AN ENGLISH CHALLENGE AND A REPLY FROM SCOTLAND.  Question. 
OH how now Mars what is thy humour?  
That thou on us gins to frown  
What is the meaning of this rumour  
Of wars that flieth up and down?  
Or to what end does thou intent  
Twixt friend and friend to make debate,  
And cause the one the other hate?  Answer. 
You English Poetes harken I pray  
I tell why Mars doth on you frown,  
Because like men you'll not assay you,  
To pull the Romish mitre down.  
Since ye want hearts to act your parts,  
Mars called hath the valiant Scots,  
To make the Bishops quite their coats.  Quest. 
Hath Vulcan any wise displeased thee?  
Or Cupid that unhappy Lad?  
That Venus smiles cannot appease thee,  
Or is it Bacchus makes thee mad?  
What Planet dare move jove to war?  
Durst ever Luna, Sol withstand,  
Or juno jupiter command?  Ans. 
We are not planets but fixed stars,  
We prove not wandering from the right,  
Our light with darkness is not mixed,  
As yours that shines but in the night  
Of Vulcan's Ire or Cupid's fire  
Or Venus' toys no count we make,  
From Bacchus we no courage take.  Quest. 
Then paughty Scot what does thou mean,  
Presumptuously thus to attempt?  
You'll better let these wars alone,  
Then thus from us thyself exempt  
Thou does not well for to rebel  
And stand against so good a King  
Whose fame throughout the world does reign.  Ans. 
May we not justly for our nation  
Prevein all dangers may ensue,  
Should we not make a separation,  
When God commands from Babel's crew  
Then with our King 'gainst Rome's offspring,  
And all their trash we'll stoutly fight  
And to the death maintain our right.  Quest. 
We that together in one nation,  
So long have been great Britain called  
Why does thou seek a separation,  
Art thou from us securely walled,  
Oh do not so lest that thy woe  
And sorrows more and more do bried  
If once we pass the river Tweid.  Ans. 
We love all English loyal Subjects.  
From them we'll not exempted be,  
But of all Bishops popish projects  
We stand no fear to make us free  
Tho wales we lack to hold you bake  
I wish our joys may still abide  
Until you pass the river Tweid.  Quest. 
What does thou think the English powers  
So weak, that thou canst make us flee:  
Who will not suffer any Gowries,  
For to perform conspiracy.  
Art thou so strong to proffer wrong  
Seditiously to work such plots  
And thus become rebellious Scots.  Ans. 
In vain ye boast your English powers  
As if your Gyhoes and great horses  
Your walled towns and fenced towers  
Were able to resist our forces  
While as you Blot the valiant Scot,  
With treacherous do, without reason,  
You may think on the powder treason.  Quest. 
there's not a coward so faint-hearted  
I think which will not dar to fight,  
But into valour will be converted  
And stand up for his Country's right  
When Canons rattle into Battle,  
And Billots thick amongst us flee  
St George for England still we cry.  Ans. 
I'm sure when any Popish faisart  
For prelates quarrels dar to sight,  
There is not a Scots-man but he'll haizart  
For to defend his countries' right  
When Canons rumble and Billots tumble  
And Englishmen before us flee,  
The Covenant for Scots we cry.  Quest. 
The Welshmen in his Prince's honour  
Hath vowed he will not be to seek,  
But will display St David's banner,  
And unto him present a liek-  
Both men and boy that springs from Troy  
Doth swear if once they set upon it.  
They'll make the Scots-man wail his bonnet,  Ans. 
The Welshmen vows he no way feareth  
To make the Scots-man wail his bonnet  
But he performs not what he sweareth,  
At Newburne so was seen upon it.  
When Trumpets blue and billots flew  
The Welsh men's courage was to seek,  
Where was St David with his liek?  Quest. 
The French the Irish and Italian,  
Also the Danes and Spaniard too,  
The Persian Pagan and each alien,  
Doth seek rebellion to subdue.  
Then seek thy peace let rumours cease  
And not attempt to do such thing,  
Or move to wrath so good a King.  Ans. 
The Irish French and Danes assist you  
And Rome with all her bastard blood:  
Through GOD we are able to resist you  
Because our quarrel is just and good,  
We wish our King ay still may reign,  
While Scots prove false and papists true,  
And Antichrist CHRIST'S truth subdue.  Quest. 
Lest paughty Scot we cry have at thee  
The mark's so fair we cannot miss,  
Yet never since thy Dady got thee  
Thou could have fairer play nor this  
Which we will show to thee our foe  
Thou can not hold us much to blame  
For thou thyself have wrought the same.  Ans. 
Your crying will no wheit dismay us  
For though ye shoot ye may well miss,  
Come when ye will ye may assay us,  
To fight we will not be miss  
Ye shall see Ladies got ●f Scots Dadies,  
Will make the Pope curse his mishap,  
And Prelates wail their … o cap.  Q●●●●. 
And if the officers ●●●●esse me,  
I will be ready for the 〈◊〉,  
And not seek any to re … me,  
But boldly fight for Country's fame,  
Or if not so then will I go,  
A voluntire among the ●est,  
If otherwise I be not 〈◊〉.  Ans. 
Since brain sick P … 〈◊〉 but prattle  
I would advise you 〈◊〉 … ght  
Lest if they press 〈◊〉 the battle  
You turn a volunt●●● 〈◊〉 flight  
Since it is so, friend do not go,  
To fight, lest ye … en Canons rumble  
With shame for ●●ar cry barlafumble.  Quest. 
Thus to conclude my resolution,  
As willing for to fight as sing  
I'll drink a health to his confusion,  
That beareth arms against our King,  
Whom I do love and still will prove,  
A loyal subject to his Grace,  
In England or in any place.  Ans. 
Then to conclude that Poet liar,  
That fayes he will not sing but fight  
But Poets fight away fleeth,  
Except with pottles in the night.  
For me I'll sing God save our King,  
And drink a health to all true Scots  
That loves the truth and hates false.   
FINIS