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SELECT REMAINS
*— —
34471.
OF THE *** -º----- ~~
ANCIENT POPULAR AND ROMANCE
POETRY OF SCOTLAND
COLLECTED AND EL)|ITED
E3 Y
DAVID LAING, LL.D.
RE-EDITED, WITH MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION AND ADDITIONS
BY
JOHN SMALL, M.A.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
E DIN BU R G H AND LONDON
M D C C CLXXXV
All Rights reserved
MEMORIAL – INTRODUCTION
MEMORIAL - INTRODUCTION.
§: T is now more than half a century since the first
ill edition of the ‘Select Remains of the Ancient
Popular Poetry of Scotland' was issued by its
much-lamented editor, the late David Laing;
and it has been thought desirable to prefix to
this second edition a short memoir of one who did much to
illustrate the ancient history and poetry of Scotland.
David Laing was born in Edinburgh on the 20th of April
1793, and was the second son of William Laing, a well-known
bookseller in that city. William Laing was very successful in
business, which was carried on by him, first in Chessell's Court,
Canongate, and latterly in No. 49 South Bridge Street. He
was noted for the large store of books relating to Scotland
which he always kept in stock, and his shop was a place of
resort for the litterati of the day. He published several works
of value, such as good editions of Thucydides, Herodotus, and
Xenophon, Pinkerton’s “Inquiry,’ and Wyntoun's ‘Chronicle
of Scotland,’ edited by David Macpherson.
After being educated at the Canongate Grammar School,
David Laing attended in 1805-6 the Greek Class at the Uni-
versity of Edinburgh, then taught by Professor Dalzel. There-
after he entered his father's business as an apprentice, and
soon acquired a thorough knowledge of books, for which
unusual facilities were thus afforded.
In the sketches of Edinburgh booksellers about the year
1819, which form a chapter in “Peter's Letters to his Kins-
folk,’ a well-known work by J. Gibson Lockhart, the following

vi MEMORIA L- IAWTRODUCTION.
account is given of Mr Laing and his son David : “As for
shops of old books, classics, black-letter, foreign literature,
and the like, I was never in any great town which possesses
so few of them as this. It might indeed be guessed that
her riches in this way would not be great, after the account
I have given you of the state of scholarship among the lit.
térateurs of the North. There is, however, one shop of this
sort which might cut a very respectable figure, even in places
where attainments of another kind are more in request;
and I confess I have visited this shop more frequently, and
with more pleasure, than any of its more fashionable neigh-
bours in Edinburgh. It is situated, as it ought to be, in the
immediate vicinity of the College, and consequently quite out
of the way of all the fashionable promenades and lounges; but
indeed, for anything I have seen, it is not much frequented,
even by the young gentlemen of the University. The daily
visitors of Mr Laing (for that is the name of its proprietor)
seem rather to be a few scattered individuals of various classes
and professions, among whom, in spite of the prevailing spirit
and customs of the place, some love of classical learning is
still found to linger—retired clergymen and the like, who
make no great noise in this world, and, indeed, are scarcely
known to exist by the most part even of the literary people
of Edinburgh. The shop, notwithstanding, is a remarkably
neat and comfortable one, and even a lady might lounge in
it without having her eye offended or her gown soiled. It
consists of two apartments, which are both completely furnished
with valuable editions of old authors; and I assure you, the
antique vellum bindings or oak boards of these ponderous
folios are a very refreshing sight to me after visiting the
gaudy and brilliant stores of such a shop as that I have just
described [Messrs Manners & Miller in the High Street, near
to the Parliament Square]. Mr Laing himself is a quiet,
sedate-looking old gentleman, who, although he has contrived
to make very rich in his business, has still the air of being
MEMORIA L- INTRODUCTIO.V. vii
somewhat dissatisfied that so much more attention should be
paid by his fellow-citizens to the flimsy novelties of the day,
than to the solid and substantial articles which his magazine
displays. But his son is the chief enthusiast. Indeed he is
by far the most genuine specimen of the true old-fashioned
bibliopole that I ever saw exhibited in the person of a young
man. My friend Wastle [i.e., J. G. Lockhart] has a prodigious
liking for him, which originated, I believe, in their once meet-
ing casually in Rotterdam, and travelling together over most
part of Holland in the Treckschuyt–and indeed this circum-
stance has been expressly alluded to by Wastle in one of his
poems. Here Wastle commonly spends one or two hours
every week he is in Edinburgh, turning over in company with
his young friend all the Aldines, the Elzevirs, and Wynkin de
Wordes and Caxtons, in the collection; nor does he often
leave the shop without being tempted to take some little
specimen of its treasures home with him. I also, although
my days of bibliomania are long since over, have been occa-
sionally induced to transgress my self-denying rule, and have
picked up various curious things at a pretty cheap rate, and
one book in particular, of which I shall beg your acceptance
when we meet—but at present I won't tell you what it is.
David Laing is still a very young man; but Wastle tells me
(and so far as I have had occasion to see, he is quite correct in
doing so) that he possesses a truly wonderful degree of skill
and knowledge in almost all departments of bibliography.
Since Lunn's death, he says, he does not think there is any
of the booksellers in London superior to him in his way; and
he often advises him to transfer the shop and all the treasures
thither. But I suppose Mr Laing has very good reason not to
be in a hurry in adopting any such advice. He publishes a
catalogue almost every year, and thus carries on a very ex-
tensive trade with all parts of the island. Besides, miserable
as is the general condition of old learning in Scotland, there is
still, I suppose, abundant occasion for one bookseller of this
viii MEMORIA L- IAWTRODUCTION.
kind, and, I believe, he has no rival in the whole country. For
my part, if I lived in Edinburgh, I would go to his shop every
now and then, were it only to be put in mind of the happy
hours we used to spend together long ago at Mr Parker's.
“This old gentleman and his son are distinguished by their
classical taste in regard to other things besides books—
and amongst the rest in regard to wines—a subject touching
which it is fully more easy for them to excite the sympathy of
the knowing ones of Edinburgh. They give an annual dinner
to Wastle, and he carried me with him the other day to one of
these anniversaries. I have seldom seen a more luxurious
display. We had claret of the most exquisite Lafitte flavour,
which foamed in the glass like the cream of strawberries, and
went down as cool as the nectar of Olympus. David and
Wastle entertained us with an infinite variety of stories about
George Buchanan, the Admirable Crichtonius, and all the
more forgotten heroes of the ZXelicia Poetarum Scoforum.
What precise share of the pleasure might be due to the claret
and what to the stories, I shall not venture to inquire; but I
have rarely spent an evening more pleasantly.
“P.S.—They are also very curious in sherry.”
As stated in the above passage, Lockhart met with young
Laing when in Holland, where the latter went annually for
the purpose of purchasing foreign books—his father having
been one of the first Edinburgh booksellers who introduced
Continental literature to any considerable extent.
In the poem referred to in the preceding extract, which was
published by Lockhart in ‘Blackwood's Magazine’ in 1818,
called “The Mad Banker of Amsterdam, or the Fate of the
Brauns,” there are several references to David Laing. The
first of these refers to their meeting at Mynheer Braun's
house :—
“But to return (in this new style of Frere's,
A phrase which oft hath been and oft must be),
I dined when last in Holland at Mynheer’s,
No one was there but David Laing and me,
MEMORIA L- IWTRO DUCTYOAV. ix
And a Dutch minister, one Van der Schpiers,
Domestic tutor in the family;
To give the vrow the praise that is her due,
The dinner much invited a set to.
In course of talk the clergyman and Braun
Enlarged upon the charm of Dutch society,
Its comforts—none that attribute disown,
And what some won't agree to, its variety;
David and I sucked all the doctrines down,
But over-doses generate Satiety.
So we to pay them back in their own coin,
Begun in praise of Scotland to rejoin.
A fruitful topic, it must be confessed,
And in good hands, I mean in Laing's and mine,
(David the most sagacious and the best,
As all old Reekie's erudites opine,
Of Scottish bibliopoles, who knows the zest
And name of every title-page Aldine
A famous bibliomaniac and a shrewd,
Who turns his madness to no little good.)
We touched on many topics I and David ;
He chiefly sung the praise of a sale dinner;
I on Young's tavern principally raved,
Ore soluto–I’m a glorious spinner,
I painted to the set, in colours vivid,
The portrait of full many a curious sinner
Who comes, with ready head and readier tongue,
To kill his evenings in thy house Bill Young.”
In 1815, young Laing began to indulge his desire of publish-
ing some of the more curious specimens of early Scottish litera-
ture; and accordingly he issued a reprint of the Catalogue of
books which Drummond of Hawthornden presented to the
Library of the University of Edinburgh in 1627.
In 1821 he became a partner with his father, and issued
during that year reprints of Sir Thomas Craig's ‘Epithalamium
on the Marriage of Queen Mary and Darnley in 1565;’ the
Poems of Alexander Scott, the Scottish Anacreon, originally
X MEMORIA L- INTRODUCTIO/V.
printed in 1568; and those of Alexander Montgomery, who
wrote between 1597 and 1631. The same year he began the
publication, in parts, of the ‘Select Remains of the Ancient
Popular Poetry of Scotland, 1420-1580,' which was completed
in 1822. This work, which was elegantly printed, contained
twenty-five pieces of much interest, nearly all of which were
published for the first time. To these he prefixed short
introductions, which evince an intimate acquaintance with
early poetry. Of this work, an account of which is given in
his Advertisement prefixed to it, only about Io8 copies were
printed; and it soon became an object of eager quest to book-
collectors. Laing, however, had not then the same ease in read-
ing early manuscripts which he afterwards attained. Numerous
errors are to be found in the text of the poems; and although
in the Appendix to the volume lists were given of such as he
had observed, there remained many others which it has been
found necessary to correct in the present edition. In his latter
years, Laing proposed to reissue this work, with the addition
of several new pieces; and an interleaved copy of it, in which
he inserted some valuable notes, indicated the plan for the
new edition, which it has been our aim to follow out."
In 1818 a vacancy occurred in the librarianship of the
Advocates' Library, and Laing became a candidate for the
office. It was, however, filled up in 1820 by the appointment
of Dr David Irving.
In 1822 Laing published a reprint of a curious Scottish
poem entitled “The Pleasing History of Roswall and Lillian,”
and also a facsimile of an ancient heraldic manuscript, em-
blazoned by Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, Lyon King
of Arms, which is preserved in the Advocates' Library.
The Bannatyne Club, which was formed on the model of
the Roxburghe Club, was originated in 1823 by Sir Walter
Scott, for the purpose of reprinting rare works relating to
* Additions, for which the present Editor is responsible, are put within
brackets.
MAEMORIAA. - IAWTRODUCTIO/W. xi
Scotland. It was named after George Bannatyne, an Edin-
burgh citizen, who, in the time of pestilence in 1568, retired
into solitude and engrossed into two large volumes a collection
of the ancient poetry of Scotland, through which nearly all
that is known of it has come to us. Sir Walter insisted that
Laing should act as Secretary of the Club.
Lockhart, in his memoir of Scott, remarks: “At the meet-
ings of the Bannatyne, Scott regularly presided from 1823 to
1831, and in the chair at their anniversary dinners, surrounded
by some of his oldest and dearest friends—Thomas Thom-
son (the Vice-President), John Clerk (Lord Eldin), the Chief-
Commissioner Adam, the Chief-Baron Shepherd, Lord Jeffrey,
Mr Constable, and let me not forget his kind, intelligent, and
industrious ally, Mr David Laing, bookseller, the Secretary
of the Club. He from this time forward was the unfailing
source and centre of all sorts of merriment within the limits
of becoming mirth. . . . His song, composed for their first
dinner (March 1823), was sung by James Ballantyne, and
heartily chorused by all the aforesaid dignitaries:–
“Assist me, ye friends of Old Books and Old Wine,
To sing in the praises of Sage Bannatyne, -
Who left such a treasure of old Scottish lore
As enables each age to print one volume more.
One volume more, my friends, one volume more—
We'll ransack old Banny for one volume more.
And first Allan Ramsay was eager to glean
From Bannatyne's Hortus his bright Evergreen ;
Two tight little volumes (intended for four)
Still leave us the task to print one volume more.
One volume more, &c.
His ways were not ours, for he cared not a pin
How much he left out, how much he put in ;
The truth of the reading he thought was a bore,
So this accurate age calls for one volume more.
One volume more, &c.
xii
MAEMORAA/L - NAVTRODUCTION.
Correct and sagacious, then came my Lord Hailes,
And weighed every letter in critical scales,
But left out some brief words which the prudish abhor,
And castrated Banny in one volume more.
One volume more, my friends, one volume more—
We'll restore Banny's manhood in one volume more.
John Pinkerton next, and I’m truly concern’d,
I can’t call that worthy so candid as learn'd,
He rail'd at the plaid, and blasphemed the claymore,
And set Scots by the ears in his one volume more.
One volume more, my friends, one volume more—
Celt and Goth shall be pleased with one volume more.
As bitter as gall, and as sharp as a razor,
And feeding on herbs as a Nebuchadnezzar;
His diet too acid, his temper too sour,
Little Ritson came out with his two volumes more.
But one volume more, my friends, one volume more—
We'll dine on roast beef and print one volume more.
The stout Gothic yeditur, next on the roll,
With his beard like a brush and as black as a coal ;
And honest Greysteel that was true to the core,
Lift their hearts and their hands each to one volume more.
One volume more, &c.
Since by these single champions what wonders were done,
What may not be achieved by our Thirty-and-One?
Law, Gospel, and Commerce, we count in our corps,
And the Trade and the Press join for one volume more.
One volume more, &c. -
Ancient libels and contraband books, I assure ye,
We’ll print as secure from exchequer or jury;
Then hear your Committee, and let them count o'er
The Chiels they intend in their three volumes more.
Three volumes more, &c.
They'll produce you King Jamie the sapient and Sext,
And the Rob of Dumblane and her Bishops come next;
MEMORIA L - VAWTRO/DUCTYOAV. xiii
One tome miscellaneous they’ll add to your store, *
Resolving next year to print four volumes more.
Four volumes more, my friends, four volumes more—
Pay down your subscriptions for four volumes more.”
This song was the first of several which were sung on these
occasions, and were printed subsequently under the title of
‘Bannatyne Garlands,’ in black-letter, in imitation of ancient
ballads. Scott's is interesting to us here, as in it are men-
tioned the predecessors of Laing in editing ancient Scottish
poetry—viz., Allan Ramsay, Lord Hailes, John Pinkerton,
Joseph Ritson, James Sibbald, and David Herd (called Grey-
steel by his intimate friends), in whose footsteps Laing followed
with such success.
Laing discharged the duties of the office of Secretary of this
famous Club with much zeal, and acted in that capacity for
thirty-eight years, down to the dissolution of the Club in 1861.
He refers to his long and arduous labours in connection
with this Society in the following terms: “No one can
imagine how much of my time was so spent, days and
nights, with frequent and sometimes distant journeys, on
matters more or less connected with the Club, and wearisome
enough work besides, with doubts occasionally springing up
in my mind whether a person like myself, having always a
very limited income, was justified year after year in thus
spending the best period of his life. Persuaded, however,
that the object was laudable, and one to which I had early
devoted myself, I now feel thankful at the close of such a
lengthened period, to be able to say that during these thirty-
eight years, neither seeking praise nor receiving reward, I
never faltered from my work nor drew my hand back from
the plough.”
In 1823 he contributed to the Club, Holland's ‘Buke of
the Howlate,’ which he edited from the Asloan MS. preserved
at Auchinleck, Ayrshire. This allegorical poem, composed
about the middle of the fifteenth century, was supposed by
xiv AMEMORIAA. - ZAVTRODUCTYOA'.
*
Pinkerton to be a satire on King James II. of Scotland; but
in his preface, Laing showed that this ancient work was not
written with any view to local or national politics. To the
title-page of the volume an interesting design was contributed
by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe. The same year Laing began
the publication of various pieces of Fugitive Scottish poetry of
the seventeenth century. The first volume was finished in
1825, and was followed by a second in 1853.
In 1826 he edited the poems of George Bannatyne, whose
celebrated manuscript of ancient Scottish poetry is preserved
in the Advocates' Library. In that year he became a Fellow
of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and was for the long
period of fifty-four years one of its most active members. For
sixteen years, at a time when its funds were in a critical state,
he acted as its Treasurer. He also was for a time one of
the Editors of its proceedings, a Vice-President, and Foreign
Secretary. But, while contributing to the prosperity of the
Society by his business talents, he was also a constant contrib-
utor of papers at its meetings; and the importance of these
was acknowledged to be altogether unparalleled in its history.
Between 1825 and 1827 Laing was engaged in arrangements
for transferring the books of the University Library from the
old library to the noble hall in the present building. The
Committee of the Senatus Academicus were so well satisfied
with Laing's labours that they drew up the following report:
“In closing the repairs of the Library, the Committee have
again to direct the attention of the Senatus to the invaluable
services of Mr D. Laing. With a skill which very few could
have brought to the work, and with a perseverance which has
laid the University under deep obligations, he has discharged
the trust undertaken by him in May 1825. The Committee
regret that they have no pecuniary recompense to offer which
is at all commensurate to the services of Mr Laing; but they
unanimously and earnestly recommend that, in addition to the
hundred guineas originally stipulated for, fifty guineas should
MEMORYA L- INTRODUCTIO/V. XV
be presented to Mr Laing by order of the Senatus, in token of
their approbation.”
In 1826 Laing published a little volume entitled ‘Early
Metrical Tales, including the History of Sir Egeir, Sir Gryme,
and Sir Gray-Steill.’ To these poems he prefixed short intro-
ductions.
In 1827 there was published by his firm, and edited by
him, a handsome volume under the title of ‘The Knightly
Tale of Golagrus and Gawane, and other Ancient Poems.’
This was a reprint of the first book known to have been
printed in Scotland (in 1508, by Walter Chepman and Andro
Myllar), of which the only copy that exists is preserved in
the Advocates' Library. The reprint had been announced
for publication in 1814, but was delayed from various causes.
After the difficulties of collation had been overcome, and the
volume had been completed with the exception of the intro-
ductory remarks, a fire took place in the premises where the
sheets were deposited, and the greater portion of the copies
were either destroyed or rendered imperfect. Several of the
sheets were, however, reprinted, and about seventy-six copies
were ultimately completed and published. Nearly all of these
show a few leaves bearing the marks of fire.
In conjunction with Sir Walter Scott, Laing, in 1829, edited
a volume for the Bannatyne Club—‘The Memorials of George
Bannatyne, with an Account of his celebrated MS.’ To this
volume Sir Walter contributed the memoir, and Laing the
account of the MS.
In 1830 Laing edited for the same Club a “Relation of Pro-
ceedings concerning the Affairs of the Kirk of Scotland, 1637-
38, by John, Earl of Rothes. This work may be regarded
as supplying authentic information relative to events which
happened in the short but eventful period which it embraces.
In 1831 he also edited for the Bannatyne Club a reprint of
‘The Buik of the most noble and vailzeand Conqueror Alex-
ander the Great,” originally printed in 1580; and in 1833 he
xvi MEMOR/AL- INTRODUCTION'.
edited ‘A Collection of Ancient Scottish Prophecies in Alliter-
ative Verse,' originally printed in 1603 and 1615. To this
volume the preface was added by Thomas Thomson.
About the beginning of the present century, George Chal-
mers, the distinguished Scottish antiquary, made collections
for the purpose of publishing a complete edition of the poems
of William Dunbar, in his time the “Rhymer” or Poet-Lau-
reate of Scotland. Laing having acquired these papers after
the death of Chalmers, brought out in 1834 the first collected
edition of Dunbar's writings. This edition was highly praised,
and has long been much coveted by collectors. In 1865 he
issued a supplement containing several additional poems, and
Some new biographical information. -
In 1836 he edited for the Bannatyne Club ‘A Diary of
Public Transactions and other occurrences, chiefly in Scotland,”
by John Nicoll, 1560–1667.’ The MS. of this work is pre-
served in the Advocates' Library.
In 1837 he edited a long poem by John Rolland of Dal-
keith, called ‘The Seven Sages, 1578.” In his preface to this
work, he states that nothing was known of Rolland's personal
history. A charter has since been found in Laing's own
collection, showing that Rolland was a notary in Dalkeith,
and also a Presbyter—a conjunction not unusual in the times
when he flourished.
The year 1837 was an eventful one for Laing. Macvey
Napier, Professor of Conveyancing in the University, who was
also Librarian to the Society of Writers to the Signet, resigned
his office of Librarian. From his labours in the field of
Scottish poetry, Laing was now well known to many men of
eminence, and in becoming a candidate for the vacant office he
received testimonials of the most gratifying character. The
Hon. William Adam, Sir William Hamilton, Dr Irving, the
Rev. Dr [afterwards Principal] Lee, the Rev. John Jamieson
the Scottish lexicographer, Thomas Maitland, afterwards Lord
Dundrennan, Robert Southey, Dr Hibbert Ware, the Rev.
MEMORIA L-INTRODUCTION. xvii
Philip Bliss of Oxford, Allan Cunningham, Dr Dibdin, Sir
Henry Ellis, Sir Fred. Madden, J. G. Lockhart, and Patrick
Fraser Tytler, the historian of Scotland, were amongst the
number of his supporters on this occasion. On the 21st of
June of that year Laing was elected. He was proposed by
Sir James Gibson Craig, Bart, and seconded by James Tytler
Esq. of Woodhouselee.
In 1837, jointly with Mr W. B. D. D. Turnbull, Laing edited
a small volume containing the poem called ‘Owain Miles,’ and
other inedited pieces of ancient English poetry. These were
derived from the Auchinleck MS. preserved in the Advocates'
Library.
In 1838, Laing, in conjunction with Adam Urquhart, edited
for the Bannatyne Club, ‘Historical Observes of Memorable
Occurrents, 1680-1686,” by Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall,
one of the Senators of the College of Justice.
The Abbotsford Club, which was founded in 1834 mainly
by the exertions of Mr Turnbull, now began to look to Laing
for assistance. He accordingly edited, in conjunction with
Mr J. Hill Burton, the ‘Jacobite Correspondence of the Atholl
Family during the Rebellion, 1745-1746, which was issued
to the members in 1840. This Club did not confine their
printing to works connected with Scotland, but admitted all
materials throwing light on the ancient history or literature of
any country, anywhere described or discussed by the author
of “Waverley.’ -
In 1841 Laing published the ‘Letters and Journals of
Robert Baillie, Principal of the University of Glasgow.” These
valuable papers relate to the eventful period between 1637
and 1642. This important work was reviewed by Thomas
Carlyle in the ‘London and Westminster Review’ for 1841.
Writing of Laing's editorial labours, he says: “Mr Laing,
according to all appearance, has exhibited his usual industry,
sagacity, correctness in this case, and done his work well.
The notes are brief, illuminative, ever in the right place; and,
&
xviii MEMORYA/. - IAV7'RODUCTION.
what we will praise withal, not over plentedus, not more of
them than needed. Nothing is easier than for an antiquarian
editor to seize too eagerly any chance or pretext for pouring
out his long-bottled antiquarian lore, and drowning his text,
instead of refreshing and illustrating it—a really criminal
proceeding ! This we say the present editor has virtuously
forborne.” 1
The Wodrow Society, instituted for the publication of
works connected with the history of the Church of Scotland,
began its labours in 1841. Laing, familiar with all the manu-
script treasures of the various Scottish libraries, that year
edited John Row of Carnock's ‘History of the Kirk of Scot-
land from 1558 to 1639; ' and for this Society, in 1846, he
also issued the first volume of the Works of John Knox,
which was completed in 1864 by the publication of the sixth
volume. This valuable edition must be regarded as Laing's
most important contribution to Scottish literature.
In 1843 Laing edited a very interesting work for the
Shakespeare Society—‘Notes of Ben Jonson's Conversations
with Drummond the Poet of Hawthornden;' and in 1847 he
edited, for the Bannatyne Club, the ‘Buke of the Order of
Knighthood, by Sir Gilbert Hay.’
In 1848, on the retirement of Dr Irving from the Keepership
of the Advocates’ Ilibrary, Laing again became a candidate for
this desirable appointment. He was, however, unsuccessful,
as the appointment was bestowed on Mr Samuel Halkett.
The same year he edited for the Bannatyne Club another
work by Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall—viz., his ‘Historical
Notices of Scottish Affairs from 1661 to 1668.’
In 1843, when Carlyle, then engaged on his ‘Life of Cromwell,’ came
to Scotland to visit the scene of the Protector's victory at Dunbar, he
states in a letter to his wife : “Before quitting Edinburgh I had gone to
David Laing and refreshed all my recollections by looking at his books,
one of which he even lent me out thither.”—Life by Froude, 1831-81, vol.
i. p. 325.
MAEMORYA/L- ZAZ7 RO/DUCTION. xix
In 1849 he issued two volumes to the members of the
Abbotsford Club, ‘Sire Degarre, a Metrical Romance of the
13th Century,’ and “A Penniworth of Witte, Florice and
Blauncheflour, and other pieces of ancient poetry.’ These
volumes were printed from the Auchinleck MS. in the Advo-
cates' Library.
In 1851 Laing edited for the Bannatyne Club a volume
of Original Letters relating to the Ecclesiastical Affairs of
Scotland, Chiefly written by, or addressed to, King James
VI., after his accession to the English Throne, 1603-1625,
in two volumes 4to.
In 1853 he published in the Shakespeare Society Series,
Thomas Lodge’s ‘Defence of Poetry, Music and Stage Plays,
An Alarum against Usurers, and the delectable History of
Forbonius and Drissena, with Introduction and Notes;” and
the same year he edited, in conjunction with Charles Kirk-
patrick Sharpe, a new edition of Johnson’s ‘Scots Musical
Museum.’
In 1854 Laing was elected Honorary Professor of Anti-
quities to the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture,
and Architecture. -
In 1855 there was issued to the members of the Bannatyne
Club a series of etchings, chiefly of views in Scotland, by John
Clerk of Eldin (author of the well-known work on Naval
Tactics), 1773-1779, in folio. To this handsome volume
Laing prefixed an account of Mr Clerk and of his numerous
characteristic etchings on copper, which were long supposed
to have perished. The same year the third volume of the
Miscellany of the Bannatyne Club was issued, which Laing
edited, and which contains several interesting papers and
plates of seals. In 1855 Laing also wrote a preface to the
reprint of the ‘Breviarium Aberdonense,” which had been
edited from the rare original by the Rev. William Blew, A.M.,
and was then published at London, by J. Toovey, for subscrib-
ers. Laing added a sheet “Compassio Beate Marie,’ printed at
XX MEMORIA / -/W7"RODUCTION.
Edinburgh in 1520, from the only copy which was known to
exist.
In 1856 the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and
Ireland held its meeting at Edinburgh, and an exhibition
of Historical Scottish Relics was held in the Galleries of the
Royal Academy. Mr Laing then exhibited several highly
interesting portraits — Anne of Cleves, Mary of Lorraine,
Mary Stuart, and several others. Of the Relics a catalogue
was published by Mr Albert Way, in 1859, to which Laing
contributed an account of the Civic Insignia of Edinburgh,
I616-32.
In 1858 Laing edited the ‘Letters of John Colville, 1582-
1603, for the Bannatyne Club. Colville first was minister of
Kilbryde, but afterwards gave up the Church and acted as
confidential correspondent of the English Court. In the pre-
fatory memoir Laing has given a full account of his extra-
ordinary career. Conjointly with James Macknight, Laing
the same year edited for the Club “Memoirs of the Insurrec-
tion in Scotland in 1715, by John, Master of Sinclair.’ In
addition to these he issued a Catalogue of the Graduates in
Arts, Divinity, and Laws of the University of Edinburgh, from
its foundation in 1580 to the year 1858.
In 1859 he edited for the Club the Charters of the Collegiate
Church of St Giles of Edinburgh, under the title of ‘Registrum
Cartarum Ecclesiae Sancti Egidii de Edinburgh, 1344-1507.’
To this volume he prefixed a very interesting introduction.
In 1861 he edited for the Bannatyne Club, ‘The Registers
of the Church of Soutra, and those of Trinity College Church,
at Edinburgh.”
In 1861 Laing at length received some recognition of his
long and disinterested services to Scottish literature. At the
final general meeting of the Bannatyne Club, held on 27th
February 1861, a handsome silver vase, surmounted with a
statuette of Sir Walter Scott, was presented to Laing by the
members, who subscribed 35o guineas for a testimonial, as a
A/EMORIA L- ZAV7'RO DUCTIO/W. xxi
mark of their high sense of the admirable manner in which the
publications of the Club had been superintended by him as
Honorary Secretary from its institution in 1823 to its dissolu-
tion in 1861. The same year he was translated by the Royal
Scottish Academy from their Professorship of Antiquities to
their Honorary Chair of Ancient History. During that year
and the year following, he delivered to the Academy three very
interesting lectures, the first being an “Inquiry into the State
of the Arts of Design in Scotland at an early Period,” and the
Second and third “On the Scottish Artists who flourished
between the Union of the Crowns, A.D. 1603, and the present
Century.” These lectures were highly appreciated.
In 1862, in conjunction with Professor Cosmo Innes, Laing
edited a History of the University of Edinburgh that had been
drawn up by Professor Dalzel from the Records of the Town
Council and other sources.
In 1863 there was presented to the Spalding Club a volume
containing “Extracts from the Diary of Alexander Brodie of
Brodie, 1652-1685.’ This was edited by Laing. In that year
a portrait of him, painted by William (now Sir William) Fettes
Douglas, P.R.S.A., was painted and added to the Collection
of Works of Art belonging to the Royal Academy. This
portrait, of cabinet size, represents Laing seated in his
sanctum before a table covered with missals, charters, old
books, and the vase presented to him by the Bannatyne
Club.
In 1864 Laing received the honorary degree of LL.D. from
the University of Edinburgh. The degree was conferred at the
same time on John Hill Burton the historian, and Joseph
Robertson. In presenting Laing to the Vice-Chancellor Sir
David Brewster, Professor Innes said: “In the name of the
Faculty of Law, I present to you Mr David Laing as one upon
whom the Faculty and Senatus of our University think it fit to
confer the honour of a degree of Doctor of Laws. Mr Laing
is one of the Foreign Secretaries of the Society of Antiquaries
xxii MEMORIA L- IAWTRODUCTION.
of Scotland, Honorary Professor of Ancient History in the
Royal Scottish Academy, and a gentleman accurately learned
in several departments of literature and art. Mr Laing has
made a peculiar study of the early poets and poetry of Scot-
land, and has devoted much labour and research to our
national history, especially the history of the Reformed
Church in Scotland. If you desire specimens of his work, he
has given an admirable edition of the poems of Dunbar—
our Scottish Chaucer; and his elaborate edition of Knox,
has at length placed the writings of that great Reformer on a
sound foundation. Mr Laing's qualifications have been long
known to men of kindred studies. At the institution of the
Bannatyne Club, a Society, as you know, for promoting the
study of early Scottish literature—a society in which Sir
Walter Scott took great delight—he selected Mr Laing for
the office of Honorary Secretary; and Mr Laing held that
office and discharged the duties in a most efficient manner
from the birth to end of the Club, for forty years. During
that long period I may say his hand was never idle. Besides
the official work of Secretary, he arranged and gave to the
Club a continuous series of works of history, antiquities, art,
and literature—the most important of which, perhaps, is the
‘Collected Correspondence of Principal Baillie.” Mr Laing
has some peculiar claims upon the gratitude of our University.
To him we owe the full Catalogue of our graduates from the
foundation of our University. It is less generally known that
the University is indebted to him for the arrangement of our
Library preparatory to its being moved into the present noble
room. It was a task for which he was pre-eminently qualified,
and which he performed as a labour of love. I have alluded
—and I can do no more than allude—to Mr Laing's know-
ledge of art, both native and foreign, in which, if he has equals,
he has no superior among his countrymen. But one quality
of Mr Laing I have not mentioned. He is a workman who
knows his tools and where to find them. To many a young
MEMORIAA. - IAWTRODUCTIO/V. xxiii
student he has saved the dreary and discouraging labour of
informing himself where information is to be found. His love
for all letters—his willingness to assist all study—have brought
it to pass that, sitting in that fine Signet Library of which he
holds the keys, he is consulted by everybody in every emer-
gency. No wise man will undertake a literary work in Scot-
land without taking counsel with Mr Laing.” -
In 1865 Dr Laing contributed to the Abbotsford Club a
volume of poems by Stephen Hawes—‘The Conversion of
Swerers.”
When Thomas Carlyle was elected Lord Rector of the
University of Edinburgh in 1865, he selected Dr Laing as
his Assessor in the University Court. Like the Rector, his
Assessor held office for the term of three years.
In 1867 Dr Laing issued to the members of the Bannatyne
Club a volume of ‘Royal Letters, Charters, and Tracts, relating
to the Colonisation of New Scotland, and the institution of the
Order of Knights Baronets of Nova Scotia, 1622-1638.’ He
also presented to the members that year a volume of ‘Ad-
versaria,’ or notices of some of the earlier works printed for the
Club. His edition of the Poetical Works of Robert Henry-
son, comprising poems and fables of the fifteenth century,
appeared in the same year. *.
In 1868 Dr Laing published a very curious work,-‘A Com-
pendious Book of Psalms and spiritual songs,’ Commonly
known as ‘The Gude and Godlie Ballates.” In 1869 he
published a series of the etchings of his old friend Charles
Kirkpatrick Sharpe, with some of his poetical and prose frag-
ments, to which he prefixed a short Memoir.
For many years Dr Laing had made collections for a com-
plete edition of the Poetical Works of Sir David Lyndsay of
the Mount, and the appearance of this work was looked
forward to with much interest by his antiquarian friends. To
their great disappointment he set aside the sheets of his
elaborate edition, and issued in 1871 one intended for pop-
xxiv. MEAMOR/4 L- ZAVTRODUCTIOM.
ular use. This edition was not well received, and many
inquiries were made as to the time when the larger edition,
containing much new matter, would appear. When hard
pressed one day by an old friend to say when it would be pub-
lished, he only replied, “You know my name is D(e) Za(y)ing.”
The much-looked-for edition, however, did not appear in his
lifetime.
While engaged so much with general literature, Dr Laing did
not neglect his duties as Librarian, and in 1871 he published
the first volume of the Catalogue of the printed books in the
Library of the Society of Writers to H.M. Signet in Scotland.
In 1871 Dr Laing took much interest in an exhibition held
at Edinburgh on the occasion of the commemoration of the
Centenary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott. In conjunction
with James Drummond, R.S.A., he drew up a catalogue of
the valuable pictures and relics then brought together. . In
1871-72 he published Wyntoun's ‘Chronicle’ in the series
known as the Historians of Scotland.
In 1873, Dr Laing, who was we’ nformed on the subject of
the authorship of the beautiful “Ode to the Cuckoo,” published
a brochure in which he vindicated the claims of Logan against
the statements made by the Rev. A. B. Grosart in his edition
of the poems of Michael Bruce published in 1865. In the
same year he issued the Poetical Works of Alexander Craig
of Rose Craig, 1604-1631, which were then for the first time
collected. This volume was issued to the members of the
Hunterian Club.
The year 1874 being the fiftieth anniversary of the admission
of Dr Laing as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, it was
resolved that the members should show their respect for him
as an antiquary, and their appreciation of his valuable services
to the Society, by asking him to sit for his portrait. The
necessary sum was soon subscribed, and the execution of the
work was intrusted to Robert Herdman, R.S.A., who produced
a most excellent likeness. This characteristic portrait was
MEA/OA’/4 L - IAWTRODUCTIO/V. XXV
presented to the Society on the occasion of its anniversary
meeting, held on St Andrew’s Day, 1874. It is now preserved
in the hall of the Society, and it is from it that the frontispiece
to the present volume has been taken.
In 1875 Dr Laing brought out a volume containing the
etchings of Sir David Wilkie and Andrew Geddes. The same
year he also published the ‘Correspondence of Sir Robert
Kerr, first Earl of Ancram, and his son William, third Earl
of Lothian, 1616-1667, in two elegant volumes. This work,
which was derived from papers recently discovered at New-
battle Abbey, is of great historical importance, as throwing new
light on the part taken by Scotland during the period of the
civil wars in the seventeenth century. Copies were presented
by the Marquis of Lothian to the members of the Bannatyne
Club. Dr Laing also presented in that year a volume to the
Hunterian Club—‘The Poetical Works of Patrick Hannay,’
originally printed in 1644. •
In the following year, 1876, he edited ‘A Theatre of
Scottish Worthies,’ by Alexander Garden, Advocate, Aber-
deen; and in the same volume, ‘The Lyf. Doings, and Death
of William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, 1619-1626.’
This poetical volume was issued to the members of the
Hunterian Club. *
In 1878 Dr Laing prepared a set of facsimiles of engraved
copper-plates illustrating “Le livre de la ruyne des nobles
Hommes et Femmes,” which is a translation into French
prose, printed at Bruges in 1476, of Boccaccio's well-known
‘Fall of Princes.’ A copy of this rare edition is preserved
in the library of the Marquis of Lothian at Newbattle Abbey,
which has a set of plates not found in any other copy of the
work known to exist." In reproducing these plates, Dr Laing
in his interesting preface gave an account of the earliest speci-
* Books printed in the fifteenth century which contain impressions from
engraved copper-plates are so rare that they are greatly valued and sought
after. -
xxvi MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION.
mens of engraving. A melancholy interest is attached to this
volume, as it was Dr Laing's last publication; and the few
copies printed were presented by him to various libraries, as
a token of gratitude for the facilities they had afforded to
him in his researches.
Dr Laing at this time took steps to have his immense
private library arranged in a large room which he had added
to his villa at Portobello. Although only the choicer portion
of his books could be there accommodated, he was now-
enabled to show many of his treasures to his visitors. In
August of that year he entertained several of his old friends,
to whom he exhibited his book-rarities. It was now becoming
evident that his strength was beginning to fail. A general
debility soon after set in, and on the 18th of October 1878,
in his eighty-sixth year, and without any severe illness, Dr
Laing's long and useful life was brought to a close.
When the sad event became known, there was a general
feeling that the country had sustained a great loss, and that a
blank was made in Scottish literary Society which it would be
impossible to fill. He left a large circle of attached friends, to
whom he was endeared by his genial and amiable disposition.
Dr Laing was buried in the family tomb in the New Calton
Burying-ground; and the large number of attendant mourners
showed the respect in which he was held.
After his death the edition of Lyndsay’s “Poems’ which he
had printed several years previously was published, with a
glossary prepared by the writer of this memoir. The numer-
ous facsimiles with which it is enriched render this one of the
most beautifully illustrated of his many works. In 1879 a
new edition of Sir David Lyndsay's ‘Heraldic MS.,’ previously
mentioned, was published.
In 188o there appeared a second edition of ‘A Ballad
Book,” of which Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe printed a few
copies for private friends in 1823. Sharpe was then assisting
Sir Walter Scott in the preparation of his Border Minstrelsy,
MAEAMO/ē/A/L- IAWTRODUCTIO/W. xxvii
and this Ballad Book contained such as were not included by
Scott, but still were worth preserving for their quaintness.
“They were,” says Sharpe, “mostly gathered from the mouths
of nurses, wet and dry, singing to their babes and sucklings,
dairymaids pursuing their vocation in the cow-house, and
tenants' daughters while giving the lady (as every laird's wife
was once called) a spinning day, whilom an anniversary
tribute in Annandale. Several, too, were picked up from
tailors who were wont to reside in my father's castle while
misshaping clothes for the children and servants.” This
second edition was in process of being arranged by Dr Laing
at the time of his death, and his instructions as to the addi-
tional pieces to be selected from the Sharpe and Scott MSS.
were duly adhered to in the elegant volume published in 1880.
By his will, executed in 1864, Dr Laing bequeathed several
valuable portraits and antiquities to the Society of Antiquaries,
together with the testimonial presented to him by the Banna-
tyne Club. His valuable collection of manuscripts he left to
the Library of the University of Edinburgh on condition of
their being kept in a separate place in the Library, and of
their being stamped with an appropriate stamp. He also
bequeathed several pictures to the National Gallery of Edin-
burgh—one of these was painted in 1767 by Runciman,
known as “King Lear in a Storm.” To the Royal Scottish
Academy he left a large collection of drawings and sketches
by the old masters.
He left directions that his large private library should be
sold in London by public auction. (/It was accordingly in-
trusted to Messrs Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, by whom it
was sold in four portions, embracing thirty-one days' sale, in the
end of 1879 and beginning of 1880. This collection being the
acquisition of a long lifetime, and of one who had unequalled
opportunities of securing literary treasures connected with
Scotland, excited much interest, and realised the large sum
of 24, 16,137, 9s. Besides the books, a collection of his en-
xxviii A/EMOA’/A/L - ZAVZ RO/DU/C 7TWOAV.
gravings, etchings, and drawings, was sold in Edinburgh in
1879, and the finer portion of his prints was sold in London
in 188o. *
In concluding this brief notice of Dr David Laing, we
must acknowledge its imperfection, for, in addition to the
long list of books edited by him which has been here given,
there are many others in which he had a share, or to
which he contributed valuable information. Besides, his
papers—about a hundred in number—contributed to the
Society of Antiquaries, are so replete with information, that
these alone would be sufficient to make a reputation. It
rarely falls to the lot of a biographer to record so much literary
work performed by one man as was done by Dr Laing in his
long and honourable career.

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We redeth oft and findeth ywrite'
and this clerkes wele it wite'
Layes that ben in harping"
ben yfounde of ferli thing"
sum bethe of wer and sum of wo'
and sum of ioie and mirthe also:
and sum of trecherie and of gile'
of old auentours that fel while'
and sum of bourdes and ribaudy'
and mani ther beth of fairy"
of all thinges that men seth'
mest o loue forsothe thai beth'
Lai le Freine. Auch. MS. fol. 261.
jš
THE ADVERTISEMENT.
ITTLE apology, it
is conceived, will
4
*
- ſh
- cº- .Y. S \, \\
º
£r- ? - ==<= ** Q.
º be looked for, on
§§Rºss. 4
submitting to the
Publick a Collec-
tion, such as this
is, of our ANCIENT
POPULAR POETRY:
neither is it ne-
cessary to detain
the reader with any general reflections which
the nature of its contents might be supposed to
suggest. The remains of the Early Poetical
Literature of our Country, and indeed of most
Nations, are allowed to possess a value, Sanc-
tioned by Time, of which neither prejudice

xxxii THE AD VERTISEMAEAVT.
nor fashion can deprive them, and this may be
thought sufficient to justify any attempt that is
made for their preservation. They are valuable,
no less in enabling us to trace the history and
progress of our language, than in assisting us to
illustrate ancient manners and amusements, of
which they often contain the liveliest represen-
tations.
THE professed object of this work was to bring
together some of the rarer pieces of the ancient
vernacular Poetry of Scotland. Accordingly, an
endeavour has been made to collect such as either
still remained unpublished, or had appeared only
in a corrupted or imperfect state : and if, in the
prosecution of this design, the Editor has been
unsuccessful, it has, at least, arisen from no want
on his part of diligence and assiduity. For it
has been well observed by the excellent and
ingenious HEADLEY, that “to constitute a relish
for the Black-Letter (a term by which we may
understand whatever relates to antiquarian know-
ledge), a certain degree of literary Quixotism is
highly requisite: he who is unwilling to penetrate
the barren heath and solitary desert; he who
7THAE A/D WEA 7TWSEA/EAV7. xxxiii
cannot encounter weariness, perplexity, and dis-
gust; he who is not actuated by an enthusiasm
for his employment, is no true knight, and unfit
for such service.” More especially is this the
case when, in order to publish the early remains
of our National Poetry with the correctness and
fidelity which is requisite, recourse must be had
to ancient and discordant manuscripts, where the
obscurity of the language, or the labour of decy-
phering them, is the least perplexing or difficult
part of the undertaking.
IN the APPENDIX some remarks are subjoined
which have occurred since a part of the volume
was printed off. The Reader will observe that
the various Pieces contained in it have, at least,
in their favour, the claim of antiquity, since all of
them are given from sources anterior to the close
of the Sixteenth Century. These are carefully
pointed out in the short notices which it was
thought necessary to prefix to the Poems for
their better illustration. At the same time, many
other curious reliques might have been found
worthy of being brought to light; and it will be
* Select Beauties of Ancient English Poetry, 8vo, p. vii.
C
xxxiv. THE AD VERTISEMAZAVT.
gratifying to the Editor, if this publication prove
in any way conductive to a more extensive re-
search after the scanty and too long neglected
Remains of this portion of our Ancient Litera-
ture. To what extent these may have suffered
in their transmission to our times, cannot now be
ascertained. That they have suffered greatly is,
however, beyond doubt, and was a natural conse-
quence, in their having (in the words of Bishop
PERCY) “been handed down to us with less care
than any other writings in the world.”"
* Of some of the Pieces which have hitherto eluded discovery, a
short list may here be subjoined, as the best mode of exciting
attention ; and the Editor should feel happy to receive informa-
tion respecting any of them, or of similar compositions, either in
a printed or manuscript state, which may have escaped his re-
searches.—This list might have been easily enlarged.
THE TALE HOW THE KING OF ESTMORELAND MAREIT THE KINGIS
Dochte R OF WESTMORELAND. A modernized copy of this
romantick tale is printed in Percy's Reliques.
THE TALE OF THE THREE FUTTIT DOG OF NORROWAY. Mentioned
in the Complaynt of Scotland, 1549 : or, indeed, any of the
taylis, fabillis, or pleysand storets, enumerated in that curious
work, which are pointed out by Dr Leyden, in his republica-
tion of that ancient and singular composition.
THE EARL OF ERROL's TESTAMENT, in Scotish metre, by ROBERT
ALExANDER, Advocate, was printed at Edinburgh some time
after the year I 541.
CHRIST's KIRK ON THE GREENE. Any edition prior to that printed
in the year 1663.
In the following stanzas of THE PALICE OF HONOUR, by Bishop
Douglas, written in 1503, several curious tales are alluded to,
most of which probably are no longer in existence —
THE AZD V/A’7”/SEMAAV7. XXXV
THE present work must necessarily have a very
limited circulation," yet, trusting that such a Col-
I saw Raf Coil?ear with his thrawin brow,
Craibit Johne the Reif, and auld Cowkewyis Sow
And how the Wran came out of Ailssay,
And Peirs Plewman that maid. his workmen fow,
Greit Gowmakmorne and Fyn Makcoul, and how
Thay suld be Goddis in Ireland as they say;
Thair saw I Maitland vpon auld Beird Gray,
Robene Hude, and Gilbert with the quhite hand,
How Hay of Nauchtoun slew in Madin land.
The Nigromansie thair saw I eik anone,
Of Benytas, Bongo, and Freir Bacone,
With mony subtill point of juglary,
Of Flanders peis maid mony precious stone,
Ane greit laid sadill of a siching bone,
Of ane nutemug thay maid a monk in hy,
Ane paroche kirk of ane penny py.
And Benytas of ane mussill maid ane aip,
With mony vther subtill mow and jaip.—Edit. 1579, p. 56.
THE BATTLE OF HARLAW. Anno 141 I. Printed in the Ever-
green, by Allan Ramsay, from (as supposed) a modernized copy.
It was printed in the year 1668.
SiR EGEIR, SIR GRYME, AND SIR GRAY STEILL. An analysis of
this interesting romance is given by Mr Ellis (Specimens of
early English Romances, vol. iii. 308-347), from a modernized
Copy, in Mr Douce's possession, printed in the year 17 II, pp.
84. It certainly, however, had been often printed before this
edition, which bears to be “Newly corrected and amended.”
Indeed, in the Will of Thomas Bassandyne, a Printer in Edin-
burgh, dated 18th Oct. I 577, among other books of which his
stock consisted, we find “Item III". [300] Gray Steillis, yº pece
vi", summa vii” x*”—It is also supposed to have been printed
at Edinburgh by Robert Smith, or by Thomas Finlason; but
any copy printed in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, which
might present the text in an authentick state, would be esteemed
a valuable discovery.
* The entire impression does not exceed ONE HUNDRED AND
EIGHT copies.
xxxvi THE ADVERTYSEMENT
lection is neither unworthy of publick attention,
nor of the care that has been bestowed in forming
it, the Editor, with all due feeling of grateful
esteem, would inscribe it as a slight but sincere
tribute of respect to THE DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR,
to whom, of all others, the Literature of his Native
Country is most deeply beholden :—Whose zeal
in its cause has been shewn, no less in a friendly
and generous encouragement of those engaged in
its cultivation, than in his own successful exertions
in behalf of the unregarded and traditionary pro-
ductions of former ages;–and Who has, at the
same time, so eminently sustained and extended
the reputation of our national literary character,
by those original compositions which have shed
so much lustre over the MINSTRELSY AND ROMANCE
OF SCOTLAND, and have happily displayed the ex-
tent and fertility of his own surpassing Genius.
DAVID LAING.
EDINBURGH,
6th Mozember 1822.
2
THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL3EAR
. JOHN THE REEVEl . *
. THE AWNTYRS OF ARTHURE
. ORFEO AND HEURODIS
. THOMAS OF ERSYLDOUNE
. THE PYSTYL OF SWETE SUSAN
. ANE BALLET OF THE NINE NOBLES
. DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS
. THE BLUDY SERK
. SIR JOHN ROWLL’S CURSING
. TAYIS BANK
v. 18
V/ I9.
... WELCUM TO MAY
. THE TALE OF COLKELBIE SOW
. KING BERDOK
. THE GY RE-CARLING tº e
. THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS 1 .
. THE MANER OF THE CRYING OF ANE PLAY .
THE LAYING OF LORD FERGUS’S GAIST
SYMMIE AND HIS BRUDER
* Not in Edition of 1822.
PAGE
xxxviii THE TABLE OF CONTENzs.
2O.
2I.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
ANE BALLAT OF ALLANE-A’-MAUT
ANE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER COFFEIS
THE WYF OF AUCHTERMUCHTY
THE DUMB WYFF e e ſº
THE WOWING OF JOK AND JYNNY .
THE FERMORAR AND HIS I)OCHTER
ANE BALLET OF MATRY MONIE .
THE PROMINE TO KING JAMES .
APPENDIX
319
325
333
345
355
361
367
375

SELECT REMAINS
of THE
ANCIENT POPULAR AND ROMANCE
POETRY OF SCOTLAND
º:
THE
TAILL OF RAUF COIL 3, EAR
I.
RAUF COIL 3 EA R.
THE Tale of Rauf Coilgear, and that of John the Reeve
which immediately follows, were two of the best known metri-
cal fictions in Scotland at an early period. That they en-
joyed much popularity is shown by the following lines in one
of the poems of Dunbar, addressed to James IV.-
“Gentill and semple, of every clan
Kyne of Rauf Coláear and Johne the Reif.”
Bishop Gawain Douglas also, in his Palice of Honour,
written in the year I503, among other characters of notoriety,
Says : .
** I Sa af Coil3ear with his thrawin brow,
Craibit Johne the Reif, and auld Cowkewyis Sow.”
The idea or plot in these pieces is not uncommon in the
early literature both of England and Scotland, as it was a
favourite theme of the old ballad-makers to represent the king
as going about in disguise, and conversing, either by accident
or design, with some of the poorest of his subjects. Of poems
of this kind may be mentioned: The King and the Miller
of Mansfield; King James I. and the Tinker; King
Alfred and the Shepherd; King Henry VIII. and the
Cobbler; &c.
The Tale of Rauf Coilgear, in common with a great num-
ber of the ancient romances in our vernacular language, may
possibly be traced to some Norman original. Its language,
4 RA UF COIL.3EAR.
the familiar structure of the stanza, and its alliterative style,
refer the composition to the later portion of the fourteenth
century. We are not, however, possessed of such evidence as
might enable us to ascribe it in particular to any one Scottish
Poet.
It is enumerated by the author of the Complaynt of Scot-
land, in 1549, among the “taylis, fabillis, and plesand
stories” recited by “the scheiphirdis,” whereof “sum vas
in prose, and sum in verse, sum var storeis, and sum
var flet taylis.”
This Tale, however, was for a length of time considered
no longer to be in existence. The short notice which occurs
tn Jos. Ames’s Typographical Antiquities, I749, 4to, p.
583, is the only intimation respecting any printed edition ;
but so completely had every copy eluded detection that the
repeated search and inquiry of more than half a century
failed in gratifying the curiosity excited by these different
allusions among our poetical antiquaries. In the index to
the Asloan Manuscript, preserved at Auchinleck, “Item,
The Buke of Ralf Colgear” appears as the lxiv. article;
but this and some other portions of the same volume have
long Since been lost.
The present re-impression has been made from a printed
copy discovered about the year 1821 in a volume of English
Tracts of extreme rarity, in the Library of the Faculty of
Advocates. The original, which contains sixteen leaves in
black letter, is now detached and bound Separately, and a
correct facsimile of the title is prefixed to the poem. Although
seemingly printed with more accuracy than is commonly met
with in such publications, two lines in the XI.”, and one line
tn the Lv.” stanza appear to have been omitted. The only
liberty that has been taken, besides the change of letter, is the
substitution of “th ” in the few instances where the Anglo-
Saxon “p ’’ had been introduced.
The Tale of Rauf Coilgear has claims to public attention
altogether independent of its uncommon rarity ; as it possesses
no inconsiderable share of poetical merit. Although, like
most poems of the same age and character, many words are
introduced merely for the sake of alliteration, the language is
RA UF COIZ.5E.A.R. 5
by no means obscure. The narrative is simple and circum-
stantial; the characters are well described; and a vein of
comic humour runs through the whole. The adventures with
the Saracen towards the conclusion of the poem—very skil-
fully introduced to prevent the author from involving the
reputation either of his hero Schir Rauf, or of the ‘gentill
knycht,’ Schir Rolland—which terminates so happily in
Magog's conversion to the Christian Faith, and his marriage
with the ‘Gentill Duchess,” may perhaps be considered as the
- strongest evidence of its Norman origin.
[The scene of the Tale is laid in the neighbourhood of
Paris. The King, afterwards the Emperor Charlemagne,
ts represented as having, in a storm, been separated from his
attendants, and meeting with a charcoal-burner called Ralf,
who gives him shelter in his house. A supper is set before
him, replete with excellent viands. The Collier requests the
King to lead his wife to the table, and when he hesitates, the
Collier gives him a blow under the ear which sends him to
the floor. After this the King does as requested, and the
entertainment begins, in which wine and venison are not
wanting. After supper Ralf tells many stories, and at last
asks his guest who he may be. He gives his name as Wy-
mond of the Wardrobe, an attendant on the Queen. He
then tells the Collier that if he will bring a load of his char-
coal to him at the palace, he will ensure him a good price
for it.
In the morning the King takes his leave, and soon after
meets Sir Roland and Sir Oliver, with a retinue of a thou-
sand men, in search of him. They attend a service at the
Cathedral of St Denis, followed by Yule festivities. The
next morning the Collier sets off for the Court with a load of
charcoal. The King, remembering his engagement, requests
Sir Roland to proceed to the road leading to Paris, and
*f he find any one, to bring him to the hall. He meets the
Collier and orders him to come with him. The Collier
demurs and offers to fight. He however consents to go to
see Wymond of the Wardrobe. The Knight returns,
leaving the Collier to follow. The King inquires whether
he saw any one, when he stated that he only met a poor man
6 RAUF COIL.5 E.A.R.
conveying coals. By this time the Collier is at the palace
gate clamouring for admittance. He gains his point through
Sir Roland's influence. He finds himself where the King
is dining in state, and at last recognises in him Wymond
of the Wardrobe; but he is now, however, so much grander
a person than he expected, that he wishes to escape. The King
smiles at his surprise, and tells the story of his reception in the
forest. The courtiers think the Collier should be hanged, but
the King dubs him a knight, and assigns him a retinue and
a revenue. He has, however, to win his spurs. Accordingly
he sets out in quest of adventures. He at last sees advanc-
ing a Saracen Knight mounted on a camel, and both prepare
for combat. They rush together with terrible force, when
both their chargers perish. They renew the fight on foot
with short knives. Sir Roland runs forward and parts
them, and invites the Saracen to become a Christian. He,
however, defies them both, and gives Sir Roland a challenge
from the Khan of Tartary to King Charles. He says his
own name is Magog. Sir Roland tries to convert him with
the bait of rich duchies and a worthy wife. The Saracen
refuses these attractions, but if the Christian's God can be
avouched as really so good, he will believe on him and on
Christ his Son. Sir Roland thanks God, and all three
swear on their swords to become brothers, and they proceed
to Court. The King celebrates the result, the Bishop ad-
ministers the Sacraments, names the Saracen Sir Walter,
and weds him to the Duchess, Dame Jane of Anjou. Sir
Ralf's knighthood is approved, and he is made Marechal of
France. He sends for his wife, and on the spot where he
met the King founds an hospice in honour of St Julian,
the patron of travellers.]
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of 3&auf toil;tat bom
bt barbttit 3king
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I.
lik auf Coil 3 ear.
I
N the cheiftyme of Charlis, that chosin chiftane,
Thair fell ane ferlyfull flan within thay fellis wyde,
Quhair Empreouris, and Erlis, and vther mony ane,
Turnit fra Sanct Thomas befoir the gule tyde;
Thay past vnto Paris, thay proudest in pane,
With mony Prelatis and Princis, that was of mekle
pryde,
All thay went with the King to his worthy wane;
Ouir the feildis sa fair thay fure be his syde;
All the worthiest went in the morning,
Baith Dukis, and Duchepeiris, IO
Barrounis, and Bacheleiris,
Mony stout man steiris
Of town with the King.
II.
*|| And as that Ryall raid ouir the rude mure,
Him betyde ane tempest that tyme, hard I tell; 15
The wind blew out of the Eist stiflie and sture,
The d[rift]" durandlie draif in mony deip dell;
Sa feirslie fra the firmament, sa fellounlie it fure,
Thair micht na folk hald na fute on the heich fell;
In point thay war to parische, thay proudest men and
pure, 2O
In thay wickit wedderis thair wist name to dwell.
* Deip, in ed. of 1572.
io THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.3EAR.
Amang thay myrk montanis sa madlie thay mer,
Be it was pryme of the day,
Sa wonder hard fure thay
That ilk ane tuik ane seir way, 25
And sperpellit full fer.
III.
#C# Ithand wedderis of the Eist draif on sa fast,
It all to-blaisterit and blew that thairin baid,
Be thay disseuerit sindrie, midmorne was past ;
Thair wist na Knicht of the Court quhat way the
King raid ; 3o
He saw thair was na better bot God at the last,
His steid aganis the storme staluartlie straid,
He cachit fra the Court, sic was his awin cast,
Quhair na body was him about be fiue mylis braid.
In thay montanis, I-wis, he wox all will, 35
In wickit wedderis and wicht,
Amang thay montanis on hicht,
Be that it drew to the nicht,
The King lykit ill.
IV.
Euill lykand was the King it nichtit him sa lait, 4o
And he na harberie had for his behufe;
Sa come thair ane cant Carll chachand the gait,
With ane capill and twa creillis cuplit abuſe;
The King carpit to the Carll withouten debait,
“Schir, tell me thy richt name, for the Rude lufe 2 ° 45
He sayis, “Men callis me Rauf Coilgear, as I weill wait,
I leid my life in this land with mekle vnrufe,
Baith tyde and tyme in all my trauale;
Hine ouir seuin mylis I dwell,
And leidis coilis to sell; 5o
Sen thow speiris, I the tell
All the suith hale.”
THE TAILL OF RA U.F COIL.3EAR. I I
V.
* “Sa mot I thrife,” said the King, “I speir for nane
ill;
Thow semis ane nobill fallow, thy answer is sa fyne.”
“Forsuith,” said the Coilgear, “traist quhen thow will,
For I trow and it be nocht swa, sum part salbe thyne.”
“Mary, God forbid,” said the King, “that war bot lytill
skill, -
Baith my self and my hors is reddy for to tyne;
I pray the, bring me to sum rest, the weddir is sa schill,
For I defend that we fall in ony fechtine; 6o
I had mekill mair nait, sum friendschip to find :
And gif thow can better than I,
For the name of Sanct July,
Thow bring me to sum harbery,
And leif me nocht behind.” 65
VI.
“I wait na worthie harberie heir neir hand,
For to serue sic ane man as me think the,
Nane bot mine awin hous, maist in this land;
Fer furth in the forest, amang the fellis hie,
With thy thow wald be payit of sic as thow fand ; 7o
Forsuith thow suld be wel-cum to pas hame with me,
Or ony vther gude fallow that I heir fand
Walkand will of his way, as me think the ;
For the wedderis are sa fell, that fallis on the feild.”
The King was blyth quhair he raid, 75
Of the grant that he had maid,
Sayand with hart glaid,
“Schir, God gow forgeild.”
VII.
“Na, thank me not ouir airlie, for dreid that we threip,
For I haue seruit the git of lytill thing to ruse; 8o
For nouther hes thow had of me fyre, drink, nor meit,
Nor nane vther eismentis for trauellouris behuse;
I2 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3EAR.
Bot, micht we bring this harberie this nicht weill to
heip,
That sº micht with ressOun baith thus excuse;
To-morne on the morning, quhen thow sall on leip, 85
Pryse at the parting, how that thow dois;
For first to lofe and syne to lak, Peter it is Schame.”
The King said, “In gude fay,
Schir, it is suith that ge say.”
Into sic talk fell thay -- 90
Quhill thay war neir hame.
VIII.
*I To the Coilgearis hous baith, or thay wald blin,
The Carll had cunning weill quhair the gait lay;
‘‘Vndo the dure beliue ! Dame, art thow in 2
Quhy Deuill makis thow na dule for this euill day? 95
For my gaist and I baith cheueris with the chin,
Sa fell ane wedder feld I neuer, be my gude fay.”
The gude wyfe, [was] glaid with the gle to begin,
For durst scho neuer sit summoundis that scho hard
him say,
The Carll was wantoun of word, and wox wonder
wraith. IOO
All abaisit for blame,
To the dure went our Dame,
Scho said, “Schir, gear welcome hame,
And gour gaist baith.”
IX.
*|| “Dame, I haue deir coft all this dayis hyre, Io5
In wickit wedderis and weit walkand full will;
Dame, kyith I am cummin hame, and kendill on ane fire,
I trow our gaist be the gait hes farne als ill;
Ane Ryall rufe het fyre war my desyre,
To fair the better for his saik, gif we micht win thair-
till ; I IO
Knap doun capounis of the best, but in the byre,
Heir is bot hamelie fair, do beliue, Gill.”
THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.3EAR. I 3
Twa cant knaifis of his awin haistelie he bad—
“The ane of gow my capill ta,
The vther his coursour alswa, II 5
To the stabill swyith ge ga.”
Than was the King glaid.
X.
§3. The Coilgear, gudlie in feir, tuke him be the hand,
And put him befoir him, as ressoun had bene;
Quhen thay come to the dure, the King begouth to
stand, I 2 O
To put the Coilgear in befoir, maid him to mene;
He said, “Thow art vncourtes, that sall I warrand.”
He tyt the King be the nek, twa part in tene;
“Gif thow at bidding suld be boun or obeysand,
And gif thow of courtasie couth, thow hes forget it
clene; I 25
Now is anis,” said the Coilgear, “kynd aucht to creip,
Sen ellis thow art vnknawin,
To mak me Lord of my awin,
Sa mot I thriue I am thrawin,
Begin we to threip.” * I3O
XI.
Than benwart thay geid, quhair brandis was bricht,
To ane bricht byrnand fyre as the Carll bad;
He callit on Gyliane, his wyfe, thair supper to dicht,
“Of the best that thair is, help that we had,
Efter ane euill day to haue ane mirrie nicht, I35
For sa troublit with stormis was I neuer stad;
Of ilk airt of the Eist sa laithly it laid,
3it was I mekle willar than,
Quhen I met with this man.”
Of sic taillis thay began, I4O
Quhill the supper was graid.
I4. THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3EAR.
XII.
& Sone was the supper dicht, and the fyre bet,
And thay had weschin, I-wis, the worthiest was thair:
“Tak my wyfe be the hand, in feir, withoutin let,
And gang begin the buird,” said the Coilgear. 145
“That war vnsemand, forsuith, and thy self vnset; ”
The King profferit him to gang, and maid ane strange
fair.
“Now is twyse,” said the Carll, “me think thow hes
forget.”
He leit gyrd to the King, withoutin ony mair,
And hit him vnder the eir with his richt hand. I5o
Quhill he stakkerit thair with all
Half the breid of the hall,
He faind neuer of ane fall,
Quhill he the eird fand.
XIII.
*| He start vp stoutly agane, vneis micht he stand, 155
For anger of that outray that he had thair tane;
He callit on Gyliane his wyfe, “Ga tak him be the
hand,
And gang agane to the buird, quhair gesuld air haue
gane; ”
“Schir, thow art vnskilfull, and that sall I warrand,
Thow byrd to haue nurtour aneuch, and thow hes
$ nane ; I6o
Thow hes walkit, I wis, in mony wyld land,
The mair vertew thow suld haue, to keip the fra
blame;
Thou suld be courtes of kynd, and ane cunnand Courteir.
Thocht that I simpill be,
Do as I bid the, I65
The hous is myne, pardie,
And all that is heir.”
THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.5E.A.R. I 5
XIV.
ãG# The King said to himself, “This is an euill lyfe,
3it was I neuer in my lyfe thus-gait leird;
And I haue oft tymes bene quhair gude hes bene ryfe,
That maist couth of courtasie in this Cristin eird. 171
Is name sa gude as leif of, and mak na mair stryfe,
For I am stonischit at this straik, that hes me thus
steird.” -
In feir fairlie he foundis, with the gude wyfe,
Quhair the Coilgear bad, sa braithlie he beind. 175
Quhen he had done his bidding, as him gude thocht,
Doun he sat the King neir,
And maid him glaid and gude cheir,
And said, “3e ar welcum heir,
Be him that me bocht.” I8o
XV.
*I Quhen they war seruit and set to the suppar,
Gyll and the gentill King, Charlis of micht,
Syne on the tother syde sat the Coilgear:
Thus war thay marschellit, but mair, and matchit that
nicht.
Thay brocht breid to the buird, and braun of ane bair,
And the worthyest wyne, went vpon hicht; I86
Thay Beirnis, as I wene, thay had aneuch thair,
Within that burelie bigging, byrnand full bricht;
Syne enteris thair daynteis on deis dicht dayntelie.
Within that worthie wane, I90
Forsuith wantit thay name: -
With blyith cheir sayis Gyliane,
“Schir, dois glaidlie.”
XVI.
ãCŞ. The Carll carpit to the King cumlie and cleir,
“Schir, the forestaris, forsuith, of this forest, I95
Thay haue me all at inuy, for dreid of the deir;
Thay threip that I thring doun of the fattest;
16 THE 7AILL OF KAUF COIL3EAR.
Thay say, I sall to Paris, thair to compeir
Befoir our cumlie King, in dule to be drest;
Sic manassing thay me mak, forSuith, ilk geir, 2OO
And git aneuch sall I haue for me and ane gest;
Thairfoir sic as thow seis, spend on, and not spair.”
Thus said gentill Charlis the Mane
To the Coilgear agane,
“The King him self hes bene fane, 2 o'S
Sum tyme of sic fair.”
- XVII.
ºf Of caponnis and cunningis they had plentie,
With wyne at thair will, and eik vennysoun;
Byrdis bakin in breid, the best that may be ;
Thus full freschlie thay fure into fusioun. 2 I C)
The Carll with ane cleir voce carpit on he,
Said, “Gyll, lat the cop raik for my bennysoun;
And gar Our gaist begin, and syne drink thow to me,
Sen he is ane stranger, me think it ressoun.” .
Thay drank dreichlie about, thay wosche, and thay rais,
The King with ane blyith cheir 2 I 6
Thankit the Coilgeir ;
Syne all the thre into feir
To the fyre gais.
XVIII.
Quhen they had maid thame eis, the Coilgear tald 220
Mony sindrie taillis efter suppair;
Ane bricht byrnand fyre was byrnand full bald,
The King held gude countenance and company bair;
And euer to his asking ane answer he gald,
Quhill at the last he began to frane farther mair: 225
“In faith, friend, I wald wit, tell gif ge wald,
Quhair is thy maist wynning 2 ” said the Coilgear.
“Out of weir,” said the King, “I wayndit neuer to tell;
- With my Lady the Quene,
In office maist haue I bene, 23o
All thir geiris fyftene,
In the Court for to dwell.”
THE 7A/L OF RA UF COIL3EAR. 17
XIX.
* “Quhat-kin office art thow in, quhen thow art at
hame,
Gif thow dwellis with the Quene, proudest in pane?”
“Ane Chyld of hir Chalmer, Schir, be Sanct Jame, 235
And thocht my self it say, maist inwart of ane;
For my dwelling to nicht I dreid me for blame.”
“Quhat sal I cal the,” said the Coilgear, “ quhen
thow art hyne gane P’’ -
“Wymond of the Wardrop is my richt name,
Quhair euer thow findis me befoir the, thi harberie is
tane ; *} 24O
And thow will cum to the Court, this I vnderta,
Thow sall haue for thy fewaill,
For my saik, the better saill,
And onwart to thy trauaill,
Worth ane laid or twa.” 245
XX.
*] He said, “I haue na knawledge quhair the Court lyis,
And I am wonder wa to cum quhair I am vnkend; ”
“And I sall say the the suith on ilk syde, I wis,
That thow sall wit weill aneuch or I fra the wend.
Baith the King and the Quene meitis in Paris, 25o
For to hald thair gule togidder, for scho is efter send ;
Thair may thow sell, be ressoun, als deir as thow will
pryS,
And git I sall help the, gif I Ocht may amend,
For I am knawin with Officiaris in cais thow cum thair;
Haue gude thocht on my Name, 255
And speir gif I be at hame,
For I suppois, be Sanct Jame,
Thow sall the better fair.”
XXI.
| “Me think it ressoun, be the Rude, that I do thy red,
In cais I cum to the Court, and knaw bot the ane, 26o
Is name sa gude as drink, and gang to our bed,
For als far as I wait, the nicht is furth gane.”
B
I8 THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL.5E.A.R.
To ane preuie chalmer beliue thay him led,
Quhair ane burely bed was wrocht in that wane,
Closit with courtingis, and cumlie cled ; 265
Of the worthiest wyne wantit thay name.
The Coilgear and his wyfe baith with him thay geid,
To serue him all at thay mocht,
Till he was in bed brocht.
Mair the King spak nocht, 27,o
Bot thankit thame thair deid.
XXII.
#C# Upon the morne airlie, quhen it was day,
The King buskit him Sone, with scant of squyary.
Wachis and Wardroparis all war away,
That war wont for to walkin mony worthy. 275
Ane Pauyot preuilie brocht him his palfray,
The King thocht lang of this lyfe, and lap on in hy;
Then callit he on the Carll, anent quhair he lay,
For to tak his leif, than spak he freindly;
Than walkinnit thay baith, and hard he was thair. 280
The Carll start vp Sone,
And prayit him to abyde none;
“Quhill thir wickit wedderis be done,
I red nocht ge fair.”
XXIII.
“Sa mot I thriue,” said the King, “me war laith to byde,
Is not the morne gule day, formest of the geir 2 286
Ane man that Office suld beir betyme at this tyde,
He will be found in his fault, that wantis foroutin weir;
I se the Firmament fair vpon ather syde,
I will returne to the Court quhill the wedder is cleir;
Call furth the gude wyfe, lat pay hir or we ryde, 29I
For the worthie harberie that I haue fundin heir.”
“Lat be, God forbid,” the Coilgear said,
“And thow of Charlis cumpany,
Cheif King of Cheualry, 295
That for ane nichtis harbery,
Pay suld be laid.”
THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.5E.A.R. 19
XXIV.
*| “3ea sen it is sa that thow will haue na pay,
Cum the morne to the Court and do my counsall;
Deliuer the, and bring ane laid, and mak na delay, 3oo
Thow hy not schame with thy craft, gif thow thriue
sall;
Gif I may help the Ocht to sell, forsuith I sall assay,
And als my self wald haue sum of the fewall.”
“Peter l’’ he said, “I sall preif the morne, gif I may,
To bring coillis to the Court, to se gif thay sell sall.”
“Se that thow let nocht, I pray the,” said the King. 306
- “In faith,” said the Coilgear,
“Traist weill I salbe thair,
For thow will neuer gif the mair,
To mak ane lesing.” 3IO
XXV.
“Bot tell me now, lelely, quhat is thy richt name 2
I will forget the morne, and ony man me greif.”
“Wymond of the Wardrop, I bid not to lane,
Tak gude tent to my name, the Court gif thow will
preif; ” 3I4
“That I haue said, I sall hald, and that I tell the plane;
Quhair ony Coilgear may enchaip I trow till encheif.”
Quhen he had grantit him to cum, than was the King fane,
And withoutin ony mair let, than he tuke his leif:
Then the Coilgear had greit thocht on the cunnand he
had maid,
Went to the charcoill in hy, 32O
To mak his chauffray reddy,
Agane the morne airly,
He ordanit him ane laid.
XXVI.
* The lyft lemit vp beliue, and licht was the day,
The King had greit knawledge the countrie to ken :
Schir Rolland and Oliuer come rydand the way, 326
With thame ane thousand and ma of fensabill men,
2O THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3EAR.
War wanderand all the nicht Ouir, and mony ma than
thay,
On ilk airt outwart war ordanit sic ten ;
Gif thay micht heir of the King, or happin quhair he
lay, - 33O
To Jesus Christ thay pray, that grace thame to len.
Alssone as Schir Rolland saw it was the King,
He kneillit doun in the place, -
Thankand God ane greit space;
Thair was ane meting of grace 335
At that gaddering.
XXVII.
The gentill Knicht, Schir Rolland, he kneillit on his kne,
Thankand greit God that mekill was of micht;
Schir Oliuer at his hand, and Bischoppis thre,
Withoutin commounis that come and mony vther
Knicht; 34O
Than to Paris thay pas, all that Cheualrie,
Betuix none of the day and 3Ule nicht:
The gentill Bischop Turpine cummand thay se,
With threttie Conuent of Preistis reuest at ane sicht,
Preichand of Prophecie in Processioun. 345
Efter thane, baith fer and neir,
Folkis following in feir,
Thankand God with gude cheir
Thair Lord was gane to toun.
XXVIII.
3G Quhen thay Princis appeirit into Paris, 35o
Ilk rew ryallie with riches thame arrayis;
Thair was digne seruice done at Sanét Dyonys,
With mony proud Prelat, as the buik sayis.
Syne to supper they went within the Palys, -
Befoir that mirthfull man menstrallis playis; 355
Mony wicht wyfis sone, worthie and wise,
Was sene at that semblay ane and twentie dayis;
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL3EAR. 2 I
With all-kin principall plentie for his plesance.
Thay callit it the best 3ule than,
And maist worthie began, 360
Sen euer King Charlis was man,
. Or euer was in France.
XXIX.
* Than vpon the morne airlie, quhen the day dew,
The Coilgear had greit thocht quhat he had vnder tane;
He kest twa"creillis on ane capill with coillis anew, 365
Wandit thame with widdeis, to wend on that wane.
“Mary, it is not my counsall, bot gone man that ge knew,
To do gow in his gentrise,” said Gyliane.
“Thow gaif him ane outragious blaw and greit boist
blew ;
In faith, thow suld haue bocht it deir, and he had
bene allane; 37 O
Forthy, hald gow fra the Court, for ocht that may be:
3one man that thow outrayd,
Is not sa simpill as he said,
Thairun my lyfe dar I layd,
That sall thow heir and se.”
XXX.
§§ “3ea, Dame, haue name dreid of my lyfe to day, 376
Lat me wirk as I will, the weird is mine awin.
I spak not out of ressoun, the Suth gif I sall say,
To Wymond of the Wardrop war the suith knawin;
That I haue hecht I sall hald, happin as it may, 38o
Quhidder sa it gang to greif or to gawin.”
He caucht twa creillis on ane capill and catchit on his
W3. -
Ouir the daillis sa derf, be the day was dawin;
The hie way to Paris, in all that he mocht, -
. With ane quhip in his hand, 385
Cantlie on catchand,
To fulfill his cunnand,
To the Court socht.
22 THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL.5E.A.R.
XXXI.
* Graith thocht of the grant had the gude King,
And callit Schir Rolland him till and gaif command-
ment, 390
Ane man he traistit in, maist atour all vther thing,
That neuer wald set him on assay withoutin his
aSSent :
“Tak thy hors and thy harnes in the morning,
For to watche weill the wayis, I wald that thow went;
Gif thow meitis ony leid lent on the ling, 395
Garthame boun to this burgh, I tell the mine intent;
Orgyf thow seis ony man cumming furth the way,
Quhat sumeuer that he be,
Bring him haistely to me,
Befoir none that I him se 4OO
In this hall the day.”
XXXII.
*I Schir Rolland had greit ferly and in hart kest
Quhat that suld betakin that the King tald;
Vpon solemnit gule day quhen ilk man suld rest,
That him behouit neidlingis to watche on the wald,
Quhen his God to serue he suld haue him drest, 4O6
And syne, with ane blyith cheir, buskit that bald.
Out of Paris proudly he preikit full prest,
In till his harnes all haill his hechtis for to hald;
He vnbekest the countrie, outwith the toun, 4 IO
He saw na thing on steir,
Nouther fer nor neir,
Bot the feildis in feir,
Daillis and doun.
XXXIII.
*| He huit and he houerit, quhill midmorne and mair,
Behaldand the hie hillis, and passage sa plane; 416
Sa saw he quhair the Coilgear come with all his fair,
With twa creillis on ane capill; thairof was he fane
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL3EAR. 23
He followit to him haistely, amang the holtis hair,
For to bring him to the King, at bidding full bane. 420
Courtesly to the Knicht kneillit the Coilgear;
And Schir Rolland him self salust him agane,
Syne bad him leif his courtasie, and boun him to ga,
He said, “Withoutin letting,
Thow mon to Paris to the King, 425
Speid the fast in ane ling,
Sen I find na ma.”
XXXIV.
aſ “In faith,” said the Coilgear, “git was I neuer sa
nyse, -
Schir Knicht, it is na courtasie commounis to scorne;
Thair is mony better than I cummis oft to Parys, 430
That the King wait not of, nouther nicht nor morne;
For to towsill me or tit me, thocht foull be my clais,
Or I be dantit on sic wyse, my lyfe salbe lorne.”
“Do way,” said Schir Rolland, “me think thow art
not wise,
I red thow at bidding be, be all that we haue sworne,
And call thow it na scorning, bot do as I the ken ; 436
Sen thow hes hard mine intent,
It is the Kingis commandement,
At this tyme thow suld haue went,
And I had met sic ten.” 44O
XXXV.
* “I am botane mad man, that thow hes heir met,
I haue na myster to matche with maisterfull men; .
Fairand ouir the feildis, fewell to fet,
And oft fylit my feit in mony foull fen;
Gangand with laidis, my gouerning to get. 445
Thai: is mony Carll in the countrie thow may nocht
en ;
I sall hald that I haue hecht, bot I be hard set,
To Wymond of the Wardrop, I wait full weill
quhen.”
24 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3EAR.
“Sa thriue I,” said Rolland, “it is mine intent,
That nouther to Wymond nor Will 45o
Thow sall hald nor hecht till,
Quhill I haue brocht the to fulfill
The Kingis commandment.”
XXXVI.
aſ The Carll beheld to the Knicht, as he stude than,
He bair grauit in Gold and Gowlis in grene, 45.5
Glitterand full gaylie quhen glemis began,
Ane Tyger ticht to ane tre, ane takin of tene;
Trewlie that tenefull was trimland than,
Semelie schapin and schroud in that Scheild schene ;
Mekle worschip of weir worthylie he wan, 46o
Befoir, into fechting with mony worthie sene;
His Basnet was bordourit and burneist bricht
With stanes of Beriall deir,
Dyamountis and Sapheir,
Riche Rubeis in feir, - 465
Reulit full richt.
XXXVII.
His plaitis properlie picht attour with precious stanis,
And his Pulanis full prest of that ilk peir ;
Greit Graipis of Gold his Greis for the nanis,
And his Cussanis cumlie Schynand full cleir; 47 O
Bricht braissaris of steill about his arme banis,
Blandit with Beriallis and Cristallis cleir ;
Ticht ouir with Thopas, and trew lufe atanis,
The teind of his iewellis to tell war full teir;
His Sadill circulit and set, richt sa on ilk syde, 475
His brydill bellisand and gay, ---
His steid stout on stray,
He was the Ryallest of array,
On Ronsy micht ryde.
THE TAILL OF RAUF coſ/3EAR. 25
XXXVIII.
*I Of that Ryall array that Rolland in raid, 48o
Rauf rusit in his hart of that Ryall thing:
“He is the gayest in geir that euer on ground glaid,
Haue he grace to the gre in ilk Iornaying;
War he ane manly man, as he is weill maid,
He war full michtie, with magre durst abyde his
meting.” 485
He bad the Coilgear in wraith swyth withoutin baid,
Cast the creillis fra the capill, and gang to the King.
“In faith, it war greit schame,” said the Coilgear,
“I vndertuk thay suld be brocht,
This day for ocht that be mocht; 490
Schir Knicht, that word is for nocht,
That thow carpis thair.”
XXXIX.
* “Thow huifis on thir holtis, and haldis me heir,
Quhill half the haill day may the hicht haue; ”
“Be Christ that was Cristinnit, and his Mother cleir,
Thow sall catche to the Court that sall not be to
CT3 U162. 496
It micht be preifit preiudice, bot gif thow suld compeir,
To se quhat granting of grace the King wald the gaif.”
Ҽfor na gold on this ground wald I, but weir,
Be fundin fals to the King, sa Christ me saue.” 5oo
“To gar the cum and be knawin as I am command,
I wait not quhat his willis be,
Nor he namit na mair the,
Nor ane vther man to me,
Bot quhome that I fand.” 505
XL.
* “Thow fand me fechand nathing that followit to feid,
I war ane fule gif I fled, and fand name affray;
Bot as ane lauchfull man my laidis to leid,
That leifis with mekle lawtie and labour in fay; 509
26 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3 EAR.
Be the Mother and the Maydin that maid vs remeid,
And thow mat me ony mair, cum efter quhat sa may,
Thow and I sall dyntis deill quhill ane of vs be deid,
For the deidis thow hes me done vpon this deir day.”
Mekle merwell of that word had Schir Rolland;
He saw na wappinis thair, 5 I5
That the Coilgear bair,
Botane auld Buklair,
And ane roustie brand.
XLI.
* “It is lyke,” said Schir Rolland, and lichtly he leuch,
“That sic ane stubill husband man wald stryke
stoutly;
Thair is mony toun man to tuggill is full teuch, 52 I
Thocht thair brandis be blak and vnburely;
Oft fair foullis ar fundin faynt, and als freuch;
I defend we fecht or fall in that foly.
Lat se how we may disseuer with sobernes aneuch; 525
And catche crabitnes away, be Christ counsall I,
Quhair winnis that Wymond thow hecht to meit to
day?”
“With the Quene tauld he me,
And thair I vndertuke to be,
Into Paris, Pardie, 53O
Withoutin delay.” f
XLII.
“And I am knawin with the Quene,” said Schir Rolland,
“And with mony byrdis in hir Bowre, be buikis and
bellis;
The King is into Paris, that sall I warrand,
And all his aduertance that in his Court dwellis; 535
Me tharth haue name noy of myne erand, -
For me think thow will be thair efter as thow tellis;
Bot gif I fand the, forrow now to keip my cunnand.”
“Schir Knicht,” said the Coilgear, “thow trowis me
neuer ellis,
THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3EAR. 27
Bot gif sum suddand let put it out of delay, 54o
For that I hecht of my will,
And na man threit me thair till,
That I am haldin to fulfill,
And sall do quhill I may.” 544
XLIII.
aſ “3ea, sen thow will be thair, thy cunnandis to new,
I neid nane airar myne erand nor none of the day.”
“Be thow traist,” said the Coilgear, “man, as I am trew,
I will not haist me ane fute faster on the way;
Bot gif thow raik out of my renk, full raith sall thow rew,
Or, be the Rude, I sall rais thy Ryall array, 55o
Thocht thy body be braissit in that bricht hew,
Thow salbe fundin als febil of thy bone fay.”
Schir Rolland said to him self, “this is bot foly,
To striue with him ocht mair,
I se weill he will be thair.” 555
His leif at the Coilgear,
He tuke lufesumly.
XLIV.
ºf “Be Christ,” said the Coilgear, “that war ane foull
SCOrne,
That thow suld chaip, bot I the knew, that is sa
schynand;
For thow seis my weidis ar auld and all to-worne, 560
Thow trowis nathing thir taillis that I am telland.
Bring na Beirnis vs by, bot as we war borne,
And thir Blonkis that vs beinis, thairto I mak ane
band,
That I sall meit the heir vpon this mure to morne,
Gif I be haldin in heill, and thairto my hand, 565
Sen that we haue na laiser at this tyme to ta.”
In ane thourtour way,
Seir gaitis pas thay,
Baith to Paris in fay,
Thus partit thay twa. 57o
28 THE TAILL OF RAUF COILJEAR.
XT.V.
The gentill Knicht, Schir Rolland, come rydand full sone,
And left the Coilgear to cum, as he had vndertane;
And quhen he come to Paris, the hie Mes was done,
The King with mony cumly out of the Kirk is gane;
Of his harnes in hy he hynt withoutin hone, 575
And in ane rob him arrayit richest of ane;
In that worschipfull weid he went in at none,
As he was wont, with the wy that weildit the wane,
On fute ferly in feir, formest of all.
Richt weill payit was the King 58o
Of Schir Rollandis cumming,
To speir of his tything
Efter him gart call.
XLVI.
The King in counsall him callit, “cum hidder Schir
Knicht,
Hes thow my bidding done, as I the command 2 ” 585
“In faith,” said Schir Rolland, “I raid on full richt,
To watche wyselie the wayis; that I sall warrand.
Thair wald na douchtie this day for Iornay be dicht;
Fairand Ouir the feildis full few thair I fand ;
Saif anerly ane man that semblit in my sicht, 590
Thair was na leid on lyfe lent in this land.”
“Quhat kin a fallow was that ane, Schir, I the pray ?”
“Ane man in husband weid,
Buskit busteously on breid,
Leidand coillis he geid, 595
To Paris the way.”
XLVII.
“Quhy hes thow not that husband brocht, as I the bad 2
I dreid me, sa he dantit the, thow durst not with him
deill.”
“In faith,” said Schir Rolland, “gif that he sa had,
That war full hard to my hart, and I ane man in
heill.” 6oo
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL3EAR. 29
He saw the King was engreuit, and gat furth glaid,
To se gif the Coilgearis lawtie was leill:
“I suld haue maid him in the stour to be full hard stad,
And I had witten that the Carll wald away steill,
Bot I trowit not the day that he wald me beget.” 605
As he went outwart bayne,
He met ane Porter Swayne,
Cummand raith him agayne,
Fast fra the get. 609
XLVIII.
*I “Quhair gangis thow, Gedling, thir gaitis sa gane P’’
“Be God,” said the Grome, “ane gift heir I geif;
I deuise at the get thair is ane allane,
Bot he be lattin in beliue, him lykis not to leif;
With ane capill and twa creillis cassin on the plane,
To cum to this Palice he preissis to preif.” 615
“Gif thow hes fundin that Freik, in faith I am fane,
Lat him in glaidly, it may not engreif;
Bot askis he eirnestly efter ony man P”
Than said that Gedling on ground, -
“3e, forsuith in this stound, 62o
Efter ane Wymound,
In all that he can.”
XLIX.
#C# “Pas agane Porter, and let him swyith in,
Amang the proudest in preis, plesand in pane;
Say thow art not worthy to Wymond to win, 625
Bid him seik him his self, gif thair be sic ane.”
Agane gangis Schir Rolland, quhair gle suld begin,
And the gaip geman to the get is gane;
Enbraissit the bandis beliue, or that he wald blin,
Syne leit the wy at his will wend in the wane. 630
“Gang seik him now thy self,” he said, vpon hicht;
“My self hes na lasair
Fra thir gettis to fair.”
“Be Christ,” said the Coilgear,
“I set that bot licht.” 635
3O THE TAILL OF RA U.F COIL3EAR.
L.
| “Gif thow will not seik him, my awin self sall,
For I haue oft tymes swet in seruice full sair;
Tak keip to my capill, that na man him call,
Quhill I cum fra the Court,” said the Coilgear;
“My laid war I laith to lois, I leif the heir all, 64o
Se that thow leisthame not, botgeme them full gair.”
In that hardy in hy, he haikit to that hall,
For to wit gif Wymondis wynning was thair;
He arguit with the Ischar ofter than anis,
“Schir, can thow ocht say, 645
Quhair is Wymond the day ?
I pray the, bring him gif thow may,
Out of this wanis.”
LI.
He trowit that the wy had witten of Wymond he wend,
Bot to his raifand word he gaue na reward; 65o
Thair was na man thairin that his name kend,
Thay countit not the Coilgear almaist at regaird;
He saw thair was na meiknes nor mesure micht mend,
He sped him in spedely, and nane of thame he spaird.
Thair was na fyue of thay Freikis, that micht him furth
send, 655
He socht in sa sadly, quhill sum of thanne he saird,
He thristit in throw thane thraly with threttis;
Quhen he come amang thane all,
3it was the King in the hall,
And mony gude man with all, --- 66o
Vngane to the meit.
LII.
*I Thocht he had socht sic ane sicht all this seuin geir,
Sa solempnit ane semblie had he not sene;
The hall was properly apperrellit and paintit but peir,
Dyamountis full dantely dentit betwene; 665
It wes semely set on ilk syde Seir,
Gowlis glitterand full gay, glemand in grene,
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL.3EAR. 3I
Flowris with Flourdelycis formest in feir,
With mony flamand ferly, ma than fyftene;
The rufe reulit about in reuall of Reid, 67o
Rois reulit Ryally,
Columbyn and Lely,
Thair was ane hailsum harbery,
Into riche steid.
LIII.
* With Dosouris to the duris dicht, quha sa wald deme,
With all diuers dainteis dicht dantely; - 676
Circulit with siluer semely to sene,
Selcouthly in seir he was set Suttelly;
Blyth byrdis abufe, and bestiall full bene,
Fyne foullis in Fyrth, and Fischis with fry; 68o
The flure carpit and cled and couerit full clene;
Cummand fra the Cornellis closand quemely,
Bricht Bancouris about browdin ouir all,
Greit Squechonis on hicht,
Anamalit and weill dicht, 685
Reulit at all richt
Endland the hall.
LIV.
| “Heir is Ryaltie,” said Rauf, “aneuch for the nanis,
With all nobilnes anournit, and that is na nay;
Had I of Wymond ane word, I wald of thir wanis, 690
Fra thir wyis, I-wis, to went on my way;
Bot I mon git heir mair quhat worthis of him anis,
And eirnestly efter him haue myne E ay.”
He thristit in throw threttie all atanis,
Quhair mony douchtie of deid war Ioynit that day,
For he was vnburely, on bak thay him hynt; 696
As he gat ben throw,
He gat mony greit schow,
Bot he was stalwart I trow,
And laith for to stynt. 7oo
32 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.5E.A.R.
LV.
*] He thristit in throw thame, and thraly can thring,
Fast to the formest he foundit in feir ;
Sone besyde him he gat ane sicht of the Nobill King.
“3one is Wymond, I wait, it worthis na weir;
I ken him weill, thocht he be cled in vther clething, 705
In clais of clene gold, kythand gone cleir.
Quhen he harbreit with me, be half as he is heir,
In faith he is of mair stait, than euer he me tald.
Allace, that I was hidder wylit,
I dreid me sair I be begylit !” 7 Io
The King preuilie Smylit,
Quhen he saw that bald.
LVI.
*|| Thair was seruit in that saill Seigis semelie,
Mony Sengeorabill Syre on ilk syde seir :
With ane cairfull countenance the Coilgear kest his E
To the cumly Quene, courtes and cleir. 716
“Dame, of thy glitterand gyde haue I na gle,
Be the gracious God that bocht vs sa deir,
To ken Kingis Courtasie, the Deuill come to me,
And sa I hope I may say, or I chaip heir. 720
Micht I chaip of this chance, that changes my cheir,
Thair suld na man be sa wyse,
To gar me cum to Parise,
To luke quhair the King lyis,
In faith this seuin geir ” 725
LVII.
* Quhen worthie had weschin, and fra the buirdis went,
Thay war for-wonderit I wis of thair wyse Lord.
The King fell in carping, and tauld his Intent,
To mony gracious Grome he maid his record:
How the busteous Beirne met him on the bent, 73o
And how the Frostis war sa fell, and sa strait ford.
THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3EAA’. 33
Than the Coilgear quoke as he had bene schent,
Quhen he hard the suith say how he the King schord.
“Greit God! gif I war now and thy self with all,
Vpon the mure quhair we met, 735
Baith all suddandly set
Or ony Knicht that thow may get,
Sagude in thy hall.”
LVIII.
*I Thir Lordis leuch vpon loft, and lystinit to the King,
How he was ludgeit and led, and set at sa licht : 74o
Than the curagious Knichtis bad haue him to hing;
“For he hes seruit that,” thay said, “be our sicht.”
“God forbot,” he said, “my thank war sic thing
To him that succourit my lyfe in sa euill ane nicht!
Him semis ane stalwart man and stout in Stryking, 745
That Carll for his courtasie salbe maid Knicht;
I hald the counsall full euill that Cristin man slais,
For I had myster to haue ma,
And not to distroy tha
That war worthie to ga 75o
To fecht on Goddis fais.”
LIX.
*I Befoir mony worthie he dubbit him Knicht,
Dukis and digne Lordis in that deir hall:
“Schir, se for thy self, thow semis to be wicht,
Tak keip to this ordour, ane Knicht I the call; 755
To mak the manly man I mak the of micht;
Ilk geir thre hundreth pund assigne the I sall;
And als the nixt vacant, be ressonabill richt,
That hapnis in France, quhair sa euer it fall,
Forfaltour or fre waird, that first cummis to hand, 760
I gif the heir heritabilly,
Sa that I heir, quhen I haue hy,
That thow be fundin reddy
With Birny and brand.”
LX.
* “It war my will, worthy, thy schone that thow wan,
And went with thir weryouris wythest in weir; 766
C
34 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.5E.A.R.
Heir ar curagious Knichtis, suppois thay the nocht ken,
For thy simpill degre that thow art in heir ;
I beseik God of his grace to mak the ane gude man,
And I sall gif the to begin glitterand geir.” 77o
Ane Chalmer with Armour the King gart richt than
Betaucht to ane Squyar, and maid him keipeir;
With clois Armouris of steill for that stout Knicht,
Sextie Squyaris of fee,
Of his retinew to be ; 775
That was ane fair Cumpany,
Schir Rauf gat that nicht.
LXI.
*I Upon the morne airly, Schir Rauf wald not rest,
Bot in Ryall array he reddyit him to ryde:
“For to hald that I haue hecht, I hope it be the
best, 78o
To gone busteous Beirne that boistit me to byde;
Amang the Galgart Gromis I am botane Gest,
I will the ganandest gait to that gay glyde;
Sall neuer Lord lauch on loft, quhill my lyfe may lest,
That I for liddernes suld leif, and leuand besyde. 785
It war ane graceles gude that I war cummin to,
Gif that the King hard on hicht
That he had maid ane carll Knicht
Amang thir weryouris wicht,
And docht nocht to do.” 790
LXII.
*I Upon ane rude Runsy he ruschit out of toun,
In ane Ryall array he rydis full richt;
Euin to the montane he maid him full boun,
Quhair he had trystit to meit Schir Rolland the Knicht.
Derfly ouir daillis discouerand the doun, 795
Gif ony douchtie that day for Iornayis was dicht;
He band his blonk to ane busk on the bent broun,
Syne baid be the bair way to hald that he had hecht.
Quhill it was neir time of the day that he had thair bene,
He lukit ane lytill him fra, 8oo
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL3EAR. 35
He sa cummand in thra
The maist man of all tha
That euer he had sene.
LXIII.
* Ane Knicht on ane Cameill come cantly at hand,
With ane curagious countenance and cruell to se ; 8o3
He semit baldly to abyde with Birny and with brand,
His blonk was vnburely, braid and ouir hie.
Schir Rauf reddyit him sone, and come rydand,
And in the rowme of ane renk in fewtir kest he ;
He seimit fer fellonar than first quhen he him fand, 810
He foundis throw his forcenes gif he micht him se;
He straik the steid with the spurris, he sprent on the
bent.
Sa hard ane cours maid thay,
That baith thair hors deid lay,
Thair speiris in splenders away 815
Abufe thair heid sprent.
LXIV.
*I Thus war thay for thair forcynes left on fute baith,
Thay sture hors at that straik strikin deid lay than ;
Thir riche restles renkis ruschit out full raith,
Cleikit out twa swordis and togidder ran. 82 o
Kest thame with gude will to do vther skaith,
Baft on thair basnetis thay Beirnis or thay blan.
Haistely hewit thay togiddir, to leif thay war laith
To tyne the worschip of weir that thay air wan;
Na for dout of vincussing thay went nocht away: 825
Thus ather vther can assail
With swordis of mettaill;
Thay maid ane lang battaill,
Ane hour of the day.
LXV.
* Thay hard harnest men, thay hewit on in haist, 830
Thay worthit heuy with heid, and angerit with all;
Quhill thay had maid thame sa mait, thay failge almaist,
Sa laith thay war on ather part to lat thair price fall;
36 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL&EAA’.
The riche restles men out of the renk past,
Forwrocht with thair wapnis, and euill rent with all;
Thair was na girth on the ground, quhill ane gaif the
gaist; 836
“3arne efter geilding,” on ilk syde thay call.
Schir Rauf caucht to cule him, and tak mair of the licht,
He kest vp his Veseir,
With ane Cheualrous cheir, 84o
Sa saw he cummand full neir
Ane vther kene Knicht.
LXVI.
* “Now be the Rude,” said Schir Rauf, “I repreif the,
Thow hes brokin conditioun, thow hes not done richt,
Thow hecht na bakheir to bring, bot anerly we ; 845
Thairto I tuik thy hand, as thow was trew Knicht.”
On loud said the Saragine, “I heir the now lie,
Befoir the same day I saw the neuer with sicht;
Now sall thow think it richt some, thow hes met with me,
Gif Mahoun or Termagant may mantene my micht.”
Schir Rauf was blyth of that word and blenkit with his
face : 851
“Thow sayis thow art ane Saragine,
Now thankit be Drichtine,
That ane of vs sall neuer hine,
Vndeid in this place.” 855
LXVII.
* Than said the Saragine to Schir Rauf succudrously,
“I haue na lyking to lyfe to lat the with lufe.”
He gaue ane braid with his brand to the Beirne by,
Till the blude of his browis brest out abuſe.
The kene Knicht in that steid stakkerit sturely, 86o
The lenth of ane rude braid he gart him remufe;
Schir Rauf ruschit vp agane, and hit him in hy.
Thay preis furth properly thair pithis to prufe,
Ilk ane a schort knyfe braidit out some,
In stour stifly thay stand, 865
With twa knyfis in hand,
With that come Schir Rolland
As thay had neir done.
THE TAILL OF RAUF COIL.3EAR. 37
LXVIII.
The gentill Knicht Schir Rolland come rydand ful richt,
And ruschit fra his Runsy, and ran thame betwene ;
He sayis, “Thow art ane Saragine, I se be my sicht,
For º confound Our Cristin men that counteris sa
ene;
Tell me thy name tyte, thow trauelland Knicht!
Fy on thy fechting ! fell hes thow bene,
Thow art stout and strang, and stalwart in fecht, 875
Sa is thy fallow in faith, and that is weill sene;
In Christ and thow will trow, thow takis name outray.”
“Forsuith,” the Saragine said,
“Thy self maid me neuer sa affraid,
That I for souerance wald haue praid, 88o
Na not sall to day.”
LXIX.
* “Breif me not with gour boist, bot mak gow baith
boun,
Batteris on baldly the best, I gow pray.”
“Na,” said Schir Rolland, “that war na resoun,
I trow in the mekle God, that maist of michtis may.
The tane is in power to mak that presoun, 886
For that war na wassalage sum men wald say;
I rid that thow hartfully forsaik thy Mahoun ;
Fy on that foull Feind, for fals is thy fay !
Becum Cristin, Schir Knicht, and on Christ call, 890
It is my will thow conuert,
This wickit warld is bot ane start,
And haue him halely in hart,
That maker is of all.”
LXX
º “Schir Rolland, I rek nocht of thy Rauingis, 895
Thow dois bot reuerance to thame that rekkis it nocht;
Thow slane hes oft, thy self, of my Counsingis,
Soudanis and sib men, that the with schame socht.
Now faindis to haue fauour with thy fleichingis,
Now haue I ferlie, gif I fauour the ocht: 90o
We sall spuilge gow dispittously at the nixt springis;
38 THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL3 EAR.
Mak gow biggingis full bair, bodword haue I brocht;
Chace Charlis gour King fer out of France;
Fra the Chane of Tartarie,
At him this message wald I be, 905
To tell him as I haue tauld the,
Withoutin plesance.”
LXXI.
*I “Tyte tell me thy name, it seruis of nocht,
3e Sarageins ar succuderus and self willit ay;
Sall neuer of sa sour ane brand ane bricht fyre be brocht,
The Feynd is sa felloun als fers as he may.” 9 II
“Sa thriue I,” said the Saragine, “to threip is my
thocht,
Quha waitis the Cristin with cair, my cusingis arthay;
My name is Magog, in will and I mocht, 9I4
To ding thame doun dourly that euer war in my way;
Forthy my warysoun is full gude at hame quhair I dwel.”
“In faith,” said Schir Rolland,
“That is full euill wyn land
To haue quhill thow ar leuand,
Sine at thine end hell.” 92O
LXXII.
*I “Wald thow conuert the in hy, and couer the of sin,
Thow suld haue mair profite and mekle pardoun ,
Riche Douchereis seir to be sesit in,
During quhill day dawis, that neuer will gang doun ;
Wed ane worthie to wyfe, and weild hir with win, 925
Ane of the riche of our Realme be that ressoun;
The gentill Duches, Dame Iane, that claimis be hir kin
Angeos and vther landis, with mony riche toun;
Thus may thow, and thow will, wirk the best wise,
I do the out of dispair, 93O
In all France in nane sa fair
Als scho is, appeirand air
To twa Douchereis.”
LXXIII. & -
* “I rek nocht of thy riches, Schir Rolland the Knicht,”
Said the rude Saragine in Ryall array; 935
THE TAILL OF RA UF COIL.5E.A.R. 39
“Thy God northy Grassum set I bot licht;
Bot gifthy God be sa gude as I heir the say,
I will forsaik Mahoun, and tak me to his micht,
Euer mair perpetuallie as he that mair may.
Heir with hart and gude will my treuth I the plicht,
That I sall lelely leif on thy Lord ay, 94 I
And I beseik him of Grace, and askis him mercy,
And Christ his Sone full schene,
For I haue Cristin men sene,
That in mony angeris hes bene, 945
Full oft on him cry.”
LXXIV.
* “I thank God,” said Rolland, “that word lykis me,
And Christ his Sweit Sone, that the that grace send.”
Thay swoir on thair swordis swyftlie all thre,
And conseruit thame freindis to thair lyfis end, 950
Euer in all trauell to leif and to die. -
Thay Knichtis caryit to the court, as Christ had
thame kend.
The King for thair cumming maid game and gle,
With mony mirthfull man thair mirthis to mend.
Digne Bischoppis that day, that douchtie gart bring,
And gaue him Sacramentis seir, 956
And callit him Schir Gawteir,
And sine the Duches cleir
He weddit with ane ring.
LXXV º
aſ Than Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his Knichtheid ;
Sic tythingis come to the King within thay nyne
nicht, 961
That the Marschell of France was newlingis deid;
Richt thair, with the counsall of mony kene Knicht,
He thocht him richt worthie to byde in his steid,
For to weild that worschip worthie and wicht. 965
His wyfe wald he nocht forget, for dout of Goddis feid.
He send efter that hende, to leif thame in richt;
Syne foundit ane fair place quhair he met the King,
4O
THE TAILL OF RA U.F COIL&EAR.
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3|mpttutit at Śānt-
tambrois be atobert itäpreuß. Anno. 1572.




JOHN THE REEVE
II.
JOHN THE REEVE.
THE Tale of John the Reeve was written about the close
of the fourteenth century, and, as has been already mentioned
*n the preface to the Tale of Rauf Coilgear, was very well
known in Scotland at an early period. Besides being men-
tioned by Dunbar and Gawain Douglas in the passages
already quoted (p. 3), it is referred to by Sir David Lyndesay
tn his Testament of the Papingo (l. 560), when describing the
straits to which Archbishop Beaton was latterly reduced,
not knowing where to conceal himself:-
“Bot dissagysit lyke Ihone the Raif he raid.”
From its being so often noticed by the Scottish Poets, it
was long sought after by the lovers of our early Scottish liter-
ature. Sir Walter Scott, in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish
Border (vol. i. p. 20), commenting on the passages in Dun-
bar and Douglas, but unaware of the actual existence of the
poem, surmised that Ralf Coilgear and John the Reeve
were robbers. He further remarks, “Lord Hailes conjectures
john the Reif to be the same with johnie Armstrong ; but
surely not with his usual accuracy, for the “Palice of Honour’
was printed twenty-eight years before johnie's execution.”
Dr Laing, in his edition of this work, expressed his regret at .
not being able to include it with the other poems. He men-
tions Bishop Percy's account of it as “being built on an
adventure of the same kind with the ballad of The King
and the Miller of Mansfield, which happened between
King Edward Longshanks and one of his Reeves or
Bailiffs. This (he adds) is a piece of great antiquity,
30HN THE REEVE. 43
being written before the time of Edward IV., and for its
genuine humour, diverting incidents, and faithful picture
of rustic manners, is infinitely superior to all that have
since been written in imitation.” Dr Laing on this re-
marks—“judging, however, from the lines which the
Bishop elsewhere quotes," the originality of conception thus
assigned to this poem appears rather questionable, as there
are several English ballads (such as the King and the
Barker, printed by Ritson) that may vie with it in point
of antiquity; and certainly it can, by no means, be esteemed
so ancient as Ralf Coilgear (which, indeed, ought more
explicitly to have been referred to the Fourteenth Century),
with which we find a poem of a similar title specified as
being popular in Scotland so early, at least, as the reign of
our James the Fourth.”
Although the Tale was described in Bishop Percy’s
Reliques of English Poetry as being in a folio manuscript
volume in his possession, it remained then still inaccessible ;
and it was only about the year 1868 that the manuscript was
made available for reference by being placed in the British
Museum.” Its contents, however, have since been printed,
under the editorship of Mr J. W. Hales, and Mr F. J.
Furnivall.
The following is an outline of the Tale: King Edward
Longshanks, accompanied by a Bishop and an Earl,
when hawking lose their way in a storm. They meet a
man on horseback, who, however, wishes to avoid them.
They request him to stop, which he does with reluctance, Say-
*ng he is afraid. They ask who he may be, when he says he
ts one of the King's bondmen, and that, if they will swear not
to hurt him, he will give them help, and meanwhile can let
them have some stale bacon and sour ale for Supper. He
asks in return who they are, when the Earl informs him
that they live in the King's house. They reach the Reeve's
dwelling, when the King asks for a fire, as the clothes of
the party are wet. The Reeve, however, hesitates, and states
* “Reliques of English Poetry,’ vol. ii. p. 84.
* The present text has been carefully collated with the original in the
Museum.
44 }OAAW THE REEVE.
that as he is a bondman, were he to warm them and feed
them well, it might come to some official's ear, and so do him
harm. The bondman and the party at length enter his house,
where they are welcomed by his wife. They are shown into a
*00m with a fire and candles, and their horses are led to a
Stable. John inquires at the Earl who the long-legged fellow
ts, when he is informed that he is the King's head-falconer.
He also tells him that the other is a poor chaplain, and that
he himself is a ‘sumpterman.’ They all plead poverty, when
John avows that although he wears russet he is rich, and
that he drinks as good wine as the King. John's neigh-
bours Hobkin and Hodgkin come in, and supper is prepared.
When set at table, the King complains of the poor fare,
but the bondman says he will give them no better, unless they
all Swear not to tell the King. To this they agree, and
John orders the bad supper to be taken away, and better
viands to be brought in, with plenty of good wine. The
Earl declares it a royal feast. John and his neighbours
get merry, and dance till they sink down. The King spends
a jovial night, and in the morning he and his friends break-
fast, and take their leave, promising John a reward.
The King returns to Windsor and tells his adventures to
the Queen. She asks the King to send for the Reeve. This
ts done, and John makes preparations for his journey, as
part of which he discusses five gallons with his neighbours,
who afterwards heave him on his mare. When he reaches the
castle the porter will not admit him. He observes the Earl,
who tells the King that he is at the gate. The King orders
the Reeve to be brought in. Finding it is the King that
he sees, John reminds him of his promise not to hurt him.
The King thanks him for his attentions in the forest, and
them makes him a gentleman, and assigns him £IOO a-year.
John kneels and thanks the King, who puts a collar round his
neck, and makes him a Knight. The Bishop promises to
put his sons to school, and tells him that the King will marry
his daughters to two squires. One of his sons is afterwards
knighted, and the other, become a clergyman, gets a living.
His two neighbours are made freemen, and John keeps open
house till he dies.
II.
3/oijn the lºceue.
PART I.
I.
G9. ! through thy might and thy mercy,
All that loueth game and glee,
Their soules to heauen bringe.
Best is mirth of all solace; -
Therfore I hope itt betokens grace, 5
Of mirth who hath likinge.
II.
As I heard tell this other yeere,
A clarke came out of Lancashire;
A rolle he had reading,
A bourde written therein he ffound, IO
That some time ffell in England,
In Edwards dayes Our King.
III.
By East, West, North, and Southe,
All this realme well run hee cowthe,
Castle, tower, and towne. I5
Of that name were Kings three;
But Edward with the long shankes was hee,
A Lord of great renowne.
46
70HN THE REEVE.
IV.
As the King rode a hunting vpon a day,
Three ffaw.cons fflew away;
He ffollowed wonderous fast.
They rode vpon their horsses that tyde,
They rode forth on euery side,
The country they out cast;
V.
Ffrom morning vntill eueninge late,
Many menn abroad they gate
Wandring all alone;
The night came att the last;
There was no man that wist
What way the King was gone,
VI.
Saue a Bishopp and an Erle ffree
That was allwayes the King ffull nye,
And thus then gan they say:
“Itt is a ffolly, by St John,
Ffor vs thus to ryde alone
Soe many a wilsome way.
VII.
“A King and an Erle to ryde in hast,
A Bishopp from his coste to be cast,
Ffor hunting sikerlye.
The whether happned wonderous ill,
All night wee may ryde vnskill,
Not wotting where wee bee.”
VIII.
Then the King began to say,
“Good Sir Bishopp, I you pray
Some comfort if you may.”
2O
25
3O
35
4O
45
30HN THE REEVE.
47
As they stoode talking all about,
They were ware of a carle stout:
“Good deene ffellow !” can they say.
IX.
Then the Erle was well apayd:
“You be welcome, good ffellow !” hee sayd,
“Of ffellowshipp we' pray thee.”
The carle ffull hye on horsse sate,
His leggs were short and broad,
His stirropps were of tree;
X.
A payre of shooes were stiffe and store,
On his heele a rustye spurre,
Thus fforwards rydeth hee.
The Bishopp rode after on his palfrey;
“Abyde, good ffellow, I thee pray
And take vs home with thee.”
XI.
The carle answered him that tyde,
“Ffrom me thou gett oft noe other guide,
I sweare by sweete St John.”
Then said the Erle ware and wise,
“Thou canst litle of gentrise,
Say not soe for shame !”
XII.
The carle answered the Erle vnto,
“With gentlenesse I haue nothing to doe,
I tell thee by my ffay.”
The weather was cold and euen roughe;
The King and the Erle sate and loughe,
The Bishopp did him soe pray.
1 MS. ee.
5o
55
6o
65
7o
48
30AM THE REEVE.
XIII.
The King said, “soe mote I thee!
Hee is a carle, whosoeuer hee bee,
I reade wee ryde him neere.”
They sayd with words hend,
“Ryd saftlye, gentle ffreind
And bring vs to some harbor.”
XIV.
Then to tarry the carle was lothe,
But rode forth as he was wrothe,
I tell you sickerlye.
The King sayd, “by Mary bright,
I troe wee shall ryde all this night
In wast vnskillffullye ;
XV.
“I ffeare wee shall come to no towne,
Ryde to the carle and pull him downe
Hastilye without delay.”
The Bishopp said soone on hye,
“Abyde, good ffellow, and take vs with thee,
Ffor my loue, I thee pray.”
XVI.
The Erle said, “by God in heauen,
Oft men meete attvnsett steuen ;
To quite thee well wee may.”
The carle sayd, “by St John
I am affrayd” of you eche one,
I tell you by my fray.”
XVII.
The carle sayd, “by Mary bright,
I am afrayd of you this night,
1 MS. affraye.
75
8o
85
90
95
30HN THE REEVE.
49
I see you roune and reason,
I know you not, and itt were day,
I troe you thinke more thane you say,
I am affrayd of treason.
XVIII.
“The night is merke, I may not see
What kind of men that you bee.
But and you will doe one thinge,
Swere to doe me not desease,
Then wold I ffaine you please,
If I cold, with any thinge.”
XIX.
Then sayd the Erle with words ffree,
“I pray you, ffellow, come hither to mee,
And to some towne vs bringe;
And after, if wee may thee kenn,
Amonge Lords and gentlemen
Wee shall requite thy dealinge.”
XX.
“Of Lords,” sayes hee, “speake no more l
With them I haue nothing to doe,
Nor neuer thinke to haue;
Ffor I had rather be brought in bale,
My hood or that I wold vayle,
On them to crouch or craue.”
XXI.
The King sayd curteouslye,
“What manner of man aree yee
Att home in your dwellinge P’’
“A husbandman fforsooth I am,
And the Kings bondman;
Therof I haue good likinge.”
D
IOO
Io5
I IO
II5
I2O
I25
5O
}o HM THE REEVE.
XXII.
“Sir, when spake you with our King 2 ”
“In faith, neuer, in all my liuing ;
He knoweth not my name;
And I haue my capul and my crofft;
If I speake not with the King oft,
I care not, by St Jame.”
XXIII.
“What is thy name, ffellow, by thy leaue 2 ”
“Marry,” quoth hee, “John [the]* Reeue;
I care not who itt heare;
Ffor if you come into my inne,
With beeffe and bread you shall beginn
Soone att your Supper;
XXIV.
“Salt bacon of a yeere old,
Ale that is both sower and cold,
I use neither braggatt nor beere,
I lett you witt withouten lett,
I dare eate noe other meate,
I sell my wheate ech yeere.”
XXV,
“Why doe you, Iohn, sell your wheate 2 ”
“Ffor [I]* dare not eat that I gett.
Therof I am ffull wrothe ;
Ffor I loue a draught of good drinke as well
As any man that doth itt sell,
And alsoe a good wheat loffe.
XXVI.
“Ffor he that ffirst starueth Iohn [the] Reeue,
I pray to God hee may neuer well cheeue,
* De, in MS. throughout. * MS. omits.
I 30
I 35
I 4O
I 45
I5O
yoAN THE REEVE. 5 I
Neither on water nor land,
Whether itt be Sherriffe or King
That makes such statuinge, I55
I Outcept neuer a one.
XXVII.
“Ffor and the Kings penny were layd by mine,
I durst as well as hee drinke the wine
Till all my good were gone.
Bot sithence that wee are mett soe meete, 16o
Tell mee where is your recreate,
You seeme good laddes eche one.”
XXVIII.
The Erle answered with words ffaire,
“In the Kings house is our repayre,
If wee bee out of the way.” I65
“This night,” quoth Iohn, “you shall not spill;
Such harbour I shall bring you till ;
I hett itt you to-day.
XXIX.
“Soe that yee take itt thankeffullye
In Gods name and St Iollye, I7o
I aske noe other pay;
And if you be sturdy and stout,
I shall garr you to stand without,
Ffor Ought that you can say.
XXX.
“For I haue two neighbors won by mee I75
Of the same ffreeledge that am I,
Of old band-shipp are wee;
The Bishopp of Durham this towne oweth,
The Erle of Gloster—who-soe him knoweth—
Lord of the other is hee. 18o
52
jºo HN THE REEVE.
XXXI.
“Wist my neighbors that I were thratt,
I vow to God they wold not lett
Ffor to come soone to mee;
If any wrong were to mee done,
Wee three durst fight a whole afternoone, 185
I tell you sikerlye.”
XXXII.
The King sayd, “Iohn, tell vs not this tale;
Wee are not ordayned for battell,
Our weeds are wett and cold ;
Heere is no man that yee shall greeue. I90
But helpe vs Iohn, by your leaue,
With bright a ffeeare and bold.”
XXXIII.
“Ifaith,” sayd Iohn, “that you shall want,
Ffor fuell heere is wonderous scant,
As I heere haue yee told. I95
Thou getteth noe other of Iohn [the] Reeue;
Ffor the Kings statutes, whilest I liue,
I thinke to vse and hold.
XXXIV.
“If thou find in my house payment fine,
Or in my kitchin poultry slaine, 2OO
Peraduenture thou wold say
That Iohn Reeue his bond hath broken ;
I wold not that such words weere spoken
In the Kings house another day.
XXXV.
“Ffor itt might turne me to great greeffe; 205
Such proud ladds that beare office
70/IN THE REEVE.
53
Wold danger a pore man aye ;
And or I wold pray thee of mercy longe,
Yett weere I better to lett thee gange
In twentye twiine devills way.”
XXXVI.
Thus they]* rode to the towne:
Iohn the Reeue lighted downe
Beside a comlye hall.
Four men beliue came wight;
They hasted them full swyft
When they heard Iohn call;
They served him honestly and able,
And [led]" his horsse to the stable,
And lett noe terme misfall.
XXXVII.
Some went to warne their dame
That Iohn had brought guests home.
Shee came to welcome them tyte
In a side kirtle of greene,
Her head was dight all bydeene,
The wiffe was of noe pryde;
XXXVIII.
Her kerchers were all of silke,
Her hayre as white as any milke,
Louesome of hue and hyde;
Shee was thicke, and some deal broad,
Of comiye fashyon was shee made,
Both belly, backe, and side.
XXXIX.
Then Iohn called his men all,
Sayes, “build me a fire in the hall,
1 MS. omits.
2 IO
2I5
22 O
225
23o
54
70HN THE REEVE.
And giue their capulls meate;
Lay before them corne and hay; 235
Ffor my loue rubb of the clay,
Ffor they beene weary and wett;
XL.
“Lay vnder them straw to the knee,
Ffor courtyeſr]s comonly wold be iollye,
And haue but litle to spend.” 24O
XLI.
Then hee said, “by St Iohn,
You are welcome euery one,
If you take itt thankefullye
Curtesye I learned neuer none,
But after mee, ffellowes, I read you gone,” 245
Till a chamber they went all three;
XLII.
A charcole fire was burning bright,
Candles on chandlours light,
Eche ffreake might other see.
“Where are your sords?” quoth Iohn [the] Reeue.
The Erle said, “Sir, by your leaue, 25 I
Wee weare none, pardye.”
XLIII.
Then Iohn rowned with the Erle Soe ffree ;
“What long fellow is yonder,” quoth hee,
“That is soe long of lim and lyre P’” 255
The Erle answered with words small,
“Yonder is Peeres Pay-ffor-all,
The Queenes Cheefe ffawconer.”
XLIV.
“Ah ah!” quoth Iohn, “ffor Gods good,
Where gott hee that gay hood, 26o
30HN THE REEVE. 55
Glitering as gold itt were 2
And I were as proud as hee is like,
There is no man in England ryke
Shold garr me keepe his gleads one yeere.
XLV.
“I pray you, sir, ffor Gods werke, 265
Who is yond in yonder serke
That rydeth Peeres soe nye 2 °
The Erle answered him againe,
“Yonder is a pore chaplaine,
Long aduanced or hee bee; 27,o
XLVI.
“And I my selfe am a sumpter man,
Other craft keepe I none,
I say you withouten misse.”"
“You are ffresh fellowes in your appay,
Iolly Ietters in your array, 275
Proud ladds, and I trow penyles.”
XLVII.
The King said, “soe mote I thee,
There is not a penny amongst vs three
To buy vs bread and flesh.”
“Ah, ha!” quoth Iohn, “there is small charge;
For courtye[r]s comonlye are att large, 28I
If they goe neuer soe ffresh.
XLVIII.
“I goe girt in a russett gowne,
My hood is of homemade browne,
I weare neither burnett nor greene, 285
And yett I troe I haue in store
A thousand pounds and some deale more,
For all yee are prouder and fine;
1 miste, in MS.
56
YOHN THE REEVE.
XLIX.
“Therfore I say, as mote I thee,
A bondman itt is good [to] * bee, 290
And come of carles kinne;
Ffor and I bee in tauerne sett,
To drinke as good wine I will not lette,
As London Edward or his Queene.”
L
The Erle said, “by Gods might, 295
Iohn, thou art a comly knight,
And sturdy in euerye ffray.”
“A knight !” quoth Iohn, “doe away, for shame!
I am the King's bondman.
Such wast words doe away ! 3oo
LI.
“I know you not in your estate;
I am misnurtured, well I wott ;
I will not therto say nay.
But if any such doe me wrong,
I will ffight with him hand to hand, 3O5
When I am cladd in mine array.”
LII.
The Bishopp sayd, “you seeme sturdye :
Trauelled you neuer beyond the sea P”
Ihon sayd sharplye “nay !
I know none such strange guise, 3IO
But att home on my owne wise
I dare hold the hye way;
LIII.
“And that hath done Iohn Reeue scath,
Ffor I haue made such as you wrath
1 MS. omits.
30AIN THE REEVE. 57
With choppes and chances yare.” 3I5
“Iohn [the] Reeue,” sayd our King,
“Hast thou any armouringe,
Or any weapon to weare P’’
LIV.
“I vow, sir, to God,” sayd Iohn thoe,
“But a pikefforke with graines two— 32O
My ffather vsed neuer other speare:—
A rusty sword that well will byte, -
And a handffull, a thyttile syde
That sharplye will share,
LV.
“An acton and a habargyon a foote side; 325
And yett peraduenture I durst abyde
As well as thou, Peeres, ffor all thy painted geere.”
Quoth Iohn, “I reede we goe to the hall,
Wee three ffellowes; and Peeres Pay-for-all
The proudest before shall fare.” 33O
LVI.
Thither they raked anon-wright:
A charcole ffyer burning bright
With manye a strang brand.
The hall was large and some deale wyde,
There bords were couered on euerye syde, 335
There mirth was comanded.
LVII.
Then the good wiffe sayd with a seemlye cheere,
“Your supper is readye there.”
“Yett watter,” quoth Iohn, “letts see.”
By then came Iohns neighbors two, 34O
Hobkin long and Hob alsoe :
The ffirst fitt here ffind wee.
70AN THE REEVE.
PART II.
I.
Iohn sayd, “ffor want of a marshall, I will take
the wand :
Peeres ffauconer before shall gange;
Begin the dish shall hee.
Goe to the bench, thou proud chaplaine,
My wiffe shall sitt thee againe;
Thy meate-fellow shall shee bee.”
He sett the Erle against the King;
They were ffaine att his bidding.
Thus Iohn marshalled his meanye.
II.
Then Iohn sperred where his daughters were:
“The ffairer shall sitt by the ffawconere;
He is the best ffarrand man :
The other shall the Sompter man haue.”
The Erle sayd, “soe God me saue !
Of curtesye, Iohn, thou can.”
III.
“If my selfe,” quoth John, “be bound,
Yett my daughters beene well ffarrand,
I tell you sickerlye.
IO
I5
Peeres, and thou had wedded Iohn daughter Reeue,
There were no man that durst thee greeue
Neither for gold nor ffee.
IV.
“Sompter man, and thou the other had,
In good ffaith then thou were made
For euer in this cuntrye;
2O
30HAV THE REEVE.
59
Then Peeres, thou might beare the prize.
Yett I wold this chaplaine had a benefize,
As mote I thariue or thee!"
V.
“In this towne a kirke there is ;
And I were king, it shold be his,
He shold haue itt of mee;
Yett will I helpe as well as I may.”
The King, the Erle, the Bishopp, can say,
“Iohn, and wee liue wee shall quitte thee.’
VI.
When his daughters were come to dease,
“Sitt ffarther,” quoth Iohn withouten leaze,
For there shalbe no more. .
These strange ffellowes I doe not ken;
Peraduenture they may be some gentlemen;
Therfore I and my neighbors towe,
VII.
“Att side end bord wee will bee,
Out of the gentles companye:
Thinke yee not best soe
For itt was neuer the law of England
To sett gentles blood with bound;
Therfore to supper will wee goe.”
VIII.
Py then came in beane bread,
Salt bacon rusted and redd,
And brewice in a blacke dish,
Leane salt beefe of a yeere old,
Ale that was both sower and cold ;
This was the first service:
* MS. reads three, an error for thee, to thrive.
25
3O
35
4O
45
5O
6o
jºo HN THE REEVE.
IX.
Eche one had of that ylke a messe;
The King sayd, “Soe haue I blisse,
Such service nere" I see.”
Quoth Iohn, “thou gettest noe other of mee
Att this time but this.”
X.
“Yes, good fellow,” the King gan say,
“Take this seruice here away,
And better bread vs bringe;
And gett vs some better drinke;
We shall thee requite, as wee thinke,
Without any letting.”
XI.
Quoth Iohn, “beshrew the morsell of bread
This night that shall come in your head
But thou sweare me one thinge
Swere to me by booke and bell
That thou shalt neuer Iohn Reeue bettell
Vnto Edward our Kinge.”
XII.
Quoth the King, “to thee my truth I plight,
He shall nott witt our service,
No more than he doth nowe,
Neuer while wee three liue in land.”
“Thereto,” quoth Iohn, “hold vp thy hand,
And then I will thee troe.”
XIII.
“Loe,” quoth the King, “my hand is heere !”
55
6o
65
7o
75
“Soe is mine !” quoth the Erle with a merry cheere,
* nerest, in MS.
30HN THE REEVE. 6I
“Thereto I giue God a vowe.”
“Haue heere my hand l’” the Bishopp sayd,
“Marry,” quoth Iohn, “thou may hold thee well apayd,
Ffor itt is for thy power. 8o
XIV.
“Take this away thou hobkin long,
And lett vs sitt out of the throng
Att a side bords end ;
These strange ffellowes thinke vnc.outhlye
This night att our cookerye, 85
Such as God hath vs sent.”
XV.
By then came in the payment bread
Wine that was both white and redd
In siluer cuppes cleare.
“A ha,” quoth Iohn, “our supper begins with drinke | 9o
Tasste itt, lads! and looke how yee thinke,
Ffor my loue, and make good cheere !
4.
XVI.
“Of meate and drinke you shall haue good ffare;
And as for good wine, wee will not spare,
I [giue]" you to vnderstand. 95
Ffor euerye yeere, I tell thee thoe”
I will haue a tunn or towe
Of the best that maybe found.
XVII.
“Yee shall see three churles heere
Drink the wine with a merry cheere; IOO
I pray you doe you Soe;
* MS. goe. * Probably for true.
j"O/IN THE REEVE.
And when our supper is all doone,
You and mee will dance soone;
Letts see who best can doe.”
XVIII.
The Erle sayd, “by Marry bright, Io5
Wheresoeuer the King lyeth this night,
He drinketh no better wine
Then thou selfe does att this tyde.”
“In faith,” quoth Iohn, “soe had leeuer I did
Then liue ay in woe and payne. I IO
XIX.
“If I be come of Carles kinne,
Part of the good that I may winne,
Some therof shall be mine.
He that neuer spendeth but alway spareth,
Comonlye oft the worsse he ffareth ; II 5
Others will broake itt ffine.”
XX.
By then came in red wine and ale,
The bores head into the hall,
Then sheild with sauces seere;
Capons both baked and rosted, L 2 O
Woodcockes, venison, without bost,
And dish meeate dight full deere.
XXI.
Swannes they had piping hott,
Coneys, curleys, well I wott,
The crane, the hearne in ffere, I 25
Pigeons, partridgſels, with spicerye,
Elkes, fflomes, with ffroterye.
Iohn bade them make good cheere.
30HN THE REEVE. 63
XXII.
The Erle sayd, “soe mote I thee,
Iohn, you serue vs royallye I 30
If yee had dwelled att London,
If king Edward where here,
He might be a-payd with this supper,
Such ffreindshipp wee haue found.”
- XXIII.
“Nay,” sayd Iohn, “by Gods grace, I35
And Edward wher in this place,
Hee shold not touch this tonne.
Hee wold be wrath with Iohn, I hope;
Thereffore I beshrew the soupe
That shall come in his mouth !” I 4O
XXIV.
Theratt the King laughed and made good cheere.
The Bishopp sayd, “wee fare well heere !”
The Erle sayd as him thought.
They spake Lattine amongst them there :
“In faith,” quoth Iohn, “and yee greeue me, 145
Full deere itt shalbe bought.
XXV.
“Speake English euerye-eche one,
Or else sitt still, in the devills name !
Such talke loue Inaught.
Lattine spoken amongst lewd men, I5o
Therin noe reason ffind I can ;
For ffalshood itt is wrought.
XXVI.
“Row[n]ing, I loue itt neither young nor old;
Therefore yee ought not to bee to bold,
* MS. wherin, probably for were in.
64
}OHN THE REEVE.
Neither att meate nor meale.
Hee was ffalse that rowning began ;
Theerfore I say to you certaine
I loue itt neuer a deale:
XXVII.
“That man can [nocht] of curtesye
That lets att his meate rowning bee,
I say, soe haue I seſille.”"
The Erle sayd right againe,
“Att your bidding wee will be baine,
Wee thinke you say right weele.”
XXVIII.
By this came vp ffrom the kitchin
Sirrupps on plates good and fine,
Wrought in a fayre array.
“Sirrah,” sayth Iohn, “sithe wee are mett,
And as good fellowes together sett,
Lett vs be blythe to-day.
XXIX.
“Hodgkin long, and Hob of the Lath,
You are counted good fellowes both,
Now is no time to thrine ;
This wine is new come out of Ffrance;
Be God me list well to dance,
Therfore take my hand in thine;
XXX.
“For wee will ffor our guests sake
Hop and dance, and reuell make.”
The truth for to know,
Vp he rose, and dranke the wine:
“Wee must haue powder of ginger therein,”
Iohn Sayd, as I troe.
1 MS. Sele.
I 55
16o
I65
I 7o
I 75
I8o
70/IN THE REEVE. 65
XXXI.
Iohn bade them stand vp all about,
“And yee shall see the carles stout
Dance about the bowle. I85
Hob of the Lathe and Hodgkin long,
In ffayth you dance your mesures wrong !
Methinkes that I shold know.
XXXII.
“Yee dance neither Gallyard nor hawe,
Trace nor true mesure, as I trowe, I9o
But hopp as yee were woode.”
When they began of ffoote to ffayle,
They] tumbled top ouer tayle,
And Master and Master they yode.
XXXIII.
Forth they stepped on stones store; I95
Hob of the Lathe lay on the flore,
His brow brast out of blood.
“Ah, ha!” quoth Iohn, “thou makes good game !
Had thou not ffalled, wee had not laught;
Thou gladds vs all, by the rood.” 2OO
XXXIV.
Iohn hent vp Hobb by the hand,
Sayes, “methinkes wee dance our measures wronge,
By him that sitteth in throne.”
Then they began to kicke and wince,
Iohn hitt the king ouer the shinnes 2O5
With a payre of new clowted shoone.
XXXV.
Sith King Edward was mad a knight,
Had he neuer soe merry a night
As he had with Iohn [the] Reeue.
E.
66
70AN Z HE REEVE.
To bed they busked them anon, 2 I O
Their liueryes were serued them vp soone
With a merry cheere;
XXXVI.
And thus they sleeped till morning att priſm]e
In full good sheetes of line.
A masse he garred them to haue, 2 I 5
And after they dight them to dine
With boyled capons good and fine.
The Duke Sayd, “soe God me saue,
If euer wee come to our abone,
We shall thee quitt our warrison ; 22 O
Thou shalt not need itt to craue.”
PART III.
I.
The king tooke leaue att man and mayde;
Iohn sett him in the rode way;
To Windsor can hee ryde.
Then all the court was ffull faine
That the king was comen againe, 5
And thanked Christ that tyde.
II.
The Ierfawcons were taken againe
In the fforrest of Windsor without laine,
The lords did soe provyde,
* prine, in MS.
jºoHN THE REEVE.
67
They thanked God and St Iollye.
To tell the Queene of their harborſyel"
The lords had ffull great pryde.
III.
The Queene sayd, “Sir, by your leaue,
I pray you send for that noble Reeue,
That I may see him with sight.”
The messenger was made to wend,
And bidd Iohn Reeue goe to the King
Hastilye with all his might.
IV.
Iohn waxed vnfaine in bone and blood,
Saith, “dame, to me this is noe good,
My truth to you I plight.”
“You must come in your best array.”
“What too,” sayd Iohn, “Sir, I thee pray ?”
“Thou must be made a Knight.”
V.
“A Knight,” sayd Iohn, “by Marry myld,
I know right well I am beguiled
With the guests I harbord late.
To debate they will me bring;
Yett cast I mee for nothinge
Noe sorrow ffor to take ;
VI.
“Allice, ffeitch mee downe my side acton,
My round pallett to my crowne,
Is made of Millayne plate,
A pitch-fforke and a sword.”
Shee sayd shee was affrayd
This deede wold make debate.
1 Harbor, in MS.
IO
I5
20
25
3O
35
Ö8
YOHN THE REEVE.
VII.
Allice ffeitched downe his acton Syde;
Hee took itt for no litle pryde,
Yett must hee itt weare.
The scaberd was rent withouten doubt,
A large handfull the bleade hanged out :
Iohn the Reeue sayd there,
VIII.
“Gett lether and a nayle,” Iohn can say,
“Lett me sow itt a chape to-day,
Lest men scorne my geere.
Now,” sayd Iohn, “will I see
[W]hether itt will out lightly
Or I meane itt to weare.”
IX.
Iohn pulled ffast at the blade:
(I wold hee had kist my arse that itt made 1)
He cold not gettitt out.
Allice held, and Iohn draughe,
Either att other fast loughe,
I doe yee out of doubt.
X.
Iohn pulled att the scaberd soe hard
Againe a post he ran backward
And gaue his head a rowte.
His wiffe did laughe when he did fall,
And soe did his meanye all
That were there neere about.
XI.
Iohn sent after his neighbors both
Hodgkine long and Hobb of the Lath.
4C
45
5O
55
6o
30HN THE REEVE.
69
They were beene att his biddinge.
3 pottles of wine in a dishe
They supped itt all off, as I wis,
All there att their partinge.
XII.
Iohn sayd, “And I had my buckler,
Theres nothing that shold me dare,
I tell you all in ffere. º
Ffeitch me downe,” quoth he, “my gloues;
They came but on my hands but once
This twenty-two yeere.
XIII.
“Ffeitch mee my capull,” sayd hee there.
His saddle was of a new manner,
His stirropps were of a tree.
“Dame,” he sayd, “Ffeitch me wine;
I will drinke to thee once againe,
I troe I shall neuer thee see.
XIV.
“Hodgkin long, and Hob of the Lathe,
Tarry and drinke with me bothe,
Ffor my cares are ffast commannde.”
They dranke five gallons verament:
“Ffarwell ffellowes all present,
Ffor I am readye to gange l’”
XV.
Iohn was soe combred in his geere
Hee cold not gett vpon his mare
Till Hodgkinn heaue vp behind.
XVI.
“Now ffarwell, Sir, by the roodel”
To neither Knight nor Barron good
65
7o
75
8o
85
7o
jºo HN THE REEVE.
His hatt he wold not vayle 90
Till he came to the Kings gate:
The Porter wold not lett him in theratt,
Nor come within the walle,
XVII.
Tilla Knight came walking out.
They sayd, “yonder standeth a carle stout 95
In a rusticall arraye.”
On him they all wondred wright,
And said he was an vnseemelye wight,
And thus to him they gan say:
XVIII.
“Hayle, ffellow ! where wast thou borne 2 Ioo
Thee besseemeth full well to weare a horne
Where had thou that ffaire geere?
I troe a man might seeke full long,
One like to thee ar that hee ffound,
Tho he sought all this yeere.” IOS
XIX.
Iohn bade them kisse the devills arse :
“Ffor you my geare is much the worsse !
You will itt not amend,
By my faith, that can I lead
Vpon the head I shall you shread I IO
But if you hence wende!
XX.
“The devill him speede vpon his crowne
That causeth me to come to this towne,
Whether he weare Iacke or Iill !
What shold such men as I doe heere II5
Att the kings Manner
I might haue beene att home still.”
30PIN THE REEVE.
71
XXI.
As Iohn stoode fflyting fast,
He saw one of his guests come at the last;
To him he spake full bold,
To him he ffast ffull rode,
He wayled neither hatt nor hood;
Sayth, “ thou hast me betold !
XXII.
“Full well I wott by this light
That thou has disdainde mee right;
Ffor wrat[h] I waxe neere wood l’”
The Erle sayd, “by Marry bright,
Iohn, thou made vs a merry night;
Thou shalt haue nothing but good.”
XXIII.
The Erle tooke leaue att Iohn Reue,
Sayd, “ thou shalt come in without greefe;
I pray thee tarry a while.”
The Erle into the hall went,
And told the King verament
That Iohn Reeue was att the gate;
“To no man list hee lout.
A rusty sword gird him about,
And a long ffawchyon, I wott.”
XXIV.
The King said, “goe wee to meate,
And bringe him when wee are sett;
Our dame shall haue a play.
He hath Io arrowes in a thonge,
Some are short and some are long,
The sooth as I shold say;
XXV.
“A rusty Sallett vpon his crowne,
His hood were made home browne;
I 2G) .
I 25
I3o
I35
I4O
I45
72 70FIN THE REEVE.
There may nothing him dare;
A thytill hee hath fast in his hand
That hangeth in a peake band,
And sharplye itt will share. I 5o
XXVI.
“He hath a pouch hanging full wyde,
A rusty Buckeler on the other syde,
His mittons are of blacke clothe.
Who-soe to him sayth ought but good,
[I swear it to you by the rood, I55
Ffull soone hee wilbe wrothe.”
XXVII.
Then Iohn sayd, “Porter, lett mee in
Some of my goods thou shalt win ;
I loue not for to pray.”
The Porter sayd, “stand abackel I6o
And thou come neere I shall thee rappe,
Thou carle, by my ffay !”
XXVIII.
Iohn tooke his fforke in his hand,
He bare his fforke on an end,
He thought to make a ffray; 165
His capull was wight, and corne ffedd;
Vpon the Porter hee him spedd,
And him had wellnye slaine.
XXIX.
He hitt the Porter vpon the crowne,
With that stroke hee ffell downe, I7o
Fforsooth as I you tell;
And then hee rode into the hall,
And all the doggs both great and small
On Iohn fast can theſy] yell.
* Line wanting in MS., supplied from Bp. Percy's Folio MS. ed.
Hales and Furnivall.
30AM THE REEVE. 73
XXX.
Iohn layd about as hee were wood, I 75
And 4 hee killed as hee stood;
The rest will now be ware.
Then came fforth a squier hend,
And sayd, “Iohn I am thy ffreind,
I pray you light downe heere.” 18o
XXXI.
Another sayd, “giue me thy fforke,”
And Iohn sayd, “nay by St William of Yorke,
Ffirst I will cracke thy crowne !”
Another sayd, “lay downe thy sword;
Sett vp thy horsse; be not affeard; 185
Thy bow, good Iohn, lay downe;
XXXII.
“I shall hold your stirroppe;
Doe of your pallett and your hoode
Ere they] fall, as I troe.
Yee see not who sitteth att the meate; I90
Yee are a wonderous silly ffreake,
And alsoe passing sloe ”
XXXIII.
“What devill,” sayd Iohn, “is that for thee?
Itt is my owne, soe mote I thee!
Therfore I will itt weare.” I95
XXXIV.
The Queen beheld him in hast;
“My lord,” shee sayd, “ffor Gods fast,
Who is yonder that doth ryde 2
Such a fellow saw I neuer yore!”
Shee saith, “hee hath the quaintest geere, 200
He is but simple of pryde.”
74
YOHN THE REEVE.
XXXV.
Right soe came Iohn as hee were wood;
He wayled neither hatt nor hood,
He was a ffaley ffreake;
He tooke his fforke as hee wold iust;
Vp to the dease fast he itt thrust.
The Queene fforffeare did speake,
XXXVI.
And sayd, “lords, beware, ffor Gods grace
Ffor hee will frowte some in the fface
If yee take not good heede
| 2,
They] laughed without doubt,
And soe did all that were about,
To see Iohn on his steede.
XXXVII.
Then sayd Iohn to our Queene,
“Thou mayest be proud, dame, as I weene,
To haue such a ffawconer
Ffor he is a well ffarrand man,
And much good manner hee can,
I tell you sooth in ffere.
XXXVIII.
But, iord,” hee sayd,” my good, its thine;
My body alsoe, ffor to pine,
Ffor thou art king with crowne.
But, lord, thy word is honorable,
Both stedffast, sure, and stable,
And alsoe great of renowne !
XXXIX.
1.
“Therefore haue mind what thou me hight
When thou with me [harbord]” a night,
* There is no break in the MS. here, but something is wanting to com-
plete the sense.
* MS. omits.
2O5
2 I O
2 I 5
22 O
225
30HN THE REEVE. 75
A warryson that I shold haue.”
Iohn spoke to him with sturdye mood,
Hee vayled neither hatt nor hood, 23O
But stood with him checkmate.
XL.
The King sayd, “fellow mine,
Ffor thy capons hott, and good red wine,
Much thankes I doe giue thee.”
The Queene sayd, “by Mary bright, 235
Award him as his right;
Well aduanced lett him bee | *
XLI.
The King sayd vntill him then,
“Iohn, I make thee a gentleman;
Thy manner place I thee giue, 24O
And a Ioo" to thee and thine,
And euery yeere a tunn of red wine
Soe long as thou dost liue.”
XLII.
But then Iohn began to kneele:
“I thanke you, my Lord, as I haue Soule, 245
Therof I am well payd.”
The King tooke a coller bright,
And sayd, “Iohn, heere I make thee a knight
With worshippe: ” when hee sayd,
XLIII.
Then was Iohn euill apayed, 25o
And amongst them all thus hee Sayd,
“Ffull oft I haue heard tell
That after a coller comes a rope;
I shall be hanged by the throate;
Methinkes itt doth not well.” * 255
76
yoAN THE REEVE.
XLIV.
“Sith thou hast taken this estate,
That euery man may itt wott,
Thou must begin the bord.”
Then Iohn therof was nothing ffaine—
I tell you truth with-Outen laine,—
He spake neuer a word.
XLV.
But att the bords end he sate him downe ;
Ffor hee had leeuer beene att home
Then att all their frankish ffare; ”
Ffor there was wine, well I wott;
Royall meates of the best sortes
Were sett before him there.
XLVI.
A gallon of wine was put in a dishe;
Iohn supped itt of, both more and lesse,
“Ffeitch,” quoth the King, “such mare.”
26o
265
27,o
“By my Lady,” quoth Iohn, “This is good wine !
Let us make merry, ffor now itt is time;
Christs curse on him that doth itt spare l’’
XLVII.
With that came in the Porter hend
And kneeled downe before the King,
Was all berunnen with blood.
Then the King in hart was woe,
Sayes, “Porter, who hath dight thee soe P
Tell on ; I wax neere wood.”
XLVIII.
“Now infaith,” sayd Iohn, “that same was I,
For to teach him some curtesye,
275
28o
70/IN THE REEVE.
77
Ffor thou hast taught him noe good.
For when thou came to my pore place,
With mee thou found soe great a grace,
Noe man did bidd thee stand without;
XLIX.
“Ffor if any man had against thee spoken,
His head ffull soone I shold haue broken,”
Iohn sayd, “with-Outen doubt.
Therefore I warne thy porters ffree,
When any man [comes]" out of my countrye,
Another [time]" lett them not be soe stout.
L.
“If both thy porters goe walling wood,
Begod I shall reaue their hood,
Or goe on ffoote boote.
But thou, Lord, hast after me sent,
And I am come att thy commandement
Hastilye withouten doubt.”
Lle
The King sayd, “by St Iame !
Iohn, my porters were to blame;
Yee did nothing but right.”
He tooke the case into his hand;
Then to kisse hee made them gange;
Then laughed both King and Knight.
285
290
295
3oo
“I pray you,” quoth the King, “good fellowes bee.”
“Yes,” quoth Iohn, “soe mote I thee,
We were not wrathe ore night.”
LII.
Then the * Bishopp sayd to him thoe,
“Iohn, send hither thy sonnes 2 ;
* MS. omits. * They, in MS.
305
78
30HN THE REEVE.
To the schoole I shall them find,
And soe God may for them werke,
That either of them haue a kirke,
If ffortune be their ffreind.
LIII.
“Also send hither thye daughters both ;
2 marryages the King will garr them to haue,
And wedd them with a ringe.
Wend ºfforth, Iohn, on thy way,
Looke thou be kind and curteous aye,
Of meate and drinke be neuer nithing.
3 *
LIV.
Then Iohn tooke leaue of King and Queene,
And after att all the court by-deene,
And went fforth on his way.
He sent his daughters to the King,
And they were wedded with a ringe
Vnto 2 squiers gay.
LV.
His sonnes both hardye and wight,
The one of them was made a Knight,
And fresh in euery ffray;
The other a parson of a kirke,
Gods seruice for to worke,
To serue God * night and day.
LVI.
Thus Iohn Reeue and his wiffe
With mirth and Iolſi]ty ledden their liffe ;
To God they made laudinge.
Hodgikin long and Hobb of the Lathe,
They were made ffreemen bothe
Through the grace of the hend King.”
3 IO
3 I5
32O
335
* Went, in MS. * To God serue, in MS. * Kinghend, in MS.
30HAV THE REEVE. 79
LVII.
Then thought [Iohn]* on the Bishopps word,
And euer after kept open bord
Ffor guests that God him send;
Till death ffeitcht him away 34O
To the blisse that lasteth aye :
And thus Iohn Reeue made an end.
LVIII.
Thus endeth the tale of Reeue soe wight.
God that is soe full of might,
To heauen their soules bring 345
That haue heard this litle story,
That liued sometimes in the south-west countrye
In long Edwards dayes Our King.
1 MS. omits.
THE AWNTYRS OF ARTHURE AT
THE TERNE WATHELYN
III.
THE AWN TYRS OF ARTHURE AT
THE TERNE WAT HELYN.
THE History of the Romance - Poetry of our country,
Owing to the peculiar circumstances attending its transmis-
sion to modern times, is unfortunately involved in great
obscurity. Although the more ancient of these remains
occasionally bear internal evidence of having proceeded from
the celebrated Makars of the Northe Countreye, we remain
in ignorance respecting the individuals who contributed so
much to the amusement of our ancestors in these remote
times, and even possess little or no positive evidence that
might help us to distinguish the productions of Scottish
writers from those of the English Minstrels. This may
indeed be esteemed a matter of extreme unimportance, since
the most valuable specimens of romantick fiction that are
extant, have, in one shape or other, been made publick.
The ‘Sir Tristrem,” by our venerable poet, Thomas of
Ersyldoune, who flourished about the middle part of the
I3th Century, has received every possible advantage in the
tllustrations of its distinguished Editor : — the Geste of
King Horn, perhaps the next in point of antiquity, has
been faithfully printed by Ritson: and the Lyf of Alex-
ander (erroneously assigned to an English poet in the age
of Edward II.) is given with no less accuracy by Weber,
in his excellent Collection of Metrical Romances.
THE A WWTVRS OF A R7 "HURE. 83
The Romance which follows bears such a close resem-
blance in subject, style, and manner to the Knightly tale of
Golagros and Gawane, that both have generally been at-
tributed to one and the same author. The antiquity of these
tales unquestionably is considerable; and but for our know-
ledge of other similar alliterative poems, of which the dates
are ascertained, and go far to rival these in point of obscurity,
we might be justified in carrying them back to a very
"emote period. The only conjecture that can be offered
*especting their author, is founded on the slight allusion
tn Dunbar's ‘Lament for the Death of the Makers,” where
he says,
** Clerk of Tranent eik he has tane
That made the anteris of Sir Gawane,”
As different poems of the Adventures of Sir Gawane are
known, we are prevented from ascribing one or other of
them to Clerk with any degree of certainty; besides, we
have the authority of Wyntoun for assigning them to
Hucheon, another of our early Poets (by whom the reader
will find a specimen, in the same alliterative style, in the
present volume), who says,
“He made the gret Gest of Arthure,
And the Awntyre of Gawane.”—
The Author of these Romances, whoever he may have
been, has certainly added something new to the Poetry of his
Country. In them there is both originality of incident and
manner: — for, although they doubtless were founded on
popular tradition, the Author Surely would not have chosen
such an intricate and cumbrous mode of versification, had
they been mere translations, or had he profited by the ex-
ample of the numerous productions of English Romance-
Poetry, during its best period, namely, from the middle of
the fourteenth to the early part of the fifteenth Century.
[Of this Romance three manuscripts are known to exist.
Of these the first is one written by Robert Thornton of
East Newton, Yorkshire, between A.D. I430 and I440,
and preserved in the Cathedral Library, Lincoln, which
84 THE A WAVTYRS OF A R7 "HURE
has also furnished the text of Thomas of Ersyldoune in the
present volume. A short account of this valuable MS. is
given in the Appendix. The second MS., consisting of eleven
leaves in folio, written in a fair and legible hand, is pre-
served in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. It previously
belonged to Baynes, Ritson, and Douce. It was printed
very incorrectly in 1792 by Pinkerton, under the title of SIR
GAWAN AND SIR GALARON OF GALLOWAY, in the third
volume of his “Scotish Poems Reprinted from Scarce
editions.” This M.S. has supplied the omissions of the
Lincoln copy, and the words or lines in the text within
brackets are those which it has furnished, unless otherwise
stated. According to Sir Frederick Madden, these two
Manuscripts, being written in England, do not present a
genuine Scottish text; still, they sufficiently prove the Ro-
mance to have been of Northern origin. The third M.S.
ts known as the Ireland Manuscript, and is preserved at
Hale, Lincolnshire, the seat of J. I. Blackburn, Esq. It
is written in the dialect peculiar to the north-western parts
of that county. It was edited in I842 for the Camden
Society by John Robson, Esq.
The scene of the Awntyrs is laid at Tern Waihelayne or
Tearn Wadling, a small lake, about IOO acres in extent,
near Hesketh in Cumberland, celebrated in several old
ballads and romances. The following is an outline of the
tale :-King Arthur and his Queen, Gaynour or Gui-
never, having established their court at Carlisle, go to hunt
tn the adjoining forest of Inglewood, sometimes also called
the English wood, which reached as far as Penrith. They
are attended by their favourite knight, Sir Gawan, and
many others. Gaynour and Sir Gawan, when at a dis-
tance from the party, are overtaken with darkness. To their
surprise the ghost of the Queen's mother appears. They in-
quire the cause of its frightful appearance and miserable con-
dition. The ghost then describes the torments to which it
has been subjected, which, however, it states, can be miti-
gated by masses. These the Queen and Sir Gawan promise
to have performed for its relief. After admonishing them to
avoid a similar destiny, the ghost vanishes. This part of the
A T THE TERAVE WA 7THEL VAW. 85
tale is founded on a religious legend popular amongst the
Latin writers of the middle ages. After the disappearance
of the ghost the day clears, and the Queen and Sir Gawan
join the Court. When at supper a knight-errant named Sir
Galaron is introduced, who claims from the King lands
which the latter had conquered. Sir Galaron challenges
the knights present to single combat in defence of his claim.
The King entertains him, and orders him to be taken to a
pavilion for the night. It is arranged that he shall fight
Sir Gawan next day. The lists are prepared, and the
combat begins. Both knights are wounded. Sir Galaron
at length yields, and Arthur commands peace. Sir Gawan
gets from the King lands in Wales, and Sir Galaron, at
the Queen's intercession, is reinstated in his lands in Gal-
loway. He is also made a Knight of the Round Table.
Finally, the Queen orders millions of masses to be per-
formed for the repose of her mother's ghost.]
III.
#ert bygynne;
Qſìjt atontyrg off 3rthurt at the
Çerne &Qiatijelpm.
I.
N Kyng Arthure tym ane awntir by-tyde,
By the Terne Wathelyn, als the buke tellis;
Als he to Carelele was commen, that conqueroure kyde,
With dukes, and with ducheperes, that with that
dere duellys,
For to hunte at the herdys, that lange hase bene hyde; 5
And one a day thay tham dighte to the depe dellis,
To felle of the femmales in the foreste, wele frythede,
Faire in the fernysone tyme, by frythis, and fellis:
Thus to the wode are thay wente, the w!onkeste in
wedys,
Bothe the Kynge, and the Qwene, IO
And all the doghety by-dene;
Schir Gawane gayeste one grene,
Dame Gayenoure he ledis.
The following variations are taken from the Douce M.S.:—
I.—1. ‘In the tyme of Arthur an aunter by tydde,” 2. ‘Turnewathelan,”
or Tearn Wadling, in Cumberland. 3. ‘and conquerour kydde.’ 4. ‘the
dere.' .7. ‘in forest and frydde.’ 8. ‘Fayre by the Firmysthamis, in
frithes.’
THE AWNTYRS OF ARTHURE. 87
II. * T.
And thus Schir Gawane the gay, dame Gayenour he
ledis, &
In a gletterande gyde, that glemet full gaye; I5
With rich rebanes reuerssede, who that righteredys,
Raylede with rubes one royalle arraye:
Hir hude was of hawe hewe that hir hede hydys,
Wroghte with peloure, and palle, and perrye to paye;
Schruedede in a schorte cloke, that the rayne Schrydes,
Sett ouer with safyrs, full sothely to saye; 2 I
And thus wondirfully was all the wyghtis wedys,
Hir sadill semyde of that ilke,
Semlely sewede with sylke;
One a muyle als the milke, 25
Gayely schoglydis.
III.
Thus alle in gleterande golde gayely schoglydis
The gates, with Schir Gawane, by a grene welle;
Nane bot hym selfe one a blonke, by that birde bydis,
That borne was in Burgoyne, by buke, and by belle. 3o
He ledde that lady so lange by those landes sydys,
Sythen vndir a lorere scholyghte lawe by a felle.
Schir Arthure, with his Erles, full ernestly rydis,
To teche thame to thaire tristis, trewely to telle:
To thaire tristis he tham taughte, who that righte
trowes, 35
Ilke a lorde, with owttyn lett,
At his triste was he sett,
With bowe and with barcelett,
Vndir those bewes.
II.-3. ‘With riche ribaynes reuersset.” 4. ‘rubes of rial.’ 5. ‘of herde
hawe.” 7. ‘Schurde in a schort cloke that the rayne shedes.’ 8. ‘with
saffres and seladynes, set by the sides.’
III.—3. ‘And that barne on his blonke with the quene bidis.’ 5. “by
the lawe sides.’ 8. ‘the trouth for to telle.’ 9. ‘who the trouth trowes.’
II. “To an oke he hem sett.”
88 THE A WAVTYRS OF A R7 HUACA2
IV.
Vndir those bewes thay bade, those beryns so balde, 4o
To bekire at those barrayne, in bankis so bare;
Thay keste of thaire copills, in clyffes so calde;
Thay recomforthed thaire kenettis, to kele tham of
Care ;
Thare myght hirdmen, hendely forsothe, herdis by-
halde,
Herkyn huntyngis with hornnes, in holtis so hare, 45
Thay fellede downe the femmalls, full thikke folde,
With fresche hundis, and felle, felonosly thay fare;
Thay questede and quellys,
By frythis and fellis,
That the dere dwellys, 5o
And darkys and darys.
V.
Alle darkis the dere, and to down schowys,
And, for the dowte of the dede drowpys the daa,
And by the stremys, so strange, that Swyftly swoghes,
Thay wery the wilde Swyne, and wyrkkis tham waa ;
Thay hunte, and halowes, in holttis and hillys, 56
And till thair riste, raches relyes on thaire raye;
Thay gafe no gamen, no grythe, that one grownde
growes,
Grete hundis [in the greues] full gladly gangaa.
Thus thies gomes, thay ga in greuys so grene, 60
And boldly blawes rechayse,
And folowes faste one the trase,
With many sergaunte of mace,
Swylk solauce to sene.
IV.-5. “There might hatheles in high, herdes be holde.’ 6. ‘huntyng
in haste.” 8. ‘thei folowen her fare.’ 9. A line seems to be wanting in
this stanza in both MSS. 9. “With gret questis and quellis.’ Io. ‘Both
in frithis and fellis.’ II. “All the dere in the delles.” I2. ‘Thei durken
and dare.
V.—1. ‘Thei durken the dere in the dyme skuwes.” 2. ‘that for drede
of the deth.’ 3. This line omitted in MS. D. 5. “in hurstis and huwes.”
6. “And bluwe rechas, ryally thei ran to ro.’ Io. ‘The King blowe.’
A T 7 HAE TERNE WA 7THE L VAV. 89
VI.
Thns with solauce thay semelede, the prowdeste .
alle, 5
And º to the soueraygne, in cleues so clene;
Nane bot Schir Gawane, the gayeste of alle,
By-leuys with dame Gaynoure in those greues grene:
Vndir a lorrere scho laye, that lady so smalle,
Off boxe, and of barborane, byggyde full bene; 70
Ffaste by-fore vndrone, this ferly gun falle,
And this meikill mervelle, that I of mene.
Now will I of this mervelle meen, gif I mote, -
The daye woxe als dirke, -
Als it were mydnyghte mirke, 75
Ther of Schir Gawane was irke;
And lyghte one his fo!e.
VII.
Thus one fºre are thay lyghte, those frekis Vn-fayne,
, A-, a "ºſe faste [fro] the foreste to the fawe fellis;
**ay rane fast to the roches, for reddoure of the rayne,
For the slete, and the Shawe, that snayppede tham
SO Snelle : 8I
Thare i. a lowe one the loughe, in lede es noghte to
ayne,
In the lyknes of Lucyfere, layetheste in helle,
And glyddis to dame Gaynoure, the gatis full gayne,
&ollande gamyrly, with many lowde gelle; 85
It 3ellede, it gamede with Vengeance full wete;
And Saide, oft syghande full Sare,
'. I ame the body that the bare,
Allas ! now kyndyls my kare,
I gloppyn and I grete l" 90
VI-I. ‘they sembled.” 2. ‘withi y & y
6. ‘and of bº 9. º i., º:ºil. àe ** bot.
VII.-1. Thus to fote ar thei ſaren.” 2. ‘And fleen fro the forest to the
fewe fellis.’ Lines 3 and 6 are omitted in MS. D. 4. ‘For the sueterand
Sºwe Suartly hem Snelles.’ 5. ‘a lede of the lawe, in land is.’ 7. “And
glides to Schir Gawayne the gates to gayne.’ 8. ‘Bauland and 3omerand.
9. i. Baules, hit 3amers with Waymeyngis wete.” II. “I ban the body
Inê Dare.
90 THE A WAVTYRS OF A R7 HUAEA2
VIII.
Thane gloppenyde, and
* . grett, dame Gaynoure the ga
And º Schir Gawayne, ...”. his #.
eCle f- a-F
“It es the clippes of the Mone, I herde a clerk 2 3
And thus he comforthede th a clerke saye;
{ { knyghtehede. e Qwene, with his
schiºre, Schir Caduke, Schir Costarde, Schir
aye,
Thir knyghtes are vn-curtayse, b 95
- yse, by crose, and b d
that thus me hase lefte in this 㺠at my i. º:
With the gryselyeste gaste, that euer herde I grete! 3,
“At this gaste,” quod Schir Gaweayne, “greue
gowe no more;
I salle speke with gone Spyrete,
In gone wayes so wete, I OO
If ſmaye the bales betes
Of gone body bare.”
IX.
Bare was hir body, and blake to the bane,
Alle by-claggede in claye: wn-comlyly clede : Io 5
It weryit, it wayemettede, lyke a womann,
That nowther one hede, ne one hare, hillynge it hade :
It stottyde, it stounnede, it stode als a Stane,
it marrede, it monede, it moyssed for made.
Vn to that grysely gaste Schir Gaweane eS game, . I 19
He raykede to it one a rase, for he was neuer rade:
For rade was he neuer, nowe who that ryghte
redis,
One the chefe of the cholle,
A tade pykit one hir polle,
Hir eghne ware holkéde full holle, II.5
Glowand als gledis.
VIII.—3. ‘the clippes of the Son.” 5. “Schir Cador, Schir Clegis,
Schir Costardyne, Schir Cay.’ 9. Of the goost, quod the grome.’
IX. —4. ‘But on hide, ne on huwe, no helling.’ 5. “Hit stemered, hit
stounade,’ 8. “neuer drade.’ 9. drade was he.” Iö. ‘chef of the clolle.’
A T THE TERAVE WA THEZ. VAW. 9I
X.
Alle glowede als gledis, the gaste whare schoglydis,
Vmbyclede in a clowde, with clethynge vn-clere;
Cerkelytt with serpentes that satt by hir sydes,
To tell the dedis ther one, my tongue wer to tere. 120
The bº brawndeche owte his brande, and the body
ydis,
Therefore that cheualrous knyghte thoghte it no chere;
The hundes are to hillys, and thaire hedes hydes,
Ffor that grysely gaste made so gryme bere:
The grete grewhundes were agayste, for that grym
bere, I 25
The birdes on the bewes,
That one that gaste g|lowes,
Thay clyme in the clewes,
That hedows when thay here.
XI.
Who that myghte that hedows see, hendeste in haulle,
How hir cholle chatirede, hir chaftis, and hir chyne;
Thane coniurede hir that knyghte, and one Criste gun
he calle, I 32
“Alls thou was crucyfyede one croyse, to saue ws fra syn,
Thou spirette saye me the sothe, whedir that thou sall,
And whi that thow walkes thies wayes, thies woddis,
with inn P’’ I 35
—“I was of ffegure, and of flesche, the fayereste of alle,
Cristenede, and krysomede, with kynges in my kyn :
I hafe kynges in my kyn, knawen kyde full kene,
God hase sent me this grace,
To drye my paynes in this place, I4O
And nowe am I commen one a pase,
To speak with goure Qwene.
X.—2. ‘Vmbeclipped with a cloude.” 3. ‘Skeled with serpentes all
aboute the sides.’ 6. “charged no chere.” 7. “The houndes hi}en to the
wode.” II. ‘the gooste glowes; L. MS. reads “gewes.’ I2. ‘Thei skryke
in the skowes.” 13. “That hatheles may here.”
XI.-1. ‘Hathelesse might here so fer into halle.” 2. ‘How chatered
the cholle, the challus, on the chyne.” 7. ‘figure and face,’ 8. ‘ and
knowen.” I2. ‘I am comen in this cace.”
92 7A/E A PVAWTVRS OF ARTHURE
XII.
“Qwene was I whilome, wele bryghtere of browes,
Than Beryke, or Brangwayne, the byrdis so balde;
Of any gamnes, or gudis, that one the grownde growes,
Welegrettere than Gaynoure, of garsomes, and of
golde, I46
Of pales, of powndis, of parkes, of plewes,
Of townnes, of townis, of tresoures vn-tolde;
Of contres, of castells, of cragges, of clewes ;
And now am I cachede owte of kythe, in Carys SO
colde: I5o
In care am I cachede, and cowchede in claye;
LOO ! curtayse knyghte,
How that dede hase me dyghte,
Nowe gyffe me anes a syghte,
Of Gayenour the gaye.” I 55
XIII.
Nowe to Gayenour the gaye, Schir Gaweayne es gane,
And to that body hase he broghte that birde then so
bryghte:
“Welecome, Waynoure!” scho says, “thu worthye in
wane
Loo! howe that dulefull dede, hase thi dame dyghte,
I was reddare in rode than rose in the rayne ; I6o
My lyre als the lely, lufely to syghte,
And nowe I am a greSely gaste, and grymly granes,
With Lucefere in a lake lawe ame I lyghte;
Thus am I lyke to Lucefere, takis witnes by mee,
Ffor all goure fresche fauoure, I65
Now moyse one this mirroure,
Ffor bothe Kynge and Emperoure,
Thus sall ge bee. -
XII.—2. ‘Than berell.’ I 1. ‘How delfulle deth has me dight.’ I2.
‘Lete me onys haue a sight.”
XIII.-3. ‘Waynoure’ here, and in some of the subsequent stanzas in
both MSS., is written instead of “Gaynoure.’ It was thought unnecessary
to correct this, although at first it might appear to be the name of the
apparition of Gaynoure's mother, but whose name is not mentioned. In the
same manner Wawayn occurs elsewhere instead of Gawayn. 6. ‘lonched
on hight.”
A 7" 7"HE 7'EA&AWE WA THEZ. YIV. 93
XIV.
“And thus dede will gow dyghte, [take thare of no
dowte,
And there one hertly takis hede, whils that thu es
here, - . . . . . .--'78 .
When thou es richely arrayede, and rydes in a rowte,
Hafe than pete, and mynd one the pore, for thu
arte of powere,
Beryns, and byrdis, are besye the abowte,
When thi body is bawmede, and broghte appone
bere,
Than will thay leue the lyghtely, that nowe will the
lowte, I75
And thane helpes the no thynge, bot halye prayere:
The prayere of the pore, chasses the from helle,
Of thase that gellis at thi gate,
When thu sittis in thi sette,
With all mirthes at thi mete, I8o
Some dayntes thou dele.
XV.
“With daynteths one desse, thi dyetes are dyghte;
And thus in dawngere, and dole I downe, and I
duelle,
Nasty, and nedfull, and nakede one nyghte,
There ffolowes me a ferde of ffendis ffull ffell: 185
Thay harle me vnhendely, and hewys me one hyghte;
In brasse, and in bromstane, I birne als a belle:
Was neuer wroghte in this werlde, a wafullere wyghte,
It were tore till any tonge my tourmenttis to telle !
Bot now will I of my tourment talke, or I gaa ; 190
Thynke hertly on this,
Now fande to mende of this mys;
Ffor thou erte warnede I wysse,
Be warre now, be my waal ‘’
XIV.—1. ‘takis witness by me,’ MS. L. 7. “Than lite wyn the light.”
9. “may purchas the pes.’ I3. ‘and dayntes on des.’
XV.—2. ‘in dongon I dwelle.” 4. ‘fendes of helle.’
94' THE AWAVTYRS OF AA THURAE
XVI.
“Now wo es me! for thi waa,” sayd Waynour, “I
wysse, I95
Bot a worde wolde I wete, and thi will ware;
Gyff matyns, or messes, myghte oghte menden thi
mysse,
Or any mobylls on molde, my myrthis ware the mare;
Or bedis of bechopes, myghte brynge the to blysse;
Or couentis in cloysters, myghtekele the of care; 200
Ffor if thou be my modir, grete mervelle it es,
That thi burlyche body es blakenede so barel ”—
“I bare the of my body; whate bote es to lye 2
Be that to takenynge thou trowe,
I brake a solempne a-vowe, 2O5
That none wyste bot I, and thowe,
And therfore dole I drye.”
XVII.
“Telle me now sothely, what may safe thisytis,
And I sall garre seke sayntes, for thi sake;
Bot of thase balefull bestis, that one thi body bytys,
Alle blendis my blode, thi blee es soo blake.”— 211
“This es it to luffe paramoures, and lustys, and litys,
That gerse me lyghte, and lenge so lawe in this
lake;
Ffor alle the welthe of this werlde, thus awaye wytis ;
This werlde es wandrethe, that wirkes me wrake : 215
Ffor wrake it me wirkes, now Waynoure, I wysse !
Were thritty trentalls done,
By-twyxen vndrone and none,
My saule were saluede full sone,
And broghte in to blysse.” 22O
XVI.-8. ‘is brought to be so bare.’ 9. ‘what bote is hit I layn.’
12. “And no man wist ht but thowe.’ I 3. ‘ that Sothely I sayn.’
XVII.-1. ‘what may the sauen y-wis.’ 2. ‘And I sall make sere men
to singe for thi sake.” 4. ‘Al bledis my ble, thi bones.’ 8. “With the
wilde wormis that worche me wrake.” I2. ‘socoured with son.
A 7" 7"HE ZTERAVE WATHEA. YW. 95
XVIII.
“To blysse brynge the that barne, [that boghte the on
rode,
That was crucyfiede one croyse, and crownnede with
thorne;
Crystynnede, and krysommede, with candills and coude,
Ffullede in funstane, full frely by-forne;
Mary, that es myghty, and myldest of mode, 225
That bare that blysschede, in Bedleme was borne,
Gyffe me grace for to grete thy saule with some gude ;
And mene the with messes, and matynes one
morne.”—
“To mene me with messes, grete menske nowe it
were,
Ffor hym, that ryste on the rode, 23o
Gyffe nowe faste of thy gude,
To folke that fayles the fude,
Whylls that thou erte here.”
XIX.
“Now here hertly one hande, I hete the to halde,
With a melyone of messes to make thy menynge. 235
Bot one worde,” saide dame Waynoure, “now wiete
that I walde,
Whate greues Gode moste of any kyns thynge 2 ”—
“Pride, with apparenentis, als prophetis haue talde,
By-fore the pople, appertly in thaire prechynge;
The [bowel is full bittire, thare of be thou balde, 240
It makis beryns full balde, to breke his byddynge;
Who so his byddyng brekis, bare he es of blysse;
Bot thay be salued of that sare,
Certis, or thay hethyn fare,
Thay mon wiete of calde care, 245
Waynoure, I wys.”
XVIII.-1. ‘that dere has the boghte,’ MS. L. 4. ‘Ffolowed in fonte-
stone.’ 9. ‘grete myster.’
XIX.-4. ‘What wrathed God most.’ 5. “with appurtennance.’ 8.
‘ burnes so bly.”
96 THE A WAVTVRS OF A RTHURE
XX.
“Telle me,” sayde Waynoure, “a worde gif thou woste,
Whate dedis myghte me beste in to blys brynge?”—
“Mekenesse and mercy,” scho saide, “tho are the
moste,
Hafe petie on the pore, thane plesys thou owne Kynge;
Sythen after that, do almous dedis of alle other thynge,
Thies aren the gud gyftis of the Holy Goste, 252
That enspyres alle sperites, withowttyn spillynge;
Ffor to come to that blysse, that euer more sall laste,
Of thies sperituale thinges, spyre me na mare, 255
Whills thou arte Qwene in thi quarte,
Halde thies wordis in thyn herte,
Ffor thou sall lyffe bot a starte;
Hethyn sall thu ffare.”
XXI.
“How sall we fare,” saide the freke, ‘‘that fowndis to
fyghte, 26o
That ofte foundis the folkes, in fele kyngis landis;
That riche rewmes ouer rynnes, agaynes the ryghte,
And wynnes wirchippis, and welthis, by wyghtenes
of handis 2 ”—
—“gowre Kynge esto couetous, I tell thee, schirknyghte;
May no man stere hym of strenghe, whills the whele
standis, 265
When he es in his mageste hegheste, and maste es of
myghte,
He sall lighte full lawe, appone the see sandis :
Thus goure cheualrous Kynge chefe schalle a
chawnce,
Ffalse fortune in fyghte,
That wondirfull whele-wryghte, 27,o
Mase lordis lawe for to lyghte;
Takes witnes by Fraunce.
XX. This stanza in the Lincoln MS. is misplaced, as it is there intro-
duced as the XVIII. 9. ‘spute thou na mare.’
XXI.—2. ‘And thus defoulen the folke.’ 4. ‘wynnen worshipp in werre
thorgh.’ 6. ‘May no man stry him with strength, while his whele stondes.”
9. ‘chiualrous knight.’ Io, “Ffalsely fordone in fight.’ II. “With a won-
derfull wight.”
A T THE 7TERAVE WA THE / VAV. 97
XXII.
“Ffraunce hafe ge frely with gour fyghte wonnen;
The Ffrolo and the Ffarnaghe es frely by-leuede ;
Bretayne, and Burgoyne, es bothe to gow bowmen,
And alle the Dugepers of Ffraunce with the dyn
dreuede : 276
Gyane may gretyn that the werre was by-gounnen ;
Es noghte a lorde in that lande, appon lyfe leuede ;
gete sall the riche Romaynes with gow ben ouer
ronnen, -
And alle the Rownde Tabill thaire rentis be reuede.
Thay sall gitt be Tybire tymbire gow tene; 28 I
Gete the, Schir Gawayne
Turne thou to Tuskayne,
Ffor [lese] thu sall Bretayne,
With a knyghte kene. 285
XXIII.
“A knyghte sall kenly closen the crowne,
And at Carelyone be crownede for kynge :
That sege sall be sesede at a sesone,
That mekill bale, and barete till Ynglande sall
brynge ;
Ther sall in Tuskane be tallde of that tresone, 290
And torne home agayne for that tydynge ;
And ther sall the Rownde Tabille losse the renowne,
Be-syde Ramessaye, full ryghte at a rydynge,
And at Dorsett sall dy the doghetyeste of alle.
Gette the, Schir Gawayne, 295
The baldeste of Bretayne;
Ffor in a slake thu sall be slayne,
Swylke ferly sall falle !
XXII.-2. ‘Freol and his folke fey ar they leued.’ 3. ‘to 3ow bowen.’
9. ‘Thus shall a Tyber vntrue tymber with tene.’
XXIII.-1. ‘This knight shal be clanly enclosed with a crowne.' 2. ‘at
Carlele shal that comly.’ 3. ‘A Sege shal he seche with a cession.' 4. ‘to
Bretaym.’ 8. ‘Beside Ramsey full rade.”
G
98 THE A LVN 7" VRS OF A RTHURE
XXIV.
“Siche ferly sall falle, with owtten any fabille,
Appone Cornewayle coste, with a knyghte kene : 3oo
Arthure the auenante, that honestees and abill,
Sall be wondid, I wysse, full wathely, I wene :
[And al the rial rowte of the Rounde Tabille,
Thei Shullen dye on a day, the doughty by-dene;]
Supprysede with a sugette, that beris of sabille 305
A sawtire engrelede of siluer full schene.
He beris [it] of sabille, sothely to saye ;
In kyng Arthures haulle
The childe playes hym at the balle
That sall owttraye gow alle, 3 Io
Full derfely a daye.
XXV.
“Hafe gud daye, dame Gaynoure, and Gawane the gude;
I hafe no langare tyme, mo tales to telle,
Ffor me buse wende one my waye, thorowte this
wode,
Vn-to my wonnynge wane, in waa for to welle : 315
Ffor him that rewfully rase, and rente was one rude,
Thynke one the dawngere, and the dole, that I in
duelle ;
And fede folke, for my sake, that fawtes the fude,
And mene me with messes, and matyns in melle :
[Masses arn medecynes to vs that bale bides;]
Vs thynke a messe als swete, 32 I
Als any spyce that euer thu ete.”
And thus with a grysely grete,
The gaste awaye glydis.
XXIV. —5 and 6. Instead of these two lines, taken from MS. D., the
third and fourth lines of this stanza are repeated in MS. L. 7. “Suppriset
with a surget, he beris hit in sable.’ I 3. ‘Delfully that day.”
XXV. —7. ‘ that failen the fude.” 9. The last four lines of stanza XIX.
are here repeated by mistake in MS. L., followed, however, by the lines in
the text, except the 9th, which is given from MS. D.
A T THE TERNE WA THEA. VAW. 99
XXVI.
[With a grisly grete, the gooste awey glydis; 325
And goes, with gronyng Sore, thorgh the greues
grene :]
The wynde, and the wedyrs, than welken in hydis ;
Than vnclosede the clowddis, the sone schane
schene. *
The kynge his bogill hase blowen, and on the bent bydis,
His fayre folke in firthes, flokkes in fere; 33O
All that royalle rowte, to the Qwene rydys,
And melis to hir mildely, one thaire manere;
The wyes on swilke wondirs a-wondirde thaire were;
The prynces prowdeste in palle,
Dame Gaynoure, and alle, 335
Wente to Randolfe sett haulle,
To thaire sopere.
XXVII.
The Kynge was sett to the supere, and serued in sale,
Vndir a seloure of sylke, full daynetyuousely dighte;
With alle the wirchipe to welde, and wyne for to wale,
Birdis in brede, of brynt golde bryghte. 34. I
Ther come two setolers in, with a symbale,
A lady, lufesome of late, ledande a knyghte;
Scho rydes vp to the heghe desse, by-fore the royalle,
And askede Schir Arthure, full hendely one highte,
Scho saide to that souerayne, whonkeste in wedis,
“Mane moste of myghte, 347
Here es comyn ane armede knyghte;
Now do hym resone and ryghte,
Ffor thi manhede.” 35o
XXVI. —I and 2. These lines are wanting in MS. L. 3. ‘the welkyn
wnhides.’ 6. ‘in the frith thei flokken by-dene.’ 8. “She sayis hem the
selcouthes that thei hadde thair seene.’ 9. “The wise of the weder.” I2.
* Went to Rondoles halle.”
XXVII.-1. ‘serued in halle.’ 3. ‘worshipp and wele, mewith the
walle.’ 4. ‘Briddes branden, and brad, in bankers bright.” 7. ‘Ho raykes
vp, in a res.’ 8. ‘And halsed.’ 9. ‘Ho said.’ Io. “Mon makles.’ I I.
‘an errant knight.”
I OO 7 H.A. A WAV7 VA'S OF A RTA/UFF
XXVIII.
The mane in his mantyll syttis at his mete,
In paulle purede with pane, full precyously dyghte,
Trofelyte, and trauerste with trewloues in trete;
The tasee was of topas that ther to was tyghte:
He glyfte vpe with hys eghne, that gray ware, and
grete,
With his burely berde, one that birde bryghte. 356
He was the Souerayneste sir, sittande in sette,
That euer any segge Saughe, or sene was with syghte.
Thus the kyng, crowned in kythe, carpis hir till ;
“Welecome, worthyly wyghteſ 360
Thou sall hafe resone and ryghte;
Whythen es this comly knyghte,
If it be thi will P '’
XXIX.
Scho was the worthilieste wyghte, that any wy myghte
welde;
Hir gyde was gloryous, and gaye, alle of gyrse grene;
Hir belle was of plonkette, with birdis full baulde, 366
Botonede with besantes, and bokellede full bene;
Hir faxe in fyn perrye frette was in fowlde,
Conterfelette in a kelle colourede full clene,
With a crowne of crystalle, and of clere golde: 37 O
Hir courchefes were coryouse, with many prowd
Dyn,
[Her perre was praysed, with prise men of might;]
The bryghte byrdis, and balde,
Had note ynoghe to by-halde
One that freely to fawlde, 375
And one that hende knyghte.
XXVIII.-2. ‘pured to pay, prodly pight.’ 3. This line is omitted in
MS. D. 6. “With his beueren berde.’ 9. talkis hir tille.’
XXIX. — 1. ‘ that eny wede wolde.” 3. ‘Here belle was of blunket.’
4. ‘Branded with brende golde.’ 7. “With a crowne craftly al of clene
golde.’ 9. Omitted in MS. L.
A 7" THE 7'EPAVE WA 7THEZ VAV. Iol
XXX.
That knyghte in his coloures was armede full clene,
With his comly creste, full clene to by-holde;
His brenyes, and his bacenett, burneschet full bene,
With a bourdoure abowte, alle of brynte golde; 38o
His mayles was mylk-whytte, enclosede so clene;
His horse trappede with the same, als it was me
taulde.
The schelde one his schuldir, of syluere full schene,
With bare-heuedis of blake, burely, and baulde;
His horse withe sendale was teldede, and trappede
to the hele ; 385
And his cheuarone by-forne,
Stode als ane vnycorne,
Als So Scharpe as any thorne,
And mayles of stele.
XXXI.
In stele wes he stuffede, that steryn was one stede, 390
Alle of sternys of golde, that stekillede was one
straye;
He, and his gambesouns, glomede als gledys,
With graynes of rubyes, that graythede were gaye,
And his schene Schynbawdes, scharpe for to schrede;
[His polemus with pelicocus were poudred to pay.]
Thus with a lance appon lofte, that lady gun he lede;
A Swayne, one a fresone, folowde him, in faye. 397
[The ffreson was afered, for drede of that fare;]
He was seldom wounte
To see the tabille at his frounte, 4OO
Swilke gammenes was he wonte
[Sag, he neuer are.]
XXX. —5. ‘were mylke white . . . many hit seen.’ 6. ‘trapped of
that ilke as true men me tolde.’ 8. ‘of brake browed ful bolde.’ 9. ‘in
fyne sandel was trapped.’ II. ‘Stode as an.’ 13. ‘An anlas of stele.”
XXXI.—2. ‘ his pencell displaied.’ 3. ‘His gloues, his gamesouns,
glowed as a glede.” 5. ‘schynbandes.’ 6. This line is wanting in MS.
L., and also the 9th in this stanza. 8. ‘A freke, on a freson.” IO. “For
he was selden wonte to see.” II. ‘ the tablet floure.’ I2. ‘Siche gamen
negle.’ 13. ‘Full seldome to see,” MS. L.
IO2 THE A WAV7'VRS OF A R7 HURE
XXXII.
Arthure askede in hye, one herande tham alle,
“Whate woldest thu, Wy, gif it were thi wille 7
Tell me whate thu sekis, and whedir that thu Schalle,
And why thu stonyes on thi stede, and stondis so
Stille P’’ 406
He lyfte vpe his visare fro the ventalle,
And with a knyghtly contenance he carpis hym till:
“Be thu kaysere, or kynge, here I the be-calle,
To fynde me a freke, to fyghte one my fill: 4 IO
Ffor fyghtynge to frayste, I fowndede fra hame.”
The kynge carpede on heghte,
“Lyghte, and lende alle nyghte,
If thou be curtayse knyghte,
And tell me thi name.” 4I 5
XXXIII.
“My name es Schir Galleroun, with owttyn any gyle,
The gretteste of Galowaye, of greues and of gyllis;
Of Konynge, of Carryke, of Connygame, of Kylle,
Of Lomonde, of Lenay, of Lowthyane hillis.
Thou hase wonnen thaym one werre, with owttrageouse
will; 42O
And gyffen than Schir Gawayne, and that myn herte
grilles.
[But he shal wring his honde, and warry the wyle,
Or he welden my landes, at myn Vn-thankes :
By alle the welthe of this werlde, he sall tham
neuer welde,
Whills I my hede may bere; 425
Bot he wyn tham one werre,
Bothe with schelde, and with spere,
Appone a fair felde
XXXII.—4. ‘sturne on thistede.’ 5. ‘He wayned up his viser.” Io. ‘Then
said the King vppon hight.’
XXXIII. —3. ‘Of Connok, of Conyngham, and also Kyle.’ 4. ‘Of
Lomand, of Losex.’ 5. “with a wrange wille.” 7. This line is wanting in
MS. L. 8. ‘Er he weld hem, y-wis agayn myn vnwylles.’
AT THE 7ERNE WATHELYW. IO3
XXXIV.
“I will fighte on a felde, and ther-to make I my faythe,
With any freke one the foulde, that frely es borne:
To losse swylke a lordschipe, me thynke it full laythe ;
And ilke a leueande lede wolde laughe me to
skorne.”— 432
“We aren here in the wode, walkand one our wathe,
We hunte at the herdis, with hundes, and with
horne; -
We aren one owre gamen, we ne hafe no gude graythe,
Bot gitt thu sall be machede by middaye to morne.
And forthi I rede the, thu rathe mane, thu riste
the alle the nyghte.” 437
Than Gawayne, gayest of alle,
Ledis hym owte of the haulle,
Vn-till a paveleone of paulle, 44O
That prowdely was pyghte.
XXXV.
Pighte was it prowdely, with purpure and paulle,
With dossours, and qweschyns, and bankowres full
bryghte;
Withinn was a chapelle, a chambir, and ane haulle;
A chymneye with charecole, to chawffen that knyghte,
His stede was sone stabillede, and lede to the stalle,
And haye hendly heuyde in hekkes one hyghte. 447
Sythen he braydes vp a burde, and clathes gun calle;
Sanapes, and salers, full semly to syghte,
Preketes, and broketes, and standertis by-twene :
Than thay seruede that knyghte, 45 I
And his worthy wyghte, - -
With full riche daynteths dyghte,
In siluere full schene.
XXXIV.-4. ‘And siche [iche P] lede opon lyve.’ 5. ‘went to walke.’
7. “gome graithe.” Io. ‘grathest of alle.’
XXXV.-2. ‘Birdes branden above, in brend gold bright.” 3. ‘Inwith
was a.’ 6. ‘Hay hertly he had in haches on hicht.” 7. ‘thei braide.”
9. “Torches.’ Io. “Thus thei.’
IO4 THE A WAVTYRS OF A R 7'H' URE
XXXVI.
In siluer sa semly thay serue tham of the beste, 455
With vernage, in verrys and cowppys sa clene:
And thus thase gleterande gommes, gladdis thaire
gestis,
With riche daynteths, endorrede, in dysches by-dene.
When the ryalle renke was gone to his ryste,
The Kynge in to concelle hase callede his knyghtis
so kene; 460
Sayse “lukes nowe, ge lordyngs, Oure lofe be noghte lost,
Who sall enconter with gone knyghte, now lukes vs
by-twene.”
Thane said Schir Gawayne, “he sall vs noghte
greue,
Here my trouthe I gow plyghte,
I sall feghte with gone knyghte, 465
In the defence of my ryghte,
My lord, with gowre lefe.”
XXXVII.
“I leue wele,” quod the kynge, “thi latis are [ligt,
But I nolde, for no lordeshippe, se thi life lorne.]
“Late gaa,” quod Schir Gawayne, “Gode stond with
the rigt, 47o
If he skape skatheles, [hit were a foule skorne].”
In the dawynge of the [day, the doughti were dight;]
Thaye herde matyns [and masse, erly on morne.]
By that, one [Pluton land a palais was pigt,
Whare neuer [freke opon folde had fougten biforne.]
[Thei setten listes by-lyue on the log lande: 476
Twa sop|pes de mayn]
Thei broght to Schir Gawayn,
For [to confort his brayn,
The King gared commaunde.] 48o
XXXVI.-3. ‘And thus Schir Gawayn the good.’ 8. ‘kestis 3ou bi-
twene.’ 9. “Then said Gawayn the goode.” Io. ‘Here my honde I you
highte.’
XXXVII.-The greater part of this, and the two first lines of the next
stanza are torn away in MS. L.
A 7" THE 7 ERAWE WA THEL VAW. IO5
XXXVIII.
The [King commaunded Krudely, the Erles son of
Kent,
[Curtaysly in this case, take kepe to the Knight.]
With riche daynteths, that day, he dynede in his tente,
With birdes baken in brede, of brynte golde bryghte;
And sythen vnto dame Waynour full wyesely he wente;
And lefte with hir in warde his worthily wyghte: 486
And than thies hathells full hendely thaire horsses hase
hent,
At the lycence of the lorde, that lordely gun lyghte,
Alle bot thir [two) beryns, bouldeste of blode.
The kynges chayere was sette, 49 O
A-bowne on a chasselett;
And many a gaylyarde grett
Ffor Gawayne the gude.
XXXIX.
Gawayne and Galleron dyghtis thaire stedis,
Alle of gleterande golde, full gaye was thaire gere;
Twa lordes be-lyfe to thaire lystes thaym ledis, 496
With many sergeauntes of mace; it was the manere;
The beryns broches thaire blonkes to thair sydes bledis.
Aythire freke appon felde hase fichede thaire spere,
Schaftis of schene wode thay scheuerede in schides;
So jolyly those gentill men justede one were ! 5o I
Schaftis thay scheuer in schydes full schene:
Sythen, with brandes full bryghte,
Riche mayles thay righte;
Thus enconterde the knyghte 5o 5
With Gawayne, one grene. -
XXXVIII.-3. ‘or day.’ 4. ‘After buskis him in a brene, that burneshed
was bright.’ 6. ‘He in here.” 7. “After aither in high hour horses thei
hent.’ 8. ‘And at the listes on the lande.’ 9. “Bothe thes two burnes.’
II. ‘Quene on a chacelet.’ -
XXXIX. — 1. ‘gurden her stedes.’ 6. ‘has fastned his spere.” 7. ‘thei
shindre.” 9. “Shaftes thei shindre in sheldes so shene.’ -
Ioé THE A WAV7 VRS OF AA 7TP/URE
XL.
Gawane was graythely graythede on grene,
With griffons of golde, engrelede full gaye,
Trayfolede with trayfoles, and trewluffes by-twene,
One a stirtande stede he strykes one straye. 5 Io
[That other in] his turnynge he talkis with tene;
“[Whi drawes thou the] one dreghe, and makis
swilke delay ?”
[He swapped him then at the swyre] with a Swerde
kene:
[That greued Schir Gawayn, to] his dede day.
[The dyntes of that doughty, were dolwttous by-
dene. 5I 5
[Fyfte mayles, and mo,
The swerde swapt in two,
The canel-bone also,
And clef his] schelde schene.
XLI.
[He clef thorgh the cantell that couered the Knight,
Thorgh the shinand shelde, a shaftmon and mare;
And then the lady loude lowe vppon hight, 522
And Gawayn greches therwith, and gremed ful sare:
“I shal rewarde the thi route, if I con rede right.”
He folowed in on the ffreke, with a fressh fare, 525
Thorgh blason, and brene, that burneshed wer brigt,
With a burlich bronde, thorgh him he bare.
The bronde was blody, that burneshed was brigt;
Then gloppened that gay :
Hit was no ferly, in fay, 53o
The sturne strikis on stray,
In stiropes strigt.
XL.—I. ‘gaily grathed in grene.' 3. ‘Trifeled with traues.’ 4. ‘On a
stargand stede.’ 5–13. These lines, partly destroyed in MS. L., are filled
up from MS. D. -
XLI.-A leaf in the Lincoln Manuscript appears unfortunately to be lost.
This and the next five stanzas, and part of the XLVII., which it seems
to have contained, are therefore printed from the other copy.
A 7" THE 7TEA’AVE WA 7THE Z. YW. Io'7
XLII.
Streyte in his steroppes, stoutely he strikes,
And waynes at Schir Wawayn, als he were wode;
Then his leman on lowde skirles, and skrikes, 535
When that burly burne blenket on blode:
Lordes and ladies of that laike likes;
And thonked God fele sithe for Gawayn the gode.
With a swap of a swerde, that swathel him swykes,
He stroke of the stede hede, streite there he stode;
The faire fole fondred, and fel to the grounde. 541
Gawayn gloppened in hert,
Of he were hasty and smert,
Oute of sterops he stert,
Fro Grissell the goode. 545
XLIII.
“Grissell,” quod Gawayn, “gon is, God wotel
He was the burlokest blonke, that euer bote brede
By him, that in Bedeleem was borne, euer to ben our
bote,
I shall venge the to day, if I con right rede!
Go fecche me my freson, fairest on fote, 55o
He may stonde the in stoure, in as mekle stede;
No more for the faire fole, then for a rissh rote,
But for doel of the dombe best, that thus shuld be dede.
I mone for no montur, for I may gete mare; ”
Als he stode by his stede, 555
That was so goode at neede:
Ner Gawayn wax wede,
So siked he sare.
XLIV.
Thus wepus for wo, Wawayn the wight;
And wenys him to quyte, that wonded is sare. 560
That other drog him on dregt, for drede of the knigt,
And boldely broched his blonk on the bent bare.
XLII.—4. ‘ burne’ here, and elsewhere in MS. D., for “barne’ or
‘beryn.” -
Io8 THE A WAVTYRS OF AA 7THURE
Thus may thei dryve forthe the day, to the derk night:
The son was passed, by that, mydday, and mare.
Within the listes the lede lordly don light, 565
Touard the burne, with his bronde, he busked him
thare :
To bataile they bowe with brondes so bright,
Shene sheldes wer shred ;
Bright brenes by-bled;
Many dougti were a-dred : 57 O
So fersely thei fight.
XLV.
Thus theifeght on fote, on that fair felde,
As fressh as a lyon, that fautes the fille;
Wilele thes wight men, thair wepenes they welde, . . .
He bronched him yn with his bronde, vnder the brode
shelde, 575
Thorgh the waast of the body, and wonded him ille:
The swerde stent for no stuf, hit was so wel steled ;
That other startis on bak, and stondis ston stille:
Though he were stonayed that stonde, he strikis
ful sare ;
He gurdes to Schir Gawayn, 58o
Thorgh ventaile, and pesayn ;
He wanted nogt to be slayn
The brede of an hare.
XLVI.
Hardely then thes hatheles on helmes they hewe,
Thei beten downe beriles, and bourdures bright; 585
Shildes on shildres, that shene were to shewe,
Fretted were in fyne golde, thei failen in fight;
Stones of iral they strenkel, and strewe;
Stithe stapeles of stele they strike don stight;
Burnes bannen the tyme the bargan was brewe, 590
The doughti with dyntes, so delfully were dight.
Then gretes Gaynour, with bothe her gray ene;
XLV. —The fourth line in this stanza is wanting in MS. D.
A T THE 7'EPAVE WA THEL VAW. Io9
For tho dougti that fight,
Were manly mached of might,
With oute reson, or right, 595
As al men sene.
º XLVII.
Thus gretis Gaynour, with bothe her gray yene,
For gref of Schir Gawayn, grisly was wounded :
The Knight of corage was cruel and kene;
And with a stele bronde, that sturne oft stonded; 6oo
Al the cost of [the] Knyght, he carf downe clene,
Thorgh the riche mailes, that ronke were, and
rounde;]
Swilke a touche at that tyme, he taughte hym in tene;
He girdede Schir Galleron growellynge one grownde.
Galleron full greuousely granes on the grene; 605
And als wondede als he was,
Swyftly vpe he rase,
And folowde in faste on his faas,
With a swerde schene.
XLVIII.
Clenly that crewelle couerde hym on highte, 6 Io
And with a caste of the care, in kautelle he strykis;
Ffull gerne he wayttis Schir Wawayne the wighte,
Bot hym lympede the werse; and that me wele lykis;
He etyllde with a slynge hafe slayne hym with slighte,
The Swerde sleppis on slante, and one the mayle
slydys, 615
And Schir Gawayne by the colere clekis the knyghte,
Than his leman so lowde skremes and skrykis.
Scho grete one dame Gaynour, with granes so grylle,
And saide, “lady! makles of myghte,
Hafe now mercy one gone knychte, 62o
That es so dulefully dyghte,
Giffe it be thi will.”
XLVII.—7. “With a teneful touche.’ I 1. ‘Sone buredely he ras.”
XLVIII.—1. ‘Kenely.’ 3. ‘And waynes at Schir Wawayn.’ 5. “He
atteled with a slenk.’ 6. ‘The Swerde swapped on his swange.” 7. ‘keppes
the knight.” 8. ‘skrilles and skrikis.’
I IO THE A WAVTVRS OF AA 7THURAE
XLIX.
Than wilfully dame Waynour vnto the kynge went,
Scho caught of hir coronalle; and knelyd hym till:
“Als thu erte Roye ryalle, and recheste of rent, 625
And I thyn wyfe, weddid at myn awen will,
gone beryns in gone batelle, that bledis one gone bent,
Thay are wery, I wysse; and wondide full ille,
Thurgh [thaire] schene schildis thaire schuldirs are
schent;
[The granes of Schir Gawayne dos my hert grille.]
The granes of Schir Gawayne greuys me full sare:
Wolde thu, lufly lorde - 632
Gare the knyghtis accorde,
It ware grete comforde, -
Till alle that here ware.” 635
L.
Bot than hym spake Galleron to Gawayne the gude:
“I wende no wy in this werlde, were haluendelle so
wyghte.
Here I make the relese, in my rentis, by the rode
And by-fore thiese ryalle, resynge the my ryghte;
And sythen I make the manreden with a mylde mode,
Als to mane in this medil erthe makles of myghte.”
He talkes to-warde the knyghte, one heghte there he
stode, 642
He bedde that burely his brande, that burneschede
was bryghte: &
“Of renttis and reches I make the relese.”
Downe knelis that knyghte, 645
And carpis thies wordes one highte;
The kyng stude vp-ryghte,
And commandis the pese.
XLIX. — 1. ‘Wisly dame Waynour.” 4. ‘at thi awen wille.’ 8. This
line is omitted in MS. L. Io. ‘Woldest thou leve lorde.”
L. —4. ‘relese the my right.’ I2. ‘The kyng stode vp right.”
A T THE 7TERAVE WA THEZ VAV. I I I
- LI. &
The kynge commandis the pese, and cryes one highte;
And Gawayne was gudly, and lefte for his sake. 650
And than to the lystis the lordis leppis full lyghte,
Schir Owayne, Fytz-Vryene, and Arrake full rathe :
Marrake, and Menegalle, that maste were of myghte,
Bathe thase trauelde knyghtis trewly thay taghte:
Vnnethes myghte those knyghtes stande vp ryghte, 655
Thay were for-bett, and for-blede, thaire wedis weze
blake;
[Her blees were brosed, for beting of brondes;]
With owtten more lettynge,
Was dighte there thiere semblynge,
By-fore that comly kynge, 66o
And helde vpe thair handes.
LII.
“I gyffe to the, Schir Gawayne,” quode the kynge,
“tresoure, and golde,
Glamorgans landis, with greuys so grene,
The wirchipe of Wales, to welde and to wolde;
With Gryffons castelle, kirnelde so clene; 665
And the Husters Haulle, to hafe, and to holde;
Wayfurthe, and Wakfelde, wallede I wene;
Twa baronryse in Burgoyne, with burghes so balde,
That are moted abovte, and byggede full bene:
I sall endowe the als a duke, and dub the with
myn hand, 67o
With-thi thu Saughtill with gone gentill
knyghte, - -
That es so hardy and wyghte,
And relese hym thi ryghte,
And graunte hym his lande.”
LI.—4. ‘Schir Ewayn, Schir Erian, and Arrak, Schir Lake.’ 5. “Schir
Dowrelat and Moylard that most wer of might.’ 8. “What for buffetes and
blode, her blees wer: blake.’ 9. This line is omitted in MS. L. II. ‘Dight
was here Saughtlying.’
LII.—I. ‘with gerson and golde.” 2. ‘All the Glamorgan lande.”
5. “Eke Ulstur halle.’ 6. “Wayford and Waterforde in Wales I wene.”
7. “Two baronrees in Bretane.’ 8. “That arn batailed about.’
II 2 THE A WAV7 VRS OF AA 7THURE
LIII.
“Now, and here I gyffe hym,” quod Gawayne, “with-
owttyn Onygyle, 675
Alle the landes, and the lythes, fra Lowyke to Layre;
Commoke, and Carrike, Connynghame, and Kylle,
Als the cheualrous knyghte hase chalandchede als
ayere ;
The Lebynge, the Lowpynge, the Leveastre Ile,
Bathe frythes, and forestes, frely and faire : 68o
[Vnder gour lordeship to lenge the while,
And to the Rounde Table to make repaire;
I shall reseff him in felde, in forestis so faire :]"
Than the Kynge, and the Quene,
And alle the doghety by-dene, 685
Thorow the greuys so grene,
To Carlele thay kayre.
LIV.
The Kyng to Carelele es comen, with knyghttis so kene,
To halde his Rownde Tabill, one ryalle array;
Those knyghtes, that were wondede full wathely, als I
wene, 690
Surgeons [sone] sanede thaym, Sothely to Saye ;
Bothe comforthede thaym than, the Kynge and the
Qwene ; -
Thay ware dubbyde Dukes bothe one a daye.
And ther Schir Galleron weddid his wyfe, that semly
and schene,
With gyftis and gersomes of Schir Gawayne the
gaye. º º 695
And thus those hathells with haldis that hende:
LIII.-1. ‘Here I gif Schir Galeron, quod G.” 2. ‘fra Lauer.’ 3. ‘Con-
nok and Carlele.’ 5. “The Lother, the Lemok, the Loynak, the Lile.”
6. ‘forestes and fosses so faire.' 7–9. These lines are not in MS. L.
LIV.—2. ‘And al the rounde table.’ 3. ‘The wees that were.”
5. “Bothe confortes the knyghtis.’ 7. “There he wedded his wife,
slonkest I wene.’ 8. “Schir Galeron the gaye.’ 9. ‘Thus that hathel
in high.”
A 7" 7"HE 7TEA’AVE WA 7THEZ VAW. II 3
N
And when he was saned, and sownde,
Thay made hym sworne to Schir Gawane in
that stownde,
And sythen, a knyghte of the Tabille Rownde,
Vntill his lyues end. 7oo
LV.
Dame Gaynour garte besyly wryte in to the weste,
To alle manere of relygeous, to rede and to synge ;
Pristes with processyons, [to pray were prest,
With a mylion of] messis, to make hir menynge;
Dukes, Erles, Barouns, and bechoppes of the beste,
Thurghe alle Ynglande scho garte make menynge.
And thus this ferlyes by-felle in a foreste, 7 o’7
Vndir an holte so bare, at an hunttynge;
swik, hunttynge in holtis, sulde noghte ben
yde:—
Thus to the fforestes thay fure, 7 Io
Steryn knyghtes and sture:
And in the tym of Arthure
This awntyr by-tyd.
This ferly by-felle, full sothely to sayne,
In Yggillwode fforeste, at the Ternwathelayne.
explicit.
I 1. ‘Thei made Schir Galeron that stonde.’ I2. ‘A knight of the
Table Ronde.”
LV.—1. ‘Waynour gared wisely.’ 3, 4. The words within brackets
are wanting in MS. L. 5. “Buke lered men; bisshops the best.’, 6.
“Thorgh al Bretayne besely the burde gared rynge.” 7. “This ferly
bifelle in Englond forest.’ 8. ‘a holte so hore.’ IO, “thay fore.’
II. ‘and store.’
H
ORFEO AND HEURODIS
IV.
ORFEO AND HEURODIS.
“Herken, lordyngys, that ben trewe,
And Y wol 3ou telle of Sir Orphewe.”
THE fairy tale of Orfeo and Heurodis is possessed of a
very distinct, though not less interesting character, from the
numerous remains of early Romantic fiction. In the con-
cluding lines it professes to be a lay of Bretaigne, but
whether a translation or not, there can be no doubt that it
was formed on the classical story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
This tale was extensively known at an early period, owing to
the circulation of the Latin poets and the works of other
ancient authors in which it has been So beautifully narrated.
In proof of this, Mr Turner, in his valuable and instructive
history, has shown that, during the IIth century, King
Alfred, when translating the Metrum to the Consolations
of Philosophy, in his Anglo-Saxon version of Boethius,
where the incident is described in a general manner by that
popular writer, has told “the story so completely in his own
way, and with so many of his own little touches and addi-
tions, as to make his account an original tale.”" In the
present instance, the narrative (as observed by a distinguished
writer of our times, who, in a felicitous manner, has em-
ployed it to illustrate a highly interesting Essay on the
* History of the Anglo-Saxons, vol. ii. p. 157, edit. 1820.
OA’AºEO AAWD AIEURO/D/S. 117
Fairies of Popular Superstition”) has been transformed
*nto a beautiful romantic tale of Faery, in which the Gothick
Mythology and the usages of Chivalry are with singular
Skill engrafted on the fables of Greece.
Among the pleysand storeis enumerated in The Com-
playnt of Scotland, I549, as being popular, is Opheus,
kyng of Portingal; but no romance of this particular title is
known. It is therefore more than probable that it might have
been some corruption of the present story; as we know how
little stress should be laid on the geographical correctness or
consistency of the Minstrel-writers. Thus in the following
tale, we have Orfeo represented as King of Winchester, the
ancient name of which, “the Romancer, with unparalleled
ingenuity, discovers to have been Traciens or Thrace:” and,
in the burlesque interlude of the laying of a gaist, printed
in this collection, “the Gaist.” is married to “the Spenzie
76 ”—
fl “And crownd him kyng of Kandelie:
And thay gat thame betwene
Orpheus Kyng, and Elpha quene.”
The story of Orpheus and Eurydice, in the latter part of
the fifteenth century, was moralised by Robert Henryson,
the Scotish poet. It was first printed at Edinburgh, in the
gear I508, with the title—Heir begynnis the traitie of Or-
pheus kyng, and how he geid to hewyn and to hel to
seik his quene. After detailing, with minute fidelity to his
classical authorities, the genealogy and history of the King of
Thrace, Henryson introduces, in a different kind of measure,
the “mone lamentable” of Orpheus, beginning
“O dulfull harpe 1 with mony dolly string,
Turne all thi mirth and musik in murnyng,
And ceiss of all thi subtell sangis Sweit—”
After this pathetic lamentation, the poet having related his
visit to the celestial spheres, conducts him to the infernal
regions in search of Eurydice. From this part of Henry-
1 Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, vol. ii. p. 174, edit. 1803.
* Zbid., vol. ii. p. 203.
II 8 OA’FEO AAWD AIEUROD/S.
son’s performance a few stanzas, by way of Specimen, may
be given.
“He passit furth the space of xx. dayis,
Fer and full ferther than I can tell,
And ay he ſand stretis and redy wayis,
Tyll at the last, vnto the yett of hell
He com; and thare he fand a portar fell
With thre hedis, was callit Cerberus;
A hund of hell, a monster meruailus!”
He charms Cerberus, and then the “three sisters,” Alecto,
Megera, and Thesiphone, whose employment was turning
round the wheel on which Ixion was spread. “Syme,” the
poet Says–
“Syne come he till a wonder grisely flud,
Droubly and depe, that rathly doun can ryn,
Quhare Tantalus nakit full thristy stude,
And yit the water yede abone his chyn;
Thouch he gapit thare wald na drop cum in,
Quhen he dulkit the water wald descend;
Thus gat he noucht his thrist to slake no mend.
Before his face ane apill hang also
Fast at his mouth apon a tolter threde,
Quhen he gapit it rokkit to and fro
And fled, as it refusit hym to fede:
Than Orpheus had reuth of his grete nede
Tuke out his harp, and fast on it can clink,
The water stude, and Tantalus gat drink.”
The next object which presents itself in his progress, is
Theseus preyed on by a “grisely gripe ’’ or vulture, which
also excites the compassion of Orpheus. On entering “hy-
douse hellis house,” he exclaims—
“O dolly place and groundles depe dungeoun!
Furnes of fyre, with stynk intollerable,
Pit of dispair, wythout remissioun,
Thy mete venym, thy drynk is poysonable,
Thy grete panis to compt vnmowmerabil;
Quhat creature cummys to duel in the
Is ay deyand, and newir more may dee
| ??
º
We must pass over the different personages whom he here
beholds, in order to make room for the description of his
meeting with Eurydice.
ORFEO A/VD HEUROD/S. II9
“Syn nethir mare he went quhare Pluto was
And Proserpine, and thiderward he drewe,
Ay playand on his harpe as he coud pas,
Till at the last Eurydices he knewe;
Lene and dedelike pitouse and pale of hewe,
Rycht warsch and wan, and walowit as a wede,
Hir lily lyre was lyke vnto the lede.
Quod he, “My lady lele, and my delyte,
Full wa is me, to se yow changit thus !
Quhare is thy rude as rose with chekis quhite 2
Thy cristall eyne with blenkis amorouse?
Thilippis rede, to kis deliciouse?'—
Quod scho, “As now I dar noucht tell, perfay,
Bot ye sall wit the cause ane other day.’”
The present tale has been justly admired no less for the
harmony of its versification, than for the beautiful description
which it contains of Fairy-land. [The following is its out-
line : Heurodis, queen of Winchester, unwarily falling
asleep one day under an yinp tree in the orchard of the palace,
dreams that two knights appear to her, who request her to go
with them and speak with their king. On her refusal, the
king of Faery comes in person with a thousand knights, and
carries her off. He shows her his palace, and then brings
her home. After this, he orders her, under a dreadful penalty,
to meet him next morning under the ymp tree. Orfeo
and a thousand knights surround the tree to protect her,
but she is suddenly snatched away from their sight. Orfeo,
tn despair, abandons his throne and retires to the wilderness,
where he solaces himself with his harp. The wild beasts of
the forest, and even the birds, are charmed with his melody.
Sometimes he sees the king of Faery hunting with his attend-
ants. One day he observes sixty ladies on horseback hawk-
tng by the river. Amongst them he recognises his lost queen,
and he then determines to follow the party and rescue her
*f possible. The cavalcade disappear in a cleft of a rock,
into which he follows them. After proceeding for several
"miles, he at last finds himself in a beautiful country, in
which is a castle with walls clear as crystal. Orfeo makes
his way into the palace, and so charms the king with his
melody that he gives him back his wife. They return to
I2O ORFEO AAWD AEME UROD/S.
Winchester, where they are received with great rejoicings,
and afterwards reign in peace and happiness.]
The reader will perceive that in this story the catastrophe
ts different; but, if less pathetic, it certainly is more agree-
able than that of the classical fiction.
[Of this beautiful fairy-romance poem three Manuscripts
exist. The present copy is taken from the oldest version,
which exists in the AUCHINLECK MANUSCRIPT, preserved
in the Advocates' Library." The period of its composi-
tion was probably the beginning of the FOURTEENTH CEN-
TURY, as the volume which contains it was apparently
written during the minority of Edward III. Another copy
is to be found in a Manuscript in the Harleian Collection,”
from which it was published by Ritson.” As the first
twenty-four lines are wanting in the Auchinleck MS., a
leaf immediately before the line,
‘‘ Orfeo was a king,”
having been torn out for the sake of the illumination,-these
are here supplied from the Harleian MS. It is somewhat
zemarkable that the first twenty-two of these correspond al-
most exactly with the opening lines in the English version
of the Lai le Freine de Marie de France, as given in
Weber's Metrical Romances, vol. I. p. 357. The third
copy of this tale exists in MS. Ashmole, No. 61, an account
of which is given in the Appendix. This copy agrees rather
closely with the Auchinleck MS., but it is supposed not to be
more ancient than the time of Henry VI."]
1 Fol. 300°-303*. * MS. Harl., No. 3810.
* Ancient English Metrical Romances, vol. ii. pp. 248-269, 1802.
* [As showing how generally this tale was known in Scotland, Professor
Child inserts in his Collection of Ballads, Part i. p. 215, a fragment of it
in the dialect of Shetland as recited by Andrew Coutts, an old man in the
island of Unst.]
IV.
Orfeo and #eurobig,
[V W 7 E redyn ofte and fynde ywryte,
As Clerkes don us to wyte,
The layes that ben of harpyng
Ben yfounde of frely thing.
Sum ben of wele and sum of wo,
And sum of joy and merthe also,
. Sum of trechery and sum of gyle,
And sum of happes, that fallen by whyle,
Sum of bourdys and sum of rybaudry,
And sum ther ben of the feyre.
Off alle thing that men may se
Mooste o lowe forsothe they be.
In Brytain this layes arneywryte,
Furst yfounde and forthe ygete,
Of aventures that fillen by dayes,
Wherof Brytouns made her layes,
When they myght owher heryn
Of aventures that ther weryn,
They toke her harpys with game
Maden layes and gaf it name.
Of aventures that han befalle,
Y can sum telle, bot nought all.
Herken, lordyngs that ben trewe,
And Y wol gou telle of Sir Orphewe.]
Orfeo was a king,
In Inglond an heighe lording,
A stalworth man and hardi bo,
Large and curteys, he was also ;
IO
I5
2O
25
I 22
OA' FA. O AAV/D /ZAZ UA’O/D/S.
L. 30. ‘king,” MS.
His fader was comen of king Pluto,
And his moder of [quene] Juno,
That sum time were as godes y-hold,
For auentours that thai dede and told.
[Orpheo most of ony thing
Lovede the gle of harpyng;
Syker was euery gode harpoure
Of hym to haue moche honour.
Hymself loved for to harpe
And layde theron his wittes scharpe.
He lernyd so, ther nothing was
A better harper in no plas.
In the world was neuer man born
That euer Orpheo sat biforn,
And he mygt of his harpyng her,
He schulde thinke that he wer
In one of the joys of paradys,
Suche joy and melody in his harping is.]
This king soiurnd in Traciens, •.
That was a cite of noble defens,
For Winchester was cleped tho
Traciens, withouten no :
The king hadde a quen of priis,
That was y-cleped dame Herodis,
The fairest leuedi for the nones
That might gon on bodi and bones,
Ful of loue and of godenisse,
Ac no man may telle hir fairnisse.
*I Bifel so in the comessing of May,
When miri and hot is the day,
And oway beth winter schours,
And eueri feld is ful of flours,
And blosme breme on elieri bough,
Ouer al wezeth miri anough,
This ich quen dame Heurodis,
Tok to maidens of priis,
And went in an vndren tide
To play bi an orchard side,
L. 64. ‘to,” MS. p. ‘ two.' '
3O
35
4O
45
5o
55
6o
65
ORFEO AAWD AIAE UA’OD/S.
I23
To se the floures sprede and spring,
And to here the foules sing:
Thai sett hem doun al thre,
Vnder a fair ympe tre,
And wel sone this fair quene,
Fel on slepe Opon the grene:
The maidens durst hir nought awake,
Bot lete hir ligge and rest take,
So sche slepe til after none,
That vnder tide was al y-done;
Ac SO Sone as sche gan awake,
Sche crid and lothli bere gan make;
Sche froted hir honden and hir fet,
And crached hir visage, [till] it bled wete,
Hir riche robe hye al torett,
And was reneyd out of hir witt:
The two maidens hir biside,
No durst with hir no leng abide,
Bot ourn to the palays ful right,
And told bothe squier and knight,
That her quen awede wold,
And bad hem go and hir at hold.
Knightes vrn, and leuedis also,
Damisels sexti and mo,
In the orchard to the quen hye come,
And her vp in her armes nome,
And brought hir to bed atte last,
And held hir there fine fast;
Ac euer sche held in o cri,
And wold vp and owy.
When Orfeo herd that tiding,
Neuer him nas wers for no thing;
He come with knightes tene,
To chaumber right bifor the quene,
And biheld, and seyd with grete pite :
“O lef liif, what is te 2
That euer gete hast ben so stille,
And now gredest wonder schille !
Thi bodi, that was so white yoore,
With thine nailes is al to-tore
7o
75
8o
85
90
95
IOO
IOS
I24
ORFEO AAWD HEURODIS.
Allas ! thi rode, that was so red,
Is as wan as thou were ded !
And also thine fingres smale,
Beth al blodi and al pale !
Allas ! thi louesum eyghen to
Loketh so man doth on his fo;
A dame, Ich biseche merci!
Lete ben al this reweful cri,
And tel me, what the is, and hou,
And what thing may the help now !”
Tho lay sche stille atte last,
And gan to wepe swithe fast,
And Seyd thus the king to,
“Allas ! mi lord, sir Orfeo |
Seththen we first togider were,
Ones wroth neuer we nere,
Bot euer Ich haue y-loued the,
As miliif, and so thou me,
Ac now we mot delen ato,
Do thi best, for Y mot go.”
“Allas !” quath he, “forlorn Ich am |
Whider wiltow go and to wham P
Whider thou gost, Ichil with the,
And whider Y go, thou Schalt with me.”
“Nay, nay, sir, that nought nis,
Ichil the telle al hou it is :
As Ich lay this vnder tide,
And slepe vnder our orchard side,
Ther come to me to fair knightes
Wele y-armed al to rightes,
And bad me comen an heighing,
And speke with her lord the king.
And Ich answerd at wordes bold,
Y durst nought, no Y nold:
Thai priked oghain as thai might driue,
Tho com her king, also bliue,
With an hundred knightes and mo,
And damissels an hundred also ;
Al on snowe-white stedes,
As white as milke were her wedes.
II O
II 5
I 2 O
I 25
I 30
I 35
I 4O
I45
ORFEO AAWD HEUROD.I.S.
I25
Y no seighe neuer gete bifore
So fair creatours yoore;
The king hadde a croun on hed,
It nas of siluer, no of gold red,
Ac it was of a precious ston;
As bright as the sonne it schon:
And as son as he to me cam,
Wold Ich, nold Ich, he me nam,
And made me with him ride,
Opon a palfray bi his side,
And brought me to his palays,
Wele atird in ich ways;
And schewed me castels and tours,
Riuers, forestes, frith with flours;
And his riche stedes ichon,
And Seththen me brought ogain hom,
In to our owhen orchard,
And said to me thus afterward:
* Loke, dame ! to morwe thatow be
Right here vnder this ympe tre;
And than thou Schalt with ous go,
And liue with ous euer mo,
And gif thou makest ous y-let,
Where thou be, thou worst y-fet,
And to-tore thine limes al,
That nothing help the no schal,
And thei thou best so to-torn,
3ete thou worst with ous y-born.’”
* When king Orfeo herd this cas,
“Owel ” quath he, “allas ! allas !
Leuer me were to lete miliif,
Than thus to lese the quen mi wiif!”
He asked conseyl at ich man,
Ac no man him help no can.
Amorwe the vnder tide is come,
And Orfeo hath his armes y-nome,
And wele ten hundred knightes with him,
Ich y-armed stout and grim ;
And with the quen wenten he,
Right vnto that ympe tre:
I5o
I 55
16o
165
I7o
I75
18o
185
126
ORFEO AAWD AIEURODIS.
Thai made scheltrom in ich aside,
And sayd thai wold there abide,
And dye ther euerichon,
Er the quen schuld from hem gon.
Ac gete amiddes hem ful right,
The quen was Oway y-tvight,
With fairi forth y-nome,
Men wist neuer wher sche was bicome.
Tho was ther criing, wepe and wo!
The king in to his chaumber is go,
And oft swoned Opon the ston,
And made swiche diol and swiche mon,
That neighe his liif was y-spent ;
Ther was no amendement.
He cleped togider his barouns,
Erls, lordes of renouns;
And when thai al y-comen were,
“Lordinges,” he said, “bifor gou here
Ich ordainy min heighe steward
To wite mi kingdom afterward,
In mistede ben he schal,
To kepe mi londes ouer al,
For now Ichaue mi quen y-lore,
The fairest leuedi that euer was bore.
Neuer eft Y nil no woman se,
Into wildernes Ichil te,
And liue ther euer more
With wilde bestes in holtes hore.
And when gevnderstond that Y be spent,
Make gou than a parlement, -
And chese gou a newe king :
Now doth gour best with al mi thing.”
*I Tho was ther wepeing in the halle
And grete cri among hem alle;
Vnnethe might old or gong
For wepeing speke a word with tong.
Thai kneled adoun alyfere,
And praid him, gif his wille were,
That he no schuld nought fram hem go.
“Do way !” quath he, “it schal be so.”
I90
195
2 OO
2O5
2 I O
2 I 5
22 O
225
OA&AEEO AAWD HE UA’ODYS.
127
Al his kingdom he forsoke,
Bot a sclauin on him he toke;
He ne hadde kirtel, no hode,
Schert, non other gode.
Bot his harp he tok algate,
And dede him barfot out atte gate:
No man most with him go.
Oway ! what ther was wepe and wo,
When he, that hadde ben king with croun,
Went so pouerlich out of toun
Thurch wode, and ouer heth,
Into the wildernes he geth,
Nothing he fint that him is ays,
Bot euer he liueth in gret malais.
He, that hadde y-werd the fowe and griis,
And on bed the purper biis,
Now on hard hethe he lith,
With leues and gresse he him writh :
He, that hadde castels, and tours,
Riuer, forest, frith with flours;
Now, thei it commenci to snewe and frese,
This king mot make his bed in mese.
He that had y-had knightes of priis
Bifor him kneland, and leuedis,
Now seth he no thing that him liketh,
Bot wilde wormes bi him striketh.
He, that had y-had plente
Of mete and drink, of ich deynte,
Now may he al day digge and wrote,
Er he finde his fille of rote.
In somer he liueth bi wild frut,
And berren, bot gode lite;
In winter may he no thing finde,
Bot rote, grases, and the rinde.
Al his bodi was Oway duine,
For missays, and al to-chine.
Lord ' who may telle the sore,
This king sufferd ten gere and more
His here of his berd, blac and rowe,
To his girdel-stede was growe;
23O
235
24O’
245
25o
255
26o
265
I28
ORFEO AWD HEURODIS.
His harp, whereon was al his gle,
He hidde in an holwe tre;
And, when the weder was clere and bright,
He toke his harp to him wel right,
And harped at his owhen wille;
Into alle the wode the soun gan schille,
That alle the wilde bestes that ther beth,
For ioie abouten him thai teth ;
And alle the foules that ther were
Come and sete on ich a brere;
To here his harping a-fine,
So miche melody was therin.
And when he his harping lete wold,
No best bi him abide nold.
“I He might se him bisides
Oft in hot vnder tides
The king o Fairi with his rout,
Com to hunt him al about,
With dun cri and bloweing,
And houndes also with him berking.
Ac no best thai no nome,
No neuer he nist whider thai bicome.
And other while he might him se
As a gret Ost bi him te,
Wele atourned ten hundred knightes,
Ich y-armed to his rightes;
Of contenaunce stout and fers,
With mani desplaid baners;
And ich his swerd y-drawe hold,
Ac neuer he nist whider thai wold.
And other while he seighe other thing;
Knightes and leuedis com daunceing
In queynt atire gisely,
Queynt pas, and softly:
Tabours and trimpes gede hem bi,
And al maner menstraci.
*I And on a day he seighe him biside
Sextileuedis on hors ride,
Gentil and iolif, as brid on ris,
Nought O man amonges hem ther nis;
27,o
275
285
290
295
3oo
305
ORFEO AAWD AIEUROD.I.S.
I29
And ich a faucoun on hond bere,
And riden on haukin bi oriuere,
Of game thai founde wel gode haunt,
Maulardes, hayroun and cormeraunt;
The foules of the water ariseth,
The faucouns hem wele deuiseth,
Ich faucoun his pray slough.
That seighe Orfeo, and lough.
“Parfay,” quath he, “ther is fair game!
Thider Ichil bi Godes name,
Ich was y-won swiche werk to se.”
He aros, and thider gan te.
To a leuedi he was yeome,
Biheld, and hath wele vndernome,
And seth, bi al thing, that it is
His owhen quen dam Heurodis.
3ern he biheld hir, and sche him eke,
Ac noither to other a word no speke :
For messais, that sche on him seighe,
That had ben so riche and so heighe,
The teres fel out of her eighe;
The other leuedis this y-seighe,
And maked hir oway to ride,
Sche most with him no lenger abide.
“Allas !” quath he, “now me is wol
Whi nil deth now me slo I
Allas ! wreche, that Y no might
Dye now, after this sight !
Allas ! to long last miliif,
When Y no dar nought with mi wif,
No hye to me, o word speke.
Allas ! whi nil min hert breke
Parfay,” quath he, “tide wat bitide,
Whider so this leuedis ride,
The selue way Ichil streche,
Of liif, no deth, me no reche.”
His sclauain he dede on, also spac,
And henge his harp Opon his bac,
And had wel gode wil to gon,
He no spard noither stub no ston.
I
3 Io
3I5
325
33O
335
34o
345
I 30
ORFEO AAWD AIE UA’OD/S.
In at a roche the leuedis rideth,
And he after, and nought abideth ;
When he was in the roche y-go,
Wele thre mile, other mo,
He com in to a fair cuntray,
As bright so sonne on Somers day,
Smothe, and plain, and al grene,
Hille, no dale, was ther non ysene.
Amidde the lond a castel he sighe,
Riche, and real, and wonder heighe;
Al the vtmast wal -
Was clere and schine as cristal.
An hundred tours ther were about,
Degiselich and bataild stout;
The butras com out of the diche,
Of rede gold y-arched riche;
The bonsour was auowed al
Of ich maner diuers animal.
Within ther wer wide wones
Al of precious stones.
The werst piler on to biholde,
Was al of burnist gold.
Al that lond was euer light,
For when it schuld be therk and night,
The riche stones light gonne,
As bright as doth at none the sonne.
No man may telle, no thenche in thought,
The riche werk that ther was wrought,
Bial thing, him think that it is
The proude court of paradis.
In this castel the leuedis alight,
He wold in after, gif he might.
* Orfeo knokketh atte gate,
The porter was redi therate,
And asked, what he wold haue y-do 2
“Parfay,” quath he, “Icham a minstrel, lo!
To solas thi lord with my gle,
3if his swete wille be.”
The porter vndede the gate anon
And lete him into the castel gon.
35o
355
360
365
37O
375
385
ORFEO AND HEUROD/S. I3 I
* Than he gan bihold about al,
And seighe ful liggeand within the wal
Of folk, that were thider y-brought,
And thought dede and nere nought: 390
Sum stode withouten hade,
And sum non armes nade,
And sum thurch the bodi hadde wounde,
And sum lay wode y-bounde,
And sum armed on hors sete, 395
And sum astrangled as thai ete,
And sum were in water adreynt,
And sum with fire al forschreynt;
Wiues ther lay on child bedde,
Sum ded, and sum awedde; 4OO
And wonder fele ther lay bisides,
Right as thai slepe her vndertides;
Eche was thus in this warld y-nome,
With fairi thider y-come.
Ther he seighe his owhen wiif, 405
Dame Heurodis his liif liif
Slepe vnder an ympe tre;
Bi her clothes he knewe that it was [s]he.
* And when he hadde bihold this meruails alle,
He went in to the kinges halle. 4 IO
Than seighe he ther a semly sight, -
A tabernacle blisseful and bright,
Therin her maister king sete,
And her quen fair and swete.
Her crounes, her clothes schine so bright, 4I 5
That vnnethe bihold he hem might.
When he hadde biholden al that thing,
He kneled adoun bifor the king:
“O Lord,” he seyd, “gif it thi wille were,
Mi menstraci thou Schust y-here.” 42O
The king answerd, “What man artow,
That art hider yeomen now 2
Ich, no non that is with me,
No sent neuer after the,
Ll. 408 and 446. “he” p. ‘she, MS.
I32
OA'FEO AAV/O HE UROD/S.
Seththen that ich here regni gan,
Y no fond [neuer] so folehardi man,
That hider to ous durst wende,
Bot that Ichim wold of-sende.”
“Lord,” quath he, “trowe ful wel,
Y nam bot a pouer menstrel,
And, sir, it is the maner of ous
To seche mani a lordes hous;
Thei we nought welcom no be,
3ete we mot proferi forth our gle.”
*I Bifor the king he sat adoun
And tok his harp so miri of soun,
And tempreth his harp, as he wele can,
And blisseful notes he ther gan,
That al that in the palays were,
Com to him for to here,
And liggeth adoun to his fete,
Hem thenketh his melody so swete.
The king herkneth, and sitt full stille,
To here his gle he hath gode wille;
Gode bourde he hadde of his gle,
The riche quen also hadde [s]he ;
When he hadde stint his harping,
Than seyd to him the king:
“Menstrel, me liketh wele thi gle,
Now aske of me what it be,
Largelich Ichil the pay,
Now speke and tow might asay.”
“Sir,” he seyd, “Ich biseche the,
Thatow woldest giue me
That ich leuedi bright on ble,
That slepeth vnder the ympe tre.”
“Nay,” quath the king, “that nought nere!
A sori couple of gou it were,
For thou art lene, rowe and blac,
And sche is louesum withouten lac.
A lothlich thing it were forthi,
To sen hir in thi compayni.”
‘ſ “O sir,” he seyd, “gentil king,
3ete were it a wele fouler thing,
425
43O
435
44O
445
45o
45.5
460
ORFEO AAWD AIEUROD/S.
I 33
To here a lesing of thi mouthe,
So, sir, as ge. Seyd nouthe,
What Ich wold aski, haue Y schold,
And nedes thou most thi word hold.”
The king seyd, “Seththen it is so,
Take hir bi the hond, and go.
Of hir Ichil thatow be blithe.”
He knelyd adoun, and thonked him swithe,
His wif he tok bi the hond
And dede him swithe out of that lond,
And went him out of that theole,
Right as he come the way he gede.
So long he hath the way ynome,
To Winchester he is yeome,
That was his owhen cite;
Ac no man knewe that it was he.
No forther than the tounes ende,
For knoweleche ne durst wende.
Bot with a begger y-bilt ful narwe,
Ther he tok his herbarwe
To him and to his owhen wiif,
As a minstrel of pouer liif,
And asked tidinges of that lond,
And who the kingdom held in hond.
The pouer begger in his cote
Told him euerich a grot;
Hou her quen was stole owy,
Ten ger gon, with fairy,
And hou her king in exile gede,
Bot no man niste in wiche theole,
And hou the steward the lond gan hold,
And other mani thinges him told.
*|| A morwe ogain none tide
He maked his wiif ther abide,
The beggers clothes he borwed anon,
And heng his harp his rigge opon,
And went him in to that cite,
That men might him bihold and se.
Erls, and barouns bold,
Buriays, and leuedis, him gan bihold.
465
47 O
475
48o
485
490
495
5oo
I 34
ORFEO AAWD AIEUROD/S,
“Lo !” thai seyd, “swiche a man
Hou long the here hongeth him opan |
Lol hou his berd hongeth to his kne!
He is yelongen also a trel ”
And as he gede in the strete,
With his steward he gan mete,
And loude he sett on him a crie,
“Sir steward,” he seyd, “merci!
Icham an harpour of hethenisse,
Help me now in this distresse !”
The steward seyd, “Com with me, come,
Of that Ichaue thou Schalt haue some.
Euerich gode harpour is welcom me to
For mi lordes loue, sir Orfeo.”
* In the castel the steward sat atte mete,
And mani lording was bi him sete.
Ther were trompour and tabourers,
Harpours fele and crouders,
Miche melody thei maked alle,
And Orfeo sat stille in the halle
And herkneth. When thai ben al stille,
He toke his harp and tempred schille,
The blissfulest notes he harped there,
That euer ani many-herd with ere:
Ich man liked wele his gle ;
The steward biheld and gan y-se,
And knewe the harp als bliue;
“Menstrel,” he seyd, “so mot thou thriue,
Where hadestow this harp, and hou?
Y pray that thou me telle now.”
* “Lord,” quath he, “in vncouthe thede,
Thurch a wildernes as Y gede,
Ther Y founde in a dale
With lyouns a man to-torn Smale,
And wolues him frete with teth so Scharp;
Bi him Y fond this ich harp ;
Wele ten gere it is ygo.”
“O !” quath the steward, “now me is wo!
That was mi lord, sir Orfeo |
Allas ! wreche, what Schal Y do,
505
5 Io
5 I5
52O
525
53O
535
54o
ORFEO AAWD AIEURODIS. I 35
That haue swiche a lord y-lore 545
Away, that Ich was y-bore
That him was so hard grace y-garked,
And so vile deth y-marked l’”
Adoun he fel as won to grounde,
His barouns him tok vp in that stounde, 55o
And telleth him hou it geth,
It nis no bot of manes deth.
*|| King Orfeo knewe wele bithan,
His steward was a trewe man,
And loued him, as he aught to do, 555
And stont vp, and seyt thus: “Lo,
Steward, herkne now this thing,
3if Ich were Orfeo the king,
And hadde y-suffred ful gore,
In wildernisse miche sore; 56o
And hadde y-won mi quen owy
Out of the lond of Fairy,
And hadde ybrought the leuedi hende
Right here to the tounes ende,
And with a begger her in y-nome, 565
And were miself hider y-come,
Pouerlich to the thus stille,
For to asay thigode wille;
And Ich founde the thus trewe,
Thou no schust it neuer rewe : 57 O
Sikerlich for loue, or ay
Thou Schust be king after mi day,
And gif thou of mi deth hadest ben blithe,
Thou schust ben voided also swithe.”
* Tho al tho that therin sete, 575
That it was king Orfeo vndergete,
And the steward him wele knewe,
Ouer and ouer the bord he threwe,
And fel adoun to his fet;
So dede euerich lord that ther sete, 58o
And al thaiseyd at o criing:
“3e beth our lord, sir, and our king !”
Glad thai were of his liue,
To chaumber thai ladde him als bliue,
136
ORFEO AAWD AIEUROD/S.
And bathed him and Schaued his berd,
And tired him as a king apert.
And seththen with gret processioun,
Thai brought the quen in to that toun
With al maner menstraci.
Lord, ther was grete melody
For ioie thai wepe with her eighe,
That hem so sounde y-comen seighe.
Now king Orfeo newe coround is,
And his quen dame Heurodis;
And liued long afterward,
And seththen was king the steward.
Harpours in Bretaine after than
Herd hou this meruaile bigan,
And made herof a lay of gode, likeing,
And nempned it after the king :
That lay Orfeo is y-hote,
Gode is the lay, Swete is the note.
Thus com sir Orfeo out of his care;
God graunt ous alle wele to fare Amen.
EXPLICIT.
585
590
595
6oo
THOMAS OF ERSYLDOUNE
AND THE QUENE OF ELF-LAND
V.
THOMAS OF ERSYLDO UNE
AND THE QUENE OF ELF-LAND.
THERE are, perhaps, few poems now extant that may so
well as the following beautiful and interesting tale of Fairy
Land, exemplify the practice of those whose employment it
was to chaunt or rehearse the effusions of the Minstrels.
This legend of Thomas of Ersyldoune, in its present state,
evidently owes much to that facility and readiness of com-
position, which at times might enable them to enlarge and
amplify the productions of others, in order to suit existing
circumstances, and serve for the amusement of their auditors.
The exordium is professedly the work of an English reciter,
anxious to draw the attention of the assembled company to
the ‘mervelles’ and predictions of which he was about to tell.
Nor is it less evident, but that the prophetick parts, however
obscure their object may now be, or uncertain from what
materials they were constructed, were either added at a sub-
sequent period, or so altered as to be instrumental to some
political purpose. Of the poems or prophecies attributed to
Thomas the Rhymer, we unfortunately have none but
what are preserved in English manuscripts, in which they
have lost much of their individuality ; the orthography being
wniformly accommodated to that of the transcriber.
This poem is preserved in five ancient manuscripts; each
of them in a state more or less mutilated, and varying in no
. THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE. I39
inconsiderable degree from the other. A portion of it was
first printed in the Border Minstrelsy, from the fragment
tn the British Museum, among the Cotton MSS."
One which Mr Jamieson adopted in his Collection of
Popular Ballads and Songs, was carefully decyphered
from a volume of no ordinary curiosity, in the University
Library, Cambridge,” written in a very illegible hand,
about the middle of the 15th century. This MS. is valu-
able as containing several stanzas which are wanting in the
others. The third and fourth are preserved in the British
Museum, and are the Lansdowne MS., No. 792, and the
Sloane MS., No. 2578. The present text is taken from the
Thornton MS., preserved in the Cathedral Library of
Lincoln, before referred to (p. 83). As there are several
places where gaps occur, these are filled up by lines taken
from the Cambridge and Lansdowne MSS. The words
or lines thus supplied are distinguished by being printed
within brackets.
After the copious illustrations of this poem by its former
Editors, in works which either are, or ought to be, in the
hands of every possessor of this collection, little farther can
be required. The reader will perceive the great beauty of
the descriptive parts, and the fine vein of imagination that
runs through nearly the whole of the First Fytt. It is indeed
impossible to read this and suppose that the poem could have
been written by any other than Thomas himself, however
much it may have suffered by subsequent interpolation. “In
the introduction to the prophecies,” as Mr Jamieson has
well observed, “there is so much more fancy and elegance
than in the prophecies themselves, that they can hardly be
supposed to be the composition of the same person. Indeed,
the internal evidence to the contrary almost amounts to a proof
that they are not, and that the romance itself was of Scotish
origin, although no indubitably Scotish copy is known to be
in existence.” “It is remarkable,” Mr J. continues, “that
* Cotton MSS. Vitellius. E. x., written on paper, consisting of 242 leaves,
much injured by fire.
* Bishop More's MSS. Ff. v. 48, written on paper of 140 leaves, dating
about the middle of the 15th century.
I4O THOMAS OF ERSPLDovve
tn all the three copies, the poet begins the story in the first
person, and seems disposed to tell the incidents as if they
had really happened to himself: ”
St. 1. “As / me went this Andyrs day, -
Fast on my way making my mone,” &c.
St. 3. “Alle in a longyng as I lay,
Vnderneth a semely tre,
Saw I wher a lady gay,
Came ridand ouer a lonely le,” &c.
“And although he afterwards, awkwardly and unnaturally
enough, speaks of Thomas as a third person, yet even then
he seems to insinuate that the story, which he is garbling,
was told by another before him :
St. I4. “And certenly, as the story sayes,
He hir mette at Eldyn tre.”
If he assumes the mask with a bad grace here, he shows
still less address when he drops it again at stanza 52 of the
First Fitt :
“Ther was revell, game, and play,
More than I yow say, pardye,
Till hit fell upon a day,
My lufly lady seid to me:
Busk the, Zhomas, for thu most gon;
For here no longer mayst that be,
Hye the fast, with mode and mone;
I shall the bryng to Eldyn tre.”
Would it not be pardonable, from such instances as these, to
suppose it at least probable that Thomas Rymour was really
the original author of this romance ; and that, in order to
give a sanction to his predictions, which seem all to have been
calculated, in one way or other, for the service of his country,
he pretended to an intercourse with the Queen of Elfland, as
Numa Pompilius did with the nymph Egeria P. Such an
intercourse, in the days of True Thomas, was accounted
neither unnatural nor uncommon.” "
[The Huntly bank on which Thomas is said to have met
* Popular Ballads, vol. ii. p. 5, with which the numbers of the stanzas
quoted above correspond.
AND THE QUENE OF ELF-LAND. I4I
the Queen of Faery is situated on the slope of the eastmost
of the three Eildon Hills, a little more than a mile from
Melrose. Not far distant was the Eildon Tree, the site
of which is indicated by a large stone, called the Eildon
Tree Stone. Sir Walter Scott gave to a picturesque ravine
at the base of the western Eildon Hill the name of the
Rhymer’s Glen, which, however, is about two miles distant
from the Eildon Tree. This glen was purchased by Sir
Walter, and by calling it after the Rhymer, he added some of
the romance of the following tale to his estate of Abbotsford.
Sir Walter by his publication of the ancient metrical ver-
sion of Sir Tristrem, which he attributed to Thomas of
Ersyldoune, gave a degree of interest to the character of
Thomas, which as being one of the earliest of our poets he
might not otherwise have enjoyed."]
With respect to the prophetick character of Thomas we
have sufficient evidence in the testimony of such early writers
as Barbour and Wyntown. The latter, in describing the
battle of Kylblene, in the year I.335, says :
“Off this fycht qwhilum spak Thomas
Off Ersyldowne, that sayd in derne
Thare suld mete stalwartly stark and sterne :
He sayd it in his prophecy;
Bot, how he wyst it, wes ferly.
53 g
—but whether or not this be one of the predictions contained
in the following poem is uncertain.—The prophetick parts
of which might afford ample scope for illustration, were this
the object of the Editor; though, indeed, it would be no easy
matter to reconcile them with any degree of satisfaction to
the various national events that seem to have been foretold.
1 [The claim of Ersyldoune to the authorship of Sir Tristrem is now con-
sidered doubtful, as that romance is known to exist in several European
languages before the time when he flourished.]
* Wyntoun, B. viii. c. 31. --
V.
&omas off (ºrggelbount.
YSTYNS, lordyngs, bothe grete and smale,
And takis gude tente what I will saye :
I sall gow telle als trewe a tale,
Als euer was herde by nyghte or daye :
And the maste meruelle fforowttyn naye, 5
That euer was herde by-fore or syene,
And therfore pristly I gow praye,
That ge will of goure talkyng blyne.
It es an harde thyng for to [lere]
Of doghety dedis that hase bene done; IO
Of felle feghtyngs and batells sere;
And how that thir knyghtis hase wonne thair schone.
Bot Jhesu Crist, that syttis in trone,
Safe Ynglysche men bothe ferre and nere;
And I sall telle gow tyte and some, I 5
Of battells donne sythen many a gere;
And of batells that done sall bee;
In whate place, and howe and where ;
And wha sall hafe the heghere gree ;
And whethir partye sall hafe the werre; 2O
Wha sall takk the flyghte and flee;
And wha sall dye, and byleue, thare:
Bot Jhesu Crist, that dyed on tre,
Saue Inglysche mene whareso thay fare.
THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UNE.
I43
‘The jgrst jutt.'
A*, I me wente this endres daye,
Ffull faste in mynd makand my mone,
In a mery mornynge of Maye,
By Huntle bankkes my selfe allone.
I herde the jaye, and the throstylle cokke,
The mawys menyde of hir songe,
The wodewale beryde als a belle,
That alle the wode abowte me ronge.
Allone in longynge, thus als I laye,
Vndre-nethe a semely tre,
[Saw II whare a lady gaye,
[Came ridand] ouer a longe lee.
If I suld sytt to domesdaye,
With my tonge, to wrobbe and wrye,
Certanely that lady gaye,
Neuer bese scho askryede for mee.
Hir palfraye was a dappill graye;
Swylke one ne saghe I neuer none:
Als dose the Sonne, on someres daye,
That faire lady hir selfe scho schone.
Hir selle it was of roelle bone;
Ffull semely was that syghte to see
Stefly sett with precyous stone,
And compaste all with crapotee.
Stones of oryente grete plente;
Hir hare abowte hir hede it hange;
Scho rade ouer that lange lee,
A whylle scho blewe, a-nother scho sange.
IO
I 5
2O
25
L. 5. Instead of the ‘throstylle cokke,” the Cambr. MS. simply reads “the
throstelle,” which thus serves as the proper rhyme to ‘belle.’.
144 THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UNE.
Hir garthes of nobyll sylke thay were ;
The bukylls were of berelle stone; 3o
Hir steraps were of crystalle clere,
And all with perelle ouer-by-gone.
Hir payetrelle was of irale fyne;
Hir cropoure was of orphare;
And als clere golde hir brydill it schone; 35
One aythir syde hange bellys three.
[Scho led thre grehoundis in a leeshe ;]
And seuen raches by hir thay rone;—
Scho bare an horne abowte hir halse;
And vndir hir belte full many a flone. 4O
Thomas laye and sawe that syghte,
Vndir-nethe ane semly tree;
He sayd, “gone es Marye most of myghte,
That bare that childe that dyede for mee.
Bot if I speke with gone lady bryghte, 45
I hope myn herte will bryste in three ;
Now sall I go with all my myghte,
Hir for to mete at Eldoune tree.”
Thomas rathely vpe he rase, *.
And he rane ouer that mountayne hye; 5o
Gyff it be als the storye sayes,
He hir mette at Eldone tree.
He knelyde down appon his knee,
Vndir-nethe that grenwoole spraye :—
And sayd, “lufly ladye rewe one mee; 55
Qwene of heuen, als thou wele maye.”
Than spake that lady milde of thoghte:—
“Thomas, late swylke wordes bee;
Qwene of heuenne, ne am I noghte,
Ffor I tuke neuer so heghe degre. 6o
L. 37. is omitted in the MS. In the Cambr. MS. this stanza is unneces-
sarily enlarged into eight lines.
7THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
I45
Bote I ame of ane other countree,
If I be payrelde moste of prysse;
I ryde aftyre this wylde fee,
My raches rynnys at my devyse.”
“If thou be parelde moste of prysse,
And here rydis thus in thy folye,
Of lufe, lady, als thou erte wysse,
Thou gyffe me leue to lye the bye.”
Scho sayde, “thou man, that ware folye;
I praye the, Thomas, thou lat me bee;
Ffor I saye the full sekirlye,
That synne will for-doo all my beaute.”
“Now, lufly ladye, rewe on mee,
And I will euer more with the duelle;
Here my trouthe I [plyghte to thee.]
Wethir thou will in heuen or helle.”
“Mane of molde, thou will me marre,
Bot gitt thou sall hafe all thy will;
And trowe it wele, thou chewys the werre,
Ffor alle my beaute will thou spylle.”
Down thane lyghte that lady bryghte,
Vndir-nethe that grenewode spraye;
And, als the storye tellis full ryghte,
Seuene sythis by hir he laye.
Scho sayd, “mane, the lykes thy playe:
What byrde in boure may delle with the 2
Thou merrys me all this longe daye,
I pray the, Thomas, late me bee.”
Thomas stode wpe in that stede,
And he by-helde that lady gaye;
Hir hare it hange all ouer hir hede,
Hir eghne semede owte, that are were graye.
L. 75. “will the plyghte.” MS. Linc,
K
65
7o
75
8o
90
I46 THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
And all the riche clothynge was a-waye,
That he by fore sawe in that stede ;
Hir a schanke blake, hir other graye, 95
And all hir body lyke the lede.
Thomas laye, and sawe that syghte,
Vndir-nethe that grenewod tree.
Than sayd Thomas, “allas ! allas !
In faythe this es a dullfull syghte, IOO
How arte thou fadyde thus in the face,
That schane by-fore als the sonne so bryghte!”
[On euery syde he lokyde abowete,
He sau he myght no whare fle;
Sche woxe so grym and so stoute, Io5
The dewyll he wende she had be.
In the name of the Trynite,
He coniuryde here anon right,
That she shulde not come hym nere,
But wende away of his syght. II O
She said, “Thomas, this is no nede,
For fende of hell am I none ;
For the now am I grete desese,
And suffre paynis many one.
This xij mones thou shalt with me gang, II 5
And se the maner of my lyffe ;
For thy trowche thou hast me tane,
Ayene that may ye make no stryfe.”]."
Scho sayd, “Thomas, take leue at sonne and mone,
And als at lefe that grewes on tree; I 2 O
This twelmoneth sall thou with me gone,
And medill-erthe sall thou none see.”
* Ll. Io9-118 from Lansdowne MS.
THOMAS OF ERS VZDO UAVE. I47
He knelyd downe appone his knee,
Vndir-nethe that grenewod spraye;
And sayd, “lufly lady! rewe on mee, I 25
Mylde qwene of heuen, als thou beste maye.
Allas!” he sayd, “ and wa es meel
. I trowe my dedis wyll wirke me care;
My saulle, Jhesu, by-teche I the,
Whedir-some euer my banes sall fare.” I 30
Scho ledde hym in at Eldone hill,
Vndir-nethe a derne lee ;
Whare it was dirk as mydnyght myrke,
And euer water till his knee.
The montenans of dayes three, I 35
He herd bot swoghynge of the flode,
At the laste, he sayde, “full wa es mee
Almaste I dye, for fawte of fode.”
Scho lede hym in-till a faire herbere,
Whare frwte was growand gret plentee; I 4o
Pere and appill, bothe rype thay were,
The date, and als the damasee;
The fygge, and als so the wyneberye;
The nyghtgales byggande on thair neste;
The papeioyes faste abowte gan flye; I45
And throstylls sange wolde hafe no reste.
He pressede to pulle frowyte with his hande ;
Als mane for fude that was nere faynt.
Scho sayd, “Thomas I thou late thame stande,
Or ells the fende the will atteynt. I5o
L. 123. These lines seem to be an improper repetition of a former stanza.
In the Cambr. MS. Thomas kneels down, and makes his mone to ‘Mary
mylde,’ and says, –“ but thou rew on mee
Alle my games fro me argone.’—
L. 131 should perhaps read, as in Cambr. MS., ‘to the Eldoun birke.’
I48
THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
If thou it plokk, Sothely to saye,
Thi saule gose to the fyre of helle;
It comes neuer owte or domesdaye,
Bot ther in payne ay for to duelle.
Thomas, sothely, I the hyghte,
Come lygge thyn hede downe on my knee,
And [thou] sall se the fayreste syghte,
That euer sawe mane of thi contree.”
He did in hye als scho hym badde;
Appone hir knee his hede he layde,
Ffor hir to paye he was full glade,
And thane that lady to hym sayde—
“Seese thou nowe gone faire waye,
That lyggis ouer gone heghe mountayne 2–
3one es the waye to heuen for aye,
When synfull sawles are passed ther payne.
Seese thou nowe, gone other waye,
That lygges lawe by-nethe gone rysse?
3one es the waye, the Sothe to saye,
Vnto the joye of paradyse.
Seese thougitt gone thirde waye,
That ligges vndir gone grene playne 2
3one es the waye, with tene and traye,
Whare synfull saulis suffirris thaire payne.
Bot seese thou nowe gone ferthe waye,
That lygges ouer gone depe delle 7
3one es the way, so waylawaye,
Vnto the byrnande fyre of hell.
Seese thou gitt gone faire castelle,
That standes vpone gone heghe hill?
Of towne and towre, it beris the belle;
In erthe es none lyk it vn-till.
I55
16o
I 7o
I75
18o
THOMAS OF AERS VLDO UAVE.
I49
Ffor Sothe, Thomas, gone es myn awenne,
And the kynges of this countree';
Bot me ware leuer be hanged and drawene,
Or that he wyste thou laye me by.
When thou commes to gone castelle gaye,
I pray the curtase mane to bee;
And whate so any mane to the saye,
Luke thou answere none bott mee.
My lorde es seruede at ylk a mese,
With thritty knyghttis faire and free;
I sall saye, syttande at the desse,
I tuke thi speche by-gonde the see.”
Thomas still als stane he stude,
And he by-helde that lady gaye;
Scho come agayne als faire, and gude,
And also ryche one hir palfraye.
[Thomas said, “Lady, wele is me,
That euer I baide this day;
Nowe ye bene so fayre and whyte
Byfore ye war so blake and gray !
I pray you that ye wyll me say,
Lady, yf thy wyll be,
Why ye war so blake and gray ?
Ye said it was because of me.”
“Forsothe, and I had not been so,
Sertayne sothe I shall the tell;
Me had been as good to goo
To the brynnyng fyre of hell;
My lord is so fers and fell,
That is king of this contre,
And fulle sone he wolde haue the smell
Of the defaute I did with the.”]*
* Ll. 199-2I4 from Lansdowne MS.
185
I90
I95
2OO
2O5
2 IO
I 50 TA/OMAS OF ERS V/LDO UAVE.
Hir grewehundis fillide with dere blode; 2 I 5
Hir rachis couplede by my faye ;
Scho blewe hir horne with mayne and mode,
Vn-to the castelle scho tuk the waye ;
Into the haulle Sothely scho went ;
Thomas foloued at hir hande ; 22 O
Than ladyes come, bothe faire and gent,
With curtassye to hir knelande.
Harpe and fethill bothe thay fande,
Getterne and als so the sawtrye;
Lutte, and rybybe, bothe gangande, 225
And all manere of mynstralsye.
The most meruelle that Thomas thoghte,
When that he stode appone the flore;
Ffor feftty hertes in were broghte,
That were bothe grete and store. 23O
Raches laye lapande in the blode,
Cokes come with dryssynge knyfe ;
They brittened tham als thay were wode;
Reuelle amanges thane was full ryfe.
Knyghtis dawnesede by three and three, 235
Thare was revelle, gamen, and playe,
Lufly ladyes faire and free,
That satte and sange one riche araye.
Thomas duellide in that solace,
More thane I gowe saye parde ; 24O
Till one a daye, so hafe I grace,
My lufly lady sayde to mee.
“Do busk the, Thomas, the buse agayne,
Ffor thou may here no lengare be ;
Hye the faste, with myghte and mayne ; 245
I sall the brynge till Eldone tree.”
THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UNE. I5 I
Thomas sayde thane with heuy chere,
“Lufly lady, nowe late me bee;
Ffor certis, lady, I hafe bene here
Noghte bot the space of dayes three.” 25O
“Ffor sothe, Thomas, als I the telle,
Thou hase bene here thre gere and more;
Bot langere here, thou may noghte duelle,
The skylle I sall the telle whare-fore.
To morne, of helle the foulle fende, 255
Amange this folke will feche his fee;
And thou arte mekill mane and hende,
I trowe full wele he wolde chese the.
Ffor all the gold that euer may bee,
Ffro hethyne vnto the worldis ende, 26o
Thou bese neuer betrayede for mee;
There-fore with me I rede thou wende.”
Scho broghte hym agayne to Eldone tree,
Vndir-nethe that grenewode spraye,
In Huntlee bannkes es mery to bee, 265
Whare fowles synges bothe nyght and daye.
“Fferre owtt in gone mountane graye,
Thomas, my fawkone, byggis a neste;—
A fawcoun is an Erlis' praye;
Fforthi in na place may he reste. 27,o
Ffare wele, Thomas; I wend my waye;
Ffor me byhouys ouer thir benttis brown.”
—Loo here a fytt: more es to saye,
All of THOMAS OF ERSELLDown E.-
* herons, Lansdowne MS. ; yrons, Cambr. MS.
7THOMAS OF ERS V/L/DO UAVE.
* QThe Šecomb jutt.'
& 6 ARE wele, Thomas; I wend my waye ;
I may no lengare stande with the.”—
“Gif me a tokynynge, lady gaye,
That I may saye I spake with the.”
“To harpe or carpe, whare-so thou gose,
Thomas, thou sall hafe the chose sothely.”
And he said, “harpynge kepe I none;
Ffor tonge es chefe of mynstralsye.”
“If thou will spelle, or tales telle,
Thomas, thou sall neuer lesynge lye :
Whare euer thou fare, by frythe or felle,
I pray the Speke none euyll of me.
Ffare wele, Thomas, with-owttyn gyle;
I may no lengare duelle with the.”—
“Lufly lady, habyd a while,
And telle thou me of some ferly.”
“Thomas, herkyn what I the saye,
When a tree rote es dede,
The leues fadis thane, and wytis a-waye ;
And froyte it beris name thane, whyte ne rede.
Of the Baylliolfe blod so sall it falle;
It sall be lyke a rotyne tre;
The Comyns, and the Barlays alle,
The Russells, and the Ffresells free.
All sall thay fade, and wyte awaye ;
Na ferly if that froyte than dye
And mekill bale sall after spraye,
Whare joy and blysse was wonte [to bee.]
IO
I5
2 I
25
THOMAS OF ERS V/L/DO UAVE. I 53
Ffare wele, Thomas, I wende [my way;]
I may no longer stand [with thee..]” 3O
“Now lufly lady, gude [and gay,
Telle me gitt of some ferly.”
“Whatkyns ferlys, Thomas gode,
Sold I thee telle, and thi wills bee?”
“Telle me, of this gentill blode, 35
Wha sall thrife, and wha sall thee;
Wha sall be kynge, wha sall be none,
And wha sall welde this Northe countre;
Wha sall flee, and wha sall be tane,
And whare thir batells donne sall bee ?” 4O
“Thomas, of a batelle I sall the telle,
That sall be done righte sone at wille:
Beryns sall mete bothe fers and felle,
And freschely fighte at Eldone hille.
The Bretons blode sall vndir fete, . 45
The Bruyse blode sall wyne the spraye;
Sex thowsande Ynglysche, wele thou wete,
Sall there be slayne that ilk day.
Ffare wele, Thomas; I wende my waye ;
To stande with the, me thynk full irke. 5o
Of a batell I will the saye,
That sall be done at Fawkirke.
Baners sall stande, bothe [large and lange,
Trowe this wele, with mode and mayne;
The Bruysse blode sall vndir gane,
Seuene thowsande Scottis ther sall be slayne.
L. 44. ‘Ledyn hill,” MS. Cambr.; ‘Helyndowne hill,’ MS. Lansdowne.
L 53. ‘lang and lange,” in Linc. MS. ; ‘large and lange,” Cott. MS.
I 54 THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
Ffare wele, Thomas; I pray the sesse ;
No lengare here thou tarye mee;
My grewehundis, thay brek thaire lesse,
And my raches thaire copills in three ; 6o
Loo ! whare the dere by twa and twa,
Haldis ouer gone montane heghe.”—
Thomas said, “God schilde, thou gaa,
Bot telle me gitt of some ferly.”
[Holde thi greyhoundis in thi honde; 65
And coupill thiraches to a [tre;]
And lat the dere reyke ouer the londe;—
Ther is a herd in Holtely.]
[G)ff] a batelle I sall the saye,
[That sall] gare ladyse morne in mode: 7o
[At Bannokburne] bothe water and claye,
Sall be mengyae with mannes blode.
Stedis sall stombill with tresoune,
Bothe baye and broun, grysselle and graye;
Gentill knyghtis sall stombill downe, 75
Thorowe the takynge of a wykkide waye.
The Bretons blode sall vindir falle;
The Bruysse blode sall wynn the spraye;
Sex thowsand Ynglysche, grete and smale,
Sall there be slane that ilk a daye. 8o
Than sall Scottland kyngles stande ;
Trow it wele, that I the saye ;
A tercelet of the same lande,
To Bretane sall take the redy waye,
And take tercellettis grete and graye, 85
With hym owte of his awen contree;
Thay sall wende on an ryche arraye,
And come agayne by land and see.
Ll. 65-68 do not occur in the Linc. MS.—they are supplied from the
Cambr. copy; 1. 7 I from Sloane MS.
7 HOMAS OF ERS V/L/DO UAVE. I 55
He sall stroye the north contree,
Mare and lesse hym by-forne; 90
Ladyse sall saye, allas ! and walowaye |
That euer that royalſe blode was borne.
He sall ryse vpe at Kynkehorne,
And tye the [schippis] vn-to the sande ;
At Dipplynge more, appon the morne, 95
Lordis will thynke full lange to stande.
Bytwix Depplynge and the dales,
The watir that rynnes on rede claye:
Thare sall be slayne, for sothe, Thomas,
Eleuen thowsande Scottis, that nyght and daye.
Thay sall take a townn of grete renowne, IOI
That standis nere the water of Taye,
The ffadir, and the sone, sall be dongene downe,
And with strakis strange be slayne awaye.
Whene thay hafe wone that wallede towne, IoS
And ylke man hase cheuede thayre chaunce,
Than sall thir Bretons make tham bowne,
And fare forthe to the werre of Fraunce.
Than sall Scotland kyng-lesse stande,
And be lefte, Thomas, als. I the saye ; II O
Than sall a kyng be chosene, so gynge,
That kane no lawes lede, parfaye.
Dauid, with care he sall begynne,
And with care he sall wende awaye ;
Lordis and ladyse, more and myne, II 5
Sall come appone a riche araye,
L. 94. ‘chippis,’ Linc. MS. - -
Ll. I 13-116. According to the Cambr. MS. they read—
“Robert, with care he shall reng,
And also he shalle wynd awaye ;
Lordys and ladys, bothe old and yeng,
Shall draw to hym with owtyn naye.”
I 56
THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
And croune hym at the town of S[cone]
Appon an certane Solempne daye :
Beryns balde, bothe alde and gonge,
Sall till hym drawe with-owttyn naye.
Euyn he sall to Ynglande ryde,
Este and weste als lygges the waye. -
[And take a towne with greate pride
And let the menn be slaine awaye.]
Betwixe a parke and an abbaye,
A palesse and a paresche kyrke,
Thare sall gour kynge faill of his praye,
And of his lyfe be wondir irke.
He sall be tane so wondir sare,
So that awaye he sall noghte flee;
Heys nebbe sall rynne, or he thethyn fare,
The rede blode tryklelande vnto his knee.
He sall than be, with a false [fode]
Betrayede of his awen [lond],
And whether it torne [to ewyll or good],
He sall byde [in a rauenes honde].
That ra[uyne shall the goshawke woyne,
Thowghte his fedres be neuer so blake,
And lede hym to London towne,
There shall the goshawke fynd his make.
The rauen shall his fedres shake,
And take tarsletis grete and gay,
The king shall hym maister make]
In the North to do outtraye.
L. 117. Skyme, Linc. MS.
Ll. 123, 124 from Sloane MS.
L. 131. ‘ his neb shall rise,’ MS. Cambr.
Ll. 133-136 and I37-I43 completed from Lansdowne MS.
I 2 O
I 25
I3o
I 35
I4O
THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE. I57
And when he es mane moste of mayne, I45
And hopis beste thane for to spede,
On a ley lande, sall he be slayne
Besyde a waye, forcwttyne drede;
Sythen sall selle Scotland, par ma faye,
Ffulle, and fere, full many ane, I5o
Ffor to make a certane paye,
Bot ende of it sall neuer come nane.
And thane sall Scotland kyngles stande,
Trowe this wele, that I telle the ;
Thre tercelettis of the same lande, I55
Sall stryfe to bygg and browke the tree.
He sall bygg, and browke the tree,
That hase no flyghte to fley awaye ;
Thay sall with pryde to Ynglande ryde,
Este and weste, als lygges the waye. I6o
[A cheftan then sall ryse with pride,
Of all Scotland sall bere the floure:
He sall into Yngland ryde w
And make men hafe full Scharpe schoure.]
Haly kyrke bese sett besyde, I65
Relygyous byrnede on a fyre;
Sythene sall thay to a castelle glyde,
And schewe tham thare with [mykell ire].
[Betwene a wycked way and a water,
A parke and a stony way then, 17o
Ther shal a cheften mete in fere;
A ful doughty ther shalbe slayn.
Ll. 161-164 from Lansdowne MS.
L. 169. The following stanza in the Cotton MS. is here added, as it
varies from that given above :-
* Bytwys a wethy and a water,
A wel and a haly stane,
Ther sal two chyftans met in fer;
The Doglas ther sall be slane.”
I 58 THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
The toder cheftan shalbe tane,
A pesans of blode hym shal slee,
And lede hym away in won, I 75
And cloyse hym in a castell hee.
Ffare wel, Thomas; I wende my way;
Ffor I must ouer gone bentis brown.
Here artwoo fyttis; on is to say
Off THOMAs of ERSELDown.]" I8o
* The conclusion of the Second Fytt (ll. 169-180), which is wanting in
Lincoln MS., is here added from the Cambridge Manuscript.
THOMAS OF ERS V/LDO UAVE.
I 59
* QTije (Thirt jutt.'
J OWE, luffy lady, gente and hende,
Tell me, gif it thi willis bee,
Of thyes batells, how thay schall ende,
And whate schall worthe of this northe countre 2
“This worlde, Thomas, sothely to telle,
Es noghte bot wandrethe and woghel
Of a batelle, I will the telle,
That schall be done at Spynkarde cloughe.
The Bretons blode schalle vndir falle;
The Bruyse blode schalle wyn the spraye;
Sex thowsande Ynglysche, grete and smalle,
Salle thare be slayne that nyghte and day.
The rerewarde sall noghte weite, parfaye,
Of that ilke dulfulle dede ;
Thay Sall make a grete journaye,
Dayes tene, with owttyn drede.
And of a batelle I will the telle,
That sall be done now sone at will;
Beryns sall mete, bothe ferse and felle,
And freschely fyghte at Pentland hyll.
Bytwyx Sembery and Pentlande,
The haulle that standis appone the rede claye,
There schall be slayne eleuene thowsande
[Off Scottis men, that nyghte and daye.
[They sall take a towne of grete renown,
[That standis on the] water of Taye,
[Knyghtes shall wyne the waryson,
By dyntes of swerde for ones and aye.
I O
I5
2O
25
L. 21. Instead of ‘Sembery,’ the Cambr. MS. reads “Edynborow.’
I6o THOMAS OF ERS VLDOUNE.
And whan they haue toke that walled towne,
And eche man hathe take his chaunce, 3o
The Britons blode shall make hym boune,
And fare agan to werres of Fraunce.
Then shall they be in Fraunce full longe;
Thomas, thre yere and mare;
And dyng downe castellis and towres stronge, 35
And then shall euery man home fare.
They shall mete bothe fers and stronge,
Bytwyx Ceton and the see;
The Englyshe shall ly in craggis amonge,
The tother oste at Barboke. 4O
Fforryours furthe sall flee,
On a Sonondaye, by fore the messe;
Seuen thowsandes Sothely sall be slayne,
One aythir partye, more and lesse.
Ffor ther sall be no baneres presse, 45
Bot ferre in sondir sall they bee;
Carefull sall be the after mese,
Bytwixe Cetone and the See.
Schippis sall stande appone the sande,
Wayffande with the sees fame; 5o
Thre gere and mare than sall thay stande,
Or any beryne come feche thane hame.
Stedis awaye maySterles sall flynge,
Ouer the mountans too and fraa ;
Thaire sadills one thaire bakkis sall hynge, 55
Vnto the garthis be rotyne in twaa.
3itt sall thay hewe one all the daye,
Vnto the sone be sett mere weste;
Bot thare es no wighte that gitt wiete maye,
Whether of thaym sall hafe the beste. 6o
* Ll. 27-39 from Lansdowne MS.
L. 40. Barvik fre, Sloane MS.
THOMAS OF ERS VLDOUNE.
I6 I
Thay Sall plante down thaire [baners] thare,
Worthi men all nyghte sall dye;
Bot one the morne, ther sall be care,
Ffor nowther syde sall hafe the gree.
Than sall thay tak a trewe and swere,
Ffor thre-gere, and more, I vndirstande ;
That name of tham sall other dere,
[Nowther] by see, ne gitt by lande.
[Betwene twoo seynte Marye dayes,
When the tyme waxis mere longe,
Then shalle thei mete and banerse rese,
In Gleydes-more that is so long.
Gladysmore, that gladis us all;
This is beginning of Oure gle;
Gret sorow then shall fall,
Wher rest and pees were wont to be.
Crowned kyngus ther shalbe slayn,
With dyntis sore, and wonder [to] se,
Out of a more a rauen shal cum,
And of hym a schrew shall flye,
And seke the more with-owten rest,
Aftur a crosse is made of stan,
Hye and lowe, both est and west;]
Bot wiete wele, Thomas he sall fynd nane.
He sall lyghte whare the crose solde bee,
And holde his nebbe vp to the skye;
And drynke of gentill blode and free,
Thane ladys, waylowaye sall crye.
Ther sall a lorde come to that werre,
That sall be of full grete renowne;
And in his banere sall he bere,
Triste it wele, a rede lyone.
Ll. 69-83 from Cambr. MS.
L
65
7o
75
8o
90
I62 7THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
Thar sall another come to that werre,
That sall fyghte full fayre in [molde;]
And in his banere sall he bere 95
A schippe with an ankyre of golde.
3it sall another come to that werre
That es noghte knawen by northe [ne southe,
And in his banere sall he bere
A wolfe with a nakede childe in his [mouthe]. Ioo
3itt sall the ferthe lorde come to that [werre]
That sall grete maystries after make
And in his [banere sal he bere]
The bere [bounden to a stake.]
[Although the first letters remain of the next eighteen lines, which
are torn away, they are not serviceable in enabling us to perfect them from
the other MSS.—But a still more considerable deficiency occurs in this
part of the poem, as two whole columns, containing thirty-five lines in
each, have at the same time been destroyed, thus leaving a hiatus alto-
gether of about twenty-two stanzas. The conclusion of the poem, written
on the reverse corner of the same leaf, has fortunately been preserved.
The seventeen ſollowing stanzas are given from the Cambridge MS., since
there is no reason to doubt that they formed a part of those of which we
have now had occasion to mention the loss.]
[Then shal they fight with helme and schilde, Io5
Vnto the sun be set nere west;
Ther is no wyght in that fylde
That wottis qwylke side shall haue the best.
A bastarde shall cum fro a forest,
Not in Ynglond borne shall he be, I IO
And he shalle wyn the gre for the best,
Alle men leder of Bretan shal he be.
And with pride to Englond ride,
Est and west in [hys tyme];
And holde a parlement [of moche pryde], II 5
Wher neuer non byfore was seyne.
7 HOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
I63
Alle false lawes he [shalle laye doune,
That are begune in that cuntre;
Truly to wyrke he shalbe boune,
And alle leder of Bretans shal he be.
The bastarde shal get hym power strong,
And alle his foes he shall doune dyng;
Of alle the v kingys landis,
Ther shal non bodword home bryng.
The bastard shalle dye in the Holy Land;
Trow this wel as I the say:
Take his [sowle] to his hande,
Jhesu Christe that mycull may.
Thomas [truly] I the say,
This is [trewth] ylke a worde;—
Of that laste battel I the say,
It shalbe don at Sandeforde.
Nere Sandyforth ther is a wroo,
And nere that wro is a well;
A ston there is the wel euen fro,
And nere the wel truly to tell,
On that grounde ther groeth okys thre,
And is called Sandyford;
Ther the last battel done shalbe;
Thomas, trow thou ilke a worde ; ”
Then she seid with heuy chere;
The terys ran out of hireen gray.—
“Lady, or thou wepe so sore,
Take thi houndis, and wend thi way.”
“I wepe not for my way-walkyng,
Thomas, truly I the say; -
But fer ladys shal wed laddys gong,
When ther lordis are ded away.
L. 134. ‘wroo,' in MS. Cotton it is ‘bro.'
I 2 O
I 25
I3o
I35
I4O
I45
164
7THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE.
He shall haue a stede in stabul fed,
A hauke to beyre vpon his hond;
A bright lady to his bed,
That before had non londe.
Ffare wel, Thomas; I wende my way;
Alle this day thou wil me marre.”—
“Lufly lady, tel thou me
Of Blake Agnes of Donbar.
And why she haue gyven me the warre,
And put me in her prison depe;
Ffor I walde dwel with her [euer mar,
And kepe hir ploos and hir shepe.”
“Off Blake Agnes cum neuer gode;
Wher for, Thomas, she may not the ;
Ffor al hir welth and hir wordly gode,
In London cloysed shal she be.
Ther preuysse neuer gode of hir blode,
In a dyke then shall she dye;
Houndis of hir shall have ther fode,
Magrat of all hir kyng of le.”
Then Thomas a sory man was he,
The terys ran out of his een gray:—
“Lufly lady, get tell thou me,
If we shall parte for ever and ay ?”—
“Nay; when thou sittes at Erseldown,
To Huntlee bankkis thou take the waye,
Ther sall I sekirly be bowne,
And mete the, Thomas, whene I maye.
[I sall] the kenne whare euer thou gaa,
[To ber] the pryce of curtaysye ;
[For tunge es wele, and tunge es waa,
[And] tunge es chefe of mynstrallsye.”
I 5o
I 55
16o
I 7o
I 75
180
THOMAS OF ERS VLDO UAVE. I65
[Scho ble]we hir horne on hir palfraye,
[And lefte] Thomas vndir-nethe a tre;
[To Helmesd]ale scho tuke the waye,
[And thus de]partede scho and hee.
[Of swilke] an hirdman wolde I here 185
[That couth] me telle of swilke ferly;
[Ihesuſ] corounde with a crown of brere,
[Bry]nge vs to his heuene so hye.
Amen. Amen.
EXPLICIT THOMAS OF ERSELEDOWNNE.
THE
PYSTYL OF SWETE SUSAN
VI.
T H E PYSTYL OF SWETE SUSA.N.
HUCHEON of the Awle Ryale, as we learn from Wyn-
toun's Metrical Chronicle, was the author of this very
ancient and curious relique of Scotish Poetry. His great
work was the ‘Gest Historiale,” in which, according to the
same authority, Hucheon -
“has tretyd curyously
In Gest of Broyttys auld story;”
and the Prior of Lochleven, defends him, and ‘the Auctore,’
from whom his work was perhaps translated, against the
exceptions that in his time had been made to some of the
statements which it contained. Wyntoun, to whom we
owe all the information we possess respecting Hucheon and
his writings, says,
Men of gud discrety.owne
Suld excuse and love Huchowne
That cunnand wes in literature.
He made the gret Gest of Arthure,
And the Awntyre off Gawane,
The Pystyl als off Swete Swsan :
He wes curyws in hys style,
Fayre off facund, and subtille,
And ay to plesans and delyte,
Made in metyre mete his dyte,
Lytil or nowcht nevyrtheles
Waverand fra the suthfastnes.
—B. v. xii. 432 I-4332.
THE AE WS7 VZ OF SIVE 7TE SUSAAV. 169
From Hucheon's being thus called of ‘the Awle Ryale,”
or Royal hall, or palace, Macpherson, the learned editor of
Wyntoun's Chronicle, supposes he may have been the King's
Poet. It seems, however, agreed among our poetical anti-
quaries that this Hucheon was one and the same person with
Sir Hugh of Eglynton, a Scotish Poet, of the fourteenth
century, who is mentioned by Dunbar in his ‘Lament for
the Death of the Makars.’ “He flourished,” (says Mr
George Chalmers, in a letter to the Editor,) “under David
II. and died under Robert II. I think there cannot be any
doubt whether Sir Hugh de Eglynton were not Hucheon
of the Awle Ryale. He is supposed to have died about the
year I.38I. As he was a busy Knight, in his day, so are
there many notices about him.” .
[Besides having been connected with the Scottish Court in
the reigns of the monarchs above mentioned, Sir Hugh was
justiciary of Lothian in I36I, and in I367 was one of the
commissioners for negociating a treaty with England. His
wife was Egidia, the half-sister of Robert II.; and his
daughter, who inherited his extensive estates, married John
Montgomery of Eglisham, ancestor of the noble family
of Eglintoun.]
No other production, by our author, besides the following,
ts known to be extant, unless, on the authority of Wyntoun,
we should attribute to him one or other of the curious
metrical romances of the adventures of Arthur and Gawane.
In the present collection will be found one of these an-
cient alliterative poems ;—a style of composition for which,
for a length of time, the Northern Poets were particularly
renowned ; for, although the use of alliteration was not en-
tirely peculiar to them, it was, at least, one distinguishing
feature of their compositions. Thus Chaucer makes ‘ his
Persone’ to say -
—“I am a Sotherne man
I can not geste, Rom, Ram, Ruf, by my letter,
And, God wote, rime hold I but litel better.”
George Gascoigne, an English poet of the age of Queen
Elizabeth, has the following reference to this curious pas-
17o THE P VSTYL OF SIVETE SUSAAV.
sage:—“In making a delectable poem,” he says, “it is not
enough to roll in pleasant woordes, nor yet to thunder in
Rym, Ram, Ruff by letter, (quoth my maister Chaucer,)
nor yet to abounde in apte vocables, or epithets, unlesse the
invention have in it also aliquid salis.”
Of the Pystill of Susan, there are various ancient manu-
scripts."
The copy which has been followed, is contained in the
very large collection, or ingens volumen, as it is properly
enough styled, in the Bodleian Library, called, from its
donor, the Vernon Manuscript, and "as probably com-
piled about the end of the XIVth century. In a volume of
old metrical romances in the Cotton Library, written about
the middle of the XVth century, is another copy which has
afforded some various readings, but which wants the first
eight stanzas of the poem. A third copy forms part of a
volume once in Mr Heber's possession, which had successively
belonged to Sir Henry Spelman, Dr Taylor, (the Editor of
Demosthenes,) and Richard Gough, Esq. : it is described by
Dr Whitaker, the learned Editor of Piers Plouhman's Wi-
Sion, as a manuscript, which, “from the handwriting, might
probably be assigned to the reign of Richard the Second.”
He thus mentions Hucheon’s Poemi :—
“One specimen of alliteration, combined at once with
rhyme and a very complicated stanza has never been pub-
lished, and of which it is not to be wondered at that it has
had no imitators. The story is that of Susanna, and from
the style and orthography it appears to be nearly as ancient
as Piers Plouhman, with one of the copies of which, now
before the Editor, it is bound up, as it has evidently been
transcribed by the same hand.”—Preface to the Vision, &c.,
p. xvii.
* It was, indeed, printed by Ritson, about the year 1803, as the com-
mencement of a projected volume of ‘Select Scotish Poems; ' similar in
size to his excellent Collection of Scotish Songs. This volume, the Editor
learnt, was to have been published by Mr Constable, but, owing to the
death of Ritson, it was never completed, and a few copies only, it is
believed, of the two sheets that were actually printed off, have been
preserved.
VI.
‘Qſije Bigtill of Sługan.’
I.
HER was in Babiloine a bern, in that borw riche,
That was a Ieugh ientil, and Ioachin he hiht;
He was so lele in his lawe, ther lived non him liche,
Of alle riche that renke arayes he was riht:
His innes, and his orchardes were with a dep dich, 5
Halles and herbergages, heigh uppon heiht;
To seche thoru that cite ther nas non sich,
Of erbes, and of erberi, so auenauntliche i-diht
- That day.
Withinne the sercle of sees, . IO
Of erberi and alees,
Of alle maner of trees,
Sothely to say.
II.
He had a wif hight Susan, was sotil and sage,
Heo was Elches doughter, eldest and eyre, I5
Lovelich and lilie-whit, on of that lynage,
Of alle fason of foode frelich and feire:
Thei lerned hire lettrure of that langage,
The maundement of Moises, thei marked to that deire,
To the mount of Synai that went in message, 2O
That the Trinite bi-tok of tables apeire
To rede;
Thus thei lerne hire the lawe,
Cleer clergye to knawe,
To God stod hire gret awe, 25
. That whonkest in weede.
172 THE P VSTYL OF S WETE SUSAAV,
III.
He hedde an orchard newe, that neighed wel nere,
Ther Iewes with Ioachin priveliche gon playe;
For he real and riche of rentes ever there,
Honest, and auenaunt, and honorablest aye. 3o
I-wis, ther haunted til her hous, hende, ge mai here,
Two domes of that lawe, that dredde were that day,
Preostes and presidens preised als peere,
Of whom vr soverein lord sawes gan say,
And tolde, 35
How heor wikkednes comes
Of the wrongwys domes
That they haue gyue to gomes,
This iuges of olde.
IV.
Thus this dredful demers on daies thider drewe; 4O
Al for gentrise and joye of that Iuwesse,
To go in his gardeyn, that gayliche grewe,
To fonge floures and fruit, thought thei no fresse;
And whon they seigh Susan, semelich of hewe,
Thei weor so set uppon hire, might thei not sese ; 45
Thei wolde enchaunte that child: hou schold heo
eschewe ?
And thus this cherles unchaste in chaumbre hir chese,
With chere,
With two maidenes alon,
Semelyche Suson, 5o
On dayes in the merion,
Of murthes wol here.
V.
Whon theos perlous prestes perceyved hire play,
Tho thoughte the wrecches to bewile that worly in
WOne,
Heore wittes wel waiwordes thei wrethen awai, 55
7TP/E P VS 7"V/L OF SIVETE IS USAAV. I73
And turned fro his teching, that teeld is in trone.
For siht of here souerayn, sothli to say,
Heore hor heuedes fro heuene thei hid apon one,
Thei caught for hedr couetyse the cursyng of Kai,
For rightwys jugement recordet thei none, 6o
They two.
Euery day bi day
In the pomeri thei play,
Whiles thei mihte Susan assay,
To worchen hire wo. 65
VI.
In the seson of somere, with Sibell and Jone,
Heo grethed hire til hire gardin, that growed so grene,
Ther lyndes and lorers were lent vpon lone,
The sauyne and sypres, selcouth to sene,
The palme, and the poplere, the pirie, the plone, 7o
The iuniper ientel, jonyng bi-twene,
The rose ragged on rys, richest on rone,
I-theuwed with the thorn trinaunt to sene,
So tiht;
Ther weore popeiayes prest, 75
Nihtyngales uppon nest,
Blithest briddes o the best,
In blossoms so briht.
VII.
The briddes in blossoms thei beeren wel loude
On olyues, and amylliers, and al kynde of trees, 8o
The popeiayes perken and pruynen for proude,
On peren and pyn-appel thei ioyken in pees;
On croppes of canel keneliche thei croude,
On grapes the goldfinch thei gladen and glees;
Thus schene briddes in Schawe schewen heore schroude,
On figges and fygers theifongen heore sees, 86
In fay;
I74 THE P VSTYL OF SWETE SUSA N.
Ther weore growyng so grene
The date, with the damesene,
Turtils troned on trene, 90
By sixti, I Saygh.
VIII.
The fyge and the filbert were fode med so fayre,
The chirie and the chestein, that chosen is of hewe,
Apples and almaundes that honest are of ayre,
Grapes and garnettes gayliche thei grewe, 95
The costardes comeliche in cuththes thei cayre,
The britouns, the blaunderers, [the] braunches, the
bewe,
Fele floures and fruit, frelich of flayre,
With wardons winlich and walshe notes newe,
They wald IOO
Ouer hedr hedes gon hyng, -
The wince and the wederlyng,
Spyces speden to Spryng,
In erbers enhaled.
IX.
The chyue, and the chollet, the chibolle, the cheue, Io;
The chouwet, the cheuerol, that Schaggen on niht,
The parsel, the passenep, poretes to preue,
The pyon, the peere, wel proudliche i-piht;
The lilye, the louache, launsyng with leue,
The sauge, the sorsecle, so semeliche to siht; I IO
Columbyne and charuwe clottes thei creve,
With ruwe and rubarbe, ragget ariht,
No lees ;
Daysye, and ditoyne,
Ysope, and aueroyne, II5
Peletre, and plaentoyne,
Proudest in pres.
THE A VSTYZ OF SIVETE SUSAAV. I75
X.
Als this schaply thing gede in hire gerde,
That was hir hosbondes and hire, that holden with
hende; - *
Now folk be faren from us, thar us not be ferde I2O
Aftur myn oynement, warliche ge wende.
Espieth now specialy, the gates ben sperde
For we wol wassche us I-wis bi this welle strende.
For-thi the wyf werp of hir wedes vnwerde,
Vnder a lorere ful lowe that ladigan lende, I 25
So sone:
By a wynliche well,
Susan caste of hir kelle,
Bote feole ferlys hire bi-felle,
Bi midday or none. I3o
XI.
Now were this domes-men derf drawen in derne,
Whiles thei seo that ladi was laft al hire one,
For to heilse that hende thei highed ful gerne,
With wordes thei worshipe that worliche in wone :
“Wolt thou, ladi, for loue, on vre lay lerne, I35
And vnder this lorere ben vr lemmone 2
3e ne tharf wonde for no wight vr willes to werne,
For allegomes that scholde greue of gardin argone
In feere.
3if thou this neodes deny, I4O
We schal telle trewely
We toke the with avoutri;
Vnder this lorere.”
XII.
Then Susan was serwful, and seide in hire thought,
“I am with serwe bi-set on eueriche syde, I45
3if I assent to this sin, that this segges haue Sought,
176 THE P VSTYL OF SWETE SUSA N.
I be bretenet and brent in baret to byde:
And, gif I nikke hem with nai, hit helpeth me nought:
Such toret and teone taketh me this tyde.
Are I that worthlich wrech, that all this world wrought,
Betere is wenles wende of this world wyde.” I5 I
With this
Tho cast heo a careful cri,
This loueliche ladi, *
Hir seruauns hedde selli, I 55
No wonder, I-wis.
XIII.
Whon kene men of hir court comen til hir cri,
Heo hedde cast of hir calle and hire keuer-cheue,
In at a prive posterne thei passen in hi,
And findes this prestes wel prest her poyntes to preue;
Thoseid the loselle aloude to the ladi; I6 I
“Thou hast gon with a gome, thi God to greue,
And ligge with thi lemon in avoutri,
Bi the lord and the lawe that we onne leeue.”
They swere, I65
Alle hire seruauns, thei shont,
And stelen awey in a stont;
Of hire wedre thei neuer wont
Such wordes to here.
XIV.
Hir kinrede, hir cosyns and al that hire knewe, I 7o
Wrong handes, I-wis, and wepten wel sare,
Sykeden for Susan, so semeliche of hewe,
Al onwyse of that wyf, wondred thei were.
Thei dede hire in a dungon, ther neuer day dewe,
While domes-men were dempt this dede to clare; 175
Marred in manicles, that made wer newe;
Meteles, whiles the morwen to middai and mare,
In drede.
THE PPSTYL OF SPVAETE SUSAAW. 177
º,
Ther com hir fader, so fre,
With al his affinite; 18o
The prestes sauns pite,
And ful of falshede.
XV,
Thoseide the iustises on bench, to Ioachim the Iewe,
That was of Iacobes kynde, gentil of dedes,
Let senden after Susan, so semelych of hewe, 185
That thou hast weddet to wif, whonkest in wedes;
Heo was in trouthe, as we trowe, tristi and trewe;
Hir herte holliche on him that the heuene hedes.
Thus thei brought hir to the barre, hir bales to brewe,
Nouther dom ne deth that day hed ne dredes, I90
Als thare;
Hir hed was golow as wyre
Of gold fyned with fyre,
Hire scholdres schaply and schire,
That bureliche was bare. I95
XVI.
Nou is Susan in sale, sengeliche arayed,
In a selken schert, with scholdres wel schene.
Thoros vp with rancour the renkes reneyed,
This comelich accused, with wordes wel kene;
Homliche on her heved heor hondes thei leyed: 200
And heo wepte for wo, no wonder, I wene.
We schul presenten this pleint, hou thou euer be paied,
And sei sadliche the Soth, right as we haue Sene,
O sake.
Thus with cauteles waynt, 2O5
Preostes presented this playnt.
3it schal trouthe hem ataynt,
I dar vndertake.
M
178 THE P VSTYL OF S WETE SUSAAV.
&
XVII.
“Thorw-out the pomeri we passed us to play,
Of preiere and of penaunce was vre purpose, 2 I O
Heo com with two maidens, al richeli that day,
In riche robes arayed, red as the rose;
Wylyliche heo wyled hir wenches away,
And comaunded hem kenely the gates to close;
Heo gode to a gong mon, in a valay, 2 I 5
The semblaunt of Susan wolde non suppose,
For SOth :
Be this cause that we say,
Heo wyled hir wenches away,
This word we witnesse for ay, 22 O
With tonge and with toth.
XVIII.
Whon we that semblaunt seigh, we siked wel sare,
For sert of hir souereyn, and for hir owne sake,
Vr copes weore cumberous, and cundelet vs care,
But git we trinet a trot, that traytur take ; 225
He was borlich and bigge, bold as a bare ;
More mighti mon then we his maistris to make:
To the gate gaply thei geoden wel .3are,
And he lift vp the lach, and leop ouer the lake,
That gouthe. 23O
Heo ne schunte for no schame,
But bouwed aftur for blame,
Heo nolde cuythe us his name,
For craft that we couthe.”
XIX.
Now hed is dampned on deis, with deol thaugh hir deue,
And hir domes-men vnduwe do hir be withdrawen. 236
Loueliche heo louted, and lacched hir leue,
At kynred and cosyn, that heo had ever i-knawen,
THE A PSTYL OF SWETE SUSA W. 179
Heo asked merci with mony, in this mischeue:
“I am sakeles of syn,” hed seide in hir sawen, 24O
“Grete God of his grace gor gultus forgive,
That doth me derfliche be ded and don out of dawen,
With dere.
Wolde God that I miht
Speke with Ioachim a niht, & 245
And sithen to deth me bediht;
I charge hit not a pere.”
XX.
Heo fel doun flat in the flore, hir feere whom hed fand,
Carped to him kyndeli, as hed ful wel Couthe:
I wis I wrathyed the neuere, at my witand, 25o
Neither in word, ne in werk, in elde, ne in gouthe.
Heo keuered vpon hir kneos, and cussed his hand :
For I am dampned, I ne dar disparage thi mouth.
Was neuer more serwful segge, bise, nor bi Sande,
Ne neuer a soriore siht, bi north, ne bi south, 255
Tho thare.
Thei toke the feteres of hire feete,
And euere he cussed that swete :
In other world schul we mete.—
Seide he no mare. 26o
XXI.
Then Susan, the serwfol, seide uppon hight,
Heef hir hondes on high, bi-held hed to heuene:
“Thou maker of middelert, that most art of miht,
Bothe the sonne and the see, thou sette vppon seuene;
Alle my werkes thou wost, the wrong, and the riht, 265
Hit is nedful nou thy names to nempne.
Seththe I am deolfolich dampned, and to deth diht,
Lord, herteliche tak hede, and herkne my steuene,
So fre
I8o THE P VSTYL OF SWETE SUSAAV.
Seththe thou maight not be sene,
With no fleschliche eyene,
Thou wost wel that I am clene,
Haue merci now on me!”
XXII.
Nou thei dresse hire to deth withouten eny drede,
And lede forth that ladi, louesum of lere;
Grete God, of his grace, of gultes vngnede,
Help with the Holi Gost, and herde hir preyere.
He directed this dome, and this delful dede
To Danyel, the prophete, of dedes so dere,
Such giftes god him gaf in his gouthenede,
3it failed hit a fourteniht, ful of the gere,
Nouht sayne.
Tho criede that freoly fode,
“Whi spille ge innocens blode 2 ”
And alle theistoteyd and stode,
This ferlys to frayne.
XXIII.
27,o
275
28o
285
“What signefyes, gode Sone, these sawes that thou
seeth.”
Thus these maisterful men mouthes can mele,
Thei be fendes all the frape, I sei hit in feith,
And in folk of Israel be foles wel fele.
“Vmbiloke gou, lordes, such lawes ben leith,
Methinketh gor dedes vnduwe such domes to dele,
Agein to the gildhalle, the gomes vngreith,
I Schal, be proces apert, disproue this apele,
For nede.
Lat twinne hem in two,
For now wakneth heor wo,
Theischal graunte, ar thei go,
Al hedre falshede.”
29O
295
THE PWSTVL OF SIVETE SUSAAW. 181
XXIV.
Thei diseuered hem sone, and sette hem sere, 3oo
And sodeynly askede, thei brought into the sale,
Bifore this gonge prophete this preost gom apere,
And he him apeched sone, with chekes wel pale:
“Thou hast I-be presedent, the peple to steere,
Thou dotest nou on thin olde tos, in the dismale; 305
Now Schal thi conscience be knowen that euer was
vnclere,
Thou hast in Babiloygne on benche brewed much bale,
Wel bolde:
Now Schal gor synnes be seene,
Of fals domes bideene, 3Io
For theose in Babiloyne han bene
Jugget of olde.
XXV.
Thou seidest thou seghe Susanne sinned in thisiht,
Tel nou me trewly, vnder what tre P’’— wº
“Mon, bi the muche God, that most is of miht, 3 I5
Vnder a cyne, sothli, myseluen I hir se.”—
“Now thou lyest in thin hed, bi heuen vppon hiht,
An angel with a naked swerd the neighes wel nei,
He hath brandist his brond, brennynde so bright,
To marke thi middel at a mase in more then in thre,
No lese : 32 I
Thou brak Godes comaundement,
To sle such an innocent,
With eny fals juggement,
Vnduweliche on dese.” -325
XXVI.
Now is this domes-mon withdrawen withouten eni
drede,
And put into prison ageyn into place,
Thei broughten the tother forth whom the barn bede,
182 TAZAZ A VS 7" V/L OF SIVA. TAE S USAAV.
To-fore the folk and the faunt, freli of face :
“Cum forth, thou corsed caytif, thou Canaan,” he sede,
“Bi cause of thi couetise, thou art in this case, 33 I
Thou hast disceyuet thi self, with thioune dede,
Of thi wit for a wyf biwiled thou wase,
In wede.
Thou sey nou, so mote thou the, 335
Vnder what kynde of tre
Semeli Susan thouse
Do that derne dede.
XXVII.
Thou gome of gret elde, thin hed is grei hored,
Tel hit me treweli, ar thou thi liftyne.” 34O
Tho that rothly cherl ruydely rored,
And seid bifore the prophet, thei pleied bi a prine.—
“Now thou liest loude, so helpe me vr lorde;
For fulthe of thi falshed thou schalt ha euel pine,
Thou and thi cursed cumpere, gemon not acorde; 345
3e schul be drawen to the deth, this dai ar we dine,
So rathe.
An angel is neih honde,
Takes the domes of gor honde,
With a brennynge bronde, 35O
To byte gou bathe.”
XXVIII.
Then the folk of Israel felle vpon knees,
And lowed that loueli lord, that hir the lyf lent;
All the gomes, that hire God wolde gladen and glees,
This prophete so pertli proues his entent, 355
Thei trompe bifore this traitours, and traylen hem on
trees,
Thorw-out the cite, by comuyn assent;
Hose leeueth on that lord, thar him not lees,
That thus his seruant saued that schold ha be schent,
In sete. 360
THE P VSTYL OF S WETE SUSA/V. 183
This ferlys bifel
In the days of Danyel,
The Pistel witnesseth wel
Of that Profete.
Ihesu Crist with mylde steuene
Graunt vs alle the blisse of heuene.
Amen.
ANE BALLET OF THE NINE
NOBLES
VII.
AN E BALLET OF THE NINE
N OBLES.
ON the margin of the ancient MS. copy of Fordun's Scoti-
chronicon, that once belonged to the celebrated historian,
Hector Boece, is written the following translation of some
barbarous Latin verses, added by Bower about the year
I440, and occurring in most copies of the same Chronicle,”
which may be termed the Counsel of Robert the Bruce, as
to the proper mode of defending Scotland :-
ON fut suld be all Scottis weir,
Behyll and mosse, thaim selff to “steir.” ”
Llat wod for wallis be bow and speir,
That innymeis do thaim na deir.
In streit placis gar keip all stoir;
And byrne the plane land thaim befor:
Thane sall thai pass away in haist,
Quhen that thai find na thing bot waist.
With wyllis and waykene of the nycht,
And mekill noyis maid on hycht:
Thane sall thai turne with gret affrai,
As thai war chassit with suerd away.
This is the consall and intent
Off gud KING ROBERTIs Testament.
{ {
The following ballad, however, may serve to show the
esteem in which the memory of Robert the Bruce was long
* Lib. xii. cap. x. * In the MS. “weir.”
A/VE BAL/CAE 7" OA' 7"HE AWAAVE WOAZAZ.S. 187
held by the people of Scotland. After enumerating the ex-
ploits of the Nine Worthies, our valiant Monarch is brought
forward, leaving the reader to draw his own conclusion as
to who “was doughtiest in deeds.” It occurs at the end of
the large and splendid copy of Fordun's Chronicle, in the
University Library of Edinburgh, and is written in the
same hand with the rest of the Manuscript. Another copy
occurs at the end of a little MS. volume in the same library,
containing an Abbreviation of the Scotichronicon, written
in the year I52I, “Editum per johannem Law, Canonicum
Sanctiandreae.”
The Nine Worthies mentioned in this ancient ballad often
make a conspicuous figure in old English poems. Thus
John Gower, in his ‘Balade to King Henry the Fourth,’
says :—
See Alexander, Hector and Iulius,
See Machabeus, Dauid and Iosue,
See Charlemaine, Godfray, and Arthus,
Fulfilled of warre, and of mortalite,
Ther fame abitte, but all is vanite,
For death, which hath the warres vnder fote,
Hath made an end, of which there is no bote.
—Chaucer's Works, Speght's Edit., 1597, Fol. 332.
The reader will remember the amusing Pageant of the
Nine Worthies, introduced by Shakspeare in Love's
Labour's Lost, where the king says:—
“Here is like to be a good presence of worthies: He [Don Adriano de
Armadol presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the
parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas
Machabeus.
And if these four worthies in their first show thrive,
These four will change habits, and present the other five.”"
Schir Frollo, mentioned in line 41, is a personage intro-
duced to exemplify the prowess of Arthur, and according to
the Chronicles was a Roman knight, governor of Gaul. His
name and that of “Lucyus the Emperour of Rome * are
alluded to in the ‘Legend of King Arthur,’ printed in
Percy's Reliques, vol. iii. p. 79. He is also thus referred
to in the Ancient Chronicles of Scotland—“Becaus that
* Act v. ii.
I88 AAVE BA ZZAZT OF THE AWIAWE AWOAZA.S.
the aire of Britane was maryit with a Scottis man, quhen
the kynryk wakit and Arthur was ºv. 5eris ald, thay maid
him king be the deuilry of Merlyn. . . . And Sekirly
thare is mekle thing said of this Arthure quhilk is nocht Suth,
and bot fenzeit ; as thay Say that he slew Ffrelle King of
Ffrance, and als Lucius the Procurator of Rome; for in
his dayes thar was name Sik, as all storyes of Ffrance beris
witnes; and Sik mony othir besynes are maid of him as
Maister Walter Mapes fenzeit in his buke of ane callit
Lanslot the Lake,” &c.
The ninth in order, Godefroy Earl of Bologne, at times
gave place to Sir Guy of Warwick in the enumeration of
these Worthies; and indeed it appears that one of them might
be changed at pleasure. Strutt, in his ‘Sports and Pas-
times of the People of England’ (Int., p. xli), states that
tn preparing the pageants for a royal procession, orders were
given “to set up the frames, and to space out the rooms that
the Nine Worthies may be so instauled, as best to please the
eye. The Worthies are thus named in an heraldic MS.
in the Harleian Library—Duke Iossua ; Hector of Troy;
Kyng Dauid, Emperour Alexander; Iudas Machabyes ;
Emperour Iulyus Cesar; Kyng Arthur; Emperour Char-
lemagne; and Syr Guy of Warwycke ; but the place of the
latter was frequently, and I believe originally, supplied by
Godefroy Earl of Bologne. It appears, however, that any
of them might be changed at pleasure : Henry VIII. was
made a “Worthy’ to please his daughter Mary.”
It is interesting, in conclusion, to remark that Sir David
Lyndsay, in his Register of Arms, I542, has emblazoned
the armorial bearings of the Nine Worthies. In his manu-
Script volume preserved in the Advocates' Library, they are
thus described :—“Heir followis the Armys off the nyne
maist nobill ; off the quhilkis thair wes thre Iowis, as Dauid,
Iosue, and Iudas Machabeus:—Thre gentilis, as Iulius Cesar,
Alexander Conquerour, and Hector off Troy:—Thre cris-
Synhed men, as Charlis the Magne Empriour and King of
France, Arthur King off the greit Britannie, and Godefroie
Duk off Bollonie, conquerour off Ierusalem.”
VII.
* De nouem mobilibug.’
| | ECTOUR of Troy throu hard feichthyngis,
In half thrid geris slew xix kyngis;
And ammirallis a hunder and mare,
Wyth small folk at vnrackynnit war;
He slew sa fell, at wes ferly,
Qwham Achileg slew tresnabili.
Alexander als nobil a kyng,
In xijgeris wan throw hard feichtyng
Allandis vnder the formament
Egwhethir adai in till parlement,
He said, he had but variance,
Our litill in till his gouernance.
Iulius Cesar wan hailily
The ilis of Grece, and all Surry;
Affrik, Arab, Bretan wan he,
And discumfit his mawche Pompe:
Throw hard batell, and stalward stour,
He was the first was emperour.
The gentill Iew Schir Iosue,
Anek xxx kyngis throw weir wan he ;
And conquirit the landis also,
The flum Iordan pertit in two
IO
I 5
2O
I90
AAVE BA LLFT OF THE WINE WOB/C.E.S.
Throw Goddis grace, and strang power;
Men suld hym loff on gret maner.
Dauid slew mychtthy Golias,
And Philistens at felon was ;
He wes so wycht, et weill feichtand,
That he wes neuer sene recriand;
Thairfor men call him, loud and still,
A trew prophet, of hardy will.
Michty Iudas Machabeus
In bathell slew Antiochus,
Appolonius and Nichanore,
At in his dais wald neuer schor
No multitud be adred of men,
Thoff he war ane eganis ten.
Arthur wan Dace, Spange, and France,
And hand for hand slew tua giantis,
Lucius the publik procuratour
Of Rome, wyth milleonis in stalwar stour;
And in till Pariss Schir Frollo,
In lystis slew wythoutin mo.
Charleg of France slew Aygoland,
And wan Spange fra hethoun land;
He slew the sowden of Pavi,
And wan the Saxonis halily;
And quhar God deid for our safte,
He put haly the Cristante.
Godefrey Bolgone slew Solimant,
Befor Antioche, and Corborant,
Quham he throu ful strak had ourtane,
Throu cops and harmez his glave is gane;
Sere hethownis he slew throu hard feychttyng,
And of Ierusalem a geir was kyng.
25
3o
35
4O
45
5o
AAVE BAZZZZT OF THE WINE AWOB/CAE.S. I9 I
Robert the Brois throu hard feichſtlyng, 55
With few, venkust the mychthy kyng
Off Ingland, Edward, twyse in fycht,
At occupit his realme but rycht;
At sumtyme wes set so hard,
At hat nocht sax till hym toward. 6o
3e gude men that thir balletis redis,
Deme quha dochtyast was in dedis.
T H E D UIK OF ORLY ANCE IN
DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS
VIII.
THE DUI K OF ORLY ANCE IN
DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS.
THE following lines, transcribed from the Maitland Col-
lections of Scotish Poetry, deposited in the Pepysian Li-
brary, Cambridge, are merely an extract, with some occa-
sional variations, from Androw of Wyntown's Chronicle,
—a work, the publication of which was fortunately under-
taken, and executed with an unrivalled degree of care and
elegance, by the unwearied assiduity of its learned Editor,
the late David Macpherson.
These lines, however, may be allowed to stand in opposi-
tion to some of the many ancient rhymes which the English
are known to have scattered abroad against the Scots. The
jealous and hostile spirit which, for so many ages, existed
betwixt the inhabitants of the two Kingdoms, has long
happily ceased, and, we trust, for ever. Nevertheless, it is
curious and interesting to observe the various manifestations
of this long-cherished, and deep-seated animosity;—whether
we may read in our Annals of Strife and bloodshed in the
field of battle ;-of border forays and predatory excursions;
or, discover it in the more harmless, but not less vehement
and sarcastic effusions in which they mutually seem to have
indulged.
I) EFENCE OF THE SCO 7.S. I95
The question put by the illustrious Duke of Orleans is
sufficiently simple and dispassionate, and leads to a natural
and Satisfactory conclusion, when he asked, how it came that
the English, with all their boasting, never were able to van-
quish “the puir folk of Scotland ”—
—— — “whose gaddering into weiris
Micht nocht exceid five hundreth speiris—
32
but allowed themselves to be harassed night and day, by
those whom they pretended to hold in despite ; nor could
enforce that homage and obedience which, at times, they
presumed to say, we owed to the Crown of England.
VIII.
‘Defence of the Sºcot.g.’
A* thowsand geir thre hundreth nyntye and ane
Fra Jesus Chryst had manheid tane
The bischop of Sanct Androis se,
Maister Waltir Traill callit was he,
Be counsale and be ordinance
Of Scottismen, he passit in France:
Ffor, in to Scotland men hard tell,
At the duik Johne of Longcastell,
Be ane ordinat delyuerance
Off Inglismen, he passit in France.
And quhatsoeuir thay tretit had,
Our bischop thair tuell monethis baid.
And thair sayrlie the Inglismen
The Scottismen diffamit than :-
Thai said, thair gaddering in to weiris,
Micht nocht exceid fyve hundreth speiris:
The king of France, thai said, forthy,
Suld lat of Scottis men bot lichtlye.
Thir wourdis war said in the presence
Of the duchtie Duik of Orlyance,
Quhilk had ane speciale effectioun
Till Scottismen and thair natioun ;
And than in haist he maid ansueyr,
As it was said on this maneyr :—
3e wein to lak, bot ge commend
That natioun, as ge mak it kend:
Was neuer realme, nor regioun,
Wourth mair commendatioun,
I O
2O
25
I) EFENCE OF THE SCOTS. 197
Than ar the few folk of Scotland,
As that ge gar ws vnderstand. 3O
3e say, thair gaddering in to weiris,
May nocht exceid fyve hundreth speiris;
And gear ane michtie natioun,
Excelland in presumptioun,
Ffor all landis lyand gow by 35
3e suppress with gour Sengory;
Owthir ge win thane to gour croun,
Or haldis thame in subjectioun ;
Bot the few folk of Scotland,
Quhilk by dry marchis ar lyand 4O
Neir on to gow, thai hald thair awin,
As it is maid vntill ws knawin;
And will cum with thair poweir,
Playn ge, or gour land, of weir,
And day and nycht will ly thairin, 45
And in gour sicht gour landis ‘bryne ; ’
3Our cattale, and gour gudis, thay ta;
And Spairis nathing gour self to sla ;
Thus suffer thay on na kin wyss,
3ow of sic micht to do suppryss; 5o
Bot euir thay quyt gow lill for lall,
Or that ge skaill the market all :
That natioun may genocht defame,
Bot gif ge Smyt gour awin with Schame !
The king of France thairfor think me, 55
Suld hald thane in to mair daintie,
That so few folk, of so lytill micht,
Aganis gow can manteine thair fecht,
Vpon the dry merchis lyand,
As it is gart ws vnderstand.— 6o
Quhen this was said the Inglismen,
War schamit of thair wourdis than,
And hold thane still, and spak no mair,
In till dispyt as thai did ayr.
ffinita responsio Illustrissimi ducis Orliamensis
in honorem et defensionem Scotorum.
T H E B L U D Y S E R K
IX.
THE BLU DY SERK.
THE author of this admired ballad, which owes its pre-
servation to Bannatyne's Manuscript, was our fine moral
poet Robert Henryson, who flourished in the latter part of
the Fifteenth Century. His poems are now very generally
known by the edition of his works printed in 1865, and, in
particular, his Robene and Makyne is allowed to be the
earliest and one of the finest pastorals in our language.
This ballad is probably derived from one of the Tales in the
Gesta Romanorum, of which the following summary is
given by Warton in his History of English Poetry."—
“A knight offers to recover a lady's inheritance which had
been seized by a tyrant, on condition that if he is slain, She
shall always keep his bloody armour hanging in her chamber.
He regains her property, although he dies in the attempt ;
and as often as She was afterwards sued for in marriage,
before she gave an answer, she returned to her chamber, and
contemplating with tears her deliverer's bloody armour, reso-
lutely rejected every solicitation.” The poem of Henryson
differs in Several particulars, but principally in his descrip-
tion of the tyrant as a “fowll gyane.”
In the Bannatyne MS., where this poem is preserved, it
is included amongst various ‘Fabillis’ there contained.
1 Vol. i. Diss, iii. p. ccii.
ZTHE BALUD Y SEA-AT. 2OI
Henryson was one of the first of the British poets to employ
Fables as a distinct class of popular literature. His collec-
tion was proposed to be published from a MS. preserved in
the British Museum, and was on the eve of being sent to
press, when our ancient literature lost one of its most zealous
and active supporters, in the late Sir Alexander Boswell.
This manuscript, written in the year 1571, the Editor
conceives may have been a transcript from a printed copy, as
the Fables certainly were printed more than once about that
period. In the Sale Catalogue of the curious library of Sir
Andrew Balfour, M.D., which was dispersed by auction
at Edinburgh in I695, an edition printed there in I570
occurs; but no copy of so early a date is at present known.
Some curious elucidations of these Fables might have been
received from an English version by Richard Smith, which
appeared at London in 1577, under the title of “The
Fabulous Tales of Esope the Phrygian, compiled moste
eloquently in Scottishe Metre by Master Robert Hen-
rison, and now lately Englished.” The translator, who
is likewise the printer of the volume, speaks of these fables as
“verie eloquent and full of great invention,” and, referring
to one of the printed copies, exposed, as the custom was, for
sale, he says, L
“Late passing thorowe Paules Church yarde, Aside I cast mine eye
And ere I wist, to me appearde, Sir Esope by and by
Apparelled both braue and fine, After the Scottish guise,” &c."
* This curious volume, however, which was at one time in the Library of
Sion College, is stated in the notes to Henryson's Works, ed. Laing, p. 267,
to have fallen aside. -
IX.
“Clijt blubp Sherit.'
HIS hindir geir I hard be tald,
Thair was a worthy King;
Dukis, Erlis, and Barronis bald,
He had at his bidding.
The Lord was anceane and ald,
And sexty geiris cowth ring ;
He had a dochter fair to fald,
A lusty lady ging.
Off all fairheid scho bur the flour,
And eik hir faderis air;
Off lusty laitis and he honour,
Meik, bot and debonair.
Scho wynnit in a bigly bour,
On fold wes none so fair,
Princis luvit hir paramour,
In cuntreis our allouhair.
Thair dwelt alyt besyde the king
A fowll gyane of ane;
Stollin he hes the lady ging,
Away with hir is gane;
And kest hir in his dungering,
Quhair licht scho micht se name:
Hungir and cauld, and grit thristing,
Scho fand in to hir waine.
I O
I 5
2O
THE BALUD P SEA-AT.
2O3
He wes the laithliest on to luk
That on the grund mycht gang :
His nailis wes lyk ane hellis cruk,
Thairwith fyve quarteris lang.
Thair wes name that he ourtuk,
In rycht or git in wrang,
Bot all in schondir he thane schuke ;
The gyane wes so strang.
He held the lady day and nycht,
Within his deip dungeoun;
He wald nocht gif of hir a sicht
For gold nor git ransoun.
Bot gife the king mycht get a knycht,
To fecht with his persoun,
To fecht with him, both day and nycht,
Quhill ane wer dungin doun.
The king gart seik baith fer and neir,
Beth be se and land,
Off ony knycht gife he micht heir,
Wald fecht with that gyand.
A worthy prince, that had no peir,
Hes tane the deid on hand,
For the luve of the lady cleir;
And held full trew cunnand.
That prince come prowdly to the touri,
Of that gyane to heir;
And fawcht with him, his awin persoun,
And tuke him presoneir;
And kest him in his awin dungeoun,
Allane, withouttin feir,
With hungir, cauld, and confusioun,
As full weill worthy weir.
Syne brak the bour, had hame the bricht,
Vnto hir fadir deir :
25
3O
35
4O
45
5O
55
2O4 7 HAE AE/L UA) P SEA-AT.
Sa evill wondit was the knycht,
That he behuvit to de. 6o
Vnlusum was his likame dicht;
His sark was all bludy;
In all the warld was thair a wicht
So peteouss for to se!
The lady murnyt, and maid grit mone, 65
With all hir mekle micht:
“I luvit nevir lufe, bot one,
That dulfully now is dicht!
God sen my lyfe wer frame tone,
Or I had sene gone sicht; 7o
Or ellis in begging evir to gone,
Furth with gone curtass knycht.”
He said, “Fair lady now mone I
De, trestly ge me trow :
Tak ge my sark that is bludy, 75
And hing it forrow gow;
First think on it, and syne on me,
Quhen men cumis gow to wow.”
The lady said, “Be Mary fre,
Thairto I mak a wow.” 8o
Quhen that scho lukit to the serk,
Scho thocht on the persoun:
And prayit for him with all hir harte,
That lowsd hir of bandoun :
Quhair scho was wont to sit full merk 85
In that deip dungeoun :
And evir quhill scho wes in quert,
That wass hir a lessoun.
L. 61. ‘his likame' is, his body (from the Isl. lykame, corpus), which
Sibbald, supposing it an error of the transcriber, chose to alter to ‘lynkome,’
linen, and then bring forward this as an additional presumption that Henry-
son was the author of ‘Christ’s Kirk on the Greene,’ because, forsooth, the
word lynkome occurs in it !
7THE BLUD Y SEA-AT.
Sa weill the lady luvit the knycht,
That no man wald scho tak:
Sa suld we do our God of micht
That did all for ws mak;
Quhilk fullely to deid wes dicht,
For sinfull manis saik:
Sa suld we do, both day and nycht,
With prayaris to him mak. *
iſºloralitag,
This King is lyk the Trinitie
Baith in hevin and heir :
The Manis saule to the Lady :
The Gyane to Lucefeir :
The Knycht to Chryst, that deit on tre, -
And coft our synnis deir:
The pit to hell, with panis fell;
The syn to the woweir.
The Lady was wowd, but scho said nay,
With men that wald hir wed;
Sa suld we wryth all syn away,
That in our breist is bred.
I pray to Jesu Chryst verrey
For ws his blud that bled,
To be our help on domysday,
Quhair lawis ar straitly led.
The saule is Godis dochtir deir,
And eik his handewerk,
That was betrasit with Lucifeir,
Quha sittis in hell, full merk.
Borrowit with Chrystis angell cleir,
Hend men l will genocht herk?
For his lufe that bocht ws deir,
Think on the Bludy Serk!
ffinis q; fir. R. Henryci.
95
I OO
Io 5
I IO
II 5
I 2 O
SIR JOHN ROWLL’S CURSING
X.
SIR JOHN ROWLL's CURSING.
DUNBAR, in his Lament for the Death of the Makkaris,
bewails the fate of two contemporary poets named Rowll,
with whom he seems to have been familiar. He says—
Death hes tane Rowll of Abirdene
And gentill Rowll of Corstorphyn ;
Two bettir fallowis did no man sie;
Timor mortis conturbat me /*
But so little is known concerning these two ecclesiastics, as
to leave it uncertain which of them should be considered
author of the following singular invective :—which, indeed,
is the solitary memorial that remains of the talents of either
one or other of two men, who received from their illustrious
friend this testimony to the excellence of their natural dis-
positions.
Sir David Lyndsay also names Rowll with other Scotish
Poets, of whom he says—
“Thocht thay be deid, thair libellis bene levand,
Quhilkis, to reherse, makith reidaris to rejose.””
Rowll's poem has been preserved both in George Ban-
! Bann. MS. fol. 104. * Lyndsay's Works, vol. i. p. 285.
SIR ŽOHN ROWLZ’S CURSING. 209
natyne's and Sir Richard Maitland's collections of old
Scotish poetry. Lord Hailes says, “Whether it was writ-
ten by him, or only in his name, I know not. The follow-
tng passage in it (he adds) determines the aera at which he
lived:—
—‘and now of Rome that beiris the rod,
Vndir the hevin to lowse and bind,
Paip Alexander.' .
The Pontiff her, meant must have been the virtuous Alex-
ander VI., who was Divine Vice-gerent from 1492 to
I503.”” And Dunbar's poem, which commemorates their
death, was printed in the year I508.
Pinkerton mentions the following poem with great con-
tempt, styling it a stupid and despicable production, and
quoting the last lines—
“This tragedy is callit, but dreid,
Rowlis cursing, quha will it reid,”
says the author “might have put a point of interrogation at
the close.”* The name of Tragedy, in the language of those
times, was applied to any descriptive poem, nor was it ap-
propriated to dramatic compositions in England before the
reign of Henry VIII., although no regular tragedy was
produced earlier than january 1561, when Ferrex and
Porrex was first represented.
Sir John Rowll's Cursing may be considered as a reli-
gious satire, being, as Lord Hailes justly observed, “an
£nvective against those who defraud the clergy of their dues,
and has no resemblance to any sort of dramatic composi-
tion.” ” Dr Leyden ‘ thought that in acrimony it was
little inferior to Sterne's chapter of curses: and the author's
invocation of all the devils to revenge the stealing of his
geese, he considered as forming a curious contrast to Sir
john of Grantam's curse for the Miller's eels that were
stolen, recorded in Harsnet's Detection of Egregious Im-
postures:—
1 Bannatyne Poems, 1770, p. 272.
* Maitland Poems, 1786, p. 451.
*Bannatyne Poems, 1770, p. 27O.
* Glossary to the Complaynt of Scotland, 1801, p. 329.
O
2 IO SIR 30AM ROWLL'S CORSIWG.
“All you that have stolen the Miller's eelis,
Alaudate Dominaem de caelis :
And all that have consented thereto,
Benedicamus Domino.”
After the author has excommunicated—
‘‘ Baith the halderis and conceilaris
Ressettaris and the preve steilaris,”
and bade them “hy to the pot of hell,” the lines—
“In hellis hoill quhair nevir is licht,
Nor nevir is day, bot evir nicht,
Quhair nevir is joy evin and morrow,
Bot endles pane, dule and sorrow;
Quhair nevir is petie nor concord,
Nor amitie, bot discord,
Malice, rancour and invy, &c.”
are very striking, and remind us of the impressive descrip-
tion by a greater poet, of L
“A dungeon horrible on all sides round,
As one great furnace flam'd ; yet from those flames
No light; but rather darkness visible
Serv'd only to discover sights of woe,
Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell ; hope never comes,
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed
With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed.”
—MILTON.
X.
£eir follomíg
the curging of $º joint l'otulić
&ipoun the gteilarig of big folulić,
EVYNE power of michtis maist,
Of Fadir, Sone, and Haly Ghaist,
Jesu Chryst and his appostillis,
Petir, Paule and his discipillis,
And all the power vndir God, 5
And now of Rome that beinis the rod
Vndir the hevin to lowse and bind,
Paip Alexander, that we do fynd
With that power that Petir gaif,
Godis braid malesone mote thay haif, I O
And all the blude about thair hairt.
Blak be thair hour, blak be thair pairt,
For fyve fat geiss of Schir Johine Rowlis,
With caponis, henis and vthir fowlis,
Baith the halderis and conceilaris, I5
Ressettaris, and the preve steilaris,
And he that Saulis saifis and dammis
Beteich the devill thair guttis and gammis,
Thair toung, thair teith, thair handis, thair feit,
And all thair body haill compleit, 2O
That brak his gaird and stall his frutt,
And raif his erbis vp be the rute,
2 I 2 SIR 70HN ROWLL'S CURSING.
His quheit, his aitis, his peiss, his bein,
In stowk or stak, to do him deir;
In barne, in houss, in kill or mill,
Except it had bene his awin will;
His wow, his lamb, his cheis, his stirk,
Or ony teyndis of haly kirk;
And all that lattis vnkend or knawin
The vicar to dispone his awin
Kirkland hay, or gerss to awaill,
Be thair support, red or counsall;
Now cursit and wareit be thair werd,
Quhill thay be levand on this erd,
Hungir, sturt and tribulatioun,
And nevir to be without vexatioun,
Of vengance, Sorrow, Sturt and cair,
Graceless, thriftles and threid bair;
All tymes in thair legasie,
Fyre, sword, watter and woddie ;
Or ane of thir infirmeteis
Off warldly scherp aduerseteis,
Pouertie, pestilence or poplecy,
Dum, deif or edroposy,
Maigram, madness or missilry,
Appostrum or the perlocy,
Ffluxis, hyvis or huttit ill,
Hoist, heidwark or fawin ill,
Kald, kanker, feistir or feveris,
Brukis, bylis, blobbis and bleistiris,
Emeroidese, or the sair halss,
The pokkis, the spaving in the halss
The panefull gravell and the gutt,
The gulsoch that they nevir be but,
Seattica and arrattica,
The cruke, the cramp, the collica,
The worme, the wareit wedonympha,
Rimbursin, rippillis or bellythra,
The choikis that haldis the chaftis fra chowing,
Golkgaliter at the hairt growing,
25
3O
35
4O
45
5o
55
6o
SIR }OHAW ROWLL'S CURSING.
2 I 3
The stane wring, stane and stane blind,
The berne bed, and morbehind
The strangelour, and grit glengloir,
The harchatt in the lippis befoir,
The mowlis, and in thair sleip the mair,
The kanker and the kattair;
[And never to be but schot of blude,
Or Elf-schot, thus to conclude,
And mony utter malleteis,
Bayth for his hennes and his geis,
Mott fall vpoun thair kankart corss,
With all the evil that evir had horss,
Fische, fowll, beist or man,
In erd sen first the warld began,
Till thay remember or thay de,
Repentand thair iniquitie,
And draw thair inclinatioun
Fra stowth to contemplatioun,
Fra feyndis fell subjectioun
To haly kirkis correctioun.
Sua thay mak plane confessioun
Thair gud will and contritioun,
Confessand thane to thair curatt,
That in thair hairtis is evill indurat.
Navthir preist hes power, nor freir;
And thay that daly will perseveir,
Nocht dreidand God in work nor word,
Nor git of haly kirk the suord,
Bot in thair cursit and sinfull wayis
Levand and dryvand our thair dayis,
Nor ask God mercy nor repent,
Than, this salbe thair sacrament;
Fra God, our Lady and all thair hallowis,
To the feynd thair saulis, thair craig the gallowis
I gif, and Cerberus thair banis sall knaw,
For thair dispyt of the kirkis law,
Gog and Magog, and grym Garog,
The devill of hell, the theif Harog,
65
7o
75
8o
85
90
95
2I4 SIR ŽOHN ROWLL'S CURSING.
Sym Skynnar and Schir Garnega,
Julius appostata, IOO
Prince Pluto and quene Cokatrice,
Devetinus the devill that maid the dyce,
Cokadame and Semiramis,
Fyremouth and Tutivillus,
And Browny als, that can play kow Io 5
Behind the claith, with mony mow.
All thir about the bein salbe
Singand ane dolorus dergie ;
And vthiris devillis thair salbe sene,
Als thik as mot in sonis beme; I IO
Thair sall thay kary in thair clukis,
Sum libberlais, and sum hell crukis,
Sum with kamis, and sum with kardis,
Sum with quhippis of leddrin tardis,
Sum with clubbis and mellis of leid, II 5
Sum with brandrathis birnand reid,
Sum with rumpillis lyk a skait, -
And geiss and caponis rostit hait,
That sal be laschit on thair lippis,
Cum thay within the devillis grippis, I 2 O
With skulgeoun clowttis, and dressing knyvis,
Platt for plat on thair gyngyvis ;
Sayis richt thus “Of Rowlis geiss
Thame chaftis thame chowit every peiss;
For thow art he, and thow art scho I 25
That Rowlis blak robene put in bro;
And thow art scho that stall the hen,
And put her in the pot thair ben.
Lol this is he that with his hairt
Wald nevir gif the vicar his pairt, I 30
Bot ay abowt for to dissaif
The haly kirk that it sowld haif.”
Than ruffy Tasker with his flaill
Sall beit thame all fra top to taill;
And ruffy Ragmen with his taggis I 35
Sall ryfe thair sinfull saule in raggis;
SIR }OHN ROWLL'S CURSING,
2IS
And quhen the devillis hes thame tirvit,
All thair saulis sal be transformit,
Sum in bichis, and sum in beinis,
Sum in mylis, and sum in meiris,
Aganis the statour that thay werin,
For vengence of thair deidly sin,
To ryd and tak possessioun
Throw all hell vp and doun,
And with grit din and deray
Compeir sall Sathan but delay,
Sayand richt thus with sentence he,
“Vpoun the day that thow sall de,
I devill of deillis, I gow condame
For geis, for gowis, for woll, for lame.
Thairfoir hygow to the pott of hell,
With Sathan our Abirone to dwell;
As feyndis spreitis perpetualy
For to remane in mesary.
Deip Acheron gour saulis invaid
As blak, as ruch as ony taid ;
Snaykis, serpentis and edderis
Mott stuf gour bellyis and gour bledderis,
In hellis hoill quhair nevir is licht,
Nor nevir is day, bot evir nicht,
Quhair nevir is joy evin and morrow,
Bot endles pane, dule and sorrow ;
Quhair nevir is petie nor concord,
Nor amitie, bot discord,
Malice, rancour and invy,
With magry and malancoly;
[Quhair thair is hunger, cald and thrist,
Dirknes, mirknes, rouk and mist,
And cair, but consolatioun,
With eternall damnatioun.”]
Than fra the sentence be on thane said,
Grit Baliall sall gif a braid,
And bakwart leip vpon a bein,
Sum on anemvle, sum on a meir,
I4O
I45
I5o
I55
I6o
I65
I 7o
216
SIR ŽOHN ROWLLS CURSING.
Sum on wolffis, and sum on wichis,
Sum on brod sowis sum on bichis.
[Sum on dragounis, and sum on devillis,
And sum on gillattis just up creilis,
Than is thair nocht bot sadill and brydill,
Thir outtit meiris hes lang gane ydill;
Bot sic ane clawing with thair clukis,
And sic ane reirding with thair rukis,
Rampand with ane hiddowis bein,
Cryand “All is ouris that is heir.”
[Gif thai be weirun of grit pane
All thair saulis sall be slane
Quhair with the feynd thai salbe furrit
Becaus the kirk thai have incurrit.]
The memberis of tha wickit men
That staw the guse, the cok, the hen,
Thay salbe revin be the throttis,
For cutting of tha fowlis croppis;
[Salbe bordourit and buttonit als,
In sign that thai war mansworne and fals;]
Syne led in towis and in lang tedderis,
And daly etin with taidis and edderis,
That all the court of hevin may knaw
Thay war the thevis that Rowlis geiss staw.
For quhyl grit God our hiest juge,
He gaif decreit but refuge,
That all pykaris of pultre
Gais nocht to hevin, bot thay sall fle
To hell without redemptioun,
Quhair is no remissioun.
The forme of thir vgly devillis,
Thay hafe lang tailis on thair heilis,
And rumpillis hingand on thair tailis,
Dragoun heidis, and warwolf nalis,
With glowrane eyne as glitterand glass,
With bowgillis and hornis maid of brass,
And dyverss facis repleit with yre,
Spowtand vennum and sparkis of fyre;
I75
18o
185
I90
I95
2 OO
2O5
2 IO
SIR }OHN ROWLL'S CURSING.
217
And sum with teith and tegir tungis,
Attour thair chin with bludy fangis
Spottit and sprinklit vp and doun,
Reid attry lyk a scorpioun,
And sum ar smeith and sum are ruch,
And sum ar lyk ane serpentis sluch,
With prik mule eiris sum ar lyk,
Thair neifs ar lyk ane midding tyk,
With gaippand mowth richt gaip to swelly
The mair the less devill in his belly.
Of thair fowle fegouris na man can tell,
Thocht thay wer sevin geiris in hell,
To leir to paynt, portour or blasoun,
Thair forme and thayr feyndly fassoun,
Thair vgsum horribiliteis.
Nor git na that schaipis with scheiris,
Thocht infineit he be of geiris,
Maist principaly to schaip thair graith
In hell, for steiling heir of claith,
Can conterfit nor mak it meit,
Ane gabart for a deill compleit;
And git in hell armony ane
That said thai war als trew as stane.
Gif thair be ony in this houss
That beinis the nedill, gorrit the lowss,
I thame beseik thay be nocht wraith
Suppois they clyit haif parte of claith;
Bot seik the causs, and leif the deid,
And blame the scheiris that raif the skreid;
And quha that steilis, and on stowth levis,
Cursit mot thay be amang thir thevis.
Now to the effect ga will I,
And speik of feyndis phantesy,
In court nocht with the quene of fary
But heltaris, heidtailis, sonkis or sadillis,
But butis or spurris, crukis or ladillis,
With full berdis blasand in the wind,
And hett speitis in thair taill behind.
2 I5
22O
225
23O
235
24O
245
25o
218
SIR YOHN ROWLL’S CURSING.
Than Inflar Tasy with his jaggis,
And Belly Bassy with his baggis,
At hellis gettis sall mak sic reirding,
On thir steillaris of geiss sall ding,
That it beis hard in middil erd
The grit flappis with sic faird;
Thunder blastis and fyre sall blaw,
That na devill may ane vthir knaw
For reik, stynk, and bryntstane birnand,
Devillis gelpand, gaipand and girnand ;
Than sall bla Baliall gif ane brattill,
And all the the vis in hell sall startill.
Lyk to ane gaid of yrne or steill
That doun war sinkand in ane weell,
Sa Sall thay ga to endles pane,
And nevir to cum hame agane.
Now Jesu, for thy passioun,
That deit for our redemptioun,
Of mankynd haif mercy sone.
Latt never this sentence fall thame vpone,
Bot grant thane grace ay till forbeir
Resset or stowth of vthir menis geir ;
And als agane the geir restoir
Till Rowle, as I hafe said befoir;
And to repent thay may in tyme,
Pray we to God. Thus endis the ryme.
This tragedy is callit, but dreid,
ROWLIS CURSING, quha will it reid.
255
26o
27,o
275
278
Finis quod ROWLL.
ffinis.
T A Y IS B A N K.
XI.
T A Y I S. B A N K.
TWYSBANK, one of the popular airs mentioned in Col-
kelbie's Sow, has been conjectured" to be the appropriate
tune of the following beautiful song, a conjecture, however,
proceeding entirely on the resemblance of the name to that of
the River Tay, which occurs in the poem ; but still it may
not be inappropriately designated by the title we have given it.
We owe its preservation to the care of George Bannatyne,
in whose MS. collection it is inserted at fol. 229. Although
an affected quaintness has somewhat disfigured it by a re-
dundance of alliteration, yet as a descriptive poem, it is
possessed of considerable merit ; and as few, if any, of the
Scotish songs now extant, are of equal antiquity, it is re-
markable that ‘Tayis bank’ should have escaped the notice
of Ritson, and other collectors of our Lyric poetry. Not
many years since, however, a copy of it appeared in the
British Bibliographer,” to which work it was transmitted
by the late Henry Weber, whose services in publishing,
with great fidelity and care, several of the early Metrical
Romances in our vernacular tongue, have not been duly
appreciated.
From the context of this poem, says Mr Weber, “it ap-
* Leyden, Complaynt of Scotland, Introd. p. 283.
* Vol. iv. p. 186.
TA VVS BAAVK. 22 I
pears to have been composed on a lady of the noble family
of Perth, named Margaret; and it may be conjectured
with almost more than probability, that the subject of the
poem was Margaret, eldest daughter of Sir John Drum-
mond, lord of that ilk, and Stobhall, who is stated to have
been contracted to King James IV. and had a daughter by
him, afterwards married to Alexander, Earl of Huntley.”
Should this supposition respecting the lady be deemed well
founded, the reader may feel some interest in the description
contained in the quotation that is annexed. The poem
itself may unquestionably be attributed to the reign of our
gallant Monarch James IV.
XI.
‘Qſ a pig bank.
UHEN Tayis bank wes blumyt brycht,
With blosomes blyth and bred,
Be that riuer ran I doun rycht,
Vndir the ryss I red;
The merle melit with all hir mycht,
And mirth in mornying maid,
Throw solace, sound, and semely sicht,
Alswith a sang I said.
Vndir that bank, quhair bliss had bene,
I bownit me to abyde;
Ane holene, hevinly hewit grene,
Rycht heyndly did me hyd.
The sone schyne our the schawis schene,
Full semely me besyd;
In bed of blumes bricht besene,
A sleip cowth me Ourslyd.
About all blomet wes my bour
With blosummes broun and blew,
Ourfret with mony fair fresch flour,
Helsum of hevinly hew;
With schakeris of the schene dew schour,
Schynnyng my courtenis schew,
Arrayit with a rich vardour
Of natouris werkis new.
I O
I5
2O
TA PAS BAAVK. 223
Rasing the birdis fra thair rest, 25
The reid sone raiss with rawis;
The lark sang lowd, quhill lycht mycht lest,
A lay of luvis lawis;
The nythingall woik of hir nest,
Singing, ‘The day vpdawis; 3O
The mirthfull maveiss merriest
Schill schowttit throw the schawis.
All flouris grew that firth within,
That man cowth haif in mynd, -
And in that flud all fische with fyn, 35
That creat wer be kynd:
Vndir the rise the ra dyd ryn
Our ron, our rute, our rynd,
The dvn deir dansit with a dyn,
And herdis of hairt and hynd. 4O
Wod winter, with his wallowand wynd,
But weir, away wes went:
Brasit about with wyld wodbynd
Wer bewis on the bent:
Allone vnder the lusty lynd, 45
I saw ane lusum lent,
That fairly war so fare to fynd
Vndir the firmament.
Scho wes the lustiest on lyve,
Allone lent on a land, 5o
And farest figour, be sic fyve,
That evir in firth I fand.
Hir cumly cullour to discryve
I dar nocht tak on hand;
Moir womanly borne of a wyfe 55
Wes neuer, I dar warrand.
To creatur that wes in cair,
Or cauld of crewelty,
T.4 VIS AAAWK.
A blicht blenk of hir vesage bair
Of baill his bute mycht be;
Hir hyd, hir hew, hir hevinly hair
Mycht havy hairtis vphie;
So angelik vnder the air
Neuir wicht I saw with E.
The blosummes that wer blycht and brycht
By hir wer blacht and blew ;
Scho gladit all the foull of flicht,
That in the forrest flew ;
Schomycht haif confort king or knycht
That ever in cuntre I knew,
As waill, and well of wardly wicht
In womanly vertew.
Hir cullour cleir, hir countinance,
Hir cumly cristall ene,
Hir portratour of most plesance
All pictour did prevene.
Off every vertew to avance,
Quhen ladeis prasit bene,
Rychttest in my remembrance
That rose is rutit grene.
This myld, meik, mansuet Mergrit,
This perle polist most quhyt,
Dame Natouris deir dochter discreit,
The dyamant of delyt;
Neuer formit wes to found on feit
Ane figour more perfyte,
Nor non on mold that did hir meit,
Mycht mend hir wirth a myte.
This myrthfull maid to meit I ment,
And merkit furth on mold;
Bot sone within a wane scho went,
Most hevinly to behold;
6o
65
7o
75
8o
85
90
TA WYS BAAVK. 225
The bricht sone with his bemys blent
Vpoun the bertis bold,
Farest vnder the firmament 95
That formit wes on fold.
As parradyce that place but peir
Wes plesant to my sicht;
Of forrest, and of fresch reveir,
Of firth, and fowll of flicht, IOO
Of birdis, bath on bonk and breir,
With blumes brekand bricht,
As hevin in to this erd doun heir,
Hertis to hald on hicht.
So went this womanly away IoS
Amang thir woddis wyd,
And I to heir thir birdis gay
Did in a bonk abyd;
Quhair ron and ryss raiss in aray,
Endlang the reuer syd: I IO
This hapnit me in a tyme in May
In till a morning tyd. -
The reuer throw the ryse cowth rowt
And roseris raiss on raw ;
The schene birdis full schill cowth schowt I 15
Into that semly schaw:
Joy wes within and joy without,
Vnder that w!onkest wavy,
Quhair Tay ran down with stremis stout
Full strecht vnder Stobschaw. I 2 O
ffinis.
“Margaret Drummond, eldest daughter of John Lord
Drummond, was a Lady of rare perfections and singular
P
226 TA VIS BANK. .
beautie. With her, the young King James the 4th was
[so] deeply enamoured, that without acquainting his
Nobles or Council, he was affianced to her in order to
have made her his Queen. But so soon as his inten-
tions were discovered, all possible obstructions were
made both by the Nobility, who designed an allyance
with a daughter of England, as a mean to procure
Peace betwixt the Nations, and by the Clergie, who
declared against the lawfulness of the marriage, because
they were within the degrees of consanguinity forbidden
by the Canon Law. Nevertheless, the King, under
promise, gott her with child, which proved a daughter,
[in the year I497, and was called Lady Margaret
Stewart; but he was so much touched in conscience
for the engagement he had made to the young Lady,
that, notwithstanding the weakness of the Royal family,
he rejected all propositions of marriage, so long as she
lived : for he was crowned in the year I488, at the age of
sixteen, and did not marry untill the year I5O2, when he
was near thirty, and about a year after her death, which
was effected not without suspition of poison, for the
common tradition goes, that a potion was provided in
a breakfast to dispatch her for liberating the King from
his promise, that he might match with England ; but
so it happened that she called two of her sisters, then
with her, Lady Flemyng and a younger [sister] Sybilla,
a maid, whereby it fell out all the three were destroyed
with the force of the poyson. They ly buried in a
curious vault, covered with 3 fair blue marble stones
joined closs together, about the middle of the quyre of
the Cathedrall church of Dumblane: for about this time
the buriall place for the family of Drummond at Inner-
paffray was not yet built. The Monument which con-
tains the ashes of these three lady's stands intire to
this day, and confirms the credit of this sad story.”—
HISTORY OF THE FAMILY OF DRUMMOND. [by William,
Viscount of Strathallan, 1681. MS. folio 188. DRUMM.
CASTLE.
WELC U M TO MAY
XII.
WELC U M TO MAY.
THE finest poetical descriptions of external nature, not
wnusually are found referable to the month of May—‘fair
May,’ (in the words of the gentle Spenser”)—
—‘‘the fairest maid on ground,”
who comes
“Deck’d all with dainties of her Season's pride
And throwing flowers out of her lap around.”
The present poem, which has something of a lyrical char-
acter, is a pleasing specimen, to shew how attentive our
ancient poetical writers were in celebrating the praises
“Of lusty May, that mudder is of flouris.”
It is given from Bannatyne's manuscript,” which likewise
contains the earliest copy of the well-known song ‘O lusty
Maye, of Flora Quene,’ mentioned in the Complaynt of
Scotland, and supposed to have been written by Alexander
Scott.
It is rather singular that in the following poem no allu-
sions should be found to the games and pastimes peculiar
—“to the mery moneth of May
Whan loue lads masken in fresh aray.”
This circumstance might warrant us in fixing the date of
* Faerie Quene, B. vii. 34. * MS. fol. 229 b.
WEM.COM TO MA V. . 229.
tis composition between the year 1555, when all such re-
creations were forbidden by an Act of Parliament,” (which
enjoined, that “gif ony wenen or vihers about simmer
treis singand makis perturbatioun to the Quenis liegis
in the passage throw burrowis and viheris landwart
townis the wenen perturbatouris for skafrie of money
or vtherwise salbe takin handellit and put vpone the
Cukstulis of euerie burgh or towne,”)—and the year 1568,
when the manuscript, from which the poem is given, was
compiled.
* Acts of Parl. vol. ii. p. 500.
XII.
‘80ielcum to ſhap.’
E glaid all ge that luvaris bene,
For now hes May depaynt with grene
The hillis, valis and the medis;
And flouris lustely vpspreidis.
Awalk Out of gour sluggairdy,
To heir the birdis melody;
Quhois suggourit nottis loud and cleir
Is now ane parradice to heir.
Go walk vpoun sum rever fair;
Go tak the fresch and holsum air;
Go luke vpoun the flurist fell;
Go feill the herbis plesand smell;
Quhilk will gour comfort gar incres,
And all avoyd gour havines.
The new cled purpour hevin espy,
Behald the lark now in the sky,
With besy wyng scho clymis on hicht,
For grit joy of the dayis licht.
Behald the verdour fresch of hew,
Powdderit with grene, quhyt, and blew,
Quhairwith dame Flora, in this May,
Dois richely all the feild array;
And how Aurora, with visage pale,
Inbalmes with hir cristal hale
The grene and tendir pylis ging,
Of every gress that dois vpspryng;
IO
I5
2 O
25
WELCUM TO MA Y.
23 I
And with hir beriall droppis bricht
Makis the gresys gleme of licht.
Luk on the saufir firmament,
And on the annammellit orient;
Luke or Phebus put vp his heid,
As he dois raiss his baneris reid;
He dois the eist so bricht attyre,
That all semis birnyng in a fyre;
Quhilk confort dois to every thing,
Man, bird, beist, and flurissing.
Quhairfoir, luvaris, be glaid and lycht,
For schort is gour havy nycht,
And lenthit is gour myrry day,
Thairfoir ge velcum new this May:
And, birdis, do gour haill plesance
With mirry song and obseruance,
This May to velcum at gour mycht,
At fresch Phebus vprysing bricht:
And all ye flouris that dois spreid,
Lay furth gour levis vpoun breid,
And welcum May with benyng cheir,
The quene of euery moneth cleir.
And euery man thank in his mynd
The God of natur and of kynd,
Quhilk ordanit all for our behufe,
The erd vndir, the air abufe,
Bird, beist, flour, tyme, day and nycht,
The planeitis for to gif ws licht.
ffinis.
3O
35
4O
5o
THE
TALE OF COLKELBIE SOW
XIII.
THE TALE OF COLKELBIE SOW.
THE following Tale, which is of considerable antiquity,
is now printed for the first time, from BANNATYNE'S
MANUSCRIPT, preserved in the Library of the Faculty of
Advocates. It is contained in the Fifth part or division
of this valuable Collection, commencing—“Heir followis the
“fyift pairt of this buik, contenying the fabillis of Esop,
“with diuerss vihir fabillis and poeticall workis maid and
“compyld be diuers lernit men, 1568.”
On the back of this Title is the following Address :
§ ‘‘TO THE REDAR.
My freindis thir storeis subsequent,
Albeid bot ſabillis thay present,
3it devyne doctowris of jugement
Sayis thair ar hid, but dowt,
Grave materis wyiss and sapient
Vnder the workis of poyetis gent,
Thairfoir be war that thow consent
To blame thir heir set owt.”
From internal evidence, the date of Cowkelbie Sow, or
Colkelbie, although posterior to Chaucer," evidently ap-
pears, from the Prohemium, to have been written during the
acra of Minstrelsy. With little hesitation, therefore, it may
be assigned to some time previous to the middle of the Fif-
* The first wes the samyn Chantecleir to luke,
Of quhome Chaucer treitis in to his buke.
— Vide stanza 99, part iii.
THE TALE OF COLKE LB/E SO W. 235
teenth Century—since it seems, at least, to have been very
popular considerably anterior to the age of Dowglas and
Dunbar, both of whom flourished in the reign of james IV.
Gawin Dowglas thus enumerates Colkelbie, among other
heroes of romance, represented in the Mirror of Venus—
“I saw Raf Coil;ear with his thrawin brow,
Craibit Johne the Reif, and Auld Cowkewyis Sow.” +
In “Ane interlude of the laying of a Gaist,” a burlesque
poem contained in Bannatyne's manuscript, and printed for
the first time in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, it is
also noticed—
“To reid quha will this gentill geist
3e herd it nocht at Cokilbys feist.””
Dunbar, in his ‘General Satire,’ alludes to the poem in
the following passage—
“Sicknavis and crakkaris to play at cartis and dyce,
Sic halland schekkaris, whilk at Cowkelbyis gryce
Are haldyn of pryce, when lymmaris dois convene.” ”
He also refers to this strange and whimsical rhapsody
(the moral of which, however, is expressed in no obscure
terms) in his poem called “A Remonstrance to the King,”
ll. 6I-68 :—
“And thocht this nobill cunning sort,
Quhom of befoir I did report
Rewardit be, it war bot ressoun
Thairat suld no man mak enchessoun;
Bot quhen the vthir fulis nyce,
That feistit at Colkelbeis gryce
Ar all rewardit, and nocht I,
Than on this fals warld I cry, Fy!”
The humour of this very singular composition, which is
professedly satirical, is certainly coarse, and the versifica-
tion exceedingly irregular. But the poem, although refer-
ring in its allusions (as Dr Leyden has observed) to local
and temporary circumstances, which are not obvious at this
distance of time, throws much light on the manners and
* Palice of Honour, part iii. St. 48. 2 Bann. MS. fol. I 14 b.
p
* Ll. 56-58.
236 THE TALE OF CO/A ELB/E SO W.
rustic festivities of the Scottish peasantry during a very early
period. From the minuteness of its description, it is also
highly illustrative of the music, dances, and musical instru-
ments in common use in Scotland in the Fifteenth Century.
And what adds in no small degree to its interest, is the
consideration, that the names of the greater proportion of
the airs, dances, and songs, enumerated in Colkelbie's Sow,
are otherwise unknown.
No other copy of the poem than that from which the
present transcript was made, is known to exist. In the
Asloan Manuscript, formerly possessed by Sir Alexander
Boswell of Auchinleck, Baronet, alluded to elsewhere in the
present Collection, there appears to have been a copy; but
most unfortunately it has shared the same fate with Ralf
Coilgear, and some others of the curious tales and romances
which that MS. once contained. -
Of the Author of this Popular Tale, there is no trace
whatever in the manuscript; and neither Dr Leyden, who,
tn his learned introduction to the Complaynt of Scotland,
has given various extracts from it, nor any other writer
who notices its existence, seems to have known his name.
The Arms at the end of the Prohemium, of which an accu-
rate facsimile has been made, seem to be those of George
Bannatyne the transcriber, as they very closely correspond
with the Arms of the family of Bannatyne.
The orthography of the manuscript has been strictly fol-
lowed; and no liberties have been taken, with the excep-
tion of a few of the contracted words, the preservation of
which could have answered no good purpose, and would no
doubt have been embarrassing to those unaccustomed to the
perusal of ancient manuscripts.
R. P.
EDINBURGH, Wovember 1821.
[To the above notes by Robert Pitcairn, it may be added
that the scene of the first part of the poem appears to be laid
tn Ayrshire, as the lands of Colkelbie are described in the
Retours as lying in the parish of Stewarton in that county.
The following is an outline of the tale:–A ‘merry’ man
THE TALE OF COLKELBIE SOW. 237
named Colkelbie, who possibly took his name from the lands,
sold a sow for the sum of three pence, and the disposal of the
separate pennies forms the subject of the three parts into which
the poem is divided. -
The first penny fell into a lake, and was found by a
woman, who purchased with it a little pig wherewith to
make a feast. While the guests, however, are assembling,
the pig makes its escape, and afterwards becomes a mighty
boar.
The second part of the poem contains a tale of chivalry,
and in it the scene is transferred to the neighbourhood of
Paris, such disregard of geographical accuracy not being
unusual with the versifiers of the period. When walking
one day by a river, Colkelbie meets a young and beautiful
damsel leading an old man, who tells her story :—A foreign
couple once lived with him who both died suddenly, leaving
their young daughter Adria unprovided for. He adopts
her, and in his blindness she leads him about. Colkelbie
induces the old man to resign Adria to him on his pro-
viding a substitute. He also bestows on him the second
penny. Under the care of Colkelbie's wife Bellamerous,
Adria grew up to be a handsome woman, and Colkelbie's
son Flannislie, a strong man and skilful archer, marries
her. The king of France, happening to visit at their house,
ts struck with the stalwart appearance of Flannislie. He
then makes him a squire of his bodyguard, and gives him a
#. of land. This became the earldom of Flanders or
landria, the name being derived from the first syllable of
Flannislie, and the latter part of the name Adria.
In part three the scene apparently is again shifted to
Scotland. Colkelbie with the third penny purchases twenty-
four eggs, which he offers as a baptismal gift to the son of
his neighbour Blerblowan. The child's mother rejects the
gift as too trifling. Colkelbie, however, hands the eggs
over to one of his domestics, who from them raises such
a stock of poultry, that in fifteen years a thousand pounds
were accumulated, which he presents to his godson, and thus
lays the foundation of an immense fortune.] º
XIII.
#eir begynnig (Coſiteſbit S$om.
[33rohemium.]
Magnificat crownit kingis in maieste,
Princis, duces and marquis curious,
Erlis, barronis and knychttis chevelrous,
And gentillmen of he genolegye, 5
As scutiferris and squieris full courtlye,
Ar assemblit and sett in a ryell se,
With namit folkis of he nobilite,
Thair talk that tyme in table honorable,
Befoir lordingis and ladeis amiable, IO
Is Oft singing and sawis of solace,
Quhair melody is the mirthfull maistrace,
Ermy deidis in auld dayis done afoir,
Croniculis, gestis, storeis and mich moir,
Manestralis amang mvsicianis merely, I5
To haif hairtis in hevinly armony,
So semis it weill that Suthly so war ay.
Quhat is the warld without plesance or play,
Bot passionale 2 Than lat ws mak sum sport
And recreatioun the cumpany to confort. 2O
Wold my lordis do se quho wold begin it 2
Quho sall furthschaw or quho sall first fall in it 2
Quho with discreit correctioun of gow
Bot I, quho hath begune this mater now.
Q UHEN riallest, most redowttit and he
THE TALE OF COLKELBIE sow. 239
For begynnyng without end quhat availis, . 25
Bot lyk a tre flureist quhair the fruct falis,
To quhich all man of quhat estait he be
With recent mynd suld evir haif his E,
Nocht to begin flureist and syne decress,
The langir lyfe the gud loss than to cess 2 3O
Quhat salbe said bot at his ending he
Frome on fair ymp fell doun a widderit tre;
The lyfe is gone, the loss lesting is lost,
The begynnyng thay say was bot a wost.
Quhairfoir ge men most honorable at all, 35
Quhich eternall wald haif memoriall,
Gyd gow. So that first gour God plesit be,
And obtene name and wirchep quhen ge de;
And quho will nocht eftir his gudly powere
Considering his estait go profess him a mertere, 4o
Or sustene lak, so may he lyknit be
A fair flureiss fadit in a falty tre;
All be my self is this symylitude,
Suld I begin to sport and nocht conclude,
Than wold ge all belyve say, “Lo him gondir, 45
That set to bourd and left it in a blondir.”
Quhairfoir I will say of my fantesy
Sum Solasing to glaid this cumpany;
Bot, for Godis luve and his appostill Petir,
Pardoun the fulich face of this mad metir. 5O
Sen the sentence to feill is fantastike
Lat the lettir and langage be such like;
Sen all the world changis so mony facis
I trest I will cast caissis vpon caisis.
And so lat sequhat cais ge think most nyce. 55
Wisdome vmquhile holdis the nycest wys,
So that it be sport in discretioun,
Without odius crewale comparisoun.
Perticular malice and all such thing removit,
The wyss nycest the wisest quhile is provit, 6o
For quhich, knawing myne vnsufficience
To be comprysit perticiane with prudence,
I propone, nocht as wiss presumpteouss,
24O THA, 7.4 LA, OF CO/CATAE / B/E SO W.
BQt rathir sport myne awin spereit to reioss,
And my lordis to heir that will deden; 65
Now I begin with Titill est, Amen.
EXPLICIT PROHEMIUM
ET SEQUITUR PRIMA PARS.
[jitt jirgt.]
EIR I gife gow caiss,
Vmauhile a merry man wais
Callit Cokkelbe:
He had a simple blak sow,
And he sald hir, bot how, - 5
For penneis thre, as eftir ge may see;
L. 6. “As eftir 3e may see,” are added in the manuscript, perhaps by
the same hand, but evidently written with different ink,

THE TALE OF COLR EZAME SO VV. 24. I
And verrely as I hard
Thus the mony he ward;
THE FIRST PENNY of the thre
For a girle gaif he ; - IO
The secund fell in a furde;
The thrid he hid in a hurde.
Now quhilk penny of the thre
Wes best bestowit, say ge?
The lost penny wes vplesit, I5
The girle for the tyme plesit;
Bot the penny that wes hid,
I hold leist gude did ;
For in old prouerbe we sing,
Cumis littill gud of gaddering, 2O
Quhair wrechit awerice birnis, *
Hyding hurdis in to hirnis,
And knawis nevir quhome till,
Latting wirschep to go will.
Gret laubor is to get geir, 25
And to conserue it is feir,
And moir angir is to leiss
Thir thre peruerst propirteiss,
I find in skarss keping,
And auaritious wynnyng, 3O
Quhair mesur is nocht maistress,
Bot gaddering for gredeness.
The hid penny, thinkis me,
Wes werst bestowit of the thre,
For it waiss fro the vse of man; 35
Lat warldis gudis go than, A.
With messur and merines.
3it thair is moir of this cais,
The penny lost in the lak
Wes fundin and vptak, 4O
And he that fand it did by
With the samyn penny
L. Io. “Maid” on the margin, and the word “girle” put within
brackets.
Q
242
TAZAE 7.4 LP, OA’ COLR ELAE/E SO W.
A littill pig for his prow
Off Kolkelbeis sow.
A harlot wynnit neir by,
And schowald mak a mangery,
And had no substance at all,
Bot this pur pig stall,
To furniss a gret feist,
Withouttin stufe, bot this beist.
And git scho callit to hir cheir
On apostita freir,
A peruerst perdonair
And practand palmair,
A wich and a wobstare,
A milygant and a mychare,
A fond fule, a fariar,
A cairtar, a cariar,
A libbar and a lyar,
And riddill revar,
A Tuttivillus, a tutlar,
And a fangeit flatterar,
A forfarn falconar,
A malgratious millare,
A berward, a brawlar,
And ane aip ledar,
With a cursit custumar,
A tratlar, a tinklar,
And mony vthir in that hour
Off all evill Ordour.
First with a fulisch flour,
An ald monk, a lechour,
A drunkin drechour,
A dowble toungit counsalour,
A trumpour, a trvcour,
A hangman, a hasardour,
A tyrant, a tormentour,
A truphane, a tratlour,
A faynit nigramansour,
L. 43. “Gryce’ on the margin, written in the same hand.
45
5o
55
6o
65
7o
75
THE 7.4 LE OF CO/CATELB/E SO W. 243
A japer, a juglour, 8o
A lase that lufis bot for lour,
And a man merrour,
An evill wyffis mirrour,
In all thair semblance sour
With a noyefull nychtbour, 85
A lunatik, a sismatyk,
An heretyk, a purspyk,
A lumbard, a lolard,
Ane vsurar, a bard, g
Ane ypocreit in haly kirk, 9 O
A burn grenge in the dirk,
A schipman on se and sand,
That takis lyfe and gud on hand,
And knawis nowthir courss nor tyd,
Bot presumpteouss in pryd, 95
Practing no thing expert,
In cunnyng, Cumpass, nor kert,
A skeg, a scornar, a skald,
A balestrod and a bald,
An vnthrifty dapill man, IOO
A rebald, a ruffian,
A murderer of leil men,
A revischer of wemen ;
And two lerit men thame by,
Schir Ockir and Schir Symony, Io 5
3it mony in a grit rout
For lak of rowme stud about.
Now wald I wit at this feste
Quho fure best of this beste;
I hald the folk best fure, IIo y
That stud fer without the dure
Fro this cursit Cumpany,
And mensles mangery.
3it of this caiss thair is moir,
The puir pig gaif a rore, II 5
Him to kill quhen thay pynit;
So soir the silly pig quhrynit,
Quhill all the swyn thairabout
244
THE TA/A OF CO/LATE/CAEAE SO W.
Ruschit furth in a rout.
I keip nocht now to commoun
All beistes for to blassoun
Of thair diuerss naturis,
Complexionis and cullouris,
Quhom the law levis ete,
Or quho Suld be no manis meit;
Nor of the foulis of the are,
How sum with closs feit thay fare,
And sum diuidit the nalis;
Nor of the fische with thair scalis.
All this I set asyd now,
Haif at Cokilbeis sow ;
For to say the verite,
Luvand beistis swyne be,
Contrair houndis nature;
For brawle doggis at the dure
All settis on the sory hound,
That lyis euir at the grund,
And he that cryis most and roris
Ourthrawin, schent and most soiris,
All the remanent him ruggis,
Sum be leggis, sum be luggis,
Thay are luving to men,
Bot nocht to thane self than,
For wo is him that hes royne;
Bot nocht so of the Swyne,
And on of thame be ourthrawin,
That his cry may be knawin,
All the remanent that heiris
Cumis in thair best maneiris,
To reskew as thay may ;
So did thay this day.
That sowis sonis hard I nevir
Win so grit wirschep for euir,
For Stiftapill all the store
Ruschit out with a rore.
This pig, quhen they hard him,
Thay come golfand full grim ;
I 2 O
I 25
I 30
I 35
I4O
I45
I 5o
I 55
THE TALE OF COLREZAP/E SO W.
245
Mony long tuthit bore
And mony galt come befoir,
And mony grit gunnald,
Gruntillot and gamald,
Wrotok and Writhneb,
Hogy evir in the eb,
With the halkit hoglyn,
Suelly Suattis Swankyn,
Baymell bred in the bog,
Hog hoppit our hog;
Mage of the Milhill,
Grom Gym of the Gill,
The suddill sow and the sord,
Reid Kit that oft rord,
Patypull of the Pappourtis;
And Knvtknot of the Kuppourtis,
The gray, the gorot and the grym ;
Hurlhekill hoblit with him,
Sigill Wrigill our sow,
Gret bore Tusky the grow ;
Mony galt, mony gilt,
Come let the pig to be spilt.
Rowch rumple out ran,
Weill mo than I tell can,
With sick a din and a diróly,
A garray and a hirdy girdy,
The fulis all afferd wer,
And the harlot hurt thare
With bair Tuskyis tuth.
And for to say the verry suth,
In that fellon affray
The littill pig gat away,
And ilk bore and ilk beist
Defoulit the fulis of the feist; ~/
Sum mokit, mengeit and merrit;
Thus wer thay fro the meit skerrit.
Is nocht this a nyce caiss 2
Bot git a fer werss it waiss;
A new noyment and nois
I 6o
I 7o
I 75
I8o
185
I90
I95
246
THE TALE OF CO/CATE LB/E SOW.
With a rumour vprois,
That of that caiss to degest,
It mycht be callit a tempest,
For all the suynis awnaris
Said, seilis how the fulis fairis,
And seis so curst a Cumpany,
Herand thair awin Swyne cry,
With thir myligantis machit,
Afferd the fulis had thame kachit,
As to steill thame away,
Than dyn raiss and dirray,
Stok hornis blew stout,
Mony on ischit out,
Gilby on his gray meir,
And Fergy on his sow fair
Hoge Hygin by the hand hint;
And Symy that was some brint,
With his lad Loury,
And his gossep Gloury;
Fergy in frunt past,
And Fynny followit him fast;
Thurlgill thrang till a club
So ferss, he flaw in a dub,
Quhill Downy him abak drewgh ;
Than Rany of the Reidhewch
With Gregry the bowman,
For lufe of his leman
Licht lap at a lyn;
He felgeit and he fell in,
And Hoge was sa haisty,
That he sualterit him by,
Quhill Thoby cariour him tuk
To land with a scheip cruk.
Schipirolis schowit to schore,
And Fergy Flitsy geid befoir,
Chiftane of that cheif chak,
A ter stowp on his bak,
With his lad Luddroun,
And his hound Hunddroun;
2 OO
2O5
2 I C)
2 I 5
22 O
225
230
235
7THE ZOAZAZ OA’ CO/LATEZAF/E SO VAZ.
247
Mony schiphird with him is,
Fro brokis, brois and brymmis,
Off two ram crukit hornis
Thair baner on a birk born is,
With Barmyberd thair banerman,
And his cousing Cachran.
Thair menstrall Diky Doyt
Fur befoir with a floyt;
Than dansit Doby Drymouth
The some schene in the Sowth,
And as thay lukit on a lee
Thay saw an vthir menge.
Than all thay fled full afferd,
And the maister schipherd,
Fergy Flitsy, befoir
Thocht wes litill on his store,
His feit maid sic dynnyng,
He lakkit breth for rynning.
“How,” quod Hobby, “herk me,
We neid nocht to fordin fle,
3one folk our awin freindis ar,
I knaw be thair banar.”
Than wer thay nevir half so fane,
And glaidly turnit all agane,
And knew be thair array,
That all nolt hirdis wer thay
That ischit out to the cry,
And thair banar borne by,
Of Crumhorne the cowis taill,
Festnitt on a lang flaill.
Besyd thair capitane, I trow,
Callit wes Colyne Cuckow,
And Davy Doyte of the dale
Was thair mad menstrale,
He blew on a pype he,
Maid of a borit bourtre;
Waytstath him by
Dansit ane dandy. *
The thrid fallowschip he saw,
24O
245
25o
255
26o
265
27,o
48
7"HE 7.4/A2 OF CO/CATAE/LP/E SO W.
That thay windir weill knaw,
The swynehirdis in a rowt,
And Sueirbum with his snowt
Wes captane of thame thair,
And borne wes his banair,
Vpoun a schule for to Schaw,
A flekkit sowis skyn faw,
With terletheris tyit hy.
Quho bur it bot Botgy,
And Clarus the long clype
Playit on a bag pype.
Haggysheid and Helly,
Ballybrass and Belly
Dansit, and his Sone samyn.
Than all assemblit with a gamyn,
And all the menstralis attonis
Blew up and playit for the nonis;
Schiphird, nolt hirdis,
And swynhirdis outgirdis,
For to dance merily.
A maistir Swynhird Swanky,
And his cousing Copyn Cull,
Fowll of bellis fulfull,
Led the dance and began
Play us joly lemmane,
Sum trottit Tras and Tremass,
Sum balterit The Bass,
Sum Perdowy, sum Trolly lolly,
Sum Cok craw thow quhill day,
Twysbank and Terway,
Sum Lincoline, Sum Lindsay,
Sum joly lemman, dawis it nocht day,
Sum Be 50m wodsyd singis,
Sum Late, laite on evimmyngis,
Sum joly Martene with a mok,
Sum Lulalow, lute cok,
Sum bekkit, sum bingit,
Sum crakkit, sum cringit,
Sum movit Most mak revell,
275
28o
285
29O
295
3OO
305
3 IO
THE TAZAZ OF COZATE LB/E SOW.
249
Sum Symon sonis of Quhynfell,
Sum Maister Peir de Congate,
And vthir sum in consate,
At leser drest to dance.
Sum Ourfute, sum Orliance,
Sum Rusty bully with a bek,
And Every note in viheris nek,
Sum vsit the dansis to deme
Of Cipres and Boheme,
Sum the faitis full garne
Off Portingall and Naverne,
Sum countirfutit the gyss of Spane,
Sum Italy, sum Almane,
Sum noisit Napillis anone,
And vthir sum of Arragone,
Sum The Cane of Tartary,
Sum The Soldane of Surry,
All his dansis defynd,
Sum Pretir johine of grit Ynd,
Sum as the Ethiopis vsit,
Sum futit and sum refusit,
Sum had dansis mony ma,
With all the dansis of Asia;
Sum of Affrickis age, -
And principale of Cartage.
Thair pressit in Pery Pull,
Full of bellis fulfull,
Maister Myngeis The Mangeis,
Maister Tyngeis La tangeis,
Maister Totis La toutis,
And Rousty rottis the routis,
Maister Nykkis La nakkis
And Sir Jakkis La jakk[is],
The Haryhurlere husty,
And Calby the curst custy.
Mony laddis, mony lownis,
Knowf, knois, kynnis, culrownis,
Curris, kenseis and knavis
Inthrang and dansit in thravis;
3I 5
32O
325
33O
335
34O
345
35o
25o
THE TAZAZ OF COLKELBIE SO W.
With thame Towis the mowis,
And Hary with the reid howis.
Than all arrayit in a ring
Dansit My deir derling,
And all assentit in a sop
To The vse of Ewrop;
That for so much thay beleuit,
That expert and weill preuit
Thay war in the Est warld,
As is heir breuly ourharld.
Thay conclud the vse plane
Of ylandis in occiane,
And of the fermeland of France,
And how the Empriour dois dance
Suesis in Suauia syne,
And als the Reuir of Ryne,
Off Bretane the brod Ile,
Off Yrland and Argyle,
Burgone and Breband,
Hanyngo and Holland,
Flanderis, Freisland, and eik
Brandeburcht and Broinsweik,
Dittmer and Baywer,
Pruce, Poill and Pomer,
Lubwick land and Lunaburcht,
Malestrand and Makilburcht,
The Steidis Sevin and Sevinty,
And all boindis thame by,
The Rerall and Rusland,
Sclauia and Gotland,
Denmark and Norroway.
All thair dansis and play
Thay movit in thair mad muting,
And all thay falit in futing,
For merrit wes thair menstralis,
Thair instrumentis in tonis felis,
And all thair plat pure pansis
Coud nocht the fete of ony dansis
Bot such thing as affeiris
355
360
365
37O
375
38o
385
390
THE 7.4/A2 OF COLKEZLBIE SO W.
25 I
To hirdis and their maneiris;
For thay hard speik of men gud,
And small thairof vndirstud,
Bot hurlit furth vpoun heid,
A Copyne Cull coud thame lede.
And so thay wend thay weill dansit,
And did bot practit and pransit,
And quhen thay had all done,
It was a tratlyng out of tone.
Than thay began for to chyd,
Quhill Quhorlorehusty cryd,
Ceiss this brangling and bere,
Remembir quhy ge come here,
That ilk knave and ilk cust
Comprysit Horlorehust,
For a witte man commendit,
And thus thair dansing thay endit.
And so concluding thay past
To thair maisteris als fast,
The silly pig to reskew,
All the samyn ar thay met trew;
Be than wes machit on mold
Als mony as thay wold;
Lord God, so lowd as thay cryd,
Full oft the fulis thay defyd,
And on thane semblit attonis,
Bot thair wes breking of bonis;
Hold how he wes heir
Thay chace with a fresch cheir,
Fyll on the foirsaid sottis,
And ourthrew all the yaiottis,
Both of the swyne and the men.
Be this ge may weill ken
That foly is no sapience,
For multitud in negligence
He seldin palme of victory,
Bot God and gud wit gy;
And all this grit brawling,
Babling and vthir thing,
395
4OO
405
4 IO
4I 5
42O
425
43O
252
THE 7.4/A2 OF CO/CATE/AAA SO W.
Wes for a pig as ge hard sayn,
3it he eskapit vnslane.
Now juge as ge list by,
For this is bot a fantesy,
And littill poynt of poetry,
Bot sport to mak ws mirry;
And git this is a strange caiss,
Bot eftirward this pig waiss
Growin to a grit boir.
Lo, such is this warldis glore,
Now law, now he,
Nothing stable we se
In this warld of variance,
3it fell a caiss and new chance.
This pig, quhen he a boir wes,
Off micht he grew maikles,
As to fecht for awant
With antelop or oliphant,
Tiger, pard or pantere,
Bull, wolf or wyld bere,
With the awfull vnicorne,
Nor ony beist that wes borne;
For he faucht wichtly with Wad,
And with Melliager mad,
With anterouss Hercules
He did a battell in pres,
And huntit was in the plane
Befoir the goddes Dyane,
Bot he eskapit harmeles,
And killit hundis in the chase.
The rich king of Sydon
And his knychtis ilk on,
For thir bere afferd wer,
For vmduhile he wonit thair,
And gaif a battell curious
To Eglamoir of Artherus.
The vgly worme nevir so weill preuit
Quhill this bald bore leuit,
Nor git as I vndirstand
435
44O
445
45o
455
460
465
THE TALE OF COLRELAE/E SOW.
253
The dragone in the Holy Land.
Is nocht this a nyce cais,
That first this pig so pure waiss,
And in so mony dengeris,
He eskapit with weris 2
3e may consaue be this twich,
That oft of littill cumis mich,
To contempt a small fo,
Quhill he haith grace to ryd or go
At liberty and fredome,
I hold it no wisdome,
Or for loif of pennyis
To suffer honour perreis.
And thus is the cais endit
Of the penny that wes spendit,
That grew to so grit priss;
Scarss spending skathis gentriss.
Thus haif I tald gow a caiss
To sett gow in Solaiss,
For our exceding study
May causs quhyle malancoly;
• Thairfoir to mak ws mirryar
Thus did my fantesy fair,
And this hirdy girdy I,
And dirdy, cry gow mercy.
ffinis.
47.o
475
48o
485
490
254 THE TALE OF COLR ELBIE SOW.
[jitt $zcount.]
FF thir mokking meteris and mad matere,
3our he reuerence, humly eft I requyre
All ge hereris pardoun with pacience
My noyous noyiss nycetie and negligence;
And to satisfie my foirsaid symple dyte, 5
In recompance of it now will I wryte
Of the SECUND PENNY, ffor the girle cost,
How it did thryve that onis was thrall half lost.
A geir eftir, walking in his disport
By a rever, Cokelby saw resort IO
Ane auld blind man with a pretty maid,
Nocht twelf geir old * I hold of age scho haid;
Bot suth to say scho was nocht lyk to be
A wordly wicht, so windir fair wes sche;
So weill nurtourit as scho had nurischeit bene I5
In closter or court, dochter to kyng or quene.
Innocentlie scho salust on hir kne
This carlage man, this foirsaid Colkelbe;
3it for to tell the werray treuth of it,
He was ane man boith of substance and wit, 2O
And said, “Dochter, haue Goddis blyssing and myne.”
The auld man askit le pour amour deuine
Cherite, and he said, “Father, cum to my houss.”
He had him home and gaif him fair almouss,
And intentlie inquireit quhair he had 25
Gottin that fair innocent gudelie maid,
And gif scho war his dochter or kyn to say.
He said, “Suithlie scho is nother parfay;
Bot one palmar, ane honest man was he,
One aliane come frome begond the se, 3O
1 MS. hold.
7THE TALE OF COLATEZA/E SO W. 255
With his awin wyf, a blyssit createur,
Lougeit with me, suppoiss that I be peur,
And throuch the will of God, so as it was,
Thay war weseit with suddane soir seikness,
And deceissit thairin boith in ane hour; 35
This little maid, this tender createur,
Was thair dochter, and beluiffit with me,
That leiddis me now sence myself may nocht se.”
Colkelbe said, “I beleif it is so,
Bot quhat cuntre that ewer thai folk come fro, 4O
It semis thai war of kynreid full potent,
Be the dochteris feris this innocent.
Bot, guid father, gif that ge wald aggree
To lat the maid remane heir still with me
For hir honour, and elss so wald I reid gow, 45
Bot gesall haif ane boy of myne to leid gow.”
The blynd man said, “Thre soneis at home I haue,
And war I thair no moir gyding I crawe,
Bot for the maide hath bene a quhill with me,
And ge hir haue I suld the better be.” 5o
Cokkelby said, “I had thre pennyis round,
The first wes lost onys in a lak and found,
And with it coft a pig sum callis a gryss,
Quhich increscit to he wirschip and pryss,
Somervellous mony men of him reidis; 55
He wes the caus of feill ferlifull deidis,
As his legend beris witness, luke quho so list;
The secound penny I haif heir in my fist,
On lyis in hurd ; this is the caiss of thane;
Thre silly pennyis Suthly I hald the same. 6o
The said secound penny I sall gife the
For this goung maid, gif that thow will and sche,
With my favouris in tyme to cum also: ”
Thay agreit, and thus I lat thame go.
This Colkelby nvreist hir in his houss, 65
Quich grew so fair and verry verteouss,
So gentill in all his gestis and appliable,
L. 56. The words “the caus” are repeated by mistake in the manu-
script.
256 THE TALE OF COLKE/LB/E SOW.
And sobir in Seruice and amiable,
That all that hir saw thay luvit hir as thair lyfe,
And specialy this Colkelbeis wyfe, - 7o
A worschepfull woman in to hir houss,
Thay callit hir to name Bellamorouss.
Betuix hir and hir husband Colkelby
Thay had a sone callit Flannislie ;
Galland he wes and gud in all his feir, 75
And of all vtheris odly the best archeir
In ony land, rycht wirschepfull and wyse,
Big of bonis, a strong man of dewyse.
And, as his fader and moder did oft espy,
He coppeit this gong wench attentely 8o
In his consait with sad degestioun,
Hir most plesand perfyt pure persoun,
Hir fresche figour formyt, of forme and face,
Gevin to all gud, fulfillit of Godis grace,
That all bonty and bewty that mycht be 85
Worthy compryssis thairof anewch had sche.
He lovit so weill thair was non vthir,
Bot with consent of freindis, fadir and moder,
He weddit hir to wyfe, wit ge for ay.
This amiable innocent Adria 90
Wes callit to name, and this in France fell
Into the first orising of it to tell,
Or it prevelit planeist and popelus,
Quhair now Pareiss citie is situat thus.
This Colkelby wonit thair, quhair the caiss 95
Of the pig, fulis, and all that foirsaid was,
Till on a tyme that he France the king
Roid to vesy the boundis thair as regne :
And in the place thair as Cokkelby dwelt,
A man of stoir with such thing he delt, IOO
For than non could haif craft cornis to win ;
That king of mycht lugit in to his In, .
And on the morne a grit schoting thay did cry,
Quhair Flanislie our all wan victory.
The king saw him so big a man and strang, Io 5
And gudly als, to tary gow nocht lang,
THE TALE OF COLREZ. BIE SO W. 257
For his body a squyer he him maid;
And in his weiris so weill he him behaid,
He was maid knycht in court to continew;
And than he send for his fair lady trew, I IO
Dame Adria, quhome the king did commend
In his chalmer vpoun the quene to attend ;
Best belouit and most perfyte wes sche,
For hiſr] gestis and bewtie and bontie,
Our all the laif the ladeis that thair ware. II5
And Flannislie so weill in weiris him bare,
That the king eftir maid him erle ryall,
And a cornar of a cuntre seuerall,
Nocht than invent inhabit as it lay,
Gaif him be seile heretable for ay, I 2 O
Quhich he plenyssit with peple and polesy,
And namit it eftir him and his lady,
This is to say Flannislie and Adria,
His hole erldome callit Flandria,
Flan fra the first sillab of Flannislie, I 25
And Dria drevin fra Adria the fre,
The quhich famousserldome of Flanderis ay
Haldis of Frankland and Duchpeir to this day.
Off the secound penny thus come grit grace
With correctioun, and this I call a cace; I3o
I reid nocht this in story autentyfe,
I did it leir at ane full auld wyfe, .
My gritgraundame, men callit hir Gurgunnald ;
Scho knew the lyfe of mony faderis ald,
Notable gestis of peax and weiris in storye, I 35
Fresche in hir mynd and recent of memorye,
Nochtwithstanding scho was weill sett in eild;
Hir aige I hald of sevin scoir of winteris heild,
And saw sumdeill; bot for to say the suth,
Into hir heid I trest was nocht a tuth, I4O
Thairfoir grwew most gredely eit sche,
And laking teith famvlit hir faculte,
That few folk mycht consaue hir mvmling mowth,
L. 141. The word “grwew’’ in the manuscript seems unintelligible.
Perhaps it is an error of the transcriber for “grwell.”
R
258 THE TAZAZ OA; CO/LR EZ B/E SG) W.
Bot I that was expert thairin of gowth.
Than wald I say scho had grit grace of God; I45
“Quhy so,” quod scho, “my son?” and maid a nod.
“Madame,” quod I, “for thair be mony wyffis
Throw haboundance of spech that nevir tryffis,
And I wald chenge, mycht it be at my reid,
For a gud toung all the teith in thair heid ; I5o
As gear now, so suld thay nocht be nemit
Skaldis, baldis, and thairthrow schent and schamit.”
Than angrit scho and said, “Sanct Johne to borrow !
Thow lichit boy, thow menis mekle sorrow,
And sall do moir gife thow in lyfe may byd.” I55
“Madame,” quod I, “that tak I on gour syd.”
Than wald scho preiss bett me in angry wyss,
Bot weill was me, scho mycht nocht ryn nor ryss,
And I wald vp and wisk away full wyld;
Than wald scho flattir, “Cum in agane my chyld, 160
And thow sall haif, lo, standing in the skelf,
Quheit breid and reme, conservit for my self.”
Than sett scho me to leir littill at the scule,
Nowdir lyk to be a wysman nor a fule,
And oft with pyne scho maid me to report I65
Of hir tailis; and to conclud in schort,
Scho said, “My sone be this said taill thou sall
Lerne fyve wittis, and the first of thame all
Is to concidder of fulis the foly;
Set in nummer thay ryss and multeply, I70
Thay may nevir moir fruct in felicity,
Thair ignorance requyris nocht it so be ;
Experience and testimoniall
Off the saidis fulis, my sone, consaif thow sall,
That a pure pig in thair possessioun I 75
Thay had, and tuk for ferme conclusioun
To kill the samyn, and mak of it a feist;
And syne thay war ourthrawin, most and leist,
For sory swyne for thair golfing affraid,
Till that the pig brak fra thame in a braid, 18o
And syne knavis ourcome thame with a crye;
Thairfoir, my sone, fra sic fulich foly,
THE TALE OF COLKELBIE SOW.
259
And fallowschip, keip the, for the first wit.
The secund is, my sone, will thow lerne it,
Presome nevir bot povert may prewaill,
Be it rychtwiss, aganis men of grit availl,
185
That ar nocht wyiss, bot wranguss in thair deidis,
In cais thai mak the quhiles vexit at nedis;
Witnes this pig, Sone, be experience,
That was fangit in the fulis offence,
To be killit, and recouerit agane
To so grit grace, as is foirsaid certaine.
Thairfoir, my sone, leif nocht thy gud quarrell
For apperance of dangeris and parrell,
For be thow just God sall thy juge be
In all perrellis, and weill deliuer the ;
And the danger passit, thow art alss sure
As evir thow was, and stranger in nature,
To aventure agane in richtowsnace.
Bot quho so will cowardly hyd his face
In defens of his just actioun,
Quhen he trestis him for such fowll affectioun
Most in surty suppressit sone sal he be,
Quhair the richtouss frome all feir sall go fre.
Lychtly nevir thy gud querrell for feir
Off all perellis, dowt, domage or dangeir,
Suld it so be, nevir suld mertirdome
Fortefie fath, nor win the sege of Rome;
Quho that surest dois keip him Sonest dois slyd,
Bot gud quarrell and grace God be thy gyd.
The thrid wit is, my sone, gif thow will ken,
Quhair evir thow seis grit wit in virtewiss men,
Thocht thay be pure, auld or gong specialy,
Contempne thame nocht Sone, and lo the quhy,
This maid, this girle, this pure Adria, wes
3oung, faderles leuit, and eik moderles,
In strenge lond, and git the Holy Gost
Vpliftit hir for wit to wirschep most ;
And in lykwayiss hir lord Erle Flannysle.
Quho wold haif thane opprest for thair pouirtel
Remembir now in such hicht as thay are,
I9o
I95
2 OO
2O5
2 I O
2 I 5
22 O
26o 7A7A2 7.4 ZAZ OA’ CO/CATA: /APNA, SO W.
Quhat may thay do to thair party contrare,
Thay may weill quyt and Ouirthraw thame at all ;
Dispyss nevir wyiss vertewis in purall.
The ferd wit is, lat nevir thy penny be,
Nor warldis gud, my sone, mastir of the ;
For littill thing weill spendit may incres
To he honour, wirschep and gritt riches,
As did thir tuo pennyis spendit weill
Vpoun the pig and the pure damesell.
I neid no moir of thame to multeply,
Thow knawis befoir how thay did fructefy,
Thairfoir hald nocht pennyis our pretiouss,
Bot suffer thame pass prospering commodiouss.
Forsuth a tyme a penny thow may spend,
That may awaill the to thy lyvis end.
Thairfoir, my sone, gife thow thinkis to indure,
Spend with mesure for luk, wit and mesure.
The fyift wit is, my Sone, set nevir thy harte
To mak an hurd, suffering honour by starte,
For littill watt thow how sone that thow may slid
Frome it slely, or it fra the to glid;
And at the leist in the hurd quhill it lyis,
It servis nowdir the warld nor multeplyis,
And gif thow deis it is vnknawin to men;
In avarice quhat cheir is with the then 2
For quich this man, this worthy Colkelby,
That in his dayis gat nevir bot pennyis thre,
Saw two thryve weill, and the thrid did nocht,
Incontinent that penny out he brocht,
And awowit to God in solempnit word,
That he suld nevir study to mak ane hord.
Rycht so, my sone, I chairge the to dude,
Spend with wirchep and spair nocht Godis gud :
How littill wat thow ane vair tyme quho may
Bruk thy wyfe and baggis eftir thy day.”
Thus Gurgunnald, my grit grandame, me kend ;
Haif I myssaid in ocht I sall amend.
EXPLICIT
SECUNDA PARS.
225
23o
235
24O
25o
255
THE TAZAZ OF COLATEZA/E SO IV. 26 I
[jitt (Thirt.]
ND with pardoun now of gour he lordschippis,
And correctioun of gour reuerend maisterschippis,
Heir wald I tell of THE THRID HID PENNY,
As I haif told gow two did fructefy.
This Cokelby concidering weill the cais, 5
That of wrechit awarice grew nevir grace,
Having in hairt the hole experience,
How that the two pennyis raiss in ascenss,
Thocht he wald preve the thrid penny quhyle hid,
Quhilk for the tyme no fruct nor proffeit did, I O
To suffer it spreid in warld and fructefy,
And gif sum folk wald say that I go by,
How suld a penny fruct contrair nature,
Sen gold, siluer, mettell, and alkyn vre
Fynit be folkis, vanisis and nocht incressis, I5
Sum wold allege my lewit langage a less is,
Bot, or I waid moir in this wildirnas,
Off such weir I will declair the cass.
Quhill that the vre is in the awin nature,
And nocht fynit nor forgit be manis cure, 2O
So long the forss of the four elementis,
And most the erth mynisteris it nvtrimentis
To incressing as herbis, stone or tre,
Frome thair orising stok cuttit quhill thay be,
And frome thair ferm first rutit grund dewydit, 25
Thay may nocht than be natur so abscidit,
Do fructifie and flureiss as afoir,
Lyk as a man heidit he may no moir,
Bot that the saule throw grace of God only,
In spirituall joyis only dois fructefy. - 3O
So the mettell, abscidit be the man,
Nocht fructefeis of nature, bot quhat than 2
262 THE TALE OF COLKELBIE SO W.
Manly resoun, and wit of Godis gift
Fyndis menis the money to vplift,
And multeply in moir memor and mycht,
Than evir it did in erd quhill it plycht.
For quhy, so long as it lay on the ground,
It was vnfynit as fruct nevirmoir found,
And quhan it was vptak be manis wit,
Throw out the warld alway welcome wes it,
And set in cas and menissit alyte,
Vsit and handlit be men, git quhair a myte
Failis thairof manis wit bringis agane
A thowsand pundis fynit out of vris plane;
The examplis that quhoso hath a vertew,
Vss it wysly oft syiss ten frome it grew.
And in schort my long legend quho so lestis,
The euwangell the trewth thairof attestis,
Goddis awin word, quhich tuk frome on fule man
A pure penny having no moir as than,
And gaif the wyss that had ten pennyis tald;
Bot quhy was that ? for the fule man no wald
Dispone wysly his penny, bot abuss it,
Hyd it, and he that had ten weill tham vsit,
Thairfoir God tuk frome the vnverteouss men
A penny, and gaif to the gud having ten ;
Rycht so he that has science and it abusis,
Nocht following fast the fruct, bot it refusis,
God will it geif to him that hes far moir.
I cast me nocht alday to gloiss in gloir,
Or to langar legendis that ar prolixt,
Thairfoir I turne vnto my first text,
As to declair the thrid penny, quhyle hid,
Eftir out brocht, and gydit grace it did,
As followis heir, quho lykis to advert,
Throw consaitis of Colkelby expert;
Lyk to sede sawin in erd mortificat
Fflouris money fructis viuificat,
Lyk martiris killit, off quhome the mirreitis rysis,
Sanctis in hevin quhome sinfull man supprysis;
And herkynnis how, besyd this Colkelby,
35
4O
45
5o
55
6o
65
7o
THE TA/LAE OF COLKEZ. B/E SOW. 263
Thair duelt a man was rich of stoir and fie,
Quhair Bodyvincant castell standis now in plane,
His big nychtbour men callit him Blerblowane;
A wirthy wyfe had he weddit, and sche 75
Was callit Susane, on quhome a Sone gat he,
And Colkelby was gossep to the same,
And he callit him Cokalb to his rycht name.
Colkelby with the said thrid penny bocht
xxiiijhen eggis, and with thame Socht 8o
To his gud sone, for godfadirly reward,
Him to remembir, as schawit is eftirward.
Susan angrit heirat, as oft woman is,
Quhile passionat that all consaitis kennis,
Tuk in disdane this gift, this symple thing, 85
And said, “Gossap, bein hame gour pure offring;
Menege to mok my Sone and me, no moir
I will heirof, fure it away thairfoir.”
He said, “I sall keip thame to my gud Sone;”
And had thane home to his place quhair he wone, 9o
And chairgeit sone his henwyfe to do hir cure,
And mak thane fruct: than to set thane schofure;
Hir best brod hen callit lady Pekle-pes,
And goung Cokrell, hir lord and lemman wes,
Scho maid brud on thir eggis, that in Schort space 95
Twenty-four chikkynis of thame scho hes,
Twelf maill and twell famell be croniculis cleir;
And quhat thay war with thair names we sall heir.
The first wes the samyn Chantecleir to luke,
Of quhome Chaucer treitis in to his buke, 1oo
And his lady Partlot, sister and wyfe,
Quhilk wes no lyse in detis of that lyfe;
For quhy, folkis levit be naturall lawis than.
The tuther bruthir was clipit Cok Cademan,
He tuk to wyfe his fair trew sister Toppok; Io5
Cok Crawdoun was the thrid, and his wyfe Coppok;
And to compt just the fourt, Cok Lykouris,
And littill Hen-pen his pretty paramouris.
The fyift lord was Lyricok in hall,
And Kekilcrouss thay did his lady call. I IO
264 THE TALE OF COLATELP/E SO IV.
Reid Kittilook that sat on reid caill stok,
And Feklefaw farest of all the flok
Was the sext, and Cokrusty the sevin,
Dame Strange his wyfe, quhilk had a stout Stevin ;
Cokky the aucht, his lady clepit Lerok; II 5
Cok Nolus the nynt Spowsit his sister Erok;
Cok Coby the tent and Sprutok his speciall;
Cok Obenar the levint, his maik thay call
Dame Juliane; the twelf wes Cok Jawbert,
And lady Wagtaill his joy and all his hairt. I 2 O
So stout a stoir come of thir brethir twelf
And thair sisteris, I can nocht say my self
The fyiftie pairte, thay wer so fructeouss,
And at schriftis evin sum wes so battalouss,
That he wald win to his maistir in feild I 25
Fourty florans with bill and spuris beild.
Sum of this stoir this Cokkelby did sell,
Sum auld, sum gung, sum eggis in the schell,
And coft thairwith vthir ware, and so it turnit,
This penny, that xv geir it nocht soiornit, I 30
He mvlteplyit moir than a thowsand pound.
Than his gud sone he callit to him a stound,
Befoir his fader, moder and freindis all,
And said, Cakkalb, my sone, ressaif thow sall
All thir gudis, for justly thay ar thyne, I35
Off thy chyld gift, storit throw grace devyne,
Fro xxiiijhen eggis quiche I the gaif,
Set, thi moder, Sone, wald thame nocht ressaif.
Than as ge hard he tald all the caiss;
This Cokelb grew eftir to so grit richess I4O
Throw this penny, he grew the michtiest man
In ony realme. Quhat did the penny than 2
First hid in hurde, to vertew nocht applyit,
And syne outbrocht that so fer fructefyit.
Thairfoir, my sone, study nevir in thy day I45
With auarice warldis gud in hurd till ley,
Nor be thow nocht disparit of Godis grace.
The thrid penny this was, and the last caice,
As my beledame, old Gurgunnald, told me,
THE 7TAZAZ OF CO/CA EZA/E SO W. 265
I allege non vthir auctorite. I5o
In this sentence maid on revill raill,
Quhich semys most to be a wyfis taill,
With correctioun quhite now I thus conclud.
God that ws bocht with his awin blissit blud,
Both gow and me to consarue he deden, I55
Throw meik mirreitis of his only sone. Amen.
EXPLICIT
TERTIA PARS ET VLTIMA.
K I N G B E R D O K.
XIV.
KING B E R Do K.
THIS singular fragment, preserved in George Banna-
tyne's well-known Manuscript ‘Ballat Buik,” has been
overlooked by the different editors of early Scotish poetry,
except by Leyden, who alludes to it in his interesting and
learned introduction to the Complaynt of Scotland,” as
follows: “In a ludicrous poem in the Bannatyne Manu-
script on King Berdok of Babylon who wooed the golk
‘Sevin geir' of Maryland, and was pursued and besieged
by the King of Fary assisted by
‘the kingis of Pechtis and Portingaill,
The king of Naippillis and Navern alhaill’—
tt is said—
‘Weill cowd he play in clarschooht and on lute.’”
This was the harp known in the Highlands of Scotland.
It is enumerated as one of the instruments with which the
Irish or rather Erse bard in Holland's Houlate was
acquainted.
“The Chenachy, the Clarshach,
The Beneschene, the Ballach,
The Crekrye, the Corach,
Scho kens thame ilk ane.”
Although it may now be impossible to ascertain the indi-
vidual work, the nature of this fairy tale plainly intimates
that it was intended as a burlesque of some ‘geste’ or
romantic story, which may have been popular at the time
of its composition.
* Fol. 142 b. * P. 152.
XIV.
‘%ting 13trooſt.’
YM of Lyntoun, be the ramis horn,
Quhen Phebus rang in sing of Capricorn,
And the mone wes past the gussis cro,
Thair fell in France ane jeperdie forlo,
Be the grit kin[g] of Babilon, Berdok,
That dwelt in symmer in till ane bowkaill stok;
And into winter, quhen the frostis ar fell,
He dwelt for cauld in till a cokkil schell:
Kingis vsit nocht to weir clayis in tha dayis,
Bot geid naikit, as myne auctor sayis;
Weill cowd he play in clarschooht and on lute,
And bend ane aiprim bow, and nipschot schute;
He wes ane stalwart man of hairt and hand;
He wowit the golk sevin geir, of Maryland,
Mayiola, and scho wes bot geiris thre,
Ane bony bird, and had botane e ;
Neuirtheless king Berdok luvit hir weill,
For hir foirfute wes langar than hir heill.
The king Berdok he fure our se and land,
To reveiss Mayok the golk of Maryland,
And nane with him botane bow and ane bowtt ;
Syne hapnit him to cum amang the nowtt,
L. 5 MS. reads ‘kin.”
IO
I5
2O
27o A ZAVG B ERDOA.
And as this Berdok about him cowd espy;
He saw Mayok milkand hir mvderis ky,
And in ane creill vpoun his bak hir kest; 25
Quhen he come hame it wes ane howlat nest,
Full of skait birdis, and than this Berdok grett,
And ran agane Meyok for to gett.
The king of Fary hir fadir than blew out,
And socht Berdok all the land abowt, 3o
And Berdok fled in till a killogy; -
Thair wes no grace bot gett him or ellis die;
Thair wes the kingis of Pechtis and Portingaill,
The king of Naippillis and Navern albaill,
With bowis and brandis with segis thay vnmbeset him,
Sum bad tak, sum slay, sum bad byd quhill thay get
him ; 36
Thay stellit gunis to the killogy laith,
And proppit gunis with bulettis of raw daich :
Than Jupiter prayit to god Saturn,
In liknes of ane tod he wald him turn ; 4O
Bot sone the graciouss god Mercurius
Turnit Berdok in till ane braikane buss;
And quhen thay saw the buss waig to and fra,
Thay trowd it wes ane gaist, and thay to ga:
Thir fell kingis thus Berdok wald haif slane, 45
All this for lufe, luveris sufferis pane,
Boece said, of poyettis that wes flour,
Thocht lufe be sweit, oft syiss it is full sour.
EXPLICIT.
THE GY RE-CARLING
XV.
THE GY RE-CARLING.
GYRE-CARLING is the name of the Hecate, or Mother
Witch, of the Scotish peasantry, who is sometimes identified
with the queen of the Fairies. Carling, Dr Leyden explains
as being the feminine of carl, and as used “to denote an old
hag or witch ; hence compounded with the Isl. gier; R.
gier; Al. geyr; the Gyre-Carling, the Queen of Faries,
the Great Hag, Hecate, or Mother Witch of the peasants,
concerning whom many popular stories were formerly cur-
rent, and rude burlesque verses are still repeated.”" Fre-
quent allusions in our early writers occur respecting these
superstitions. Sir David Lyndsay, ‘who feinzeit many
fabillis’ for the amusement of his royal pupil, James V.,
reminds him how, in his tender years, he was accustomed
with
—“mony plesand storye,
Of the Reid Etin, and the Gyir Carlyng.
Confortand the, quhen that I saw the sorye.” ”
—And Montgomery, with great minuteness, in the Flyting,
describes the array of Nicnevin (another of her popular ap-
pellations,)—and her ‘elrich company in their processsion
on All-hallow-evin.”
* Glossary to Complaynt of Scotland, 8vo, 1801, p. 318. See also Dr
Jamieson's Dict, sub z. , and Mr Chalmers’s Glossary in his edition of
Lyndsay.
* Lyndsay's Works, ed. Laing, vol. i. p. 3.
* Montgomery's Poetical Works, edit. 8vo, 1821, p. 113.
7A/E G VA’A.-CAA’A.//VG. 273
After the Editor transcribed the following burlesque frag-
ment from Bannatyne's manuscript,” he found that it had
been introduced into the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,”
in the interesting and valuable dissertation “on the Fairies
of Popular Superstition.” Leyden had previously remarked
the peculiarity of its commencing in the same manner as
‘The Warris of the jewis,’ an alliterative poem preserved
fin the British Museum,” which is cited by Warton.*
1 Fol. 136, b.
* Vol. ii. p. 174, edit. 1803, where Scott remarks, “The Gyre-Carling
is termed the Queen of Jowis (Jovis or perhaps Jews), and is with great
consistency married to Mohammad.”
* MSS. Cotton, Calig. A. II. Io9.
* Warton's Hist, of Poetry, vol. i. p. 311.
XV.
[&ſije (5pre-Carling.]
N Tiberius tyme, the trew Imperiour,
Quhen Tinto hillis fra Skraiping of toun henis was
keipit, -
Thair dwelt ane grit Gyre-Carling in awld Betokis
bour,
That levit vpoun christiane menis flesche, and rewth
heidis vnleipit;
Thair wynnit ane her by, on the west syd, callit
Blasour, -
For luve of hir lawchane lippis, he walit and he weipit;
He gadderit ane mengie of modwartis to warp doun
the tour :
The carling with ane yrne club, quhen that Blasour
sleipit,
Behind the heill scho hatt him sic ane blaw,
Quhill Blasour bled ane quart I O
Of milk pottage inwart,
The carling luche, and lut fart
North Berwik Law.
The king of Fary than come, with elfis mony ane,
And sett ane sege, and ane salt, with grit pensallis of
pryd; I5
And all the doggis fra Dumbar, wes thair to Dumblane,
With all the tykis of Tervey, come to thame that tyd;
7THE G VRE-CA R/C/AWG. 275
Thay gnew doun with thair gomes mony grit stane,
The Carling schup hir in ane sow, and is hir gaitis
gane,
Gruntlyng our the Greik sie, and durst na langer byd, 20
For bruklyng of bargane, and breking of browis:
The Carling now for dispyte
Is mareit with Mahomyte,
And will the doggis interdyte,
For scho is quene of Jowis. 25
Sensyne the cokkis of Crawmound crew nevir a day,
For dule of that devillisch deme wes with Mahoun
mareit,
And the hennis of Hadingtoun sensyne wald nocht lay,
For this wyld wilroun wich thame widlit sa and wareit:
And the same North Berwick Law, as I heir wyvis
Say, 3o
This Carling, with a fals cast wald away carreit :
For to luk on quha Sa lykis, na langer scho tareit.
All this langour for luve befoirtymes fell,
Lang or Betok wes born,
Scho bred of ane accorne; 35
The laif of the story to morne
To gow I sall tell.
EXPLICIT.
THE
TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS
XVI.
THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS.
[THESE tales, which have not hitherto been printed, are
contained in the Asloan manuscript, preserved at Auchinleck,
Ayrshire, already referred to. The MS. in which they are
preserved is a large folio volume, written on paper, and con-
tains miscellaneous pieces in prose and verse, collected and
transcribed about the year I515, by John Asloan or Sloan,
who seems to have been a writer or notary at Edinburgh."
The tales are related by the Horse, the Hart, the Unicorn,
the Bear, and the Wolf, before the Lion as King ; and these
five beasts are his counsellors. The first tale, that of the
Horse, is imperfect; enough, however, remains to show its
nature. A foolish person induces a wise friend to leave the
strait and correct path and go with him in ‘the plesand way
of dissait.’ They are seized by robbers, who are at last cap-
tured, and all are condemned to death. The moral of the
tale is to keep the way of penance, and avoid the temptations
of the “foul flesche.' s
* In 1494 John Sloan appeared as procurator for several persons of the
name of Herries, who were summoned at the instance of Lord Herries of
Terregles (Robertson's Index). He was probably a native of Kirkcud-
bright, as in 1531 a charter was granted to John Asloane, and Jonet Max-
well his spouse, of the lands of Garreauch (Great Seal Register, by Paul
and Thomson, A. D. 1531. No. IOO3). His name occurs as a witness to
various deeds, in which he is designated a notary public (Ib. Nos. 567,
8O4).
THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS. 279
The second tale, that of the Hart, is also imperfect, a large
corner of the leaf of the MS. which contains it being torn
away. Its subject is worthy Sir William Wallace, and
his heroic defence of Scotland against ‘the Sutheren,” and
‘Saxon blude.” --
The third tale, that of the Unicorn, fortunately is com-
plete, and the scene of it is laid in Kent. Gundulfus the
young son of a bondman or farmer, when in the farmyard
throws a stone at a cock and breaks its leg. The bird is
nursed by the other fowls, recovers, and becomes the chief
cock of the farm :—
—“ quhill he clapit durst thar na cok craw,
Quhen he had clapit, than crav thai all on raw.”
Gundulfus goes to Oxford, and in due time is ready to take
holy orders. The day before he expects to be appointed to a
benefice, he visits his home, and is induced to stay over the
night. He and his friends carouse freely, in the expectation
that he will be aroused in time to make an early start by the
crowing of the cock, which is considered as good as a clock.
The bird, whose leg he had broken, however, overhears the
conversation, and refuses to crow till long after daybreak.
When he at length began, and was followed by the others,
Gundulfus awakes, and finding he is late, mounts a horse
and rides at full speed through the village. At last the horse
falls and leaves him in the mud. He returns home, and has
the mortification to find the vacant church filled up and all
his hopes of preferment at an end. The moral is, that rulers
should not injure the poor, as the time may come when they
may fall into the hands of the oppressed.
The story of Gundulfus forms part of the well-known
Latin poem called Speculum Stultorum, written about the
year II90 by Nigellus Wireker, precentor in the Church of
Canterbury. In that poem the tale is called ‘Narratio
Arnoldi de filio presbyteri et pullo gallinae.’”
The fourth tale, that of the Bear, relates how Alexander,
King of Macedon, was induced to withdraw from the
* “The Anglo-Latin Satirical Poets of the Twelfth Century.’ Edited by
Thomas Wright, M.A., vol. i. p. 54.
28o THE TALYS OF THE F \' UE BESTIS.
siege of the city of “Lapsat in Araby’’ which he was about
to attack and destroy. - -
The fifth and last tale, that of the Wolf, narrates how
that wily animal counsels the Lion to live on venison for
a year, and allow the sheep to increase during that time.
While complaining that the latter were scarce, he has an
“allya” or confederate who is scouring the country and
destroying them. The Lion, however, exiles the Wolf and
all beasts of prey from his Court, and the four counsellors
who remain represent the four virtues ‘that in a kyng suld
ryng’—viz., prudence, justice, magnanimity, and continence.
With regard to the authorship of these tales, we may ob-
serve that they were compiled by a Scottish versifier, who
may have borrowed the subjects of them from various
sources. The Second, however, must be an original com-
position, as it certainly would not be that of an English
author.]
XVI.
&ſije (ſalić of the JPyue liegtig.
[Qſìje 390rgig @ſale.]
* * & * * *
* * & 9 * * *
“And in this faireway persaif I wele a thing,
To no gud rest this nycht it sall us bring;
This plesant way the way is of dissait,
And in this firth ar thevis in our gait.”
Bot neuertheles for ony argument,
This plesand streit this werray fule furth went ;
Richtso this wys man did, and left the tother,
Ffor werray effectiouſ of his carnale brother.
So has this waye tham to the brigantis brocht,
Takin thai war, and with thaim went and wrocht.
So come the kingis justice of the land,
And tuke thaim all, and to law gart thaim stand.
So quhen thire theifis all ware iustifyed,
Than euerilk brother for himself replyed.
This wysman said, “Of all this gret trespas
Hereof the quilk that I accusit was,
This werray fule, my brother, had the wyte,
That tuke the way of plesance and delyte,
And left the way that suld ws bring to rest,
And brocht ws baith vnto the thefis nest,
And with him furth the samyn way I gud
Bot for affectioun naturale of his blud,
I O
I 5
2O
282 THE TAL/S OF THE FYUE BEST/S.
So, sen this fule was causar of this scaith,
Richtso suld he be pvnist for ws baith,
That with no ressoun rew.lit wald he be.”
“Nay,” said this fule, “the falt was nocht in me
Bot all in gow, that God has gevin to wit
To rewle ws baith and nocht disponit it;
Ffor quha wald trow a wysman wald assent,
And I a fule, so Sone to myne entent,
Bot gour affectioun, se I weile be this,
Has blyndit ws, and gart ws baith go myss.
Thus in this mater all the falt ge haf.”
And so furth with this juge the sentens gaf,
And sen this wysman left his awne entent,
And to this fulis deid gaf his assent,
And left the wit that God gaf him of grace,
Ffor the affectioun naturale that he has,
And for this fule he wald nocht rewlit be,
Be this sentence he jugit baith to de.
And in rememberance euer of thare deidis,
Gart thaim sit downe, and straik of baith thar heidis.
Moralitas fabule.
In more effect of this mater I mene,
Thir brethir two in euery man thai bene.
The wantone flesche it is the foly brothir,
The sely saull forsuth it is the tothir,
So quhen the saull affermes the delyt
Off the foule flesche, lust and appetit,
Alsone with dedly synnis ar thai wrocht,
Takin and slane, and to confusioun brocht.
Fforbere this way of lust that gese heire,
And take the way of bushis, thorne and brere.
That is the way of pennance and of grace,
To bring our saulis to that joyfull place
Of paradys, and of perfectioun richt,
Now Ihesus bring ws to that blysfull sicht.
So quhen this riall hors his tale had endit,
This ryall hart richt gentilly it commendit.
25
3O
35
4.O
45
5O
55
THE TALYS OF THE FYUE BEST/S.
283
His statly hed with tyndis set on hicht,
Of polist gold and siluer birnist bricht,
Before this king he laid his tyndis law,
And in this wys his tale began to Schaw —
Oſije #artig Qſale.]
I hald in bretta
That euer was . . .
William Wallace worth .
Saif reuerence of the
He tuke fro no man t
He wan all Scotland in .
Tharfor in hevin is his .
And that I trow be richt
The samyn day the Sutheren
Had wroch thair will apon .
As thai had done befor in d
With sanct Edmond and sanct
Ane haly heremed quhare he
As in autentik writ we reid
The staitis of this warld but dreid
Desyrit to se throcht Goddis grace.
Sa come ane angell fra the hicht,
And schew him baith of hevin and hell,
The joye amang thire angellis bricht,
The fyre amang thire fendis fell.
Of purgatory, thus hard I tell,
And of thaim all he had a sicht,
That deit as that day and nycht,
And quhare thair Saulis thaim Schupe to duell.
And so he saw in colour sabill,
Of saulis downe to hell declyne,
Ane multitud innomerable,
6o
65
7o
75
8O
90
284 THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS.
Perpetually for to suffer pyne,
To purgatory he saw pas syne.
. . . . . . . . . e.,
tin fable,
fra hyne. 95
thre,
ais in,
. . degre,
. dedly syn,
... thai begyn, I C) O
may Se,
ace fulfillit be,
of hevin thai wyn.
re to hevin up ran,
... lyf of religioun, I O 5
it was the tothir man,
aly mes and confessioun,
tº ſº rid a lord for his regioun,
In his defence deit as than
Wallace, with his woundis wan, J O
That day tholit deid at Londoun toun.
Thar was na force mycht gar him fald,
Nagit reward of warldly gud,
Bot Scotland ay defend he wald,
Ffra subjectioun of Saxonis blud. I 5
Thus for his realme stedfast he stud,
And to his deid was bocht and Sauld,
Tharfor in hevin his saull I hald,
Or he was cald, thus I conclud.
Now be this tale I wald gewnderstud, J 3 O
Movand awort to haf ane querell gud,
Quhat corage in a mannis hart it bringis,
The fame of it how lovably it ryngis;
And quhat of grace the sely saull encressis,
Throw just batale quhoso tharin decessis, I 25
7THE 7.4 LMS OF 7"HE FY UAE BEST/S.
285
Bot neuertheles quhat euer the pepill deme,
The gud of pece, thar can no man expreme.
On fut than gat this gentill vnicorne,
This gentill best this king he came beforne.
So fair a best, so sweit vnto my sicht
Was neuer sene with only erdly wicht.
The only tynd that on his hed he baire,
A kyngis ransoun it was worth and maire :
To luke on him it did me sic delyte,
And on this wys he tald his tale perfyte.
Qſìje Đnicorníg Qſale,
Before this tyme in Kentschire it befell,
A bonde thare was, his name I can nocht tell,
Gundulfus was his sonis name I ges,
Of tender age of nyne geris ald he wes,
And wele he vsit for to rys at mornys
To kepe the grange and his faderis cornis
Ffra cokis, crawis, and vther foulis wyld.
So on a day this litill prety child
Seand thir birdis lukand our the wall
Toward the grangis, Gundulfus gois withall,
And with the casting of a litill stone,
Of ane littil bird the theis bone
Brokin he has in sounder at a cast,
And sone the fowlis flokit about him fast.
Quhat will ge mare, he was bot slane or schent,
Sore for him wepit all the hennis of Kent.
Wp was he takin, and in a garding led,
Amang thir herbes thai haf maid him a bed,
And quhat throu comfort and throu medecyne,
Within the space of days viii or nyne,
I 30
I 35
I 45
I 55
286 THE TA/./S OF THE FYUAE /3A.S 7/.S.
This bird was mendit hale and sound,
Of all the panys of his bludy wound.
And Gundulfus, with his frendis assent,
To Oxinfurd to study is he went.
Sone efter this this bird wax a cok,
The gudliest and farest of the flok,
Clerast of voce and wysest in his entent,
The cruellest of all the cokis of Kent;
And he had Coping to be his wyf,
And he had chosyn hir for term of lyf.
And scho agane till him hire treuth plicht,
To luf him best of ony erdly wicht.
And so at evyne apon his perke he gat,
On his richt hand dame Copok nixt him sat ;
And quhill he clapit durst thar na cok craw,
Quhen he had clapit than crav thai all on raw.
So wele he had the houssis obseruance,
That of the flok he baire the gouernans.
Thus was he cheif cok of the bondis place,
And baire the rewle threttene geris space.
And all this tyme he had this child in thocht
That brak his leg quhen he trespassit nocht.
[Creverat et multum jam jam Gundulfus in altum,
Jamgue suo patri substituendus erat.]"
He was na master in diuinite
Bot he wald preche in to that science hie.
Weile couth he cast the bukis of decres,
Bot tharin nothing had he of his greis.
Prentis in court he had bene for a gere;
He was a richt gud syngare in the quere.
He couth wele reid and sumpart write and dyte,
And in his grammere was he wele perfyte.
He was na gret bachillare in sophistry,
With part of pratik of nygramansy,
Of phesik he baire ane vrinale,
I6o
I65
17o
I 75
I So
185
* There is no break in the MS. here, but two lines seem wanting to
complete the sense. Those inserted are from the Latin original, which
makes Gundulfus the son of a presbyter, not of a farmer.
7 HAE 7TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS. 287
To se thire folk gif thai war seike or hale.
And in his clething was he wele besene, I 9o
Ffor govne and hude was all of Lyncome grene.
Gret was the joy that in the place was than,
To se the meting of that noble man.
In come his frendis till him fast anone,
And notwithstanding that the day was gone, I95
“Ffader,” he said, “I can nocht byde this nycht,
To Rochister I mon thir wayis richt,
To morne is the day of my promocioun,
Of haly ordour to resaif the crowne,
And tharin standis myne awansing hale, 2OO
Vnto ane benefice perpetuale,
And falge this, the kirk gais to ane nothir.”
Than spak our dame that was the childis modir,
“Son, for my blissing this nycht with ws abyde,
And all at eis to morne son sall geryd, - 2O5
Oure houss cok sall the houris of the nycht
Alswele devyde as only orloge richt,
And at the first cok walkinn sall ge be,
And at gour hors sone be the houre of thre.
3e haue bot nyne myle of the farest way, - 2 IO
At Rochister gesall be sone be day,
And haf gour tonsour be the houre of nyne.”
And so he baid, and drank with thaim the wyne.
Quhen thai war full of mychti ale and wyne,
Thai gat to rest and slepis as ony Swyne. 2 I 5
The nycht geid oure, the freindis thocht nocht lang,
Ffor all thare trast was on the cokis sang.
And all this sawe the cok apon the balk,
And quhen he hard the matir of thair talk,
And on the breking of his theis bone, 22 O
This cok had mynd, Gundulfus he had none.
Sone come the tyme that he suld say his voce,
The houre geid oure, the cok he held him clos:
With that dame Coppok putis on hir maike,
Said, “Slepe geschir I get win for Cristis saik, 225
3our houre is gone, quhy Syng genocht, for Schame !
Wait genocht weile gone clerk suld ryde fra hame.
288 THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS.
And all thare trast apon gour sang thai lay,
Schirl syng genocht, gone clerk sall slepe quhill day.
And so in vane is all thing that thai wirk, 23O
It war gret pete he suld tyne his kirk,
And of the tynsall ge sall haf the blame.”
Syng wald he nocht, bot schrewitly said, “Madame,
Wysest ge are quhen that ge hald gow still,
And git ge wyffis evir speike ge will, 235
Dame, intromet gow in gour wyfis deid,
Lytill ge wist quhen that my leg couth bleid,
And gone is he that brak my leg in sounder,
Gif I suld crawe, madame, it ware gret wounder,
Ffor thocht my leg be werray haile outwart, 24O
Quhen I him se, it bledis at my hart.”
As thai ware talkand this fer thaim amang,
Lang efter that the cok tuke wp a sang,
And all the birdis with ane wooe thai cry,
Get wip ! get wo we se the dayis sky. 245
And wo he gat and saw that it was day.
Said kirk and worshipe fastly war away.
On hors he gat, fast throw the towne he raid,
And all the doggis intill his tale he had ;
Quhill at ane stone he styntit with sic fors, 25O
That to the erd geid baith the man and horss.
This hors gat wo and ran oure to the hill,
And in the myre this worthy clerk lay still.
And still he lay quhill it was tyme of none,
The kirk disponit, and all the seruice done. 255
Than wo he gat, and hame agane is went,
Ane hevy man forsuth in his entent.
His garment grene that was of colour gud
Was sa mismaide in the myre and mvde;
And quhat for schame he was so pale of hewe, 26o
Quhen he come hame, thar was no man him knewe.
So quhen this clerk with schame come hame agane,
Than was this cok quyt of his legis pane,
And said, “Madame Coppok mak gud cheire,
Now wepis he that leuch this hender geire, 265
Quhen with ane stone my thees bone he brak,
THE TALYS OF THE FYUE BESTIS.
289
Bot for I lukit till his faderis stak,
And quhen I bled he said the feild was his,
Now, God I loif this day has send ws this.”
Now be this tale gesall wele winderstand,
Gif ge be lord and rewlare of this land,
3e Schape gow nocht for till oppres the pure;
Ffor and ge do, forsuth I gow assure -
The tyme may cum that gour awentour standis
Perawenture into sic mennis handis.
Quha Schapis him the pure for to oppres,
At Goddis hand the mater has to addres.
Quhill that ge haf space tharfor ge suld amend,
Byde nocht the straik of vengeans at gour end,
Ffor till amend als oft as ge do mys,
And we beseke Jhesu of his bliss.
- Amen.
It was ane blyth sicht of this baire,
Of reid gold was the birs he baire.
Of reid gold schynand was his haire,
His scheldis war richt sad and sure,
His tuskis scharp that he with schure,
Of stele thai ware, baith stark and sture.
This was the taile that he tald thare,
I coppyit it with all my cure.
Qſìje 33aríg Qſatle.
Gret Alexander King of Massedown,
The quhilk of the nyne nobillis was one,
Of his conquest the tyme nere by the end,
To the cite of Lapsat in Araby he send;
And of the folk desyrit sic a thing,
To knaw him for thar souerane lord and king,
T
27o
275
28o
285 -
290
295
29O. 7A/A2 7.4/./S OF 7THE FYUE BEST/.S.
And to be subject to his hie empyre,
And tak example at the towne of Tyre,
That was so strang and for rebellioun
Was wtterly distroyit and cassyn down.
To this desyre and quhat thai wald haſ done, 3OO
Thire worthy folk ware awysit sone,
And in thire termes answer haue thai send,
That quhill we leif we will this towne defend,
In sic fredome as our antecessouris
Has left till ws, and till this towne of Owris. 3O 5
Erare we cheis with worschipe for to de,
Than for to leif in subiectioun to be ;
And in this querell maid thaim ilkone bovne,
With ane assent to defend this towne.
This riall prince he was amouit so, 3 Io
Quhen he this herd he micht no forder go.
Bot to this towne this king agane is gone,
And with ane of the riallest of one
Of kyngis and princis and worthy men of weir,
And with the cost name vther man mycht bein. 315
And in entent to cast the cite down,
And put gone pepill to confusioun,
But hope of grace for trety and debait,
Into remembering of his hie estait.
Into this towne thar was a noble man, 32O
Ane worthy clerke, the best of ane was than,
And had bene master to this riall kyng,
In his scoling quhen at this prince was ging.
And our all thing this towne he lufit best,
And of this prince he trastit grace of rest. 3.25
So or this ost was cummyn to this towne,
This clerk on kneis befor this king fell dovne.
This king was ware, and weile this clerk he saw,
Said, “Master, ces, gour erand weile I knawe,
Desyre na thing at me this daye, for quhy, 33O
Quhat evire ge ask that thing I will deny,
And in the contrare wirk at all my micht.”
Than spak this clerk, and set this word on hicht:-
“A kingis word in more effect suld be,
THE 7TA/C/S OF THE FYUE BEST/S.
29I
Than ony of laware degre.
Excellent hie and mychti prince, but peire,
Now of this grace that ge haf grantit heire,
I thank gour hienes, and I ask no more, -
Bot hald the purpos that ge are cummyn fore,
To sla gone folk, and to distroye gone towne,
To do no grace to cast gone wallis dovne.
Now may ge cheis to lat gour wordis stand,
And tyne the cost, or tak this tovne on hand,
And brek gour word befor this riall rowte.”
The king was wo, and to remuf that dowt
To counsall geid, and quhen he was degest
To tyne this cost, erare he thocht it best
Than for to breke the wordis that he spak,
And left this towne and wald nocht tak the lak.
So throw the wit of his philosophouris,
And the gret worschipe of his conquerouris,
In rest and pece with fredome git thai ryng,
And boith ar deid, this gret clerk and this king.
Nowe be this taile it may richt wele be sene
Ane kyngis word in till effect suld bene
More precious in worschipe of his crowne,
Than gud or gold or ony wallit towne.
Richt sad of langage suld he be ane kyng,
And weile avysit or he said the thing,
That suld him greif or muf in his entent,
Erare speike nocht, than speike and syne repent.
Or gif a kyng has said or done amys,
In that to iustice Oucht grevand is,
It is more worschipe till his hie estait
For to revoke, than to be obstinat.
And to forbeire sic lust and sic delyte,
And tak tharfor euerlestand lyf perfyte,
Vnto the quhilk the lord of lyf, but end,
Quhen we depart, mot all our sawlis send.
335
34O
345
35o
355
360
365
292 THE TAZIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS.
Qſì)t d'ºïolfig Qſale,
This wretchit wolf neir by this lyoun lay,
His habit was, me thocht, of cottoun gray,
And so weile fauorit was his face on far,
The laif semed fere farere than thai ware.
Thinkand to put this counsall fra that king,
And his allya to the court inbring,
He umbethocht him gretly of his wylis,
And to thire staitis gaif he weile thair stylis.
Said, “Souerane lord, I can nocht fabillis fene,
Bot for the commoun proffet I complene,
In all this land thare is no schepe to get,
Within ten myle a mutone to gour meit,
Bot schepe and nolt distroyit are and deid;
And for the quhilk, Schir, this is the remeid,
To lat tham stand still that thai may store
And multiply, as thai ware of before.
Of wenysoun and wyld meit mak gud cheire,
And of gret bestis feid gow for a geire.
Schir, tak gud heid, and wnderstand me wele.”
Than said the king, “Be gour complaint I feile,
That for I hafna mutoun to my mete,
My cosingis of my counsall I suld ete.
Na, neuer more, thocht in defalt I de,
Than quha wald byde and of my counsall be,
Bot with my counsall will I seike remeid,
Fynd how my schepe and how my nolt ar deid.”
So quhill this wolf was in this court, thai fand
That his allya forrayd all the land,
And so this lyoun sentence gaf he plane,
No beist of reif suld in his court remane,
Nor of inwy nor git of covatis.
So was this wolf, with all thare hale awys,
Exild the court and fled with all his micht.
So sodanely this court went out of sicht,
That all was gone in twynkling of ane E,
And so gois all the warldis rialte.
37 o
375
38o
385
390
395
4OO
405
THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTIS.
Now be this wolf schortly, be myne awys,
Is whderstand the syn of covatis,
And be thire foure of counsall to the king,
The wertuis foure that in a king suld ryng,
Prudence, justice, and magnanimite,
And continence that is content to be.
The wertewe no tyme suthly lestis
In no persone that covatis in restis.
Quha may be prudent with that desyre,
Or git content had he the hale empyre.
Curage throw covatis is set at nocht,
And be that mayne is justice Sauld and bocht.
Now mak this wyce exild for to be,
Tak lawe, and luf, and leif in cherite,
And think quhat suld this warldis fals wanglore,
And for the joye that lestis euermore,
Beseike we him, that bocht ws with his blud,
Eternale God the ground of euery gud.
Amen.
4 IO
4 I 5
42O
HEIRE ENDIS THE TALIS OF THE FYUE BESTES,
PER M. Jo. As LOAN.
THE MANER OF THE CRYING
OF ANE PLAYE
XVII.
T H E M A N E R O F T H E CRY IN G
OF A N E PLAY E.
[IN the following curious Interlude, the personification of
Wealth is represented as announcing a dramatic perform-
ance, to be given at the Cross of Edinburgh, which city is
described as a place where there is ‘plesans, disport and
play.’ To make the intimation as attractive as possible, the
person representing Wealth describes himself as descended
from Hercules and the race of giants. He informs his
audience that his grandfather is the Ossianic hero Fyn
M“Kowle or Fingal, whose wife was a giantess, and that
his father is the great Gow Macmorne, a man also of ex-
traordinary size.
In the Bannatyne Manuscript where the poem occurs, the
following title is given to it: “Ane littill interlud of the
Droichis part of the play,'—and at the end there are the
words “Ffinis off the droichis part of the play,” Droich
being a person of small size, or a dwarf. It seems, possibly,
to have been intended that the description of the extravagant
proportions of the persons mentioned in the poem should be
recited by the dwarf, to make the contrast more amusing.
The other characters in the comedy are Weilfare, Wan-
toness, and Play, who
—‘‘ with all sportis and merynes,
3our hartis hald euer on hicht,”]
THE MANER OF THE CRYING OF ANE PLA YE. 297
It is difficult to say whether this poem actually formed
part of any drama, as assuredly no composition of the same
period now exists that can be dignified with the title.
The earliest drama that belongs exclusively to our country
ts The Satire of the thrie Estaits, which it is certain was
not written before the year I535; and therefore, to connect
this interlude with that most singular production, or assign
them both to the same author, as has repeatedly been done,
is very erroneous. The present poem evidently belongs to the
weign of James IV. and not of his successor; and instead
of being the work of Sir David Lyndsay, it seems to bear
sufficient evidence of the more masterly hand of his prede-
cessor Dunbar.
The volume that has furnished the present copy, (written
by John Asloan, apparently in or before the year I515,) is
preserved at Auchinleck, and has been already described.
Besides presenting the text in a more genuine State, it con-
tains several stanzas of a local nature and of no inconsider-
able interest, that do not occur in Bannatyne's later manu-
script, from which it has hitherto been printed.
XVII.
“39eir follomíg the maner of the
crying of ant JIape.’
ARRY, harry, hobillschowe
Se quha is cummyn nowe,
Bot I wait nevir howe,
With the quhorle wynd 2
A Soldane owt of Seriand land,
A gyand strang for to stand,
That with the strenth of my hand
Beres may bynd.
3it I trowe that I wary,
I am the nakit, blynd Hary,
That lang has bene in the fary,
Ffarleis to fynd;
And git gif this be nocht I,
I wait I am the spreit of Gy,
Or ellis go by the sky,
Licht as the lynd.
The God of most magnificence,
Conserf this fair presens,
And saif this amyable audiens,
Grete of renovne;
L. 5. Bann. MS. reads “A sargeand out of Sowdoun land.’
I O
15
THE MANER OF THE CRYING OF ANE PLAYE. 299
Prowest, ballies, officeris,
And honerable induellaris,
Marchandis, and familiaris,
Of all this fair towne.
Quha is cummyn heir, bot I, 25
A bauld bustuoss bellamy,
At gour corss to mak a cry,
With a hie sowne P
Quhilk generit am of gyandis kynd,
Ffra strang Hercules be strynd, 3o
Off all the Occident of Ynd,
My eldaris bair the crowne.
My fore grantschir, hecht Fyn M*Kowle,
That dang the devill, and gart him gowle,
The skyis ranyd quhen he wald Scowle, 35
And trublit all the air :
He gat my grantschir Gog Magog;
Ay quhen he dansit, the warld wald schog ;
Ffive thousand ellis geid in his frog,
Of Hieland pladdis of hair. 4O
3it he was bot of tendir gouth ;
Bot eftir he grewe mekle at fouth,
Ellevyne ell wydemet was his mouth,
His teith was ten myle sqwair.
He wald apon his tais stand, 45
And tak the sternis downe with his hand,
And set than in a gold garland
Aboue his wyfis hair.
He had a wyf was lang of clift;
Hir hed was hiear than the lift; 5O
The hevyne rerdit quhen scho wald rift ;
The lass was no thing sklender:
L. 43. “Ellevyne mylle’ in Bann. MS.
tº
3oo THE MANER OF THE CRYING OF ANE PLAYE.
Scho spittit Loch-Lomond with hir lippis;
Thunder and fyreflaucht flewe fra hir hippis;
Quhen scho was crabit, the son tholit clips; 55
The fende durst nocht offend hir.
Ffor cald scho tuke the fever cartane;
Ffor all the claith of Fraunce and Bertane,
Wald nocht be till hir leg a gartane,
Thocht scho was ging and tender; 6o
Apon a nycht heir in the North,
Scho tuke the grawell, and stalit Cragorth,
Scho pischit the mekle watter of Forth ;
Sic tyde ran efter hender.
A thing writtin of hir I fynd, 65
In Irland quhen scho blewe behynd,
At Noroway costis scho rasit the wynd,
And gret Schippis drownit thar.
Scho fischit all the Spange seis,
With hir sark lape befor hir theis; 7o
Sevyne dayis Saling betuix hir kneis,
Was estymit and mair.
The hyngand brayis on athir syde,
Scho poltit with hir lymmis wyde.
Lassis mycht leir at hir to stryd,
Wald ga to lufis lair.
Scho merkit syne to land with myrth ;
And pischit fyf quhalis in the Firth,
That cropyn war in hir count for girth,
Welterand amang the wair. 8o
7
5
My fader, mekle Gow Makmorne,
Out of that wyfis wane was schorne;
Ffor litilness scho was forlorne,
Sic a kempe to beir :
* L. 62. Cragorth, supposed to be Craigforth, near Stirling,-‘‘a bold
bosky crag of similar formation to Stirling Hill and Abbey Craig ’’ (see
Nimmo's History of Stirlingshire, 3d edit., p. 291).
L, 71. ‘Thre dayis sailing,” Bann. MS. L. 79. Bann. MS. reads “geig.’
THE MANER OF THE CRVING OF AAVE PLA P.E. 3of
Or he of eld was geris thre, 85
He wald stepe our the occeane se; *
The mone sprang neuer aboue his kne;
The hevyn had of him feir.
Ane thousand ger is past fra mynd,
Sen I was generit of his kynd, 90
Ffull far amang the desertis of Ynde,
Amang lyoun and beir :
Baith the King Arthour and Gawane,
And mony bald berne in Brettane,
Ardeid, and in the weris slane, 95
Sen I couth weild a speir.
I haue bene forthwart euer in feild,
And now so lang I haf borne scheld,
That I am all crynd in for eld
This litill, as ge may se. IOO
I haue bene bannist winder the lynd
Ffull lang, that no man couth me fynd,
And now with this 1ast southin wynd,
I am cummyn heir parde.
My name is WELTH, thairfor be blyth, IOS
I am come heir comfort gow to kyth;
Supposs that wretchis wryng and wryth,
All darth I sall gar de;
Ffor sekerly, the treuth to tell,
I come amang gow heir to duell, I [O
Ffra sound of Sanct Gelis bell,
Nevir think I to fle.
|
Sophea and the Soldane strang,
With weris that has lestit lang,
Ffurth of thar boundis maid me to gang, II 5
And turn to Turky tyte. -
302 THE MANER OF THE CR VING OF AAVE PIA YE.
The King of Frauncis gret army,
Has brocht in darth in Lombardy;
And in ane cuntre he and I
May nocht baith stand perfyte. I 2 O
In Denmark, Swetherik, and Noroway,
Na in the Steidis I dar nocht ga;
Amang thaim is bot tak and sla,
Cut thropillis, and mak quyte.
Irland for evir I haue refusit, I 25
All wichtis suld hald me excusit,
Ffor neuer in land quhar Erische was vsit,
To duell had I delyte.
Quharfor in Scotland come I heir,
With gow to byde and perseveir, I 3O
In Edinburgh, quhar is meriast cheir,
Plesans, disport and play;
Quhilk is the lampe, and A per se
Of this regioun, in all degre,
Of welefair, and of honeste, I 35
Renovne, and riche aray.
Sen I am Welth, cummyn to this wane,
3e noble merchandis euerilkane,
Address gow furth with bow and flane,
In lusty grene lufraye, I4O
And follow furth on Robyn Hude,
With hartis coragiouss and gud,
And thocht that wretchis wald ga wool,
Of worschipe hald the way.
Ffor I, and my thre feres aye, I 45
WEILFAIR, WANTONESS, and PLAY,
Sall byde with gow, in all affray,
And cair put clene to flicht:
And we sall dredless ws address,
To banniss derth, and all distress; -- I 5o
And with all sportis and meryness,
3our hartis hald euer on hicht.
THE MANER OF THE CRYING OF ANE PLA YE. 303
[Sen] I am of mekle quantite,
Of gyand kynd, as ge may se,
Quhar sall be gottin a wyf to me I55
- Sicklyke of breid and hicht?
I dreid that thair be nocht a [bryde]
In all this towne may me abyd,
Quha wait gif ony heir besyde,
Micht suffer me all nycht. 16o
With gow sen I mon leid my lyf,
Gar serss baith Louthiane and Fyf,
And vale to me a mekle wyf,
A gret Vngraciouss gan;
Sen scho is gane, the Gret FORLORE I65
[Of BABYLON, that I full yore
Espousit, quhan we tochir store
Fra gud sanct Dawy wan.]
Adew fairweill; for now I go,
Bot I will nocht lang byd gow fro; 17 o
Chryst gow conserve fra every wo,
Baith madin, wyf, and man.
God bliss thame, and the haly rude,
Givis me a drink, sa it be gude;
And quha trowis best that I do lude, I75
Skynk first to me the kan.
FFINIS OFF THE DROICHIS PART OF THE PLAY.
‘Sen’ in 1. 153, and ‘bryde' in 1. I57, are supplied from Bann. MS.;
the Asloan MS. for ‘bryde’ reads ‘maide.’
Ll. 166-168. This Interlude in Asloane’s MS. is incomplete; the leaf
which had the conclusion being lost. As Bannatyne's MS. from which the
subsequent stanza is given does not contain the former, these three lines
were kindly supplied by Robert Jamieson, Esq., editor of “Popular Songs
and Ballads.’
L. 168. ‘He was a sair Sanct to the Crown,” as James the First very
feelingly observed to the Abbot of Dumferling, who was extolling David’s
munificence to the Church, which had been so disastrous to his successors.—
MS. Note, R. Jamieson.
THE
LAYING OF LORD FERGUS’S GAIST
XVIII.
THE LAYING OF LORD FERGUS'S
GAIST.
ANE INTERLUDE.
THIS amusing Interlude, preserved by Bannatyne in
his ‘Ballet Buik,' " has already been printed in the ‘Min-
strelsy of the Scottish Border,’”—where it is said to be “in
the same Strain with the verses concerning the Gyre Car-
ling. As the mention of Bettokis Bowr occurs in both
pieces, and as the scene of both is laid in East Lothian,
they are perhaps composed by the same author.” Sir Wal-
ter Scott, with his usual discrimination, at the same time
observes, “The humour of these fragments seems to have
been directed against the superstitions of Rome, but it is
now become very obscure. Nevertheless the verses are worthy
of preservation, for the sake of the ancient language and
allusions.”
Calderwood, in his highly valuable History of the
Church of Scotland, mentions James Wedderburn as one
of those who, before the Reformation, being persecuted on
account of their religious opinions, fled from Scotland;—
* MS. fol. II.4. * Vol. I. p. clx.
THE LA YING OF LORD FERGUS'S GAIST. 307
and says, that “he had a good gift of poesie, and made
diverse Comedies and Tragedies in the Scotish tongue,
quhairin he nipped the abuses and superstitions of the time.”
The historian adds, that “he counterfeited also the conjuring
of ane gaist, quich was indeed practised be Frier Lang,
beside Kinghorn, quich Frier Lang had been Confessor to
the King :-But after the conjuring the King was con-
strained for shame to remove him.” A curious allusion to
this story occurs in ‘Ane Epistill direct from the halie
hermeit of Alareit, to his brethren the Gray Freirs,”
which was written by Alexander, Earle of Glencairn:
—Bot ordourlie to dress this thing
A gaist I purpois to gar gang
By counsaill of Frier Walter Lang — —
That practick he provit anis befoir
Betuix Kyrkaldie and Kinghorne,
Bot Lymmaris maid therat sikskorne
And to his fame mad sik digressioun,
Sensyne he hard not the Kingis confessioun,
Thoicht at that time he come no speid.*
From the allusion by Calderwood, it has been conjectured
that Wedderburn was the author of the following burlesque
poem.
* Knox's History, edit. I732, p. 25.
XVIII.
Լint Hinterlule
of the 3|aying of a Gaigt.’
ISTIS lordis, I sall gow tell
Off ane verry grit mervell,
Off Lord Ferguss gaist,
How mekle Schir Andro it chest
Vnto Beittokis bour,
The silly sawle to succour:
And he hes writtin vnto me,
Auld storeiss for to se,
Gif it appinis him to meit,
How he sall coniure the spreit:
And I haif red mony quarss,
Bath the Donet, and Dominusque parss,
Ryme maid, and als reiddin,
Baith Inglis and Latene:
And ane story haif I to reid
Passis Bonitatem in the creid—
To coniure the littill gaist gemon haif
Off tod tailis ten thraif,
And kast the grit haly watter
With pater noster, patter patter;
And 3e man sitt in ane compass,
And cry, Harbert tuthless,
Drug thow, and thiss draw,
And sitt thair quhill cok craw.
IO
I5
2O
THE LA VING OF LORD FERGUS'S GAZST. 309
The compass mon hallowit be 25
With Aspergis me Domine;
The haly writt schawis als
Thair man be hung abowt gour hals,
Pricket in ane woll poik,
Off neiss powder ane grit loik. - 3o
Thir thingis mon ge bein,
Brynt in ane doggis eir,
Ane pluche, ane paiddill, and ane palme corss,
Thre tuskis of ane awld deid horss,
And of ane gallow wob the warp, 35
The boddome of ane awld herp,
The heid of ane cuttit reill,
The band of ane awld quheill,
The taill of ane geild sow,
| And ane bait of blew wow, 4O
Ane botene, and ane brechame,
And ane quhorle maid of lame,
To luke owt at the litill boir,
And cry, Chrystis cross I gow befoir:
And quhen gese the littill gaist, 45
Cumand to gow in all haist,
Cry lowd, Chryste eleisone!
And speir quhat law it leivis on ?
And gif it sayis on Godis ley,
Than to the littill gaist ge say, 5O
With braid benedicitie;
Littill gaist, I coniure the,
With lierie and larie,
Bayth fra God, and Sanct Marie,
First with ane fisschis mowth, 55
And syne with ane fowlis towth,
With ten pertane tais, --
And nyne knokis of windil strais,
With thre heidis of curle doddy;
And bid the gaist turn in a boddy. 6o
Than eftir this coniuratioun,
The littill gaist will fall in soun,
And thaireftir doun ly,
3IO
THE LA YING OF LORD FERGUS's GAIST.
Cryand mercy petously;
Than with gour left heill it sane,
And it will nevir cum agane,
Als mekle as ane mige amaist. — — —
He had ane littill rod leg,
And it wes cant as ony cleg,
It wes wynd in ane wyndinscheit,
Bayth the handis and the feit :
Suppois this gaist wes littill
3it it stall Godis quhittill;
It stall fra peteouss Abrahame,
Ane quhorle and ane quhum quhame;
It stall fra the carle of the mone
Ane pair of awld yrn schone;
It ran to Pencaitlane,
And wirreit ane awld chaplane.
This littill gaist did na mair ill,
Bot clok lyk a corne myll;
And it wald play and hop,
Abowt the heid ane stre strop;
And it wald sing and it wald dance,
Ourefute, and Orliance.
Quha coniurit the littill gaist, sa ge?
Nane bot the littil Spengie fle,
That with hir wit and ingyne,
Gart the gaist leif agane;
And syne mareid the gaist the fle,
And cround him kyng of Kandelie;
And they gat thane betwene,
Orpheus king and Elpha quene,
To reid quha will this gentill geist,
3e hard it nocht at Cokilbys feist.
EXPLICIT.
Line 68. Apparently one or more lines are here omitted.
65
7o
75
8o
85
90
95
SYMMIE AND HIS BRUDER
XIX.
SYMMIE AND HIS BRUTHER.
IN a satirical poem included in the present collection, the
‘Swyngeour coife,” (a character in which the lewd and
tnordinate lives of the Secular clergy is drawn from existing
manners,) at times, is spoken of, as,
“Peipand peurly with peteouss granis,
Like fen3eit Symmie and his bruder.”
These persons are no doubt the heroes of the following poem,
which, as Lord Hailes has observed, seems to intimate that
they were what is termed in the Canons of the Scotish Church,
A.D. I242 and I296, quaestionarii, or persons sent out by
the Church upon a begging mission. Kennedy, in order to
throw ridicule upon Dunbar, represents him as one of these
quaestionarii, or begging friars, and says to him, with
‘cloutit cloke, skryp, burdoun, and clam-schellis,”
“Fra Etrike Forest furthward to Dumfrese,
Thow beggit with a pardoun in all kirkis,
Collapis, cruddis, mele, grotis, grisis, and geis,
And ondir nicht quhyle stall thow staggis and stirkis.””
The poem itself is certainly obscure, and perhaps not quite
entire, but possesses a considerable share of humour in its
* ‘Ane Descriptioun of Peder Coffeis.” * Flyting, ll. 425-428.
SYMMIE AND HIS BRUTHER. 3I3
descriptions, even although it falls very far short of Peblis
to the Play, or Christis Kirk on the Grene, of one or
other of which it may be considered as an imitation. The
stanza in which it is written, however, was popular during
the I5th and I6th centuries; and, amidst the contrariety
of opinions that have been expressed respecting the age of
these compositions, it might be difficult to assign the present
poem, with any degree of certainty, to a particular age. It
has hitherto been inedited, except the first seven stanzas,
which appeared in Sibbald’s Chronicle of Scotish Poetry."
* Vol. i. p. 360.
XIX.
jFollomig Sºpm and big 33ruber,
HAIR is no story that I of heir,
Of Johine nor Robene Hude,
Nor git of Wallace wicht but weir,
That me thinkis half so gude,
As of thir Palmaris twa but peir,
To heir how thay conclude;
In to begging, I trow, fyve geir
In Sanct Androis thay stude
Togidder,
Bayth Sym and his bruder.
Thocht thay war wicht, I warrand gow,
Thay had no will to wirk;
Thay maid them burdownis nocht to bow,
Twa bewis of the birk,
Weill Stobbit with steill, I trow,
To stik in to the mirk;
Bot sen thair bairdis grew on thair mow,
Thay saw nevir the kirk
Within,
Nowthir Sym nor his bruder.
Syne Schupe thane vp to lowp our leiss,
Twa tabartis of the tartane;
Thay comptit nocht quhat thair clowtis weis,
Wes sewit thairon incertane:
IO
I5
2O
S PMMAE A/VD HZS AA’ UTHAER.
3IS
Syne clampit vp sanct Peteris keiss,
Bot of ane auld reid gartane:
Sanct James schellis on the tothir Syd sleuis,
As pretty as ony pertane
al,
On Sym and his bruder.
Thus quhen thai had reddit thair ragis,
To Rome they war inspyrit;
Tuk vp thair jaipis and all thair jaggis,
Fure furth as thay war hyrit;
And ay the eldest bure the baggis,
Quhen that the gungest tyrit;
Tuk counsall at Kinkellis craggis,
Come hame as thay war hyrit
Agane,
Baith Sym and his bruther.
Than held thay houss, as men me tellis,
And spendit of thair feis;
Quhen meit wes went, thay flew our fellis
Als bissy as ony beis;
Syne clengit Sanct Jameis schellis,
And pecis of palme treis,
To se quha best the pardone spellis.
I Schrew thame that ay leiss
But lauchter,
Quod Sym to his bruder.
Quhen thay wer welthfull in thair wynning,
Thay puft thane vp in pryd ;
Bot quhair that Symy levit in Synnyng,
His bruder wald haif ane bryd;
Hir wedoheid fra the begynning
Wes neir ane moneth tyd;
Gif scho wes spedy ay in spynning,
Tak witness of thame besyd
Ilk ane,
Baith Sym and his bruder.
25
3o
35
4O
45
5o
55
6o
316
SYMMIE AAWD AIS BRUTHER.
The carlis thay thikkit fast in cludis,
Agane the man wes mareit,
With breid and beif, and vthir budis,
Sym to the kirk thay kareit;
Bot or thay twynd him and his dudis,
The tyme of none wes tareit:
Wa worth this wedding, for be thir widis,
The meit is all miskareit
To day !
Quod Sym and his bruder.
Our all the houss, be lyne and levall,
The ladis come to luk him ;
To tak a justing of that javell,
The bryd wount nocht to bruk him ;
Thay maneist him with mony nevell,
Than Symme rais and schuk him,
I cleme to clergy, quod the cavell,
How dar thow cum to luk him
&ondir,
Quod Sym and his bruder.
With that the carle begowth to crak,
Glowrit vp and gaif a glufe;
His beind it wes als lang and blak,
That it hang our his moif;
He wes als lang vpoun the bak,
As evir wes Angus Dufe ; -
He sayis, “This justing I vndirtak,
My coit is of gud stuffe,
Call to,”
Quod Sym and his bruder.
He hoppit sa mycht na man hald him,
Said “Blame me bot I bind him ;
I sall ourtak him, and that I tald him,
In gone feild gife I fynd him,”
On his gray meir fast furth thay cald him,
The flokis flew furth behind him,
65
7o
75
8o
85
90
95
S VMMIE AND HIS BRUTHER, 317
Thay daschit him doun, the dirt ourhaild him,
Than start thay to and tied him
Tycht,
Baith Sym and his bruder. * IOO
Than brak he lowss, the horss that bair him
Ran startling to Stratyrum,
And he gat vp, and Symme Swair him,
3e meit nocht bot ge myr him ;
Off that fowll courss for to declair him - Io S
The cairlis come to requyr him,
Than all the laddis tryd with a lairrum
To flud him and to flyr him
Bayth,
Quod Syme and his bruder. I IO
This was no bourdene to brown hill,
That gatt betwene the browis,
And had no thing ado thairtill,
As mony voler trowis;
Bot come furth on his awin gud will, II 5
To Squyar Johine of Mowis,
He gatt ane sit vp in the schill,
And that the laddis allowis
Ilk ane,
To Sym and his bruder. I 2 O
Yob Symmer was the stirrepnan,
Was nolt hird of the toun,
He said “I will just as I can,
Sen he is strickin doun.”
He gatt twa plaitis of ane awld pan, I 25
Ane breist plait maid him boun,
The first rynk raif his mowth a span,
And thair he fell in Swoune
- Almaist,
Bayth Sym and his bruder. I3o
318
SYMMIE AAWD HIS PRUTHER.
Doun fra the leggis quhen he wes laist,
He maid a peteouss panting,
He swownit and he swelt almaist,
For gaping and for ganting ;
Abyd, quod the leich, I se a waist,
His wrangtwch is in wanting,
God saif him, and the Haly Gaist,
And keip the man fra manting
Mekle,
Quod Sym and his bruder.
His mowth wes schent, and sa forschorne,
Held nowdir wind nor watter;
Fair weill all blast of blawing horne,
He mycht nocht do bot blatter:
He endis the story with harme forlorne,
The nolt begowth till skatter,
The ky ran startling to the corne,
Wa worth the tyme thow gat hir
Now !
Quod Symme till his bruder.
EXPLICIT.
I 35
I 4O
I45
I5o
ANE BALLAT OF ...ALLAN E-A’-MAUT
XX.
A NE BALLAT OF ALLAN E-A’-MAUT.
THIS ballad, transcribed from Bannatyne's Manuscript,
I568, is doubtless the most ancient which we now have of a
numerous class of compositions, that still preserve no or-.
dinary share of popularity among the peasantry both of
Scotland and England, respecting this celebrated personage,
Allane-a'-Maut, or, as he is more frequently styled, Sir
John Barleycorn. It has never been printed, except by
Mr Jamieson, in his valuable collection of Popular Ballads
and Songs," where it is accompanied with five or six other
curious pieces of a similar kind, taken from tradition, or
English copies of a more recent period. Among the later
productions of the same class, the Editor cannot help allud-
tng to a wild and romantic story, by his friend Mr Allan
Cunningham, lately published in his two volumes of Tradi-
tional Tales.”
A curious mistake has arisen from the jocular signature
affixed to the poem in the Manuscript, as, instead of read-
ing ‘quoth Allane Matsonis suddartis,” or soldiers, the
name of Allan Watson has found a place in the different
lists and lives of the early Scotish Poets as its author. In
the same manner has the name of John Blyth been registered
among the Scotish Poets, as author of a ‘Ballat of Gude
* Edin. 1806, vol. ii. pp. 231-260. * Lond. I822, 12mo, vol. i.
* The signature is not affixed to the copy in Mr Jamieson's collection.
AWE BALLAT OF ALLANE-A’-MA UT. 32 I
Fallowis.”—Surely it requires very little discernment to as-
certain that such names were assumed for ‘the nones,’ and
suggested by the nature of the verses. The only Poet, to
whom the following ballad can with any degree of likelihood
be attributed, is Dunbar, among whose works will be found
a few pieces of a like kind, and who, perhaps, assumed no
feigned character when he so designated himself.
XX.
‘Quijp gotoſt nocht allant --
bonorit be?”
UHEN he wes gung, and cled in grene,
Q Haifand his air abowt his ene,
Baith men and wenen did him mene,
Quhen he grew on gon hillis he ;-
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
His foster faider fure of the toun,
To vissy Allane he maid him boun;
He saw him lyane, allace in Swoun,
For falt of help, and lyk to de;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
Thay saw his heid begin to ryfe;
Syne for ane nvreiss thay send belyfe,
Quha brocht with hir fyfty and fyve
Of men of war full prevely;-
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
Thay ruschit furth lyk hellis rukis,
And every ane of thame had hukis;
They cawcht him schortly in thair clukis,
Syne band him in ane creddill of tre;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
I O
I 5
2O
AAWE BALLAT OF A LZANE-4'-MA UT.
323
Thay brocht him invart in the land,
Syne every freynd maid him his band,
Quhill they micht owdir gang or stand,
Nevir ane fute fra him to fle;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be?
The grittest cowart in this land,
Ffra he with Allane entir in band,
Thocht he may nowdir gang nor stand,
3it fowrty sall nocht gar him fle;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
Schir Allanis hewmond is ane cop,
With ane sege feddir in his top :
Fra hand till hand so dois he hop,
Quhill sum may nowdir speik nor se;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
In 3Ule, quhen ilk man singis his carrell
Gude Allane lyis in to ane barrell
Quhen he is thair, he dowtis no parrell
To cum on him be land or se,
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
3it wes thair nevir sa gay a gallane,
Fra he meit with our maistir Schir Allane,
Bot gif he hald him by the hallane,
Bakwart on the flure fallis he ;-
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
My maistir Allane grew so stark,
Quhill he maid mony cunning clerk,
Vpoun thair faiss he settis his mark,
A blud reid noiss besyd thair E ;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2
25
3O
35
4O
45
5o
324
• AAVE BALLAT OF A LLANE-A’-MA UT.
My maistir Allane I may sair curss,
He levis no mony in my purss,
At his command I mon deburss
Moir nor the twa pairt of my fe;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2 55
And last, of Allane to conclude;
He is bening, courtass and gude,
And servis ws of our daly fude,
And that with liberalitie;—
Quhy sowld nocht Allane honorit be 2 6o
FINIS QUOD ALLANE MATSONIS SUDDARTIS.
ANE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER
- COFFEIS
XXI.
ANE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER
COFFEIS.
THIS satirical Poem was originally published by Lord
Hailes, among his selections from the MS. ‘Ballat Buik '
of George Bannatyne.” “What the author meant by Cof-
feis,” says Lord Hailes, (and we cannot use better words.
than his own to describe the poem,) “he explains in l. 3,
where he speaks of ‘Pedder Knavis.’ Coffe, in the mo-
dern Scottish language means rustic. The sense here is
peddling merchants. The seven sorts are : I. An higgler
and forestaller; 2. A lewd parish priest ; 3. A merchant
who traffics in company upon too small a stock ; 4. Though
obscurely expressed, is a low-born fellow, who intrudes him-
self into the magistracy of a royal burgh ; 5. A fraudulent
bankrupt; 6. A miser ; 7. A dignified churchman : the
character of each is drawn from the living manners of that
age.”
The Notes” subjoined by Lord Hailes, in explanation of
this satirical description, and which Sibbald,” with a few
slight alterations, adopted without acknowledgment, are too
valuable to be withheld. They are therefore annexed with-
out either mixture or alteration.
* 12mo ; Edinburgh, 1770, p. 170. * Id. p. 298.
* Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, vol. i. p. 368.
ANE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER COFFEIS. 327
There is one thing, however, that in this place ought
to be remarked, since the Poem has hitherto been published
as an anonymous composition. In the same manner that
other pieces are attributed to their respective authors, the
signature “quod Linsdsay” appears in the manuscript. Al-
though the name be written in a different-coloured ink, the
hand is apparently of the same age with that of the poem
to which it is affixed. Nor does internal evidence in any
degree invalidate the propriety of its being so attributed.
This circumstance having been unnoticed, was perhaps the
cause why it did not find a place in the elaborate edition
by Mr George Chalmers, of the poetical works of Lyon
King at Arms.
XXI.
3nt begtriptioun of Jeber
Coffeig babing na regairt till
i)ontgtte in thatr bocatioun,
T is my purpoiss to discryve
This holy perfyte genolagie
Of pedder knavis superlatyve,
Pretendand to awtoretie,
That wait of nocht bot beggartie. 5
3e burges sonis, prevene thir lownis,
That wald distroy nobilitie,
And baneiss it all borrow townis.
Thay ar declarit in SEVIN PAIRTIs ;
I. Ane Scroppit cofe, quhen he begynnis, IO
Sornand all and sindry airtis,
For to by hennis reid-wod he rynnis;
He lokis thame vp in to his innis
Vnto ane derth, and sellis thair eggis,
Regraitandly on thame he wynnis, I5
And secondly his meit he beggis.
2. Ane Swyngeour coife, amangis the wyvis,
In landwart dwellis with subteill menis,
Exponand thame auld sanctis lyvis,
A/VE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER COFFEIS. 329
And sanis thane with deid mennis banis;
Lyk Rome-rakaris, with awsterne granis,
Speikand curlyk ilk ane till völer;
Peipand peurly with peteouss granis,
Lyk fengeit Symmye and his bruder.
. Thir cur coffeis that sailis oure sone,
And thretty-sum abowt ane pak,
With bair blew bonattis and hobbeld schone,
And bein bonnokkis with thame thay tak;
Thay schamed schrewis, God gif thame lak,
At none quhen merchantis makis gud cheir,
Steilis doun, and lyis behind ane pak,
Drinkand bot dreggis and barmy bein.
. Knaifatica coff misknawis him sell,
Quhen he gettis on a furrit goun;
Grit Lucifer, maistir of hell,
Is nocht sa helie as that loun ;
As he cumis brankand throw the toun,
With his keis clynkand on his arme,
That calf, clovin futtit, fleid custroun,
Will mary nane bot a burgess bairne.
. Ane dyvour coffe, that wirry hen,
Distroyis the honor of our natioun,
Takis gudis to frist fra fremmit men,
And brekis his obligatioun ;
Quhilk dois the marchandis defamatioun ;
Thay ar reprevit for that regratour,
Thairfoir we gif our declaratioun,
To hang and draw that common tratour.
. Ane curloreouss coffe, that hege-skraper,
He sittis at hame quhen that thay baik,
That pedder brybour, that scheip keipar,
He tellis thame ilk ane caik by caik;
Syne lokkis thane Vp, and takis a faik,
2 O
25
3O
35
4O
45
5o
330 AME DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER COFFEIS.
Betuix his dowblett and his jackett,
And eitis thame in the buith, that smaik; 55
God, that he mort into ane rakkett. -
7. Ane cathedrall coffe, he is ovir riche,
And hes na hap his gude to spend,
Bot levis lyk ane wareit wretche,
And trestis nevir till tak ane end ; 6o
With falsheid evir dois him defend,
Proceding still in averice,
And leivis his Saule na gude commend,
Bot walkis ane wilsome wey, I wiss.
I gow exhort, all that is heir, 65.
That reidis this bill, ge wald it schaw
Vnto the provest, and him requeir
That he will geif thir Coffis the law,
And baneiss thame the Burgess raw, -
And to the Scho streit ge thame ken; 7o
Syne cutt thair luggis, that ge may knaw
Thir peddir knavis be burges men.
ffinis quod Linsdsay.
NOTES ON THE PRECEDING POEM,
BY LORD HAILES, 1770.
St. 2. l. II. “Sornand all and sindry airts.” This scroppit or contemp-
tible dealer is represented as going about in every quarter sormand; a con-
traction from sojournand. Hence sormers, or sojourners, which so often
occurs in our more ancient statutes. He is here described as solicitous in
AAWE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER COFFEZ.S. 331
purchasing fowls, profiting by the sale of their eggs, forestalling the
market, and drawing advantage from a dearth. These are topics of
popular discontent, which the legislature has sometimes sanctified by inex-
tricable statutes.
My reason for imagining that scroppit means contemptible, is founded
on the following passage in Knox, p. 93. “Thair was presentit to the
Quein Regent a calfe having two heidis; whairat she scorppät, and said, it
was bot a common thing.”
St. 3. A rascally wencher among the married women, resides in the
country, versant in the arts of subtilty; he interprets to them the legends
of the saints, and Sanctifies them with dead men's bones or relics. Such
persons seem to have raked the streets of Rome for every superstitious
foolery. Sometimes they growl like dogs, in the offices of religion ; some-
times they pitifully whine like the hypocritical Symmye and his brother.
The first part of this description alludes to the lewd and inordinate lives
of the secular clergy.—The description of their employment in the country
resembles that which the younger Vossius profanely gave of a friend of his :
“Est sacrificulus in pago quodam, et decipit rusticos.”—In Lord Hynd-
ford’s MS. [the ‘Ballat Buik’ of Geo. Bannatyne], there is a poem relative
to Symmeye and his bruder; it is obscure; but seems to import, that they
were what is termed quaestionarii in the ancient Scottish canons, c. 48.
—that is, persons sent out by the church upon a begging mission.
St. 4. l. 25. “Thir cur coffeis that sailis oure sone,
And thretty-sum about ane pak.”
These lines are unintelligible without the aid of the statute-book. By
Act 24. parl. 4. James V. it is provided, “That na merchand saill, with-
out he haze ane halfe last of gudes of his awin, or else in governance, as
factour, to uthir merchandes.” And by Act 25. “That na schip be
frauchted out of the realme, with ony staple gudes, fra the feast of Simon's
day and Judes, [28. Oct.] unto the feast of the purification of our lady,
called Candlemas.” The reader will now perceive what it was to sail too
early, and wherein they offended, who, to the number of thirty, were joint
adventurers in one pack of goods. -
St. 5. l. 33. “Anaïfatica coff misknawis himself.” The word žnaifatica
has been invented to describe a pedlar of mean servile original. Every one
knows, that knave formerly meant a servant. It is probable that this
stanza was aimed at some living character, remarkable for the insolence of
office.”
L. 38. “With his keis clynkand on his arme.” The keys of a
city are considered as the symbols of trust and power, and therefore they
may have been borne by Magistrates. It is an ancient custom for the
chief magistrate of a city to deliver the keys to the Sovereign, upon his
first entry.
St. 6. l. 41. “Ane dyvour coffe.” This stanza describes, in very em-
phatical terms, the offence of one who, while unable or unwilling to pay,
deals upon credit with foreign merchants.
St. 7. l. 55. “And eitis thame in the buith, that smaik.” The word
1 Those who most frequently held the office of Provost of Edinburgh, during the latter
part of this reign [Queen Mary's], were Lord Seaton, Douglas of Kilspindie, and Symon
Prestoun of Prestoun.—SIBBALD.
332 ANE DESCRIPTIOUN OF PEDER COFFEIS.
smaik means a pitiful ignominious fellow. It occurs in a curious poem by
the Earl of Glencairn, preserved in Knox, p. 25.
“They smtaiki's dois set their haill intent,
To reid the Inglische New Testament.”
The churl here described, after having carefully numbered his cakes,
conveys one of them under his cloaths, and eats it in his booth or shop.
St. 9. l. 70. “And to the scho-streit ye thame ken,
3 *
Syne cut thair luggis,” &c.
Shoes are still sold at Edinburgh in the upper part of the Grassmarket,
which is [formerly was] also the place of execution. It is probable that
lesser punishments, such as that of Čutting off the ears of delinquents, were
anciently inflicted in the same place. It has been suggested to the editor,
that by Scho-streit, a street in Perth, still termed the Shoe-gate, is under-
stood. But there seems no reason for supposing that this poem was
composed at Perth, or that the Shoe - gate in Perth was a place of
punishment.
THE
WYF OF AUCHTERMUCHTY
XXII.
THE WYF OF AUCHTERMUCHTY.
THE ‘Wyf of Auchtermuchty' has long continued to be
a favourite among all classes of the people of Scotland:—
and few poems of the same nature have oftener been printed,
though seldom, it must be added, with a due regard to accuracy.
Having been preserved by tradition, as well as by writing,
there is no cause for surprise at finding the different copies
vary considerably from each other. Of these, the one con-
tained in Bannatyne's Manuscript ‘Ballat Buik ' is the
most ancient. Lord Hailes indeed was inclined to think
that it “had been transcribed at some later period than 1568,
when most of the MS. was written.” But there is no reason
for entertaining such an opinion, Since it occurs in the
'middle of the volume, and, as appears from the original
Series of paging, could not possibly have been inserted at a
later period than the rest of the collection. From this copy
the text is carefully given, and the most important variations
of other editions are pointed out at the foot of the page.
The only one, however, which requires particular notice is
written in a hand not much later than the year I600, and
ts distinguished as MS. A. This copy is now preserved in
the Advocates' Library. It was discovered among some
old law-papers which had belonged to the family of Skene of
Halyards, in Fife.
THE W VF OF A UCHTERMUCH TV. 335
For genuine humour, and as a faithful picture of rustic
manners, ‘The Wyf of Auchtermuchty' has seldom or
never been equalled. Ritson, who intended to republish it
in a projected volume of ‘Select Scotish Poems,’ says, in a
manuscript note, “The subject of this poem seems to be
borrowed from the first part of a story in the “Silva Ser-
monum jucundissimorum,’ Basil. I568, 8vo, p. II6;
though certainly from a more ancient authority. It has
been very popular (he adds), and given rise to several imi-
tations.” The story referred to is quoted àt full length in
the Appendix, (the volume from which it is taken being
of rare occurrence,) so that the reader may be enabled to
draw his own conclusion respecting its originality. There
ts indeed a striking similarity in many of the incidents;
but the poem has too much of a natural character and
propriety, to make us think of depriving the old Scotish
author of the merit of its invention.
Allan Ramsay, who, so far as we learn, was its earliest
publisher, has, as Lord Hailes observed, altered six lines,
and added no fewer than twenty. “It must be admitted
(Lord Hailes adds) that his alterations and additions are
in the style of the original. They prove him to have been
a better poet than a publisher of other men's works.” After
such an encomium by one every way So well qualified to
estimate their merit, it would have been improper to have
withheld these additions.
Respecting the author of this poem, it may be observed
that in Bannatyne's Manuscript,” “quod MOFAT’ is sub-
joined, in a different, if not in a more modern hand.
Accordingly it has been attributed to a Sir John Moffat,
(‘one of the Pope's knights,') the only Scotish poet of the
name, who is conjectured to have lived in the earlier part
of the 16th century. All we know concerning him is, that
he was author of the fine moral poem, beginning
“Bruthir be wyiss I reid 30w now ; ”
that has been printed in Lord Hailes's collection. The
* Fol. I2O. b.
336 7THE WYF OA' A UCH 7 ERMUCH 7"Y.
‘Wyf of Auchtermuchty' may therefore be supposed to have
been written about the year I520. Should the solitary
evidence, just referred to, respecting its author, be relied on,
there is but too much cause to justify our regret in not
possessing more considerable remains of a poet, whose
claims to original genius, it is presumed, will not be
disputed."
* I find there was a Sir John Moffat, a chaplain of the morn (morning)
service, in the parish kirk of Dunfermline, 21st January 1493-94. And
probably the same person, 12th February 1578-79, called Master of the
Grammar School, was the proprietor of landis (houses) in the north part of
the Tolbooth. —-Court-book of the Regality of Dunfermline.
XXII.
&be &lpf of 3 tochtirmlucijty.
N Awchtirmwohty thair dwelt ane man,
Ane husband, as I hard it tawld,
Quha weill cowld tippill owt a can,
And nathir luvit hungir nor cawld.
Quhill anis it fell vpoun a day, 5
He gokkit his plwch vpoun the plane; -
Gif it be trew, as I hard say,
The day was fowll for wind and rane.
He lowsit the pluche at the landis end,
And draif his oxin hame at evin ; IO
Quhen he come in he lukit bend,
And saw the wyf baith dry and clene,
And sittand at ane fyre, beikand bawld,
With ane fat sowp, as I hard say:
The man being verry weit and cawld, I5
Betwene thay twa it was na play.
L. I. thair wind an honest man. L. 2, a rach husband.
L. 3. Sa weill can tipple vpon a good can. L. 4. this man.
L. 8. It came on a foull day.
Ll. 9-16. This stanza in MS. A. has only four lines.
He loosed the pleuch hame as he came,
He saw the goodwife sitting baith fair and clene,
Sitting before a good beikman bald,
A good ſat sowp his handis betuene.
Y
338 THE WYAP OF A UCHTERMUCH 7"Y.
Quoth he, “Quhair is my horssis corne 2
My ox hes naithir hay nor stray;
Dame, gemon to the pluch to morne,
I salbe hussy, gif I may.” 2O
“Husband,” quoth scho, “content am I
To tak the pluche my day abowt,
Sage will rowll baith kavis and ky,
And all the houss baith in and owt.
Bot sen that ge will husyskep ken, 25
First gesall sift, and syne sall kned;
And ay as ge gang but and ben,
Luk that the bairnis dryt not the bed.
3eis lay ane soft wisp to the kill,
We haif ane deir ferme on our heid ; 3O
And ay as ge gang furth and in,
Keip weill the gaislingis fra the gled.”
The wyf was vp richt late at evin,
I pray God gif hir evill to fair,
Scho kyrnd the kyrne, and skwmd it clene, 35
And left the gudeman bot the bledoch bair;
Than in the mornyng vp scho gatt,
And on hir hairt laid hir disjwne,
Scho put als mekle in hir lap,
As micht haif serd them baith at nwne. 4O
18. My cattell. L. 19. Ye shall go to the pluch the morne.
2O. Ise gyde the hous als well as I may.
2I. Goodman. L. 22. To gang to the pleuch.
24. Gyde my hous well.
. 25. A gude husband if ye will be.
28. Misvse not the bed.
Ll. 29-32. And a good husband as ye wold be,
Some spottis in the house ye man outspy;
We have a deare ken ſq. kane] to the ladie,
See that the calfes swk not the ky.
Ll. 37-40. These lines in MS. A. read thus:–
The goodwife gat up soone in the morning,
Vpon hir heart laid a fine disjune,
Sho preind mair to Jock in hir lap
Nor wold have serued three honest men at noone.
i
THE WWF OF A UCH 7°ERMUCH 7"Y. 339
Sayis Jok, “Will thow be maister of wark,
And thow sall had, and I sall kall;
Ise promiss the ane gud new Sark,
Athir of round claith or of small.
Scho lowsit oxin aucht or nyne, 45
And hynt ane gad-staff in hir hand;
And the gudman raiss eftir syne,
And saw the wyf had done command.
And cawd the gaislingis fºrth to feid,
Thair was bot sevensum of thane all ; 5o
And by thair cumis the gredy gled,
And likkit vp five, left him bot twa :
Than owt he ran in all his mane,
How sone he hard the gaislingis cry;
Bot than or he come in agane, 55
The calfis brak lowss and sowkit the ky.
The calvis and ky being met in the lone,
The man ran with ane rung to red;
Than by thair cumis ane ill-willy cow,
And brodit his buttok quhill that it bled. 6o
Than hame he ran to an rok of tow,
And he satt doun to say the spynning;
I trow he lowtit our neir the low,
Quoth he, this wark hes ill begyning.
Than to the kyrn that he did stoure, 65
And jwmlit at it quhill he swatt :
L. 41. &c. This address to jock, the servant, is not in MS. A.; nor in-
deed are several other lines.
L. 53. The good man ran forth in a great anger.
L. 54. Soon ever as he.
L. 55. Ere he came in what thought ye of yt.
Ll. 61-64. He gat the rock soone in his bosome,
He thought well to have begun his spinning;
But alace he leand our neir the low ;
Alace 1 (quo he) this work hes a hard beginning.
34O THE W VF OF AUCHTERMUCH TV.
Quhen he had jwmlit a full lang houre,
The sorow crap of butter he gatt.
Albeit na butter he cowld gett,
3it he wes cummerit with the kyrne, 7o
And syne he het the milk our hett,
And sorrow a spark of it wald gyrne.
Than ben thair come ane gredy sow,
I trow he cund hir littil thank;
And in scho schot hir mekle mow, 75
And ay Scho winkit and scho drank.
He cleikit vp ane crukit club,
And thocht to hitt the sow ane rowt,
The twa gaislingis the gled had left,
That straik dang baith thair harnis out. 8o
He gat his foot vpon the spyre,
To haue gotten the flesch doune to the pat,
He fell backward into the fyre,
And brack his head on the keming stock:
3it he gat the mekle pat vpon the fyre, 85
And gat twa cannes and ran to the Spout,
Er he came it, quhat thought ge of that 2
The fyre brunt aw the pat arss out.
Than he beur kendling to the kill,
Bot scho start all vp in ane low, 90
Quhat evir he hard, quhat evir he saw,
That day he had na will to mow.
Than he geid to tak vp the bairnis,
Thocht to haif fund thame fair and clene;
The first that he gat in his armis 95
Was all bedirtin to the ene.
Ll. 67, 68. And wold he haue jumblit while the dumsday,
Sorrow a bit butter that ever he gat.
L. 73. And in there came. L. 75. Hir ill fard mow.
L. 79. The glaidis had chaped. L. 8o. He chanced to ding.
Ll. 81-88. This stanza, which does not occur in MS. Bann. 7tor in the
ordinary printed copies, is given from A/S. A.
THE W YF OF A UCHTERM UCH TV.
34 I
The first that he gat in his armis,
It was all dirt vp to the eine;
“The Diuill cut of thair handis,” quoth he,
“That fild gow all sa fow this strene.”
He trailit the fowll scheitis doun the gait,
Thocht to haif wescht thane on ane stane;
The burne wes rissin grit of spait,
Away fra him the scheitis hes tane.
Than vp he gat on ane know heid,
On hir to cry, on hir to schowt,
Scho hard him, and scho hard him not,
Bot stowtly steird the stottis abowt.
Scho draif the day vnto the nicht,
Scho lowisit the plwch and syne come hame;
Scho fand all wrang that sowld bene richt,
I trow the man thocht richt grit schame.
Quoth he, “My office I forsaik,
For all the dayis of my lyf,
For I wald put ane howss to wraik,
Had I bene twenty dayis gudwyf.”
Quoth scho, “Weill mot ge bruke gour place,
For trewlie I will nevir excep it; ”
Quoth he, “Feind fall the lyaris face,
Bot git ge may be blyth to get it.”
Than vp scho gat ane mekle rung,
And the gudman maid to the doir;
Quoth he, “Deme, I sall hald my tung,
For and we fecht I’ll get the woir.”
IO6. ‘cray,” MS. Bann.
IO6. Vpon the goodwife he cryed mony good shout.
. I 13. Dame I’lege ouer my hussies skep.
. I2I-124 are not in MS. A.
IOO
Io 5
I IO
I 2 O
. I 14. Forsooth of my life. L. 122. dur, MS. Bann.
342
THE WYF OA' A UCHTERM UCATV.
Quoth he, “Quhen I forsuk my plwche, I 25
I trow I bot forsuk my seill,
And I will to my plwch agane,
Ffor I and this howss will nevir do weill.”
FINIS QUOD MOFAT.
L. 128. Goodwife your houss and I will mere doe well. MS. A.
ADDITIONAL VERSES AND EMENDATIONS,
}
I2.
I3.
I4.
I5.
. I8.
2O.
tº 2I.
• 24.
BY ALLAN RAMSAY, 1724.
. 7, 8. But schort the storm wald let him stay,
Sair blew the day with wind and rain.
He blinkit ben.
Set beikand by a fire full bauld.
Suppand fat Sowp.
Being weary.
My Owsen has nae.
After this line are added,—
This seid-time it proves cauld and bad,
And ge sit warm, nae troubles Se;
The morn gesall gae with the lad,
And syne geil ken what drinkers drie.
Gudeman, quod Scho.
After this line are added,—
And now sen ge haif made the Law,
Than gyde all richt and do not break;
THE WYF OF A UCH 7'ERMUCH 7" V. 343
i
f
They sicker raid that neir did faw,
Therefore let naithing be neglect.
.' 49. He draif the gaislingis.
. 59. Than by come an ill-willy roan.
. 61. Syne up he tuk an rok of tow.
. 63. He loutit doun.
. 65. Before this line the following stanza is inserted :—
The leam up throw the lum did flow,
The sute tuke fyre it flyed him than,
Sum lumps did fall and burn his pow;
I wat he was a dirty man:
3it he gat water in a pan,
Quherwith he slokend out the fyre:
To soup the House he syne began ;
To had all richt was his desyre.
. 77 He tuke the kirnstaff be the shank.
. 79. The two left gaislings gat a clank.
. 97-IOO. These lines Ramsay has altered thus:–
The first it smelt sae sappylie,
To touch the lave he did not grein :
The Deil cut aff thair hands, quoth he,
That cramd gour kytes sae strute gestrein.
‘A BALLET SHEWING. HOW A DUMB
WYFF WAS MAID TO SPEIK
XXIII.
‘A BALLET SHEWING. HOW A DUMB
WYFF WAS MAID TO SPEIK.’
THE folio Maitland MS. in the Pepysian Library, con-
tains a fragment of the following humorous tale ; * and a
less imperfect copy occurs in one of Bishop More’s MSS. in
the University Library, Cambridge. The stanzas in the
latter MS. having been awkwardly transposed by the writer,
both copies are made use of in order that this ballad might
be given in its most perfect state. [There are, however, some
deficiencies which have been ingeniously supplied by Charles
Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq.]
The incident on which this story is founded might be traced
back through a long series of writers of various nations,
both in prose and verse. The original of the present tale
may perhaps be found in one of the numerous French fabli-
aux, which doubtless were well known at an early period in
Scotland, owing to the great intercourse which subsisted
between the two nations.
Part of a vulgar Scotish ballad of a similar kind, which
never seems to have been printed, is still remembered. The
husband takes his wife to a Surgeon ‘to cure her of the
dumb, dumb, dumb,” who, by cutting the strings of her
tongue, brings her faculties of speech to ‘a pretty tolerable
Ll. 5.-84.
HOW A DUMB WYFF WAS MAID TO SPEIK. 347
consistency: '—or rather, enables her ‘to rattle with her
tongue, tongue, tongue,’ at such a rate, that the poor man
fis fain to apply a second time for assistance, and beg of the
doctor to make her dumb again. Instead of pointing out some
remedy, or even answering him as we might suppose him
to do, like Sganarelle, in the admirable Comedy of Le Me-
decin malgré lui, on a similar application,--
“That's impossible, sir; all that I can do to serve you, is, I can make
you deaf, if you please,”—
he is so malicious as to say, like the Devil in the following
tale, that though it is an easy matter to make a woman
speak, it is beyond the skill of all the Doctors in the land
afterwards to silence her.
XXIII.
‘Qſbe Dumb &Qayff.”
| HAIR dwelt a larde in Fyffe
(Sic menne ar countit madde)
Quha weddit ane gude-wyffe
Ritche, dumb, and wondirous sadde;]."
Quhan wthair wyfes war glaid 5
To mak thair husbandis blyth,
Scho sat, and nothing said;
And comfort name could kyth.
Than, to be brief,
He tuik sic grief, I O
That deiplie he did sweir,
That he forthoucht,
That he had brocht,
Ane dum wyff hame for geir.
And so woone ane day, I 5
He went alone to pance ;
So met he in his way
Ane greit grim man be chance:
* The beginning of this poem has been lost, but only four lines in the first
stanza appear to be wanting ; they have been supplied by C. K. Sharpe,
Esq.
HOW A DUMB WYFF WAS MAID TO SPEIK. 349
Quhilk fast at him did fraine
Quhy he sa sadlie went 2 2O
Quhat angwisch, greiff, or paine,
Perturbit his intent
He bad him schaw
And lat him knaw,
Of all his grief the ground— 25
He sould remeid,
Haif he na dreid,
Gif remeid micht be found.
Than he declairis cleir
The mater all and sum ; 3o
How he had tane for geir
Ane woman deif and dum.
For hir riches and rentes
He wedit hir to his wyfe;
Bot now he sair repentes, 35
And irkis sair of his lyfe.
His eirdlie.joy
Is turnit to noy;
He wist him self war deid.
Quod he agane, 4O
“Tak na disdane,
And I sall find remeid.
Gif thow will counsall keip,
And trow weil quhat I say,
This nicht in hir first sleip, 45
Vndir hir towng thow lay
Off quaiken espein leif,
The quhilk betaiknis wind;
And scho sall haif releif
Of speikeine thow sall find ; 5o
Quhat kind of taill,
Foroutin faill,
35O A BALZE 7" SHE WING HOW
That thow of hir reqwyreis,
Scho sall speik out,
Haif thow na dout, 55
And mair than thow desyreis.”
Than was he glaid of this,
And thoucht him self weill chewin :
And hame he cam with blis;
Thocht lang quhill it was ewin. 6o
Quhill scho was fallin on sleip
Ay warlie watchit he ;
And than he tuik guid keip,
And laid in leifes thrie ;
Thinkand his cuir 65
To wirk most suir,
He lay walkand quhill day;
Quhill scho awoik
Guid tent he tuik,
To heir quhat scho suld say. 7o
Na rest than could he tak,
Bot tumbillis heir and thair:
The first word that scho spak,
Scho said, “Ewill mot ge fair
That wald nocht lat me rest, 75
And I sa seik this nicht!—”
—For joy he hir imbraist,
His hart was hie on hicht.
Than furth scho schew,
All that scho knew, 8o
Quhen that scho could nocht speik.
Fra scho began,
Scho spairit nocht than,
And [lyit na lyk] ane seik.--
[To daill wyth sic ane spreit 85
The carle hee was nocht faine—
L. 84 in MS. almost illegible; the words in brackets were supplied by
J. Pinkerton.
Ll. 85-98 supplied by C. K. Sharpe, Esq.
A DUMB WYFF WAS MAID TO SPEIK. 351
Bot ance hee chancit to meet
The grit grim man again.
“Allace, sweit schir,” hee said,
“3ow thocht to doe mee joy, 90
3it now the play is playd,
I thole bot deip annoy:
The leiffis applyed
War scantlie tryed,
Till scho began to trattil 95
Wi sic ane soun,
That auld Mahoun
Himselfe wald flee the battill]
And quhan I did hir pray
In licence for to sitt, IOO
That is the neirest way
To putt hir by hir witt:
God knawis the drerie lyff
I had sen scho was dum;
Off ane gud quyet wyff IOS
Is now ane feind becum ;
Hir speiche but sessoun,
But ryme or ressoun,
Now deiffis vp all the hous;
Allace I this day, I IO
That, I may say,
That euer scho spak sa crous.”
“Blame thyselff,” quod he,
“That gaif hir superflew ;
Thow laid in leifis thrie, II 5
Quhair ane mycht bene enew ;
Had thow don as I bad,
Or now thow sould haue seine,
[Thy wyff in myrthe y-clad,
Weill temperet toung betwene ; I 2 O
L. 106. “begun ' MS.
L. I 19 omitted in M.S., supplied by C. K. Sharpe, Esq.
352
A BA LLET SHE WING ATO W
$º.
L. 121. ‘latter’ A/S.
Bot quha may latt hir
Ane wyfe to clatter,
Syne no man can conuert hir;
The mimest wyff
That euer tuik lyff,
Will warie sum wordis, and start hir.”
Quod he, “Tak quhat I haiff,
And leif hir as ge fand hir.”—
“Allace l’’ quod he, “ge raiff,
I dar nocht cum neir hand hir;
I am devill but doutt,
Ffirst langage learnit hir till,
I dar nocht be so stoutt,
To bid hir hald hir still ;
Fra scho delyte
To fecht, and flytt,
I dar nocht with hir mell;
Scho will speik out,
Haue gena doutt,
Off all the deuillis in hell.
The leist deuill that is in hell
Can gif ane wyff hir toung;
The gritest, I gow tell,
Cannot do mak hir dum.
Ffra scho begin to clatter,
Scho will claver quhair scho pleis,
We deuillis can na wayis latt hir;
‘Gude' man tak gow the waneis
Thocht nighbouris aboutt
Wis hir toung outt,
It dois thame nocht availl,
I say for me
Scho will chyde ‘till' scho die,
Scho is best with littill daill.”
L. 153. ‘will MS.
L. I48. waneis or uneis, annoyance.
I 25
I 3o
I 35
I4O
I 45
I 50
A DUMB WYFF WAS MAID TO SPEIK. 353
Quod he, “Than tell me plane, I55
Quhat counsall best ge call ?”—
Quod he, “Gang hame agane,
Ffor it is ill over all:
Latt thy wyff speik hir fill,
Sen scho thairto was borne; I6o
Ffor wyffis will haue thair will
Thocht ge and I had sworne.
Quhat euer hir happin,
Hirtoung is hir wapin,
To speik than quha may latt hir, I65
Quha may ganestand,
Or contramand
Ane crabit wyff to clatter 2 ”
Thus thai depairtit plane:
The feind flew ouir ane hill; I7o
The guidman hame agane,
And with his wyff baid still:
Quod he, now I perseaue
Thair is na leid in land
That has, as I wald haiff, I75
His wyff at his command.
Ffra thine furth ay,
He leit hir say,
And neuer was offendit,
Bot at hir wourdis I8o
Maid quyet bourdis,
Quhill death thair dayis endit. Ç
ffinis hujus.
THE
WOWING OF JOK AND JYNNY
XXIV.
THE WOWING OF JOK AND JYNNY.
THE Wowing of Jok and Jynny is the most ancient, and
not the least humorous of many similar songs and ballads
which still retain their popularity in this country. Lord
Hailes observed—and his words are quite applicable at the
present time, that ‘ this well-known poem, by frequent publi-
cation, has been much corrupted. Every publisher took the
liberty of adding or altering just as his fancy led him. It
is now given faithfully from the manuscript,” and exhibits
a ludicrous picture of the curta Supellex of the Scottish Com-
mons in the sixteenth century.’”
Even since the time that Lord Hailes presented the text
in a genuine State, the interpolated copies have been gen-
erally adopted, by its different editors. But the original
poem has too much merit, and possesses too close a resem-
blance to the nature of the present collection, to justify its
exclusion, merely because it has been already published.
We possess no information with respect to the author, un-
less it be worth observing that the signature quod Clerk,
attached to his poem in the manuscript, has, at an early
period, been intentionally obliterated. The name, apparently,
1 Bann. MS. fol. 137.
* Ancient Scottish Poems. Edin. 1770, p. 340,
THE WOWING OF 9 OK AND 9. VWWV. 357
7s written in the same hand (not that of the transcriber)
which attributes The Brash of Wowing, and two other
poems in the same collection, to a writer of this name,
supposed to have been Maister Johne Clerk, the poet men-
tioned by Dunbar as having been taken by Death
* Fra balat making and trigide.”
The explanations by Lord Hailes, which will be found
£n the Appendix, may be useful to some readers.
* Lament for the deth of the Makars. Edin. 1508.
XXIV.
‘&ſije Čioming of ſoft amb
3/ynny.”
OBEYNS Jok come to wow our Jynny,
On our feist-evin quhen we wer fow ;
Scho brankit fast, and maid hir bony,
And said, “Jok, come ge for to wow 2°
Scho birneist hir baith breist and brow, 5
And maid hir cleir as ony clok;
Than spak hir deme, and said, “I trow,
3e come to wow our Jynny, Jok.”
Jok said, “Forsuth I gern full fane,
To luk my heid, and sit doun by gow.” I O
Than spak hir modir, and said agane,
“My bairne hes tocher-gud annwoh to gegow.”
“Te he,” quod Jynny, “keik, keik, I se gow;
Muder, gone man makis gow a mok.”
“I schro the, lyar ! full leis me gow, I 5
I come to wow your Jynny,” quoth Jok.
“My berne,” scho sayis, “hes of hir awin,
Ane guss, ane gryce, ane Cok, ane hen,
Ane calf, ane hog, ane fute-braid sawin,
Ane kirn, ane pin, that ge weill ken, 2O
L. 12. ‘annwch' is inserted after ‘tocher-gud,” but has been scored
through in the MS. by the transcriber.
*
THE WOWING OF YOK AND 9. YNNY.
359
Ane pig, ane pot, ane raip thair ben,
Ane fork, ane flaik, ane reill, ane rok,
Dischis and dublaris nyne or ten :
Come ge to wow our Jynny, Jok?
Ane blanket, and ane wecht also,
Ane Schule, ane scheit, and ane lang flail,
Ane ark, ane almry, and laidillis two,
Ane milk-syth, with ane swyne-taill,
Ane rowsty quhittill to scheir the kaill,
Ane quheill, ane mell the bein to knok,
Ane coig, ane caird wantand ane naill:
Come ge to wow our Jynny, Jok?
Ane furme, ane furlet, ane pott, ane pek,
Ane tub, ane barrow, with ane quheilband,
Ane turf, ane troch, and ane meil-sek,
Ane spurtill braid, and ane elwand.”
Jok tuk Jynny be the hand,
And cryd ane feist, and slew ane cok,
And maid a brydell vp alland;
“Now haif I gottin gour Jynny,” quoth Jok.
“Now, deme, I haif gour bairne mareit;
Suppoiss ge mak it nevir Sa twohe,
I lat gow wit schoss nocht miskareit,
It is weill kend I haif annwoh :
Ane crukit gloyd fell our ane huch,
Ane Spaid, ane speit, ane spur, ane Sok,
Withouttin oxin I haif a pluche;
To gang to gidder, Jynny and Jok.
I haif ane helter, and eik ane hek,
Ane coird, ane creill, and als ane cradill,
Fyve fidder of raggis to stuff ane jak,
Ane auld pannell of ane laid sadill,
L. 26, originally ‘four lang flailis.’
25
3O
35
4O
45
5O
360
THE WOWING OF YOK AND 9. YWNY.
Ane pepper-polk maid of a padill,
Ane spounge, ane spindill wantand ane nok,
Twa lusty lippis to lik ane laiddill;
To gang to gidder, Jynny and Jok.
Ane brechame, and twa brochis fyne,
Weill buklit with a brydill renge,
Ane sark maid of the Lynkome twyne,
Ane gay grene cloke that will nocht stenge;
And git for mister I will nocht fenge,
Fyive hundreth fleis now in a flok.
Call genocht that ane joly menge,
To go to giddir, Jynny and Jok?
Ane trene truncheour, ane ramehorne spone,
Twa buttis of barkit blasnit ledder,
All graith that ganis to hobbill schone,
Ane thrawcruk to twyne ane tedder,
Ane brydill, ane girth, and ane swyne bledder,
Ane maskene-fat, ane fetterit lok,
Ane scheip weill keipit fra ill wedder;
To gang to giddir, Jynny and Jok.
Tak thair for my parte of the feist;
It is weill knawin I am weill bodin;
3e may nocht say my parte is leist.”
The wyfe said, “Speid, the kaill ar soddin,
And als the laverok is fust and loddin;
Quhen ge haif done takhame the brok.”
The rost wes twohe, sawer thay bodin;
Syne gaid to giddir bayth Jynny and Jok.
EXPLICIT.
55
6o
65
7o
75
8o
THE
FERMORAR AND HIS DOCHTER
XXV.
THE FERMORAR AND HIS
DOCHTER.
THIS lively and spirited dialogue between a Farmer and
his Daughter, on the subject of her marriage, is apparently
of English composition, although the Editor found it written
on the fly-leaf of an ancient copy of Wyntoun's Chronicle,
which appears to have formerly belonged to the Abbey of
Cambuskenneth, now preserved in the Library at Wemyss
Castle, Fife. The date of the manuscript itself is about the
latter part or middle of the 15th century; that of the poem
ts not much later than the reign of james V.
In a foolish and vulgar English song of the last century,
not worth preserving, entitled The Maid's resolution to
marry a Rake, we find reasons nearly similar to those ex-
pressed in the following dialogue, for choosing a Gentleman,
£nstead of a Ploughman or Farmer, as her husband.
My Mother would have me to marry a Clown
That hedges and ditches all week for a crown;
But to marry a Rake is all my delight;
If he rambles all day he will please me at night.
The name of a Clown I highly disdain,
My Father and Mother they love the same :
A Clown is a Clown both at home and abroad,
When a Rake he is comely, and sweet in his bed.
we
7"HE FEAEMORAA’ AAWD HIS DOCATER. 363
A Ploughman I own is good in his kind,
But I’m resolved to alter my mind;
For a Rake dress'd in scarlet and trimm'd with gold
Is handsome and pleasant, and lovely to behold.
The sixth stanza of this poem is defective of three lines;
but possibly we have no great cause to regret the loss which
tt has sustained. .
Among the ballets entered in the Stationers' Register to
john Wallye and Mrs Toye, was one “Betwene a Ryche
Farmer and his Daughter”—Herbert's Ames, vol. i. p.
588.
XXV.
‘Qije jFermorar amb pig Dochter.’
S I did walk onys be ane medo side,
In ane symmer sessoun, quhen men wynnis thair
hay,
I hard ane riche fermorar with his dochter chide,
Tuiching hir meriage, and thus he did say:
“Here duellis Symkin my nychtbour, Ourthort gone
way, 5
He hes thre welthy childering, choiss the one of
thoiss;—
Thow sall haue one of thane, with myche of my
poiss.”
“Ffader,” quoth the dochter, “that goith aganis my
hart,
Sen I haue bene gour drevill this xx geris and more,
Now wald ge gar me go at pleuch and cart, IO
And leif my liff in sklavary, as I haue done to fore;
Tak it for ane ansuer, I will do so no more :
3e can nocht compell me to mary one of thois,
For I will haue ane gentill man, with plesand cloiss.”
“Dochter,” quoth the fader, “quhy dois thou thaim
refuss, * 15
Sen thai be gudlie gemen that be in all this land 2–
In all this cuntrie, I think, thou can not choiss,
THE FERMORAR AAWD AIS DOCHTER. 365
More nymlar fallowis of fute, nor of hand;
More panefullar, more thrifty, I lat the Ynderstand :
Thou can nocht do better than mary"Sne of thoiss;
No! thou sall mary one of thane, in spite of thi
noiss.” 2 I
“Ffader,” quoth the dochter, “I put gow out of dout,
I rak nocht of thare manheid, nor thair thriftynes "
at all;
I am nocht disposit to mary Hob Klout,
To leif like my mothir, in messerie and thrall, 25
Servand the swyne, and the oxin in thare stall,
With ane pare of clamper kynnis clowtit to my hoiss;
No! I will haue ane gentill man, in spyte of gour
11OISS.
“Gif I gett ane gentill man, I can nocht lychtly myss
Of doctouris of phesik, and necessary fude; 3O
Gif I say bot onys, “Gude husband gett me this,”
I can nocht lychtly laik it, and it will do me gude;
Sic qualiteis hes ane gentill man that is cum of gentill
blude:
How mony of this cuntre, dois laik one of thoiss 2
No! I will haue ane gentill man, in spite of gour
noiss. 35
1.
“Ane gentill man is lusty, luvand, and faithfull of fay,
He is worthy to be luvit, he is plesand and gay :—
Fader, content gou, in spite of gour noiss,
And euir I maryt be, I will haue one of thoiss.
“Giff I get ane gentill man, his sycht will do me
gude, 4O
He will hals me, and brais me, and lufe me out of
meSOur ;
* Three lines of this verse are wanting in the MS.
366 THE FERMORAR AND HIS DOCHTER.
So sall I haue my silkan gowne, with my Franche hude,
I sall haue aboundance, and infinite tressour,
And I salbe actumpanyit with ladeis of plesour,
And I sall haue my chois of veluot, to my fine
hoiss, 45
So will I haue ane gentill man, in spite of gour noiss.
“Ane gentill man is lusty, and will lay on the laid,
With ane Swerde, and ane dagar glitterand by his side,
Quhen Symkin standis quhisling, with ane quhip and
ane gaid,
Prikand and garkand one ald ox hide, 5o
With one pare of stro buskynis, he gois to ride,
Moist like one spittell man :—suld I haue one of
thoiss
No | I will haue ane gentill man, in despite of gour
noiss.”
ANE BALLET OF MATRY MONIE
XXVI.
ANE BALLET OF MATRY MONIE.
THIS humorous poem may serve as a counterpart to
‘The Wife lapped in Morels skin,’ and some other well-
known pieces of English poetry, which were coeval with it.
The original is preserved in a very curious volume * of mis-
cellaneous poetry among the Cotton Manuscripts in the
British Museum, described as having once been the pro-
perty of Sir Henry Savile.
It was first printed in a posthumous collection of Joseph
Ritson,” whose antiquarian pursuits were not, with the
prejudices entertained for a length of time by his country-
men, bounded by “the cold river of Tweid.’ In Ritson's
volume this poem is entitled The Honey Moon, which has
here been altered, as there seems to be n0 authority to show
that the period, usually regarded as at least the positive term
of matrimonial happiness (but during which the following
ludicrous adventure is stated to have occurred), had, so early
as the latter part of the I6th century, received such an ap-
propriate denomination.
* MSS. Cotton, Vesp. A. 25.
* The Caledonian Muse. London, printed 1785, and first published 1821.
8vo, p. 172.
XXVI.
45allet,
Y West of late as I dyd walke,
In the pryme tyme of the day,
Yt was my chaunce to here the talke
Of two yonge folkis in ‘fay’;
They had not bene marred at the kyrke
Thre dayes then fully past,
The good man bad his wyffe to worke,
Nay soft, quod she, no hast,
For now
I wyll, quod she,
Not worke for the,
I make to God a vowe.
And yf thow wylt not worke, quod he,
Thou drab I shall the dryve.
I would to God, thow knave, quod she,
Thow durst that matter ‘pryve.’
The godman for to beate his wyffe
In hande a pase he went, L
He caught two blowes vpon his head
For every one he lent,
In dede ;
He never ‘blan”
Beating her than—
Tyll both hys eares dyd blede.
V. 4. Say. V. 16. preve. V. 22. blande.
2 A
IO
I5
2O
37O
A NE BALLET OF MA TR VMOAV/E.
He was so stowte and sterne that stoure,
And fearsse with her in fyght,
That even vpon the stony flowre
She knokt his head full ryght.
The good wyffe was wonderous wake in hande,
Fearefull and nothing bold,
But he had never a fott to stande
When she of hym caught hold
By the crage;
And with her fyst,
His mouth she kyst,
As fast as yt myght wagge.
Now then, she cryed lowd, alackel
I do you well to wytt;—
But he lay downe vpon his backe,
And she stode on her fett;
Bending her selffe to hym a pace,
She cryed him mersy then
And pylled the barke even of hys face
With her commaundements ten ;
And oft
She dyd hym dosse
Abowt the nosse,
Tyll ‘ al’ his face was softe.
Now when the neybowres hard the noyse,
So longe betwen them twayne,
They wyst yt was no wanton toyes,
And fast thether they ranne;
But when they came, in vayne yt was,
The dores was sparred rounde,
The good wyffe cryed owt alas !
But he lay on the grounde,
V. 4 I. pacce. V. 48. at hys facce.
25
3o
35
4O
45
5o
55
AAVE BA/L/A2 7" OA' MA 7TR YMOAVIAE.
37 I
Well beate ;
Lying alonge
He sayd among
That better he would her heate.
Hys neybowres they were sore afrayde
That he would kyll hys wyffe,
Then hym full instantly they prayde,
To stynt and leave hys stryffe,
And not hys wrath vpon her ‘wreache,’
They dyd hym all exorte;
Nay, nay, quod he, I shall her teache
How she shall be so shorte
With me;—
Yet on his face
She layd apace,
And cryed him styll merse.
Whiche thing to here the neyboures all
Dyd pytty her so sore,
That to the good man they dyd call,
And Sayd, for shame, no more :
He bad them then go pyke them home,
And there go medle them now ;
I am, quod he, not suche a one,
To leave fighting for yowe,
I trow :
Yet for all this,
They sayd, I wys,
Smale neybourehede he dyd showe.
Some prayed hym, in avoyding cryme,
That he hys hande would hold;
Let her, quod he, another tyme,
Not be with me so bolde;
For suredly, and owght I were
To bede her taunt or cheke, -
V. 65. wyrke, MS.
6o
65
7o
75
8o
85
90
372
AAVE BAZZAZ 7" OA' MA 7TR VMOAVIE.
But he could scante the same declare,
She held so fast hys neke,
In a bande ;
“Alas,” quod she,
“Wyll ye kyll me?
Swete husbaund, hold youre hande.”
His neyboures then were sore afrayed,
That he would her devoure,
The dorres then being fast sparred
They threw them in the flowre;
The good wyffe lepte away apace,
When shame had put to flyght,
And he, well blowen abowt the face,
Began to stand vpright,
Nere made ;
Nowyght of skill,
I think, judge wyll
But he thereoff was glade.
Allthoughe his bake were somewhat dust
After a folyshe guysse,
Yet was the man hym selffe so lust,
That scarcly he could rysse.
The good wyffe dyd her chamber take,
Shewing her selff in drede;
To neyboures the goodman myrth dyd make,
To them that sawe that dede,
All and some ;
To whom he sware,
That he had thare,
Slane her had they not come.
“Wish’ all yong marryed wyves I wyll
No such masters to ‘pryve,’
But even obey your husbandes styll,
Lesse they to worke yowe dryve ;
V. 121, with, MS. V. I22. preve, MS.
95
IOO
IO5
I IO
I 2 O
AAVE BAZZAZ 7" OA' MA 7TP VMOAV/AE. 373
And seeing that yt ys not the best I 25
To leve in debate and stryffe,
God send all ‘then that quiet rest
May be with man and wyffe,
To the end :
‘Lat’ vs all pray I3O
Both night and day,
That God such grace may sende.
FINIS.
V. 127. them, MS. V. J 30, grant, MS.
THE PROMINE TO KING JAMES
THE SEXT
XXVII.
THE PROMINE TO KING JAMES
THE SEXT.
A T the time when the Editor was engaged in collecting the
poetical works of the author of The Cherrie and the Slae,
which (accompanied with “Biographical Notices,” from
a more learned pen) have recently appeared, he was not
aware of the existence of this Promine otherwise than from
the notice given of its title by our typographical historians; *
and from observing, that in the sale of Mr West's highly
curious and valuable Library, in the year I773, a copy of
ſit was sold in a lot of “Fragments of old English and
Scottish verse.” After many fruitless inquiries, it ap-
peared that this identical copy was in the possession of Fran-
cis Douce, Esq., who, with great politeness, allowed a
transcript to be made for the present publication.”
The author of this poem was Sir Patrick Hume of Pol-
wart, the antagonist of Montgomery, in the well-known
Flytings, which they are said to have carried on ‘in friendly
emulation.” Among “The names of the xxv. gentlemen
pensioneris appointit to attend on the Kingis Majestie
at all tymes of his ryding and passing to the feildis.”
xvij. of Maij. I58o. we find our author mentioned as
‘The young Laird of Polwart.” We are told that he was
in great favour with King james VI. who appointed him
Master of his Household, I59I ; one of the gentlemen of
his bed-chamber ; and Warden of the Marches. This last
office was suppressed upon the Union of the Crowns in 1603.
He died 15th June 1609.” His brother, Alexander Hume,
Minister of Logie, is known as the author of some beautiful
descriptive poems contained in a volume which nearly rivals
the present tract in rarity.
* Ames, p. 585. Herbert, p. 15OI.
* [It is now preserved in the Bodleian Library.]
* Crawford's Peerage, p. 313.
The Promine,
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platt, and time, of the maigt 3:lluster #ing jam tº
tje Śext big first pagging to tſjeftiſtić: Nirettit
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Cum Priuilegio Regali.








Oſije 3-pigtíII.
O REUEREND Rois, and maist redowtit Roy,
O peirles Prince, and Perll superlatiue;
Our hope, our helth, our help, and warldlie Joy,
Comfort to Scotland Indefinitiue:
Cleir lamp of licht aboue all that dois liue; 5
Patrone of prudence, precious and perfite;
Gem of Ingine, to quhome God lykis to giue
Gracis far ma nor I can think or write.
“[Thocht ouir all quhair thy famous louing springis
In reputatioun, and greit reuerence; IO
Thocht thy renoun out throch al Europe ringis
As flowand fountane full of sapience,
To offer this git to thine Excellence,
For feir of fault, I wald haue bene effrayit,
Gif I had not be sure experience I5
Thy gracious gudenes prouin and assayit.
“[For this respect, maist cunning courtes King,
As I desire, and wischis eirnestlie
To pleis and serue gour grace in euerie thing,
Swa I beseik gour mightie Maiestie 2O
For to accept this mater, maid be me
To glaid gour grace, conforme to Intentioun
Of Clerkis commending, mirth with honestie,
As Comedeis, and sic vther Inuentioun.
380 THE PROMINE TO KING 3.4MES THE SEXT.
“[Schir reid thairfoir, and mak me to reiois; 25
I hecht gour hienes, helping Goddis grace,
That I sall pen sum Poetrie, or prois,
Mair profitabill, gif I get time and space:
And sen gour wit all verteweis dois Imbrace,
Schortlie I sweir, bot gif gour grace allow it, 3O
That I sall curs my cairfull catiue cace,
Sine quite this quair, and neuer sall awow it.
*|To tak this peice in proper patronage,
3our Prencelie prudence will me not deny; +
Than gif thay speir, the Author to alledge 35
Quha wrait the veirs, I sall say it was I,
And sall not sussie men geuin to Inuy,
Bot quhen thay lak, or lauchis at my letter,
Bauldlie sall say in geuing the defy
Vpon the subject, se quha can do better. 4O
*I FINIS.
*|30ur Graces humbill Seruand to command,
I P. H. with faithfull hart and hand.
|Che 33romine,
* On the xij. day at five houris before none
I500 seuentie nyne in Iune.
OLDIN Titan with burning bemis bricht,
Be kindlie cours, and reuolutioun,
Appeirandlie, to the Astrologues sicht,
Was in the first degre of Cancer wone ;
Or neir hand by, in his Ecliptyk rone, 5
Against the force quhilk daylie had him rent,
Be the first Mobillis, weltering violent.
THE PROMINE TO KING 3 AMES THE SEXT.
381
“[Sa in his Solstice glemand gloriouslie,
Throw nature of his proper motioun,
That Pompous Planeit, placit properlie,
In that North Signe, of richt ascensioun
Quhair Juppiter hes exaltatioun,
Did with his bemis on bankis, and brayis beit,
The frutes to foster, with his hailsum heit.
And flowand Phaebe, Lady of the seyis,
Not retrograd, reuoluing in hir ring,
Beheld the west with fixit face and eyis
In Joyfull June, quhen the xij. day did spring
Befoir the furthcome of that cumlie King:
Quhilk as the Sone out of the cloudes gray,
Fra Snawdoun Castell, did discend that day.
“[With manlike maneris, maikles to behald,
With Princelie port, and visage glorious,
With gentill gesture, wordis wise and cald,
In taikning of the maist victorious,
Richt gaylie garnist with giftis gracious,
Quhais heuinlie hauingis stonischit the Air,
As efterward, I purpois to declair.
* At his first furthcome on the Gowane hillis,
To write how euerie circumstance befell,
Quhat bein began of Hagbutis, bowis, and Billis,
Quhat din of daggis, with clink of mony bell
At Falcounis fair, war tedious to tell:
For to be schort, I Schaw not how the steidis
On bridillis bait, quhil famie mouthis bleidis.
*|3it wald my Muse Inspire me with the spreit
Of Poetrie, and pairt of Eloquence
To schaw the maner, I esteme it meit,
How euerie thing maid haill obedience,
Vnto his Royale hie Magnificence,
Reiosit swa, with suddand semelie sicht
Of that leidsterne, and luifsum lamp of licht.
IO
I5
2O
25
3O
35
4O
382 THE PROMINE TO AIAWG 3 AMES THE SEX7.
“[His Princelie presence superexcellent,
As lemand Lanterne maist delectabill,
Did euerie leuing creature content,
And to thingis senceles semit amiabill;
Quhais Celsitude was sa acceptabill,
That in thair kind Ilk thing did obseruance,
His heich honour and worschip to auance.
*II mene not onlie thingis Inferiall
That subject ar vnto corruptioun ;
Bot also celeste, and Superiall,
Quhais substance is but alteratioun ;
As fair Phebus, or vtherwayis the Sone,
Quhilk is composit of na Element,
That day brak vp in his bricht birneist Tent.
*|And schew his radious visage rubicound,
Quhilk all the day lay hid vnto the howr
That his grace Ischit furth vpon the ground ;
Thairefter did on eirth his presence powr,
Excluding than all signes of the schowr,
Sa glaid he was to se his gudlie grace,
And farleit fast the phismome of his face.
ºf Sine in the praises of that Prince preclair,
Spred furth his Purpour springis aureat
Into sic sort to purifie the Air,
Quhill all the skyis skaillit violat;
The Hemispheir become Illuminat
Vpon the eirth, be heuinlie Influence,
Distelland dewis on vapouris Sweit as sence.
*|The ground ouirgiltand all with goldinglemis,
Quhill throw his michtie operatiounis,
Furth of fresche fludes, bet with buriall bemis,
Rais Sappie subtil exhalatiounis,
Quhais potent pithie Inspiratiounis
45
5o
55
6o
65
7o
75
THE PROMINE TO KING SAMES THE SEXT 383
Makis treis, frutes, and flouris for to spreid,
Nicelie enamaling mony mirthfull meid.
*Than fair dame Flora glaiding gardings gay,
Syilit with Schaddow of the blumand bewis,
Hir minglit Mantill meiklie did display; 8o
Richt curiouslie, ouircleithand all the clewis,
With flouris of ane hundreth heuinlie hewis,
Quhair besilie the bummand honie Beis,
Tuik nurischement on natures tapestreis.
*Thair micht be sene the dewie perllis round, 85
Reuest the Rosis, and the Lilleis quhite;
Into dulce humouris herbis did abound
Bathing the bony Daseis of delite
With ane sweit liquour on the leiffis lite,
Comforting all the fragrant freklit flouris 90
That spreidis in Maij, throw hailsum balmis schouris.
“[Obedientlie begouth than to vnfald
The beinaris bricht, thair flouris to his eis,
Quhen thay his potent presence did behald,
Sa tender twistis trimling on the treis, 95
His prudent hie precellence for to pleis.
Thair Cristall croppis me thocht thay did Incline
In signe of homage to that Prince diuine.
* Into the Park did properlie appeir,
Richt trimlie trottand into trowpis and twais, IOO
The wilde quhite cullourit Ky, and falow deir,
With brawland bowkis, bendand ouir the brais,
The flingand Fownis, followand dune dais;
Sa curage causit beistis mak besines
His Maiestie muifand to merines. Io 5
“[Bot to behald it was ane perfite Joy,
And as ane eirdlie plesand Paradice:
To heir and se, thair at the Kingis conuoy,
The Merle and Maweis, changeing notes nice;
384 THE PROMIME TO KING 3AMES THE SEXT.
The Kiddis skippand, with Rais throw the rice,
Quhair birdis blyithlie on the branches sang,
With sic ane reird, quhill all the Rokkis rang.
G|Swa schortlie throw sic heuinlie harmoneis,
Become richt coy, heiring the fowlis sing,
Baith Eolus, and Neptune God of seis,
Behalding fast the cumming of that King;
Quhilk was sa welcum vnto euerie thing.
Quhat misteris mair, the Goldspinkis was sa glaid,
Culd thai haif spokin, doutles thai had said:
aſ Welcum maist maikles Mirrour, and A per se,
With euerie princelie prerogatiue possest;
Welcum worschip, vertew, and honestie ;
Welcum in warld, the wise, and worthiest;
Welcum blist birth, as bountifull and best;
Welcum but peir, the maist Imperiall King,
That is, or was, or in the warld sall ring.
*Thow Salomon fecund in sapience,
Ane Job in Justice, Jonit with pietie,
Perfitelie pleneist with all abstinence,
Discreitlie mixt with Magnanimitie,
Meik, mercifull, kind but Inconstancie,
To all gude men luifing and liberall:
In the thair wantis na wit Heroicall.
*Thy liuelie licht, o leidar Laureat
All Christiane men may cleirlie knaw and se,
Dois glance as gyde, lyifis to Illuminat,
Instructing Kingis, and thair Nobilitie,
Be gude exampill, for to follow the,
As worthiest, but feinge to confes
Nixt vnder God the haill eirth to posses.
*Thow onlie may be callit verteous,
In quhome na vertew is deficient:
Indewit with the giftis plenteous
I IO
II 5
I 2 O
I 25
I3o
I35
I4O
THE PROMINE TO KING 3 AMES 7"HE SEXT
385
Of bodie, mind, and fortoun, to the lent;
Thairfoir ge Knichtis, and Clerkis, with ane consent,
And pynit pure men, from all panis relaxt
Salute gour Souerane, Sweit King James the saxt.
* For vicious folk, with filthie faultis defylit,
Into his Court sall haue na praise nor place.
And gredie godles men sall be begylit,
Gif thay presume for to obtene his grace.
All fengeit flatteraris sall ay fle his face;
And as the snaw meltis from the Sone away,
Sa from his sicht the wickit sall decay.
Ç
* Quhairfoir now Scotland sing with ane accord
Baith greit and small, of Ilk stait and degre,
Perpetuall praise, and thankis to the Lord,
That hes gow geuin sa gude ane King as he,
3ow to mantene in eis and Equitie.
Wald God his dayis, for euer micht Indure,
Swa of all seill, but sorrow war ge sure.
“[God grant his grace the Euerlasting gloir,
Lang life, gude helth, praise and prosperitie:
Baith worschip, welth, and weilfair euermoir,
And of his fois the vailgeand victorie,
With heuinlie, eirthlie, full felicitie:
And that in him (God) be ay glorifeit,
Luifit, honourd, feird, and euer sanctifeit.
*I FINIS.
I46
I5o
I55
I 6o
I65
386 THE PROMINE TO KING jºAMES THE SEXT.
“HL'Émbop,
* Thir wordis few the Authour dois reheirs
Into this maner, Speikand to his veirs.
Y bony bill, of barbour language breuit,
Gif thow be euill, thow will be wors repreuit,
Be witles, vaine, enuyous, Ignorantis,
Quhilk to speik euill, and do na gude thane hantis.
For sum will say thy febill Eloquence 5
Is euill cullourit, but Intelligence. "
Sum will say this, sum vtheris will say that,
And pairt will speik in deid, and wait not quhat.
Syne sum seditious craftie knaifis Inding,
Will say, perhaps, thow dois bot fleiche the King. Io
Thus, gif thow heir fals knaifis calumniat the,
I pray the, baith to say, and Sweir thay le.
Schaw to sic fuillis, quhair euer that thow fairis,
Thy mening gude, and honester than thairis.
Gif, for all this, thay ceis not to maling, I 5
Than say thow art ressauit of the King
Vnto quhais serene Celsitude I send the :
Thay arouir pert: syne gif thay vilipend the :
3it of ane thing greitly thow may reiois
In Burgh or land, quhair euer that thow gois, 2 O
All men of knawledge, and Clerkis will commend the,
And honest folkis will euer mair defend the.
* Fin de l'enuoy.
F I N I S.
Cite @ppenbir
T H E APPEND IX.
1%alf Coil;tar,
HE woodcut of the two heads on the title-page occurs also
in the edition of Sir David Lyndsay’s poems, ‘Imprentit
at Edinburgh be Johne Scot at the expensis of Henrie Charteris,”
1571, 4to; and likewise in an edition of Barbour's ‘Bruce,’ 4to,
probably printed about the same time; but the title-page of
the only copy known has been unfortunately lost. [The
woodcut at p. 4o was omitted in Edition of 1822.]
3tuntprº of 3rtijure.
THE Editor has been favoured by his friend, Dr RoBERT
ANDERSON, whose attachment and valuable contributions to
our National Literature are well known, with a sight of some
remarks on this ancient romance, by the late ALEXANDER
THOMSON, Esq., the ingenious author of Whist, Paradise of
Taste, and other poems. They occur among the Collections
which he had made for a History of Scotish Poetry. Mr
Thomson appears to have been engaged several years in the
formation of such a work, after the plan and example of
Warton's valuable and amusing, but unfinished and ill-digested

390 THE APA’EAVD/X.
History of the Poetry of England. Although he has not
accomplished much, he nevertheless seems to have examined
with diligence the earlier remains of Scotish Poetry which
were then accessible to him ; having done little more than
sketch out the plan of so desirable a work, and filled up
occasional portions of it, with careful analysis and critical ex-
amination. The following extract will evince the discrimina-
tion which he was capable of showing, and the value that
might have been attached to his labours had he proceeded
farther in completing such an important undertaking:—
“The most glaring imperfection of this Romance [Gawan
and Galoran of Galloway] is undoubtedly its deficiency in
unity of action, the two parts being entirely unconnected. In
this respect it is inferior to the former, although the appear-
ance and behaviour of the ghost displays more of fancy and of
poetry than anything to be found in the Gawan and Gologras.
It is, however, to be wished that this marvellous incident had
constituted the latter half of the Poem, as the entrance of
Galoran, at the banquet of Arthur, would have opened the
piece in a striking manner; and the whole of that story must
have been more interesting, had it preceded and not followed
the supernatural adventures.—The same error, in point of
arrangement, I have often regretted, in the Romance of the
Forest, where the woes and wanderings of the two lovers,
although sufficiently interesting in themselves, are read almost
with a perfect indifference after the terrific scenes at the castle.
“Although the characters are not marked with that strength
of pencil which distinguished those of Gawan and Gologras,
that defect is perhaps compensated by the introduction of two
female personages; and the circumstance of a wedding making
part of the catastrophe, gives it more the air of a modern
performance.”
The Lincoln Manuscript, which has furnished the text of
this ancient romance, is a thick volume of more than 3oo
7THE AAAAAWD/X. 39 I
leaves, in folio, consisting of a variety of old English poems
and romances, written in the earlier part of the fifteenth
century. It appears to have been compiled between the
years 1420 and 1430, or perhaps later, by ROBERT DE
THORNTON of East Newton, Yorkshire, who held some situ-
ation in the Cathedral, and was afterwards translated to the
Archdeaconry of Bedford. He died in May 1450, and lies
buried in the Cathedral of Lincoln. To the Reverend Mr
GRAY OF LINCOLN, the Editor owes his best thanks for the
kind and friendly manner in which he facilitated his object,
during the time required in making some transcripts from the
curious volume alluded to—the most important contents of
which are as follows:—
The Lyf of gret Alexander, conquerour of all the worlde
(in prose), imperfect at beginning.
Morte Arthur (in English verse).
The Romaunce of Octavyane.
The Romaunce off Sº Ysambrace.
The Romaunce off Dyocleoydois the Empor, and the Erle
Berade of Tholous, etc.
The storye of saynte Christofre.
Sir Degrenante (q. Sir Degoré).
Sir Eglamour of Arteas.
Łyarde (an absurd story of an old horse).
Thomas off Ersyldoune (printed in the present collection).
The Awntyrs of Arthure at the Terne Wathelyn (printed in
the present collection).
The Romance of St Perciuell of Gales, cousin to Kynge
Arthur.—Also various Prayers, Homilies, etc. with the Miracles
of St. Edmond, Archbishop of Canterburye.
392 7 HE AAA’AºAVAD/X.
QBrfeo and 39turodig.
SINCE this poem was printed, the Editor has had an opportu-
nity of examining the copy referred to as being preserved in
Ashmole's Collection, at Oxford. It approaches as close as
was anticipated to the present text, except that it contains the
prologue, which, as supplying the deficiency in the Auchinleck
MS. is here inserted.
King Orfeo.
Mery tyme is in Aperelle
That mekyll schewys of manys wylle,
In feldys and medowys flowrys spryng,
In grovys and wodes foules syng,
Than wer: gong men jolyffe,
And than prevyth man and wyffe.
The Brytans as the boke seys
Off diuerse thinges they made ther leys,
Som they made of harpynges,
And som of other diuerse thinges,
Som of werre and som of wo,
Som of myrthe and joy also,
Som of trechery and som off gyle,
Som of happys that felle som whyle,
And som be of rybawdry,
And many ther ben of fary,
Off all the venturrys men here ore se
Most off luffe for soth thai be
That in the leys ben iwrought,
Ffyrst fond and forth brought;
Off aventours that fell som deys
The Bretonys therof made ther leys,
Off kinges that before vs were,
When thai mygtony wondres here
THE AAEAEAWD/X. 393
They lete them wryte as it wer do,
And ther among is sir Orfewo.
He was forsothe a nobill kyng
That most luffyd gle and herpyng:
Wele sekyr was euery gode herper
To haue off mekyll honour.
Hymselue he lernyd for to herpe,
And leyd thereon hys wytte so scherpe;
He lernyd so wele, with outen les
So gode herper neuer non was,
In all this werld was no man bore
That had kyng Orfeo ben before
And he mycht hys herpe here
Bot he wold wene that it were .
A blyssedfull note of peradis,
Suche melody therin is.
The kyng jorneyd in Tracyence,
That is a cyte off grete defence,
And with hym hys quen off price,
That was callyd dame Meroudys ;
A feyrer lady than sche was one
Was neuer made off flesch ne bone;
Sche was fulle off lufe and godnes,
Ne may no man telle hyr feyrnes.
Yt befell in the begyning of Mey,
When foules syng on euery sprey,
And blossom spryng on euery boughe,
Ouer all weryth mery inowhe,
Than the quen, &c.
In the same Manuscript are several curious Pieces of old
English verse. One of these is a fragment, entitled THE
KYNG AND THE HERMYT, consisting of about 52.2 lines.
Although possessed of considerable humour, it seems to have
remained unnoticed, except in the pages of the British Bibli-
ographer, a work replete with curious and interesting matter
394 THAE AAAAAWD/X.
of antiquarian lore, in which it is printed (vol. iv. p. 81–95)
from a transcript communicated by Professor Conybeare of
Oxford. This story is now more especially worthy of notice,
from the conviction which the present writer has of its having
suggested one of the happiest scenes, of a humorous descrip-
tion, that occurs in the works of our great Novelist. It
would be unnecessary to give anything like an analysis of it
in this place, as the poem itself can so easily be referred to,
but there is certainly a striking similarity in some parts,
as in the King's losing his way in Sherwood forest; his
prayer to Saint Julyan, the patron of pilgrims and wayfaring
men ‘ for harborow’; his meeting with the hermit, from whom
he seeks a night's shelter, and the reception he meets with ;
his supper of bread, cheese, and ‘thyn drynke,’ before the
hermit is induced to bring forth ‘whyte bred' and venyson,
with ‘a pott of galons foure’; the bows and broad arrows
about the friar's bed; and the tenour of their conversation,--
all which seem to have somewhat more than a casual resem-
blance to the truly graphic and delightful scene of Richard
and Friar Tuck, in the splendid story of Ivanhoe. The
adventures of the Hermit at Court, where, like Ralf Coilgear
(without being aware of his quality), he engaged to return the
King's visit, might have been interesting, but this part of the
story is lost : that the fragment, however, has been excelled,
in the scene alluded to, it need hardly be said. We find
nothing, for instance, that will bear a comparison with the
conclusion of the adventure—when Locksley, in the morning,
knocks at the cell, and addressing the jolly Friar of Copman-
hurst, says to him, “‘Art thou mad P to give admittance to a
knight thou didst not know? Hast thou forgot our articles P’
“‘Not know him,” replied the friar boldly; “I know him
as well as the beggar knows his dish.’
“‘And what is his name, then P’ demanded Locksley.
“‘His name,’ said the hermit, “his name—is Sir Anthony
of Scrablestone; as if I would drink with a man, and did not
know his name.’”
THE A PAPEAVZ) IX. 395
Another poem, contained in the same Manuscript, may also
be here shortly noticed, as the Editor can find no allusion to
it in particular. It is an ancient bowrde, of 255 lines, which
might be entitled THE Cokwold's DAUNCE, and it might
serve as a companion, or counterpart, to the well-known
poem of the Boy and the Mantle, published by Bishop Percy,
in the ‘Reliques of Ancient Poetry.’ The trial of the Horne
is there alluded to in the following lines:–
“The litle boy had a horne,
Of red gold that ronge:
He said, there was noe cuckolde
Shall drinke of my horne;
But he shold itt sheede
Either behind or beforne.
Some shedd on their shoulder, tº
And some on their knee;
He that cold nott hitt his mouthe,
Put it in his eye;
And he that was a cuckold
Every man might him see.”
—Percy's Reliques, vol iii. p. Io.
From this “bowrde—that ys full gode and trew,’ we learn
that King Arthur, who loved and honoured cokwolds both
day and night, had a “bugill horne,' out of which he was
accustomed to drink, ‘for myche craft he couthe thereby,’—
it having the peculiar property assigned to it in the above
extract; for
“Iff any cokwold drynke of itt
Spyll he schuld withouten lett.”
This, we are told, afforded much amusement to the King, who
entertained a number of cokwolds at Court, where a table
was set apart for them “and none other,’ at which they sat,
dressed in scarlet kirtells, with garlands of willow on their
heads, and were fed with the best meat from the King's own
396 7THE AAEPEAVO IX.
table. It so happened that the Duke of Gloster came to
Court, where he was received with mirth, honour, and great
solace; and on a day, when set at meat with the King, he
looked about in surprise, and inquired what these men had
done who wore these willow-garlands. The King satisfies his
curiosity on this point, and,
“after the Erlys word,
Send to the cokwold's bord,
To make them mery among
All maner of mynstralsy,
To glad the cokwoldes, by and by,
With harpe, fydell, and song”—
and likewise bids them “take no greffe,’ but prepare them-
selves for their Daunce. The King asks, in the meanwhile,
for his drinking-horn, and informing the Duke of its pro-
perties, who asked by what skill he might know a cokwold,
says to him,
“Syr Erle, take and begyn.”
To this the Duke, with commendable politeness, answers,
—“Nay! be seynt Austyn,
That wer to me vilony; ; :
Not for all a reme to wyn,
Befor gou I Schuld begyn,
Ffor honour off my curtassy.”
Accordingly, the King takes the horn to drink as he had often
done, for, as this poem goes on to say,
“he wend to haue dronk of the best,
Bot sone he spylled on hys brest,
Within a lytell whyle;
The cokwoldis lokydiche on other,
And thocht the King was thair owne brother,
And glad thei wer of that:
7THE AAEAAEAVOAX. 397
He hath vs scornyd many a tyme,
And now he is a cokwold fyne,
To were a cokwoldis hate.”
Finding himself to be thus unexpectedly qualified to “daunce
in the cokwold's rowte,’ and that he could not better himself,
he, with all possible good nature, says to his
—“lordynges, sykerly,
We be all off a freyry,
I am gour awne brother”—
and thinking it best “to make mery, and take no care,’ offers
to join in the dance, at which
“Euery cokwold Seyd to other
King Arthour is owr awne brother”—
and, as might on such occasions have been expected,
—“the cokwoldes werfull blythe
And thankyd God a C. syth,
Fforsoth, withouten doute.”
The poem then concludes with the following lines:—
“Kyng Arthour left [lived?] at Skarlyon,
With hys cokwoldis euerychon,
And made both gam and gle ;-
A knyght ther was, with outen les,
That serued at the Kyngis des, *
Sir Corneus hyght he ;
He made this gest in hys game,
And named it after hys awne name,
In herpying, or other gle;
And after nobull Kyng Arthour,
Lyued and dyghed with honour,
As mony hath done sene,
Both cokwoldis, and other mo:
God gyff vs grace, that we may go
To Heuyn. Amen. Amen.”
398 THE APPEAVIDIX.
Qſìjomag of £rgpliſount. .
THE reader will no doubt be glad to receive the following
illustrations of the prophetical parts of this poem, coming, as
they do, from one who is so well qualified to elucidate both
the historical and literary remains of our country. SIR WALTER
Scott (in a letter to the Editor) says, “I am much delighted,
and considerably puzzled, with Thomas the Rhymer. It seems
to me made up of different patches, which have been added
from time to time in the true spirit of English prophecy,
for you may remember Comines says, “Le Chancelier d’Angle-
terre, commença par une prophetie dont les Anglois me son?
jamais despourveus.’ Pinky Cleugh is in one place distinctly
mentioned by name; in another, Black Agnes of Dunbar is
spoken of as alive, and her captivity is prophetical. There
must have been a lapse of more than two centuries betwixt
the composition of these two different passages. As well as
I can, without books, I will endeavour to guess at the differ-
ent historical events which are obscurely or more directly
alluded to :—
“Fytt 2d, line 21. ‘The Baylliolfe—Comyns—Barlays
(rather Barclays)—as well the Fresells (Frasers),’ were all
distinguished during the wars of David II.'s minority, or
shortly before, as probably were the Russells.
“Line 44. The fight at Eldone Hill here alluded to, may,
perhaps, be that in which Oswin, a pretender to the throne of
Northumberland, was defeated and slain by Ethelwold, about
the middle of the eighth century. The field of battle is still
called Corpse-cleugh, or some such name, and distinguished by
barrows, and other marks of ancient contest: bones, and rem-
nants of armour are even yet turned up by the plough.
“Line 52. The battle of Falkirk is obviously that in which
Wallace was defeated by Edward I.
“Line 71. Bannockburn is mentioned by name. The
allusion to the defeat of the English chivalry by stratagem is
7THE AAA’EAVDIY. 399
worth remarking; it shows the country of the pseudo-prophet,
who is naturally disposed to apologise for the defeat of the
English at that memorable occurrence.
“Line 97. Dupplin Moor is distinctly mentioned; and the
subsequent capture of Perth, line Io2.
“The battle of Durham, and the captivity of David II. is
alluded to from line 120 to line 140, and the three last stanzas
of the Second Fytt seem to me a variation of the same passage;
or it may relate to the previous battle of Halidon, where the
Regent, Archibald Douglass, may be the ‘full doughty that
was slain.'
“All these personages and events hitherto noticed relate as
distinctly as can well be expected to the middle of the fourteenth
century, when, in the beginning of Fytt Third, we light all at
once upon ‘Spynkarde Cleugh,' being clearly our unlucky
battle of Pinkie. I cannot help thinking this stanza much
more modern than the rest of the poem.
“The battle at Pentland hill, Fytt 3, l. 20, appears to be a
wild guess at future events. In former times the prediction
might have been deemed oracular; but now, few will be dis-
posed to allow that it hath any reference to the battle of Pent-
land, in Charles II.'s time, any more than the press of banners
between Seton and the sea refers to the battle of Prestonpans.
But Thomas, or more properly his imitator, has made a chance
hit in both cases. In the latter, especially, a staunch Jacobite
would say the rout of the dragoons was foretold, line 53.−
Only they did not stay for the hewing, mentioned line 57.
“The story of the Cross of Stone is a favourite presage in
Nixon's prophecy, and I know not how many besides.
“Line 132. The rivulet, near to Flodden field, is called
Sandyford, or something like it. Flodden is therefore pro-
bably alluded to in this and the following stanza.
“Line 156. Here the story returns to the Fourteenth Cen-
tury, and to Black Agnes of Dunbar, which makes it probable
that this part of the poem must have been written when she
was in the height of renown.
4OO 7THE A PFFAWD/X.
“It is singular that Thomas should be represented as speak-
ing of himself as one in disgrace with Agnes of Dunbar, though
her bounden vassal. Unquestionably it is highly probable that
Thomas of Ercildoune held his lands of the Earl of Dunbar, as
he resided in the very village which took the name of Earls-
town, from its dependence on these great Earls. An antiquary
is tempted to guess that the obscure hint, here thrown out,
may possibly allude to some dispute between Thomas and his
superior, which, making a part of the remembered history of
the former, was introduced by the English imitator, who writes
prophecies in his name.”
After all, it may in general be admitted that the whole of
the prophecies attributed to
‘Thomas the true, that never spak false,”
in the corrupted and modernised state in which those bearing
his name now appear, are little better than spurious. If he
attempted any such predictions, which cannot reasonably be
doubted, after the uniform tradition of more than five centuries,
and the concurring testimony of so many ancient writers to his
prophetical character, they were not, it is highly probable,
committed to writing in his own time, but being circulated and
handed down by tradition only, every person, no doubt, con-
sidered it lawful to alter or accommodate them to his own
views. At least we find occasionally the same prophecy,
either by accident or design, bearing the most opposite con-
struction. But if there be one exception, it is that which
follows, given exactly as it occurs in a very ancient manuscript,
in the Harleian Collection (No. 2253, fol. 127), supposed to be
of the time of Edward I., and which, as it approaches so
near the period in which he flourished, may be considered as
exhibiting a genuine specimen of the language of the author.
This Response assuredly bears reference to the Wars in Scot-
land during the time of Edward I. A contrary opinion, how-
ever, has long been held (see Border Minstrelsy, vol. iii. p.
THE APA’EAVO/X. 4OI
282-5—Sir Tristrem, p. xvi); and Sir Walter Scott still thinks
that “the Battle of Dupplin is distinctly referred to in line
16, and that line II alludes to the dreadful famine in the
reign of David II. The only line of the prophecy still re-
membered and quoted, is that of a hare kindling on the hearth-
stone, a prophecy which Thomas is said by tradition to have
uttered concerning the desolation of his own house.”
The hare sall kittle (litter) on my hearth stane,
And there will never be a laird Learmont again.
Every circumstance, however, warrants us in referring the
following lines to some time before the end of the thirteeenth
century; and their application to the wars of Edward I.,
just previous to the commencement of a long series of war
and desolation (about which time Thomas appears to have
died) is certainly more appropriate, than conceiving him to
overlook these in a foresight of what should take place more
than half a century after his death. The erroneous sup-
position of this response having been addressed to Black
Agnes, the heroic Countess of March, seems first to have
given rise to the conjecture, which has thrown discredit on
the idea of its being uttered by the Poet of Ersyldoune. In
his time, the title of that powerful family had not been
changed from Dunbar to March.
“Ala Countesse de Donbar demanda a Thomas
de Essedoune, 7°nt la guere descoce prem-
dreit ſyn/ e y/ la repoundy et dyż.1
When man as mad a kyng of a capped man/
When mon is leuere other mones thyng then is owen/
When Londyon ys forest an forest/ys felde/
When hares kendles o the herston/
When wyt and wille werres togedere
*This title is evidently added by the English transcriber,-otherwise it
would have been la guerre d’Angieterre.
2 C
4O2 THE APPENDIX.
When mon makes stables of kyrkes and steles castles wyth
styes
When Rokesbourh nys no burgh ant market is at Fforwyleye
When the alde is gan ant the newe that dou notht
When Bambourneys donged with dede men
When men ledes men in ropes to buyen and to sellen/
When a quarter of whaty whete is chaunged for a colt of ten
marks/
When prude prikes and pees is leyd in prisoun,
When a Scot ne may hym hude ase hare in forme/
that the Englyssh ne shal hym fynde/
When rycht ant wronge ascenteth to gedere/
When laddes weddeth louedis
When Scottes flen so faste that for faute of ship hydrouneth
hemselveſ
Whenne shal this beſ
Nouther in thine tyme ne in myne,
Ah comen and gone
Withinne twenty wynter ant onſ”
The prophecies attributed to Thomas the Rhymer, in the
common collection of ‘The Whole Prophecies of Scotland,
England, France, Ireland,’ &c. have not the slightest marks
of authenticity. They are, besides, too darkly veiled in
allegory, or shadowed forth in obscure allusions, to interest
any one.—But the persons or events prefigured must have,
at one time, been more intelligible than now, else it would
be difficult to account for their extensive popularity; unless,
on the idea which the common people may have entertained
of their actually bearing reference to future national occur-
rences; as it is said, ‘though thir sayis be selcouth, they
shall be sooth found.” Without, therefore, being possessed
either of historical value, or poetic merit, they are now to
be regarded merely as literary curiosities.
THE AAA’EAVAD/X. i 4O3
Qſìje ĐígtíII of #tigan.
THE Editor has it not in his power to give the various
readings which occur in the text of this poem between the
different manuscripts; but, in order to show in what these
might have consisted, the first stanza of the one manuscript,
as selected and printed by Dr Whitaker, in his very elegant
and elaborate publication, is here inserted (p. xvii).
Ther was in Babyloyn a biern in that burgh riche
That was a Jewe Jentil and Joachym he highte
He was so lele in his law, ther was non hym liche
Of al richesses that rewke. arayed was right
His ynnes and his orchardes. wer with a depe diche
Hallis and herbgages. hye upon hight
To seek thurgh that cite. ther was non siche
Of arbres and herbes. so avenntly dight
That day
Within the cercle of the sees
Of arborye and aloes
Of all mannè of trees
Sothely to say.
And the last stanza of the Cotton MS. may be added for the
same intent. By comparing these readings with the adopted
text, it will be perceived how far the ancient copies often vary
from each other, even when the sense of the passage and the
words themselves are in substance the same. -
Then the folk of Israell fellen vpon knees
And lowely thanked our lord/ that her the lyf lent
All gomes that her god woldeſ glades and glees
That thys prophete so pertly preued hys entente
They trumpped before the traytores/ and trayled hem on trees
Thorow out the cyteſ be comune assente
4O4. THA. APPAAWZD/X.
He that loueth that lordeſ thar hym not drede no lees
That thus his seruant con saue/ that shuld haue be schent
So swete.
Thys ferly befell
In the dayes of Danyell
The wytnesse wyll well tell
Of the same prophete.
[ær 3ſoint 330tulig Curging,
As stated in the Introductory Notice, this poem is preserved
both in the Bannatyne and Maitland MSS., and it is some-
what curious that while both texts have evidently been copied
from the same source, the Maitland MS. has sixteen lines more
than the Bannatyne. These additional lines are supplied in
the present edition, and are distinguished by being put within
brackets. The present Editor is indebted to R. HUTCHISON,
Esq. of Carlowrie, for the use of a copy of the Maitland
version, which Dr Laing, in 1834, printed among the poems
of the contemporaries of Dunbar, which he afterwards can-
celled, and of which only one or two copies now exist.]
Colțelbie'g $0tu,
FoR completing the transcript of COLKELBIE, and carefully
collating it with the Manuscript, the Editor may take this
opportunity of acknowledging, that he is indebted to his
friend ROBERT PITCAIRN, Esq., whose zeal and knowledge
in antiquarian pursuits have lately been shown in his curious
publication of QUEEN MARY's FUNERALs. -
THE APPENDIX. 4O5
ºpe Jalis of the ſput 33estig.
THE ‘gentill Vnicorn” is thus described in an heraldic MS.
of the period of Sir David Lyndsay, preserved in the Ad-
vocates' Library: “The Vnicorne is ane strenthy beist, the
quhilk is lyk ane hors of body, bot scho hes feit of ane
eliphant, and taile of ane hart, and hir voice is marvalouslie
fleand; and aboue, in the middis of hir heid, ane mervalous
horne, scheynand and thrawand ewin to the eird ; the quhilk
is sa stark and scharp, that it peirsis with it all that it overtakis,
and na man may byde it; for na ingyne may be in the warld,
and may not be tane leifand, bot gif the huntaris send ane
gratious Virgine quhair the Vnicorne repairis; for it is hir
nature to byde and repos in the Virginis skirt, and takis all
the feirtnes fra hir; and on this maner huntaris sleyis thane,
and signifyis he that first bure thame in armes wes stark in
mony maneris, and his voice fleis, and is fleand to his
innemeys, and that he had wit in his intent and in his heid
attour all vtheris to cum to his intent, and all his rest wes in
deidis of virginitie.”—MS. dated 1586, marked 31. 3. 20.
The tale which the Unicorn relates being taken from the
Brunellus, or Speculum Stultorum, of Nigellus Wireker, a short
account of that well-known Latin poem, written as a satire
on the monastic orders, may here be given : Its hero is an
ass named Brunellus or Burnellus, who is very much discon-
tented with his position. He believes that the tail he possesses
is too short for him, and he is anxious to obtain one of longer
dimensions. He consults Galen, who expostulates with him
on the folly of his desire, stating that in this respect he is as
well provided as other people; in fact, that Louis the King
of France and his highest priests have no greater share of tail.
As he is still anxious, Galen gives him a prescription to make
his tail grow longer. To prepare this, it is necessary first to
obtain the necessary ingredients, which can only be done at
Salernum, the great medical school of the period.
4O6 THE APPENDIX.
Brunellus accordingly goes to Salernum, where, first of all,
he is cheated by a London merchant. On his return journey
he encountered a variety of misfortunes. Near Lyons, a Bene-
dictine monk named Fromundus, set his four great mastiffs
upon him, and they bit off more than half of his tail. A still
more serious loss then occurred,—his baggage containing the
precious ingredients for lengthening that appendage was lost.
Brunellus being quite crestfallen, proceeds to Paris to study at
the celebrated schools, that he might, at least, return a scholar.
He meets with another traveller, called Arnoldus, going to
Paris with the same view. In the course of their journey,
Arnoldus relates to him the story of Gundulfus, to warn him
against provoking those weaker than himself.
In the Latin original, Gundulfus is described as the son of
a priest named Longius, who had retired to the country, and
the scene is laid in Apulia. The boy, instead of throwing
a stone at the cock, as in the Scottish version, carries a small
stick with which he breaks the fowl's leg. -
The Latin poem of Wireker is written in elegiac verse, and
consists of 38oo lines. It was extremely popular in its time,
and is familiarly quoted by Chaucer " :-
“I haue wel red in Dan Burnel the asse
Among his vers, how that there was a cok,
That for a preestes sone yaue him a knok
Upon his leg, while he was yonge and nice,
He made him for to lese his benefice.”
—Canterbury Tales, v. I5, 318.
1 Brunellus is also referred to in the “Palice of Honour’ of Gawin
Douglas:—
“With mony vther clerk of greit auaill
Thair was Brunell, Claudius and Bocchas.”
—Works by Small, vol. i. p. 36.]
THE APPENDIX. 4O7
Oſije #pfe of 3 uti)termintity).
The story from which RITSON supposes that this admirable
comic poem may have been borrowed, is contained in the
following quotation from the Silva Sermonum /ucundissimorum,
1568:—
CoNUENIUNT UIR ET UxoR, UT QUIsquE EoRUM ExERCERET OFFICIUM
ALTERIUS, QUO POSSET ALTER EORUM IN POSTERUM EXERCERE UTRUMQUE.
RVSTICVs quidam non potuit conuenire cum sua coniuge, sed semper impro-
babant sibi mutuo officia sua. Vno dierum Laurentius, (sic enim uocabatur ille,
&illa Adelheidis) cogitabat penesse, quid agendum esset, quo possent tot inimi-
citiae, rixae ac tumultus sedari intereos: dicit uxori, in posterum se oportere
agere partes suas, ipse uero uxoris acturus est. Oportere eam arare, triturare,
serere, ac similia opera uirilia facere : ipse domi uellet exercere quae muliebria
sunt : utpote curare prolem, nutrire ac prouidere gallinis, anseribus, anatibus,
porcis, pullo equino, coquere & uerrere pauimentum, &c. per quod quisque posset
alterius munusac officium scire. Arrisit consilium mulieri, quae alioqui cupientes
Sunt freniac dominij. Accessit stabulum, parat equos acaratrum, adit campum,
iubet marito (qui iam uxor erat) mittat sibi prandium in campum, curet prolem,
& uideat ne excidatex cunis, autinuertantur cunae, accoquat diligenter. Curabo
omnia diligenter, ait uir, simulque satagit in domo, cantillat argute, utuideatur
mulier in domo esse; satagendo inuertit magnam ollam lactis, quo butyrum de-
buit contudisse & coxisse pultem propuero. Haec erant primordia eius Oecono-
miae, quibus tantum horruit, meminitaue eius quod dixerat dominus; curam
gereret pueriac cunarum, neinuertantur, quare capit magnum ac latum lapidem,
superponit puero atque ita sistit cunas. Subit etiam Laurentio Se debere
coquere,iam instabattempusprandij, quare capit duodenam oudrum, diffringit ea
in sartagine cum butyro, ad coquendum aut frixendum : abit interim in penum,
ad promendum uinum, & ibidem meminit ouorum, recurrit cito superius, detinens
spinam epistomij in manu. Quum uenit in coquinam, decidit coctura in ignem,
cui assidet felis ac deuoratoua. Meminit & prolis, uisit num dormiat, & amoto
lapide, reperit eam mortuam. Bone Deus quam tristatur, ac cogitat quid in-
coeptet? concutit ac constringit manus: quod faciendo, excidit ex eius manibus
spina epistomij, quam oblitus erat in manu: quare currit actutum in penum, &
reperit uinum penitus effluxum esse. Volens rapide amouere poculum, in quo
prompseratuinum, collidens illud uasi, excidit ex manibus eius, atque ita uni-
uersum uinum perditum est. Quisbono hoc Laurentio magis perplexus? uoluit
subinde apud se: Tuuis esse hera, & effudisti lac, non potes iam contundere
butyrum, proles extincta est, oua ac butyrum arserunt, accomesta Sunt à felibus,
uinum natat in penu, poculum uini effusum est. Quid fiet cum redierit uir fam-
elicus & sitibundus, uiderita; hanc bellam ceconomiam P. Ex quo ego me inter-
posui rebus domesticis, & illa uirilibus, ob hoc baculo mea latera contunderet,
& me oneraret ictibus, mihi aequum fieret, ita uolui, cur non mansi uir? In-
408 THE APPENDIX.
terim cogitat bonus Laurentius quomodo agat. Venit illi in mentem equulus
oblitus in stabulo, capit, seculam, & exit. Veniens Secundum uiuarium, uidet
lupum in margine, laetatur, projicit seculam post lupum, putans se nacturum
eundem, natando aufugit ille, & falcula manet in limo. Exuit se Laurentius,
& intrat aquam, quaerit seculam, uerrens diu in limo; interim uenit quidam qui
furatus est eius uestes. Post diutinam quaesitionem in uanum, erigit se, & quae-
rens indusium in ripa, uidet uniuersas uestes ablatas. Exit aquis nudus, &
digitisuellit tot herbas, ut fasciculum collegerit: simul uellens pugillum graminis,
quo contegatea, quae natura tegenda suadet. Deinde currit celeriter domum,
retro per hortum, (ne quis eum possetita animaduertere nudum) ad stabulum, uo-
lensequulo dare gramenseu herbas. Ille ualde esuriensinuaditherbas acgramina,
simul & quod natura tegendum suadet, & amordet omnia simul. Quis posset
esse in maiori anxietate, quam hic pauper Laurentius? Nesciuit introitum nec
exitum, nec quð posset confugere, nisi in furno, ubi se retro locat, expectans
misericordiam. Interim uenit uxor, uel tunc temporis arator ex agro, putans
conjugem bene obijsse sua munia. Videns autem quid actum esset de puero, in
penu, coquina ac lacte, attonita erat, & uocat circumquaque, Lentzo, Lentzo.
Is absconditus in furno nolebat primo respondere, timebat enim sibi. Post
paululum uocat iterum, Lentzo. Respondet ille in furno : Heho. Vocat iterum
arator; Vbi es? Respondet Laurentius: Hic in furno. Quid agis ibi, procede.
Nequaquam here, ait alter, malê exercui rem domesticam. Quid actum est,
ait illa P Prolem ego necaui, uolens sistere cunas. Eia bone Laurenti, nil re-
fert (inquit illa) nos Satagemus alias proles progignere, exi Saltem ex furno,
nihil fiet tibi. Sed plus feci, bone here. Quid fecisti praeterea? Laurentius
dixit; Vinum siui effluere exuase in penu, & poculum uini effudi etiam. Nil
nocet, mi Laurenti, (inquit illa) exi, bibemus aquam. Sed plura feci, Ó here.
Quid sit, rogat illa? Dispersi butyrum & oua, & feles comederunt illa. Non
aded magnum est hoc damnum, prodi, Satiabimur pane ac caseo. Plus adhuc
perpetraui. Quid est illud rogat illa? Volebam praebere equulo nostro gra-
men, & seculam amisi in limo uiuarij: interim quod quaero eam, ablatae sunt
mihi uestes. Nil refert nec hoc, gramen demetemus cultro, & uestes alias
curabimus resarciri widersdorfij, prodi saltem. Sed aliud adhuc perpetraui
quod omnium est maximum & pessimum. Quaerit illa: Quidnam est hoc
mali? Volui ait inijcere gramen nostro equulo, ille importunus ac famelicus,
ex quo eram nudus uolens rapere gramen, quo Supellectilem mean conabar
tegere, abmordit ună cum gramine meum compositorem discordiarum, uentre
tenus, Haec est causa cur non audeo prodire. Audiens hoc Adelheidis, capitilico
furcam furnariam, acait; Videbatur mihi aliud in hoc negocio quâm oua, lac,
uinum, uestes & proles. Vis tu curare rem domesticam, & destruere omnia,
perdere ac deuastare : quin & sinis auferri tibi (quod omnium maximum est) nos-
trum compositorem discordiarum ? Siste, pro tua hac Oeconomia te remunerabo.
Contruditeum furca furnaria ita, ut necessarić confregerit furnum superné, & effu-
geret nudus in domum : & ita nudus ac sanguinolentus, exiliuit per fenestram.
Illa insequitur furca illa furnaria, clamat ille, imprecatur illa. Vicina audiens
hunc tumultum, miratur, prospicit, uidet uicinum suum Laurentium currentem,
uxorem insequentem, ac malé se habentem. Mota autem uicinali misericordia,
dixit : Eia commater Adelheidis, quid ita commota es erga compatrem Lauren-
tium? qui semper bonus ac probus extitit, desine parumper ab ira hac, & da ei
#
THE AAPPEAVZ)/X. 4O9
saltem indusium. Ego dedero illi fel potius (ait illa) omnia deuastauit in domo,
prolem oppressit magno lapide. Omnia condonanda forent, sedunum & prae-
*
cipuum designauit, quod celandum est; ' à nostro equulo in stabulo, siuit
amorderi praecipuam Supellectilem nostram, uentre tenus. Caetera condo-
nanda forent, sed hoc unum nullo modo potest expiari nec condonari. Audiens
hoc uicina, quðd depraedatus esset eo, quod praecipué expetitur, fit & ipsa in-
festasuo compatri, acconcitat caniculum quem habuit complosis manibusineum,
dicens: Hurss, hurSS, cape eum, ad nihil enim utilis est. Miser hic Laurentius
penitus abdicatur, nullus restat ei locus ulterius, Sed aufugit nudus quaqua
uersum. Vicina autem dixit: Age commater Adelheidis, compone mentem tuam,
habeo ego Seruum bonum, fortem ac uigilem, qui erit in rem tuam ; scio enim
ualere: nam ego Sum usa eo his sex aut Septem annis. Hoc pacto perdidit
Laurentius optimum suum pugionem, & cogebatur deleri omnino ex libro
uiuentium. Suadeo ergo uiris obire sua munia, & mulieribus similiter sua :
sic poterit neuter improperare alteri. Ita fiet, ut uiro maneat Sua uigil ales
salua acuegeta, & uxor reddetur pacation, nec cogatur diffringere furnum,
& tandem aufugere nudus & mutilatus.
Qſìje Čiotning of goit and gjpmnp.
LORD HAILEs, in his notes to this poem, says: “In-
stead of encumbering the glossary with a minute
detail of the wretched goods and chattels of the bride
and bridegroom, I subjoin a list of whatever might
be dubious or unintelligible to an English reader.
“Almry, cupboard. Ark, large chest for keeping
corn or meal. Blasnit-ledder, probably basnit, tanned-
leather. Brechame, the collar of a work-horse. Brochis,
clasps. Brydill-renye, the rein of a bridle. Coig, a
pail or trough. Creill, basket. Dublaris, probably
dishes with covers. Ell-wand, an ell measure or rod.
Fetterit-lok, fetter-lock. Fidder, I28 C. weight. Flaik,
hurdle. Furme, form or bench. Furlet, a measure
containing one fourth of a boll. Fute-braid sawing, corn
sufficient to sow a foot-breadth. Graith, girth. Gryce,
pig. Guss, goose. Heck, rack. Hobbil Schone, clouted
shoes. Hog, a sheep of two years old. Jak, that piece
of warlike dress called a doublet of fors, or defence.
Kaill, coleworts. Kirn, churne. Laid-Saddill, load-
4IO THE APA’EAVIDIX.
saddle. Maskene fatt, vessel to boil malt in for brewing.
Milk-syth, milk-strainer. Nek, button of a spindle. Pek,
a measure containing one sixteenth of a boll. Polk, poke,
bag. Quhittill, knife. Raip, rope. Rok, distaff. Sark,
shirt. Schule, shovel. Spounge probably spung, purse.
Spurtill, spattula, flat iron for turning cakes. Thraw-cruk,
a crooked stick for twisting hay or straw ropes. Treme,
spout. Truncheour, trencher, platter. I do not know
the signification of padell.” [Sibbald explains Padell, “a
small leathern bag or wallet for containing a pedlar's
wares.”
STANZA 1, l. 1. “A’obeyns /ok ; ” i.e., Jok the son of Robin, or
Robin's son. Proper surnames came late into Scotland.
— 1. 3. “Scho brankit fast, and maid hir bony.” She tript
away hastily, and dressed herself out to the best advantage.
— 1. 6. “Cleir as ony clok.” Clear as a cloſé, or beetle ; a
proverbial expression, alluding to the bright polish on the body
of that insect.
St. 2, ll. I, 2.
“I 3ern full fame,
“To luk my heid, and sit doum by 30tu.”
This is obscure : I understand it to mean, “I earnestly long
to sit down at your side, after having first searched my head,
that there be no animals about me.” A refinement in rustic
courtship !
St. 2, l. 7. “I schro the lyar, full leis me 3ozw.” The young
lady having told her mother that she suspected the sincerity
of her wooer, he tenderly answers, “Curse you for liar, I love
you heartily.”
St. 3, l. 3. “Ane fute-braid sawing.” Corn sufficient to sow
a foot-breadth, or a foot-breadth of ground on which one may
sow. Here the author, straining to make a ludicrous descrip-
tion of braggart poverty, has transgressed the bounds of prob-
ability. The idea, however, has pleased ; for in a more
modern Scottish ballad the following lines occur:—
TATE AAPEAVO IX. 4II
“I ha a wie lairdschip down in the Merse,
The mynetenth pairt of a gusse's gerse,
And I wo' na cum every day to wow.”
St. 7, 1. 3. “Fyve fidder of raggis to stuff ane fak.” A quantity
of rags, wherewith to quilt any coat of mail. By 87th statute,
parliament 6, James V., it was provided, “That all yearmen
have jackes of plate.” - -
St. 7, l. 6. “Ane spounge.” This probably means a spung,
or purse, which closes with a spring. A.S. bung or pung. In
Scotland the word spung is still used for a fob. Skinner gives
an example of what he calls lingua mystica erronum, or Gypsy
cant. “To nip a bung:” this is from A.S. nilpen. digitis velli-
care, and bung or pung, marsupium. It would be curious to
inquire whether the cant of Gypsies be anything more than
corrupted Anglo-Saxon or corrupted French, just as these out-
casts from civil society are of Anglo-Saxon or French original.
St. 8, l. 3. “Ane sark maid of the Zinkome twyne.” A shirt
made of the Zincoln twine; a sort of cloth so called. Thus in
Chrystis Kirk of the grene, st. 2, l. 5: “Thair kirtillis wer of
Alincome light.”
St. Io, l. 1. “Tak thair for my parte of the feist.” Such are
my effects, sufficient to set off against yours; or, in the vulgar
phrase, to pay my share of the reckoning.
St. Io, l. 5. “And als the laveroſé is fust and loddin , ” i.e.,
the lark is roasted and swollen. It seems to be a cant pro-
verbial expression for dinner is ready.
— 1. 6. “When 3e haif done, tak hame the brok.” After you
have dined, you may carry the remnants home.
T H E E N D.
E D IN B U R G H :
PRINTED BY
WM. BLACKWOOD & SONS
MDCCCLXXXV
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