se  vthir  nobil  barronis  and  gentil  men  cam 
 vitht  ane  hie  curage  contrar  the  inglismen, 
 quhome  thai  venquest  vailzeantlye,  and  sleu 
 ane  grit  part  of  them,  and  tuke  ane  vthir  part 
 of  them  presoners,  and  chaissit  the  thrid  part 
 of  them  ten  myle  vithtin  ingland  :  and  ther 
 eftir  the  barronis  &  getil  me  of  oure  vest  cutre 
 gat  the  inglismes  spulze,  vitht  in  the  quhilk 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  l6l 
 
 spulze  thai  gat  tua  barrellis  ful  of  cordis,  and 
 euerie  cord  bot  ane  faldome  of  lyncht,  vitht 
 ane  loupe  on  the  end  al  reddy  maid,  quhilk 
 thai  ordat  til  hef  hangit  sa  mony  scottis  men 
 as  thai  purposit  til  hef  vequest  at  that  iournay. 
 Than  to  quhat  effect  suld  ony  scottis  men  gif 
 credens,  or  til  adhere  til  inglesmen  ?  our  croni- 
 klis  rehersis  of  diuerse  scotris  men  of  al  stait- 
 tis  that  hes  past  in  ingland.  sum  hes  past  for  po- 
 uerte,  and  sum  hes  past  in  hope  to  lyue  at  mair 
 eyse  and  liberte  nor  thai  did  in  Scotland,  and 
 sum  hes  been  denunsit  rebellis  be  the  authori- 
 ty, quhilk  vas  occasione  that  thai  past  in  inglad 
 for  refuge,  quhom  the  kyngis  of  ingland  hes 
 resauit  fameliarly,  and  hes  trettit  them,  and 
 hes  gifin  them  gold  and  siluir,  the  quhilk  he 
 did  nothir  for  piete  nor  humanite,  bot  rather 
 that  thai  suld  help  to  distroye  there  auen  natif 
 cuntre.  bot  zit  he  vald  neuer  gif  them  hercta- 
 ge  nor  credit,  for  the  experiens  of  the  samyn 
 is  manifest  presetlye.  for  quhou  bcit  that  the- 
 re be  abufe  thre  thousand  scottis  men,  and 
 there  vyfis  and  childir,  that  hes  duellit  in  in- 
 gland thir  fyftye  zeir  by  past,  and  hes  coqu 
 be  there  industre  batht  heretage  and  guidis, 
 zit  nocht  ane  of  them  dar  grant  that   thai  ar 
 
 x 
 
THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 scottis  men,  bot  rather  thai  man  deny  and  re- 
 fuse there  cuntre,  there  surname,  and  kyti  &j 
 frendis.  for  the  scottis  men  that  dueilis  in  the 
 southt  part  of  ingland,  thai  suere  and  mente- 
 nis  that  thai  var  borne  I  the  northt  part  or  in 
 the  vest  part  of  ingland  ;  and  scottis  men  that, 
 dueilis  in  the  vest  or  in  the  northt  of  inglad, 
 thai  man  suere  and  metene  that  thai  var  bor- 
 ne in  kyntschire,zoirke  schire,in  london,or  in 
 sum  vthir  part  of  the  southt  partis  of  ingland. 
 than  to  quhat  effect  suld  ony  scottis  men  ad- 
 here til  inglis  men,  to  gar  them  selfis  be  cum 
 sklauis,  and  to  remane  in  perpetual  seruitude? 
 ther  for  ve  may  verray  veil  beleif,  that  quhou 
 beit  that  the  kyng  of  ingland  garris  tret  scottis 
 men  vitht  gold  and  siluer  as  thai  var  his  fren- 
 dis,  zit  doutles  he  vald  be  rytht  glaid  sa  that 
 euerye  scottis  man  hed  ane  vthyr  scottis  man 
 in  his  bellye.  and  als  fra  tyme  that  god  sen- 
 dis  traquilite  amang  princis,  thai  that  ar  malst 
 familiar  vitht  the  protector  sal  be  haldin  maist 
 odius  in  ingland,  and  euerye  inglis  knaif  sal  cal 
 them,  dispytfully,  renegat  scottis;  andgif'ony 
 of  them  passis  to  the  protector,  to  regret  and 
 lament  the  abstractione  of  his  familiarite  that 
 he  scheu  to  them  in  the  begynnyng  of  the  vey- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  l6? 
 
 ris,  he  vil  ansuer  to  the  as  agustus  cesar  ansue- 
 rit  til  ane  captan  of  thrace  callit  rhymirales, 
 quha  betrasit  his  maister  anthonius,  8c  past  to 
 remane  vitht  agust'  cesar,  quha  vas  mortal  ene- 
 mye  til  anthoni\  tha  be  the  supple  of  rhymira- 
 les, agustus  cesar  vequest  antonius.  tha  quhen 
 the  veyris  var  endit  betuix  cesar  and  antoni', 
 rhymirales  vas  nocht  sa  veil  trettit  as  he  vas 
 indurand  the  tyme  of  the  veyris,  quhar  for 
 he  past  til  cesar,  sayand  ;  O  nobil  empriour,  i 
 hef  left  my  cuntre  and  my  maister  anthonius 
 for  zour  pleseir,  and  i  hef  been  the  cause  that 
 ze  hef  venquest  my  maister  anthonius,  &  nou 
 ze  schau  me  nocht  sa  grit  loue  and  familjarte 
 as  ze  scheu  me  I  the  tyme  of  the  veyris,  quhar- 
 for  ze  haif  schauen  zou  rycht  ingtat  cotrar  me. 
 Cesar  ansuer  it  to  rhymirales,  i  vil  hef  na  fami- 
 liarte vitht  zou,  for  i  loue  bot  the  trason  that 
 cuis  to  my  effect,  and  louis  nocht  the  tratours 
 that  commit tis  the  trason.  this  forsaid  exem- 
 pil  maye  be  veil  applyit  til  al  scottis  men  that 
 beleuis  to  get  mair  liberte  and  honor  in  tnglad 
 nor  thai  did  in  Scotland  ;  for  this  exempil  hes 
 been  prectykit  ihir  fyfe  hundretht  zcirs  byga- 
 ne  til  al  scottis  men  that  hes  adherit  til  i: 
 n.  cotrar  tlicr  Batyfe  ,  as  the  c 
 
164  THZ  COMPLAYNT 
 
 makis  manifest ;  for  quhou  beit  that  the  kyng 
 of  ingland  louis  the  traison  that  scottis  men 
 committis  contrar  ther  prince,  zit  he  louis 
 nocht  the  tratours  that  committis  the  traison. 
 
 Quhou  the  affligit  lady  declarit  til  hyr  thre 
 
 sonnis  that  the  familiarite  that  is  betuix  in- 
 
 gl1s    men    &   scottis   men  in  ane  pace  varld 
 
 at  morcattis   and   couentions   on   the 
 
 tua  bordours,   is  the  cause  of  the 
 
 traison  that  the  scottis  men 
 
 committis  cotrar  ther 
 
 natyfe  cuntre. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. 
 
 JL  here  is  no  thing  that  is  occasione  (O  ze 
 my  thre  sonnis)  of  zour  adhering  to  the  opi- 
 nione  of  ingland  cotrar  zour  natife  cuntre, 
 bot  the  grit  familiarite  that  inglis  men  and 
 scottis  hes  hed  on  baitht  the  boirdours,  ilk  ane 
 vitht  vtheris,  in  marchadeis,  1  selling  and  bying 
 hors  and  nok  and  scheip,  out  fang  and  in  fang, 
 ilk  ane  amang  vtheris,  the  quhilk  familiarite 
 is  expres  contrar  the  lauis  and  consuetudis 
 baytht  of  ingland  and  Scotland,  in  the  dais  of 
 moises,  the  ieuis  durst  nocht  haue  familiarite 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  l6$ 
 
 vitht  the  samaritanis,  nor  vitht  the  philisties, 
 nor  the  romans  vitht  the  affricans,  nor  the 
 grekis  vitht  the  persans,  be  rason  that  ilk  ane 
 repute  vtheris  to  be  of  ane  barbir  nature  ;  for 
 euere  nations  reputis  vthers  natios  to  be  bar- 
 bariens,  quhen  there  tua  natours  and  comple- 
 xions ar  contrar  til  vtheris  ;  and  there  is  nocht 
 tua  nations  vndir  the  firmament  that  ar  mair 
 contrar  and  different  fra  vthirs  nor  is  inglis 
 men  and  scottis  men,  quhoubeit  that  thai  be 
 vitht  in  ane  ile,  and  nythbours,  and  of  ane  la- 
 gage,  for  inglis  men  ar  subtil,  and  scottis  men 
 ar  facile,  inglis  men  ar  ambitius  in  prosperite, 
 and  scottis  men  ar  humain  in  prosperite.  in- 
 glis men  ar  humil  quhen  thai  ar  subieckit  be 
 forse  and  violence,  and  scottis  men  ar  furious 
 quhen  thai  ar  violently  subiekit.  ingiis  men  ar 
 cruel  quhene  thai  get  viclorie,  and  scottis  men 
 ar  merciful  quhen  thai  get  victorie.  and  to  co- 
 clude,  it  is  onpossibil  that  scottis  men  and 
 inglis  men  can  remane  in  concord  vndir  ane 
 monarche  or  ane  prince,  be  cause  there  naturis 
 and  conditions  ar  as  indefferent  as  is  the  na- 
 ture of  scheip  and  voluis.  quintus  cursius  re- 
 hersis,  that  darius  kyng  of  perfe  fend  ane  im- 
 bassadour  to  alexander  kyng  of  macedon,  and 
 
1 66  Till.  CO]  HT 
 
 ofTrit  hym  sax  mulis  chargit  vitht  gold,  sa  that 
 he  vald  lyue  vitht  hym  in  pace  and  concord 
 vndir  ane  crone  and  monarche.  alexader  ans- 
 :  to  the  imbassadour,  quod  he,  it  is  as  on- 
 ■possibil  to  gar  ine  and  kyng  darius  duel  to 
 giddir  in  pace  and  concord  vndir  ane  monar- 
 che, as  it  is  onpossibil  that  tua  sonnis  and  tua 
 munis  can  be  at  one  tyme  to  giddir  in  the  fir- 
 mament. This  exempil  may  be  applyit  to  in- 
 gland  and  Scotland  ;  for  i  trou  it  is  as  onpossi- 
 bil to  gar  inglis  men  and  scottis  men  remane 
 in  gude  accord  vndir  ane  prince,  as  it  is  onpos- 
 sibil that  tua  sonnis  and  tua  munis  can  be  at 
 one  tyme  to  giddir  i  the  lyft,  be  raison  of  the 
 grit  deflerens  that  is  betuix  there  naturis  & 
 conditions,  quhar  for,  as  i  hef  befor  rehersit, 
 there  suld  be  na  familiarite  betuix  inglis  men 
 and  scottis  men,  be  cause  of  the  grit  defferens 
 that  is  betuix  rhere  tua  naturis.  in  aid  tymis  it 
 vas  determit  in  the  artiklis  of  the  pace  be  the 
 tua  vardanis  of  the  bordours  of  ingland  and 
 Scotland,  that  there  suld  be  na  familiarite  be- 
 tuix scottis  men  and  inglis  men,  nor  manage 
 to  be  contrakit  betuix  them,  nor  conuentions 
 on  holy  dais  at  gammis  and  plays,  nor  mar- 
 Ires  to  be  maid  amang  the,  nor  scottis  me 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  iGj 
 
 til  entir  on  inglis  grond  vitht  out  the  kyng  of 
 
 inglad  sauc  coduct,  nor  inglis  men  til  entir  on 
 scottis  grod  vitht  out  the  kyng  of  scotladis  sauc 
 c5duct,  quhou  beit  that  there  var  sure  pace  be- 
 tuix  the  tua  realmis.  bot  thir  seuyn  zeir  byga- 
 ne,  thai  statutis  and  artiklis  of  the  pace  ar  adnul- 
 lit,  for  there  hes  bee  as  grit  familiarite  8c  couc- 
 tionis,  and  makyng  of  marchandreis,  on  the 
 bourdours  this  king  tyme  betuix  inglis  men 
 and  scottis  men,  baytht  in  pace  and  in  veir,  as 
 scottis  men  vsis  amag  the,  vitht  1  the 
 
 realme  of  scotlad.  and  sic  familiarite  hes  been 
 the  cause  that  the  kyng  of  ingland  gat  intelle- 
 gens  vitht  diuerse  gentii  men  of  Scotland,  it 
 is  nocht  possibil  to  keip  ane  realme  fra  con- 
 spiratione  and  trason,  fra  tyme  that  the  pepil 
 of  that  realme  vsis  familiarite  vitht  there  i 
 meis.  ther  is  ane  aid  prouerb  that  fays,  that  ane 
 herand  damyscle,  and  ane  spekand  castel,  sal 
 neuyr  end  vith  honour  ;  for  the  damyscle  that 
 heris  and  giffil  eyris  to  the  amourus  persua- 
 sions of  desolut  zong  men,  sal  be  cysile  persua- 
 dit  to  brae  hyr  <  I  .  siklik  ane  spekand  ca- 
 
 sicl,  that  is  to  save,  quhen  the   captan  or  so- 
 diours  of  ane  ca-^tLl  vsis  familiar  speche  , 
 comionyng  vitht  th  :  sal 
 
l68  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 be  eysylie  conquest,  be  rason  that  familiarite 
 and  speche  betuix  enemeis  generis  trason.   in 
 aid  tymis,  the  vailzeant  annibal,   and   vtheris 
 grit  captans.  baiht  romans  and  grecians,  thai 
 set  mair  there  felecite  to  purches  secret  fami- 
 liarite  and   c  monyng  vitht    there   enemeis, 
 nor  to  get  battel,   for  fra  tyme   that   thai  gat 
 familiarite  and  comonyng  vitht  there  enemeis, 
 than  thai  vrocht  to  bring  there  entreprice  and 
 intet  to  there  effect,  be  trason,  and  be  gold  and 
 tilueir.    Salust  de  bello  iugurtino  confermis 
 this  samyn  purpos.   quhen  iugurtha  of  numi- 
 die  in  affrica,  hed  tynt  diuerse  battellis  contrar 
 the  romans,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that  he  hed 
 almaist  lossit  his  cuntre,  than  his  frendis  con- 
 sellit  hym  to  decist  fra  his  veyris,  be  raso  that 
 he  prosperit  nothing,  and  lossit  mekil.  than  iu- 
 gurtha, nocht  beand  disparit  of  guid  fortone, 
 he  past  i  Italie  vitht  ane  frefche  armye  of  men 
 of  veir,  and  also  he  tuik  vitht  hym  ane  riche 
 quatite  of  gold  and  siluyr,  cunzet  &  oncuzet. 
 tha  his  frendis  reprochit  hym  be  cause  his  en- 
 treprice aperit  to  be  vane,  rather  nor  to  proce- 
 de  of  ane  prudet  k  mortifet  cosait.  iugurtha 
 ansuert  til  his  fredis,  q"d  he,  my  forse  is  nocht 
 sufficient  to  conques  rome,  bot  noththeles,  gif 
 
SCOTIA!  \6:) 
 
 that  i  can  purches  secret  familiarite  &  inteili- 
 gens  vitht  sum  of  the  romans  that  he?  autho- 
 rite,  i  beleif  to.venques  them  vitht  gold  and 
 syluyr  rathere  nor  vitht  forse  of  me  of  veyr, 
 for  euyrie  thing  is  to  sel  in  rome  for  monye : 
 ther  for  i  dcut  nocht  hot  i  sal  gar  the  sel  the- 
 re liberte  for  gold,  for  the  auariese  that  is  a- 
 mag  the  romas  vil  gar  ilk  ane  betrai^e  vthers. 
 Thir  vordis  of  iugurtha  makkis  manifest  that 
 there  is  nay  thing  that  bringi^  ane  realme  to 
 ruyne  sa  sune  and  sa  reddy  as  dois  the  fami- 
 liarite that  the  pepil  lies  vitht  there  enemeis, 
 throuchb  the  quhilk  familiarite  there  is  sum 
 euil  persoune  that  knauis  the  secret  determi- 
 nations of  the  lordis  of  the  counsel,  &  there 
 cftir  he  reuelis  it  to  sum  traisonabil  ma  that 
 hes  intelligens  vitht  the  kyng  of  inglad.  i  can 
 nocht  expreme  ane  speciale  man  that  perpe- 
 tratis  this  traisonabil  act,  bot  zit  i  a  i 
 as  sune  as  the  \  .  the  counsel  lies  deter- 
 
 mit   ony  guide  purpos  for  the 
 fair  of  the  realme,   inc«".  ■■.it  lit   in   tuenty 
 
 ris  there  eftir,  the  sammyn  itfat 
 
 i  the  toune  of  beru;  iefe 
 
 the  pet  of  be;  j  to 
 
 the  c 
 
170  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 the  inglismen  hes  there  deffens  reddy  contrar 
 our  purpos,  or  ve  begyn  to  exsecut  the  coun< 
 sel  that  vas  determit.  It  var  verray  necessair 
 that  the  committers  of  that  reuelen  var  pu- 
 rest mair  realye  nor  hes  been  ony  punitione 
 that  hes  been  exsecut  cotrar  ony  scottis  man 
 that  hes  cum  vitht  inglis  men  in  plaine  bat- 
 tel til  inuaid  Scotland,  thir  secret  reuelaris  of 
 the  counsel  of  Scotland  takkis  nocht  exem- 
 pil  of  the  tua  vailzeant  romans  pompeus  and 
 quintus  metellus,  quhilkis  kneu  al  the  secret 
 of  the  senat,  bot  there  vas  nothir  gold  nor  lan- 
 dis,  tormenting  nor  pyne,  that  vald  gar  ony 
 of  them  reueii  the  secret  of  the  senat  to  the 
 enemes  of  rome.  Valerius  maximus  rehersis, 
 in  the  trid  cheptour  of  his  thrid  beuk,  quhou 
 i-ib.  3.  c. 3.  the  romans  send  pompeus  in  imbassadre  til 
 aysia,  quhilk  vas  of  the  allya  of  rome,  and  be 
 chance  he  vas  tane  presoneir  in  his  voyage  be 
 gethius  the  kyng  of  esclauonia,  quha  vas  mor- 
 tal enemye  to  the  romans :  the  said  kyng  gen- 
 thius  coniurit,  persuadit,  solistit,  and  alse  he 
 manneist  nobil  pompeus  to  reueii  the  secret 
 counsel  of  the  senat.  pompeus  behaldand  his 
 onrasonabil  request,  he  pat  his  fingar  in  the 
 heyt  fyir,  and  tholit  it  to  birn  }  and  be  thte 
 
 Valerius 
 maximus. 
 
©F  SCOTLAND.  I7I 
 
 tollerance  and  paciens  of  that  cruel  pane,  ge- 
 tius  kneu  that  there  vas  na  torment  that  culd 
 gar  pompeus  reueil  the  secret  of  the  senat.  bot  Vale"us 
 
 ,ii-  1         1  •        1  maxim'. 
 
 allace,  there  is  sum  men  that  knauis  the  secret  Libr©.  7, 
 of  Scotland  that  vil  reueil  it  til  inglismen  ra- 
 ther nor  to  birn  the  fingar  of  ther  glufe.  Vale- 
 rius maxim'  rehersis  ane  vthir  exepil  quhou 
 that  quintus  metellus  beand  proconsul  of  ro- 
 me,  vas  send  vitht  ane  armye  in  to  spanze  co- 
 trar  the  celtibriens,  quhilkis  duellit  in  the  real- 
 me  of  nauerne.  he  set  ane  seige  about  the  tou- 
 ne  of  tribie,  quhilk  is  the  methropolitane  & 
 capital  cite  of  that  cuntre.  that  cite  resistit  and 
 deffendit  vailzeantly  contrar  quintus  metel- 
 lus. than  he  beand  in  melancole  be  cause  he 
 culd  nocht  conqueis  that  cite,  he  deuisit  ane 
 subtil  consait  to  desaue  the  celtibries.  he  gart 
 rais  his  camp  and  departitfra  that  cite,and  past 
 til  vtheris  diuerse  tounis  of  nauern,  sum  ty- 
 me  bakuart,  sum  tyme  forduart,  sum  tyme  he 
 past  to  the  montannis,  and  sum  tyme  to  the 
 valeis,  and  remanit  neuer  in  ane  stedefast  pla- 
 ce, and  he  gart  al  his  armye  keip  them  in  array, 
 the  cause  of  this  agitatione  and  commotione 
 of  his  army  vp  and  doun,  vas  nocht  knauen 
 he  none  of  his  men  of  veyr,  nor  zit  knau en  be 
 
 y  ij 
 
THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 i 
 
 his  enemes,  quhar  for  ane  of  his  familiar  fre- 
 clis  inquyrit  hym  of  the  cause  of  his  inconstat 
 vagatione,  quha  ansuert,  quod  he,  decist  and 
 inquyre  na  mair  of  that  purpos,  for  gif  that  i 
 vndirstude  that  my  sark  hed  knaulege  of  my 
 secret  or  of  the  deliberatione  of  my  mynde, 
 doutles  i  suld  birn  it  hastelye  in  ane  bald  fyir. 
 than  quhen  metellus  hed  vagit  vp  and  doune 
 there  ane  lang  tyme,  and  hed  put  his  host  and 
 armye  in  ignorance,  and  his  enemes  in  errour, 
 eftir  diuerse  turnad  coursis  athourtht  the  cii- 
 tre,  he  returnit  suddanlye  to  the  forsaid  toune 
 of  tribie,  and  laid  ane  sege  about  it  or  his  ene- 
 mes var  aduertest  to  mak  deffens,  and  sa  be 
 this  dissimilatione,  and  be  the  keping  of  his 
 counsel  secret  fra  his  frendis  and  fra  al  vthe- 
 ris,  he  conquest  the  said  toune.  vald  god  that 
 the  counsel  and  deliberatione  of  Scotland  var 
 kepit  as  secret  as  metellus  kepit  his  secret  fra 
 his  men  of  veyr,  than  doutles  the  inglis  men 
 vald  nocht  be  so  bold.  There  is  na  thing  that 
 is  cause  that  the  counsel  of  ingland  gettis  sa 
 haisty  aduertessing  of  the  priuitate  that  is 
 amag  the  lordis  of  scotlad,bot  the  vice  of  aua- 
 reis  that  hes  blyndit  the  raiso,  &  hes  infekkit 
 the  hartis  of  diuers  grit  me  of  scotlad.  the  aid 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 ^3 
 
 prouerb  is  treu  that  sais  that  it  is  as  cnpossibil 
 to  gar  ane  auaricius  man  be  faythtful,  as  it  is 
 onpossibil  to  gar  ane  fische  of  the  depe  nude 
 speik  hebreu  or  greik.  Quhar  for  (o  ze  my 
 thre  sonnis)  i  exort  zou  to  tak  exempil  of  di- 
 uerse  nobil  me  that  culd  neuir  be  seducit  nor 
 persuadit  to  tak  gold  nor  reches  fra  there  ene- 
 meis.  There  is  ane  exempil  of  allexader  kyng 
 of  macedon,  quha  hed  mortal  veyr  contrar  the 
 grekis.  he  sende  ane  riche  present  extendant 
 til  thre  scoir  of  thousadis  peces  of  gold,  til  ane 
 nobil  man  of  athenes  callit  phosion,  ane  man 
 herTand  gret  autorite  in  athenes.  Tha  phosion 
 said  to  the  inbassadours  of  kyng  allexander,q~d 
 he,  my  frendis,  for  quhat  cause  hes  kyng  alle- 
 xander  sende  this  riche  present  of  gold  to  me 
 alanerly,  ande  hes  sende  na  thing  to  the  rema- 
 net  of  the  lordis  of  athenes  ?  The  inbassadour 
 ansuert,  our  master  kyng  allexander  hes  sen- 
 de zou  this  present  of  gold,  be  raison  that 
 he  hes  iugit  zou  to  be  the  maist  nobil  andc 
 niaist  verteous  abufe  al  them  of  athenes.  pho- 
 sion ansuert,  gyf  that  kyng  allexander  hes  iu- 
 git me  to  be  of  grit  prudens  ande  vertu,  ze  sal 
 praye  hym  to  thole  me  to  remane  prudent 
 verteous.  for  gyf  i  tak  his  present  of  gold,  tha  i 
 
174  TH£  COMPLAYftT 
 
 am  nothir  prudet  nor  verteous,  for  there  is  no 
 thyng  mair  repugnat  to  prudes  nor  vertu,  nor 
 quhen  ane  person  resauis  gold  or  reches  fra 
 his  enemee.  there  for  ze  sal  tel  to  zour  master 
 kyng  allexander,  that  he  sal  nocht  corrupt  me 
 vitht  gold,  nor  venqueis  me  in  battel,  nor  zit 
 he  sal  conqueis  na  thing  in  grece  bot  sa  mekil 
 eird  as  vil  be  sepulturis  til  his  men  of  veyr. 
 this  exepil  makkis  manifest,  that  quhen  ane 
 prince  presentis  gold  ande  siluyr  to  the  subie- 
 ctis  of  his  enemei,  doutles  his  intentione  is  to 
 seduce  them  to  conspire  ande  to  betraise  the- 
 re natiue  cutre.  quhar  for  i  exort  zou  (my  thre 
 sonnis)  that  ze  detest  auerese,  ambicion,  ande 
 traison,  ande  that  ze  gar  zour  solistnes  of  the 
 defFens  of  zour  comont  veil  prefFer  the  solist- 
 nes of  zour  particular  veil :  for  quhe  zour  par- 
 ticular veil  is  spulzeitor  hurt  be  zour  enemeis, 
 it  maye  be  remedit  be  zour  comont  veil,  ande 
 in  opposit,  gyf  zour  comont  veil  be  distroyt, 
 than  it  sal  neuyr  be  remedit  be  zour  particu- 
 lar veil,  for  zour  particular  veil  is  bot  ane  ac- 
 cessor of  zour  comont  veil,  ande  the  accessor 
 follouis  the  natur  of  the  prencipal.  accessoriu 
 sequitur  naturam  sui  prencipalis. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 7S 
 
 *;   QUHOU  THE  ACTOR  DECLARIS  THAT  CONSPIRA- 
 
 TOURS  AR  AY  PUNEST  TO  THE  DETHT  BE 
 
 THE  PRIKCIS  THAT  GAT  PROFEIT 
 
 OF  THERE  CONSPIRATIONS. 
 
 CHAP.  XI1II. 
 
 X  her  is  ane  exepil,  quhou  that  eftir  the 
 dolorus  battel  of  Cannes,  quhilk  i  hef  oft 
 rehersit  of  befoir,  quhar  that  the  nobii 
 counsul  emilius  paulus  vas  slane  vitht  xiiii 
 thousand  of  the  maist  nobillis  of  italie, 
 quhen  that  annibal  send  to  cartage  thre 
 muis  of  gold  ryngis,  quhilkis  he  hed  got- 
 tin  on  the  fingaris  of  the  maist  nobil  re- 
 mans that  var  slane,  for  ane  testimonial  of 
 his  grit  victorie.  and  eftir  this  dolorus  battel, 
 diuersc  citeis  and  castellis  of  Italie  randrit 
 them  to  annibal,  sum  be  compulsion,  and 
 sum  be  fre  vil,  be  cause  that  thai  var  disparit 
 that  the  romans  culd  euer  hef  pouer  to  resist 
 the  cartagics,  &  su.  of  the  randrit  the  be  tra- 
 son  for  monye  that  thai  resauit  fra  annibal,  as 
 did  the  nobil  cite  of  capee:  zit  noctheles  incon- 
 bt'tt  foirton  alterit  the  prosperite  of  the  carta- 
 I,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that  the  romans  be 
 grit  vailzeantnes  recouerit  &  coquest  diuersg 
 
IjG  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 of  ther  auen  tounis  and  castellis  fra  annibal, 
 quhilk  vas  grit  blythnes  to  sa  mony  tounis 
 and  castellis  that  vas  onconquest  be  annibal. 
 And  als  it  vas  as  ongrit  blythnes  to  sa  mony 
 castellis  and  tounis  quhilkis  hed  radrit  them 
 be  trason  to  annibal.  than  thir  nobil  romans 
 heffand  grit  afFectione  to  be  reuengit  on  an- 
 nibal for  the  grit  slauchtir  committit  at  Can- 
 nes, past  vitht  ane  armye  of  xxxiii  legions 
 befor  the  toune  of  cape,  and  be  grit  industre 
 thai  maid  tua  lang  depe  fosses  about  al  the  tou- 
 ne in  sic  ane  sort,  that  nane  of  the  me  of  veyr 
 of  cape  culd  ische  furtht  bot  gif  thai  ca  vitht 
 in  the  romans  camp,  at  that  tyme  fuluius  flac- 
 cus  vas  captan  and  due  of  the  romans  armye. 
 the  romans  hed  nocht  monye  hors  to  ryde  in 
 forrais  and  in  prikkyngcotrar  ther  enemes,bot 
 the  men  of  veir  of  capes  as  numydies,  quhilk 
 annibal  left  in  garnison  var  veil  furnest  vitht 
 grit  nummir  of  hors,  the  quhilkis  ischit 
 furtht  daly  fra  capes,  and  did  grit  domage  con- 
 trar  the  romans.  ther  vas  at  that  tyme  ane 
 roman  callit  auius,  ane  centurion,  quha  di- 
 uysit  that  the  romans  suld  tak  sa  mony  hors 
 men  as  thai  mytht  furneis,  and  to  gar  tua  men 
 ryde  on  euerye  hors,  and  euerye  ane  to  hef  ane 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  177 
 
 lycht  scheild  and  vij  dartis  in  ther  handis.  tbl 
 quhe  the  hors  men  of  capes  ischit  to  mak  ane 
 scarmouche  en  the  romas,  the  hors  men  of  the 
 romans,  tua  on  ilk  hors,  met  and  recontrit  the 
 cartagiens,  and  at  ther  meting,  tha  that  reid 
 behynd  on  the  hors  discedit  on  ther  fute  vitht 
 ther  dartis.  of  this  sort  the  remans  on  hors  and 
 on  fute  disconfeist  the  cartagiens  of  capes,  be 
 cause  thai  of  capes  kneu  nocht  of  the  subtilite 
 that  the  romans  hed  ordand  contrar  them. 
 remanent  of  the  cartagiens  that  var  nocht  sla- 
 ne  fled  vithtin  the  toune  to  saif  them,  bot  al  the 
 romans  armye  follouit  sa  haistylye  quhil  thai 
 gat  entres  vitht  in  the  toune,  and  pat  it  to  sac  ; 
 and  ther  eftir  the  nobil  consul  fuluius  flaccus 
 past  to  the  tribunal,  &  gart  al  the  principal  lor- 
 dis  of  capes  compeir,  and  than  he  gart  bynd 
 ther  handis.  in  iryn  chenzeis,  be  cause  of  the 
 trason  that  thai  commit  tit  contrar  ther  natiue 
 cuntre.  and  syne  he  send  ane  certan  of  them 
 to  be  put  in  preson  in  the  toune  of  thtanc,  and 
 ane  vthyr  certan  to  the  toune  of  calles.  than 
 cftir  that  he  hed  put  ordour  to  the  maist  vrget 
 byssencs  of  capes,  he  departit  and  past  to  thea* 
 ne  and  to  calles,  to  gar  exsecut  iusticeon  the 
 conspiratours  of  capes,  quhar  he  gart  strik  the 
 
THE  COMPLAV 
 
 heydls  fra  them  of  capes  that  var  in  presort  in 
 theane,  and  syne  past  to  calles  to'  gar  exsecut 
 iustice  on  the  remanent,  he  beand  ther  aryuit, 
 he  gart  bryng  furtht  the  presoners  to  be  iusti- 
 fiet.  at  that  samyn  instant  hour,  the  senat  ande 
 faders   conscript  of  rome  send  ane  post  in 
 message  vitht  ane  closit  vryting  to  fuluius  flac- 
 cus, chargeand  hym  to  be  mercy  ful,  and  nocht 
 ouer  rigorus  in  exsecutione  of  his  iustice.   he 
 hefand  suspitide  of  the  contineu  of  ther  vry- 
 tingis,  and  als  heffand  ane  feruent  affectione 
 to  puneis  tratours,  he  resauit  the  vryting  in  his 
 kar  hand,  and  vald  nocht  apin  it  nor  reid  it 
 quhil  the  boreau  hed  strikyn   the  heydis  fra 
 the  presoneris  of  calles  quhilkis  hed  conspy- 
 rit  contrar  capes,    this  exsecutione  of  iustice 
 beand  endit,  he  apnit  the  vrytingis,  and  eftir 
 that  he  hed  red  the  contineu  of  it,  he  said  to 
 the  post,  my  frend,  this  vryting  is  cum  ouer  lait 
 and  behynd  the  hand,  of  this  sort  the  traturs 
 of  capes  var  punest ;  for  this  nobil  consul  ful- 
 uius flaccus  gart  sla  25  of  the  maist  nobillis  of 
 capes.  Siklik  gif  ther  be  ony  of  the  tounis,  vil- 
 lages, or  castellis  of  Scotland,  that  hes  randrit 
 the  to  be  subiectis  til  inglandbe  trason,  i  vald 
 god  that  fuluius  flaccus  var  diligat  iuge  to  pu- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  79 
 
 nels  them  as  he  punest  the  conspiratours  of  ca- 
 pes ;  for  the  forsaid  fuluius  flaccus  gat  as  grit 
 commedatione  for  the  extreme  iustice  that  he 
 gart  exsecut  on  tresonabil  tratours,  as  he  gat 
 for  his  vailzeantnes  quhen  he  conquest  the 
 tcune  of  capes  fra  annibal. 
 
 5|"  Ther  is  ane  vdir  excmpil  of  the  punitio- 
 ne  of  traturs,  as  thucidides  the  historien  greik 
 rehersis  in  the  xv  cheptor  of  his  fyrst  beuk, 
 quhen  pausanias,  quha  hed  commissione  of 
 the  armye  of  the  lacedemoniens,  quhen  he 
 past  to  defend  hellespont,  he  vas  depriuit  of 
 that  dignite,  be  cause  he  hed  intelligens  vitht 
 the  enemeis  of  greice.  than  he  beand  depri- 
 uit, he  of  ane  profond  maleis  departit  fra 
 lacedemonia,  and  gart  the  pepil  beleif  at  his 
 departing,  that  his  purpos  vas  to  pas  to  helle- 
 spot  to  be  ane  sodiour  for  the  deiTens  of  that 
 cuntre,  be  rason  it  vas  ane  of  the  subiectis  of 
 ice.  bot  notheles  his  purpos  vas  to  pas  to 
 the  kyng  of  mud,  quha  vas  mortal  eneme  to 
 reice,  in  hope  to  conueen  and  accord  vitht 
 the  said  kyng  o.  raeid  contrar  the  .  tha 
 
 to  i  traison  mair  patent,  h< 
 
 <f  presoners  of  the  kyng,  and 
 
 he  ;  ;ng  thai 
 
l8o  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 eschaipit  &  brokyn  the  preson  cotrar  his  vil, 
 the  quhilk  presoneirs  he  had  conquest  of  be- 
 for  furtht  of  the  cite  of  bizate,  quhen  the  kyng 
 of  meid  hed  left  them  in  garnison  to  kep  the 
 said  cite  fra  the  grekis;  8c  also  he  vreit  ane  let- 
 tir  to  the  kyng  of  meid,  as  eftir  follouis. 
 
 ^[  Pausanias  due  of  spart,  to  the  kyng  xer* 
 xes  salut.  i  hef  send  to  the  thir  presoners,  the 
 quhilk  i  hef  conquest  in  fair  and  honest  vey- 
 ris,  contrar  the  quhilk  present  i  hef  send  to  the 
 to  that  effect  that  i  maye  conques  thy  loue  & 
 thy  fauoir  ;  and  als  i  am  of  ane  intentione  to 
 spouse  thy  dochtir,  gif  it  be  thy  pleseir  :  there- 
 for, gif  thou  vil  consent  to  this  manage,  i  sal 
 put  al  greice  in  thy  subiectione;  the  quhilk  i  cii 
 do  rytht  eysylie,  sa  that  i  can  hef  intelligence  ZL 
 familiarite  vitht  the.  quhar  for,  gif  thou  be  co- 
 tent  of  my  desyre,  thou  sal  send  ane  of  thy 
 maist  familiaris,  to  communicat  mair  ample 
 of  this  byssynes.  Quhen  exerxes  hed  red  this 
 vryting  of  pausanias,  he  send  ane  ansuer  in 
 vreit  vitht  ane  of  his  familiar  frendis  callit  ar- 
 tabasus,  to  quhome  he  gef  commissione  til  ac- 
 cord vitht  pausanias.  this  vas  the  tenor  of  ex- 
 erxces  vryting.  Kyng  exerxes  of  meid  to  pau- 
 sanias salut.  i  thank  the  of  the  pleseir  and  be* 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  1  5  I 
 
 nefice  that  thou  hes  dune  to  me  in  the  sen- 
 dyng  name  the  presoners  quhilk  thou  con- 
 quest in  my  cite  of  bezance,  the  quhilk  i  nor 
 myne  sal  neuer  forzet  quhil  ve  dee.  i  exort 
 the  that  thou  be  solist  nytht  and  daye  til  exse- 
 cut  and  to  fulfil  thy  promes,  and  i  sal  nocht 
 spair  gold  syluyr  nor  men  of  veir  to  be  at  thy 
 command  ;  and  as  to  my  dochtyr,  i  assure  the 
 that  sche  sal  be  thy  spousit  vyf.  thou  sal  gif  cre- 
 dence to  this  berar  artabasus,  quha  is  my  se- 
 cretar  and  my  speciale  frend.  Quhen  pausa- 
 nias  bed  resauit  this  vryting  fra  ex^rxces 
 kyng  of  meid,  he  bega  euere  day  to  prattik  his 
 intent  conti  i  rekis,  and  als  he  be  cam  fa- 
 
 miliar vicht  the  barbaric  ns,  the  quhilk  fami- 
 liarite  vas  occasions  that  the  grekis  tuke  ane 
 real  suspetione  and  ane  vehement  imaginatio- 
 ne  of  his  coiuratione  and  conspirations  quhar- 
 for  til  eschaip  the  danger  and  do  mage  that 
 mytht  Buccede  fra  his  trason,  the  ephores  of  la- 
 cedemonia  send  ther  sergent  to  summond 
 hym  to  compcir  in  the  toune  of  spart  vndir 
 the  pane  to  be  reput  rebel  and  i 
 
 tha  lie  I  hym  fra  ane  gritar 
 
 suspetione,  and  als  he  fond  hope  to  purge  hym 
 of  al  crymes  throcht  ;  that 
 
1$2  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 he  thocht  to  distribut  amang  the  senaturis  of 
 lacedemonia,  he  past  forduart  vitht  the  sergent 
 to  the  toune  of  spart.  than  incontenent  the 
 ephores  constitut  hym  presoneir,  for  the  epho- 
 res  of  lacedemonia  var  of  sa   grit  authorite, 
 that  thai  mycht   constitut   and   compel   ther 
 kyng  or  ther  due  to  be  presoneir.  the  senaturs 
 &  inhabitaris  of  spart,  hed  nocht  sufficiet  pro- 
 batione  to  condamp  hym.  therfor  thai   dred 
 to  exsecut  vengeance  on  hym,  be  cause  he  vas 
 discendit  of  hie  geneologie,  and  of  the  blude 
 ryal  of  lacedemonia,  and  als  he  vas  of  hie  di- 
 gnite.  at  that  insrat  tyme  he  hed  ane  domestik 
 seruitour  quhilk  he  hed  abusit  carnalye  lang  of 
 befoir  in  his  zoutheid, quhilk  seruitur  hed  bor- 
 ne the  last  vrytingis  that  he  hed  vrytin  to  arta- 
 basus  the  secretar  of  kyng  exerxes.   than  this 
 seruituir  persauand  that  nane  of  the  messen- 
 geris  that  hed  past  of  befoir  vitht  vrytingis 
 to  artabasus,  returnit  agane  vitht  ansuer,  he 
 hefFand  dreddor  of  his  auen  lyif,  heapnit  the 
 vrytingis  to  red  the  tenor  of  the,  quhar  he  gat 
 the  samyn  thig  1  thequhilk  hesuspekit  &  doub- 
 tit  of  befor:  that  is  to  say,quhou  that  pausanias 
 vrit  to  artabasus  to  resaif  his  vrytingis  &  ther 
 eftir  to  sla  the  messengeir.  this  said  seruitur 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I$3 
 
 brocht  the  vrytingis  to  the  ephores  of  lacede- 
 monia,  the  quhilk  vryting  maid  the  traison  of 
 pausanias  manifest,  zit  nochtheles  thai  vald 
 nocht  exsecut  punitione  quhil  that  the  verite 
 of  his  cryme  var  mai-r  manifest,  than  be  ane 
 subtile  cauteil  thai  gart  pausanias  seruitur  pas 
 to  the  tempil  to  talc  gyrtht  and  protectione,  as 
 dois  ane  tresgressor  that  hed  committit  cryme 
 in  aid  tymes.  it  vas  vsit  in  greice  that  ane  ser- 
 uand  that  offensit  his  maister  vas  punest  be  the 
 iugis  as  ane  trespassar  that  hed  committit  cry- 
 me. and  syne  thai  gart  ane  of  ther  familiaris 
 aduerteis  pausanias,  quhou  that  his  seruitur 
 hed  tane  gyrtht  in  the  tempil  for  sum  cryme 
 that  he  hed  committit,  and  als  thai  hed  gi- 
 fin  sufficient  informatione  to  the  seruituir  of 
 pausanias  quhou  he  suld  vse  hym  touart  his 
 maister.  than  the  ephores  past  to  the  samyn  te- 
 pil,  and  hid  them  in  anu  secret  place  be  hynd 
 the  curtingis  of  the  tempil,  to  that  effect  that 
 thai  mytht  heir  the  vordis  and  communica- 
 tionis  that  vas  to  be  spokyn  betuix  pausanias 
 and  his  seruituir.  Pausanias  beand  aduertest 
 of  the  presonyng  of  his  scruand,  past  inc< ... 
 nent  to  the  tempil  to  inquyrc  his  seruituir  of 
 the  cause  of  his  cummyng  to  gyrtht  in  I 
 
I  84  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 said  tempil.  his  seruituir  ansuert,  schyr,  i  hed 
 suspitione  and  dred  my  lyif,  be  cause  that  the 
 messengeris  that  ze  send  of  befoir  to  xerxes 
 returnit  nocht  agane.  therfor  i  apnit  zour  vri- 
 tingis  quhair  that  i  hef  fundyn  the  thyng  that 
 i  doubtit,  quharfor  i  meruel  that  ze  haif  vry- 
 tin  to  gar  sla  me,  considerand  that  i  hef  been 
 ane  faithtful  seruituir,  and  ze  vait  veil  that  i 
 hef  kepit  zour  consel  in  secret  of  al  zour  bys- 
 sines  that  ze  hef  vrocht  vitht  kyng  exerxces 
 contrar  the  grekis,  ther  for  ze  hef  committit 
 ane  onhumain  act  1  sa  far  as  ze  vald  gar  sla  me 
 for  my  guide  seruice.  pausanias  ansuert,  sayad, 
 my  fred,  it  is  cf  verite  that  thou  says,  sic  thing 
 i  did  throcht  ane  suspetione  that  i  tuik  of  the, 
 quharfor  i  pray  the  to  perdone  me,  and  heir  i 
 sal  mak  ane  promes  that  i  sal  euer  be  ane  faitht- 
 ful maister  to  the,  and  i  sal  recompens  the  for 
 thy  grit  faithtful  labouris.  therfor  i  pray  the  to 
 depart  incontenent,  and  pas  to  artabasus,  and 
 to  ueclair  til  hym  be  tong  quhou  that  i  am 
 rytht  solist  to  fulfil  the  promes  that  i  maid  til 
 his  maister  xerxes,  the  quhilk  i  beleif  sal  cum 
 til  ane  glide  fyne  rytht  haistylie.  the  ephores 
 that  stude  be  hynd  the  curtynis  knauand  and 
 herand  the  manifest  trason  of  pausanias,  thai 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  85 
 
 gart  hym  dee  in  presone,  &  ther  eftir  thai  gart 
 cast  his  body  in  ane  cauerne  quhar  that  the  vse 
 vas  to  cast  the  carions  of  comdampnit  trans- 
 gressouris.  and  sa  pausaniasvas  recompensit  5c 
 reuardit  for  his  trason  that  he  committit  con- 
 trar  his  natiue  cuntre. 
 
 ^[  Ther  is  ane  vthir  exempil  of  the  punitione  Samuel, 
 of  trason,  in  the  fyrst  cheptor  of  the  secod  beuk 
 of  samuel.  quhen  the  philistiens  faucht  in  ane 
 battel  contrar  the  childir  of  israel,  quhar  that 
 kyng  saul  vas  slane  on  the  motan  of  gelboye. 
 at  that  tyme  ther  departit  ane  zong  man  of  the 
 amalekytes  blude  fra  the  camp  of  saul,  quha 
 presentit  hym  on  his  kneis  befoir  dauid.  than 
 dauid  said  til  hym,  quhar  fra  ar  thou  cu  ?  pre- 
 sentlye  the  zoung  man  ansuert,  i  am  cum  fra 
 the  camp  of  Israel,  dauid  said  til  hym,  i  pray 
 the  that  thou  declair  to  me  al  the  nouelles  of 
 the  battel,  the  zong  man  ansuert,  the  pepil  ar 
 fled  fra  the  battel,  and  ther  is  ane  grit  numer 
 of  the  pepil  deid,  &  ais  saul  and  bis  sone  iehu- 
 nathan  ar  dede.  dauid  said  to  the  zoung  man 
 that  brocht  the  nouuelles,  quhou  knauis  thou 
 that  saul  and  ieonathan  his  sone!  3ff  dede  ?  the 
 zoing  man  ansuert,  quo d  he,  be  chance  i  arry- 
 uit  on  the  montan  of  gelboye,  quhar  i  beheld 
 
l86  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 saul  leynad  on  his  speyr.  than  he  lukitbe  hynd 
 hym,  sayand  to  me,  quhat  art  thou?  to  quhome 
 i  ansuert,  i  am  ane  amalaket.  than  he  said,  i 
 pray  the  to  sla  me,  for  mellancolye  hes  assail- 
 zet  me,  hot  noctheles  my  lyif  is  zit  in  my  bo- 
 dy, than  i  past  and  i  sleu  hym,  be  cause  that  i 
 kneu  thar  he  culd  nocht  eschaip  vitht  his  lyif; 
 and  i  tuke  las  croune  fra  his  hede,  and  his  bra- 
 scheletis  fra  his  armis,  the  quhilkis  i  haif  bro- 
 cht  heir  to  the.  than  dauid  lamentit  hauylye 
 the  dede  of  saul  and  of  his  sone  iehonatan,  8c 
 the  slauchtyr  of  the  grit  numer  of  pepil  that 
 var  slane.  than  eftir  his  dolorus  lamentatione, 
 he  said  to  the  zoiig  man  that  hed  brocht  hym 
 the  nouuellis,  quhy  dred  thou  nocht  to  put  thy 
 handis  in  the  vnctit  kyng  of  the  lord  ?  than  da- 
 uid callit  on  ane  of  his  sodiours,  and  gart  hym 
 sla  that  zong  man  in  his  presens,  sayand,  thy 
 blude  sal  be  on  thy  hede,  for  thy  moutht  hes 
 testifet  contrar  thy  self,  quhen  that  thou  con- 
 fessit  that  thou  sleu  the  vnctit  kyng  of  the 
 lord,  of  this  sort  this  zoung  man  vas  punest 
 ca.jT'  for  the  slauchtyr  of  kyng  saul.  Ther  is  ane 
 vthir  exempil  of  the  punitione  of  trason,  as  is 
 vrytin  in  the  fyft  be  cheptor  of  the  secoJ  beuk 
 of  samuel.  quhen  that  rechab  and  banach  his 
 
 Samuel, 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  187 
 
 brudir  entrit  in  the  house  of  isbosetht  the  sone 
 of  kyng  saul,  Sc  thair  thi  strak  hym  trocht  the 
 fyft  ryb  of  his  syde  vitht  ane  dagar,  quhen  he 
 vas  slepand  in  his  bed,  and  ther  eftir  thai  cuttit 
 his  hede  fra  his  body,  &;  brocht  it  to  dauid  til 
 ebron,  sayad,  behald  heir  the  hede  of  isbcsetht 
 the  sone  of  kyng  saul  thy  mortal  enemye  :  the 
 lord  hes  tane  vengeance  on  kyng  saul  and  on 
 his  seid.  dauid  ansuert  to  rechab  and  baanach 
 and  said,  syklik  as  the  lord  quhilk  delyuerit  me 
 fra  tribulatione  is  lyuand,  and  als  sykilik  as  i 
 gart  sla  hym  that  brocht  me  the  nouuelles  of 
 the  dede  of  kyng  saul,  be  mair  rytht  i  suld  gar 
 sla  them  that  hes  slane  the  iust  isbosetht  quhe 
 he  vas  lyand  slepand  in  his  bede.  than  kyng 
 dauid  gef  command  til  his  sodiours  to  sla  re- 
 chab and  baanatht.  than  the  soudiours  at  da- 
 uid commad  fyrst  cuttit  the  feit  and  the  han- 
 dis  fra  the  tua  tratours  that  sleu  isboseth  in 
 his  bed,  and  syne  hangit  the  baytht  on  ebron 
 hil.  of  this  sort  traturs  suld  be  ayreuardil  quhe 
 thai  comit  trason  cotrar  ther  prince.  Ther  is 
 ane  vther  exepil  of  the  punitioe  of  tratouris 
 that  betrasis  ther  natyf  prince,  quhe  the  cruel 
 veyris  var  betuix  darius  kyng  of  perse  and 
 jrrii  alexand'cr  of  macedon,  ther  vas  ane  capt'i 
 
I  88'  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 of  kyng  darius  quha  vas  verra  familiar  &  in 
 grit  fauoir  vitht  darius,  callit  bessus,  quha  sleu 
 his  maister  kyng  darius,  in  hope  to  get  ane 
 grit  reuard  fra  kyng  alexander.  kyng  alexader 
 cam  at  that  instant  tyme  quhen  darius  vas  in 
 the  agonya  and  deitht  thrau,  troch  the  mortal 
 vondis  that  he  hed  resauit  fra  bessus  his  serui- 
 tuir.  than  alexander  maid  ther  ane  solempnit 
 vou  to  reuenge  the  trason  committit  be  the 
 said  bessus.  than  he  gart  his  sodiours  serche  & 
 seike  bessus,  quha  vas  gottyn  in  the  forest,  and 
 vas  brocht  and  led  bundyn  in  ane  chenze  be- 
 for  kyng  alexander.  this  nobil  alexander  gart 
 his  sodiours  pul  doune  the  crops  of  the  green 
 treis,  and  ther  eftir  tha  bad  his  tua  armis  vitht 
 Cordis  to  the  crops  of  ane  of  the  treis,  and  he 
 gart  bynd  his  feit  to  the  crops  of  the  tothir  tre? 
 &  than  gart  lat  louse  the  crops  of  the  tua  treis, 
 and  tha  sprang  vp  rytht  of  ther  aid  fasson,  & 
 in  the  rysing  vp  thai  dreu  the  body  of  bessus 
 in  peces.  of  this  sort  bessus  vas  reuardit  for  his 
 trason  committit  contrar  his  rythteous  prince. 
 Ther  is  ane  exepil  of  the  trason  that  ane  blac 
 iacopyne  frere  comittit  cotrar  henry  the  se- 
 uynt  of  that  name,  the  toune  of  florens  vald 
 nocht  obeye  to  the  empir,  quhar  for  the  said 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I  #9 
 
 Empriour  Henry  brotht  ane  grit  armye  to  sei- 
 ge  the  toune  of  florens.  than  ane  blac  iacopy- 
 ne  frere  gat  ane  grit  some  of  moneye  fra  the 
 florentynis  to  tak  on  had  to  sla  the  empriour, 
 be  cause  this  said  frere  vas  familiar  vitht  the 
 said  empriour.  than  he  trocht  auereis  he  poy- 
 sont  the  host  of  the  sacrament  vitht  poyson. 
 ther  eftir  that  nobil  empriour  past  to  resaif 
 the  body  of  god  vndir  the  forme  of  brede,  and 
 as  soune  as  he  hed  resauit  it  i  his  moutht,  his 
 body  bega  to  suel,and  sahe  decessit.  The  veri- 
 te  of  this  trason  vas  persauit  be  the  phicisians 
 and  medicinaris:  quhar  for  the  men  of  veyr  of 
 this  nobil  empriour  gart  quartyr  that  fals  fre- 
 re betuix  iiij  hors,  and  sa  he  vas  reuardit  for 
 his  trason.  There  is  diuerse  vthirs  exeplis  of 
 the  myscheif  that  god  sendis  on  cospiratours. 
 there  for  i  exort  zou  my  thre  sonnis,  that  gyf 
 ony  of  zou  hes  faltit  contrar  zour  comot  veil 
 throucht  ignorance  or  abusione,  that  ze  cor- 
 rect zour  selfis,  than  god  sal  be  zour  frend. 
 
l§6  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 %   QtTHOU  THE  THRID  SONE  OF  THIS  PAYR  LADY 
 
 CALLIT  LAUBIR  ANSUERT  VTTHT  ANE 
 
 LAMENTABIL  COMPLAYNT. 
 
 CHAP.    XV. 
 
 vJ  my  dolorus  mother,  quhilk  sum  tyme 
 aboundit  in  prosperite,  and  nou  thou  art  spul- 
 zet  fra  al  felicite  trocht  grit  affliction  of  Ian- 
 gorius  tribulatione,  i  resaif  thy  repreif  in  pa- 
 ciens  for  ane  correctione,  and  nocht  for  ane 
 inuectyf  dispyit.  i  knau  that  thy  complaynt  is 
 nocht  disrasonabil  nor  vitht  out  cause,zit  noch- 
 theles  my  displeseir  is  vondir  bittir,  i  sa  far  as  i 
 hef  baytht  the  domage  and  the  reproche  of 
 thy  myscheif,  the  quhilk  i  deserue  nocht  til 
 hef  be  rason  of  my  innocens.  Allace,  the  ad- 
 uersite  of  ane  innocent  is  mair  nor  cruel  quhe 
 he  induris  punitione  for  ane  cryme  that  ane 
 transgressor  committis.  i  may  be  comparit  to 
 the  dul  asse  in  sa  far  as  i  am  compellit  to  bayr 
 ane  importabii  byrdyng,  for  i  am  dung  and 
 broddit  to  gar  me  do  &  to  thole  the  thing  that 
 is  abuif  my  pouer.  allace,  i  am  the  merk  of 
 the  but,  cotrar  the  quhilk  euere  man  schutis  ar- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  I9I 
 
 rous  of  tribulatione.  allace,  quhou  is  iustice 
 sa  euil  trettit  quhilk  is  occasione  that  euerc 
 man  vsis  al  extreme  extorsions  contrar  ir.w 
 as  far  as  ther  pouer  can  exsecut.  allace,  i  lau- 
 byr  nycht  and  day  vitht  my  handis  to  neu- 
 reis  lasche  and  inutii  idil  men,  and  thai  reco- 
 pens  me  vitht  hungyr,  and  vitht  the  sourd.  i 
 susteen  ther  lyif  vitht  trauel  &  vitht  the  suet 
 of  my  body,  and  thai  parsecut  my  body  vitht 
 oultrage  and  hayrschip,  quhil  i  am  be  cu  ane 
 begger  thai  lyf  trocht  me,  and  i  dee  trocht  the. 
 allace,  o  my  natural  mother,  thou  repreifis  & 
 accusis  me  of  the  faltis  that  my  tua  brethir 
 committis  daly,  my  tua  brethir  nobilis  and 
 clergie  quhilk  suld  defed  me,  tha  ar  mair  cruel 
 contrar  me  nor  is  my  aid  cnemes  of  ingland. 
 thaar  my  natural  brethyr,  bot  thai  ar  my  mor- 
 tal enemes  of  verray  deid.  Allace,  quhou  can 
 i  tak  paciens  cosiderful  that  ther  can  na  thing 
 be  eikkyt  to  my  parsecutione  bot  cruel  d 
 i  dee  daly  in  ane  trase  trocht  thenecessite  that 
 i  hef  of  the  gudis  that  i  van  vitht  my  laubyrs. 
 my  cornis  and  my  cattel  ar  reft  fra  me.  i  am 
 exilit  fra  my  takkis  and  fra  my  steddyngis.  the 
 malis  and  fermis  of  the  groiul  that  i  laubyr 
 h  hychtit  to  sic  ane  price,  tha; 
 
l§2  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 &  vyf  and  bayrns  to  drynk  vattir.  the  teyndis 
 of  my  cornis  ar  nocht  alanerly  hychtit  abu- 
 fe  the  fertilite  that  the  grond  maye  bayr,  bot 
 as  veil  thai  ar  tane  furtht  of  my  handis  be  my 
 tua  tirran  brethir.  and  quhen  i  laubyr  be  mar- 
 chandres  or  be  mecanik  craftis,  i  am  compellit 
 to  len  and  to  fyrst  it  to  my  tua  cruel  brethir, 
 and  quhen  i  craif  my  dettis  quhilk  suld  suste- 
 ne  my  lyif,  i  am  bostit,  hurt,  and  oft  tymis  i 
 am  slane.  ther  for  laubereris  to  burtht  &  land 
 and  be  see  burd,  thai  indure  daly  sic  violence 
 that  it  is  nocht  possibil  that  esperance  of  releif 
 can  be  ymagynit.  for  ther  is  nay  thing  on  the 
 lauberaris  of  the  grond  to  burtht  and  land,  bot 
 arrage,  carage,taxationis,  violent  spulze,and  al 
 vthyr  sortis  of  aduersite,  quhilk  is  onmerciful- 
 ly  exsecut  daly.  the  veyr  is  cryic  contrar  in- 
 gland,  bot  the  actis  of  the  veir  is  exsecutit  con- 
 trar the  lauberaris,  and  consumis  ther  mise- 
 rabil  lyif.  O  my  natural  mother,  my  coplaynt 
 is  hauy  to  be  tald,  bot  it  is  mair  displesand  to 
 susteen  my  piteous  desolatione.  i  am  banest  fra 
 my  house,  i  am  boistit  and  maniest  be  my  fre- 
 dis,  and  i  am  assailzit  be  them  that  suld  defend 
 me.  the  lauberaris  ar  ane  notabil  membyr  of 
 ane  realme,  vitht  out  the  quhilk  the  nobillis 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  I93 
 
 &  clergie  ca  nocht  sustene  ther  stait  nor  ther 
 lyif,  zir  notheles  thai  ar  baytht  be  cu  my  mor- 
 tal enemeis,  the  quhilk  vil  be  the  final  euemo- 
 ne  of  ther  auen  prosperite.  therfor  i  may  corn- 
 pair  them  til  ane  man  in  ane  frenyse,  quhilk 
 bytis  his  auen  mebris  vitht  his  techt,  throuch 
 the  quhilk  his  body  be  cumis  consumit.  the 
 romans  in  aid  tymes  prouidit  prudentlie  for 
 the  deffens  of  the  comont  pepil  cotrar  the  no- 
 billis,  the  senat,  and  al  vtheris  of  grit  stait  or  di- 
 gnites,  and  cotrar  ther  extorsions,  for  thai  in- 
 stitut  ane  nobil  man  of  office,  callit  tribunus 
 plebis,  quha  deffendit  the  fredum  and  liberte 
 of  the  comont  pepil  contrar  the  crualte  of  the 
 hie  senat,  or  ony  vthir  grit  man  of  grit  stait. 
 bot  allace  it  is  nocht  nou  of  that  sort  vitht  me, 
 for  i  am  left  desolat  vitht  out  supple  or  del 
 amag  the  hadis  of  vrangus  oppressours  quhilk 
 professit  them  to  be  my  brethir  and  defendou- 
 ris,  for  i  indure  mair  persecutione  be  the  nor 
 be  the  cruel  veyr  of  ingland,  for  my  takkis  stey- 
 ding  and  teyndis  ar  nocht  alancrly  tane  fra 
 me  or  ellis  hychtit  til  ane  onrasonabil  price, 
 bot  as  veil  i  id  ane  slaue  of  my  body  to 
 
 ryn  and  rasfae  in  arr^ge  &  carraige.  ther  i 
 am  constrenzct  to  cry  on  god  for  a:: 
 
194  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 geance  contrar  them  for  the  importabil  affir* 
 ctione  quhilk  thai  constrenze  me  til  indure, 
 the  quhilk  i  beleif  sal  cum  haistyly  on  them 
 be  the  rycht  iugement  of  god,  conformand 
 to  the  vordis  of  the  prophet,  propter  mise- 
 riam  inopum  &  gemitum  pauperum  nuc  ex- 
 urgam  dicit  dominus  :  that  is  to  say,  be  the 
 expositioe  of  the  doctoris,  for  the  misere  of 
 mistirful  men,  and  for  the  vepyng  of  pure 
 men,  the  diuyne  iustice  sal  exsecut  strait  pu- 
 nitione.  therfor  thir  potestatis  and  men  of 
 stait  that  dois  extorsios  to  the  pure  pepil  thai 
 hef  mistir  to  be  verra  var  and  to  abstrak  them 
 fra  the  violence  quhilk  tha  parpetrat  on  the 
 pure  pepil.  for  it  is  to  be  presumit  that  the  la- 
 mentabil  voce  and  cryis  of  the  affligit  pepil 
 coplenat  to  the  hauyn,  vil  moue  to  pitie  the 
 clemens  of  the  maist  merciful  and  puissant 
 diuyne  plasmator,  the  quhilk  trocht  his  eternal 
 iustice,  vil  succumb  in  confusione  al  violent 
 vsurpatours  quhilkis  parpetratis  sic  cruel  ini- 
 quiteis  on  the  desolat  pure  pepil.  Therfor  (o 
 thou  my  mother)  sen  i  am  in  dangeir  of  the 
 deitht,  and  disparit  of  my  lyif,  necessite  pulsis 
 and  constrenzes  me  to  cry  on  god,  and  to  de- 
 sire vengeace  on  them  that  persecutis  me,  in 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  195 
 
 hope  that  he  vil  releif  me,  or  els  to  tak  me 
 furtht  of  this  miserabil  lyif,for  the  ingratitude 
 of  my  tua  brethir.  ther  dissolutione,  and  the 
 mysknaulage  of  god,  and  ther  disordinat  mis- 
 gouernance,  is  the  cause  of  my  impaties,  and 
 cause  of  al  my  afflictione;  for  as  ther  euil  co- 
 quest  reches  multiplies,  ther  disordinat  pom- 
 pe  and  ther  delicius  ydilnes,  vitht  misknaula- 
 ge  of  god  augmentis,  quhilk  is  occasione  that 
 tha  ar  ambitius  in  ther  stait,  couetuse  of  gudis, 
 and  desirus  to  be  gouernouris  of  the  realme.  i 
 suld  hef  said  misgouernouris  of  the  realme, 
 the  quhilk  foliful  affectionis  vil  be  ther  auen 
 confusione  quhen  god  pleysis,  be  rason  that 
 nane  of  ther  verkis  ar  coformiid  to  the  c5mad 
 of  god.  bot  al  the  manessing  that  is  maid  to 
 the,  nor  zit  the  grit  promes  that  is  maid  to  the 
 be  the  holy  scripture,  altris  nocht  ther  couety- 
 se  desyre.  therfor  thai  may  be  comparit  to  the 
 edropic,  the  quhilk  the  mair  that  he  drynk  the 
 mair  he  hes  desire  to  drynk.  my  tua  brethir 
 nobillis  and  clergie  ar  in  sic  melancole,  be  cau- 
 se that  i  complcin  and  murmyris  ther  crualte, 
 bot  zit  nane  of  the  decisis  fra  the  vice  quhilk 
 gifts  me  occ;  1  iriurmyf.  it  is  nocht  pos- 
 
 I  to  gar  extorsione  be  vitht  out  murmur, 
 c  B  ij 
 
196  THE  COMPLAVNT 
 
 nor  murmur  to  be  vitht  out  rumour  of  the 
 pepil,  nor  rumour  to  be  vitht  out  diuisione,  & 
 diuisione  vitht  ouc  desolatione  and  sklandyr. 
 therfor  my  Ipacies  suld  be  supportit  be  cause 
 that  the  occasione  of  it  hes  suppedit  my  rason. 
 o  mydesolat  mother,  thou  suld  nocht  reproche 
 al  thy  thre  chikfir  in  general,  bot  rathere  to  re- 
 proche sa  mony  in  special  that  ar  occasione  of 
 thy  afHictione.  thou  vait  that  ane  man  vil  ha- 
 ue  childir  of  deferent  conditionis,  sum  gude, 
 and  sum  euil.  the  patriark  Iacob  hed  tuelf  son- 
 nis,  of  the  quhilk  his  zongest  sone  beiemyn 
 vas  indole  and  innocct,  and  Iosept  vas  faitful 
 and  merciful,  and  ruben  vas  pieteabil  and 
 humain,  and  the  tothir  nyne  brethir  var  cruel 
 and  dissaitful,  quhen  thai  condampnit  there 
 brothere  Iosept  to  dee  in  ane  cesterne,  &  the- 
 re eftir  thai  seilit  hym  to  the  egiptiens  to  be 
 ane  sklaue.  Siklik  amang  al  sortis  of  pepil,  and 
 amang  al  facultes  and  staitis,  there  is  sum  gu- 
 de and  sum  euil.  and  fyrst  to  speik  of  the  def- 
 feres  of  kyngis.  dauid  that  roial  prophet,  vas 
 ane  holy  kyng,  and  kyng  saul  vas  cruel  k  vi- 
 cius.  and  amang  the  staitis  of  preistis,  matha- 
 thias  vas  gude,  and  obnias  vas  euil.  and  amag 
 the  staitis  of  prophetis,  daniel  vas  gude,  and 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  1 97 
 
 balaam  vas  euil.  &  amang  the  vedous  iudicht 
 vas  gude,  and  Ihesabel  vas  euil.  amang  the  pa- 
 stoirs  and  hirdis,  abel  vas  gude,  and  abimelech 
 vas  euil.  amang  the  staitis  of  reche  men,  lob 
 vas  gude,  and  nabal  was  euil.  and  amang  the 
 religion  of  the  apostolis,  Sanct  petir  vas  gude, 
 and  iudas  vas  euil.  ther  for  o  my  dolorus  mo- 
 ther, thou  erris  in  thy  accusatione,  in  sa  far  as 
 thou  makis  na  acceptione  of  personis,  nor  put- 
 tis  defferens  betuix  qualites  of  conditionis  of 
 men.  it  is  concludit  be  al  lauis,  diuyne  and 
 humain,  that  euere  person  sal  bayr  his  auea 
 birding,  and  that  euere  person  sal  be  commen- 
 dit  or  detestit  efferand  for  his  conuersatione. 
 therfor  thou  suld  nocht  condamp  innocentis 
 and  trangressouris  baytht  to  giddir.  sic  puni- 
 tione  excedis  the  limitis  of  discretione  and  of 
 iu  tice.  it  is  vrytin  in  the  7  cheptor  of  genesis, 
 that  god  sauit  lotilt  and  his  famile,  be  cause  of 
 there  obediens,  quhen  he  distroyit  the  vicias 
 pepil  of  sodome  and  gomore.  O  my  velbelo- 
 uit  mother,  thou  knauis  that  i  am  innocent 
 of  thy  inuectiue  accusatione,  a:ul  that  my  tua 
 cruel  brethir  ar  the  cause  of  thy  dcsolationc, 
 &  of  my  distructione.  for  i  am  sa  violctly  ouer- 
 set  be  them,  that  throcht  pi  if  gudis  and 
 
198  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 trocht  debilite  of  my  persone,  i  cannothir  do 
 gude  to  my  frendis,  nor  euil  to  my  enemes. 
 quharfor  i  exort  the  til  altir  thy  seueir  accu- 
 satione  in  ane  cheritabil  consolatione.  there 
 is  ane  prouerb  that  sais  parce  sepulto  ;  that  is 
 to  saye,  spair  hym  that  is  in  his  sepulture,  this 
 prouerb  maye  be  applyit  to  my  dolorus  for- 
 toune,  for  i  maye  be  comparit  til  hym  that  is 
 dede  in  his  sepulture,  considerand  that  ther 
 can  be  na  dolour  eikit  to  my  aduersite,  except 
 cruel  deitht.  there  for  thou  suld  abstrak  thy 
 inuectiue  reprocha,  quhilk  is  rather  crualte 
 nor  correctione,  conformand  til  ane  adagia  of 
 ane  of  the  seuyn  sapientis  of  rome,  callit  mi- 
 nus pubiianus,  that  said,  crudelis  in  re  aduer- 
 sa  est  obiurgatio.  Allace  my  deir  mother,  thou 
 consideris  nocht  quhou  that  my  brethir  ar  be- 
 cum  onmerciful  tirrans  touart  me.  i  am  hal- 
 dyn  be  the  vulgar  pepil  for  there  zongest  bro- 
 ther, bot  i  am  there  eldest  brother  in  verra 
 deid.  foT  i  vas  gottyn  and  borne  lang  befor 
 the,  and  it  vas  i  that  first  instituit  there  facul- 
 teis.  for  the  pollice  that  vas  inuentit  be  me  & 
 my  predecessouris  eftir  the  creatione  of  the 
 varld,  hes  procreat  the  stait  of  my  brethir.  the 
 faculteis  and  the  begynnyng  of  nobillis  and 
 
OF  SCOTLAND*  199 
 
 spiritualite,  hed  bot  pure  lauboraris  to  there 
 predecessouris.  bot  nou  sen  thai  ar  cum  to  stait 
 and  digniteis  trocht  me,  thai  ar  be  cum  ingrat, 
 and  lychtleis  me.  my  tua  brethir  professis 
 them  to  be  gentil  men,  and  reputis  me  and  al 
 lauberaris  to  be  rustical  and  inciuile,  ondantit, 
 ignorant,  dullit  slauis.  thai  vil  nocht  consider 
 that  al  there  gentreis  hes  procedit  and  discen- 
 dit  fra  me.  ther  for  quhair  thai  compt  the  de- 
 greis  of  there  genologie,  thai  suld  fyrst  begyn 
 at  adam  oure  foir  father,  and  quhen  thai  pry- 
 de  them,  and  ascribis  in  there  reches  faculteis 
 or  digniteis,  thai  buld  fyrst  begyn  at  the  suc- 
 cessouris  of  ouer  foir  father  Adam,  quhilkis 
 var  lauberaris  of  the  grond,  and  be  there  pru- 
 dent inuention  and  pollice,  hes  procreat  the 
 stait  that  thai  posses,  therfor  thai  haue  na  cau- 
 se to  gloir  in  them  seluis,  bot  rather  thai  suld 
 gloir  in  me,  and  in  al  lauberaris  of  the  grond 
 quhilkis  var  fundatouris  of  al  there  triuphild 
 prosperite.  bot  there  alTectione,  and  there  va- 
 ne ignorant  consaitis,  garris  them  ymagyn  & 
 beleif  that  there  predecessouris  and  al  there 
 nobillite  and  digniteis  hes  discedit  fra  the  an- 
 gellis  and  archangellis,  &  nocht  fra  ouer  for 
 father  adam,  quhilk  is  the  speciale  cause  that 
 
200  THE  COMPLAVNT 
 
 thai  lychtlie  the  lauberaris  that  fundit  the.  i 
 meruel  that  thai  considir  nocht  the  gentris  Sc 
 genologe  of  kyng  dauid  that  hed  ane  pure 
 scheiphird  til  his  father,  tulius  hostilius  the 
 thrid  kyng  of  rome,  vas  the  sone  of  ane  pure 
 lauberar  of  the  grond.  tarquinius  priscus  the 
 fyift  kyng  of  rome,  vas  the  sone  of  ane  pure 
 marchant.  varro  that  prudent  consul  and  di- 
 ctator of  rome,  vas  the  sone  of  ane  flaschar. 
 the  vailzeant  consul  of  rome  perpenna,  quha 
 reuengit  the  slaucthtir  of  crassus,  vas  the  sone 
 of  ane  pure  greik.  marcus  cato  vas  the  sone  of 
 ane  pure  man  of  tuscan.  the  philosophour  so- 
 crates,  quhilk  vas  iugit  to  be  the  maist  prudet 
 man  in  the  vniuersalvarld,  vas  the  sone  of  ane 
 pure  ma  cailit  sophonistus,  quhilk  vas  ane  gra- 
 uer  of  imagis  of  marbyr  stone,  and  his  mother 
 vas  ane  meyd  vyf.  euripides  vas  the  sone  of 
 ane  pure  ma  that  sellit  frut  &  eirbis.  demoste- 
 nes  that  prudent  due  of  athenes,  vas  the  sone 
 of  ane  pure  marchant  that  sellit  aid  knyuis, 
 agathocles  kyng  of  cecille,  vas  the  sone  of  ane 
 pottar  that  formit  clay  pottis.  marcus  tulius 
 cicero  vas  the  sone  of  ane  pure  lauberar  of 
 arpyne.  quhar  for  i  meruel  of  the  vanete  of 
 my  tua  brethir  that  ascribis  and  professis  the 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  201 
 
 gentil  men  be  successione  of  ther  predecessou- 
 ris.  and  thai  vil  nocht  considir  that  the  stok  of 
 the  fyrst  genologe  of  al  the  nobillis   that   hes 
 bene  sen  the  varld  began,  hes  been  pure  lau- 
 beraris  and  mecanik  craftis  men  :  therefor  it  is 
 grit  abusione  to  them  to  gloir  in  there   nobil 
 blude  ;   for  i  trou  that  gif  ane  cirurgyen  vald 
 drau  part  of  there  blude  in  ane  bassyn,  it  vald 
 hef  na  bettir  cullour  nor   the   blude  of  ane 
 plebien  or  of  ane  mecanik  craftis  man.  the  va- 
 ne gloir  that  my  tua  brethir  takis  in  sic  vane 
 gentilnes,  is  the  cause  that  thai  lichtlye  me, 
 trocht  the  quhilk  arrogant  mynde  that  thai 
 hef  consauit,  thai  mysken  god  and  ma,  quhilk 
 is  the  occasione  that  i  and  thou  sal  neuyr  get 
 releif  of  our  afBictioe.  quharfor  i  pray  to  god 
 to  grant  them  grace  to  ken  them  selfis  ;  for  as 
 lang  as  thai  ken  nocht  them  selfis,  thai  sal  ne- 
 uyr ken  god,  nor  zit  sal  hef  pitie  of  pure  affli- 
 git  pepil.  the  quhilk  misknaulege  of  themself 
 and  of  god,  sal  be  occasione  of  there  auen  ru- 
 uyne,  bot  gif  thai  correct  them  selfis  haistylye. 
 ()  my  dolorus  mother,  this  prolixt   lamenta- 
 bil  complaynt  procedis  fra  ane  affligit   hart, 
 quhar  for  i  exort  the  to  mettigat  thy  inuecti- 
 ue  vehement  accusatione,  and  to  considir  the 
 
202  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 verite  of  my  innocens.  the  prudent  seneque 
 gyuis  cummand  to  repreif  vitht  out  iniure, 
 and  to  loue  vitht  out  flattery  ;  bot  thou  passis 
 the  limitis  of  baytht  thir  documentis,  for  thy 
 vordis  ar  verra  iniurius,  vitht  out  perspectio- 
 ne  to  the  verite.  thou  accusis  me  ouer  rigou- 
 rouslie  of  conspiratione  and  trason,  thou  kna- 
 uand  veil  that  trason  is  neuyr  generit  nor  in- 
 uentit  in  the  hartis  of  the  pure  comontis  ;  & 
 quhou  beit  that  there  ignorance  culd  gar  the 
 consaue  ane  grondit  maleis  contrar  ane  prin- 
 ce that  hes  perpetrat  exactionis  on  the  pepil, 
 zit  notheles  thai  hef  nothir  prudes  nor  knau- 
 lege  til  conuoye  and  til  exsecut  ony  point  of 
 trason.  there  for,  quhen  the  committaris  of  tra- 
 son ar  tryit  furtht,  it  sal  be  fundyn  that  i  and 
 al  vthir  of  my  faculte  sal  be  clene  and  inno- 
 centis  of  that  foule  cryme,  be  rason  that  it  is 
 nocht  possibil  that  ane  pure  man  can  haue 
 oportunite  til  exsecut  ane  traisonabil  act  con- 
 trar ane  prince,  be  cause  of  sa  mony  dificil  im- 
 pedimetis  that  maye  impesche  hym,  as  pouer- 
 te,dreddour,  ignorance,  andnoththefandfami- 
 liarite  vitht  ane  prince,  and  the  perellis  &  dan- 
 gers that  maye  succed  fra  coniurationis,  ar 
 vondir  grit,  nocht  alanerly  in  the  conuoyng 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  203 
 
 and  in  the  diuising  diuerse  consaitis  to  bring 
 there  purpos  til  effect,  bot  as  veil  the  dangeir 
 and  perrel  is  as  grit  in  the  exsecutione  of  it, 
 and  na  les  dager  and  perrel  eftir  that  it  be  ex- 
 secut.  therefor  i  think  that  ane  pure  man  can 
 commit  na  trason  contrar  ane  prince,  bot  gif 
 that  he  vaid  haszard  his  lyif  in  ane  disparit 
 vilfulnes  ;  and  quhar  ony  man  takis  hardynes 
 to  commit  trason  of  that  sort,  it  is  rycht  seyn- 
 dil  sene  that  he  eschapis  the  deitht  in  the  pre- 
 sent tyme  of  his  exsecutione-  ther  for  i  can 
 nocht  beleir  that  ony  person  vil  offir  hym  self 
 til  ane  certan  detht  vil  fully,  for  quhou  beit 
 that  pausanias  sleu  phi  lip  kyng  of  macedon 
 passand  to  the  tempil  quhar  he  hed  ane  thou- 
 sand of  his  men  of  armis  about  hym  in  the 
 presens  of  his  sone  and  of  his  gude  sone,  zit 
 noththeles  that  act  culd.neuyr  hef  been  exse- 
 cut,  hed  nocht  been  that  pausanias  hed  fami- 
 liaritevithckyng  philip.  and  siklyik  ane  spang- 
 zard  of  ane  pure  stait  strak  ferrand  kyng  of 
 spagze  vitht  ane  knyf  on  the  crag,  quhilk  vofid 
 vas  nocht  mortal ;  zit  noththeles  this  spang- 
 zard  culd  nocht  hef  dune  it,  hed  nocht  been 
 that  he  hed  ane  hardy  hart, and  alse  heUand  c5- 
 inodite  and  tyme  oportuiu:  to  comit  that  act. 
 2  C  ij 
 
204  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 Siklyik  ane  preist  of  turque  callit  deruis  schot 
 ane  bolt  befoir  the  port  of  tempil  cotrar  basit, 
 quhilk  vas  fathere  to  solomanuis  the  grit 
 turk  that  ringis  nou  presetlye.  that  schot  sleu 
 nocht  basit,  bot  zit  the  exsecutioe  of  that  act 
 culd  nocht  hef  been  vitht  out  hardynes  and 
 oportunite.  therfor  O  my  desolat  mother,  ve 
 that  ar  pure  lauberaris  suld  neuir  be  suspek- 
 kit  of  trason,  considerand  that  ve  haue  no- 
 thir  tyme,  oportunite,  reches,  credens,  har- 
 dynes, prudes,  nor  familiarite  vitht  ane  prin- 
 ce, therfor,  al  historiographours  rehersis  that 
 al  coniurations  hes  been  exsecut  be  grit  per- 
 sonagis  of  ane  realme,  or  ellis  be  the  familia- 
 ris  seruandis  of  ane  prince,  there  for  ve  that 
 ar  pure  comontis,  distitut  of  credit,  prudens, 
 and  autorite,  and  nocht  heftand  familiarite 
 vitht  the  maieste  of  ane  prince,  ve  can  hef  na 
 comodite  of  the  necessair  thingis  that  ar  re- 
 quirit  to  put  ane  trasonabil  act  til  exsecutio- 
 ne.  for  quhou  beit  that  our  ignorance  vald 
 gar  vs  consaue  ane  malicius  intent  cotrar  our 
 prince,  ve  behufit  fyrst  to  reueil  it  til  diuerse 
 men  to  gar  the  be  participat  vitht  vs,  troucht 
 the  quhilk  reuelatione  sum  of  them  vald  ac- 
 cuse vs  til  our  prince,   for  it  is  nocht  possibil 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  205 
 
 to  gar  thresumkeipconsel,  and  specialeincau- 
 sis  of  trason  ;   for  euere  person  hes  sum  fred 
 that  he  louis  as  veil  as  hym  self,  and  that  fre- 
 de  hes  ane  vthir  frende,  and  that  tothir  fr^nd 
 hes  the  thrid  frende,   and  the  thrid  frend  hes 
 the  feyrd  frende  ;  and  of  this  sort  there  intre- 
 pricis  is  manifest,  fra  the  quhilk  succedis  perr 
 dition  of  body  and  gudis.    for  there  is   nocht 
 mony  men  i  this  varld  bot  sum  vil  schau  the- 
 re secret  to  ther  brother,  or  to  there  compan- 
 zone,  or  to  there  vyfe,  or  to  there  familiar  ser- 
 uandis  ;  and  alsa  indiscretione  of  sum  coniu- 
 ratours  causis  there  entreprisis  to  be  discou- 
 uert  be  there  seruandis  or  childir,  troucht  su- 
 spectione  and  coniecture   that   occurris  quhe 
 thir  coniuratours  ar  ouer  ample  and  plane   in 
 ther  deliberatione  of   there  purpos   ande    of 
 there  entreprice  in  the  presens  of  the  re  :>erua- 
 dis  and  childir;  as  is  rehen.it  in  the  fvrst  beuk 
 of  titus  liuius,  that  quhen  the  sonnis  of  brutus 
 var  makand  ane   sedicius   pactione   vitht   the 
 imbassadours  of  tarquinus,  quhilk  there   fa- 
 ther brutus  hed  bannest  ira  rome,  at  that  ty- 
 me  ane  scruand  of  the  sonnis  of  brutus  herd 
 al  thepacti  the  coniuratione,  the  quhilk 
 
 serufid  accusit  them  oj 
 
£06  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 brutus  and  to  the  senat,  quilk  vas  occasio- 
 ne  that  brutus  vsit  extreme  iustice  on  his  tua 
 sonnis,  nocht  heffand  regarde  to  the  pitie  that 
 fathers  hes  touuart  there  natural  sonnis,  bot 
 rather  he  did  preffer  the  public  veil  befor  na- 
 tural loue,  quhen  he  gart  strik  the  heydis  fra 
 his  tua  zong  sonnis.  Sum  tyme  coniuration 
 is  reuelit  throucht  facilnes  of  the  coiuratours 
 that  schauis  there  secret  til  ane  voman  or  til 
 ony  frede  that  thai  loue  hartfully,  as  did  ane 
 gentil  man  callit  dinus,  quha  vas  participant 
 of  the  coniuratione  that  philotes  intendit  til 
 exsecut  contrar  kyng  allexander.  this  foir- 
 said  dinus  reuelit  his  secreit  til  ane  zog  child 
 that  he  louit  callit  nicomacus,  ande  nicoma- 
 cus  reuelit  that  samyn  secret  til  his  brother 
 ciballinus,  and  ciballinus  reuelit  it  til  kyng 
 alexander,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that  the  con- 
 iuratours  suirrit  the  detht.  Therefor  (o  my 
 dciorus  mothere)  thou  may  considir  that  the 
 defeculte  of  the  comitting  of  trason  is  vondir 
 grit,  and  the  perrel  and  the  dangeir  that  succe- 
 dis  is  na  les  ;  quharfor  grit  men,  and  alse  the 
 familiaris  of  princis  that  coniuris,  ar  affligit 
 in  there  hart  vitht  ane  thousand  defFeculteis 
 or  tha  tak  on  hand  til  exsecute  there  entrepri- 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  20J 
 
 ce.  than  be  mair  rycht  ve  that  ar  psure  como- 
 tis  can  nothir  hef  oportunite  nor  comodite 
 to  virk  trason  contrar  cur  prince,  and  quhou 
 beit  that  su  tyme  ve  resaue  iniuris  throucht 
 exactions  that  ane  euil  gouuernit  prince  exse- 
 cutis  on  the  pepil,  zit  nochtheles  ve  indure 
 tha  exactios  patientlye,  and  exsecutis  no  trai- 
 sonabil  vegeace,  be  cause  ve  hef  nothir  knau- 
 lage,  reches  nor  subtilite  to  conuoye  vs  til  ex- 
 secut  sic  trason.  there  for,  quhen  ve  commit 
 no  traison,  our  ignorance  deseruis  mair  lo- 
 uyng  nor  dois  our  prudens.  the  maist  cruel 
 vengeance  that  pure  comontis  can  exsecut  co- 
 trar  ane  euil  prince,  is  to  gar  our  vyuis  Sz  bavr- 
 nis  pray  nycht  and  daye  to  send  ane  mischeif 
 on  hym,  and  to  send  hym  schort  hue  dais,  & 
 to  send  ane  vthir  gude  prince  in  his  place,  co- 
 formand  to  the  prayer  of  sanct  dauid  in  the 
 1 08  psalme  of  his  psalter,  quhilk  sais,  etene  oc- 
 cidantur  qui  nos  perturbant,  fiant  filij  eius 
 orphani,  &  episcopatum  eius  accipiet  alter,  as 
 is  contenit  at  mair  lyntht  in  the  psalme  callit 
 deus  laudem  ;  bot  ve  nor  our  vyuis  and  bayr- 
 nis  dar  neuyr  pray  appynly  to  send  sic  ven- 
 geance on  ane  euil  prince,  in  drede  that  sum 
 curtician  alege  trason  on  vs,  and  thercfti 
 
SoS  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 by  our  eschet.  ther  for  ve  praye  for  vengean* 
 ce  quhcn  ve  ly  doune  at  euyn,  and  quhen  ve 
 ryise  in  the  mornyng  ;  bot  al  the  remanent  of 
 the  daye  quhe  ve  happyn  to  cu  in  ony  strayn- 
 ge  companye,  ve  pray  deuotly  vitht  ane  fen- 
 zet  hart  to  saue  his  grace,  and  to  keip  hym  in 
 lang  lyue  dais  and  in  gude  prosperite.  as  vale- 
 Vaienus       rjus    maximus    rehersis   ane   exempil   quhou 
 
 Maximus,  r  l 
 
 1.2.  ca.  6.  there  vas  ane  vyfe  of  Syracuse  I  cecille  quhilk 
 prayt  daly  in  the  tempil  in  presens  of  the  pe- 
 pil  to  saue  and  to  keip  dionisius  the  kyng  of 
 cecille,  quha  vas  ane  prince  that  committit 
 mony  exactions  on  the  pure  pepil.  the  deuo- 
 tione  of  this  aid  vyif  vas  reportit  to  kyng  dio- 
 nisius, quha  cuid  nocht  meruel  aneucht  of 
 the  gude  mynde  that  sche  hed  touuart  hym, 
 considerand  that  al  the  remanent  of  the  pe- 
 pil of  siracuse  heytit  hym  to  the  detht  for  the 
 exactions  insupportabil  that  he  exsecutit  on 
 the  pepil.  than  to  be  satefeit  of  his  admiratio- 
 ne  he  send  for  that  aid  vyif,  and  inquirit  hyr 
 of  the  cause  of  the  gude  mynde  that  sche  bu- 
 re  touuart  hym,  considerand  that  he  neuyr 
 merit  nor  deseruit  sic  kyndnes  touuart  hyr. 
 the  aid  vyif  ansuert  to  kyng  dionisius,  quod 
 sche,  my  souuerane  prince,  i  vse  nocht  sic  de- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  209 
 
 uotione  to  desir  zour  lang  lyif  dais,  bot  for 
 ane  grit  rason  as  i  sal  reherse.  ?  the  begynnyng 
 quhe  i  vas  me  zong  damysel,  zour  gudscheir 
 molestit  the 'pepil  vitht  intollerabil  exactions, 
 quhar  for  i  prayt  to  the  goddis  of  the  tempil 
 to  schort  his  lyif  dais  :  than  sune  ther  eftir  he 
 vas  slane.  than  eftir  hym  succedit  his  sone 
 quha  vas  zour  father,  and  he  did  mair  extor- 
 sions  to  the  pepil  nor  did  his  father,  quhar- 
 for  i  prayt  to  the  goddis  of  the  tempi!  to  send 
 hym  schort  lyif  dais :  than  sune  there  eftir  he 
 vas  stikkit  in  his  secret  chalmyr.  and  nou  ze 
 succed  to  zour  fatheris  heretage  and  til  al  his 
 vicis,  for  ze  commit  dayly  mair  insupportabil 
 exactions  nor  did  zour  father  or  zour  gud- 
 scheir,  quhar  for  i  pray  dayly  to  the  goddis 
 to  send  zou  lang  lyif  dais  ;  for  i  vait  veil  sen 
 that  iniquiteis  and  vicis  succedis  gre  be  gre 
 fra  princis  vitht  augmentation  of  the  samyn, 
 doutles  i  suspect  that  zour  successour  sal  be 
 the  master  deuyl  ;  there  for  i  hed  leuyr  indure 
 zour  exactions  nor  til  hef  ane  var  prince  in 
 zour  place.  Of  this  sort  (o  my  dolorus  mo- 
 ther) ve  that  ar  comont  pepil  vsis  na  vthir  tra- 
 son  bot  murmurii,  and  bannis  our  prince  se- 
 crctlyequhe  he  gouuernisnocht  veil  thercalme 
 2  D 
 
210  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 vitht  iustice,  and  puneissis  transgressouris* 
 And  quhou  beit  that  thou  vald  alege  that 
 ve  can  nocht  purge  vs  of  trason  ja  sa  far  as 
 ve  hef  tane  assurance  of  inglis  men,  allace 
 thou  suld  nocht  imput  our  assurance  for  tra- 
 son nor  for  ane  cryme,  for  thou  vait  veil  that 
 ve  that  ar  lauberaris  of  the  grond  culd  nocht 
 resist  the  inglis  men  ;  for  ve  that  hed  our  vy- 
 uisandbarnis,our  cattel  and  corne,and  our  gu- 
 dis  in  the  boundis  quhilk  the  inglis  men  pos- 
 sest  violentlye,  gart  it  be  forse  til  vs  to  be  as- 
 surit,  or  ellis  ve  hed  lossit  al  our  gudis,  and  our 
 selfis  til  hef  beene  slane.  for  it  is  veil  knauen 
 that  sum  of  vs  vald  nocht  be  assurit,  in  hope 
 that  my  tua  brethir  nobilis  and  speritualite 
 vald  hef  defendit  vs,  and  til  hef  resistit  our  ene- 
 meis.  bot  sic  vane  hope  that  ve  hed  of  my  bre- 
 thers  supple  hes  gart  mony  of  vs  be  hareyt 
 furtht  of  house  and  herberye,  quhilk  is  occa- 
 sion that  mony  of  vs  ar  beggad  our  meic  at- 
 hourt  the  cuntre,  and  there  is  nocht  ane  of  vs 
 that  ar  herey t  be  inglis  me  that  ca  get  othir  tak 
 or  steyding,  or  kou  or  ox,  fra  our  tua  bredir  to 
 help  vs  1  this  extreme  pouerte.  this  veil  cosidi- 
 rit  (o  my  desolat  mother)  i  suld  empesche  the 
 to  iuge  that  the  assurace  that  the  pure  comotis- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  2  J  I 
 
 hes  taine  to  procede  of  trason,  cosiderand  that 
 necessite  vas  the  cause  of  our  assurance,  ther- 
 for  dcutles  quhen  the  autorite  &  my  tua  bre- 
 thir  passis  in  gude  ordour  to  resist  the  inua- 
 sions  of  our  aid  enemeis,  it  sal  be  maid  mani- 
 fest that  the  pure  comontis  that  ar  assurit  of 
 inglis  men,  thai  sal  preif  as  gude  scottis  men 
 eftir  there  qualite  as  ony  scottis  man  of  scot- 
 land  that  vas  neuyr  assurit.  bot  nou  at  this  do- 
 lorus  tyme  ve  ar  constrenzet  to  be  assurit,  the 
 quhilk  assurance  is  bot  ane  dissimulatione, 
 tariand  quhil  the  tyme  virk  ane  bettir  chace. 
 and  i  think  that  our  dissymilatione  is  nothir 
 cryme  nor  syn,  considerand  as  the  bissynes 
 of  the  cuntre  standis  presentlye.  for  ane  dis- 
 similatione  that  procedis  nocht  of  ane  astuce 
 intent  suld  be  callit  ane  hie  prudens  rathere 
 nor  dissymilatione.  the  dissymilatione  of 
 that  vailzeant  romane  iunius  brutus  coquest 
 til  hym  mair  reputatione  and  gloir  nor  did 
 his  vailzeant  actis  that  he  committit  quhen 
 he  banncst  the  tirran  kyngis  furtht  of  rome. 
 Titus  liuius  rehersis  that  tarquinus  super-  Titus  n 
 bus  the  sext  kyng  of  rome  vas  verra  cruel  CQ- 
 trar  them  that  var  reput  vise  and  prudent,  & 
 alse  he  perpetrat  daly  intollerabil  exactions 
 2  l)  ij 
 
 urns, 
 Libro  r. 
 
212  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 contrar  the  comont  pepil.  quhen  euyr  it  vas 
 reportit  til  hym  of  ony  speciale  person  that 
 vas  reput  prudent,  he  gart  put  that  person  in 
 his  beuk  of  proscriptione.  quharfor  zoung  iu- 
 Valerius  n;us  brutus,  quha  vas  sistir  sone  to  tarquin% 
 u.  7.  ca.  3.  hefFand  dreddor  to  be  slane  be  his  oncle,  and 
 to  tyne  his  patrimoe,  he  of  ane  prouidit  myn- 
 de  dissimilit  his  prudens,  k  changit  his  out- 
 uart  verteous  coditions  in  actis  of  folye  lyke 
 ane  natural  fule,  quhar  for  it  vas  beleuit  be  al 
 the  romans  that  he  vas  be  cum  frenetic  and 
 glaykit,  quhilk  vas  occasioe  that  tarquin'  vald 
 nocht  exsecut  his  crualte  cotrar  hym,  becau- 
 se he  iugit  hym  to  be  ane  fule.  iunius  brutus 
 conteneuit  in  his  dissimilatione  quhil  on  to 
 the  tyme  that  sextus  tarquinus  violet  be  for- 
 sethe  cheist  Iucrecia,  the  quhilk  vile  act  gene- 
 rit  ane  dispyit  and  ane  racor  vithtin  the  har- 
 tis  of  the  romans.  than  iunius  brutus  persa- 
 uand  the  commotione  of  the  pepil,  he  thocht 
 it  couenient  tyme  to  leaue  his  dissimilatione 
 and  to  practik  his  prudens,  quhar  for  he  past 
 to  the  frendis  of  Iucrecia,  and  til  diuerse  othir 
 nobil  romans,  and  gart  them  depone  ane  ser- 
 ment  that  thai  suld  al  concur  and  conucne  to- 
 gidthir  in  ane  purpose  contrar  the  crualte  of 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  213 
 
 tarquinus    superbus.     this    scrment    vas    veil 
 maid  8c  bettir  kepit,  for  brutus  and-  tl 
 zeand  romans  bannest  tarquinus  fra  r. 
 al  them  of  that  surname,  quhilk  vas  occas 
 that  the  comont  veil  of  rome  returnit  in  gu- 
 de  prosperite.  be  this  exemplis  the  pure 
 
 of  Scotland  that  hes  there  vyuis,  bayrn' 
 there   gudis    lyand   vndir  the  inglis   mennis 
 feit,   and  lies  na  releif  nor  deffens  to  reuenge 
 nor  to  resist  the  inglis  mes  inuasios,  thai  suld 
 mesure  and  veye   there  auen   forse,  and 
 thai  fynd  them  selfis  sterk  ancucht  to  dei 
 them  and  there  gudis  contrar  the   ingiis  me, 
 in  that  cace  thay  ar  oblist   til   haszard   there 
 iyiris  and  there  nd  the  cuntre, 
 
 quhou  beit  that  thai  get  na  supple  of  the  auto- 
 rite,  and  in  apposit,  gif  the  pun  that 
 Jyis  vitht  in  the  inglis  men   handis  be   in 
 of  ane  qualite  to  defiend  nor   to   i 
 enemeis,  thai  commit  na   i  thai 
 mak    ane    dissimlilit    assurance    vithl 
 men,  and  to  tempt  al  the  consaitis  and  \. 
 that  thai  can  iuge  to  b(              air  to  gar  them 
 be  saue  of  body  and  gudis  fra  the  cruaitt 
 ingland,  quhii  on  to  the  tyme  that  thai  mayc 
 be  strynthit  be  the  autorite  to  cum  to  n 
 
214  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 inglis  me.  Quhar  for  i  exort  the  (o  my  deso- 
 lat  mother)  that  thou  imput  nocht  the  assu- 
 race  of  the  pure  comotis  to  proceid  of  trason, 
 bot  rather  that  thou  accuse  my  tua  sophistic 
 brethir,  quhilkis  suld  and  culd  haue  rele- 
 uit  and  restorit  the  to  thy  fyrst  stait ;  for  god 
 knauis  veil  that  i  am  innocent  of  thy  accusa- 
 tione,  and  the  remeid  of  thy  afflictione  lyis 
 nocht  in  my  possibilite. 
 
 f  QUHOU  THE  AFFLIGIT  LADY  DAME  SCOTIA  AN- 
 
 SUERTTIL  HYR  ZONGEST  SOUNE,  ANDE  QIJHOU 
 
 SCHE  REPROCH1T  HYR  TUA  ELDEST  SON- 
 
 NIS  FOR  THERE  NECLEGENS  IN 
 
 THE  DEFENS  OF  THERE 
 
 COMOUNT  VEIL. 
 
 CHAP.    XVI. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  11^ 
 
 O  thou  my  zongest  soune,  callit  lauberaris 
 to  burgh  ande  land,  i  vil  nocht  gyf  eyris  to 
 thy  excusations  nor  to  thy  purgations,  be 
 cause,  as  cicero  vritis  in  ane  orison,  that 
 na  man  suld  be  admittit  to  be  vytnes  in  his 
 auen  cause.    Noluerunt  maiores  nostri,  hanc  cice.  pro 
 
 •     •      .....  _  .  j.        font. 
 
 patere  lnimicitns  viam,  vt  que   quisque  odis- 
 set,  eu  testimonio  posset  tollere.    emetiuntur 
 enim  sepe  in  eos,   quos   oderunt.   nor  zit   i 
 vil  nocht  adhere  to  thy  accusations  contrar 
 thy  tua  brethir,  be  rason  that  ane  gilty  man 
 suld  accuse  no  man  of  cryme,  as  crist  ihe- 
 sus  hes  gyffin  ane  exempil  quhen  the  phara- 
 seis  accusit  ane  voman  that  vas  tane  in  adulte- 
 re,  desirand  his  iugement  quhiddir  thai  suld  Shanes  s. 
 stane  hyr  to  detht  conformand  to  the  aid  te- 
 stamet,  or  gyf  thai  suld  thole  hyr  to  depart  on 
 puneist.  crist  ansuert  to  the  accusaris  sayand, 
 he  that  is  vitht  out  syn  sal  cast  the  fyrst   sta- 
 ne at  hyr.  this  exempil  makkis  manifest  that 
 ane  accusar  suld  be  cleene  but  vice,  ande  alse 
 crist  ihesus  hes  said  in  ane  vthir  passage  to  the 
 ypocritis  that  accubit  pure  svnnaris,  quod  lie,  Malh  : 
 ze  sal  tak  furtht  ane  grit  balk  furtht  of  zour 
 auen  ee,  ande  there  eftir   ze  maye   tak  lurtht 
 ane  litil  strey  furtht  of  zour  nxchtbours   ee. 
 
2l6  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 The  poiet  confermis  this  samyn  purpos,  sa- 
 yand,  that  euerye  man  of  this  varkl  baris  tua 
 sakkettis  vitht  hym.  the  fyrst  sakket  hyngis 
 befor  hym,  vitht  in  the  quhilk  ar  contenit  al 
 the  vicis  that  his  nychtbour  committis  ;  ande 
 the  nyxt  sakket  hyngis  behynd  his  bak,  vitht 
 in  the  quhilk  ar  contenit  al  the  vicis  that  bis 
 self  committis.  bot  he  can  nocht  see  nor  persa- 
 ue  his  aue  vicis,  because  he  seis  nocht  the  sak- 
 ket that  hyngis  behynd  his  bak,  bot  he  seis 
 his  nychtbours  faltis  in  the  sakket   that  hin- 
 
 perseus  cr\s  befor  hym,  vt  nemo  in  sese  tentat  discen- 
 dere  nemo,sed  precedete  spectatur  manticater- 
 go.  There  for  (o  thou  my  zdgest  soune)  i  re- 
 fuse to  gyf  eyris  or  audiens  to  thy  accusations 
 contrar  thy  tua  brethir,  be  rason  that  ane  accu- 
 sar  suld  be  cleen  or  he  accuse  his  nychtbour, 
 as  cicero  vritis,  Accusare  debent  ij  qui  nullo 
 suo  peccato  impediutur,  quo  facilius  alterius 
 peccata  demonstrare  possint.    Nor   zic  i  vil 
 
 cicero  de     nocht  adhere  to  the  accusatios  that  ony  ane 
 
 tliuinatione  .  . 
 
 *era.  of  zou  hes  contrar  vthirs.     Thy  accusatione 
 
 is  vondir  inuectyue  contrar  thy  tua  brethir. 
 the  fyifteen  inuectyuis  philipiques  of  cicero 
 contrar  anthonius,  excedis  nocht  the  accusa- 
 tions ande  calumniations  that  thou  hes  pro- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  217 
 
 nuncit  contrar  them,  zit  nochtheles  i  disco- 
 mend  there  crualte,  ande  i  commend  nocht 
 thy  accusatione.  for  thou  ande  al  thy  sect  cal- 
 lit  lauberaris  to  burgh  ande  land,  deseruis 
 no  les  punitione  nor  dois  thy  tua  brethir  no- 
 bilis  ande  clergie.  for  gyf  thou  ande  thy  sect 
 hed  as  grite  liberte,  as  hes  thy  tua  brethir, 
 doutles  ze  vald  be  mair  cruel,  nor  the  vyild 
 beystis  of  the  desertis  of  arabie.  the  practic  of 
 this  samyn  is  presently,  ande  euer  hes  been 
 in  tymes  by  past,  sen  the  varld  began,  for  as 
 sune  as  ze  that  ar  comont  pepil  ar  onbridilit 
 and  furtht  of  subiectione,  zour  ignorance,  in- 
 constance,  ande  inciuilite,  pulcis  zou  to  perpe- 
 trat  intollerabil  exactions,  for  al  the  insurre- 
 ctiois  that  euyr  occurrit  in  ony  realme  con- 
 trar the  price  &  the  public  veil,  hes  procedit  of 
 the  ignorace  &  obstinatioe  of  the  comout  pe- 
 pil. There  for  none  of  zou  suld  haue  liberte, 
 bot  rather  ze  suld  be  daly  datit  &  haldin  1  sub- 
 iectioe,  be  cause  that  zour  hartis  is  ful  of  ma- 
 leis,ignorace,varirice&inc6stace.  for  the  maist 
 part  of  zou  al  gyffis  louyng  tyl  vicius  men, 
 and  ze  hald  verteous  men  abhominabil,  and 
 quhen  ze  ar  al  conuenit  to  gydthir  for  the 
 auansing  of  ane  gude  purpose,  ze  cry  &  ber- 
 2  e 
 
21  8  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 kis  ilk  ane  contrar  vthirs,  that  nocht  ane  of 
 zou  knauis  quhat  ane  vthir  sais.  ande  quhen 
 ze  hef  flyttyn  ande  berkit  but  ryme  or  rason 
 al  the  lang  daye,  ze  accord  nocht  nor  codisce* 
 dis  prudently  on  ane  substancial  constat  pur- 
 pose, and  he  that  is  the  maist  cumirsum  cryar, 
 ande  maist  obstinat  contrar  raison,  ze  reput 
 hym  for  the  maist  prudent  man  of  the  real- 
 me.  than  quhe  he  gois,  al  the  leaue  rynnis  & 
 follouis  hym,  lyik  the  brutal  scheip  that  vil 
 nocht  pas  throucht  the  slop  of  ane  dyik  for 
 the  mannessing  of  there  hyrd,  quhil  ane  of 
 the  verst  of  the  flok  mak  foir  gait,  than  al  the 
 leaue  follouis.  ande  al  this  procedis  of  zour 
 variance  and  inconstas.  i  vait  nocht  quhiddir 
 ane  calme  sey  in  vyntir,  or  the  course  of  the 
 mune,  or  ane  mysty  mornyng  in  symmyr,  or 
 the  comont  pepil,  quhilk  of  them  suld  preffer 
 vthirs  in  variance.  Cicero  confermis  this  sam- 
 ?-:ccro  pro  myn  purpos,  sayand,  in  imperitia  multitudi- 
 ne  est  varietas,  8c  inconstantia,  &  crebra  tan- 
 quam  tempestatum,  sic  sententiarum  conmu- 
 tatio.  i  hed  leuyr  hef  the  iugement  ande  con- 
 sultatione  of  ten  prudent  vyise  men,  nor  til 
 hef  al  the  visdome  and  consaitis  that  ane  gri- 
 te  mutiplie  of  comountis  can  pronunce.     Ci- 
 
 domo  sua. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  2ig 
 
 cero  confermis  this  samyn  purpose,  grauior  c-ceropro 
 &   validior  est  decern  virorum  bonorii  pru-  F'ai 
 dentia,   quam   totius    multitudinis    imperitie. 
 there  is  nocht  ane  mayr  ignorant,  &  ane  mair 
 blynd  thyng  in  this  varld,  as  is  til  adhere  to 
 the  iugement  of  the  comont  pepil,  quhilk  hes 
 nothir  consideratione  nor  rason.   for  al  there 
 deliberations  procedis  of  there  fyrst  apprehe- 
 sions.  there  for  gyf  the  entrepricis  of  the  co- 
 mont pepil  cumis  tyl  ane  gude  fine,  fortone 
 deseruis  mair  louyng  nor  dois  there  prudes. 
 Siclyik  as  ane  blynd  man  that  passis  in  ane 
 myrk  place  quhar  he  hcd  neuir  beene,  &  syne 
 eschapis  fra  ane  hurt,  or  fra  ane  fal.  na  vyis 
 men  vil  saye  that  this  blyind  ma  seis  cleir,  for 
 it  vas  chance  that  conuoyit  hym,   and   nocht 
 his  een.  for  this  cause  the  ciuil  lauis  deffen- 
 dis    &  forbiddis  al    monopoles   and  conuen- 
 tions  of  the  comont  pepil,  be  cause  the  raaist 
 part  of  them  ar  euil  cddicionet,  &  ar  obedic 
 to  there  apetitis  and  to  there  glavkyt  ailccti 
 i  can  nocht  conpair  the  comont  pepil  that  ar 
 onbridilit,  hot  ontyl  beystis  that  ar  of  ane  i 
 nature  nor  brutal  beystis,  as  vc  maye  see  dalv. 
 for  brutal  beysti  ane  bettir  ordour  in 
 
 there  beystly  nature   nor    dois    onbridilit 
 
 ij 
 
220  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 moiit  pepil  that  ar  dotit  vitht  rason.  ve  raaye 
 see  be  experiens,  that  horse,  nolr,  scheip,  dog- 
 gis,  voluis,  lyons,  ande  al  vthir  brutal  beystis, 
 ilk  ane  vil  deffend  there  auen  natur  contrar 
 the  violens  of  vthir  beystis,  as  cicero  sais,  be- 
 stie  pro  partu  suo  ita  propungnant,  &  vulnera 
 Cicero  que-  excipiant,  nullos  impetus,    nullos  casus  for- 
 
 Stl.  tUSC.  5.  J%  m 
 
 mident.  Bot  it  is  nocht  siklyik  amang  the  pe- 
 pil, for  euerye  man  settis  his  felicite  to  distroy 
 his  nychtbour.  Ande  alse  the  ondantit  bru- 
 tal beystys  that  hes  there  liberte  on  feildis  & 
 forrestis,  none  of  them  eytis,  drynkis,  nor  slei- 
 pis,  bot  quhen  ther  natural  appetit  requiris. 
 nor  the  mail  vitht  the  femmel  comittis  nocht 
 the  verkis  of  natur,  bot  in  the  saison  of  gene- 
 ratione  bot  the  pepil  that  hes  liberte  kepis 
 nocht  sa  gude  regement.  for  thai  considir  no- 
 thir  the  vertu  of  temporance,  nor  the  vice  of 
 intemporance,  bot  rathere  subiectis  them  sel- 
 fis  to  saciat  ony  sperk  of  the  foul  lust,  that 
 there  disordinat  sensual  appetit  prouokis  the 
 tyl  ymagine,  as  to  eyt,  drynk,  and  sleip  abufe 
 mesure  at  al  tymis,  contrar  there  natural  ap- 
 petit. ande  alst  to  conmit  fornicatione,  adulte- 
 re,  homocide,  ande  diuerse  vthir  extorsions  & 
 iniuris  contrar  there  nychtbour,  there  for  tha 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  22  1 
 
 deserue  to  be  reput  mair  brutal,  nor  beyi 
 that  ar  brutal  of  natur.   Ande  quhou  beit  that 
 sum  of  them  applyis  the  to  vertu,  quhen  thai 
 ar  haldin  in  subiection,  throucht  the  quhilk 
 thai  be  cum  industreus  in  policie  ande  in  con- 
 quessing  of  reches,  be  marchandreise,  or  be 
 mechanyc  craftis,    or    be   lauboryng    of  the 
 corn  landis,  or  be  seruise,   zit  nochtheles,  as 
 sune  as  ony  of  them,  be  sic  honest  industreus 
 ocupations,  hes  conqueist  grit  reches  or  he- 
 retagis,  thai  be  cum  mair  ambicius  ande  arro- 
 gant nor  ony  gentil  man  sperutual  or  tempo- 
 ral, that  ar  discenditof  the  maist  nobil  barons 
 of  the  cuntre.  ande  there  childir,  distitut  of  ci- 
 uilite,  throucht  the  ignorace  of  there  fathers, 
 ande   for  fait  of  educatione  and  eruditione, 
 thai  be  cum  vane,  prodig,  ande  arrogant,  be- 
 cause thai  succeid  sa  eysilie  to  reches  vitht 
 out  the  suet  of  there  brouls,  or  pane  of  there 
 body,  nocht  heiland  regarde  to  the  fyrst  po- 
 uerte  of  there  predecessours,  nor  of  the  cald, 
 hungir,  ande  punirite  that  there  fat! 
 mothers  indurit  in  the  conquering  ol 
 ches.  ande  gyf  sa  beis  that  ony  of  the  su 
 sours  of  mecanyc  men  (that  is  to  wye  the 
 cessours  of  lauberaris  to  burgh t  ande  land) 
 
222  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 be  promouit  til  ony  stait  abufe  there  faculte, 
 as  to  be  saruandis  to  men  of  autorite,  or  to  be 
 counicians  ancle  officiaris  to  princis,  or  zit  to 
 be  promouit  to  benefeissis,  or  tyl  ony  vthir 
 digniteis  abufe  there  qualite,  than  arrogan- 
 ce makkis  ypocryse  manifest,  conformand  til 
 ane  addagia  of  ane  of  the  seuyn  sapientis  cal- 
 lit  mimus  publianus,  qua  said,  lapis  index  au- 
 ri,  aurum  hominum.  for  it  is  the  nature  of 
 the  comont  pepil  (beand  ascendit  in  dignite 
 abufe  there  faculte)  to  mysken  them  selfis, 
 there  frendis,  ande  there  familiaris.  There  is 
 nocht  ane  mair  odius  thyng  in  this  varld,  as 
 quhen  the  successour  of  ane  indigent  ignorat 
 mechanyk  lauberar  ascendis  tyl  ony  dignite 
 abufe  his  qualite,  for  incontinet  eftir  his  pro- 
 motione,  he  myskennis  god  ande  man.  aspe- 
 rius  nichil  est  humilis  cii  surgit  in  altum.  Ti- 
 tus liuius  rehersis  ane  passage  conformand  to 
 this  samyn  purpose.  Barbarici  animi  est  cum 
 fortuna  mutare  fide,  there  is  sum  of  thir  mer 
 canyc  pepil  heftand  superflu  prosperite,  that 
 refusis  the  genoligie  of  there  fathere  ande  mo- 
 there,  and  alse  refusis  there  surname,  and  cla- 
 mis  to  be  of  the  blude  of  nobilis  ande  gentil 
 men.  than  quhen  thai  ar  repute  be  the  vulga- 
 
OF    SCOTLAND. 
 
 ris  to  be  discendit  of  sic  genoligic,  thai  gloir 
 in  there  pretendit  kyn  ande  blude,  quhilk  is 
 occasione  that  there  arrogance  &  there  vane 
 gloir  garris  them  commit  mair  extorsions  co- 
 trar  the  pepil  nor  dois  ony  vthir  tirran  that  ar 
 discendit  of  the  grytest  nobilis  of  the  cuntre. 
 the  preist  of  peblis  speris  ane  questione  in  ane 
 beuk  that  he  conpilit,  quhy  that  burges  ayris 
 thryuis  nocht  to  the  thrid  ayr  :  bot  he  mycht 
 hef  sperit  as  veil,  quhy  that  the  succcssours 
 of  the  vniuersal  comot  pepil  baytht  to  burght 
 &  land,  thryuis  nocht  to  the  thrid  ayr.  the  so- 
 lutione  cf  this  questione  requiris  nocht  ane 
 allogoric  expositione,  nor  zit  ane  glose,  be  ra- 
 son  that  the  text  of  yis  questione  is  nocht  ob- 
 scure, ane  person  that  hed  neuyr  aduersite  & 
 hes  veltht  that  procedit  neuyr  of  his  auen 
 industrie,  &  syne  hes  liberte,  and  hes  neueir 
 knauen  education,  eruditione,  nor  ciuilite,  it 
 is  onpossibil  that  he  can  be  vcrteous,  and  he 
 that  heytis  vertu,  sal  neuyr  thryue.  (() 
 congest  soune)  this  ansuer  maye  be  suffic 
 to  the  seueir  accusatione  that  thou  hes  pron li- 
 cit contrar  thy  tua  brethir.  in  tymj  to  cG  thou 
 sal  fyrsc  correct  thy  self  or  thou  . 
 nychtbour. 
 
224  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 II  QUHOU  THE  AFFLIGIT  LADY  ACCUS1S  HIR  ELDEST 
 
 so'nne  CALLIT  THE  NOBILIS  AND 
 
 GENTIL  MEN. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 vJ  my  eldest  sonne  (nobilis)  this  seueir  re- 
 proche  contrar  thy  zongest  brother,  is  no  oc- 
 casione  to  gar  the  gloir,  for  gyf  thou  hed  grace 
 to  ken  thyself,  thou  vaid  sune  p'saue,  that  thy 
 vicius  lyif  deseruis  ane  mair  extreme  repro- 
 che.  for  the  vice  of  thy  zongest  brother  suld  be 
 supportit  be  rason  of  his  ignorance  ande  of 
 his  pouerte,  bot  thou  can  haue  na  excusatio- 
 ne  to  cullour  thy  mischeuous  conuersation, 
 ande  the  violent  extorsions  that  thou  daly  c5- 
 mittis  contrar  thy  tua  brethyr,  lauberaris  & 
 clergie.  ande  alse  thou  art  the  special  cause  of 
 my  ruuyne,  for  thou  ande  thy  sect  that  pro- 
 fessis  zou  to  be  nobilis  ande  gentil  men,  the- 
 re is  nocht  ane  sperk  of  nobilnes  nor  gentrice 
 amang  the  maist  part  of  zou.  Ande  nou  be  cau- 
 se mony  of  zou  ascribis  sa  grit  gloir  of  zour 
 pretendit  gentreis  ande  nobilnes,  i  vil  discri- 
 ue  the  stait  of  nobilnes  ande  getilnes,  to"  that 
 effect  that  ze  may  persaue  zour  grit  error. 
 
 f  THE  PHILOSOPHOVRS  ande  iuris- 
 consultours  in  the  anciant  dais,  hes  familiarly 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  11$ 
 
 discriuit  one  thing  be  the  contrar  thyng.  thai 
 gart  the  discriptioe  of  ane  vilaine  (quhilk  ve 
 cal  ane  carl  in  our  scottis  langage)  manifest 
 the  conditions  of  ane  gentil  ma.  siclyik  thai 
 gart  the  discriptione  of  ane  gentil  man  mani- 
 fest the  conditione  of  ane  villaine  be  rason 
 that  ane  gentil  man,  or  ane  nobil  man,  ande 
 ane  villaine,  hes  direct  contrar  coditions  ; 
 &  sa  be  the  discriptione  of  ony  ane  of  thir 
 tua  contrareis,  tha  gat  ane  solide  knaulage  of 
 the  tothir.  Siklyik  quhen  thai  discriuit  vertu, 
 tha  fyrst  delatit  ande  payntit  the  coditions 
 of  vice,  ande  quhen  thai  discriuit  liberte,  thai 
 fyrst  payntit  ande  dilatit  the  conditions  of 
 seruitude.  And  nou  sen  this  purpos  hes  oc- 
 currit  to  speik  of  gentreis  ande  nobilnes,  i  vil 
 fyrst  discriue  the  origine  of  gentil  men,  be 
 the  quhilk  ze  may  knau,  quha  is  ane  vilaine. 
 Bot  fyrst  i  man  reherse  the  stait  of  the  pepii 
 that  var  in  the  gude  anciant  dais,  quhilk  sum 
 men  callit  the  goldin  varld.  there  vas  na  def- 
 erens of  stain's  at  that  tyme  amang  men,  no- 
 thir  in  prtcminens,  dignite,  superiorite,  nor 
 honour,  for  at  that  tyme  al  men  var  egal,  & 
 nocht  partial  nor  deuidit,  lor  the  pepiJ  lyuit 
 al  to  gvdthir  in  ane  tranquil  iv  lotiabil  c5imi- 
 
 2    f 
 
226  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 nite,  ande  thai  left  no  thing  to  there  posteri- 
 te  bot  regrettis  for  the  alteratione  of  that  gli- 
 de varld.  in  thai  dais,  the  pepil  eit  nor  drank 
 nocht  bot  quhen  hungir  constrenzet  them,  &: 
 than  there  maist  delegat  refectioe  vas  acquo- 
 rns,  vyild  berreis,  green  frutis,  rutis  &  eirbis, 
 ande  thai  drank  the  fresche  vattir.  at  sum  ty- 
 me  thay  past  in  the  forrestis  to  the  course  and 
 hunting,  and  sleu  vyild  beystis,  syne  dryit  the 
 ilasche  at  the  sune  or  thai  eit  it.  and  thai  that 
 var  of  maist  tendir  conplexione,  couurit  the 
 vitht  the  skynnis  of  tha  vyild  beystis  to  keip 
 them  fra  cald.  At  that  tyme  ther  vas  no  cere- 
 monial reuerens  nor  stait,  quha  suld  pas  be- 
 for  or  behynd,  furtht  or  in  at  the  dur,  nor  zit 
 quha  suld  haue  the  dignite  to  vasche  ther  ha- 
 dis  fyrst  in  the  bassine,  nor  zit  quha  suld  sit 
 doune  fyrst  at  the  tabil.  at  that  tyme  the  pepil 
 var  as  reddy  to  drynk  vattir  in  ther  bonet,  or 
 in  the  palmis  of  ther  handis,  as  in  ane  glas,  or 
 in  ane  tasse  of  siluyr.  At  that  tyme  thai  lay 
 al  to  gydthir  in  ane  cauerne,  as  dois  presently 
 the  sophistic  egiptiens.  thai  purgit  ther  bel- 
 leis,  ande  excercit  the  verkis  of  nature,  ilk  ane 
 in  vthirs  presens  vitht  out  schame,  reproche, 
 or  offens.  than  ane  lang  tyme  there  eftir,  natu- 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  227 
 
 re  prouokit  the  to  begyn  sum  litil  police,  for 
 sum  of  them  began  to  plant  treis,  sum  to  dat 
 beystis,  sum  gadthrid  the  frutis,  ande  kepit 
 them  quhil  on  to  the  tyme  of  necessite,  ande 
 sum  neurist  there  childir.  at  that  tyme  the  pe- 
 pil  drank  nothir  vyne  nor  beir,  nor  na  vthir 
 confekkit  drynkis.  at  that  tyme  straynge  cu- 
 treis  var  nocht  socht  to  get  spicis,  eirbis,  dro- 
 gis,  gumis,  &  succur  for  to  mak  exquisit  elect- 
 uars  to  prouoke  the  pepii  til  ane  disordinat 
 appetit.  At  that  tyme,  there  vas  no  sumpteous 
 clethyng  of  fine  claytht  and  of  gold  &  silk  of 
 diuerse  fassons.  at  that  tyme  1  the  begynnyng 
 of  ther  police,  coppir,  bras,  and  yrn  and  vthir 
 mettellis  var  meltit  to  mak  vtesel  veschel  ne- 
 cessair  to  serue  ane  houshald,  and  var  nocht 
 meltit  to  be  gunnis  ande  cannons  to  sla  don- 
 ne  the  pepil.  Ande  nou  sen  that  goldin  varld 
 is  past,  ther  hes  succedit  ane  yrn  varld,  quhilk 
 hes  altrit  eucryc  gude' thing  in  infelicite  and 
 myschcif,  for  meiknes  is  changit  I  male:*,  tra- 
 uail  in  ydilnes,  rest  in  exce  Be,  pace  in  veyr, 
 eyse  in  pane,  loue  in  hatreni,  cherite  in  crual- 
 
 ad- 
 in  pCTsecutionc,  su] 
 
 it  in 
 
 2 
 
11%  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ypocrysie,  and  sa  euyrie  thing  is  altrit  fra  ane 
 gude  stait  in  ane  abhominabil  qualite.  The 
 cause  of  this  alteratione  hes  procedit  fra  the 
 euyl  coditios  of  men  that  began  tyl  oppresse 
 there  nychtbours.  ande  til  eschaip  sic  oppres- 
 sione,  the  pepil  chesit  ane  certan  of  gouuer- 
 nours  of  the  maist  robust  &  maist  prudent  to 
 be  there  defFendours,  ande  alse  thai  randrit 
 the  tributaris  ande  subiectis  to  there  said  gou- 
 uernours  &  there  gouuernours  gat  for  ther 
 panis  and  laubyr,  the  butin  and  spulze  that 
 thai  coqueist  fra  the  tirran  oppressours.  Thai 
 gouuernours  var  sa  nobil  in  there  auen  cura- 
 ge,  that  thai  distribut  the  maist  part  of  the  bu- 
 tine  ande  spulze  amag  the  pepil  that  hed  vsit 
 them  maist  vailzeantly  contrar  there  ene- 
 meis,  ande  thai  that  var  lasche  couuardis  gat 
 nothing.  Of  this  sort  began  the  fyrst  nobil- 
 nes  ande  gentreis  in  the  varld,  for  thai  that 
 var  vailzeant,  thai  var  reput  for  nobilis  ande 
 gentil  men,  ande  thai  that  var  vicius  &  cou- 
 uardis, var  reput  for  vilainis  ande  carlis.  The 
 chartagiens  vsit  that  sammyn  fassoune  ane 
 lang  tyme,  for  thai  gaue  to  the  sodiours  that 
 bure  them  maist  vailzeantly  contrar  there 
 enemeis,  ane  certan  of  gold  ringis,  for  ane 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  229 
 
 takyn  of  perpetual  nobilite.  Siklyik  euyrie 
 vailzeant  roman  sodiour  vas  crounit  vitht 
 ane  croune  on  his  hede  in  takyn  of  nobilite. 
 The  macedoniens  vsit  that  sammyn  vse  ane 
 Jang  tyme  ;  ande  quhen  ane  macedonien  hed 
 nocht  venqueist  ane  of  his  enemeis,  he  vas 
 bundin  til  ane  post,  ande  degradit  fra  his  no- 
 bilite. in  aid  tymis  1  germanye,  ane  alman  vas 
 ay  repute  for  ane  villain  quhil  on  to  the  tyme 
 that  he  vas  mareit.  and  he  gat  neuyr  lecens  to 
 marye  quhil  on  to  the  tyme  that  he  hed  pre- 
 sentit  the  hede  of  ane  of  his  enemeis  to  the 
 kyng  of  germanye.  Siklyik  in  sythia  at  ane 
 banket  of  tryumphe,  the  kyng  presentit  ane 
 goldin  tasse  ful  of  vyne  to  the  companye  at 
 the  tabil.  bot  nane  of  them  vas  admittit  to 
 drynk  in  that  tasse,  bot  sa  mony  as  hed  ven- 
 queist ane  of  there  enemeis  in  ane  conflict ;  for 
 he  that  hed  neuyr  dune  ane  vailzeant  act  con- 
 trar  his  enemeis,  vas  reput  for  ane  inciuile  vil- 
 laine.  Mardochens  conqueist  the  gre  of  nobi- 
 lite fra  artaxerxes  throucht  his  vertu,  ande 
 Ioseph  vas  maid  ane  gentil  man  be  pharaon 
 for  his  vertu.  Than  the  successours  of  thir 
 nobil  men  var  repute  for  gentil  men  as  la 
 as  thai  vsit  verteous  verkis  of  nobilite,  as  did 
 
23°  TliE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 there  predecessours.  Bot  fra  tyme  that  the  sue- 
 cessours  of  thir  nobil  men  be  cam  vicius, 
 than  tha  var  degradit  fra  there  nobilite  ande 
 fra  there  gentreis,  and  thai  var  repute  for  inci- 
 vaierms  uile  vilaynis.  Valerius  maximus  rehersis  the 
 LL3.ca.5.  nobilite  of  scipio  the  afFrican,  quha  hed  ane 
 soune  that  vas  nothir  vailzeant  nor  verteous. 
 on  ane  daye,  he  bead  clethid  1  ane  lang  quhyt 
 goune  as  the  vse  vas  to  be  borne  at  the  distri- 
 butione  of  the  officis  of  rome,  he  desirit  the 
 office  of  pretoir  at  the  senat,  on  ane  pla- 
 ce callit  campus  martius.  At  that  tyme,  his 
 frendis  cam  til  hym,  &  but  reuerens  thai 
 reft  fra  hym  ane  signet  of  gold  that  vas  on  his 
 fingare,  vitht  in  the  quhilk  vas  grauit  his  fa- 
 thers hede,  sayand  til  hym,  o  inperfect  ande 
 vicius  contrafait  gentii  man,  thou  deseruis 
 nocht  to  veyr  this  nobil  signet,  vitht  in  the 
 quhilk  is  grauit  thy  fathers  hede,  considered 
 that  thou  hes  nothir  vertu  nor  vailzeantnes ; 
 there  for  ve  degraid  the  fra  the  nobilite  ande 
 gentreis,  that  thou  pretendit  to  succeid  to,  be 
 the  deceisse  of  thy  fathere.  This  exempil  of 
 scipio  makkis  manifest,  that  na  man  can  me- 
 reit  or  can  be  capabil  of  nobilnes  or  getreis 
 bot  gyf  tha  be  verteous.   There  for  that  stait 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  23I 
 
 of  gentreis   is   ane  accidental  qualite,  in   sa 
 far  as  it  may  cum  til  ane  persoune  be  his 
 vertu,  ande  he  maye  be  degradit  fra  it  for  his 
 vice.  (O  my  eldest  soune   nobilis  and  gentil 
 men)  the  armys  that  ze  bair  in  zour  scheil- 
 dis  and  in  zour  seyiis  in  zour  signetis,  and  alse 
 is  payntit  on  zour  vallis,  &  in  zour  glasyn  vin- 
 dois,  thai  var  gyuyn  to  zour  p~decessours  be 
 the  prince  for  ane  takyn  of  .nobilnes,  for  the 
 nobil  actis  that  thay  hed  dune  for  the  comot 
 veil  of  the  realme,&  ze  that  ar  there  successours 
 ze  bayr  the  samyn  armis  for  ane  takyn  that 
 zj  ar  obleist  to  follou  the  futsteppis   of  zcur 
 predecessours  in  vertu,  or  ellis  ze  merit  to  be 
 degradit  fra  the  armis  that  ze  bair,  &  fra  the 
 gentreis  that  ze  professe,  as  vas  dune  tyl  zog 
 scipio  befor  rehersit.     There  is  diuerse  prin- 
 ihat  gyflis  the  tryumphe  of  knychted  and 
 nobilite,  vitht   leuerairis,  armis  ande 
 ge  to   them  that  hes  committit  vailzeant  actis 
 intheveyri  ik  as  the  empriour   mal 
 
 the  ordur  of  knychthcd  of  the  . 
 of Fracc  makkis  the  ordour  of  the  cokki!,  the 
 kyng  of  inglad  makkis  the  ordour  of  knyciit- 
 hede  of  the  garta.  None  of  thir  knycl  tis 
 uis  thir  hie  dig]  throucht  ane  a 
 
232  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 loue  that  there  prince  hes  touart  the,  bot  rathe- 
 re  for  the  vailzeant  actis  that  there  prince  hes 
 Valerius  knauen  them  til  haue  committit  for  ther  pu- 
 inthechep-  blic  veil.  The  romas  in  the  anciant  dais  or- 
 t^nmphe.  dand  ane  tryuphe  of  nobilite  to  be  gyffin  to 
 them  that  bed  borne  them  maist  vailzeantly 
 contrar  the  enemeis  of  rome.  The  ordour  of 
 there  tryumphe  vas  of  this  sort,  quhen  ony 
 romane  hed  dune  ane  vailzeant  act,  he  vas  set 
 in  ane  charriot  veil  acoutreit,  quhilk  vas  dra- 
 uen  vitht  foure  horse,  be  cause  in  the  anciat 
 dais  the  romans  vsit  to  fecht  in  battel  in  char- 
 riotis.  Than  he  that  hed  venqueist  his  ene- 
 mye  be  straikis  ande  Strang  battel,  he  vas  crou- 
 nit  vitht  ane  palme  of  gold,  be  rason  that  the 
 palme  tre  hes  schearp  broddis  and  pikis.  And 
 he  that  hed  venqueist  his  enemye  be  practik 
 of  veyr,  ande  sleu  and  tuke  his  enemeis  flead 
 fra  the  battel  vitht  out  hurt  til  hym,  he  vas 
 crounit  vitht  ane  croune  of  laure  tre,  be  cau- 
 se the  laure  tre  hes  no  schearp  broddis  nor 
 pikis.  This  last  tryumphe  of  laure  tre  vas  cal- 
 lit  tropheum,  quhilk  singnifeis  ane  ioyful  vic- 
 toree,  for  the  victoree  is  ioyful  quhen  the  ene- 
 meis are  venqueist  vitht  out  domage  to  the  vc- 
 quesair.  quhen  thir  romans  entrit  in  rome  to 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  233 
 
 resaue  there  tryuphe  for  ther  vailzeant  actis, 
 the  senat,  the  gentil  men,  and  the  comont  pe- 
 pil  met  them  in  there  best  array  vitht  grit  so- 
 lempnite,  and  syne  conuoyit  them  to  the  pla- 
 ne mercat  befor  the  capitol  to  resaue  there 
 tryumphe  of  dignite,  as  tha  hed  deseruit.  Bot 
 allace  (o  ze  my  eldest  sone  nobilis  ande  gen- 
 til men)  there  is  nocht  mony  of  zou  that  me- 
 ntis to  veyr  the  ensenze  of  the  fleise,  of  the 
 cokkil,  nor  of  the  gartan,  nor  zit  there  is 
 nocht  mony  of  zou  that  mentis  to  be  bor- 
 ne in  ane  charriot  to  resaue  the  tryumphe 
 of  the  palme  tre  nor  of  the  laure  tre  ;  for  zour 
 imbecilite,  auereis,  ande  contentione  that  rin- 
 gis  amang  zou,  rather  deseruis  degrading 
 fra  zour  pretendit  gentreis,  nor  ze  deserue 
 louyng  or  commedation  for  vertu.  There 
 for  ze  ar  in  grit  error  quhen  ze  professe 
 zou  to  be  gentil  men,  &  syne  committis 
 no  actis  eilerand  for  zour  professione  ;  bot 
 vald  ze  considir  the  origine  of  zour  gentreis, 
 than  ze  vald  nocht  be  &a  arrogant  as  to  desire 
 the  gloir  and  the  stait  of  ane  dignite  that  ze 
 deserue  nocht.  There  is  mony  of  zou  that 
 professis  to  be  gentil  men  be  successione  of 
 zour  predeccssours,  bot  zc  cosidir  nocht  that 
 
 2   G 
 
234  T^  COMPLAYNT 
 
 the  gre  of  getreis  procedis  fra  vertu.  The  phi- 
 losophour  sais  that  the  cause  of  ane  thing  is 
 of  mair  efficacite  nor  is  the   thyng   that   pro- 
 cedis fra  the  cause:  ergo,  vertu  suld  preffer  the 
 successours  of  verteous  men.     Ane  verteous 
 man  beand  discendit  of  ane  verteous  genoli- 
 gie,  doutles  he  is  aue  rycht  gentii  man.  and  in 
 opposit,  ane  vicius   man  beand   discendit  of 
 verteous  genoligie,  he  suld  be  reput  mair  vi- 
 le and  odius   nor  ony  infamous  vilaine  ple- 
 bien :  ande  alse  thai  suld  be  degradit  fra  there 
 getreis  that  thai  haue  ascribit  til  haue  be  suc- 
 cessione,  ande  thai  suld  be  conpellit  to  virk 
 vile  mecanyk  laubir,  to  that  effect  that  the  ho- 
 nour of  verteous  gentii  men  be  nocht  macu- 
 lat  vitht  the  vice  ande  inciuilite  of  vicius  pre- 
 tendit  gentii  men.  There  for  as  i  haue  said  of 
 befor,  the  sone  of  ane  prince  beand  distitut  of 
 vertu  is  no  gentii  man  ;  ande  in  opposit,  ane 
 sone  of  ane  mechanyc  plebien,  bead  verteous, 
 he  is  ane  gentii  man.  for  that  cause  the  poiet 
 irancis  petrarch  a  florentyne  said,  i  hed  leuyr 
 be  the  sone  of  vicius  tarsites,  i  vsand  ane  ver- 
 teous conuersatione,  nor  to  be  the  sone  of  the 
 vailzeant  achilles,  i  beand  vicius.    The  philo- 
 sophour  piutarque   rehersi?,    that  iphicrates 
 
Or  SCOTLAND.  235 
 
 vas  ane  pure  mecanyk  craftis  man  discendit 
 of  inciuil  plebiens,  zit  nochtheles  throucht  his 
 vertu  he  vas  elect  to  be  kyng  of  the  cuntre. 
 there  vas  ane  vicius  gentil  man  at  that  tyme 
 callit  hermodius,  quha  reprocht  iphicrates, 
 sayand,  o  iphicrates,  it  efferis  nocht  for  thy 
 stait  &  faculte  to  be  ane  kyng,  be  rason  that 
 thy  father  vas  ane  mecanyc  tailzour  discen- 
 dit of  inciuile  pure  pepil  ;  there  for  thou  art 
 nocht  ane  gentil  man.  iphicrates  ansuert, 
 o  hermodius,  throucht  my  vertu  my  succes- 
 sors sal  be  reput  gentil  men,  and  sa  my  gen- 
 treis  begynnis  at  myself;  bot  thou  ande  thy 
 gentreis  sal  end  to  gydthir,  &  thy  successours 
 sal  be  reput  for  vilaynis,  be  cause  of  thy  vi- 
 cius couersatione.  This  exempil  makkis  ma- 
 nifest, that  ane  person  may  succeid  to  hereta- 
 md  to  mouabil  gudis  of  his  predecessours, 
 bot  no  mi  can  succeid  to  gentreis  nor  to  ver- 
 tu ;  for  vtrtie  &  gentreis  most  proceid  fra  the 
 ^preit  of  hym  self,  and  nocht  fra  his  predeces- 
 sours. iuuenal  the  poiet  rehersis,  that  buci- 
 phal  the  grit  horse  of  allcxader  hed  mony  co- 
 modius  propreteis,  for  as  sune  as  he  sau  ale- 
 sander,  he  knclit  ande  maid  hym  rciicm 
 ande  syne  tholit  hym  to  lope  on  hym  j 
 
 2  G 
 
2$6  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 he  vas  strynthy  ande  auful  in  ane  battel  con- 
 trar  the  enemeis  of  alexander  ;  ande  quhen  he 
 vas  saidlyt  vitht  his  best  bayrdit  harnessing, 
 he  vald  thole  no  man  to  ryde  on  hym  bot  ale- 
 xander. This  samyn  horse  busiphal  hed  ane 
 brother,  generit  and  folit  of  the  samyn  hor- 
 se and  meyr  that  folit  hym.  this  tothir  hor- 
 se vas  grit,  fayr,  and  gude  lyik,  bot  nochtheles 
 the  maist  perfyit  industreus  horse  dantars  of 
 macedon  culd  nocht  gar  hym  be  veil  bridilit 
 nor  manerit  in  na  comodius  sort  conuenient 
 to  seme  ane  prince,  quhar  for  he  vas  nocht 
 treittit,  bot  rather  deiekkit  ande  chaissit  to 
 the  vyild  barran  feildis  to  seik  his  meyt,  ande 
 oft  tymis  he  vas  put  in  ane  cart  to  drug  and 
 drau,  quhar  he  vas  euyl  dung  8c  broddit. 
 
 This  exempil  maye  be  conferrit  to  tua  bre- 
 thir  gottin  ande  borne  of  ane  fathere  &  mo- 
 ther, ane  of  them  beand  verteous,  suld  be  re- 
 put  for  ane  gentil  man,  and  the  tother  beand 
 vicius,  suld  be  estemeit  and  treittit  lyik  ane  bar- 
 bir  inciuil  vilaine.  There  hes  been  diuerse  ge- 
 til  me  that  thynkis  schame  that  there  fathers 
 and  mothers,  gudschers  and  grandscheirs,  hes 
 bene  mechanyc  plebiens.  Bot  sic  vane  gentil 
 men  takkis  nocht  exempil  of  agathocles  the 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 m 
 
 kyng  of  cecile,  quha  vas  the  sone  of  ane  pot- 
 tar  that  formit  clay  pottis ;  zit  nochtheles  quhe 
 he  vas  elect  1  dignite  royal,  he  gart  gold  smy- 
 this  graue  ane  pot  in  his  armys  on  euerye  pe- 
 ce  of  his  siluyr  veschel,  and  alse  he  gart  paynt 
 the  vallis  of  his  palleis  vitht  pottis,  the  qu- 
 hilk  thing  he  did  to  manifest  to  the  pepil  that 
 he  thocht  no  schame  that  his  father  hed  been 
 ane  mecanyc  craftis  ma  discedit  of  ane  pure 
 genoligie.  it  is  ane  grit  foly  til  ane  person  to  imienai, 
 pretend  to  gentreis  be  successione,  or  be  re-  Satinc*  7* 
 ches.  iuuenal  confermis  this  samyn  purpos, 
 nobilitas  sola  est  animu  que  moribus  ornat  ; 
 and  the  vordis  of  ouid  ar  consonant  to  this 
 samyn,  Non  cesus  nee  clarum  nomen  auoru, 
 sed  probitas  magnum  ingeniumque  facit. 
 
 There  for  it  is  grit  arrogance,  and  na  les  fo- 
 lie,  quhen  ony  person  gloris  in  his  hie  geno- 
 ligie, considerand  that  euyre  person  is  discen-  Doiec'  de 
 dit  of  ane  origyne,  as  boiecius  de  consolatio-  ^"^IT- 
 ne  hes  rehersit  in  his  thrid  beuk.  Omne  homi-  i)hic-  !>•  3- 
 num  genus  in  terris  simili  surgit  ab  ortu.  the- 
 re for,  vald  euyrie  man  cusidir  his  fyrst  origy- 
 ne, he  sal  fynd  that  al  man  kynd  ar  crca 
 mud  and  clay,  as  is  vritin  in  the  sycoiul  c  I 
 ptour  of  genesis,  Fermauit  igitur  horn' 
 
1$8  THE  COMPLAYflT 
 
 limo  terre.  ande  alse  Ihesus  sirach  sals  in  the 
 10  cheptour  of  ecclesiasticus,  quhar  he  repre- 
 uis  the  gloir  ande  pride  of  men,  quid  super- 
 bis  terra  et  cinis,  that  is  to  say,  quhou  ar  ze 
 becum  predeful  &  takkis  gloir  in  this  varld, 
 considerand  that  ze  ar  bot  eird  ande  puldir  ?  it 
 is  vrityn  on  the  18  cheptour  of  genesis,  lo- 
 quar  ad  dominum  cum  sim  puluis  &  cinis. 
 that  is  to  say,  i  sal  speik  to  the  lord,  quhou  be 
 it  i  am  bot  puldir  ande  asse.  it  is  vrityn  in  the 
 17  cheptour  of  ecclesiasticus.  Omnes  homi- 
 nes terra  et  cinis,  al  men  ar  eird  ande  alse. 
 
 Thir  exemplis  suld  be  occasione  to  gar  gen- 
 til  men  paynt  in  there  scheildis,  ande  graue 
 in  there  signetis,  puldir  ase  ande  eirde,  rather 
 nor  til  haue  gart  paynt  ande  graue  the  armis 
 of  there  predecessours,  be  rason  that  fra  tyme 
 that  thai  be  aryuit  to  the  fine  ande  to  the  li- 
 mitis  of  there  peregrinatione  of  this  mortal 
 lyif,  than  thai  returne  to  there  comont  ande 
 general  mothere  the  eird,  the  quhilk  eird  mak- 
 kis  na  acceptions  of  persons,  nor  deferens 
 of  qualiteis  betuix  gentil  men,  and  mecanyc 
 men,  bot  resauis  them  al  indefFerently  in  hir 
 domicil  and  receptacle,  than  quhen  the  corru- 
 pit  flesche  is  consumit  fra  the  banis,  no  man 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  2$$ 
 
 can  put  defferens  betuix  ane  prince  and  ane 
 beggar.  Thehistorigraphoursrehersis,  thatqu- 
 hen  kyng  cirus  hed  venqueist  kyng  cresus,  he 
 led  hym  til  his  paleis,  ande  treittit  hym  mair 
 humainly  nor  is  the  vse  to  treit  presoneirs. 
 On  ane  day,  cresus  spak  hardyly  to  kyng  cir% 
 sayand,  Nobil  prince,  the  vulgaris  ascribis  gri- 
 te  gloir  for  the  vailzeant  actis  that  thou  hes 
 committit  for  the  public  veil  of  perse  ande 
 meid,  zit  nochtheles  thy  father  cambises  uiJ 
 mair  vailzeant  actis  in  his  tyme  nor  thou  hes 
 dune,  kyng  cresus  vas  temerair  I  his  questio, 
 for  cirus  vas  offedit  cotrar  kyng  cresus,  thin- 
 kand  that  ane  presoneir  suld  nocht  haue  bene 
 sa  bold  as  til  reproche  ane  prince  that  hal- 
 dis  hym  in  captiuite.  Than  cresus,  persauand 
 kyng  cirus  in  collere  and  ire,  he  said,  nobil 
 prince,  gyf  thy  nobil  grace  vil  gyf  me  lecens 
 to  rason  the  mater,  thou  sal  sune  persaue  that 
 j  said  nothing  tyl  o fiend  the,  bot  rathere  til 
 augment  thy  gloir.  i  said  that  thy  grace  hed 
 nocht  dune  sic  ane  vailzeant  act  as  thy  fathe- 
 re  cabises  did  in  his  tyme,  for  he  did  ane  no- 
 bil act  quhen  he  engencret  the  on  thy  mothe- 
 re  to  gouuerne  this  r 
 bot  thou  hes  nocht  dune  sic  ane  nobil  a< 
 
24O  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 to  genner  ane  nobil  prince  Iyik  thy  self  to 
 gouuerne  the  realme  quhen  thou  art  dede. 
 
 Quhen  kyng  cirus  herd  the  subtil  discymilit 
 pleisant  interpretatione  of  cresus  vordis,  he 
 smylit  and  leuch,  and  changit  his  coller  in 
 glaydnes.  bot  zit  kyng  cirus  exortit  cresus  fa- 
 miliarlye  tyl  expone  the  iust  verite  of  his 
 vordis.  Cresus  ansuert,  nobil  prince,  sen  thou 
 hes  coniurit  me  sa  extremly  to  declair  the  ve- 
 rite, doutles  i  sal  hald  no  thing  obscure,  qu- 
 hou  be  it  thou  gar  me  suffer  the  cruel  detht. 
 the  occasione  of  my  vordis  procedit,  be  cause 
 i  iuge  that  thou  art  nocht  sa  quyk  spretit,  sa 
 prudent  nor  sa  nobil  as  vas  thy  fathere  cam- 
 bises,  ande  to  coclude,  thou  hes  nocht  sic  ane 
 liede  as  he  hed  in  al  his  byssynes.  kyng  cirus 
 ansuert,  i  sal  sune  knau  the  verite  of  thy  pur- 
 pos.  than  kyng  cirus  past  to  the  tempil,  ande 
 he  gart  delue  vp  al  the  banis  of  the  detht  pepil 
 furtht  of  there  sepulture,  and  keist  ouer  euy- 
 rye  bane,  ande  contemplit  euyry  hardyn  pan, 
 ane  be  ane.  than  cresus  &  vthir  gentil  men 
 meruelit  nocht  litii  of  his  consait,  sayand,  ve 
 exort  the,  nobil  prince,  to  tel  thy  intentione 
 of  that  byssynes.  Cirus  ansuert,  o  cresus,  thou 
 said,  nocht  lang  syne,  that  my  hede  vas  nocht 
 
OF    SCOTLAND*  241 
 
 to  be  comparit  to  my  fathers  hede  ;  there  for 
 i  am  leukand  gyf  i  ca  fynd  my  fathers  hardyn 
 pan  amang  thir  dede  mennis  banis,  bot  i  can 
 nocht  ken  it  amang  them,  for  al  the  hardyn 
 pannis  that  ar  heir  ar  al  of  ane  sort :  there  for 
 i  beleue  that  my  fathers  hede  ande  my  hede, 
 and  al  vthir  mennis  hedis  of  pure  ande  ri- 
 che,  are  but  deferens :  there  for  in  tyme  to  cu 
 thou  sal  mak  na  comparison  betuix  men,  for 
 i  persaue  that  al  men  that  euyr  vas,  or  euyr 
 sal  be,  ar  creat  of  ane  masse  of  clay  and  eird. 
 This  exempil  declaris  that  na  man  suld  gloir 
 in  his  nobilite  or  gentil  blude,  considerand 
 that  our  carions  ande  corporal  natur,  and  car- 
 nal origyne,  is  baytht  vile  ande  infekkit,  ande 
 there  is  na  deferens  nor  acceptions  of  per- 
 sons betuix  us.  the  prudent  Salomon  accor- 
 dis  vitht  this  samyn  purpos  in  the  7  cheptor 
 of  his  beuk  of  sapiens,  sayand,  sum  quidem  &  sapica. 
 ego  mortalis  homo  shnilis  omnibus  de  gene- 
 re  terreno  ill:  us  qui  prior  fact  us  est,  &  cc.  Ne- 
 mo cnim  ex  regibus  aliud  habuit  natiuitatis 
 initium.  i  am  ane  mortal  man  (sais  Salomon) 
 lyik  til  al  vthir  men,  creat  of  eird  as  vas  our 
 foir  fathere  adam,  ande  al  vthir  kyngis  hed  na 
 vthir  beirvnnyng.  thir  u>rdis  oi~  Salerno  b<  id 
 2  n 
 
242  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 veil  considerit,  is  ane  souerane  remeid  ande 
 salutair  medycyn  to  repreme  and  distroye 
 the  arrogant  consait  of  them  that  glorifeis  fe 
 pridis  them  to  be  discendit  of  nobilis  and  gen- 
 til  men,  considerand  that  the  crop  ande  rute 
 fcf  our  gentreis  ande  genologie  hes  succedit 
 fta  adam.  ande  quhen  ve  entrit  in  this  mortal 
 lybf  ve  var  naikyt  and  vepand,  and  quhen  ve 
 depart  ve  sal  be  vile  and  abhominabil,  ande 
 ve-sal  carye  no  thing  furtht  of  this  varld  bot 
 the  coulpe  of  our  synnis,  or  the  mentis  of 
 our  vertu. 
 
 *f  O  my  eldest  soune,  nobilis  &  gentil  men, 
 quhy  vil  ze  nocht  considir  thir  vordis  befor 
 rehersit  ?  quhilk  vordis  suld  be  occasione  to 
 gar  zou  mortife  zour  vane  consait  of  zour 
 pretendit  gentreis.  ze  professe  zou  to  be  gen- 
 til me,  bot  zour  verkis  testifeis  that  ze  ar  bot 
 inciuile  vilainis.  ze  vald  be  reput  &  callit  ver- 
 tuous  and#  honest,  quhou  be  it  that  ze  did  ne- 
 uyr  ane  honest  act ;  and  ze  reput  vthir  men  for 
 vilanis,  that  did  neuyr  ane  vilaine  act.  it  ape- 
 ris  that  quhen  zour  nobil  predecessours  de- 
 cessit,  thai  tuke  ther  vertu  and  gentreis  vitht 
 them  to  ther  sepulture,  and  thai  left  na  thing 
 vitht  zou  bot^the  stile  of  there  gentreis.  the 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  243 
 
 vordis  of  the  holy  man  lob  maye  be  veil  ap- 
 plyit  to  this  samyn  purpos  quhe  he  said,  mor- 
 tui  sunt  ncbiles,  &z  innohiles  sunt  filij  eorii. 
 quod  he,  al  nobil  men  ar  decessit,  &  ther  son- 
 nis  ande  successours  ar  bot  vilanis.  the  vordis 
 of  lob  ar  ouer  manifest  in  our  cuntre,  for  i  see 
 no  thing  amang  gentil  men  bot  vice,  for  ho- 
 nestee  is  maculat,  ignorance  is  prisit,  prudens 
 is  scornit,  chestite  is  banneist,  the  nychtis  ar 
 ouer  schort  to  gentil  men  to  commit  there  li- 
 bedeneus  lust,  and  the  dayis  ar  ouer  schort  to 
 them  to  commit  cxtorsions  on  the  pure  pe- 
 pil.  ther  blasphematione  cf  the  name  of  god 
 corruptis  the  ayr.  The  prodig  pride  that  rin- 
 gis  amang  gentil  men  is  detestabil,  nocht  ala- 
 nerly  in  costly  ciethyng  abufe  ther  stait,  bot 
 as  veil  in  prodig  expensis  that  thai  mak  on 
 horse  and  doggis,  abufe  ther  rent  or  reches. 
 ane  man  is  nocht  reput  for  ane  gentil  man  in 
 scotlad,  bot  gyf  he  mak  mair  expensis  on  hi; 
 horse  and  his  doggis  nor  he  dois  on  his  vyfe 
 &  bayrnis.  The  poiettis  fenzeis  that  the  gre- 
 cian  dyameid  he  J  horse  that  eit  men,  <k  alse 
 thai  hef  fenzet  that  acteon  vas  transformit  in 
 ane  hart,  and  there  eftir  he  vas  gtranglit  to  dc- 
 de  vitht  his  auen  doggis.    The  expositione  oi 
 
 :  ij 
 
244  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 thir  tua  exemplis  maye  be  applyit  to  the  gen- 
 til  men  of  Scotland.  The  horse  of  diameid  eit 
 no  men  ;  bot  the  superflu  &  prodig  expensis 
 that  he  maid  on  corne  to  feid  ane  grit  nuir 
 of  onutil  horse,  gart  the  victualis  be  deir  and 
 skant,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that  the  pure  pe- 
 pil  deit  for  hungir.  of  this  sort  the  poiettis 
 fenzeis  that  dyamedis  horse  eit  men,  be  cause 
 tha  eit  the  corne  that  vald  haue  sauit  the  lyuis 
 of  the  pure  pepil  fra  hungir.  Siklyik  acteon 
 vas  nocht  transformit  in  ane  hart,  nor  zit  his 
 doggis  sleu  hym  nocht,  the  expositione  of 
 this  vas,  that  acteon  vas  ane  vane  gentil  man 
 that  set  ai  his  felicite  on  doggis  for  hunting, 
 on  the  quhilkis  he  maid  ouer  prodig  expen- 
 sis abufe  his  faculte,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that 
 he  sellit  his  heretage  til  entretene  his  vane  ple- 
 seir,  &  ther  eftir  he  fel  in  pouerte.  ther  for  the 
 poietis  fenzeis  that  his  doggis  distroyit  hym. 
 alace  ther  is  ouer  mony  horse  in  Scotland  lyik 
 dyamedis  horse  that  eitis  the  pure  pepil,  and 
 there  is  ouer  mony  doggis  i  Scotland  that  vir- 
 reis  there  master  as  acted  vas  virreit.  i  repreif 
 nocht  gentil  men  for  the  halding  of  horse  & 
 doggis;  for  horse  ar  necessair,and  doggis ar  for 
 recreatione.  bot  i  repreif  the  ouer  prodig  ex- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  1^$ 
 
 pensis  that  sum  gentil  men  makkis  on  horse 
 and  doggis  abufe  ther  stait  and  faculte.  it  var 
 verray  necessair  and  honest  for  ther  auen 
 veil  that  sic  prodigalite  var  moderat.  the  phi- 
 losophour  xenophon  rehersis,  that  cirus  kyng 
 of  perse  and  meid  vas  verray  solist  in  huting, 
 ande  he  maid  grit  expensis  on  his  horse,  bot 
 he  gart  sic  expensis  cum  til  ane  gude  effect, 
 for  he  vsit  hunting  til  excerse  his  gentil  men 
 to  keip  them  fra  ydilnes,  ande  he  maid  grit 
 expensis  on  horse,  be  cause  thai  var  necessair 
 for  his  veyris. 
 
 ^[  O  ze  my  eldest  soune,  nobilis  and  gentil 
 men,  i  exort  zou  to  correct  zour  selfis  of  the 
 artiklis  of  this  accusatione,  and  alse  that  ze 
 adhere  til  al  verteous  byssynes,  and  that  ze  ac- 
 cord and  agre  vitht  zour  tua  bredthir  laubera- 
 ris  ande  clergie,  to  that  effect  that  ze  may  re- 
 leif  me  of  my  afflictione.  for  doutles  gyf  that 
 discentione  ande  rancour  remanis  amang 
 zou,  in  schort  dais  zour  aid  cnemcis  sal  ocu- 
 pie  zour  heretagis  and  duelling  placis,  &  the 
 postcrite  of  zour  generatioe  sal  be  put  furtht 
 of  rememorance.  Nou  i  vil  saye  ane  familiar 
 reproche,  be  the  vay  of  correctioe  to  my 
 cond  soune,  callit  sperutualite,  to  that  eff< 
 
1^6  THl  COMPLAVrT 
 
 to  gar  zou  al  thre  brethir  concur  to  gyddir  on 
 ane  substancial  constant  gude  purpos,  for  the 
 deffens  of  zour  natiue  cuntre. 
 
 f  QuHOU  THE  AFFLIGIT  LADY  DAME  SCOTIA  RE- 
 
 PREUIS  HIR  SYCOND  SOUNE,  CALLIT 
 
 SPERUTUALITE. 
 
 CHAP.    XIX. 
 
 O  (my  sycond  soune)  sperutualite,  thou  he$ 
 herd  the  familiar  repreif  that  i  haue  pronun- 
 cit,  be  the  vay  of  correctione  to  thy  tua  bre- 
 thir nobilis  &  lauberaris ;  bot  my  accusati- 
 one  contrar  the,  is  na  purgatione  to  the.  for 
 thou  deseruis  nocht  alanerly  ane  mair  inuec- 
 tyue  reproche  for  thy  demeritis,  bot  as  veil 
 thou  deseruis  to  be  puneist  realy,  &  to  be 
 degradit  fra  thy  holy  office,  the  maist  part  of 
 the  vicis  that  thy  tua  brethir  hes  cSmittit, 
 maye  be  siipportit  &  excusit,  be  rason  of 
 there  ignorance  ;  bot  thou  can  nocht  allege 
 ignorance  for  thy  excusatione,  considerand 
 that  god  hes  gyffin  the  his  lau  in  thy  moutht 
 to  be  distribut  betuix  the  and  thy  tua  bre- 
 thir, as  is  vrityn  in  the  sycond  cheptour  of 
 makchias,  t^e  pr0phet  malachias,  quhilk  sais,  labia  enim 
 sacerdotis  custodiunt  scietiam,  &  legem  re- 
 quirent  ex  ore  eius,  quia  angelus  domini  ex- 
 
 1.  cap. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  247 
 
 ercituum  est.  that  is  to  say,  the  lippis  of  the 
 preist  sal  keip  the  sciens  of  god,  and  the  pe- 
 pil  sal  desire  the  lau  to  be  schauen  to  them, 
 furtht  of  his  moutht,  be  cause  he  is  the  mes- 
 sengeir  of  the    lord.      O    thou    my  sycond 
 soune,  this  autorite  that  god  hes  gyuyn   to 
 the,  is  vondir  grit,  ther  for  sen  god  hes  dotit 
 thy  faculte  in  maist  honorabil  dignite  and  au- 
 torite,   abufe    the   stait   of   thy    tua  brethir, 
 nocht  alanerly  in   the    knaulege    of   diuyne 
 sciens,  bot  als  veil  in  humanite  as  in  til  scics 
 liberalis,  &  in  moral  &  natural  philosophic,  the 
 quhilk  gracis  and  propreteis  ar  nocht  grantit 
 be  god  for  thy  particularite,  bot  rather  god  hes 
 ordand  the  to  be  ane  dispesatour  of  his  gyf- 
 tis  amang  the  ignorant  pepil.   ther  for  I  vald 
 thou  var  solist  to  distribute  the  talent  that  the 
 lord  gef  til  his  saruand.   And  thou  can  nocht 
 distribut  it  bcttir  nor  to  purchcs  vnite  and  co- 
 !  betuix  the  and  thy  tua  brethir  ;    for  the 
 prudcns  and  autorite  that  the  lord  hes  gyflin 
 to  the,  suld  suppreme  ther  ignorante  error,  & 
 obstination.  Ther  for,  as  king  as  thou  ar  i 
 clegent  in  thy  office,  sa   lang  sal   ther  ay 
 discentione,  discord,  &  hatreat  in  the  rcalme, 
 quhilk  sal  be  occasionc  of  thy  auen  ruuvi 
 
248  THE    COMPLAYNT 
 
 Ther  for  i  exort  the  til  animaduert  and  to 
 perpend  maturly  thir  vordis,  in  drede  that 
 thou  repent  thy  necleges  quhen  thou  hes  na 
 laszar  nor  oportunite  to  remede  thy  abusion. 
 And  fyrst,  to  begyn,thou  suld  set  al  thy  feli- 
 cite,  to  correct  thy  self  of  thy  lang  abusione, 
 that  is  to  say,  thou  suld  gyf  gud  exempil  in 
 thy  conuersatione,  conformand  to  thy  pro- 
 fessione  and  to  thy  doctryn,  to  that  effect  that 
 the  pure  pepil  may  follou  thy  futsteppis,  as  is 
 vritin  in  Mathou,  Luc,  and  Ihone,  sic  luceat 
 lux  vestra  coram  hominibus,  vt  videant  ope- 
 ra vestra  bona.  Ther  for  thai  that  hes  autori- 
 te,  and  gyfis  euyl  exempil,  suld  be  mair  rea- 
 lye  puneist,  nor  the  pepil  suld  be  that  contem- 
 nis  and  disobeys  ther  authorite.  it  is  vritin  in 
 the  brasyn  tablis  of  the  antiat  lauis  of  rome, 
 that  there  vas  mair  rigorus  punitione  exsecu- 
 tit  on  ane  man  of  autorite  that  gef  euyl  exe- 
 pil,  nor  vas  exsecutit  on  murdresaris  and  tra- 
 tours.  Romulus  the  fyrst  kyng  of  rome,  insti- 
 tut  ane  lau  amang  the  ytaliens,  that  transgres- 
 sours  suld  be  puneist  mercyfully  efFerad  for 
 the  qualite  of  ther  crymis  ;  and  alse  he  statut, 
 that  quhen  men  of  autorite  and  dignite  com- 
 mittit  thai  samyn  crymis,  tha  var  led  and  co- 
 
OF   SCOTLAND*  ^49 
 
 uoyit  dishonestly  to  the  plane  marcat  befor 
 the  capitol,  quhar  thay  resauit  doubil  punitio- 
 ne,  be  cause  the  euyl  exepil  of  ther  maluersa- 
 tioe  prouokyt  the  pepil  til  adhere  to  vice,  &  to 
 detest  vertu.  Hermes  the  philosophour  said, 
 that  the  error  &  the  euyl  exepil  of  ane  man  of 
 autorite  maye  be  coparit  til  ane  onexpert  ma- 
 ster of  ane  schip,  quhilk,  throucht  his  misgo- 
 uernance,  is  occasione  that  the  schip  pereseis, 
 and  tynis  nocht  hym  self  alanerly,  bot  as  veil 
 he.tynis  al  them  that  ar  of  his  companye.  ther 
 for,  it  var  verray  necessair  that  men  of  autori- 
 te, or  ministers  of  the  kyrk,  do  gyf  gude  exem- 
 pil  in  ther  conuersation,  to  that  effect  that  the 
 ingnorant  pepil  may  follou  ther  futsteppis. 
 The  philosophour  plutarque  rehersis  ane  ex- 
 empli of  the  partan,  quhilk  repreuit  ane  of 
 hyr  zong  partans,  be  cause  the  zong  parti  vald 
 nocht  gang  euyn  furtht,  bot  rather  sche  zeid 
 crukit,bakuart,  and  on  syd.  than  the  zong  par- 
 tan  ansuert,  quod  sche,mothcr,  ican  nocht  gag 
 of  my  aue  natur  as  thou  biddis  me,  bot  noch- 
 theles,  vald  thou  gang  furtht  rycht  befor  die, 
 than  i  sal  leyrn  to  follou  thy  futsteppis.  This 
 exempil  tendis,  that  the  discipil  follouis  the 
 conuersatione  of  his  preceptor,  rather  nor  he 
 2  1 
 
2$0  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 follouls  his  doctrine,  allace  o  my  sune  speritua- 
 lite,  the  abusion  of  thy  office  is  the  cause  of 
 the  discentione  that  is  betuix  the  and  the  tem- 
 poral stait,  for  ze  tua  ar  lyike  cattis  and  doggis 
 berkkad  on  vthirs,  ther  for  ther  is  nocht  ane 
 of  zou  bettir  nor  ane  vthir.  for  that  cause  the 
 gramariaris  can  fynd  na  greis  of  comparaiso 
 in  zour  gudnes,  for  that  terme,  bettir,  is  of  the 
 comparatyue  gree,  and  that  terme  glide,  is  of 
 the  positiue  gree,  the  quhilk  positiue  gree  is 
 nocht  in  mony  of  zou  conformand  tyl  ane 
 reul  of  the  lau.  L.  cum  furti.  ff.  de  condi. 
 furti.  the  quhilk  reul  sais,  comparatiuus  pre- 
 Supponit  poskuum.  Quhar  for  i  exort  the  (o 
 my  veil  belouit  sone  speritualite)  to  correct 
 thy  maluersatione.  for  quhen  the  pepil  diso- 
 beyis  thy  gude  doctryne  throucht  the  euyl  ex- 
 empil  of  thy  maluersatione,  thou  sal  be  mair 
 doubil  puneist  nor  tha  sal  be  for  the  disobe- 
 dies  of  thy  gude  doctryne,  be  rason  that  god 
 hes  gyffin  to  the  baytht  knaulage  and  autorite 
 to  gouuerne  ther  ignorance,  doutles  thy  abu- 
 sione,  and  the  sinister  ministratione  of  thy  offi- 
 ce, is  the  special  cause  of  the  scisma  and  of  di- 
 ners sectis  that  trublis  al  cristianite.  &  quhou 
 beit  that  the  rute  of  thir  scismes  and  sectis  be 
 
Of   SCOTLAND.  25! 
 
 In  germane, denmark  and  ingland,  zit  nochthe- 
 les  the  branchis  of  them  ar  spred  athort  al  cri- 
 stin  realmis  in  sic  ane  sort,  that  tha  hef  maye 
 fauoraris  nor  aduersaris,  for  diuerse  men  de- 
 siris  ane  part  of  the  temporal  patrimonye  of 
 the  kyrk,  be  cause  of  the  abusione  and  euyl  ex- 
 empii  of  the  kyrk  men.  And  this  plag  and  scis- 
 raa  sal  neuyr  be  reformit  for  na  statutis,  la- 
 uis,  punitios,  bannessing,  byrnyng,  hayrschip, 
 nor  torment  that  can  be  deuisit,  quhil  on  to 
 the  tyme  that  the  speritualite  reforme  ther 
 auen  abusion.  ther  for,  gyf  the  speritualite 
 var  as  solist  to  reforme  and  to  correct  ther  aue 
 maluersatione  as  tha  ar  solist  to  puneise  them 
 that  detrakkis  &  murmeris  ther  obstinat  abu- 
 sione, rha  for  certan  the  gude  exempil  of  ther 
 gude  conuersatione  vald  extinct  and  supedeit 
 mair  haistyar  al  peruerst  opinions  &  scismas 
 nor  al  the  punitione  that  al  cristianite  can  cx- 
 secut.  The  punitione  that  the  speritualite  re- 
 manent in  ther  abusione  exsecutis  on  scisma- 
 tikis,  maye  be  comparit  til  ane  man  that  casti* 
 vlye  on  ane  heyt  birnand  fyir,  in  hope  til 
 tinct  it,  and  to  droune  it  furtht,  the  quhilk 
 vlye  makkis  the  fyir  mair  bold  nor  it  vas  of  be- 
 for,  the  experiens  of  this  is  manifest;  for,  as  su- 
 2  1  ij 
 
1$Z  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 ne  as  ther  is  ane  person  slane,  brynt,  of  Ban- 
 nest  for  the  halding  of  peruest  opinions,  incon- 
 tinent ther  rysis  up  thre  in  his  place ;  ther  for 
 sic  punitione  maye  be  coparit  tyl  ane  serpent 
 callit  hydra,  quhilk  hed  seuyn  heydis.  The  po- 
 ietis  rehersis,  that  quhen  this  said  serpent  vas 
 assailzet  be  men  to  sla  hyr,  and  quhen  thir  me 
 straik  ane  or  tua  of  hyr  heydis  fra  hyr,  than 
 sche  fleid  tyl  her  cauerne,  and  on  the  morne 
 vthir  tua  heydis  vald  be  grouuen  on  hyr  as 
 of  befor,  and  of  this  sort  sche  did  grit  domage 
 baytht  to  man  and  beyst,  quhil  on  to  the  ty- 
 zne  that  nobil  Hercules  venqueist  hyr ;  than  he 
 straik  al  hyr  seuyn  heydis  fra  hyr.  fra  that  ty- 
 me  furtht  sche  lyuit  neuyr  agane.  this  exem- 
 pil  tendis,  that  the  scisma  that  ringis  in  this 
 varld  sal  neuyr  be  extinct  for  na  punitione 
 that  can  be  exsecutit,  bot  gyf  al  the  heydis  of 
 the  vniuersal  cristianite  be  strikkyn  fra  them, 
 or  ellis  bot  gyf  the  ministers  reforme  &  cor- 
 rect ther  auen  abusione. 
 
 Quhar  for  (o  my  sone  speritualite)  i  exort 
 the  that  thou  cause  al  thy  membris  concur  to 
 gyddir  to  mak  reformatione  of  the  sklande- 
 rous  abusione  that  ringis  amang  them,  ande 
 ther  eftir  thou  sal  treit  vnite  and  concord  be 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  2$£ 
 
 tuix  the  uniuersal  leigis  of  Scotland  be  the 
 maist  familiar  ande  cheritabii  vaye  that  thy 
 ingyne  can  inuent  or  ymagyn,  to  that  effect 
 that  ze  my  thre  sonnis,  nobilis,  clergie,  &lau- 
 beraris,  may  pas  in  ane  faythful  accord  to  re- 
 sist the  cruel  inuasions  of  zour  dissaitful  and 
 incredule  aid  enemeis.  Thou  hes  mair  occa- 
 sione  and  mystir  to  be  vigilad  in  the  deffens  of 
 the  liberte  of  thy  faculte,  nor  hes  thy  tua  bre- 
 thir;  for  gyf  the  kyng  of  ingland  prospir  in  his 
 oniust  veyris,and  conquessis  our  realme,  dout- 
 les  thy  tua  brethir  vil  tyne  ther  gudis  and  the- 
 re heretage  ;  bot  there  lyuis  sal  be  saif,  sa  that 
 tha  vil  be  suorne  to  be  inglis  slauis,  and  rene- 
 gat  scottis.  bot  he  vil  nocht  grant  na  grace  to 
 thy  faculte,  bot  the  samyn  grace  that  kyng  hc- 
 ry  the  eycht  gaue  to  the  speritualite  of  in- 
 glad,  that  is  to  saye,  in  the  fyrst  he  tuke  the  pa- 
 trimone  &  the  teporal  landis  of  the  kyrkis  of 
 inglad,  &  anext  ane  part  of  the  to  the  propri- 
 te  of  his  croune,  &  ane  vthir  part  he  distribut 
 amag  ane  certan  of  grit  personagis  of  his  real- 
 me, quhilkis  adherit  til  his  tirran  opinio,  &  sy- 
 ne he  chesit  furtht  ane  certan  of  the  biest  ge- 
 nologie  of  ingland  that  bed  bene  promouit  to 
 cathidral  dignitcis,  and  til  vihir  speritual 
 
2$4  TtlE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 neficis,  quhome  he  gart  his  flaschar  lay  the? 
 craggis  on  ane  stok  and  gart  heyde  them,  and 
 syne  he  gart  hyng  ther  quartars  on  potentis  at 
 diuerse  comont  passagis  on  the  feildis  quhar 
 the  maist  confluens  of  pepil  passit  and  repas- 
 sit,  and  thridly  he  c5pellit  pure  speritual  men, 
 baytht  regular  and  religiouse  preistis,  monkis 
 and  freris,  to  pas  to  leyrn  mecanyc  hand  lau- 
 byrs,  sum  to  be  cordinaris,  sum  to  be  tailzours, 
 sum  to  be  marynalis,  and  sa  to  proceid  to  di- 
 uerse vthir  craftis  ;  and  thai  that  var  obstinat 
 and  disobedient  tyl  his  cruel  statutis  he  gart 
 bannes  ane  part  of  them,  and  presone  the  bo- 
 deis  of  ane  vthir  part  in  perpetual  captiuite. 
 
 There  for  (o  thou  my  sycond  sone  sperituali- 
 te)  thou  may  beleue  surly  that  the  kyng  of  in- 
 gland  vil  be  na  mair  gracius,  curtas  nor  mer- 
 ciful to  the,  quhome  he  reputis  for  his  mor- 
 tal eneme,  nor  he  hes  bene  to  the  sperituali- 
 te  of  ingland,  quha  vas  his  faythtful  natyue 
 natural  leigis  and  inhabitaris  of  his  realme, 
 of  the  quhilk  ther  vas  sum  of  them  that  var 
 of  his  kyn  and  blude,  bot  he  regardit  nocht  tyl 
 ony  greis  of  consanguinite,  bot  rather  he  vsit 
 his  mercyles  crualte  cotrar  them,  to  that  effect 
 that  his  auaricius  aftectioe  that  he  hed  touart 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  255 
 
 the  kyrk  landls  of  ingland  mycht  be  saciat. 
 O  ze  speritualite  of  Scotland,  ze  hef  grit  cau- 
 se to  tak  exempil  be  zour  nychtbours,  and 
 nocht  be  zour  selfis,  conformand  to  thir  tua 
 versis ;  felix  quern  faciunt  aliena  pericula  cau- 
 turn,  casus  dementis,  correctio  fit  sapientis. 
 Al  this  veil  considrit,  suld  be  an  animaduer- 
 tens  to  gar  zou  be  vigilant  and  delegent  to 
 keip  and  to  deffend  the  Ii6erte  of  zour  facul- 
 te,  the  quhilk  sal  neuyr  be  veil  kepit  nor  def- 
 fendit,  bot  gyf  ze  put  zour  hadis  to  verk,  that 
 is  to  saye,  that  sa  mony  of  zou  that  ar  defensa- 
 bil  men  sal  pas  I  propir  person  in  battel  vitht 
 my  lord  gouuernour  and  vitht  the  nobil  lor- 
 dis  and  barrons  of  Scotland  contrar  the  cruel 
 inuasions  of  zour  aid  enemeis  of  inglad.  The- 
 re for  sen  it  is  neid  forse  to  cheis  ane  of  tua 
 euyllis,  that  is  to  say,  othir  to  fecht  i  battel  for 
 the  defTens  of  zour  faculte  and  liberte,  or  el- 
 lis  to  be  tormetit  in  captiuite  be  zour  aid  ene- 
 meis, ze  i>uld  cheis  the  smallest  of  thir  tua  cuil- 
 lis,  conformand  to   th  ciccro  that 
 
 he  vrit  ad  quintum  fratrem,  say  and,  in  duo- 
 bis  malis  fugier.dum  maius,  lcuiiiii  est  clegen- 
 dum.  for  it  it  les  domage  and  dishonour  to  fecht 
 in  fayr  battel  for  the  deiTens  of  zoui 
 
256  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 nor  to  be  tormentit  in  ane  miserabil  captiui- 
 te.  Quhar  for  i  exort  zou  that  ze  chage  zour 
 speritual  habitis,  bayth  coulis  and  syde  gou- 
 nis,  in  steil  iakkis  and  in  cotis  of  mailze,  to  def- 
 fend  zour  bodeis  fra  the  crualte  of  zour  ene- 
 meis ;  and  thai  that  ar  agit  and  nocht  abil  for 
 the  veyr,  thai  heffand  patrimone  and  benefi- 
 cis,  thai  suld  furneis  pure  preistis,  monkis  and 
 freris,  vitht  al  necessair  thingis  conueniet  for 
 the  veyris.  And  than  quhen  the  veyris  ar  en- 
 dit,  thai  maye  cleitht  them  agane  vitht  there 
 speritual  habit,  conformand  to  ther  professio- 
 ne.  And  nane  of  the  speritualite  suld  be  scri- 
 pulus  in  this  byssynes,  considerand  that  god- 
 dis  Iju,  the  lau  of  natur,  positiue  lau,  ciuil  and 
 cannon  lau,  hes  condiscendit  im  ane  purpos 
 that  al  staitis  and  faculteis,  vitht  outony  acce- 
 ptione  of  persons,  ar  oblist  to  pas  in  battel  for 
 the  deffens  of  ther  public  veil,  and  of  ther  na- 
 tiue  cuntre.  Than  quhy  suld  preistis  or  fre- 
 ris allege  exemptions,  sayand  that  there  pro- 
 fessione  oblicis  them  to  sing  and  say,  to  pre- 
 che  and  praye,  and  nocht  to  feeht  in  battel,  al- 
 lace  sic  exemptions  suld  be  repellit  and  ad- 
 nullit,  considerand  that  the  contrarie  of  ther 
 allegiance  is  of  verite.    The  bibil  is  ane  real 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  257 
 
 probatione,  that  kyng  dauid  that  royal  pro- 
 phete  vas  ane  preist,  moises  vas  ane  preist, 
 aaron  vas  ane  preist,  ande  al  the  prophetis  of 
 Israel  var  preistis  ;  zit  nochtheles  thay  var  ay 
 fyrst  in  the  battel  for  the  deffens  of  the  lan- 
 dis  of  promissione.  and  nou  be  cause  that  the- 
 re is  sum  ignorant  preistis  that  ar  mair  obe- 
 dient to  the  canon  lau  nor  thai  ar  to  goddis 
 lau,  there  for  i  vil  sateiffe  there  scrupulus  con- 
 sciens  vitht  sum  cheptours  of  the  canon  lau. 
 in  the  fyrst,  it  is  vrityn  in  the  xxiij  distinctio- 
 ne  in  the  feyrd  questione  in  the  cheptour.  Si 
 non,  as  eftir  follouis,  sicut  antiquitus  ducibus 
 concessum  fuit  bellare:  sic  &  modernis,  dum- 
 modo  non  bellent  desiderio  fundenti  sangui- 
 nem  :  sed  rem  publicam  ampliando.  it  is  vri- 
 tyn in  the  xxiii  distinctione  in  the  viii  questio- 
 ne as  eftir  follouis.  Saraceni  bellantes  con- 
 tra cristiancs,  iuste  a  cristianis  inipugnantur. 
 i  refler  the  expositione  of  this  I  :he  vni- 
 
 uersal  crisuanite  to  iuge  quhiddir  that  inglis- 
 men  be  sarrasyns  or  cristin  men.  Thcr  is 
 cheptour  of  the  canon  lau  that  sals  thir   \ 
 dis  in  the  xxiii  disti  In  the  fyifte  que-, 
 
 stion,  bella  sumpta  c  mmunici 
 
 &  infidclcs  meritori 
 
258  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 tione  of  this  text  to  be  iugit  be  al  cristin  prin- 
 cis,  quhiddir  that  inglis  men  be  excommu- 
 nicat  and  denuncit  goddis  rebellis  be  al  lauis 
 for  ther  infidilite,  incrudilite,  crualte,  tirran- 
 rye,  sacreleige,  &  for  the  vsurpatione  of  vthir 
 princis  dominions  vitht  out  ony  occasione 
 or  iust  titil.  There  is  su  scripulus  preistis,  hef* 
 and  there  consciens  subiect  to  traditions,  quha 
 sais,  that  it  is  nocht  leiful  to  preistis  to  pas  in 
 battel,  vitht  out  the  lecens  of  the  pape.  i  vald 
 thir  ignorant  preistis  vald  reid  ane  cheptour 
 of  the  canon  lau  in  the  xxiii  distinctione  in 
 the  viii  questione,  callit,  an  episcopo  liceat  ad 
 bellum  prcflcisci  sine  licentia  pape.  i  exort 
 zou,  my  sone  speritualite,  to  put  al  cerimonial 
 scrupulnes  furtht  of  zour  hartis,  &  that  ze  pas 
 in  propir  person  contrar  zour  aid  enemeis ;  8c 
 tha  doutles  zour  faculte  sal  nocht  be  spulzeit 
 fra  the  liberte  that  it  possessis. 
 
 ^    (VUHCU  THE  AFFLIGIT  LADY  DAME  SCOTIA  MARIS 
 ANE  EXORTATIOE  TIL  HYR  THKE  SONIS,  QL1IILK 
 IS  THE   CONCLUSIONE  OF  THIS  BEl 
 
 CHAP-  XX. 
 
 O  ze  my  thre  sonnis,  i   hef  accusit  euy 
 ane  of  zou,  perticularly  i  special  for  the  abu- 
 srione  of  zour  faculteis  and  offlcis,  the  quhilk 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  259 
 
 abusione  is  the  cause  of  the  c5tentione  and  dis- 
 cord that  ringis  amang  zou,  the  quhilk  conten- 
 tion and  discord  hes  dune  mair  domage  in  zour 
 cuntre,  nor  the  grit  armye  of  ingland  hes  du- 
 ne, i  vald  speir  ane  question,  quhat  niedycyn 
 can  help  ane  seik  man  that  hurtis  hym  selue 
 vilfully,  and  prouokis  his  auen  seiknes  daly  ? 
 or  quhat  cite  can  indure,  quhen  it  is  seigit  and 
 assailzeit  vitht  out  be  enemeis,  and  vitht  in 
 the  cite  ringis  mortal  veyr  amang  the  gou- 
 uernours  and  inhabitantis?  O  ze  my  thre  so- 
 nis,  quhat  can  the  varld  estime  of  zou,  quhen 
 ze  ar  sa  solist  on  the  ruuyne  of  zour  prospe- 
 rite,  and  on  the  demolitioe  of  zour  comot  veil? 
 zour  conditions  &  conuersations  is  mair  lyik 
 til  barbarien  pepil,  nor  it  is  to  cristyn  pepil.  ze 
 lament  hauyly  the  cruel  veyrs,  and  ze  cry  & 
 desyris  pace  at  god,  ze  hefFand  rancor  in  zour 
 hartis  cotrar  zour  nychtbours.  ze  desire  mer- 
 cy at  god,  ze  heffand  ane  drauc  sourd  in  zour 
 hand  to  slay  ane  innocet.  ze  vald  be  louit  vitht 
 al  men,  and  ze  hef  na  cherite  to  na  ma.  Quhy 
 suld  god  delyuyr  zou  fra  zour  enemeis? 
 that  ze  ar  mortal  cnemcis  to  zour  our 
 
 honour  is  tynt  ;    sen  that  zour  vailzeantm 
 changit  in  berkyng  on  vthirs  lyik  cattis  and 
 
 2     Y. 
 
00  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 doggis,  ze  hef  left  the  protectione  of  zour  co- 
 mont  salut,  and  ze  ar  be  cum  sodiours  &  pen- 
 sionaris  to  zour  enemeis,  and  alse  ze  ar  be  cu 
 enemeis  to  zour  auen  veilfair  and  prosperite. 
 allace,  vald  ze  considir  the  grit  ruuyne  &  per- 
 ditioe  that  hes  cu  on  diuerse  realmis  throucht 
 the  discentione  and  diuisioe  that  rang  amang 
 the  pepil.  than  i  beleue  that  ze  vald  treit  pace 
 in  zour  consciens,  and  cherke  to  zour  nycht- 
 bours.  the  holy  scriptour  confermis  this  sa- 
 Math.  ia.    myn  purpos,  quhar  crist  Iesus  said,  Omne  re- 
 Lucc' "'     gnum  in  se  diuisum  desolabitur  :   al  realmis 
 that  ar  diuidit  vitht  in  them  selfis  be  discen- 
 tione and  contentione,  sal  be  left  desolat.  the- 
 re for  (o  ze  my  thre  sonnis)  it  is  na  meruel 
 that  zour  cuntre  cum  to  ruuyne  and  desola- 
 tione,  considerand  that  al  sortis  of  detestabil 
 and  onleful  veyrs  and  battellis  that  distroyit 
 the  romanis  in  the  anciat  dais,  ringis  present- 
 ly amang  zou,  throucht  the  discentione,  diui- 
 sione,  inuy,  rancor,  and  auareis  that  ringis  vni- 
 uersaly  throucht  al  Scotland,   the  fyrst  sort  of 
 Justin.        battellis  and  veyris  that  broucht  the  romans 
 Lib.  i.        t0  ruUyne,  vas  callit  battellis  finityuis,  A  fini- 
 bus :   that  is,  quhen  ane  man  vndir  takkis  to 
 coques  be  violence  and  tirranye  the  landis 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  *6t 
 
 of  his  nychtbours  that  marchis  and  lyls  con- 
 tigue  vitht  his  landis,  as  did  Ninus  kyng  of 
 the  assiriens,  quha  vas  nocht  contentit  vitht 
 his  auen  cuntre,  there  for  he  maid  veyr  on  al 
 the  cuntreis  that  circuit  his  realme.  this  sam- 
 myn  sort  of  veyrs  is  in  Scotland,  for  there  is 
 nocht  mony  men,  grit  nor  smal,  that  hes  here- 
 tage,  bot  is  aye  inuentand  cauillatione  8c  vrag 
 titilis  to  hef  ther  nychtbours  heretagis  that 
 lyis  contigue  besyde  them,  othir  be  proces  &: 
 pleyis,  or  ellis  be  violens.  there  vas  ane  vthir 
 sort  of  battellis  amang  the  romans,  callit  bat- 
 tellis  socialis,  that  is,  quhen  tounis  of  ane  cii- 
 tre  makkis  veyr  contrar  vthirs,  as  of  diuerse 
 tounis  of  germanye  and  ytalie.    Thir  samyn 
 sort  of  veyrs  ringis  presently  in  Scotland,  for 
 there  is  nocht  ane  boroustone  nor  landuard 
 paris  vitht  in  the  realme,  bot   thai   hef  inuy 
 contrar  the  tounis   and  parisis   that   ar  nixt 
 nychtbours  to  them,   the  thrid  sort  of  veyris 
 var  callit  battellis  ciuilis,   that  is,  quhcn  citi - 
 naris  and  induellaris  of  ane  cite  hes   mortal 
 fede  cotrar  vthirs,  as  vas  betuix  silla  8c  mari', 
 &:  quint'  lipidius.    this  samyn  sortis  of  \ 
 ringis  instantly  in  Scotland,  for  there  is  nocht 
 ane  borroustoune  nor  parise  i  scotlad  bot  tl 
 
fc6*2  THL  COMPLAYNT 
 
 is  deidly  fede  amang  sum  of  the  induel- 
 lars  of  the  saidis  tounis.  there  is  ane  vthir  sort 
 of  veyris  callit  battellis  intestynis,  that  is,  qu- 
 hen  kynsmen  and  frendis  of  consanguinite 
 or  affinite  hes  mortal  veyr  contrar  vthirs,  as 
 vas  betuix  Iulius  cesar  and  his  gude  sone 
 grit  pompeus.  this  samyn  sort  of  veyris  rin- 
 gis  instantly  in  Scotland;  for  the  intestine  vey- 
 ris that  ringis  amang  the  barrons  and  gen- 
 til  men  of  Scotland,  is  detestabil  to  be  reher- 
 sit,  for  thai  that  ar  nerest  of  kyn  and  blude  hes 
 maist  mortal  fede  contrar  vthirs ;  quha  ca  cal- 
 kil  the  degreis  of  kyn  and  blude  of  the  barros 
 of  Scotland,  thai  vil  cohferme  this  samyn.  the- 
 re is  ane  vthir  sort  of  veyris  callit  battellis 
 asephales,  that  is,  quhen  the  pepil  gadris  to- 
 giddir  in  ane  grit  conuentione  but  the  auto- 
 rite  of  the  superior,  as  did  the  comontis  of  ger- 
 manye,  quhilkis  var  the  numer  of  ane  hun- 
 dyr  thousand  men.  thai  did  grit  domage.  thai 
 obeit  nocht  to  their  dukis  and  superioris.  tha 
 the  due  of  saxon  and  the  langraue  of  hasse  ve- 
 queist  and  distroyit  them,  siclyikas  did  the  co- 
 montis of  ingland  the  zeir  of  1533  zeris, 
 quhilkis  var  distroyit  vndir  the  trettye  of  con- 
 cord, this  samyn  sort  of  veyris  ringis  instant- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  26*3 
 
 ly  in  Scotland  ;  for  i  hef  sene  nyne  or  ten  thou- 
 sand gadyr  to  giddir  vitht  out  ony  commis- 
 sione  of  the  kyngis  letteris,  the  quhilk  grit  co- 
 uentione  hes  been  to  put  there  nychtbours 
 furtht  of  ther  steding  and  takkis  on  vytson 
 veddyinsday,  or  ellis  to  leyde  auaye  ane  pure 
 manis  teynd  in  heruyst ;  bot  thai  vald  nocht 
 be  half  sa  solist  to  conuene  thre  hundretht  at 
 the  command  of  the  kyngis  letteris  to  pas  to 
 resist  our  aid  enemeis  of  ingland.  al  thir  for- 
 said  veyrs  hes  occurrit  throucht  the  discentio- 
 ne  and  diuisione  of  the  pepil  of  ane  realme. 
 
 ^[  Oze  my  thre  sonnis,ze  knau  that  thir  vor- 
 dis  befor  rehersit  ar  of  verite.  alse  ze  knau  that 
 zour  extreme  ruuyne  approchis  verra  neir, 
 the  quhilk  maye  be  eysylie  remedit,  sa  that  ze 
 vald  nocht  be  obstinat  and  obdurit  in  the  ran- 
 cor and  discentione  that  ringis  amang  zou.  it 
 aperis  to  me,  that  sum  sorseris  and  vytchis,qu- 
 hilkis  ar  instrametis  of  the  aid  eneme  of  ma- 
 kynd,  hes  tcmpit  zou,  and  hes  venqueist  zour 
 natural  rason.  i  vait  nocht  quhiddir  that  i  sal 
 iuge  zou  to  be  cu  ircnetik  or  brutal,  lor  zour 
 couersatios  in  general  is  ane  monstreus  thyng 
 rather  nor  humain,  as  zour  vcrkis  i  -    the 
 
 historiographoris  rchersis  that  the  tua  prudct 
 
£64  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 philosophoris,  heraclites  and  democrites,  past 
 throucht  the  varld  to  haue  ane  vniuersal  iu- 
 gement  of  the  conuersation  of  man  kynd.  tha. 
 quha  thai  var  passad  throucht  the  varld,  &  per- 
 sauand  the  vice  and  the  vanite,  and  euil  con- 
 uersatione  of  euyrie  cuntre,  &  alse  persauand 
 the  grit  solistnes  of  diuerse  staitis  1  cdquesslg 
 reches,  heretagis,  digniteis,  officies,  and  auto- 
 rites,  sum  be  auareis,  sum  be  violens  and  ex- 
 torsions,  and  sum  be  ane  inexorbitant  solist- 
 nes cotrar  rason,  and  sum  be  raif  and  spulze-, 
 and  sum  be  trason,  and  sum  be  discentione  & 
 mortal  fede,  nocht  heffand  respect  nor  reme- 
 morance  of  the  schort  peregrinatione  of  this 
 miserabil  lyif,  nor  zit  heffand  premeditatione 
 of  the  future  eternal  beatitude  that  god  hes 
 promest  til  faythtful  men.  than  heraclites  be- 
 gan to  veip  and  lament  for  pite  that  he  hed 
 of  the  extreme  disrasonabil  abusione  that  rag 
 amang  the  vniuersal  pepil.  bot  democrites 
 leucht  and  scornit  there  foliful  conuersatio- 
 ne  and  solist  vanite.  allace  var  thai  tua  philo- 
 sophours  instantly  passand  throucht  the  real- 
 me  of  Scotland,  heraclites  vald  murn  &  laniet 
 for  pite  our  misire  and  our  affliction,  the  qu- 
 hilk  hes  occurrit  and  daly  occurris  throucht 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  *6$ 
 
 our  auen  occasione.  and  syklyik  democrites, 
 persauand  our  folyful  mysgouernance  and 
 our  miserabil  obstinat  conuersatione,  he  vald 
 laucht  and  scorn  vs  be  grit  derisione.  for  dout- 
 les  thir  tua  philosophours  vald  fynd  mater 
 aneucht  to  veip  for  vs,  and  alse  to  laucht  vs 
 to  scorn,  i  vil  rehers  sex  versis  in  latyn,  quhilk 
 var  conposit  be  ane  knycht  of  Itale,  M.  An- 
 tonio phili  remo  fregoso,  and  synei  sal  rehers 
 the  exposition  of  them  in  our  scottis  tong,  as 
 neir  the  sentens  of  the  text  as  i  can. 
 
 Ad  lectorem. 
 Defle  hominu  vita  plusqua  heraclite  solebas, 
 In  lachrimas  totos,  solue,  age  nunc  oculos: 
 Concute  maiori  splenem  democrite  risu, 
 Et  toto  resonans  ore  cachinus  hict. 
 Vita  fuit  miidi  post  codita  secula  nuncquam, 
 Et  risu,  pariter  dignior,   &  lachrymis. 
 
 To  the  readar. 
 Gude  readar,  veip  and  murne  this  mortal  lyif, 
 As  did  the  vyise  philosophour  heraclite  ; 
 And  thou  sal  laucht  for  scorne  recreatyfe, 
 As  fast  as  did  the  prudent  democrite. 
 Ane  murnit  for  pite,  the  tothir  Ieucht  I  dispite, 
 Ouhen  thai  beheld  this  varldia  vanite  : 
 Bot  var  thai  nou  on  lyue,  i  mycht  veil 
 That  tha  vald  laucht  and  veip  our  mi  sire. 
 i  L 
 
l6S  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 *[  Aut  ridenda  omnia,  aut  flenda  sunt. 
 Seneca. 
 
 Thyr  exeplis  of  thir  tua  philosophours  mak- 
 kis  manifest,  that  al  our  varldly  byssynes  is 
 bot  vane  &  detestabil.  there  for,  it  is  na  mer- 
 uel  thocht  heraclites  regrettit  and  vepit  our 
 folyful  couersatione,  and  that  democrites 
 leucht  and  scornit  our  solist  abusione,  con- 
 sidered that  quhen  baytht  thir  philosophours 
 past  throucht  the  varld,  tha  culd  persaue  nay 
 Scde.  a.  thing  bot  vanite.  the  prudent  Salomon  con- 
 fermis  this  sammyn  in  the  sycond  cheptor  of 
 his  ecclesiastes,  sayad,  that  quhen  he  hed  socht 
 and  gottyn  al  the  varldly  feliciteis  that  culd 
 be  deuisit,  al  vas  bot  vanite  and  afflictione  of 
 the  spreit.  Therfor,  o  ze  my  thre  sonnis,  nobi- 
 lis,  clerge,  and  lauberaris,i  exort  zou  to  retere 
 fra  vanite,  &  til  adhere  to  vertu*  &  ony  of  zou 
 that  thynkis  zou  of  maist  reputatio  throucht 
 zour  superfle  veltht,  ze  suld  be  solist  to  ken 
 zour  selfis,  &  to  be  humil  to  zour  nychtbours, 
 or  ellis  al  zour  gloire,  veltht,  and  dignite,  sal 
 change  in  vilite.  ze  haue  grit  occasione  to  fle 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  26/ 
 
 thir  varldly  caduc  honouris,  the  quhilkis  can 
 nocht  be  possest  vitht  out  vice,  and  alse  as  vin- 
 cetius  says  in  his  34  beuk,  the  mair  eleuat  that 
 ane  person  be  in  superfleu  digniteis,  his  fal  & 
 ruuyn  sal  be  the  hauyar.  quato  gradus  altior, 
 tanto  casus  grauior.  for  the  gritest  green  tre 
 that  standis  hiest  on  the  montane,  is  haistyar 
 blauen  doune  vitht  the  vynd,  nor  is  the  smal- 
 lest treis  that  grouis  in  the  valeyse.  summa  pe- 
 tit liuor :  perfluant  altissima  venti.  i  haue  re- 
 hersit  thir  vordis,  be  cause  of  the  vane  arroga- 
 ce  that  ringis  i  the  hartis  of  my  tua  eldest  son- 
 nis,  nobillis  and  clergie,  quhilk  vil  be  occasio- 
 ne  of  there  ruuyne,  bot  gif  thai  mittygat  and 
 mortife  there  detestabil  pride,  inuy,  and  aue- 
 reis.  i  meruel  that  thai  considir  nocht  that  god 
 behaldis  al  there  abhomination.  it  aperis  that 
 thai  beleue  that  god  sleipis  and  seis  the  nocht, 
 for  there  couersation  is  as  ther  var  nocht  ane 
 detht  to  sla  ther  bodeis,  nor  ane  licl  tj  puneis 
 ther   saulis.     lam    viuunt   homines    tanquam 
 mors  nulla  sequatur,  Et  velud  infernus  fibu- 
 la ficta  foret.  God  seis  al  thing,  &  there  is  nay 
 thing  obscure  fra  hym,  as  is  vrityn  in  Mathou, 
 Marc,  and  Luc.    Nihil  enim  est 
 2    L   ij 
 
2.68  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 non  sit  retegendum  &  nihil  occultu,  quiim 
 futurum  sit  vt  sciatur.  there  for  it  is  grit  folye 
 to  my  thre  sonnis  to  couuer  there  vice  vitht 
 dissymilit  vertu,  for  ther  is  na  thing  that  is  hid 
 or  sylit,  bot  the  tyme  sal  mak  it  manifest,  for 
 euerye  thing  is  subieckit  to  the  proces  of  the 
 tyme,  and  the  tyme  consumis  al  thing,  as  it 
 consumis  the  quhyt  fleureis  of  green  treis,  ex- 
 cept the  verite  and  vertu,  quhilk  sal  neuyr  c5- 
 sume,  bot  rather  augmentis  in  euerye  tyme. 
 It  vas  sperit  at  the  philosophour  tales,  gyf 
 that  the  goddis  kneu  the  verkis  that  men  dois 
 in  this  varld?  he  ansuert,  quod  he,  the  goddis 
 knauis  nocht  alanerly  the  verkis  of  men,  bot 
 as  veil  thai  ken  the  thochtis  and  intentions  of 
 men.  Thir  exemplis  suld  be  applyit  to  the  pe- 
 pil  that  ar  dissymilit  in  ther  conuersations, 
 and  that  cullurs  and  couuers  ther  false  hartis 
 vitht  verkis  aperand  to  be  verteous  8c  faytht- 
 ful.  bot  there  is  na  dissymilatid,  O  ze  my  thre 
 sonnis,  amag  zou,  cosiderad  that  zour  hartis  & 
 zour  verkis  condiscendis  on  ane  purpos,  bot 
 rather  til  euil  nor  to  gude.  O  my  thre  sonnis, 
 sen  god  kennis  that  zour  hartis  ar  euil,  and 
 that  men  kennis  that  zour  verkis  ar  euyl,  i  exr 
 ort  zou  that  ze  gar  zour  hartis  consaue  the  co- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  269 
 
 rnandis  of  god,  and  that  zour  verkis  be  confor- 
 mand  to  the  sammyn  ;  &  than  doutles  gcd  sal 
 schau  his  mercy,  and  sal  releue  zou  of  the  grit 
 afflictione  of  the  thre  plagis  that  hes  aimaist, 
 succubit  zour  cuntre  in  extreme  ruuyne,  that 
 is  to  saye,fraveyr,  fra  pest,  and  fra  hungir.  and 
 sic  gude  pollice  sal  neuyr  cum  til  effect  quhil 
 that  ze  haue  treittit  pace  and  concord  amang 
 zour  selfis,  the  quhilk  concord  amang  zour 
 selfis  vii  be  ane  mair  auful  scurge  til  ingland, 
 nor  that  the  realme  of  France  and  the  empire 
 hed  tane  querrel  contrar  ingland.  zour  cronik- 
 lis  makkis  manifest  that  the  inglis  me  van  ne- 
 uyr na  thing  at  zour  handis,  bot  rather  lossit, 
 quhen  thai  intendit  veyr  contrar  zou,  ze  bead 
 of  ane  accord,  there  is  ane  exempil  of  cirillus, 
 quhilk  vas  ane  nobil  prince,  in  his  grit  aige  he 
 be  cam  seik  to  the  detht.  he  hed  iiij  scoir  of 
 sonnis,  the  quhilkis  he  gart  compeir  in  his  pre- 
 sens.  than  he  delyurit  to  them  ane  ccrtan  of 
 smal  green  treis  bundyn  to  giddir,  extendand 
 to  the  numer  of  iiij  scoir.  fyrst  he  ordaiul 
 eldest  sonne  to  brak  that  bQche  of  treis  at  ane 
 tyme,  the  quhilk  he  culd  nocht.  than  he  gart 
 al  the  remanent  of  his  sonnis,  ilk  ane  be  them 
 self,  tak  the  said  bunche  of  green  | 
 
zyo  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 brak  them  al  to  giddir,  the  quhilk  nane  of  the 
 euld  do  it.  tha  he  lousk  the  buche  of  gree  treis, 
 and  gaue  til  euerye  ane  of  his  sonnis  ane  of 
 the  said  gree  treis  to  brak,  the  quhilk  thai  did 
 eysylye.  than  he  said  til  his  iiij  scoir  of  sonnis, 
 i  exort  zou  that  ze  remane  al  to  giddir  in  gli- 
 de accord  amang  zour  selfis  but  diuisione,  and 
 than  zour  enemeis  sal  nocht  venqueis  zou.  & 
 in  opposit,  gyf  that  contentione  and  diuisione 
 cumis  amang  zou,  zour  enemeis  sal  venqueis 
 zou  as  eysylye  as  ony  of  zou  hes  brokyn  ane 
 of  the  green  treis.  syklyik,  O  ze  my  thre  son- 
 nis, gif  that  ze  remane  to  giddir,  &  beis  nocht 
 separat  nor  deuidit  fra  vthirs,  it  sal  be  as  on- 
 possibil  to  inglis  men  to  venqueis  zou,  as  it  vas 
 onpossibil  til  ane  of  the  sonnis  of  cirillus  to 
 brae  the  hail  bunche  of  green  treis  at  ane  ty- 
 me.  ze  suld  al  tak  exepil  quhou  that  grit  Ale- 
 xander conqueist  mekil  of  al  the  varld,  and  he 
 left  the  gouuernyng  of  his  ciitre  on  his  dede 
 bed  to  be  gouernit  eftir  his  deceis  be  four  of 
 the  prencipal  barrons  of  his  court ;    bot  sune 
 eftir  his  decese,  auareis,  inuy,  ambitione,  and 
 particular  proffet,  separat  and  deuidit  the  fra 
 vthirs,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that  the  barbaries, 
 the  persiens  and  mediens,  and  the  grecians,  co- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND,  2y  I 
 
 queist  al  the  grit  empire  of  Alexander,  and 
 maid  sklauis  of  his  pepil.  syklyik  the  romans, 
 that  var  dominatours  of  al  the  varld,  fra  ty- 
 me  that  discentione  and  diuisione  raise  amag 
 the  prencipal  romans,  and  speciale  the  disce- 
 tione  that  raise  betuix  Iulius  cesar  and  grit 
 pompeus  ;  for  Iulius  vald  nocht  hef  anemar- 
 rou  in  rome,  and  pompeus  vald  nocht  hef 
 ane  superior  ;  the  quhilk  discentione  vas  oc- 
 casione  of  the  ciuil  and  intestine  veyrs  that 
 rang  vniuersale  in  ytalie.  &  for  that  cause  the 
 romans  that  hed  dominion  athort  al  the  varld 
 be  cam  subiect  to  them  quhom  thai  hed  dan- 
 tit  of  befor.  siclyik  the  triumphand  cite  of  car- 
 tage, quhilk  dantit  al  affrica,  spangze  &  cecil, 
 and  did  mony  vailzeant  actis  contrar  the  ro- 
 mans, it  be  cam  subiect  to  them  that  it  hed 
 venqueist  of  befor,  fra  tyme  that  discentione 
 and  diuisione  raise  amang  the  nobiliis  of  that 
 toune. 
 
 *[  Quhar  for  i  exort  zou,  my  thre  sonnis, 
 that  ze  expel  discentione,  discord,  and  aid  Ce- 
 de that  ringis  amang  zou,  quhii  the  veyris  be 
 dune,  and  than  ze  sal  triumphe  contrar  zour 
 enemeis.  i  vald  ze  tuke  exempil  of  diuerse  no- 
 bil  romans  and  grecians  that  hed  mortal  I 
 
572  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 contrar  vthiris,  zit  nochtheles  quhen  there 
 enemeis  assailzet  there  natiue  cuntre,  than  al 
 thir  nobillis  concurrit  in  ane  accord,  and  set 
 there  particular  rancor  and  fede  on  syde,  as 
 did  the  tua  vailzeant  consulis  of  rome  ;  ane 
 vas  caliit  marcus  emilius  lepedus,  the  tothir 
 fuluius  flaccus,  quha  hed  mortal  heytrent  & 
 deidly  fede  contrar  vthirs.  At  that  instant  ty- 
 me  Annybal  conqueist  cannes,  at  the  dolor* 
 battel  quhar  that  the  consul  emelius  Paulus 
 vas  slane,  quhar  that  Annibal  gat,  at  the  spulze 
 of  the  romans,  thre  muis  ful  of  gold  ringis 
 that  var  on  the  fingaris  of  the  romans  that 
 var  slane.  Than  eftir  this  dolorus  discumfitu- 
 re  of  the  romans,  diuerse  citeis  and  castellis  of 
 Italie  randrit  them  til  Annibal,  sum  be  forse, 
 and  sum  be  trason  ;  and  in  speciale  the  toune 
 of  capes  vas  randrit  be  trason,  be  the  prenci- 
 pal  citinaris  of  the  toune.  Than  thir  tua  no- 
 bil  consulis,  Marcus  emilius  lepedus  &  ful- 
 uius  flaccus,  quhilkis  hed  mortal  fede  betuix 
 them  for  particular  occasions,  and  thai  persa- 
 uand  al  there  natiue  cuntre  in  dangeir  of  ru- 
 uyne,  thai  said  til  vthirs,  It  is  necessair  that  ve 
 forzet  and  put  on  syde  the  lange  dedly  fede 
 that  hes  bea  betuix  vs  for  our  particular  veil  \ 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 for  gyf  Annibal  conqueis  al  Italie,  our  parti- 
 cular veil  sal  nocht  be  saue.  of  this  sort  thi  r 
 nobil  cosulis  past  in  ane  accord  vitht  xxxiij 
 legions  of  men  of  veyr,  and  conqueist  vail- 
 zeantly  the  toune  of  capes,  &  sleu  al  the  char- 
 tagien  sodiours  that  annibal  hed  left  in  gar- 
 nison  vitht  in  the  toune  of  capes,  and  alse  tha 
 gart  iustifie  to  the  detht  xxv  of  the  prencipai 
 citinaris,  be  cause  of  there  trasonabil  seditio- 
 ne  committit  cotrar  ther  comont  veil.  ri 
 re  is  ane  vthir  exempil  of  the  grit  hatrent  & 
 mortal  fede  that  vas  betuix  tua  nobil  consu- 
 lis  of  rome.  ane  vas  callit  Claudius  nero,  the 
 tothir  vas  callit  liui'  salinator.  the  senat  send 
 claudius  contrar  Annibal,  vitht  ane  grit  ar- 
 mye.  at  that  instant  tyme,  the  post  cam  to  the 
 senat,  declarand,  that  hasdrubal,  quha  vas  the 
 bruther  of  Annibal,  vas  cum  fra  ailrica,  and 
 past  throcht  spaftgze  and  Trance,  andcumand 
 our  the  alpes  of  ytalie  vitht  ane  grit  ann\ 
 succur  his  brothir  A  to  c.  -:• 
 
 al  ytalie.    lor  that  cause  the  senat  send  liuius 
 salinator  contrar  hasdribal,  quha  hed  nocht 
 ane  sufliciet  nuraer  of  ir.cn  of  veyr  I 
 hym.  quh:ir  for  the  co.^ui  Claudi'  nero 
 dreddor  that  liuius  salinator  and  his  anme 
 
 2  M 
 
274  1"HE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 suld  be  deffait  be  hasdrybal,  he  forzet  the  aid 
 fede  that  vas  betuix  them,  and  he  send  ane 
 roman  captan,  callit  emilius  hostilius,  vytht 
 the  half  of  his  armye  contrar  Annibal,  quha 
 sleu  xxx  thousand  of  Annibalis  men  of  veyr, 
 and  claudius  nero  past  vitht  the  tothir  half 
 of  his  armye  to  help  and  to  reskeu  liuius  con- 
 trar hasdribal.  than  thir  tua  amies  past  to  gi- 
 thir  in  gude  accord,  nocht  rememorant  of  the- 
 re deidly  aid  fede  that  vas  betuix  them,  and 
 thai  vailzeantly  sleu  hasdribal  and  xlvi  thou- 
 sand of  his  men,  and  alse  thai  tuke  viij  thou- 
 sand presoners,  and  thai  cuttit  the  hede  fra 
 hasdribal.  &  in  there  returnyng  to  rome,  thai 
 keist  the  heyde  befor  the  on  the  gait,  &  playt 
 vitht  it  vitht  there  feit,  as  it  hed  been  ane  fut 
 bal.  fra  that  tyme  furtht,  Annibal  tynt  cura- 
 ge  in  sic  ane  sort,  that  his  men  of  veyr  var  da- 
 ly  deffait.  There  is  ane  vthir  exempii  of  the 
 dedly  fede  and  hatrent  that  vas  betuix  Muni- 
 tius,  maister  of  the  hors  men.  and  the  consul 
 fabius.  thir  tua  romans  hed  the  gouernyng  of 
 ane  grit  armye  of  romans  contrar  Annibal. 
 Muniti*  the  maister  of  the  hors  men  vas  ver- 
 ra  proud  in  hym  self,  and  alse  in  his  veyrs  he 
 vas  mair  furius  nor  prudent,  bot  his  collig  fa- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  2J£ 
 
 bius  vas  cald,  graif,  and  pacient  in  his  bissynes. 
 Munitius,  in  his  furour,  vald  haue  oft  g] 
 battel  til  Annibal,  bot  fabius  vald  neuyr  con- 
 sent, be  cause  he  sau  the  aperand  danger  that 
 vas  to  succed  throucht  the  subtilite  of  Anni- 
 bal. than  Munitius  desirit  at  fabius   that  he 
 vald  thole  hym  to  haue  the  hail   gouuernyng 
 of  the  armye  ane  daye,  and  fabius  to  hef  it 
 ane  vthir  daye,  and  sa  euerye  ane  of  them  to 
 haue  the  gouuernyng  of  the  armye  his  day 
 about,  to  the  quhilk  fabius  vald  nocht  cdsent, 
 sayand,  i  vil  nocht  thole  zou  til  haszard  al  the 
 grit  armie  of  rome  in  dangeir  throucht  sour 
 ignorant  furius  consait,  bot  i  am  content  that 
 the  grit  armye  be  partit  in  tua  partis, 
 to  haif  the  half  of  the  armye,  and  i  sal  I 
 the  tothir  half  i  gouernyng.  tha  ze  maye 
 zard  andfecht  quhen  that  ze  think  zour  como- 
 dius  tyme.  Munit'  laid  oft. 
 
 uer.  on  this  accord  thai  partit  and  diaidit  the- 
 re legions  and  campis  in  tua  equal  partis.  I 
 debait  and  disccntion  vas    reportit   til   Anni- 
 bal be  his  spyis  and  his  exploratours,  quhilk 
 vas  til  hym  doubil  ioye.  an< 
 vas,  be  cause  he  tliocht  to 
 
 t  ij 
 
2j6  THE   COMPLAYNT 
 
 fule  hardynes  of  munitius,  euyn  as  he  vald 
 hym  self,  the  tothir  cause  of  his  ioye  vas, 
 be  raison  that  the  half  of  the  stryntht  of  fa- 
 bius  vas  dymynischid,  be  cause  of  the  par- 
 ting of  the  tua  hostis  in  tua  partis,  ther  vas 
 ane  hil  betuix  anniballis  hoste  and  the  hoste 
 of  munitius,  quhilk  hil,  quha  euyr  hed  gottyn 
 it,  he  suld  haue  been  able  to  do  mekil  disple- 
 seir  til  his  enemeis.  bot  zit  Annibal  desyrit  it 
 to  mak  occasione  of  battel  to  munitius,  quho- 
 me,  he  kneu  veil,  that  throucht  his  furor  and 
 fule  hardines,  vald  gane  stand  and  stop  hym 
 fra  the  takkyng  of  the  said  hil.  than  Annibal 
 persauit  and  spyit  at  the  fut  of  the  said  hil,  qu- 
 hair  there  vas  diuerse  cauis  and  cauernis,  and 
 grit  holis  vitht  in  the  rocche  craggis,  vitht  in 
 the  quhilk  he  pat  flue  thousand  fut  men  and 
 horse  men,  nocht  persauit  be  the  romans.  on 
 the  morne,  Annibal  send  ane  feu  numir  of 
 men  to  tak  the  forsaid  hil.  Munitius  persauad 
 that  ane  feu  numer  of  chartagiens  var  in  pur- 
 pos  to  tak  that  hil,  than  the  romans  brak  there 
 arraye  to  ryn  to  impesche  the  takyng  of  the 
 said  hil.  for  fyrst  Munitius  send  lycht  harnes- 
 sied  zong  men,  and  syne  he  send  ane  grit  nu- 
 mir of  horse  men  contrar  Anniballis  men.  & 
 
OF  SCOTLAND. 
 
 Annibal  send  syklyik  fut  men  &  horse  men 
 to  reskeu  his  men  that  he  hed  send  to  the  hil. 
 than  Munitius,  in  grit  furor,  cam  vitht  the  re- 
 manent of  his  armye  contrar  the  hil  takkaris. 
 than  Annibal  seand  occasion  and  tyme  opor- 
 tune  to  gyf  battel,  he  past  forduart  vitht  his 
 armye  contrar  the  romans.  on  the  tothir  syde, 
 al  the  fiue  thousand  men  that  var  hid  in  the 
 cauis  and  holis  of  the  hil,  ischit  furtht  on  the 
 bakkis  of  the  romans,  vitht  mony  hiddeous 
 cryis.  the  romans  beand  in  this  grit  perplexi- 
 te,  beand  closit  betuix  tua  armeis,  thai  be  cam 
 discuragit,  quhilk  gart  them  fie  fra  the  battel, 
 bot  Anniballis  armye  follouit,  and  sleu  mo- 
 ny romans.  At  this  instant  tyme,  fabius,  the 
 collig  of  Munitius,  persauand  the  grit  di^cfi- 
 fytur  of  the  romans  throucht  the  misgouuer- 
 nance  and  furor  of  Munitius,  he  said,  fortou- 
 ne  hes  schauen  hir  folic  na  soner  nor  i  bele- 
 uit.  Munitius,  throcht  his  fule  hardines,  hes 
 lossit  the  half  of  the  gryt  armye  of  rome ;  he 
 hes  euyr  been  my  mortal  enemie,  and  nou  i 
 haue  tyme  oportune  to  reuenge  me  on  hym  ; 
 bot  at  this  tyme  i  vil  nocht  thole  the  comont 
 veil  to  pcrreise  for  my  vendicatyue  particular 
 affectione.  there  for  i  vil  contencu  our  qucr- 
 
2J§  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 rel  and  aid  fede  til  ane  moir  oportunite.  than 
 fabius  causit  his  men  to  display  ther  baners 
 and  standardis,  and  syne  cam  forduart  in  gli- 
 de arraye  contrar  Annibal,  to  succur  &  reskeu 
 munitius  and  his  men  that  var  fled,  than  the 
 romans  that  var  fast  fleand,  persauand  fabius 
 armye  ciimand  to  help  them,  thai  returnit  fra 
 there  fleyng,  and  cam  and  iunit  vitht  the  ar- 
 mye of  fabius  in  arraye,  &  rycht  vailzeantly 
 thai  vequeist  and  sleu  the  maist  part  of  Anni- 
 ballis  men,  and  chaissit  hym  self  to  tuscan. 
 
 O  my  thre  sonnis,  nobilis,clergie,  and  laube- 
 raris,  thir  exemplis  of  thir  nobil  romans  that 
 ned  mortal  fede  betuix  them,  quhilkis  cocur- 
 rit  to  giddir  in  accord  for  defens  of  there  na- 
 tyue  cuntre,  suld  prouoke  zou  to  forzet  the 
 hatrent  and  rancour  that  mony  of  zou  hes  co- 
 trar  vthirs,  and  to  gar  zou  tak  curage  til  accord 
 vitht  ane  consent  to  resist  zour  aid  enemeis 
 of  ingland.  for  doutles  ze  heffand  as  mekil 
 gold  as  cresus  or  medas  possest,  and  beand  in 
 as  grit  numir  of  men  as  exerxes  of  perse,  qu- 
 hen  he  cam  to  conqueis  greice,  vitht  sex  hun- 
 dretht  thousand  men  of  veyr,  and  ze  heffand 
 as  gude  captans  as  grit  alexader  or  Iudas  Ma- 
 chabeus.  and  ze  heffand  al  the  munitions  for 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  279 
 
 veyr  that  is  in  europa,  al  thir  thingis  be  for 
 rehersit  sal  be  confusione  to  zou,  rather  nor 
 supple,  as  lang  as  ze  haue  hatrent  and  secret 
 fede  amang  zour  seluis.  quhar  for  i  exort  zou 
 to  concur  to  giduir  in  vnite  for  the  defFens  of 
 zour  cuntre,  as  did  thir  romans  befoir  reher>it. 
 and  in  opposit,  gyf  zour  particular  fede  con- 
 trar  vthirs  remanis  in  zour  hards,  than  dout- 
 les  tuenty  thousand  of  zour  enemeis  sal  ven- 
 queis  ane  hundretht  thousand  of  zou,  &:  thai 
 sal  put  zour  generatione  and  ther  posterite 
 furtht  of  rememorance,  and  zour  mortal  ene- 
 meis sal  inhabit  and  ocupe  zour  placis. 
 
 ^[  O  my  thre  sonnis,  i  hef  oft  tymis  rehersit 
 of  befor,  of  the  trason  that  occurris  I  scotlad. 
 and  quhou  beit  that  ther  be  mony  trasonabil 
 actis  manifest  in  Scotland,  zit  nochtheles  i  can 
 nocht  condiscend  in  special  on  na  man  that 
 hes  committit  ony  trason,  wnd  alse  i  vait  for 
 certan  that  there  is  mony  nobil  men  in  scot- 
 land  that  ar  suspekkit  of  trason,  and  ar  *klan- 
 drit  for  the  samyn  be  the  vulgar  pepil,  quhou 
 beit  that  thai  be  innocet  of  that  foule  cryme. 
 the  occasionc  of  the  samyn  suspitionc 
 procedit  of  the  subtilite  of  zour  aid  eneoi 
 for  ane  dispyt  that  tlu  haue  ymaginct  o~>trar 
 
2uO  THE    COMPLAYNT 
 
 zou,  be  cause  that  thai  dreid  zour  vailzeant- 
 nes,  and  for  that  cause  thai  haue  gart  ane  se- 
 cret brute  pas  in  Scotland  that  sum  of  zou  hes 
 intelligens  vitht  them  ;  and  to  gar  ther  inuen- 
 tit  subtil  cauteii  contrar  zou  entir  mair  lar- 
 ge in  the  vulgaris  hartis,  thai  haue  gart  ther 
 borderaris  mak  incursions  and  forrais  far 
 ■vitht  in  Scotland,  quhar  thai  haue  spulzeit  and 
 reft  grit  multiplie  of  mouiabil  gudis,  as  scheip, 
 nolt  and  horse,  and  thai  haue  dune  na  doma- 
 ge  nor  hayrschipis  to  sum  of  zour  stedingis 
 and  takkis,  the  quhilk  thing  thai  haue  dune  to 
 that  effect  that  ze  maye  be  haldin  odius  and 
 suspetius  be  zour  prince,  throucht  the  quhilk 
 suspitione  zour  prince  maye  gar  preson  zour 
 bodeis  ;  than  ze  beand  in  varde  or  in  preson, 
 ze  can  nothir  resist  nor  deffend  zour  cuntre 
 fra  the  onmerciful  inuasions  of  zour  aid  ene- 
 meis.  Quhair  for  it  is  necessair  for  zour  veil- 
 fayr  that  ze  commit  sum  vailzeant  act  con- 
 trar zour  enemeis,  to  that  effect  that  the  prin- 
 ce and  superioris,  and  alse  the  comont  pepii 
 of  the  realme,  maye  knau  zour  innocens. 
 
 Ther  is  ane  exempil  conformand  to  this  sa- 
 myn  purpos  in  the  feyrd  cheptor  of  the  sycod 
 beuk  of  tucidides,  quhou  that  pericles  of  athe- 
 
Or   SCOTLAND.  28  I 
 
 nes,  knauand  that  the  armye  of  the  lacedemo- 
 nies  vas  to  cu  <:6trar  athenes,  and  that  archi- 
 damas  vas  captan   to  the  s  quha  at 
 
 vthir  tymis  of  befor  the  ing  of  the  \ 
 
 vas  verra  familiar  vitht  perecles :  tha  perecles 
 heffand  suspltione  that  archedamas  vald  do 
 na  domage  til  his  viihgis  and  steydingis,  to 
 that  effect  that  the  athenies  suld  suspect  hym 
 oftrason,  he  past  to  the  scnat  of  athenes,  say- 
 ad,  i  suspect  that  the  lacedemonyes  vil  reser- 
 ue  my  villagis  and  steydingis  fra  birnyng 
 and  fra  domage,  and  that  thai  vil  be  cruel  con- 
 trar  my  nythibours,  to  that  effect  that  ze  maye 
 suspect  that  i  haue  intelligens  vitht  arche- 
 damas. throucht  the  aid  familiarite  that 
 betuix  vs  :  therfbr  to  \  pe- 
 
 tione,  he  ir  .kkis  and  si 
 
 dingis,  and  be  in  propri- 
 
 te  to 
 
 I  entir  in  plane  I 
 
 tel  contrai  rhe 
 
 thai  :.. 
 
 cht 
 
 anc  'ia" 
 
 2   N 
 
^82  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 Annibal  send  ane  grit  numer  of  lycht  horse 
 men  to  spulze  the  territoris  and  villagis  per- 
 tenand  to  rome,  resaruand  the  villagis  and 
 stedingis  pertenand  to  fabius,  quha  vas  capta 
 of  the  romans  armye.  this  crafty  subtel  act 
 of  Annibal  causit  the  romans  to  consaue  ane 
 vehemet  suspetione  of  trason  contrar  fabius, 
 Than  fabius  beand  aduerteist  of  this  byssy- 
 nes,  and  desyrand  til  haue  his  innocens  knaue, 
 he  send  his  sone  to  rome  to  sel  al  his  villages 
 and  stedingis  for  reddy  monye,  and  alse  vrit 
 ane  lettir  to  the  senat  of  rome  of  this  effect,  fa- 
 thers edscript,  i  am  suspekkit  of  trasd  throcht 
 the  machinatione  of  Annibal,  bot  doutles  my 
 innocens  sal  be  haistyly  manifest  to  zou  al, 
 for  as  sone  as  i  see  oportunite  and  conueniet 
 tyme  &  place,  i  sal  gif  hym  battel,  on  the  feyrd 
 daye  there  eftir,  fabius  gef  battel  til  Annibal, 
 quhen  he  reskeuit  Munitius  the  master  of  the 
 horse  men,  as  is  befor  rehersit.  this  vail- 
 zeant  act  pat  hym  nocht  alanerly  furtht  of 
 suspetione,  bot  as  veil  it  augmentit  his  ho- 
 nour and  gloir.  (O  ze  my  thre  sonnis)  ony  of 
 zou  that  is  suspekkit  of  trason  suld  do  sum 
 vailzeant  act  cotrar  zour  enemeis  as  did  pere- 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  283 
 
 cles  and  fabius  befor  rehersit,  to  that  effect 
 that  the  remanent  of  the  pepil  maye  gyf  con- 
 fidens  to  zou,  quhilk  vil  be  occasioe  that  the 
 hail  body  of  the  realme  vil  haszard  there  ly- 
 uis  and  there  gudis  in  zour  copanye  for  the 
 iust  defens  of  zour  comont  veil  and  zour  na- 
 tyue  cuntre.  Allace  the  suspetione  that  the  pe- 
 pil hes  contrar  sum  of  zou  is  nocht  causles,  for 
 men  of  smal  experies  maye  persaue  that  ther 
 is  diuerse  men  of  Scotland  that  ar  be  cu  neu- 
 tral ;  that  is  to  say,  thai  vil  nothir  tak  ane  plane 
 part  vitht  inglad  nor  vitht  scotlad,  for  quhen 
 thir  neutral  men-  speikis  vitht  inglis  me,  thai 
 lamet  hauyly  the  incostance  of  the  lordis  of 
 Scotland  that  hes  brokyn  ther  promit  &  band, 
 the  quhilk  vas  honestly  cotrakkit,  to  compleit 
 ane  marriage  betuix  our  nobil  princes  here- 
 tour  of  Scotland,  and  eduard  the  zong  kyng 
 of  ingland,  the  quhilk  contract  beand  fullii- 
 lit,  vald  hef  beene  the  cause  of  ane  perpetual 
 vnite  betuix  the  lua  said  realmis  ;  and  qui 
 thir  said  neutral  men  speikis  vitht  scoti: 
 thai  regret  and  lamentis  hauylye  the  discen- 
 tione  and  diui^ione  that  ringis  amang  the  no- 
 bilis  of  Scotland,  quhilk  is  occaaone  that 
 
 N  ij 
 
284  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 inglis  men  be  ther  falsed  and  subtilite  perse- 
 cutes our  realme  vitht  out  ony  iust  titil.  Of 
 this  sort  the  neutral  scottis  men  cntretaiis 
 baytht  the  realmis  quhil  on  to  the  tyme  that 
 ane  of  the  realmis  conqueis  the  toihir,  and 
 than  thai  vil  adhere  til  his  opinione  that  con- 
 quesis  the  victore.  bot  sic  dissymilit  and  sub- 
 tyl  neutral  men  at  the  end  of  the  vim  vil  be 
 reuardit  as  the  cordinar  of  rome  vas  reuardit 
 be  augustus  cesar,  as  i  sal  rehers.  The  beuk  of 
 the  annales  of  rome  rehersis,  that  in  the  tyme 
 of  the  ciuil  veyris  that  vas  betuix  Augustus 
 Cesar  and  Anthonius,  quhilkis  tua  conten- 
 dit  for  the  empire,  the  iugement  of  the  victo- 
 re that  vas  aperand  to  be  betuix  them,  vas 
 verray  incertan  to  the  vniuersal  pepil  of  yta- 
 lie,  be  rason  that  thai  var  profond  hie  spre- 
 tit  vailzeant  men,  and  verray  opulent  in  re- 
 ches,  &  of  grit  allya,  quhilk  vas  occasione  that 
 the  romans  var  deuidit  in  tua  aduerse  par- 
 teis.  at  that  tyme  ther  vas  ane  cordinar  of  ro- 
 me, ane  vtrray  subtil  riche  villane,  quhabe  ca 
 neutral  induring  the  tyme  of  the  veyris  be- 
 tuix Augustus  and  Anthonius,  Uriad  quhil 
 on  to  the  tyme  that  ane  of  them  var  superior 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  285 
 
 of  the  tothir,  zit  he  nocht  beand  certan  quha 
 suld  be  superior  of  rome,  and  alse  beand  desi- 
 rus  to  haue  the  grace  and  fauouris  of  hym 
 that  hapnit  to  be  imperiour,  he  be  grit  subtilite 
 neurissit  tua  zong  corbeis  in  tua  cagis,  in  tua 
 syndry  housis,  and  he  leyrnit  them  baytht  to 
 speik.  he  leyrnit  ane  of  them  to  saye,  god  saue 
 thy  grace,  nobil  victoreus  augustus  cesar.  and 
 he  leyrnit  the  tothir  to  saye,  god  saue  thy  gra- 
 ce, nobil  victoreus  empriour  anthonius.  than 
 this  subtel  cordinar  set  ane  of  his  corbeis  that 
 gsf  louyng  til  augustus,  furtht  at  his  vindo 
 on  the  plane  reu,  quhen  he  beheld  ony  gentil 
 i  of  augustus  aiiya  pas  or  repas  befor  his 
 hou^e.  and  siklyik  he  set  furtht  his  tothir  cor- 
 be  at  his  vindo  quhen  he  beheld  ony  of 
 allya  of  Anthonius  pas  or  1  for  his  hou- 
 
 se, the  quhilk  thi  set  that 
 
 he  mycht  vyn  the  I  ^'ht 
 
 to  tyne  the  fauoir  of  an 
 he  vas  lyik  to  tl  tht   the   tua  ed 
 
 than  quhen  Aug;.  '10- 
 
 nius,  &  vas  pacebil  Rilbtd  i 
 
 donar  presenii:  the  corbe  til  Augustus,  quhilk 
 gef  hym  louyng  in  hyr   artiii    , 
 
-286  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 the  quhilk  cesar  vas  verray  glaid,  quhar  for  he 
 gef  to  the  cordonar  fyftene  hundretht  peces 
 of  gold,  bot  sune  there  eftir  it  vas  reportit  to 
 augustus  cesar,  that  the  said  subtel  cordonar 
 hed  ane  corbe  that  gaue  as  grit  louyng  til  an- 
 thonius.  than  augustus  causit  the  said  corbe 
 and  the  cordonar  to  be  brotht  in  his  presens  ; 
 and  quhen  he  persauit  that  the  cordonar  vas 
 ane  astuce  subtel  falou  &  dissymilit,  he  gart 
 hang  hym  on  ane  potent  befor  the  capital,  & 
 his  tua  corbeis  be  syde  hym. 
 
 ^[  Of  this  sort  (O  ze  my  thre  sonnis)  ony  of 
 zou  that  is  be  cu  neutral  to  Scotland  and  in- 
 gland,  and  is  tariand  quhil  there  be  ane  prin- 
 ce superior  to  baytht  the  realmis,  doutles  ze 
 sal  be  recompensit  be  that  prince  for  zour  a- 
 stuce  dissymilirnes,  as  the  cordinar  vas  recom- 
 pensit be  augustus  cesar.  Ther  for  i  exort  zou 
 to  reuoke  zour  neutralite,  and  that  ze  be  cum 
 special  vailzeant  defFendours  of  zour  natyue 
 cuntre.  it  vas  sperit  at  cicero  in  the  tyme  of  the 
 ciuil  veyris  betuix  Iulius  Cesar  &  pompeus, 
 quhais  querrel  and  part  that  he  vald  tak.  cice- 
 ro ansuerit,  quern  fugiam  scio,  quern  sequar 
 nescio.  this  is  to  say,  i  vait  quhais  part  i  sal  re- 
 fuse, bot  vait  nocht  quhais  part  i  sal  tak.  this 
 
OF    SCOTLAND.  287 
 
 ansueir  of  ambiguite,  declarit  that  cicero  vas 
 be  cum  neutral  in  the  ciuil  and  intestine  vey- 
 ris  that  vas  betuix  iulius  Cesar  and  grit  pom- 
 peus.  zit  nochtheles  the  romas  murmerit  his 
 ansueir  of  ambiguite  to  the  vrang  part,  alle- 
 gead  that  he  hed  mair  fauoir  to  pdpeus  quer- 
 rel  nor  to  Iulius  Cesar  ;  bot  it  is  the  natur  of 
 inciuil  comont  pepil  to  iuge  euirye  purpos  to 
 the  vrang  face.  Ane  propositione  or  ane  respo- 
 ce  of  ambiguite  suld  be  ay  interpreit  and  ex- 
 ponit  to  the  best  sens,  conformand  til  ane  reul 
 of  the  lau,  de  vsu  L.  creditor,  cum  ibi  no.  C.  & 
 L.  fi.  vsuras.  the  quhilkis  cheptours  sais,  Ambi- 
 gua  solutio  pro  meliori  &  certiori  parte  est  in- 
 terpretanda  et  intelligeda.  bot  nou  to  proceid 
 in  my  purpose.  Cicero  hed  ane  honest  cause 
 to  refuse  baytht  ther  querellis  and  to  be  neu- 
 tral, be  rason  that  thai  contendit  baytht  to  be 
 superiours  and  kyngis  of  rome,  quhilk  vas  c.\- 
 presse  contrar  the  antiant  lauis  of  the  romans. 
 The  sophist  logicinaris  per  chance  may  argon, 
 that  tua  contrareis  can  nocht  be  baytht  false  > 
 and  be  this  mutulat  freuole  reul  of  logic  thai 
 vald  infer  and  allege,  that  Iulius  and  pop 
 culd  nocht  baytht  hef  ane  vrangus  titil  i  ther 
 debait,  considerand  that  the  comont  prouerb 
 
l88  THE  COMPLAYNT 
 
 sais,  that  in  euyric  tuacontrar  opinions  ther  is 
 ane  rycht  and  ane  vrang.  thir  freuole  sophista- 
 ris  that  marthirs  and  sklandirs  the  text  of  ari- 
 stotel,  deseruis  punitione;  for  quhou  beit  that 
 ther  be  coparison  of  greis  in  euyrie  thyng,  that 
 follouis  nocht  that  the  positiue  gre  and  the  co- 
 paratiue  gre  ar  contvar  tyl  vthir,  for  gude  and 
 bettir  ar  deflerent  in  greis,  &  zit  thai  ar  nocht 
 contrar  til  vthirs.  siklyik  euyl  and  var  ar  of 
 defferent  greis,  bot  zit  thai  ar  nocht  contrar  til 
 vthirs.  zit  nochtheles  ther  is  tua  reulis  in  the 
 lau  that  sais,  Aliquid  est  iustum  cuius  contra- 
 rium  est  iustius.  L.  exigendi.  C.  de  procu* 
 per  glo.  the  tothir  reul  sais,  Aliquid  est  malu 
 cuius  contrarium  est  detenus,  ff.  de  re  in  L. 
 quotiens.  bot  thir  tua  reulis  of  the  lau  makkis 
 no  iust  titil  nothir  to  iulius  nor  to  pompeus, 
 quhou  be  it  that  ther  querellis  var  baytht  co- 
 trar  til  vthirs,  considerand  that  baytht  there 
 querellis  tendit  to  the  demolitione  of  the  an- 
 tiant  public  veil  of  the  romans  ;  ther  for  ther 
 vas  na  greis  of  comparison  in  there  debait  5 
 ther  for  nocht  ane  of  them  hed  ane  iust  titil  in 
 ther  contrare  querellis,  nor  zit  the  opinion  of 
 Iulius  vas  na  var  nor  the  querrel  of  pompeus, 
 cosiderad  that  ther  contraire  debait  var  baytht 
 
01    SCOTLAND.  2S9 
 
 ;ne  euyl  equal  qualite.  Nou  to  mak  ane  end 
 of  this  degressione,  i  vil  coelude  that  the  neu- 
 tralite  of  cicero  deseruis  recomedatione,  q 
 Iulius  and  pompeus  contendit  quhilk  of  the 
 suld  be  kyngis  of  rome.  Bot  it  is  nocht  siclyik 
 betuix  ingland  and  Scotland  ;  for  quhou  be  it 
 that  forane  princis  that  ar  indefferent  til  in- 
 glad  and  scotlad,  and  alse  ther  subiectis,  vil  re- 
 mane  neutral  in  our  veyris  cotrar  ingiis  men, 
 that  follouis  nocht  that  scottis  men  can  hef 
 ony  iust  titil  to  remane  neutral  quhen  our  cu- 
 tre  is  inuadit  be  our  dissaitful  aid  enemeis. 
 Quhar  for  i  exort  2ou  (o  ze  my  thre  soni 
 that  gyf  ony  of  zou  be  suspekkit  that  z. 
 bene  neutral  in  tymis  by  past,  that  nou  ze  pur- 
 ge zou  vitht  sum  vailzeantnes  contrar  zour 
 enemeis,  to  that  effect  that  ze  mave  r  u€gc  the 
 extreme  violent  domage  that  ze  hcl  BUStenit 
 be  the  oniust  veyris  of  ingland.  And  quhou 
 be  it  that  zour  aid  enemeis  vald  decist  fra 
 ther  oniust  veyris,  and  that  thai  vald  trcit  pace 
 vitht  zou,  zit  nochthel  :-t  con- 
 
 discendto  sic  pace,  bot  gyf  the  1 
 
 d  restoir  ande  reforme  the 
 lens  that  ze  haue  indurit.  And  i  the 
 
 \  il  offir  zou  no  ,  >t  ane  di  - 
 
 7  o 
 
ZCp  THE   COMPLAYNT 
 
 milit  pace  for  ther  auen  auantage,  ande  to  di- 
 saue  zou  eftiruart  be  ane  mair  cruel  veyr.  it  is 
 knauen  throucht  al  cristianite,  that  inglis  men 
 socht  neuyr  pace  at  Scotland  and  France  at 
 ane  inftant  tyme  ;  bot  rather,  quhen  thai  socht 
 pace  at  scotlad,  there  purpos  vas  to  male  veyr 
 on  France;  and  quhen  thai  socht  pace  of  Fran- 
 ce, ther  purpos  vas  to  mak  veyr  on  Scotland, 
 ther  for  sic  dissimilit  pace,  fra  the  quhilkmay 
 succeid  veyr,  suld  nocht  be  resauit,  bot  rather 
 veyris  suld  be  maid,  in  hope  that  sure  pace 
 maye  succeid,  conformand  til  ane  cheptour  in 
 the  xxiij  distinctione  in  the  fyrst  question, 
 quhilk  sais,  Non  pax  queritur  vt  bellum  ex- 
 erceatur,  sed  bellum  geritur  vt  pax  acquira- 
 tur.  ther  for,  quhen  the  legatis  of  inglad  offris 
 to  zou  ane  dishonest  pace,  fra  the  quhilk  maye 
 succeid  ane  mair  cruel  veyr,  ze  suld  refuse  it, 
 
 tep.ia.  conformed  to  the  vordis  of  Cicero,  in  his  in- 
 uectyue  philipiques  cotrar  anthonius,  sayad, 
 pax  est  repudianda,  si  sub  eius  nomine  latitet 
 bellum.  There  for,(o  ze  my  thre  sunnis)ze  ha- 
 ue  ane  iust  titil  to  refuse  pace,  and  til  intend 
 cruel  veyr  contrar  zour  enemeis.  for  as  tuci- 
 
 Tucididcs  dides  sais  in  the  thretten  cheptour  of  his  fyrst 
 beuk,  quod  he,  as  it  is  couenient  tyl  honest  & 
 
 Libre  I. 
 
OF  SCOTLAND.  291 
 
 prudent  men   to  lyue  in  pace,  quhen   there 
 nychtbours  dois  them  na  oultraige   nor   vi 
 lens  :   Siklyike  it  is  honest  and  cor.  to 
 
 verteous  men  to  change  there  pace,  and  rest  in 
 cruel. veyr,  fra  tyme  that  thai  haueresauit  oul- 
 trage  and  violens   fra  there   nychtbours.   for 
 the  changeyng  of  ane  dissymilit  pace  in   ane 
 cruel  veyr,  sal  be  occasione  of  ane  ferine  and 
 faythtful  pace.    Cicero  cofermis  this  sammyn  cicc. 
 purpose  in  the  fyrst  beuk  of  his  officis.  Susci- 
 pienda  bella  sunt,  vt  in  pace  sine  iniuria  viua- 
 tur.  Ande  quhou  be  it  that  there  is  diucrs  par- 
 sons in  scotlad  that  sais,  that  rest  and  pace  var 
 verray  necessair  for  vs,  i  confesse  that  honest 
 pace  suld  preffer  oniust  veyris.  for  that  cause 
 the  empriour  traian  said,  that  it  var  les  skaytht 
 to  mak  ane  iust  veyr,  nor  to  lyue  in  dreddour 
 vndir  ane  dissymilit  pace.  Euerie  man  is  ob- 
 list  to  defend  the  gudis,  hereta;;is  and  pos 
 sions  that  his  antecesrres  and  forbear  is 
 left  to  the  ;  for  as  tucidides  hes  said  in 
 cond  beuk,   quod  he,  it  is  mair  dishonour  tvi 
 ane  person  to  tyne  the  thyng  that  his  ant< 
 stres  and  forbearis  hes  conqueist  be  grite  I; 
 bours,  nor  it  i;  dishonour  quhe  h. 
 the  conqucssing  of  ane  thing  that  .Jit 
 
 j    2  o  ij 
 
292  THE  COMPLAYNi' 
 
 tyl  haue  conquesit  fra  his  mortal  enemye. 
 Be  this  rason,  euyrie  nobil  man  suld  be  ver- 
 ray  solist  to  deffend  his  iust  querrel ;  for  siklyik 
 as  ane  man  offendis  his  consciens  quhen  he 
 dois  violens,  extorsions  and  domage  tyl  his 
 nychtbour,  siklyik  ane  honest  man  offendis  &: 
 hurtis  his  consciens,  quhen  he  deffendis  hym 
 nocht  in  his  iust  querrel  contrar  his  enemeis, 
 &  alse  reuengis  hym  nocht  of  the  violens  and 
 domage  that  his  enemeis  hes  perpetrat  cotrar 
 hym.  Quhar  for  i  exort  zou  my  thre  sonnis, 
 that  ze  condiscend  in  ane  faythful  accord  :  tha 
 doutles  god  sal  releue  zou  of  the  grit  afflictio- 
 ne  that  ze  haue  indurit  be  the  incredule  seid 
 of  ingland,  &  alse  i  beleue  that  he  sal  mak  zou 
 ane  instrament  til  extinct  that  false  genera- 
 tione  furtht  of  rememorance  :  &  sa  fayr  veil. 
 
 «[  Heir  endis  the  complaynt  of  Scotland. 
 
 ^[  Nichil  est  turpius,  quam  sapientis  vitam, 
 
 ex  insipiennum  sermone  pendere. 
 
 Cice.  de  fini. 
 
(     293     ) 
 T  A  B  V  L  A. 
 
 «f  The  table  of  the  cheptours  that ar 
 contenit  in  this  bath. 
 
 Thefyrst  chcptour  declaris  the  cause  of  the  mutations  of 
 monarchis         -  (fo.  xv.)  28 
 
 VThe  sycond  cheptor  declaris  the  thretnyng  of  god  cZtrar 
 obstitiat  vieius  pepil  -  -  (fo.  xix.)   36 
 
 The  thrid  cheptor  isy  quhou  the  actor  rcgretis  the  thret- 
 
 "]ngcfgod         -  (A**-)  3* 
 
 Thefeyrd  cheptour  conferris   the  passagis  of  the  thrid 
 
 chcptour  of  ysaye  vitht  the  ofjlictione  of  scot/and 
 
 {fo.  xxiij.)  43 
 The  fyift  chcptour  declaris  the  cpinics  t,' 
 
 philosophours   held    anent    th  tione    of   the 
 
 varld         -  -  -  (fo.  xxv.)  47 
 
 The  sext  cheptor  rebersis  cine  monolog  recrcatyue  of  the 
 
 act  -  -  -  "if0-  xxx-)   56 
 
 The  7  cheptor  is  0) 
 
 in  Lis  sleip  -  -  -  ,  XXxij.)    1 06 
 
 The   8   cheptor  declaris   quhou    the  afjligit  lady  dame 
 
 Scotia  reprochit  hyr  th  ,  :jtis 
 
 of  ScotL  -        -  -  xxx?.)  111 
 
 thre  sounis  t  ■  god 
 
 - 
 
294  TABVLA. 
 
 The  I  o  cheptour  dcclaris  quhou  the  inglismcn  gyuis  vane 
 credens  to  the  prophesie  of  merlyne  (fo.xlv.)   127 
 
 The  1 1  cheptor  declaris  that  the  pretedit  kyngis  of  ingland 
 hes  no  iust  titil  to  the  rcahne  of  ingland  ( fo.  1  v. )    132 
 
 S^iihou  the  affligit  lady  declaris  that  the  funiliari- 
 te  betuix  Scotland  and  ingland  is  the  cause  of  sedi- 
 tione         -  (fo.  lxvii.)   164 
 
 Sjjuhou  conspiratours  ar  puneist  be  the  hand  of 
 god  -  (fo.  lxxvii.)   175 
 
 §uhou  the  thrid  soune,  callit  lauberaris,  ansuert  vitht 
 ane  lamentabil  coplaynt  -  (fo.  Ixxxv.)    190 
 
 &hihou  the  affligit  lady  ansuert  til  hyr  congest 
 soune         -  -  -  "         (fo-  xcvj.)  214 
 
 $$uhou  the  affligit  lady  accusit  hyr  eldest  soune,  callit  no- 
 
 bilis  and  gentil  men  -  -  (fo.  ci.)   224 
 
 ®)uhou  the  affligit  lady  accusit  hyr  sycond  soune,   callit 
 
 sperutualite         -  (fo.  cxii.)  246 
 
 %uhou  the  affligit  lady  exortis  hyr  thre  sounis  to  be  vigi- 
 lant in  the  dcfens  of  ther  natiue  cunt  re  ( fo.  c  xx  v. )  2  5  8 
 
 JFJXIS. 
 
CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Fag* 
 
 4.  heritage  alter edU 
 
 >   heretage 
 
 5.  hanyn 
 
 hauyn 
 
 6.  baudonyne 
 
 baudouyne 
 
 7.  slandris 
 
 flandris 
 
 11.  reconntric 
 
 recountrit 
 
 13.  degcistit 
 
 degeistit 
 
 15.  auansuig 
 
 auansing 
 
 17.  fise 
 
 fife 
 
 20.  aude 
 
 ande 
 
 21.  ean 
 
 can 
 
 —  the  the 
 
 the 
 
 28.  at 
 
 ar 
 
 29.  foffe 
 
 fosse 
 
 —  prpcedis 
 
 procedis 
 
 33.  chetour 
 
 cheptour 
 
 37.  go,  degyf 
 
 gode,  gyf 
 
 40.  prormeist 
 
 promeist 
 
 42.  aue 
 
 anc 
 
 43.  tbrid 
 
 thrid 
 
2$6                                    CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Page 
 
 46.  confetrit  altered  to 
 
 conferrit 
 
 49.  tormentir 
 
 tormentit 
 
 —  chem 
 
 them 
 
 ~  vardl 
 
 varld 
 
 50.  vardl 
 
 varld 
 
 —  philhsophie 
 51.  vard 
 
 philosophie 
 varld^ 
 
 —  hane 
 
 haue 
 
 —  at 
 
 ar 
 
 52.  thrsty 
 58.  frutss 
 
 thirsty 
 frutis 
 
 —  titam 
 
 titan 
 
 59.  omy 
 
 60.  skryis 
 
 ony 
 skyis 
 
 66.  enryie 
 —  landnart 
 
 euyrie 
 landuart 
 
 69.  nenresing 
 
 neuresing 
 
 70.  easione 
 
 ocasione 
 
 —  nenreist 
 
 neureist 
 
 71.  coutemplene 
 
 contemplence 
 
 7  j.  sterius 
 
 sternis 
 
 78.  rs 
 7^.  hail] 
 
 as 
 hauynis 
 
 81.  tonart 
 
 touart 
 
 82.  scheiphirdir 
 
 scheiphirdis  - 
 
CORRECTIONS.                                     29 
 
 Pagt 
 
 83.  cellis      altered  to 
 
 callis 
 
 84.  su   it   decressis 
 
 su  tyme  it  decressis 
 
 tyme 
 —  lycbt 
 
 lycht 
 
 86.  muue 
 
 mune 
 
 87.  urhir 
 
 uthir 
 
 89.  ihe 
 
 the 
 
 —  aue 
 
 ane 
 
 95.  excessis 
 
 excessif 
 
 96.  aue 
 
 ane 
 
 —  zon 
 
 zou 
 
 97.  sarnadis 
 
 saruadis 
 
 100.  amphiou 
 
 amphion. 
 
 nenyr 
 
 10 1.  leiuit 
 
 neuyr 
 leinit 
 
 102.  mentnon 
 
 mention 
 
 106.  byr 
 109.  clehd 
 
 hyr 
 clethd 
 
 1 10.  ponuer 
 
 pouuer 
 
 in.  somnis 
 
 sonuis 
 
 1 16.  renemeis 
 
 enemels 
 
 122.  themosticles 
 
 thcmistodes 
 
 —  circisus 
 
 circilus 
 
 2  Plj 
 
290                                    CORRECTIONS, 
 
 Page 
 
 123.  he      altered  to 
 
 be 
 
 125.  prysonit 
 
 poysonit 
 
 128.  toria 
 
 troia 
 
 vaticiuaris 
 
 vaticinaris 
 
 doutsun 
 
 doutsum 
 
 133.  eugestes 
 
 engestes 
 
 134.  de 
 
 be 
 
 139.  hnau 
 
 knau 
 
 140.  imbassadpurs 
 
 imbassadours 
 
 j  43.  inglismeis 
 
 inglismens 
 
 148.  tuef 
 
 tuelf 
 
 152.  spurnius 
 
 spurius 
 
 154.  lutere 
 
 lucere 
 
 155.  aneuthe 
 
 aneutht 
 
 159.  contrat 
 
 contrar 
 
 160.  fyse 
 
 fyfe 
 
 161.  lyne 
 
 lyue 
 
 165.  volius 
 
 voluis 
 
 167.  sne 
 
 ane 
 
 169.  bernyk 
 
 beruyk 
 
 170.  Ayfia 
 
 Aysia 
 
 heyt  fyit 
 
 het  fyir 
 
 171.  quhilki 
 
 quhilk 
 
 174.  regugnat 
 
 repugnat 
 
CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Page 
 
 174.  somnis  altered 
 
 to  sonnis 
 
 176.  munydies 
 
 numydies 
 
 177.  belind 
 
 behind 
 
 179.  fulvins 
 
 fulvius 
 
 rome 
 
 greice 
 
 181.  personers 
 
 presoners 
 
 185.  hit 
 
 his 
 
 ter 
 
 ther 
 
 exempif 
 
 exempil 
 
 187.  entrir 
 
 entrit 
 
 delynerit 
 
 delyuerit 
 
 sync 
 
 syne 
 
 188.  darlus 
 
 darius 
 
 rua 
 
 tua 
 
 191.  hychtir 
 
 hychtit 
 
 192.  bayrus 
 
 bayrns 
 
 193.  he  cumis 
 
 be  cumis 
 
 hychtil 
 
 hychtit 
 
 slane 
 
 slaue 
 
 194.  imporlabil 
 
 importabil 
 
 misknaulahe 
 
 misknaulage 
 
 196.  mouy 
 
 mony 
 
 ro 
 
 to 
 
 197.  gudee 
 
 gudc 
 
 299 
 
300                                   CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Page 
 
 200.  prudtnt    altered  to 
 
 prudent 
 
 sophomistus 
 
 sophonistus 
 
 201.  consanit 
 
 consauit 
 
 202.  liuitis 
 
 limitis 
 
 consane 
 
 consaue 
 
 208.  io 
 
 to 
 
 210.  posless 
 
 possess 
 
 214.  sonnie 
 
 sonnis 
 
 219.  lonyng 
 
 louyng 
 
 enil 
 
 .euil 
 
 tyl  on 
 
 ontyl 
 
 228.  Josehp 
 
 Joseph 
 
 231.  hertetage 
 
 heretage 
 
 233.  deserne 
 
 deserue 
 
 234.  gatreis 
 
 getreis 
 
 apposit 
 
 opposit 
 
 verteons 
 
 verteons 
 
 236.  manerir 
 
 hranerit 
 
 mechanyt 
 
 mechanyc 
 
 blebiens 
 
 plebiens 
 
 237.  innenal 
 
 iuuenal 
 
 239.  betuix  ane  prince 
 
 betuix  ane  prince  and 
 
 ane  begger 
 
 ane  begger 
 
 243.  comnit 
 
 commit 
 
CORRECTION 
 
 Page 
 
 244.  huicimg  altered  to  hunting 
 246.  chere                     there 
 
 250.  terne 
 
 terme 
 
 253.  cathredral 
 
 cathedral 
 
 sperutal 
 
 furthr 
 
 speritual 
 furtht 
 
 256.  thai 
 
 that 
 
 257.  bo 
 
 258.  spulzelt 
 pericularly 
 
 bi 
 
 spulzeit 
 
 perticularly 
 
 263.  soseris 
 
 sorseris 
 
 268.  enerye 
 
 euerye 
 
 270.  enerye 
 
 euerye 
 
 273.  salsinator 
 
 salinatcr 
 
 274.  annibal 
 
 annibals 
 
 276.  munitus 
 
 munitius 
 
 munir 
 
 numir 
 
 277.  munituis 
 
 munitl 
 
 279.  apdosit 
 
 280.  the 
 
 opposit 
 ze 
 
 282.  lychi 
 
 lit 
 
 290.  susd 
 
 291.  saythful 
 sra 
 
 suld 
 
 faythful 
 
 fra 
 
 301 
 
302'  CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Page 
 
 1 6.  indiciam  ought  to  be  inopiam 
 
 26.  detekkit  ought  to  be  deiekkit 
 
 34.  ciuilite  poli  ought  perhaps  to  be  corrected 
 
 ciuil  polite 
 
 48.  mentemit  has  in  this  and  some  other  instan- 
 ces been   inadvertently 
 changed  into 
 men  ten  it — Both  forms 
 are  in  use — Vid.  Gloss. 
 
 57.  is  by  mistake  numbered  59. 
 
 58.  Antipodos  .  ought  to  be  Antipodos  , 
 60.  i  angil       ought  to  be       iangil 
 
 70.  scheiphis        - —        scheiphirdis.     It  may, 
 
 however,  be  the  dimi- 
 nutive, which  is  at 
 present  used  to  denote 
 contempt. 
 
 104.  bayrnis  hed  ought  perhaps  to  be 
 
 bayrnis  bed 
 
 sinkil         —         finkil 
 
 139.  feyr  —  veyr 
 
 143.  thai  zeal       —      that  ze  al 
 198.  minus        —        mimus 
 
GLOSSARY 
 
 COMPLATNT   of   SCOTLAND. 
 
 *Q 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Adagia,  n.  (p.  ii.)  an  adage.     L.  adagium.     It.  adagio. 
 
 The  Saxon  termination  a  is  frequently  given  to  a  word  of 
 
 Latin   origin,  which  the  English  has  received  through 
 
 the  medium  of  the  Saxon. 
 
 Agonya,  n.  (p.  1 88.)  agony.     L.  Bar.  agonia.     It.  &  H. 
 
 agonia. 
 Alanerly,  adv.  (p.  i.)  only;  quas.  alanely. 
 Alevin,   adj.   (p.    133.)    often  eleven  ;    pronounced  aleen. 
 The  mutation  of  the  vowels,  from   inaccurate  pronuncia- 
 tion, is  frequent  in  every  vulgar  dialect,  but  particularly  in 
 Danish,  from  which  many  of  the  old  English  and   Scot- 
 ish  forms  of  words  are  taken.      In   the  first  prologue  of 
 Lindsay's  Interludes,  it  is  printed  awevin  ;  by  an  error 
 of  the  transcriber,  as  Mr  Pinkerton  suggests  ;   the  double 
 L  and  W  being  often  extremely  similar  in  ms. 
 We  sail  be  sene  intill  our  playing  place, 
 In  gude  array,  about  the  hour  of  sevin.  * 
 Off  thristiness  that  day  I  pray  yow  ceiss, 
 Bot  ordane  us  gude  drink  agains  aivevir:. 
 
 Pin&ert.  Scotish  Poems,  1792,  vol.  ii.  5. 
 Allya,  ;/.  (p.  121.)  $<.  v.  (p.  157.)  alliance  ;  to  ally.     Fr. 
 allie,  afunis.      Sometimes    the    word    occurs   without   the 
 Saxon  termination  in  a,  as  in  the  following  instance  : 
 Wliaiiof  the  king  was  glaid,  and  said,  truely 
 I  am  content  it  is  ane  fair  a 
 The  king  of  Spanze  is  ane  michtie  king. 
 
 ClariuJus  &  Meftadet%  MS. 
 1  adv.  (p.  69.)  also.     A.  S.  jtswa.     13.  alhoo. 
 .  (p.  291.)  ancestor*. 
 
 I  Arnif, 
 
306  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Appin,  adj.  (p.  88.)  open. 
 
 Arand,  pari.  (p.  67.)  hence  arjge,  11.  (p.  192.)  L.  ar:. 
 To  are  the  fields,  is  a  phrase  of  common  use  among  the 
 peasants  in  the  south  of  Scotland,  and  signifies  to  till:  arage 
 is  a  servitude  of  men  and  horses  for  tillage,  imposed  on  te- 
 nants by  landholders,  not  quite  disused  in  many  parts  of 
 Scotland.  Skene  supposes  this  word  to  be  contracted 
 from  average,  derived  from  L.  Barb,  averia,  animal ;  and 
 to  denote  a  servitude  in  work  beasts  in  general.  This, 
 however,  isi  probable,  as  it  is  often  opposed  to  car  age, 
 a  servitude  in  carts  and  horses  for  carrying  in  the  land- 
 holder's corn  at  harvest-home,  and  conveying  home  his 
 hay,  coals,   &c. 
 
 Aris,  n.  (p.  64.)  oars.     Isl.  aar.     Sw.  ara.     A.  S.  are. 
 Sume  hasfdon  lx  ara,  sume  ma. 
 Some  (ships)  had  60  oars,  some  more. 
 
 Chron.  Sax.  ad  ann.  897. 
 
 Arryva,  v.  (p.  63.)  to  arrive.  Fr.  arriver.  The  short 
 French  e  is  frequently  converted  into  a,  with  a  short  and 
 dull  sound,  similar  to  the  addition  of  a  in  popular  lan- 
 guage, and  in  humorous  songs-:  as, 
 
 John  Dory  bought  him  an  ambling  nag 
 To  Paris  for  to  ride-a. 
 
 Ase  &  Alse,   (p.  238.)  ashes. 
 
 Asephales,  (p.  262.)  without  a  head,  (ab  «  priv.  &  *'f«*o 
 caput. 
 
 Assurance  (p.  115.)  of  Englishmen.  To  take  assurance 
 of  an  enemy  ;  to  submit,  or  do  homage,  under  the  con- 
 dition of  protection.  Teut.  asseureren,  fiduciam  dare  ; 
 asseurancie,  fides,  receptio  periculL 
 
 Athort,  prep.  (p.  1.)  athwart. 
 
 Auen,  (p.  64.)  own. 
 
 Ayr,  heir.  Fr.  hoir.  B.  %r,  cor,  ojr.  The  orthogra- 
 phy is  auricular. 
 
 Bald, 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Bald,  v.  pret.  bade  ;  to  bid. 
 
 Balk,  (p.  144,  215.)  a  beam  or  joist.     Teut.  &  B.  lalck  ; 
 hence  haen  balck.     Sc.  hen  bauks  ;  the  beams  of  a  house, 
 on  which  the  hens  roost. 
 Ban,  v.  (p.  209.)  to  curse.     B.  bannen.     D.  bannen. 
 Barba  Aaron,  (p.  103.)  the  herb  arum  ;  called  also  arcn, 
 (Gr.  «pcv)  wake  robin  or  cuckows  pint ;  jarus,  sacerdotia 
 virile,  serpentaria  minor,  dracantia  minor,  alimum. 
 Barbir,  (p.  115.)  barbarous. 
 
 Basse  Dancis,  (p.  102.)  les  danses  basses.  The  basse 
 dance  was  slow  and  formal,  differing  in  every  respect  from 
 the  high  dance,  la  danse  haute,  or,  contre  danse,  which  was 
 quick  and  rapid. 
 
 Amour  compasse 
 
 Ses  faits  comme  la  danse  basse  ; 
 Puis  va  avant,  et  puis  repasse, 
 Puis  retourne,  puis  outrepasse. 
 
 Alain  Chartier,  I.  des  quatrcs  damn. 
 The  king  commandit  Clariodus  to  take 
 Meliades,  an  bease  dance  to  make, 
 And  bad  the  constabill  go  Icade  the  queine, 
 And  he  himself  did  lead  ane  madene  scheine. 
 
 Clariodus  fj?  Meliades,  MS. 
 Bavrnis  Bed,  (p.  104. )  child-bed  ;  the  matrix.  Similar 
 phrases  in  common  use  are,  calf s -bed,  Iambs-bed.  Suf- 
 focatione  of  the  bayrnis  bed,  is  also  termed,  Sufflation 
 of  the  wombe  or  matrix.  For  this  disease,  besides  mi^« 
 wort  or  artemisia,  many  singular  remedies  were  formerly 
 applied  ;    as,    "  zeduar,    wilde  redde 
 
 "  niirrhe,  pionye  root,  greene  misclede  of  oacke, 
 H  in  the  decreacc  of  the  moone  are  ^athcrcde  and  finally 
 "   raspede,    5c   greene    neppe.  "  —    H  remedies    occur 
 
 in  A.  M.'s  translation  of  t)  cos  of  Oswald 
 
 bclhouer.     The  translator,  who  appears  Co   have   1. 
 
 Grr 
 
308  GLOSSARY. 
 
 German,  after  a  long  apology,  thus  addresses  the  reader  i 
 tl  Therefore,  most  cuiteous  reader,  rowle  up  all  these 
 "  faultes  together,  and  cast  them  into  oblivione,  and  looke 
 "  not  anye  more  back  uppon  them,  to  returne  a  newe 
 •'  remembrance  therof ;  which,  if  the  curteous  reader 
 "  will  vouchsafe  toe  doe,  I  shall  thinck  my  self  behould- 
 u  inge  to  him,  and  also  give  God  thanckes  that  I  was 
 u  borne  in  so  happye  an  hower.  " 
 
 Bayrnis-hed,  whicjj  occurrs  in  the  original  copy  of  the 
 Complaynt,  may  possibly  have  been  used  to  denote 
 child-bed ;  though  the  editor  has  never  seen  any  expli- 
 cit authority.  In  the  Legend  of  St  Margrete,  childe- 
 hed  occurs  in  this  sense,  if  it  be  not  an  error  of  the 
 copyist.  As  the  passage  is  extremely  curious,  and  al- 
 ludes to  a  singular  species  of  Fairy  superstition,  I  shall 
 make  no  apology  for  transcribing  it. 
 
 The  tyrant  Otibrious,  after  Inflicting  the  most  dreadful  tortures, 
 
 throws  St  Mar1: did  into  a  dungeon. 
 
 6 
 
 Maiden  Mergrete  tho, 
 Loked  hir  biside  ; 
 And  seize  a  lothlich  dragoun 
 Out  of  an  hirn  glide  : 
 His  eizen  wer  ful  griseliche, 
 His  mouthe  zened  wide  ; 
 And  mergrete  mizt  nowhar  He, 
 Ther  sche  most  abide. 
 
 Maiden  mergrete 
 Stod  stille  so  ani  ston  ; 
 And  that  lothliche  worm 
 To  hirward  gan  gone  : 
 
 He 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 He  toke  hir  in  his  foule  mouthe, 
 And  swalled  hir  flesche  and  boa  ; 
 Anon  he  to  brast  ; 
 Damage  no  hadde  sche  non. 
 
 Maiden  mergrete 
 Opon  the  dragoun  stode  ; 
 Blithe  was  her  hcrt, 
 And  joieful  was  hir  mode  : 
 Blisted  worth  ihu  crist, 
 His  vertus  er  wel  gode  ; 
 Slayn  is  the  dragoun, 
 Thurch  vertu  of  the  rode. 
 
 Maiden  mergrete, 
 Went  the  dragoun  fro  ; 
 Sche  seize  a  wel  fouler  thing 
 Sitten  in  awro  : 
 He  hadde  honden  on  his  knes, 
 And  eize  on  euerich  to  ; 
 MIzt  ther  neuer  lother  thing 
 Opon  erthe  go. 
 
 Sche  zede  to  that  foule  wi/t, 
 With  the  croice  in  hir  hond  ; 
 And  thurch  the  mizt  of  ihu  cri?t, 
 With  hir  wimpel  sche  him  bond: 
 {3che  toke  hi  bi  the  temples, 
 About  sche  him  swong  ; 
 Sche  set  hir  fot  in  his  nek, 
 To  the  erthe  Sche  him  throng. 
 
 Say  me  sone  thou  foule  wiztj 
 And  thou  lotheliche  thing, 
 
 \ 
 
310  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Who  than  is  thi  lord, 
 
 And  who  is  thi  king  ; 
 
 And  who  the  hider  sent, 
 
 To  make  me  sturbling  ; — 
 
 Seize  y  neuer  seththen  y  was  born, 
 
 So  lotheliche  a  thing. 
 
 Leuedi  for  thi  lordes  loue, 
 Thou  may  ful  well  fond ; 
 Lift  a  litel  thi  fot, 
 That  in  mi  nek  stond  ; 
 For  michel  haue  y  walked 
 Bi  water  and  bi  lond, 
 Nas  y  neuer  are  bounden. 
 In  so  hard  bond. 
 
 Fustin  was  mi  brother, 
 The  dragoun  that  thou  slouz  ; 
 Whiles  he  was  on  liue, 
 He  wrouzt  wonder  anouz  ; 
 He  maked  theues  to  stele  onizt $ 
 O  day  to  ligge  and  souz  ; 
 And  ztlt  hem  her  seruise 
 With  wel  michel  wouz. 
 
 In  a  dragoun  fourme 
 Sent  he  was  to  the, 
 For  to  spille  thi  memorie, 
 Other  to  quelle  the  : 
 Brosten  is  he  of  peces, 
 And  bounden  hastow  me  ; 
 A  maiden  hath  ous  ouer  comen, 
 Litel  is  oure  pouste. 
 
 Uelqy 
 
GLOSSARY.  31 t 
 
 Belgys  is  mi  name, 
 Nis  no  bot  to  lyze  ; 
 No  may  ich  in  non  wise, 
 This  pain  long  dreyze  ; 
 Is  nouzt  mi  gat  in  erthc  ; 
 With  the  vviude  y  fleye  ; 
 Al  y  fond  for  to  quelle, 
 That  y  see  with  eize. 
 
 Ther  ich  finde  a  wiif, 
 That  Uzter  is  of  barn, 
 
 Y  com  ther  also  sone, 
 As  euer  ani  arn  : 
 
 Zif  it  be  unblisted, 
 
 Y  croke  it  fot  or  arm  ; 
 Other  the  wiif  her  seluen, 
 Of  ch'ildehed  be  forfarn. 
 
 Zif  thou  wilt  al  wite, 
 Astow  may  ful  wel, 
 Loke  in  ich  a  strete, 
 Thou  findes  it  eueridel ; 
 
 Y  pray  the  for  thi  lordes  loue, 
 Thou  binde  me  with  stiel, 
 That  y  no  may  with  thine  men, 
 Neuer  striue  a  del. 
 
 Salamon  the  wise, 
 Til  he  was  oliue, 
 He  dede  ous  in  a  bras  fat, 
 And  delued  ous  undercliue  : 
 When  he  was  ohue  farn, 
 Thai  lete  ous  out  driue  ; 
 
 i  R  The 
 
3**  CLOSSARY. 
 
 The  men  out  of  babiloune, 
 The  bras  fat  thai  gan  iiue. 
 
 Thai  wend  to  finde  gold  anouz, 
 And  lete  ous  alle  go  ; 
 Su  wer  swifter  than  the  winde, 
 And  sum  than  the  ro  ; 
 Zete  ther  er  in  erthe, 
 Ten  thousend  and  mo  ; 
 Ai  that  trowe  on  ihu  crist, 
 Thai  fond  at  wirche  ful  wo. 
 
 Be  stille,  thou  foule  gost, 
 And  decende  into  helle  ; 
 Be  thou  neuer  so  hardi, 
 More  man  to  quelle  ; 
 Y  pray  mi  lord  ihu  crist, 
 Thi  pouste  that  he  felle  : — 
 He  sank  into  erthe 
 So  ston  in  drauzt  welle. 
 
 Legend  of  St  Mergrete,  ms. 
 
 Bayrdit,    adj.    (p.    107.);    Fr.  harden  derived  from  barde, 
 the  armour-harness  of  a  horse  ;  and  hence  the  word  is  on- 
 ly applied  to  the  harness  of  a  horse. 
 His  hors  was  bairdit  full  bravelie, 
 And  couerit  was  richt  courtfullie, 
 With  browderit  wark,  and  veluot  grene. 
 
 Lytidesay's  historic  of  Squyer  Meldrum* 
 Beir,  n.  (p.  59.)  Sc.  bir  ;  a  shrill  noise,  as  of  birds. 
 Hence,  to  birl,  applied  to  any  species  of  wheel  turning 
 rapidly  with  a  whizzing  noise  ;  also  to  the  noise  produced 
 by  the  rotatory  motion  of  coin  thrown  hastily  down  on 
 a  table  ;  as  in  the  phrases,  to  birle  the  baubie  ;  to  birle 
 
 down 
 
GLOSSARY.  313 
 
 <3own  the  lawin  ;  i.  e.  to  tinkle  down  one's  share  of  the 
 reckoning  on  the  table.  The  word,  therefore,  signifies 
 to  carouse,  or  to  club,  only  in  a  very  elliptic  sense. 
 Bekkis,  n.  (p.  co2.)  from  A.  S.  bt<jjny  to  bend  ;  cour- 
 tesies, or  curtsies.  Curtsey  is  likewise  in  use :  it  also 
 signifies  kersey,  a  coarse  species  of  cloth.  Thus,  in  the 
 popular  song,  "  My  heart's  my  ain  " — 
 And  when  I'm  chd  in  my  curl 
 
 I  think  mysell  as  braw 
 As  Susie,  wi'  a'  her  pearlin', 
 That's  tane  my  lad  awa. 
 
 Rit  son's  Scot  is  k  So/ns,   vol.  i.  p.  99. 
 Bersis    and  Double    Bersis,    (p.  64.)  ;     Fr.   barcu    ou 
 be* i  a  species  of  cannon  formerly  much  used   at  sea. 
 It  resembled  the  faucon,  but  was  shorter,  and  of  a  larger 
 calibre. 
 Bestialite,  n.  (p.  68.)  bestial;  cattle. 
 .Clait,  i>.  (p.  59.)  to  cry  like  a  sheep.     L.  bah.     It. 
 
 H.  balur.      G.  heeler.     A.   S.    bUitan.      B.  bleten.     The 
 Scotish  peasantry  likewise  use  b/eat  and  bhar. 
 Blauen,  part.   (p.    267.)    blown.      This   pronunciation   is 
 
 of  frequent  use. 
 Bo ist it,  jhirt.  (p.  192.)  threatened  ;  to  bonst  orbul!-. 
 brag,  which  often  signifies  to  challenge.     T 
 Upon  the  green  nane  durst  him  brag. 
 
 Ritsotfi  Scotish  Songs ,   vol.    . 
 Bonet,    «.     (p.  65.)  ;    Fr.    hnn.tte ;    a   sn  which 
 
 ccd  to  the  bottom  or  the  sides  of 
 accelerate  the  ship's  way  in  calm  wea. 
 Jjoreau,  n.  (p.   40.);  Fr.  boreju ;   an  executioner.     Co 
 the  Scotllh  dialect,  t'urriour>  a  t!,:. 
 word,  is  likewise  used  ;  as, 
 
 Nt|  Sir,  l.e  laid,   my  counsall  zc  sal' 
 Sum  lurr'iou  W  <;ar  come  sow  to, 
 
314  GLOSSARY. 
 
 And  tham  comand  to  work  at  my  bidding  ; 
 
 I  sail  (her)  caus,  hot  onypersaiving, 
 
 Be  taine  with  tbame,  and  slaine  without  the  toun  j 
 
 And  thus  sail  endit  be  hir  fals  tresoun. 
 
 Clariodus  isf  Meliades,   MS. 
 Borouing  Days,  (p.  58.)   the  three  last  days  of  March. 
 Coixerning  the  origin  of  the  terra,  t}ie  following  popular 
 rhyme  is  often  repeated  : 
 
 March  borrowit  fra  Averill 
 Three  days,  and  they  were  ill. 
 Also  the  following — 
 
 March  siid  to  Aperill, 
 I  see  three  hogs  upon  a  hill ; 
 But  lend  your  three  first  days  to  me, 
 And  I'll  be  bound  to  gar  them  die. 
 The  first,  it  sail  be  wind  and  weet ; 
 The  next,  it  sail  be  snaw  and  sleet ; 
 The  third,  it  sail  be  sic  a  freeze, 
 Sail  gar  the  birds  stick  to  the  trees. — ■ 
 But  when  the  borrowed  days  were  gane, 
 The  three  silly  hogs  came  hirplin  hame. 
 Borrel,   adj.   coarse;    rude;   belonging   to   the   common 
 people.       From   Icrel ;    Fr.    bureau;     L.   Bar.  lurelhis^ 
 (vid.  Ducange)  ;  coarse  brown  cloth  worn   by   the  com- 
 mon people.      Jience,  lorel  folks,  borel  men,    Chaucer  ; 
 people  dressed  in  such  cloth.     The  original  word  is  the 
 Saxon  biire,  a  clown,  a  husbandman. 
 Borrel,  n.  (p.  16.)  a  borer,   or  wimble  ;  in  common  use  : 
 
 hencp  barrel-brace^  a  species  of  carpenter's  wimble-shaft. 
 Boulene,   (p.  62.);   Fr.  boule ;  the   semicircular   part  of 
 
 the  sail  which  is  presented  to  the  wind. 
 Boulena,  (p.  62.)   a  sea  cheer,  signifying,   hale  up  the 
 bowlings. 
 
 Gif 
 
GLOSSARY.  315 
 
 Gif  changes  the  wynd,  on  force  ye  mon 
 Bol)-nt   hake,  haik,  and  scheld  hald  on. 
 
 Pinkrtvn't  Makhnd't  JJcsms>  vol.  i.  133. 
 Bracfast,  n.  (p.  6{.)  breakfast. 
 Brais,  n.  declivities  of  hills. 
 
 Brangland,   (p.  ic6.)  *,   Ff.  Irani r  ;   wavering,  shaking. 
 Branglis,    (p.    ic2.)   dances;    10   which   the   performers 
 
 danced  in  a  r  he  hand. 
 
 Br  a  u  lis,  (p.  102.)  the  same  word  contracted,  and  used  to 
 signify  any  quick  dance:   Also  the  tunc — 
 :  man  his  way  avail. 
 Let  sum  ga  drink,  and  sum  ga  dance  : 
 Menstrel,  blaw  up  ane  brawl  of  France  ; 
 Let  se  quha  hobbils  best. 
 
 Lindsay's  Inhrl.  ap.  Pink.  Anc.  Poems,  ii.  201. 
 Brascheletis,  «/.  (p.  186.)  ;  Fr.  bracelet  ;    It.  Lraccialle'.ti  ; 
 arm  rings,  bracelets.      This  seems  to  be  the    original   or- 
 thography ;  quasi  brat 
 J3roddis,    ([>.   43.)  ;   brc  .)    pricks, 
 
 spurs  ;  ai  a  verb,  to  spur  on  or  stimulate.  A.  S.  brord ; 
 a  prick  or  stimulus  ;  also  the  rising  spikes  of  corn  ; 
 Sc   brerde.      S  -  the  point 
 
 of  an  arrow. 
 Y  rod  rut,  part.  (p.  107.)  1 
 Brume,  n.  (p. 
 
 Baric,  aef.  (p.  62.)  .ud,  tierce, 
 
 clear  ;  bremend%  fui  raging  °* 
 
 the  sea.     M  The  rank*  in  the  world  11  the  broth 
 
 of  a  brode  sow,  u- 
 
 .1  for  the  b 
 
 The  none  mandetfa  hire  lyht, 
 So  doth  the  icmly 
 
 M  bi^ddts  lIDg 
 
 3:. 
 
3 16  GLOSSARY. 
 
 It  fell  so,  in  the  comessing  of  May, 
 When  miri  and  hot  is  the  day, 
 And  oway  beth  winter  schours, 
 And  eueri  feld  is  full  of  flours, 
 And  blosme  hreme  on  eueri  bouz, 
 Ouer  al  wexeth  miri  anouz. 
 
 Orfeo  &  Heuredts,  MS, 
 Buffons,  (p.  102.)  pantomime  dances;  so  denominated, 
 from  the  buffoons,  les  boufons,  by  whom  they  were  per- 
 .   formed. 
 
 Bullir,  v.  (p.  59.)  the  sound  of  a  bull ;  the  gushing  noise 
 
 of  water  ;  the  sound  of  the  tide.     L.  bullir.     Fr.  bcuillir. 
 
 Hence  the  buller  of  Buchan.     This  word  is  frequently 
 
 applied  to  the  cry  of  the  bittern  or  moss-bull. 
 
 Busk,  (p.  59.)   Yx.bosc;  a  bush.    Chaucer.    G.Douglas, 
 
 Butin,   (p.  228.)   Fr.  butln  ;  booty. 
 
 Byrdyng,  (p.  190.)  burden.     The  popular  pronunciation 
 
 of  the  word  in  many  places  of  Scotland. 
 Byddin,  part.  (p.  100.)  abiding. 
 
 Caduc,    adj.    (p.  267.)    Fr.  caduque.     L.  caducus ;    frail, 
 
 fleeting. 
 Cabil,  «.  (p.  61.)  a  cable.     Sw.  kabel.    Cabilstock,  the  ca- 
 
 bleblock.   (p.  61.)  compounded  with  Teut.  Stock.    A.  S. 
 
 Stocce,  a  trunk  or  block. 
 Calkil.     Fr.  calculcr,   (p.  262.)  to  calculate. 
 Cammauyne,  (p.  104.)  cummin  ;  sometimes   spelled  com- 
 
 mayne. 
 Garage  (p.  192.)  &  Carraige,  (p.  193.)  a  servitude  still 
 
 customary  in  various  parts  of  Scotland,  by  which  a  tenant  is 
 
 bound  to  carry  for  the  proprietor  a  stipulated  quantity  of 
 
 coals,  grain,  &c.  ;  or  to  serve  him  with  men  and  horses 
 
 a  certain  number  of  days  in  the  year. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Ze  Lordis  and  Barronis  mair  and  Ies, 
 
 That  zour  pure  tennantis  dois  opres, 
 
 Be  greit  gersome  and  doubil  mail, 
 
 Mair  than  zour  landis  bene  auail, 
 
 With  sore  exhorbitant  cariage> 
 
 With  markcheitis  of  thair  mariage, 
 
 Tormentit  baith  in  peice  and  weir, 
 
 With  burdinnis  mair  than  they  may  beir. 
 
 Be  they  have  payit  to  zow  their  mail, 
 
 And  to  the  preist  their  teindis  hail ; 
 
 And  quhen  the  landis  agane  is  sawin, 
 
 Quhat  restis  behind  I  wald  wer  knawin. 
 
 Lindsay's  Poems,  p.  164.  h 
 Carions,  n.  (p.  185.)  carcases.  Fr.  charogne.  It.  ca- 
 rogna.  H.  caronna.  B.  karonie.  Chaucer,  caraine,  ca- 
 rior.ne,  and  carrine.  It  is  commonly  applied  to  the  carca- 
 ses of  beasts,  so  as  to  be  nearly  synonimous  with  traik  or 
 treake,  from  A.  S.  tregian,  tribulare,  the  flesh  of  a  starve- 
 ling sheep  that  dies  of  weakness  and  disease  ;  which  ig 
 likewise  termed  kett>  as  the  skins  of  such  sheep  are  termed 
 murts  or  mur lings  ;  quas.  Fr.  morts. 
 
 Thy  vile  corruptit  carioun 
 
 Sail  turne  to  putreficatioune, 
 
 And  sa  remaine  in  powder  small 
 
 ITnto  the  judgement  generall. 
 
 Lindsay's  Monarchic,  p.  149.     1 59-  . 
 
 Qu'nair  is  the  meit  and  drink  delicious 
 
 With  quhilk  we  fed  our  cairfull  cariounis. 
 
 Lindsay's  Dreme,  p.  233.      1592. 
 Carl,  n.   (p.  225.)   a  boor.     Al.  Sw.  [aL i*r£    B. 
 A.S.  ceorl ;   man  diotinguibhed  from  woman.      Ceot 
 the  common  people  ;  cccrla   eyi.  if  the  C! 
 
 carle  cat,  a  gib  cat,   or  he  - 
 
il« 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Thy  trading  truiker  wad  gar  tades  spew* 
 
 And  carl-cats  weep  vinegar  with  their  eine. 
 
 P dwarfs  Fly  ting,  ap.  Watson's  Collect,  of  Scotish 
 Poems,  vol.  iii.  27. 
 The  phrafe,  gib  cat,  which  has  occasioned  so  much  trouble 
 to  the  commentators  on  Shakespear,  is  quite  common  in 
 the  south  of  Scotland.  The  editor  recollects  to  have  heard 
 the  following  rude  verse  in  a  witching  story,  in  which 
 the  terms  carle  and  'gib,  are  exchanged  at  the  pleasure  of 
 the  reciter.  A  spirit  gives  the  following  injunction  to  a 
 terrified  ghost-seer  : 
 
 Mader  Watt,  Mader  Watt, 
 
 Tell  your  carle  (alias  gib)  cat, 
 Auld  Girniegae  o*  Cragend's  dead. 
 The  feminine  of  carl  is  carlin.  Isl.  harlinna.  It  1*3 
 used  to  denote  an  old  hag,  or  witch  ;  hence  compound- 
 ed with  the  Isl.  gier  ;  B.  gier  ;  Al.  geyr  ;  the  gyre-carlin, 
 the  Queen  of  Fairies,  the  great  hag,  Hecate,  or  mother- 
 witch  of  the  peasants,  concerning  whom  many  popular 
 stories  were  formerly  current,  and  rude  burlesque  verses 
 are  still  repeated.  The  editor  recollects  to  have  heard 
 the  following,  which  he  will  not  attempt  to  explain  : 
 
 The  mouse  and  the  louse,  and  little  Rede, 
 
 Were  a'  to  mak  a  gruel  in  a  lead. 
 The  two  first  associates  desire  little  Rede  to  go^  to  the 
 door,  and  "  see  what  he  could  see.  "     He  declares  that  he 
 saw  the^^y  carlin  (as  the  phrase  is  pronounced)  coming, 
 
 "  With  spade,  shool,  and  trowel* 
 To  lick  up  the  gruel.  " 
 When  the  party  disperse  ; 
 
 The  louse  to  the  claith,  and  the  mouse  to  the  wa', 
 
 Little  Rede  behind  the  door,  and  licked  up  a*. 
 Sir  David  Lindsay  relates,  in  the  prologue  to  his  Dream, 
 that  he  was  accustomed,  during  the  minority  of  James  V. 
 
 to 
 
Glossary.  31^ 
 
 to  lull  hi  1  the 
 
 gyre  carl'tn.  "      At  the  close  of  the  si\tee:  v,  the 
 
 same  sup  is  often  alluded  to.     Th  .t,  in 
 
 his  Flyting  against  P.Iontga 
 
 Leave  bogles,  brownies,  gyre-catfmsy  and  ./-lists. 
 Watson's  Collect,  of  Scolish  Poem..  p,  27. 
 
 Monl  array   of  th< 
 
 and    her  company  on    All-:.  n  ;  but  he    denomi- 
 
 nates her  Nicncvcn,  another  of  her  popular  appellations, 
 came  soon  3fr. 
 Nicncv.n  with  her  nymphs,  in  number  anew, 
 With  charms  from  Caitness,   and  Chanrie  in  R      , 
 
 ^e  cunning  consists  in  casting  a  clew. 
 
 — Thir  venerable  .      hom  the  warld  call  witches, 
 
 In  the  time  of  t:ieir  triumph,   tirr'd  me  the  t 
 Some  backward  raid  on  brod^ows,  and  some  black-bitches* 
 
 Son.  >f  a  staig,  ov,  k  straid  ; 
 
 Fra  the  how,  the  hight,  some  hobbles,  some  I 
 
 \n  Ith  their  mouth  to  the  moon,  murgeoni  tbey  madei 
 
 be  force  in  effect,  the  four  wind-  fetches, 
 
 And  nine  timer,  withershins  about  the  throne  raid, 
 
 Some  glowring  to  the  ground,  ouslie  gaips, 
 
 Furth  0} 
 
 Cassiw,     ...  (p.  42. ; 
 
 j  be 
 
320    .  GLOSSART. 
 
 caused  by  the  breath  of  the  weazle.  It  is  mentioned  in 
 Sir  John  Roull's  Cursing,  vid.  Eimrcyades.  In  the  com- 
 mon signification,  it  frequently  occurs  ;    as, 
 
 And  in  the  breist,  sumtime  the  Strang  caterue, 
 Quhilk  causis  men  richt  haistelie  to  sterue. 
 
 Lindsay's  Poems,  p.  141.     1592. 
 
 Caupuna,  (p.  62.)  a  sailor's  cheer  in  heaving  the  anchor. 
 The  form  is  contracted  ;  but  the  radical  term  is  probably 
 coup,  to  overturn. 
 
 Cauteil,  «.  (p.  1S3.)   Yt.cautele;  craft,  address,  caution. 
 That  day  sal  pas  be  peremptouris, 
 Without  cauteks  or  dilatouris. 
 
 Che ip,  v.  (p.  60.)  Fr.  pephr,  an  imitative  word,  which 
 expresses  the  shrill  feeble  noise  of  young  birds,  or  small 
 animals.  The  Earl  of  Angus,  during  the  minority  of 
 James  V,  resided  commonly  in  Jed  forest ;  declaring, 
 that  he  loved  much  better  "  to  hear  the  laverock  sing, 
 than  the  mouse  ckeip.  " 
 
 Chasbollis,  (p.  146.)  Fr.  ciboule.  It.  cipolla  ;  chesboul  or 
 cheese-bowls,  according  to  Skinner,  a  similitud'tne  aliqua 
 'uascuhrum  caseaceorum  sic  dici'i.  The  same  word  spelled 
 cheshollis  occurs  in  the  parallel  passage  of  Ballentinc's 
 Livy,    ms, 
 
 Chenzeis,  (p.  177,  188.)  chains.  Fr.  chains ;  whence 
 the  Scotish  form,  by  pronouncing  the  e  mute,  as  is  com- 
 monly done  by  the  Dutch  at  present.  Many  of  the  an- 
 cient forms  of  words  are  referable  to  the  same  source  ;  as, 
 so'inye  from  soigne  ;  satr.ye  from  saine. 
 
 Chere,  A.  S.  tar,  Al.  scierl.  hi.  shyr,  sheer,  (p.  1 12.) 
 ckere  ignorance. 
 
 Chestee,  v.  (p.  29.)  Fr.  chasticr  ;  to  chastise. 
 
 Citinaris,  n.  (p.  17.)  citizens. 
 
 Clair,    (p.  ic8.)  clear,  quite:    a  common  Scoticisra. 
 ■  dyr,  (p.  122.)  aridchildir  (p.  161.)  children. 
 
 Cleuch? 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 ;h,  p..    (p.  59.)   pronour  .      A. 
 
 fissure  or  cleft  ;  a  deep  narrow  valley  or  ravine  in  the  side 
 
 a  hill.     The   popular   signification    is  quire   di. 
 from  that  assigned  to  it  by  Junius    and   Ruddiinar.. 
 derive  it  from  the  A.  S.  clif,   and   interpret  it  a   r 
 hill,  a  cliff.      It  is  properly  u?ed  in  the  following  re 
 Sir  Gawan  &  Sir  Galaron  of  Galicv 
 c]. posed  to  crag  : 
 
 Of  castellis,  of  contreyes,  of  cragg: 
 Ap.  Pir.kert.  Scot.  Poen:        \  ■ 
 Clips,  v.  (p.  87.)  eclipses,  or  suffers  an  eclipse.     It  is  also 
 used  substant:. 
 
 Becaus  ane  clip*  fell  in  the  m 
 
 Complaint  of  Schir  Druid  Lindesay,  p.  264.     1592. 
 Cod,  (p.  105.)  a  pillow.     A.  S.  bag. 
 
 Wastna  a  :;ig  to  see 
 
 Twa  heids  lie  on  a  cod  ? 
 Lady  Mais^ry's  like  the  mo'ten  goud, 
 Auld  Ingram's  like  a  toad. 
 
 Auld  Ingram^  a  ballad  in  Herd's  MS. 
 Cokkil,   (p»23i-)   scallop.     The 
 
 St  Mychaell,  are  «'  rutt,  from  a  ms.  i. 
 
 tory  '  i:.J*»r, 
 
 in  the  n  i  I. 
 
 ■    .  laell,  a   r 
 
 alloppe  ih 
 •'   Item,  a   1 
 
 .  with  crymso:. 
 Strut  t's  i 
 Comcis  common.     Perhap* 
 
 dances,  (p.  64.)   instead  c. 
 I 
 
 2  S 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Condf.scekdit,  (p.  153.)  pitched  upon  ;  a  forensic  phrase. 
 IUB8T,  n.   (p.  195.)  acquisition,  purchase.     Fr.   con- 
 ■  •>rd  is  of  common    use   in    this  sense.     In 
 Skene,  conquest  or  conqucse  is  opposed  to  heretvge. 
 
 rBNIU,  n.  (p.  35.46.)  tenor.      Fr.  con'cnu. 
 L.c  garde  des   sccaux   a  scelle  des  lettres   dont    voici   le 
 contenu.     Voit.  Poes. 
 Cosvoye,  v.  (p.  202.)   Fr.  convoyer,  to   conduct;    in  an 
 
 oblique  sense,  to  manage,  or  carry  foi  ward. 
 Corbeis,  n.  (p.  60.  285.)    Fr.  corbeaus,  the  largest  species 
 of  raven,  which  feasts  on    carrion,  and  little  inferior   in 
 rapacity  to  the  vulture. 
 
 Sir  Corby  Raven  was  maid  ane  procitour. 
 
 Henrysons  fable  of tk  ,  j   and  the 
 
 sheep.     Bannatyne  ms.  p.  109. 
 Ces  oiseaux  dont  la  gorge  est  de  sang  altcree, 
 Qui  du  sang  des  Romains  a  fait  souvent  curee, 
 Ces  tombeaux  animer,  ces  sepulchres  volans, 
 Vont  se  gorger  de  meurtre  en  ces  funestes  champs. 
 
 .  is  ale  de  I 
 Corsbollis,   (p.  64.)  crossbow?. 
 Cou,  n.  the  stalk  of  a  shrub  or  herb  ;  the  heather-c: 
 
 the  stalk  of  heath. 
 Cou,  v.  to  cut  ;  a  common  word.     C*H  is  lii  oee; 
 
 as,  to  coll  hair. 
 Coulpe,  n.   (p.  242.)   L.  culpa.     F  a  fault. 
 
 Crag,   (p.    15b.)  the  neck.      Belg.   kraeghe ;     pronounced 
 
 ^monly  era 
 Craklene,   (p.  64  )  crackling;  to  crackle.      Fr.  rr*j 
 Cvalhne  pokisf  bags  for  holding  artificial  fire-works  and 
 t^ustibles,  employed-  in    naval   engagement?.      Hence 
 small  bombs,  used  sometimes   for  fire-works  in 
 general,  as  in  the  following  passage  : 
 *  Twa 
 
GLOSSARY.  323 
 
 1\va  noweltyis  that  day  thai 
 
 That  forouth  in  Scotland  had  bene  nane  : 
 
 Tvmmryis  for  helmys  war  the  tane, 
 
 That  thaim  thoucht  than  off  gret  bewte, 
 
 And  alsua  wondre  for  to  se  : 
 
 The  tothyr  crakys  war  of  wer, 
 
 That  thai  befor  herd  nenir  er. 
 
 Off  thir  twa  things  thai  had  ferly. 
 
 Barbour's  Bruce,  a  Plrkcrton,  vol.  iii.  p.  1 36. 
 These  crakyr,  or  fire-balls,  were  probably  the  original 
 species  of  fire-arm*,  and  have  been  used  from  time  imme- 
 morial by  the  Hindoo  and  Chinese  tribes.  They  are  the 
 arms  ofjjre  mentioned  in  the  Sanscrit  Puranas.  From  the 
 Indian  traders  to  Yemen  and  Hejaa,  the  Arabs  seem  to 
 have  acquired  the  knowledge  of  these  formidable  weapons, 
 as  they  are  said  by  their  writers  to  have  been  employed  at 
 a  very  early  period.  In  An.  Hegir,  71.  (A.  C.  690.) 
 Haja'je,  general  of  the  Caliph  of  Bagdad,  is  said  by  El- 
 macin  to  have  employed  them  in  the  siege  of  Mecca.     Ac- 
 
 ng  to  that  historian,  he  I  ge  stones,  by  means 
 
 of  naptha  and  fire,  upon  the  Caaba  ;  beat  down  its  roof, 
 and  reduced  the  edifice  to  ashes.  The  Arabs  have  always 
 denominated  gun-powder,  by  the  name  of  its  principal 
 ingredients  ;  and,  as  they  formerly  termed  it  naptha,  they 
 at  present  call  it  naroud,  or  sulphur.  The  intercourse 
 of  the  Eastern  nations  with  the  Arabs,  in  the  first  cen- 
 tury of  the  Hegira,  was  perhaps  more  frequent  than  at 
 present  ;  and  Amyot  discovered  in  the  Chinese  monu- 
 ments, various  notices  of  an  embassy  sent  to  Mecca  by 
 the  Chinese,  the  most  jealous  people  of  the  East.  From 
 the  Arabs,  the  knowledge  of  fire  arms  passed  to  the 
 Moors  of  Spain,  and  afterwards  to  the  other  nations  of 
 Europe  ;  but  many  improvements  in  their  formation  were 
 necessary,  before  their  importance  was  fully  perceived  ; 
 and  they  were  generally  adopted. 
 
 Fire-work 
 
324-  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Fire-work  is  employed  in  the  same  general  sense,  in  the 
 following  passage  of  BirrePs  Diarey  ;  DalyeWs  Frag- 
 ments, p.  13. 
 
 "  Upone  ye  27  of  November  (1567)  ther  wes  a  strait 
 "  proclamations,  discharging  ye  vearing  of  guns  or 
 
 *'  pistolls,  or  aney  sicklyke  fyerivork  ingyne.  n 
 
 Credens,   (p.  294.)  credit. 
 
 Cronik  ;   Fr.  chremque  ;  L.  chronica  ;  a  chronicle. 
 Crop,  p.  188.  {of 'trees  ;  of  corn)  the  top.    A.  S.  crop,    Fr. 
 crope  and  croupe. 
 
 lis  firent  des  feux  sur  la  croupe  des  montagnes. 
 
 ML  Ret.  1.  4.  c.  1. 
 Croppe  and  rote  ;   Chauc.      Root  and  branch. 
 <{  The  yerde  of  a  tree  that  is  haled  adoune  by  mightie 
 «'  strength,    boweth  redily   the  crop   adoune ;    but    if 
 (i  that  the  hand  that  is  bent  let  it  gone  againe,  anon 
 M  the  crop  loketh  up  to  the  heven.  " 
 
 Chauc.  from  Boeth.  1.  3.  metr.  2. 
 And  scho  that  was  of  bewtie  crope  &  rute. 
 
 Clariadus  h  Melt  a  des,  MS. 
 Crope,  v.   (p.  60.);  Goth,  hropjan ;  an  imitative  word; 
 to  croak  ;  applied  to  crows  and  frogs.     L.  buto.     It   is 
 generally  pronounced  croup. 
 Crouettis,  n.    (p.  1 1  7.)  cruets. 
 Crout,  i».  (p.  60.)  an  imitative  word,  expressing  the  short 
 
 niU'muring  cry  of  the  dove. 
 Crukit,  (p.  249.)  crooked. 
 
 Culuerene  and  Culverene  Moyens,  (p.  64.)  ;  Fr.  ecu- 
 leuvrine  ;  It.  colubrina  ;  H.  culeb-'ina  ;  B.  kolubre ;  ori- 
 ginally the  name  of  a  hand-gun,  which,  by  a  statute  of 
 33d  Henry  VII,  was  required  to  be,  in  stock  and  barrel, 
 one  yard  in  length.  The  name  was  afterwards  applied 
 to  cannon  of  the  second  order,  which  were  long  in  pro- 
 portion to  their  calibre.     The  term  is  derived  from  the 
 
GLOSSARY.  325 
 
 French  coukuvre  ;  L.  coluber.     The?e  guns  were  some- 
 times denominated  serpentines,  as  in  the  following  passage, 
 which  occurs  in  a   letter  of  John   Ramsay  of  Balmain, 
 (styling  himself  Lord  Bothvall),  dated  Septembers.  1496. 
 Apud  Pinker  torts  hist,  of  Scotland,  vol.  ii.  p.  440. 
 "   I  past  in  the  Castell  of  Edinburght,  and  saw  the  pro- 
 "  vision  of  ordinance,    the  quhilk  is  but  little  :  that  is 
 "  to   say,    11   great   curtaldis    that   war    send   out   of 
 "  France;   x  falconis,  or  llt.il!  aerpentinis ;   xxx   cart 
 "   gunis  of  irne,  with  chaumeris ;   and    xvi  clos  carts 
 "  for    spers,    poudir-stanis,    and  other  stuif,   to   ther 
 "  gunis  langin.  " 
 Some  very  large  cannon   were  termed   basilisks.     Coriat 
 relates,  that  in  the  arsenal  of  Milan,  he   saw  "  an  ex- 
 <(  ceeding  great  basiliske,  which  was  so  great,  that   it 
 "  would  easily  contayne  the  body  of  a  very  corpulent 
 "  man." 
 Cummirsum,    adj.    (p.    21S.)   cumbersome,  or  cumbrous. 
 D.  hummer.     B.  iommer.     The  termination  sum  was  an- 
 ciently used  in  composition,    much   more    frequently  than 
 at  present.    There  are  many  instances  of  this  in  the  Com- 
 playnt  of  Scotland  ;  as,  doutsum    (p.  128.)  for  doubtful. 
 Ugsovic,  luesome,  and  lencswie,   &c.  are  of  trcquent  use  in 
 popular  language. 
 Cuna,   (p.  6$.)  a  sea  term  ;  quas.  am  a*.     To   cun 
 sel,  is,  to  give  directions  to    the  steersman  ;  for    \ 
 purpose,  a  person  is  employed,  who  chaunt^,    from 
 to  time,   his  directions,   in  a  high  tone  of  \ 
 Curtician,  n.  (p.  207.)  a  courtier.      1 ': . 
 
 Dailis,  n.  (p.  103.)  ewes  wl 
 
 ed    for    consumption  ;    ne&J  :  nous    wirl 
 
 bheep  which  are  too  old  for  breed 
 paratcd  from  the  flock  to  In 
 
326   -  GLOSSARY. 
 
 their  teeth  begin  to  fail :  hence  the  adj.  crokkan^   applied 
 to  a  sheep  at  this  period. 
 
 And  settin  doun  lyk  sarye  crohk'is. 
 
 Dunbar  ap.  Pinkest.  MaitLind's  Poems,  vol.  i.  p.  99. 
 For  quhen  the  sleuthful  hird  dois  slur  and  sleip, 
 Taking  na  care  in  keiping  of  his  flock  ; 
 Quha  vvil  gang  seirche  amang  sic  hirdis  scheip, 
 May  abil  find  mony  pure  scabbit  crock. 
 
 Lyndsayys  Dreme,  p.  252.      1592. 
 Dantars,  of  horses  (p.  236.)  tamers;  breakers.     Fr.  dom- 
 
 ter.  JL.  domilo. 
 Darta,  (p.  62.)  a  sea/cheer  in  haling  the  ropes. 
 Deithtthraw,  (p.  ]88.)  fhe  contorsions  of  death.  These 
 are  regarded  by  the  peasants  with  a  species  of  supersti- 
 tious horror.  To  die  with  a  thraw,  is  reckoned  an  ob- 
 vious indication  of  a  bad  conscience.  When  a  person 
 was  secretly  murdered,  it  was  formerly  believed,  that  if 
 the  corpse  were  watched  with  certain  mysterious  ceremo- 
 nies, the  death-thraws  would  be  reversed  on  its  visage, 
 and  it  would  denounce  the  perpetrators  and  circumstances 
 of  the  murder.  The  following  verse  occurs  in  a  ballad, 
 of  which  I  have  heard  some  fragments.  A  lady  is  mur- 
 dered by  her  lover  :  her  seven  brothers  watch  the  corpse  : 
 It  proceeds — 
 
 'Twas  at  the  middle  o*  the  night, 
 
 The  cock  began  to  craw  5 
 And  at  the  middle  o'  the  night, 
 The  corpse  began  to  thraiv. 
 Dejekkit,  part,  expelled.    L.  dejicio.    (Misprinted  detekhlt* 
 Difficil,  adj.  (p.  23.)      Fr.  difficile ;  difficult. 
 Disaguisit,  (p.  109.)  disguised.     Fr.  disguiser. 
 Mary,  I  sail  find  ane  thowsand  wylis  ; 
 We  mon  turne  our  claithis,  and  change  our  stylis, 
 
 And 
 
GLOSSARY.  "327 
 
 And  disagyis  us  that  na  man  ken  us. 
 Hes  na  man  clerkis  cleithing  to  lend  us  ?— 
 Be  my  saule,  that  is  weill  devybit ; 
 Ye  sail  see  me  sone  dutagysiU 
 Disjune,    n.    (p.    66.)   breakfast.     Fr.   dejeune  ;  formerly 
 desjeune.     This  word  seems  to   have  been   adopted   while 
 the  s  was  yet  pronounced  by  the  French.     According  to 
 Pasquier,  who  died  in  16 15,  at  the  age  of  87,  the  s  was 
 pronounced  in  his   youth  ;  but   was  afterwards  changed 
 into  a  long  t%  as  in  the  words  ecole  for  eschole  ;   ctabl'ir  for 
 establir.     Pasquier   Rechercb.   de  la  France,  1.  viii.  c.  I. 
 Paris  1633,  fol. 
 
 The  s  may  therefore  be  supposed  to  have  gone  into  dis- 
 use, in  many  words,  about  the  time  of  the  publica- 
 tion of  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland. 
 Disnaturalit,  v.  (p.  113.)  rendered  unnatural. 
 Dog g is,  (p.    64.)   a  species  of   pistols ;    also   swivels,  or 
 small  cannon.     Norm.  Fr.  dagge,  a  small  gun  j  hence  the 
 dog-head. 
 Donc,  adj.  (p.  59.)  dank.      Sw.  dunken. 
 
 Quhais  dofji  impurpurit  vestmet  nocturall, 
 With  his  embrowderit  mantill  matutyne, 
 He  left  intill  his  regioun  aurorall, 
 Quhilk  on  him  waitit,  quhen  he  did  decline. — 
 
 Lyndsay's  Prolog  of  the  Miseralil  Esta'it  of 
 the  Warld. 
 Dotit,  adj.  (p.  70.)  endowed.     L.  dos  -otis.     Fr.  deter,  to 
 
 endow. 
 Preddour,  n.  (p.  35,  106,  &c.)  tenor. 
 
 Sir,  said  the  nobill  and  worthie  Palexis, 
 I  sail  againis  the  greine  knicht  me  adrcs  : 
 Altho'  he  were  an  infernal  crcatour, 
 my  bodic  againia  him  aventour ; 
 %  T 
 
3^8  GLOSSARY, 
 
 Whidder  that  fortoun  be  my  freind  or  fbey 
 Thair  sail  no  dreddour  baneis  me  him  fro. 
 
 Clar'iodus  6"  Meliades,   MS. 
 Dreuyn,  part.  (p.  25.)  quas.  deriven  ;  derived. 
 Drug,  v.  (p.  236.)  to  drag. 
 Dullit,  adj.  (p.  105.)  dulled;  stupefied. 
 Dung,  part.  (p.  190.)  beaten;  to  ding  ;  a   common  word 
 
 in  Scotland,  and  the  north   of  England.     According  to 
 
 Grose,  ding  is  a  Norfolk  word,  which  signifies  to  throw. 
 
 Irish,  dingim  ;  to  beat.    Dan.  dingier  ;  to  swing  or  shake. 
 Dyit,  n.  (p.  105.)  dite,  v.  (p.  265.)  to  endite  ;  a  ditty. 
 
 Fr.  dit.     L.  dictum.     In  old  French,  it  signifies  a  moral 
 
 or  elegiac  poem,  in  contradistinction  to  the  laie,  or  lyric. 
 Dymondis,  (p.    103.)  ;    qua8.    towmonds,    or  twolmonds ; 
 
 wedders  in  their  second  year,  or  more  than  twelve  months 
 
 old. 
 
 Edropic,  adj.  (p.  195.)  L.  bydropicus ;  dropsical. 
 Eik,  v.  (p.  191.)  eikkyt  ;  to  eke  or  add.  Goth,  aulan. 
 Isl.  auka.  A.  S.  eucan  and^<7«.  Al.  auchon.  B.  oechen. 
 Dan.  cge.  Hence  eke  (conj.)  A.  S.  eac,  and  ac,  in  the 
 ancient  romances  ;  marking  simply  the  addition  of  a 
 clause,  and  consequently  signifying  and,  or  hut,  as  the 
 clause  is  positive  or  adversative  in  its  signification. 
 Efferand,  part.  (p.  10.)  adapted  to,  conformable  to  ;  a 
 popular,  as  well  as  forensic  expression.  According  to 
 Ruddiman,  (in  Gloss,  to  G.  Douglas's  Virgil),  conftrand 
 is  used  in  the  same  sense. 
 
 Na  maruell  was  thocht  he  was  wicht ; 
 Ten  cubitis  large  he  was  of  hicht ; 
 Proportionate  in  lenth  and  breid, 
 FJeirand  to  his  hicht,  we  reid. 
 
 Lyndsafs  Poems,  p.  47.     1592. 
 Epferis,  v.  (p.  2$$.)  relates  to. 
 
 Ellis, 
 
GLOSSARY.  329 
 
 Ellis,  (p.  193.)  els><?.     This  form  occurs  frequently  in  the 
 old  romances.     Thus, 
 
 When  sche  com  to  that  pallaye, 
 Miche  sche  seyze  of  gamen  and  gle  ; 
 And  al  that  trowed  on  Ihu  crist 
 Wei  sori  men  sche  seize  hem  be  ; — 
 Or  thai  schuld  make  sacriiise, 
 To  his  Maumet  was  maked  of  tre, 
 And  of  ston,  and  of  bras  ; 
 Other  dies  schuld  thai  marterd  be. 
 
 Legend  of  St  Katerhir,  MS. 
 Emoroyades,  (p.  103.)  L.  hamorrkoicles  ;  emerods.  The 
 word  originally  denotes  effusions  of  blood,  but  is  appro- 
 priated to  the  disease  termed  the  piles,  or  "  emeroyades 
 "  of  the  fundament.  "  For  this  disease,  Gabelhouer 
 gives  the  following  receipt — "  Take  of  those  snayles 
 "  which  have  noe  domicilles ;  put  them  all  in  a  pot,  and 
 '*  pricke  them  with  a  knife,  that  their  froth  issue  out 
 "  therof ;  with  the  froth  you  must  inungate  the  he- 
 "  morrhodes,  and  they  will  departe,  and  drye  : "  p.  141. 
 This  disease,  with  edroposy>  kattair,  hadivark,  and  others 
 mentioned  in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland,  occurs  in  Sir 
 John  Roull'6  Cursing,  a  poem  in  the  Bannatyne  ms. 
 little  inferior  in  acrimony  to  Sterne's  chapter  of  curses, 
 and  which  forms  a  curious  contrast  to  Sir  John  of  ( 
 
 '3  curbe  for  the  miller's  eels  that  were  it  alec,  recorded 
 in  Harsnei's  Detection  of  I  res. 
 
 All  you  that  Lave  stolen  the  mil! 
 .Laudate  Dominum  de  cai 
 And  all  that  have  consented  thereto, 
 Bencdicamus  Domino,, 
 Sir  John  l^oull,  on  the  contraiy,  invokes  all  the  dct 
 oge  the  stealing  of  his  g< 
 
 1  T  jj  Go% 
 
33©  GLOSSARY, 
 
 Gog,  and  Magog,  and  Gowm  Garog., 
 
 The  devil  of  hell,  the  theif  Harog, 
 
 Sym  Skynar  and  Sir  Garnega, 
 
 Juliu8  Apostata, 
 
 Prince  Pluto  and  Queen  Cockatrice, 
 
 Devetinus  ye  devill  yat  maid  ye  dyce, 
 
 Cockadame,  and  Semiamis, 
 
 Fyre  mouth,  and  Tutivillus, 
 
 And  Browny  als,  yat  can  play  kow, 
 
 Behind  the  claith  with  mony  a  mow. — 
 
 Now  cursed  and  warreit  be  yair  werd, 
 Qubill  thay  be  levand  on  this  erd  ; 
 Hunger,  sturt,  and  tribulatioun, 
 And  never  to  be  without  vexatioun, 
 Of  vengeance,  sorrow,  sturt  and  cair8 
 Graceless,  thriftless,  and  threid  bair  ;' 
 All  tymes  in  yair  legasie, 
 Fyre,  sword,  water  and  woddie  ; 
 Or  ane  of  thir  infirmeteis, 
 Of  wordly  scherp  adverseteis, 
 Pouertie,  pestilence,  or  poplecy, 
 Tumdeif  or  edroposy, 
 Maigram,  madness,  or  missilry, 
 Appostrum,  or  ye  palacy, 
 Ffluxis,  hyvis,  or  huttis  ill, 
 Hoist i  heidwarki  or  fanv in  ill, 
 Cald,  canker,  feister  or  feveris, 
 Brukis,  bylis,  blobbis,  and  bleisteris, 
 Emeroidese,  or  the  sair  halss, 
 The  pokkis,  the  spavin  in  the  halss, 
 The  panefull  gravell  and  the  gutt, 
 The  gulsoch,  that  thay  never  be  but, 
 Sceatica,  and  arratica, 
 The  cruke,  the  crampe,  the  colica, 
 
 The 
 i 
 
GLOSSARY.  331 
 
 The  worm,  the  wareit  wedonypha, 
 
 Rimbursin,  rlpplis,  and  bellythra, 
 
 The  chukis  that  haldis  the  chaftis  fra  chowing, 
 
 Golkgaliter  at  the  hairt  growing, 
 
 The  stane-wring,  stane,  and  staneblind, 
 
 The  berne  bed,  and  mor  behind, 
 
 The  strangelour,  and  grit  glengoir, 
 
 The  harchatt  in  the  lippis  befoir, 
 
 The  mowlis,  and  the  sleep  the  mair, 
 
 The  kanker  and  the  halt  air  ; 
 
 Mott  fall  upon  thair  cankerd  corses, 
 
 With  all  the  evil  that  evir  had  horses, 
 
 Fische,  foull,  beist,  or  man, 
 
 In  erd  sen  first  ye  warld  began. 
 
 Fra  God,  our  Lady,  and  all  thair  hallow 
 
 To  the  fiend  thair  saulis,  thair  craig  the  gallo 
 
 I  gif ;  and  Cerberus  thair  banis  sail  knaw, 
 
 For  yair  dispyt  of  kirk  and  law. 
 
 Sir  John  Rouli's  Cursing,  MS. 
 Several  diseases  in  this  enumeration  are  mentioned  in   po- 
 pular songs  ;    in  particular,  the  editor  has  heard  one,  the 
 entire  subject   of  which   was   <;   the  ripplea,  "  or   kind's 
 vvil.      It  thus  commenced  : 
 
 1  rede  ye  beware  o'  the  ripples,  young  man  ; 
 
 1  rede  yc  beware  o'  the  ripple*  young  ma  . 
 
 Gin  ye  take  them  in  your  1 
 
 They  will  be  your  deid  ; 
 
 Sae  I  rede  ye  beware  o'  the  ripple,  young  man. 
 
 I  rede  ye  beware  o'  the  n'pples,  young  man, 
 
 I  rede  ye  beware  o'  the  ripplet,   young  QUI 
 
 Gin  ye  tak  them  in  your  m 
 
 Ve'll  never  gac  hame  ; 
 
 Sac  I  rede  ye  beware  o'  t;<  young  n;. 
 
 ■ 
 
33  2  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Ennet-seidis,    (p.  104.)    aniseed    or   anise.     Dan.  anisz, 
 
 Fr.  an  is,     L.  anlsum, 
 Enyn,  n.  (p.  .67.  97.)  evening.     The  common  pronuncia- 
 tion of  the  word  in  the  south  counties  of  Scotland. 
 Ermonyie,  (p.  57.)  harmony.     It.  armonia,    Fr.  karmonie. 
 
 L.  harmonia*. 
 Escarmuschis,  n.  (p.  8.  22.)   an  scarmouche  (p.  177.)  Fr. 
 cscarmuche ;  skirmishes  :  hence  escharmcuschit,  (p.  121.) 
 skirmished. 
 Eschet,  n.  (p.  208.)  forfeiture.     Fr.  cscheate,  a   escbeoir, 
 which  expresses  the  devolving  of  a  vassal's   possession   to 
 the  feudal  lord. 
 Estin,   (p.  95.}  eastern.     Common  pronunciation. 
 Ettyn,  n.   (p.  98.)    a  giant.     A.  S.  eten.      Hence,   red- 
 etfyn,  the  red  giant  ;  forte  a  A.  S.  etan,  to  eat  ;  hence  an 
 anthropophagns.     The  Berserkers  of  the  North  were  ac- 
 customed, in  the  paroxysms  of  their  fury,  to  devour  hu- 
 man flesh,  and  drink  human  blood  ;  and  hence  probably 
 the  romances  of  giants  and  etens,  that  devoured  quick 
 men. 
 
 The  prophecies  of  Rymour,  Bede?  and  Marling, 
 And  of  mony  uther  plesand  history 
 Of  Reld  El  in  and  the  Gyre  Car  ling, 
 Comfortand  the,  quhen  that  I  saw  the  sory. 
 
 Lindsay's  Dreme,  p.  225.      1 592. 
 EuoiR  bane,    n.     (p.  30.)     ivory.       Fr.  yvoire.       L.  ebur. 
 Thus  also,  ^uhaillis  bane,  in  Hailes'  Bannat.  poems.      I- 
 vory  is  denominated  alpcs  ban,  in  the  following  passage  : 
 Thai  made  hir  bodi  bio  and  blae, 
 That  er  was  white  so  alpes  bon  ; 
 Seththen  seyd  he  to  his  men, 
 Prisouns  hir  swithe  anon  ; 
 Hunger  schal  sche  han  ynouz  ; 
 Mete  no  drink  zif  hir  non  ; 
 
 Litel 
 
GLOSSARY.  333 
 
 Litel  no  miche  that  loke  wcl, 
 
 Til  this  tvelue  days  be  come  &  gon. 
 
 Legend  of  St  Kaierlne%   M3. 
 Expreme,  v,  (p.  54.)   Fr.  exprimer,  to  express. 
 Extree,  «.  (p.  7c.)  axletree.    A.  S.  rx.     It.  exe.    B.  axe* 
 
 Facil,  adj.  (p.  23.)    Yr.fac'd;  easy,  not  difficult. 
 Faird,  n.  (p.  65.)  passage.     Teut.  fahrt.    Sw.  fxrd,  as  in 
 herfard,  a  military  expedition.     A.  S.  />r,  5c  utfare,  an 
 expedition;  from  A.  S.  faran  ;  Teut.fibren,  to  go. 
 Falcons  &  Half  Falcons,  (p.  64.)  a  species  of  cannon  a- 
 bout  three  inches  in  calibre.  The  half  falcon,  orfauconnean, 
 is  about  one  inch  eleven  lines  in  calibre,  and   six  feet   and' 
 an  half  long.      In  naval  engagements,  they  were  generally 
 used  as  reserves  when  the  principal  cannon  were  dismount- 
 ed.    The  artillery  employed   by  James  V.  against  Tam- 
 tallon,  consisted  of  "  two  great  cannons,  thrown  mouth- 
 "  ed  Mow  and  her  marrow,  with   two   great  boteards 
 "  and  two  moyans,  two  double  falcons,  and  two  quarter 
 "  falcons.  " — Lindsay   of  Pitscottie,    4/3,    p.  143.     Ac- 
 cording to  the  same   author,  Crook  Mow  and  Deaf  Meg 
 were  employed  against  the  castle   of  St  Andrews,  after 
 Card.  Beaton's  death,  p.  191. 
 Faldomis,  n.  (p.  160.)  fathoms.     A.  S.fctkm.    B.  I 
 Falow,  n.  (p.  286.)  fellow,  companion. 
 Falsed,  /;.    (p.  284.)    falsehood;    quas.y  I  hence 
 
 fuhd.     Fabcbipi  a  different  form  of  the  same  word, 
 wise  occurs  ;  as, 
 
 This  world  wileth  thus  y  wit, 
 Thurc\\fiLc/jif>  of  fair  hat  ; 
 Where  we  go  bi  ani  gat, 
 Willi  bale  he  ous  bites. 
 
 Legend  of  St  .  MS. 
 
 Falt,  n.  (p.  114.)  want.     Fr./ 
 
 Ya  I 
 
334    '  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Faltit,  v.  (p.  189.)  committed  a  fault ;  to  fault. 
 
 Fame  ;  also  spelled  faem,     A.  S.fom. 
 
 Fard,  v.   (p.  25.)  Yr.farder  ;  to  paint,  to  embellish.     To 
 
 fard  and  lard,  a  proverbial  expression. 
 Fassons,  n.  (p.  29.)   Yr.fagom  ;  fashions. 
 Faucht,  pret.  did  fight. 
 
 Fede,  (p.  261.)  Al.fcde  ;    Sw.  feyd ;  B.  vade  g  L.  Barbi 
 
 faida  :  Feud ;  the   enmity   between  a  murderer  and  the 
 
 natural  avengers  of  blood. 
 
 Felloune,   adj.    (p.  )    It.    fellone  ;  Fr.  felon  ;    A.  S; 
 
 felle  :  Fierce,  cruel.    Felloune  force,  (p.  22.)  mere  force  ( 
 
 felloune  sounde,  (p.  60.) 
 
 Clariodus  was  war,  and  weill  him  knew, 
 That  the  grit  Came  cum  him  to  persew. 
 He  ruschit  upon  him  with  znefelloun  feir, 
 And  with  his  sword  him  to  the  sadill  schare. 
 His  corpes  deuidit  into  pairtis  two  ; 
 Syne  to  the  (Turkis)  king  he  did  ry  so. 
 The  heathin  wounderit  upon  that  felloun  deid. 
 
 Clariodus  &  Meliades,  MS. 
 Feltrit,  (p.  106.)    entangled.      It.  fcltr are.     Yv.feultfer 
 &  feutrer.     In   the   Cumbrian   dialect,  faltered  signifies 
 dishevelled,  revelled. 
 Feyrd,   (p.   99.)  fourth.     Teut.  i)\crt ;    the    Belgic   pro- 
 nunciation early  adopted  in  Scotland. 
 Finkil,  (p.  104.)  Fyncl,  iElfric.  ;  fenchsl,  Teut.  ;  venckel, 
 B.  ;  venikol,  Al.      In  the   Lincolnshire  dialect,  fenkeU 
 fennel. 
 
 In  somer,  quhen  flouris  will  smell, 
 As  I  fure  our  fair  fcildia  and  fell, 
 Allone  I  wanderit  by  ane  well, 
 
 On  Weddinsday  ; 
 I  met  a  cleir  under  kell, 
 
 A  weil-fard  may. 
 
 Scho 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Scho  had  one  hat  upon  her  heid, 
 
 Off  clever  cleir,  bayth  quhyt  and  reid, 
 
 With  catcluke  strynklit  in  that  steid, 
 
 And  fy nii/  gren*  ; 
 Wit  ze  weill  to  weir  yat  weid, 
 
 Wald  weill  her  seine. 
 
 Bannaiyne  MS. 
 Flaschar,     (p.  200.)     flesher,    butcher,  or    executioner; 
 
 ivomjiasche,   (p.  91.)  flesh.      A.  S.jlasc.     Teut.^f 
 Flet,  adj.  (p.  98.)  prosaic,  in  prose  ;  (pede  soluta)   quas. 
 
 fat. 
 Fleyitnes,  n.  (p.  60.)   fear. 
 
 Flureise,  n.    (p.  58.  268.)    budding,   or   flourishing;    J 
 fcurir,  to  bud,  to  flourish. 
 
 The  feildis  grene,  andfurcist  meidis, 
 Wer  spulzeit  of  thair  piesand  weidis. 
 
 Lyndsay's  Poum,   p.  43.       I 
 Fleume,  (p.  104.)  Teut.fuyme  ;  phlegm.     Fcume  (p.  104.) 
 is  a  contracted  form  of  the  same  word  ;  frumey  transposed 
 feultae,  and  softened  ft.ume. 
 Foliful,  adj.  (p.  195.)   foolish. 
 Forfayr,  v.   (p.  100.)   to  miscarry,  per,M, 
 
 S: for;   (insep.  prepos.)   like  the  German  vert   oft.: 
 nifying,  in  English,  mis,      A.  S./crfamn.      13. 
 to  perish.     Fr.  forfatret  to  trai: 
 
 Qnhat  can  1  help  howbeit  he  90w\d/orfairf 
 Ye  ken  richt  weill  I  am  na  medcynnar. 
 
 Lindsay's  Inter  hid.    .  *n's 
 
 ,  Pi      .         H,  />.  41. 
 
 The  word  frequently  occurs  in  the  old  romanu  . 
 trical  legends  ;   as  in  the  foil 
 legend  of  Martha  ■od  M 
 
 The   king  of  Marseilles   being   convc: 
 
 ity,   undertakes  a  pHgrim^";  to    .    . 
 
336  GLOSSARY. 
 
 The  Queen,  who  was  pregnant,  desires  to  accompany  him  -, 
 but  the  king  objects  to  her  design,  from  a  superstitious 
 notion,  still  entertained  by  sailors,  that  it  is  dangerous  to 
 cail  in  the  same  vessel  with  a  woman  in  labour. 
 
 The  prince  seyd,  dame,  nay,' 
 
 With  me  wenden  thou  ne  may  : — 
 
 No,  were  the  se  neuer  so  milde, 
 
 And  a  woman  were  with  childe, 
 
 In  schippe  with  trauel  bi  stadde, 
 
 A  He  we  mizt  be  sore  adradde  ; 
 
 Men  wold  siggen  I  awhile, 
 
 That  thai  weren  in  great  pile  : — 
 
 Bot  zif  sche  soner  were  unbounde, 
 
 Sche  mizt  dye  in  a  stounde, 
 
 In  schip  bifor  ous  euerichon  ; — 
 
 Therfor  thou  may  nouzt  with  me  gon. 
 The  intreaties  of  the  princess,  however,  prevail.  The 
 ship  sets  sail ;  a  storm  arises ;  the  Queen  is  taken 
 in  labour,  and  dies  in  child-bed.  The  faith  of  the 
 king  begins  to  waver  ;  and,  rather  than  commit  his  liv- 
 ing child  and  dead  consort  to  the  waves,  he  exposes  both 
 on  a  rock  in  the  sea,  which  afforded  no  place  of  sepul- 
 ture.    He  leaves  them  with  the  following  expression  : 
 
 Zif  that  he  be  god  almizte, 
 
 Now  on  her  soule  haue  mercie  ; 
 
 And  this  child  he  kepe  fram  care, 
 
 And  let  it  neuer  nouzt  for  fare. 
 The  king  arrives  at  Rome,  and  is  informed  by  St   Peter 
 that  his  wife  and  child  are  both  alive.     On  his  return,  he 
 passes  by  the  rock  where  they  had  been  exposed. 
 
 And  when  thai  neize  that  rock  were, 
 
 A  litel  child  thai  seizen  there, 
 
 Adoun  at  the  fot  of  the  hille, 
 
 The  se  it  was  comen  tille  ; 
 
 Ther 
 
GLOSSARY.  337 
 
 Flier  with  it  made  michel  gale, 
 With  gret  atones  and  with  smale, 
 And  played  with  burbels  of  the  water : — 
 Wei  ioieful  then  was  the  fader  ; 
 As  it  is  euer  childes  wone, 
 There  playd  his  litel  sone. 
 
 Legend  of  Martha  and  Mary,   ms. 
 On  the  approach  of  the   mariners,  the  child   flies  to  its 
 mother,  whom  the  king  discovers  to  be  only  asleep,  and 
 returns  with  great  joy  to  Marseilles. 
 Forbearis,  n.  (p.  291.)  ancestors. 
 Found,  v.  (p.  90.  98.)      A.  S./undan,  to  go. 
 Freuole,  adj.   (p.  187.)      Vr.frevole,  frivolous. 
 Forreour,    (p.    153.)    forager;    from  forrais,    (p.   22.) 
 
 foraging  excursions. 
 Fumeterre,   (p.  104.)   Fr.     Fumitory.      *L..fuinar\a. 
 Fustean,  adj.  (p.  66.)  soft,  elastic,  and   compressible  as 
 the  down  of  cotton.      Hence,  fustean  slcwmis,  cakes  leav- 
 ened, or  puffed  up,  or  fozzy.     The   phrase  is  still  cur- 
 rent in  Angus,  and  the  east  coast  of  Scotland. 
 Fyir-slaucht,    (p.  93.)    &    Fyir-flaucht,    lightning; 
 
 also  termed  sleiv-Jirc.      A.  S.  s/ean,  to  strike. 
 Fyne,  n.  (p.  130.)    L. fms.    Yr.fn,  the  end. 
 
 Galmouding,    (p.  102.)    gamboling  ;   ab  antiq.   Fr.  jaUr.t 
 pxojambe;   hence,  jalmade  or  gealmade,  gamb.i 
 Castand  galmcundis  with  bendis  oc  bei 
 For  wantones  sum  brak  thair  nekis. 
 
 Cotnflaint  of  Scbir  David  L\  \  .  2G6. 
 
 \jAl2ardis,    (p.  102.)    gay  dances  ;     Fr.  .  The 
 
 ?,dliard  was   a  favourite  dance   at  the   court   of  France. 
 Lindsay  of  Pitscottie  mentions  it  as  one  of  t!u 
 ments  prepared  by  the  Duke  of  Ycndomc    for   Jan 
 "  he  ritited  »hat  court.      Tb«   wbtUntire  ga 
 
 I   U  ij  or 
 
33*  GLOSSARY. 
 
 or  gafyard,  the  beau  of  former  times  ;  or  the  character 
 which  combined  the  beau  and  the  warrior.  The  term- 
 is  applied  by  Skelton  to  King  James  IV.  who  perished  at 
 Hodden. 
 
 Ye  thought  ye  did  yet  valiantlye, 
 Not  worth  three  skippes  of  a  pye  ; 
 Sir  Skyr  Galyard,  ye  were  so  skit, 
 Your  wil  than  ran  before  your  wyt. 
 
 Skelto?i  against  the  Scottes, 
 Hence,  the  adverbial,  galzeardlie,  gallantly. 
 Of  horsmen  montit  gaheardlie, 
 Fiue  hundreth  thousand  verralie. 
 
 Lindsay's  Poems,  p.  86.      '592' 
 Gar,  v.  (p.  i.)  to  force,  to  cause.     Al.  garen  ;  Sw.  Goth. 
 gara   and  gera  ;  Isl.  giora  ;  Celt,  gar  :  Force,  strength. 
 Garten,  n.  a  garter. 
 
 Garnison,  «.   (p.  8.)   Fr.  garnison,  a  garrison. 
 Glar,  n.  (p.  105.)  mud,  mire.     Fr.glaire,  glastre  ;   slime, 
 
 sea-ooze. 
 Glaspis,  n.  (p.  109.)  clasps. 
 
 Glaykit,  adj.  (p.  219.)  light,  full  of  tricks,  a  glaykit 
 hussey  ;  a  light,  thoughtless  girl ;  a  haloc  :  which  term 
 is  of  common  use  in  the  south  of  Scotland.  A  glaikrt 
 callan,  a  boy  full  of  tricks.  To  give  one  the  glaiks,  to  put 
 a  trick  or  cheat  on  a  person.  Glaiks,  a  species  of  toy,  or 
 puzzle. 
 
 I  think  sic  giglottis  ar  bot  glaikii. 
 
 Lindesay,  in  contempt  of  syde  taillis,  p.  308.     1592. 
 Get  I  thame,  thay  sail  berr  thair  paikis, 
 I  se  thay  play'd  with  me  the  glaihis. 
 
 Lindsay's  Interludes,  apud  Pink.  Anc.  Poems , 
 
 vol,  a.  p.  156. 
 
 Gramariaris,  n.  (p.  27.)  grammarians. 
 Graif,  adj.  (p.  275.)  grave,  sagacious. 
 
 Gre, 
 
GLOSSARY.  33^ 
 
 Gre,  (p.  229.}  Fr.  gre  &  degre,  decree;  to  bear  the  gre, 
 to  hold  the  principal  rank  or  place.  Gre  is  used  absolute- 
 ly, or  by  way  of  eminence  ;  gre  of  gentreis,  degree  of 
 gentry  (p.  234.);  greis  of  conparison,  degrees  of  compa- 
 rison, (p.  250.) 
 Go  ilk,  n.  (p.  60.)   the  cuckow,  a  fool. 
 
 I  leue  the  gcik,  quhilk  hes  na  sang  but  ane, 
 My  musicke,  with  my  voice  angelicall  ; 
 And  to  the  guse  ze  gif,  quhen  I  am  gane, 
 My  eloquence,  and  tongue  rhetoricall. 
 
 Lindsay*  s  Complaint  of  the  Papinga,  p.  2  21. 
 The  name  of  this   bird  is  derived  from  its  cry,  in  almost 
 every  language. 
 Goulmau,  n.  (p.  60.)  the  gull,  or  cormorant ;  termed  al- 
 so, by  the  common  people,  the  gormaiu. 
 
 Next  come  the  gergcul,  and  the  graip, 
 Twa  feirfull  fowls  indeed. 
 
 Birrelfs  Passage  of  the  Pilgremet. 
 I  suspect  that  the  fowls  here  intended,  are,  the  griffin  and 
 the  gorgon  ;  by  the  last  of  w  hicfa   the  author  probably 
 meant  the  harpy. 
 Grathit,  v.  (p.  61.)   A.  S.  genrdan,  to  prepare,  to  equip, 
 make  ready. 
 
 Whar  be  thine  cokes  indie, 
 That  schuld  go  to  g ray  the  thi  mete, 
 With  swot  spices  for  to  smelle, 
 That  thou  wer  neucr  ful  to  frcte  : 
 To  make  thi  foule  flesche  to  swelle, 
 That  wilde  wormes  sclial  now  etc  ; 
 And  ich  haue  the  peyne  of  helle, 
 Thurch  thi  glotonic  and  gete. 
 
 Dispulisoun  bitven  the-  1  ■■ s. 
 
 Grene-sirene,  (p.  Co.)  the  greenfinch  ;  60  d< 
 
340  GLOSSARY. 
 
 from  the  sweetness  of  its  song.  It  is  commonly  called 
 the  green  linnet, 
 Grumis,  (p.  105.)  grooms.  A.  S.  gruma,  a  servant. 
 Guk,  (p.  60.)  the  cry  of  the  cuckow  ;  an  imitative  word, 
 as  the  name  of  that  bird  is  in  almost  every  language. 
 This  word  seems  connected  with  the  Danish  name  of  the 
 cuckow,  kuckkuch  ;  B.  kochkock.  Thus,  also,  in  Montgo- 
 mery's poem  of  the  Cherry  and  the  Slae,  stanza  second, 
 many  of  the  same  imitative  words  are  employed  which 
 occur  in  the  Complaynt  of  Scotland. 
 
 The  cushat  crowds,  the  corbie  cryes, 
 The  cucko  cuks,  the  pratling  pyes, 
 
 To  geek  her  they  begin  : 
 The  jargoun  of  the  jangling  jayes, 
 The  cracking  craws,  the  keckling  kayes, 
 They  deaved  me  with  their  din. 
 Gulset,     (p.  104.)    the  jaundice.       Black  gulset,    black 
 jaundice.     In  Galloway,  and  the  west  march  of  Scot- 
 land, it  is  commonly  pronounced  gulsoch  ;    A.  S.  gealtue- 
 seoc,  the  yellow  sickness  ;    termed  also  by  Somner  geal 
 ad/,  yellow  ail. 
 Grytumly,  adv.  (p.  31.)  greatly. 
 
 The  whole  gritumly  discouraged  his  nobles. 
 
 Lindsay  of  Bit  scot  lie's  History,  p.d\.  ^to. 
 The  termination  um  is  common  to  the  Icelandic  and  Sa- 
 xon dialects  ;   oferrnm,  afar. 
 
 Minors  Poems,  p.  29. 
 In  Saxon,  both  adjectives  and  substantives,  in  the  abla- 
 tive, are  frequently  used  adverbially  ;  as,  wundrum  litel, 
 <wundrum  sceorla  ;  wondrous  little,  wondrous  short. 
 Gylmir,  (p.  103.)  an  ewe  two  years  old;  Isl.  gimbur ; 
 hence  also  lam-gimber,  an  ewe-lamb  which  is  one  year  old. 
 A  lamb  is  smeared  at  the  end  of  Harvest,  when  it  is  de- 
 nominated a  hog  ;  hence  the  phrase  harvest  hog.     After 
 
 being 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 341 
 
 being  smeared  the  second  time,  an  ewe-hog  is  denominat- 
 ed a  gimmer  ;  and  a  wedder-hog  a  d'wiond. 
 
 Gyrse,  n.  (p»  30.)   A.  S.  gers  ;   pronounced  gerse,  grass. 
 
 Gyrtht,  (p.  183.)  a  shelter,  an  asylum.  According  to 
 Skene,  girth  and  girthol  denote  a  sanctuary  ;  A.  S.  gwJt 
 an  area. 
 
 Haggis,  (p.  64.)  haques  or  haquebutts,  fo  denominated 
 from  their  butts,  which  were  crooked  ;  whereas  those  of 
 hand-guns  were  straight.  Half-haggis,  or  demihaques,  were 
 fire  arms  of  smaller  size  ;  and  are  mentioned,  as  well  a3 
 hagbutts  of  erode,  in  Brander's  us.  cited  by  Grose  ia 
 bis  Treatise  on  Ancient  i^rir.our,  and  History  of  the 
 English  Army.  By  the  statute  of  33d  of  Henry  VIII. 
 the  hagbult  was  required  to  be  one  yard  in  length,  stock 
 and  barrel.  The  carrier,  of  the  same  calibre  and  strength 
 as  the  harquebus,  having  a  longer  barrel,  required  more 
 powder.  The  firelock,  termed  the  dragon,  which  was 
 carried  by  dragoons,  was  sixteen  inches  in  length,  and  of 
 full  mosquet  bore. 
 
 Hagduttis  of  croc  he,   (p.  64.)    Fr.  arquebus  a  crcc.     The 
 
 arquebus  with  a  hook,  cast  along  with   the   piece,    which 
 
 (1  to  fix  it  down  to  a  kind  of  tripod  or  small  carriage. 
 
 It  varied  in  length  and  calibre,  from   the   smallest  cannon 
 
 to  the  musquet.      Henr  p.  9.)   mu?queteers. 
 
 Hail,  v.  (p.  62.)    to  haul,  or  hale      i    .  B.  halcn. 
 
 Hailse,  v,   (p.  Cy.)    to  bail,     Chaucer,  haslrin* 
 l.  <//.    Afci  I 
 
 And  first  ..  d  the  queine, 
 
 And  then  M 
 
 Hardym*  (p.  15c.) 
 
 after  dressing  ;   Btckcloth.     Thl 
 
 .;/;/,   aie   in    common    i::c.      It    ia  oi 
 ';,   19  in  Bun,  — , 
 
 I 
 
342  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Her  cutty  sark  of  Paisley  harn, 
 That  when  a  lassie  she  had  worn. 
 The  word   is  derived   from   hardis,  stupa,  the  refuse   of 
 flax  after  dressing  ;  herde,  fibra  lini.  Kilian. 
 
 That  not  of  hempe  ne  heerdis  was.  Chaucer. 
 
 The  finer  part  of  the  hards  of  lint  is  termed  the  brerdes. 
 Hardyn-pan,  n.    (p.  241.)    harn-pan  ;  the  skull.      Teut. 
 hirn  panne,  or  hersen  panne,      Dan.  hierne.      Goth,  thairn* 
 Heued  pan  is  also  used  ;  as, 
 
 Arthour  came  redeinde  in  this  cas, 
 For  Sir  Antour  desmaied  was  : 
 He  smot  amidward  the  pres  ; 
 So  grehounde  doth  out  of  les ; 
 A  geaunt  sone  he  toke  anne 
 Thurch  out  helme  and  heued  panne* 
 
 Arthour  <b  Merlin,   ms. 
 Hatrent,  (p.  69.)  ;  also    heytrent,    (p.   272.)  hatred. 
 The  same  analogy  prevails  in  other  words  ;  as, 
 With  cote  unclene  clame  hinrent  to  sum  cuke. 
 
 Lindsays  Complaynt  of  the  Papingo,  p.  223.    1 59 2. 
 Monie  ane  knicht,  barroun  and  banrent, 
 Come  for  to  se  that  awfull  tornament. 
 
 Lyndesay's  Justing,  p.  3 1 8. 
 Hayr,   (p.  91.)  hoar.     A.  S.  har. 
 
 Hayrschip,  n.  (p.  8.)  herrying,  or  plunder;  pronounced 
 often  heirlschip.    A.  S.  heriscip.    From  A.  S.  here,  an  army. 
 AH  men  makis  me  debait, 
 
 For  heirischip  of  horsmeit  :   i.  e.  stealing  of  horse-corn. 
 PinkertoiCi  Anc.  Scctish  Poems,  p.  190. 
 Hartly,  rdj.  (p.  11.)  hearty. 
 
 Hede-verkis,    (p.  56.)    head-aches.      A.    S.   ware  pain. 
 The  phrase  occurs  in  the  Lancashire   and   Northumbrian 
 dialects  ;  as,  head-nvark,  or  head-ivarche  ;  and  teeth-iuarh. 
 Hede-stikkis,   (p.  64.)  a  species  of  artillery  ;  likewise  de- 
 nominated stod-foivlers  and  staggs.     Vid.  Saihyr. 
 
 HsiSAUa 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Heigau,  (p.  6$.)  a  sea  cheer,  contracted  of  heeze  all  > 
 heezc,  hels,  or  keys,  to  lift.  A.  S.  heahstan.  Fr.  hiss.r. 
 B.  hiisscn.  Hence  the  popular  word  heezyy  a  rouzing,  a 
 scolding,  or  fight.  Thus,  in  the  ballad  of  Scornfu' 
 Nancy — 
 
 My  gutcher  left  a  good  braid  sword, 
 
 Tho'  it  be  auld  and  rusty  ; 
 Yet  ye  may  take  it  on  my  word, 
 
 It  is  baith  stout  and  trusty  : 
 And  if  I  can  but  get  it  drawn, 
 Which  will  be  right  uneasy, 
 I  shall  lay  baith  my  lugs  in  pawn, 
 That  he  shall  get  a  beexy* 
 
 Ritson's  Scotish  Songs,  vol.  i.  p.  183. 
 By  a  similar  analogy,  stour,  dust,  is   used  metaphorically 
 to  signify  a  fight. 
 HsRRY,  v.  whence  Hareyt,  (p.  210.)  to  plunder.    Fr.  ha~ 
 
 rier,     A.  S.  herian.     Sw.  heerja,  bello  infestare. 
 Herberye,   (p.  210.)  harbouring,   or  entertaining.     A.  S. 
 
 hercberga.      B.  herberge.      Sw.  hocrberge,   diversorium. 
 Heugh,  n.  (p.  61.)  ;  A.  S.  hcolh  ;  a  deep   nigged  valley, 
 or  small  glen.      It   is  exactly  the  contrary   of  a   rock  or 
 steep  hill,  as  it  is  interpreted  by  Ruddiman,   in   his  Glos- 
 sary to  Douglas's  Virgil.      Htngand  Leuch    is  a  glen,  with 
 steep  over-hanging  braes  or  sides. 
 Hoc,   71.  (p.  103.)   a  young  sheep  before  it  has  lost  its  first 
 fleece;  termed  barvut-Bog,  from  being  smeared  at  the  end 
 of  harvest,   when  it  ceases  to  be  called  a  lamb.      Kelham, 
 in    his    Norman    dictionary,    interprets    hocetz,    young 
 vredder  ^heep.     But  this  is  probably  erroneous,  ta  the 
 terms  ewe-bog  and  wedder-bog  aie  current  among  the 
 8antry  ;  ami  the  editor  never  lias  seen  an  authority  wliieh 
 restricts  the  term  to  the  male. 
 
 2   X  And 
 
344  GLOSSARY. 
 
 And  beleuc  weil  ze  ar  bot  doggis ; 
 Thocht  ze  stand  in  the  hiest  gre, 
 Se  ze  bite  nouther  lambis  nor  hoggis. 
 
 L  hides  ay's  Complaint  of  Bagsche,  th:  K'tngi: 
 Houn^   p.  303.      1592. 
 Hoilsum,  adj.   (p.  59.)  ;  also  holisum,  (p.  103.)  vvhole^ 
 
 some. 
 Holabar,   (p.  6$.)  a  sea   cheer,  probably   a  direction   to 
 
 employ  the  bar  of  the  capstan  ;  quas.  holla  J  bar  ! 
 Holt,  v.  (p.  62.)  to  halt. 
 Hoste,   (p.    104.)    cough.     AK  S.   huecst.     Swed.  hosta. 
 
 Germ,  kuste.     Dutch,   boeste. 
 Hou,   (p.  59,  61.)   hollow  ;  the  how  of  a  ship  ;  the  hoU 
 low  part,  or  hold  ;   also  a  sea  cheer,  hdlal   (p.  62.) 
 With  hypocritis,  ay  slyding  as  the  sand, 
 As  humloik,  hozu  of  wit,  and  vcrtew  thin. 
 
 Adhorlatloiin  prefixed  to  Lyndsay's  IVarkis, 
 Ed'in.  1592. 
 Huddit,  adj.  (p.  60.)    hooded.     The   huddit  craw   is  the 
 raven  or  carrion  crow,  commonly  termed  the  Hoddy  craw. 
 
 Jangle,  v.  (p.  60.)  the  cry  of  the  jay.     Tr.jangler. 
 
 He  could  wirk  windaris,  quhat  way  that  he  wald  ; 
 Make  a  gray  gus  a  gold  garland  ; 
 A  lang  spei  e  of  a  bitill  for  a  berne  bald  ; 
 Nobles  of  nutschellis,  and  silver  of  sand. 
 Thusjowkit  with  juxters  the  janglane  ja. 
 
 Holland's  Noulate,  ap.  Pinker  ton's  Scotish  Poemsy 
 
 vol.  iii,  1S0.      1792. 
 
 Jargolyne,  n.  (p.  60.)  jargoning  ;  both  are  popular  words, 
 
 and  probably  of  imitative  origin,  denoting   the    mingled 
 
 singing  of  birds.     jf^rgon,  in  French,  denotes  indistinct 
 
 elocution  ;   and  Menage  has  produced  various   etymologi- 
 
 derivations,  which,  in  imitative  words,  can  seldom  be 
 
 depended 
 
CL0S5ART.  345 
 
 depended  on.     Jargoning  is  used  by  Chaucer  ;  but  jar- 
 golyne  is  a  more  common   popular   expression.      To  jarg, 
 to  make  a  single  sharp  shrill  noise  ;  tojarg/e,  to   produce 
 a  repetition  of  such  sounds. 
 Impesche,  v.    (p.    202.)    and   empesche,  (p.  87.);    Fr. 
 
 emp.chtr  ;  to  hinder. 
 Importabil,   (p.  190.)  insupportable. 
 Indoctryne,  v.  (p.  97.)  to  instruct. 
 Indole,  (p.  196.)  soft,  inactive,  indolent. 
 Infang,   (p.  1^4.)  a  term  both  popular  and  forensic.     In- 
 fang  and  outfang  seem,  in    the   popular   language   of  the 
 Borders  of  Scotland,  to  have  comprehended  all  the  differ- 
 ent kinds  of  theft  and  reif.     The  first  seems  to  have  sig- 
 nified the  seizing    a    thief,  red-kand,  or   hach-berend>  and 
 handh abend ;    the  second  comprehending  every  other  spe- 
 cies, as  in  the  following  passage — 
 
 But  when  the  Scots  did  hear  that  stile 
 
 King  David  resided  in  Carli-le, 
 
 With  out  and  infang  they  disturbed  his  court. 
 
 Scot  of Sate  bells'  Hist,  of  the  Name  of Scot ',  p.  29. 
 
 •Skene  mentions  various  acceptations   of  the  phrases   out* 
 
 -  thief,  and  infang  thief.      "   In  the  auld   laws   of  the 
 
 "    Brittone,  made  by  King  Edward,   .  uefe  is  a  li- 
 
 "    berty  or  power  pertaining  to  him  quha  is  infeft  thcir- 
 
 u   with,  to  cognosce  upon  thieft   committed   by  his  awiu 
 
 M  man,   takin  within  his  awiu  dominion    and  lands ;  ami 
 
 **  outfang  thicfe  is  an  foran  thefe,  quha  comes  fra  an   u- 
 
 "  ther  man's  land  or  jurisdiction,  and   is   taken   and   ap- 
 
 -*  prehended  within  the  lands  pertenand   to  him  quha   is 
 
 M   infeft  with  the  like  liberty.  M      This  is  probably  the  o- 
 
 ial  signification  of  the  phrase.      A.    S.  f:nganm      B. 
 
 vaugben  ;   to  seize  or  apprehend.      The  word  is 
 
 both  in  common  language  and  popular  ballads.     Sodiner 
 
 I    X   ij 
 
34<5  GLOSSARY. 
 
 (onfangen)  cites  the  following  verses  Concerning  Machi- 
 avel,  in  what  he  terms  the  Northern  dialect  : 
 
 Machil  is  hanged, 
 
 And  brened  is  his  buks  : 
 
 Thogh  Machil  is  hanged, 
 
 Yet  he  is  not  wranged  ; 
 
 The  dil  has  'imfanged 
 
 In  his  kruked  kluks. 
 Ingyne,  n.  (p.  70.);  L.  ingenium  ;  genius,  wit,  intellect, 
 Joy,  n.  (p.  ioi.)joe,  or  love.      Yr.joie. 
 Isching,  n.  (p.  152.)  issuing. 
 Justifiet,   (p.  178.)  subjected  to  justice.     Fr.justicier. 
 
 Kar,  left ;  har  hand,  kar  kluk,  left  hand.     Gael,   cearr.j 
 
 awkward,  left-handed. 
 Jvebbis,  ewes,  the  lambs  of  which  have  died  soon  after  be- 
 ing produced.  Ewes  are  said  to  keb>  when  their  lambs 
 die  early-*  and  they  are  suffered  to  go  yeld.  A  keb  lamb  ; 
 a  lamb,  the  mother  of  which  dies  when  it  is  young.  Kel- 
 ler, an  old  English  word,  of  which  Skinner  has  given  some 
 pleasant  etymologies,  has  the  same  signification.  Gould- 
 man,  in  too  general  terms,  interprets  it  ovis  rejicula. 
 Keist,  v.pret.  (p.  240.)  did  cast. 
 
 Kekkyl,  v.  (p.  60.)  to  cackle;  Teut.  kaeketen  ;  an  imi- 
 tative word,  expressing  the  cry  of  a  hen  or  jay,  and,  me- 
 taphorically, a  short  and  quick  laugh. 
 
 Bark  like  ane  dog,  and  kehll  like  ane  ka  ; 
 Blait  like  ane  hog,  and  buller  like  ane  bull ; 
 Gail  like  ane  goik,  and  greit  quhen  scho  was  wa. 
 Lindsay's  Complaint  of  the  Papingo,  p.  187.     1592. 
 Kyl,  (p.  60.)  a  kiln  ;  pronounced  kill  in  many  of  the  pro- 
 vincial dialects  of  England,  as  well  as  in  that  of  Scotland. 
 To  cry  as  if  the  kill  war  on  fire  ;  a   common   phrase,  to 
 express  making  a  great  noise*    1  am  ignorant  of  the  ori- 
 gin 
 
GLOSSARY.  347 
 
 gin  of  the  phrase  ;  and  the  popular  account  is  totally  un- 
 satisfactory, as  every  one  may  perceive.  "  A  miller  left 
 "  a  servant,  who  stammered  in  his  speech,  to  watch  the 
 "  kiln,  where  oats  were  drying.  By  some  accident,  the 
 "  kiln  took  fire.  The  servant  run  in  great  agitation  to 
 u  inform  his  master  of  the  catastrophe,  but,  in  his  trepi- 
 "  dation,  was  unable  to  utter  a  syllable.  He  continued 
 "  staring  and  stamping  for  some  time,  when  his  master, 
 "  alarmed,  desired  him  to  sing.  The  man  immediately 
 "  sung  out  lustily — 
 
 "  Tal-de-ral-al,  the  kill's  a  fire  ; 
 "  Tal-de-rai-al,  it's  all  in  a  low.  " 
 
 Kyrn-milk,    (p.    66.)   butter-milk,  chern   or  churn-milk. 
 B.  kern  ;  a  churn  or  chern. 
 
 Kyttil,  v.  (p.  103.)  to  tickle.    A.  S.  citelan.    B.  kittehti. 
 Teut.  kit'zel/i, 
 
 Landwakt,  (p.  66.)  inland  ;  a  landwart  man,  a  man  who 
 lives  towards  the  inland  part    of  a  country,  and   who   is 
 generally  more  boorish,  or  less  polished,  than  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  towns.     "   Far  to  the  landiuart,  out  o'  sight  o* 
 11  the  sea,  "  is  a  common  phrase  among  the  fishermen  on 
 the  coasts  of  Fife  and  Angus.     Along  the   east  coast  of 
 Scotland,  the  fishermen  are  chiefly  of  Flemish  and  Danish 
 origin,  and   retain    many  words   of  their   respective   lan- 
 guages.    They  seem  to  have  settled  in  small   colooi 
 that  later  period   of  Scotish  history,   when    the    Seotisii 
 ration  was  in  habits  of  friendly  intercourse  with  Denmark 
 and  the  Low  Countries.     The  broad   Buchan  1 
 it  is  termed,  is  of  this  origin,   instead  of  Picti 
 tion,  and  is  spoken  in  its  utmost  punty  by  the 
 of  Fife  and  Angus,  but  particulaily.it  n  the 
 
 Frith  of   Forth,  and   Davoch,    on    the  Gomar'.y    I 
 where  they  seldom  intermarry  wu: 
 
34$  GLOSSARf.     . 
 
 Langorius,  adj.  (p.  i.)  affected  with  languor. 
 Lauerok,  n.    (p.  60.  j   A.  S.  laferce  ;  B.   lauwerich  ;  the 
 
 lark. 
 Lasche,  adj.  (p.  191.)  base.      Yt.lache. 
 Leiful,    adj.    (p.  120.)  lawful.      ltal.  le,  law;  Fr.   ley ; 
 
 whence  leaky  loial. 
 Leueraires,   (p.  231.)  armorial  bearings  ;  colours  in  he- 
 raldry.    Fr.  three  ;  whence  the  ScofLh  liuaray. 
 
 Thay  brocht  ane  goune  of  skarlot,  gud  and  fyne, 
 That  was  weill  furrit  in  potent  rich  armyne  ; 
 Then  blyth  was  this  gud  wyfe  of  hir  liuaray. 
 
 Clariodus  Eif  Meliades,   ms. 
 Leuyr,   (p.  209.)    rather,  more   willingly.     A.    S.   leoftr. 
 B.  liever  ;  the  comparative  of  lief,  willing,  pleased,  dear. 
 A.  S.  leof.     B.  lief.     Teut.  lieb.     It  is   also  found  con* 
 tracted  ;  as, 
 
 I  lelr  thair  war  not  up  and  doun. 
 
 Lindsay* s  Interludes,  Pinker -ton 's  edit.  voL  ii.  39. 
 Leye,  n.  (p.  65.)   a  lea  ;    A.  S.   leag,  a   pasture   ground. 
 A  lea  is  a  piece  of  flat  and  arable  land,  which  has  remain- 
 ed long  untilled. 
 Leysingis,  (p.  70.)  lies.     A.  S.  leasunge  ;  hence  l<zsung&, 
 
 losingeours.      Isl.  leysung,  perfidia. 
 Lime-pottis,   (p.  64.)    vessels   full   of  quick  lime,    finely 
 powdered,  much  used  by  the   English  in   naval   engage- 
 ments*.    After  gaining  the  windward  of  their  adversaries, 
 they  were  accustomed  to  sprinkle  it  copiously   in   their 
 faces  from  the  tops  and  shrouds.    Matthew  Paris,  describ- 
 ing a  sea-fight  between  the  English  and  French,  says, 
 "  Calcem  quoque  vivam   et  in  pulverem  subtilem  re- 
 "  dactam,  in  altum  projicientes,  vento  illam  ferente, 
 u  Francorum  oculos  excaecaverunt.  "     Mat.  Paris,  50. 
 The  arrows  of  the  archers,  too,  were  sometimes  headed 
 with  phials   filled   with   quick   lime.      This  species  of 
 
 arms 
 
GLOSSARY.  34y 
 
 arms  is  mentioned  by  Lindsay  of  Piticottie,  in  the  ora- 
 tion of  the  famous  Andrew  Wood  of  Largo  to  his  men. 
 before  his  engagement  with  Stephen  Bull,  p.  no. 
 
 M  Sett  yourselves  in  order,  every  man  to  his  awne  room. 
 "  Let  the  gunneris  charge  their  avtaillziaiie,  and  the 
 "  corsbows  make  them  readie,  with  the  lyme-pottis  and 
 11  and  iire-ballis  in  our  tops  ;  and  lett  us  keip  oure  over- 
 11  lofres  weill  with  two-handit  swords,  and  every  gude 
 '*  fellow  remember  the  weiil  of  his  country;  and,  will 
 "  God,  for  my  part  I  shall  shaw  good  example.  "  In 
 this  passage,  I  have  generally  followed  a  ms.  in  th< 
 vocates  Library,  Edinburgh,  as  the  printed  copy  of  Pit- 
 scottic's  history  is  modernized,  not  only  in  the  ortho- 
 graphy, but  in  the  style  ;  obsolete  words  and  phrases  be- 
 ing very  often  exchanged  for  those  of  more  common  use, 
 to  the  great  injury  of  the  true  and  pithy  original. 
 
 Fyre-pottes    and  fre-balles,    were   composit'ons    of  the 
 same  kind.     The fyir-speir  (p.  64.)   is  the  lance  a  fji, 
 a  species  of  fu6il  united  with  a  spear,  much  used  before 
 the  invention  of  the  bayonet.      One  of  the  invention 
 which  a  patent  was  granted  in    162^    to   Drummond   of 
 Hawthorndean  by  Charles   I,   seems   to  have  been  an  im- 
 provement of  this  weapon.     "   The  second  is  1 
 "   of  spear,   with  which   any   foot  soldier, 
 "  it  as  a  pike,  may  discharge  five  01 
 "  pon  may  be  named  the  projecting  spear,  or  pike  ; 
 "  bus."      The/'/',   (p.  64.)   Fi. /.<  I]    the 
 
 spear  with  which  infantry  weie   armed,   which    VI 
 rally  about  fourteen  feet  in  length  ;   1.  I  th( 
 
 borne  by  cavalry,   which    WSJ    commonly    I 
 long  :  but  th< 
 Lyntquhit,  (p.  6c.)   a  lini 
 
 JLlSTARIS,    (p.   (>j.)    tfa 
 
3£0  GLO&SARY. 
 
 LiNCHE,    (p.  6$.)    linch-pin,  or   linspin,  for  belaying  the 
 ropes  on.       B.  leync,  fulcrum.       Teut.  gelenck,  junctura. 
 A.  S.  hlinc,  a  linch,  or  balk  of  ground. 
 Lope,    v,    to  leap  ;    B.  loopen,  to  run,    to  bound  ;    A.  S. 
 
 hleape  ;  Whence  the  English  leap  is  derived. 
 Loupe,  n.   (p.  161.)  a  loop. 
 Louyng,   (p.  285.)   praise.     Fr.  louenge. 
 Lufe,  (p.  62.)  to  loof,  or  hale  into  the  wind  ;  a  sea  phrase, 
 Suppois  the-courte  you  cheir  and  tretis, 
 And  fortune  on  you  schynis  ar\d  betis, 
 I  rid  you  than  a  war  lufe  !  war  le  ! 
 Suppois  ye  sale  betwix  twa  scheittis, 
 Utheris  has  falit  as  well  as  ye. 
 
 Quyntene  Schavu's  advyce  to  a  Courtier, 
 
 Pinkerton's  Matt  land's  Poems,  vol.i.p.  133. 
 
 Lychtlies,  v,  (p.  199.)  to  make  light  of. 
 
 Lychtnis,  *7.   (p.  104.)    the  lights,  or  lungs  ;  in  common 
 
 use  ;  B.  lichte.     The  word  likewise  signifies  cheerfulness, 
 
 joy.     Thus,  in    an  old  legend,  it  is  said,    that,  at  the 
 
 death  of  Adam, 
 
 Alle  the  liztnisse  was  aleyd  ; 
 
 Sonne  and  mone  lorn  her  lizt, 
 
 Sex  days  and  sex  nizt. — 
 
 God  that  sit  in  heuen  heyze, 
 
 Tok  Adam  soule  that  Seth  it  seize, 
 
 And  bitok  it  Seynt  Mizhel, 
 
 And  seyd  haue  loke  this  soule  wel, 
 
 And  put  it  in  sorwe  and  thesternisse, 
 
 Out  of  ioie  and  all  liztnisse, 
 
 Til  fiue  thousand  winter  ben  ago, 
 
 Tvo  hundred  and  eizte  and  tventi  mo  5 
 
 Fro  the  time  that  he  ete 
 
 Q£  that  appel  him  thouzt  so  swete, 
 
 So 
 
CLOSSARY.  35I 
 
 So  long  for  his  gilt, 
 
 In  his  ward  he  schal  be  pilt. 
 
 Legend  of  the  Death  of  Adam.    ms. 
 The  author  of  this  legend   details   some  curious    Rabbi- 
 nical fables.      Among  the  rest,  he  relates  how   Eve  first 
 discovered  that  her  progeny  were  cubject  to  sin,  and  the 
 assaults  of  "  the  fiend.  " 
 
 Adam  hadde  rewthe  of  his  wiif, 
 
 And  was  alful  of  his  liif, 
 
 And  seyd,  Eue,  lat  be  thi  fare, 
 
 And  fond  to  bring  me  out  of  care : 
 
 Take  Seth  in  thi  compeynie, 
 
 And  lok  that  thou  fast  heyze  ; 
 
 Lade  him  to  paradise  to  the  zate, 
 
 And  lat  him  abide  ther  ate ; 
 
 And  Icte  him  stonden  in  the  sizt 
 
 (Of)   God  that  is  ful  of  mizt. 
 
 For  he  hath  nouzt  trespast  so  miche, 
 
 As  haue  we  sikerliche  ; 
 
 Ther  fore  he  may  the  balder  be, 
 
 To  spike  with  ihu  crist  than  we. — 
 Eue  toke  Seth  anon, 
 
 And  dede  hem  in  the  way  to  gon  ; 
 
 Toward  paradis  anon  thai  go, 
 
 And  the  fende  that  was  her  fo, 
 
 Com  and  mett  with  hem  tvaye, 
 
 RlZt  amid  in  the  wave, 
 
 And  hot  Seth  iti  the  vi 
 
 And  afterward  a  gret  stage, 
 
 In  his  visage  it  was  yscno, 
 
 Whir  btoilen  liis  teth  kene. 
 Eve  returns  to   Adam,  and   informs   Li:u    of  the  a 
 cf  the  fiend. 
 
 2  Y  Ik 
 
352  GLOSSARY-. 
 
 He  com,  and  mett  with  ous  tvay, 
 
 As  we  zeden  in  the  way, 
 
 And  went  toward  paradis, 
 
 Thus  he  bot  him  in  the  viis. 
 She   likewise  mentions  that  it  had   been   denounced   to 
 Seth,  that  both    Adam   and  Eve  should  be  subject    to 
 death,  for  the  space  of  5001  and  25  winters. 
 
 Er  that  term  be  ago. 
 
 And  God  that  is  ful  of  mizt, 
 
 Be  into  erthe  ylizt 
 
 And  haue  ynomen  kinde  of  man, 
 
 And  bathed  in  the  flow  Jordan, 
 
 Than  sehal  Adam  5c  Eue  his  wiif, 
 
 Be  anoint  with  oyle  of  liif. 
 When  Adam  dies,  the  author  relates,  that  the  angels, 
 in  the  sight  of  Eve,  buried  the  corpses  of  Adam  and 
 Abel,  the  last  of  which  had  lain  unburied  till  the  death 
 of  Adam.  Eve  and  Seth  lament  Adam  till  "  the  seuen 
 «'  day  that  was  Sonondny,  "  when  they  were  prohibited 
 by  an  angel  to  indulge  their  sorrows  on  that  day.  Eve 
 then  commands  Seth  to  write  the  history  of  Adam. 
 
 Seth  anon  rizt  bigan, 
 
 Of  Adam  that  was  the  forme  man  ; 
 
 Alto  gider  he  wrot  hia  liif, 
 
 As  Eue  hade  biden,  Adames  wiif, 
 
 As  telleth  the  boke  that  wele  wot, 
 
 In  ston  alle  the  letters  he  urot, 
 
 For  fir  no  water  cpon  mold, 
 
 Neuer  greuen  it  no  schold. 
 
 Tho  Seth  hadde  writen  Adames  liif, 
 
 And  Eues,  that  was  Adames  wiif, 
 
 Rizt  in  thilke  selue  stede, 
 
 Ther  Adam  was  wonto  bide  his  bede  5 
 
 In  thilke  stede,  the  bok  he  leyd, 
 
 As 
 
glossary:  353 
 
 Ai'se  men  er  this  han  yseyd  ; 
 
 Ther  Adam  was  wonto  biden  his  b 
 
 And  leued  it  in  thilke  stede. 
 
 And  ther  it  lay  alle  Noes  fiodc 
 
 And  no  hadde  nouzt  bot  gode  j 
 
 Long  after  Noes  rlod  was  go 
 
 Salamon  die  king  com  tho, 
 
 That  was  air  of  dauid  lond 
 
 And  Adames  liif  ther  he  fond  ; 
 
 And  al  in  ston  writen  it  was, 
 
 And  damaghed  non  letter  ther  nas  : — 
 
 For  alle  that  euer  Salamon  couthe 
 
 Thinke  in  hert  or  speke  with  mouthe, 
 
 On  word  he  no  couthe  wite 
 
 Of  alle  that  euer  was  ther  write  ; 
 
 He  no  couthe  oword  understond 
 
 That  Scth  hadde  write  wich  his  hond. 
 
 •Legend  of  the  Death  of  Adam,   ms. 
 Solomon  entreats   "    the   king    of  paradys  "    to    inform 
 him  of  the  contents  of  the  book  :   An  angel  appear,  for 
 his  instruction  :   and  Solomon  build:,   L.s   temple   on 
 place  where  Adam  told  his  beads. 
 
 r,  the   sky.     "  If  the  lift   fall,  we'll   a'  gather  lave- 
 "   rocks  ;  "    a    proverb  i:en    a    person 
 
 improbalk    expectations.       A.  S.    1: ft.       Al.  lufi.       D. 
 J  lift.       I  si.  loft. 
 
 Mac r i.at,   (p.  234.)  defiled  ;  »..;. u.'atus. 
 IT,   r..  (p.  34.)    IV.  malt  ale  ntt  ill 
 
 Chaucen 
 Malis,  (j*.  191.)  mailings;   t  term  ia  common  use,  signi- 
 
 \.  :'-. 
 A  coiu's  mail,  the  rent  o(  . 
 
 2    1 
 
356  GLOSSARY. 
 
 The  swerf,  and  the  sweiting,  with  sounding  to  swclt  ; 
 The  weam-ill,  the  wild-live,  the  vomit,  the  vees  ; 
 The  mair  and  the  migrame,  with  meaths  in  the  melt ; 
 The  warbles,  and  the  wood-worm,  whereof  dog  dies  ; 
 The  teasick,  the  tooth-aik,  the  titts  and  the  tirles. 
 The  painful  poplesie,  and  pest  ; 
 The  rot,  the  roup,  and  the  auld  rest  ; 
 With  parlesse,  and  plurisie  opprest, 
 And  nip'd  with  the  nirles. 
 
 Montgomery,  ap.  IV at s on* s  Collect,  of  Poems, 
 vol.  iii.  p.  13. 
 Some  of  the    diseases  here  particularized,  occur   in   the 
 popular  song,   "   The  auld  man's  mare's  deid,  "    which  is 
 still  preserved  in  tradition. 
 Menteme,  v,  (p.  4S.)    to  maintain.      Meritem  is  the    ori- 
 ginal form  of  the  word  ;  but  the   other  is   of  more   fre- 
 quent use,  though  it  probably  originated  in  the  accommo- 
 dation of  the  orthography  to  the  rhyme. 
 Mirknes,  ;;.  (p.  6$*)  darkness.       Isl.  myrk,  myrker.      Sw. 
 
 mark* 
 Mister,  (p.  55.)  and  MiSterful,  (p.  194.)  need,  needy. 
 Fr.  meatier,  need.      M.  Goth.  ??iissaf  want,  defect. 
 
 Thair  cum  the  curllew  a  dark,  and  that  a  cunand, 
 
 Chargit  as  chanceilare  ; 
 
 For  he  could  wryte  wonderfare, 
 
 With  his  neb  for  mystar, 
 
 Upon  the  sea  6and. 
 
 Holland's  Hculaie,  ap.  Pir.k.  Anc.  pGems, 
 tool.  in.  p.  155. 
 Mist'ir,  in  Chaucer,  likewise  denotes  a   trade,  according 
 to  the  modern  meaning  of  Fr.  metier  ;   Hisp.  menestcr. 
 Mo,  v.  (p.  59.)    an  imitative  word,  expressing  the  cry  of  a 
 
 calf;  sometimes  also  applied  to  that  of  a  cow. 
 Month,  «.   (p.  99.)  mount. 
 
 Mo  NY, 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Mony,  (p.  63.)   ma  -:v  pricts  is  a  popular  phrase 
 
 for  a  great  price.      The  kye  brought  r.  *  fair y 
 
 t.  e.  they  sold  d-. 
 
 Mude,    (p.  63.)     mood,    temper,    disposition,    ener 
 mind.     A.  S.  mod.     Ger.  mat. 
 
 Muguart,   (p.  104.)   mugwort. 
 
 IMuis,  (p.  175.)  Fr,  viuids  5:  muiJ,  from  L.  mcdius : 
 Bufhe's.  The  word  is  in  common  use  for  a  meaiwre,  as 
 well  as  for  a  heap,  the  common  signification  of  the  A.  S. 
 
 MuRDtESAfcis,  (0.64.)  cannon  of  large  size.  Coriat,  de- 
 scribing the  cannon  in  the  arsenal  (oi  ..•  of  Bur- 
 gundy) at  Zurich,  Among  them  te  pat- 
 "  iii  I  oth  ends  thereof  were  so 
 "  exceeding  wide,  that  a  very  corpulent  man  might  easi- 
 "  ly  enter  the  same.  "  The  na  also  applk 
 the  employed  in  luing  from  th< 
 towels  during  a  siege.  (Vid.  Sakyr.)  I  jnified 
 Murderers,   (p.  248.) 
 
 Miltip'  .123.)  number,  q 
 
 Mysken,  v,   (p.  201.)  to  mistake.     A.  S.  ;  used 
 
 as  a  negati*.  - 
 
 Nauen,  n.  (p.  141.)   nj 
 ion; 
 
 Nechvr,   v.  (p.  5^;.  'ic  cry 
 
 I  ;   in  common 
 «<    1  . 
 Nee,  v.  (p.  59.)  1 
 ■ 
 pha 
 
 ,   though  «  •.     <  :  th(  ..xod,  and 
 
 the  1 
 
 bust 
 
358  GLOSSARY. 
 
 bustion  ;  also  the  fire   produced  by  the  friction   of  two 
 pieces  of   wood  ;    also   the  phosphoric   light   of   rotten 
 wood. 
 Neiris,    (p.  104.)  reins.     B.  nieren.     3 wed.  tiiurar.     The 
 
 nerys  of  a  boar. 
 Neuo,  n.  (p.  118.)  nephew. 
 
 Neurist,  pret.  (p.  227.)  nourished.      Fr.  nourrir. 
 Nok,  n.  (p.  64.)  nook  or  corner. 
 Northin,  adj.  (p.  95.)  northerly. 
 Nouvelles,  (p.  185.)  Fr.  news. 
 
 During  that  nicht  thair  was  nocht  ellis, 
 Bot  for  to  heir  of  his  noueUls. 
 
 Lindesay's  historic  of  Squyer  Meldrum. 
 
 Obfusquis,  v.  (p.  87.)  darkens. 
 
 Olimp,  n.  (p.  49.)  Olympus;  always  used,  in  the  classical 
 
 sense,   to  signify  heaven. 
 Ondantit,  (p.  199.)  untamed,  rude. 
 Onmauen,  adj.  (p.  103.)  unmown. 
 Onremedabil,  adj.   (p.  1.)   irremediable,  or  incapable  of 
 
 being  remedied. 
 Or,  prep.  (p.  23.)  before.  A.  S.  ar,  changed  into  or  by 
 gross  pronunciation,  especially  in  the  north  of  England, 
 and  in  Scotland. 
 Oszil,  (p.  60.)  the  ouzle,  or  thrush  ;  also  the  blackbird. 
 A.  S.  osle.  Sometimes  the  ouzle,  merle  and  mavis,  are 
 all  distinguished  from  each  other  ;  thus, 
 
 Syne,  at  the  middis  of  the  meit,  income  the  menstraili?, 
 
 The  maviss  and  the  merle  singis, 
 
 Osillis  and  stirlingis, 
 
 The  blyth  lark  that  begynis, 
 
 And  the  nychtingallis. 
 
 The  Hculate,  ap.  Pink.  Scot.  Poems, 
 vol.  iii.  177.      1792. 
 
 OULT* 
 
GLOSSARY.  359 
 
 Oultraige,  n.  (p.. 291.)   Fr.   oultrage  ;   It.   oltraggio  ;  an 
 
 outrage.     Whence  oultragcus,  (p.  1  24.)  outrageous. 
 Outfang,  (p.  164.)  vid.  Infang, 
 Oiee,  (p.  60.)  the  small  hedge  sparrow. 
 
 The  editor  has  heard  many  rhymes  repeated  among  the 
 peasants  concerning  the  loves  of  the  wren  and  oxee,  the 
 smallest  birds  in  Scotland.  Thus,  in  the  verses  entitled 
 "  Lennox's  Love  to  Blantyre,  "  the  following  lines,  in 
 the  conversation  of  Robin  Red-breast  and  the  Wren,  are 
 generally  repeated  thus — 
 
 Where's  the  ring  that  I  gae  thee, 
 
 Of  yellow  gold  sae  fyne  ? 
 I  gae't  to  my  love  oxee, 
 A  true  sweetheart  o'  mine. 
 This  is  more  characteristic  than  the  common  reading, 
 
 I  gae't  to  a  6odger, 
 which  occurs  in  Herd's  ms.  and  the  printed  editions. 
 
 Paht,  n.  (p.  11 1.)  path. 
 
 Partan,  (p.  249.)  a  crab.     The  word  is  of  common  use, 
 and  likewise  occurs  in  ancient  songs ;  as, 
 Will  ye  gang  to  Fife,  lassie  ? 
 Will  ye  gang  to  Fife,  lassie  ? 
 There  yt'se  get  partan-taes  to  pike, 
 And  ye  sail  be  my  wife,  lassie. 
 
 rragmttli  :n  Herd's  MS. 
 Pastance,  n.  (p.  100.)  pastime. 
 
 Si  stil  amang  those  herbis  amiabill 
 
 I  did  remaine  ane  space,  for  my  pastance. 
 
 •  say's  Complaint  cf  t 
 Thus  pate  thay  ofe  the  time  with  t 
 With  mirthful  breibts  bathit  in  plJasn: 
 
 Pasuolan,  c.  (p.  64.)  Fr.  /  .  species  of 
 
 artillery,  mentioned  by  EUbd 
 
3^0  GLOSSARY. 
 
 "  mis  le  grand  escurier  Touquedillon  :  en  laquelle  furen* 
 u  contees  neuf  cent  quatorze  grosses  pieces  de  bronze,  en 
 "  canons,  double  canons,  baselics,  serpentines,  coulev- 
 u  rines,  bombardes,  faucons,  passevolans,  spiroles,  et  autres 
 "  pieces."     Rabelais,  /.  i»  c.  26. 
 
 Paveis,  ti.  (p.  64.)  Fr.  pavohesy  or  pavis  ours  ;  large  shields^ 
 behind  which  archers  were  stationed.  They  were  not  on- 
 ly employed  in  sieges,  but  in  naval  engagements.  The 
 tops  of  the  vessels  were  often  covered  by  them,  to  pro- 
 tect the  arquebusiers  and  archers.  In  Rhymer's  Fcedera, 
 vol.  viii.  p.  447,  occurs  an  order  for  the  delivery  of  cer- 
 tain military  stores  to  Henry  Loveney,  treasurer  of  Queen 
 Philippa,  Queen  of  Sweden,  Denmark,  and  Norway,  in 
 which,  among  the  rest,  are  mentioned  40  pavys,  pro 
 stufFura  navis. 
 
 Pauuan,  (p.  102.)  Fr.  pavane ;  an  old  Spanish  dance. 
 The  following  account  of  it  is  given  by  Richelet  :  "  La 
 "  pavane  est  un  chant  a  deux  terns  :  on  la  devise  en 
 "  grande  et  en  petite  ;  cdle  ci  n'a  que  douze  me- 
 "  sures  en  tout,  de  quatre  en  quatre  mesures.  II 
 "  faut  qu  5il  y  ait  un  repos  et  une  cadence.  La  grande 
 "  a  trois  parties,  qui  se  terminent  par  des  cadences  dif- 
 "  ferentes  ;  la  seconde  partie  doit  avoir  deux  mesures  de 
 "  plus  que  la  premiere,  et  doit  etre  plus  gaye ;  la  troi- 
 "  sieme  doit  avoir  deux  mesures  de  plus  que  la  seconde, 
 «'  et  encore  plus  de  gayete.  Cette  dar.se  n'est  plus  en  u- 
 "  sage ;  elle  est  trop  serieuse  pour  plaire  a  la  vivacite  de 
 "  jeunes  gens  :  les  contre  danses  ou  Ton  ne  garde  ni  me- 
 "  sure  ni  cadence  ni  meme  de  bienseance,  sont  plus  de 
 "  leur  gout.  "  The  name  was  introduced  with  the  dance, 
 from  France  into  Scotland,  and  is  often  mentioned  ;  as, 
 Cum  on,  Syr  Flattery  ;  be  the  mess, 
 We  sail  leir  you  to  daunce, 
 
 Within 
 
GLOSSARY.  '      3^1 
 
 Within  ane  bonny  littill  space, 
 Ane  new  paven  of  Fraunce. 
 
 Lindsay's  Interludes,   ap.  Pink.  Scot.  Pi 
 vol.  ii.  183.      1792. 
 The  words  pavie  and  paw  seem  to  be  contractions  of 
 technical  name.     "   To  play  sic  a  pavie,   or  /  . 
 common  expression  in  the  south  of  Scotland.     In  BlrrelPs 
 Diarey,  apud  DalyeWs   Fragments,  p.  47,   the   foil 
 passage  occurs  :  "  The  10  of  Julii,  ane  man,  sum. 
 *'  himajuglar,  playit  sic  sowple  tricks  up^n    ane 
 "  qik  wes    festinit   betwix    the  top   of  St   Geili's   Kirk 
 u  stciple  and  ane  stair  beneathe   the   crosse,  cailit  | 
 "  close  heid,  the  lyk  was  nevir   sene   in  yis   countrie,  as 
 "  he  raid  doune  the  tow,  and  playit  sa  maney  pavies  on 
 "  it.  "     In  the  ballad  of  Gillicrankie — 
 
 The  durk  and  door  made  their  last  hour, 
 
 And  prov'd  their  final  fa',  man  ; 
 They  thought  the  devil  had  been  there, 
 That  play'd  them  sic  a  />jw  than. 
 Perduraihl,  adj.  (p.  137.)  lasting. 
 
 >   parish,   (p.  261.)  parish.      Fr.  paroisse. 
 Pfpulus,  adj.  (p.  31.)  populous. 
 
 v.  (p.  60.)  an  imitative  won],  exprc  iio  j  the  ] 
 tive  cry  of  young  birds.      I  I. 
 
 y  respects,   to  the  tale  ot    the  "  Grim 
 ite  Woman  "  of  Mr  Lewia,  in  which  the  spirit  of  a 
 child,   in  the  form  of  a  bird,   is    1 
 following  vtrse  to  its  father  : 
 - — P. 
 
 My  miuny  me  il( 
 The  void  frequently  occui 
 
 Wc  sail  gar  chekinnii  cl 
 
 2  '/ 
 
3^2  GLOSSARY. 
 
 BIrdis,  with  mony  pieteous/^w, 
 EfFeritlie  in  the  ayr  thay  flew, 
 Sa  lang  as  thay  had  strenth  to  flee, 
 Syne  swatterit  doun  into  the  see. 
 
 Lyndsay's  Monarchic ;  p.  40.      Edln.  1592. 
 It  is  sometimes  applied  to  the  shrill  cry  of  birds  of  prey ; 
 Sing  like  the  merle,  and  craw  like  the  cok  ; 
 Peiv  like  ane  gled,  and  chant  like  the  lauerok. 
 Lindsay's  Complaint  of  the  Papingo,  p.  187. 
 1592. 
 Piett,   (p.  60.)  a  magpie;   according  to  popular  supersti- 
 tion, a  bird   of  unlucky   omen.      Many  an   old  woman 
 would  more  willingly  see  the  devil,  who   bodes   no   more 
 ill  luck  than  he  brings,  than  a  magpie  perching  on  a  neigh- 
 bouring tree. 
 Pissance,  n.  (p.  11.)  Fr.  puissance  ;  power. 
 Plasmatour,  //.  (p.  41,  194.)  former,  maker,  crxao-^aT^. 
 Thir  monarcheis,  I  understand, 
 Preordinat  war  be  the  command 
 Of  God,  the  Plasmatour  of  all, 
 For  to  dounthring,  and  to  mak  thrall. 
 
 Lindsay,  p.  106.  1 592. 
 Plat,  adj.  (p.  103,  109.)  flat  ;  to  fall  plat.  B.  plat,  broad, 
 flat  ;  as  platte  hand,  the  open  hand.  It  is  used  by  Chau- 
 cer ;  and  is  frequent  in  popular  language  ;  as,  plat  foot, 
 or,  as  it  is  often  pronounced,  platch  foot,  a  foot  that  has 
 no  curvature  in  the  sole.  Hence,  too^  the  adverb  aplat  ; 
 as, 
 
 Colocamluus,   an  hoge  man, 
 Smot  so  to  Leodegan, 
 That  he  aplat  fel  of  his  stede, 
 Bothe  mouthe  and  nose  gan  blede. 
 
 Arthour  6  Merlin,   MS. 
 Pose,  n.  (p.  138.)  a  secret  treasure.     Prov.   "  You  have 
 
 taken 
 
GLOSSARY.  363 
 
 taken  your  mark  by  the  moon,  like  the  man  who  hid   his 
 pose  in  the  ploughed  land."     A.  S.  pusa,  a  pouch,  a  purse. 
 Se  tbearfa  hearth  amptige  pusan.      Fr.  pose,  a  deposit. 
 Pokkis,  n.   (p.  64.)  bags.     A.  S.  poaa,  pocbca,  &  poba. 
 Popil,  n.  (p.  88.)   poplar. 
 Pourbossa,  (p.  62.)  a  sea  cheer. 
 Potent,  n.    (p.  254.  286.)    a   crutch,  a   walking  staff,  a 
 
 stake.      Fr.  pounce,  a  staff,  a  gibbet. 
 Preffer,  v.  (p.  102.  291.)  to  exceed,  to  excel.     L.  prg. 
 
 fero. 
 Prochane,  adj.   (p.  5.)   near,  neighbouring.     Fr.  prochain, 
 Prodig,  adj.    (p.  221.)  prodigal. 
 Pulcis,  v.  (p.  217  )   impels.      L,  pulso. 
 Puldir,  //.  (p.  31.  65.)   powder,  dust.     Fr. pouldrc, 
 Pulpela,   (p.  62.)  a  sea  cheer;  quas.  pull  pull 
 Pund,  i'.  5c  Pundfald,  n.    (p.  154.)   to  seize  cattle  tres- 
 passing on  a  person's  ground,  and  shut  them  up  in  a  fold  ; 
 hence  termed  pundfald.     A.  S.  pjndan. 
 
 The  most  curious  instance  of  "  punding  "   that  1  have 
 found,  is  the  following  : 
 
 Down  in  ane  midow,  besyde  ane  busk  of  mynt, 
 
 I  locht  myself,  and  1  was  icvin  zeir  t 
 
 Zit  in  ane  mist  I  land  me  on  ye  mornc, 
 
 1  hard  ane  pundler  blaw  ane  elrich  borne  ; 
 
 And  syn  mc  ii»  ar.e  midv 
 
 I  saw  thee  quhyte  quhailis  :  be  6cne. 
 
 Tbair  tedderia  wei  of  grene  gerthopp< 
 
 Off  mige  schankis  baith  dene  quhyte  and  hit  ; 
 
 Thair  teddcrifl  ua  , 
 
 Wl  silkin  sehakill: 
 
 This  puiidh r  \\w\>  : 
 
 Thir  quliailis  tlue  upoun  hi 
 
 He  had  u  e  cloik,  ireill  n  t, 
 
 Oil'  ganand  giaith  of"  gudt 
 
364  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Ane  cleirly  coit  maid  in  courtly  wyiss 
 Of  emmet  skinnis  w  mony  sketh  and  plyiss; 
 Ane  pair  of  hoiss  maid  of  ane  auld  myll  hopper, 
 Ane  pair  of  courtly  schone  of  gude  reid  copper, 
 Ane  heklit  hude  maid  of  the  wyld  wode  sege, 
 Trest  vveill  this  pundlar  tho*  him  no  manis  pege  ; — 
 He  bare  ane  club  maid  mony  ane  carle  coy, 
 Maid  of  ane  auld  burd  of  the  ark  of  Noy. 
 He  draif  thir  thre  quhailis  into  ane  lie  ; 
 Ane  him  swelleit,  and  bair  him  to  the  sie, 
 And  thair  he  levit  on  lempettis  in  hir  wame, 
 Quhill  harvist  tyme  yat  hirdis  draif  thame  hame. 
 LichtourCs  Dremet  Bannatyne  MS. 
 Punirite,   (p.  221.)  penury. 
 
 Quha,  (p.  170.}  who.     A.  S.  h<wa. 
 
 Quaik,  v.    (p.  60.)    the   cry  of   the  duck.       B.  quad. 
 
 Isl.  kuak. 
 Quhap,  n.  (p.  60.)  the  curlew. 
 
 Quhaye,  (p.  66.)  whey.  Flot  quhaye,  a  common  dish  in 
 all  the  pastoral  districts  of  Scotland,  formed  by  boiling 
 the  whey  after  it  is  expreifed  from  the  cheese  curd?,  with 
 a  little  meal  and  milk,  when  a  species  of  very  soft  curd 
 floats  at  the  top.  A.  S.  hivag  ;  whence  whig,  the  sour 
 part  of  cream,  which  spontaneously  separates  from  the 
 rest ;  the  thin  part  of  a  liquid  mixture. 
 Quhilk,  (p.  60.)  an  imitative  word,  expressing  the  short 
 
 cry  of  a  gosling,  or  young  goose. 
 Quhryne,  v.  (p.  59.)  an   imitative   word,  expressing  the 
 cry  of  swine. 
 
 They  maid  it  like  a  scraped  swine, 
 
 ^.nd  as  they  cow'd,  they  made  it  Vfhryne, 
 
 Montgomery's  Flyting,  op.  V/atson's  Collect,  of 
 Scctish  Poems,  vol.  tit,  p.  .10. 
 
 Qu095 
 
GLOSSARY.  365 
 
 Quod,  (p.  166.)  quoth  ;  A.  S.  cnuoath.     The  Saxon  cha- 
 racter which  expresses  tb,  is  often  confounded  with  d  in 
 mss.  and  in  books  printed  in  the  earliest  periods  of  typo- 
 graphy. 
 Ra,  n.   (p.  62.)  the  sail-yard.     B.  ree.     Isl.  raa. 
 Raibandis,   (p.  62.)  the  robbins  (i.  e.  ra  bands)  or  small 
 lines  which  fasten  the  sail  to  the  yard,  being  reeved  into 
 the  eykt   holes  in  the    sail   under  the  head-rope.     The 
 phrase,  "  cutting  the  raibandis,  "  alludes   to  a  mode  of 
 furling  the  sails  to  the  yards,  similar  to  that  still  practis- 
 ed in  the  Mediterranean,  where  bands  of  rushes  and  long 
 grass  are  employed,  which  are  cut  or  torn  when  the  sails 
 are  unfurled. 
 Rammaschc,  adj.  (p.  59.)  collected.     Fr.  ramasse. 
 Ram mel,  adj.  (p.  57.)  branchy.      Fr.  rameux. 
 Raif,  n.  &  v.  (p.  264.)   to  rob  ;  also  robbery,  reif.    A.S. 
 
 reafian,  to  rob  :  hence,  reft,  plundered,  bereaved. 
 Raschis,  n.   (p.  65,)    rushes.     A.  S.  resc  ;  hence,  a  rusk 
 
 cap,  a  cap  of  rushes  :  a  phrase  still  of  common  use. 
 Rasche,  v.    (p.  103.  193.)  to  make  any  forcible  exertion, 
 to  pull,  to  break.      Fr.  arrachcr.     Teut.  crhaschen,  "  to 
 rashe  through  a  darg,  "  to  perform  a  day's  work  hastily. 
 Rauisand,  part.  (p.  3.)  ravening  ;  quas.  ravishing. 
 Rede  schanke,  (p.  60.)  the  fieldfare,  pronounced  ftltifirc ; 
 from  which  name  probably  originated  the   nursery  story 
 of  the  fieldfare  burning  its  feet  when  it  wished  to  domes- 
 ticate with  men  like  the  robin-redbreast. 
 Reprfme,  ik  (p.  242.)  repress. 
 
 IT/,  (p.  25.  31.  107.)  riven;  from  13.  ruvt,    [•!« 
 ryfa. 
 Riik,  n.  (p.  65.)    smoke.     A.S.  rec.     B.  rou:l.     1 
 
 rauc. 
 Renzi,  v.  (p.  63.)   to  rein.      When  used  substantively,  it 
 signifies  the  rein  of  a  bridle.      Fr.  uncs  or  resnes. 
 
3<S6  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Reprocha,  n.  (p.  198.)  a  reproach.     Fr.  reprochc. 
 Reu,  (p.  125.)  the  herb  rue. 
 
 Reu,  11.  a  line,  a  row  ;  "  the  plane  reu  of  a  window,  "  the 
 wooden  board  or  level  on  which  it  rests  ;  "  window  sole," 
 in  the  modern  phrase,  "  on  a  rew,  "  Chaucer  in  Alene  ; 
 "  all  by  rew,  "  all  in  a  row  : — and  hence 
 Reuis,  n.   (p.  118.)  streets. 
 Reterit,  adj.  retired. 
 Reyde,  adj.  (p.  98.)  red. 
 Reyme,  (p.  66.)  cream.     A.  S.  ream.     Isl.  riomc- 
 
 The  seriaunce  dede  as  he  he  bade, 
 
 With  the  may  thai  gan  striue  ; 
 
 With  swepes,  and  with  scourges, 
 
 Bothe  man  and  wiue  : 
 
 The  blod  ran  of  hir  flesche, 
 
 As  water  doth  fram  cliue, 
 
 Til  thai  wende  al  same, 
 
 The  maiden  wer  oliue. 
 
 "  Blessed  be  mi  lord, 
 That  was  born  in  bedlem, 
 Of  that  swete  maiden, 
 Brizt  so  ani  lem  ; 
 Thou  do  as  the  teches, 
 Satanas  thin  em  : 
 Methenke  this  paines  swetter 
 Than  ani  milkes  rem.  " 
 
 Legend  of  St  Mergrete,  M  s . 
 Roy,  (p.  99.)  a  king.     Fr.  rot.     The  word  was  in  com- 
 mon use  in  Scotland  till  a  late  period. 
 
 Among  thy  angellis  resaue  her  i  n  thy  joy, 
 As  thou  that  art  of  mercie  prince  and  roy. 
 
 Clariodus  &  Meliades,   ms. 
 
 The 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 The  Gaelic  re    seems  to   be  of  French  origin,  and 
 sometimes  used   by  the  Lowlanders.     It  occurs  in  a  satiri- 
 cal poem  of  the  seventeenth  century,  which  c\] 
 opinion    of  the   Scotish   Highlanders  concerning  the  ad- 
 ministration of  Cromwell,  ai  d  \>  preserved  in  Constable's 
 ms.  deposited   lately   in   the   Advocates  Library,    ] 
 burgh. 
 
 Te  coven  welt  tat  gramagh  ting 
 
 Gar  brak  hem's  word,  gar  de  hem's  keng, 
 
 Gar  paye  hem's  sesse,  or  tak  hem's  (geers), 
 
 Vel  no  dee  'at  Del  come  de  leers  ; 
 
 Vd  bid  a  file  amang  te  crow 
 
 Vel  scor  te  sword,  and  wiske  te  bowes ; 
 
 And  fen  her  nen  sel  se  te  re, 
 
 Te  Dd  may  car  fa  gromaghee. 
 
 The  Higblan  ,    *:s. 
 
 The  author  seems  to  have  intended  a  pun   upon   Crom- 
 ll'a  name,  which  he  affects  to  confound  with  the  Gaelic 
 b,  ugly. 
 Romdellis,   (p.  64.)     Fr   rt  Small  round  tr- 
 
 ee:: by  pikemen. 
 
 JIopki.n,  v.  (p.  60.)   any  hoai  .  How. 
 
 1:>1.  I 
 
 The  '  quhen  be  liar  I 
 
 Sa  did  the  gled  with  m«  w — 
 
 lin  ; 
 ■ 
 
 rut  III  in  t] 
 in  the  thr< 
 
 /;.  (p.  59.  154.) 
 
 II. 
 
 3  ^ 
 
368  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Rusche,  n.  (p.  60.)  a  rushing.  B.  rvyschen,  to  rush. 
 A  rush  of  water ,  and  a  rush  of  slush  in  a  thanv,  are  com- 
 mon expressions  for  a  torrent  of  water,  a  torrent  of  half 
 
 .  melted  snow. 
 
 Rym,  (p.  91.)  hoar  frost.  A.  S.  hrim.  Jsl.  hriim.  D. 
 r't'im.  B.  rum.  It. is  sometimes  denominated  cranreuch, 
 and  girding  ;  and  the  ground  is  said  to  girsle,  when  it  is 
 crisped  with  hoar  frost. 
 
 Saikyrs  and  half-saikyrs,  (p.  64.)  a  Fpccies  of  cannon, 
 smaller  than  a  demi-culverine,  much  employed  in  sieges. 
 Like  the  faucon,  &c.  they  derived  their  name  from  a  spe- 
 cies of  hawrk.  In  the  list  of  the  several  sorts  of  hawks 
 allowed  to  be  used  by  different  degrees  of  people,  extract- 
 ed by  Strutt  from  a  MS.  on  falconry  in  the  Harleian 
 Library,  a  sakyr  and  a  sakyret  are  allowed  to  a  knyhgt. 
 Stnitt's  Horda  Angel  Cynnan,  vol.  iii.  125. 
 <;  And  in  riding,  they  cast  of  haukes,  called  sakers,  to 
 "  the  kytes,  which  made  them  greate  sporte.  " 
 
 Bull's  Chronicle;  f A.  207. 
 The  saker  is  frequently  mentioned  in  history.  Stowe  re- 
 lates, that  in  1543,  l^e  ^-'WS  of  England  employed  two 
 aliens  as  his  gun-founders  ;  and  adds,  concerning  one  of 
 them — "  The  said  Peter  Bawd,  by  himself,  in  the  first 
 <c  year  of  Edw.  VI,  did  also  make  certai.  :e   of 
 
 li  cast  yron,  of  diiferent  sorts  and  forms  ;  as  fawconets, 
 **  falcons,  minions,  sakers,  Si  other  pieces:"  Stcwc's 
 Chronicle,  p.  584.  They  are  also  mentioned  in  a  certifi- 
 cate of  the  decays  of  the  castle,  town,  and  citadel  of 
 Carlisle,  12th  June  1563,  cited  in  Nicolson  and  Burn's 
 history  of  Westmoreland  and  Cumberland,  vol.  li.  p.  233. 
 "  In  the  castle — sagars  2  ;  fav/cons  4,  all  dismounted  ; 
 "  fawconets  2,  whereof  one  not  good  ;  one  little  pot- 
 V  gun  of  brass  j  demibombarders  2  ;  basics,  double  and 
 
 "  singfc, 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 :igle,  t2,  lacking  furniture;  half  staggs  39,  not  ser- 
 iccable  ;   bows  of  ewe,  none  ;   arrows,  six  score  sheafs, 
 **   in  decay  ;   moris-pikes    30,   not   good  ;  sagar   shot   of 
 u  iron  58  ;  sagar  shot  1  In  the  chad. I — sagar x 
 
 11  2  ;  fawcons4,  of  brass,  dismounted  ;   double  bas:.. 
 11  single  basses  8  ;  small   serpentines  2  ;  fowlers  2  ;  mur- 
 "  derert  2,  ail  unfurnished  ;  harquebusses  9,  not  service- 
 "  able;  half  haggs  14,  decayed  and  past  6ervi, 
 Sakkitt,  (p.  216.)  a  little  wallet  or  bag;  diminutive  from 
 
 sack, 
 Salut,  (p.  112,  1S0.)  health,  safety.  L.  salus.  Fr. 
 salut.  Port  salut,  a  proverbial  phrase  for  good  fortune, 
 occurs  in  Hzcckve's  Poems,  p.  61,  mid,  according  to  the 
 glossarist,  in  the  translation  of  Cicero  de  senectute,  print- 
 ed by  Caxton. 
 Sarabossa,  (p.  62.)  a  6ea  cheer.     5Vr  the  bus  a' ;    i.  c. 
 
 ocrve  the  otock. 
 Seeyburde,   (p.  141  )  ship-board  ;    /.  e.  board  at  sea.     D. 
 /,   a  bhip.      Sey-nid  occurs  (p.  102.)  ;    and  see  gt 
 torn  of  the  sea,  a  phrase  of  similar  formation,  is  found 
 ,:'s  Pocms%  p.  45. 
 Thai  sail  in  the  see  grondc% 
 Fitches  to  fede. 
 In  the  legend    of  Sir   Owain,   we   find    the  phrasr 
 grou.. 
 
 >  wende  the  knizt  he  hadde  y  fou:. 
 est  pit  in  belle  pn  • 
 S  egg  is,  n.    (p.  65 ,  104.)  sci!   e ;  A.   S«    t       .    mentioned 
 as  a  specific  for  ivimeru 
 
 ill  thin  t!,  ;  curious  receipt,    1 
 
 Gibelhoucri  p.  215.  .-  ■• 
 u  discide  of  I 
 
 44  which  droppcth   thereout,  three  dropj 
 11  ar;d  it  will 
 
37°  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Selcht,  (p.  94.)  a  seal,  or  sea-calf.    This  is  still  the  pronun- 
 ciation of  the  fishermen  on  the  coast  of  Fife.     A.  S.  seole* 
 Seremons,  n.  (p.  11.)  ceremonies.      Fr.  ceremonie, 
 Seyndil,  (p.  203.)  A.  S.  syndle  ;  seldom. 
 Schank,  (p.  62.)  the  bone  of  the  leg  ;  the  trunk'of  a  tree  ; 
 the  stalk  of  an  herb  ;  the  handle  of  an  instrument.     A.  S. 
 sceatic  &  scanca.     Dan.  skenckel.      Sw.  skank. 
 Scisma,  (p.  250.)  a  schism.     L.  schisma.     Gr.  cxt<rJ*a* 
 Siege,  n.   Fr.  siege  ;  a  seat,  an  habitation.     The  term  was 
 
 afterwards  appropriated  to  an  episcopal  seat  ;  a  see. 
 Siecle,  n.  (p.  5.)  Fr.  seek  ;  an  age,  or  century. 
 Sing,  ?i.  (p.  77.)  sign. 
 
 Skail,  (p.  41.)  to  scatter  or  shed  ;  applied   equally   to  li- 
 quids and  dry  substances.      Isl.  ski/ia. 
 Skaytht,  n.  (p.  93.)  damage.     A.  S.  scathe.     Isl.  shade. 
 Skonnis,  (p.  66.)  cakes  of  wheat  or  rye.     The  term  is 
 never  applied  to  oats.    A  skone  more  resembles  a  bannock 
 than  a  cake. 
 
 The  floure  skonnys  war  set  in  by  and  by, 
 With  other  meissis  sic  as  was  reddy. 
 
 G.  Douglas's  Virgil,  p.  2c8. 
 Skyrl,  v.  (p.  61.)  to  scream  with  a  shrill  voice. 
 Sklaue,   (p.  1 48.)  a  slave  ;   Fr.  es clave. 
 Scroggis,  (p.  31.)  stunted  trees,   shrubs.     A.  S.  Hi 
 Fyue  fouliis  I  chaist  out  throw  ane  scrog, 
 Quhairfoir  thair  motheris  did  me  warie ; 
 For  thay  war  drownit  all  in  ane  bog. 
 
 Lyndesay's  Complaint  of  Bagsche  the  Kingis 
 Hound j  p.  300.  1592. 
 The  word  occurs  in  a  fragment,  which  I  have  heard  re- 
 peated, and  which  seems  to  be  the  original  tale  of  John 
 Thomson's  man,  alluded  to  in  many  poems  ;  as  in  Dun- 
 bar's prayer  "  that  the  king  war  Johne  Thomsoun's 
 "  man. "     Colville's  Scotish  Hudibras : 
 
 So 
 
GLOSSARY.  37I 
 
 So  the  imperious  Roxalan 
 
 Made  the  great  Turk  Johne  Thomson's  man. 
 Also  in  the  Lintoun  address  to  the  Prince  of  Orange,  by 
 Alexander   Pennecuik  ;    Watson's  Collection   of 
 vol.  i.  p.  17.      1709. 
 
 Our  Lintoun  wives  still  blow  the  coal, 
 
 And  no  man  here,  as  well  we  ken, 
 
 Would  have  us  all  John  Thomson's  men. 
 
 Sir,  it  was  said,  ere  we  was  born, 
 
 Who  blows  best,  bear  aivay  the  I::. 
 
 And  he  that  lives,  and  preaches  best, 
 
 Should  win  the  pulpit  from  the  rest. 
 The  following  fragment,  relating  to  the,  same  subjc 
 taken  from  a   medley  in  Constable's  M3.  Cantus, p.r.es  J. 
 G.  Dalyell,  Esq.  advocate,  probably  transcribed  irom  the 
 first  edition  of  the  Aberdeen  Cantus. 
 
 Come  o're  the  fire,  Ruffie,   come  o're  the  fire,  Sfl 
 Come  o're  the  fire,  Cuffie,  silly  goodman  : 
 Gae  keep  the  sheep,  Hoggie,  gae  ly  at  I  Jgg'e; 
 
 Gae  dight  the  killogie,   Johne  Thorns  ■   ' 
 As  the  traditionary  fragment  is  curious,  I  bltall  I 
 tcribe  all  the  verses  that  I  have  been  able  lately  to  recover  ; 
 though  I  have  heard  the  whole  song  wli 
 
 O  cam  ye  in  by  the  House  o'  R 
 
 Or  cam  ye  there  away  ? 
 
 Or  have  seen  Johne  Tamson  ? 
 
 They  say  his  wife  has  run  ;c 
 #  *  #  *  • 
 
 u  O  what  wad  ye  l\o,  Jobnc  T 
 
 "  Gin  ye  had  me  as  1  !..  " — 
 
 M  1  wad  Uk 
 
 "  And  gar  your  110  I. 
 
 Johne 
 Until]  he  1!. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 O  by  my  sooth,  quo'  Johne  Tamson, 
 Methinks  I  see  a  coming  tree. 
 
 ***** 
 
 And  they  hae  hanged  that  grim  Soudan, 
 For  a'  his  mirth  and  meikle  pride  ; 
 And  sae  hae  they  that  ill  woman, 
 Upon  a  scrcgg-bush  him  beside. 
 Slangis,  (p.  64.)  B.  slanghe  ;  a   species    of  cannon   coin- 
 ciding with  the  culverine,  as  the  name  does,    which  signi- 
 fies a  serpent.     Half- slangis,  a  smaller  species. 
 Slop,  n.   a  breach.      Ruddiman  derives  it  from    the  Teut. 
 schlap  ;    B.   slap ;    laxus,    remissus.       This    is    very   du- 
 bious ;  though  sloupe,  a  stupid   silly  fellow,  is  probably 
 derived  from  this  origin. 
 Solist,  n.  (p.  67,  138,  &c.)  careful,  anxious,  eager.     L. 
 solicitus.     Converted  into  a  verb,  it  signifies,   to  care,  to 
 show. care,  to  solicit. 
 
 Had  I  solysth  like  the  laue, 
 My  rewaird  had  not  bin  to  craue  ; 
 Bot  now  I  may  weill  understand, 
 Ane  dum  man  zit  wan  neuer  land. 
 
 Th:  Complaynt  of  Scbir  Dauid  Lyndesayff*  262. 
 1592. 
 Thair  may  no  prince  do  acts  honorabill, 
 Bot  gif  his  counsall  thairto  will  assist  : 
 How  may  he  knaw  the  thing  maist  prolitabill, 
 To  follow  vertew,  and  vycis  to  resist, 
 iiout  he  be  instructit  and  solist  ? 
 Lindsays  Interludes,  ap.  t?4  Scotish 
 
 Pl  .212. 
 
 Sperk,  n.  spark. 
 
 Speris,  to  ask.    A.  S.  spirian.     UVspir.     Teut.  spuren. 
 Smeuk,  n.  (p.  65.}  smoke. 
 
 The 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 The  dell  sa  cleaved  was  wi'  their  yell, 
 That  in  the  deep-  bcfl, 
 
 He  smoored  them  al  frith  . 
 
 Dl 
 SODIOUR,      (p.    IC5.)     SOLDART,      (p.    64.)     IOUDIOUR, 
 
 187.)   and    soudart,    (p.  139);  a   sold 
 
 pronunciation.     W.  sa^ 
 
 ent  etymology  is  however  proposed  by 
 
 sola  ;   B.  :  Y.  schle,  stipendium  ;  with   the  Saxon 
 
 termination  er. 
 
 and  side,  ner  and 
 Baroun  knizt,  and  ek 
 Sum  bi  fe,  sum  for  wii 
 Were  comen  to  Leodegan  the  k 
 
 Art'  .    ms. 
 
 Solempkit,  part.  ?/■  solemn,   rendered  solemu. 
 
 So  pit,   (p.  56.)  L.  iopfitu  ; 
 
 1  sr>p\t  and  o'er. 
 Like  to  a  fish  fast  in  a 
 Ii. 
 
 I 
 V,\ii, on  s  Cdl.   vol.  /'. 
 Sop  hi st  1  .  2  1.1.)  v 
 
 SOURAKKIS,     (| 
 
 South  yw,  herly. 
 
 Sourkitti  1,  (;*.  66.)  a 
 mon  dish  io  the 
 
 small  kind  of  \ 
 
 urncd  out  of  . 
 
 inter.     i>   K   , 
 press  all  kind 
 
 a  poetical  fanner  i  \\ 
 
374  GLOSSARY. 
 
 The  plough  and  harrow, 
 Commend  me  thra  the  ; 
 The  frail  it  is  a  flinging  fiend  : 
 Kit,  cap  and  can, 
 Commend  me  to  the  ; 
 For  thou's  been  aye  my  stannin  friend. 
 Many  more  of  his  rude  strains  were  recollected  by  the  pea- 
 sants of  Teviotdale  within  these  twenty  years  ;  but  all  are 
 now  supposed  to  be  lost,  except  his  own  epitaph,  which  he 
 composed  before  his  death,  and  which  is  inscribed  on  his 
 tomb-stone  in  the  church-yard  of  Cavers. 
 Spacier,  v.  (p.  58.)  to  walk.    L.  spatior.    Dutch,  spacieren. 
 Spvl't,  part.  (p.  108.)   spoiled.     This  is  the  common  pro- 
 nunciation of  the  word  in  many  districts  of  Scotland. 
 Stannirs,  «.  (p.  60.)  the  rough  projecting   stones  on  the 
 shore  of  the  sea,  on  the  banks  of  rivers,  and  the  braes  of 
 burns.     It  is  in  common  use  on  the  east   coast  of  Scot- 
 land.      Stanryis,    in    G.    Douglas's   Virgil,    pronounced 
 staneries,  has   nearly  the  same    meaning,    signifying  the 
 place  of  rough  stones. 
 Steddyng,   (p.  191.)    and    steyding,   (p.  193.)   a  farm- 
 house, wiih  its  dependencies  ;  properly  a  station.    A.  S. 
 steda,  a  place. 
 Stief,   (p.  62.)   stout,  stiff.    A.  S.  stif.     B.  stiff,  pronoun- 
 ced commonly  jteeve. 
 Stendling,     (p.  102.)    leaping   about  with  long   strides. 
 To  slend,  in  common  use,  signifies  to  stride,     Fr.  ittendr*. 
 Ital.  slendcre.      L.  extenders 
 Sterk,   strong.     A.  S.  sterc.      B.  &  Dan.   sferck. 
 Stile,  n.    (p.  no.)     rank,  degree.       A.  S.  stigele,    scala, 
 
 gradus. 
 Stou,  v.    (p.  63.)    to  stow,    or  place.     A.  S.  stou.     Fr. 
 cstal  and  estau,  locus.     To  stou  the  sails,  is  to  furl  them. 
 
 StOYT^N, 
 
GLOSSARY.  375 
 
 Stgyten,  part.    (p.  64.)    stammering,  reeling,  stuttering. 
 B.  stoctcn,    quassare.       The  stoyten    sails   are   small   sails 
 sometimes  attached  to  the  large,  to  increase  th< 
 of  the  vessel. 
 
 Straiciekis  n.  (p.  38.)  strokes.    A.  S.straician,  to  stroak. 
 
 Suak,  n.  (p.  63.)  a  blow,  a  pull,  or  exertion  ;  as  a  verb,  to 
 throw  forcibly.  This  word,  as  well  as  tubal,  a  severe  blow, 
 likewise  in  common  use,  seems  to  be  of  imitative  origin  ; 
 like  the  A.  S.  w^,  sonus.  A  swig,  n.  and  to  tvng,  v.  to 
 turn  suddenly,  seems  to  be  connected  with  the  Isl.  n 
 'bend,  curve. 
 
 *<  turn  tyme  rasand  this  traitour,  yat  the  pepyl  micht 
 "  be  him,  hie  in  the  aire,  and  leit  hym  fall  doun  with 
 "  ane  sunk  upon  the  gait.  " 
 
 BellendetCs  History  of  Scotland,  f.  24S. 
 
 Succur,  (p."  227.)  sugar.  Fr.  sue  re.  Dun.  sucker.  Teut. 
 mucker. 
 
 Suppedit,   (p.  19  )   to  assist.     L..  suppedilo. 
 
 Suppreme,  v.   to  suppress.     Yv.suprimer.     L.  tuppremo. 
 
 Suellieg,  (p.  37.)  heat,  a  burning  fever,  A.  S.  sivxlan, 
 to  kindle,  bum.  Hence,  to  snvial,  to  waste  with  heat  like 
 a  candle,   in  the    Lincolnshire  dialect  j  ai:  iltry 
 
 weather  in  July  :    Barnes.      To  fwcal  a  hog,    to  sin. 
 sweated  catt  a  cat  which  n  singed.     Gi 
 
 Svkkyr,  adj.    (p.  140.)    secuje.      Siier,  C 
 siicr.     Al.  tibchurer,     D.  ticker,     B.  seker,     \ 
 
 Byle,   7-.   to  Jv 
 
 icllic  the  king  n 
 And  all  the  pepill  were  | 
 
 1 ,  part,  (p.  268.)  hidden,  <.  1- 
 
 rthie  for  t 
 
 1   Miuntit  of  cy<  1 
 
37^  GLOSSARY. 
 
 To  see  the  warkis  of  plesand  poet  lie, 
 To  lie  sa  hid  and  sylit  from  the  sicht 
 Of  those  in  hart  quha  dois  reiois  aricht, 
 In  vulgar  toung  for  to  behald  and  heir, 
 Vertew  and  vice  disclosit  and  brocht  to  licht, 
 ^  In  thair  richt  cullouris  planelie  to  appeir. 
 °  Ane  adhortatioun  of  all  estatis,   to  the  reiding  of  thir 
 "  present  warkis.  "     Prefixed  to 
 
 The  Warkis  of  Sir  D.  Lindsay.      Edln.  1 59 2. 
 Tansay,  n.  (p.  104.)   tansy. 
 Tair,  v,  (p.  59.)  an  imitative  word,  expressing  the  cry  of 
 
 an  ass. 
 Takkis,  tacks  or  leases. 
 
 Tasse,  n.  (p.  226.)   a  cup  or  goblet.     Fr.  tasse . 
 Thak,    n.    (p.  52.)    thatch.     A.  S.    thace.      Teut.  dach 
 
 &  tacb.     I  si.  thak. 
 Theyrs,  n.  (p.  63.)  tiers,  or  yard  arms  of  a  vessel. 
 Thirl,  v.  (p.  64.)  to  furl  the  sails. 
 Thirl,  (p.  144.)  quasi  thrill,  to  enslave,  to  thrall.     A.  S. 
 
 thrael.     Isl.  thrael,  servus.     Hence, 
 Thirlage,  n.  (p.  144.)  servitude  in  general.    In  a  particu- 
 lar sense,  the  word  denotes  the  servitude  of  grinding  at  a 
 certain  mill. 
 Thole,  v.   (p.  21.)    to   suffer,   to   endure.     A.  S.  tholian. 
 
 Isl.  thulan.  D.  thola. 
 Thresum,  (p.  205.)  three  together.  Suio-G.  samja  Sc  sama, 
 consentire.  Hence,  the  termination  sam  expresses  union, 
 or  agreement ;  as,  hedersam,  consistent  with  honesty ; 
 noarsam,  consistent  with  prudence  ;  fr'Jndsamja,  jus  con- 
 sanguinitatis  ;  magsamja,  jus  affinitatis. 
 Thring,  13.  to  thrust  or  beat.  A.  S.  thringan ;  whence 
 doune  t bring,   (p.  28.) 
 
 This  Nimrod  grew  ane  man  of  micht, 
 That  time  in  eirth  was  nane  sa  wicht : 
 
 He 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 He  was  ane  grant  stout  and  strai\g, 
 Perforce  wylde  beistls  he  doun  threw*. 
 
 Lyndsay's  Monarchic,  p.  40.      1  \ 
 In  a  different  form,  it  is  (king  ;  thus — 
 
 Thus  all  the  foulis,  for  my  filth,  hes  me  at  feid 
 That  be  I  sene  in  thair  sicht, 
 To  look  out  on  day  lycht, 
 Sum  will  me  dolefully  dycht, 
 Sum  dring  me  to  my  deid. 
 
 Holland's  Houlatc,   apud 
 
 Anc.  Poems j  vol.  Hi.   149. 
 Tine,  v.  (p.  21.  13c.)  to  lose.      I  si.  tynet  perdo.     Htnce, 
 
 tinsel,   or  tynsale,   loss. 
 Titlene,   (p.  60.)   the  small  bird  which  constantly  attends 
 the  cuckow.     Prov.  "   As  grit  as  the  gouk   and  the  tit- 
 lene. "       B.  tiite   &   tihhn,  a   chicken.     Id.  titfingur,  a 
 small  bird.     Sw.  G.  tyta  &  goktyta,  curruca,  the  b 
 sparrow,  or  cuckow  bird. 
 Topikellis,   (p.  63.)  the  lines  for  haling  the  t 
 TiACH  l  n,  part,   (p.  ic6.)  draggled;  also  dishevelled  ;  the 
 common    pronunciation,   more   emphatic  than  :. 
 treylen  ;   which  implies  an  equal  mot  I 
 <;.)  trailii 
 Treist,  n.  (p.  41.)  and  trest,  (p.  123.)  trust  ;   he: 
 appointment.      h\. 
 to  t: 
 
 1  ilk  court  bin  Ulltratst  and  tr  | 
 
 Thocht  f 
 
 Trossis,  n.  (p 
 
 3  !' 
 
3>8  GLOSSARY. 
 
 truss.     Hence  tun,  a  pack  ;  any  thing  trussed  up.      To 
 turs,  or  trus,  is  to  pack  up,  or   prepare  j   to  commence, 
 or  set  out  in  an  expedition.     Thus, 
 Ze  men  of  Saint  Omers, 
 Trus  ze  this  tide, 
 And  puttes  out  zowre  paviliownes 
 With  zowre  mekill  pride. 
 
 Minot's  Poems,  p.  50. 
 Trymmyl,  v.  to  tremble. 
 Tueit,   (p.  60.)  an   imitative  word,  expressing   the  short 
 
 shrill  cry  of  a  bird  ;   hence  to  twitter  ;  Teut.  %ittern. 
 Tuechit,  n.  (p.  60.)  the  lapwing,  probably   named  from 
 its  crest.     Fr.  toquet,  the  cap  of  a  child.      It   is   termed 
 tuquheit  by  Birrell,  in  the  Passage  of  the  Pilgremer,    Wat- 
 son's Collection  of  Poems,  part  ii.  p.  27. 
 The  tuquheit  and  the  sterling  than, 
 Togidder  with  the  pelican, 
 
 Flew  in  ane  randell  richt  ; 
 The  piet  and  the  papingo, 
 With  the  goldspink,   1  sa  thame  go, 
 Sync  laich  thay  doun  did  licht. 
 Thuesnek,  (p.  6c.)  the  cry  of  the  lapwing.     In  the  south 
 of  Scotland,   this  bird  is  termed  the  peeszverp,  from  a  si- 
 milar word,   imitative  of  its  cry.      In   the  south  and  west 
 of  Scotland,  it  is  much  detested,  though   not   reckoned 
 ominous.      As  it  frequents  solitary  places,  its  haunts  were 
 frequently  intruded  upon    by  the   fugitive   Presbyterians, 
 during  the  persecution  which   they   suffered   in   the   dis- 
 graceful and  tyrannical   rtigns  of  Charles  II.   and  James 
 VII,  when  they  were  often  discovered  by  the  clamours  of 
 the  lapwing. 
 
 In  come  twa  flyrand  fuiis  with  a  fond  fair, 
 The  tuquheit,  and  the  gukkit  gouk,  and  yede  hiddie 
 giddie  ; 
 
 Rwischit 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 Rwischit  bayth  to  the  bard,  and  ruggit  his  hare  ; 
 Callit  him  thris  the-vis  nek  to  thraw  in  a  widdie. 
 
 Holland's  Hvulafr,  ap.  PinhcrtonyT  Scot.  Poems, 
 1792.     Vol.  Hi.  p.  j  3 1. 
 Tuist,  (p.  59.)  a  bending  branch,  a  thicket. 
 Smelling  the  hailsum  herbis  medicinall, 
 Quhairon  the  dulce  and  balmy  dew  doun  da 
 Lyke  orient  perlis  on  the  ttu'tstis  hang. 
 
 I.yndsay's  Prolog  of  the  Mlti  ■  .it  cf 
 
 the  Warld. 
 Turdion,  (p.  102.)  a  species  of  galliard,  or  gay  dance. 
 Fr.  tordicn.  Richelet  gives  the  following  account  of  it  : 
 *f  Ancienne  danse,  qui  se  dansoit  avec  une  mesure  ttrnaire 
 "  apres  la  basse  daiibe  et  son  retour,  ct  qui  en  faisoit 
 "  comme  la  troisieme  partie.  " 
 Turkes,  n.    (p.    16.)    pincers,  nippers.     Armor,    tm 
 
 Li.  tcrquco,  to  twist. 
 Vagit,  part.  (p.  72.)  roamed,   wandered.      To   vafa    h   in 
 common  use,  as  well  as  stravaig.      Ital.    si  B. 
 
 <waegen.      Sw.  ivagga.      Goth,  ivagjan. 
 Vait,  v.  prct.  (p.  23,  143.)  wit  ;  to  k 
 
 <weta.     D.  vide.     To  ivait  a  person,   signifies,   in  jji 
 language,  to  know  from  experience.      It  1  -  .  i  by 
 
 Minot  : 
 
 A  liieil  fro  that  forsaid  town, 
 
 i  I  ilydon-hiU  that  .ae, 
 
 T!i a  rakked  mony  a 
 
 Of  wild  1  e  ; 
 
 Thare  was  thaire  bao 
 .  To  mak  slike  b< 
 B  »t  i'  «  ;me, 
 
 To 
 
 Vallis,  n.  (p;  61.)   wave  .     T 
 
 aOI« 
 
380  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Varrok,  (p.  60.)  an  imitative  word,  expressing  the  hoarse 
 interrupted  cry  of  the  carrion  crow.  Warrok,  or  War- 
 rohs,  occurs  in  Blount's  ancient  tenures,  as  a  work-beast. 
 Sw.  warrok,  Isl.  varrok,  varre,  a  bull.  Virrok,  L. 
 verruca,  occurs  in  Dunbar's  Complaint,  p.  no.  vol.  i. 
 Pinkerton's  Maitland's  Poems;  and  signifies  a  corn,  or 
 bony  excrescence  on  the  feet.  It  is  in  common  use,  and 
 pronounced  wirrok.     The  passage  is  severely  satirical : 
 
 Ane  pykthank  in  a  prelot's  chayse, 
 
 With  his  wawil  feet  and  virrok  tais  ; 
 
 With  hoppir  hippis,  and  henches  narrow, 
 
 And  bausy  hands  to  ber  a  barrow  ; 
 
 With  lut  shoulders  and  luttaird  bak, 
 
 Quhilk  nature  made  to  beir  a  pak  ; 
 
 With  gredy  mind  and  glaschave  gane, 
 
 Mell-headed  like  a  mortar  stane. 
 Vanhap,  «.  (p.  in,  118.)  misfortune.  Van  in  Isl.  signi- 
 fies want,  privation  ;  as  the  Maeso.  G.  wan  ;  A.  S.  wana  ; 
 carens  ;  warian,  to  want.  In  popular  language,  it  is  us- 
 ed for  the  negative  nn  ;  but  it  is  also  used  in  the  absolute 
 sense — 
 
 Of  fesaunce,  pertrik,  and  of  crane, 
 
 Ther  was  plente,  and  no  wane, 
 
 Artbour  &  Merlin,  Ms. 
 Vatland  streit,  (p.  90.)  A.  S.  Wdetlinga  strafe,  Wat- 
 ling  Street  ;  a  famous  consular  road,  passing  through 
 England  from  south  to  north.  This  was  one  of  the  royal 
 ways  said  to  have  had  the  king's  peace  ;  because,  who- 
 ever committed  any  offence  on  it,  was  only  punishable  in 
 the  king's  court,  according  to  law  30th  of  William  the 
 Conqueror.  "  De  iii.  chemins  co  est  a  saveir  Wetling 
 "  Street  &  Erming  Street  &  Fos.  Ki  en  alcun  de  ces 
 u  chemins  oceit  home  qui  seit  errant  pcrlepais  u  asalt,  si 
 "  enfreit  la  pais  le  roy.  " 
 
 Kelham's  Laws  of  William  the  Conqueror,  p.  50. 
 
 ■     The 
 
GLOSSARY.  381 
 
 The  following  is  the  popular  account   of  the   formation 
 
 of  these  roads  : 
 
 Thilke  Btlin,  and  thilke  Brenne, 
 Four  wayes  thai  made  thenne, 
 Thurch  the  strengthe  of  her  hond, 
 That  goth  thurch  out  Ingiond  : 
 That  onto  this  day  zetc, 
 Is  ycleped  Wateling  strete  ; 
 That  other  is  cleped  Fosse, 
 That  goth  fram  Cornewaile  Tto  Scosse  : 
 The  thridde  Ikeling  strete  cleped  is, 
 That  other  Fosse-dike  y  wis. 
 
 History  of  In~bjK(!y   MS. 
 
 In   a   metaphorical   sense,  Watling   Street   signifies   the 
 
 milky  way — 
 
 Of  every  sterne  the  twynkling  notis  he, 
 That  in  the  still  heuin  moue  cours  we  se, 
 Arthurs  hufet  and  Hyades,  betaikning  ranc, 
 Syne  Watling  strete,  the  Home,  and  the   Charle- 
 wane, 
 
 The  feirs  Orioun  with  his  goldine  glaue  : 
 
 Douglas'  Virgil,  />.  85. 
 
 \  id.  also  Chaucer's  H.  of  Fame,  ii.  431. 
 
 Veltht,   (p.  29.)  wealth.      B.  w 
 
 Venesum,  adj.  (p.  42.)   vencmous.     B.  veniin,  venennm. 
 Verra,    (p.  98.)     &  Verkav,     (p.  (>-.)     very.      I 
 veray. 
 
 •  ,  n.  weird,  fate,  destiny.    A.  : 
 f.ita.     Teut.   &    BJ^r    wtrdcHi   ' 
 
 ...      To  were,   signifies  li' 
 a<5,  to  were  cattle  into  a 
 
 I 
 
382  GLOSSARY. 
 
 Leodegan  to  him  sprong, 
 And  him  ivered  al  about, 
 Fram  al  that  ich  cursed  route. 
 
 Arthour  and  Merlin,  ms. 
 Verst,  (p.  108.)    worst.     A.  S.  verst  &  vyrrest. 
 Verye,  adj.  weary.      A.  S.  iverig. 
 Veschel,  n.     Fr.  vaisselle.     Vessels. 
 Vestin,  adj.  (p.  95.)  westerly. 
 Viyton,  (p.  104.)  the  whitten  tree,  or  water  elder. 
 Verkman  lumis,     (p.  107.)     work  tools.     A.  S.  geloma} 
 
 utensilia,  supellex. 
 Veynde,  (p.  61.)  to  wind  ;  also  the  wind. 
 Veye,  1;.  (p.  61.)  to  weigh  ;  ueyer ;   B.  ivrghcn  :  a  pair  of 
 balances  is  often  termed  the  weighs   in    the   modern    Sc- 
 of  the  South. 
 
 Sanct  Michaell  with  his  wingis  and  nveyis. 
 
 Lindsays  Poems,  J).  65.      1592. 
 Veyra,  (p.  62.)  a  sea  cheer  ;  quas.  veer  a*. 
 Vire,  v.   (p.  61.)  vire  the  trosses  ;  wire  or  lace. 
 Virreis,  Virreit,   (p.  244.)  worries,  worried,  strangled* 
 
 Teut.  nveurgev,  to  strangle. 
 Viddeful,    (p.  63.)    wrathful.     A   tuidJifcu    ivicht,  is  a 
 common  expression  for  a  peevish,   angry  man. 
 v    The  widdifou  wardannis  tuik  my  geir, 
 And  left  me  nowdir  horss  nor  meir, 
 Nor  erdly  gud  that  me  belangit, 
 Now,  walloway,  1  mon  be  hangit. 
 And  absolutely  : 
 
 Now,  my  Lord,  for  Goddis  saik  lat  nocht  hang  me, 
 How  beid  thir  widdy  fou'is  wald  wrang  me. 
 
 Lindsay1  s  Interludes,  ap.  pi?ihrtonys  Scctish 
 Poems,  vol.  ii.  p.  1S3.  186.      1 792. 
 The  spelling  is  auricular,  from  the  B.  vjoed  &  ivoodt  ra- 
 bies;  A.  S.  <wodf  demens.     Whence 
 
 Vod, 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 383 
 
 Vod,  adj.  (p.  89.)  mad,  furious  : 
 
 mad  wenches  ;  also,  a  mrood,  (p.  103.) 
 Vilite,  (p.  266.)   vileness.     L.  vilitas. 
 Ulye,  (p.  251.)  train-oil.      Skene, 
 Virmet,    (p.  103.)    wormwood.     jElfric.  ( 
 
 Junius  gives  two  other  forms  of  the  same  word  from  the 
 
 Francic  glossaries,  wueremed   &  .  whence  ; 
 
 bly  the  orthography  of  the  Complaynt. 
 
 VOLLAGE,    adj.    (p.  32.)    F: 
 
 Virmis,   (p.  104,)   worms.      A.  .v 
 Unctit,   (p.  45.)  anointed.     L. 
 Visye,  (p.  19.)    to  visit.     L.  v'uo.     Fr.  vi 
 She  past  to  ivis'ie  Sir  Claris 
 
 Clart  MS. 
 
 I  mak  ane  vow,  with  humill  ob 
 Richt  reverentlie  thy  tempill  to  v 
 With  sacrifice  unto  the  Deitie.      (Venus.) 
 Lindsay's  Interludes  y  up.  Pin 
 vol.  /'/".  />.  45.       17 
 Voifis,  n.  (p.  2.)  wolves;  the  common  pronunciation. 
 Vol,  n.  (p.  91.)  wool.     WoUa  occurs  i  1 
 
 c.  44. 
 Vome,  v.  (p.  104.)  vomit. 
 Vorsa,  (p.  63.)  a  sea  cheer  ;  qua 
 Vo^ime,  n.  (p.  93.)  womb. 
 
 Vou,   whow  !    an  interjection  of  fear  rod  surprise. 
 Vran,  (p.  60.)  wren.     A  •'.     Vrak 
 
 thian  pronunciation. 
 Vyit,  v.  (p.  ico.)  blame. 
 Zelaturs,  v..   (p.  1 1 8.)   zeal 
 Zoue,  n.  (p.  65.)   an  ewe.       \.  B. 
 
 Zoulit,  r.  (p.  60.)   hot 
 Icn. 
 
3  $4  GLOSSARY. 
 
 And  to  that  cairfoll  coue  quhen  we  did  enter, 
 Zowting  and  zotvling,  we  hard  with  rnonie  zell, 
 In  flam  me  of  fyre  richt  furious  and  fell, 
 Was  cryand  mony  cairfull  creature, 
 Blasphemand  God,  and  waryand  nature. 
 
 Lindsays  Drone,  p.  229.     edit.  1592. 
 Zoilk,    n.     (p.  47.)    yoke.       A.  S.  geoe,  ioc.       Al.  ioch. 
 
 B.joch. 
 Zouthed,    n.     (p.  4^.)    youth  ;  quasi  youth-head.    Green 
 southed,  (p.  70.)     The  common  corrupted  pronunciation 
 is  youditb  ;  which  likewise  occurs  in  the  old  romances. 
 
 r :  N :  S , 
 
 PS1NTED  BY  O.  WILL1SON,   CRAIG  S  CJL032, 
 EDIN3VRCE.