Markup of the Charteris Print

Robert Henryson

Robert Lekprevik

Anna Caughey

Robert Henryson

Robert Lekprevik

1569

Older Scots

Edinburgh

Decorative wood-cut border

The Morall Fabillis

of Esope the Phrygi-

an, Compylit in Eloquent, and Ornat Scottis

Meter, be Maister Robert Henrisone,

Scholemaister of Dun-

fermeling

Decorated image of 2 manicules pointing in towards leaves, another leaf below

¶Dulcius Arrident Seria Picta Iocis.

¶Vt Ngis leuamen est Port Trauillitas

animi f Iucunditas, est quasi Vitae Portus.

₡ Newlie Imprentit

at Edinburgh, be Robert Lekpreuik, at the Ex-

pensis of Henrie Charteris: and ac to be

sauld in his Buith, on the North syde

of the gate, aboue the Throne.

Leaf

A N N O. D O. M. D. L X X.

Decorative border of leaf/flower-shaped stamps

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Decorative border of leaf/flower-shaped stamps

₡ The Taillis contenit in this present Buke.

Leaf The Taill of the Cok, and the Jasp.

₡ The Taill of the Uponlāandis Mous, and the Burgeillegible / 1chars Millegible / 4chars.

Leaf The Taill of Schir Chantecleir, and the Fox.

₡ The Taill how the Foxe maid his Cōonofessioun to Freir Wolf

Waitskaith.

Leaf The Taill of the Sone and Air of the foirsaid illegible / 1chars Millegible / 3chars, callillegible / 1chars Millegible / 2chars

Father war. Alswa the Parliament of fourfuttillegible / 1chars Millegible / 2chars beistis,

haldin be the Lyoun.

₡The Taill of the Scheip, and the Doig.

Leaf The Taill of the Lyoun, and the Mous.

₡ The Preiching of the Swallow.

₡ The Taill of the Wolf, that gat the Nekhering, threw the

wrinkis of the Fox, that begylit the Cadgear.

₡ The Taill of the Fox, that begylit the Wolf, illegible / 7chars scha-

dow of the Mone.

₡ The Taill of the Wolf, and the Wedder

₡ The Taill of the Wolf, and the Lamb.

₡ The Taill of the Paddok, and the Mous.

Decorative line with two manicules pointing towards a cross, something underneath resembling a cross?

Stamp or image, indecipherable in EEBO

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FlowerThe Fabillis of

Esope.

Line with two manicules pointing towards three stars

₡ The Taill of the Cok, and the Jasp.

1 | THoucht fen3eit Fabillis of ault Poetrie,

2 | Be nocht all groundit vpon treuth: 3it than,

3 | Thait polite termis of sweit Rhetorie,

4 | Richt plesand ar vnto the eir of man.

5 | And also the caus, that that first began,

6 | Wes to repreif the haill misleuing

7 | Of Man, be figure of ane vther thing.

8 | ₡ In lyke maner, as throw the busteous eird,

9 | (Swa it be laubourit with greit diligence)

10 | Springis the flouris, and the corne abreird,

11 | Haillegible / 2charsum and gude to mannis sustenance.

12 | Sa dois spring ane Morall sweit sentence

13 | Out of the subtell dyte of Poetrie:

13 | To gude purpois quha cult it weill applie.

14 | The Nuttis schell thocht it be hard, and teuch,

15 | Haldis the kirnell, and is delectabill.

16 | Sa lyis thair ane doctrine wyse aneuch,

17 | And full of frute, vnder ane fen3eit Fabill.

18 | And Clerkis sayis, it is richt profitabll,

19 | Amangis ernist to ming ane merie sport,

20 | To licht the spreit, and gar the tyme be schort.

21 | Forther mair, ane Bow that is ay bent,

22 | Worthis vnsmart, and dullis on the strong.

23 | Sa gais the man, that is ay diligent

Catchword illegible

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₡ The Fabillis

24 | In ernistfull thochtis, and in studying,

25 | With sad materis sum merines to ming.

26 | Accordis weill thus Esope said I wis,

27 | Dulcius arrident seria picta iocis.

28 | ₡ Of this Author my Maisteris with 3our leif,

29 | Submitting me in 3our correctioun:

30 | In Mother toung of Latyne I wald preif,

31 | To mak ane mater of Translatioun.

32 | Nocht of my self, for vane presumptioun,

33 | Bot be request, and Precept of ane Lord,

34 | Of quhome the Name it neidis not record.

35 | In hamelie language and in termis rude,

36 | Me neidis wryte: for quhy of Eloquence.

37 | Nor Rethorike, I neuer vnderstude.

38 | Thairfoire meiklie I pray 3our reuerence,

39 | Gif that 3e find it throw my negligence,

40 | Be deminute, or 3it superfluous,

41 | Correct it at 3our willis gratious.

42 | My Author in his Fabillis tellis 3ow,

43 | That brutall beistis spak, and vnderstude.

44 | In to gude purpois dispute, and maid argow.

45 | In Philosophie propone, and eik conclude.

46 | Put in exempill, and in similitude,

47 | How mony men in operatioun,

48 | Ar lyke to beistis in conditioun.

49 | Na meruell is, ane man be lyke ane Beist,

50 | Quhilk lufis ay carnall and foull delyte:

51 | That schame can not him ren3e, nor arreist,

52 | Bot takis all the lust and appetyte,

53 | And that throw custom, and dalyie ryte.

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Of Esope.

54 | Syne in thair myndis sa fast is Radicate,

55 | That thay in brutall beistis ar transformate.

56 | ₡ This Nobill Clerk, Esope, as I haif tauld,

57 | In gray vestiment, and in facound purpurate,

58 | Be figure wrait his buke: for he nocht wald

59 | Lak the wisedome of hie, nor law estait.

60 | And to begyn, first of ane Cok he wrait,

61 | Seikand his meit, quhilk fand ane Jolie stone,

62 | Of quhome the Fabill 3e shall heir anone.

1 | Ane Cok sumtyme with feddrame fresche and gay

2 | Richt cant, and Crous, albeit he was bot pure:

3 | Flew furth vpon ane dounghill sone beday,

4 | To get his dennar set wes all his cure.

5 | Scraipand amang the as, be auenture,

6 | He fand ane Jolie Jasp, richt precious,

7 | Wes castin furth in sweping of the hous.

8 | As Damysellis wantoun, and Insolent,

9 | That fane wald play, and on the streit be sene.

10 | To swoping of the hous thay tak na tent

11 | Thay cair na thing, swa that the flure be clene.

12 | Jowellis ar tint, as oftymis hes bene sene,

13 | Upon the flure, and swopit furth anone.

14 | Peraduenture, sa wes the samin stone.

15 | Sa meruelland vpon the stand (quod he)

16 | O gentill Jasp: O riche and Nobill thing:

17 | Thocht I the find, thow ganis not for me.

18 | Thow art ane Jowel! for ane Lord, or king.

19 | Pietie it wer, thow suld ly in this midding,

20 | And buryit be thus on this muke on mold,

21 | And thow so fair, and worth sa mekill gold.

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₡ The Fabillis.

22 | ₡ It is pietie I suld the find, for quhy,

23 | Thy greit vertwe, nor 3it thy cullour cleir,

24 | It may me nouther extoll, nor magnifie:

25 | And thow to me may mak bot lytill cheir.

26 | To grait Lordis thocht thow be leif, and deir,

27 | I lufe fer better thing of les auaill,

28 | As draf, or corne, to fill my tume Intraill.

29 | I had leuer haif scraipit heir with my naillis,

30 | Amangis this mow, and luke my lyfis fude,

31 | As draf, or corne, small wormis, or snaillis,

32 | Or ony meit wald do my stomok gude:

33 | Than of Jaspis ane mekill multitude.

34 | And thow againe, vpon the samin wyis,

35 | For thyne auaill may me as now despysis.

36 | Thow is na corne: and thairof haif I neid.

37 | Thy cullour dois bot confort to the sicht.

38 | And that is not aneuch my wame to feid.

39 | For wyfis sayis, lukand werkis ar licht.

40 | I wald haif sum meit, get it gif I micht.

41 | For houngrie men may not leif on lukis:

42 | Had I dry breid, I compt not for na cukis.

43 | Quhar suld thow mak thy habitatioun?

44 | Quhar suld thow dwell, bot in ane Royall Tour?

45 | Quhar suld thow sit, bot on ane Kingis Croun,

46 | Exaltit in worschip and in greit honour?

47 | Ryse gentill Jasp, of all stanis the flour,

48 | Out of this midding, and pas quhar thow suld be,

49 | Thow ganis not for me, nor I for the.

50 | Leuand this Jowell law vpon the ground,

51 | To seik his meit this Cok his wayis went.

Catchword illegible

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Of Esope.

52 | Bot quhen, or how, or quhome be it wes found,

53 | As now I set to hald na Argument.

54 | Bot of the Inward sentence, and Intent

55 | Of this (as myne Author dois write)

56 | I sall reheirs in rude and hamelie dite.

57 | ₡ This Jolie Jasp had properteis seuin:

58 | The first, of cullour it wes meruelous:

59 | Part lyke the fyre, and part lyke to the heuin.

60 | It makis ane man stark and victorious.

61 | Preseruis also fra cacis perrillous.

62 | Quha hes this stane, sall haif gude hoip to speid,

63 | Or fyre, nor watter him neidis not to dreid.

leafMORALITAS.

1 | THis gentill Jasp, richt different of hew,

2 | Betakinnis perfit prudence and cunning.

3 | Ornate with mony deidis of vertew,

4 | Mair excellent, than any eirthlie thing.

5 | Quhilk makis men in honour for to Ring.

6 | Happie, and stark to wyn the victorie

7 | Of all vycis, and Spirituall enemie.

8 | Quha may be hardie, riche, and gratious?

9 | Quha can eschew perrell and auenture?

10 | Quha can Gouerne in ane Realme or hous

11 | Without science, ouer all thing I 3ow assure?

12 | It is riches that euer sall Indure,

13 | Quhilk Maith, nor moyst, nor vther rust can frillegible / 3chars,

14 | To mannis Saull it is Eternall millegible / 3chars

15 | This Cok desyrand mair the sempill coillegible / 2chars

16 | Than any Jasp, may till ane fule be peir.

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₡ The Fabillis

17 | Quhilk at science makis bot ane mock and scorne,

18 | And na gude cam also lytill will be leir,

19 | His hart wammillis wuse arguments to heir,

20 | As dois ane Sow to quhome men for the nanis

21 | In hir draf trorch wald saw precious stanis.

22 | ₡ Quha is enemie to science and cunning,

23 | Bot Ignorance, that vnderstandis nocht?

24 | Quhilk is sa Nobill, sa precious, and sa ding,

25 | That is may not with eirdlie thing be bocht.

26 | Weill war that man ouer all vther that mocht

27 | All his lyfe dayis in perfite studie wair,

28 | To get science: for him neidis na mair.

29 | But now (allace) science is tint and hid:

30 | We seik it nocht, nor preis it for to find.

31 | Haif we riches, na better lyfe we bid,

32 | Of science thocht the Saull be bair and blind.

33 | Of this mater to speik, it were bot wind.

34 | Thairfoir I ceis, and will na forther say.

35 | Ga seik the Jasp, quha will, for thair it lay.

₡ The Taill of the Uponladnis Mous, and

the Burges Mous.

1 | ESope myne Author makis mentioun,

2 | Of twa Myis, and that wer Sisteris dere.

3 | Of quham ye eldest dwelt in ane Borous toillegible / 2chars

4 | The vther wynnit Uponland weill cleir:

5 | Soliter, quhyle vnder busk, quhyle vnder breir:

6 | Quhylis in the corne, and vther mennis skaith,

7 | As outlawis dois and leuis on thair waitillegible / 1chars.

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of Esope.

8 | This rurall Mous in to the wynter tyde,

9 | Had hunger, cauld, and tholit greit distres,

10 | The vther Mous that in the Burgh can byde,

11 | Wes Gild brother and maid ane fre Burges.

12 | Toll fre als but custum mair or les,

13 | And fredome had to ga quhair euer scho list,

14 | Amang the cheis in Ark, and meill in kist.

15 | Ane tyme quhen sho wes full and vnfute sair,

16 | Scho tuke in mynde hir sister vponland,

17 | And langit for to heir of hir weilfair,

18 | To se quhat lyfe scho had vnder the wand.

19 | Bairfute allone with pykestaf in hir hand

20 | As pure Pilgrume scho passit out of toun

21 | To seik hir sister baith ouer daill and doun.

22 | ₡ Furth mony wilsum wayis can scho walk,

23 | Throw mosse & muir throw bakis blak and breir,

24 | Scho ranne with mone ane hiddeous quaik,

25 | Cum furth to me my awin Sister deir,

26 | Cry peip anis, with that the Mous cryit heir,

27 | And knew hir voce as kinnisman will do

28 | Be verray kynd, and furth scho come hir to.

29 | The hartlie ioy God gif 3e had sene,

30 | Beis kith quhen that thir Sisters met,

31 | And greit kyndenes wes schawinthame betuwene,

32 | For quhylis thay leuch, and quhlis for ioy thay gret

33 | Quhyle kissit sweit, quhylis in armis plet,

34 | And this they fure quhill soberit wes thair mind,

35 | Syne fute for fute vnto the chalmer wend.

36 | As I hard say it was ane sober wane

37 | Of fog and fairn full belillie wes maid

B.

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₡ The Fabillis

38 | Ane sillie scheill vnder ane steidfast stane,

39 | Of quhilk the entres wes not hie nor braid.

40 | And in the samin thay went but mair abaid,

41 | Without fyre or candill birnand bricht,

42 | For commounlie sic pykeris lufis not licht.

43 | Quhen thay were lugit thus thir selie Myse,

44 | The 3oungest sister into her butterie 3eid,

45 | And broucht forth nuttis, and candil in steid of spyce.

46 | Gif this wes gude fair I do it on thame besyde.

47 | The Burges Mous prompit furth in pryde.

48 | And said sister is this 3our daylie fude?

49 | Qyhy not (schod scho) is not this meit rucht gude?

50 | ₡ Na be my saull I think it bot ane scorne.

51 | Madame (quod scho) 3e be the mair to blame,

52 | My mother said sister quhen we were borne,

53 | That I and 3e lay baith within ane wame.

54 | I keip the rate and custume of my dame,

55 | And of my leuing into pouertie,

56 | For landis haif we nane in propertie.

57 | My fair sister (quod scho) haif me excusit

58 | This rude dyet and I can not accord.

59 | To tender meit my stomok is ay vsit,

60 | For quhylis I fair alsweill as ony Lord.

61 | Thir widderit peis, and nuttis or thay be bord

62 | Wil brek my teith, & mak my wame ful sklender,

63 | Quhilk wes befoir vsit to meittis tender.

64 | Weill, weill, sister (quod the rurall Mous),

65 | Gif it pleis 3ow sic thingis as 3e se heir,

66 | Baith meit and drink, harberie and hous,

67 | Salbe 3oure awin will 3e remaine all 3eir.

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of Esope.

68 | Ze sall it haif with blyith and merie cheir,

69 | And that suld mak the maissis that are tude,

70 | Amang freindis richt tender and wonder gude.

71 | Quhat plesure is in the Feistis delicate

72 | The quhilkis ar geuin with ane glowmāand brow?

73 | Ane gentillhart is better recreat

74 | With blyith curage than seik to hime ane how.

75 | Ane Modicum is mair for till allow,

76 | Swa that gude will be keruer at the dais

77 | Than thrawin will and mony spycit mais.

78 | ₡ For all hir merie exhortatioun,

79 | The Burges Mous had lytill will to sing.

80 | Bot heuilie scho kest her browis doun

81 | For all the daunteis that scho culd hir bring.

82 | Zit at the last scho said half in hething,

83 | Sister, this victuall and 3our royall feist

84 | May weill suffice vnto ane rurall beist.

85 | Lat be this hole and cum into my place

86 | I shall to 3ow schaw be experience,

87 | My gude fryday is better nor 3our Pace,

88 | My dische welchingis is worth 3our hail expēence,

89 | I haife housis anew of greit defence,

90 | Of Cat, nor fall trap, I haif na dreid.

91 | I grant (quod scho, and on togidder thay 3eid.

92 | In stubbill array throw gers and corne,

93 | And vnder buskis preuelie couth that creip,

94 | The eldest wes the gyde and vent beforne,

95 | The 3ounger to hir wayis tuke gude keip.

96 | On nicht thay ran, and on the day can sleip,

97 | Quhill in the morning or the Lauerok sang,

B. ii.

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₡ The Fabillis

98 | Thay found the toun, and in blythlie couth gang.

99 | Not fer fra thyne vnto ane worthie vane,

100 | This burges brocht thame sone quhar thai suld be.

101 | Without God speid thair herberie wes tane

102 | In to ane spence with vittell greit plentie,

103 | Baith Cheis and Butter vpone thair skelfis hie,

104 | And fleshe and fishe aneuch of freshe and salt,

105 | And sekkis full of meill and eik of malt.

106 | ₡ Efter quhen thay disposit wer to dyne,

107 | Withouttin grace thay weshe and went to meit.

108 | With all coursis that Cukis culd deuyne,

109 | Muttoun and beif strikin in tail3es greit.

110 | Ane Lordis fair thus couth thay counterfeit,

111 | Except ane thing thay drank the watter cleir,

112 | In steid of wyne bot 3it thay maid gude cheir.

113 | With blyith vpcast and merie countenance,

114 | The eldest Sister sperit at hir gaist.

115 | Gif that scho be resson fand difference,

116 | Betuix that chalmer and hir sarie nest.

117 | Ze dame ( quod scho ) how lang will this lest?

118 | For euermair I wait and langer to.

119 | Gif it be swa 3e ar at eis ( quod scho).

120 | Til eik thair cheir ane subcharge furth scho brocht,

121 | Ane plait of grotis, and ane dische full of meill

122 | Thraf caikkis also I trow scho spairit nocht,

123 | Aboundantlie about hir for to deill.

124 | And mane full fyne scho brocht in steid of geill,

125 | And ane quhyte candill out of ane coffer stall,

126 | In steid of spyce to gust thair mauth withall.

127 | This maid thay merie quhil thay micht na mair,

And

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of Esope.

128 | And haill Zule haill cryit vpon hie

129 | Zit efter ioy oftymes cummis cair,

130 | And troubill efter greit prosperitie,

131 | Thus as thay sat in all thair iolitie,

132 | The spenser come with keyis in his hand,

134 | Oppinnit the dure and thame at denner fand.

135 | ₡ Thay taryit not to wesche as I suppose,

136 | Bot on to ga quha that micht formest win.

137 | The Burges had ane hole, and in scho gois,

138 | Hir sister had na hole to hyde hir in,

139 | To se that selie Mous is wes greit sin

140 | So desolate and will of ane gude reid,

141 | For verray dreid scho fell in swoun neir deid.

142 | Bot as God wald it fell ane happy cace,

143 | The Spenser had na laser for to byde.

144 | Nouther to seik nor serche, to sker nor chace,

145 | Bot in he went, and left the dure vp wyde.

146 | The bald Burges his passing weill hes spyde,

147 | Out of hir hole scho come, and cryit on hie.

148 | How fair 3e sister cry peip quhair euer 3e be.

149 | This rurall Mous lay flatling on the ground

150 | And for the deith scho wes full sair dredand.

151 | For till hir hart straik mony wofull stound,

152 | As in ane feuer scho trimbillit fute and hand.

153 | And quhan hir sister in sic ply hir fand,

154 | For verray pietie scho began to greit,

155 | Syne confort hir with wordis humbill & sweit.

156 | Quhy ly 3e thus ryse vp my sister deir?

157 | Cum to 3our meit, this perril is ouerpast.

158 | The vther answerit hir with heuie cheir,

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₡ The Fabillis

159 | I may not eit sa sair I am agast.

160 | I had leuer thir fourtie dayis fast,

161 | With watter caill and to gnaw benis or peis,

162 | Than all 3our feist in this dreid and diseis.

163 | ₡ With fair tretie 3it scho gart hir vpryse,

164 | And to the burde thay went and togidder sat,

165 | And scantlie had that drunkin anis or twyse,

166 | Quhen in come Gib hunter our Jolie Cat,

167 | And bad God speid, the Burges vp with that,

168 | And till the hole scho went as fyre on flint,

169 | Bawdronis the vther be the bak hes hint.

170 | Fra fute to fute he kest hir to and fra,

171 | Quhylis vp, quhylis doun, als cant as ony kid.

172 | Quhylis wald he lat hir run vnder the stra,

173 | Quhlis wald he wink, and play with hir buk heid.

174 | Thus to the selie Mous greit pane he did.

175 | Quhill at the last throw fortune and gude hap,

176 | Betuix ane burde and the wall scho crap.

177 | And vp in haist behind ane parrailling,

178 | Scho clam so hie that Gilbert micht not get hir,

179 | Syne be the cluke thair craftelie can hing,

180 | Till he wes gane hir cheir wes all the better.

181 | Syne doun scho lap quhen thair wes nane to let hir.

182 | And to the Burges Mous loud can scho cry,

183 | Fairweill sister thy Feist heir I defy.

184 | Thy mangerie is mingit all with cair,

185 | Thy guse is gude thy gansell sour as gall.

186 | Thy subcharge of the seruice is bot sair,

187 | Sa sall thow find heir efterwart na faill.

188 | I thank 3one courtyne and 3one perpall wall

Of

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of Esope.

189 | Of my defence now fra ane crewell beist.

190 | Almychtie God kepi me fra sic ane Feist.

191 | ₡ We I into the kith that I come fra,

192 | For weill nor wo, suld neuer cum agane.

193 | With that scho tuke hir leif and furth can ga,

194 | Quhylis throw the corne, & quhylis throw the plane

195 | Quhen scho wes furth and fre scho wes ful fane.

196 | And merilie markit vnto the mure.

197 | I can not tell how weill thairefter scho fure.

198 | ₡ Bot I hard say scho passit to hir den,

199 | Also warme als weill suppose it wes not greit,

200 | Full bei9nly stuffit, baith but and ben

201 | Of Beinis, and Nuttis, Peis, Ry, and Quheit.

202 | Quhen euer sch list scho had aneuch to eit,

203 | In quyet and eis withoutin ony dreid,

204 | Bot to hir sisteris feist na mair scho 3eid.

leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | FReindis 3e may find an 3e will tak heid,

2 | Into this fabill ane gude moralitie.

3 | As fitchis myngit ar with nobill seid,

4 | Swa intermynglit is aduersitie,

5 | And also troubill, and sum vexatioun,

6 | With eirthlie ioy, swa that na estait is fre,

7 | That ar not content of small possessioun,

8 | And namelie thay quhilk climmis vp maist hie.

9 | Blissit be sempill lyfe withoutin dreid.

10 | Blissit be sober feist in quietie.

11 | Quha hes aneuch of na mair hes he neid,

12 | Thoct it be lytill into quantitie.

13 | Greit aboundance and blind prosperitie,

14 | Oftymes illegible / 3charssis ane euill conclusioun.

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₡ The Fabillis

15 | The sweitest lyfe thairfoir in this cuntrie,

16 | Is sickernes with small possessioun.

17 | ₡ Thy awin fyre my freind, sa it be not ane gleid,

18 | It warmis weill, and is worth Gold to the.

19 | And Solomon sayis gif that thow will reid,

20 | Under the heuin it can not better be,

21 | Than ay be blyith and leif in honestie,

22 | Quhairfoir I may conclude be this ressoun,

23 | Of eirthly ioy it beiris maist degre.

24 | Blythnes in hart with small possessiillegible / 3chars

₡ The Taill of Schir Chantecleir and the Foxe.

1 | THocht brutall beistis be Irrationabill,

2 | That is to say wantand discretioun.

3 | Zit ilk ane in thair kynde naturall

4 | Hes mony diuers inclinatioun.

5 | The Bair busteous, the Wolf; the wylde Lyoun:

6 | The Foxe semis craftie and cautelous:

7 | The Dog to bark on nicht and keip the hous.

8 | Sa different thay ar in properteis,

9 | Unknawin to man, and sa infinite,

10 | In kynde hauand sa fell diuersiteis.

11 | My cunning is excludit for to dyte.

12 | For thy as now I purpose for to wryte.

13 | Ane cais I fand quhilk fell this ather 3eir

14 | Betwuix ane Foxe, and ane gentill Chantecleir.

15 | illegible / 3chars Wedow dwelt, in till ane drop thay dayis,

16 | illegible / 4charsilk wan hir fude of spinning on hir Rok.

17 | illegible / 4chars na mair had forfillegible / 3chars as the Fabill sayis,

(Click to see) 17

of Esope.

18 | Except of hennis scho had ane lytill flok,

19 | And tham to keip scho had ane iolie Cok:

20 | Richt curageous, that to this wedow ay

21 | Deuydid nicht, and crew befoir the day.

22 | ₡ Ane lytill fra this foirsaid Wedowis hous,

23 | Ane thornie schaw thair wes of greit defence.

24 | Quhairin ane Foxe craftie, and cautelous,

25 | Maid his repair, and daylie residence.

26 | Quhilk to this Wedow did greit violence,

27 | In pyking of pultrie baith day and nicht,

28 | And na way be reuengit on him scho micht.

29 | This wylie Tod quhen that the Lark couth sing,

30 | Full fair hungrie vnto the Toun him drest,

31 | Quhair Cantecleir in the the gray dawing,

32 | Werie for nicht wes flowin fra his nest.

33 | Lowrence this saw, and in his mynde he kest,

34 | The Jeperdie, the wayis, and the wyle,

35 | Be quhat menis he micht this Cok begyle.

36 | Dissimuland in to countenance and cheir,

37 | On kneis fell, and simuland this he said.

38 | Gude morne my maister gentill Chantecleir.

39 | With that the Cok start bakwart in ane braid.

40 | Schir be my Saull, 3e neid not be effrayit,

41 | Nor 3it for me to start or sle abak,

42 | I come bot heir seruice to 3ow to mak.

43 | Wald I not serue to 3ow it we bot blame,

44 | As I haif done to 3our progenitouris.

45 | Zour Father full oft fillit hes my wame,

46 | And send me meit fra midding to the muris.

47 | And at his end I did my besie curis,

Catchword cut off or illegible

(Click to see) 18

₡ The Fabillis

48 | To hald his heid, and gif illegible / 5charsnkis warme.

49 | Syne at the last the Sweit swelt in my arme.

50 | ₡ Knew 3e my Father gap reason="illegible" unit="chars" quantity="2"/>od the Cok) and leuch.

51 | Zea my fair Sone, I held up his heid,

52 | Quhen that he deit vnder ane birkin beuch.

53 | Syne said the Dirige quhen that he wes deid,

54 | Betuix vs twa how suld thair be ane feid?

55 | Quhame suld 3e traist bot me 3our Seruitour,

56 | illegible / 3chars to your Father did sa greit honour.

57 | Quhen I behald 3our fedderis fair and gent,

58 | Zour beik, 3our breist, 3our hekill, and 3our came.

59 | Schir be my Saull, and the blissit Sacrament,

60 | My hart is warme me think I am at hame,

61 | To make 3ow blyith, I wald creip on my wame,

62 | In froist and snaw, in wedder wan and weit

63 | And lap my lyart lokkis vnder 3our feit.

64 | This fen3eit Foxe fals and dissumulate,

65 | Maid to this Cok ane cauillatioun.

66 | Ze are me think changit and degenerate

67 | Fra 3our Father of his conditioun,

68 | Of craftie crawing he micht beir the Croun,

69 | For he wald on his tais stand and craw.

70 | This wes na le, I stude besyde and saw.

71 | With that the Cok vpon his tais hie,

72 | Kest vp his beik, and sang with all his micht.

73 | (Quod Schir Lowrence) weill said sa mot I the.

74 | Ze ar 3our Fatheris Sone and air vpricht.

75 | Bot of his cunning 3it 3e want ane slicht.

76 | For (quod the Tod) he wald and haif na dout,

77 | Baith wink, and craw, and turne him thryis about.

The

(Click to see) 19

of Esope.

78 | The Cok infect with wind and fals vaneglore,

79 | That mony puttis vnto confusioun.

80 | Craifting to win ane greit worschip thairfoir,

81 | Unwarlie winkand wawland vp and doun,

82 | And syne to chant and craw he maid him boun.

83 | And suddandlie be he had crawin ane note,

84 | The Foxe we war, and hint him be the throte.

Additional pen mark: Number '10'

85 | ₡ Syne to the woid but tarie with him hyit,

86 | Of that cryme haifand bot lytill dout.

87 | With that Pertok, Sprutok, and Toppok cryit.

88 | The Wedow cryit, and with ane cry come out.

89 | Seand the cace scho sichit and gaif ane schout.

90 | How murther hay with ane hiddeous beir,

91 | Allace now lost is gentill Chantecleir.

92 | As scho were woid, with mony 3ell and cry,

93 | Ryuand hir hair vpon hir breist can beit,

94 | Syne paill of hew half in ane extasie,

95 | Fell doun for cair in swoning, and in sweit.

96 | With that the selie hennis left thair meit.

97 | And quhill this wyfe wes lyand thus in swoun,

98 | Fell in that case in disputatioun.

99 | Allace (quod Pertok) makand sair murning,

100 | With teris greit attour hir cheikis fell.

101 | Zone wes our drowrie, and our dayis darling,

102 | Our Nichtingaill, and also our Orlegebell.

103 | Our walkry (unclear : probably a typo for 's') fe watche vs for the warne and tell,

104 | Quhen that Aurora with hir curcheis gray,

105 | Put vp hir heid betuix the nicht and day.

106 | Quha sall our Lemman be? quha sall vs leid?

107 | Quhen we ar sad quha sall vnto vs sing?

E. ii.

(Click to see) 20

₡ The Fabillis

108 | With his sweit Bill he wald brek vs the breid

109 | In all this warld wes thair ane kynder thing.

110 | In paramouris he wald do vs plesing

111 | At his power as nature did him geif.

112 | Now efter him allace how sall we leif?

113 | ₡ Quod Sprutok than, Ceis sister of 3our sorrow

114 | Ze be to mad for him sic murning mais.

115 | We sall fair weill, I find Sanct Johne to borrow,

116 | The Prouerb sayis, als gude lufe cummis as gais.

117 | I will put on my haly dayis claithis,

118 | And mak me fresche agane this Jolie May,

119 | Syne chant this sang wes neuer Wedow sa gay.

120 | He wes angrie and held vs ay in aw,

121 | And woundit with the speir of Jelowsie.

122 | Of chalmerglew Pertok, full weill 3e knaw

123 | Waistie he wes, of Nature cauld and dry.

124 | Sen he is gone thairfoir Sister say I,

125 | Be blyith in baill, for that is best remeid.

126 | Let quik to quik, and deid ga to the deid.

127 | Than Pertok spak, with fen3eit faith befoir

128 | In lust but lufe he set all his delyte.

129 | Sister 3e wait of sic as him ane scoir

130 | Wald not suffice to slaik our appetyte.

131 | I hecht be my hand sen he is quyte,

132 | Within ane oulk for schame, and I durst speik,

133 | To get ane berne suld better claw my breik.

134 | Than Toppok lyke ane Curate spak full crous,

135 | Zone wes ane verray vengeance from the heuin.

136 | He wes sa lous, and sa lecherous.

137 | He had (quod scho) kittokis ma than seuin.

(Click to see) 21

of Esope.

138 | Bot rychteous God haldand the balandis euin,

139 | Smythis richt sair thocht he be patient

140 | For Adulterie, that will thame not repent.

Additional pen number '11'

141 | ₡ Prydefull he wes, and ioyit of his sin,

142 | And comptit not for Goddis fauour nor feid.

143 | But traistit ay to rax, and sa to rin,

144 | Quhill at the last his sinnis can him leid

145 | To schamefull end, and to 3one suddand deid.

146 | Thairfoir it is the verray hand of God,

147 | That causit him be werryit with the Tod.

148 | Quehn this wes said, this Wedow fra hir swoun

149 | Start vp on fute, and on hir kennettis cryit.

150 | Now berk Berrie, Bausie, Broun,

151 | Rype schaw, Rin weill, Curtes, Nuttieclyde,

152 | Togidder all but grunching furth 3e glyde,

153 | Reskew my Nobill Cok or he be slane,

154 | Or ellis to me se 3e cum neuer agane.

155 | With that but baid thay braidit ouer the bent,

156 | As fyre of flint thay ouer the feildis flaw,

157 | Full wichtlie thay throw woid and watteris went,

158 | And ceissit not schir Lowrence quhill thay say.

159 | Bot quhen he saw the Kennettis cum on raw,

160 | Unto the Cok in mynd he said, God sen

161 | That I and thow we fairlie in my den.

162 | Than said the Cok with sum gude Spirit inspyrit:

163 | Do my counsall and I sall warrand the.

164 | Hungrie thow art, and for greit trauell tyrit,

165 | Richt faint of force, and may not ferther fle.

166 | Swyith turne agane, and say, that I and 3e

167 | Freindis ar maid, and fellowis for ane 3eir.

(Click to see) 22

₡ The Fabillis

168 | Than will thay stint, I stand for it and not steir.

169 | ₡ This Tod thocht he wes fals and friuolous,

170 | And had freindis his querrell to defend,

171 | Desauit wes by menis richt meruelous.

172 | For falset fail3eis ay at the latter end.

173 | He start about, and cryit as he wes kend.

174 | With that the Cok he braid out of the brich.

175 | Now Juge 3e all quhairat Schir Lowrence leuch.

176 | Begylit thus the Tod vnder the tre

177 | On kneis fell, and said gude Chantecleir.

178 | Cum doun agane, and I but meit or fey

179 | Salbe 3our man and seruand for ane 3eir.

180 | Na fals theif, and reuar, stand not me neir.

181 | My bludie hekill, and my nek sa bla

182 | Hes partit freindschip for euer betwene vs twa.

183 | I wes vnwyse that winkit at thy will,

184 | Quhairthrow almaist I loissit had my heid.

185 | I wes mair fule (quod he) to be sa still,

186 | Quhairthrow almaist I loissit had my heid.

187 | I wes mair fule (quod he) to be sa still,

188 | Quhairthrow to put my play in to pleid.

189 | Fair on fals theif, God keip me fra thy feid.

190 | With that the Cok ouer the feildis tuke his flicht,

191 | And in at the Wedowis Louwer couth he licht.

E

MORALITAS.

1 | NOw worthie folk suppose this be ane Fabill,

2 | And ouerheillit with typis figurall.

3 | Zit may 3e find ane sentence richt agreabill,

4 | Under thir fen3it termis textuall.

5 | To our purpose this Cok weill may we call,

6 | Nyse proud men, woid, and vaneglorious,

7 | Of kin and blude quhilk is presumpteous,

(Click to see) 23

of Esope.

8 | ₡ Fy puft vp pryde, thow is full poysonabill.

9 | Quha fauoris the on force man haif ane fall.

10 | Thy strenth is nocht, thy stule standis vnstabill,

11 | Tak witnes of the Feyndis Infernall,

12 | Quhilk houndit doun wes fra that heuinlie hall

13 | To Hellis hole, and to that hiddeous hous.

14 | Because in pryde thay wer presumpteous.

15 | This fen3eit Foxe may weill be figurate,

16 | To flatteraris richt plesand wordis quhyte.

17 | With fals mening and mynd maist toxicate.

18 | To leif and le, that settis thair haill delyte.

19 | All worthie folk at sic suld haif despyte.

20 | For quhair is thair mair perrillous pestilence,

21 | Nor gif to learis haistelie credence.

Penned-in number '12'

22 | Hie wickit mynd and Adulatioun,

23 | Of sucker sweit haifand the similitude,

24 | Bitter as gall, and full of poysoun,

25 | To traist it is quha cleirlie vnderstude.

26 | For thy as now schortlie to conclude,

27 | Thir twa sinnis, flatterie, and vaneglore,

28 | Ar mannis enemeis: gude folk fle thame thair foir.

₡ The Taill how this foirsaid Tod, maid his

Confessioun to Freir Uolf Uaitskaith

1 | LEif we this Wedow glaid I 3ow assure

2 | Of Chantecleir, mair blyith than I can tell.

3 | And speik we of the subtell auenture.

4 | And destenie that to this Foxe befell,

5 | Quhilk durst na mair with waiting IntermellMark next to end of line potentially obscuring punctuation?

(Click to see) 24

₡ The Fabillis

6 | Als lang as leme or licht was of the day,

7 | Bot bydand nicht full still lurkand he lay.

8 | ₡ Quhill that the Goddes of the flude

9 | Phebus had callit to the harberie.

10 | And Hesperus put vp his cluddie heid,

11 | Schawand his lustie wisage in the sky.

12 | Than Lowrence luikit vp, quhair he couth ly,

13 | And kest his hand vpon his Ee on hicht,

14 | Merie and glaid that cummit wes the nicht.

15 | Out of the wod vnto ane hill he went,

16 | Quhair he micht se the tuinkling sternis cleir.

17 | And all the Planetis of the firmament,

18 | Thair cours, and eik thair mouing in the Spheir.

19 | Sum Retrograde, and sum Stationer.

20 | And of the Zodiak in quhat degre

21 | Thay wer ilk ane, as Lowrence leirnit me.

22 | Than Saturne auld wes enterit in Capricorne,

23 | And Juppiter mouit in Sagittarie.

24 | And Mars vp in the Rammis heid wes borne.

25 | And Phebus in the Lyoun furth can carie.

26 | Uenus the Crab, the Mone wes in Aquarie,

27 | Mercurius the God of Eloquence

28 | Into the Uirgyn maid his residence.

29 | But Astrolab, Quadrant, or Almanak,

30 | Teichit of nature be Instructioun,

31 | The mouing of the heuin this Tod can tak,

32 | Quhat influence and Contellatioun

33 | Wes lyke to fall vpon the eirth adoun.

34 | And to him self he said withoutin mair,

35 | Weill worth my Father, that send me to the lair

Catchword present, but illegible

(Click to see) 25

of Esope.

36 | ₡ My destenie, and eik my weird I ken,

37 | My auentour is cleirlie to me kend.

38 | With mischeif myngit is my mortall Ene,

39 | My misleuing the soner bot gif I mend.

40 | It is reward o (unclear : fading) f sin ane schamefull end.

41 | Thairfoir I will ga seik sum Confessour,

42 | And schryit me clene of my sinnis to this hour.

43 | Allace (quod he) richt waryit ar we theifis.

44 | Our lyfis set ilk nicht in auenture.

45 | Our cursit craft full mony man mischeuis,

46 | For euer we steill, and euer ar lyke pure.

47 | In dreid and schame our dayis we Indure.

48 | Syne widdinek, and Crakcaip callit als,

49 | And till our hyre hangit vp be the hals.

50 | Accusand thus his cankerit conscience,

51 | In to ane Craig he kest about his Ee.

52 | So saw he cummand ane lytill than from hence,

53 | Ane worthie Doctour in diuinitie

54 | Freir Uolf Uaitskaith in science wonder sle.

55 | To preiche and pray wes new cūummit fra the Cloister,

56 | With Beidis in hand sayand his Pater noster.

577 | Seand this Uolf this wylie tratour Tod

58 | On kneis fell, with hude in to his nek.

59 | Welcome my Goistlie Father vnder God,

60 | (Quod he) with mony binge and mony bek.

61 | Ha (quod the Uolf) Schir Tod for quhat effek

62 | Mak 3e sic feir, ryse vp put on 3our hyde?

63 | Father (quod he) I haif greit cause to dude.

64 | Ze ar Mirrour, Lanterne, and sicker way,

65 | Suld gyde sic sempill folk as me to grace,

D

(Click to see) 26

₡ The Fabillis

66 | Zour bair feit, and 3our Russet Cowll of gray,

67 | Zour lene cheik, 3our paill piteous face,

68 | Schawis to me 3our perfite halines.

69 | For weill wer him that anis in his lyue

70 | Had hap to 3ow his sinnir for to shryue.

71 | ₡ Na selie Lowrence (quod the Uolf) and leuch,

72 | It plesis me that 3e ar penitent.

73 | Of reif and stouth, Schir, I can tell aneuch,

74 | That causis me full sair for the repent.

75 | Bot Father byde still heir vpon the bent,

76 | I 3ow beseik, and heir me to declair

77 | My conscience, that prikkis me sa fair.

78 | Weill (quod the Uolf) sit doun vpon thy kne.

79 | And he doun bair heid sat full humillie.

80 | And syne began with Benedicite,

81 | Quhen I this say, I drew ane lytill by.

82 | For it effeiris nouther to heir, nor spy,

83 | Nor to reueill thing siad vnder that seill,

84 | Unto the Tod this Gait the Uolf couth tell.

85 | Art thow contrite, and sorie in thy Spreit

86 | For thy Trespas? Na Schir, I can not doid,

87 | Me think that hennis ar sa honie sweit,

88 | And Lambis flesche that new ar lettin bluid,

89 | For to repent my mynd can not concluid,

90 | Bot of this thing, that I haif slane sa few.

91 | Weill (quod the Uolf) in faith thow art ane schrew

92 | Sen thow can not forthink thy wickitnes,

93 | Will thow forbeir in tyme to cum and mend.

94 | And I forbeir, how sall I leif allace?

95 | Haifand nane vther craft me to defend.

Catchword cut off and illegible

(Click to see) 27

of Esope.

96 | Neid causis me to steill quhair euer I wend.

97 | I eschame to thig, I can not wirk 3e wait.

98 | Zit wald I fane pretend to gentill stait.

99 | ₡ Weill (quod the Uolf) thow wāantis pointis twa

100 | Belangand to perfyte Confessioun.

101 | To the thrid part of penitence let vs ga,

102 | Will thow tak pane for thy transgressioun?

103 | Na Schir considder my Complexioun,

104 | Selie and waik, and of my Nature tender,

105 | Lo, will 3e se, I am baith lene and sklender.

106 | Zit neuertheles I wald swa it wer licht,

107 | Schort and not greuand to my tendernes,

108 | Tak part of pane, fulfull it gif I micht,

109 | To set my selie Saull in way of grace.

110 | Thow sall (quod he) forbeir flesche vntill Pasche,

111 | To tame this Corps that cursit Carioun.

112 | And heir I reik the full Remissioun.

113 | I grant thairto, swa 3e will gif me leif,

114 | To eit puddingis, or laip ane lytill blude,

115 | Or heid, or feit, or paynchis let me preif.

116 | In cace I falt of flesche in to my fude.

117 | For greit mister I gif the leif to dude,

118 | Twyse in the oulk, for neid may haif na Law.

119 | God 3eild 3ow Schir, for that Text weill I knaw

120 | Quhen this wes said, the Uolf his wayis went.

121 | The Foxe on fute he fure vnto the flude,

123 | To fang him fische haillelie wes his intent.

124 | But quhen he saw the watter, and wallis wod,

125 | Astonist all in still to ane stair he stude.

126 | And seid, better that I had biddin at hame,

D. 4.

(Click to see) 28

₡ The Fabillis

127 | Nor bene ane Fischar in the Deuillis Name.

128 | ₡ Now man I scraip my meit out of the sand,

129 | And I haif nouth (unclear : fading) er boiteis, nor 3it Net.

130 | As he wes thus for falt of meit murnand,

131 | Lukand about his leuing for to get.

132 | Under ane tre he was ane trip of Gait.

133 | Than wes he blyith, and in ane heuch him hid,

134 | And fra the Gait he stall ane lytill Kid.

135 | ₡ Syne ouer the heuch into the see he hyis,

136 | And tuke the Kid be the hornis twane,

137 | And in the watter outher twyis of thryis

138 | He dowkit him, and till him can he sayne.

139 | Ga doun Schir Kid, cūum vp Schir Salmond agane.

140 | Quhill he wes deid syne to the land him dreuch,

141 | And of that new maid Salmond eit aneuch.

142 | Thus fynelie fillit with 3oung tender meit,

143 | Unto ane derne for dreid he him addrest,

144 | Under ane busk, quhair that the sone can beit.

145 | To beik his breist and bellie he thocht best.

145 | And rekleslie he said quhair he did rest,

146 | Straikand his wame aganis the sonis heit,

147 | Upon this wame set wer ane bolt full meit.

148 | Quhen this wes said the keipar of the Gait,

149 | Cairfull in hart his Kid wes st (unclear : fading) ollin away,

150 | On euerilk syde full warlie couth he wait,

151 | Quhill at the last, he saw quhair Lowrence law.

152 | Ane Bow he bent, ane flane with f (unclear : fading) edderis gray,

153 | He haillit to the heid and or he steird,

154 | The Foxe he prikkit fast vnto the eird.

₡ Now

(Click to see) 29

of Esope.

155 | ₡ Now (quod the Foxe) allace, and wellaway.

156 | Gorit I am, and may na forther gang,

157 | Me think na man may speik ane word in play,

158 | Bot now on dayis, in ernist it is tane.

159 | He harlit him, and out he drew his flane.

160 | And for his Kid, and vther violence,

161 | He tuke his skyn, and maid ane recompence.

leaf-shaped virguleMORALITAS

1 | THis suddand deith, and vnproysit end

2 | Of this fals Tod, without prouisioun,

3 | Exempill is exhortand folk to amend,

4 | For dreid of sic ane lyke confusioun.

5 | For mony now hes gude professioun,

6 | Zit not repentis, nor for thair sinnis greit,

7 | Because thay think thair lustie lyfe sa sweit.

8 | Sume bene also throw consuetude and ryte,

9 | Uincust with carnall sensualitie.

10 | Suppose thay be as for the tyme contryte,

11 | Can not forebeir, nor fra thair sinnis fle.

12 | Use drawis Nature swa in propertie

13 | Of beist and man, that neidlingis thay man do,

14 | As that of lang tyme hes bene hantit to.

15 | Be war gude folk and feir this suddane schoit,

16 | Quhilt smytis sair withouttin resistence.

17 | Attend wyislie, and in 3our hartis noit,

18 | Againis deith may na man mak defence.

19 | Ceis of 3our sin, Remord 3our conscience,

20 | Obey vnto 3our God and 3e sall wend

21 | Efter 3our deith, to blis withouttin end.

(Click to see) 30

₡ The Fabillis

₡ The Taill of the Sone and Air of the foirsaid

Foxe, callit Fatherwer: Alswa the Par-

liament of fourfuttit Beistis, haldin

be the Lyoun.

1 | THis foirsaid Foxe, that deit for his misdeid,

2 | Had not ane barne wes gottin richteouslie,

3 | Till airschip be Law that micht succeid,

4 | Except ane Sone, quhilk in Adulterie,

5 | He gottin had in purches priuelie.

6 | And till his Name wes callit Fatherwar,

7 | That lufit weill with pultrie to tig and tar.

8 | It followis weill be resoun naturall,

9 | And gre be gre, of richt comparisoun:

10 | Of euill cummis war: of war cummis werst of all,

11 | Of wrangous geir cummis fals possessioun.

12 | This Foxe Bastard of generatioun,

13 | Of verray kynde behufit to be fals.

14 | Swa wes his Father, and his Granschir als.

15 | As Nature will seikand his meit be sent,

16 | Of cace he fand his Fatheris Carioun,

17 | Nakid, new slane, and till him hes he went,

18 | Tuke vp his heid, and on his kne fell doun,

19 | Thankand greit God of that conclusioun.

20 | And said, now sall I bruke sen I am air,

21 | The boundis quhair thow wes wont for to repair.

22 | Fy Couetice vnkynd, and venemous.

23 | The Sone wes fane he fand his Father deid,

24 | Be suddand schot, for deidis odious,

25 | That he micht regne, and rare in till his steid.

26 | Dreid and na think the samin lyfe to leid,

In

(Click to see) 31

Of Esope.

27 | In thift, and reif, as did his Father befoir.

28 | Bot to the end attent he tuke no moir.

29 | ₡ Zit neuertheles throw Naturall pietie,

30 | The Carioun vpon his bak he rais.

31 | Now find I weill the Prouerb trew (quod he)

32 | Ay rinnis the Foxe, als lang as he fute has.

33 | Syne with the Corps vnto ane peitpoit gais,

34 | Of watter full, and kest him in the deip.

35 | And to the Deuill he gaif his banis to keip.

Penned-in number 16

36 | O fulische man plungit in warldlines,

37 | To conqueis warldlie gude, gold and rent.

38 | To put thy Saull in pane, or heuines,

39 | To riche thy air, quhilk efter thow art went,

40 | Haif he thy gude, he takis bot small tent

41 | To execute, to do, to satisfie,

42 | Thy letter will, thy det, and legacie.

43 | ₡ This Tod to rest him, he passit to ane Craig,

44 | And thair he hard ane buisteous Bugill blaw.

45 | Quhilk as he thocht, maid all the warld to wag.

46 | Ane Unicorne come lansand ouer ane Law.

47 | Than start he vp, quhen he this hard and saw,

48 | With horne in hand, an bill in breist he bure.

49 | An Pursephant semelie I 3ow assure.

50 | Unto ane bank quhair he micht se about,

51 | On euerilk sude in haist he culd him hy.

52 | Schot out his voce, full schill, and gaif ane schout.

53 | And on this wyis twyse or thryse did cry.

54 | With that the beistis in the feild thairby,

55 | All merueland, quhat sic ane thing suld mene.

56 | Greitlie agast thay gadderit on ane grene.

(Click to see) 32

₡ The Fabillis

57 | ₡ Out of his buist ane bill sone can he braid,

58 | And red the Text withoutein taryinng.

59 | Commandand silence, sadlie thus he said.

60 | The Nobill Lyoun, of all beistis the king,

61 | Greting to God helth euerlesting.

62 | To brutall beistis, and Irrationall,

63 | I send, as to my subiectis greit and small.

64 | My Celsitude, and hie magnificence,

65 | Lattis 3ow to wit, that euin incontinent,

66 | Thinkis the morne with Royall diligence,

67 | Upon this hill to hald ane Parliament.

68 | Straitlie thairfoir I gif commandement,

69 | For to compeir befoire my Tribunall,

70 | Under all pane, and perrel that may fall.

71 | ₡ The morrow come, and Phebus with his bemis

72 | Confuillegible / 1charsnit had the mistie cluddis gray.

73 | The ground wes grene, and as gold it glemis,

74 | With gers growand and gudelie, greit, and gay.

75 | The spyce the spred to spring on euerilk spray.

76 | The Lark, the Maueis, and the Merll full hie.

77 | Sweitlie can sing creipand fra tre to tre.

78 | The Leopardis come with Croun of massie gold,

79 | Beirand thay brocht vnto that hillis hicht,

80 | With Japis Jonit, and Royall Rubeis rold,

81 | And mony diueris Dyamontis dicht,

82 | With powis proud ane Pal3eon doun thay picht.

83 | And in that Throne, thair sat ane wild Lyoun,

84 | In Rob Royal, with Sceptour, Swerd, & Croun.

85 | Efter the tennour of the cry befoir,

86 | That gais on all fourfuttit beistis in eirth.

(Click to see) 33

of Esope.

87 | As thay commandit wer withottin moir,

88 | Befoir thair Lord the Lyoun thay appeirit.

89 | And quhat thay wer to me as Lowrence leirit.

90 | I sall reheirs ane part of euerilk kynd,

91 | Als far as now occurris to my mynd.

Pen marking '17'

92 | The Minotaur, ane Monster meruelous,

93 | Bellerophont that beist of Bastardrie.

94 | The Warwolf, and the Pegase perillous,

95 | Transfo4rmit be assent of sorcerie.

96 | The Linx, the Tiger full of Tirannie:

97 | The Elephant: and eik the Dromedarie:

98 | The Cameill with his Cran nek furth can carie.

99 | ₡ The Leopard, as I haif tauld beforne:

100 | The Anteloip: the Sparth furth couth speid:

101 | The payntit Pantheir: and the Unicorne:

102 | The Rayndeir Ran throw Reueir, Rone, and Reid.

103 | The Jolie Gillet, and the gentill Steid:

104 | The Asse: the Mule: the Hors of euerilk kynd,

105 | The Da: the Ra: the hornit Hart: the Hynd.

106 | The Bull: the Beir: the Bugill: and the Bair:

107 | The Tame Cat: Uildcat: & the Uildwod Swyne:

108 | The Hardbakkit Hurcheon: and the Hirplāand Hair:

109 | Baith Otter, and Aip: and Pennit Porcupyne:

110 | The Gukit Gait: the selie Scheip: the Swyne:

111 | The wyld Once: the Buk: the Uillegible / 1charsterand Brok:

112 | The Fowmart, with the Fibert furth can flok.

113 | The gray Grewhound, with Sleithoūun furth can

slyde

114 | With Doggis all diuers and different.

115 | The Rattoun ran, the Glebard furth can glyde.

116 | The quhrynand Quhitret, with the Quhaisill went,

E

(Click to see) 34

₡ The Fabillis

117 | The Feitho that hes furrit mony fent.

118 | The Mertrik: with the Cunning: and the Con:

119 | The Bouranbane: and eik the Lerioun.

120 | ₡ The Marmysset: the Mowdewart couth leid,

121 | Because that Nature denyit had hir sicht.

122 | Thus dressit thay all furth, for dreid of deid,

123 | The Musk, the lytill Mous with all hir micht,

124 | With haist scho haikit vnto that hill of hicht.

125 | And mony kynd of beistis I couth not knaw,

126 | Befoire thair Lord the Lyoun thay loutit law.

127 | Seing thir beistis all at his bidding boun,

128 | He gaif ane braid, and lukit him about.

129 | Than flatlingis to his feit thay fell all doun,

130 | For dreid of deith, thay droupit all in doubt.

131 | He lukit quhen that he saw tham lout,

132 | And bad thame with ane countenance full sweit,

133 | Be not effeirit, bot stand vp on 3our feit.

134 | I let 3ow wit, my micht is merciabill,

135 | And steiris nane that ar to me prostrait.

136 | Angrie, austerne, and als vnamyabill,

139 | To all that strandfray ar to myne estait.

140 | I rug, I reif, all beistis that makis debait.

141 | Aganis the micht of my Magnificence,

142 | Se nane pretend to pryde in my presence.

143 | My Celsitude, and my hie Maiestie,

144 | With micht, and mercie myngit sall be ay.

145 | The lawest hart I can full sone vp hie,

146 | And mak him maister ouer 3ow all I may.

147 | The Dromedarie gif he will mak deray,

148 | The greit Cameill, thocht he we neuer sa crous,

I Can

(Click to see) 35

of Esope.

149 | I can him law als lytill as ane Mous.

150 | ₡ Se neir be twentie mylis quhair I am,

151 | The kid ga saiflie be the gaittis syde.

152 | The Tod Lowrie luke not to the lam.

153 | Na reuand beistis nouther Ryn, nor ryde.

154 | Thay couchit all efter that this wes cryde.

155 | The Justice bad the Court for to gar fence,

156 | The sutis callit, and foirfalt all absence.

157 | The Panther with his payntit Coit Armour

158 | Fensit the Court, as of the Law effeirit.

159 | Than Tod Lowrie lukit quhair he couth lour,

160 | And start on fute, all stonist and all steird,

161 | Ryifand his hair, he cryit with ane reird,

162 | Quaikand for dreid, and sichand couth he say,

163 | Allace this hour, allace this dulefull day.

164 | I wait this suddand Semble that I se,

165 | Haifand the pointis of ane Parliament,

166 | Is maid to mar sic misdoaris as me.

167 | Thairfoir gif I me schaw I will be schent,

168 | I will be socht, and I be red absent.

169 | To byde, or fle, it makis not remeid,

170 | All is alyse, thair followis not but deid.

171 | Perplexit thus in his hart can he mene,

172 | Throw falset how he micht him self defend.

173 | His Hude he drew laich attour his Ene,

174 | And winkand with an Eye furth he wend.

175 | Clinscheand he come, that he micht not be kend,

176 | And for dreddour that he suld bene arreist,

177 | He playit bukhude behind, fra beist to beist.

E.ii

(Click to see) 36

₡ The Fabillis

178 | ₡ O fylit Spreit, and cankerit Conscheince,

179 | Befoire ane Roy Ren3eit with richteousnes,

180 | Blakinillegible / 1charsit cheikis, and schamefull contenance.

181 | Fairweill thy fame defylit for ay is,

182 | The Phillegible / 2charsnomie, the fauour of thy face,

183 | For thy defence is foull and disfigurate,

184 | Brillegible / 1charscht to the licht blasit, blunt, and blait.

185 | Be thow atteichit with thift, or with tressoun,

186 | For thy misdeid wrangous, and wickit fay.

187 | The cheir changis Lowrence, thou man luke doun,

188 | Thy worschip of this warld is went away.

189 | Luke to this Told how he wes in effray,

190 | And fle the furth of falset I the reid,

191 | Quhairthrow thair fallowis syn, & schameful deid.

192 | Comperand thus befoir thair Lord and king.

193 | In ordour set as to thair estait effeird.

194 | Of euerilk kynd he gart ane part furthbring,

195 | And awfullie he spak, and at thame speird,

196 | Gif thair wes only kynd of beistis in erd,

197 | Absent, and than to gart thame deiplie sweir,

198 | And thay said nane, except ane Stude gray Meir.

199 | Ga make ane message sone vnto that Stude,

200 | The Court than cryit, now see quha sall it be,

201 | Cum furth Lowrie lurkand vnder thy hude,

202 | Aa Schir, mercie, low I haif bot ane Ee,

203 | Hurt in the heid, and cruikit as 3e may se.

204 | The Uolf is better in Ambassatrie,

205 | And mair cunning in Clergie fer than I.

206 | Rampand he said, gafurth brybouris baith.

207 | And thay to ga withouttin tarying,

Ouer

(Click to see) 37

of Esope.

208 | Ouer Ron and Rute thay ran togidder rait,

209 | And fand the Meir at hir meit in the morning.

210 | Now (quod the Tod) Madame cum to the king,

211 | The Court is callit, and 3e ar Contumax,

212 | Let me Lowrence (quod scho) 3our Courtlie knax.

213 | ₡ Maistres (quod he) cum to the Court 3e mon,

214 | The Lyoun hes commandit so in deid.

215 | Schir Tod tak 3e the Flyrdome, and the Fon,

216 | I haif respite ane 3eir, and 3e will reid.

217 | I can not spell (quod he) sa God me speid,

218 | Heir is the Uolf, ane Nobill Clerk at all,

219 | And of this Message is maid principall.

220 | He is Autentik, and ane man of age,

221 | And hes greit practik of the Chancellarie.

222 | Let him ga luke, and reid 3our Priuilege,

223 | And I saillegible / 1charsl stand, and beir witnes 3ow by.

224 | Quhair is thy Respite (quod the Uolf) in hy?

225 | Schir it is heir vnder my hufe weill hid.

226 | Hald vp thy heill (quod he) and so scho did.

227 | Thocht he wes blindit with pryde, 3it he presumis

228 | To luke doun law, quhair that hir letter lay.

229 | With that the Meir gird him vpon the gumis,

230 | And straik the hattrell of his heid away,

231 | Half out of lyif thair lenand doun he lay.

232 | Allace (quod Lowrence) Lupe, thow art loist.

233 | His cunning (quod the Meir) wes worth sum coist.

234 | Lowrence (quod scho) wil thow luke on my letter,

235 | Sen that the Uolf na thing thairof can wyn?

236 | Na be Sanct Bryde (quod he) me think it better,

237 | To sleip in haill, nor in ane hurt skyn.

(Click to see) 38

₡ The Fabillis

238 | Ane skrow I fand and this wes writtin in,

239 | For fiue schillingis I wald not anis forfault him,

240 | (foreign language la) Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.

241 | ₡ With broikin skap, and bludie cheirkis reid,

243 | This wretchit Uolf weipand, thus on he went,

244 | Of his men3e markand to get remeid,

245 | To tell the King the cace wes his Intent.

246 | Schir (quod the Tod) byde still vpon this bent,

247 | And fra 3our browis wesche away the blude.

248 | And tak ane drink, for it will do 3ow gude.

249 | To feche watter this fraudfull Foxe furth fure,

250 | Sydelingis abak he soucht vnto ane slyke.

251 | On cace he meittis cummand fra the mure,

252 | Ane Trip of Lambis dansand on ane dyke.

253 | This Tratour Tod, this Tirrane, and this Tyke,

254 | The fattest of this flock, he fellit hais.

255 | And eit his fill, syne to the Uolf he gais.

256 | Thay drank togidder, & syne thair Journey takis,

257 | Befoir the King, syne kneillit on thair kne.

258 | Quhair is 3one Meir, Schir Tod, wes Contumax?

259 | Than Lowrence said, my Lord, speir not at me.

260 | Speir at 3our Doctour of Diuinitie,

261 | With his reid Cap can tell 3ow weill aneuch.

262 | With that the Lyoun, and all the laif thay leuch.

263 | Tell on the cais, now Lowrence let vs heir.

264 | This wittie Uolf (quod he) this Clerk of age,

265 | On 3our behalf he had the Meir compeir.

266 | And scho allegit to ane priuilege,

267 | Cum neir, and se, and 3e sall haif 3our wage.

268 | Because he red his respite plane and weill,

Zone

(Click to see) 39

of Esope.

269 | Zone reid Bonat scho raucht him with hir heill.

270 | ₡ The Lyoun said, be 3one reid Cap I ken,

271 | This Taill is trew, quha tend vnto it takis.

272 | The greitest Clerkis ar not the wysest men.

273 | The hurt of ane happie the vther makis.

274 | As thay wer carpand in this cais, and knakis,

275 | And all the Court in merines and in gam.

276 | Swa come the Zow the Mother of the Lam.

Pened-in number 20

277 | Befoire the Justice on hir kneis fell,

278 | Put out hir playnt on this wyise wofullie.

279 | This harlet huresone, and this hound of hell.

280 | Deuorit hes my Lamb full doggitlie,

281 | Within ane myle, in contrair to 3our cry.

282 | For Goddis lyfe, my Lord, gif me the Law

283 | Of this lurker, with that Lowrence let draw.

284 | Byde (quod the Lyoun) Lymmer let vs se,

285 | Gif it be suthe the selie Zow hes said.

286 | Aa Souerance Lord, said 3our mercie (quod he.)

287 | My purpose wes with him for to haif playid.

288 | Causles he fled as he had bene effrayid,

289 | For dreid of deith, he duschit ouer ane dyke,

290 | And brake his nek. Thow leis (quod scho) fals tyke.

291 | His deith be practik may be preuit eith,

292 | Thy gorie gumis, and thy bludie snout.

293 | The woll, the flesche 3it stikkis on thy teith,

294 | And that is euidence aneuch but dout.

295 | The Justice bad ga cheis ane Assyis about.

296 | And so thay did, and fand that he wes fals

297 | Of Murther, thift, pyking, and tresson als.

(Click to see) 40

₡ The Fabillis

298 | ₡ Thay band him fast, the Justice bad belyit

299 | To git the dome, and tak of all his claithis.

300 | The Uolf that new maid Doctour couth him schryif,

301 | Syne furth him led and to the Gallous gais,

302 | And at the ledder fute his leif he rais.

303 | The Aip was Boucher, and bad him sone ascend.

304 | And hangit him, and thus he maid his end.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | RIcht as the Mynour in his Minorall,

2 | Fair gold with fyre may fra the Leid well wyn

3 | Richt so vnder ane Fabill figurall,

4 | Sad sentence men may seik: and efter fyne

5 | As daylie dois the Doctouris of Deuyne,

6 | That to our leuing full weill can apply

7 | And paynt thair mater furth be Poetry.

8 | The Lyoun is the warld be likenes,

9 | To quhome loutis baith Empriour, and King,

10 | And thinkis of this warld to get Incres,

11 | Thinkand daylie to get mair leuing.

12 | Sum for to reull: and sum to raxe and Ring.

13 | Sum gadderis geir: sum gold: sum vther gude

14 | To wyn this warld, sum wirkis as thay wer wod.

15 | The Meir is Men of gude conditioun,

16 | As Pilgrymes walkand in this wildernes

17 | Approuand that for richt Religioun

18 | Thair God onlie to pleis in euerilk place,

19 | Abstractit from this warldis wretchitnes,

20 | Fechtand with lust, presumptioun and pryde,

21 | And fra this warld in mynd ar mortyfyde.

22 | This Uolf I likkin to Sensualitie,

(Click to see) 41

of Esope.

23 | As quhen lyke brutall beistis we accord

24 | Our mynd all to this warldis vanitie,

25 | Lyking to tak, and loif him as our Lord.

26 | Fle fast thairfra, gif thow will richt remord,

27 | Than sall Ressoun rise, Rax, and Ring,

28 | And for thy Saull thair is na better thing.

29 | ₡ Hir Hufe I likkin to the thocht of deid.

30 | Uill thow remember, Man, that thow man de,

31 | Thow may brek Sensualiteis heid,

32 | And fleshlie lust a way fra the sall fle,

33 | Fra thow begin thy mynd to mortifie.

34 | Salomonis saying thow may persaif heirin,

35 | Think on thy end, thow sall not glaidlie sin.

Penned-in number 21

36 | This Tod I likkin to Temptationis,

37 | Beirand to mynd mony thochtis vane,

38 | Assaultant men with sweit persuasionis,

39 | Ay reddie for to trap thame in ane trayne.

40 | Zit gif thay se Sensualitie neir slane

41 | And suddand deith draw neir with panis sore,

42 | Thay go abak,and temptis thame no moir.

43 | O Mediatour mercifull, and meik,

44 | Thow Souerane Lord, and King Celestiall.

45 | The Celsitude maist humillie we beseik,

46 | Us to defend fra pane and perrellis all,

47 | And help vs vp vnto thy heuinlie hall,

48 | In gloir, quhair we may se the face of God.

49 | And thus endis the talking of the Tod.

₡The Taill of the Scheip, and the

Doig.

Catchword unclear, possibly 'F'

(Click to see) 42

₡ The Fablillis

1 | illegible / 1charsope ane Taill puttis in memorie,

2 | How that ane Doig, because that he wes pure,

3 | Callit ane Scheip to the Consistorie,

4 | illegible / 1charsne certain breid fra him for to recure.

5 | Ane fraudfull Uolf wes Juge that tyme, and bure

6 | Authoritie, and Jurisdictioun.

7 | And on the Scheip send furth ane strait summoun.

8 | ₡ For be the vse, and cours, and commoun style

9 | On this maner maid his Citatioun.

10 | I Maister Uolf partles of fraud and gyle,

11 | Under the pa (unclear : fading) nis of hie Suspensioun,

12 | Of greit Cursing and Interdictioun,

13 | Schir Scheip, I charge the, for to compeir,

14 | And answer to ane Doig befoir me heir.

15 | Schir Corbie Rauin wes maid Apparitour,

16 | Quha pykis had full mony Scheipis Ee.

17 | The charge hes tane, and on the letteris bure,

18 | Summonit the Scheip befoir the Uolf, that he

19 | Peremptourlie within twa dayis, or thre,

20 | Compeir vnder the panis in this bill,

21 | To heir quhat Perrie Doig will say the till.

22 | This Summondis maid befoir witnes anew,

23 | The Rauin as to his office weill effeird,

24 | Indorsat hes the write, and on he flew.

25 | The selie Scheip durst lay na mouth on eird,

26 | Till he befoire the awfull Juge apperid.

27 | The hour of cause, quhilk that the Juge vsit than,

28 | Quhen Hesperus to schaw his face began.

29 | The Foxe wes Clerk, and Noter in the cause.

30 | The Gled, the Graip at the Bar couth stand,

As

(Click to see) 43

of Esope.

31 | As Aduocatis expert in to the Lawis,

32 | The Doggis pley togidder tuke on hand,

33 | Quhilk wer con (unclear : blurring) sidderit straitlie in ane band,

34 | Aganis the Scheip to procure the sentence.

35 | Thocht it was fals thay had na conscience.

Penned in number "22"

36 | ₡ The Clerk callit the Scheip, and he wes thair.

37 | The Aduocatis on this wyse couth propone.

38 | Ane certane breid, worth fyue schilling or mair,

39 | Thow aw the Doig, of quhilk the terme is gone.

40 | Of his awin heid but Aduocate allone,

41 | The Scheip auysitlie gaif answer in the cace.

42 | Heir I declayne the Juge, the tyme, the place.

43 | This is my cause, in motiue and effect.

44 | The Law sayis, it is richt perrillous,

45 | Till enter in play befoire an Juge suspect.

46 | And 3e Schir Uolf, hes bene richt odious

47 | To me, for with 3our Tuskis rauenous.

48 | Hes slane full mony kinnismen of myne.

49 | Thairfoir Juge, as suspect, I 3ow declyne.

50 | And schortlie, of thie Court 3e memberis all,

51 | Baith Assessouris, Clerk, and Aduocate,

52 | To me and myne ar enemeis mortall,

53 | And ay hes bene, thocht I mucht not it lat.

54 | The place is fer, the tyme is insperate This word is not in DSL: Parkinson gives 'feriate'.

55 | Quhairfoir na Juge suld sit in Consistorie,

56 | Sa lait at euin, I 3ow accuse for thy.

57 | Quhen that the Juge on this wyse wes accusit,

58 | He bad the parteis cheis with ane assent,

59 | Twa Arbiteris, as in the Law is vsit,

60 | For to declair, and gif Arbitrement,

F. ii.

(Click to see) 44

The Fabillis

61 | Quhidder the scheip suld answer in Jugement,

62 | Befoire the Uolf: and so thay did but weir,

63 | Of quhome the Namis efterwart 3e sall heir.

64 | ₡ The Beir, the Brok, the mater tuke on hand,

65 | For the decyde, gif this exceptioun

66 | Wes of na strenth, nor lauchfullie mycht stand.

67 | And thairupon as Jugis thay sat doun,

68 | And held ane lang quhile disputatioun,

69 | Seikand full mony Decreitis of the Law,

70 | And Glosis als, the veritie to knaw.

71 | Of Ciuile Law volumis full mony that reuolve,

72 | The Codies, and Digestes new and ald.

73 | Constrait, Prostrait Argumentis thay resolue.

74 | Sum obiecting, and sum can hald.

75 | For prayer, or price, trow 3e that thay wald fald?

76 | Both had the glose, and Text of the Decreis,

77 | As trew Jugis. I beschrew thame ay that leis.

78 | Schortlie to mak ane end of this debait,

79 | The Arbiteris than did sweir full plane.

80 | The sentence gaif, and proces fulminat,

81 | The Scheip suld pas befoir the Uolf againe,

82 | And end his pley. Than wes he nathing fane,

83 | For fra thair sentence couth he not appeill.

84 | On Clerkis I do it, gif this sentence wes leill.

85 | ₡ The Scheip agane befoire the Uolf dillegible / 5charseit,

86 | But Aduocate abasitlie couth stand.

87 | Up rais the doig, and on the Scheip thus plen3eit,

88 | Ane soume I payit haif befoir the hand,

89 | For certane breid thairto ane Borrow he fand,

90 | That wrangouslie the Scheip did hald the breid,

Quhilk

(Click to see) 45

of Esope.

91 | Quhilk he denyit: and thair began the pleid.

92 | ₡ And quhen the Scheip this stuf had contestait,

93 | The Justice in the cause furth can proceid.

94 | Lowrence the actis, and the proces wrait,

95 | And thus the pley vnto the end thay speid.

96 | This Cursit Court corruptit all for meid,

97 | Againis gude faith, Law and eik consience,

98 | For this fale Doig pronuncit the sentence.

Penned-in number '23'

99 | And it to put to executioun,

100 | The Uolf chargit the Scheip without delay,

101 | Under the panis of Interdictioun,

102 | The soume of siluer, or the breid to pay.

103 | Of this sentence (allace) quhat sall I say?

104 | Quhilk dampnit hes the selie Innocent,

105 | And Justifyit the wrangous Jugement.

106 | The Scheip dreidand mair executioun,

107 | Obeyand to the sentence, he couth tak

108 | His way vnto ane Merchand of the Toun,

109 | And sauld the woillegible / 2chars that he bure on his bak.

110 | Syne bocht the breid, and to the Doig couth mak

111 | Reddie payment as it commandit was.

112 | Nakit and bair syne to the feild couth pas.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS.

1 | THis selie Scheip may present the figure,

2 | Of pure commounis thaillegible / 1chars daylie is opprest,

3 | Be Tirrane men, quhilkis settis all thair cure,

4 | Be fals menis, to mak ane wrang conqueist,

5 | In hope, this present lyfe suld euer lest.

6 | Bot all begylit, thay will in schort tyme end,

7 | And efter deith to lestand panis wend.

(Click to see) 46

₡ The Fabillis

8 | ₡ This Uolf, I likkin to ane Schiref stout,

9 | Quhilk byis ane forfait at the Kingis hand.

10 | And hes with him ane cursit Assyis about,

11 | And dytis all the pure men vp on land.

12 | Fra the Crownar haif laid on him his wand,

13 | Thocht he we trew as euer wes Sanct Johne,

14 | Slane sall he be, or with the Juge compone.

15 | This Rauin, I likkin to ane fals Crownar,

16 | Quhilk hes ane portioun of the Inditement,

17 | And passis furth befoire the Justice Air,

18 | All misdoaris to bring to Jugement.

19 | Bot luke gif he wes of ane trew Intent,

20 | To Scraip out Johne, and wryte in Will, or Wat,

21 | And swa ane bud at baith the pateis tak.

22 | Of this fals Tod of quhilk I spak befoir,

23 | And of this Gled, quhat thay micht signifie.

24 | Of that nature, as now I spek no moir.

25 | Bot of the Scheip, and of his cairfull cry,

26 | I sall reheirs, for as I passit by,

27 | Quhair that he lay on cais I lukit doun,

28 | And hard him mak sair lamentatioun.

29 | Allace (quod he) this cursit Consistorie,

30 | In middis of the winter now is maid,

31 | Quhen Boreas with blaistis bitterlie,

32 | And hard froistis, thir flouris doun can faid.

33 | On bankis bair now may I mak na baid.

34 | And with that word in to ane coif he crap,

35 | Fra sair wedder, and froistis him to hap.

36 | Quaikand for cauld, sair murnand ay amang,

37 | Kest vp his Ee vnto the heuinnis hicht.

(Click to see) 47

of Esope.

38 | And said, Lord God, quhy sleipis thow sa lang:

39 | Walk, and discerne my cause groundit on richt.

40 | Se how I am be fraud, maistrie, and slicht,

41 | Peillit full bair, and so is mony one,

42 | Now in this warld, richt wonder wobegone.

Penned number '24'

43 | Se how this cursit sone of couetice,

44 | Loist hes baith lawtie, and eik Law.

45 | Now few, or nane will execute Justice,

46 | In falt of quhome, the pure man is ouerthraw.

47 | The veritie suppois the Juge it knaw,

48 | He is so blindit with affectioun,

49 | But dreid for micht he lettis the richt go doun.

50 | Seis thow not (Lord) this warld ouerturnit is,

51 | As quha wald change gude gold in leid or tyn?

52 | The pure is peillit, the Lord may do na mis.

53 | And Simonie is haldin for na syn.

54 | Now is he blyith with okker maist may win,

55 | Gentrice is slane, and pietie is ago.

56 | Allace (gude Lord) quhy tholis thow it so?

57 | Thow tholis this euin for our greit offence,

58 | Thow sendis vs troubill, and plaigis soir.

59 | As hunger, derth, greit weir, or Pestilence.

60 | Bot few amndis now thair lyfe thairfoir.

61 | We pure pepill as now may do no moir,

62 | Bot pray to the, sen that we ar opprest

63 | In to this eirth, grant vs in heuin gude rest.

₡ The Taill of the Lyoun, and the Mous.

1 | IN middis of June, that sweit seasoun,

Quhen that fair Phebus with his bemis bricht,

(Click to see) 48

₡ The Fabillis

2 | Had dryit vp the dew fra daill and doun,

3 | And all the land maid with his bemis licht.

4 | In ane morning betuix mid day, and nicht,

5 | I rais, and put all sleuth, and sleip asyde.

6 | And to ane wod I went allone but gyde.

7 | ₡ Sweit wes the smel of flouris quhyte and reid.

8 | The noyes of birdis richt deli (unclear : fading) tious.

9 | The b (unclear : fading) owis braid blomit abone my heid.

10 | The ground growand with gers gratious.

11 | Of all plesance, that place wes plenteous,

12 | With sweit odouris, and birdis harmonie,

13 | The Murning Myld, my mirth wes mair for thy.

14 | The Rosis reid arrayit on Rone and Ryce.

15 | The Prymeros, and the Purpor Uiola.

16 | To heir it wes ane poynt of Paradice,

17 | Sic Mirth the Mauis, and the Merle couth ma.

18 | The blossummis blyith brak vp on bank and bra,

19 | The smell of Hillegible / 1charsrbis, and of foullis cry,

20 | Contending quha suld haif the victorie.

21 | Me to conserue than fra the sonis heit,

22 | Under the schadow of ane Hawthorne grene,

23 | I lenit (unclear : damage) doun amang the flouris sweit,

24 | Syne cled my heid, and closit baith my Ene.

25 | On sleip I fell amang thir bewis bene.

26 | And in my dr (unclear : damage) eme, me thocht come throw the schaw,

27 | The fairest man that euer befoir I saw.

28 | His gowne wes of ane claith, als quhyte as milk.

29 | His Chemeis wes of Chamb (unclear : fading) elate Purpour Broun.

30 | His hude of Scarlet bordourit weill with silk,

31 | On hekillit wyis vntill his girdill doun.

His

(Click to see) 49

of Esope.

32 | His Bonat round, and of the auld fassoun

33 | His heid wes quhyte, his Ene wes greit and gray,

34 | With lokker hair, quhilk ouer his schulderis lay.

Penned-in number 25

35 | ₡ Ane Roll of paper in his hand he bair.

36 | Ane Swannis pen stikand vnder his ere.

37 | Ane Inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt Pennair,

38 | Ane bag of silk, all at his belt can beir.

39 | Thus was he gudelie graithit in his geir,

40 | Of stature large, and with ane feirfull face.

41 | Euin quhair I lay he come ane sturdie pace.

42 | And said, God speid my sone: and I wes fane

43 | Of that couth word, and of his cumpanie.

44 | With reuerence I salusit him agane,

45 | Welcome Father: and he sat doun me by.

46 | Displeis 3ow not my gude maister, thocht I

47 | Demand 3our birth, 3our facultie, and name,

48 | Quhy 3e come heir, or quhair 3e dwell at hame?

49 | My sone (said he) I am of gentill blude.

50 | My natiue land is Rome withouttin nay.

51 | And to the Towne first to the Sculis I 3ude,

52 | In Ciuile Law studyit full mony ane day.

53 | And now my winning is in Heuin for ay.

54 | Is couth and kend to mony cunning Clerk,

55 | Esope I hecht, my wryting and my werk,

56 | O Maister Esope Poet Laureate,

57 | God wait 3e ar full deir welcum to me.

58 | Ar 3e not he that all thir Fabillis wrait,

59 | Quhilk in effect suppois thay fen3eit be,

60 | Ar full of prudence and moralitie?

61 | Fair sone (said he) I am the samin man.

G

(Click to see) 50

₡ The Fabillis

62 | God wait gif that my hert wes merie than.

63 | ₡ I said, Esope my Maister Uenerabill.

64 | I 3ow beseik hartlie for cheritie,

65 | Ze wald not disdayne to tell ane prettie Fabill,

66 | Concludand with ane gude Moralitie.

67 | Schaikand his heid, he said, by sone lat be,

68 | For quhat is it worth to tell ane fen3eie taill,

69 | Quhen haly preiching may na thing auaill?

70 | Now in this warld me think richt few or nane,

71 | To Goddis word that hes deuotioun.

72 | The eir is deif, the hard is hard as stane.

73 | Now oppin sin without corectioun.

74 | The eir Inclynand to the eirth ay doun.

75 | Sa roustie is the warld with canker blak,

76 | That now my taillis may lytill succour mak.

77 | Zis gentill Schir (said I) for my requeist,

78 | Not to displeis 3our Fatherheid, I pray,

79 | Under the figure of ane brutall beist,

80 | Ane morall Fabill 3e wald den3e to say.

81 | Quha wait, nor I may leir and beir away

82 | Sum thing thairbut heirefter may auaill?

83 | I grant (quod he) and thus begouth ane tail

(unclear : ink-blurring) l.

₡ The end of the Prolog, and beginnis

the Taill.

1 | ANe Lyoun at his Pray verray foirrun,

2 | To recreat his limmis and to rest,

3 | Beikand his breist, and bellie at the Sone,

4 | Under ane tre lay in the fair Forest.

5 | Swa come ane trip of Myis out of thair nest,

Rycht

(Click to see) 51

of Esope.

6 | Rycht tait and trig, all dansand in ane gys,

7 | And ouer the Lyoun thy dansit twyis, or thryis.

Penned-in number 26

8 | ₡ He lay so still, the Myis wes not effeird,

9 | Bot to and fro out ouer him tuke thair trace.

10 | Sum tirllit at the Campis of his beird,

11 | Sum spairit not to claw him on the face,

12 | Merie and glaid, thus dansit thay ane space,

13 | Till at the last, the Nobill Lyoun woke,

14 | And with his pow, the maister Mous he tuke.

15 | Scho gaif ane cry, and all the laif agaist,

16 | Thair dansing left, and hid thame heir and thair.

17 | Scho that wes tane, cryit and weipit fast,

18 | And said allace oftymes that scho come thair.

19 | Now am I tane ane wofull presonair,

20 | And for my gilt traistis Incontinent,

21 | Of lyfe and eith, to thoill the Jugement.

22 | Than spak the Lyoun to that cairfull Mous.

23 | Thow Catiue wreiche, and vile vn worthie thing,

24 | Ouer malapert, and eik presumpteous

25 | Thow wes, to make out ouer me thy tripping.

26 | Knew thow not weill. I wes baith Lord and King

27 | Of beistis all. Zes (quod the Mous) I knaw.

28 | Bot I misknew, because 3e lay so law.

29 | Lord, I beseik thy Kinglie Royaltie,

30 | Heir quhat I say, and tak in pacience.

31 | Considder first my simple pouertie,

32 | And syne thy mychtie hie Magnificence,

33 | Se als how thingis done of Neglicence,

34 | Nouther of malice, nor of presumptioun,

35 | The rather suld haif grace and Remissioun.

G. ii.

(Click to see) 52

₡ The Fabillis

36 | ₡ We wer repleit, and had greit aboundanillegible / 2chars

37 | Of alkin things, sic as to vs effeird.

38 | The sweit sesoun prouokis vs to dance,

39 | And mak sic mirth, as nature to vs leird.

40 | Ze lay so still, and law vpon the eird,

41 | That be my saull, we weind 3e had bene deid.

42 | Ellis wald we not haif dancit ouer 3our heid.

43 | The false excuse, the Loun said agane,

44 | Sall not availl ane myte I vnderta.

45 | I put the case, I had bene deid, or slane,

46 | And syne my skyn bene stoppit full of stra.

47 | Thocht thow had found my figure lyand swa,

48 | Because it bair the prent of my persoun,

49 | Thow suld for feir on kneis haif fallin doun.

50 | For thy trespas thow sall make na defence,

51 | My Nobill persoun thus to vilipend.

52 | Of thy heiris, nor thy awin negligence,

53 | For to excuse thow can na cause pretend.

54 | Thairfoir thow suffer sall ane schamefull end,

55 | And deith, sic as to tressoun is decreit,

56 | Upon the Gallous hangit be the feit.

57 | Na mercie Lord, at thy gentrice I ase,

58 | As thow art King of beistis Coronat,

59 | Sober thy wraith, and let it ouerpas,

60 | And mak thy mynd to mercy Inclynat.

61 | I grant offence is done to thyne estait,

62 | Quhairfoir I worthie am to suffer deid,

63 | Bot gif thy cumlie mercie reik remeid.

64 | In euerie Juge mercy and reuth suld be,

65 | As Assessouris, and Collaterall.

Without

(Click to see) 53

of Esope.

66 | Without mercie Justice is crueltie,

67 | As said is in the Lawis speciall.

68 | Quhen Rigour sittis in the Tribunall,

69 | The equitie of Law quha may sustene?

70 | Richt few or nane but mercie gang betwene.

71 | ₡ Alswa 3e knaw the honour Triumphall,

72 | Of all Uictour, vpon the strenth dependis

73 | Of his compair, quhilk manlie in battell

74 | Throw Jeopardie of weir lang defendis.

75 | Quhat price or louing quhen the battell endis,

76 | Is said of him, that ouercummis ane man,

77 | Him to defend quhilk nouther may, nor can?

78 | Ane thousand Myis to kill, and eik deuoir,

79 | Is lytill manheid to ane strang Lyoun.

80 | Full lytill worschip haif 3e wyn thairfoir,

81 | To quhais strenth is na comparisoun:

82 | It will degraid sum part of 3our renoun,

83 | To sla ane Mous, quhilk may mak na defence,

84 | Bot askand mercie at 3our excellence.

85 | Also, it semis not 3our Celsitude,

86 | Quhilk vsis daylie meittis delicious,

87 | To fyle 3our teith, or lippis with my blude,

88 | Quhilk to 3our stomok is contagious.

89 | Unhailsum meit is of ane sarie Mous,

90 | And that namelie vntill ane strang Lyoun,

91 | Uont till be fed with gentill Uennisoun.

92 | My lyfe is lytill worth, my deith is les.

93 | Zit and I leif, I may peraduenture

94 | Supple 3our hienes beand in distres.

95 | For oft is sene, ane man of small stature,

(Click to see) 54

₡ The Fabillis

96 | Reskewit hes ane Lord of hie honour,

97 | Keipit that wes in point to be ouerthrawin.

98 | Throw misfortune, sic cace may be 3our awin.

99 | ₡ Quhen this wes said, the Lyoun his language

100 | Paissit, and thocht according to ressoun.

101 | And gart mercie his cruell Ire asswage,

102 | And to the Mous grantit Remissioun.

103 | Oppinnit his Poll, and scho on kneis fell doun,

104 | And baith hir handis vnto the heuin vpheld,

105 | Cryand, Almychtie God mot 3ow for3eild.

106 | Quhen scho wes gone, the Lyoun held to hunt,

107 | For he had nocht, bot leuit on his Pray

108 | And slew baith tayme and wyld, as he wes wont,

109 | And in the cuntrie maid ane greit deray.

110 | Till at the last, the pepill land the way,

111 | This cruell Lyoun how that they mucht tak.

112 | Of Hempyn cordis strang Nettis couth that mak.

113 | And in ane Rod, quhair he wes wont to ryn,

114 | With Raipis rude fra tre to tre it band.

115 | Syne kest ane Range on raw the woid within,

116 | With hornis blast, and Kennettis fast calland.

117 | The Lyoun fled, and throw the Ron rynnand,

118 | Fell in the Net, and hankit fute and heid,

119 | For all his strenth he couth mak na remeid.

120 | Uelterand about with hiddeous rummissing,

121 | Quhyle to, quhyle fra, quhil he mycht fuerouillegible / 1chars get.

122 | Bot all in vane, it vaillegible / 5chars him na thing.

123 | The mair he flang, the faster wes the Net,

124 | The Raipis rude wes sa aboillegible / 3chars him illegible / 4chars,

125 | On euerilk sude, that succour saw hillegible / 1chars nane,

Bot

(Click to see) 55

of Esope

126 | Bot still lyand, and myrnand maid his mane.

127 | ₡ O lainit Lyoun liggand heir sa law,

128 | Quhair is the mycht of thy Magnificence?

129 | Of quhome all brutall beist in eird stude aw,

130 | And dred to luke vpon thy Excellence.

131 | But hoip, or help, but succour or defence,

132 | In bandis strang heir man I ly (allace)

133 | Till I be slane, I se nane vther grace.

134 | Thair is na wy that will my harmis wreik,

135 | Nor creature do confort to my Croun.

136 | Quha sall me tane? quha sall my bandis brek?

137 | Quha sall me put fra pane of this Presoun?

138 | Be he had maid this lamentatioun,

139 | Throw auenture, the lytill Mous come neir,

140 | And of the Lyoun hard the pietuous beir.

141 | And suddandlie it come in till hir mynd,

142 | That, is suld be the Lyoun did hir grace,

143 | And said, now were I fals, and richt vnkynd,

144 | Bot gif I quit sumpart of thy gentrice

145 | Thow did to me: and on this way scho gais

146 | To hir fellowis and on tham fast can cry.

147 | Cum help, cum help, and thay come all in hy.

148 | Lo (quod the Mous) this is the samin Lyoun,

149 | That grantit grace to me, quhen I wes tane.

150 | And now is illegible / .5lines

151 | illegible / 3lines

152 | Go lous him sone, and thay said, 3ea, gude brotherillegible / 1chars

(Click to see) 56

₡ The Fabillis

153 | ₡ Thay tuke na knyfe, thair teith wes scharp e-

(neuch

154 | To se that sicht, forsuit it wes greit wōonder.

155 | How that thay ran amang the raipis reuch.

156 | Befoire, behind, sum 3eid about, sum vnder.

157 | And schuir the raipis of the Mast in schunder.

158 | Syne bad him ryse, and he start vp anone,

159 | And thankis thame, syne on his way is gone,

160 | Now is the Lyoun fre of all dangre,

161 | Lous and deliuerit to his libertie,

162 | Be lytill beistis of ane small power.

163 | As 3e haif hard, because he had pietie.

164 | (Quod I), Maister is thair ane moralitie

165 | In this Fabill? 3ea sone (he said) richt gude.

166 | I pray 3ow Schir (quod I) 3e wald conclude.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | AS I suppois, this mychtie gay Lyoun,

2 | Ane Potestate, or 3it ane king with Croun,

3 | Quhilk suld be illegible / 8chars gyde, and Gouernous,

4 | May signifie ane Prince or Empriour

5 | Of his pepill that takis na labour

6 | To reule and steir the land and Justice keip,

7 | But lyis still in lustis, sleith, and sleip.

8 | The fair Forest with leuis lowne and le,

9 | With foullis sang and flouris ferlie sweit

10 | Is bot the warld and his prosperitie,

11 | As fals plesance myngit with cair repleit.

12 | Rycht as the Rois with froist, and wynter weit

13 | Faidis, swa dois the warld, and thame desauis,

14 | Quhilk in thair lustis maist confidence hauis.

15 | The lytill Myce, ar for the commoillegible / 10chars

Uantoun,

(Click to see) 57

of Esope.

16 | Uantoun, vnwyse, without correctioun.

17 | Thair Lordis, and Princis quhen that thay se,

18 | Of Justice mak nane executioun,

19 | Thay dreid na thing to mak Rebellioun,

20 | And disobey: for quhy thay stand nane aw.

21 | That garris thame thair Soueranis misknaw.

Penned-in number '29'

22 | Be this Fabill, 3e Lordis of Prudence

23 | May considder the vertew of Pietie.

24 | And to remit sumtyme ane greit offence,

25 | And mitigate with mercy crueltie.

26 | Oftymis is sene ane man of small degre,

27 | Hes quit ane turne baith for gude and euill,

28 | As Lord hes done Rigour, or grace him till.

29 | Quha wait how sone ane Lord of greit Renoun,

30 | Rolland in warldlie lust, and vane pleasance,

31 | May be ouerthrawin, destroyit, and put doun,

32 | Throw fals fortoun? quhilk of all variance

33 | Is haill maistres, and leidar of the dance

34 | Till Iniust men, and blindis thame so soir.

35 | That thay na perrell can prouyde befoir.

36 | Thir cruell men, that stentit hes the Net,

37 | In quhilk the Lyoun suddandlie wes tane:

38 | Uaittit alway amendis for to get.

39 | (For hurt men wrytis in the Marbill stane)

40 | Mair till expound, as now I let allane.

41 | Bot King and Lord may weill wit quhat I mene:

42 | Figure heirof oftymis hes bene sene.

41 | Quhen this wes said (quod Esope) my fair child

42 | I 3ow beseik, and all men for to pray,

H

(Click to see) 58

₡ The Fabillis

43 | That tressoun of this cuntrie be exyld,

44 | And Justice Regne, and Lordis keip thair fay

45 | Unto thair Souerane Lord baith nicht and day.

46 | And with that word he vanist, and I woke.

47 | Syne throw the Schaw my Journey hamewart

(tuke.

₡ The Preiching of the Swallow.

1 | THe hie Prudence, and wirking meruelous,

2 | The profound wit of God omnipotent,

3 | Is sa perfyte, and sa Ingenious,

4 | Excellent far all mannis Jugement.

5 | For quhy to him all thing is ay present,

6 | Richt as it is, or ony tyme sall be,

7 | Befoire the sicht of his Diuinitie.

8 | Thairfoir our Saull with Sensualtie

9 | So fetterit is in presoun Corporall,

10 | We may not cleir vnderstand, nor se

11 | God, as he is, nor thingis Celestiall.

12 | Our mirk and deidlie corps Naturall,

13 | Blindis the Spirituall operatioun,

14 | Lyke as ane man wer bundin in presoun.

15 | ₡ In Metaphisik Aristotell sayis,

16 | That mannis Saull is lyke ane Bakkis Ee,

17 | Quhilk lurkis still, als lang as licht of day is,

18 | And in the gloming cummis furth to fle.

19 | Hir Ene ar waik: the Sone scho may not se.

20 | Sa is our Saill with fantasie opprest,

21 | To knaw the thingis in nature manifest.

22 | For God is in his power Infinite:

(Click to see) 59

of Esope.

23 | And mannis Saull is febill, and ouer small,

24 | Of vnderstanding waik, and vnperfite

25 | To comprehend him that contenis all.

26 | Nor suld presume be ressoun naturall

27 | To seirch the secreittis of the Trinitie,

28 | Bot trow fermelie, and lat all ressoun be.

Penned number "31"

29 | ₡ Zit neuertheles we may haif knawlegeing

30 | of God almychtie, be his Creaturis.

31 | That he is gude, fair, wyis and bening,

32 | Exempill tak be thir Jolie flouris,

33 | Rycht sweit of smell, and plesant of colouris.

34 | Sum grene, sum blew, sum purpour, quhyte, & reid,

35 | This distribute be gift of his Godheid.

36 | The firmament payntit with sternis cleir,

37 | From eist to west rolland in cirkill round.

38 | And euerilk Planet in his proper Spheir,

39 | In mouing makand Harmonie and sound.

40 | The Fyre, the Air, the watter, and the ground,

41 | Till vnderstand it is aneuch, I wis,

42 | That God in all his wekis wittie is.

43 | Luke weill the fische that swimmis in the se.

44 | Luke weill in eirth all kynd of bestiall.

45 | The foullis fair sa forcelie that fle,

46 | Scheddand the air with pennis greit and small.

47 | Syne like to man, that he maid last of all,

48 | Lyke to his Image, and his similitude,

49 | Be thir we knaw, that God is fair and gude.

50 | All Creature he maid for the behufe

51 | Of man, and to his supportatioun,

52 | In to this eirth, baith vnder and abufe,

H.ii

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₡ The Fabillis

53 | In number, wecht, and dew proportioun,

54 | The difference of tyme, and ilk seasoun,

55 | Concordand till our oportunitie.

56 | As daylie be experience we may se.

57 | ₡ The Somer with his Jolie mantill of grene,

58 | With flouris fair furrit on euerilk fent.

59 | Quhilk Flora Goddes of the flouris Quene,

60 | Hes to that Lord as for his seasoun lent.

61 | And Phebus with his goldin bemis gent,

62 | Hes purfellit and payntit plesandlie,

63 | With heit and moysture stilland from the sky.

64 | Syne Haruest hait, quhen Ceres that Goddes

65 | Hir barnit bewit hes with abundance.

66 | And Bacchus God of wyne renewit hes

67 | The tume Pyipis, in Italie, and France,

68 | With wynis wicht, and liquour of plesance.

69 | And (foreign language la) Copia temporis to fill hir horne,

70 | That neuer wes full of quheit, nor vther corne.

71 | Syne wynter wan, quhen Austerne Eolus,

72 | God of the wynd with blastis boreall,

73 | The grene garment of Somer glorious,

74 | Hes all to rent, and reuin in pecis small.

75 | Than flouris fair faidit with froist, man fall.

76 | And burdis blyith changit thair noitis sweit.

77 | In still murning, neir slane with snaw, and sleit.

78 | Thir dalis deip with dubbis drownit is.

79 | Baith hill and hold heilit with froistis hair,

80 | Thir dalis deip with dubbis drownit is.

81 | Baith hill and holt heillit with frostis hair.

82 | And bewis bene ar baissit bair of blis,

83 | Be wickit windis of the wickit wair.

84 | All wyld beistis than from the bentis bair

Drawis

(Click to see) 61

of Esope.

85 | Drawis for dreid vnto thair dennis deip,

86 | Coucheand for cauld in coifis thame to keip.

87 | ₡ Syne cummis Uer, quhen winter is away,

88 | The Secretar of Somer with his Seill.

89 | Quhen Columbie vp keikis throw the clay,

90 | Quhilk fleit wes befoir with frostis fell.

91 | The Mauis, and the Merle beginnis to mell:

92 | The Lark on loft, with vther birdis small,

93 | Than drawis furth fra derne, ouer doun and daill.

94 | That samin seasoun, in to ane soft morning,

95 | Richt blyith that bitter blastis wer ago,

96 | Unto the wod to se the flouris spring,

97 | And heir the Maueis sing, and birdis mo.

98 | I passit furth, syne lukit to and fro

99 | To se the Soill, that we richt sessonabill,

100 | Sappie, and to resaif all seidis abill.

101 | Mouing thusgait greit mirth I tuke in mynd

102 | Of lauboraris to se the besines.

103 | Sum makand dyke, and sum the pleuch can wynd,

104 | Sum sawand seidis fast from place to place.

105 | The Harrowis hoppand in the saweris trace.

106 | It wes greit Joy to him that lufit corne,

107 | To se thame laubour, bait an euin and morne.

108 | And as I baid vnder ane bank full bene,

109 | In hard greitlie reiosit of that sicht.

110 | Unto ane hedge, vnder ane Hawthorne grene

111 | Of small birdis thair come ane ferlie flicht.

112 | And doun belyif can on the leifis licht,

113 | On euerlik syde about me quhair I stude,

114 | Richt meruelous ane mekill multitide.

(Click to see) 62

₡ The Fabillis

115 | Amang the quhilk, ane Swallow loud couth cry,

116 | On that Hawthorne hie in the croip sittand.

117 | O 3e Birdis, on leiffis, heir me by,

118 | Ze sall weill knaw, and wyislie vnderstand,

119 | Quhair danger is, or perrell appeirand,

120 | It is greit wisedome to prouyde befoir,

121 | It is deuoid, for dreid it hurt 3ow moir.

122 | Schir Swallow (quod the Lark) againe & leuch,

123 | Quhat haif 3e seiene, that causis 3ow to dreid?

124 | Se 3e 3one Churll (quod scho) be3ond 3one pleuch,

125 | Fast sawand hemp, lose, and linger seid.

126 | Zone lint will grow in lytill tyme in deid,

127 | And thairof will 3one Churll his Nettis mak,

128 | Under the quhilk he thinkis vs to tak.

129 | Thairfoire I reid we pas quhen he is gone,

130 | At euin, and with our naillis scharp and small,

131 | Out of the eirth scraip we 3one seid anone,

132 | And eit it vp, for gif it growis, we sall

133 | Haif cause to weip heirefter ane and all.

134 | Se we remeid thairfoir furth with Instante,

135 | (foreign language la) Nam levius ledit quicquid preuiūenimus ante.

136 | For Clerkis sayis, it is nocht sufficient,

137 | To considder that is befoir thyne Ee.

138 | Bot prudence is ane inwart Argument,

139 | That garris ane man prouyde and foirse,

140 | Quhat gude, quhat euill is liklie for to be,

141 | Of euerilk thing euin at the finall end.

142 | And saw fra perrell the better him defend.

143 | The Lark lauchand yye Swallow thus couth scorne,

144 | And said scho fischit lang befoire the Net.

The

(Click to see) 63

of Esope.

145 | The barne is eith to busk that is vnborne.

146 | All growis nocht, that in the ground is set.

147 | The nek to stoup quhen it the straik sall get,

148 | Is sone aneuch: deith on the fayest fall.

149 | Thus scornit that the Swallow ane and all.

Penned number "32"

150 | ₡ Despysing thus hir helthsum document

151 | The foullis ferlie tuke thair flicht anone,

152 | Sume with ane bir thay braidit ouer the bent:

153 | And sum agane ar to the grene wo (unclear : fading) id gone.

154 | Upon the land quhair I wes left allone,

155 | I tuke my club, and hamewart couth I carie

156 | Swa ferliaud, as I had sene ane farie.

157 | Thus passit furth quhill June that Jolie tyde,

158 | And seidis that were sawin of beforne,

159 | Wer growin hie, that Hairis micht thame hyde:

160 | And als the Quail3e craikand in the corne.

161 | I louit furth betuix midday and morne,

162 | Unto the hedge vnder the Hawthorne grene,

163 | Quhair I befoire the said birdis had sene.

164 | And as I stude be auenture and cace,

165 | The samin birdis as I haif said 3ow air,

166 | I hoip, because it wes thair hanting place,

167 | Mair of souccour, or 3it mair solitair,

168 | Thay lychtit doun: and quhen thay lychtit war,

169 | The Swallow swyith put furthe ane pietuous pyme.

170 | Said, wo is him, can not be war in tyme.

171 | O blind birdis, and full of negigence,

172 | Unmynndfull of 3our awin prosperitie.

173 | Luft vp 3our sicht, and take gude aduertence,

174 | Luke to the Lint, that growis on 3one le.

(Click to see) 64

₡ The Fabillis

175 | Zone is the thing I bad forsuit, that we

176 | Quhill it wes seid suld rute forth of the eird.

177 | Now it is Lint: now it is hie on breird.

178 | ₡ Go 3it, quhil it is tender and small,

179 | And pull it vp, let it na mair Incres.

180 | My flesche growis, my bodie quakis all,

181 | Thinkand on it I may not sleip in peis.

182 | Thay cryit all, and bad the Swallow ceis.

183 | And said, 3one Lint heirefter will do gude,

184 | For linget is to lytill birdis fude.

185 | We think quhen that 3one lint bollis ar ryip,

186 | To mak vs Feist, and fill vs of the leid,

187 | Magre 3one Churll, and on it sing and pyip.

188 | Weill (quod the Swallow) freindis hardlie beid,

189 | Do as 3e will, bot certane sair I dreid,

190 | Heirefter 3e sall find als sour, as sweit,

191 | Quhen 3e are speldit on 3one Carlit speit.

192 | The awner of 3one lint, ane fouler is,

193 | Richt cautelous, and full of subteltie.

194 | His pray full sendill tymis will he mis,

195 | Bot gif we birdis all the warrer be.

196 | Full mony of our kin he hes gart de

197 | And thocht it bot ane sport to spill thair blude.

198 | God kept me fra him, and the ha (unclear : fading) lie Rude.

199 | Thir small birdis haifand bot lytill thocht

200 | Of perrell, that micht fall be auenture,

201 | The counsell of the Swallow set at nocht,

202 | Bot tuke thair flicht, and furth togidder fure.

203 | Sum to the woid, sum markit to the Mure.

204 | I tuke my staf, quhen this wes said and done,

And

(Click to see) 65

of Esope.

205 | And walkit hame, for it drew neir the none.

206 | ₡ The Lint ryipit, the Carll pullit the Lyne:

207 | Rippillit the bollis, and in beitis set.

208 | It steipit in the burn, and dryit syne:

209 | And with ane Betill knokkit it, and bet (unclear : ambiguous punctuation) :

210 | Syne swingillit it weill, and hekkillit in the flet.

211 | His wyfe it span, and twynit in in to threid.

212 | Of quh:lk the Fowlar Nettis maid in deid.

Penned-in number "33"

213 | The wynter come, the wickit wind can blaw:

214 | The woddis grene wer wallowit with the weit,

215 | Baith firth and fell with froistis wer maid faw,

216 | Slonkis and slaik maid slidderie with the sleit.

217 | The foullis fair for falt thay fell of feit.

218 | On bewis bair it wes na bute to byde,

219 | Bot hyit vnto housis thame to hyde.

220 | Sum in the barn, sum in the stak of corne,

221 | Thair lugeing tuke, and maid thair residence.

222 | The Fowlar saw, and greit aithis hes sworne,

223 | Thay suld be tane trewlie for thair expence.

224 | His Nettis hes he set with diligence,

225 | And in the snaw he scholit hes ane plane,

226 | And heillit it all ouer with calf agane.

227 | Thir small birdis seand the calf wes glaid.

228 | Trowand it had bene corne, that lychtit doun.

229 | Bot of the Nettis na presume thay had,

230 | Nor of the Fowlaris fals Intentioun.

231 | To scraip, and seik thair meit thay maid thame illegible / 4chars

232 | The Swallow on ane lytill branche neir by,

233 | Dreidand for gyle, thus loud on thame couth cry.

I

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₡ The Fabillis

234 | ₡ In to that calf scraip quhill 3our naillis bleid,

235 | Thair is na corne, 3e labour all in vane.

236 | Trow 3e 3one Churll for pietie will 3ow feid.

237 | Na, na, he hes it heir layit for ane trane.

238 | Remoue I reid, or ellis 3e will be slade.

239 | His Nettis he hes set full priuely.

230 | Reddie to draw: in tyme be war for thy.

231 | Greit fule is he that puttis in dangeir

232 | His lyfe, his honour, for ane thing of nocht.

233 | Greit fule is he, that will not glaidlie heir

234 | Counsall in tyme, quhill it auaill him mocht.

235 | Greit fule is he, that hes na thing in thocht,

236 | Bot thing present: and efter quhat may fall,

237 | Nor of the end hes na memoriall.

238 | Thir small birdis for hunger famischit neir,

239 | Full besie scraipand for to seik thair fude.

240 | The counsall of the Swallow wald not heir.

241 | Suppois thair la (unclear : ambiguous) ubour did thame lytill gude.

242 | Quhen scho thair fulische hartis vnderstude

243 | Sa Indurate, vp in ane tre scho flew.

244 | With that this Churll ouer thame his Nettis drew.

245 | Allace it wes greit hart sair for to se

246 | That bludie Boucheour bet thay birdis doun.

247 | And for till heir, quhen thay wist weill to de,

248 | Thair cairfull sang and lamentatioun,

249 | Sum with ane staf he straik to eirth on swoun:

250 | Of sum the heid he straik: of sum he brak the crag:

251 | Sum half on lyfe, he stoppit in his bag.

252 | And quehn the Swallow saw that thay wer deid.

253 | Lo (quod scho) thus it happinnis mony syis,

On

(Click to see) 67

of Esope.

254 | On thame that will not tak counsall, nor reid

255 | Of Prudent men, or Clerkis that ar wyis.

256 | This grete perrell I tauld thame mair than thryis.

257 | Now ar thay deid, and wo is me thairfoir.

258 | Scho tuke hir flicht, bot I hir saw no moire.

Penned-in numeral "34"

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | LO worthie folk Esope that Nobill Clerk,

2 | Ane Poet worthie to be Lareat.

3 | Quhen that he wailkit from mair autēentik werk,

4 | With vther ma, this foirsaid Fabill wrait.

5 | Quhilk at this tyme may weill be applicat,

6 | To gude morall edificatioun,

7 | Haifand ane sentence, according to ressoun.

8 | This Carll, and Bond of gentrice spoliat,

9 | Sawand this calf, thir small birdis to sla

10 | It is the Feind, quhilk fra the Angelike stait

11 | Exylit is, as fals Apostata.

12 | Quhilk day and nicht weryis not for to ga,

13 | Sawand poysoun in mony wickit thocht,

14 | In mannis Saull, quhilk Christ full deir hes bocht.

15 | And quhen the Saull, as seid in the the eird,

16 | Geuis consent unto delectioun,

17 | The wickit thocht beginnis for to breird,

18 | In deidlie sin, quhilk is dampnatioun.

19 | Ressoun is blindit with affectioun.

2- | And carnall lust growis full grene and gay,

21 | Throw consuetude hantit from day to day.

22 | Proceding furth be vse and consuetude,

23 | The sin ryipis, and schame is set on syde.

24 | The Feynd plettis his Nettis scharp and rude,

I. ii.

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₡ The Fabillis

25 | And vnder plesance preuilie dois hyde,

26 | Syne on the feild he sawis calf full wyde,

27 | Quhilk is bot tume and verray vanitie,

28 | Of fleschlie lust, and vaine prosperitie.

29 | ₡ Thir hungrie birdis, wretchis we may call,

30 | Ay scraipand in the warldis plesance.

31 | Gredie to gadder gudis temporall,

32 | Quhil as the calf, are tume without substance.

33 | Lytill of auaill, and full of variance.

34 | Lyke to the mow, befoire the face of wind

35 | Quhilkis away, and makis wretchis blind.

36 | This Swallow quhilk eschaipit is the snair.

37 | The halie Preicheour weill may signifie.

38 | Exhortand folk to walk, and ay be war

39 | Fra Nettis of our wickit enemie.

40 | Quha sleipis not, bot eyer is reddie,

41 | Quhen wretchis in the warld calf dois scraip,

42 | To draw his Net, that thay may not eschaip.

43 | Allace quhat cair, quhat weiping is and wo,

44 | Quehn Saull and bodie departit ar in twane?

45 | The bodie to the wormis Keiching go:

46 | The Saull to Fyre to euerlestand pane.

47 | Quhat help is than this calf, thir gudis vane?

48 | Quhen thow art put in Luciferis bag,

49 | And brocht to hell, and hangit be the crag?

50 | Thir hid Nettis for to persaue and se,

51 | This sarie calf wyislie to understand:

52 | Beist is, be war in maist prosperitie,

53 | For in this warld thair is na thing lestand,

54 | As na man wait how lang his stait will stand,

His

(Click to see) 69

of Esope.

55 | His lyfe will lest, nor how that he sall end:

56 | Efter his deith nor quhidder he sall wend.

Penned-in number "35"

57 | ₡ Pray we thairfoir quhill we are in this lyfe,

58 | For four thingis: the first, fra sin remufe.

59 | The secund is, fra all weir and stryfe,

60 | Thir thrid is, perfite cheritie and lufe.

61 | The feird thing is, and maist for our behufe,

62 | That is in blis with Angellis to be fallow.

63 | And thus endis the preiching of the Swallow.

₡ The Taill of the Uolf, that gat the Nekh-

ring, throw the wrinkis of the Foxe , that

begylit the Cadgear.

1 | QUhylum thair wynnit in ane wildernes,

2 | (As myne Author expreslie can declair)

3 | Ane reuand Uolf, that leuit vpon cais,

4 | On bestiall, and maid him weill to fair.

5 | Was nane sa big about him he wald spair,

6 | And he war hungrie, outher for fauour, or feid,

7 | Bot in his breith he weryit thame to deid.

8 | Swa happinnit him in watching as he went,

9 | To meit ane Foxe in middis of the way.

10 | He him foirsaw, and fen3eit to be schene,

11 | And with ane bek, he bad the Uolf gude day.

12 | Welcum to me (quod he) thow Russell gray.

13 | Syne loutit doun, and tuke him be the hand.

14 | Ryse vp Lowrence, I leif the for to stand.

15 | Quhair hes thow bene this sesoun fra my sicht>

16 | Thow sall beir office, and my Stewart be.

(Click to see) 70

₡ The Fabillis

17 | For thow can knap doun Caponis on the nicht,

18 | And lourand law thow can gar hennis de.

19 | Schir (said the Foxe) that ganis nocht for me.

20 | And I am raid, gif thay me se on far,

21 | That ay my figure, beist and bird wil skar.

22 | ₡ Na (quod the Wolf) thow can in couert creip

23 | Upon thy wame, and hint thame be the heid.

24 | And mak ane suddand schow vpon ane scheip,

25 | Syne with thy wappinnis wirrie him to deid.

26 | Schir (said the Foxe) 3e knaw my Roib is reid.

27 | And thairfoir thair will na beist abyde me,

28 | Thocht I wald be sa fals as for to hyde me.

29 | Zis (quod the Wolf) throw buskis & throw barys,Odd-looking long 's'

30 | Law can thow lour, to cum to thy Intent.

31 | Schir (said the Foxe) 3e wait weill how it gais,

32 | Ane lang space fra thame that will seill my sent.

33 | Than will thay eschaip, suppois I suld be schent.

34 | And I am schamefull for to cum behind thame,

35 | In to the feild thocht I suld sleipand find thame.

36 | Na (quod the Uolf) thow can cum on the wind,

37 | For euerie wrink forsuit thow hes ane wyle.

38 | Schir (said the Foxe) that beist 3e micht call blind,

39 | That micht not eschaip than fra me ane myle.

40 | How micht I ane of thame that wyise begyle?

41 | My tippit twa eiris, and my twa gray Ene

42 | Garris me be kend, quhair I wes neuer sene.

43 | Than (said the Uolf) Lowrence, I heir the le,

44 | And castis for perrellis thy ginnis to defend.

45 | But all thy son3eis sall not auaill the,

46 | About the busk with wayis thocht thow wend.

(Click to see) 71

of Esope.

47 | Falset will fail3e ay at the latter end.

48 | To bow at bidding, and byde not quhill thow brest,

49 | Thairfoir I gif the counsall for the best.

50 | ₡ Schir (said the Foxe) it is Lentris 3e se,

51 | And I can nouther fische, with huke, nor Net,

52 | To tak ane Banestikill, thocht we baith suld de.

53 | I had ane vther craft to win my meit.

54 | Bot wer it Pasche, that men suld pultrie eit,

55 | As Kiddis, Lambis, or Caponis in to ply.

56 | To beir 3our office than wald I not set by.

57 | Than (said the Uolf) in wrait wenis thow with

(wylis,

58 | And with the mony mowis me to mat.

59 | It is ane auld Dog doutles that thow begylis:

60 | Thow wenis to draw the stra befoir the cat.

61 | Schir (said the Foxe) God wait, I mene not that,

62 | For an I did, it wer weill worth that 3e

63 | In ane reid Raip had tyit me till ane tre.

64 | Bot now I se, he is ane fule perfay,

65 | That with his maister fallis in ressoning.

66 | I did bot till assay quhat 3e wald say,

67 | God wait my mynd wes on ane vther thing.

68 | I sall fulfill in all thing 3our bidding,

69 | Quhat euer 3e charge on nichtis or on dayis.

70 | Weill (quod the Uolf) I heir weill quhat thow sayis.

71 | Bot 3it I will, thow mak to me ane aith

72 | For to be leill attour all leuand leid

73 | Schir (said the Foxe) that ane word maks Odd-looking long 's' me wraith

74 | For now I se, 3e haif me at ane dreid.

75 | Zit fall I sweir, suppois it be not neid.

76 | Be Juppiter, and on pane of my heid,

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₡ The Fabillis

77 | I sall be trew to 3ow, quhill I be deid.

78 | With that ane Cadgear with capill, & with creillis,

79 | Come carpand furth: than drew this Boucheour by.

80 | The Foxe the flewer of the fresche hering feillis,

81 | And to the Uolf he roundis priuelie.

82 | Schir, 3one ar hering the Cadgear caryis by.

83 | Thairfoir I reid, that we se for sum wayis,

84 | To get sum fische aganis thir fasting dayis.

85 | ₡ Sen I am Stewart, I wald we had sum stuf.

86 | And 3e ar siluer seik, I wait richt weill.

87 | Thocht we wald thig, 3one verray Churlische chuf,

88 | He will not gif vs ane hering of his Creill,

89 | Befoire 3one Churle on kneis thocht we wald kneill.

90 | Bot 3it I trow alsone that 3e sall se,

91 | Gif I can traist, to bleir 3one Carllis Ee.

92 | Schir, ane thing is, and we get of 3one pelf,

93 | Ze man take trauell, and mak vs sum supple.

94 | For he that will not laubour, and help him self,

95 | In to thir dayis he is not worth ane fle.

96 | I think to work also besie as ane Be.

97 | And 3e sall follow ane lytill efterwart,

98 | And gadder hering, for that sall be 3our part.

99 | With that he kest ane cumpas far about,

100 | And straucht him doun in middis of the way,

101 | As he war deid, he fen3eit him but dout.

102 | And than vpon ane lang unliklie bray,

103 | The quhyte of his Ene he turnit vp in tway.

104 | His toung out hang ane handbreid of his heid.

105 | And still he lay, als straucht as he wer deid.

₡The

(Click to see) 73

of Esope.

106 | ₡ The Cadgear fand the Foxe, and he wes fane.

107 | And till him self, thus softlie can he say.

108 | At the nixt bait in faith 3e sall be slane,

109 | And of 3our skyn I sall mak mittennis twa.

110 | He lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay,

111 | And all the trace he trippit on his tais,

112 | As he had hard an pyper play, he gais.

Penned-in number 37

113 | Heir lyis the Deuill (quod he) deid in ane dyke.

114 | Sic ane selcouth saw I not this seuin 3eir.

115 | I trow 3e haif bene tussillit with sum tyke,

116 | That garris 3ow ly sa still withouttin steir.

117 | Schir Foxe in faith 3e are deir welcum heir.

118 | It is sum wyfis malisone, I trow,

119 | For pultrie pyking that lychtit hes on 3ow.

120 | Thair sall na Pedder, for pur, not 3it for glufis,

121 | Not 3it for poyntis pyke 3our pellet fra me.

122 | I sall of it mak mittennis to my luifis,

123 | Till hald my handis hait quhair euer I be.

124 | Till Flanderis sall it neuer saill the se.

125 | With that in hy, he hint him be the heillis,

126 | And with ane swak he swang him on the creillis.

127 | Syne be the heid the hors in hy hes hint.

128 | The fraudfull Foxe thairto gude tent hes tane.

129 | And with his teith the stoppell or he stint,

130 | Pullit out, and syne the hering ane, and ane

131 | Out of the creillis he swakkit doun gude wane (unclear : blurring) .

132 | The Uolf wes war, and gadderit spedilie.

133 | The Cadgear sang, huntis vp, vp vpon hie.

134 | Zit at ane burne the Cadgear lukit about.

135 | With that the Foxe lap quyte the creillis fra.

Catch letter present, but illegible - K?

(Click to see) 74

₡ The Fabillis

136 | The Cadgear wald haif raucht the Foxe ane rout:

137 | Than with ane schout, thus can the Cadgear say.

138 | Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day.

139 | Abyde, and thow ane Nekhering sall haif,

140 | Is worth my Capill, Creillis, and all the laif.

141 | Now (quod the Foxe) I schrew me, and we meit.

142 | I hard quhat thow hecht to do with my skyn.

143 | Thy handis sall neuer in thay mittennis tak heit,

144 | And thow wer hangit Carll, and all thy kyn.

145 | Do furth thy mercat, at me thow sall nocht wyn,

146 | And fell thy hering thow hes thair, till hie price

147 | Ellis thow sall wyn nocht on thy merchandice.

148 | The Cadgear treēemmillit for teyne quhair þat he stude.

149 | It is weill worthie (quod he) I want 3one tyke,

150 | That had nocht in my hand sa mekill gude,

151 | As staf, or sting, 3one truker for the stryke.

152 | With that lychtlie he lap outouer ane dyke.

153 | And snakkit doun ane staf, for he wes tene.

154 | That heuie wes, and of the Holyne grene.

155 | With that the Foxe vnto the Uolf couth wend.

156 | And fand him be the hering, quhair he lyis.

157 | Schir (said he than) maid I not fair defend.

158 | Ane wicht man wantit neur, and he wer wyis.

159 | Ane hardie hard is hard for to suppryis.

160 | (Than said the Uolf) thow art ane Berne full bald (unclear : blurring) .

161 | And wyse at will, in gude tyme be it tald.

162 | Bot quhat wes 3one the Carll cryit on hie,

163 | And schike his heid, quhen that he saw thow fell?

164 | Schir (said the Foxe) that I can tell trewlie.

165 | He said, the Nekherring wes in till the creill.

(Click to see) 75

of Esope.

166 | Kennis thow that hering: 3e Schir, I ken it weill.

167 | And at the creill mouth I had it thryis but dout.

168 | The wecht of it neir tit my tuskis out.

Penned-in number "38"

169 | ₡ Now suithlie Schir, micht we that hering fāang,

170 | It wald befische to vs thir fourtie dayis.

171 | Than (said the Uolf) now God nor that I hang,

172 | Bot to be thair, I wald gif all my clais.

173 | To se gif that my wappinnis mycht it rais.

174 | Schir (said the Foxe) God wait, I wischit 3ow oft,

175 | Quhen that my pith micht not beir it on loft.

176 | It is ane syde of Salmond, as it wer,

177 | And callour, pyand lyke ane Pertrik Ee.

178 | It is worth all the hering 3e haif thair.

179 | Ze and we had it swa, is it worth sic thre.

180 | Than (said the Uolf) quhat counsell geuis thow me?

181 | Schir (said the Foxe) wirk efter my deuyis,

182 | And 3e sall haif it, and tak 3ow na suppryis.

183 | First, 3e man cast ane cumpas far about.

184 | Syne straucht 3ow doun in middis of the way.

185 | Baith heid, and feit, and taill 3e man streik out.

186 | Hing furth 3our toung, & clois weill 3our Ene tway.

187 | Syne se 3our heid on ane hard place 3e lay.

188 | And dout not nor na perrell may appeir,

189 | Bot hald 3ow clois, quhēen yat the Carll cummis neir.

190 | And thocht 3e se ane staf, haif 3e na dout.

191 | Bot half 3ow wonder still in to that steid.

192 | And luke 3our Ene be clois, as thay wer out.

193 | And se that 3e schrink nouther fute, nor heid

194 | Than will the Cadgear Carll trow 3e be deid,

195 | And in till haist will hont 3ow be the heillis,

K.ij.

(Click to see) 76

₡ The Fabillis

196 | As he did me, and swak 3ow on his creillis.

197 | ₡ Now (quod the Uolf) I sweir the be my thrift,

198 | I trow, 3one Cadgear Carll dow not me beir.

199 | Schir (said the Foxe) on loft he will 3ow lift,

200 | Upon his creillis, and do him lytill deir.

201 | Bot ane thing dar I suthlie to 3ow sweir,

202 | Get 3e that hering sicker in sum place,

203 | Ze sall not fair in fiching mair quhill Pasche.

204 | I sall say (foreign language la) in principio vpon 3ow,

205 | And croce 3our corps, from the top, to ta.

206 | Wend quhen 3e will, I dar be warrand now,

207 | That 3e sall de na suddand deith this day.

208 | With that the Uolf gird vp sone, and to ga,

209 | And caist ane cumpas about the Cagear far.

210 | Syne straucht him in the gait, or he come nair.

211 | He laid his halfheid sicker, hard, and sad.

212 | Syne straught he four feit fra him, and his heid.

213 | And hang his toung furth as the Foxe him bad.

214 | Also still he lay, as he wer verray deid.

215 | Rakkand na thing of the Carllis fauour nor feid.

216 | Bot euer vpon the Nekhering he thinkis,

217 | And qute forgettis the Foxe, and all his wrinkis.

218 | With that the Cadgear als wraith as ony wind,

219 | Come tyrand on the laid, for it wes licht.

220 | Thinkand ay on the Foxe that wes be (unclear : fading) hnd,

221 | Upon quhat wyse, reuenge him best he micht.

222 | And at the last, of the Uolf gat ane sicht,

223 | Quhair he in lenth lay streikit in the gait.

224 | Bot gif he lichtit doun, or nocht, God wait.

₡Softlie

(Click to see) 77

of Esope.

225 | ₡ Softlie he said, I wes begylit anis,

226 | Be I begylit twyis, I schrew vs baith.

227 | That euill bot it sall licht vpon thy banis,

228 | He suld haif had, that hes done me the skaith.

229 | On hicht he houit the staf for he wes wraith,

230 | And hit him with sic will vpon the heid,

231 | Quhill neir he swonit, and swelt in to that steid.

232 | The battis he bure, or he his feit mycht find.

233 | Bot 3it the Uolf wes wicht, and wan away.

234 | He micht not se, he wes sa verray blind.

235 | Nor wit reddilie quhether it wes nicht or day.

236 | The Foxe beheld that seruice quhair he lay,

237 | And leuch on loft, quhen he the Uolf sa seis,

238 | Baith deif, and dosinnit, fall swonand on his kneis.

239 | He that of ressoun can not be content,

240 | But couetis all, is abill all to tyne.

241 | The Foxe, quhen that he saw the Uolf wes schent,

242 | Said to him self, thir hering sall be myne.

243 | I le, or ellis he wes efterwart syne,

244 | That fand sic wayis his Maister for to greif,

245 | With all the fische thus Lowrence tuke his leif.

246 | ₡ The Wolf was neir weill dungin to the deid,

247 | That vneis with his lyfe away he wan.

248 | For with the Bastoun weill brokin wes his heid.

249 | The Foxe in to his den sone drew him than,

250 | That had betraiillegible / 2charst his Maister, and the man.

251 | The ane, wantit the hering of his creillis.

252 | The vtheris blude wes rynnand ouer his heillis.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | THis Taill is myngit with Moralitie,

2 | As I sall schaw sumquhat, or that I ceis.

(Click to see) 78

₡ The Fabillis

3 | The Foxe, vnto the warld may likkinnit be.

4 | The reuand Uolf, vnto ane man but leis.

5 | The Cadgear Deith, quhome vnder all man preis,

6 | That euer tyke lyfe, throw cours of kynd man dee.

7 | As man, and beist, and fische in to the see.

8 | ₡ The warlde 3e wait, is Stewart to the man.

9 | Quhilk may mak man to haif na mynd of Deid.

10 | Bot settis for winning all the craftis thay can.

11 | The Hering, I likkin vnto the gold sa reid,

12 | Quhilk gart the Uolf in perrell put his heid.

13 | Richt saw the gold garris Land certeis,

14 | With weir, be waistit daylie as men seis.

15 | And as the Foxe with dissumulance and gyle,

16 | Gart the Uolf wene to haif worschip for euer.

17 | Richt swa, this warld with vane glore for ane quhyle

18 | Flatteris with folk, as that suld fail3e neuer.

19 | Zit suddandlie men seis it oft disseuer

20 | With thame, that trowis oft to fill the sek.

21 | Deith cummis behind, and nippis thame be the nek.

22 | The micht of gold makis mony men sa blind,

23 | That settis on Auarice thair felicitie.

24 | That thay for3et the Cadgear cummis behind,

25 | To strike thame, of quhat stait sa euer thay be.

26 | Quhat is mair dirk, than blind prosperitie?

27 | Quhairfoir, I counsell mychtie men to haif mynd,

28 | Of the Nekhering Interpreit in this kynd.

₡ The Taill of the Foxe, that begylit the Uolf

in the schadow of the Mone.

₡IN

(Click to see) 79

of Esope.

1 | IN Elderis dayis, as Esope can declair,

2 | Thair wes an Husband, quhilk had ane pleuch

(to steir.

3 | His vse wes ay, in morning to ryse air.

4 | Sa happinnit him in streiking tyme of 3eir,

5 | Airlie in the morning to follow furth his feir,

6 | Unto the pleuch, bot his gadman and he.

7 | His stottis he straucht with Benedicite.

Penned-in number "40"

8 | The Caller cryit, how, haik, vpon hicht,

9 | Hald draught my dowis, syne broddit thame full fair.

10 | The Oxin wes vnwsit 3oung and licht,

11 | And for fersnes thay couth the fur forfair.

12 | The Husband than woxe angrie as ane hair.

13 | Syne cryit, and caist his Patill, and greit stanis.

14 | The Uolf (quod he) mot haif 3ow all at atanis.

15 | Bot 3it the Uolf wes neirar nor he wend,

16 | For in ane busk he lay, and Lowrence baith,

17 | In anre Rouch Rone wes at the furris end.

18 | And hard the hecht: than Lowrence leuch full raith.

19 | To tak 3one bud (quod he) it we na skaith.

20 | Weill (quod the Uolf) I hecht the be my hand,

21 | Zone Carllis word as he wer King sall stand.

22 | The Oxin eirit mair reullie at the last.

23 | Syne efter thay lousit, fra that it worthit weill lait.

24 | The Husband hamewart with his cattell past.

25 | Than sone the Uolf come hirpilland in his gait,

26 | Befoir the Oxin, and schupe to mak debait.

27 | The Husband saw him, and worthit sumdeill agast.

28 | And bakwart with his beistis wald haif past.

29 | The Uolf said, quhether dryuis thow this Pray?

30 | I challenge it, for nane of thame ar thyne.

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₡ The Fabillis

31 | The man thairof wes in ane felloun fray.

32 | And soberlie to the Uolf answerit syne.

33 | Schir, by my Saull, thir oxin ar all myne.

34 | Thairfore I studie, quhy 3e suld stop me.

35 | Sen that I faltit neuer to 3ow trewlie.

36 | The Uolf said, Carll, gaif thow not me this drift

37 | Airlie, quhen thow wes eirand on 3one bank?

38 | And is thair oucht (sayis thow) frear than gift?

39 | This tarying will tyne the all thy thank.

40 | Far better is frelie for to gif ane plank,

41 | Nor be compellit on force, to gif ane mark.

42 | Fy on the fredome, that cummis not with hart.

43 | Schir (quod the husband) ane maāan may say in greif,

44 | And syne ganesay fra he auise and se.

45 | I hecht to steill, am I thairfoir ane theif?

46 | God forbid, Schir, all hechtis suld haldin be.

47 | Gaif I my hand or oblissing (quod he)

48 | Or haif 3e witnes, or writ for to schaw.

49 | Schir reif me not, bot go and seik the Law.

50 | Carll (quod the Uolf) ane Lord and he be leill,

51 | That schrinkis for schame, or doutis to be reprufit,

52 | His saw is ay also sickker as his Seill.

53 | Fy on the Leid, that is not leill and lufit.

54 | Thy argument is fals, and eik contrufit

55 | For it is said in Prouerb: But lawte

56 | All vther vertew is ar nocht worth ane fle.

57 | Schir, said the husband, remember of this thing.

58 | Ane leill man is not tane at half ane taill.

59 | I maysay, and ganesay, I am na King.

60 | Quhar is 3our witnes, yat hard I hecht thame (unclear : blurring) haille

Than

(Click to see) 81

of Esope.

61 | Than said the Uolf, thairfoir it sall nocht faill.

62 | Lowrence (quod he) cum hidder of that Schaw,

63 | And say na thinkg, bot as thow hard and saw.

Penned-in numeral "41"

64 | ₡ Lowrence come lourand, for he lufit neuer licht,

65 | And sone appeirit befoire thame in that place.

66 | The man leuch na thing, quhen he saw that sicht.

67 | Lowrēence (quod the Uolf) thow man declair yis cace,

68 | Quhairof we sall schaw the suith in schort space.

69 | I callit on the leill witnes for to beir.

70 | Quhat hard thow that this man hecht me lang eir?

71 | Schir (said the Tod) I can not hastelie

72 | Swa sone as now gif sentence finall.

73 | Bot wald 3e baith submit 3ow heir to me,

74 | To stand at my decreit perpetuall.

75 | To pleis baith I suld preif, gift it may fall.

76 | Weill (quod the Uolf) I am content for me.

77 | The man said, swa am I, how euer it be.

78 | Than schew thay furth thair allegeance but fabill,

79 | And baith proponit thair pley to him complete.

80 | (Quod Lowrence) now I am ane Juge amycabill.

81 | Ze sall be sworne to stand at my decreit.

82 | Quh (unclear : blurring) eather beit efter 3e think it soure or sweit.

83 | The Uolf braid furth his fute, the man his hand:

84 | And on the Toddis Taill sworne thay are to stand.

85 | Than take the Tod the man furth till ane syde.

86 | And said him, illegible / 4chars thow art in blunder brocht.

87 | The Uolf will not forgif the ane Oxe hyde.

88 | Zit wald my self fane help the, and I mocht.

89 | Bot I am laith to hurt my conscience ocht.

90 | illegible / 6charsnot the querrel in thy awin defence,

(Click to see) 82

₡ The Fabillis

91 | This will not throw but greit coist and expence.

92 | ₡ Seis thow not Buddis beris Bernis throw:

93 | And giltis garris crukis materis hald full ein?

94 | Sumtymis ane nedill haldis ane man in ane kow.

95 | All are not halie, that heifis thair handis to heuin.

96 | Schir (said the man) 3e sall haif sex or seuin

97 | Richt of the fattest hennis of all the floik.

98 | I compt not all the alif, leif me the Coik.

99 | I am ane Juge (quod Lowrence than) and leuch.

100 | Thair is na Buddis suld beir me by the richt.

101 | I may tak hennis and Caponis weill aneuch,

102 | For God is gane to sleip as for this nycht.

103 | Sic small thingis as not sene in to his sycht.

104 | Thir hennis (quod he) sall mak thy querrell sure

105 | With emptie hand na man suld Halkis lure.

106 | Concord in this than Lowrence tuke his leif,

107 | And to the Uolf he went in to ane ling.

108 | Syne priuelie, he plukkit him be the sleif,

109 | Is this in ernist (quod he) 3e ask sic thing?

110 | No be my Saull, I trow it be in he (unclear : blurring) thing.

111 | Than said the Uolf, Lowrence, quhy layis thow sa?

112 | Thow lard the hecht thy sell, that he couth ma.

113 | The hecht (quod he) 3one man maid at the pleuch,

114 | Is that the cause quhy 3e the cattell craif?

115 | Half in to heithing (said Lowrence than) and leuch.

116 | Schir, be the Rude, unroikkit now 3e raif.

117 | The Deuill ane illegible / 1charsrk taill thairfoir sall ye haif

118 | Wald I tak it vpon my conscience,

119 | To do sa pure ane man as 3one offenillegible / 1charse.

Catchword present, but illegible

(Click to see) 83

of Esope.

120 | ₡ Zit haif I commonit with the Carll (quod he)

121 | We ar concordit vpon this cunnand.

122 | Quyte of all clamis swa 3e will make him fre,

123 | Ze sall ane Cabok haif in to 3our hand.

124 | That sic ane sall not be in all this land.

125 | For it is Somer Cheis, baith fresche and fair.

126 | He sayis it weyis ane stane, and sumdeill mair.

Penned-in number"42"

127 | Is that thy counsell (quod the Uolf) I do,

128 | That 3one Carll for ane Cabok suld be fre?

129 | Ze be my Saull, and I wer sworne 3ow to,

130 | Ze suld nane vther counsell haif for me.

131 | For gang 3e to the maist extremitie,

132 | It will not wyn 3ow worth ene widderit neip.

133 | Schir trow 3e nocht, I haif ane Saull to keip (unclear : blurring) e.

134 | Weill (quod the Uolf) it is aganis my will,

135 | That 3one Carll for ane Cabok suld ga quyte.

136 | Schir (quod the Tod) 3e tak in in nane euill.

137 | For be my Saull 3our self had all the wyte.

138 | Than (said the Uolf) I bid na mair to flyte.

139 | Bot I wald se 3one Cabok of sic pryis.

140 | Schir (said the Tod) he tauld me quhair it lyis.

141 | Than hand in hand that held vnto ane hill.

142 | The Husband till his illegible / 7chars hes tane the way,

143 | For he wes fane (unclear : blurring) be schapit from thair euil,

144 | And on his feit woke the dury quhill day.

145 | Now will we turne vnto the vther tway.

146 | Throw woddis waist thir freikis on fute can fair,

147 | Fra illegible / 12chars quhill neir midnycht and mair.

148 | Lowrence wes euer remembring vpon wrinkis,

149 | And subtelteis the Uolf for to begyle.

(Click to see) 84

₡ The Fabillis

150 | That he had hecht ane Cabok, he forthinkis.

151 | Zit at the last, he findis furth ane wyle.

152 | Than at him self softlie couth he smyle.

153 | The Uolf sayis, Lowrence, thow playis bellie blind.

154 | We seik all mycht, bot na thing can we find.

155 | ₡ Schir (said the Tod) we ar at it almaist.

156 | Soft 3ow ane lytill, and se sall se it sone.

157 | Than to ane Manure place thay hyit in haist.

158 | The nycht was lycht, and pennyfull the Mone.

159 | Than til ane draw wel thir Sen3eours past but hone.

160 | Quhar that twa bukkettis seuerall suithlie hang.

161 | As ane come vp, ane vther doun wald gang.

162 | The schadow of the Mone schone in the well.

163 | Schir (said Lowrence) anis 3e sall find me leill.

164 | Now se 3e nat the Caboik weill 3our sell,

165 | Quhyte as ane Neip and als round as ane schell.

166 | He hang it 3onder, that na man suld it steill.

167 | Schir, traist 3e weill, 3one Caboik 3e se hing,

168 | Micht be ane presend to our Lord the King.

169 | Na (quod the Uolf) mycht I 3one Caboik haif,

170 | On the dry land, as I it 3onder se.

171 | I wald quitclane the Carll of all the laif.

172 | His dart Oxin I compt thame not ane fle.

173 | Zone wer mair meit for sic ane man as me.

174 | Lowrence (quod he) leip in the bukker sone,

175 | And I sall half the ane, quhill thow haif done.

176 | Lowrence gird dount baith sone, and subtellie.

177 | The uther baid abufe, and held the flaill.

178 | It is sa mekill (quod Lowrence) it maisteris me.

179 | On all my tais it hes not left ane naill.

(Click to see) 85

of Esope

180 | Ze man mak help vpwart, and it haill.

181 | Leip in the vther bukket haistelie.

182 | And cum sone doun, and mak me sum supple.

183 | ₡ Than lychtlie in the bukket lap the loun,

184 | His wecht but weir the vther end gart ryis.

185 | The Tod come hailland vp, the Uolf 3eid doun.

186 | Than angerlie the Uolf vpon him cryis.

187 | I cūummand thus dounwart, quhy thow vpwart hyis?

188 | Schir (quod the Tod) thus fairis it of Fortoun,

189 | As ane cummis vp, scho quheillis ane vther doun.

Penned-in number "43"

190 | Than to the ground sone zeid the Uolf in haist.

191 | The Tod lap on land, als blyith as ony bell.

192 | And left the Uolf in watter to the waist.

193 | Quha haillit him out I wait not of the well.

194 | Heir endis the Text, thair is na mair to tell.

195 | Zit men may find agane moralitie,

196 | In this sentence, thocht it ane Fabill be.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | THis Uolf, I likkin to ane wickit man,

2 | Quhilk dois the pure oppres in euerie place:

3 | And pykis at thame all querrellis that he can,

4 | Be Rigour, reit, and vther wickitnes.

5 | The Foxe, the Feynd I call in to this cais,

6 | Arctand ilk man to ryn vnrychteous rinkis,

7 | Thinkand thairthrow to lok him in his linkis.

8 | The Husband may be callit ane godlie man,

9 | With quhome the Feynd falt findis (as Cleirkis reidadded 's'

10 | Besie to tempt him, with all wayis that he can.

11 | The hennis, ar warkis, yat fra ferme faith proceidis.

12 | Quhar sic sproutis speidis, y[e] euill spreit yair not speids

(Click to see) 86

₡ The Fabillis

13 | Bot wendis vnto the wickit man agane.

14 | That he hes tent his illegible / 18chars

15 | ₡ The woddpenned-in 's' waist, quharin wes the Uolf wyld

16 | Ar wickit riches, quhilk all men gaipis to get:

17 | Quha traistis in the Trusterie, ar oft begyld.

18 | For Mammon may be callit the Deuillis Net,

19 | Quhilk Sathanas for all sinfull hes set.

20 | With proud plesour quha settis his traist thairin,

21 | But speciall grace lychtlie can not outwin.

22 | The Cabok, may be callit Couetyce,

23 | Quhilk blomis braid in mony mannis Ee.

24 | Ua worth the well of that wickit vyce,

25 | For it is all bot fraud, and fantasie.

26 | Dryuand ilk man to leip in the buttrie,

27 | That downwart drawis vnto the pane of hell

28 | Christ keip all Christianis from that wickit well.

₡ The Taill of the Uolf, and the Uedder.

1 | Quhylum thair wes (as Esope can Report)

2 | Ane scheiphird dwelland be ane Forrest neir.

3 | Quhilk had ane illegible / 4chars yat did him greit cōomfort

4 | Full war he wes to walk his Fault but weir,

5 | That nouther Uolf, nor Uildcat durst appeir,

6 | Nor Foxe on feild; nor 3it no vther beist,

7 | Bot he thame slew, or chaissit at the leist.

8 | So happinnit it (as euerilk beist man de)

9 | This Hound of suddand seiknes to be deid.

10 | Bot than (God wait) the keipar of the fe,

11 | For verray wo woxe illegible / 5chars nor the weid.

(Click to see) 87

of Esope.

12 | Allace (quod he) now se I na remeid,

13 | To saif the selie beistis that I keip,

14 | For wit the Uolf, werryit beis all my scheip.

15 | ₡ It wald haif maid ane mannis hart sair to se

16 | The selie scheiphirdis lamentatioun.

17 | Now is my Darling deid, allace (quod he)

18 | For now to beg my breid I may be boun,

19 | With pyikstaf, and with scrip to fair of toun.

20 | For all the beistis befoir bandonit bene,

21 | Will schute vpon my beistis with Ire and tene.

Penned-in number "44"

22 | With that ane Uedder wrechitlie wan on fute:

23 | Maister (quod he) mak merie, and be blyith.

24 | To brek 3our hart for baill, it is na bute.

25 | For ane deid Doig 3e na cais on 3ow kyith.

26 | Go feche him hithor, and fla his skyn of swyith.

27 | Syne sew in on me: and luke that it be meit,

28 | Baith heid, and crag, bodie, taill, and feit.

29 | Than will the Uolf know, that I am he.

30 | For I sall follow him fast quhar euer he fair.

31 | All haill the cure I tak it vpon me.

32 | Zour scheip to keip at midday, laid, and air.

33 | And he persew, be God, I sall not spair

34 | To follow him also fast as did 3our Doig.

35 | Swa that I warrand, 3e sall not want ane hoig.

36 | Thāan said the scheiphird, this come of ane gude wit.

37 | The counsall is baith sikker, leill and trew,

38 | Quha sayis ane scheip is daft, thay lieit of it.

39 | With that in hy, the Goddis skyn of he flew,

40 | And on the scheip rycht softlie couth it sew.

41 | Than worth the Uedder wantoun of his weid.

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₡ The Fabillis

42 | Now of the Uolf (quod he) I haif na dreid.

43 | ₡ In all thingis he counterfait the Dog,

44 | For all the nicht he stude, and tuke na sleip.

45 | Swa that weill lang thair wantit not ane Hog,

46 | Swa war he wes, and walkryfe thame to keip,

47 | That Lowrence durst not luke vpon ane scheip.

48 | For and he did, he followit him sa fast,

49 | That of his lyfe he maid him all agast.

50 | Was nouther Uolf, Uildcat, nor 3it Tod,

51 | Durst cum within thay boundis all about:

52 | Bot he wald chace thame baith throw rouch & snod.

53 | Thay bailfull beistis had of thair lyuis sic dout.

54 | For he wes mekill, and semit to be stout.

55 | That euerilk beist that dred him as the deid,

56 | Within that woid that nane durst hald thair heid.

57 | Zit happinnit thair ane hungrie Uolf to slyde

58 | Out throw his scheip, quhair thay law on ane le,

59 | I sall haif ane (quod he) quhat euer betyde,

60 | Thocht I be werryit, for hunger or I de.

61 | With that ane Lamb in till his cluke hint he.

62 | The laif start vp, for thay wer all agast.

63 | Bot (God wait) gif the Uedder followit fast.

64 | Went neuer Hound mair haistelie fra the hand,

65 | Quhen he wes rynnand maist raklie at the Ra,

66 | Nor went this Uedder baith ouer Mois and strand,

67 | And stoppit nowther at bank, busk, nor bra.

68 | Bot followit ay sa ferlie on his fa,

69 | With sic ane drift, quhil dust and dirt ouerdraif him.

70 | And maid ane wow to God, that he suld haif him,

₡ With

(Click to see) 89

of Esope.

71 | ₡ With that the Uolf let out his Taill on lenth,

72 | For he wes hungrie, and it drew neir the euin.

73 | And schupe him for to ryn with all his strenth,

74 | Fra he the Uedder sa neir cummand had sene,

75 | He dred his lyfe, and he ouertane had bene.

76 | Thairfoir he spairit nouther busk, nor boig.

77 | For weill he kennit the cumming of the Doig.

Penned-in number '45', very faint in EEBO

78 | To mak him lycht, he kest the Lamb him fra.

79 | Syne lap ouer leis, and draif throw dub and myre.

80 | Na (quod the wedder) in Faith we part not swa.

81 | It is not the Lamb, not the, that I desyre.

82 | I sall cum neir, for now I se the tyre.

83 | The Uolf ran till ane rekill stude behind him,

84 | Bot ay the neirar the Uedder to couth wyn him.

85 | Sone efter that, he followit him sa neir,

86 | Quhill that the Uolf for fleidnes fylit the feild.

87 | Syne left the gait, and ran throw busk, and breir,

88 | And schup him fra the schawis for to scheild.

89 | He ran restles, for he wist of na weild.

90 | The wedder followit him, baith out, and in,

91 | Quhill that ane breir busk raif rudelie of the skyn.

92 | The Uolf wes wer, and blenkit him behind,

93 | And saw the Uedder come thrawāand throw the breir.

94 | Syne saw the Doggis skyn hingang on his lind.

95 | Na (quod he) is this ze, that is sa neir?

96 | Richt now ane Hoūund, and now quhyte as an Freir.

97 | I fled ouer fer, and I had kennit the cais.

98 | To God I wow, that 3e sall rew this rais.

99 | Quhat wes the cause 3e gaif me sic ane chace?

100 | With that in hy he hint him be the norne.

Catchword includes 'M' but that is all that's visible

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₡ The Fabillis

101 | For all 3oue mowis, 3e met anis with 3our mache,

102 | Suppois 3e leuch me all this 3eir to scorne.

103 | For quhat enchessoun this Doggis skyn haif 3e borne?

104 | Maister (quod he) bot to haif playit with 3ow,

105 | I 3ow requyre, that 3e nane vther trow.

106 | ₡ Is this 3our bourding in ernist than ( quod he)

107 | For I am verray effeirit, and on flocht.

108 | Cum bak againe, and I sall let 3ow se.

109 | Than quhar the gait wes grimmit he him brocht.

110 | Quehether call 3e this fair play, or nocht?

111 | To set 3our Maister in sa fell effray,

112 | Quhill he for feiritnes hes fylit vp the way.

113 | Thryis (be my Saull) 3e gart me schute behind,

114 | Upon my hoichis the fen3eis may be sene.

115 | As feiritnes full oft I fylit the wind.

116 | Now is this 3e: na bot ane Hound, I wene.

117 | Me think 3our teith ouer schort to be sa kene.

118 | Blissit be the busk, that reft 3ow 3our array.

119 | Ellis fleand, bursin had I bene this day.

120 | Schir (quod the Uedder) suppois I ran in hy,

121 | My mynd wes neuer to do 3our persoun euill.

122 | Ane flear gettis ane follower commounlie,

123 | In play or ernist, preif quha sa euer will.

124 | Sen I bot playit, be gracious me till.

125 | And I sall gar my freindis blis 3our banis.

126 | Ane full gude seruand will crab his Maister anis.

127 | I haif bene oftymis set in greit effray,

128 | Bot (be the Rude) sa rad 3it wes I neuer.

129 | As thow hes maid me with thy prettie play.

130 | I schot behind quehn thow ouertuke me euer.

(Click to see) 91

of Esope.

131 | Bot sickerlie now sall we not disseuer.

132 | Than be the crag bane smertlie he him tuke,

133 | Or euer he ceissit, and it in schunder schuke.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | ESope that Poet first Father of this Fabill,

2 | Wrait this Parabole quhilk is conuenient.

3 | Because the sentence wes fructuous & agreabill,

4 | In Moralitie exemplative prudent.

5 | Quhais problemes bene verray excellent,

6 | Throw similitude of figuris to this day,

7 | Geuis doctrine to the Redaris of it ay.

8 | Heir may thow se, that riches of array,

9 | Will cause pure men presumpteous for to be.

10 | Thay think thay hald of nane be thay als gay,

11 | Bot counterfute ane Lord in all degre.

12 | Out of thair cais in pryde thy clym sa hie,

13 | That thay forbeir thair better in na steid,

14 | Quhill sum man tit thair heillis ouer thair heid.

15 | Richt saw in seruice vther sum exceidis,

16 | And thay haif withgang, welth, and cherissing,

17 | That that will lychtlie Lordis in thair deidis,

18 | And likis not to thair blude, nor thair offpring.

19 | Bot 3it, na wait, how lang that reull will ring.

20 | Bot he was wyse, that had his Sone considder.

21 | Bewar in welth, for Hall benkis ar rycht slidder.

22 | Thairfoir I counsell men of euerilk stait,

23 | To know thame self, and quhome thay suld forbeir,

24 | And fall not with thair better in debait,

25 | Suppois thay be als galland in thair geir.

26 | It settis sa naruand for to vphald weir,

M. ii.

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₡ The Fabillis

27 | Nor clym sa hie, quhill he fall of the ledder.

28 | Bot think vpon the Uolf, and on the wedder.

₡ The Taill of the Uolf, and the Lamb.

1 | Ane cruell Uolf, richt reuenous, and fell,

2 | Upon ane tyme past to an Reuer.

3 | Descending from ane Roche, vnto ane well.

4 | To slaik his thrist, drank of the watter cleir.

5 | Swa vpon cace, ane selie Lamb come neir.

6 | Bot of his fa, the Uolf, na thing he wist.

7 | And in the streme laipit, to cule his thrist.

8 | Thus drank thay baith, bot not of ane Intent.

9 | The Uolfis thocht wes all of wickitnes.

10 | The selie Lamb, wes meik, and Innocent,

11 | Upon the Reuer, in ane vther place,

12 | Beneth the Uolf, he drank ane lytill space,

13 | Quhill he thocht gude, beleuand thair nane euill.

14 | The Uolf him saw, and Rampand come him till.

15 | With girnand teith, and awfull angrie luk,

16 | Said to the Lamb, thow Catiue wretchit thing.

17 | How durst thow be sa bald, to fyle this Bruk,

18 | Quhar I suld drink with thy foull slauering?

19 | It wer Almous the for the draw and hing,

20 | That suld presume, with thy foull lippis wyle,

21 | To glar my drink, and this fair watter fyle.

22 | The selie Lamb auaikand for verray dreid,

23 | On kneis fell, and said, Schir, with 3our leif.

24 | Suppois, I dar not say, thairof 3e leid:

25 | Bot be my Soull, I wait 3e can nocht preif,

That

(Click to see) 93

of Esope.

26 | That I did (unclear : blurring) ony thing, that suld 3ow greif.

27 | Ze wait alswa that 3our accusatioun,

28 | Fail3es fra treuth, and contrair is to ressoun.

29 | ₡ Thocht I can nocht, Nature will me defend,

30 | And of the deid perfyte epxerience.

31 | All heuie thing, man of the self discend.

32 | Bot gif sum thing on force mak resistence.

33 | Than may the streme on ma way mak ascence,

34 | Nor ryn bakwart: I drank beneth 3ow far.

35 | (foreign language la) Ergo, for me, 3our Bruke wes neuer the war.

36 | Alswa, my lippis sen that I wes ane Lamb,

37 | Tuichit na thing that wes contagious.

38 | Bot soukkit milk, from Pappis of my dame,

39 | Richt Naturall, sweit, and als delitious.

40 | Weill (quod the Uolf) thy language Rigorous

41 | Cummis the of kynd: swa thy Father before

42 | Held me at bait, baith with boist, and schore.

43 | He wraithit me, and than I culd him warne,

44 | Within ane 3eir, and I brukit my heid,

45 | I suld be wrokkin on him, or on his barne,

46 | For his exhorbitant and frawart pleid.

47 | Thow sall doutles for his deidis be deid.

48 | Schir, it is wrang, that for the Fatheris gilt,

49 | The saikles sone suld punist be, or spilt.

50 | Haif 3e not hard, quhat halie Scriptire sayis,

51 | Endytit with the mouth of God Almycht?

52 | Of his awin deidis ilk man sall beir the prais,

53 | As pane for sin, reward for werkis rycht.

54 | For my trespas, quhy suld my sone haif plycht?

55 | Quha did the mis, let him sustene the pane.

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₡ The Fabillis

56 | Zaa (quod the Uolf) 3it pleyis thow agane.

57 | ₡ I let the wit, quhen that the Father offendis,

58 | I will chereis nane of his Successioun.

59 | And of his barnis, I may weill tak amendis,

60 | Unto the twentie degre descending doun.

61 | Thy Father thocht to mak ane strang presoun,

62 | And with his mouth in to my watter spew.

63 | Schir (quod the Lamb) thay twa ar nouther trew.

64 | The Law sayis, and ze will vnderstand:

65 | Thair suld na man for wrang, nor violence,

66 | His awin sair punis at his awin hand,

67 | Without proces of Law, and euidence.

68 | Quhilk suld haif leif to mak lawfull defence,

69 | And thairupon Summondis peremptourlie,

70 | For to propone, contrairie, or reply.

71 | Set me ane lauchfull Court, I sall compeir,

72 | Befoire the Lyoun, Lord, and leill Justice.

73 | And be my hand I oblis me rycht heir,

74 | That I sall byde ane unsuspect Assyis.

75 | This is the Law: this is the Instant vse:

76 | Ze suld present thairfoir ane Summondis mak,

77 | Againis that day, to gif ressoun, and tak.

78 | Na (quod the Uolf) thow wald Intruse ressoun,

79 | Quhar wrang, and reif suld dwell in propertie.

80 | That is ane poynt, and part of fals tressoun,

81 | For to gar reuth remane with crueltie,

82 | Be his woundis, fals tratour, thow sall de,

83 | For thy trespas, and for thy Fatheris als.

84 | With that anone he hint him be the hals.

₡ The

(Click to see) 95

of Esope.

85 | ₡ The selie Lambe culd do na thing bot blait.

86 | Sone wes he deid: the Uolf wald do na grace.

87 | Syne drank his blude, and of his flesche can eit,

88 | Quhill he wes full, and went his way on pace.

89 | Of his murther quhat sall we say, allace?

90 | Wes not this reuth, wes not this greit pietie?

91 | To gar this selie Lamb but gilt thus de.

Leaf-shaped virgule

MORALITAS

1 | The pure pepill, this Lamb may signifie,

2 | As Maill men, Merchandis, & all lauboureris.

3 | Of quhome the lyfe, is half ane Purgatorie,

4 | To wyn with lautie leuing as effe (unclear : blurring) iris.

5 | The Uolf betakinnis fals extortioneris,

6 | And oppressouris of pure men, as we se,

7 | Be violence, or craft in facultie.

8 | ₡ Thre kynd of Uolfis, in the warld now Ring:

9 | The first, ar fals peruerteris of the Lawis.

10 | Quhilk vnder Poet termis, falset mingis,

11 | Lettand that all wer Gospell, that he schawis.

12 | Bot for ane bud the pure man he ouerthrawis,

13 | Smoirand the richt, garrand the wrang proceid.

14 | Of sic Uolfis hellis fyre sall be thair meid.

15 | O man of Law, let be that subteltie,

16 | With nyce gimpis, and fraudis Intricate:

17 | And think that God in his Diuinitie,

18 | The wrang, the rycht, of all thy werkis wait.

19 | For prayer, price, for hie, nor law estait,

20 | Of fals querrellis se thow mak na defence.

21 | Hald with the tycht, hurt not thy conscience.

22 | Ane vther kynd of Uolfis Rauenous,

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₡ The Fabillis

23 | Ar mychtie men, haifand aneuch plentie.

24 | Quhilkis ar sa gredie, and sa couetous,

25 | Thay will not thoill the pure in pece to be.

26 | Suppois he, and his houshald baith suld de,

27 | For falt of fude, thairof thay gar na rak,

28 | Bot ouer his heid his mailling will thay tak.

29 | ₡ O man but mercie, quhat is in thy thocht?

30 | War than ane Uolf, and thow culd vnderstand,

31 | Thow hes aneuch, the pure husband richt nocht,

32 | Bot croip, and calf, vpon ane clout of land.

33 | For Goddis aw, how durst thow tak on hand,

34 | And thow in Barn, and Byre sa bene, and big,

35 | To put him fra his tak, and gar him thig?

36 | The thrid Uolf, ar men of heritage:

37 | As Lordis, that hes land be Godis lane.

38 | And settis to the Mailleris ane Uillage:

39 | And for ane tyme Gressome payit and tane,

40 | Syne vexis him, of half his terme be gane,

41 | With pykie querrellis, for to mak him fane

42 | To flit, or pay his Gressome new agane.

43 | His Hors, his Meir len to the Laird,

44 | To drug, and draw, in Court, or in Cariage.

45 | His seruand, or his self may not be spaird,

46 | To swing, and sweit, without in illegible / 7chars wage,

47 | Thus how he standis in laubour, and bondage,

48 | That scantlie may he purches by his maill,

49 | To leue vpon dry breid, and watter caill.

50 | He thow not reuth to gar thy tennentis sweit,

51 | Into the laubour, with laynt, and hungrie wame?

52 | And syne hes lytyill gude to drillegible / 8chars

(Click to see) 97

of Esope.

53 | With his men3e, at euin quhen he cummis hame.

54 | Thow suld dreid, for rychteous Goddis blame.

55 | For it cryis ane vengeance vnto the heuinnis hie,

56 | To gar ane pure man wirk, but Meit, or fe

57 | ₡ O thow greit Lord, that riches hes and rent:

58 | Thow art ane Uolf, thus to deuoir the pure.

59 | Think that na thing cruell, nor violent,

60 | May in this warld perpetuallie Indure.

61 | This sall thow trow, and sikkerlie assure,

62 | For till oppres, thow sall haif als greit pane,

63 | As thow the pure had with thy awin hand slane.

64 | God keip the Lamb, quhilk is the Innocent,

65 | From Wolfis byit, and men exortioneris.

66 | God grant, that wrangous men of fals Intent,

67 | Be manifestit, and punischit as effeiris.

68 | And God, as thow all rychteous prayer heiris,

69 | Most saif our King, and gif him hart and hand,

70 | All sic Uolfis to banis out of the land.

₡ F I N I S.

₡The Taill of the Paddok, and the Mous.

1 | UPon ane tyme (as Esope culd Report)

2 | Ane lytill Mous come till ane Reuer syde.

3 | Scho micht not waid, hir schāankis wer sa schort

4 | Scho culd not swym, scho had na hors to ryde.

5 | Of verray force behouit hir to byde.

6 | And to, and fra, besyde that Reuer deip,

7 | Scho ran, cryand, with mony pietuous peip.

8 | Help ouer, help ouer, this sille Mous can cry,

(Click to see) 98

₡ The Fabillis

9 | For Goddis lufe, sum bodie ouer the brym

10 | With that ane Paddok in the watter by,

11 | Put vp hir heid, and on the bank can clym.

12 | Quhilk be nature culd dowk, and gaylie swym.

13 | With voce full rauk, scho said on this maneir.

14 | Gude morne (schir Mous) quhat is 3our erand heir?

15 | ₡ Seis thow (quod scho) of corne 3one Jolie flat

16 | Of ryip Aittis, of Barlie, Peis and Quheit.

17 | I am hungrie, and fane wald be thairat.

18 | Bot I am stoppit be this watter deip.

19 | And on this syde, I get na thing till eit,

20 | Bot hard Nuttis, quhilkis with my teith I bore.

21 | Wer I be3ond, my feist wer fer the more.

22 | I haif na doit, heir is na Marineris:

23 | How can thow fleit without fedder or fyn?

24 | This Reuer is sa deip, and dangerous,

25 | Me think, that thow suld drownit be thairin.

26 | Tell me thairfor, quhat facultie or gyn,

27 | Thow hes to bring the ouer this watter? Than

28 | Thus to declair the Paddok sone began.

29 | With my twa feit (quod scho) lukkin and braid,

30 | In steid of Air, I row the streme full still.

31 | And thocht the brym be perrillous to waid,

32 | Baith to and fra, I row at my awin will.

33 | I may not droun, for quhy my oppin Gill

34 | Deuoidis ay the watter I resaif.

35 | Thairfoir to droun forsuit na dreid I haif.

36 | The Mous beheld vnto hir fronsit face,

37 | Hir runkillit cheikis, and hir lippis sude:

38 | Hir hingand browis, and hir illegible / 10chars

(Click to see) 99

of Esope.

39 | Hir loggerand leggis, and hir harsky hyde.

40 | Scho ran abak, and on the Paddok cryde.

41 | Gif I can ony skill of Phisnomie,

42 | Thow hes sumpart of falset, and Invuie.

Penned-in numeral "50"

43 | For Clerkis sayis, the Inclinatioun

44 | Of mannis thocht, preceidis commounlie,

45 | Efter the Corporall complexioun,

46 | To gude, or euill, as Nature will apply.

47 | Ane thrawert vult, ane thrawert Phisnomy.

48 | The auild Prouerb is witness of this (foreign language la) Lorent

49 | (foreign language la) Distortum vultim sequitur distortio morum.

50 | Na (quod the Taid) that Prouerb is not trew:

51 | For fair thinkis oftmis ar fundin faikyn.

52 | The Bla berryis thocht that be sad of hew,

53 | Ar gadderit vp, quhen Primeros is forsakin.

54 | The face may faill, to be the hartis takin.

55 | Thairfor I find this Scipture in all place,

56 | Thow suld not Judge ane man efter his face.

57 | Thocht I vnhalsum be to luke vpon,

58 | I haif na cause, quhy I suld lakkit be,

59 | Wer I als fair, as Jolie Absolon,

60 | I am na causer of that greit beutie.

61 | This difference in forme, and qualitie,

62 | Almychtie God hes causit dame Nature

63 | to prent and set in euerilk creature.

64 | Of sum the face may be full flurischeand,

65 | Of silkin toung, and cheir rycht amorous,

66 | With mynd Inconstant, fals and wariand,

67 | Full of desait, and menis Cautelous.

68 | Let be thy preiching (quod the hungrie Mous)

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₡ The Fabillis

69 | And be quhar craft thow gar me vnderstand.

That thow wald gyde me to 3one 3onder land?

70 | ₡ Thow wait (quod scho) ane bodie that hes neid,

71 | To help tham self, suld mony wayis cast.

72 | Thairfoir ga tak ane dowbill tuynit threid,

73 | And bind thy leg to myne with knottis fast.

74 | I sall the leir to swym, be not agast,

75 | Als weill as I. As thow (than quod the Mous)

76 | To preif that play, it wer rycht perrillous.

77 | Suld I be bund, and fast, quhar I am fre,

78 | In hoip of help, na than I schrew vs baith.

79 | For I mycht lois baith lyfe and libertie,

80 | Gif it wer swa, quha suld amend the skaith?

81 | Bot gif thow swelt to me the murhour aith,

82 | But fraud, or gyle, to bring me ouer this flude,

83 | But hurt, or harme. In faith (quod scho) I dude.

84 | Scho goikit vp, and to the heuin can cry:

85 | O Juppiter, of Nature God and King.

86 | I mak ane aith trewlie to the, that I

87 | This lytill Mous sall ouer this watter bring.

88 | This aith wes maid. The Mous by persauing

89 | The fals Ingyne of this foull crappald Taid,

90 | Tuke threid, and band her leg, as scho hir bad.

91 | Than fute, for fute, thay lap baith in the brym (unclear : blurring) ,

92 | Bot in thair myndis that wer rycht different.

93 | The Mous thocht of na thing, bot for to swym:

94 | The Paddok for to droun set hir Intent.

95 | Quhen thay in midwart of the streme wer went,

96 | With all hir force the Paddok preissit doun,

97 | And thocht, the Mous without mercie to droun.

Catchword illegible

(Click to see) 101

of Esope.

98 | ₡ Persauand this, the Mous on hir can cry,

99 | Tratour to God, and manesworne vnto me.

100 | Thow swore the murthour aith richt now, that I

101 | But hurt, or harme, suld ferryit be and fre.

102 | And quhen scho saw thair wes bot do, or de,

103 | With all hir mycht scho forcit hir to swym:

104 | And preissit vpon the Taiddis bak to clym.

Penned-in numeral="51"

105 | The dreid of deith hir strenthis gart Incres,

106 | And forcit hir defend, with mycht, and mane.

107 | The Mous vpwart: the Paddok doun can preis:

108 | Quhyle to, quhyle fra, wuhyle dowkit vp agane.

109 | This sillie Mous plungit in to greit pane,

110 | Gan fecht als lang as breith wes in hir breist

111 | Till at the last, scho cryit for ane Preist.

112 | Fechtand thusgait the Gled sat on ane twist,

113 | And to this wretchit battell tuke gude heid.

114 | And with ane wisk, or ony of thame wist,

115 | He claucht his cluke betuix thame in the threid.

116 | Syne to the land he flew with thame gude speid,

117 | Fane of that fang, pypand with mony pew:

118 | Syne lowsit thame, and baith but pietie slew.

119 | Syne bowellit yame, yat Boucheour with his bill

120 | And belliflaucht full fettillie thame flaid.

121 | Bot all thair flesche wald scant be half ane fill,

122 | And guttis als vnto the gredie glaid

123 | Of thair debait, thus quhen I hard outraid,

124 | He tuke his flicht, and ouer the feildis flaw.

125 | Gif this be trew, speir 3e at thame that saw.

Leaf-shaped virguleMORALITAS

1 | MY Brother, gif thow will tak aduertence,

Be this Fabill thow may persaue and se.

(Click to see) 102

₡ The Fabillis.

2 | It passes fer all kynd of Pestilence,

3 | Ane wickit mynd, with wordis fair and sle.

4 | Be war thairfoir, with quhome thow fallowis the.

5 | To the wer better beir the stane barrow,

6 | For all thy dayis to delf quhill thow may dre,

7 | Than to be machit with ane wickit marrow.

8 | ₡ Ane fals Intent vnder ane fair presence,

9 | Hes causit mony Innocent for to de.

10 | Greit folie is to gif ouer sone credence,

11 | To all that speikis fairlie vnto the.

12 | Ane silkin toung, ane hart of crueltie,

13 | Smythis morefore, than ony schot of arrow.

14 | Brother gif thow be wyse, I reid the sle,

15 | Than mache the with ane thrawart fenneit marrow.

16 | I warne the als, it is greit negligence,

17 | To bind the fast, wuhar thow wes frank and fre.

18 | Fra thow be bund, thow may mak na defence,

19 | To said thy lyfe, nor 3it thy libertie.

20 | This simpill counsall, brother, tak of me,

21 | And it to cun perqueir, se thow not tarrow.

22 | Better but stryfe to leif allane in le,

23 | Than to be machit with ane wickit marrow.

24 | This hald in mynd, richt more I sall the tell,

25 | Quharby thir beistis may be figurate.

26 | The Paddok vsand in the flude to dwell,

27 | Is mannis bodie, swymand arr and late,

28 | In to this warld with cairis Implicait.

29 | Now hie, now law, quhylis plungit up, quhylis doun

30 | Ay in perrell, and reddie for to droun.

31 | This lytill Mous, heir knit thus be the illegible / 5chars

(Click to see) 103

of Esope.

32 | The Saull of man betakin may in deid.

33 | Bundin, and fra the bodie may not wyn,

34 | Quhill cruell deith cum brek of lyfe the threid.

35 | The quhilk to droun suld euer stand in dreid,

36 | Of Carnall lust be the Suggestioun:

37 | Quhilk drawis ay the Saull, and druggis doun.

38 | The Gled is Deith, that cummins suddandlie,

39 | As dois ane theif, and cuttis sone the battall.

40 | Be vigilant thairfoir, and ay reddie,

41 | For mannis lyfe is brukill, and ay mortall.

42 | My freind thairfoir, mak the ane strang Castell

43 | Of Faith in Christ: for deith will the affay:

44 | Thow wait not quhen, euin, morrow, or midday.

45 | Adew my freind: and gif that ony speiris,

46 | Of this Fabill, sa schortlie I conclude.

47 | Say thow, I left the laif vnto the Freiris,

48 | To mak exempill, and ane similitude.

49 | Now Christ for vs that deit on the Rude,

50 | Of Saull, and lyfe, as thow art Saluiour:

51 | Grant vs till pas, in till ane blissit hour.

₡ F I N I S.

₡ Imprentit at Edin-

burgh be Robert Lekpreuik, at the Expensis of

Henrie Charteris, the cvi. day of Decem-

ber: the 3eir of God ane thousand,

fyue hundreth, thre scoir,

Nyne 3eiris.

Manicule pointing inwardsThree stars Manicule pointing inwards