permanent impose Aboue his bones this stone all worth inclose As likewise for their learning they had two One liues in Heaven the other liues below The one namde Gray which though gray was his name This Gray doth glance in verie glorious fame The other Dun so doth his name declare Whose knowledge in two sciences is rare And as this Dun is much esteemde by you This Dun doth yeeld a daintie coloured hew Since where pale death would make your counte Yee are revivde by vertue of this man Ev'n Principals both so doth their place import Liues both by fame although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And gracious Gray whose learning was admeerd Who livde not long till soone to earth reteerd With whom as due a third I heere admit For learning rare for Phisick wondrous fit Which I on stone ingravd doth wish to see Thereby this Iohnstons worth to testifie Who doth that place which Liddell left supply Whose name I heere expresse most worthily And who profest the Mathematicks airt Which in his absence Iohnston doth impart And many mo whom I can not expresse Who by just merit did deserue no lesse As is confirmde in Chronicles for ay Whose names nor fames shall never find decay But by their worth yet recent beares record What ancient honour 's due to Bon-acord And more you see of all what can bee wisht But in this famous citie doth consist For in within its curious corners stand A towne which seemes of force for to command All cities else to hyde them vnder sloughes Since shee s the matchlesse method of al brughes And whence apeare for poynts which doth arise Whose worth ascending seem to pierce the skyes Vpon whose tops such fethered fixions stand As onely change at Eolus command And alwayes aimes as they anone would flie To sound abroad their burghs nobilitie Which turning and considering where they sit They doe resolue they will not passe from it But rather glories for to glance thereon 〈◊〉 â—ince each of them possesse such sacred throne 〈◊〉 by their yeelding all at once to proue 〈◊〉 smallest motion rules them all in loue 〈◊〉 hereby that they may a cause afford 〈◊〉 â—o maintaine their title Bon-acord And since of them each one a place possesse Whose walles are full of vpright holvnesse They thinke it is their best for to abide Se'ing loue and good agrement is their guyde For vnder one doth stand the treasurie From whence doth flow meanes of felicitie The other is on judgement grounded sure Repressing vices vertues to procure The third springs vp from charitie and loue As those within its corners can aproue The last all learning as the time relates Affords within the compasse of its gates So that these foure are precious poynts you see As Mercie Iustice Learning Charitie Which though most rare if three of these should lake But one it should great imperfection make Wherefore all foure on faith are founded sure To make the name of Bon-acord indure The which though they antiquitie alledge Are much aduanced in this present age For they a Prouest haue of pregnant wit Whose worth to rule it is approved fit Whose skill whose knowledge whose deeds each day Gravely preserues the Citie from decay Whose noble wise pregenitors of old Bore alwayes swey most savely vncontrold So that by birth this honour is his owne Since his ancestors brookt it as is knowne Hee by whose workes in this illustrous place Doth alwayes aime for amitie and peace And by his actions who doth still approue To Bon-acord his kyndly constant loue And in whose time hath so decord the same That by his worth it hath attaind much fame First and as best then to record his care Hee heereto beares may be accounted rare For in their charge Ecclesiasticall His aime can no wayes bee reputed small Since in his time such Prelate hath appearde As for his worth and learning is admeerd Who in this Kingdome to the Church hath beene The gravest guyde that heeretofore was seene Whose Pastors likewise doe appeare for worth The rarest men which nature hath sent forth 1 A Forbes who one letter more you see Doth proue his worth For-best of all to bee 2 A Barron blest whose learned workes decore The earth which can yeeld none such Barron more 3 A Sibbald who may well bee bold indeede His boldnesse brings the starving soules true foode 4 A Guild whose goodnesse is more worth I vow Then gold and all the goods which ever grew 5 A Rosse likewise some lend mee but one vowell I's make this Roise more worth then precious Iewell Whilks Forbest Barron Sibbald Guild and Roise Confirmes the faithfull and confounds Church foes And whence doth spring as from fyue fountaines fyne Renowned knowledge doctrine most divine A Famous Blessed Sacred Glorious Rare Religion alwayes doth they witnesse there In preaching praying and these men yee heare In Bon-acord a Bon-acord they beare To proue how heaven and earth and men all three In rendring praise to Bon-acord agree And for to shew that Bon-acord hath beene And is a diton due to Aberdene â—ince all these foresaids and things low and steepe â—oncurres in one a Bon-acord to keepe 〈◊〉 of their persons and some certaine parts 〈◊〉 aimde to act their rare deserts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cease till I haue wrought a view 〈◊〉 â—peciall what belongs to them as due And yet suspecting that my Muse or merits Should proue but weake to write of such braue spirits Because I cannot paint their vertues foorth Who all are calld the quintessence of worth I will not prease to penin poesie Nothing at all of them particularlie But will breakefoorth to witnesse to all eyes In generall what the open Vniverse sees For loe they all haue this attaind alone Their Towne doth stand by Gentle-men eachone Likewise this Burgh it is decor'de you see With Rivers two its bounds to beautifie And as a Lover doth approach his love Who filde with pleasure doth at last remove Hee stands a farre and ravish'd lookes aback Because in her such pleasure hee doth take Yet rests not long but rageth still you see Till in her armes full soone hee throwen bee Whose beautie then hee doth imbrace ev'n till Hee of his love hath love attainde his fill And so beeing serv'd and satiat with desire Hee from his Mistresse doth at last retire Ev'n so these floods or roaring Rivers swells Delyting daylie to embrace her walles And blythlie beates till they themselves retires By Neptunes course who on her worth admires And there as fraught with love astonisht stands In furious forme seeming to wring their hands And then anone they doe persue so nye On either side till they advanced bee And so doe wash her walls and seeks no more Which they account to bee their greatest glore Vnto which Towne men scarslie can atteine To come but by two bridges as is seene Which they did build to benefite by those Such Passeugers as thereby hastily goes And to expede the poore
Lykewise thy worth of his containes a view Decord no lesse with vertues rare and true Renownd in generall for thy wayes but hate Vise also in governing thy estate Most duely therefore may I change the fame GEORGE IOANSTONS Anag An gorgious stone Vers Ane gorgious stone which stone is set in grace And in whose heart for error is no place Acrostick Giue such ane gorgeous stone bee set in grace Everlasting glorie shall decore his face Or if this place wherein this stone doth stand Record the worth which doth this stone command Great shall that praise which heereon shall bee told Even one whose splendor shall all eyes behold Into whose heart or inward parts appeare Of all the stones on earth a stone but peere And if that men would aske mee of this stone No doubt but I would send to thee anone Such glorious Ioan stone who doth glance most rare Through Bon-acord while gorgeous George is there Of due this stone deserueth much renowne Vith stones of state or rather stately crowne No more then can this stone bee hence exprest Since that this stone a stone of staits confest To GEORGE MORISONNE Anag None moir gorgeos Ver. None moir gorgeos whose worth shall shine in glore So sayes thy name first then sayes Sin no more Giue these two vertues merits to bee praisde Eternally these two in thee are raisde O fall in grace moir gorgeos none then thou Renownde for outward gorgeousnesse as due Graue gracious goodnes gorgeous in thy minde Most gorgeous vertues likewise are combynde Of grace more gorgeous then I can extoll Richer in wisedome then I can inroll Indude with all these gorgeous gifts and maire Sententious knowledge then I can declare Of all whom of into my time I read None moir gorgeous then thy selfe indeede Not that I meane thou gorgeos art in ill But what is generous gorgeos thereintill What should I say then this which I defend Thy gorgeos life shall make a glorious end To IOANN LESLIE old Thesaurer Anag Al lyes in one Sonnet Into three charges thou was chosen and Of all these three the power was in thy hand A Thesaurer which did the same containe No lesse in worth then honourd Aberdeine Likewise without thy licence for a space Even these departed scarce receavde a place Since in thy power that honour which them cled Lay that convoyde them to their funerall bed Into thy power this likewise knew I maire Even all the monyes mortified there No doubt three charges worth renowne which must Esteemd wee more while rendred in thy trust And as before these three were ay in one So since from thee these three are severall gone To ROBERT SKEENE Anag Seek no beterr Sonnet Remembring how for to expresse thy praise Or with my selfe considering what to say Behold how reason would extoll my phrase Even for thy vertues viewed everie day Remaine therefore thy worthinesse shall ay That thou to all a paterne may bee sure Since that thy fame shall never finde decay Knowing thy worth all shall thy praise procure Eternally that all may testifie Into thy selfe such properties appeare No lesse in actions then civilitie Esteemd by all whose wisedome men admeere And wherefore now thou chosen art to sit A Counseller in Bon-acord most fit To M. WILLIAME MOIRE Anag Lo me I mai rule Sonnet Master With all those worthies Moir thou art belovde In number whereof thou thy selfe art one Lykewise thy worth in Bon-acords approvde Long which shall last when endlesse time is gone If Fame had force Moir then it hath to flee All it would sound would bee in praise of thee Moir is thy name and thou in worth is Moir Esteemde Moir duely for thy gifts in store Meeke in thy life and moir I cannot say Of thee those parts approved everie day In youth well bred the which thou dost declare R Ruling by wisdome in the counsell there Wherefore though I thee Moire might much coÌ„mend More I le not say but Moire I might defend To IOHN LOWSONE I love no sin If Poets pens haue parted praises oft Or praise exposde vnto the Worlds view How much are they then bound to raise aloft Not simple sayings but of thee most true Let then my lynes impart a publick view Of all thy praise to bee approved rare Vith Romanes Grecians rendring them their due Since that their name with thine stands in compare Or to bee briefe behold it s said of mee No praise is lost that is applyde to thee To THOMAS MOWET There was amongst the Romans many lovde Hopefull in youth and for their worth approvde Of all in generall whom I read I see Most duely thou for worth comparde may bee As hopefull alwayes and no lesse belovde Suchlike for woâ—h in Bon-acord approvde May I not therefore thus enroll thy name Of due desert comprable with them Vnchallengd truely may I thee impose Even ' mongst these worthies to bee red with those That in these lynes by mee which are inverst To ALEXANDER RAMESEY Anag Se I randar al mercy Acrostick And if thou randar mercy then bee sure Lyfe endlesse thereby shalt thy selfe procure Even thou whose worth is viewed everie day Xceeding rare in wisedome thought alwaye A man of mercie wherefore thou art meete Now where thou rules into that judgement seat Decorde with grace and vertues of the minde Into the which all blessings are combynd Remaine therefore for ever shall thy fame Red in those lynes which doth import thy name Admeerd for mercie since thy life began Much lovd for grace and grace doth make the man Eternally therefore I will my Muse Should fing thy praise amongst my worthiest chuse Esteemde thou art for mercie grace and faith Yairefore thy worth shall long liue after death To WILLIAME GRAY Anag Age may ruill Sonnet What should bee sought into a ruler more If hee hath knowledge for to rule in store Likewise if that his age hath conquisht wit Like one whose worth is thought in counsell fit I know in thee these one the other yeelds Accomplisht both most like two faithfull shields More age to rule most surely none can craue Even so more skill to rule needes no man haue Graue yeares of youth in thee doth now appeare Rare vertues likewise which may breed admeere Age to rule and ruler in thy age Yat may a match to any bee I'lledg Vnto thy praise therefore I fix my name Maintaining truely this thy endlesse same To GEORG MELDRVM Anag Go mild rumer Sonnet Giue vertue crownde with conscience merits loue Even in thy station thou deserues esteeme Or if graue cariage due respect can moue Rich are these parts in thee as fame proclaime Grace doth governe them companide with faith Meeke wisedome also ruleth in thy wayes Eternall praise shall proue thee after death Like one whose worth shall suffer no decayes Doubtlesse and rather evermore thy fame Remaine it shall in Bon-acord as due Vhen thou art dead to eternize thy name Men shall each day thy dignities renue And for their aide myld rumer foorth shall goe And with my Muse sound foorth thy praise also FINIS For Apologie IT 's said a Prophet shall reape honour saue Hee it vnto his natiue countrie craue A saying sad to such as would aspyre Since Friends at home to them as foes conspyre For my part I nor Prophet Poet am I Yet from your bounds by birth of parents came I. Therefore that proverb let mee not approue As for reward of this my signe of loue I haue done something on your names I know Though not so much as I of duetie owe And since not loftie in my phraise am glad Yee know how I was educat and bred Which is of learning I no part professe And hath by vse or reading rather lesse Whence comes a signe of serious mynde in mee To shew your worth in strained Poesie Yet your Acrosticks claimes to mee no praise Because the letters doth the sentence raise I by my weaknesse rather did omit For to expresse those praises which were fit And so in mee the sault consists as due Since what is right and more belongs to you But since I grant what wrong is done by mee Let mee of you obtaine this courtesie That yee in loue my lynes receaue and then Yele shew your selues braue courteous gentle men Sonnet LOE now my Muse I haue betrothed twyse And rewes of none the matches shee did make But doth contemne all such as mee envyes And of my Patrons doe protection take Her maidinhead My Muse did first direct To Edenburgh for her first favoured choyse Her wedowhead shee yeelded by respect To Bon-acord whose worth the same injoyes The first 's a famous and a glorious Towne And is for vertues wondrous much admeerde The other soares by soveraigne due renowne And hath all vyce foorth from her streets reteerde And though I founde the first a match most rare So now I thinke for worth this may compare Sonnet I Sweare it s not to shew the thing I haue not What I haue verst within this volume heere Likewise I vow part of thy praise I craue not Nor of thy censure doe I stand in feare I wryte in loue and labours to allot My lynes to bee a witnesse of the same And doth not care the carping of no sot Because there is no courtesie in them The rarest lynes that ever yet were pend Must byde the censure of some curious eye Therefore resolues my Muse to recommend Vnto thy murther or thy modestie Shee was a Maid but now twyse married stands If wrongd by thee betwixt a knaves two hands FINIS
BON-ACORDS DECOREMENT OR Newes from the North. Wherein is truely expressed the forme or situation of the famous Citie of new Aberdeene the vertues of the honourable and renowned governours thereof together with these Grampians Anagrames Wherewith is adjoyned the proofe and praise of chast Beautie and the scorne of Idols By William Mercer Printed Anno DOM. 16â—â— Vpon the Author THryse happie Abria to whose lasting Fame Right valiant Mercers Muse hath vndergone To gild in rich encomiums each mans name Like Mars and Maro both combynd in one For to your praise what hee hath pend in word Hee bravely vowes for to maintaine by sword W. Dow. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE TRVELY RENOWNED AND WORTHILY RESPECTED PAVL MEINZIES of Kinmoundie Lord Provest Mr. VEDAST LOWSON PATRICK LESLIE GILBERT COLINSONE and Mr. THOMAS GRAY Baillies Mr. Mathew Lomsden Dean of Gild Charles Keillo Thesaurer and to the renowned Counsellers and members of the Counsell of Aberdene wishes Grace Honour Promotion and Peace in this life and everlasting glorie in the life to come W. M. REnowned Rulers of this sacred seat Wherein all goodnesse graciously abound Whose fames for worth whose vertues are compleat Whose liues are lights whose learnings are profound Amongst all these who loue your vertues best And they whose workes vnfained witnesse beare I 'm loath to bee the last albeit the least Who would approue how I your worth admeare Therefore let this invention of my Muse Which though not worthie boldly weares the ba Of these your names even for its worthiest chus Obtaine your loue its errors to inhedge And let it please you these my Lynes to take Into good part and doe my paines approue If nought for else yet for affections sake And for assurance heereby of my loue And since I know your generous minds admit A signe of loue as were more worth therein Heerefore am bold to beate my braines and wit To see if I can to your vertues win For loe for loue on my part of your worth And through desire for to ingraue your glore I haue imployde my pen for to set forth Your just deserts by men admyrde before And that my Lynes may ever witnesse bee For to impart a portion of your praise Although such knowledge not consists in mee To wryte your worth or dignities to raise Yet though my words should render but a view And not attaine the full to testifie This I professe to bee your proper due Yee are of the superlatiue degree And as th' Arcadians gaue to Pales bot A fleece of woole to testifie their loue Th' Athenians loe to Pallas did alot A dish of O liues duetie to approue So likewise I haue with these two nothing To giue but these vnpolisht lynes of mine Which I confesse not worthie is to bring 〈…〉 such Patrones for my first propyne 〈…〉 Minerva did an Owle defend 〈…〉 vnder covert of her Targ at saue 〈…〉 did her liuely armes extend 〈…〉 the deformde Cyclops might perceaue 〈…〉 Apollo by his heav'nly Lute 〈…〉 night-raven vnder it did hyde 〈…〉 please you to supplie my sute 〈…〉 â—eerein keepe my errors vnespyde 〈…〉 I finde the secreet of my thought 〈…〉 can know till they the same shall view 〈…〉 perfection fully brought 〈…〉 loue was firmely fixt on you And though sometimes I secreetly did send Some lynes abroad or yet to publicke eye My aime was ay but that I might amend The same to you your worth to testifie Considering then the worthinesse of you I did determine as the trueth requyrde Yee were the onely object whom I knew My Muse of duetie ought to haue aspyrde Therefore at last these Lynes I did compose Which being done I doe present them heere To craue your aid to keepe them from their foes Which if they finde they shall not fret for feare And I who pend them shall your praise proclame And still procure your honours rest on hie Your severall names and actions conquese fame Which by all ages may admeered bee Then in the ballance of affection proue And try my labours if they equall are Vnto one motion of my matchlesse loue And yee shall find my favour passe them farre And though I can no protestations make Yet for your honour I shall alwayes pray Vnto such tyme as I occasion take To proue more largely I am yours for ay Thus you intreating yee will pleased bee Them to receaue and loue them for the Art Whence in some maner they proceede yee see And doe receaue resemblance in apart So of you all what is divine as due I to the three vnited powers commend And what is subject vnto change of you I know your valour alwayes will defend As for my part what power I can afford To death I shall still honour Bon-acord And rests Your Worships and Wisedomes most obsequious and truely affectionated serviture at power William Mercer SONNET Acrostick W With Manhood Musicke and a Poets mynd I In strength in mirth and lynes of verse I vow L Loue hath a cord of threefold links combynd L Like one whose worth no violence can bow 〈◊〉 In and whereby I doe present to you 〈◊〉 A lyuely Lanterne of my loyall loue 〈◊〉 More haue I not and lesse shall not seeme due 〈◊〉 My faithfull favour plainely to approue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore no lesse of mee then I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heereby for to deserue to death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather vse some strategem to try 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if my words proceed from fixed faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also that this threefold band 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Can serâ—e three vses as you please command W. M. To the generall Reader REader remembring that my lynes must bee Of force to all presented publickly And that they are not deckt with daintie phrase Whereby they alwayes doe not merite praise I as a Souldier who defence would make Whose part sometimes I honour had to act Considering that this worke of mine but dout Must bee with foes envyrond round about Would faine erect a fort to keepe it free From carping of the curious enemie And therefore striues this much in thee to moue That as thou reads thou censure mee in loue Which as I wish I having once obtainde Heereby my lynes shall hence forth bee maintainde And as a friend if thou wilt not refuse Thou's conquish kindnesse and advance my Muse Or if thou proue a Momus through envy Then in that case thy malice I defy A curious Critick if thou stryue to bee To carpe I then contemne thy crueltie Because thou frets and foolishly doth prease To wrong my worke but doth thy selfe disgrace Therefore before thou further on proceede Spare what amisse is and mantaine the gude And if perchance thou errors shall perceaue Let these of myne by thee a mends receaue Which from thy hands I will bee glad to take Albeit for nought but for my maters sake That all the honour may as due increase To Bon-acord whose worth deserues no lesse But this I feare if so thou thinke of mee That I
lacke skill thy wit shall weaker bee Because the basest and the naughtiest minde Doe alwayes malice ' gainst true vertue findâ— Therefore resolue to read to thinke and sweare That all is true that is inclosed heere W. M. SONNET THE learned and vnlearned both these two Wise and vnworthie I apeall them fro The learned wise because no doubt their skill Will soone perceiue some errors heerein-till The ignorant vnworthie I appaile Because albeit they cannot judge they 'le raile Wherefore I wish it please them but to chuse Some other subject nor to wrong my Muse The wise may well by learning see mee hault And yet perchance they cannot mend my fault 〈◊〉 also may the ignorant blaze foorth 〈◊〉 will their words I reckon of no worth 〈◊〉 â—herefore their best is both as would appeare 〈◊〉 That having read vnchallengde they reteare TO THE FAMOVS AND FLOVRISHING Citie of ABERDEINE New ABERDEINS Anagramme Wee debar sinn Verse Sinne wee debar as yee perceiue and faithfully afford Both love and peace from whence wee have our diton Bon-acord Acrostick IN ME A generous Meinzies beares governament But by the worthie Colinsens consent Even so the loyall Lowsons honoureth mee Renouned Leslies aids couragiouslie Doth not the ancient Iohnstons grace mee ay Esteemd I am for Collen Rutherford Gray Is not brave Meldrum mine mee to defend No lesse the Iaffrayes Robertsons so I end And many more whose names though I suppress Makes mee renounde by vertues I confesse Wherefore then Reader thus much of mee record More famous worth no Citie can afford BON-ACORDS DECOREMENT MNemosine the Muses nyne I crave Send foorth from thee that I their aide may have Because a Worke so rare I heere intend Which though begunne by mee these nyne must end Goe on saith shee they shall assist thy Muse I know thy worke doth merite no refuse Rowse vp thy spirits the rarest of those nine I shall advance to grace that worke of thine By whose assistance which I pleasde to aske Who lykes to heare loe I beginne my taske GReat Babylons building was ordainde for ease To bee the seate of these three Monarchies Th' Assyrian Greeke and Persian and did beare Rule o're all Nations many thousand yeare Within whose power all princes did repare All Potentates and Kings resorted there 〈◊〉 to admire for to adore and see 〈…〉 state the grandure and magnificencie 〈…〉 such a seate wherein all pompe appearde 〈…〉 se glore and splendour greatly was admired 〈…〉 â—ikewise Rome fame doth record to bee 〈…〉 â—only seate of the fourth Monarchie 〈…〉 next to Babel did all worth afford 〈…〉 de all earthly Kingdomes by her sword 〈…〉 frowne the World was forc't to quake 〈…〉 aptiues in triumph did take 〈…〉 iters in hudge volumes strive 〈…〉 the same for to descrive 〈…〉 glorious workes aboundantly 〈…〉 the same to testifie Of Athens also hence what should I say Where worthiest Romans in their state did stay And in the same was not ashamde you see To learne all science and civilitie And who for graue governament and wit No citie shee for second would admit And like as Sparta was approvde and praisde For Martiall worth and o're all others raisde Likewise their lyves and vertues wrapt in store Did farre exceede these cities told before Which was to Mars a seminarie fit For many warlike sprits were bred in it And who with force of sword did conquish fame By Martiall deedes to eternize their name As did appeare in many more then these Lysander Ages and Clyomines With others divers fashious to rehearse Whose worth is viewd throughout the vniverse And who for fame all ages doth agree Vnto all Nations for to testifie Which heeretofore might bee examples rare For valour worth and vertues but compare Whose gifts most glorious never yet hath beene Once paraleld or equalized seene Till now by force these foretold townes yee see To Bon-acord yeelds by necessitie Since to them all what did belong of old This Citie claimes most justly vncontrold For loe more worth then all of these I meane It doth afford as is apparent seene Since Athens no wayes herewith could compare In learning or civilitie most rare And since that Sparta for her valorous fame Of force must flie and heereto quyte her name And seeing Babell nor that Rome indeede For vertues no wayes could the same exceede But as the heav'ns doth over reach the earth So in like sort it doth surpasse their worth And like as since is nothing vnto faith Or who would life likewise compare to death Or like to man by reason who is blest Whose true perfection doth in grace consist Or as a beast is nought to man as farre This Cities vertues doth these Cities warre For they had but an outward show of glore But this in sacred substance passe them more And though their greatnesse were more grosse then it They all must yeeld hereto for vertuous wit And looke wherein these gloried most saue ill This hath more cause to glorie therintill Which once such Bishops blest of memorie had Who doth lye secreet now in earthen bed Of famous race by whom braue buildings stand In water some some doth decore the land By Chein and Lichtoun builded were alone Sanct Machers Church likewise the bridge of Done With other two rare buildings as yee see The Old towne Colledge the bridge of Die One Elphinstone began them as is told And both were finisht by Dumbar of old The one is builded vpon Pillers seven The other holds a Crowne vp towards heaven One Steward famous for his learning lovde As also Gordon for his gifts approvde One Cunningham the mirror of his dayes â—nd Blackburne likewise worthie of all praise 〈◊〉 Forbes then and now a Forbes more 〈◊〉 â—irst most rare but this not matcht before 〈◊〉 bygon Bishops treasures were of faith 〈◊〉 now in graue yet triumphs over death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of late such provests there hath beene 〈◊〉 famous Towne of Aberdeene Whose generous sprits whose antient fame and worth My Pen can not impart nor lynes set forth So passing many whom I could not know Of some into my tyme I heere will show A Cheine much worth for grace and great renowne With linkes of loue combyned to the Towne A prudent Provest in this famous place And who likewise was one of ancient race Then Colinson their third fold confidence Of vertues who was verie quintessence The Cities comfort who increast in grace And when but young was Provest in that place Of ancient stem and standard even wheron The towne relyde as their chiefe corner stone As borne so bred as livde so died and loe Of all this all wee conquest but a show Admeerde by men for wisedome faith grace A lanterne fortres favoured in his place Who dead yet liues and who by fame shall lest In number one ay of the worthiest Who past his pryme even full of honours shynd When death in graue of silence him inshrynde Wherefore with gold most