Ane Treatise callit the Court of VENVS, deuidit into four Buikis, Newlie Compylit be IOHNE ROL­LAND in Dalkeith.

I. R.

VINCET TANDEM VERITAS

VERBVM DEI

Imprentit at Edinburgh be IOHNE ROS. M. D. LXXV. Cum Priuilegio Regali.

¶Viuere diuerso mortales more videntur: Nam ratio cunctos non regit vna viros. INQVIT POETA.

AS the perfite prudent Philosophour
Dois put in writ as sciētiue Doctour
In goldin style, and verse Poeticall,
Sayand, all mē into this lyfe mortall
Is drest but leis to leif in diuers kynd
For ane ressoundois not gyde euerie mynd.
And that throw heuinlie Constellatiounis
Of the Planetis aspectis and complexiounis,
That in the heuin sa hie ar situat,
And fra vther ar wonder altetat.
Quhilkis ar thir four: incompt first Phlegmatike:
The secund is Sanguineane siclike:
The thrid clepit is Colerike suithlie:
The feird and last, is callit Melancolie,
Quhilkis of nature ar wonder different,
[...] vnder ane Regiment.
¶PHLEGMATICVS.
[...]or Flewme [...]s fat, slaw, richt slipperie & sweir▪
[...] [...]nd drasie, to spit can not forbeir.
[...] [...]ane is fat and fair with measure,
[...] and quhyte, and lufe and with plesure,
[...] in blyithnes ay singand,
[...] [...]genes, and with delyte lauchand.
CHOLERICVS.
[...] [...]erik is crabit of nature:
[...] nobill of valure.
[...] [...]matike: for it is hardie and fre,
[Page]Subtell and wyse, stoutter and moir manlie:
Bot small of face, of body Lecherous,
Quik of Ingyne, of Lordschip couetous.
¶MELANCHOLICVS.
The last and worst is callit Melancoly:
Soure, sorrowfull, Inuious, cauld and dry:
Drowpand, dreidfull, gredie and vntrew:
Heuie heidit, and feindill in game or glew▪
Thir four causis diuers variatiounis
In mans corps, be sindrie Inclinatiounis
Of the Planeitis ring and vnder the heuin.
The quhilks ar in leill number thir seuin.
Saturnus, Iuppiter, Mars, and the Sone,
Venus, Mercurie, and last is the Mone.
Than nixt thir seuin, syne is thair the xij. Signes,
Quhilks in the heuin sa hie abone vs regnes,
The first of thame is callit Aquarius,
The Fische, the Ram, the Feird is callit Taurus:
Syne Gemini, the Crab, and the Lyon:
The Virgin, Libra, and the Scorpion,
The elleuint to Name hecht Sagittarius:
The twelft and last, is callit Capricornus.
To thir Planeitis complexiounis, and tha [...]
The Elementis greit strenth with thame it.
Quhilks ar thir four, Eird, Fyre, Watter a [...]
And to four beistis oft tymes we
The Air hes of the Aip compariso [...]
For it is blyith, licht, merie, and wa [...]
As the Lyon, the Fyre is furious,
Wod, and cruell, rampand, and rig [...]
The Watter is comparit to the Ȝow [...]
Soft, blait, and blunt, of curag [...]
[Page]The eird it is comparit to the swyne,
Heuie, and sad, to sleip dois oft Inclyne.
And of thir four foirnamit Elementis,
Mannis complexioun takis maist part Regimentis.
For he that hes of the Air the nature,
Is oft muifand, licht, merie, with plesure,
Wantoun and blyith, and euer geuin to sport,
And efter drink desyrous of comfort:
Iocund with Ioy, and Iolyous to Iaip,
With mockis and mowis of nature as the Aip.
And he that hes the nature of the fyre,
Is euer hait, in crabitnes, and Ire:
Bauld and birnand in rancour and malice,
And efter drink cruell and kene he is:
To tuilȝe geuin, to slauchter and occisioun,
And sa he is comparit to the Lyoun.
And he that hes of Watter the natoure,
Quhilk of the self is bot ane liquoure,
Is daft, and doyld, drasie with small effect,
Of euill or gude he takis lytill rek:
And efter drink, can nouther do nor say.
[...] Scheip compair him weill we may.
[...] [...]at hes the nature of the eird,
[...] [...]weir, lurkand, and not weill leird,
[...] [...]iperie, with Nois and Mouth vnclene
[...] [...]pit, euill nurtourit betwene:
[...] [...]cht bot sleip quhen he is fow:
[...] [...]ompair him to the Sow.
[...] [...]ounis, thir Planetis and thir Signes,
[...] [...]tis, that sa abone vs regnes,
[...] [...]amang thame self conmixt,
[...] haue his complexioun firme fixt
[Page]On ane of thame alluterlie, but ma.
Into thame self thay ar deuydit sa:
Bot of thame all he is participant.
Howbeit that ane be ay predominant,
And of the laif in maist part hes maistrie,
Quhairby the Corps is gydit commounlie.
Thairfoir I say be my consideratioun,
Ilk man can not be of ane Inclinatioun:
Considdering the diuers difference,
Difficulteis, and daylie resistence,
That first I schew of the four Complexiounis,
How thay ar geuin to diuers affectiounis.
Syne of Planetis, and the diuersitie.
Of thair nature and mutabilitie.
That fra vther oftymes ar sa distant
Amang thame self, and euer repugnant,
As the tyme geuis, and euer mair flowand,
Be proper course, and in thair Spheir rolland.
Syne the xij. Signes, and of thair conuersatioun,
How thay ar wapt to diuers variatioun,
And puttis the Corps oft in ane mouand stair [...] [...]
Vnstable ay of maneris alterait.
Forsum part ar fraward, and meik agane
Sumpart mansweit, sumpart betuix the [...]
Sumpart ar cauld, and sum agane ar ha [...] [...]
Sumpart ar dry, and sum ar mitigait [...]
Sumpart ar dull, sum ar of quick In [...]
Sum lyke Sparhalkis, and sum ar sw [...]
Sum lyke Lyounis, and sum ar blai [...].
Sum curst, cankerit, and ay instur [...]
Sa sindrie men be greit diuersitie
Of complexiounis, and greit Ext [...]
[Page]Of conditiounis, and diuers alteratiounis,
Ar ofttymes geuin to sindrie Inclinatiounis.
As I haue red of Kingis and Empreouris,
Duiks, Merques, Knichts, and Conquerouris.
For Romulus that foundit Romes Cietie,
Grauers in stane euer maist lusit he.
Pompilius Numa his Successour,
He lufit Preistis, and held thame in honour.
Paull Emylius maist lufit Marynaris.
Octauius Augustus fairs playaris.
Cayus Cesar Goldsmythis lufit he.
Syne Scipio Capitanes, and Cheualrie.
Claudius Wryteris, Sylla Armoraris.
Syne Marius lufit Image gude grauaris.
Vespasiane gude Painteris lufit weill.
Titus his Sone on Menstrallis set his seill.
Domiciane his brother lufit ay
Corsbow makeris, and fulis for to play.
He brocht all Fulis that he could get to Rome:
Of auld wyse men that Cietie he maid to me.
And sa Ilk man was geuin to diuers thocht.
That ane lufit, ane vther held at nocht.
[...]owbeit thir had all Rome in gouerning,
[...] [...]ane had diuers thocht and gyding.
[...] [...]nsaif be diuers complexioun,
[...] geuin to diuers conditioun.
[...] Ingyne hes geuin to saill the see:
[...] of Weir, sum hingit men to be.
[...] [...]ne Knichtis, and sum ar Carpenteris,
[...] Smythis, and sum ar Wod sowteris.
[...] [...]karis, and sum ar geuin to Hunting:
[...] [...]rhnes, and sum ar geuin to singing:
[Page]Sum michtie men, and geuin to Merchandice▪
Sum Ockeraris, and geuin to Auarice:
Sum sempill men of thair leill laubour leuis:
Sum ar agane verray stark commoun theuis.
Sum ar drunkardis, and sum ar geuin to dice:
Sum to vertew, and sum ar geuin to vice:
Sum ar sa proude, and sa ar put to hicht,
In lufe and fauour of thair fair Lady bricht.
Sum ar Wretches, and sum ar Worthie men:
Sum cankerit knaifis, that thame self can not ken,
Sum to honour euer mair hie pretendis:
Sum leifis in myrth, and thankis GOD him sendis
Sum leifis in pryde, and Prodigalitie:
Sum ar richt pure, and leuis in pouertie.
Sum part ar geuin to put the Realme in cummer:
Sum richt sair feird to put ouir the deir Symmer:
Sum ar abasit to feid thair barnis and Wyfis:
Sum hes Inuy that swa his Nichtbour thryfis:
Sum settis thair pith, thair puissance, and curage,
To hald thair Realme and land out of thirlage.
Sum geuin to plant, and big in Policie:
Sum to pull doun and waist ay quhill hed [...]
Sum with tume purse on his Paramouris
Sum ar tratlaris, and vther part pykethan [...]
Sum ar Pelouris, and part ar fals purse [...]
Sum ar Harlottis, and sum ar Heretyk [...]
Sum geuis his thocht to treurh and ve [...]
Sum to falset geuis his felicitie.
Sum geuin to gude, and sum ar geuin
Sum traistis in GOD, sum rinnis quic [...]
Sa be mouing of the Planeitis and Signe
Diuers folkis ar geuin to diuers thingis
[Page]And I persaue weill be the poetis saw:
[...]lk conditioun to ilk man dois nocht draw▪
Throw variance of signes celestiall,
And vther times, be Caus accidentall.
For I my self be gude experience,
Daylie practik, and recent euidence,
Considderis weill, and dois perfytlie se,
Be my Ingyne, and Waik Capacite.
Thair is mony for sum craft ar not abill,
Ȝit to vther ar richt aggreabill.
Mony ar put to diuers occupatioun,
That is contrair thait kynde, and Inclinatioun,
And oft causis complexioun for to varie.
And than thay say it is fals destenie:
And wyitis Fortoun of thair misgouernance,
Quhilk thair a win self dois throw thair Ignorance▪
For quha is borne vnderneth Saturnus,
That man can not be blyith nor Ryatus:
Lot fad and sowre, in sturt, and in Malice,
And ay to do his fellow ane disprise.
[...] put this man to Sang Scule, or playing,
[...], sport, Dalians, or Dansing,
[...] incontrair his Complexioun,
[...] to fecht with ane Falcoun.
[...] borne vnderneth Iuppiter,
[...] an be meik and debonar,
[...], of his speiche amiabill,
[...] play, to dance and sing ay abill▪
[...] [...]wne, and geuin to Geometrie,
[...], full of humanitie.
[...] not be his awin complexioun,
[...], nor haue greit corruptioun,
[Page]Nor displesour, malice, nor crueltie,
Bot aye in Ioy and merynes wald be.
Vnderneth Mars the God Army potent,
Quhat man is borne, can nocht be oft pacient,
Bot aye angrie, and euer battell boun:
Ferce as the fyre, and fell as the lyoun,
This man to be geuin to dalians,
Is als contrair, as ane kow to gardans.
And sa furth euin of the seuin planetis all,
Ilk man takis his proper part partiall:
Except he be in him self the moir wise,
Knawing he be geuin vnto sic ane vice:
He may temper, and dant him self be skill,
And nocht to gif complexioun all the Will.
And sa oftimes be dantit refrenatioun,
A man may weill alter his Inclinatioun.
Bot wo allace emptie purse dois greit skaith.
Alteris curage and the complexioun baith.
Ȝit abone this we se daylie expres,
Mannis maneris changis throw Idilnes:
For Idilnes is Mother Radycall,
Of all vicis, and font originall.
Thocht the corpsly in ociositie,
Ȝit than the thocht can neuer idill be.
Bot ay mouand on veitew, or on vice,
Of guid, or euill findand sum new dew
And the maist part to peruersitie geui [...]
Quhilk throw maistrie of Idilnes is di [...]
And siclyk als throw wickit compan [...]
Mannis maneris may oftymes chan [...]
And for that cause, sic cumpanie to [...]
This wark and cuir I tuik vpon my sell▪
[Page]Quhen that I saw part of Nichtboutis about,
Rekles ryding in bed erandis thairout:
I couet nocht with thame than for to be,
Sa I allane was left but companie,
Think and better on this to muif my thocht,
Nor ryde with thame quhair thair erand no docht.
Perauenture sum of thame or thay come hame,
For schrewit turnis (nocht causles) gat sum blame▪
Had I lykit with thame I micht haue riddin,
Bot complexioun that quyte hes me forbiddin.
Sa I Infer a man may mak his fortoun,
His destenie, his chance, and his conditioun:
Howbeit that he be geuin all vnto vice,
He may refrane him self, and he be wise,
Throw dreid of god, throw wisdome, and laubour,
He may abstene fra all sic displesour.
Thairfoir to this laubour I gaif Ingyne,
And to cause me fra Idilnes declyne,
And me preserue fra wickit companie:
[...] ane pen, and drew this Comedie.
[...] force outher to euill or gude▪
[...] compellit, that I couth nocht bot dude.
[...] on sic ane thing be far
[...] [...]gyne, nor to Imagine war.
[...] all man is geuin thairto,
[...] do this, than war to do.
[...] that the same reidis, or [...]heitis,
[...] an, quhome to sic thing effeiris▪
[...] [...]ract heirefter follow and,
[...] of Venus the Galland,
[...] [...]etis of it to be Reidar,
[...] found, that thay be Correcte▪
[Page]And help to mend haltand verse and coullour,
And me excuse of this my small laubour.
For Gentilmen will tak it as thay find:
For Rurall folk sum termes will leif behind.
And I suppone, the ofter that ȝe it reid,
Ȝe sall the better tak baith the sence, and leid.
For anis reiding oft tyme it garris Authouris
Incur reprufe be wrang Interpretouris.
And not of thame, that sic Warkis can traduce,
Bot of thame that of sic things hes na vse,
Nor can compas sic thing, nor vnderstand,
Ȝit to reprufe, thay pertly tak on hand.
And neidfull is sic Wrytingis to correct,
Quhair gude Reidaris findis ony fault suspect.
Howbeit I knaw it neid Correctioun,
Thairfoir I pray that ȝe will me pardoun:
For seir Doctouris, and wonder cunning Clerkis,
As Correctouris reprouit vtheris Warkis.
For Socrates was reprouit be Plato:
And Plato be Aristotell also.
Auerrois quhilk was ane greit Doctour,
Repreuit sait Aristotell and sour.
The greit Sulpice repreuit Scipio:
Varro Lelie: and Horace Ennio.
Thomas repreuit the Doctour Marinus
And Seneca be Aulus Gellius
Repreuit was: and mony Doctourism
As did Doctour Laurentius de Valla.
Astratocles repreuit be Strabo:
And Hermagor repreuit be Cicero:
And Chesaco repreuit be Galene:
And Sanct Ierome repreuit Origene
[Page]Ruffine reprouit Ierome of his sawis:
Donate Ruffine reprouit of his Lawis:
And sen in thame, and in thair Warkis hes bene
Sic correctioun, and greit reprufe betwene,
I may weill thole, and also standis content,
That this small Wark stand to the mercyment
Of Gentilmen, and byde at thair subiectioun,
As thay best think thairto to put correctioun.

Auctor alloquitur Librum.

NOW pas thy way is, thou barrant buik new bre­uit,
With beggit termes, & barbar toung mis­cheuit:
And cast thy hude & hat outouir thy face:
At Ilk gentill vpon thy kneis ask grace.
Excuse thy self of thy greit Ignorance,
And in thair will put all thy ordinance.
For Gentilmen can richt weill thee considder.
For commoun folk will call the lawit and lidder.
Thy self present to Nobill men and gude,
And fle the sect of Rurall folke and rude.
That thou art Wrang, gif ony will alledge,
[...] [...]ow thy self, and thairon thy heid pledge.
[...] sayis that thou art by Scripture,
[...] [...]lyithlie, and schaw thame Ilk Chapture:
[...] men sall ay be thy defence,
[...] [...]olk gif small obedience.
[...] [...]hor was requyrit be Venus,
[...] this small Comedie thus,
[...] far as thy Ingyne,
[...] or thairto couth Inclyne.
Finit Prologus.

¶ Heir beginnis ane Treatise callit the Court of VENVS, deuy­dit in four Buikis. Newlie compylit be IOHNE ROLLAND in Dalkeith. ✚ ¶THE FIRST BVIK.

QVHEN Eolus out ouir thir rok­kis rang,
Be donk and daill, baith Herb & tre he dang:
With passand pith, fra Polear­thrang, tike come doun,
Thringand with thrist out throw thir woddis
And ceissit swyith the small foulis of thair sāg [...]
Causit thame throw cauld mak lamentatioun:
Quhilk cauld become be nature of sessoun:
For than Pisces with potent power sprang,
[...]nto his Spheir, and tuik dominatioun.
[...] and Nonis war than all gone areir
[...] Freik quhilk we call Feuerȝeir.
[...] [...]arie was of his Trone exclude,
[...] [...]d blawm, and haldin hait at weir:
[...] micht, and rolling in his Spheir,
[...] power of the Fische in the fiude,
[...] [...]doun gart Aquarie be denude,
[...] [...]s had the rewle now tane on steir
[...] course, that time as King he stude.
¶As I beleue be richt calculatioun
Of Planet, Signe, or of the Mone motioun:
The wedder than is sumpart Pungitiue,
Quhen Pisces takis in his Spheir possessioun.
And Aquarie is put vnto desertioun,
Be Fische in fiude swowming so exertiue,
Quhilk be greit pith and power possessiue,
That tydement crauis be his operatioun.
Quhat day this be ȝe Auditouris discriue?
This samin day (gif I remember richt)
Is consuetude to all kin Foule of flicht,
Quha is vakand to cheis thame thā ane maik.
Siclike it is to King Keyser, and Knicht:
Gif thay sa be, cheis thame ane bird sa bricht.
To pas the time, and ather solace mak.
Bot I alone of sic curage did laik.
Pansing far mair how sone wald cum the nicht
Me to repois in my couche rest to tak.
Neuertheles ȝit to reioyce my spreit,
Howbeit the day was sumpart set with weit:
I walkit furth on be ane valay syde,
With Hat on heid, & Mittanis that was [...]
Maid to my hādis, and heich schone on m [...]
Vnder ane bus I sat me doun to byde,
Me to preserue fra tempest of that tyde.
And maist part was my prayers to con [...]
Knokit on breist, and Conmundum I [...]
With orisounis, quhilkis ar not ne [...]
Into this buik, at this time to declair:
I randerit ouir to GOD Omnipotent
[Page 2]In the meane time, into ane Gairth preclair
I saw compeir with fax and fassoun fair:
Twa ȝoung ȝoūgkeirs, perfite at all pointmēt:
In riche array, and honest ornament,
But companie, bot thame self solitair:
Nothing knaw and that I was thair present.
I Iowkit than but dout quhen I thame saw,
Behind the Bus (LORD) bot I liggic law.
Buir me richt coy, and this my caus, and quhy
To se gif thay wald ony nar me draw,
Or gif thay had sum secreitis I micht knaw.
Or gif thair was ma in thair company.
I [...]w assure ane lang time did I ly.
That I was thair forsuith thay did misknaw
Howbeit I was to thame ane secreit spy.
Thair waillit weid, and stature to descriue,
I can not gif perfite affirmatiue.
Sa gay it was, sa galland for to se,
[...]wariant to sicht and transitiue.
[...]quhile agane ferene and substantiue,
[...]ite of fassoun maid, and sa properlie,
[...] as I can efter my Fantasie,
[...] [...]ow schaw be my Intellectiue,
[...] [...]y war cled Ilk man in his degre.
[...] not put of thair ȝeiris distinctioun:
[...] baith fair, fat, plesant of persoun:
[...] ȝouth, as had bene threttie ȝeir.
[...] [...]ike men be euen proportioun,
[...] [...]nd stout, and baith of ane fassoun.
[Page]Bot that the ane maid not sa merie cheir.
As his fellow, at that time was his feir.
Bot ins [...]un part sadder of conditioun,
Quhais countenance to me sa did appeir.
The glaidest man was gayest for to se.
With Scarlet cap, quhairin was Ostage thre,
Behoung with gold, and all of cullour blede.
With trim Tergartis weill wrocht & properlie
Circumferat with stonis subtallie.
In signe he was ane lufer traist and trew.
His Spainȝe cloik was of the Holme hew:
Betakinnit ȝouth and Curiositie,
In Venus Bowr to eik baith game and glew.
His Hugtoun was of Crāmesie veluet.
With precious Perle, and gold was souer set,
With Saphyris blew, and Ryall Rubeis reid.
The silkin cordis was all about thame plet
With Emerandis sa michtelte ouirfret,
Quhairon to luke, was rut [...] of all remeid.
Howbeit ane man had bene in point of deid:
Better comfort I traist he culd not get.
Of all malice to saif him fra the feid.
His dowblet was of goldin buird richt
All set about with the cleir Cristalline.
And in the dreist ane Charbukill sa e [...]
Quhilk did resplend as the sterne M [...]
Cleir Apollo, Esperus, or Lucine, [...]
Befoir the day quhen thay do first a [...]
With vther stanis quhilk was don [...] [...]
[Page 3]As birnand gold ouir all his body S [...]hi [...],
Baith Turkas, Iasp, Emeraud, and Sapheir.
With Iacinth fine, and Topazion sa fair.
Or Adamant or Dyamant but compair:
With Rubie spackis ane greit number to se.
The Orient perle baith precious and preclair,
Was vmdeset his bodye ouir all quhair.
Bot ane precellit the laif [...]fer in degre,
Quhais cleir refler blindit my sicht to se.
Becaus he was sa rank, and trew luifar,
Weir it on breist, in signe of cheualrie.
His hois thay war of the reid Skarlet maid,
With biurd of gold bordorit, and barrit braid
Begaryit all with sindrie silkis hew,
Of nedill wark richt richelie all resplaid.
Of biggest bind as he thocht best to haid,
Or ladyis hand with nedill culd it sew.
All thortour drawin with taffateis of blew.
[...] veluot schon [...] quhair with ye gait he traid,
[...]klit with gold and of the fassoun new.
[...] noble seme was on his sark of Rence,
[...] [...]etent to ony King or Prince:
[...] [...]rk with all forme of pietour,
[...] Hynd fast rinnaud for defence,
[...] rache with all expedience.
[...] sine fallow and on the stour,
[...] [...]er Deir or Doggis wes victour.
[...] was set with greit expence,
[...] gold quhilk wes of greit valour
With girdill of gold, nane gayar on the grund,
With fassis fyne nane fairer mycht be found.
Ane dicht dager, rycht plesand and perfite,
Tabletis of gold bayth quadrate als & round,
With Saphiris set so suttellie and sound,
Rattilland Chenȝeis about his hals so quhite,
Quhairon to luke, me thocht was greit delite.
With bag and belt, quhairin was mony pund
Be apperance with Iowellis Infinite.
In the richt hand he bair ane plesant flour,
Repleit all with Aromatike odour:
With Cinamome mixt, and mellifluat.
Quhilk was the signe he come of Venus Bour.
In the Car hand he bair of greit valour
Ane goldin Ball, the quhilk himself oblait
To Venus Quene, quhair his hart Radicait
Was on all time quhilk was his cheif treasour
This was he cled in waill Morigerate.
The secund als was cled richt curious.
Bot not be far sa gay and glorious,
As was his feir, nor half so delectabill:
With hylair vult, and fassoun richt fam [...]
With Scarlet Cap appeirand bounte
His dowblet was of cullour variabill·
Sum time ȝailow, & vther quhylis [...]
His coit and hois, of silk and claith [...]
His cloik was blak, & borderit wit [...]
Ane sword was belt about his [...]
With veluot cled: the Plumet gold [...]
[Page 4]With purse and belt, like to ane man of age.
Chenȝeis of gold persaif that culd I nane.
He was most like to be ane Phisitiane,
Be countenance, and clething wonder sage,
That in the self hart lakit, and curage:
And in the Net of wanhoip had bene tane,
Quhilk causit him wāt baith welth, & wassal­lage.
In the richt hand ane bus of Rew he bair,
In signe he was betaucht all with dispair,
In the car hand he bair ane bludie Hart,
Thirlit outthrow, richt scharplie, sad and sair.
With ane fell flane, quhilk was baith braid & squair
Richt swa it did his awin body inwart
Quhilk was the caus of all his sowre & smart,
Furthschew he was sum time ane iust lufar:
Bot at that time, I traist he was conuart.
Thus was he cled, and with letteris of grew
In fine Scriptour, I saw it writtin new
[...]on his breist, his Name hecht Disperance.
[...]lent about and thair richt weill I knew
[...] his feir, als weill as hand culd sew:
[...] [...]ame embrowd ye quhilk hecht Esperāce
[...] [...]is breist about set with plesance,
[...] that garth quhair that ye flouris grew:
[...] did tryue with diueris countenance.
[...] [...]lang time into that garth so grene,
[...] allone, not thame ane word betwene
[...] [...]ungkeir moir wantounlie did trance
[...] [...]uske, mair courtes, and mair kene.
[Page]Sayand, Mynȝeoun, quhairfoir do ȝe sustene
Sic displesure in hart be countenance?
I ȝow befeik in sum part tak pastance,
And ȝow reioyce for ȝour Lady, or Quene.
Quhat that scho be to do hir sic plesance.
He answerit than, said gude Schir, let alane
As for my self, Quene, nor lufe haue I nane:
Bot as ȝese, a man heir solitair:
Fra me allone sic pastance is ouirgane.
To verteous work all clene I haue me tane,
And refusis sic sport I ȝow declair:
For Fantasie it is, and nothing mair.
Quhairfoir brother for ȝow I mak greit mane.
Gifand ȝour hoip, quhair nocht is bot despart.
Despair (said he) thow art far deuiat
For to conforme thy lufe to sic estait:
Gif thow sic hes (as weill may be perthance)
Or gif thy lust be ellis so saciat:
The to support sum vther man creat,
That thy Lady will haid into pastance.
And gif thow pleis, I sall for thy plesance
(Sa that thow mak me thy subdelegat)
Thy fault reforme, and caus thy Name
Thairfoir thow sall tak lufe for n [...]
It is the rute of comfort I declair.
Quhairfoir brother, I the require of [...]
Erale thy Spreit, and mak the mou [...]
Denude the of that darknes solitair
For I hald lufe ane A perse allane
[Page 5]And for hir saik sum sang vencreane
I wald thow sang with plesand voice preclair:
I the promit guerdoun Cesarcane.
Guerdoun (said he) of the I couet nocht:
For that nor sic to this place I not socht,
Bot pas the time, and tak sum hailsum air.
In sic behalf, als far as I haue wrocht,
I sall abstene, that is my minde and thocht,
In future time, my purpois is na mair
Sic to persew, gif ȝe pleis to repair
In lufes seruice, thairof nathing I rocht.
To ȝour purpois in gude time and not spair.
For I no way sic thing in heid dois tak.
That Law but leis in me lang time did lak:
And purposis it neuer to persew.
Thairfoir gude Schir, gif ȝe pleis for to mak
For ȝour Lady, or for ȝour lufis saik,
Sum Ballet or sang now breuit of the new,
It may weill be, bot efter ȝe sall rew
[...]to sa far as ȝe thairon did waik [...]
[...]albe gall, als far as it was glew.
[...]ot sen I se the to hir cure vassaill:
[...] efrane, my power laikis haill.
[...] in hir Net thow art obnubilate:
[...] thow conuert, and tak my trew counsail
[...]ng [...] lust thow suld neuer assaill.
[...] aill hart fra hir to sequestrate,
[...] time sa far as is frustrate:
[...] repent, and thow sall ȝit prenaill
In verteous werk scko beaud depriuate.
He said agane, quhill I may bruik my liue,
Hir from my hart I will neuer depriue.
Thy counsall is of na gude discretioun,
Me to perswade with wrang enarratiue
Lufe to abstene, it is sa exaltiue.
Into that ease thow laikis commissioun.
Thairfoir to the I put Inhibitioun,
Takand on me hir mater most actiue,
With Martiall minde, as cruell Campioun.
And for hir saik heir I acept on me,
Hir Aduocate euer to stand and be.
With stable mind laikand dissimulance,
In helth, seiknes, riches, and pouertie,
In eild, and ȝouth, blithnes, aduersitie:
And all kin sturt, but ony variance.
And all is till hir nobill Name auance.
In contrair quhome, of quhat stait or degre,
Thay may be found, I byid heir at constance.
And for the mair Ratificatioun
Of hir honour, and Glorificatioun:
I sall with laude reheirs ane small Legent
Transferrit to hir as in oblatioun
Beand to hir greit grace delectatioun.
In signe scho is ladie most Eminent,
And I hir Knicht Lieutennent of litifrem
Makand to hir my pure Supplicatioun
My rime in time to hir be Redolent.
For I nocht can with laude and reueren [...]
[Page 6]Hir Name eralt with perfite Eloquence,
As sould effeir bot as my faint Ingine
I sall discriue be my Intelligence.
Beseikand hir of hir Magnificence,
My spreit Inspyre, and speich to me propine,
That hir honour distres thoill nor ruine.
Nor suffer it in na way haif discence,
As scho is Quene and fresche flour Feminine.
¶Laus veneris.
Out fra the Splene with cordiall amouris,
Greit salusingis with gretingis full of gloir:
Laude reuerence, helth, vertew, and honouris,
With all hauingis that may ane corps decoir,
To the Venus I rander euermoir.
And nocht causles: with superabundant
Mirth, melodie thow dois my hart refloir,
As Inuincent victour, and triumphant.
For to remane into Memoriall
Thy Name and fame in Chronik & Scriptour
I sall gar prent to keip perpetuall,
[...] is the Actis of the greit Conquerour.
[...] [...]nus Quene, of all Quenis the flour,
[...]res my spreit, that I may say sum thing.
[...]ithin this gairth to thy lande and honour,
[...] [...]alute, and thy sone Cupid King.
[...] [...]reitis thay feir, for dreid my hart dois quaik
[...] trimblis half in ane extasie
[...] [...]ill and faint Ingine to tak,
[...] [...]riue the greit Nobilitie,
[...] [...]rnes, that dois remane in the.
[Page]The prouerb is, gude will sould be payment,
Becaus the toung can nocht keip vnitie
As wald the hart now to purpois I went.
¶Inchoatio litis.
O Lustie [...]fe thy lufesum obseruance
So Ioyous is so Iorund for to vse,
So Iolious repleit of all plesance.
Quha can descriue, thair is no man can muse.
Saif thy seruice all vther I refuse,
And euer sall vnto the day I de.
And quha dois nocht to deid I sall accuse.
I lufe ay seill and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, with sable countenaunce:
Allace brother thow cauis into thy riu [...]r.
That lufe thow speikis hes na continuance.
Bot slydis away as dois the snaw or slime:
Waistis all welth, and tinis the precious time,
Lattis laubour traist weill this is no lie.
On hair fair I think, yat thow cōmittis crime.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir than with curage fra ye sp [...]
Answerit and said, with one full mery chen
Thothe thow culd nocht of lufe kindnes obt [...]
Than sall ilk ane hir obseruance forber [...] [...]
Thocht thow sa be with sorrow set an [...] [...]
Sould lufe thairfore be lichtleit in bet [...]
For thy a win gude sie problemes thou [...] [...]
I lufe apleill, and that weill likis
The Saddest said saifand gude [...]
[Page 7]Thocht thow awant lufe thus in thy curage,
The day sall cum thy barnelie Insolence
Contrair sall turne quhen thy lust is asswage.
Bot weill I knaw thy vndautit barnage
Will haif ane May bot fra it slokinin [...]he
Thow will repent for all thy rampand rage.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, thy language salbe leis
My clene curage it neuer mair sall slaik:
Nor fra seruice of lufe sall neuer eris,
Bot ay Incres the mair heich for hir saik:
In all this warld that Maistres hes no maik.
This dar I say, with hart and curage hie:
Quha seruis hir weill, [...] bewtie sall thay laik,
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, lufe is full of dissait,
And be na way thow sall not find it stabill.
Scho alteris an to euerie kinde and stait:
Quhylis to quhylis f [...]a: and sa is ay mouabill
To sun scho is hylair and confortabill,
And thame exaltis in superlatiue degre.
And to vthers lufe is [...]icht Lacrymabill.
[...] [...]uifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
[...] [...]oughkeir said▪ that planelie I deny.
[...] [...]stabill and luf [...] is richt constant.
[...] [...]uer will thair will to hir apply,
[...] with hir in warkis vailȝeant.
[...] is [...]o hir obseruance obstant,
[...] fail to fall richt suddanelie.
[Page]Quhairfoir I will thy seruice ay awant.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill lykis me.
The Saddest said, and kest his cap alite:
The febill fauour thow did of lufe obtene,
That is in the thow purpois not to quite.
Bot Ȝule is ȝoung, thay say vpon Ȝule euin.
And diuers times it hes bene hard and sene,
That efter most Ioy followis aduersitie.
And lufe oft turnis hir feiris to tray and tene.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, thow faillis richt far in plane:
To lufe I keip it euer gude obseruance,
Sen I was man, and scho to me agane
Keipit gude lufe, with trew hart and constāre,
Withouttin fraude, gyle, or dissimulance.
Sen scho me schew sa greit humanitie,
Suld I not than hir Nobill Name auance?
I lufe ay leill, and that weill lykis me.
The Saddest said, thocht thow with words vane
Hir Name exalt, thy words ar till abuse:
Hir warkis ar sa odious and Prophane,
Into na sort thay ar not for to vse.
Scho can not mak sic caus hir for to rus [...]
For thy profite, nor gude vtilitie▪
Quhairfoir best is thy opinioun refuse.
I luifit to lang, and that for thinkis [...]
The ȝoungkeir said, euer to [...]all hi [...] [...]
Heir I awow, and this my caus, and [...]
[Page 8]With ardent lufe scho haldis me at the hart.
In clene curage, and vailȝeant victorie.
Scho feidis me with fude of Lamenrie.
Scho cleithis me with cloikis of curtesie:
With hir awin hand scho happis me quhair I ly.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill lykis me.
The Saddest said, that victorie scho the geuis
That fude & claithis ar all bot fenȝeitnes.
Quhat thow ressauis, thryis als mekle scho re­uis.
That thou not wait, thocht thow it thīk glaid­nes
Thow pretēdis scho saifis the fra sadnes.
Quhilk scho not can without thy awin supplie
I the assure, scho is fals and faithles
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, thair thy enarratiue
Into the self it is richt fals, and faillis.
Scho genis to diuers heich prerogatiue
Quha with leill lufe hir grace dewlie assaillis.
Bot thy dolf hart for dredour ay deuaillis,
And laikis spreitis thy self to fortifie:
Quhilk is ye caus thow bruikis of lufe sic bail­lis
[...] lufe ay leill, and that weill lykis me.
[...] Saddest said, I se the obstinate.
[...] wilfull will thow can not weill refrane.
[...] [...]nindest is sa Interlaqueat,
[...] [...]terit in the Net of lufe Prophane.
[...] [...]is thy cuir is set quotidiane,
[...] quhilk is bot fantasie.
[...] [...]orps, and be not sa constrane.
[Page]I luifit to lang and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said trowis thow be seduction̄
Of the I wald be sa presumpteous,
To absteine luif, quhilk war greit distructioun
To my clene hart quhilk is sa curious.
And sine to me lufe is sa amorous.
I Nill it do for all thy subteltie.
I salbe ay baith rank, and ryotous.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, sen lufe hes the sa hait,
Conuert that lufe to God Omnipotent.
For all thy lufe it is Intoxicait
With marrit mind, and thochtis Insolent,
Quhilk efterwart richt sair thow sall repent,
And sall the turne to Iangland Ielousie.
Amend in time, ȝit quhair thow hes miswent
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me:
¶Quia vanitas vanitatum, et omnia va­nitas: preter Amare Deum.
The ȝoungkeir said, with voce half arrogant
God ordanit lufe to be baith heir and hine.
Quha hes gude lufe into this life pregna
Gude lufe in heuin he suld nocht traif nor [...].
I me der̄er to the scriptour diuine.
Christ bad ilk man keip lufe and cha [...]tie.
Thairfoir thir wordis in me sall euer schu
I lufe ay leill, and that weill lykis me.
¶Iuxta illud: hoc est praeceptum meum, inuicem, Sicut dilexi vos. IOHN
[Page 9]The Saddest said, half mouit in his minde:
Authoritie richt gude to me thow schawis.
Bot wo allace, thow takis it in wrang kinde:
Thow allegis the thing that thow misknawis
Lufe thy Nichtbour, & brek not Goddis lawis
Be Fornicatioun, nor ȝit Adulterie.
To schame & lak thir twa thair seruād drawis.
I luifit to lang and that forthinkis me.
¶Non moechaberis EXO. XX. Omnis quividerit mulierem ad concupiscendum eam, iam mechatus est in corde suo. MAT. V.
The ȝoungkeir said I meruell of thy minde,
And of thy will withouttin caus or quhy
Contrait Venus with thy hait hart vnkinde,
To tak sic part thocht scho it small set by.
Thow knawis veill and alswa sa do I.
God bad ilk man Incres and multiplie.
How can thow than Gadis awin wordis deny?
I lufe ay leill, and that veill likis me.
Croscito & multiplicamini. Genes. 9.
The Saddest said, I knaw the wordis richt weill
[...]d said yar wordis, quhen ye warld first begā
[...] of that Tert thow hes bot litill feill:
[...] sentence fer les thairfoir thow can.
[...] God thame said at that time to the mā,
[...] all of Matrimonie to be.
[...] name glois, as thow plesis, quhat thā?
[...] and that forthinkis me.
[...] [...]cationom, qui autem fornicatur, in [...] [...]um peccat. I. COR. VI.
[Page]The ȝoungkeir said, ȝit Salomon the King
That in his time was haldin the maist wise:
Into his Buik he sayis ane vther thing,
And puttis lufe to ane greiter apprise.
He sayis, quhair lufe into ane luifer lyis,
It is als stark as deith and life may be.
Thairfoir I say thow earpis of cowardise.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill lykis me.
CANTI. VLTIMO. ¶Quia fortis est vt mors dilectio: Dura sicut Infernus emulatio.
The saddest said, I pray the hald the still,
For to alledge on Salomon that saw.
For weill I wait it was neuer his will,
Men for to caus Incline in that behaw.
To wemen kinde, nor for to mak sic Law.
Bot this he sayis, and thow like sic to se.
Wemen causis men oft to deuilrie dram.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
ECCLESI. XIX. ¶Nam mulieres apostatare faciunt Sapientes: Et quise iungit Fornicarijs erit nequam.
The ȝoungkeir said, schaw me quhat is the ca [...]
That Salomon sic word is said in vane:
Considdering he sayis sa mony sawis,
Sa gude, sa sweit, of all wemen but sane.
Luik how thow likes Canticorum in pl [...]
All that haill Buik he sayis of thaīe be [...]
How can thow than the contrair say
I lufe ay leill, and that weill lyf [...]
¶Osculetur me osculo oris sui: quia n [...] amores eius vino fraganti. CAN
[Page 10]The Saddest said, than heir with patience,
I sall the schaw ane answer releuant.
That buik he maid to ane vther sentence,
And fra thy mind ane mekle thing distant.
He menis that buik of the kirk militant,
Quhilk is the Spous of the blist trinitie.
Lat we sic ly, caus we ar Ignorant.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
¶Quia coecus non habet iudicate de coloribus. Coecus autem si coeco ducatum praestet, ambo in foueam cadunt. MATH. XVI.
The ȝoungkeir said, this mater meruellis me
Quhat sould a man, and lufe had neuer bene?
Like ane auld stok or as ane rottin tre,
Berand greit bouk quhair sould be leuis grene
And naturall is to king keyser and Quene.
To spend thair time in sum Iucunditie.
And quhair better than with ane ladie schene
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
¶Quia venerunt mihi omnia bona Pariter cumilla. CANT. I.
The Saddest said, lufe is sa perrellous,
To all gude deid it is ane strenthie bar.
Of all poisoun it is maist venemous.
Sclander and schame euer to it drawis nar.
[...]rew, wisdome to tuich it neuer dar.
[...]ll may thow wey thay will neuer agre.
[...] befoir ȝit draw thy fute on far.
[...] fit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
[...] [...]nderis fallaciae mulieris: fauus enim distil­ [...] [...] meretricis: nouissima autem illius ama­ [...] [...] absinthium. PROVERB. V.
[Page]The ȝoungkeir said, I can nocht vnderstād:
Bot vertew is, and wisdome in hir cure:
Strenth, hardines, with manheid vailȝeand,
With all vewtie that may haif creature.
I put the case, ane man peraduenture
In battell war present his Ladie fre:
He wald preuaill the erar I assure.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
¶Veni, propera amica mea, veni, ostende mihi faciem tuam. CANT. II.
The Saddest said, thocht it sa cauill for anis
In goddis kirk it hurtis greit deuotioun.
Diuers cummis to Kirk oft for the nanis:
And to be sene, that is thair maist motioun.
Of perrellous stait it is the first promotioun:
God is forȝet, lufe hes the cheualrie:
First slais the saull, and puttis the bodie down.
I luifit to lang. and that forthinkis me.
¶Quia lingua eius acuta, vt gladius biceps. Pro. 5.
The ȝoungkeir said, thow speikis now all to large:
That lufe to God is sic Impediment.
Quhy intrōmettis thow with an vthers charge
In thy langage thow art our negligent.
Let ilk man do, as thay expedient
Thinkis for thame self, for that is maist [...]
Thy rime in time I wald thow did repent
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said I say bot Iust a [...]
I can nocht tell the teind, thocht I [...]
Of misfortounis, and euill that dois [...]
Daylie mankind, be that lufe thow [...]
[Page 11]Quhat heretage? quhat biggingis coft & sauld.
Quhat deid? quhat slane throw lufis destenie?
Men & wemen hes skalit thair hate houshald?
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
¶Non est malitia supra maliciam mulieris. Sors pce catorum. Cadat super illam plaga mortis. Mulier nequam A muliere inicium factum est peccati. & per illam omnes morimur. A carnibus tuis abscinde illam ne semper te abutatur. Coniuge pro pulchra multi subiere sepulchra
The ȝoungkeir said, with ane austeir respect,
It sufficit lufe thy self to lichtleit thus.
Thow pretendis the haill warld to infect
With thy langage, and sawis Iniurious:
Bot of thy wordis fickill and friuolous
It reckis nocht, thay ar bot vanitie:
Howbeit thay be in sum part odious.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, for sawis Iniurious
I rehers nane, bot quhilk I will awow.
And quhair ȝe say▪ my sawis ar friuolous:
Thay ar richt suith, and ar of sentence fow
I say, thy lufe is nathing till allow.
Gifand it quhair is na stabilitie.
Now scho is mine: and thine agane richt now.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
¶Qui tenet mulierem, quasi qui apprehendit scor­ [...]onē, Ab omni irreuerentia oculorum eius caue: & ne mireris si te neglexerit. Si dederit homo om [...] substantiam domus suae pro dilectione, qua­ [...] [...] dispiciet eum. CANT. VLT.
[Page]The ȝoungkeir said, half rāpand in auerage
Thy talking is to me Intollerable.
Euir I sall auant lufe with curage.
Scho is constant: scho is richt confortable:
Lufe is bening and lufe is amiable:
Lufe is stable, and repleit of pietie:
To hir awin feris scho is richt fauorable.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, thocht thow hir sa auant,
Scho is faithles: scho is abhominable.
Thow furthschawis as ane daft Ignorant,
Lufe is truthles: and lufe is tressonable:
Nocht lauchfull, bot scho is lamentable.
Vod, wantoun, vane, and void of veritie.
Lufe is wrangous: and lufe is variable.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, thocht thow thay wordis disclois:
Lufe is ardent, and lufe is delicious.
Of all vertewis lufe is the crop and rois.
Lufe is mery: lufe is melodious:
Richt petefull, and als scho is precious.
Lufe is the trane of all tranquillitie.
Lufe is facound: and lufe is fauorous.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, cousing and all [...]
Lufe is lichtlie: and lufe is lecherous.
Lufe is wilfull: and lufe is vane and [...]
Lufe is richt mad: and lufe is maliciou [...]
Presumptuous, odious, and suspicion [...]
[Page 12]Sclanderous, and cled all with scurrilitie.
Friuolous, venemous, and Iniucious:
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, I se thy hart ouirset
All in malice, to lichtlie lufe that Quene.
Lufe is fruitfull, and all with faith ouirfret:
Kinde, courtes, meik, mercyfull, Amene:
Maikles with mirth, substantious and serene
Gude, and gracious, ground of felicitie.
Scho laikis nocht to honour may pertene.
I lufe ay leill, and that weill likis me.
The Saddest said, lufe kendillis euer cair:
Vnkēnand, kene, vnskilfull, and cruell:
Angrie, Irefull, birnand as baitit bair.
Vndantit, daft, ane reuar, and rebell.
Crabit, Cankerit, fenȝeit, baith feirce and fell.
Byitaud, bostand, greifand, and gredie:
Bitter as Gall, and speciall net of hell.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, with fax and face fumous:
Richt stomachat, thair standand him allone:
With austeir voice, as tirant tedious:
Sair mouit in minde, in hart half wo begone:
Heirand the word the Saddest did propone.
Cryit, Cupid King to this mater haif Ee:
[...]aw the ane King, or King I hald the none
[...]ife is lichtleit: thairfoir full wayis me.
[...] Saddest said, me think the sair anoyit
[...] ellis me, quhy thow sould sa the mufe
[Page]The ȝoungkeir said, suld gude lufe be distroyit
Be thy sophismes quhilk thow can neuer pruif?
Thocht thow sa wald, the greit God ay abuif
Will neuer thoill sa greit iniquitie.
The Saddest said, heir I defy fals lufe.
I luifit to lang, and that forthinkis me.
The ȝoungkeir said, with voce superlatiue:
O Cupid King, o Venus luifis Quene:
Attend thir wordis that ar sa pungitiue,
Outthrow the hart thay thirll me sa kene.
Bot ȝe supple, I may not thame sustene:
For sic vnricht se ȝe not remedie:
I me defer into my graif so grene.
Vmquhile I luifit: and than weill likit me.
¶Argumenti finis.
AS he that said to his hart straik ane stound,
Quhill of yat place na farder he miche foūd
Throw displesour, and greit melancholie:
The dart of deith, him thair gaif sic ane wound,
That suddandlie he fell vnto the ground:
Boyland but buit, vext with aduersitie:
Quhilk to Venus was schawin suddanlie:
That hir trew Knicht with faintnes sa confoūd
Was strikkin to deith for falt of hir supple.
Sone scho discendis but ony mair delay,
And brocht with hir bot ane ȝoung sempil Ma [...]
In hir chalmer quhilk ay was most secre,
Beheld hir Knicht on the ground quhai [...]
Inquirit the caus, and effect of the fray,
The Saddest said, Madame of veritie
[Page 13]I do not knaw, he fell sa suddandlie.
Bot we allone the time passing with play:
Him this betuke ane suddane extasie.
And so anone his bak alyte he wryit,
To pas away, and Venus that espyit.
Scho said gude Schir, an quhile ȝe may remane
Quhill time this corps be sum better applyit,
With ferce felloun he is richt sair Inuyit,
And that be ȝow, for sa appeiris in plane.
Quhairfoir ȝe sall incur my greit disdane
Madame said he faith planelie I deny it:
Wald he reuiue, Lord, than bot I war fane.
Anone Venus that Ladye fair and bricht.
In armes swith scho claucht hir awin trew knicht
Cōfortit him with kis ane thousād syis
With voce cry and, with all hir mane & micht.
Awalk, awalk, awalk, thow wofull wicht:
This is Venus, that sa oft on the cryis.
Schaw me the caus quhairfoir deid heir thow lyis?
Gif ony man hes done to the vnricht,
In word or deid, schawing ony dispryis.
Als sone as he the voce hard of Venus,
[...]nto his hart he thocht it sa Ioyous:
He conualess it within ane littill space.
Quhair he befoir was melancholious,
[...] [...]full, angrie, crabit, and rigorous,
[...]ntinent fra that he saw hir face
[...] [...]as alterit sone fra that tenefull trace:
[...], or wantoun, with luikis amorous,
Ȝit for fauitnes, and noy was at his hart.
The quhile befoir fra time he did reuert.
The sweit trikillis down ouir his face thay ran
Sayand Madame, I pray ȝour Grace aduert:
I sall ȝow schaw the caus of all my smart.
Quhy, and quhairfoir, and how it first began▪
In argument▪ I and that gentill man.
Fell heir on case, becaus I turk ȝour part:
First he ȝour grace did lichtlie, and me than.
Sayand thir wordis quhilk war Iniurious:
That lufe was faint, baith fals, and friuolous,
Abhominable, and all sawin with desait:
Mixt with malice, and verray malitious:
Wod, vaue, na worth, wantoun, and vicious:
Vennemous, anterous, and dissimulat:
Fraudfull, faithles, fra all gude alterat.
Thus and siclike with rank voice rigorous
He did proclame, Madame mak ȝe debait.
Scho said agane, it is Equiualent
To all ressoun, and als correspondent,
That thy mater suirlie I tak on hand:
Sen for my saik thow art heir schamelie schent
Ȝit I beleue als euill is subsequent
To thame in [...] bitter lie the band:
Ioys I my [...]fe, & bruik rowmes in this land▪
Thay sall haif cans far mair for to lament▪
That thus in sturt sa faint the causis sta [...]
As scho [...] it said with out [...]
With vengea [...]il vult, laik and [...]
[Page 14]In till hir hand scho ruik of siluer quhite
Ane nobill horne, quhilk all ye garth gart glāce
And blew thairin with sic continuance,
Quhill at the last seir Nimphis of delite
Discendit sone to hir presence perfite,
Inclinand law with humbill countenance,
Weill preparit as thair vse was and rite.
Sayand Madame, with all obedience,
Heir we be cum to ȝour Magnificence,
In ȝour seruice ardent, and reddie boun,
To do ȝour grace plesour and reuerence.
Aganis quhome, or quha that dois offence
In that behalf concerning ȝour hie croun,
Of quhat degre stait or conditioun
Thay may be found, with all Instant defence
We condiscend all heir in vnioun.
Than said Venus that luftie nobill Quene:
Lufesum Ladyis most secreit, and serene,
Of my counsell elect, and elegant:
This is the case I haif to ȝow to mene,
Quhilk in ane part to ȝow als dois pertene,
[...] my self, thocht I be mair vibrant.
[...] ane squier ane wod extrauagant,
[...] in my Court was sendill hard, or sene,
Nor [...]a sort thairof perticipant:
[...] reheirs ane certane nyse Sermonis,
[...]mentis, and diners questionis
[...] [...]atrair, and of ȝow Ladyis all:
[...] [...]hus be seir opinionis:
[Page]That lufe is foundit all of detractionis,
Men to desaif with foull lust mundiall,
And is the way of the stait Infernall.
This and siclik with diuers Infectionis,
He diuulgatis as Iuge Imperiall.
And nottheles the greit blasphematioun
New perpetrait vnto my michtie Croun,
Now recentlie Esperance our trew Knicht
He is neir put to finall distructioun,
With greit Iniuris, and sair forthocht felloun,
That neir the deith all maist he hes him dicht.
Caus our mater he tuik to hald in richt.
Think ȝe not this ane greit contemptioun?
This case Ladyis I refer to ȝour sicht.
Quhen thay all hard Venus enarratiue,
Thay wald not gif ane sentence sone beliue.
To counsall ȝeid with ane aduisement,
Pouderat weill the falt superlatiue:
And deput ane to gif diffinitiue
Answer agane with all thair haill consent.
Quhilk Lady hecht Themis in verament.
Greit Aduocat with power possessiue
Maid be thame all to furthschaw thair intent▪
On humill ways, and richt greit reuerence,
Scho said Madame, this is ane greit offenc [...]
Doue to ȝour grace, and vs Ladyis ilka [...] [...]
Howbeit sa be to expell negligence,
My sisters sayis than can not gif senten [...] [...]
Sa breuiatlie, bot and ȝe plese refrau [...] [...]
[Page 15]Ȝour present will, and sumthing be constrane
Be thair aduise mixt with perfite prudence
To mend ye crime yai will wirk all thair mane
Thair counsal is Madame, & plesit ȝour grace,
To set ane Court in leissum time and place.
Call the faltour, of his crime him accuse.
Gif he denyis, and grantis nocht the trespas,
To ane assyse it man ga with proces.
For with resson ȝe can nocht this refuse.
And ȝe man do as vther Iugis dois
Nocht pretendand na puir man to oppres.
This thay respond, the falt nocht to excuis.
Than said Venus, Madame, that is bot skill,
To thair counsall hartlie applie I will.
Ane vther Nimph, the quhilk Nemesis hecht,
Without tarie sone scho did call hir till:
Quhilk was schiref sic Actis to fulfill.
Bad hir beliue pas to ȝone waryit wicht.
Hecht Desperanct, and for the greit vnricht
First done to me with peruerst mind and will.
Secundlie done to Esperance my Knicht:
And to my sisteris, and Ladyis curiall,
With certane vther actionis criminall:
[...]harge him compeir befoir my Maiestie,
[...]n hour of caus sittand in Tribunall:
[...] depuris quhat thay be greit or small.
[...] how him self accusit of crueltie.
[...]verall pane that layit thairon may be:
[...] exceptionis, and causis defensall,
[Page](Gif he sic hes) that may him self supple.
Inclining law but mair this Nimph anone,
Heiring the charge that Venus did propone:
Scho said, Madame, withouttin tariment
It salbe done: and sa furth is scho gone,
To desperance, quhair he stuid him allone.
Saluted him with gretingis condecent.
And he to hir with hauingis reuerent.
And scho in hand ane letter had quhairon:
Hir charge scho red, quhais tennour is sequent.
¶Summonitionis litera.
VENVS the well of worthynes,
Ground of all grace, and greit Goddes,
Of Quenis Quene, and eik princes,
That now dois ring.
To our louit condigne Maistres,
Nemesis constitute but les,
Our Shiref in that part expres,
Dewlie greting.
Forsamekle as it is menit
Heuilie, schawin vs, and complenit,
Be our trew knicht quhilk sustenit
Greit velanie:
Esperance, quhair he conuenit
With Desperance him nocht pertenit,
With cruell mind thair vnrefrenit
In this degre.
Rehersit wordis Iniurious,
With peruerst will, and venemous
[Page 16]Corrupt Intent, and dispitteous
Into this sort:
That lufe was wantoun, and vicious,
Irefull, pridfull, and rigorous,
Ouirset with slicht sulphurious,
And suddand mort.
With diueris vther detractioun,
Concerning ws, and eik our Croun.
Caus our Knicht tuik our opinioun,
Callit Esperance.
He him beset with thocht felloun,
Quhill neir the deith that he was boun:
Quhilk is to ws greit contemptioun,
Be allegeance.
Our will is heirfoir als and we
Chargis and commandis straitlie,
Incontinent this letter be
Sene that ȝe pas
In our Name and authoritie:
Command desperance sone that he
Compeir befoir vs haistelie
For his trespas.
Quhair that we hald our maist mansioun
Into this garth baith wp and doun,
Without ony exceptioun
[...] Had of beforne,
[...], or reuocatioun:
[...] [...]rid day efter executioun:
[...] [...]he pane of rebellioun
[Page]And to our horne.
The quhilk to do forsuith heir we
Commit to ȝow all haillelie,
Our full powre in best degre,
Be this our letter,
Excecute and Indorsat dewlie,
Deliuering it be ȝow trewlie,
To the beirar agane suithlie,
But falt or fetter.
Geuin at our heid Mansioun Tempe:
And greitest Palice quhilk vse we:
Vnder our hand writ verrilie,
And our Signet.
Into the straitest forme may be.
Of Man the day aucht and twentie.
And of our Regne, sa mot I the,
The ȝeir is forȝet.
¶Finitur Sum monitio.
THis Nemesis Schiref, and Officiar,
Into this case chargit as aduersar
This desperance to compeir day and place,
Be the tennour of letteris present thair,
Quhais forme and fetter in ye self wald declair.
Madame (said he) plesit to speik ane space,
Sen this sa schort the mater cummis on case,
I wald require the copie of that quair,
For to aduise, gif I micht it purches.
This ladie said think ȝe it erpedient
To pay for it, I haue it heir present.
[Page 17]He said agane, Madame, it is ressoun
With all glaidnes to fulfill ȝour Intent.
Tak thair sex penneis without Impediment.
Scho said gude Schir, it is to small portioun.
Alswa ȝe knaw, this caus concernis the croun.
Thairfoir copie requyris goldin rent,
Becaus it is sa eminent actioun.
I Nill it gif without ane gold Besant.
Forsuith said he of sic I haue na han [...].
Madame bruik weill, the price it is to hie.
(Quod scho) war noche I se the repugnant
To Venus Quene, and to hir court obstant:
I wald nocht cuir the copie to gif fre.
Bot I will nocht sic plesour do to the.
The copie clene I quite it is sa skant,
Ȝit nocht the les I sall compeir, said he.
So thay depart: Nemesis furth is go
To Venus, quhair befoir that scho come fro.
Recitit all hir charge in verrament,
How scho finischit hir Act scho had to do
With Desperance, quod Venus sen is so,
[...]e will compeir and we all heir present:
I [...]ost deput ane Iuge mair competent.
For I my self will hald him as my fo,
[...] thy I will not sit in Iugement.
[...] presence of hir Ladyis, ane and all:
[...] vther Nimph to hir than did scho call.
[...] Ladie hecht (Rhamnusia) to hir Naun
[...] Venus in hir best apparrall.
[Page]With countinance and facts virginall,
Inclining law all most tuiching the lame.
To quhom Venus, this case ȝe knaw Madame,
How desperance as knaif most criminall,
Contempuit me with wordis of defame.
And all my court, as ȝe knaw richt perfite:
With vther Actis of Iniuris Infinite.
Quhairfoir I Nill my self personalie
In Iugement sit: bot my power vnite
Salbe to ȝow as depute requisite.
For I suppone he will me hald partie.
Thairfoir present thir witnes standand by,
I creat ȝow to condampne or to quite,
My Iuge deput with power haillelie.

¶The secund Buik.

TO Desperance not vnknawin in ane part
How that Venus wes set to eik his smart:
He him bethocht for to fang sum defence,
And for to get sum Aduocat expert:
Wald Venus court retreit, cast or conuert,
Or in sum part thairin mak resistence,
Sone he him hyit without mair residence
Vnto the seuin digne Doctouris in all [...]
Quhilkis clepit ar the well of sapience [...]
The first is callit Thales Milesius,
Quhilk is in Greik ane maister meruelus.
And dispute first in all nature of thing:
Quhais eloquence was sa compendius,
Sa clene, sa cleir and eik sa copius,
Surmountit Grece be fer in his saying.
The secund als was ane doctour conding,
Callit Solon, ane Iurist cautelous,
That sa did speik vnto Cresus the King.
The thrid Chylon Lacedemonius.
The ferd callit Byas Pryeneus,
Wnto the laif was speciall President
The fift to Name hecht Poete Pittacus.
The sext callit the Clerk Cleobolus,
Ane ageit man in ȝeiris ancient,
In liberall science richt emmient.
The seuint, hecht Periander Corinthius,
Last of thame all ane Cunning man and quent
Quhen Desperance thir seuin in ane saw sit,
Wallie (said he) ȝonder is heid of wit.
Ane spark of peirtnes in his breist than grew,
Think and allane, my caus and I submit
to ȝone seuin, ane mis or els ane hit:
Thay will me schaw sum counsall or reskew:
[...]uhidder I sall absent me, or persew
To Venus Court, sen I thairto am knit.
[...]f thay not do, I tary nocht, adew.
[...] saluift thame on his best wayis anone.
[...]wand, GOD saif ȝow seid of Salomon.
[Page]In gentill wise thay him contersalued
Sayand gude Schir, quhat is thair to expone
Of argument probleme or questioun
That ȝe wald haif discust or recountit.
Schaw furth belyue and mak it specified,
Sa far as ȝe ȝour mater will propone:
It salbe drest, and ȝe ȝour self depesched.
Sone he furthschew his mater haill and all
Vnto thay seuin Rectouris Rethoricall:
How that Venus was set in his contrair.
And Esperance with him in feid did fall:
And how he was summound to Tribunall
Be Nemesis, the principall Officiar.
And how that he promittit to cum thair
Befoir hir Iuge Deput temporall,
Wnder all pane micht fallow or danger.
And quhen he had schawin his narratioun,
He Implorit with all delectatioun,
Thay wald him gif thair counsal on best wy
How he sould chaip without Tribulatioun,
Manifest schame, or mair Blasphematioun,
Not turnand him, nor his to preiudice.
Thay said agane, ȝe haif done greit dispry [...]
Quhairthrow ȝe can not chaip Indignati [...]
Of hir, nor nane that makis hir dew seruice
Howbeit that we thairto nathing pertene,
Scho is ane Galland Nobill Iustie Quen [...]
Diuers gentillis will mak to hir homage,
And serue hir with all courage fra the splen [...]
[Page 19]Quhen scho and thay togidder may conuene
At hir awin sport, scho dar lay counterplage.
Quhairfoir we think, that ȝe haif preuit fulage
For to offend that Souerane, and most schene,
So eminent ane Lady of linage.
Bot nottheles our counsall ȝe sall haif
In closit writ, the quhilk ȝe sall resaif.
And in gude haist ȝe sall pas on beliue
Vnto the nine Musis sweit and swaue:
Quhair that thay sit into thair clene conclaue.
Deliuer thame this pretty small missiue:
In siclik Actis thay ar frequentatiue,
And mair facill ȝour mater will consaif,
Fra time that thay heir ȝour enarratiue.
Thus thay conclude all seuin with ane consent
Deliuerit him the bill Incontinent
Renuncit thame of thair cure and counsall.
He tuke gude nicht and on his wayis went.
Till he come to thay Resis Redolent,
Ruit of regard, and fontane Musicall,
Schryne of tresour, and port Poeticall:
Quhair all science hes daylie Entreitment:
The Musis nine most puir well virginall.
Quhais Nobill Names ar thir in veritie:
The first Clio is cleipit sickerlie:
Ane Nobill Nymph baith for to sing and say.
The secund hecht to hir Name Euterpe:
[...]e Thalia: the feird Melpomene:
[...]xpsichore fift is callit in verray
[Page]Erato sext: the seuint Polimnia:
The aucht is callit gentill Calliop [...]
Maistres of all the nynt Vrania.
Quhair thir Ladyis wes in thair chalmer clois
Thair was the rute of reuerence and rois:
Thair was Prudēce: & thair was Pulchritude
Thair was of blis baith the waill, and chois:
Thair was the sop of science I suppois:
Thair was the flour of fairheid, and the flude:
Thair was worschip with welth and valitude
Thair was the Court ane man for to reiois:
Thair was meiknes weil mixt with māsuetude
Thair was Grammer, and thair was Rethorik
For Questionis thair was Dialectik:
In argumentis full of subtilitie.
Pro and contra in termes of Logik:
In all this warld to serche thair was nane sic.
For to decerne licht fra obscuritie.
Thair was Phisik: thair was Astronomie,
Thair was the mirth, and Mother of Musik:
Thair was nurtour, thair was Nobilitie.
For to conclude of this quhat wald ȝe mair?
The seuin science compleitlie thay war thair,
With all kyn sort of mirth that micht be found
Thair manerit Mans sa perfyit and preciair,
Enuirond all about with hailsum air.
Mair plesand place stude neuer on the grou [...]
With all delitis sa greitlie did abound,
Of all palice it was the luminair,
[Page 20]That euer ȝit was maid on Mappamond.
For to descriue thair honest Ornament,
Thair riche array, and thair habillement:
My feble wit standis in extasie,
So bene, so big, and so Auripotent,
So ground michtie it was, and precellent:
It dullis far my small capacitie.
Thairfoir I most at this time let it be.
Bot ȝe sall wit thair was na thing absent
Of gold, nor silk, that ganit sic cumpanie.
In thair Chalmer thay war all singand nyne,
And als playand on Harp, and Cymbalyne.
Bot for to heir that sound Melodious,
It to compair to voicis femynyne
I can not do: it was mair lik deuine
Angellis of Heuin, it was sa amorous:
So small, so clene, so sweit, so curious,
So replenissed with the cleir Chrystalline:
Sa weill digest, benigne, and bewteous.
Quhen Desperance thir nyne did heir, and se
Percust he was into perplexitie:
Quhidder gif he sould enter thair, or no.
GOD gif it war my fortoun than, said he,
My fatale weird, and als my destenie,
I war conuert into the May Echo,
That I micht bruik this greit quotidian Ioy,
[...]t the Incressit into audacitie:
[...] his anter, and Inwart can he go.
[...] [...]elit doun anone law to the eird.
The Ladyis saw, and suddan [...]lie was effeird:
For seindill men vsit in thair companie.
Kissand the bill farthermair or he steird,
Deliuerit it as the doctouris him leird.
Quhilk his erand to thame did certifie.
Credence be toung he wantit sickerlie.
Quhairfoir I traist the quader was his weird,
That laikit speiche him self to fortifie.
Als sone as thay the small missiue did reid.
Without mair baid thay wald not superseid.
And said, gude Schir, is ȝour name Desperāce?
This present writ sa manifestis ȝour deid,
That ȝe haue seruit greit magrie to ȝour meid,
For presumptioun, and eik vltrequedance
To Venus done be ȝour greit arrogance.
Quhairfoir we can na farthermair proceid
In ȝour support, bot stand vnto ȝour chance.
To Intermell we will not with sic thing:
For we Intend on vther machyning,
In Musicall Airt, and diuers science:
As in Psaltrie, in Luit, and Harp playing,
Versificat in meter and dyting,
In congrew veirse, and to keip accidence
In sic effairis we haue experience,
Bot be no way in Venus disprysing:
For quhy scho is ane Quene of excellence.
We counsall ȝow withouttin mair aba [...]
Becaus we se ȝour stomak storme besta [...]
Le pas in hy vnto the Nobillis nynt.
[Page 21]Gif ȝe wald fra this auenture ewaid.
And gif thay pleis ȝow to supple and aid,
To ȝour mater gif thay will ocht Incline:
It is mair decent to courage Masculine
Ȝow to support, than vs for to perswaid
Contrair Venus, thairfoir gude Schir pas hine
The small missiue thay deliuerit agane.
Bot he nothing of thair answer was fane.
He said adew, and so furth can he fair
Out ouir the bent with hart richt sair cōstrane:
Throw Mos and myre, & mony hie Montane,
Half wo begone allone all solitair,
Throw wildernes in woddis, & greit dangeir:
Richt desolait I traist of ane gude wane,
Till he come to quhair the nyne did repair.
¶Hector dux fortissimus, filius Priami Regis Troiae, & hecube Regine, vt habetur in historia Troiana.
Thir Nobillis nyne togidder congregait
In clene cureis he saw all situait.
Quhais Names ar thir (gif I can richt record)
Hector of Troy quhilk maid greit debait
Of the Greikis, xviij. Kings he cruciat:
Exceptand Dukis, and mony diuers Lord:
He spairit nane with him was at discord.
In euerie Camp the proudest man armait
His pray was ay, and maid him euer ford.
¶Iosue dux filiorum Israel, & filius Nun.
The nixt callit the vailȝeant Iosue:
[...]uhilk with Moyses past out throw the reid sey,
[...]uhen King Pharao persewit Israell,
With greit power, and prepotent Armie:
[Page]Bot be support and the deuine supple,
All the vengeance on Pharaos folkis fell:
Becaus contrair greit GOD he did rebell.
Eik Iosue slew of Kingis ane and threttie,
The twelf Chaptour of his awin buik dois tell
¶Dauid filius Isai, alias Iesse.
The thrid Dauid, the greit propheit & King,
That efter Saull in Israell did ring.
Quhilk slew ane Beir, and als ane Liones:
Quhen he was bot ane child of ȝeiris ȝing,
Vpon the feild quhair he had in keiping
His Fatheris flok into the wildernes.
Alswa he slew the Giant Golyas,
In the foirheid with ane stane and stafsling:
As the first buik of Kingis dois expres.
¶Iulius Coesar, quia coesus de matris aluo, (vt dicit Plinius.)
The feird callit was Coesar Iulius,
Richt vailȝeant and als victorius:
As Doctouris reidis he was first Empriour,
Quhilk with scharp sword, & Actis anterous,
Diuers greit Kingis in feild he did vincus.
Of Babilon he was the conquerour:
Of Italie siclik discomfeitour.
Into plane camp with dintis dangerous
He brocht mony vnto thair fatall hour.
¶Alexander Philippi filius, construxit tres vrbes, no nomine vocatas: scilicet alexandriā in Aegypto alexandriā in Asia prope hostiū nili fluuij: & [...] alexandriā in Scithia, vt habetur in Policr [...]
Alexander the fyft, of Macedoun
Ane Nobill King, and Campioun.
[Page 22]To vailȝeandnes gaif his Felicitie,
Quhilk with greit strēth, and mony bald Ba­roun,
Had all the warld at his dominioun,
Be force of men and lauch and destenie.
Greit Conquerour thairfoir cleipit is he.
At his plesure he micht louse or Ransoun
Quhatsumeuer he war, or quhat degre.
¶Iudas Machabeus.
The sext Iudas Machabeus was cald,
Ane birnand Beirne, ane busteous, and bald:
Richt corpolent, and hie in his estait.
Aucht hundreth Knichts, & twentie thairto tald
At ane Iornay the Gaift he gart vpȝald.
His Fortoun was with strenth so roborait.
Into his dayis durst nane with him debait:
Quhome he vincust no langer leif thay wald,
Sic grace he gaif, bot yame all maid chak mait
¶Godefridus.
The seuint callit Godfride de Billioun:
Quhilk subiugait Ierusalem the Toun.
Of mony Iowis he was the finall end,
[...]epopulat that Cietie of Renoun,
With dynt of sword, and maid sic occisioun,
Of Ronciwell the battell it transcend.
His courage was ay Christindome to defend.
[...] al was done he brocht of thorne ye croun
[...] crownit Christ with him til ane cōmēd
¶Arthurus Britanniae Rex (vt habetur in Cronicis eiusdem).
[...] [...]thur the aucht he was ane Christin King,
[...]vill, and fre, that in his dayis did ring
[...] [...]ntent was set on vassalage.
[Page]The round Table he had at his leiding.
His cruell Knichts thairof sa entreting
With gold and geir to eik thair clene courage:
To him againe thay making sic homage.
Of Infidelis mony he did downe thring
Be battell mort, and put thame to thirlage.
¶CHARLFS LE MAYNE.
The nynt Charles baith King & Empreour
Fra the Angell of delyce tuik the Flour,
Quhilk in the Armes of France ȝit is worne.
All Hispanie he wan be battell sour:
Of Almanie he was the Conquerour,
Fra Infidelis, and mony of thame forlorne,
At Ronciwell quhen Rolland blew the horne:
Quha was betraisit and gat his fatall hour,
Be the fals Tratour Ganȝelone manesworne.
Thir nyne Nobillis all in thair cureis cleir,
Maist triumphand, and vailȝeand men of weir
Richt martiall like, so curious and clene,
Sa gay thay schine all in thair glitterand geir:
Hewmōd on heid, sword, buklar, scheild & speir.
(Quod desperāce) quhat may ȝone menȝe mene?
Thay ar richt like to turne thair fais to tene.
Thay luik sa gryme, with peruerst vult austeir
I bout with thame that I dar not be sene.
So tedious thay ar be countenance
To luik vpon with vultis of vengeance:
So busteous and eik so bellicois,
So terribill thay ar be apperance:
Detestabill for to eik ane mischance:
[Page 23]So scelerait, and ingrait for to chois:
So wickit like, and als so veneinois:
So troubillous full of Intemperance,
To thame ane word that I dar not disclois.
Quhat sall I do, and I pas hame againe,
All my trauell bypast it is in vaine.
And byde I heir, I traist na thing bot deid.
Best is to say, I am ane Chirurgiane:
In Medicine ane greit practiciane.
Perauenture sa sall I eschaip feid.
Quhat thā, gif thay of my craft with me pleid?
Thay will me call ane cassin Courticiane:
Ane fenȝeit Fox: and than of will my heid.
Best is to say, that I couet seruice
With siclike men, that vailȝeant ar and wise.
Thus in a part my self dissimulat.
Bot I dreid fair, all this that I deuise
It sall me turne perchance to preiudice
In all my dayis was I not half sa mayt.
Ȝit sall I se gif I be Fortunait.
With all my pith my hart I sall apprise:
I knaw the werst of all this haill debait.
And sa anone he enterit in the Mans,
[...]air that thir nyne into thair geir did glaus
[...]isting to haue of thame aide and suppie
[...]ous in hart, and blyith be apperance:
[...] [...]ing far in his awin arrogance:
[...] all with fenȝeit audacitie,
[...] befoir that cho is of Cheualrie
[Page]The small missiue withouttin circumstance,
Deliuerit thame, law kneilling on his kne.
And so thay reid the small missiue anone.
And syne begouth the sentence to expone.
Ane said of thame quhilk was maist Ancient.
Brether, this case concernis vs Ilkone.
Fra that thay knew that he was Venus fone
All thir atanis thay grew in matilent:
Sayand, quad knaif thow was ouir negligēt
Of Quene Venus sic langage to propone:
Thou seruis weill on Rakkis to be rent.
Ane vther syne quhilk was ane crabbit squyer
Kest doun his browis quhair he sat in his chyre
On Desperante, sayand, fals Renigate,
Quhat causit the be sa peirt for to delyre
Fra Venus Court, or thairfra for to gyre:
Or in that case quha the authorizate?
Tratour I sall thy corps Incarcerate.
And bet thy banis baith bodie, bowk, and lyre:
Thow seruis quick to be excoriate.
Quhen Desperance thir wordis outrageous
Hard said to him, he was sa dolorous,
All for frayitnes he fell in extasie:
Quhill the laif of thay Chiftaines Cheualrous
Raisit him agane, schawing thame ge [...]arious
Sayand, he suld not thair thoill villanie.
It was na laude, nor ȝit Humanitie,
On sic ane wicht to schaw thame villanous,
Nor to molest sic ane with crueltie.
Ȝit nottheles for the greit contemptioun
To Venus done be his detractioun,
We will him schaw sum thingis terribill
Him for to fle fra sic Infectioun:
That he nor nane of his conditioun,
Of Venus speik sic wordis horribill.
Sa thay him rasit on ground quhair he lay stil
Sayand, curst knaif thow sall haif afflictioun
As thow did serue, rise, and resaif thy bill.
So vp he rais into ane stakkerand stait,
As he had bene fra wit exanimat.
Askand yame grace, trimblād for feir did quaik
Sum said he seruit for to be cruciat,
That he micht be exempill scelerat
Till all vtheris, that siclik crimes wald mak
Sum said, he seruit for to hing on ane Aik.
Sum said, he seruit be quik confodiat:
Or rostit quik, and all for Venus saik.
Bot we will not with sic ane Intromet.
Flane bellieflawcht on the it war weill set.
Richt swa thy bill and thy narratioun sayis.
And likit we to do to the our det,
Fra top to ta thy bodie wald be bet,
Till thow did neuer gude in all thy dayis.
Wald thow further and prosper in thy wais,
In all gude haist thow hence the fra this ȝet,
And seik anone to the ten Sibillais.
[...] ar forsuith Prophetisses ilkane.
[...] [...]ame thow pas, and sadlie mak thy mane
[Page]And thy mater but feinȝetnes thame schaw.
And swa beliue his leif at thame hes tane,
Muritand in hart with mony greslie grane,
His veyage tuik, quhair he na gait did knaw,
Throw wildernes, quhair he na luging saw:
Throw mos and myre and mony hie Montane
Till he come to mont Caucasus of snaw.
Quhilk Montane is most heich in Scithia:
Into the eist tendand fra India,
Vnto the north, and all excandidate
With snawis fell (as Albertus dois say)
Vpon that hill na nicht is sene bot day,
Except four houris the sone is obscurate.
Thair Desperance on force all fatigate:
He set him doun, na ferder he micht ga,
The mont with snaw was all sa condensat.
And swa he baid throw hap and destenie
Vpon that hill baith hiddeous was and hie,
Him to refresche, quhilk was all faynt begone,
And to haif had thair sum tranquillitie,
Efter trawell his mind to mollifie.
Thair did he rest vpon ane Merbill stone,
Richt sad in hart makand ane drerie mone:
Till Morpheus that carll subtell and sle,
All his fiue wittis fra him hes reft anone.
Thair sleipit he within ane littill stound
Vpon that mont, quhair he lay on the [...]
Ane Ladye gent approchit quhair he lay
Quha in bountie and bewtie did abound
[Page 25]Richt fauorabill of fassoun, and facound:
To Desperance thir wordis couth scho say.
O wofull wicht▪ I repent in verray,
That thow art thus with faintnes all confoūd:
Awalk the sone and pas on thy Iornay.
My sister deir to Name is callit Spes:
To the me send and to schaw the this case.
Scho bad the tak ane hart mair masculyne:
It is the will of all the greit goddis.
Thow pwneist be for thy wilfull trespas
To Venus done and thairfoir to thoill paine.
Bot ȝit thay will remeid all thy rwyne.
Howbeit ane time thow think it heuines:
Thow sall ouirput: this scho bad me defyne▪
Bot thow sall haif greit laubour and trauaill
And on thy part thow sall haif few partiall
Ȝit sussie not, for thow will get reskew,
Thocht Venus will richt scharplie the assaill.
Dout not thairfoir, for nothing sall the aill
Thocht Rhamnusia agane the will argew.
Heirfoir he blith thir wordis salbe trew:
Arthemisia my Name is, naturall
[...]ister to Hoip: not ellis gude freind adew.
[...] hir wordis scho said richt sone him excitate:
[...] about bot scho was gone hir gait.
[...] [...]ll he knew, it was sum vncouth visioū.
[...] [...]new not how it was nominat:
[...] [...]ild not hir taill weill diuulgait.
[...] [...]nd it was all haill bot derisioun.
[Page]Ȝit he on kneis askit ane peticioun,
At the greit GOD, his dreme for to debait:
With thir ilk wordis begouth his Orisoun
¶Lamentatio ipsius per egrinantis incipit.
O GOD of Goddis, as thow art GOD abuse
Quhy sufferis thow ane creature mortall,
For none defalt to Incur sic vnrufe,
As I daylie but buit heir dois bewaill?
Help sone thow may of this pane corporall:
For I not may sustene this felloun feid.
Venus that wenche scho vexis me to deid.
I pray the GOD of thy benignitie:
As thow art God and gydis the ballance:
Sum gude comfort thow wald prouyd for me,
And me denuid of this curst cummerance.
And gouerne me to sum gude souenance:
For my wanrest I wald thow saw remeid.
Venus that wenche scho vexis me to deid.
Als I the pray that for me deit on Rude,
(Considderand I am ane weirie wicht)
That thow wald turne my dreme vnto sū gude
Quhilk throw my sleip appeirit in my sicht.
For weill I know, it is small of thy micht,
To muif this Mont vnto ane vther steid.
Venus that wenche scho vexis me to deid.
Heir quhair I sit vpon this hie Moī
To heir me call thy eiris thow wald
Wilsum of way, and wait not quhait
Me to conuoy to gude purpois and fine
[Page 26]And not suffer that I may trauell tyne.
Out of this place to gude ludgeing me leid.
Venus that wenche scho vexis me to deid.
¶Finis Orationis.
AND so he rais, and on his veyage past.
Fameist for fude, and richt skarslie repast.
Till he come till ane Palice prelucent,
All circundat with the quhite Alabast:
Quhais Portis was closit richt surelie and fast
With lok and band, and diuers Instrument.
To haue entres thair was few men frequent.
Bot with fair wordis he enterit at the last.
Quhairof he was hylair and weill content.
To seik thir ten Sibillis is he gane.
Bot of thame wit nor knawledge gat he nane.
Quhill at the last vnto ane Posterne ȝet
He come belyue, and thair enterit allane,
About the thrid hour Pomeridiane.
And thair come to ane Closter weill ouirfret
With all kin flouris, that in eird was to get:
Triangill maid, with craftie wark saxeane:
Quhairin was all thir ten Sibillais set.
In euerilk Pane set ay togidder thre,
Weill exercisit in science and studie:
And speciallie of the Incarnatioun
Of [...]SVS CHRIST and vther Prophecie:
All in ane voit set thair Felicitie
[...] future thingis, and Predestinatioun.
[...]ylie this was thair maist occupatioun.
[...] full thair wack is was of oparitie,
[Page]Culd few thairof mak Interpretatioun.
The first was callit Sibilla Persica.
The nixt to name was callit Libica.
Delphica thrid: thir thre sat in ane Pane.
The fourt to name was callit Cumea.
And sine the fift scho hecht Erithrea.
Samea sext: thir thre sat nixt agane.
The seuint callit Hellespontia Troiant.
The aucht to name was callit Phrygia.
Tiburtina the nint was for certane.
Cumana tent and Maistres to thame all:
Into the middis set in hir sait claustrall.
Of prophecie scho did write buikis nine,
In maid meter and veirs Rethoricall:
Quhilk scho presentit to Iuge Imperiall,
That time callit the Empriour Tarquine:
For quhilk scho askit twelf scoir of Phillippis sine.
He thocht the price was ouir substanciall
He lewch, and wald not to hir will Incline.
Incontinent in presence of the King.
Thre of the buikis in the fyir scho did sung.
At him agane als mekill scho did Inquyre,
Gif he wald gif for the ser the same thing.
And he said nay: sine vther thre did scho bring
Of the same buikis: combust thame in the fyre
Hir greit constance than the King did adu [...]re.
The last thre buikis: he tuik in his kepin [...]
And gaif the sow ne that scho did first de [...]
Quhilk binkis in Rome was keipit richt straitli [...]
[Page 27]Be fiftene men best of the haill cietie,
Ordanit thairto be all the haill counsall,
In time of weir or of mortalitie:
Quhen thair appeirit ony aduersitie,
Greit tribulance, or famine accidentaill.
Thir buikis was red sic times in speciall,
For of all dowttis thay wald thame certifie,
Quhidder thay wald haif troubill, or preuaill.
Than Desperance deliuerit his missine
Vnto thir ten, so sweit and scientiue.
Kneling full law, as weill him culd effeir.
Sine to counsall thay passit all beliue.
Considderit weill the sentence was pensiue:
All in ane voce thay said to him ȝoungkeir:
Vit nor visdome in ȝow dois not appeir.
And for sentence we gif diffinitiue:
Do for ȝour self, support ȝe get nane heir.
For quhy ȝe haif ane greit falt perpetrat,
With corrupt thocht, and mind Inimoderat,
To Quene Venus, and hir Ladyis so schene,
As in this bill it is Intitulat.
And fra hir Court we ar not depriuat.
Quhairfoir on force ȝe man fra vs abstene.
[...]id, Ladyis most secreit and serene:
[...] [...]ourtesie ȝe wald me wis sum gait,
[...] hair ȝe beleue I may kindnes obtene.
[...]ay said gude schir surelie we knaw richt few
[...]r part will tak to help ȝow or reskew
[...] case into Venus contrair.
[Page]Bot wald ȝe to the thre fatales persew,
Quhair yat thay duell & ȝe thair Māsioū knew
Perauenture thay wald ȝow leis of cair,
And pair ȝow sum part of ȝour greit dispair,
He said Ladyis, God ȝow forȝeild, adew:
Bruik I my lyfe, in faith I salbe thair,
This he thame left, and forder can proceid:
Richt stomakat in hart ay haiffand dreid:
Be mony way baith ewill and anterous:
With beidis in hand crosand, & sayand creid:
Daglit in weit richt claggit was his weid,
In stormes fell and wedder contagious,
In frost and snaw, and blastis busteous.
Quhill at the last, he restit in ane meid,
Quhair odour was aboundant precious:
And was ourgrowin with all kin kind of flour
Richt michtie spice it was of greit valour.
He sat ane quhyll with ane sad countinance,
Ourset he was with trawell and law vour.
Bot of phebus the plesant resplendour
Refreschit him fra part of displesance.
Quhill at the last he blent about of chance.
And sa on case he saw ane proper tour:
Quhair thir thre sisteris did sit in daliaure.
He approchit in haist on to that hald:
All for to se the fassoun and behald
That proper place sa weill edificate:
Wallit dowble about for the wedder and ca [...]
Thair was na force of man micht gar it f [...]
[Page 28]With subtill wark it was sa roborat.
Properlie alswa with kirnalis weill quadrat.
For feir of life dar I not be so bald
To enterheir (quod he) I am to blait.
Than enterit he, and forward come bedene.
Till he come quhair thir sisteris sat, so schene
In ane conclaus all maid of Christall cleir:
Inclusit thay war vneith thay micht be sene.
The glas blindit sa far his corporall ene,
To luikon thame few men micht perseueir.
Bot ȝit he saw within that circuleir.
How thir thre did all the warld circumuene,
With thair sle craft, and quent cūning perqueir
Twyn and the threid with sic continuance,
Hung fra the heuin down fra the greit ballance,
Smaller than silk, almaist micht not be kend
Quhairon the warld did hing be apperance.
Part preissand vp with sa greit arrogance,
Vnto the heicht euer thay did pretend.
Bot quhen sic folk abone thair stair tean [...]ee [...]
Thir sisteris thre but ony resistance.
Did cut the threid, and gart thame sone discend.
Vtheris agane was sa humbill in thocht,
To clim the threid but leif thay craifit nocht.
Me [...]ksie thir folkis ascend in thair degre.
Vtheris agane quhilk to the heicht was brocht
[...]as sa elate, and thair mind ay in flocht,
[...]uld not thair stait hald with stabilite.
[...]his tender threid full of debilite,
[Page]Sic orgw [...] [...] suffer it not docht:
Sa it did brek, and thay to end can fle.
Sancta Marie than faid Desperance.
Into this warld quhat is my fatall chance?
Qu [...]odir gif I dar auter on ȝone thre [...]d.
I se this warld wappit with variance.
And I am not ane wicht of Ignorance:
To hald gude grappis had I not [...]kill neid?
Clym Iouir hie (that I do GOD forbeid)
I brek my neck and thair tak me mischance.
To clym ȝone Cord faith I will superseid.
So their anone he fell into dispair.
Betaucht with sturt, and durst not enfer thair,
All siupifate, wist not quhat to haue done.
And for faintnes he was sa sad and fair:
Befoir his Ene he saw his exemplair:
To sit sicker, or ellis to fall richt sone.
Ȝit ane small spark held vp his hart aboue.
I haue (quod he) put by sa greit danger:
Anis fall I fall, or ellis pas to ȝone trone.
Chan he but baid into thair sicht did go.
His small missiue belyue he gaif him fro,
Vnto thir thre, kneillnig downe to the eird:
Quhilk for to Name the first is callit Clothe ▪
Lachesis uirt: and syne efter thir two,
Atropos thrid: thir thre sa weill ar leird.
To Ilk man geuis in warld his fatall wen
Quhidder it be to weill wappit or wo.
None leuand spairis, nor for nane ar effeirt
Thay red his bill, and consauit the sence.
And thocht richt weill that he had done offence.
Bad clym the threid, stand to his destenie.
Gif he was clene, thair schaw his Innocence.
To clym past he with all beneuolence.
Skant was he vp, quhen at the eird was he:
He laikit Spreitis him self to fortifis.
(Quod thay) this is ane mater of conscience,
To wirk this wicht ony aduersitie.
This threid to clym he dow be na kin wise:
Sa full he is repleit of Cowardise.
Bot we will gif to him his weird fatall.
Atropos said, he sall thole ane Assyse,
And of Venus he wald get greit disprise.
Lachesis said, thow salbe hir Vassall:
And befoir hir thow sall stand in bactall.
Then quod Clotho, he sall bruik Benefice
Of Venus Court, and nathing sall him aill.
This thay conclude all thre with ane consēt
Bot he thairof had na experiment.
For throw the fall he was in Frenesie.
Ȝit vp he rais richt heuie and dolent.
His bill thay gif to him Incontinent.
Bad him pas hyne, and seik vther supple:
For his default help thair nane get wald he.
[...] thay had geuin ane sentence competent,
[...] ane twice, for feid or fauour micht be.
[...] [...]od he Ladies, sen ȝe haue schawin me sa:
[...] ȝow tell quhat gait sall I now ga.
[Page]Thay bad him pas with all velocite.
To the Gratis quhilks ar not far heirfra
The first of thame is namit Aglia:
The secund he [...]hrto Name Euphtosina:
Pasithia the thrid callit trewlie:
With thair mother hir Name Euonia.
Perchance of thame thow will get sum supplie.
He tuik gude nicht ar thir weird sisteris than:
Richt sad in hart, and Venus ay did ban,
For pure despite and greit melancolie:
Than come he to ane reuer richt richelie ran:
In ane small bair the ferr [...]e oui [...] he wan.
Bot I knew not gif he payit fraucht or fie.
Bot as I ges superexspendit was he.
Thairfoir surelie but gyid of ony man,
He come quhair that thir graces sat all thre.
In ane palice weill wrocht with all Ingine:
With quhat kin wark I can not weill diffine.
Of glitterand gold thay fat all in ane chyir.
Circundat all with the cleir Christalline:
And vthers stanis quhilks precious war & fine
Ilk ane in hand ane Reill quhilk did not tyir,
To reill thair hankis so small of reid gold wyir
Fra Phebus rais to the hour vespertine▪
Ay gadderand grace all man for to Inspyir.
Thair Reillis all war maid of Euir ban
Weill souer set with diuers christall stane.
On the first reill was kernit Cla [...]ude:
And on the nixt was keruit for certane,
[Page 30]With letter is fine Blithnes ay to remane:
On the thrid reill of life the Longitude,
I saw keruit gif I weill vnderstuid,
Thir thre giftis thir graces gaif in plane,
Quha thair seruice soucht weill with mansue­tude.
Of thair cleithing or Ornament to tell,
Ane thousand times my wit it dois excell:
Sa wonder riche it was and curious.
Heirfoir thairwith I will not Intermell.
Ilkane most lik thay war to ane Angell,
Be apperance als bricht as fair Phebus:
Of fassoun fair, facound, and fauorous.
Quod Desperance, faith I feill be my sell,
Heir sall I get sum guerdoun gracious.
Inward he come law kneland on his kne:
His small missiue deliuerit to thame thre:
Lamentand sair with ane hewie regrait,
Askand at thame for luif and cherite,
Thay wald him mak sum aid, help, or supple:
Or his so [...]row in sum part suffocat:
Of gude counsall he was richt desolate,
Sa sair he was vext with aduersite:
He was bot deid without thay maid debait.
Thir Ladeis hard his sair lamentatioun:
Thay red the bill, and saw the narratioun.
[...]icht discontent thay war in till ane part,
[...]hat he had put sa greit blasphematioun.
[...] Quene Venus be corrupt relatioun.
[...] said forsuith thay culd be na kin art
[Page]Amang thame all, hir Court cast or conuert,
Be no Ingine nor Imaginatioun:
Bot tak his chance, & than blak was his hart.
With austeir voce he cryit loud and hie,
O Ladeis sweit of me puir haif pietie:
Ane drop of grace, sen graces is ȝour Name,
Ȝe waid wouchsaif of ȝour benignitie,
For to distill, and lat fall heir on me.
Sen I ȝow thre sa far hes socht fra hame,
Ȝe suffer me not for to returne with schame:
Bot me support in this necessitie:
Or ellis for ay mirth clenlie I quitelame.
Thay hard his playnt it was so pieteous,
And richt laith was for to displeis Venus.
Thay said gude schir, tak this for na excuse,
Becaus we se ȝow drest sa dolorous:
Our guid counsall ȝit ȝe sall haif of vs,
Sa with visdome quietlie ȝe it vse.
Thair is ane Nimph, we traist ȝe sall hir ruse,
Quhilk hecht Vesta, baith wys and verteous,
We wait scho will ȝour mater not refuse.
For quhy Venus, and scho is not at ane.
All Venus Court scho haldis at disdane.
Scho and venus can neuer weill agre,
Howbeit thay be contemporan [...]ane.
Venus hir warkis vsis venereane:
And Vestais warkis ar of virginitie,
Fulfillit with faith, and eik facunditie.
Greit diuisioun ar oft betuix thame twan [...]
[Page 31]And as we traist, sendill at vnite.
Quod he Ladeis, on kneis a thousand sis
I thank ȝow all of ȝour counsall sa wis.
Ȝit I Imploir with pietie and kindnes,
And plesit ȝow sum gyid me to deuis,
That be the way I may eschew dispris,
Till I cum to that merciefull Maistres.
Sone call thay Hoip, thair seruand as I ges,
Send hir with him at that time in seruice,
Quhill he come to Dame Vesta the Goddes.
Sa hoip and he allone com furth the way.
Quod he, sister of ane thing I ȝow pray:
Quhat is ȝour office with ȝone Ladeis gent:
Ane messinger said scho, into verray
Thair erandis gais, baith nicht and als be day
Quhom to that thay thair giftis will present,
I schaw thair mind as thay bid and entent:
And gifis confort to all men ar in fray,
As thay command be thair aduisement.
My awin sister sumtime I send the till,
Arthemesia, quhen thow lay on the hill
Of Caucasus, drerie and wo begone.
Quhen thow culd not do thing, bot yair lay still
And knew not quhidder for to gāg richt or will
Quhen thow sleipit vpon the Merbill stone.
[...] thow sa sone now gewin obliuioun?
[...]adame (quod he) I do me in ȝour will:
[...] of trewth that ȝe to me propone.
And thankis ȝow of ȝour greit gentilnes
[Page]That ȝe me schew, quhen I was in distres:
Beseikand ȝow ȝe wald me ȝit supple:
Sen ȝe on me befoir kyde sic kindnes.
Now help to put my hart fra heuines:
That I Incur not the ferocitie
Of Venus Court, nor of hir cumpanie.
(Quod scho) heir lyis with Vesta all expres
Thy weill. and wo: as scho will, sa will be.
Bot I sall do all that I can or may,
To put thy mater to ane sicker way,
Be word and deid as thow sall se and heir.
Bot I beleue that this Ladie Vesta:
Scho will the help, and gyid thy mater sa,
Thow sall not neid of thy actioun to feir.
And of the Reill Euphrosine dois beir,
Ane threid of gold to the I sall forga,
Quhairon is keruit blithnes, and gude cheir.
He said, Ladie, of quhat conditioun
Is Dame Vesta, or quhat fruitioun,
I pray ȝow schaw, and ȝour gude will sa be?
Scho said Vesta is full of discretioun,
Haldand Venus euer in abusioun:
And als is callit Goddes of Chaistitie.
In quhais Tempill ar ser virginis surelis,
Euer keipand ane fyir fra extinctioun:
In signe of pure and clene virginitie.
And gif this fyir happinis to de in case:
The Archebischop of hir Tempill and pla
Dois punis thame richt aufteirlie and sai [...]
[Page 32]Or gif ony happinnis ane rakles race.
As be corrupt: to that falt is na grace.
Bot eirdit quik, to the laif examplair.
Thairfoir Venus scho hes ay in contrair.
And be this way within ane litill space,
I traist thow sall eschaip of all danger.
In till hir Court (quod he) is thair na ma.
Bot sex Ladeis how is scho seruit swa?
Scho said, few ma couettis hir companie.
For Ladeis had rather be Vestais fa,
Nor crab Venus, or ȝit hir Court forga:
For wantones, and welth of Venerie,
In Venus Court thair is ay thousandis thre,
Aganis ane that dwellis with Vesta:
Sic hap thay haif with hir to multiplie.
(Quod he) Madame I pray ȝow to me tell
Of the Ladeis that with Vesta dois dwell:
Quhat is the Names or we forder proceid?
Scho said the first Ladie of hir counsall:
Is Puritie of all vertew the well.
The nixt Measure: the thrid is callit Dreid:
Abstinence fourt (gif I can richt thame reid)
Chaistitie fyft dois till Venus rebell:
Deuotioun saxt, ane honest Nimph at neid.
He thankit hir as weill him could effeir,
[...] talking and of hir mery cheir:
[...] that thay come to the plesand Palice,
[...] Dame Vesta sat in hir Circuleir.
[...] plesād Mans as he thocht had na pei [...]
[Page]Bot gif it had bene eirdlie Paradice.
With stark draw brig weil forcit with fortalice,
That wit nor strenth of na man sould cum neir,
Thame to perswaid with violence, or vice.
Bot the sweit smell, and the suaue odour
Was seminate about that blisfull tour,
Sa weill sawrit, and viuificatiue,
Micht haue ransonit ane King, or Empriour.
The palice als it kest sic resplendour,
With strenthis stark, and turettis defensiue.
Quhen thay did to that Royall port arriue:
On the walheid was gretest Garaitour,
Dame Chaistitie, in armis most actiue.
Cry and on hie, ga far about the wall:
Or in all haist, ȝe say how thay ȝow call.
Desperance said, I am ane vncouth Knicht,
Cum fra far landis, and erandis hes speciall
To Dame Vesta, and hir court virginall:
Wald haif Ingres at ȝow Nimphs, & I micht
For I am put to wanrest and wuricht.
Wald god ȝe knew my greit lawbouris penall.
Go hine (quod scho) thow cūis not heir yis nicht
(Quod he) Madame diuers writtingis I h [...]
Quhilk ȝour maistres and plesit sould resau [...]
Quhom fra (said scho) fra seuin seges wisest
And fra the nyne Muisis most suaue:
The Noblis nine, richt greuous men an [...]
The ten Sibillis: and the fatallis profest:
The graces thre on ground most gudliest
[Page 33](Quod scho) I trow thow be sum kākerit knaif
Cum fra Venus, with fraud vs to molest.
Thairfoir pas hine, thow gettis not heir In­gres
I ken the weill ga do thy busines
Remane thow lang dowtles thow sall repent.
Allace said he to Hoip now speik Maistres,
Vnto ȝone Nimph that we may haif entres:
Caus hir to be in speiche mair pacient.
Schaw hir that ȝe ȝour self is heir present.
GOD forbid that hir Quene war sa reuthles,
As scho, than all war tint that by did went.
Than Ladie Hoip did cry on Chaistitie:
Said sister deir oppin ȝour port to me.
(Quod Chaistitie) quha is that that now cryis▪
It is I hoip, cum fra the graces thre:
And I haue brocht ane in my cumpanie.
And to Vesta his tra [...]d maist part lyis
Than Chaistitie or scho wald mair aduyis.
Ports & draw briggs, that lockit was richt sle
Scho did vnlok, and eik thame couth appryis.
Than for to se, and to behald that mance,
In mappamond the maik is not perchance.
[...]tak on me that Preter Ihoms queir
[...] not so riche vnibeset with plesante,
[...] all that place with [...]rnist gold did glance.
[...] imferat with Christall, and Sapheir.
[...] [...]ubie speekis and diamour most deir.
[...] [...]urelie drest with sic daliance:
[...] this warld I transt it had no peir.
And so beliue in com that Ladie gent.
(Quod Chaistitie) sister in weranient
I did not knaw, this was ȝe at our port.
And sense is, ȝourself is heir present,
That ȝe he welcum forsuith is my intent,
And ȝow intreit into all biggest sort,
With all plesouris guid seruice, and confort.
Bot weill ȝe knaw, thair is na men frequent
To enter heir, thair plege is sudand mort:
Than Ladie Hoip said to dame Chaistities
This man I tak in on my honestie:
For Dame Vesta will wichesafe he be heir.
And als I haif euin fra the graces thre,
Ane fre Conduct to suffice him and me.
That be the way na strangeris sould vs steir.
Thairfoir sister of this man tak na feir
Pas in scho said as ȝe will fa salbe,
For weill I wait ȝe com not vs to deir.
Than to behald thay Nimphis of Nurtour
As thay war set sa weill into ordour,
Sa weil beseue and als sa virgin lik
Thair Iuminat Iampis of gret valour
Keipand thame ap into perfite ardour:
Or ellis [...] in number trumphatik
Thair Ornamen it was Ecclesiastik,
Of gold and silk it had sic resplendour [...]
That to my sicht it was almaist mistik [...]
Sine Ladie [...]oip scho past in wit [...]
Till that scho come to Dame Vestai [...] ▪
[Page 34]Did thair present with all credence hir squire,
He kneiling law with greit beneuolence:
Randering Vesta honour and reuerence
With the missiue that saoft did him myir.
Quha send this bill at him scho did Inquire
The seuin seges (he said) of sapience
Did dyt that bill, sen ȝe to speir desyir.
Sone scho it red, and consauit the text.
I traist (quod scho) that Venus hes the vext:
For be this writ the same I do persaif.
He said (Madame) richt sair scho hes me flext:
And to hir Court siclik I am annext
Wnder all pane. and refuge nane I haif,
Without ȝour grace with sū salue wald me saif.
Scho tuik him vp: and thryis scho him amplext
Sayand, quhat help I can thow sall not craif.
For ay the mair that thow anger Venus,
And all hir Court sa wantoun and vicious:
Suithlie to me thow art mair acceptabill:
The mair welcum Iocund and eik Ioyous.
Thy Actis pensit the far mair precious,
And to my Court the mair agreabill.
Quhat is the caus scho haldis the execrabill?
Madame (said he) few actis Iniurious
I perpetrate, forsuith this is na fabill.
Scho dois allege Madame, and not causles,
Wordis of Iuiure I said in reklesnes:
[...]hat scho and all hir Court was richt horine,
Venuid of gude, repleit with bitternes:
[Page]Bandownit with baill, and full of brukilnes,
With diuers faltis and wordis Intoritiue,
Quhilk to Venus was all tald on beliue:
In ma [...]alent at me scho did Incres.
Heir now Madame to ȝow I do me Schriue.
And I haif bene for to fang sum defence,
First at the seuin seages of Sapience,
For to haif had thair counsall and doctrine:
Quhilk wrai [...] that bill all seuin with pair pru­dence:
And bad me pak with all expedience,
Quhill that I come vnto the Musis nyne.
Thair gat I not, bot bad me sone pas hine,
Vnto the nine Nobillis of excellence.
Quhair I gat not be▪ ansueir detestine.
Thay bad me pas without in residence,
Vnto the ten Sibillais of science.
Fair wordis thair I gat of small effect.
Sone than me bad into all haist me hence.
To the thre Fatallis of experience.
And thair I come: and na euill did suspeck.
Thay bad me clim of that I tuik na rek.
And so beliue throw my awin necligence:
I clam ane threid, almaist had brokin my nek.
And sa I gat nocht of thir Fatallis thre:
Bot bad me pas, stand to my destenie.
And s [...]ik succour into sink vther place:
Thay wald not tak on thame audacitie,
For to I [...]tur Venus ferocitie
Thay bad me pas to pe thre Nimphis of grace
[Page 35]Swyith thair I come, & schew yame all ye case
Thay said forsuith thay culd me not supple.
And so with thame I taryit bot schort space.
And now Madame, to ȝow moste gracious
Gay on the ground: and I most dolorous
Wicht in this warld, I becum on my kne:
Faint, fatigat with, trauell troubillous:
Ourset with snaw, and blastis busteous,
With sorrow slane, bot gif ȝour grace supple.
(Quod scho) be blyith, and I sall warrand the
All thy Actioun in presence of Venus
I sall debait, and tak it vpon me.
Gif he was blyith, it neidis not to speir.
Ane thousand s [...]s intill his best maneir,
He thākis, that Nimph, & all hir Court bedene.
Than said Dame hoip with a full merie cheir:
Adew guid Schir pleis ȝe now to byid heir.
He sayis Ladie, quhill I may life sustene,
My piri [...] se [...]uice [...]e sall [...] obtene,
With cordiall luif as it can best effeir.
Sa tuik gude nicht with curage fra the splene
And sa Dame hoip is departit Anone,
And to the thre graces agane is gone.
Than said Vesta vnto hir Nimphis all,
Sen that this squire is happinnit Venus fone:
And heir he seikis supple with drerie moue:
Befoir him we will stand in strang battell,
And him defend fra carris Criminall.
[...]hat Venus hes agane him to propone
[Page]Or Rhamnusia in hir sait Tribunall.
This Vestal Court quhilk ay was traist & tre [...]
Said in ane voce, this Knicht we will reskew,
With all power and prepotent puissance:
Howbeit we be in number ferlie few.
In Iust quarrell we sex ar [...]win anew:
Sine ȝe haifand of vs the souenance,
With hand we may not mak hir resistance:
Bot with our toung we sall hir sa argew:
We traist this man sall kep na skaith perchāce.
This thay concluid all sex with ane consent,
Of thair answer Dame Vesta was content.
And so beliue kest thame to keip the day:
Thair proud palphrais was grathit Incōtinēt,
In glansand geir and best abillement:
At ilk bridill ane proper Alakay,
Weill preparat into ane riche array:
To Venus Court without Impediment,
With Desperance thay cum all on away.

¶The Thrid Buik.

THE day become with all expedience,
Rhamnusia sat as Iuge full of prudence,
Creat membres of Court baith mair & les
As is Sutour, to gif finall sentence,
[Page 36]Quhilk was callit to Name Maleuolence.
The Iustice Clerk, was callit Freminitnes.
Four scharp sergiands the Court for to addres:
Quhais Names hecht rigour and Impacience.
The thrid, and ferd euill will, and vnkindnes.
And so beliue the Court was confirmat.
Sutis was callit ilk ane in thair estait.
Cheisit ane assyis, as was expedient:
Luifsum Ladeis, of langage Laureat:
Baith ald and ȝoung richt weill Morigerat,
That in sic Actis had maist experiment,
With hie Iugine, and eik correspondent
To the mater was to be fulminat.
Quhais Names ar in ordour subsequent.
¶ASSISA.
AND for the first was, chosin Dione,
Venus Mother as into writ find we.
Deidamia: and als the Nimph Dido:
The proude Progne, quhilk gart hir awin Sone die
Seruit hī on plait yat hir husbād micht se.
The Poetris and Maistres eik Sappho:
Occauia quhilk spous was to Nero,
Quhom he did sla in his crudelitie:
And Saturnus dochter was thair Iuno.
Subtill Scylla quhilk the hair Aureat
Fra hir Father throw slicht scho depilat.
The Quene Phillis, and luif to Demophoon,
And in ane tre scho was transfigurat,
[...]uhen he on sey be storme was tribulat.
[...]edea tik most plesant to Iason.
[Page]Quene Niobe spous to Amphion.
Dames the quhilkis Iuppiter violat:
And Dalida, ane Deuill to forte Samson.
Thair was Biblis: and thair was Canace:
Helene, Pirrha, and als the May Thisbe,
Quhilk spilt hir self for luif of Pyramus.
Iocasta Quene the quhilk in greit folie.
Spousit hir sone efter hir king culd die.
Deianira with ane sark venemous
Brint Hercules quhilk was fa anterous.
Hippolyte, and tik Pandora sle
That with hir slichts al men dois vincous.
Orpheus wife the Quene Erudices:
Alcmena als Mother to Hercules.
And Hecuba vmquhile of Troy the Quene.
Thir Ladeis all war chosin as I wis.
On the assyis of quhomethe number is,
Twentie and f [...]e, quhē thay warred but went:
And sworne also for to gif sentence clene,
For fauour or feid, contract or it promeis:
Bot the Iust way, that Iustice micht be sene.
¶Curiae circumassistentes.
BOT by all thir was mony Nimphe to se,
That come to heir the case, and witnes be.
Augeria, Aegiale, and Calypso,
Galanthis, Coronis, Gione,
Iuturna, Lara, Daris, Clemene,
Ops, Philyra, Licous, and Drimo.
Naiades, Leda, Ilione, Io,
Quene Alceste quhilk for hir spous could die▪
Origone, Pelopea, and Hero,
Asteria, Circe Adriana,
Lampethusa, Iuno, and Europa,
Manto, Maia, and Halcione,
Tantalis, Tyas, and Hypermnestra,
Creusa, Daphne, and Hersilia,
And Phemonoe in all meter richt sle
Cloelia, and eik Penolope,
Cassiope, Erichto, and Rhea,
Atalanta, Cidippe, and Dirce.
Pasiphae, Chestias, Semele.
Cleopatra, Calisto, Euadne,
Lauinia, Tarpeia, Tomyris,
Lampetia, Phedra, and Agaue,
Feronia, Mirta, Antigone,
Leuthocoe, Alcea, Candaces,
Antiopa, Ariadne, Bryseis,
Nicostrata, Procris, Harpalice,
Nictimene, Argia, Thaumantis,
Thair was Athlas seuin dochteris all but leis
To murne Hyas thair brother wald not ceis.
Ambrosia, Pasithea, Eudora,
Sithe, Pitho, Plione, Coronis,
Als was present the fiftie Belides,
Danaus dochteris and eik Electra,
Oenone, Omphale, Aurora,
Pettonia, and the Hesperides,
Eurynome, and als Orithyia.
Thair was Guanour, vmquhile to Arthure Quene,
[...]ith mony vther Nimphis fair and schene:
[...]eis of sport, baith ald and ȝoung not few▪
[Page]That in Scotland my self befoir had sene.
Bot I will not schaw now quhome of I mene:
In dreid sum say that my taill is not trew.
Bot weill I wait thay war gallandis of glew.
And with Venus to the Court did conuene,
Contrair Vesta Desperance to persew.
Gif sum wald seik, or to desyre be schawin
Thir Nimphis Names, & quhair to find yame knawin
Luik Virgill weill into his Eneydos:
Als his Georgiks, and Bucolikis weill drawin
In transformatis Ouid on breid hes blawin
Intill his buik of Metamorphoseos.
Theodolus baith in his text and glos:
And De Remebio Amoris throw out sawin
Thair salbe fund, and mony mo than thos.
Alsua quha list to tak pane, or laubour
Out throw to reid the palice of honour,
Maid be Gawine dowglas of Dunkell
Bischop, and als ane honest oratour.
Profound Poet, and perfite Philosophour,
Into his dayis aboue all buir the bell:
In sic practikis all vtheris did precell,
Weill put in vers in gude still and ordour,
Thir Nimphis names, yait he dois trewlie t [...]
Thairfoir schortlie lat vs to purpos werd,
Mair sūmarlie we sall cum to the end
Of our mater, tuichand our plantit pley.
Knicht Desperance, gif thow hes caus attend
Vnto this case, and thy actioun defend.
[Page 38]In [...]hance the Court fra thy quarell dekey.
For gif sa fall in faith I hald the fey.
Pray fast to GOD sum succour to the send.
Now wyte thy self, thow Nald Venus obep.
Incontinent thay callit the criminall,
With ane twme scheith set him on the Pannall
The ratland Rollis was red vnto the end.
Sayand, thow art accusit of crime mortall
Aganis Venus as Quene Imperiall,
And all hir Court pertlie thow did contend.
Quhome hes thow now yat thy caus wil defēd
Or quha dar tak thy part this day partiall,
In all this Court, gif ane dar mak it kend?
He said, Ladie, sen Iustice Clerk ȝe ar
Into this Court, and set in my contrair:
I ȝow protest, ȝe wald me licenciat
With patience sen I am solitar:
That I may theis to me ane forspeikar,
Or ma in neid to be ruine Aduocat
For I in law am not weill litterat.
It was grantit: Vesta stuid at the bar
He callit hir scho come in hir estait,
With hir sex Ladeis gangand at hir bak,
Quhite as the snaw that euer lay in slak.
Quod Desperance Madame plesit ȝour grace.
This day ȝe wald my mater wndertak,
[...]at I Ineur heir nouther schame, nor lak,
[...]me defend fra this cautelous case,
[...] I knaw I stand in perrellous place▪
[Page](Quod scho) be b [...]ith, and nathing stu [...]e fact,
Thow sall not aill, and I haif life and space.
Anone Venus Increst in matilent,
That Vesta tuik hir contrair sa patent.
Sayand, thow Knicht Esperance to thy Name
Sum aduocat expert and competent
To speik for the cheis at thy awin entent.
(Quod he) ȝour self I tak for me Madame:
To ȝow as me likwise he put defame.
And quhat ȝe do heir in I stand [...]:
As pleis ȝour grace, to follow or declame.
Quod Frēmitnes▪ that Clerk was to Iustice
Of this dittay grant ȝe ocht, or denyis?
Vesta answerit with maneris richt constant
That the cleneman thoill heir no preiudice,
Reid it agane, we may thairwith adu [...]is:
For I thairof as ȝit am Ignorant.
And gif it be by ressoun ocht distant
To find the richt lac it pas to assyis,
Howbeit of thame sum part be fluctuant,
And for to be on the assyis vnabill,
To the ane part thay ar our fauorabill:
To the ni [...]t part agane oure odious.
Quhairfoir I think part of thame refatabill
Of the assyis and other is acceptabill
Into than steid, quhilkis armair Famous,
And of conscience ar far mair scrupulous,
For to eschew fra all doutis dampnabill:
And sa the richt salbe Illuminous.
Quod Rhamnusia quhilk was Iuge deputate
Is thair ony ȝe wald haif alterat
Of the assyis, and vtheris in thair steid?
Schaw now in time gif sic thing ȝe cowait.
And ressoun be the syis salbe translait,
Sa ȝe ran preif vpon thame falt or feid,
Or ony raus ressonabill of pleid.
The vther part gif thay fortificat
In ȝour contra [...]ie, be counsell, help, or reid.
Ȝis quod Vesta, thay ar all suspicious:
Bot thair is part mair wantoun and vicious
Than vtheris ar, quhilk I desyre to set
Of the assyis for causis cautelous
That I can preif on thame notorious,
Sa ȝe Madame with ressoun do ȝour det.
Quod Rhamnusia, thā Name thame furth but let
Be thair ony by ordour orguellous,
We sall thame change, & vtheris for thame get.
Than. Vesta said, Madame but ony mair,
Think ȝe it speidfall Venus Mother be thair▪
To quhat effect traist ȝe, or to quhat fine?
Considerand Venus is in my contrair.
And [...] that staw hir Fatheris hair
For Venus saik, and dwellis with hir senfine.
And Quene Phillis, quhilk sufferit mekill pine
For Venus saik, with greit sorrow and cair:
As for thir thre faithlie I will decline.
[...]dea als scho causit ane strange Knicht
[...] hir awin Fatheris goldin fleis and micht▪
[Page]And herie him of all his gold and geir:
Sine with the same stall away in the nicht.
Vnto the schip togidder tuik thair flicht,
Left kin and kith, and followit ane stranger:
And slew hir awin brother that was sa deir,
Becaus scho saw hir Father cum in sicht:
All this scho did for Venus saik but weir.
Als Dalida pertlie scho tuik on hand,
For Venus saik betray hir awin husband,
Quhilk Samson was, and put hi [...] to his fais,
Quene Iocasta ane Ladie of greit land,
Tuik hir awin sone of spowsage in the band,
For Venus saik (as the historie sayis),
Deianira for Venus saik kest wayis
Hir lufe distroy, caus ane vther did stand
Mair in hir lufe, than Hercules all his dayis.
The nimph Progne the heid scho did of smite
Fra hir awin sone, in hir husbandis dispite:
Beraus scho had ane vther Paramour.
The May Thisbe wald tine hir self sa nyte,
Caus Pyramus away and deid was quite:
For Venus saik scho curit na displesour▪
Heirfoir Madame, sen thir Nimphis of honou [...]
Topleis Venus kest all thair appetite:
I presuppone that thay hir ȝit fauour.
And weill I wait, that it is not liklie,
That ane of thame on the assyis suld be,
In my contrair, for I thame hald partiall
For all thair dayis thay luifit neuer me,
[Page 40]Bot euer kest thair maist Felicitie,
To pleis Venus, as Ladie maist speciall.
And sen thay all set ay thair mind alhaill
To pleis Venus in my greit contrarie,
I can not think that thay can be equall.
For quhy al thing thay did for Venus quene
It was all done in my contrarie clene:
To that effect, to do me sturt and pine.
Thairfoir I think yat thay sould not haif bene
Put on assyis Iustice to circumuene,
In ony caus or Actioun of mine,
Or me to caus my Iust quarrell to tine.
As to Iustice to ȝow Madame I mene,
Put thame of fyis, for I set thame all nine.
Than Venus said in mind half stomochat▪
Of the assyis nane salbe alterat.
As for the Roll, gif thay pleis, reid agane▪
Than said Vesta to Venus, weill I wait
Ȝe aucht not be baith Iudge, and Aduocat.
For and sa be, it is wrang ȝe do plane.
Than said Venus with mind almaist Insane▪
It salbe sa, as I haif Imperat.
Than said Vesta, Iustice can not remane.
For gif sa be that richt ȝe vs deny,
Heir I protest befoir all standis by,
That it sall turne vs to na preiudice,
Nor to tak hurt in this Court throw inuy,
Be ȝour hatrent and greit melancholie:
[...] was vmquhile to vtheris done disprise.
[Page]Witnes, Acteon quhorne that ȝe gart decise,
With his awin doggis quhair ȝe him haistelie
Conuertit in ane Hart throw ȝour fantice.
Becaus that he on case hapinnit [...]enn neir
Vnwittandlie quhair that ȝour Ladeis cleir
Was [...] thame with ȝow all arane Well
Siclike becaus Diomeid wald forbeit [...]
The fers T [...]diauis quhair yat he faucthon [...] weir
And [...] of his quarrell,
All his kene [...]uirh [...]th [...]ow ȝour hatrent so fell,
In fleand foullis ȝe did [...] ut feir:
As at mait lench Ouid dois planelis rest.
Th [...] and [...],
At ȝour awin will diuers men transformat:
And [...], bot throw ȝour [...].
Quhairfoir we wa [...]d that ȝe obt [...] [...].
Ȝour will with wir, and ȝour mind intigat:
Quhair by that we Iurin [...]heit na distres
And gif ȝe preis this [...] man [...]o oppres,
Our caus we sall to Cupid king translar,
For of all wrang he will vs weill redres.
Than Venus was cummeri [...] in cairis kene,
With mind dement vneis scho micht sustene
The words scharp quhilk scho thocht a [...] to hicht
Sayand, schaip ȝe [...] Cupid King complene?
To him my Court in na sort dois pertene,
Nor [...]ane thairof to Cupid sall haifsicht.
Thairfoir it sall pas baith ȝour mane & micht
Be ony way fra my Court to abstene.
[Page 41]Than Vesta said, Madame, I ask bot richt.
The Rollis relect quhais tennour ȝe sall heir.
Desperance Knicht thow art Indytit heir
For flauchter of ane knicht hecht Esperance.
Secundlie, for language richt austeir
Thow did rehers to Esperance thy feir
Of Venus Quene into greit arrogance
Sayand, scho is the rute of all mischance:
Grounder of euill, and na vertew hir neir.
And sa at schort set hir at deffyance.
This and siclike in thy greit Tyrannie
Oftsyis thow said, quhilk thow can not deny.
Defend thy caus, and mak answeir beliue.
Weill (quod Vesta) to the first answeir I:
That point is fals as is sene oppinlie.
As to slauchter, the man is ȝit on liue:
And neuer had, nor hes ane wound nociue.
This dittay is geinit in sinisterlie.
And in the self that point is suspensiue.
To the nirt point of that dittay think me,
All that he said it was of veritie,
That sall I preif be perfyit argument:
Pleis ȝe the same athir to heir or se.
I sall ȝow schaw be guid Authoritie
Baithin the new, and in the auld Testament,
Seir examples in the self euident.
And sum of thame I sall now specifie,
Quhilk to ressoun salbe correspondent.
[...]han said Venus with vult verecund,
[Page]Say quhat ȝe will and keip ȝow within bound
Not pretendand to argune throw ȝour will:
Bot to ressoun that ȝour Sermone resound,
Or ellis the lak to ȝour self sall redound.
Faith said Vesta I grant richt weill thairtist,
And say I ocht by ressoun or by skill:
I stand content with ȝow to be confound,
Sa that the same conditioun ȝe fulfill.
As to that point quhair he blasphemit Venus
It is not half sa euill nor odious:
As ȝe it hald: and this my caus and quhy,
Howbeit scho be sumtime richt glorious:
Into hir self scho is richt venemous
Richt cummersum and full of Tyrannie.
As in exampill schorthe schaw sall I.
Now quod Venus blaw furth ȝour boist buste­ous,
Say quhat ȝe pleis richt small I set it by.
Quod Vesta in the threttiefift Cheptour
Of Genesis Ruben Incurrit furour
Of his father, and eik the malisoun,
Beeaus he was sic ane Formeantour,
That with Bala his fatheris paramour
He lay, quhilk was to greit abusioun
And als to GOD ane greit contemptioun.
Quhairfoir Iacob said at his latter hour,
That Ruben was greit caus of his passioun.
¶Ruben primogenitus meus & principiun doloris mei. GENES. XLIX.
Than said Venus now ȝe contrair ȝour [...]ell
Iacob ȝe say quhilk callit was Israell,
[Page 42]Ane Patriach was, and ane haly man:
He had Bala in Paramour ȝe tell,
How durst he with siclik ane mater mell.
Gif lufe was sa abhominabill than.
Schaw me the suith of this now gif ȝe can?
Scho said his wife was deid callit Rachel,
Lyas sister and douchter to Laban.
Thocht sa had bene his wife had bene on liue,
The law licent, with power possessiue,
At that time for to haif ane Concubine
And that for caus diuers consideratiue.
(Quod Venus) quha maid yat caus suspensiue?
Quha had power sit Actis to decline?
Than said Vesta, that did Scriptour deuine
Of the Euangell, and the law positiue,
It did suspend, and haldis as detestiue.
Siclik we reid into the xj. Cheptour,
In the thrid buik of Kings be Scriptour.
How Salamon, throw lufe Inordinat,
Howbeit he was of greit wisdome the flour,
Aboue all kingis that euer buir Sceptour
With lust of luifȝit he was laqueat,
Gart himfra GOD all deuotioun translait:
To fals Ydollis, sa throw lufis fauour,
Lang tufie fra GOD he was degenerat.
(Quod Venus) gif he was sa wise ane King
As ȝe haif said or in ane Realme culd ring
To reule ane Realme I ges that suith to be,
to purpois I meruell of ane thing:
[Page]Gif luif be not bot lust and lamenting.
Quhair was all than his wisdome tell latse.
Had it bene sin, or schame I say for me:
Sa wise ane man had not throw misgiding
Anis crabit GOD, nor fallin in sic folie..
Ȝis (said Vesta) of lufe the rampand rage,
The ardent lust, and the kendilland curage,
The naturall cours, and eik the sauage blude,
Will caus ane man dekay into dotage,
Vnto the time that the lust be assuage:
And takis no thocht to ressoun, nor to gude.
Richt swa it was of Salomon to conclude:
He conuertit furth of that foull thirlage,
And fra that time leuit ay in sanctitude.
In the sextene Cheptour wereid richt swa
Of Iudicum, Sampson and Dalida
His Paramouris quhome he gaif sic credence,
That he hir schew quhairin his strenthis lay.
And thairfoir all his hair scho tuik him fra:
Quhairthrow all micht he mist to mak defence.
Quhen scho that saw be gude experience,
Scho him betrayit vnto his mortall fa.
And this he gat throw lufis Insolence.
King Dauid als quhilk spak greit Prophe [...]
Throw lufis lust fell in Adulterie,
With Vryis wife, his awin Knicht spetian
Sine writtingis send to Ioab quietlie,
Greit Lufetenent of all his Senȝeori [...],
Biddand him put Drie to the battell,
[Page 43]In sic ane place: that he suld not preuaill:
Bot to be slane in brount of the armie.
And sa he was be chance and weird fatall.
Sa Dauid heir committit sinnis twane.
First Adulterie, sine Homicide agane.
And all this come throw luif Inordinat,
The xj. Cheptour of Regum will not lane,
In the nixt buik, for thair it standis plane.
We haif siclike exempill reuelat,
Of Iust Ioseph, quha was Incarcerat,
Be the fals mind of his Lordis wife but lane,
Disirand him hir bed to violat,
Quhilk he denyit, sayand Madame ȝe knaw
All that my Lord hes now haif I not aw
Vnder my cure, saifand ȝour awin persoun.
How may I than sic charge lat on me faw?
Considderand it is aganis the Law
And to my Lord ane greit vilipensioun.
I nill consent to do sic abusioun.
Incontinent als sone as scho that saw,
Scho hir bethocht on ane forthocht felloun.
On the nixt day the same scho did desyre.
He said, I nill aganis my Lord conspyre:
And speciall in contrair his honour.
For and I did I seruit to my hyre
For to be brint into ane cruell fyre,
In witnessing of ane vntrew Tratour.
Scho seand this, scho cryit with greit clamour,
This Tratour theif is cum into greit Ire,
[Page]Me to defoull allone within my bour.
And sa at schort, in handis sone tane was he,
And presonit sair with Irne bandis till ane tre.
Bot in schort time he was quit of that cair.
Quha pleisis mair of this storie to se,
Luik Genesis the nine and threttie:
I am begilit and thay find it not thair.
Faith (quod Venus) he seruit it weill and mair,
That in sic neid wald not hir anis supple:
Scho wairit hir luif euill on him I declair.
I think the lufe that cūmis on will motiue,
It is far mair till allow be sic fiue,
As is gude luif of Paramour allone,
But ony band or strenȝene attractiue:
Bot with gude will, and mind most exaltiue.
Quhair folk ar bound to luif thank gif I none.
To luif at lenth quhill ane of thame be gone.
It is mair thank to haif lufe effectiue,
As Chawceris wife luifit Freir Ihone Bakone
(Quod Vesta) quhat causis yame fra lufe declīe
Bot schame and lak with pouertie and pine,
And to the deid as Chawcer dois Indice.
And euill daylie spokin of thame sensine.
Na (said Venus) I speik not to that fine:
Tuichand thair sturt, thair sorrow nor yair site
Bot gif thay twa togidder had mair delite
Into thair time, nor thay be law deuine
At Kirk dur war coniunit and vnite.
For thay the quhilk at Kirk durtakis [...]
[Page 44]Ar thair compellit baith to burd and bed,
Fra that time furth, quhill deid thame twa de­part.
Riches, seiknes, neuer to gar thame sched.
And swa by luif the Law garris thame be led.
Thus wayis man oftimes is maid Cowart:
He dar not to ane vther set his hart.
For hir at hame he is sa sair adred,
Howbeit ane vther haif his hart Inwart.
That is na luif (quod Vesta) for this quhy:
It dois Inbring mair euill nor it puttis by.
Call ȝe it luif, or call ȝe it delite?
Gif siclik lufe cummis of ȝour Lamenrie.
Ȝour luif and lust heir planelie I deny
For it is all bot sunkin into site.
And of that lufe diuers doctouris dois write
Seir exampillis, sayand to vs schortlie:
The end thairof is dolour and despite.
Of this we reid, how Herod Antipas
His broderis wife he had Herodias:
And committit Adulterie with Incest.
Becaus Sanct Iohne abhorrit sa greit trespas,
And it repreuit, King Herod crabbit was:
Him for to slay greit subtell wayis he kest.
Till on ane day he maid ane solempne Feist:
In the menetime in come ane prettie Las,
Dansand, and cled in maner guidliest.
[...]r sport, and play, and dansing pleisit ye King
He bad hir ask thairfoir quhat kind of thing
Scho wald desyre, he sould it not deny,
[Page]Howbeit it war that ane half of his ring.
To hir mother scho past but tarying,
To haif counsall, the quhilk scho gat in hy.
Scho said nothing at ȝour grace couait I.
Bot Iohnis heid intill ane disch to bring:
Quhilk was grantit, and done richt suddanelie.
Of this slauchter he was caus efficient,
With the vther twa sinnis precedent.
This Sanct Mark sayis into his sert Cheptour
And all this come throw foull lust of luferent.
Quhairfoir he deit with miserie dolent,
And was deiect with schame fra all honour,
Be the persute of the greit Empriour,
And was denude of his Kingdome and rent,
As Scolastick story schawis in Scriptour.
In the threttene Chaptour of Daniell,
Of this foull lust quhat is thair for to tell?
Of twa Elderis, and als of Susanna:
Caus scho denyit to fulfill thair counsell
In Adulterie, thay fand ane way subtell.
Hir to accuse befoir ane Iuge thay ga
Sayand thay saw ane ȝoung man and na ma
With hir allone in ane ȝaird Intermell:
To beir witnes to the same, Heir we twa.
And sa at schort, scho was condampnit to d [...]
Throw the falset of thir twa Preistis feid.
Sa on the morne the day come of Iugement.
Thair scho allone wilsum of ane gudereid,
Throw Goddis grace stert wp into the steid
[Page 45]Quhilk neuer spak ane ȝoung adolescent:
Sayand, I am of this deid Innocent.
Quhairthrew this woman in haist gat remeid.
And the same twa to deid was schamelie schent.
Than Venus said, thay seruit it and far mair.
Ane clene woman for to put in sic cair.
That lufe thay had come all of falsitie:
It was na luif it was bot fenȝeit fair.
For in sic luif is nother reull nor squair,
Bot blindit lufe corrupt with crueltie,
Mirt with malice, repleit with subteltie:
And in that case peruert into dispair.
Than said Vesta, Madame now we agre.
Na said Venus, to that I nill consent:
I will not ȝit gif ouir my argument.
For all that I haif outher hard or sene:
Howbeit ȝe haif schawin furth ane small legent.
I do not knaw gif it be euident.
For sic storyis I cuir thame not ane prene.
And I deny that euer sic hes bene.
Bot quhen ȝe pleis sic castis ȝe can Inuent,
Me to defraude with gyle, and circumuene.
Than said Vesta, quhair that ȝe say that I
Can find sic castis to ȝow sa haistelie,
Of my Ingine but ony euidence.
As to that point, I say to ȝow schortlie,
[...]hat opinioun ȝe tak sinisterlie,
It to defend ȝe sall haif na defence
For I haif said na thing in audience,
[Page]Bot I haif schawin quhair it stādis thaptourli [...]
Aganis the quhilk ȝe haif na resistence.
Ȝe knaw we reid in the diuine Scriptour
Of Iudicum in the tuentie Cheptour:
Of ane woman for haistie stupratioun:
Four scoir thousandis of men that buir armour,
Threttene thousand ane hundreth in a stour,
And als thre scoir, war slane but saluatioun.
And all this fell be foull fornicatioun
Of ȝour fals luif ȝe hald of sic valour:
And is nocht bot anguische and dampnatioun.
We reid siclike of Dauidis Sone Ammon:
Was slane be his brother Absalon:
For the Incest committit with Thamar.
Howbeit scho was ane Aperse allone,
And deir sister vnto thame baith as one.
That greit vengeance scho culd not quenche no [...] pair,
Bot schamit hir self for than & euer mair.
Tettio Regum this storie dois propone,
In the threttene Cheptour it standis thair.
Of genesis in the four and threttie
Cheptour we reid greit furiositie
Of slauchter maid be Leui and Simeon,
Becaus Sichem the prince of that countre,
Had reft Dina thair sister fair and fre:
And hir stuprat, quhairfoir the greit vltioun
First come on him and his pepill Ilkone,
His kin and freindis, and Father but mercie
was put at schort till exterminioun.
Als it is red in storyis ancient,
Thocht it be not in ald nor new Testament.
How that Vergill that worthie wise doctour,
In latin toung was ane most faculent,
Nane mair pregnant, facund, nor eminent,
To writ, or dyit, he was of Clerkis flour:
Throw ȝour desait, and Inflammit ardour,
He was deiect be daft delyrament:
Become ȝour slaif to his greit dishonour.
Quhair ȝe him hang ouir ȝour wallis in a crei [...]
Howbeit efter he was reuengit weill.
(As the storie at mair lenth dois beir).
Ouid siclike on kneis ȝe gart him kneill,
Gang on his handis, with ane bridill of steill
In till his teith, with vther riding geir,
In lichtlines as ȝe thocht best effeir.
And ȝe abone to ryid begouth to reill,
With bute, and spur, sword, buklar, as bachleir.
Of ȝour fals luif this is ay the commend:
Reid Gower ouir, and Bocchas to the end.
All Chronikles that ony man of reidis,
Ȝe sall not find a taill ane vther mend.
Bot to the werst it will ay condiscend:
With euill entent ȝour luif burgeonis & breidi [...]:
And euer mair sa furth it ay proceidis.
Quhat sayis Chawceral Christin men ma [...] kēs
Ȝour euil mind thair, and eik ȝour cruell dridis.
In generall and schortlie to conclude▪
In all ȝour luif ȝit hard I neuer gude▪
[Page]In all Scriptour that euer man of wrait:
The poysonit vice thairof and turpitude
was the maist caus in cumming of Noes flude:
Quhen all the warld was neir depopulate.
How mony men hes it effeminate.
Of all honour it kes diuers denude:
And als mony of life exterminate.
Quhat▪ Kingis, Quenis, Dukis, & Empriours
Lordis, Ladeis, Barronis of greit honouris,
Hes bene deiect throw luifis gouernance?
Of all the writ reid the Interpretouris
And of the warld reid the Cosmographouris:
Ȝour last reward is vennemous vengeance,
Poysonit with prude, Heresie, and mischance.
We haif reall exemplis of Nichtbouris,
That throw luifis lust deweyis in variance.
Of sic storyis I can ȝow schaw anew,
Quhilk ȝe not hard, nor neuer ȝit ȝe knew.
Quhair all ȝour luif is bot mixt with mischance,
In the Testamentis baith the ald and the new
Aganis quhome ȝe can haif na reskew,
In ȝour debait, bot wilfull arrogance,
Fragill and fals full of vltrequedance.
Quhairfoir I wald that ȝe na mair persew
This gentill man, to Name hecht Desperance.
Than Venus said Madame Vesta sen ȝe
Hes said at lenth, I pray ȝow now lat me:
Quhair that ȝe say, seir storyis ȝe haif sene,
In the Testamentis baith ald and new surelie:
[Page 47]I gif credence, I traist it may weill be
Ȝit sum thair is that ȝe haif forȝet clene,
Or ellis I traist ȝe neuer thame saw with ene,
The quhilk to ȝow I sall part specifie:
Than lat Iugis gif sentence vs betwene.
Quhair ȝe Infer all Inconuenientis,
Malice, desait, with diuers detrimentis,
Cūmis of luif (as ȝe haif said befoir)
Allegeand baith the ald and new Testamentis
Historyis, Scriptouris, & vtheris lang legentis,
At ȝour plesour traistand to get the gloir.
I reid of ane did vs far mair decoir.
Our life wplift throw feruour and luifrentis,
Our ransoun pay, and vs to grace restoir.
Of genesis in the aucht and threttie
Chaptour is red, that Iudas quhilk surelie
Was Iacobis sone, and of the Trybis twell,
With Thamar lay in his Iocunditie:
Howbeit scho was to him in affinitie,
In doubill sort, as the Chaptour dois tell:
Into thair play hir wombe begouth to swell
And buir twa sonnis, Zaram and Phares fre,
As Mathow sayis in his first Euangell.
Phares Esrom, and Esrom Aram bure.
And sine Aram Aminadab for sure:
Aminadab siclike he gat Naasson:
Naasson Salmon ane Nobill Prince and pure▪
Ȝit he Maryit Raab the commoun hure:
(As Iherome dois in the Bybill propone)
[Page]Howbeit diuers agane him dois argone.
Salmon and Raab into thair liues cuir,
Thay gat Boos na ma bot him allone.
Than said Vesta, Madame thair I persaif,
Into ane part as my minde dois consaif:
Salmon come of the Tribe of Israell:
Ane Nobill Prince, ane sage man, and ane graif
Ane commoun huir that he to wife suld haif,
It is not lik to be trew as ȝe tell,
That ane prince wald with sic ane Intermell.
I traist Madame, ȝe reid wrang, or ȝe raif.
Than said Venus, reid Mathowis first Euāgell.
Howbeit scho was sumtime richt Inconstant,
Beeft scho was in vertewis aboundant,
Remeidit all throw guid prayer and deid.
Quhen Iosue was in Throne Triumphant,
He send his spyis elect and elegant,
To Ierico, to spy the land of breid:
Quhen thair was nane durst thame resaif for feid
Scho herbryit thame and was participant
With Israell into thair wrgent neid.
This and siclike causit this Nobill Prince
Haif hir to wife, and do hir reuerence.
This ȝe sall find Secundo Iosue,
As I haif said scho buir of excellence
Boos the first, a man of greit prudence:
Quhilk gat the nixt Boos of veritie:
This gat the thrid, sa thair was Boos thre:
This Boos gat on Ruth Obed with mence,
[Page 48]Quhilk gat Isai that cleipit is Iesse.
This Iesse begat Dauid that was King,
Chosin be GOD aboue Israell to ring.
Ane greit Propheit sine Salomon gat he,
On ane Ladie richt bewteous, and bening.
Gentill, courtes, curious, and conding,
Mansweit, suaue, to Name hecht Bersabe:
Quhilk was ye spous of vmquhile Knicht Vrie
As ȝe proponit befoir in ȝour saying,
All this luif come of sensualitie.
It is weill knawin that Bersabea lay
With King Dauid, as the Scriptour dois say,
Langtime befoir or hir husband was slane,
Throw dern fauour, and luif betuix thame twa
Now I begin agane quhair I best may,
That ȝe consaif the storeis in certane.
First I rehersit Thamar and Raab plane,
And Bersabe the quhilk ȝe can not nay,
War all of sport Ladeis venereane.
And swa thairfor to count ȝow line be line,
was IESVS borne Goddis verray sone deuine:
Quhilk ransonit vs with his precious hart blude.
And sa to bring my argument to fine,
I can not find in luif na time to tine,
Boc mixt with mirth, mercie, and manswetude,
Plenist with sport, and sueit suauitude,
Repleit with playis but pouertie or pine,
Vell of worschip, the port of pulchritude.
[...]se of all storeis that ȝe haif tald,
[Page]And allegeance with argumentis sa bald,
Aganis luif in malice and hatrent,
Come not sic euill ȝit be ane thousand fald:
Nor neuer will, nor in na times wald,
As I haif schawin the gude come of Lufrent,
Thairfoir as now I end my argument,
Sa that ȝe will the victorie wpȝeild,
And cry mercie sa far as is miswent.
That I deny Madame, than said Vesta.
As to the first, quhair that ȝe planelie say:
First that Thamar, Raab, and Barsabe,
War licht Ladeis all geuin to sport and play,
As ȝe alledge, I say ȝow schortlie nay.
Thay war richt wise, and full of grauitie,
And ar Namit in the genologie
Of Christ for gude vnto this present day,
For thair vertew and greit humilitie.
Than Venus said, of Christ is genologie,
Was thair na ma gude wemen bot thay thre▪
Or schaw the caus, quhy thay ar in Scriptour
Mair thau [...]he laif, it is not lik to be,
Sa mony Kingis of Eminent degre,
Sa gay Captanis of welth and of valour.
Quhair was Mary of all wemen the flour?
I think scho sould be put in memorie,
Gif thir thre gat for gude life sic honour.
As I haif said befoir, ȝit I say plane,
Thay thre was of the Court venereane.
[...]e me caus sic wordis to disclois
[Page 49]The fourt I can find ȝit withoutin lane:
The Ladie Ruth wald haif bene yair richt fane,
Quhen that scho ȝeid into bed with Boos,
As Noemi bad for to cum to purpois,
Was all thir gude, na na ȝe speik in vane,
Ȝe brek the text, and as ȝe pleis dois glois.
Thus I conclude, thairfoir ȝe Auditouris
Heir circumstant attend, and assessouris,
Quhidder that I or Vesta Ladie fre
Hes schawin storyis autentik be Scriptouris,
Mair for to prais, or reput of valouris.
Perfitlie pance with all maturitie,
Sa that ȝour voce concord in vnitie,
That pane may be in put to Forfaltouris:
The Partie spthit, as Law will lat it be.
Thā spak an Nimphe, to name hecht Chaistitie
Ane of the sex in Vestais companie.
Madame Venus, now I wald (with licence
Of my Maistres) to speik twa wordis or thre.
Quhair that ȝe say Thamar, and Barsabe,
Raab, and Ruth, war geuin to Insolence.
I say thay war wemen of greit prudence,
Geuin to vertew, and profound grauitie.
Groundit in grace with all Magnificence.
For quhy we reid efter Lira, and Iohne mair,
And in the glois als Interlinear.
In the first heid, quhair thay wrait in Mathe,
The Euangelist, settis him not to declair
Of the thre Kingis quhilkis richt vicious war,
[Page]Of quhome Christ come be Iust genelogie.
And for thair vice euill life and crueltie,
Amang gude folk he wald thame not compair,
Bot ar seclude, abiect as vnworthie.
And gif euill men for vices ar seclude
Out of this band, sa gracious and gude:
I think rather euill wemen to depriue,
Bot I suppone thir wemen ar Include.
For thair gude life, vertew and sanctitude,
For to fulfill the number suspensiue,
And for to be the rute restoratiue.
For the thre Kingis quhilk war befoir denude
Out of this clan and linage successiue.
Heirfoir I say, Thamar and Bersabe,
Raab, and Ruth in the genelogie
Of Christ ar put for prayer and gude deidis.
Na said Venus agane to Chaistitie,
I sall ȝow schaw alhaill the veritie
Of that mater quhat Sanct Hierome reidis:
Becaus mercie of Christ euer proceidis,
Christ wald suffer of sinner is borne to be,
For to augment thair meritis and thair meidis
Howbeit I knaw of all sin Christ was quit
And Mary als I knaw that richt perfit.
Bot ȝit thay come of folkis friuolous,
That we micht knaw his cheritie Ignite,
Ardent, and hait, our sin to abolite:
Did nocht disdane to tak than kinde of vs.
An as the Rois dois spring of thornie bus.
[Page 50]Sa did Mary hir virginitie,
Sprang of the spray, and sum of thame vicious.
¶Sicut lilium inter spinas, sic amica mea inter filias. CANTI. I.
In the vyle schell is found the Perle of price.
Of the rude rute springis the flour delice:
In the gray clay is found the gold sa cleir:
Richt swa did Christ our flour and Fortalice,
Sprang of the rute quhilk part was geuin to vice.
Sa to purpois quhair of I spak lang eir:
Raab, and Ruth, Bersabe, and Thamar,
War licht Ladeis, thocht ȝe it mak sa nice,
And of my Court, and hes bene mony ȝeir.
Thus (quod Venus) I end my conclusioun,
The remanent I put to discretioun
Of Theologis, or ellis profound Doctouris:
And quhair I faill into the writ Cannoun,
Be wrang reheirs, transgres, or collusioun.
Or by the boundis of the deuine Scriptouris,
Antlk storyis, or honest Oratouris:
Heir I promit to stand at correctioun,
Quhen the Assyse will make Interpretouris.
And I siclike (quod Vesta am content
That my mater pas to the Iugement
Of the Assyse: with this ane libertie,
Richt perfitlie that thay wald pance and prent,
Considder weill, and in thair heid take tent,
Remord thair mindis quhidder gif Chestitie
Be not mair clene, mair glorious, and hie
Triumphant stait, mair digne and eminent▪
[Page]Than Venus warkis with all hir dignitie?
And this the caus diuers virginis and clene
Fra Venus warkis becaus thay did abstene,
Outhair bodyis thay sufferit mekill wa:
As in Scriptouris perfitlie may be sene.
Sum Heritonris, sum Countes and sum Quene:
As is Katherin, Margaret, and Barbara,
Dorothe, Lucie, and mony diuers ma,
For Chaistitie greit sorrow did sustene,
Throw quhais vertew to heuin thay did all ga.
Thay chois on thame crar the dreidfull deid,
Than for to tine thair precious madinheid,
Knaw and thairfoir ane reward speciall.
Siclike agane the rute of our remeid,
Our Saluatour to fell the feyndis feid.
Was he not borne of the bour virginall.
Chosin be consent of GOD celestiall.
Quhair throw we all was quite of Plutois pleid,
Be sweit Incence of virginitie royall.
And had not bene that sweit virginite
Was mair condigne in the thousand degre,
Thā Venus warks with corrupt minde & thocht
No way Christ had dedenȝeit borne to be
In the Chalmer of chosin Chaistitie,
And Venus warks had bene with vertew wrocht
Caus thay war not condigne & nathing docht,
In sicht of GOD, he tuik Humanitie
Of virgine wombe, and of Venus tuik nocht.
Thir beand weill considderit, and forsene,
[Page 51]I traist my caus but pley I sall obtene.
For weill I wait, thir pointis ar releuant.
Quhairfoir Ladeis amiabill and amene
On the Assise, haif this befoir ȝour ene,
Perfitlie pance thir pointis last pregnant.
That ȝe not be now callit Ignorant,
Or ony sall ȝour science circumuene,
Sayand ȝe ar to muche participant.
And samy caus I put to ȝour conscience,
As weill auisit Assise with sapience:
Traistand ȝow all repleit with equitie,
Fulfillit with faith, and eik profound prudence:
Groundit in gude, rutit in reuerence,
Lawreat Ladeis, flour of feminitie:
Protestand heir for ȝour greit clemencie
Deill with the richt, and do me no offence,
Be corrupt minde, nor partialitie.
I wait ȝe all in science sa dois schine,
In profound wit, and eminent Ingine,
That all obscure probleme or questioun
Ȝe can discus, declair, and determine,
Enucleat, as Regentis most deuine:
Sa prudentlie ȝe can gif solutioun.
For quhy I knaw ȝe all tuik potatioun
Of licour sweit at the font Caballine,
Quhair all vertew dois flurische with fusioun.
Heirfoir Ladeis humblie I Imploir,
Haif weill in minde I haif rehersit befoir,
Mixt with prudence, and ȝour perfite prowes,
[Page]Ȝe not deiect the dignitie, nor gloir,
Spulȝe, nor reif▪ diminute, nor defloir,
Into na sort this deifeit Goddes,
Virginitie, for ȝour awin gentilnes.
Lustie Ladeis, I neid now speik no moir,
Do as ȝe think speidfull in this proces.
And so Venus to the same did consent.
Anone but baid the Assyse furth is went,
Richt stupefact, caus the mater was hie,
On vther syid be storyis ancient.
And speciallie of the last small legent
Vesta did schaw be gude Authoritie,
And done in deid be verray veritie.
Sa but tary thay all with ane consent
Chancellar on syse thay chose the May Tis [...]e.
For thocht hir minde was to Venus alhaill
Ȝit vncompleit in deidis actuall
It was but dowt (as hir storie dois schaw).
That was the caus thay cheisit hir but faill.
Chancellar on syse, that scho suld stand equaill
On baith ye sydis, caus sum part scho did knaw)
Sa the Assise beliue was set on raw,
And socht all Actis in caisis criminall,
Kest buikis like beis in all proces of Law.

¶The Fourt Buik.

FIRST doun thay kest Moyses Pentateuchon,
with his storyis, and Paralipomenon,
Iudith, Hester, Ruth, Regum in dite.
The Epistillis of Paul, the sayingis of Solomō
With Lirais glois vpon the writ Cannon
The Machabeis with storyis Infinite:
The new Testament profound and eik perfite:
Peter, and Iames, the Apocalips of Iohne:
And all Propheitis in Prophecie did write.
In ciuill Law thay kest downe Bartholus,
Alexander de Imola, and Baldus:
The Coddis, Decreis, Decretales, and Iason:
The Institutis, Digestis, and Angelus,
The Inforciat, and Panormitanus,
With vther diuers difficill to expone,
Quhilk wrait in Law baith Ciuil and Cannon
Quhais warkis was sa done compendious.
In that behalf thay ar Maisteris allone.
In argument togidder all thay go
In questionis baith in Contra and Pro:
Allegeand writ be greit authoritie,
Of Homeir, Gower, and als of Cicero:
Appellatiounis fra Plautus to Plato.
Quhilk in the syis maid greit diuersitie.
Sum was Infect with parcialitie,
Quhais allegeance was oftimes to and fro,
Thocht the Chancellar greit laubours thair diddre.
And so efter diuers disputatioun,
Greit argumentis, and preexcogitatioun
[Page]Of baith the Lawis furth socht fra end to end.
The Assise fand be gude consideratioun,
Vestais estait, and hir conuersatioun.
In mony gre did Dame Venus transcend,
Be ver [...]eous prerogatiues weill kend.
Quhairfoir thay gaif Vesta dominatioun
Abane Venus all thair with greit commend.
Sayand, howbeit all folkis heir on line,
Hes not fra GOD the greit prerogatiue
Of abstinence and clene virginite,
For and sa war na seid war successiue,
The warld wart [...]e of all kin folkis beliue:
And efter vs war na posteritie.
Bot GOD allone ordanit not sa to be:
He ordanit sum be of kuid genitiue,
And fill the warld efter thair qualitie.
Ȝit than we find Vesta in hir estait,
Richt verteous, worthie, Inuiolait.
Precious, perfit, ve [...]ran constant, and clene,
Richt glorious with strenth weill roborait,
Contrair the flesche daylie at the debait,
With all hir force perfitlie dois refrane,
Fra temptatioun thairof als dois abstene.
For that ilk point scho is deificait:
Howbeit ilk ant the same may not sustene.
Bot nottheles the Assyse fand agane
That Desperance had faillit far in plane
Contrair Venus into sa far as he
Did lichtlie hir with wordis void and kane:
[Page 53]Richt dispiteous language of greit disdane.
Thinkand richt weill thay wald not that ouirse,
But punischement with all austeritie:
That nane sould preis to play the counterpane,
Quhat euer he war of hie or law degre.
Thocht Dame Vesta scho be ane greit Goddes
All repleit with vertew and worthienes,
As it effeiris weill to hir facultie.
Thay wald not thoill Venus haif lichtlines,
Nor repudie, rebuik, nor ȝit distres
Be na kin wicht, and ouir all specialie
Of Desperance, considderand that he
Was hir vassall, and held hir as Maistres
Vinquhile afoir, and had thairfoir his fee.
Howbeit sum time for none expeditioun
Of his erandis, quhair he had affectioun,
And micht not cum sa sone to his Intent,
Nor put his billis to ferme executioun,
Incontinent with sair forthocht felloun
Agane Venus he grew in matilent,
Be orgweill minde, and thocht Impacient,
Melancholie, and wilfull contemptioun,
Helichtlyit hir as Inobedient.
And turnit sa far intill hir clene contrair,
That he but dowt was drint into dispair,
Be greit wanhope quhilk causit him fall in pleid
Agane Venus, and all hir Ladeis fair:
Quhill now at lait, he is cawcht in the snair
Of scharp Iustice, and in perrell of deid,
[Page]Bot gif in haist that thair be found remeid.
For wit Venus how he standis in danger,
Without mercie but baid of will his heid.
Thairfoir gif this mater pas to rigour,
It will be said we all hes tint the flour
Of womanheid and we be merciles.
Thay will it lay contrair Venus honour,
And scho or we be the caus of Murther,
The greit defame and schame we get expres.
For it is said that wemennis tendernes
In hart can not thoill men haif displesour:
And speciallie thair deith for to purches.
Heirfoir lat vs amang vs all deuise
Considerand the man in perrell lyis:
Quhat is the best to saif Venus honour.
We will send doun the Chancellar of the syis
To Rhamnusia, quhair scho sittis, & blandyis
For grace in time gif we may fang fauour,
And put not all of to the latter hour.
That the man get be vs na preiudyis,
Nor in na part for to haif displesour.
With humbill hart and hauingis dolorous,
Lawlie langage, and fassounis fauorous,
In sober wise this we may say hir till,
With greit requeist and minde richt desirous,
Sa prayand hir for to be pieteous:
Sayand but dout that he is cum in will,
And in all sort the samin sall fulfill.
Beseikand hir for to be gracious
[Page 54]And take the best, and set on syde all euill.
And swa his life to be saif and his gude.
And ask mercie for the greit Mansuetude
In wemen bene, as scho expedient
Thinkis to dispone, efterwart scho may dude.
Quhidder scho will of his life him denude:
Or saif his life gif scho will stand content.
Into ane bill this man be to hir sent.
Sa in ane voice heirupon we conclude.
The bill was maid: with it Thisbe is went.
On humill wayis and maneris womanlie,
Richt Chancellarlike kneilland vpon hir kne,
To Rhamnusia the missiue represent
Fra the Assise with curage courteslie
Sayand Madame sen Iuge heir now ȝe be,
Vnto ȝour grace to schaw ȝow thair entent:
To that effect this bill hes to ȝow sent,
To wit ȝour will, caus the mater is hie:
Prayand to send to thame ȝour auisement.
With all honour the bill scho did resaif.
As Nobill Nimph, and Ladie most suane:
Red it to end secreitlie hir allone,
Quhais text scho did considder and consaue:
With mature minde and countenance richt graue
Richt perfitlie of all thay did propone.
Thinkand richt weill thay couet na vltioun:
Thair minde erair was the mannis life to haif.
[...]or him to tine be exterminioun.
Venus beheld the bill geuin be Thisbe,
[Page]To Rhamnusia, and reidand quietlie:
Scho said Madame, ane thing I ȝow requeir
Of that ilk bill quhat may the tennour be,
Gif it be ony preiudice to me,
I ȝow protest, the Text that I may heir.
Glaidlie Madame said scho as suld effeir,
Swa in all pointis that ȝe thairon agre.
I stand content (quod Venus) with glaid cheir.
Traistand richt weill be perfite knawleging,
Ȝe will not thoill, nor bid me do na thing,
That my honour may faid in ony sort,
Or displesour ony to me Inbring.
Na than (said scho) I war na way conding
Of ȝow to bruik office I say at schort.
Bot all is for ȝour plesour and confort.
Than said Venus reid furth but tarying,
I am content sa ȝe keip ȝour report.
The Court was Coy, commandit was silence,
Vnder all pane thay suld gif audience.
Rhamnusia the bill scho gaif in deid
To Fremmitnes, Iustice Clerk in presence
Of all the Court, had hir reid the sentence
To Dame Venus, for scho dowtles but dreid
Was weill appayit sa Fremmitnes did proceid
In the missiue with all hir diligence
Of the trew Text, this way began to reid.
¶ Missiua Rhamnusiae missa ab Assisa.
SEN we for fault of personis mair prudent
Be ȝow elect Madame ar present heir,
[Page 55]In greit laubouris, and vncouth argument,
As Assisouris the mater to mak cleir.
Bot it is sa contrarious and austeir,
To the rigour and we it put dowtles,
Wemen for ay salbe callit merciles.
De Desperance (as GOD forbid he do)
The lak, and schame, and all defamatioun,
To Dame Venus but dowt it will cum to:
And caus Ladeis to get blasphematioun:
And be haldin of the les reputatioun:
Baith odious, and snell as ane serpent.
Quhairfoir as now we schaw ȝow our entent.
We find Vesta in the far hier estait
Than Dame Venus, be mony suir questioun.
In that behalf Venus may not debait
In ony sort be na comparisoun.
Bot sa far as Venus gat detractioun
Be Desperance, sayand of hir all euill,
As to that point, we put him into will
Of ȝow Madame, as Iuge, and to Venus.
Hang, heid, and draw, do with him as ȝe pleis,
Beseikand hir and ȝow to be gracious,
And fra malice ȝour minde with mercie meis.
This we desyre for to deuoyid diseis
In time cumming, and euer he do siclike,
He salbe brint euin as ane heretike.
[...]nd gif Venus be obstinate in this case:
[...]an solist scho be gracious also,
[...]saif his life, of hir mercie and grace,
[Page]And find ane freind quhair that scho had ane fo▪
And win ane wicht to weill that was in wo,
And deliuer the drery of distres:
That wemen sall not be callit merciles.
For weill we wait, or Venus wist him de
In hir defalt, sa that he cum in will:
For all the faltis and the greit velanie
That euer he said, throw wilfulnes by skill:
Scho leuer gif ten thousand crounis him till,
To saif his life, we knaw sa hir kindnes,
That scho on force can not be merciles.
For ȝour honour Madame this we requeir,
With ȝour answer as ȝe expedient
Thinkis for to gif and Ladie Venus heir.
Als prayand hir for to be pacient,
As we beleue the criminall dois repent
Beseikand heir ȝour gracious excellence,
Quhair that we faill, that ȝe wald find defence.
¶FINIS MISSIVAE.
VENVS heirand this pieteous petitioun
Send fra the syse on sa gude ane fassoun,
Ane richt greit thing hir minde it mitigait.
Scho said Madame, I sweir ȝow be my Crown
I am mair blyith than geuin me ten Mulȝeoun
Of fine reid gold in hand weill numerait.
For I lang eir was sa hie stomochait
At Desperance, for his greit rebellioun:
That in this warld his deith I maist couait.
And sen my sisteris on the sise hes said,
That Desperance is cum in will, and mai [...]
[Page 56]To make ane mendis as Ierpedient
Thinkis to be tane: thairof I am richt glaid.
For weill I wait his stomake is stormestaid,
Becaus he is put in ane Merciment
Of all the Court with the Assise consent.
Bot I war laith my honour war degraid
For thair requeist, howbeit I be pacient.
And quhen I heir of the Assise sentence.
That Desperance is cum in Repentence:
And put in will, and schawin befoir the Iuge,
Promineit be the sutouris Eloquence:
Than is dew time with matetis to dispence,
And faltis ouir se quhilkis he committit huge.
And gif I pleis him to repell or luge,
Is not all that put in beneuolence
Of me, gif I will take him in refuge
First call the syse, and heir thair diffinitioun:
All that thay make put it to executioun.
And quhat I say it sall stand firme and stabill,
But obstakill, ganecall or reuocatioun,
Impediment, or appellatiounr
Incontinent past Tisbe furth but fabill:
Schew the Assife with fassoun fauorabill:
How that Venus tuik gude consideratioun
Of thair writtingis, & thocht thame acceptabill.
And sa schortlie come the Assise anone.
All that thay did the Chancellar did propone,
[...]est to the Iuge, and sine to the sutour:
[...]shais text beliue quhen that scho luikit on,
[Page]In fremmit ternies scho did it sone erpone.
That Desperance was found ane Forfaltour,
Ane rank Redell, and als ant Trespassour
Aganis Venus, and bene ane selloun fone
Till all hir Court, and e [...] ane greit Tratour
Ȝit not the les becaus he did repent,
And in all sort was cum obedient:
The Assise thinkis thay couate not his deid.
To that effect Ilkane with ane consent,
Thay haif hini put in Venus merciment:
Quhat scho best pleis, to do him fauour or feid:
To quarter him, to hang him, or to held:
Thay know and weill that Venus as pacient,
In this behalf scho will get him remeid.
To the nixt point that the Assise hes done:
Thay find Vesta mair Triumphant in throne,
In greit degreis, not is Ladie Venus.
Quhairfoir thay will that Vesta be abone
In all estait: for Venus be natone
May be hir peir throw warkis verteous.
Not for to say, Venus is velanous:
Bot that hir warkis may na les be vndone
Nor of befoir, bot Vesta is mair Famous.
Than Vesta hard scho was put to honour
Abone Venus, be Interloquntour
Of the Assise furth geuin be thair sentence.
Scho did protest that hir Court nor hir Bour
In time cumming suld haif na displesour
Into na sort, nor Inconuenience,
[Page 57]Vilipensioun, lichtlines, nor offence
Of Venus Court preiudice nor rigour:
And thairupon tuik notis and Instrumentis.
Considerand (quod scho) as all men seis,
I am preferrit richt far in greit degreis,
And all my Court aboue Venus estait:
Howbeit this man for falt of greit suppleis,
Be rank Inuy, as is liklie now dois.
Ȝit I desyre my Court be separait
Fra ȝow, and ȝouris, and be exonerait:
That this Court turne me to na preiudeis,
Bot to haif place our self ay to debait.
That it may be to all men richt weill knawin,
That I am Nimph, and Quene ay of my awin:
And als preferrit richt far abone Venus:
Requyrand ȝow ȝe Scribe▪ sic may be schawin,
Quhen all this brybe & boist is quite ouir blawin
In auenture gif sic castis cautelous
Be raisit agane throw Ingyne odious,
The prothogoll heirof I wald haif drawin
In writ, for cost to be my Vidimus.
The Iuge thotht it than richt expedient,
That scho said thair all was conuenient,
And hir desyre consonant to ressoun.
Baith the Assise and Iuge with ane consent.
Thay bad that scho suld haif hir Instrument,
And all hir sawis thay ratifeit but chessoun,
[...]nd did affirme the same in that sessoun.
[...]hairat Venus was verray discontent,
[Page]That Vesta gat sa sone hir peticioun.
Than Venus woxsa wraith at Desperance,
Throw Vestais sawis, and hir allegeance.
Incontinent vnto the Iuge scho said.
Madame, it is not ȝit far fra remembrance,
This man suld be put to the ordinance
Of me, and in my will the syse him maid:
And fra my will he may na way ewaid.
And throw my will he man stand to his chance.
The Iuge grantit, and than Venus was glaid.
Incontinent Dame Venus loud did cry
On the Schiref that standis at hand heir by.
Do ȝour office as effeiris to ȝour stait,
Bind ȝe his handis, let that be done in hy.
The Schiref said that can I not deny,
Sen sa he is conuict and maid chakmeit.
Swyith said Venus, se that ȝe handill him hait.
And than fra hand in the Court rais the skey
That Desperance was deid without debait.
But baid (quod scho) gar cast him in presoun,
Still to remane without ony ransoun,
Quhill forther mair, quheneuer I best pleis.
My priuilege put to executioun.
For his greit wraith, and rampand rebellioun,
Aganis my Court was nathing wald him meie
Now sall he sit with hunger and diseis.
Quha will, quha Nill in till ane deip dungeon
Quhair he sall haif greit cald with latill eis.
And sa in hat [...] but baid his handis was [...]
[Page 58]To that effect to ly in to the ground
Of presoun deip euer vnto the deid.
Than Esperance was strikkin with sic stound
Of puir pietie, maid in his hart sic wound,
Seand his feir fall in sic felloun feid.
Thocht in him self, allace is na remeid:
Sall Desperance sa schortlie be confound,
Thocht he and I throw play fell in bawch pleid?
¶Lamentatio Esperantiae.
WA worth the time that euer I him saw:
Wa worth ye hour yat first I did him knaw
Wa worth the tide that euer we twa met:
Wa worth the day that euer it did daw,
To se my freind into sic thrist and thraw,
And for my saik in sorrow all ouir set.
Allace allace is na remeid to get,
Wa worth the toung that euer persewit sic Law,
To se his handis into ane cord thus plet.
I was to hait sa sone for to complane:
I was vnwise that his falt culd not lane:
I was vnkinde throw heit of sawage blude:
I was to sone onir strikin with disdane:
I was to pert to put my freind to pane.
Allace, allace, now mingis my mane and mude.
I was but hap, I was of grace denude:
I was but wit my will culd not refrane,
Bot tine my feir, his life, and all his gude.
Now will Ilkane hald me abhominabill:
[...]ow will thay call me of his deith culpabill:
[...]w will ilkane fra my cumpanie fle:
[Page]Now will thay hald my deidis detestabill:
Now may I bruik with greit barret and baill,
Like ane fond fuill fulfillit with Fantasie.
Allace, allace, hard is my destenie.
Now call thay me ane Tratour tressonabill.
Of my brother caus I had na pietie.
Now may Ilkane be me exempill tak,
That causit my feir sa schortlie ga to wraik.
Now may thay say, lo quhair ȝone Tratour gais
Pointand thair hand with mony skorne & knak
Quhair euer I gang to my greit schame and lak.
Ȝone ilk is he that his awin brother slayis:
Sa of my freindis I fang me felloun fais.
Allace, allace, to be brint at ane staik
To saif his life, I wald not euir twa strayis.
Quhat causit me sic thing to take on hand?
Quhat causit me my brother to ganestand?
Quhat causit me to deith him to persew?
Quhat causit me sic faltis I to him fand?
Not bot wodues, and wanting of the wand.
That men callis wit: and thairfoir now I rew.
Allace, allace, I was not traist nor trew.
I had leuer now be deid nor lewand:
All game and gle fra me euer adew.
Vnto the beist I may compairit be,
Efter hir birth in furiositie,
And greit wodnes scho it denoris thair.
Agane quhen scho is in stabilitie,
Scho wantis hir birth and lukis about to se.
[Page 59]And findis it deid: than scho dois rout and rair:
Quhan na remeid is than scho makis cair.
Allace, allace, this may be said be me,
Vndid my feir, allace for euermair.
¶Finis Lamentationis.
SA all the syse was verray discontent.
That Venus was sa scharp, and Impatient.
At Desperance, quhilk was put in hir will:
Ilkane thinkand thay did richt sair repent,
That thay him put sa far in merciment.
Considerand ouir sair scho was him till.
Ȝit than thay fand ane wit mouit of skill,
Quhilk was that thay wald Venus make cōtent
Be sum new burd, and hir plesour fulfill.
Thisbe quhilk was on the Assise Chancellar,
To Esperance in quiet scho said thair.
Into all haist sone on thy kneis sit doun
Befoir Venus, as Ladie most preclair:
Humblie prayand, for hir grace singular,
For to grant grace and life to thy Munȝeoun,
Thocht thow and he fell in ane strange opinioun
Thow traistit not suld fallow sic dangear,
Or dout of deith, or perpetuall presoun.
And sa sall he be saif, or ellis nocht.
And as scho said swyith Esperance hes wrocht,
But mair delay fell doun vpon his kne
Befoir Venus, with all deuoir he docht.
Sayand Madame, for him that vs all bocht.
My petitioun that ȝe wald grant to me.
For ȝour grei [...] renth, and sweit benignitie:
[Page]Ȝe wald grant grace, for grace I to ȝow socht,
Mak Desperance quite of Captiuitie.
As ȝe ar flour of all Feminite,
Grant him his life, and make him anis fre.
And I promit vnder all hiest pane
That may Incur or be laid vpon me.
That he sall not eschew away, nor fle.
Bot quhen ȝe pleis to enter him agane.
Prayand ȝour grace that I wirk not in vane.
Than said Venus, as thow will sa salbe.
Scho grantit grace, than Esperance was fane.
Ȝit said Venus, I say this with restrictioun:
I grant him grace, bot vnder the conditioun,
In time to cum that he brew na mair baill.
Vnder all pane of the greitest punitioun
That may be had, with haistie executioun:
And na proces of Law sall him awaill.
For remembrance of this memoriall
That I haif said, I will he find cautioun.
(Quod Esperance) that sall I be but faill.
Than Venus gart ane Nobill Nimphe but mair
Callit Confort, baith plesant and preclair,
Fair offassoun, benigne with all bewtie,
Dissolue his hādis quhilks richt fast bundin was
And maid him quite of all his greit dangeir.
Quhair he befoir was fast scho maid him fre:
Sayand gude schir, now blyith and merie be:
Quhair ȝe befoir was sicker in the snair,
I sall ȝow put to ȝour awin libertie.
Gif he was blyith, it neidis not now to speir.
Than said Venus, ȝit ȝe sall gar him sweir,
That he keip all promisis that is said.
Schir said Confort, ȝe man lay ȝour hand heir
Vpon this buik, and with ane aith austeir,
Ȝe man make fast that salbe to ȝow laid.
Ladie Venus ȝe sall neuer degraid,
In word, nor deid, nor neuer do hir deir.
To sweir the same (quod he) I am richt glaid.
For and ȝe do (quod Confort) but debait
Agane Venus rais ony rank riat
In time to cum, it will caus sturt fra hand
Anis in hir girne and ȝe be laqueat
Or in ony point be dissimulat,
I ȝow assure ȝour pardoun will not stand,
Bot haistie deith, tinsall of life and land.
Be war thairfoir that ȝe haif na desait
(Quod he Madame) faith I sall keip my band▪
And sa beliue but mair proces or baid,
Confort causit his greit aith to be maid,
Vpon all pointis rehersit of befoir.
Than the Assise and all the Court was glaid.
Sine Esperance anone to Venus said,
Madame I wald ane thing at ȝow Imploir,
That ȝour worschip sall augment and decoir.
Micht I ȝour grace be ony sort perswaid,
I wald this man in ȝour seruice restoir,
Sa ȝour grace thocht his seruice acceptabill:
I sall vphald his seruice Inceissabill
[Page]Vnto ȝour grace, with all his micht and mane.
All faltis bygane of quhilkis he was culpabill
He did or said be crimes criminabill,
Be quite forȝet, ouirsene, and all forlane,
Neuer to say, nor do ȝow falt agane,
Bot euer in ȝour seruice agreabill
To leif and de with ȝow ay to remane.
Than Venus said with facound face and fassoun
Sa that I wist it war his awin affectioun,
And thairof had ane sicker assurance,
I wald not euir to grant to ȝour peticioun:
And als him gif ane generall remissioun.
It is but dowt Madame, said Esperance.
Than (quod Venus) vnto my obseruance
I him restoir but ony collusioun,
And puttis him haill agane in ordinance.
Than Venus at Dame Vesta did Inqueir.
Madame, how ar ȝe pleisit of this cheir.
Than said Vesta, I can no man compell
With me remane, owther day or ȝeir
In my seruice to byid or perseueir:
Bot as thay pleis, and likis best thame sell.
Bot quha likis weill with me remane and dwell
Can not be turnit be fair wordis nor austeir,
Nor in na sort with ȝow will Intermell.
That gentill man vnfetchit he come to me,
Murnand richt sair that dolour was to se:
Of all confort he was richt desolait.
Quhan I him saw, I had reuth and pietie
[Page 61]That he was put vnto sic pouertie.
At his requeist I purposit for debait.
Bot now sen he is gane ane vther gait.
I am content, sa he contentit he:
For in na sort his companie I couait.
Sa at all time I bruik my priuilage.
That it be not redact vnto thirlage,
Bot fre and frank fra all kin kind of wicht.
And ȝe Venus with ȝour Court of curage,
I ȝow discharge that ȝe haif na bondage
Of me, nor mine be ȝour fals subtell slicht.
And I siclik agane to ȝow dois plicht,
In time to cum ather do na owtrage.
Thay war content, and Vesta tuik gude nicht.
Than Rhamnusia sone scho gart cry on hie:
I will this Court as now continewit be,
To the same force, forme, effect as effeiris,
As of befoir, bruikand all libertie.
And sa thay rais Ilkane in thair degre.
And Venus taill twa Ladeis vp it beiris.
Vtheris agane the gait befoir hir steiris:
And swa thay pas with greit solemnitie
To Venus hall, baith Ladeis and Bacheleiris.
Than Venus gart ane sort of Ladeis ȝing
Sone Desperance vnto hir Chalmer bring:
And him vncled of all his awin vesture.
Incontinent ane vther fresche cleithing
He was withcled: and he agane randring
To Venus thankis aboue all creature:
[Page]Sayand Madame, quhill my life may Indure,
I salbe ay faithfull but fenȝeing
Vnto ȝour grace but dout I ȝow assure.
Weill (said Venus) thow dois me now plesour,
Howbeit befoir thow was ane forfaltour,
And to thy Name was callit Desperance.
In presence heir within my hall and Bour
I the resaif into my greit fauour,
And makis the feir to my Knicht Esperance,
Thy greit honour, and worschip to auance.
Of thy auld Name I the depriue this hour:
To thy Drourie, and callis the Daliance.
And of my Knichtis I make the ane expres,
That keipis my Bour heir now befoir witnes.
Scho callit hir Knichtis befoir hir euerilkane:
Quhais Names was (gif I can weill thame ges)
Ȝouth, wantones, Vassalage, and Blyithnes,
Pastance, Plesance, Mirth, Merines ouir ane,
Curage, Kindnes, and Rippet, in was tane,
Fauour, Nurtour, Glaidnes, and Gentilnes,
Audacitie ane Nobill Knicht allane.
Compeirit sone Sensualitie thair.
Quhilk to Venus was cheif Cubiculair
Humanitie, Solace, and Hardines:
Sine Manlines, with Nobilnes, maid repair:
Sine sweitnes come quhilk was hir Thesaurar▪
Sine Cheualrie come in with vailȝeantnes:
And Esperance come in with him Prowes:
Sine in come Lust, greit Lord and Secretair [...]
[Page 62]And at his bak come Sport with Tendernes.
Quhen Venus had hir Knichtis all in presence:
To thame scho said in oppin audience:
Heir is ane squyre the quhilk Daliance hecht,
That to my Court sum time hes maid offence:
Bot for sic thing with him I clene dispence.
And in fauour heir I resaif him richt,
And him restoris be the hand to the hicht
That he had ay of my Court, with credence▪
In signe heirof Daliance I dub the Knicht.
Swa in hir armis thā scho him thristit thryis
And swa did all the Ladeis of the Assyis:
And syne the Knichtis as thay expedient
Thocht for the time, as the vse is and gyis.
Than thay began to dance at all deuyis,
That the greit noyis flew to the firmament.
Than tuik thay in Iurnayis of Tornament,
And speir rinning, with mony Interpryis:
Bot buklar play was thair sport most frequent.
Bot quha had sene the Iournayis of rinning,
Greit Tornamentis, and mony speiris brekking.
Sad straikkis, and sair, without ony ransoun.
The vther part agane recountering,
With greit defence, and wonder ferce riding:
It had bene fecht callit anericht felloun.
Quha wan the feild, or greitest Campioun,
[...] was Victour, I nacht decerne that thing:
Bot as me thocht Ladeis was ay dung doun.
[...] bald battell, and brekking of harnes,
[Page]The bricht breist plaittis with birnest brukilnes,
The braid buklaris but baid was laid on breid,
The bluntit blaidis with manlie besines,
The scheddit scheilds, deip woundis but sairnes,
The peirt persing of foirgeir into deid,
The faisit speiris, and neuer wound did bleid,
The forwrocht wichtis in verray werines,
To schaw as now, war prolixt to proceid.
Bot to haif sene as semit be apperance.
The rank Inuy, and the foull defiance,
The greit malice, and eik the fremmit feir,
The sowr persute, and syne the resistance,
The rigorous rais with greit vultrequedance,
Ȝe wald haif traist it had bene ringand weir:
Bot neuer ane thair did ane vther deir,
Louing to GOD all endit with plesance:
Ilk man that ran he buir hame his awin speir.
Sine quhen the feild discomfist was and done,
The Trumpettis blew with sic kin noyis & tone
The rumour rais with ane fell reird and cry,
And bad Ilkane that thay suld pas but hone,
In all gude haist, and make him for the none,
And to thair dine suld dres thame haistelie:
Sone war thay set with mirth and melodie.
Ladie Venus was first set in hir Throne:
Sine all hir Nimphis in thair degre hir by.
Nixt in ordour was set ilk Nobill Knicht,
As the Marschell it speidfull thocht and richt.
Bot in the feild that day quha preuit best
[Page 63]With manlines and manifest thair micht,
Venus gart sit in ane place of mair hicht,
At hir Tabill, and ay hir self neirest:
Ilk delicat but dowt was to thame drest.
For scho yame thocht gude play fuilis day & nicht
To take pastime quhen vtheris ȝeid to rest.
Swa still thay sat the coursis come bedene
In Siluer werk that was baith bricht & schene.
The strang meittis mixt with the spices hait,
The confectioun sa costlie and sa clene,
At this present befoir that lustie Quene,
The deir dancers with diuers delicait,
Sa plesandlie to hir was preparait,
In all my dayis sic neuer I saw with ene,
Thame to rehers it excedis my consait.
And sine the drink it was sa delicious,
With smell and sauour, sa sweit and amorous:
All michtie wine I traist but dowt was thair.
Bot quhair I lay sa lang vnder the bus,
Swyith vp I rais in Name of deir IESVS.
Me thocht I wald fane had part of thair fair.
Forward I fuir, richt faint I ȝow declair,
In hoip to haif at thame honest almous,
Becaus I was sa auld ane man and hair.
Swa in I come amang that companie,
Quhair thay sat at thair heuinlie Maiestie.
I ask almous for luif of IESVS deir.
Thair stude I lang, neuer ane blent to me.
[...]last ane said, quhat may ȝone fell freik be▪
[Page]With the quhite berd and scarlat ene dois bleir?
Ane vther said, ald carll quhat dois thow heir?
Quhat can thow do for our vtilitie.
To rin ane rink, or ȝit to brek ane speir?
Ane vther said, I knaw weill be his face,
He is not ane man to rin in our Barrace,
For laik of pith he is sa puir and peild.
Than said the fourt, heir he will get na grace:
It war mair meit seik to sum vther place,
Quhair he war abill to get sum better beild.
Ane speirit my Name: I said thay call me Eild.
Swyith pak (quod scho) or ȝour bak beir a bace:
Out of this hall: ȝe ar not for this feild.
All the Ladeis was verray discontent:
And grew at me wonder Impatient.
And schew Venus that I was in the hall.
Befoir hir I was brocht Incontinent:
In my contrair scho grew in matilent.
Sayand, auld Carll, the foull euill the befall.
How durst thow be sa malapert with all
In my palice thy self for to present?
Swyith out of sicht, gar sling him ouir the wall.
I said Madame and, it pleisit ȝour grace,
Thocht now the day and hour be cum on cace,
Into ȝour hall ȝe hald me odious:
The time hes bene, I wald haif run ane race,
And brast ane speir in mid of the Barrace,
As nichthouris did, and was als Cheualrous
In ony deid is, or Actis anterous:
[Page 64]I was als frak quhen I had time and space,
As ony is this day within this hous.
Bot the greit deidis that I tuik oft on hand
Into ȝour Court, quhen I dwelt in this land:
The rank riding, and the greit turnament
Causis me now, that I may skantlie stand,
Bot I haif bene sa lang at ȝour command,
Now for to ride I laik abuilȝement:
My riding geir is all to gane and spent.
Ȝit had I geir I suld be ȝour seruand.
Ȝe knaw Madame, gude will suld be payment.
Ga way said scho, ane fell freik thow hes bene
That weill I knaw be thy beld heid and ene:
With yi gude wil thow hes done yat thow may
Bot thy gude will without gude deid betwene,
Is not comptit in my Court worth a prene.
Trowis thow gude will be payment? I say nay
I luif ȝow weill: sa did I ȝisterday.
Preif it than in deid with curage fra the splene.
Gude will but deid is not bot barnis play.
Quod he Madame, I sene the day and hour.
Ȝe wald haif thollit me to byid in ȝour Bour.
(Quod scho) yat is past, gude niche now feldifa [...]
Fairon fond fuill, thow gerris heir na fauour:
Thow art na Page for to do vs plesour.
And sa schorthe I was schot ouir the stair.
The ȝettis was cloisit hard on my heillis thair.
[...]hus thay me treit with tene within that Toure
[...]ll thair Feist, nor meit gat I na mair.
At Vestris Court thair quite I tin [...] gude nicht,
Quhair I sum tune was wont to be ane Knicht.
I kist the ȝettis thair neuer to cum agane.
Hame wart I drew with all my ma [...] & micht,
With [...]af in hand ca [...]s past was the day licht,
I fand ane syre quhair of I was richt fane:
With Iuk and pen to writ I maid me bane.
As ȝe haif hard now reid b [...]ir ȝow richt.
Of thir Ladeis and Court venereane.
Beseikand ȝow heirof that reidaris be,
With hartlie lufe and all humilitie,
Becaus I was baith fundeit, faint, and cald,
And culd not bring away all perfitlie,
Throw du [...] Ingine, and none habilitie:
Or by ressoun quhair ony thuig is cald,
Throw haldād v [...]rs quhair cullom dois not hald
With all requerst excuse that ȝe wald me:
And for pennance my pen I heir vpȝald.
[...] ȝour all baith Ladeis ald and ȝing,
Gif I haif said or form [...] ony thing▪
Of my awin heid into ȝour contrairie,
To gr [...]nt mercie, and gif pennance conding:
First fra Venus, and sine fra Cupide king,
Quhair all luifaris suld seill Heretour is be.
Now last of all praying CHRIST on our king
He wald [...] [...]f [...]f till heuin vs for to bring
At our last end, Amen for cheritie.

Soli Deo Gloria.

I. R.

VINCET TANDEM VERITAS

VERBVM DEI

Imprentit at Edinburgh be Iohne Ros. 1575. Cum Priuilegio Regali.

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