watchâ—t thair was na hous nor hald It chancit that nicht to be baith wind and ranâ— That in na sort thairout he micht remane For verray cauld â–ª he stude of life sic dout And sa belyue he blenkit him about In the KirkÈaird beside the Knichtis graue Ane litill licht the Schiref can persaue Fra the windo quhair that the Wedow lay Hidder he gais in all the haist he may At the ludge dure he knokit quietlie And sone scho spak speirit quha may that be This time of nicht to walkin ane pure Wedow All wobegane â–ª in hart richt sorrofow He said I am the Schiref of this toun For vecray cauld I am in point to swoun Ercept Èe let me in mair haistelie For verray cauld doutles I trow to die Gif Èe cum in quod scho I feir richt sair That Èe sall eik my anguische mair and mair Quhilk war neidles schir gif Èe knew my thocht Quod he Lady forsuith that sall I nocht â–ª I promeis Èow nouther in word nor deid Zow for to craib thairfoir haue Èe na dreid Than vp scho rais mid belyue leit him in For verray cauld he cheuerit at the chin And doun he sat and warmit him at the fire â–ª Quhilk for to do was greitlie his desire Fra he was warmit and restit thair ane space Graithlie he blent into the Wedowis face Quod he Lady to displeis Èow na way Ane word with leif I wald vnto Èow say Scho said gude schir say on quhat â—er Èe pleis For Èour sayingis sall do me na diseris He said Lady I meruell of Èour minde To this vane wark that Èe suld Èow Inclinde Considdering Èe ar ane fair Ladie â–ª Fresche in Èour flouris ÈonÌ„g plesand and â—usti 〈…〉 It war mair meit â–ª and better be ten fald â–ª For to pas hame and keip Èour awin houshaâ—d Nor heir to byde and Èour self to destroy Daylie in sturt in murning and in noy My counsall is pas hame to Èour awin hous Giue to the pure and gar deill greit Almous Quod scho gude schir gif I Èour wordis had knawin Or y â— Èe suld sic sayings to me schawin Ze suld not had into this hous entrie Becaus Èe talk of sic purpois to me I say to Èow as I said of befoir To all my freindis and I wald Èe no moir Spak of sic thingis thay sink not in my heid Knaw Èe not weill my husband sufferit deid For ane small drop he saw my finger bleid Than think Èe not that I suld do sum deid For him agane and tak sum small pennance That micht me caus of him haue remembrance Thairfoir I sall him lufe on sic ane wise That I mon lufe the eird quhair that he lyis And for his saik sic pennance tak on me That quhair he lyis abone him sall I die Than the Schiref tuik leif and vp he rais The â—eirest gait vnto the Gallous gais And quhen he come the theif that he left thair Was stollin away quhairof he maid greit cair And said oft times quhat haue I done allace Heir is to me becum ane cairfull cace My gudis my geir and also all my land My life siclike is in the Kingis hand Sa he wandring in sturt baith to and fro And wist not quhat to do for verray wo. Sa at the last he thocht that he wald pas To the Lady â–ª befoir quhair that he was Becaus scho was sa deuoit in hir sell He trowit of hir to haue sum gude counsell Than come he on as had bene the first Cok And at the dure quietlie did he knok Quod scho quha is that that sa sone callis now I the Schiref is cum agane to Èow I haue ane sturt and anger at mine hart And I wald schaw thairof to Èow sum part Thairfoir hartlie I pray Èow let me in I sall Èow schaw the mater mair and min. Howbeit it was to hir sum prettie pane Zit vp scho rais and leit him in agane Than he began the cace all for to tell Quod he Lady I come to haue counsell Of Èow becaus I wait richt weill Èe knaw Quhen ony man is hangit be the Law My office is to keip him nicht and day To that effect he be not stollin away And gif he be my life and all my landis Without remeid is in the Kingis handis It is sa chancit quhen I was heir richt now In the same time quhen I talkit with Èow The theif quhilk I suld haue walkit quhill day Sum subtell handis hes stollin him quite away Quhairthrow I will Incur the Kingis feid Lois all my landis and also tine my heid Or ellis on force furth of the Realme to fle Quhilk is but dout ane heuie race to me Beseiking Èow Èour counsall giue me to Into this race quhat Èe think best to do Quod scho gude Schir for Èow my hart is me That sic ane chance suld happin vpon Èow so Bot sen Èe haue maid Èour first mane to me I mon Èow help defend and al 's supplie Sa wald kindnes courtasie and ressoun Of ane wo hart for to haue compassioun Quod he Lady I lippin on Èow na les Bot for to haue Èour counsall and kindnes Becaus Èe ar in greit estimatioun In wit wisdome and al 's in deuotioun And I beleue to haue Èour counsall now For all my caus clene I commit to Èow For it is said sen first the warld began Thair is greit help into ane gude woman This Lady than was mufit with mercie And on this Knicht hir hart had greit pietie And said gude Schir Èour sturt it mufis me Bot tak gude hart and Èe sall helpit be Do my counsall and schortlie to conclude Ze sail nouther lois Èour life landis nor gude He said Lady that erand brocht me heir To saue my life my landis my gudis and geir Quod scho Schir will Èe promeis faithfullie Quhen I haue done that Èe will Mary me I will do all that I haue to Èow said Quod he Lady of that I wald be glaid Wald God in heuin to me Èe wald sa do That I micht be Èour persoun fallowis to Considdering I am bot ane pure Knicht And Èe ane Lady of greit blude and of micht Wald Èe disdabe to humbill Èour minde to me I suld Èow serue with all humilitie Sa baith thair mindes and all thair hail InteÌ„t Was weill aggreit quhairof thay stude content Gude sehir scho said Èe knaw richt weil I wait How my husband was buryit of the lait Quha lufit me sa wonder weill in deid That for ane drop he saw my finger bleid He tuik in hart sir sturt and displesour Of doly deith he sufferit the schairp schour Ga tak him vp for to be Èour releif And hang him vp quhair hangit was the theif The Schiref said fair Lady be the Rude Zour
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
falslie on me leid Say and that I committit sic ane deid That neuer was into my minde nor thocht Nor in this warld sic thing I neuer wrocht With hir lesingis betuir vs scho hes sawin Ane greit discord quhilk all about is knawin Quhairthrow I am blasphemit and defamit Throw all the toun be Èour fals Py schamit Quhairfoir na meit nor drink sall do me gude Quhill that I se Èour fals Pyats hart blude Than the Burges vnto the Pyat past And said fals Py tell how become this cast Upon my wife sa falslie for to lie Causing discord oft times with hir and me Is this the thank the gansell and gude deid Thow rauders me sa weill I culd the feid With my awin hands with meits delicait Airlie at morne and al 's at euin lait Throw thy lesings thow hes maid throw the touâ— Ane greit sclander foull defamatioun Qahairto scho gaue na mair consent nor reid Nor I my self gaue vnto Goddis deid The sillie Py hard hir Maister say so Intill hir hart scho was richt wonder wo. Maister scho said God knawis gif that I lie â—our self will traist the verray thing Èe se And weill I wait the thing I said to Èow I hard and saw quhy suld I not that trow The Burges said I heir the loudlie lie Kennis y u not weill this taill thow tald to me Thair was ane nicht sa troublit in the Air With storme fyreflauchts hale raine mekill mair Of Ill wedder thow had na vther reid Bot bydand ay the bitter hour of deid Quhilk is richt fals and neuer a word is trew Thairfoir but dout thy falset thow sall rew And fra hence furth thow sall na lesingis mak Nor of trew taillis thow sall not mak ane trak Aâ—d in speciall betuix me and my wife The Law will weill that it coist the thy life For the greit leis thow did Inuent and forge With this same knife I sall cut out thy gorge Sa in greit wraith he tuik hir be the nek And with ane knife hir heid he did of snek The wife saw that and scho was wonder glaid To hir husband with mirrynes scho said Now Èe haue done as ane man of prudence Howbeit befoir Èe gaue ouir greit credence Unto Èour Py quhilk ay richt falslie leid My hart is blyith quhen I se hir bleid Now we may leif all our lifetime in rest Din scho is gone that did vs ay molest For scho was ay the verray Instrument Betuix vs twa all lesingis did Inuent Be blyith said he that Instrument is hence Forsuith to hir I gaue ouir greit credence Now I knaw weill all that scho said was fals Bot now thairfoir scho hes loist life and hals The Burges than blent vp about his bigging And saw ane hole tyruit in the hous rigging And weill persauit ane lytill Ledder stand Ane watter tub with stanis watter and sand Quhilk was doun cast vpon the sillie Py Than the Burges weill vnderstude quhairby The pure Pyat had cauld hir taill richt crew All the falset and fassoun than he knew How thay had causit the Pyat for to lie Throw thair falset and greit subtilitie Now of my wife the falset I persaif In time bygaine how scho hes plaid the knaif Not regarding sin schame nor honestie Bot on hir lufe lyand in harlatrie Full wo is me how greit ane â—ule was I For hir falset to slay my sillie Py Quhairin I had my plesure and delyte Allace allace my wife had all the wyce Bot in na way my self I can excuse That hir counsall sa greithe I did vse Bot in ane part but dout sa I was blindit And now the treuth full sickerlie I find it Wa worth the time I gaue hir sic credence Or till htr taill I gaue sir audience Wa worth sic wifes that ar sa Ill Inclinde Euer hauing sic fenÈeit hart and minde With dowbill hart full of subtilitie I Èow assure thay ar euill companie Becaus my wife hes wrocht me sic like wo Heir I gif ouir all mirth blyithues and Jo. All Merchandice houshalding and harbrie In time cuÌ„ming and Pilgrim I will be And markis me heir vnto the halie land Becaus I find na faith in woman stand Sa this Burges for credence that he gaif Vnto his wife left land and all the laif The Maister said vnto the Empreour Schir haue Èe tane this taill into fauour And quhat it menis the samin vnderstand He said richt weill Maister I tak on hand The Maister said was scho not ane fals wife With hir lesingis gart reif the Py hir life The Empreour said scho was of falset fow Hir greit lesingis nor hir life I allow Of the pure Py sairlie I do repent That loist hir life for saying verament Surelie Maister ane gude taill Èe haue tald And for Èour saik this day I sall gar hald My Sone vndeid the morne quhill it be none God thank Èour grace quod he that sic hes done To the Lord God hartlie I Èow commend Sa this Maister with blyithnes hame he wend ¶ MORALITAS OMERVELLOVS God the subtell slicht Siclyke I trow was neuer sene Thow waryit wyfe and wickit wicht Of this Burges wyfe now I mene â—apeirely culd awow and gar hir husband trow That scho sa saikles was and clene Ane Innocent as scho had bene Syne of falset sa fow Sa full of falset as scho is Thair is bot part can it persaue For quhen thay mark to do ane mâ—s A thousand sundrie gaitis thay haue To bring thair mater to quheu thay haue ocht ado The wisest men thay ay dissaue And this Burges amang the laue It is not sa quod scho Sa priuelie scho did prouyde A posset for the silâ—â—e Py And with sic craft scho culd it gyde Changeing the wedder and the sky Thy gadÈettis did begyle the pure Py with sic wyle Hurde of huredome vpon the fy Gluttoun of Glew all we may cry Thow art ane veschell vyle The sals that thow seruis at my hand I can not weill Indyte To gar thy husband vnderstand Of sic vengeance thow had na wyte O rank rampand Lyoun to mischeif euer bouk Stewart of sturt quha can the quyte Cleker of cair and of dispyte Greit Maistres to Mahoun Ze that hes wyfes gnie not credence Ouir sone vnto thair subtell lawis Thay will al 's sone find ane defence As thay war leirit into the Lawis For quhen thay speik fairest thair taill is ay falsest Thay will neuer gif ouir thair caus Thocht all the warld the contrair knawis Thair awin taill ay thinkis best At sum tyme scho will caus a man To do the thing he will repent Quhen it is done na way scho can Remeid thairof scho cau Inuent Gar the sâ—ikles get wyte mak hir self clene and quyte Thairfoir thocht scho be Impatient And in bauldnes hir bow all
Maisteris did anis in this Cietie With thair fals taillis vnto thair natiue King Nay nay not sa it sall not be sic thing The Maister said the fault of ane or two Suld not redound to rebuke blame or wo Of all vthers for it is richt weill kend Baith gude and Ill is to the warldis end Bot of ane treuth ane thing I sall Èow schaw Put Èe Èour Sone to deid for Èour wifes saw It sall Èow chance as did this hinder Èeir Vnto ane Knicht gif Èe pleis Èe sall heir The Empreour said I pray Èow schaw me richt Quhat thing become or chancit to that Knicht The Maister said againe Èour Sone gar call Sa to the deid that he na wayis be thrall Aud keip him still my taill quhill I haue tald Than Èour awin will Èe haue euin as Èe wald Quhen I haue done thaÌ„ tak Èour awin plesour I will sa do than said the Empreour And sa his Sone againe he gart thame caw As for that day he suld not thoill the Law Sa this Maister his exampill began And tauld his taill furth like ane cuÌ„ning man Bot Èit his taill farther or we furth set The Quenis last taill we will not Èit forÈet ¶ MORALITAS SE the consait of this bald bitter Bitche This reid Rcifer and this rank warlâ— witche This â—ratour theif this tryit T 〈…〉 gant Sa fame ane fault as scho wald find and fitche Unto thir seum sa renerent and riche In sweit science facund and fluctuant For thay of wit and wisdome not dois want To the blak Deuill chairfoir I the beâ—eâ—che With him remaine in hous ane hellis Sanct. Father of falset and fals flatterar Ane Byrecarling ane graceles clatterar Leidsterne to lie and ane grâ—iâ— stop of seill A proude Princes ane prydefull parterar Miâ—t with malice and ane man murtherar Ane wod wilcat that neuer will do weill Croâ— of â—nrstnes and ane quick gangand Deill â—uâ—â— of wanreule and brewar of all baill Thow art to baid to forge sa fals ane taill Not ane word trew thairof bot fenÈeit fair Ouir peirt thow art to mak sic ane compair Of the Maisteris quhairof that now speik we To the Empreour I wait thay did na mair Bot that his Sone thay had vnto the lair And had not bene thair cunning and Ciergie Thay had bene deid and siclyke sa had he Thairfoir thow art ane Loch of vnlawre Ane schameles schrew the maister Deuill mot scald the. Zit in hir Taill is sum Moralitie How God disponis his grace sa plenteouslie To aulo to Èoung to ticoe and to the pure Sum wit sum strenth sum fairnes with bewtie Sum at thair will hes riches and pâ—entie To diuers craftis sum geuis thaâ—r besiâ— cure Howbeit to sum hid thingis be richt obscuâ—e As was this barne quha spak this prophecie To scuin Doctouris in science was fa sure Howbeit he was in Èouth and tender age God of his grace had geuiu him mâ—ir knawledge In wit Science hid witâ— subtil 〈…〉 e Nor tâ— thir seum quhome this Quene dois alledge Into hir Taill Inferrit vpon fulage Quha the Empreour causit agaiue to se And knaw the caus of his Infirmitie Naerreption thair is of perfonage In sicht of God he geuis his grace sa fre Howbeit this Chylde in tender Èeiris was Èing The verray treuth Èit he schew to the King Quhat was the caus of all his Maladie And how the well vnder his bed did spring Throw quhais springis culd him to blindnes bring Quhilk was not knawin bot to this childe trewlie Quhairby we may persaue for veritie The grace of God is gottin for na thing Quha list it seik with all humilitie Now in bigging sum takis sa greit plesure Quhill at the last biggis him self to the dure Sum bringis ane staffe for to brek his awin heid Euin sa Èe se thir Doctouris tuik labour To bring this Chylde vnto the Empreour Quhome throw he gat of his seiknes remeid Bot Èit this Chylde gart thame all seuin thoill deid It is oft sene I say the deirly brother That euerie swik oft tymes beswikis vther Thir seuin Dortouris quhairof now speikis our Quene As scho Inferris thay haue all Tratouris bene Quha deuysit the Kingis Infâ—rmitie Be tratourie hid haldin and vnsene To be gydaris of his Realme thay did mene And haue thair of the baill â—uthoritie Bot na way sa of our Maisteris mene we For thay did nocht bot as thay war desyrit Be the Empreour and his counsall requyrit Thairfoir this Quene scho suld na credence haue Scho is ane sop of sorrow to dissaue Ane meâ—sâ—â—s monsture ane mirrour of mischance Ane patent port to Ill Èe may persaue Ane â—hrâ—ftles thing qâ—heu scho beginnis to raif Full of dissait with fenÈeit fals plesance Ane twme tratullar to bring hame Ill tythance Ane maie Trâ—kour ane talker out of tone And sall forthink hir talk or all be done ¶ Ane reproche to the Emprice for hir last Taill OFRAGILL flesche of hell with flatterie euer fenÈeis Ane Kingdome thow wald quâ—ll thow grouÌ„der of gillenÈeit We sall hald in thy renÈeis becaus thow raifis vnrockit And check Èow into chenÈeis vp be the chaftis chockit â—â—ir lang Èe haue vsmockit botÈit the day will cum Zour culum salbe knockit quhen he speikis that is dum ¶ The Taill of the Fourt Maister VPON a time thair was ane eldering Knicht Wise and wittie full of riches and micht Had leuit furth mony dayis of his life Without children Lemman or maryit wife Diners times his freindis come him till To se gif it was his plesure and will To tak ane wife and barnis to furth bring Throw thair counsall he grantit to sic thing Sa at the last thay gat his wife to be The Prouestis dochter of all that greit Cietie Quhilk was richt riche weill fauourit and fair Weill maid at will and was hir Fatheris air Fra he hir saw he was sa tane in lufe That he his hart fra hir culd not remufe Thocht lufe fauour betuir them micht be scne Zit all thair space na barnis was them bâ—tucne Vâ—to the Kirk as scho past throw the streit With hir Mother scho hapnit for to meit Ather vther hailsit with greit blyithnes And sa began to talk in mirrines The Mother said my dochter tell me how Ze pleis Èour spous or how dois he to Èow Scho said richt Ill and not with him content For he is auld febill and Impotent Quhen Èe me staikit vpon sa auld ane stick I wald but dout Èe had me buryit quick For or I come with him in naikit bed To be drownit I had rather be led Or ly with swyne or I lay be his syde My flesche it vggis quhen y â— I tuitche his hyde Hald me excusit I pray Èow hartlie Mother For it is force that I