THE MUSES THRENODIE, OR, Mirthful Mournings, on the death of Master Gall.  
Containing variety of pleasant Poëticall descriptions, moral instructions, historical narrations, and divine observations, with the most remarkable antiquities of Scotland, especially at Perth.  
By Mr. H. ADAMSON.  Horat. in Arte. Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci. 
Printed at Edinburgh in King james College, by George Anderson. 1638.   

TO HIS NATIVE TOWN OF PERTH: THE LORD PROVEST, BAILIES, AND COUNSEL THEREOF, HIS WORTHY PATRONS,  
Wishing them all happiness here, and hence, dedicateth these his recreations their devoted Servant  
Mr. HEN. ADAMSON; Student in Divine, and Humane Learning.   

TO THE READER.  
Courteous Reader,  
IT is not amiss thou be a little informed concerning the Poet, and the persons of the defunct and mourner.  
The Poet wrote this for his own exercise, and the recreation of his friends; and this piece, although accomplished to the great contentment of many that read and heard it, yet could not the Author be induced to let it those the press, till the importunity of many learned men urged him unto it: And the last brash was made by a Letter of the prime Poet of our kingdom, whereof this is the just copy.   

To my worthy Friend, Mr. HEN. ADAMSON.  
Sir,  
THese papers of your mournings on Master Gall appear unto me as Alcibiadis Sileni, which ridiculously look, with the faces of Sphinxes, Chimaeras, Centaurs on their outsides, but inwardly contain rare artifice, and rich jewels of al● sorts, for the delight and well of Man. They may deservedly bear the word, Non intus ut extra. Your two Champions, noble Zannies, discover to us many of the Antiquities of this Country more of your ancient town of Perth, setting down her situation, founders, her huge coloss, or bridge, walls, fousies, aqueducts, fortifications, temples, monasteries, and many other singularities. Happy hath Perth been in such a Citizen: not so other towns of this kingdom, by want of so diligent a searcher and preserver of their fame from oblivion. Some Muses neither to themselves, nor to others do good; nor delighting, nor instructing; yours perform both: And longer to conceal them, will be to wrong your Perth of her due honours, who deserveth no less of you than that she should be thus blazoned, and registrate to posterity, to defraud yourself of a monument; which after you have left this transitory world shall keep your name and memory to after times. This shall be preserved by the Town of Perth for her own sake first, and after for yours. For to her it hath been no little glory that she hath brought forth, such a citizen, so eminent in love to her, and so dear to the Muses. Edinburgh, Julij 12. 1637.  
W. D.   

ANent the defunct, his name was M. james Gall, a Citizen of Perth, and a Gentleman of a goodly stature, and pregnant wit, much given to pastime, as golf, archery, curling; and Jovial company. A man very kind to his friends, and a pretty poet in liberal merriments, and tart satyrs; no less acquaint with Philoenus, and the Acidalian Dame, than with the Muses.  
For the mourner, he yet lives and mourns: and seeing he is of purpose to set forth the web of his life, which is very long, now almost an hundred elnes, counting an elne for a year, it is needless to speak of him here, all know him (that know him) to be a good man, and hath been occasion of mirth to many, to none of mourning, as M. Gall by his immature death hath been● to him. It seemeth sufficient, until the time he himself set out the history of himself, to set down here t● inventar of the ornaments of his Cabin, which, by a Ca tachrestick name, he usually calleth Gabions.  
This inventary we have in a torn, and worn copy, and in respect there are some lines in it we can not read, pray thee, gentle Reader, be content of that, that is to the fore, till we can obtain from M. George the whole piece, which was alleged to be written by M. Gall, although, in verity, the Author of this book did write it, and as I think, not without M. George his own advice, and for his friend's recreation.   

The inventary of the Gabions, in M. George his Cabinet.  

OF uncouth forms, and wondrous shapes,  
Like Peacocks, and like Indian apes,  
Like Leopards, and beasts spotted,  
Of clubs curiously knoted,  
Of wondrous workmanships, and rare,  
Like Eagles flying in the air,  
Like Centaurs, Mermaids in the Seas,  
Like Dolphins, and like honey bees,  
Some carved in timber, some in stone,  
Of the wonder of Albion;  
Which this close cabin doth include;  
Some portends ill, some presage good:  
What spirit Daedalian hath forth brought them,  
Ye Gods assist, I think ye wrought them,  
Your influences did conspire  
This comely cabin to attire   

Neptune gave first his awful trident,  
And Pan the horns gave of a bident,  
Triton his trumpet of a buckie,  
Propined to him, was large and lucky:  
Mars gave the glistering sword and dagger,  
Wherewith some time he want to swagger,  
Cyclopean armour of Achilles,  
Fair Venus purtrayed by Apelles,  
The valiant Hector's weighty spear,  
Wherewith he fought the Trojan war,  
The fatal sword and seven fold shield  
Of Ajax, who could never yield:  
Yea more the great Herculean club  
Bruised Hydra in the Lernè dub.   

Hot Vulcan with his crooked heel  
Bestowed on him a tempered steel,  
Cyclophes were the brethren alan,  
Who swore they sweat more than ten gallons  
In framing it upon their forge,  
And tempering it for Master George:  
But Aesculapius taught the lesson  
How he should used in goodly fashion,  
And bade extinguised in his ale,  
When that he thought it pure and stale,  
With a pugil of polypodium:  
And Ceres brought a manufodium:  
And willed him tossed it at his fire  
And of such bread never to tire;  
Then Podalirius did conclude  
That for his melt was sovereigning good.   

Gold haired Apollo did bestow  
His mightie-sounding silver bow,  
With music instruments great store,  
His harp, his cithar, and mandore,  
His piercing arrows and his quiver:  
But Cupid shot him through the liver  
And set him all up in à flame,  
To follow à Peneïan Dame:  
But being once repudiat  
Did lurk within this Cabinet,  
And there with many a sigh and groan,  
Fierce Cupid's wrong he did bemoan,  
But this deep passion to rebet  
Venus bestowed her Amulet,  
The fiery flame for to bear down,  
Cold lactuce and pupuleum;  
And thenceforth willed the poplar tree  
To him should consecrated be.   

With twenty thousand precious things,  
Mercurius gave his staff and wings:  
And more this Cabin to decore,  
Of curious staffs he gave fourscore,  
Of clubs and cudgels contortized:  
Some plain work, others crisp and frized,  
Like Satyrs, dragons, flying fowls,  
Like fishes, serpents, cats, and owls,  
Like winged-horses, strange Chimaeraes,  
Like Unicorns and fierce Pantheraes,  
So livelike that a man would doubt,  
If art or nature brought them out.   

The monstrous branched great hart-horne,  
Which on Acteon's front was borne:  
On which doth hang his velvet knapsca.  
A scimitare cut like an haksaw,  
Great bukies, partans, toes of lapstares,  
Oster shells, ensigns for tapsters,  
Gadie beeds and crystal glasses,  
Stones, and ornaments for lasses,  
Garlands made of summer flowers,  
Propined him by his paramoürs,  
With many other precious thing,  
Which all upon its branches hang:  
So that it doth excel but scorn  
The wealthy Amalthean horn.   

This Cabin contains what you wish,  
No place his ornaments doth miss,  
For there is such variety,  
Looking breeds no satiety.  
In one nook stands Loquhabrian axes,  
And in another nook the glaxe is.  
here lies a book they call the dennet,  
There lies the head of old Brown Kennet,  
Here lies a turkasse, and a hammer,  
There lies a Greek and Latin Grammar,  
here hangs an ancient mantua bannet,  
There hangs a Robin and a jannet,  
Upon a cord that's strangular  
A buffet stool sexangular:  
A fool muting in his own hand;  
Soft, soft my Muse, sound not this sand,  
What ever matter come athorter,  
Touch not I pray the iron mortar.  
His cougs, his dishes, and his caps,  
A Totum, and some bairnes taps;  
A gadareilie, and a whistle,  
A trump, an Abercome mussel,  
His hats, his hoods, his bells, his bones,  
His allay bowls, and curling stones,  
The sacred games to celebrat,  
Which to the Gods are consecrat.   

And more, this cabin to adorn,  
Diana gave her hunting horn,  
And that there should be no defect,  
God Momus gift did not inlake:  
Only *** was to blame,  
Who would bestow nothing for shame;  
This Cabin was so crammed with store  
She could not enter at the door.   

This pretty want for to supply  
A privy parlour stands near by,  
In which there is in order placed  
Phoebus with the nine Muses graced,  
In compass, sitting like a crown.  
This is the place of great renown:  
here all good learning is inschrynd,  
And all grave wisdom is confined,  
Clio with stories ancient times,  
Melpomené with Tragic lines,  
Wanton Thalia's comedies,  
Euterpe's sweetest harmonies,  
Terpsichore's heart-moving cithar,  
Lovely Erato's numbering meeter,  
Caliopes heroic songs,  
Urania's heavenly motions;  
Polymnia in various music  
Paints all with flowers of Rhetoric,  
Amidst sits Phoebus laureate,  
Crowned with the whole Pierian State.  
Here's Galene and Hypocrates,  
Divine Plato and Socrates,  
Th' Arabian skill and exccellence,  
The Greek and Roman eloquence,  
With many worthy work and story  
Within this place inaccessorie.   

These models, in this Cabin placed,  
Are with the world's whole wonders graced:  
What curious art or nature framed,  
What monster hath been taught or tamed,  
What Polycletus in his time,  
What Archimedes rich engine,  
Who taught the Art of menadrie  
The Syracusan synedrie.  
What Gods or mortals did forth bring  
It in this cabinet doth hang,  
Whose famous relics are all flowered,  
And all with precious pouldar stowred:  
And richly decked with curious hingers,  
Wrought by Arachne's nimble fingers.   

This is his store-house and his treasure,  
This is his Paradise of pleasure,  
This is the Arsenal of Gods,  
Of all the world this is the odds:  
This is the place Apollo chooses,  
This is the residence of Muses:  
And to conclude all this in one,  
This is the Roman Pantheon.    

An apology of the Author, done as by the Mourner, to the Lovers of Learning.  

LET none offend, though in mine age I sing  
Swanlike, some lawful joys youthead did bring:  
My songs are mournings, which may clearly show  
Th'inconstant course of all things here below:  
Yet guided by that steadfast hand always  
Which, midst confusions great, the balance stays:  
Thus Heraclitus-like sometimes I mourn  
At giddy Fortune's reel: thence I turn  
Like to Democritus in laughter wholly  
To see th'inconstant changes of her folly.  
Thus do I mourn, and laugh oftimes, by course,  
As giddy Fortune reels from good to worse:  
For neither is the battle to the strong, 
Eccles. 9 11.   
Nor doth unto the swift the race belong,  
Nor bread to these whose wit should have commanding,  
Nor riches to the men of understanding:  
Nor favour doth to men of knowledge fall,  
But chance (as would appear) doth order all.  
So, if the second causes we do view,  
We shall find out a paradox most true.   

But O thou prime and supreme cause of all,  
Nothing to thee by fortune doth befall,  
For Thou, in midst of all these great confusions  
Forests, and works most permanent conclusions,  
Keeping most comely order in varieties,  
And making concord in all contrarieties.  
Hence doth it come to pass of thy benignity,  
That wicked men possess both wealth and dignity.  
But, as it's written, riches are preserved, 
Eccles. 5. 1●   
And for the evil of th'owners are reserved:  
And as a mighty load the bearers smothers,  
So some to their own burt rule over others,  
Not looking to th'account they must needs make, 
Eccles. 8. 9   
Nor bow their smiling fortune may turn back,  
Whose honour like the sea doth ebb and flow,  
Whose beauty hath the time to fade and grew,  
Whose riches, like the Eagle, hath their wings,  
Now lighting down on earth, to Heaven then springs. 
Prover. 23. 5.   
The body's Summer rose is quickly gone,  
By winter's stormy age all overblowne,  
To show earth's constant changes: and that all  
Which here on earth do spring must likewise fall.  
Thrice happy he that state who quickly finds,  
Which is not shaken with earth's contrary winds!   

Hence Solitary and poor content I live,  
Sith bitter hap blind fortune doth not give:  
And, like Diogenes, contemplate all,  
Within my Cabin, that here doth befall:  
Which gives me subject both to sing and mourn,  
The times ov'rpast, which never shall return.  
I praise the worthy deeds of Martial men,  
And I do wish the whole world might them ken:  
I praise their virtues: No, their Virtuous deeds  
Do praise themselves, and as most lively seeds  
Beget like children: so commemoration  
Begets them native sons by imitation.  
Native! more native than by blood descended,  
Who with their fame their fortunes have mispened.  
For what avails to point a noble race  
By long descent of branches, if in face 
〈◊〉. Sat. 〈◊〉.   
Like virtue doth not shine, and equal worth  
Ignoble deeds belie a noble birth;  
Maugre all contrary thoughts, this true shall try  
Virtue alone is true nobility.   

If one most vicious in my line should be  
Five hundred years ago, what is't to me,  
Who virtuous am;? What? can it derogate  
To my good name? or violate my state?  
Or if antcestors brave shall me preceded,  
And I do prove the knave, what shall proceed  
By their Heroic virtues unto me,  
Whose vicious life denies my progeny?   

For lineage and forebears, Naso said,  
Are not cal'● ours, nor what ourselves not made. 
Meta●. 13.   
To prove this paradox I durst be bold 
Arist. Ethic. lib. 1. cap. 11   
With judgement of the learned but I hold  
My pen: for all do know of old what's said,  
I rather that Thersites were my daid,  
And I Achilles-like, most noble, rather 
〈◊〉. Sat. 〈◊〉.   
Than I Thersites, he to be my father:  
True generosity doth so esteem,  
Though ignorance the contrary would maintain.  
But Momus must needs carp, and Misanthrópos  
Be Ariopagita-like Scythropos.   

Scarce were these lines as yet come to the birth  
When some false flattering sycophant gave forth  
Most foul aspersions, making rumours spread,  
That citing of some ancient stories bred  
No small disgrace unto the present times,  
Places, and persons of most ancient stems.  
And that I write of purpose to attaint them;  
I wish of this their wrong it might repent them:  
●or as the contrare's true, so I protest  
I never bade a purpose to infest  
The meanest, far less these of better sort,  
Where birth and grace do make a sweet consort.  
Yea, more I do protest, against my will  
These lines were reft from under my rude quill:  
I never did intend so great a height  
That they should touch the press, or come to light:  
But now, sith more there is then my design,  
I forced am my just defence to bring  
'Gainst my traducers, who maliciously,  
With baneful invie's tooth, have snatched at me   

But I appeal to all judicious learning,  
Whose wits are exercised in decerning,  
If I your approbation do find,  
I care nought these Ardelio's catching wind;  
Nor other Patrons do I seek but you,  
To take of this small piece a little view,  
And give just censure joined with your protection,  
More worth than Zoilus hate Gnatho's affection;  
Your favours shall me shelter and defend  
Against all invies rage to live to end●  
Trusting in God to keep my conscience pure,  
Whose favour most of all shall me secure.   
Farewell.   

De Authoris praematuro obitu, Elegidion.  

A Damsone jaces, raptus florentibus annis?  
Totque animi dotes hausit acerba dies?  
Tam carum Phoebo letali tabe lev are  
Artes Phoebaeae non potuere ca put?  
Quod tibi si canam fas aspexisse senectam,  
Pectoris & diti promere clausa sinu:  
Inferius Tiberi non Taus nomen haberet:  
Et Romae aequaret Pertha superba decus.  
Haec vide, quae primâ lusit vernante juventâ  
(Talis erat Ciris Virgiliique Culex)  
Aspice, conatu quam nil molitur inepto,  
Grancia seu memoret, sive jocosa canat.  
Martia grandiloquo memorat dum bella cot●urno,  
Maeoniam credas incinuisse tubam.  
Si laudes canat Heroum, aut facta inclyta jovae,  
Daunigenam jures increpuisse fides.  
Ad jeca si laetae demittat plectra Thaliae,  
Bilbilidae dicas plectra movere sales.  
Si canit historias, diae si dogmata legis;  
Dixeris his omnes invigilasse dies.  
Denique sic unus cunctâ proludit in arte,  
Ceu brevis ars, illi vitaque longa foret.  
Quòd si tantus honos florum; quae gloria messis  
(Hanc nisi praeriperent fata inimica) foret?  
At tu quae primae dederas spiramina vitae,  
Cui vitae aeternum reddidit ille diem,  
AEternos titulos spiranti in marmore scribas,  
Vsque memor civis, inclyta Pertha, tui.   
TH. CRAFORDIUS.   

TO PERTH, ANENT TWO of her Sons, her two Suns, Mr. Henry Anderson, and Mr. Henry Adamson, his Nephew.  

TWo Henries, like two Suns, upon thee rose,  
The Uncle, and the Nephew, and did close  
The one à summer, th'other a winter day,  
Nor longer could on our Horizon stay.  
With homebred beams the one on thee did shine,  
Th'other with rays brought from the coast Lavine.  
But herein These excel fair Phoebe's brother,  
He and his beams do rise, and set together;  
Their rays shine most, themselves when under earth,  
And shall perpetual splendour give to Perth.  
So be it ay, upon thee, noble Town,  
May many such suns rise, & so go down.   
I. A.   

Ad Authorem proximi Epigrammatis, de tertio Perthi Sole, Patricio Adamsono, Poeta & Oratore elegantissimo, qui Perthi natus & educatus, ob eximias animi dotes, insignem eruditionem, & incomparabilem eloquentiam, pari pietate conjunctam, in Archiepiscopatum Andreanum evectus est, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  

PErtha duos tantùm vidit, sua pignora, Soles  
Laetifica claram spargere ●uce diem?  
Hinc Adamsoni discussit nubila lampas,  
Hinc Andersoni fulserat ante jubar.  
Tertius hinc ortus (gentilis & ipse nepotis)  
Clarus in arctoo Phoebus & orbe fuit.  
Nec tantùm Arctoo; sed & hunc quoque Gallia Soles  
Aequantem stupuit quos sua terra dabat.  
Aequantemque suos mirata est Anglia Soles,  
Lumine multiplicis enituisse facis.  
Non alius quisquam docti pollentior oris  
Fulmine: non calamo qui superaret, erat.  
Prompta illi Graiae & Latiae facundia linguae:  
Nota illi veterum dogmata cuncta Soph●.  
Illius, orbatae Buchanani in funere, Musae  
Pectora ceu sacros incoluere lares.  
Nota mag● nulli d●●cula: nullus,  
Haec melius posset qui reserare, fuit.  
Nec, quanquam occiduas curru● demisit in undas,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occu● potest.   
T. C.   

In Authorem Libri.  

NVper Adamsonus vicit splendore Triones,  
At nunc occid●m spissior umbra tegit.  
Non tamen in caecas omnino evanuit auras,  
Liquerat en patrio lumina clara solo.  
Perthigenasque suos secus hand intermicat ille,  
(Accendens radio nobiliore diom)  
Ac Phoebe, reliquis praefulgens lu●ida stellis,  
Noctigenam pleno dum movet orbe facem.    

Ad Pertham.  

QVid fles? Quid tristi rumpis praecordia luctu?  
Pone modum lachrymis, inclyta Pertha, tuis.  
Occiderat tuus (heu) fato Adamsonus iniquo:  
Non tamen interiit: sed redivivus adest.    

To the memory of the Author.  

Dear Soul, thou hast obtained more lasting Fame,  
In follies colours wisdom setting forth,  
Than if ten fabriks like Mausolios' frame  
Were for thee reared in witness of thy worth.   

Thy Perth may boast of such a grateful son,  
Who thus hath honoured his dear aged another,  
Thy Muse such glory and such fame hath won  
To her, as no oblivioun can it smother.   

Art, wit, and learning; learning, wit, and art  
Do jointly justle here, each of them striving  
Which carry shall the prize, and bear chief part  
In these thy lays, thy native Town describing.   

Thy George's gabions show to underlings  
That all things trifles be, that heaven not reaches,  
By what thy Gall and he, in rapture, sings,  
Much wisdom divine and humane thou teaches.   

Thy death the Muse's darlings all shall mourn,  
And shall a tomb erect unto thy name  
Of tears turned crystal; and upon thine urn  
These words shall write, as blazon of thy fame:   

here lies his dust, by whose most learned quill  
He and his Perth do live, and shall live still.   
IO. MOOR.   

Faults escaped.  
Courteous Reader, who intends to read this book, may it please thee amend with thy pen these faults before thou read.  
Pag. 29. lineâ ultimâ, for where, read with. pag. 48. lin. 25. for Thus entering through well straight, read, Thus entering, though well straight, pag. 52. lin. 17. say, read see. pag. 56. lin. 10 salt, read salt. Pag. 71. lin. 4. And wraks of that city, read, And of that city's wreck. p. 76. l. 10. cools, read cool.   

OF Master George Ruthven the tears and mournings, Amids the giddy course of Fortune's turnings, Upon his dear friends death, Master James Gall, Where his rare ornaments bear a part, and wretched Gabions all.  

The first Muse.  

NOW must I mourn for  
Gall, since he is gone,  
And ye my Gabions help me him to moan;  
And in your courses sorrow for his sake, 
The auth● of this boo● did write t● Pantheon, which wa● fathered o● Master Ga●   
Whose matchless Muse immortal did you make.  
Who now shall pen your praise, and make you known?  
By whom now shall your virtues be forth-shown?  
Who shall declare your worth? Is any able?  
Who dare to meddle with Apelles table?  
Ai me there's none: And is there none indeed?  
Then must ye mourn of force, there's no remeed:  
And I, for my part, with you in my turn  
Shall keep a doleful consort whilst ye mourn:  
And thus, with echoing voice, shall howl and cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die?   

Now first my Bows begin this doleful song, 
Bowes.   
No more with clangors let your shafts be flung  
In fields abroad, but in my cabin stay,  
And help me for to mourn till dying day.  
With dust and cobwebs cover all your heads,  
And take you to your matins and your beads,  
A requiem sing unto that sweetest soul,  
Which shines now, sancted, above either pole.   

And ye my Clubs, you must no more prepare.  
To make you balls flee whistling in the air, 
Clubs.   
But hang your heads, and bow your crooked crags,  
And dress you all in sackcloth and in rags,  
No more to see the Sun, nor fertile fields,  
But closely keep you mourning in your bields,  
And for your part the triple to you take,  
And when you cry make all your crags to crack,  
And shiver when you sing alas for Gall!  
Ah if our mourning might thee now recall!   

And ye my Lodestones of Lidnochian lakes, 
Curling stones.   
Collected from the loughs, where watery snakes  
Do much abound, take unto you a part,  
And mourn for Gall, who loved you with his heart:  
In this sad dump and melancholic mood  
The Burdown ye must bear, not on the flood,  
Or frozen watery plains, but let your tuning  
Come help me for to weep by mournful cruning.   

And ye the rest, my Gabions less and more  
Of noble kind, come help me for to roar,  
And of my woeful weeping take a part,  
Help to declare the dolour of mine heart.   

How can I choose but mourn? when I think on  
Our games Olympike-like in times agone; 
Archery   
Chiefly wherein our cunning we did try,  
And matchless skill in noble archery;  
In these our days when archers did abound  
In Perth (then famous for such pastime found.)  
Amongst the first for archers we were known,  
And in that art our skill was loudly blown;  
What time Perths' credit did stand with the best  
And bravest archers, this land hath possessed.  
We spared nor gains, nor pains for to report  
To Perth the worship, by such noble sport:  
Witness the links of Leith, where Cowper, Grahame,  
And Stewart win the price and brought it home;  
And in these games did offer ten to three  
There to contend: Quorum pars magna fui.   

I mourn good Gall, when I think on that stead,  
Where ye did hail your shaft unto the head,  
And with a strong and steadfast eye and hand  
So valiantly your bow ye did command;  
A slidrie shaft forth of its forks did fling,  
Clank gave the bow, the whistling air did ring,  
The bowlt did cleave the clouds and threat the skies,  
And thence, down falling, to the mark it flies,  
Incontinent the aimer gave a token,  
The mark was killed, the shaft in flinders broken:  
Then softly smiling, good Gall, thus quoth I,  
Now find I time my archery to try,  
And here by solemn vow I undertake,  
In token of my love, even for thy sake,  
Either to hit the mark, else shall I never,  
More with these arms of mine use bow and quiver.  
Therewith my ligaments I did extend,  
And then a noble shaft I did commend  
Unto my bow, then firmly fixed mine eye,  
And closely levelled at Orion's knee,  
A star of greatest magnitude, who kend it 
The pre●nded Poet ●hen he shot drivers, used ●say Have ●the knee of ●ion.   
So well as I, prays you be not offended;  
(For I did use no magic incantation  
For to couduct my shaft I will find cation.)  
Then cleverly my flen soon can I feather,  
Upon my left arm was a brace of leather;  
And with three fingers hailing up the string,  
The bow in semicircle did I bring;  
With soft and tender louse out went the shaft,  
Amids the clouds the arrow flew aloft,  
And, as directed by a skilful hand,  
With speedy flight the steadfast mark it sand,  
The aimer gave his sign, forthwith was known,  
The shot was mine, the boult in flinders flown,  
Above his shaft, in such difficile stead,  
Closely I hit the mark upon the head;  
Then on the plain we capreld wonder fast,  
Whereat the people gazing were aghast;  
With kind embracements, did we thirst and thrimble,  
(For in these days I was exceeding nimble)  
We leapt, we danced, we loudly laughed and cried:  
For in the earth such skill was never tried  
In archery, as we proved in these days,  
Whereby we did obtain immortal praise.  
Then Gossip Gall (quoth I) I dare approve  
Thou hast a trusty token of my love.   

What shall be said of other martial games?  
None was inlaking from whence bravest stems,  
Victorious trophies, palms, and noble pines  
Olives and laurels, such as ancient times  
Decored the Grecian-victors in their plays,  
And worthy Romans in their brave assays,  
For trial of their strength, each matched with other,  
Whose beauty was, sweat mixed with dust together.  
Such exercises did content us more  
Than if we had possessed King Croesus' store.   

But O! ye fields my native Perth neerby,  
Prays you to speak, and truly testify,  
What matchless skill we proved in all these places,  
Within the compass of three thousand paces,  
On either side; while as we went a shooting,  
And strongly strove who should bring home the booting,  
Alongst the flowery banks of Tay to Amound,  
Ay when I hit the mark I cast a gamound;  
And there we view the place where some time stood  
The ancient Bertha, now ov'rflowed with flood 
Bertha   
Of mighty waters, and that Princely hold  
Where dwelled King William, by the stream down rolled,  
Was utterly defaced, and overthrown,  
That now the place thereof scarce can be known.   

Then through these haughs of fair and fertile ground,  
Which with fruit trees, with corns, and flocks abound,  
Meandring rivers, sweet flowers, heavenly honey,  
More for our pastime then to conquesh money  
We went a shooting, both through plain and park,  
And never stayed till we came to Lowswork:  
Built by our mighty Kings for to preserve us,  
That thenceforth waters should not drown, but serve us;  
Yet condescending it admits one rill  
Which all these plains with crystal brooks doth fill,  
And by a conduit large three miles in length  
Serves to make Perth impregnable for strength  
At all occasions; when her clowses fall,  
Making the water mount up to her wall.   

When we had viewed this mighty work at random,  
We thought it best these fields for to abandon,  
And turning home-wards, spared nor dyke nor fowsie 
●wsie, or●lhousie ●lhousie.   
Until we come unto the boot of Bowsie,  
Alongst this aqueduct, and there our station,  
We made, and viewed Balhowsies situation,  
O'reluking all that spacious pleasant valley,  
With flowers damasked, level as an alley  
Betwixt and Perth, thither did we repair  
(For why the season was exceeding fair)  
Then all alongst this valley did we hie,  
And there the place we clearly did espy.  
The precinct, situation and the stead, 
●he battle ●he north   
Where ended was that cruel bloody fead  
Between these cursed clans, Chattan, and Key 
Inch betws thirty an● thirty.   
Before King Robert, john; upon the day  
Appointed, then and there, where did convene  
Thirty against thirty matched upon that green,  
Of martial fellows, all in raging mood  
Like furious Ajax, or Orestes wood,  
Alonely armed with long twohanded swords,  
Their sparkling eyes cast fire in steed of words,  
Their horrid beards, thrown brows, brusled mustages  
Of deadly blows t'enshew were vive presages.   

Thus standing Fortunes' event for to try,  
And thousands them beholding, one did cry  
With loud and mighty voice, Stay! hold your hands!  
A little space we pray; The case thus stands;  
One of our number is not here to day;  
This sudden speech did make some little stay  
Of this most bloody bargain, th'one party fight  
Would not unless the number were made right  
Unto the adverse faction, nor was any  
That would it take in hand amongst so many  
Beholders of all ranks into that place:  
On th'other side none would sustain disgrace  
To be debarred from his other fellows,  
He rather hung seven years upon the gallows.   

Thus as the question stood, was found at length  
One Henry wind, for trial of his strength  
The charge would take, a sadler of his craft, 
Henry wi●   
I wot not well whether the man was daft,  
But for an half french crown he took in hand,  
Stoutly to fight so long as he might stand,  
And if to be victorious should be tie him,  
They should some yearly pension provide him.  
The bargain holds: and then withal their maine  
Their braikens bukled to the fight again;  
Incontinent the trumpets loudly sounded,  
And mightily the great bagpipes were wound:  
Then fell they to't as fierce as any thunder,  
From shoulders arms, and heads from necks they sunder;  
All raging there in blood, they hewed and hasht,  
Their skin coats with the new cut were out●lasht;  
And scorning death, so bravely did they fight it,  
That the beholders greatly were affrighted:  
But chiefly this by all men was observed,  
None fought so fiercely; nor so well deserved  
As this their hired Soldier, Henry Wind,  
For by his valour victory inclined  
Unto that side; and ever since those days  
This proverb current goes, when any says,  
How come you here? This answer doth he find,  
I'm for mine own hand, as fought Henry Wind.  
So finely fought he, ten with him escaped,  
And of th'other but one, in flood who leapt,  
And saved himself by swimming over Tay:  
But to speak more of this we might not stay.   

Thence did we take us to the other hand,  
From this divided by a crystal strand:  
From whence the King beheld with open sight  
The long-time doubtful event of this fight,  
From of his pleasant gardens, flowery wall,  
Which we the guilted Arbour yet do call;  
And here some monuments we did descry,  
And ruined heaps of great antiquity:  
There stood a temple, and religious place,  
And here a palace; but ah woeful case! 
Black Frie● where kille● was King james the first.   
Where murdered was one of the bravest Kings  
For wisdom, learning, valour, and such things  
As should a Prince adorn; who trads and arts  
By men of matchless skill brought to their parts,  
From Italy, Low Germany, and France,  
Religion, learning, policy to advance,  
King james the first, of everlasting name,  
Killed by that mischant traitor, Robert Grahame,  
Intending of his crown for to have robbed him,  
With twenty eight wounds in the breast he stobed him.   

Unnatural parricide, most bloody traitor!  
Accursed be thou above any creature,  
And cursed be all, for so it is appointed,  
That dare presume to touch the Lords anointed.   

This phoenix Prince our nation much decord,  
Good letters and civility restored,  
By long and bloody wars which were defaced,  
His royal care made them be reembraced:  
And he this city mightily intended  
To have enhanced, if fates had condescended:  
For which if power answered goodwill, we would  
With Gorgias Leontinus raise of gold  
A statue to him of most curious frame,  
In honour of his dear and worthy name.  
He likewise built most sumptuously fair  
That much renowned religious place, and rare,  
The Charterhouse of Perth, a mighty frame, 
The Charter ●ouse, or Car●usian monastery, where ●uried was ●ing James ●e first, was ●uilt by him.   
Vallis virtutis by a mystic name,  
Looking alongst that painted spacious field,  
Which doth with pleasure profit sweetly yield,  
The fair south Inch of Perth, and banks of Tay.  
This abbeys, stiples, and its turrets stay  
While as they stood (but ah where sins abound  
The loftiest pride lies levelled with the ground!)  
Were cunningly contrived with curious art,  
And quintessence of skill in every part;  
My grandsire many times to me hath told it  
He knew their names this mighty frame who moldit:  
Italians some, and some were French men borne,  
Whose matchless skill this great work did adorn.  
And living were in Perth some of their race  
When that, alas, demolished was this place,  
For greatness, beauty, statlinesse so fair  
In Britan's Isle, was said, none might compare   

Even as Apelles for to prove his skill  
In limming Venus with a perfect quill,  
Did not on some one beauty take inspection,  
But of all beauties borrowed the perfection:  
Even so this Prince to policy inclined,  
Did not on some one fabric set his mind  
To make the prototype of his design,  
But from all works did all perfections bring,  
And rarest patterns brought from every part,  
Where any brave Vitruvius kithed his art,  
So that this great and princely enterprise  
Perfections of all models did comprise.   

And in this place where he doth buriedly  
Was kept the Relict wherein he did dye;  
His doublet, as a monument reserved,  
And when this place was razed, it was preserved:  
Which afterwards I did see for my part,  
With holes through which he stabbed was to the heart.   

Then, good Gall, thus quoth I, what show of reason  
Moved this unnatural traitor work such treason?  
Reason! good monsieur, Gall did thus reply,  
Reason! so much in show I do deny,  
Reason! No reason did he have at all,  
But wormwood, bitter malice Stygian gall  
Within this traitors heart did closely lurk,  
Which moved him this tragedy to work:  
And I would truly tell this woeful story,  
But that my tongue doth fail, mine heart's so sorry:  
Yet whiles that we unto the town do go,  
monsieur, the true occasion, will I show.   

This worthy Prince, according to the taillie  
Made by King Robert, when heirs male should faillie,  
Of his Son David then Earl of Statherne,  
So soon, I say, the King as he did learn,  
That heirs male of this David were surceased,  
Into these lands he did himself invest:  
For David leaving after him no son,  
His lands by right come back unto the crown,  
Yet after him one daughter did survive,  
In marriage which to Patrick Grahame they give,  
To whom she bore a son, one Melisse Grahame,  
Whose parents dying young, Robert did claim,  
As uncle, and as tutor, of these lands  
To have the charge devolved in his hands:  
Which when the king most justly did deny  
To give, and gravely show the reason why,  
This bloody traitor from his gorge did spew  
Words treacherous, nor to be spoke, nor true.  
For which he justly traitor was declared,  
But he the King's authority nought cared,  
But more and more pursuing his intent,  
To Walter Earl of Athole strait he went,  
Whom well he knew to have the like design,  
Above all things for to cut off the king,  
And all the race sprung of Eliza Mure,  
With witches did consult and spirits conjure,  
This to effect, and all th'infernal furies  
With draughts and spells, and such unlawful curies:  
At length he finding that incarnate fiend,  
Believed his response should have steadfast end,  
Which was, that he should once before he die  
Be crowned King with great solemnity:  
Which came to pass indeed, but not with gold,  
For his familiar spirit kept that untold:  
Thus these two traitors cruelly did hatch  
The treason, which this good king did dispatch.   

Both of these traitors at the crown did aim,  
Th'one thought his nephew might it some time claim,  
And he without all question would succeed:  
For well he knew to cut the fatal thread:  
Likewise that other Hell-taught traitor Walter  
Believed by no means his response could alter,  
Thus both of them fed with ambitious hopes,  
Keeped secret by themselves their partial scops,  
But mutually this one thing they intent,  
The king must die; and here their thoughts they spend.   

But this Earl Walter subtle more than th' other  
His acquaint design 'gan cunningly to smother,  
Observing well the Grahames proud haughty brain,  
Greatly aggreaged the wrongs he did sustain,  
Affirming that there was none had a heart  
But would avenged be, and for his part  
He would assist, and when that turn were ended  
Against all deadly Grahame should be defended.  
Thus by ambition witched, and rage demented  
This traitor execut what was intented.  
Who from the famous Trojan had his name  
And from the woods, when he did hear the fame 
Aeneas Silvius.   
Of this infamous fact at Edinburgh then  
Residing to make peace between these men  
Who of the Greeks and Trojans are descended,  
O how he was enraged! O how offended!  
To see so brave a Prince so traitorously  
Cut off, he roared and railed outrageously  
Against all the nation; but when he justice done  
Had seen upon the traitors, than his tune  
He quickly changed, now have I seen (said he)  
A cruel crime revenged cruelly.   

This tragic task, monsieur, in hand to take  
Mine eyes do melt in tears, mine heart strings crack,  
What! shall I speak of Priam's King of Troy  
By Pyrrhus killed? that cannot much annoy:  
Or shall I of brave julius Caesar tell,  
Whom these two traitors did in Senate kill?  
These may affect us with some small compassion,  
But for to speak of this is a tentation.  
Caesar for valour, learning and meek mind,  
And ah too much like Caesar in his end.  
Excusa moi, monsieur, mine heart's so sorry,  
That I can tell you no more of this story.   

When I think with what gravity and grace  
This tragedy was told, tears weet my face:  
And I do wish good Gall, thou were on live,  
That with Meonian style thou might'st descrive  
Such memorable acts; or else thy spirit  
In some new body placed, it to inherit:  
Ai me, this can not be, which makes me cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die?    

The second Muse.  

BUt this sad melancholic disquisition  
Did not befit our Jovial disposition  
In these our days: Therefore when we had mourned  
For this good King, we to the town returned,  
And there to cheer our hearts, and make us merry,  
We kindly tasted of the noble berry;  
Melancholy and grief are great men-killers:  
Therefore from Tamarisk, with some capillars  
Infused we drank; for to preserve our splens  
From grief, our lungs from cough, and purge our reins.  
But this receipt Gall did not keep always,  
Which made him die, alas, before his day.   

Then home we went unto our beds to rest us,  
To morrow again we to the fields addressed us;  
And in my bed as I did dreaming lie,  
Me thought I heard with mighty voice, one cry  
Arise, monsieur, the day is wondrous fair,  
monsieur arise, than answered I, Who's there?  
Arise, monsieur, the third time did it call.  
who's there? Quoth I, It is I Master Gall.  
Then I awoke, and found it so indeed;  
Good morrow Master Gall. monsieur, God speed.  
Good Master Gall, Dreams did me much molest  
This night, and almost rave me of my rest.  
monsieur, quoth Gall, What motion might that be?  
Said I, I dreamed I was in archery  
Outmatcht so far, that I was stricken dumb,  
For very grief to be so overcome.  
monsieur, said he, That's been a mighty passion,  
That hath you stricken dumb in such a fashion.  
A passion, so great, that I did sweat,  
My sinews tremble, and my heart did beat.  
At length, respiring, these few words did speak,  
O noble heart, of force now must thou break!  
For to these days was never in this land  
That did overcome this matchless maiden hand;  
And dreaming, as I grudged with Master Gall,  
Incontinent a voice on me did call;  
Arise Monsior, arise: then I awoke,  
And found it was Galls voice unto me spoke,  
Which made me doubt, if so could come to pass:  
Then answered Gall, although your bow were brass,  
That might be done; and I'm the man will do it  
What say you Gall? Quod I, then let us to it.   

Forthwith we dressed us in our archer grath,  
And to the fields we came, like men in wrath:  
When we our nerves and tendons had extended,  
Incontinent our bows were bravely bended;  
The sky was wondrous clear, Apollo fair  
Greatly delighted to behold us there:  
And did disperse the clouds, that he might see  
What matchless skill we proved in archery.  
The crystal river Phoebus' beams reflected;  
As glad of us, them in our face directed:  
The flowery plains, and mountains, all the while  
That we were shutting, meriely did smile.   

Mean while, for honours praise as we were swelting  
The sweat from of our brows and temples melting,  
Phoebus, as seeming to envy our skill,  
His quiver with some fiery shafts did fill,  
And from his silver bow at us he darted  
These shafts, to make us faint and feeble hearted:  
Whose mighty force we could not well oppose,  
Under a shade we therefore did repose  
A pretty while, hard by a silver stream,  
Which did appear some melody to frame.  
Running alongst the snow white pebble stones  
Mourning did murmur joys, commixed with moans:  
A cup I had of Woodbine of the wall  
And drinking, said, This to you Master Gall.  
Quoth he, monsieur, sith that we have no better,  
With all mine heart I will you pledge in water:  
This brook alongst the flowery plain meanders,  
And in a thousand compasses it wanders;  
And as it softly slides so many ways,  
It sweetly sings as many rondelays,  
And, harmony to keep, the honey bees  
Their trumpets sound amongst the flowers; and trees  
Their shadows from their shaggy tops down sending  
Did bow, in token of their homage rendering  
But in short while Phoebus his face withdrew;  
Then freshly fell we to't again of new,  
And kith most skilful, and most pleasant game,  
While to the lands of Loncartie we came.   

Then thus, quoth I, Good Gall, I pray thee show,  
For clearly all antiquities ye know,  
What mean these skonses, and these hollow trenches  
Throughout these fellow-fields, and yonder inches?  
And these great heaps of stones, like Pyramids?  
Doubtless all these ye know, that so much reads.   

These trenches be (Gall answering, did reply)  
Where these two armies Scots and Danes did lie  
Encamped, and these heaps the trophae's be,  
Reared in memorial of that victory,  
Admired unlooked for, conquest in that day,  
Be th'only virtue of a Hynds-man, Hay,  
And his two sons, from whence immortal praise  
He gained, and glory of his name did raise  
To all succeeding ages; as is said  
Of Briareus an hundreth hands who had,  
Wherewith he fought, or rather as we see  
A valiant Samson, whose activity  
With his asse-bone kills thousands, or a Shangar  
With his oxe-goad kills hundreths in his anger:  
Even so, this warlike wight with oxens yoke  
Beats squadrons down by his undaunted stroke,  
And did regain the victory, near lost,  
Unto the Scots, by his new gathered host  
Of fearful fleers, in a woeful plight,  
By his encouragements infusing might  
Into their nerves, new spirits in their arters,  
To make them fight in blood unto the garters,  
Against their hateful foes, who for to be  
Did fight, more than for price or victory.  
Such cruelties their bloody hearts possessed  
To have old quarrels on us Scots redressed,  
For utterly quailed Pights, and for their own  
Armies by us so often overthrown.  
This worthy chieftains happy enterprise  
Which saved this country from the tyrannies  
Of cruel Danes, and his two Mars-like sons  
Do for all ages wear the quernall crowns,  
Like Thrasibulus; ever bluming bays  
Do add much splendour to these worthy Hayes.   

And always since they for their weapons wield  
Three rubric targets in a silver shield.  
Which shield the soaring falcon doth sustain,  
To signify these three men did obtain  
The public safety, and the falcons flight  
By mounting, shows their worth; by lighting, right  
Unto their lands; for honours high regard:  
Which in all ages should have due reward.  
Like shall all find, who loyal to the state  
And countries well do prove, though small or great:  
Men shall them praise, God shall preserve their stems,  
Immortal fame shall canonize their names.   

Thence forward went we unto Campsie-lin,  
From whence the river falling makes such din 
Campsie-li   
As Nilus' Catadups: There so we sported  
It is impossible for to report it:  
Whither we walked, or did we sit, or stand,  
Quiver was tied to side and bow in hand;  
So that none thought us to be mortal wights  
But either Phoebus, or fair Phoebe's Knights.  
There we admired to see the Salmond leap,  
And overreach the waters mighty heap,  
Which from a mountain falls, so high, and steep,  
And tumbling down devals into the deep,  
Making the boiling waters to rebound,  
Like these great surges near by Greenland found:  
Yet these small fish overcome these watery mountains,  
And kindly take them to their mother fountains,   

With what affection every creature tenders  
The native soil! Hence comes great jove remembers  
His cradle Crect, and worthy more than he,  
Let th'idle Cretians at their pleasure lie,  
Even these most worthy Kings, of mighty race  
Come of great Fergus, long to see the face  
Of their dear Caledonia, whose soil  
Doth make their kindly hearts within them boil,  
To view these fields where Martial men of arms  
Great monuments have reared, with loud alarms  
Of thundering trumpets, by a hundreth Kings  
And seven, one Queen; what ancient Poet sings  
The like descent of Princes, who their crowns  
And sceptres have bestowed upon their sons  
Or nearest kinsmen? Neither is it so  
That this continued line had never foe 
●he old demies of scotland.   
To interrupt the same, witness these standers  
That bear the Roman Eagle, great commanders  
Of most part of the glob, and cruel Danes  
Victorious elsewhere, but not in our plains,  
Pights and old Britan's; more than these to tell,  
Who in the compass of this Island dwell  
But, praised be God, Britain is now combined  
In faith and truth, one God, one King, one mind.   

Let scoffers say that neither wine nor oil  
(Whose want stayed conquest) grows within this soil: 
Comedies of Scot●d.   
Yet if gold, pearl, or silver better be,  
As most men them account, it doth supplee:  
Yea things more needful for man's use it yields,  
Herds, flocks, and corns abound here in our fields,  
Wild beasts in forests, of all kinds in plenty,  
Rare fowls, fruits, fishes, and what else is dainty;  
Perpetual fire; to speak it in a word,  
The like no where is found, it doth afford.  
Thus providence divine hath it ordained,  
That humane commerce may be entertained,  
All soils should have, yet none brings all things forth,  
Yea grounds most barren oft have greatest worth  
Contained in their bowels: this to tell us,  
Non omnia producit omnis tellus.  
Hence comes that men their gold for iron change,  
And so far from there native countries range,  
Their softest silk for coursest canvasse give,  
Because by commerce men do better live,  
Then by such things their native grounds forth measure,  
By traffic they do find more gain and pleasure:  
Yea things more simple much more useful are,  
And for man's well more profitable far.  
Thus iron serves for all brave arts, much more  
Than gold, let Midas heap it up in store:  
And canvasse serves for venturous navigation,  
Where silks are only for clothes green seek fashion,  
And though wine glad the heart, yet stirs it strife,  
But grain the staff is which sustains our life:  
So humane fellowship to entertain,  
Our fishes and our corners bring oil and wine.   

But above all our soil throughout all parts  
Bears bravest Chiftans, with courageous hearts: 
Couragio worthies Scotland.   
These be the bar of conquest, and the wall,  
Which our most hateful foes could never scall.  
Would you behold one Hannibal o'erturn  
Fourscore of thousands? look to Bannokburne:  
Or would you see Xerxes his overthrow  
And flight by boat? Edward the second know:  
Or Carthaginian towers with all their mights  
Destroyed? view Camelon with faithless Pights:  
Or would ye know great Castriot, whose bones  
Could Martial virtue give, digged from the stones,  
Where he did buried lie? take for that part  
The Brusse and Douglas, carrying his heart  
Through many lands, intending it to have  
Solemnly buried in the Holy-grave.  
This heart though dead, within their hearts begetting  
Brave hearts, against dangers their bold breasts outsetting.  
Would you a King for zeal unto God's house  
Like Israel's David? Our Saint David choose.  
Or know King james the first, like julius Caesar,  
Or Gregory like Alexander; these are  
With many more the worthies, whose renown  
By martial deeds have keeped close this crown.   

Yea more to speak of such heroic themes,  
Who knoweth not the worthy great King james  
Of Britain's union first; whose virtues great  
Were more than equal to his royal seat;  
Whose matchless wisdom, and most learned quill  
Did nectar and ambrosia distil,  
And ravished with amazements all who heard him,  
But most for active prudence all admired him.  
Happy in all his life, whose worthy name  
A peaceable Augustus did proclaim.  
Who conquered more by wit, than by the sword,  
And made all Europe muuh regard his word.   

And good King Charles the son of such a Father,  
Thrice happy by thy Virgin Crown; yea rather  
More happy, if more happiness can be,  
In earthly things, by thy high pedegrie;  
But most of all by Heaven, which hath appointed  
This maiden crown for thee, the Lords Anointed,  
The man of his right hand, and for thy seed,  
Which God mote bless and all who shall proceed  
Forth of thy loins, and establish in thy place  
So long as Sun and Moon shall run their race.  
Then reign, great Charles, our nostrils sweetest breath,  
Long may thou reign Defender of the Faith,  
Enthroned among these worthy peerless pearls,  
And let all say, God save our good King Charles;  
And deeply in his heart imprint that zeal,  
To make the law supreme the people's well.   

What shall we speak of Marshal Chiftans more?  
Of gideon's, and of Sampsons' we have store,  
Whom God did raise, for to defend our state  
Miraculously, in times most desperate.  
What braver Hector, or more brave Achilles  
In Greece, or Phrygia, than Sir William Wallace?  
And john the Grahame, his mate, and brother sworn,  
Whose living fame his name doth much adorn?  
And if we list this subject more to handle,  
What Governor like good Earl Thomas Randall?  
Or doughty Douglas with courageous heart,  
Whose name wrought dreadful terror in each part?  
But this heroic theme, so passing great,  
Impossible it is all to relate,  
Our worthy rulers even unto their days  
They do not want their own deserved praise,  
Nor shall they for my part want due renown,  
Virtue t'advance, and vice to trample down.  
These be the wall of Gods own work and framing  
Against our foes, and of his own maintaining,  
Wherefore we bless his holy Name that made us,  
And pray that never foreign sceptre lead us,  
T'impose hard laws, and tributaries make us,  
To chastise us with scorpions, and to rake us;  
And likewise pray, that Ajax-like, we would not  
Undo ourselves, which all our enemies could not.   

But O dear Caledonia! What desire 
DIN●URGH.   
Have all men who have heard thy fame t'admire  
Thy monuments? How much more these who be  
Thy sons, desire thy maiden soil to see?  
Thy maiden castle, and fair Maiden burgh,  
The stately winged City, which is through  
All ages much renow'nd with streets so fair,  
And palaces so mounted in the air  
That if the deepness of imagination  
Could limb a landskape by deep meditation,  
Scarce could it match, where bravest youths abound,  
And gravest counsellors are always found:  
Where Justice joineth hand with true Religion,  
And golden virtue keep the middle region,  
As register, where these acts are enrolled,  
Better than in Corinthian brass or gold.   

Let Poetaster-parasits, who fain,  
And fawn, and crouch, and couch, and creep for gain,  
And, where no hope of gain is, huff, and hur,  
And bark against the Moon as doth a Cur;  
Let such base curs, who nought but gobbets smell,  
Wish the disgraced, and deeply sunk in hell  
Whether themselves do go; yet shalt thou stand,  
And see them ruined all that thee withstand:  
God shall befriend thy friends, and shall all those  
Array with shame that causeless be thy foes:  
Thou art this ancient Kingdom's bravest part,  
For wit and worth thou art its hand and heart,  
And who the Kingdoms compend brave would see  
Needs do no more but survey take of thee.   

Hence these desires fair Caledonias soil  
To view, where bravest stratagems with toil  
Have acted been, hence comes these kindly wishes,  
To see these fields, even like these kindly fishes,  
Which we behold overcome this mighty lin,  
And seek the fountains where they did begin.    

The third Muse.  

THus as we did behold the Salmond sporting,  
We spied some Country clowns to us resorting, 
Country clown's hal● asses.   
Who stricken were with sudden admiration  
To see us graithed in such antique fashion,  
Their stairing eyes grew blind, their tongues were dumb,  
A chilling cold their senses did benumb.  
Said we, What moves you Ghosts to look so grisly?  
They scarcely muttering, answered, and not wisely,  
Oft have we heard of such strange wights as ye,  
But to this time we did them never see,  
If ye be men or not, scarce can we tell,  
Ye look like men, yet none such here do dwell.  
Then said good Gall, monsieur, these fellows stupid, 
Gall was a ●le & good● man, M. George a ●onnie little ●an.   
Doubtless take me for Mars, and you for Cupid;  
Therefore let us be gone, we will not tarry,  
Yond clowns will swear that they have seen the Fairy  
When they come home at night, and by the fire  
Will tell such uncouth tales, all will admire,  
Both man and wife, the lads and all the lasses,  
For be ye sure such clowns are very asses.   

Thence down the river bank as we did walk,  
And mirrielie began to chant and talk,  
A pretty boat with two oars we espied  
Fleeting upon the waters, than we cried,  
HOW boatman come; two fisher men neerby  
Thus answered us again, And who doth cry?  
Said we, Good friends, to favour us delay not,  
The day is very hot, and walk we may not,  
Therefore your kindly courtesy implores,  
To let us have these little pair of oars  
For down the river we would make our way,  
And land at Perth, With all our heart, said they,  
For we likewise at Perth would gladly be,  
Only we want such company as ye.  
All men were glad of us, none did refuse  
What ever thing it pleased us ask or choose,   

Then we inbarked with two boys in train,  
Who recollect our shafts, and these two men:  
As down the river did we softly slide,  
The banks most sweetly smyld on other side:  
To see the flowers our hearts did much rejoice  
The banwort, daisy, and the fragrant rose;  
Favonius in our faces sweetly blew  
His breath, which did our fainting spirits renew.  
Then with Sicilian Muse can we dissemble  
Our secret flammes, making our voices tremble;  
While as we sweetly sung kind Amaryllis,  
And did complain of sowre-sweet lovely Phyllis,  
So sadly, that the Nymphs of woods and mountains,  
And these which haunt the plains and crystal fountains 
Nymphs.   
Barelegged to the brawns, arms bare and breast,  
Like whitest evorie bare unto the waste,  
The lilies and the roses of their faces  
Running more pleasant made, their waveing tresses,  
Well curled with the wind: all these drew nigh  
The water's brink, in song to keep reply,  
Treading the flowers, When Gall them so espied  
O! how he cast his eyes on either side.  
And wished t'have smelled one flower, where they had traced,  
Judge what he would have given to have embraced.   

But chiefly Echo fettered was in love,  
At every word we spoke her tongue did move, 
Echo.   
Then did we call, Sweet Nymph, pray thee draw nigh?  
She answeering us most willingly, said, I  
Draw near said Gall, for gladly would I please thee,  
Do not deny to hear me. She said ease thee,  
Then comesweet Nymph, thy face fain would I know,  
She quickly answering him again, said, No.  
Why so, said he? here is there no Narcissus.  
To this her old love's Name did answer, kiss us.  
Kiss us, said he, with all my heart, again.  
This is the thing I would: she answered, Gain:  
Gaine! such a gain, said he, I crave always;  
No countenance she shows, yet answers ay;  
And bashfuly obscures her blushing face,  
Lest from Cephisus son she find disgrace.  
But if that she had known Galls tender mind,  
She had not proved so bashful and unkind.   

When ended were our songs with perfect close,  
We thought it best to merry be in prose;  
Then seriously and truly to discourse,  
Of divers matters grave, we fell by course,  
But chiefly of this blind world's practice bad, 
contempt of ●rning.   
Preferring unto learning any trade.  
For these evil times hold not in such account  
Men learned, as the former ages wont:  
But if the worth of learning well they knew,  
Good Gall (quoth I) they would make much of you,  
In Poetry so skilled, and so well red 
●hat a Poet ●n do.   
In all antiquity, what can be said  
Whereof you fluently can not discourse,  
Even like the current of this river's course?  
Things absent you can present make appear,  
And things far distant; as if they were near,  
Things senseless unto them give sense can ye,  
And make them touch, taste, smell, and hear, and see:  
What can not Poets do? They life can give  
And after fatal stroke can make men live;  
And if they please to change their tune or note,  
They'll make men's names on earth to stink and rote.  
Who did fix Hercules amongst the stars?  
And Diomedes for his wit in wars  
Made equal to the gods? But odious  
For vice Thersites vile, and Sisyphus?  
These were th'immortal muses, who do sing,  
As vice and virtue do their subjects bring,  
Therefore this counsel wisdom doth impart you,  
Flee filthy vice and entertain fair virtue.   

Yet 'tis not so that every spirit fell  
Whose wicked tongue is set on fire of Hell,  
Nor every Momus, nor Archilochus,  
Whose mouths do vomit venom poisonous,  
Hath inspiration of the sacred Muses,  
Such wickedness th' Aonian band refuses:  
But he who vice most gravely censure can,  
And virtues praise advance in any man  
With perfect numbers, such one is a Poet,  
But in their days, alas, few men do know it,  
Like my dear Gall: who gravely did reply  
A good Maecenas lets not Poets die,  
Poets make men on gold winged fame to fly  
When lands with loss; life changed with death shall be.   

As we thus talked our berge did sweetly pass  
By Scones fair palace, sometimes abbey was:  
Strange change indeed, yet is it no new guise,  
Both spiritual lands and more to temporise.  
But palace fair, which doth so richly stand,  
Where gardens, orchards, parks on either hand,  
Where flowers, and fruits, the hart, and fallow dear,  
For smell, for taste, for venison and cheer,  
The nose, the mouth, and palate which may please,  
For garden chambers for delight and ease,  
Damasked with porphyry and alabaster,  
Thou art not subject for each Poetaster,  
But for a Poet, Master in his art,  
Which thee could whole descrive, and every part,  
So to the life, as t'were in perspective,  
As readers that they see thee might believe.   

Mean while our boat doth with the river slide  
The country Nymphs who in these parts abide,  
With many a shout moving both head and hand  
Did us invite, that we would come a land.  
Not now, said we; and think it not disdain  
For we do promise for to come again,  
And view where some time stood your Cathedral,  
And mount, which Omnis terra you do call. 
●dge of ●y.   
Just by this time we see the bridge of Tay  
O happy sight indeed, was it that day;  
A bridge so stately, with eleven great arches,  
Joining the south and north, and commoun march is  
Unto them both, a bridge of squared stone,  
So great and fair; which when I think upon,  
How in these days it did so proudly stand,  
Ov'rlooking both the river and the land;  
So fair, so high, a bridge for many ages  
Most famous; But alas, now through the rages  
Of furious swelling waters, thrown in deep,  
Mine heart for sorrow sobs, mine eyes do weep.  
And if my tongue should cease to cry and speak,  
undoubtedly my grief-swoln heart would break.   

But courage, monsieur, my good Genius says,  
Remember ye not how Gall in those days  
Did you comfort, lest melancholious fits  
Had you oppressed, your spleen so nearly sits,  
And told you in the year threescore thirteen  
The first down-fall this Bridge did ere sustain,  
By ruin of three arches nixt the town,  
Yet were rebuilt. Thereafter were thrown down  
Five arches in the year fourscore and two,  
Re-edified likewise, and who doth know  
monsieur, but ah, mine heart can scarcely sober!  
Even that great fall the fourteenth of October,  
Six hundred twenty one, repaired may be,  
And I do wish the same that I might see:  
For Britain's Monarch will it sure repair,  
Courage therefore, monsieur, do not despare;  
Is't credible to be believed or told,  
That these our Kings, who did possess of old  
Scotland alone, should such a work erect  
And Britain's mighty Monarch it neglect?  
Absurd it is to think, much more to speak it;  
Therefore good monsieur ye do far mistake it;  
For never had ye King was more inclined  
To do great works; nor of a braver mind,  
Providing he can have due information,  
His word will prove of powerful operation:  
For Kings are Gods on Earth, and all their actions  
Do represent th'Almighties great perfections.   

Thus Galls sweet words often do me comfort,  
And my good Genius truly doth report  
Them unto me, else sure my spleen should wholly  
Be overcome with fits of melancholy;  
Therefore I courage take, and hope to see  
A bridge yet built, although I aged be,  
More stately, firm, more sumptuous, and more fair,  
Then any former age could yet compare:  
Thus Gall assured me it would be so,  
And my good Genius truly doth it know:  
For what we do presage is not in gross,  
For we be brethren of the Rosy Cross;  
We have the Mason word, and second sight,  
Things for to come we can foretell aright;  
And shall we show what mystery we mean,  
In fair acrostics CAROLUS REX, is seen  
Described upon that bridge, in perfect gold:  
By skilful art; this clearly we behold,  
With all the Scutcheon of great Britain's King,  
Which unto Perth most joyful news shall bring,  
Loath would we be this mystery to unfold  
But for King Charles his honour we are bold.   

And as our Boat most pleasantly did pass 
●st building 〈◊〉 the bridge 〈◊〉 Tay.   
Upon the crystal river, clear as glass,  
My dearest Gall, quoth I, long time I spend  
Revolving from beginning to the end  
All our records, yet searching can not find  
First when this bridge was built; therefore thy mind  
Feign would I know: for I am very sorry  
Such things should be omitted in our story.  
monsieur, said Gall, things many of that kind  
To be omitted often do we find:  
Yea time hath also greatest works destroyed,  
Wherein the learn'dest pens have been employed.  
But if that I should tell what I do know,  
An ancient story I could to you show,  
Which I have found in an old manuscript,  
But in our late records is overslipt,  
Which story no less probable is, than true,  
And, my good monsieur, I will show it you.   

I leave to speak what Hollinshed hath told  
Of Cunidag, was Britain king of old,  
The time Vzziah was of juda king,  
And jeroboam did o'er Israel reign,  
Ere Rome a city was years forty five,  
Ere sons of Rhea did for mastery strive,  
How that this Heathen built three cells of stone,  
To Mercury at Bongor built he one,  
His way for to direct: then to Apollo  
At Cornuel another did he hollow,  
For favourable response: the third to Mars,  
Where Perth now stands, for to assist his wars.   

But good monsieur this story is too old,  
Therefore I leave the rest of it untold,  
The time will not permit me to out-read it,  
I'm sure in Hollinshed ye often read it.  
I will a story of no less credit tell,  
In after ages truly what befell.   

When mighty romans came into this soil,  
With endless labour and undaunted toil,  
After great conflicts and uncertain chance  
Of Fortune's die, they did in arms advance,  
At length unto these parts where Perth doth stand  
Under the conduct and victorious hand  
Of that most valiant Chieftain of great fame  
Brave julius Agricola by Name.  
And there hard by a river side they found  
The fairest and most pleasant plot of ground,  
That since by bank of Tiber they had been,  
The like for beauty seldom had they seen,  
Of eighteen hundreth paces good, in length,  
From Muretowne brays to foot of Carnaks strength,  
King of the Pights, which stood on Moredune hill,  
The foot thereof from Friars dwelled thereintill  
Now named is, in breadth eight hundreth paces,  
Painted with white, red, yellow flowery faces,  
So equal fair; which when they did espy,  
Incontinent they Campus Martius cry,  
And as an happy presage they had seen,  
They fixed their tents amidst that spacious green,  
Right where now Perth doth stand, and cast their trenches  
Even where Perths' fowsies are, between these inches,  
The south and north, and bastalies they make,  
The power and strength of Scots, and Pights to brake,  
Who presently would fight, by wise cunctation  
They frustrate all their hope and expectation:  
For well this most victorius Roman knew  
T'abate his Enemy's rage and courage too.   

Finding the place even to their hearts desire,  
With grass for pasture stored, and wood for fire,  
The river likewise very opportune  
For lighter vessels to pass up and down,  
And correspondence with their Navy make,  
As Soldiers wise, they all occasions take,  
And do conclude to winter in that place,  
To foil their foes, by voluntary chase.   

Mean while courageously they do advise  
A bridge to build, for further enterprise, 
Wright work.   
Then forthwith fall they with redoubling strokes  
To fallen the tall fir trees, and aged oaks;  
Some square the timber with a stretched line,  
Some do the tenons, and the morties join,  
Some frame an oval, others make a cub,  
Some cut a section, other some do grub,  
Some with great compass semicircles form,  
Some drive the wages, painfully some worm,  
Some do hoist up the standers, others fix them;  
And some lay goodly rafters o'er betwixt them;  
What strength or skill can work, from point to point  
They cunningly contrive with angular joint,  
And do most strongly bind these contignations,  
To make them stand against all inundations.  
All men are set on frame, all hands are working,  
And all engines are bussied without irking.  
Thus in short space, a bridge they strongly make,  
With passage fair; and for their safety's sake  
A mighty strength to be, they frame withal,  
On either end, a bridge to lift and fall,  
That soldiers might within it keep at ease,  
Admitting, or repelling, as they please   

Thus fortified, lest that they should neglect  
Due honour to their gods, they did erect  
To Mars a temple, rather did restore  
The temple built by Cunidag before:  
For time on all things worketh demolition,  
And heathen men maintain like superstition.  
Then did this valiant chieftain name the river  
In Italy's remembrance Neo-Tiber.  
Which afterwards it kept for many a day,  
How long I know not, now it's called Tay.  
Likewise an house of mighty stone he framed,  
From whence our Castell-gavell, as yet is named.  
And, if Domitian had not called him home,  
I think he should have built another Rome.   

But all these monuments were worn away  
Ere did King William Perths' foundation lay,  
Only Mars temple stood upon that green,  
And th'house built by Agricola was seen,  
And some characters cunningly incised  
With julius Agricola imprisde  
In solid marmor, and some print was found,  
Where camped had an army, and the ground  
Where there had been a bridge: all which did yield  
Occasion to King William for to beild,  
After old Bertha's overthrow, that city,  
These ancient walls, and famous bridge; ah pity  
If they were as! But what doth not the rage  
Of men demolish and consuming age?  
For good King William seeing where had been  
Of old a passage, forthwith did ordain  
A mighty bridge of squaired stone to be.  
These famous walls and fusies which we see,  
Perth his chief strength to make, and seat of power  
Did with most ample privilege endue her.  
These be the first memorials of a bridge,  
Good monsieur, that we truly can allege.  
Thus spoke good Gall and I did much rejoice  
To hear him these antiquities disclose;  
Which I remembering now, of force must cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die?    

The fourth Muse.  

THis time our boat passing too nigh the land,  
The whirling stream did make her run on sand,  
Aluif, we cried, but all in vain, t'abide,  
We were constrained, till flowing of the tide.  
Then Master Gall, quoth I, even for my blessing  
Now let us go, the precious pearls a fishing, 
Fishing of pearls.   
Th'occasion serveth well, while here we stay  
To catch these mussels, you call toyts of Tay:  
It's possible, if no ill eye bewitch us  
We jewels find, for all our days t'enrich us:  
The waters here are shald, and clear, and warm,  
To bathe our arms and limbs will do no harm,  
For these sweet streams have power to bring back  
Our spirits which in outward parts make slake  
Our natural strength, but when these spirits retire  
They multiply our heat and inbred fire,  
Helping our vital, and our natural parts,  
Our lungs, our levers, stomaches, and our hearts,  
And mightily refrigerat our reanes,  
But above all they do refresh our spleans.  
For such a bathing bravely doth expel  
Melancholy, which makes the splean toswell.  
More than it should, causing an atrophy,  
That we like skelets rather seem to be  
Then men, and Atropos appears to laugh,  
Thinking we look liker an Epitaph,  
Then marriage song; likewise it doth us make  
Both supper and collation freshly take.  
Content said Gall: Then off our shoes we drew,  
And hose, and from us we our doublets threw,  
Our shirt sleeves wreathing up, without more speeches,  
And high above our knees pulling our breeches,  
In waters go, then straight mine arms I reach  
Unto the ground, whence cleaverly I fetch  
Some of these living pearled shells, which do  
Excel in touching and in tasting too,  
As all who search do by experience try,  
And we oftimes; therewith I lowdlie cry,  
Good Master Gall, behold I found a pearl,  
A Jewel, I assure you, for an Earl.  
Be silent, said good Gall, or speak at leisure,  
For men will cut your throat to get your treasure,  
If they its worth did know so well as I.  
Harpocrates my patience will try,  
Said I again, for I am not like such  
Who heard their treasure and their speech as much.  
But Gall, to stay long, no ways could be moved  
This element, said he, I never loved.  
To land: on goeth our clothes, alongst the way  
Then did we go, and taking clear survey  
How proper Perth did stand, one might have drawn  
Its landship fair, on paper, or on lawn.   

Good Gall, said I, ofttimes I heard of old 
The walls Perth.   
To be of truth these things ere while you told:  
But of these walls I doubt that which you said  
That good King William their foundations laid.  
Their founding is more late, I you assure;  
That we from stranger's rage may be secure,  
They builded were, even then when james did reign  
The second, and in minor age was king,  
Upon a bloody slaughter, I hear tell,  
Which 'twixt our town and highland men befell;  
For taking, as the custom was, a staig  
At Midsummer; said Gall, monsieur, you vaig.  
Which word indeed my spleen almost did move:  
Then Gall, said I, if that I did not love  
You most entirely, I would be offended.  
Said he, good monsieur, Would you have it mended?  
Then I that story will you truly tell,  
And if I fail so much as in a spell,  
Speak all your pleasure, I my peace shall hold,  
An● grant my tongue in speaking was too bold:  
Therefore monsieur, be not so much annoyed,  
These walls have oft been built, and oft destroyed  
And stratagems of war have acted been,  
As worthy as the world hath heard or seen.  
By Sojours as good as the Earth hath born,  
This boldly to avow I dare be sworn:  
England's first Edwards three can show the same,  
And Scotland's Wallace, Bruce, and Stewarts fame,  
Whose prowess within this Isle were not confined  
The Netherlands and France scarce them contained,  
Nor other parts of Europe, and it's clear  
What great exploits they bravely acted here,  
These stories are well known, I must not slack,  
For by and by the tide will call us back,   

When Edward Langshanks Scotland did surprise,  
The strengths first did he take, as Chieftain wise, 
●allace ex●leth the 〈◊〉 our Perth.   
But his chief strength to keep both South and North  
Lowlands and highlands on this side of Forth,  
Perth did he choose, and strongly fortify  
With garrisons of foot and chavalrie.  
And what the former times could not outred  
In walls and fowsies; these accomplished.  
Thereafter worthy Wallace first expelled them,  
And for to leave these walls by force compelled them. 
●allace sur●ders the ●vernment.   
Whom after fought was that fatal field  
Woeful Falkirk, envy did force to yield  
Up his government; to Perth then came,  
And in the Nobles presence quatte the same.  
Leanfaced envy doth often bring a nation  
To civil discord, shame, and desolation.  
Such bitter fruit we found, all to confusion  
At once did run, was nothing but effusion  
Of guiltless blood: Our enemies did take  
Our strengths again, and all things went to wreck,  
Such was our woeful state, unto the time  
The brave King, Robert Bruce, came to this clime, 
Bruce.   
Most happily, yet small beginnings had:  
For many years before this land he fred  
From enemy's rage, till wisely he at length  
By soft recoiling recollected strength;  
Then came to Perth, and did the same besiege 
Buchan. li● 8. pag. 272.   
And take; who through pursuit and cruel rage  
Killed Scots, and English all were in it found,  
Broke down the walls, them equalled to the ground.  
But after this victorious King did die,  
And brave Earl Thomas Randolf, by and by  
All things perplexed were, the Balliol proud  
With English forces both by land and flood 
Baliol.   
In Scotland came, arrived at Kinghorne,  
And through the country mightily did sorne.  
Our Governors, the Earls of Merche and Marre  
Sufficient armies levying for war  
This pride for to repress, did fix their tents  
At Dupline camped Marre: mine heart it rends 
Duplin field   
To tell the woeful event, in the night  
This Earl and all his host surprised by sleight,  
Ye know the story, all to death near brought,  
The Englishmen on Scots such butcheries wrought.  
Thus Balliol proud to Perth did make his way,  
The city all secure ere break of day  
For to surprise, naked of walls and men,  
As pray most easy did obtain, and then  
To fortify the same, in haste, did call,  
Go cast the fousie, and repair the wall.  
The Earl of Merch, hearing the woeful chance,  
Incontinent his army did advance  
To Perth, hoping the same he might regain,  
Did straight it besiege, but all in vain,  
He forced was to reteir; Balliol to Scone  
Then went, was crowned, rather usurped the crown.  
By these fair Fortunes having gained a faction,  
Not for the countries' peace, but for distraction  
Did overswey the balance, none with reason  
Durst call the Balliol's enterprise a treason,  
Because it had good success; so doth reel  
Th'inconstant course of giddy Fortune's wheel.  
Constant in changes of blindfolded chance.  
Mean while King David Bruce did flee to France  
As yet a child, his tender life to save  
From tyrannising Balliol's bloody glave.   

Balliol installed, in guarding leaves the town  
To some true traitors, not true to the crown. 
●erth besei●d three months'.   
Hereafter Nobles and commons all combined  
Whose kin were killed at Dupline, in one mind  
Avenged to be, did come in awful manner  
Unto the city, with displayed banner;  
And strongly it beseige three months and more,  
Till strong assault, and famine, urgeing sore,  
Forced them to yield, the traitors openly killed  
The walls were razed again, and fousies filled. 
Is taken, a● her walls r● said.    

Yet Balliol once more did obtain the same,  
And with new Fortunes much advance his name  
But who doth not find Fortunes fickle chance?  
Whom erewhile she so highly did advance  
To hold a sceptre, and to wear a crown,  
Now tyrannising proudly pesters down:  
King Edward came with fifty thousand brave  
To Perth, the Balliol, lead as captived slave. 
King Edwa● the third taketh capti● the Baliol● takes in Pe● and rebuil● her walls.   
Trust not in Kings, nor Kingdoms, nor applause  
Of men, the World's a sea that ebbs and flows,  
A wheel that turns, a reel that always rokes  
A bait that overswallowed men chokes.   

Seditions rise again, this Edward Windsor  
With greater forces came, and made a wind sore  
To blow through Scotland, minding a new conquest,  
Did all things overwhelm, even as a tempest  
Castles overcome, strongly beligger Perth  
It take, rebuild her walls, all thrown to Earth,  
Upon the charges of sex Abacies,  
With bulwarks, rampiers, rounds, and bastilies  
Of squared stone, with towers and battlements,  
Houses for prospect, and such muniments,  
For strong defence, clice and water falls,  
With passage fair to walk upon the walls,  
And spacious bounds within sojours to dreele,  
To merch, to string, to turn about, and wheel.  
These were the Abacies, Couper, Landores,  
Balmerinoch, Dumfermling, Saint Androes,  
And Aberbrotok; who these works did frame,  
For merit, and for honour of their name:  
Such zeal had they, though blind; ah now adays  
Much knowledge is professed, but zeal decays.   

Thus was the city strongly fortified, 
●ng Robert ●e second ●liggereth ●rth, assisted 〈◊〉 the Dou●as, & Earl Rosse.   
Till Robert the first Stuart first assayed  
With four great armies, yet by force repelled  
And after three months sage with grief compelled  
To sound retreat, Douglas mean while in Tay  
Most haply did arrive: then they assay  
To reinforce the charge, and with munition  
For battery new prepared, and demolition,  
Most furiously assault, a month and more,  
Yet nothing could avail their endevoure,  
Until the Earl of Rosse with new supply  
Did fortify the leaguer, and drew by  
The water, which the wall did compass round,  
By secret conduits, and made dry the ground.  
Then after sharp assault, and much blood spended,  
Bravely pursued, and no less well defended,  
Finding themselves too weak who were within  
More to resist, to parley they begin, 
●rth surrendered by the 〈◊〉.   
And treat of peace; both parties jump in one,  
With bag and baggage that they should be gone,  
And so it was: The city they surrender  
No English since hath been thereof commander.  
Read George Buchanane Boëce, Master Mair  
These histories they word for word declare.   

After this siege the walls some part thrown down  
But were not wholly razed, to keep the town  
In some good sort, ready for peace or war,  
If not a bulwark, yet some kind of bar.  
Thus did they stand, until these heighland men  
Amidst their fury killed a Citizen; 
The He● land men a Burges Perth.   
A Citizen to kill, an odious thing  
It then was thought; no sacrifice condign  
Could expiate the same, though now each knave  
Dane to account a citizen a slave;  
No such conceit in all the World again,  
As proudlie-poor such foundlings do maintain.   

This sudden slaughter made a great commotion,  
The Burgesses without further devotion 
Are pers● by the ci● zens to Ho● manstair●   
As men with war enured, to arms do fly,  
Upon these Heighland men avenged to be,  
Which they perform, chaffed in mind as bears,  
And do pursue them unto Hoghmansstaires;  
In memory of this fight it hath the name,  
For many men lay there, some dead, some lame,  
On which occasion they 'gan fortify,  
And build these walls again, as now we see; 
The 〈◊〉 building 〈◊〉 the walls.   
Though not so brav'ly as they were before,  
For that did far surpass their endeavour,  
Yet some resemblance they do keep and fashion  
For they be builded near the old foundation.   

These are the walls, monsieur, as I have shown,  
Which often have been built, ofttimes down thrown  
With stratagems of war, fame hath renowned them,  
And if not Mars, yet martial men did found them.  
But now, good monsieur, needs none more at all  
Them to destroy: they of themselves will fall.  
So said good Gall, and humbly begged leave  
For that offence so rashly he did give.  
Oh! if he were on life to say much more,  
For so he was disposed some times to roar.    

The fifth Muse.  

YEt bold attempt and dangerous, said I, 
Perths' old ●rgesses all ●osen men greatest ●nhood, for ●ence of ●t strength, ch. lib. 16. 〈◊〉. 593.   
Upon these kind of men such chance to try  
By nature inhuman, much given to blood,  
Wild, fierce, and cruel, in a disperat mood.  
But no such danger, answered Master Gall,  
As fearfully you deem, was there at all:  
For Perth was then a city made for war,  
Her men were soldiers all, and bold to dare  
Such motion attempt, a soldier keen  
The smallest outrage hardly can susteene.   

Many such stratagems declare I might,  
Which Perth hath acted in defence of right:  
How Ruthvens place, and Duplins, in one day 
The battle the bridge Tay its ●ent.   
Were burned, or battle of the bridge of Tay,  
With manly courage fought, where, killed were many,  
Upon the day sacred to Magdalené,  
Five hundreth forty four, for which she mourns,  
And many times her crystal tears she turns  
In floods of woes, remembering how these men  
Were justly by their own ambition slain,  
Thinking to sack a town, some through despair  
Did overleap the bridge, and perish there:  
Some borne on spears, by chance did swim a land.  
And some lay swelting in the slykie sand,  
Agruif lay some, others with eyes to skies,  
These yielding dying sobs, these mournful cries.  
Some by their fall were fixed on their spears,  
Some swatring in the flood the stream down bears,  
By chance some got a boat, What needs more words?  
They make them oars of their two handed swords:  
Some doubting what to do, to leap or stay,  
Were trampled under foot as miry clay;  
Confusedly to fight and flee they thrimble,  
The shifring spears thirst through their bodies tremble,  
And strongly brangled in splents do quickly flee,  
The glistering sword is changed in crimson die;  
To wrak they go; even as the raging thunder,  
Rumbling and rolling roundly, breaks asunder  
A thick and dampish cloud, making a shower  
Of crystal gems, on Earth's dry bosom power,  
So broken was that cloud, the purpure blood  
In drops distilling, rather as a flood,  
The dry and dusty ground doth warmly drain;  
And dying bodies in their own blood stain,  
Or as the comets, or such meteors driven  
Or stars which do appear to fall from heaven:  
So tumbling headlong spears in hand they trail;  
As fiery dragons, seem to have a tail;  
Or Phaethon, or some sulphureous ball,  
So from the bridge in river do they fall.   

I pray the Gall, quoth I, that story show 
●he occasi● of the bat, 〈◊〉.   
Some things I heard of it, and more would know,  
Tell it I pray. No, no, Gall did reply,  
Lest I offend our neighbour town neerby,  
When they shall hear how malice did provoke them,  
Ambition them guide and avarice choke them;  
Thinking upon our spoils triumph to make,  
And on th' occasion given our town to wrak,  
With full commission purchased for the same,  
T'intrude a Provest, else with sword and flame  
All to destroy, given by the Cardinal,  
At whose devotion then was governed all:  
So in that morning soon by break of day  
The town all silent did beset, than they  
To climb the bridge begin and port to skall, 
●he enemy ●tereth the twne too oldly.   
The chains they break, and let the drawbridge fall;  
The little gate of purpose was left patent  
And all our Citizens in lanes were latent,  
None durst be seen, the enemies to allure  
Their own destruction justly to procure;  
Thus entering through, well straight, one did call,  
All is our own, Come fellow-soldiers all,  
Advance your Lordly pace; take and destroy,  
Build up your Fortunes; O with what great joy  
These words were heard! Then did they proudly step  
As men advanced on stilts, and cock their cap.  
With rouling eyes they look, and hand in side  
Throwing their noses, snuff, and with great pride  
Selflooking set their brawns, themselves admire  
And doubting at their own hearts closely spear  
If it be they; thus wondering do they pause  
A pretty while, anon they quickly lose  
With swifter pace; and turning round, they move  
If there be any gazer to approve  
Their great conceit; thus, inly filled with glie,  
They wish their wife or mistress might them see:  
Scorning Alcides, they his strength would try,  
And in their brain the World they do defy.  
With such brave thoughts they throng in through the port  
Thinking the play of Fortune bairnely sport,  
And as proud peacocks with their plumes do prank  
Alongst the bridge they merche in battle rank,  
Till they came to the gate with iron hands,  
Hard by where yet our Lady's chapel stands,  
Thinking to break these bars it made some hover,  
Too strong they were, therefore some did leap over,  
Some crept below, thus many pass in by them,  
And in their high conceit they do defy them.  
Forwards within the town a space they go,  
The passage than was straight, as well ye know,  
Made by a wall, having gained so much ground  
They can exult: Incontinent did sound 
The enemy fleeth.   
A trumpet from a watchtowre; then they start,  
And all their blood doth strike into their heart;  
A wondrous change! even now the bravest fellows  
In their own fancies glass, who came to quail us  
The vital spirits their arteries do contain,  
Their panting hearts now scarcely can sustain.   

Our souldiurrs then, who lying were a darning,  
By sound of trumpet having got a warning  
Do kith, and give the charge; to tell the rest  
Ye know it well, it needs not be expressed,  
Many to ground were born, great blood was shed,  
He was the prettiest man that fastest fled.  
Yea happy had they been, if place had served  
To flee, then doubtless more had been preserved.  
Within these bars were killed above threescore  
Upon the bridge and waters many more.  
But most of all did perish in the chase,  
For they pursued were unto the place,  
Where all their baggage and their canon lay,  
Which to the town was brought as lawful prey.   

What shall I more say? if more you would have,  
I'll speak of these three hundreth soldiers brave, 
Johnston ●and.   
Like these renowned Lacedæmonians,  
Courageous Thebans, valiant Thespians  
Resolved to die, led by Leonidas,  
Stopped Xerxes' army at Thermopylas.  
Such were these men who for Religion's sake,  
A cord of hemp about their necks did take,  
Solemnly sworn, to yield their lives thereby,  
Or they the Gospel's verity deny:  
Quiting their houses, goods, and pleasures all,  
Resolved for any hazard might befall,  
Did pass forth of the town in arms to fight,  
And die, or they their liberty and light  
Should lose, and whosoever should presume  
To turn away that cord should be his doom.   

Hence of Saint johnstoun ribbon came the word  
In such a frequent use, when with a cord  
They threaten rogues; though now all in contempt  
It speak, yet brave and resolute attempt,  
And full of courage, worthy imitation,  
Deserving of all age's commendation  
Made these men put it on, symbol to be,  
They ready were for Christ to do or die.  
For they were Martyrs all in their affection  
And like to David's Worthies in their action;  
Therefore this cord should have been made a badge  
And sign of honour to the after age.  
Even as we see things in themselves despised,  
By such rare accidents are highly prised,  
And in brave skutsheons honourably born,  
With mottoes rare these symbols to adorn.   

Thus some have vermin, and such loathsome swarms,  
Yet honourably borne are in their arms,  
And some have mice, some frogs, some filthy rats,  
And some have wolves, and foxes; some have cats;  
Yet honourable respect in all his had,  
Though in themselves they loathsome be and bad,  
Thus Milan glories in the bainfull viper,  
As none more honour mystery none deeper;  
The ancient Gauls in toads, in lilies now  
Metamorphosed: The Phrygians in their sow.  
Athens their owl with th'Eagle will not barter,  
And Honi soit who thinks ill of the garter.   

What shall be said then of this rope or cord?  
Although of all men it be now abhorred,  
And spoke of in disdain, their ignorance  
Hath made them so to speak, yet may it chance  
When they shall know the truth, they will speak better,  
And think of it as of a greater matter,  
And truly it esteem an hundreth fold  
Of much more honour than a chain of gold.  
Thus may you see monsieur, men of renown  
Of old time have possessed this ancient town.  
And yet this may we boast, even to this day  
Men of good wit and worth do not decay;  
For to this hour some footsteps still remains  
Of such courageous hearts and cunning brains.   

Good Master Gall, quoth I, I know that well  
Whereof you speak, and clearly can it tell,  
For I did say these Men, being then of age  
Some twelve or threttene years, a pretty page,  
As easily you may guess, and can you show  
Some partial points whereof you nothing know.  
Nor are they written. Then answered Master Gall,  
A witness such as you is above all  
Exception, therefore show what you did see,  
Or hear, good monsieur, Your antiquity  
Is of great credit: Master Gall, quoth I,  
Much did I see, and much more did I try:  
My Father was a man active, and wight  
In those days, and who helped for to fight  
The battle of the bridge: within few years  
Thereafter was I borne, than all our quires  
And convents richly stood, which I did see  
With all their pomp; but these things told to me  
First will I show; a story of much ruth  
How that our Martyrs suffered for the truth 
Persecute at Perth 〈◊〉 the truth.   
Of Christ's blessed Gospel, on Paul's holy day  
Before the fight was of the bridge of Tay  
In that same year; the silly Governor  
Led by the crafty Cardinal, with power  
Held judgement on these men, and under trust  
Condemned them; nothing their bloody lust  
Could satiat: The Citizens made sure  
Their neighbours should nor loss nor skaith endure,  
Go to their homes, forthwith the Cardinal  
Caused lead them unto execution all.  
And from the Spey tower window did behold  
Doom execut, even as his Clergy would:  
Which treacherous fact did so enrage the town,  
No credit more to black, white, nor grey gown  
After these days was given: Thus in the place  
Where malefactors end their wicked race,  
These innocents do make a blessed end,  
And unto God their spirits they recommend,  
In witness of the faith, for which they die,  
And by the Spirit of truth did prophesy  
These words, looking and pointing with the hand  
Towards our Monasteries, which then did stand  
Most sumptuously adorned with steeples, bells,  
Church ornaments, and what belongeth else,   

" These foxes which do lurk within these holes,  
" Delighting in the earth like blinded moles,  
" Drowned in their lusts, and swimming in their pleasures  
" Whose God their belly, whose chief joy their treasures;  
" Who caused have our death, shall hunded be  
" Forth of these dens, some present here shall see  
" The same ere it be long, then shall ye say,  
" It's for God's truth that we have died this day.  
" And all these sumptuous buildings shall be cast  
" Down to the earth, made desolate, and waste:  
" This to perform God's zeal shall eat men up,  
" To fill the double potion in their cup:  
" The apples then of pleasure, which they loved  
" And lusted after, shall be all removed.  
" Yea scarcely shall they find a hole to hide  
" Their heads (thus by the Spirit they testified.)  
" And in that day true Pastors shall the Lord  
" Raise up to feed his flock, with his pure word,  
" And make Christ's people by peculiar choice  
" Dignosce the shepherds from the hirelings voice.  
Which as they did foretell did come to pass  
Some sixteen years or thereby, more or less,  
Thus with clear signs, by Gods own Spirit expressed,  
In full assurance of heavens bless they rest.   

Mean while Saint Catherine's Chaplan standing by,  
Wring his eyes and hands, did often cry, 
Catherine's ●plan.   
Alas, alas, for this unhappy turn,  
I fear for it one day we shall all mourn,  
And that by all it shall be plainly said,  
That we blind guides the blinded long have led;  
Some Churchmen there, bad pack him heretic,  
Else certainly they should cause burn him quick,  
This done, friends take their bodies and with mourning  
Do carry them towards the town, returning  
With heavy hearts, them to this chapel bring,  
But no Soul Mass nor Dirigé durst sing.  
Yet this good Priest did lay them on the altar,  
And all night read the pistle, and the psalter,  
With heart devote, and sad; from th'evening vapers,  
Placing upon the altar burning tapers  
Unto the dawning: exequys thus ended.  
Their bodies to the Earth are recommended.   

This Chapel some time stood by our theatre,  
Where I myself sprinkled with holy water,  
After these days did often hear the Mess  
Albeit I knew not what it did express,  
But this I saw, a man with a shaved crown,  
Razed beard, and lips, who looked like a baboon,  
Perfumed with odours, and in Priestly vestures,  
Did act this mimik toy with thousand gestures;  
A mystery indeed, nor which no fable  
Acted on stage to make you laugh more able.   

After these innocents were martyred thus  
As you have heard, Churchmen were odious,  
And, when occasion served, so did they find,  
For, so soon as did blow a contrary wind,  
The hour was come, and then our Knox did sound,  
Pull down their idols, throw them to the ground. 
Knox preac● eth, idols a● throwndow and religion places.   
The multitude, even as a spear, did rush then  
In powder beat; and called them all Nehushtan.  
Our black Friar's Church and place, white friars, and grey  
Profaned, and cast to ground were in one day.  
The Charterhouse like a Citadale did hold 
●e charter●sethrown ●n.   
Some two days more, until these news were told  
We should be razed and sacked, and brought to ground,  
Not so much as a footstep should be found  
Where was such city; neither sex, nor age  
Should saved be, until the cruel rage  
Of fire and sword should satiat that moved,  
Quenching the fire with Citizens own blood  
And with destruction's bosom sweep from station,  
And saw with salt; perpetual desolation  
To signify: These news made great commotion,  
The fearful people ran to their devotion:  
Doctrine and prayers done, chief men advise,  
To take in hand first what great enterprise.  
Said one, This place hard by our town doth stand  
A mighty strength, which easily may command,  
And wrack our city, therefore let us go  
In time, and to the ground it overthrew,  
For sure our Enemies will possess the same,  
And us from thence destroy with sword and flame,  
Even at their pleasure. Then they all conclude  
In arms to rise; and rushing as a flood  
Which overflows the banks, and headlongs hurls  
The strongest bulwarks with devouring whirls,  
Swallowing the mighty ships them overwhelm,  
Nothing avails his skill that guides the helm;  
Even so the multitude in arms arise  
With noise confused of mirth and mourning cries  
For that fair Palace, then sexscore nine years  
Which had continued; turning of the spheres  
The fatal period brought, to ground it must,  
And all its pomp and riches turn to dust.  
Even as these Martyrs truly did foretell  
In every point the judgement so befell.  
Towers fall to ground, Monks flee to hide their heads,  
Nothing avail their rosaries and beads;  
Then all men cried, Raze raze, the time is come,  
Avenge the guiltless blood, and give the doom.   

Courage to give was mightily then blown  
Saint johnstons' huntsup, since most famous known 
S. Iohnsto● huntsup.   
By all Musicians, when they sweetly sing  
With heavenly voice, and well concording string.  
O how they bend their backs and fingers tirle!  
Moving their quivering heads their brains do whirl  
With divers moods; and as with uncouth rapture  
Transported, so doth shake their body's structure:  
Their eyes do reel, heads, arms, and shoulders move:  
Feet, legs, and hands and all their parts approve  
That heavenly harmony: while as they threw  
Their brows, O mighty strain! that's brave! they show  
Great fantasy; quivering a brief some while,  
With full consent they close, then give a smile,  
With bowing body, and with bending knee,  
Me think I hear God save the Company.   

But harmony which heavens and earth doth please  
Could not our Enemies furious rage appease;  
Cruel Erinys reigns destruction shoring,  
Ten thousand soldiers like wild Lions roaring  
Against our town do merch, fame desolation  
Proclaims; the church than named the Congregation  
Makes for defence: But ah the burgh's distractions!  
Papists and Protestants make divers factions;  
The town to hold impossible they find,  
The fields to take they purpose in their mind,  
Factions within, munition, victual scarce,  
Hardly to hold eight days they find by search.   

Amids these doubts these valiant fellows come  
In arms arrayed, and beatting of the drum,  
With coards about their necks, Come, come, they cry,  
We be the men who are resolved to die.  
First in this quarrel; we to death will fight,  
So long as courage will afford us might,  
And who so yields alive, this tow portends  
Straight must he hang where did our dearest friends  
Who suffered for the truth, nothing we skunner,  
This certainly we count our chiefest honour.  
Thus as Manasses half tribe, Reuben, Gad  
Do leave their cattle, and mount Gilead,  
Before their brethren over jordan go,  
In arms to fight against their cursed foe;  
So these three hundred do abandon quite  
Their city, houses, goods, and chief delight,  
Resolved to die all for the Gospel's light,  
Armed before their brethren merch to fight;  
And having gained a place meet to abide,  
Their enemies to resist, courage they cried,  
Be merry fellows all, leave sad complaints,  
Dine cheerfully, for sup we shall with Saints.  
Fame spreads the brave attempt, all martial hearts  
Inflamed with divine zeal flock to these parts  
From places most remote, in arms they rise  
T'assist the matchless happy enterprise.  
God giveth hearts to Men, and mightiest things  
By weakest means he to confusion brings:  
Our enemy's ears are filled that all our fear  
Was into courage turned from despare;  
Their fiery rage is quenched, their hearts do fail,  
Where God forsakes nought doth man's strength avail.  
Then what their open force could not work out,  
By sleight they endeavour to bring about,  
They treat of peace: peace flees with joyful wings,  
But under it was hatched most lewd designs  
When time should serve: But he whose thought doth rule  
This World's great frame their madness did control;  
And graciously through his abundant pity  
Preserved our Innocents', and saved our city. (deed   

When by small means they found themselves confoun-  
Even to their very heart roots were they wounded:  
Then they began to rail, and show their passion,  
Saying, Such riband's meet for such profession.  
And in contempt, when any rogue thy see,  
They say, Saint johnstouns Ribbons meet for thee.  
Or any fellow resolute in mind  
For some great act, this ribbon fit they find  
For such a one, Thus time made all men use  
This word, and ignorance through time t'abuse,  
For every bad conceit, which for Religion  
Was stoutly undertaken in thsi region:  
Which I did see, and hear, and well do know,  
And for your life the parallel me show  
In all the World; except Leonidas  
The rest, without a third I overpasse.  
Thus our Saint johnstons' ribbon took the name  
Whereof we have no reason to think shame.   

Our Shipper heerwith called, HOW, turn aback,  
The waters flow, and tide doth quickly make,  
Therefore of this to speak more was no leisure,  
For wind and tide (you know) stay no man's pleasure.  
With post haste to our bearge we make our way,  
The day far spent, longer we might not stay;  
Our ship now fairly fleeting comes a land,  
Two skilful rowers take the oars in hand  
We reembarked, down the river slide,  
Which was most pleasant with the flowing tide,  
The bridge draws nigh where contrary streams do run,  
Take heed shipper, said we, these dangers shun,  
The whirling stream will make our boat to cowp,  
Therefore let's pass the bridge by Wallace loup.  
Which when we did behold, amongst other things 
●allace ●p.   
We much admired who lent his feet such wings:  
Empedocles may leap in Aetna burning,  
In Tiber leap may Cocles home returning,  
The one burns in flame, th'other falls in flood  
But Wallace overleaping makes all good.   

When we these Heaven-like arches had surveyed  
We admired in th'air these hinging stones what stayed. 
●ometricall scription too sorts arches.   
Then thus said Gall; these on their centres stay,  
As on their bases fixed, and all their sway  
They press toward the same, a wondrous thing,  
Albeit the Centre in the air doth hang,  
Yea divers circles sections divers ways  
Tend to their proper centres, as their stays;  
So these two sections do conjoin in one,  
To make the arch, and finished in a cone,  
As every peace these bowing arches bends,  
It rightly pointing to the centre tends.  
So heavens respect the earth, and all their powers  
Together in her bosom strongly powers,  
Which is their centre, root, and sure pedestal  
The steadfast base whereon this World doth rest all.  
Thus man's engine God's works doth imitate  
And skilful Art doth nature emulat.  
As Archimedes in a sphere of glass  
The world's great fabric lively did express,  
With all the stars fixed in the azure heaven,  
And all the motions of the wand'ring seven,  
Moving about a fixed point or centre,  
Observing hours, days, months, summer, and winter.  
Even so the arches of this bridge proclaim,  
And show the building of the starry frame:  
But now all lost, needs Archimedes skill,  
Oh if it were supplied by Master Mylne!  
Thus having past the bridge, our oars we bend  
To shore, so this day voyage made an end.    

The sixth Muse.  

AS we arrived at our Lady's steps,  
Incontinent all men reversed their capes,  
Bidding us welcome home, and joining hand,  
They ask from whence we came, and from what land?  
Said we, Some curious catching every wind 
〈◊〉   
Do run through sea and land to either Ind,  
And compassing the glob, in circuit role,  
Some new found lands to search beneath each pole,  
Or Memphis, wonders, or the Pharian tower, 
〈◊〉 mira● of the ●ld.   
Or walls which show the Babylonian power;  
Or hung in th'air the Mausolean frame,  
Or stately ' temple of the Trivian dame,  
The Rhodian Colossus, and the grove,  
Where stood the statue of Olympian jove,  
With endless toil and labour pass to see,  
Or if in all this world more wonders be,  
They search the same, and so they stoutly boast,  
Yet both themselves and pains are oft times lost:  
For going men, if they return perhaps,  
Strange change, in swine transformed are their shaps:  
Albeit some, though rare, who go from hence,  
Return, like him of Ithaca was Prince:  
But we, more safely passing all alongs,  
Are not bewitched with such Siren songs.  
In little much, well travelled in short ground  
Do search what wonders in the world are found;  
Treading these mountains, and these pleasant valleys,  
Elysian fields had never braver allies  
Than we imagine, and for wonders rare  
More than the Carian tomb which hangs in air  
Do we conceive. Of travels let them talk,  
We in the works of learned men do walk  
And painfully their learned paths do tread,  
For sure he's travelled far who is well read  
Yea who so views my Cabinets rich store,  
Is travelled through the world, and some part more.  
Let this suffice we travel to content us,  
And of our travels think never to repent us,  
Yea in our Muses, we do travel more  
Than they that coast and sound the Indian shore.  
Yet think not so brave travels we condemn,  
If with safe conscience we may use the same;  
Nor do we speak void of experience,  
For both of us have travelled been in France,  
And France for all, and if that will not ease you  
We think then all this world will never please you.   

Then went we home to get some recreation,  
But by and by befell a new tentation:  
Our neighbour archers our good sport envying,  
A challenge to us sent, our patience trying,  
And did provoke us, if we shut for gold,  
Or honour's praise, betimes, to morrow would:  
Or for our mistress if we had a mind,  
Doubtless, said Gall, thereto we are inclined:  
But for the present we have taken in hand  
To view our fields by river and by land;  
Boast not therefore, for nothing will disheart us,  
Nor from our present progress will divert us.  
But of our journey having made an end,  
Our lives in such brave quarrel will we spend.   

This answer when they heard, they did compeer  
With ardent hearts some further news to speer,  
And what brave sport we found, what pastime rare?  
Forthwith in lofty verse Gall to declare  
Began, his breast when Phoebus once did warm,  
Their ears and hearts, his heavenly voice did charm,  
And I to keep a consort with full voice,  
As fell by turn, did make them all rejoice  
With sweetest rhymes; for both of us inclined,  
Even as Democritus did truly mind  
Of Poets all, when once that sacred fire 
●cludit sa● Helicone ●tas Demo●tus, Ho●. in art.   
With divine fury did our breasts inspire.  
And thus with heavenly rapture, as transported  
That whole day's journey Gall to them reported,  
Till Hesperus appeared, and in despite  
Of heavens which harkened, forced to bid good night.  
Which when I call to mind, it makes me cry  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed the to die?   

The night was short, Phoebus did touch the line  
Where cruked Cancer makes him to decline,  
No sleep could close mine eyes, but wake must I,  
Till fair Aurora did inlight the sky.  
Then up I got, and where good Gall did lie,  
With mighty voice and chanting did I cry,  
Good Master Gall, arise, you sleep too long  
With Hey the day now dawns, so was my song,  
The day now dawns, Arise good Master Gall,  
Who answering said, monsieur, I hear you call:  
And up he got. Then to our bearge we go,  
To answer us our boatman wondrous slow,  
When we did call, thrice lifting up his head,  
Thrice to the ground did fall again as dead.  
But him to raise, I sung Hay the day dawns;  
The drowsy Fellow wakning, gaunts, and yawns;  
But getting up at last, and with a blow  
Raising his fellow, bade him quickly row.  
Then merrielie we leanche into the deep,  
Phoebus' mean while awakened rose from sleep,  
At his appointed hour, the pleasant morning.  
With guilded beams the crystal streams adorning:  
The pearled dew on tender grass did hang,  
And heavenly quires of birds did sweetly sing:  
Down by the sweet south inch we sliding go,  
Ten thousand dangling diamonds did show  
The radiant repercussion of Sols rays  
And spreading flowers did look like Argoes eyes.   

Then did we talk of city toils and cares,  
Thrice happy counting him shuns these affairs,  
And with us have delight these fields to haunt  
Some pastoral or sonnet sweet to chant.  
And view from far th'ambitions of this age,  
Turning the helms of states, and in their rage  
Make shipwreck of the same on shelves and sands,  
Running be lawless laws and hard commands,  
And often drown themselves in floods of woes,  
As many shipwraks of this kind well shows.  
We pass our time upon the forked mountain,  
And drink the crystal waters of the fountain.  
Digged by the winged horse; we sing the trees  
The corns, and flocks, and labours of the bees;  
Of shepherd lads, and lasses homely love,  
And some time strain our oaten pipe above  
That mean: we sing of Hero and Leander  
Yea Mars, all clad in steel; and Alexander.  
But Cynthius us pulling by the ear  
Did warning give, to keep a lower air,  
But keep what air we will, who can well say  
That he himself preserve from shipwreck may?  
In stormy seas, while as the ship doth reel  
Of public state, the meanest boy may feel  
Shipwreck, as well as he the helm who guides,  
When seas do rage with winds and contrary tides.  
Which: ah too true I found, upon an ore 
〈◊〉 speaketh 〈◊〉 Gowries' ●spiracie.   
Not long ago, while as I swim'd to shore,  
Witness my drenshed clothes, as you did see,  
Which I to Neptune gave in votary  
And sign of safety. Answered Master Gall,  
monsieur, your table hung on Neptune's wall  
Did all your loss so lively point to me,  
That I did mourn, poor soul, when I did see.  
But you may know in storms, thus goeth the matter,  
No fish doth sip in troubled seas clean water.  
Courage therefore, that cloud is overgone,  
Therefore as we were wont, let us sing on.  
For in this morning sounded in mine ear  
The sweetest music ever I did hear  
In all my life, good Master Gall, quoth I  
You to awake, I sung so merrielie.  
monsieur, quoth he, I pray thee ease my spleen,  
And let me hear that Music once again.  
With Hay the day now dawns, than up I got,  
And did advance my voice to Elaes' note,  
I did so sweetly flat and sharply sing,  
While I made all the rocks with Echoes ring.   

Mean while our boat, by Freertown hole doth slide,  
Our course not stopped with the flowing tide,  
We ned nor card, nor crostaffe for our Pole,  
But from thence landing clam the Dragon hole, 
Dragon ho●   
With crampets on our feet, and clubs in hand,  
Where it's recorded jamie Keddie found  
A stone enchanted, like to Gyges' ring,  
Which made him disappear, a wondrous thing,  
If it had been his hap to have retained it,  
But losing it, again could never find it:  
Within this cove ofttimes did we repose  
As being sundered from the city woes.   

From thence we, passing by the Windy gowle,  
Did make the hollow rocks with echoes you'll; 
Windie● gowle.   
And all alongst the mountains of Kinnoule,  
Where did we shut at many fox and fowl. 
Kinnoule● castle.   
Kinnoule, so famous in the days of old!  
Where stood a castle and a stately hold  
Of great antiquity, by brink of Tay  
Woods were above, beneath fair meadows lay  
In prospect proper Perth, with all her graces,  
Fair plantings, spacious greene's, religious places,  
Though now defaced through age, and rage of men,  
Within this place a Lady did remain 
●nnouls La● did see ●allace and ●e Bruce.   
Of great experience, who likewise knew  
By spirit of prophecy, what should ensue,  
Who saw wight Wallace, and brave Bruce on live,  
And both their manhoods lively did descrive  
Unto that noble Prince, first of that name,  
Worthy King james, who hearing of her fame,  
Went to her house, these histories to learn,  
When as for age her eyes could scarce discern.   

This Lady did foretell of many things 
●e prophet.   
Of Britain's unioun under Scotish Kings,  
And after ending of our civil feeds,  
Our spears in syths; our swords should turn in speads,  
In sign whereof there should arise a Knight  
Sprung of the bloody yoke, who should of right  
Possess these lands, which she then held in sea,  
Who for his worth and matchless loyalty  
Unto his Prince, should greatly be renowned  
And of these lands instyled, and Earl be crowned;  
Whose son in spite of Tay, should join these lands  
Firmly by stone on either side which stands,   

Thence to the top of Law Tay did we hie,  
From whence the country round about we spy,  
And from the airy Mountain looking down, 
Situation 〈◊〉 Perth.   
Beheld the stance and figure of our town,  
Quadrat with longer sides, from east to waste,  
Whose streets, walls, fowsies in our eyes did cast  
A pretty show: Then 'gan I to declare  
Where our old Monastries, with Churches fair  
Sometime did stand, placed at every corner  
Was one, which with great beauty did adorn her,  
The Charterhouse toward the southwest stood,  
And at Southeast the Friars, who wear grey hood.  
Toward the North the Blackfriers' Church did stand;  
And Carmelits upon the Western hand;  
With many chapels standing here and there  
And steeples fairly mounted in the air,  
Our Lady's Church, Saint Catherine's, and Saint Paul's,  
Where many a mess was sung for defunct souls.  
The chapel of the rood, and sweet Saint Anne,  
And Lorets' chapel, from Rome's Vatican 
Lorets' chappell transported to Pert● from Rom● Vatican.   
Transported hither, for a time took sasing,  
(You know the Cloister monks write never a leasing.)  
For what offence I know not, or disdain,  
But that same chapel borne hence is again,  
For it appears no more, look who so list,  
Or else I'm sure it's covered with a mist  
Saint leonard's cloister, mourning Magdolené,  
Whose crystal Fountain flows like Hippocrené.  
Saint johnes fair church, as yet in mids did stand:  
A braver sight was not in all this land  
Than was that town, when thus it stood decord  
As not a few, yet living, can record.  
And to be short, for this we may not tarry on,  
Of that old town this nought is but the carrion.  
monsieur, said Gall, that for a truth I know  
These Kirks and Cloisters made a goodly show;  
But this as truly I dare well allege,  
These Kirkmen used the greatest cozenage  
That e'er was seen or heard. Good Gall, quoth I,  
How can that be? monsieur, if you will try,  
Too much true shall you find. Pray thee, good Gall,  
Your speech to me seems paradoxical;  
Therefore I would it know: monsieur, quoth he,  
And shall I show what such Idolatry  
Hath brought upon that town? The many closters  
Where fed there was so many idle fosters,  
Monks, Priests, and Friars, and multitude of Patrons,  
Erected in their queires; th' old wives and matrons  
Gave great head to these things, which they did say,  
And made their horned husbands to obey;  
And mortify so much unto this Saint,  
And unto that, though they themselves should want▪  
Yea twenty Saints about one tenement,  
Each one of them to have an yeerlie rent,  
And all to pray for one poor wretched soul,  
Which Purgatory fire so fierce should those.  
So these annuities, yearly taxations,  
Are causes of these woeful desolations  
Which we behold. The ground of all these evils, 
Saints how ●ade idols, ●d devils.   
What to these Saints they gave, was given to Devils.  
God made them Saints, men set them in God's stead,  
Gave them God's honour; so them idols made:  
Thus Satan served is; what men allow  
On idols in his Name; to him they do:  
And now these Friar's destroyers may be seen,  
And wracks of that cities the cause have been:  
For none dare buy the smallest peace of ground,  
So many annuel rents thereon are found,  
And if he build thereon, doubtless he shall  
Spend in long suits of Law his moyen all.  
If some good salve cure not this sore, I fear  
It shall be said, some time a town was there.   

Good Gall, said I, some melancholious fit  
Molests your Jovial spirit, and pregnat wit,  
I would some Venus-heir might cure your sadness;  
Repel your sorrows, and repleage your gladness:  
Therefore I'll quickly go a herbarising  
To cure that melancholic mood by snising.   

Herewith we turn our pace, and down again  
Pass by the Windy gowle, unto the plain;  
And herbarising there a pretty while,  
Galls lusty face blithely began to smile:  
Guess then how blithe was I, if I had found  
(I would not been so blithe) a thousand pound.  
Thus recreate, to boat again we go,  
And down the river smoothly do we row,  
Neerby Kinfaunes, which famous Longoveil  
Sometime did hold; whose ancient sword of steel 
Kinfanes.   
Remains unto this day, and of that land  
Is chiefest evident; on th'other hand  
Elcho and Elcho park, where Wallace haunted, 
Elcho.   
A sure refuge, when Englishmen he daunted;  
And Elcho. nunnery, where the holy sisters  
Supplied were by the Fratres in their master's.  
By Sleepless Isle we row, which our good Kings 
sleepless Isle.   
Gave to our town with many better things.  
Before there was in that near neighbouring station,  
Or Friar or Nun to set there their foundation.  
On th'other side we looked unto Balthyok  
Where many peacock calls upon his mayok. 
Balthyok.   
Megeance fair place, and Errols pleasant seat, 
Megeance. Errol.   
With many more, which long were to relate.  
Right over against is that wood Earnside,  
And fort where Wallace ofttimes did reside: 
Earnside.   
While we beheld all these, the tide did flow,  
A lie the rudder goes; about we row,  
Up to the town again we make our course,  
Sweetly convoyed with Tayes reflowing source.   

There we beheld where Wallace ship was drowned,  
Which he brought out of France, whose bottom found 
Wallace ship.   
Was not long since, by Master Dickesons art,  
That rare ingeniour, skilled in every part  
Of Mathemathick; Quoth I, Master Gall,  
I marvel our records nothing at all  
Do mention Wallace going into France, 
●allace go●g to France ●t recorded ●d why.   
How that can be forgot I greatly scance,  
For well I know all Gasconie and Guien  
Do hold that Wallace was a mighty Gian,  
Even to this day; in Rochel likewise found  
A Tower from Wallace name greatly renowned.  
Yea Longoveils antiquities, which there  
We do behold, this truly do declare  
That Wallace was in France; for after that  
The public place of government he quat,  
Were full four years and more, before he shed  
His dearest blood, ah dearest truly said:  
And think you then that such a martial heart  
Yielding his place, would sojourn in this part,  
And lazily lie loitering in some hole?  
That any so should think I hardly those;  
Therefore I grieve our men should have forgotten  
Themselves, and left so brave a point unwritten;  
Or should it contradict, there being so many  
Good reasons for this truth, as is for any.   

monsieur, said he, that's not a thing to grieve at,  
For they did write his public life, not private:  
For sure it is, after his public charge  
Grief made him go to France, his spirit t'enlarge,  
His noble Spirit, that thraldom suffered never,  
For he to liberty aspired ever;  
And turning home, his ship caused sunken be,  
To stop the river's passage, that from sea  
No English ship should come Perth to releave,  
For any chance of war Fortune could give.  
But now this ship, which so long time before  
In waters lay, is fairly hailed a shore;  
What cannot skill by Mathematic move?  
As would appear things Natures reach above.   

Up by the Willow gate we make our way;  
With flowing waters pleasant then was Tay.  
The town appears; the great and strong Spey tower,  
And Monk's tower, builded round; a wall of power  
Extending 'twixt the two, thence goeth a snout  
Of great squair stones, which turns the streams about;  
Two ports with double walls; on either hand  
Are fowsies deep, where gorged waters stand,  
And flow even as you list: but over all 
●erths Whit ●all.   
The Palace kythes, may named be Perths Whithall.  
With orchards, like these of Hesperides  
But who shall show the Ephemerideses  
Of these things, which sometimes adorned that City?  
That they should all be lost, it were great pity.  
Whose antique monuments are a great deal more  
Than any inward riches, pomp or store;  
And privileges would you truly know?  
Far more indeed, than I can truly show;  
Such were our King's good wills, for to declare  
What pleasure and contentment they had there:  
But of all privileges this is the bravest,  
King james the Sixth was Burges made and Provest;  
And gave his Burges oath, and did enrol 
King James ●he sixth Pro●est of Perth.   
With his own hand within the Burges scroll  
And Gildrie Book his dear and worthy Name,  
Which doth remain to Perths perpetual fame,  
And that King's glory, thus was his gracious pleasure  
Of his most loving heart to show the treasure;  
Writing beneath his Name these words most nervous,  
Parcere subjectis, & debellare superbos.  
That is, It is the Lion's great renown  
To spare the humble, and proudlings pester down.  
Which extant with his own hand you may see:  
And, as inspired, thus did he prophesy,  
What will you say, if this shall come to hand,  
Perths Provest London's Major shall command.  
Which words, when we did hear, we much admired,  
And every one of us often enquired  
What these could mean? Some said, he meant such one,  
That London, yea all England like had none,  
Some said, he minds his dignity and place;  
Others his gifts of Nature, and of Grace.  
All which were true indeed, yet none could say,  
He meant that England's sceptre he should sway,  
Till that it came to pass some few years after,  
Then hearts with joy, and mouths were filled with laughter:  
Happy King james the sixth, so may I say,  
For I a man most Jovial was that day,  
And had good reason, when I kissed that hand,  
Which afterwards all Britain did command.   

monsieur, said Gall, I swear you had good reason  
Most glad to be that day: for you of treason  
Assoylied was, of your unhappy chief:  
Pray thee good Gall, quoth I, move not my grief.  
Said Gall, monsieur, That point I will not touch,  
They'll tine their coals that burns you for a witch.  
A witch, good Gall, quoth I, I will be sworn,  
Witchcraft's the thing that I could never learn;  
Yea Master Gall, I swear that I had rather  
Ten thousand Chiefs been killed, or had my Father,  
The King is Pater patriae, a chief  
Oft times is borne for all his kins mischief.  
And more, I know was never heart, nor hand  
Did prosper, which that King did e'er withstand.  
Therefore good Gall, I pray thee let that pass,  
That happy King knew well what man I was.   

While we thus talk, our boat draws nigh the shore,  
Our fellows all for joy begin to roar  
When they us see. and loudly thus 'gan call,  
Welcome, good monsieur, welcome Master Gall;  
Come, come a land, and let us merry be,  
For as your boat most happily we did see,  
Incontinent we bargained to and fro,  
Some said, It was your Berge, and some said, No:  
But we have gained the prize, and pledges all,  
Therefore come monsieur, come good Master Gall;  
And let us merry be, while these may last;  
Till all be spent we think to take no rest.  
And so it was, no sleep came in our head,  
Till fair Aurora left Tithonus bed.  
Above all things so was good Galls desire,  
Who of good company could never tyre,  
Which when I call to mind, it makes me cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die?    

The seventh Muse.  

UP springs the Sun, the day is clear, and fair,  
Etesiae, sweetly breathing, cools the air;  
Then coming to my Cabin in a band,  
Each man of us a Gabion hints in hand.  
Where me their Sergeant Major they elected,  
At my command that day to be directed. 
Talenes' n● virtue.   
What pretty captains yone (so said some wenches)  
Ladies, quoth I, Men are not met by inches.  
The Macedonian Monarch was called great,  
Not from his Body's quantity, but state  
And Martial prowess, good Ladies then to heart you,  
You shall well know that tallness is no virtue.   

Thus merche we all alongs unto Moncreiff  
Where dwells that worthy Knight, the famous chief 
Moncreif   
Of all that ancient name: And passing by  
Three trees sprung of one root we did espy:  
Which when we did behold, said Master Gall. 
The b● threns trees   
monsieur, behold these trees, so great and tall  
Sprung of one root, which all Men Brethren name,  
The symbol which true concord doth proclaim.   

O happy presage, where such trees do grow,  
These Brethren three the threefold Geryon show,  
Invincible, remaining in one mind,  
Three hearts as in one Body fast combined,  
Scilurus bundle knit, doth whole abide,  
But easily is broke, when once untied.  
So these three trees do symbolise most clearly;  
The amity of hearts and minds, inteirly  
Kythes in that happy race, and doth presage  
To it more happiness in after age;  
Loves sweetest knot, which three in one doth bring  
That budding gem shall make more flourishing  
Fair Brethren Trees, and sith so is your Name,  
Be still the badge of concord, and proclaim  
All health and wealth, unto that happy race,  
Where grace and virtue mutually embrace.   

To Moncrief eastern, then to Wallace-town  
To Fingask of Dundas, thence passing down  
Unto the Rind, as Martial Men, we fair.  
What life Man's heart could wish more void of care?  
Passing the river Earn, on th'other side,  
Dreilling our Sojours, Vulgars' were afraid.   

Thence to the Pights great Metropolitan,  
Where stands a steeple, the like in all Britain 
bernethie.   
Not to be found again, a work of wonder,  
So tall and round in frame, a just cylinder  
Built by the Pights in honour of their King,  
That of the Scots none should attempt such thing,  
As over his belly big to walk or ride,  
But this strong hold should make him to abide.  
Unless on Pegasus that he would flee,  
Or on joves' bird should soar into the sky,  
As road Bellerophon and Ganymede:  
But mounted so must ride no giddy head.   

From thence we merched directly unto Dron,  
And from that stead passed to the Rocking stone;  
Accompanied with infantry a band,  
Each of us had a hunting staff in hand,  
With whistels shrile, the fleeing fowls to charm,  
And fowler's nets upon our other arm:  
But as for me about my neck was borne,  
To sound the chase a mighty hunting horn;  
And as I blew with all my might and main,  
The hollow rocks did answer make again,  
Then every man in this clear company  
Who best should wind the horn began to try;  
Among the rest a fellow in the rout  
Boldly began to boast, and brave it out,  
That he would wind the horn in such a wise,  
That easily he would obtain the prize,  
But to record what chance there followed after  
Gladly I would, but grief forbiddeth laughter,  
For so it was the merry man was marred,  
Both tongue and teeth, I wot, were tightly tard;  
Then no more stay; Fellow, good night, quoth we,  
Th'old proverb says, that Dirt parts Company.   

By this we were just at the Rocking stone,  
Amongst the world's great wonders, it is one 
The rockis stone of B● vaird.   
Most rare: It is a Phoenix in its kind,  
The like in all the world ye shall not find:  
A stone so neicely set upon its kernels,  
Not artificial, but natural chernels,  
So huge, so grave, that if you please to prove it,  
A hundred yoke of oxen will not move it,  
Yet touch it with your finger's smallest knocking,  
Incontinent it will fall to a rocking,  
And shake, and shiver; as if obedient,  
More by request, than by commandment.  
Then up I claim this rock, as I was wont,  
And like Aegeon on Whales back I mounted,  
And with Etites ra●ling stone I knocked,  
And as it rattled, even so was I rocked.  
So fair a cradle, and rare was never seen  
Oh if my Cabinet could it contain!   

Next at the bridge of Earn we made our Station,  
And there we took some little recreation; 
Bridge of rne.   
Where in Heroics Gall fell to declaring  
All circumstances of that days wayfairing,  
And there so merrielie we sung, and chanted,  
Happy were they our company who haunted,  
Which when I call to mind it makes me cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die.    

The eight Muse.  

WHat blooming banks sweet Earn, or fairest Tay,  
Or Amond doth embrace; these many a day  
We haunted; where our pleasant pastorals  
We sweetly sung, and merry madrigals:  
Sometimes bold Mars, and sometimes Venus' fair,  
And sometimes Phoebus love we did declare;  
Sometimes on pleasant plains, sometimes on mountains,  
And sometimes sweetly sung beside the fountains. 
●unting ●er of old, ●d Luth●    

But in these banks where flows Saint Conils Well,  
The which Thessalian tempe doth excel.  
Whose name and matchless fame for to declare,  
In this most doleful dittey, must I spare:  
Yet thus dare say, that in the World again  
No place more meet for Muses to remain;  
For shadowing walks, where silver brooks do spring,  
And smelling arbours, where birds sweetly sing,  
In heavenly Music warbling like Arion,  
Like Thracian Orpheus, Linus, or Amphion,  
That Helicon, Parnassus, Pindus' fair  
To these most pleasant banks scarce can compare.   

These be the banks where all the Muses dwell,  
And haunt about that crystal brook and well,  
Into these banks chiefly did we repair  
Erom Shunshine shadowed, and from blasting air.  
There with the Muses we did sing our songs,  
Sometimes for pleasure, sometimes for our wrongs;  
For in those days, none durst approach their table,  
But we, to taste their dainties, this no fable.   

From thence to Methven wood we took our way,  
Soon be Aurora fair did kith the day;  
And having rested there some little space,  
Again we did betake us to our chase,  
Raising the Does and Roes forth of their dens,  
And watery fowls out of the marish fens,  
That if Diana had been in that place,  
Would thought, in hunting we had stained her grace.   

To Methven Castle, where Gall did declare  
How Margaret Teuther, Queen, sometimes dwelled there;  
First daughter to King Henry seventh, who closes 
Queen Margaret Teuther.   
York-Lancaster in one, England's two roses.  
A happy union after long debate,  
But union much more happy, and more great  
Even by that same Queen springs, and by her race  
Whereby all Britain joys long wished peace.  
Hence came King james his title to the Crown  
Of England, by both parents of renown.  
Hence comes our happy peace, so be it ay,  
That peace with truth in Britain flourish may.  
Right over to Forteviot, did we hy, 
forteviot.   
And there the ruined castle did we spy  
Of Malcolm Ken-more, whom Mackduff then Than● 
〈◊〉. Malcolm ●enmore.   
Of Fife, (so called) from England brought again,  
And fiercely did pursue tyrant Makbeth,  
Usurper of the Crown, even to the death.  
These castles ruins when we did consider,  
We saw that wasting time makes all things wither.  
To Dupline then, and shades of Aberdagie,  
From thence to Mailer, and came home by Craigie.  
Soon by that time, before three days were done,  
We went to see the monuments of Scone,  
As was our promise, Scones Nymphs see we must,  
For in such vows we were exceeding just.  
And there with Ovid thus did we declare,  
here is a green, where stood a Temple fair:  
Where was the fatal chair, and marble stone, 
The marble ●haire.   
Having this Motto rare incised thereon,  
This is the stone, if fates do not deceive,  
Where e'er it's found the Scots shall kingdom have.  
Which Longshanks did transport to Troyvovant,  
As Troy took in the horse by Grecia sent  
So we, who sprung were of the Grecian crew,  
Like stratagem on Trojans did renew.  
Oh if this fatal chair transported were  
To Spain, that we like conquest might make there,  
From thence to Italy, to Rome, to Grece,  
To Colchos, thence to bring the golden fleece:  
And in a word, we wish this happy chair  
Unto the furthest Indeses transported were,  
That mightiest Kingdoms might their presents bring,  
And bow to Charles as to their sovereign King.   

Neerby we view that famous Earthen Mount,  
Whereon our Kings to crowned be were wont: 
Omnis terr.   
And while we do consider, there we found  
Demonstrat was the quadrat of the round,  
Which Euclid could not find, nor Pater Erra,  
By guess we did it find on Omnis terra.  
And if you Geometers hereof do doubt,  
Come view the place, and ye shall find it out.  
A demonstration so wondrous rare,  
In all the world, I think, none may compare.   

Thence need we must go see the Mure of Scone,  
And view where Pights were utterly undone 
Mure of Scone.   
By valiant Scots, and brought to desolation,  
That since they never had the name of nation.  
Seven times that fight renewed was in one day  
Pights seven times quailed, Scots were victorious ay;  
Hence is it said, when men shall be undone,  
We shall upon them bring the mure of Scone.  
King Donskine with his remnant Pights near Tay  
All killed, did crown the victory of that day.  
Then valiant Kenneth went to Camelon,  
And threw to Earth King Donskins ancient throne.   

So greatest Kingdoms to their periods tend,  
And everything that grows, must have an end.  
Where is that golden head that reinged so long,  
The silver arms and belly of brass most strong?  
The iron legs divided now in toes  
Are mixed with clay: and so the world it goes.  
Thus nations like stars in multitude,  
Like sand on shore, or fishes in the flood;  
Yea rooted in the Earth so deep, so long,  
As on the mountains grow the Cedars strong,  
Yet time hath overturned them, and their names  
Are past, as Letters written on the streams:  
To tell us, here we have no constant biding,  
The world unto decay is always sliding,  
One Kingdom ever doth remain, and all  
'Gainst it who rise to powder turn they shall.   

near this we did perceive where proud Makbeth,  
Who to the furies did his soul bequeath, 
Makbeths' ●stle on Dū●oun hill.   
His castle mounted on Dunsinnen hill,  
Causing the mightiest peers obey his will,  
And bow their necks to build his Babylon;  
Thus Nimrod-like he did triumph upon  
That mountain, which doth overtop that plain:  
And as the starry heaven he should attain,  
A lofty tower, and Atlas caused build,  
Then tyrannising, raged as Nimrod wild:  
Who had this strange response that none should catch him  
That borne was of a woman, or should match him:  
Nor any horse should overtake him there,  
But yet his spirit deceived him by a mare,  
And by a man was not of woman borne  
For brave Makduff was from his mother shorn. 
Makduf.   
Makduff called Thane of Fife, who home did bring  
King Malcolm Kenmore was our native King.  
Ken-more, great-head, a great-head should be wise,  
To bring to nought a Nimrods' enterprise!  
Up to Dunsinnen's top than did we climb,  
With panting heart, weak loins, and wearied limb,  
And from the mountains height, which was well windy,  
We spy where Wallace cave was at Kilspindie.  
But there we might not stay, thence to the plain 
Wallace cave.   
With swifter pace we do come down again.  
Descent is easy, any man can tell;  
For men do easily descend to Hell.   

When we had viewed these fields both here and there,  
As wearied Pilgrims 'gan we Home to fair;  
Home, happy is that word, at Home in Heaven,  
Where Gall now rests above the Planets seven,  
And I am left this wretched Earth upon,  
Thy loss, with all my Gabions, to bemoan:  
Then mourn with me my Gabions, and cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die?    

The ninth Muse.  

WHat! Could there more be done, let any say,  
Nor I did to prevent this doleful day?  
For when I saw Galls fatal constellation  
Would not permit him in this Earthly station  
Long to abide; then did I give a trial,  
To make impartial fate susteene denial,  
By herbarising while I proved my skill,  
On top of Law-Tay, and stay Mooredowne hill,  
Collecting vegetables in these parts,  
By all the skill of Apollinian Arts,  
If possibleed had been, fate to neglect him,  
By heavenly skill immortal for to make him.   

But sith that Phoebus could not stem the blood  
Of Hyacinthus in his swooning moved,  
How then should I? a mortal! ah too shallow!  
In wit and art press to outreach Apollo?  
Far be the thought, I therefore must absent me,  
And never more unto the World present me,  
But solitary with my Gabions stay,  
And help them for to mourn till dying day.  
Then farewell Cabin, farewell Gabions all,  
Then must I meet in heaven with Master Gall:  
And till that time I will set forth his praise  
In Elegies of woe, and mourning lays,  
And weeping for his sake still will I cry,  
Gall, sweetest Gall, what ailed thee to die?    
FINIS.