Sone to deid Pleis Èour greit grace to this mater tak heid The Empreour to sic wordis gaue audience And said my Lordis of me Èe haue credence Within this Realme to leid Justice and Law Thairfoir I will consent weill to Èour saw And al 's I think it richt expedient He be condampnit in ane plane Judgement Than command was to put him in presoun Thair to remane without ony ransoun Unto the time that Justice Court suld stand Than four Jewellours ressauit him fra hand In deip presoun richt schairplie him Inclusit Qâ—hairin befoir the Childe was neuer vsit Now lat him sit God couer him of cair Of the Emprice lat vs speik farthermair Quha perseueirit in malice and greit Ire Aganis this Childe as ony byrnand fyre As sone as scho had gottin trew knawledge That this Èoung man was put in presonage Not put to deid sa suddanlie as scho wald Scho cryit schoutit and muriut monyfald That the Palice scho causit be all on steir It was greit pane hir for to se and heir Than hir Ladyis to hir Chalmer thocht best Hir to conuoy thairin for to tak rest QuheÌ„ 〈…〉 ht was cum ye King to Chalmer past And fand his Quene weiping murning fast Wringing hir hands sobbing and siching sair The King was noyit to se hir mak sic cair To quhome he said O my deir Lady gent Quhat is the caus that Èe sa sair lament Scho said my Lord knaw Èe not all the â—ace How Èour curst Sone hes maid bludie my face And wald me put to vtter displesour War not Èour self and vthers maid succour â—e cammandit him for to hang fra hand Zit not the les on life he is leifand Nor Èour command is not obeyit at all Nor Èit my schame na way is maid to fall Quhairfoir my Lord I think that Èe stand 〈◊〉 Vpon Èour Sone to leid Justice and law Than to the Quene the Empreour can say Madame sa sone the morne as it is day All Èour desire to fulfill and Intent He sall but dout thole Justice in Judgement Quod scho my Lord sall he Èit leif sa lang Quod he Madame lat this ane nicht ouirgang Than micht sic chance on Èow cum haistelie As on ane Burges come of this Cietie As it was schaw in the treuth vnto my sell Quod he Madame I pray Èow that to tell At Èour plesure quod scho it salbe done Sa hir Sermone on this wise began sone ¶ MORALITAS ZE se this Quene be wayis wrang Willing put doun this proper Chyle Be curst consait and lesing strang To deid him to conuict and fyle And al 's hir King persuaid to trow all that scho said With mony wrink fals way and wyle Bot Èit scho was set by hir style be gude counsall he had Quhilk causit him to prolong the tyme Be gude counsall vnto the morne Quhair thay best culd try out the cryme And clen ge the caffe out fra the corne It is gude to put by ane euill hour sa say I Or ane Innocent be forlorne And he of sa greit lynnage borne this is my caus and quby For giue this Quene had gottin hir w 〈…〉 The King had it repent it fair Without tin counsall or gude skill For to distroy his Sone and Air Quhilk greit pietie had bene quhil the treuth had bene sene â—uengeance on hir euer mair This Chyld that caryit in sic cair And curst be sic a Quene Quhen thow Èoung man cummis to gude age Giue ony tune it chancis the Be gift of God wit and knowlege Ane chosm Judge than for to be Giue ony fault be done caus to correct it sone Bot first that thow baâ—th heir and se The talking of the nixt partie than thow thy wit adione Giue thair occurris caus or querrell Be not to swyft to giue sentence For thairin standis richt greit perrell Dout and danger with negligence Be the mater obscure than thow suld be richt sure Be witnes and Experience Lat Ilk ane vse thair dew defence euin to riche as to pâ—â—â— Se thow vse ay ane gude Counsall Of that be sicker at thy syde And sa lichtlie thow sall not faill Quhat euer chance for to betyde Gude counsall is the ground quhair faithfulnes is found It can persaue and al 's prouyde And fra all perrell for to gyde within ane lytill stound For giue thow haistelie pronounce Sentence ouir sone to riche or pure The same na way thow may renounce Nor in na sort agane recure Without tin â—ak and shame dishonour and defame Thairfoir thow suld be wonder sure That thow to na man do Iniure or els thow seruis balme Now to Èow Judges I will say Eschew fra wraith and greit furour Lat mercy meis Èour mynde alway Lat ressoun reule Èour greit Rankcour In na point be partiall Èour Ballance beir equall Than do Èe God ane greit plesour And to Èour self purches honour and wynnis gude word of all ¶ To knaw quhat the Empreour the Emprice the Èoung Chylde and the seuin Doctouris signifyis OR we proceid Èit farthermair Of this mater sum thing will schaw Quhat ilk thing menis for to declair The mater better Èe will knaw This Empreour that leidis the Law He signifyis a mannis persoun That walteris betuix wynde and waw Into this warld ay vp and doun His Sone betakins the Saull of maâ— Quhilk in the corps is ay Inclusit The Emprice Signifyis Sathan Quhilk euer oppin malice musit The seuin Doctouris a seuin vertewis Fechtand contrair seuin deidlie sinnis Quhilk that the sillie Saull persewis Fra to distructioun it beginnis The seuin dayis this Childe is dum Of mannis lyfe thay ar the space For in this warld fra he first cum De nener hes perfyte solace Quhill that God tak him in his grace And forÈet all this warldlie lust Than speikis he to God face to face Quhen that the Deuill he hes vincust Euin sa of this Emprice Tale Tauld for to tempt the Empreour Trowand perfytelie to preuaill And of this Childe to be victour Tellis on hir Tale for his plesour Of quhilk the Empreonr was content As Èe sall heir gude Auditour Thairfoir to purpois lat vs went ¶ The first Tale of the Emprice is of the gude tre that grew in the Burges Gardine and for the Imp that grew besyde it he gart cut the greit tre IN Romes Toun remanit ane riche Burges Quhilk had at welth all mirth and merines With fair biggings quhilk was baith braid hie With gay gardings yat was plesand to se Of alkin flouris he had thairin ane part That was to get about in euerie art To tell thair Names I neid not now tak tome Few was siclyke sa plesand in all Rome In this Gardine thair grew ane Nobill trie Quhilk euerie Èeir brocht furth frute gude pleÌ„tie Sine by
sall neuer cum agane Quhill he be deid that gart my ane Sone die Bot wo allace this is na mendis to me Howbeit it be ane syithment to my hart â—it my greit wo it slokins in sum part Thairfoir my Lord gif Èe think it be done Without delay gar sla Èour Grewhound sone The Knicht heiring thir sorrowfull tidance How to his Sone had fallin sic mischance Hamewart in haist but baid he maid him boun And in the clois quhen he was lichâ—it doun The Grewhound hard horsmen into the clois Amang the laif he knew his Maisteris voce And vp he rais in the blude quhair he lay To his Maister the hie gait come his way Faynt and foirfocht come fawnand to his feit As he had wont his Maister for to meit Into greit Ire quhat is thair mair to say With his scharp sword he claif his heid in tway And that onlie for ane word of his wife Gat his rewaird that sauit his Sonnis life Than past the Knicht but baid vnto the haw Persauit the blude and al 's the Creddill saw He liftit vp the Creddill as it stude Fand the barne haill and al 's mekill spilt blude Persauand sine of the Serpent the heid The skin and taill that had fochin to deid And fand his Sone withouttin wan or wound Allace he said for my gude gay grew hound That I haue slane withouttin ony caus Bot onlie for the voide vane wordis and sawis Of ane woman that hes talkit in vane Quhairthrow I haue but caus my GrewhouÌ„d Quhilk I persaue hes sauit my sonnis life slane Fra the Serpent throw his debait and strife Wo to the hour that now I drew my sword Wo to the hour that hard my wifis word Wo to the hand that suddand straik that gaue To my best hound that my so 〈…〉 s life did saue Quhilk I lude best without ony compair Saifing my wife my onlie Sone and Air. Quhilk at this time hes sauit fra the deid And for rewaird now he hes loist his heid But dout I wald haue geuin a thousand pound Of gude money or I had slane my hound Bot sen sa is I se is na remeid My Sone is saif and my gude hound is deid That faucht for him and onlie sauit his life And I him slew throw ane word of my wife Bot fra thine furth heir I solempne ane vow That Jik man sall gif credence to and trow Heir I forsaik all Tornay and Justing Heir I forsaik all Halking and Hunting Heir I forsaik rynning with scheild and speir Heir I forsaik all faitis of men of weir In Cristindome bot Èit not manlynes Heir I forsaik all armour and harnes For I will pas now to the Halie land And fecht with Jowis quhill I may strike or stand Contrair Gods fais thairto end my life This vowit yis knicht for ane word of his wife That vnto hir gaue sic haistie credence Withouttin caus or Èit Experience Thairfoir my Lord Èour gude Grace I require Gif not sa sone credence to the desire Of Èour Emprice thocht scho be diligent Aganis Èour Sone greit lesingis to Inuent For Èe may weill be this same Tale persaue Quhat the knicht gat that sa sone credence gaue Vnto his wife and to hir wordis vane That sauit his Sone y t same hound hes he slane Thairfoir gude Schir pleis Èour nobill grace I wald Èe gaue na credence in this cace Vnto Èour Quene to put Èour Sone to deid For Èe will rew quhen thair is na remeid As did this knicht his Nobill hound that slew Remeid bypast than he began to rew My Lord he said haue Èe betane this Taill The Empreour said that I haue done but faill For that gude Taill that Èe haue tauld to me As for this day my Sone he sall not die The Doctour said gif that Èe do sir thing Ze do wiselie and like ane Nobill king Thankand Èour Grace that onlie for my saik Zour Sonnis deid onlie Èe haue done slaik And sa tuke leif at the gude Empreour To his marrowis past hame with all plesour ¶ MORALITAS THIS Tale vs tellis quha list thairto tak tent That Nuresis suld not be negligent To keip thair Babis quha can not keip thair sell Fra fyre watter and all siclyke perrell That may happin to ony Innocent For in to treuth my self this mater saw In Edinburgh toun west vnderneth the waw Thairfoir mair sure the mater Èe sall trow That ane Infant was swellyit with ane sow The guttis raif furth baith lung Leuer and gaw The Mother left the Èoung ane on the flure In blankets sit quhilk barne hir awin self bure Past hir way furth and or scbo come agane The gredie sow had this Èoung Babie slane This my self saw I may say it mair sure Thothe I not saw this vther I hard tell How ane woman past furth bot to the well And left hir Bab in the Creddill sleipand Or scho returnit the hous was all byrnand And the Èoung Bab deuorit with fyre sa fell Mony mischeifis and also greit offencs Des oft occurrit be Nureis negligence That thair Babeis leifis in the hous alane Quhilk is the caus of mony barnis vane As is oft sene be gude Experience Thairfoir Mothers and Nuresis I protest Quhen that Èe put Èout Èoung Babeis to rest Leif not the hous alane all desolait Quhat may be chance oft times richt small Èe wait To cshew danger do Èe the liklyest Al 's in this Tale I fynd ane vther thing How the Serpent lay in the hoill lurking Wait and quhill that the hous was at quyet Mony seruand is now preuilie play is the Dyet Muche taking out and small gude will inbring Thir to Serpentis richt weill I may compair Fra thair Maisteris ay takand lait and air As Beif Bacon malt meill baith claith and coilis Takand ay out and hydand into hoils Thir ar Serpents I say to Èow but mair As to this knicht quhilk his gude hound hes slane That sauit his Sone fra all perrell and pane Ze may persaue be gude Experience It is not gude to gif haistie credence To wyfis wordis that ar baith fals and vane Unto the tyme thay had perfytelie sene How the haill caus and mater it had bene Quhen thay had â—â—nawin the vtter veritie Than had bene tyme the Dog to haue gart die Also the Nureis na way I can mak clene Sine throw the word of ane vane wickit wyfe Quhilk oft is caus of mekill sturt and stryfe Causit him to do the thing he did sair rew Becaus the treuth that tyme clene he misknew And gart him reif fra his gude hound the lyfe Quhilk Instantlie for suik rynning of speir All merynes and honest fait is of weir All vailÈeant acts of Justing and Tornay Hunting Halking and all sir game and play His awin Realme
offendis This Hyrd I may to Èour Sone weill compair That Èow wald sla as this Hird did the Bair With his cunning dois claw Èow on the wame Quhill that Èe sleip and syne put Èow to schame Or ellis Èow slay outher be day or nicht This Èour Sone dois be his Science and slicht That he may bruke baith Èour Impyre and Croun He cairis nathing quhat cum to Èour persoun Euin sa his Maisteris with thair fals fenÈeit sawis Dois Èow ay glois as all the warld weill knawis Thairfoir my Lord as Èe will haue weilfair Remember weill on the Scheiphyrd and Bair Than said the King God forbid that sa be That chancit the Bair that sic thing chance not me Bot not the les Madame for Èour gude Taill My Sone the morne salbe hangit but faill My Lord said scho gif Èe compleit that thing Than sall Èe do lyke ane wyse Nobill King ¶ MORALITAS CVRAGE prouokis hardynes Quhilk twa Ingenneris strang manheid Quhilk twa adionit with happynes Makis a man debait his pleid Richt sa into this cace this Scheiphyrd did purches The fair Madin al 's sweit as meid With all hir land and gold sa reid God grantit him sic grace Auenture gude and haue ay gude for debait maâ—is destanie For euin with this scheiphird stude outher to do or els to die He was sa stont and sture of his lyfe tuke na cure Thairfoir wald thow estemitit be set all on auenture And for to purches honestie To dignitie wald thow the dres and conqueis the honour Thow suld not sleip in Idilnes nor tak all thy plesour Set all on ser and seuin and perchance cast eleum With prayer sa and gude laubour a man may coÌ„queis beuin Denuâ—ing the of all rankour ¶ Ane reproche to the Empriâ—e THE crukit compansouns of Èour wylde Bair Will win Èow na warisounis to Èow I declair Of hell thow art the snair plutois playfule in plane In hell than hald the thair and cum not heir agane Bot still their ay remane to be houng be the hals Into perpetuall pane becaus thow art sa fals THE morrow come and but mair auisement The Empreour set him self in Judgement Condampnit his Sone on Gallous for to die Without respect that alkin man micht se He being led out throw the streit and toun With greit regrait and sair lamentatioun The nixt Maister come than the way ridand And saw the Child to the Gallous gangand Quhairat he was baith sad and sorrowfow Bot Èit the Childe to his Maister did bow Inclynit his heid as he wald said him to Maister mak speid Èe ken quhat is ado The Maister than prickit sa in that stour Quhill he lichtit befoir the Empreour With reuerence as weill culd him effeir And at his Grace richt humblie culd he speir O my gude Lord quha geuis Èow this counsell Withouttin caus Èour awin sone doun to quell It is Èour wife that siclike garris Èow do Perchance Èe sall vpon war hap cum to ThaÌ„ chaÌ„cit ane knicht yat throw his wifis fals Was put to schame w tout querrel or caus saw is Than said the King gude maister I require Èow Schaw me that Tale blyithlie I sal heir Èow My Lord he sayis will Èe gar call agane Zour onlie Sone quha is to suffer pane I sall Èow tell my Tale furth to the end And sa the King agane for him did send Put him in waird quhair that he was beforne Quhill that the Tale was done and til y â— morne Sa the Maister the secund Tale began Befoir the King and mony Nobill man As Èe sall heir thairfoir gif audience But mair delay and to Èour reuerence ¶ The Tale of the secund Maister IN ane Cietie thair was ane Ancient Knicht That had maryit ane Lady fair and bricht As Èe haue ane my Lord to Èour plesour And held hir vp in all eis and honour Lufit hir sa weill aboue all eirdly thing Sir as Èe do Èour Quene my Souerane King He lude hir sa he culd not eit nor drink But hir presence sa on hir ay did think And al 's at euin quhen all folk to bed past The Èettis and dures siclike he lokkit fast And all the keyis vnder his heid thay lay Euerilk nicht quhill morne that it was day And at ilk morne quhen he thocht time to rise Oppinnit the dures him self as was the gise In that Cietie was ane custome and Law Cryit oppinlie that Ilk persoun micht knaw At ane set hour ane Bell was roung at nicht That all micht heir and vnderstand full richt And thairefter withouttin mair delay The watche was set to walk quhill it was day Sine efter that gif thay culd ony meit Gangand allone or walkand on the streit Sone thay war tane and vnto presound led Quhill on the morue that all men rais fra bed Thay war fast bound to ane stock or ane tre To thair greit schame that all the toun micht se Sine efter that Induring thair lifetime Thay war repute as giltie of ane crime And haldin furth fra all gude companie This was the Law that time of this Cietie This foirsaid Knicht quhairof I spak of air Was growin in age ane auld man and ane hair His rampand rage of Èouth he had compleit And had slokinnit of bedsolace the sweit How beit he lude his Lady weill aneuch Zit as Èe ken mair graith â—pertenis the pleuch And scho persauit of sic craft he did faill Scho tuke in heid ane vther to assaill And sa scho did ane man of tender age In lust is bour for to win vassalage Quha had ane quyer Chalmer in the toun Sa euerie nicht efter this Knicht lay doun Under his heid the key scho staill away To hir Èoung lufe scho went quhair that he lay And sa scho did al 's oft as euer scho list Tuke furth the keyis that hir husband not wist And quhen scho come fra hir tryst and hir trane Scho laid the keyis vnder his heid agane So it befell vpon ane wynter nicht Ane walking come vpon this Elderin Knicht He culd not sleip Èit walking as he lay He turnit about and mist his wife away Vpon hir Name he cryit ofter nor thrise Scho answerit not than he begouth to rise Socht all the hous be na way culd hir find And wist not weill gif scho was out or in Socht his bed heid quhair that the keyis lay Quhat wald Èe mair thay war all tane away Past to the Èettis all oppin he thame fand But mair auise he closit thame fra hand In ane windo that oppinnit vp to the gait Mekill of the nicht thair sat he at the wait And quhen it was about the thrid Cok craw Makand hir hame his awin wife he saw Quha fand the Èettis vpon hir lokkit fast Ze may weill wit that scho was than
To the Doctouris the hie gait can he pas And the wrytingis delyuerit sone hes he Vnto the seuin Doctouris of Dignitie Quha it ressauit with all Obedience Humilitie honour and reuerence ¶ MORALITAS IT is ane plaigue perrellous and ane greit dispair Ane Realme to be destitute of ane Natiue Air Quhair kynd captans haldis court na caâ—s is of cair The commoun welth Incressis ay daylie mair and mair Be the contrair agane Vnkyndlie Captanes ouirthrawis And commoun welth doun drawiâ— And leidis not the auld Lawis Bot contrair wirks plane This was the maist motiue the caus and the querrell That causit thir Princes compeir to schaw all the perrell The greit danger and dout and the caus haill Baith for commoun welth and Croune gif airs chancit faill Thair was bot onlie ane Thairfoir this mater thay mene To caus him tak ane new Quene That new Airs micht be sene Gif this Air war gane And sa belyue but pley to counsall be applyit Caus it was the commoun weill he durst not deny it Bot Èit his first Quenes desyre in sum part past by it That to the court the chyld brocht quhair he was sair inuyit The Empreour not knew Ze ken of auld this trew Talâ— Nyce is the Nychtingale The Empreour gaue hir credrence hale And neuer word trew Quhen wemen speikis fairest thay ar maist fals found Thay gar sweit liâ—our swym aboue and gâ—ll is at the ground Thay shaw thame lyke ane turtill dow and bytis as ane hound The Empreour was dessauâ—t sair as sone was efter found Thay war ay and salbe Sa quesitiue baith nicht and day The Empreour culd na gâ—it say nay Bot men suld not trow that thay say Sa oft becaus thay lie ¶ How the seuiâ— Maisteris efter the â—icht of the Empreouris Letteris wald first se the cours of the Firmament and Planetis quhidder it was gude to obey his coÌ„mandement or not AL 's sone as yir seuin maisters had ouirsene The empreours writ vnderstude it clene On the nixt nicht all seuin with ane consent Past to espy the sternis and Firmament To tak Jornay gif it was prosperous Or contrair way gif it was dangerous For to fulfill the Empreouris command Or gif thay durst the samin to ganestand Anone thay spy into the Firmament Ane stormie sterne that troublit thair Intent Persauing weill be the sterne gif that thay Thair Jornay tuke and raid that sam 〈…〉 day To thame affirt be the Empreouris command The Childe but dout in greit perrell suld stand For the first word that he spak in presence Of his Father in oppin audience Suld be the caus of his greit schamefull deid This to eschew thay culd find na remeid Quhairof thay waâ— all sad and wounder sorie And wiâ—t not weill to trauell or to tarie Ane vther sterne than thay beheld also Schawing to thame to the King wald not go And keip the day quhilk was affixt thame to To waÌ„t thair heids thair was nocht ellis ado Ane of them said quhair twa Illis dois appeir Lat vs that tak quhairin lyis leist dangeir It is better surelie I say for me For this Impire that we all seuin suld die And vther seuin uÌ„clicke as we ar all Or this Èoung man suld suffer ouy thrall Thairfoir â—at vs all seuin with ane Intent Our awin personis to the Empreour present And let the Chylde at haâ—e alone remane To se giue we tary or cummis agane And sa thay war all seuin richt sorrowfow Panâ—ing alwayis quhat meane fassoun or how Thay micht eschew this Inconuenient Sa this Èoung man come doun Incontinent Fra his Chalmer quhair he was studiand His seuin Maisteris all sittand thair he fand Richt sorrowfull and sad in countenance He them Inquyrit quhat was the cauâ— chaÌ„ce Of thair sadnes thay said this standis the cace We all beleuit till had of Èow solace Blyithnes and Joy and also gude rewaird Bot now Fortoun hes bene to Èow sa hard That all sit thing to greit wanhap will turne Quhairfoir we all hes greit â—aus for to murne For all our Joâ— and our Felicitie Is like to turne to greit aduersitie He said Maisters I pray Èow to me schaw How the case standis Èit Èe will lat me knaw Thay said the case that we can schaw to Èow Into the self is wonder sorrowfow For Èour Father the Empreour and King Unto vs seuin hes seâ—d ane schairp wryting Commanding vs withouttin tarying On panâ— of lyfis that we Èow tiâ—l him bring Juroutment at the nixt Penthecoist Thir his wrytingis he hes send at the poist To quhat effect we knaw not his Intent Bot we all seuin hes spyit the Firmament The Planetis elk and al 's the sternis cleir And we can se na vther thing appeir Bot haistelie without ony remeid And Èe speik a 〈…〉 s Èe sall thoill suddand deid Gâ—f we delay and bring Èow not him till Our deid is dicht and in Èour Fatheris will â–ª The Childe answerit agane richt humblie I sair repent that sic ane thing suld be Can Èe not find in that case na remeid Bot outher I. or Èe to suffer deid Zit I mon pas and all the sternes spy Gif I can find ony remeid thairby That may put of that deidlie dolent hour And satisfie my Father the Empreour Incontinent he veseis ouir his buikis Sinâ— efter that vnto the sternes he luikis Amanxg the rest ane proper sterne he saw â–ª That was richt cleir perfite and wonder smaw Quhairby richt weill considderit he the cace Gâ—ue that he culd abstene seuin dayis space Fra all speiking and hald him self as dum â—uir siâ— perrell he clenelie suld ouircum And axll thair lifis in na perrell to be Quhilk sterue he leit all his seuin Maisters se And said Maisters behald and weill persaue Giue I my self as dum man moste me haue Seuin dayis but speich sine on the auchtand day All the perrell I sall auoyde away And Èe ar seuin of all the warld maist wise I think it is bot ane small Interprise Ilk ane of Èow to saue my life ane day Quhen that is done than sum thing I sall say That Èe and I fra all perrell salbe The Maisteris sâ—uin concludit perfitelie All that he said was wonder Just and trew For be the sterne the sa 〈…〉 weill thay knew And randerit thankis to Potestatis diuine That thair Scoller had sa perfite Ingine Of cleir cunning sic ane sterne to considder Quhairby that thay suld all be saif togidder And out of dout and all danger of deid Seuin dayis put by him self to find remeid ¶ The first Maister Pantillas was his Name Said that he suld vnder the vane of schame For the first day befoir the King to stand To saue his life partlie he tuke on hand Quod Lentulus quhilk was the nixt Doctour I tak on
lois This rude Ribald wald reueis me with schame Persaue this Childe now giue he seruis blame Was neuer woman sen first the warld began Sa cruellie drest with ane vnfaithfull man That I lippinnit na harme suld to me done O Èe my Lords cum heir and help me sone ¶ MORALITAS NOW be this Tale Èe may persaue How mony wayis that wemen haue At all times for to dissaue ane Innocent Into hir net quhill scho him get to hir Intent With flattering wordis baith fals and 〈◊〉 Sic to reheirs wald fyle the Air For schame nor sin thay will not spair thair mynd to schaw Schame is past the sched of thair hair as weill we 〈◊〉 To tempt this man was all hir mynde And caus him to foull sin Inclynde He wald not speik bot with ane synd he wald forsaik hir Scho was the Deuillis wonder kynd the foull Ill tak hir Scho lichtlyit hir awin Lord and King With greit dessait and fals talking Incontinent this Childe to bring to ane mischeif Fy Tratour that thocht sic a thing fy commoun theif Paper and Ink scho till him gaue Thocht he was dum that scho micht haue His vtter mynde and to persaue quhat he wald do Quhen scho it red with feit it tred now fy quod scha Quben that scho saw scho culd not speid Scho raif bi r clais all into screid With skarting causit hir fare to bleid in greit dispyte Fy Trumpour that did sic ane deid God will the quyte Quben scho had all reuin doun hir face Scho cryit oft tymes full lowde allace Is thair na help in all this place nor na remeid This Tratour strang â–ª garsone ga hang quhill he be deid He wald heir in greit velaine Contrair my will deforcit me As Èe may all persaue and se my bludie face Beiris witnes weill gif sic thing be into this cace Ze may persaue scho had na schame To caus hir self get sit defaine Siclyke ane Innocent bure blame that was saclene That tuke na cure to be ane hure and scho ane Quene Syne into euill sa done expert Sa falslic culd the Tale peruert Quhilk was weill knawin sone efterwart as Èe sall feir Quhat was baith Quene and Chylds part saide maid cleir O Doly Dragoun and doutsum Den O glowrand gredie and gaipen Blen O filthy desche fosterit in Fen with greit offence O Tocatrice that will not ken thy awin conscience O vyle Uiper maist vennemus O suttell Serpent Sulphurius O hiddous pit pestiferus now this I say the O dowbill Deuill maist dangerus God saue me fra the. In malice thow art sa frequent Sa mony euillis thow can I'nuent Sa vicious and sa vehement ay proue to euill Thow wald rin to get thy Intent quick to the Deuill Fy on the soull flame fyre sa fell Fy on the hiddeous hound of hell Fy on the verray springand well that ay was brokin That cairis not to condemyne thy sell thy lust to slokin Fy on thy lust Insaciabill Fy on thy myrth maist Miscrabill Fy on the lufe maist lamentabill full of dispyte Zour chance is ay sa changeabill clene I Èow quyte Sen I Èow se sa Inconstant All vertewis me think Èe want Bot into vice richt aboundant Èe are profest And ay to rin to schame and sin Èe think it best Sen Èe ar geuin to Èour plesour Not regarding Èour awin honour How sall men haue to Èow fauour thairfoir I quyte Èow Ze ar not worthe to be set forthe the Deill bedryte Èow To gude wemen not this I say It is thair part baith nicht and day As Èe haue hard befoir me say with thame to chyde To this gude wemen will not nay na ryme nor tyde Thairfoir I pray Èow me excuse For euill wemen I can not ruse Thair awin honour sa thay abuse in alkin sort Heirfoir thair companie I refuse I sap at schort ¶ How the Emprice complenit to the Empreour of the shame done to hir be his Sone Dioclesiane THE Empreour with his Lords in the hall Hard the loud schout and sorte preteous call Of the Emprice all haistelie thay furth rau Mony greit Lord Knichts and gentilman The Empreour come first quhair y â— was y â— quene And said Madame quhat haue Èe hard or sene To do Èow noy anguische or displesour O fy scho said heir is ane greit Tratour Ze call Èour Sone bot Èour Sone is he notht Had he bene Èouris sic thing he had not wrocht I wait it was neuer hard of beforne In all this warld sen ony man was borne That sic ane knaif sa hie thing to presume As to defoull the great Emprice of Rome Thairfoir my Lord sen Èe ar Empreour This mater maist rynds to Èour greit honour Correct Èe not sic thing and mak remeid I reck nathing how sone that I be deid For gude causis to Chalmer I him led Sine like ane knaif he wald defoulit my bed I chereist him with wordis of greit comfort To speik to me I did him oft erhort On foull badrie his minde was onlie set Fra time he saw his willis he culd not get At his plesure he maid him me deforce Contrair my will and sa hes rent my Corce With effusioun of blude all aboundant And beleuing na vther thing Instant Bot haistie deid war not I gaue aue schout Considder weill gif I stude than in dout â—e may persaue be my ab 〈…〉 Èement The treuth heirof how that he hes it rent The sin and schame of this harlot to fle Ilk man map knaw how he hes done to me Thairfoir my Lord as I haue said befoir I Èow desire Èe wald caus to restoir My greit honour and my worschip agane That this Rebald fals Dioclesiane Wald fra me rent forcelie aganis my will Or cllis Èour bed I sail neuer cum till Quhen that the â—ing this mater hard and saw He was Inflambit with cruell Ire and gaw Malice wodnes and greit Melancholie Was na remeid bot that his Sone suld die Callit Sergandis gaue thame strait coÌ„mand On ane Gallous thay suld him hang fra hand ThaÌ„ said the Lords y â— stude the Empreour neir And pleis Èour grace sum of our wordis to heir Lord as Èe knaw Èe haue na Sonnis bot ane Quhairfoir we all hes greit caus to mak mane And gif Èe had we think all verralie â—our present Sone war abill for to die Bot not the les with sa haistie Intent We think not best we say with ane consent â—our onlie Sone that Èe sa sone put doun Without ordour of Law or promsioun The Law is maid to punische trespassouris All geuin to euill and mischant transgressouris And gif sa be that he be found the same Than be ordour lat the Law him condame That â—a man say that the greit Empreour His onlie Sone in wodnes and furour Without the Law hes put his
puneist be For Èour rewaird Èe serue na mair of me He said my Lord and pleis Èour Nobill grace ThaÌ„ I haue spent richt Ill my seum Èeiris space Taking laubouris on Èour sone day and nicht In gude doctrine him teichand as I micht Zit our laubouris at all we nocht regaird Bot beleuit weill to get better rewaird The empreour said thow leis Doctour but dout First vnto the sine to the rest about My onlie Sone weill speikand haill and feir I delyuerit now Èe haue brocht him heir With na maners bot doytit daft and dum And mair at tour to schaw the all and sum Thocht he be dum sic thing mon cum on chance Be Goddis will or his gude Ordinance Bot by all this he purposit quhilk was wors My awin Lady on maistres to defors And all hir face with hir riche Ornament In greit malice he hes all reum and rent Thairfoir this day he sall not faill to die And efter him thow and thy companie The Maister said with wordis mylde and meik As for Èour Sone Èe say that can not speik The Lord of all that mater weill he knawis As Èe sall knaw he is not dum but caus I traist in God the suith Èow for to say Ane thousand him sall heir speik on ane day As for Èour wyfe my Lord quhair Èe allege Quhair that he wald haue done to hir outrage On treuth my Lord I sall schaw Èow but weir In companie with vs this mony Èeir As is weill kend continuallie hes beue Sic thing of him was neuer hard nor sene Thairfoir gude Lord for Èour greit reuerence To sic voyde sawis gif not ouir sone credence For giue Èe caus Èour onlie Sone to die For the fals wordis of Èour wyfis vanitie On chance it sall far wors to happin Èow Nor to ane Knicht quhairof I sall tell now That for the wordis of his vane wantoun wife Gart him bereif his gay Grewhound the life Quhilk sauit his sone fra slauchter of the serpeÌ„t Than said the King tell me furth that Legent Pantillas said than to his Souerane Gif I sa did than war my Tale in vane For or my Tale war all compleit but dout Of Èour ane Sone the life may be put out And than my Tale for nathing it war tald Bot gif Èour grace of Èour greit mercie wald Reteir Èour Sone fra the Gallous agane Than I wald think my Tale war not in vane Thairfoir gif that Èour Grace plesis to heir Ze caus Èour Sone quhill the morne reteir That being done than on the morne Èe may Do Èour Intent quhen it is fair licht day The Empreour than schortlie to conclude With heuie minde this talk weill vnderstude And causit the Childe for to be callit agane Vnto the morne in presoun to remane Than this Doctour richt plesandlie began To tell his Tale but aw of ony man ¶ MORALITAS ICAN not say bot nay of this Burges For till assay alway for gredynes To cut his tre wald be of sic riches I say for me that he preuit fulischnes And his was not witles baith tre and frute he wantit The gardner not saikles to cut sa sone that grantit It was euill done sa sone to cut it doun Thocht it aboue conâ—one waid not weill soun With the Èoung tre to be at diuisioun I say for me surelie was na ressoun I hard sit a lessoun better to haue in hand A bird in possessioun nor twa in wod fleand Ane Dog I reid in deid ane Collap staw Passand throw Tweid with speid the schadow saw That it was mair larger the flesche leit faw Of it was clair euin thair of flesche and aw Thay vsâ—in hous and haw qubat euer denner toist Lat beif not fra Èow draw quhill that Èe get Èour roist Gif this Burges sit case had weill foirsene Sic gredynes doutles than had not bene That nobill tre sa fre sa fresche and grene Sa sone to be schortlie doun cuttit clene Greit couatice I mene of this was all the caus As hes bene red and sene into auid doctours sawi◠¶ Cupidites est radix omnium malorum Timot. vj. ¶ Ane reproche or reprufe to the Emprice NOW thow thy tale hes tauld with thy fals fyrie lippis Bot not gottin thow wald licht skirt for all thy skippis Had I the in my grippis on the I suld be wrokin The heit into thy hippis the salt sey will not slokin Thow art ane baird full brokin ane hiddeous helles hyrd Better thow had not spokin condampnit Deuillis byrd ¶ The Tale of Pantillas the first Doctour INTO ane Realme thair wynnit ane vailÈeaÌ„t knicht Of nobill fame of greit riches micht That had ane sone my Lord now as Èe haue To thre Nuresis to foster he him gaue The first Nureis to giue him suck and feid The nixt him wesche keip him clene at neid The thrid to bring him vnto sleip and rest The Nobill Knicht for his barne thocht it be st This Knicht also he had ane gay Grewhound That nane mair swyft did rin vpon the grouÌ„d Also he had ane Falcon fair of flicht Richt swyft of wing quhen scho likit to licht Thir twa the Kincht lufit abone measure Becaus oft times thay did him greit pleasure This Grewhound was sa swift and of sic speid Quhen he was lousit his pray he gart ay bleid And the same pray brocht to his Lord anone This was ane caus he â—â—fit him allone Also quhen that this Knicht past to battell Gif that his chance that time wald not preuaill Into his mouth his hors taill wald he tak About his luggis oft times he wald it srhaik Syne Èoull and cry as he wald quyte rin wode Sa be that Signe the Knicht wrill vnderstude Gif at that time he wald furder drâ—o And sa oft times lest him to battell go His Halk also was safeirce in hir flicht Sa swyft of wing â–ª and al 's sa wonder wicht That scho was neuer east of till assay Bot without fault scho brukit ay hir pray Thir war causis this Hound and Halk he lufit Becaus to myrth thay rasit him oft and mufit Also this Kniche kest all his haill Inteut In hors rinning Justing and Tornament Sa on ane day he causit to protlame At his Castell to set fordwart his Name Quha wald cum thair to Tornay or Justing Breiking of speiris and al 's of hors rynâ—â—ng At the set day to be matchit suld not faiâ—â— This was the cry and sa to schort my Taili The Knicht him self first enterit in the feild To the tornay with harnes hors and sâ—heild Sine efter him past his fair Lady gent With hir Ladyis to se the Tornament Sine efter that past all the Nuresis thre The Tornament for to behald and se Lokking the dures leuing the barne alone Traisting Ischie nor entrie suld be none
on hand â—e Schir said thay at that same we will stand For we haue sene be gude experience His greit wisdome craft and Intelligence The Empreour than vnto the barne he said Sen sic a thing gude Childe is to Èow laid The caus thairof at Èow I wald Inquire And sine my helth than harthe I desire Than said the Child and pleis Èour nobil graâ—â— We twa alone mon talk ane lytill space In Èour Chalmer I sall Èow schaw trewlie The caus of all Èour greâ—t Infir 〈…〉 e. And quhen he was into the Chalmer led He causit cast of all the clais of the bed â—uhâ—â—k into haist the Empreour causit be done My Lord he said now heir Èe sall se sone Ane meruellous thing â–ª quhilk Èe hard neuer tell Under the bed thair was ane mekill well Of quhilk thair rais ane foull smuke and a reiâ— That wald haue maid a man baith blind seik Out of this well thair springs seu 〈…〉 greit sprigs The Empreour than he meruellit of siâ— things Under his bed to be and he not wist Sa greit a well sa foull ane reik and mist He said my Lord heir planelie Èe may se The â—erray caus of Èour Infirmitie Without Èe put thir sprâ—â—gis and well away To get Èour sicht agane na wise Èe may The Empreour said I pray Èow to me tell The nerrest way for to vndo this well Than said the Chylde thair is na way bot anâ— â—â—f it pleis Èow on force it mon be tane The Empreour said I pray Èow richt hartlie Schaw me the way â–ª gif sic ane thing may be Gold nor gudis on na way will I spair Sa that the treuth to me Èe will declair Gif mannis craft his naturall wit or micht Perfite cunning with â—ude science or sliche Subtell Iâ—â—me â–ª Aâ—rt or experience Miâ—hâ— help my sicht or thairfoir find defence I wald not cure for to gif gold plentie Sâ—aâ—â— for na coâ—st sa that Èe gar me se Without my place al 's weill as I do in Sa Èour rewaird fra me weill sall Èe win Now sen Èour grace to me hes gâ—um credence I sall Èow schaw be gude â—rperience The verray treuth thir seum springis Èe se spring Out of this well â–ª thaâ— ar na vther thing â–ª Bot the same seuin Maisters be thair science Quhome to Èe gif sa firme and greit credence Quhilk be thair craft cuÌ„ning and InchautmeÌ„t Zow to mak blinde this well thay did InueÌ„t That hiddertillis baith Èow and Èour Impire Lang time nygane hes reulit at thair desire About Èour place euer hes maid Èow blind To that effect that na fault Èe suld find Done ony way be thame or thair consent That thair greit gyle suld not be maid patent Nor heir coÌ„pla 〈…〉 of Èour BarrouÌ„is Lordis Boâ— thay allone to aggre siâ— discordis Nor that Justice suld ring into Èour land Bot all sic things suld ly into thair hand And Èour subiectis to spuilÈe euerie day All that was grene â–ª to Èow it suld seme gray Ze not seing now suld thaâ— all be deid For Èour kâ—ndnes thay can find na remeid The Empreour said now Èe haue to me sâ—hawin Of my blindâ—â—s the caus and maid it knawin Now the remeid thairof I wald Èe fand Ze sall not want baith gold Lordschip land And pâ—eis Èour grace now to Èow sall I tell The verray treuth â–ª will Èe do my counsell Of Èour blindues gif Èe desire remeid The first Maister tak and strâ—ke of his heid Than Èe sall se the first spring of the well Be quyte away this is the treuth I tell Sa ordourlie â–ª quhill thay be Ilk ane slane And sa Èe sall recure Èour sicht agane This being done â–ª the well away sall went And sa at eis Èâ— sall get Èour Jutent â–ª Quhilk in gude haist was done as thay thocht â—â—cht And sa agane the Empreour gat his sicht And this Èoung Childe rewardit richt richelie Maid him ane Lord and Air of ane countrie Than said â—â—ho Lord haue Èe persauit this taill That I haue schawin for Èour gude and auail He said richt weill and thankis Èow hartfullie For that gude Taill that Èe haue tauld to me In the same sort thir seuin Maisteris said scho â—nto Èour grace thay purpois for to do Be thair fals Taillis and siclike fenÈeing That Èour curst Sone may aâ— aboue Èow ring Quhilk God defend â–ª ay quhill the hour I die That I neuer ane vther Empreour se This Taill quod scho I sall mak to Èow cleir Quhat that it menis plâ—is Èour grace to heir He said say furth Èe sall haue audience And commandit Ilk ane to keip silence ¶ The declaratioun of the Emprice thrid Taill THIS flowing well of Èour Sone is the sing The seuin springs ar his maisters w t cuÌ„ning Quhilk well can not richt soue distroyit be Ercept Èe first gar the seuin Maisters die This being done the well sa sall Èe waist Gar sla Èour Sone of this Èe gif me traist Sa well and springis fra thaâ— dâ—stroyit be Than Èe may haue all at traâ—quillitie Zour haill Impâ—re weill into peice and rest â–ª Fo rs 〈…〉 th quod he Madame I think that best Incontinent than gaue he strait command To the Gallous to leid his Sone fra hand Doun throw the streit as Officers him sed Ane Muster come and at the spurris him sped To the Empreour with all gude reuerence Qahome to he said pas swâ—ith fra my presence For the gude saind that Èe haue send to me Ze serue all seu 〈…〉 on Gallous for to die I send Èow seuin my Sone riâ—ht weill speiking Now he is dum and do can na kin thing Bot onlie ane this thing I maist detest Be violence my Quene he wald opprest Thairfoir rewaird na thing Èe serue of me Bot Èe all seuin with him sall hangit be The Maister said â–ª I seruit ane better thing To my rewaird â–ª nor on Gallous to hing Quhair Èour grace saâ—â—s â–ª y t now Èour sone is dâ—â— God knawis the caus â–ª the time is not Èit cum Of his speiking the time will cum at schor Thairfoir I pray Èour grace to tak comfort And Èe sall se the day approche richâ— neir That he sall speik â–ª quhil all this place may heiâ— As to Èour Quene in that point quhair Èe tell It is not prouâ—â— nor nouther is gospell Nor for the wordis of ane singular persoun Without mair prufe Èour sone suld not put douÌ„ And gif Èe do for the wordis of Èour wife But gude knawledge fra Èour Sone tak y e life It sall be war with Èow I dar weill say Nor chancit a man and his wife on ane day Quhilk I sall schaw to Èow be narratioun And preif the same be gude probatioun The Empreour said trow Èe to do with me As seuin
past to hir in haist but mair proces Inquirit the caus of all sic besines Quhair mark Èe to or quhidder will Èe go Quhat is the caus that Èe ar muifit so Scho sayis I will but ony mair delay To my Father the hie gait mak the way Quhair I may haue baith solace mirth game Bot now I haue the contrair of the same Thairfoir I mon persew quhair I may get it For at this time Èe gar me quyte forÈet it The Empreour said will Èe get mair solace Nor bide with me I trow into na place For I had hope thair was na man on life Was better lude nor I with his awin wife Now I persaue the verray clene contrair That bowiâ—s away in vther place to fair Scho said my Lord for that caus I depart For I lufe Èow with sa perfite aue hart That I rather of Èour deith to heir tell Nor be present and for to se it my sell Of Èour Maisteris Èe tak far mair delite To heir thair taillis all tauld in my despite That I am quite put furth of Èour credence Ze gif to thame sa Inwart attendence Thairfoir it sall chance Èow or all be gane Far worse nor did vnto Oâ—tauiane Quhilk this Impire as Èe now presentlie Had for to gyde and deit in miserie He was sa fals and al 's sa couetous That his subiectis held him sa odious Thay war constranit for his greit falsitie To eird him quick for all his dignitie Becaus Ilk man sa couetous did him hold Thay Èet his mouth full of het meltit gold To quhome quod he let not sic thing be said That of falset the blame to me be laid Scho said but dout the blame lyis all in Èow For day be day all time Èe gar me trow Zour Sone suld die and Èit he leuand is And weill Èe knaw that he did me greit mis. Thairfoir beleue that farther mair from hence In that behalf I giue Èow na credence The Empreour said it becuÌ„mis not ane King Without counsall to discus euerie thing And in speciall for to giue Judgement On my awin sone without gude auisement Thairfoir Madame I pray Èow hartfullie That Èe wald schaw sum gude exampill to me Quhairthrow I may my realme with wisdome gyde And to my self ane esie life prouyde Scho said I sall ane storie to Èow schaw Quhairby Èe may weill and perfitelie knaw To reule Èour Realme and hald Èour self perfite Sa Èe will mak Èow of the seuin Maisteris quite Of thair counsall Èe ar ouir couetous And of thair taillis Èe ar ouir desirous Zit not the les my taill furth sall I say And gif Èe pleis the sentence beir away BEfoir our dayis thair was baith hard sene Kingis Empreouris into this toun hes bene Amang the rest I remember on ane Quhilk callit was to Name Octauiane Sa couetous as he was to win gold I neuer red ane formit on the mold The Cietizanis that time as I hard say Thay had greit weiris with all about theÌ„ lay And all Natiounis richt cruellie thay dantit Quhair thay tribute or ony manrent wantit Quhill that it come to sic het point of weir That all Natiounis in thair contrair did steir In that meane time yair was ane maister Clark Dwelling in Rome richt cunning in his wark Callit Virgill the quhilk in Arsmetrik He was sa sle that nane was found him sik The Cietizanis this Clark thay did require That he wald wirk win fra thame gude hire To finde sum way be his craft and cunning For to Ingraue sum Image or sic thing Of his pretik Ingine or Industrie Subtell science or Èit Nycromansie Quhairby y t thay micht haue perfite knawlege Quhen Enemeis to weirfair maid veyage And to eschew fra all aduersitie And seik fordwart thair awin prosperitie Quhairby thay micht prouyde thair purueyaÌ„câ— For gude or euill quhidder that it did chance The Cietizans than with this cunning Clark Maid ane accord and sa fell to his wark Within the toun he buyldit vp ane Towre Of ane greit hicht and al 's of greit valour And set vpon the samin Towris heid Greit Images of Irne Tin bras and Leid To the number be thair awin discriptiounis As thair was than in all the warld of RegiouÌ„is In the middis of that samin Towre of hicht Ane greit Image he set to all mannis sicht And in the hand it bure ane goldin ball As it suld bene the Maister of thame all And Ilk ane had of the rest be thame sell Into thair hand ane lytill ring and bell And turnit thair face to the same Regioun To thame assignit and tuik dominioun â—if ony Realme or Regioun vp wald rise In contrair Rome or rebell ony wise Than that Image to ony Ilk Regioun It had respect or Èit dominioun Wald mufe the face and also ring the bell And thame to warne it wald not faill to tell Than the Romanis or ony fais wist That rebellioun rais for to resist And armour them into all faitis of weir As thame become or to thame culd effeir And sa small land thair was in Christindome Bot be that way was maid subiect to Rome Quhairthrow yai waÌ„ grit worschip honours Ouir all the warld thay war callit conquâ—rours This being done this nobill cunning Clark In Romes toun he maid ane vther wark Quhilk was ane fire continuallie burning Baith nicht and day and neuer had slokning To the pepill being ane greit comfort Solace and mirth blyithnes and mekill sport Twa bathing fattis he maid within the toun To commountie greit consolatioun The ane was cauld preparit for simmer sessoun The vther het for winter quhilk was ressoun â—if ony man his bodie wald refresche Pas to that ane thairwith he micht him wesche Betuix thir Bathis and this continuall licht Ane Image maid of greit stature and hicht With sic Ingine sa lang as thair it stude The fire suld birne and ay the Bathis do gude In quhais foirheid was writin with letters fine Quha strykis me doun greit treasure sal yaitine And mair atouir it may fall sic ane chance Quhen yai haue done to tak ane greit vengeaÌ„ce This Image was maid with sic craftines Till that it stude and thoilland na distres The fire lestit and neuer mair Èeid out The baths twa stude in yair awin ply but douâ— Quhill at the last ane cunning Clerk come by And this Image perfitelie culd esâ—â— The wryting red and to him self he said Quhat kin vengeance can on ane man be laid Or quhat treasure may ony man now t 〈…〉 e That strykis the doun or puttis the to ruine Bot I beleue rather hid for to be Vnder thy feit sum greit sowmes of monie Sum riche Jowellis of gold or sum treasour That thow art sa set vp with sic honour This I beleue and is
Èow now mercie For weill I wait sic thing thair can not be Scho said my Lord tak not sic thing in thocht For the same man perchance y â— Èour ring wrocht He maid the Knichtis and on the samin sort Quod he Madame I said it bot in sport Quod scho my Lord God mot Èow grant pardoun Gif Èe me hald in ony suspitioun God Èow forgiue Èour Ill suspitious minde Gif Èe suspect in ony sort or kinde Considdering of Èour Castell the strenth And my lawtie Èe haue kend at the lenth Aud sine Èour self had the keyis in keiping I mexuell how Èe can suspect sic thing Quod he Madame I pray Èow tak patience I said nathing for to do Èow offence Bot as Èe knaw desirit my â—ing to se Quhilk now agane Èe sall ressaue of me With al 's gude will as euer I it gaue Scho said my Lord the same I will ressaue Sa efterwart Èe suspect me na way He said Madame that sall I not perfay Efter this time the Knicht causit prepair In his awin hous ane Banket or dennair Sine to the King he said and pleis Èour grace This is the treuth the verray caus and cace My bedfellow is cum fra hir countrie Quhilk thocht greit lang my presence for to se To hir I causit ane dennar to prepair With all my hart I wald Èour grace war thair And pleis Èour grace to do me sic honour Surelie said he I will do Èow plesour In that behalf and it war mekill moir The Knicht he kneillit thankit him thairfoiâ— Than in his hart he was richt wonder glaid For the kinde wordis the King had to him said Than past he to the Quene Incontinent Be his derne Caif the straicht way is he went And said Madame pleis Èow to tak sic paue Into my hous to dine with Èour Souerane This samm day and cleith Èow vp richelie As is the gise and vse of my countrie And sit thair at in Tabill with the King Euin as Èe war my wife spousit with ane King And mak him all the pastâ—â—e and gude cheir As to his grace in best sort can effeir Scho said Schir Knicht as Èe pleis sa I will As I best can Èour plesour to fulfill The hour become and dennar time of day To the Knichts hous the King come on away In the meane time the Quene come hir dern gait In the Knichts hall beliue scho gat hir sait In sic clething as the Knicht gaue command Efter the gise and fassoun of his land And quhen the King come to the Knichtis haw Sa sone as he the Ladeis visage saw He thocht scho was womaÌ„ maist like his quene Sen he was borne that euer he saw with Eue. â—it not the les Ilk ane on thair maneir Thay hailsit vther as it culd best effeir Than to the Knicht the King said quietlie Quhat is scho this sa semelie for to se The Knicht he said and pleis Èour Maiestie This is forsuith my lufe and my Ladie Quhilk of lang time fra me hes bene abseut Bot now I am of hir cuÌ„ming content Sa that Èe be content that scho is heir I am said heâ— sa God grant me gude cheir And first thay wesche and sine to Tabill went And euer mair the King in his Intent Thocht y t he knew the Quene had knawledge Be hir fassoun hir forme and hir visage And to him self he said in all his life He neuer saw ane woman mair like his wife â—it not the les the strenth of his awin Towre Dissauit his minde and led him in errour That in sa far he gaue far mair credence To the Knichtis wordis and cullourit eloqueÌ„ce Nor to the thing he saw with his awin Ene Quhilk blindit him al 's misknew his Quene Than scho began to talk of sum glaidnes And steir the King vp in sum mirrines Sa sone as he hard hir speiche and hir voice Quhidder to speik or for to hald him clois He not weill wist bot Èit said to him sell O Lord in heuin heir is ane greit meruell This woman is in fassoun and fauour In speiche in voice makdome and portratour In behauingis and al 's in conditiounis In fax in face in fait and in fassounis And in all sort sa done like my awin Quene In all this warld was neuer ane liker sene And Èit the strenth of the Towre him begylit With the Knichtis wordis y t him sa sielie sylit Sa at the meit with mirrines amang The Knicht desirit the Quene to sing ane sang Than scho began to sing ane sang of lufe The King heiring greitlie his hart can mufe Said to him self and this be not my wife I wait scho is not leuand vpon life And than agane he thocht that can not be For I my self in keiping hes the kie Of the greit Towre quhair nathing can cum in Bot I my self that keipis baith key and gin Than na man can enter within that Towre Except my self nouther be time nor hour Sa all denner he sat in sic consait With his awin self into sic strang debait And sa he sat and wist not quhat to say And at the last he bad sone tak away The Tabill and claith he wald na langer byde And said he wald about the feildis ryde Than said the Knicht pleis Èour Nobill grace For to remane ane prettie time and space We sall Èow mak mair mirrines and cheir For without dout Èour grace is welcum heir Than said the Quene and pleis Èour Maiestie For to remane with vs in companie We sall Èow mak the mirrines and sport All that we can to hald Èow in comfort Si 〈…〉 ke as dois the Quene in hir solace With all seruice that we can do Èour grace For all requeist planelie the King said nay For to remane gart tak the Tabill away And said he was in that same verray tyde In sic fantise he micht na langer byde And sa the claith and Tabill away was tane â—p rais the King and to the flure is gane Thankit the Knicht of his kindnes and cheir The Lady al 's into hir best maneir Sine in all haist to the Castell he went To se the Quene gif scho was thair present And than the Quene went on hir preuie way Rest of hir clais and hir vncouth array And quhen the King enterit within the Towre He fand the Quene sitting intill hir Bowre In the same clais and sort as he hir left Quhairthrow he was in his speiche half bereft Quhen he hir saw he braist hir twise or thrise And said Madame I am in ane fantise This day I dynit with the Knicht as Èe knaw And with his lufe the quhilk I neuer saw Sa like to Èow be forme and fassoun Be speiche and voice and al 's conditioun All dennar time I was sa steirit in thocht That
sall not want Èour wage The Porter said sa far as Èe require For Goddis saik and hartlie Èe desire Zour erand do the same I tak on hand Quhill I returne se still heir that Èe stand Than the Porter past to the Empreour And hailsit him with reuerence and honour Did his Message as he had gottin command The Empreour hard and vnderstude fra hand And quhen he hard namit Alexander King Quod he in haist that man to me Èe bring How horribill or vgsum that he be In all gude haist Èe fetche him heir to me That he may eit his meit into my hall In my presence befoir my Lordis all Than the Porter vnto the Èet is gone And Alexander he brocht to hall anone And ordanit him into the hall ane place Quhair he micht eit befoir the Empreours face Quhen he was weill refreschit at his awin wil Ane gentill man belyue he callit him till And said gude Schir require the Empreour Gif that it be his will and his plesour For Goddis lufe first and king Alexanders sine He wald me giue ane Coup full of his wine The gentill man said that I will do to the Bot I beleue that sic thing sall not be For gif Èe anis of his Coup tak ane drink To drink thairm he sall na mair I think Zit nor the les the erand I sall do Auise him self gif he cunsentis thairto The Message than to the Empreour he schew And al 's sa sone as he the erand knew For Alexanders saik the Coup he send Full of the wine that for the best was kend Drank his plesure and sine be put the rest In his Bottall that time he thocht it best Of his finger ane small gold Ring he threw Quhilk the Empreour lang time befoir he knew Becaus the same he had him geuin befoir In takin of lufe and freindschip euer moir Quhilk Alexander into the Coup leit fall And bad the copper beir it vp throw the hall To the Empreour and the same leit him se Quhâ— said my freind I sall it do trewlie The Coup and Ring withouttin proces mair To the Empreour the copper sone it bair The Empreour than how sone the Ring he saw Incontinent full weill he did it knaw And wist richt weill it was the samin King That he had geum to Alexander King Into freindschip quhen ather did depart Out of the Court quhair of he at his hart Was sorrowfull for he knew na remeid Bot Alexander his companioun was deid Or ellis he thocht this pure man meruellouslie Had gottin this Ring at sum greit Jeopardie He commandit the Lipper not depart Quhill he had hard mair secreitis of his hart For he not knew be fauour na vther thing Quhat man it was that had send him y â— Ring Efter denuar he tuik him quyetlie And said tell me the treuth and veritie And fenÈe not to tell to me this thing Quhâ— quhair how happinnit Èe on this Ring Alexander said and pleis Èour Maiestie Quhat is the caus Èe speir sic thing at me Ze haue knawledge of this King I persaue Gif it was Èours Èe knaw quhair Èe it gaue The Empreour said richt wonder weil I knaw The King and man siclike gif I him saw Alexander said I meruell that can be Ze knaw the Ring and na way knaw is me For Alexander I am of Egypt King Sum time I was quhome to Èe gaue this Ring Quhen he that hard to his hart straik ane stouÌ„d For verray sturt fell â—â—aâ—lings to the ground And rent his râ—bbis and kest his clais him 〈◊〉 Quhen he persauit Alexander was sa With saiâ— sichingis and sobbings to him said My deir fellow how is this on Èow laid Sic sair seiknes and greit Infirmitie My hart it brekis sic thing on Èow to se Ze ar my life my saull and my weilfair My onlie freind and fellow but compair Quhair is Èour cors that was sa clenelie cled Zour bauld bodie that was sa finelie fed Zour puissant pith that was sa stout Zour maÌ„ly strenth quhairof Ilk man had dout Quod Alexander this greit Infirmitie And vnclenes that Èe se now on me For the greit faith trew kindnes freindschip That Èe schew quhen I left Èow in Egypt To wed my wife thair Èour fidelitie Causit this seiknes sa to chance vpon me For into bed with my wife quhen Èe lay Ane naikit sword Èe laid betuix Èow tway Scho beleuing it was not Èe bot I Sa fremmitlie with hir in bed culd ly And for that caus had me at sic haitrent Ane vther Squyer scho cheisit in luferent Betuix thame twa purposit to poysoun me Quhilk is conuert in this Infirmitie Furth of my realme yai haue me dreuin chaist And to returne thairto I haue na traist The Empreour than tuik him about the nek For verray lufe and said in this effeck O my maist best belouit trew brother Quhome euer mair I lude abone all vther I sorrow sair in sic sort Èow to se Without remeid maisterit in miserie Bot Èe mon thoill and tak in patience And gif thair may be found ony defence Help or remeid that may Èour seiknes saue For gold or geir but dout Èe sall it haue We sall not faill to fetche fine Phisitians With tuÌ„ning Clerkis and perfite practicians Nor Èit sall mis for mony Medicinars Nor for payment to preif all Potingars With counsallis of Maisters and doctours fine For all seiknes that can giue Medicine Into this neid gif than can Èow sâ—ppâ—â—â— It sall not want for gold geir nor monie To get Èow help we sall not spair to spend Thocht we suld seik vnto the warldis â—nd Thairfoir be blyth and tak nathing in thocht Throw all the warld Èour help it salbe socht Except Èour helth heir nathing Èe sall want Quhen plesis God he will that to Èow grant To ane Chalmer belyue thay culd him bring Was weill preparit wanting na kind of thing Of honestie nor Èit was necessair For eis or helth quhair his bed was and lair In this meane time the Empreour gart prepair His Messingers to pas and seik all quhair CuÌ„ning Doctouris and Phisitians profound That was expert in ony land or ground Of quhome thair come to him in oulkis thre Threttie Doctouris cunning in all degre The maist expert and had experience In sic effairis belanging that Science Of sure supplie pertening Phisick fine And was extollit Maisters in Medicine To quhome anone the Empreour than said Of Èour cuÌ„ming Maisters I am richt glaid This is the cace quhy I send to Èow all I haue ane freind the quhilk lyis seik and thrall Uncurabill quhilk onlie I suspect As is Lipper quhairwith he is Jufect Quhairof gif Èe culd mak him haill and sound I wald giue gold mony ane thousand pound All the riches I haue and vther geir I 〈◊〉 it