Complaint and Testimony of a Popinjay, The

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¶The complaynte and testament of a Popiniay Which lyeth sore wounded and maye not dye, tyll euery man hathe herd what he sayth: Wherfore gentyll readers haste you that he were oute of his payne.

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Incipit prologus.

[SU]pposeleaf defective I had ingy[n]e angelicall

With sapience super-salomonicall

Not what mater put in memory

The poetis olde in stile heroycall

In breue subtile termes rethoricall

Of euerylk mater tragedie and story

So ornatly to their hie laude and glory

Hath done indite whose supreme sapience

Transcendeth fer, the dull intelligence.

Of poetis now in-tyll oure vulgar toung

For-why the bell of retorik is roung

By Chaucer Goweir and Lidgate laureate

Who dare presume these poetis till impoung

Whose swete sentence through Albion bene soung

Or who can now the werkes contrefate

Of kennedy with termis aureate

Or of dumbar whylk language had at large

As may be sene in-till his goldin targe

Quintyne / M...r / [R]owle / Henderson / Hay / and holland

Though they bene deed her libellis bene lyuand

Whilke to reherse makes reders to reioyse

Alas for one whilk lampe was of this land

Of eloquence the flowyng balmy strand

And in our Inglysshe rethoryk the roise

As of rubeis the charbuncle bene choise

And as Phebus doth sinthea precell

So Gawane_douglase byshop of dunkell.

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Had when he was in-to this lande on lyue

Aboue vulgare poetes prerogatyue

Both in pratik and speculation

I saye no more good reders may descryue

His worthy werkes in nomber mo than fyue

And specially in the true translation

Of Uirgyll whilk bene consolation

To cunnyng men to knowe his great ingyne

As well in naturall science as diuyne

And in the court bene present in this dayes

That balletes breuis lustely and layes

Whylkes to our prince dayly they do present

Who can say more than syr Iames_Inglysshe sayes

In ballattes farssis and in plesand playes

But Culrose has his pen made impotent

Kid in cunnyng and practik ryght prudent

And steward whilk desiris a stately style

Full ornate werkes dayly doth compyle.

Steward of lorn wyll carp ryght curiously

Galbrayt kinloch when they lyst them apply

In-to that art ar crafty of ingyne

But now of late is stert vp hastely

A cunnyng clerk whilk wryteth craftely

A plant of poetes callid ballantyne

Whose ornate werkes my wyt can not defyne

Get he in the court auctorite

He wyll precell Quintyne and kenedy.

So though I had ingyne as I haue none

I wote not what to write be sweit saynt Iohane

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[...y] in all the garth of eloquence leaf defective here and in next line

[I]s nothing lefte but barayne stok and stone

The polit termes / are pullid euery one

Be these fornamid poetis of prudence

And seing I find none other new sentence

I shall declare or I depart you fro

The complant of a woundid papingo.

Wherfore because my mater bene so rude

Of sentence and of rethorik denude

To rurale folk my dityng bene direct

Fer flemit frome the sight of men of gud

For cunning men I know will sone conclude

It dow nothing but for to be deiect

And when I here my mater bene detract

Than shall I swere I made it but in mowes

To vplandishe lassis whilk kepeth kye and yowes

Here endis the prologue And begynnis the complant.

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Who clymmis to hyghe perforce his fete [fail] Huntington copy defective

Expresse I shall that by experience

Yf that ye please to here a pituouse tale

How a faire bird by fatale violence

Deuourid was and myght make no defence

Contrary the deth so fayleth naturall strength

As after I shall shewe you at more length

A papingo ryght pleasant and perfyte

Presentid was to our most noble kyng

Of whom his grace long tyme had great delite

More faire of forme I wote flew neuer with whing

This proper bird he gaue in gouerning

To me whylk was his semple seruiture

On whom I did my deligence and cure

To lerne her language artificiall

To play plat-fote and whissill-fot before

But of her inclination naturall

She countrefeted all foulis lesse and more

Of her corage she wolde with-out my lore

Sing like the merle / and kraw like the cocke

Pew like the gled / and chant like the lauerocke.

Bark like a dog / and kekill like a ka

Blait like a hog / and buller like a bulle

Gaile like a gock / and great when she was wa

Clyme on a cord / synge laughe and play the fule

She myght haue bene a menstrell agaynst youle

This blisfull bird was to me so pleasand

Where-euer I went / I bare her on my hand.

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¶The discription of her murnyng.

And so befell vpon a mirthfull morowe

In-to my garth I past me to repose

This bird and I as we were wont afforowe

Among the floures fresshe fragrant and formose

My vitall sprete duly did reioyse

When phebus rose and raise the cloudis sable

Through bryghtnes of his bemes amiable

Without vapoure was well purificate

The temperat ayre soft sober and serene

The erth by nature so edificate

With holsome herbes blewe / white / reed / and grene

Whilkis eleuate my spretis frome the splene

That day Saturne nor Mars did not appere

Nor Eol out of his caue durst not stere.

That day perforce behoued to be fayre

By influence and course celestiall

No planet pressid for to perturbe the ayre

For Mercurius be mouing naturall

Exalted was into the trone triumphall

Of his mansion vnto the fyftene gre

In his owne souerayn signe of virginye

That day did phebus plesantly depart

From Gemini and enterid in Cancer

That day cupido did extend his dart

Uenus that day communed with Iupiter

That day Neptunus hid him like a sker

That daye came nature with grete besines

Further to flora to proue hir craftines

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And retrograid was Mars in Capricorne

And sinthea in sagittar assesid

That day dame Ceres goddes of the corne

Full ioyfully Iohan_vpland applesid

The bad aspect of Saturne was appesid

That day by Iuno of Iupiter the Ioy

Perturbynge spretis caused to hold coy.

The sound of birdis surmounted all the skyes

With melody of notis musicall

The balmy droppis of dew Tytan vp dryis

Hanging vpon the tender twystis small

The heuenly hewe and sound angelicall

Sik perfyte plesure prentid in my hart

That with great payne from thens I myght depart

So still among the herbis amyable

I did remayn a space for my pastance

But wordly pleasure bene so variable

Mixid with sorowe, drede and inconstance

That founde therin is no contynuance

So myght I say my short solace alas

Was dryuen in dolour in a lytle space.

For in that garth among the fragrant floures

Walkyng alone none but my bird and I

Unto the tyme that I had said my houres

This birde I set apon a branche me by

But she began to clymbe ryght spedely

And in that tre she did so hie ascend

That by no way I myght hir apprehend

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[....] byrde I sayd beware, mount not ouer_hye

[Returne] in tyme, perchaunce thy fete may fayle

Thou art ryght fat, and not well vsed to fle

The gredy glede, I drede shall the assayle

I wyll ascende quod she, chaunce what be chaunce me

It is my kynde to clym ay to the hyght

Of fether and bone, I wote wele I am wyght

So on the hyghest lytell tender twyst

With whynges displayde she sate full wantonly

But Boreas blewe a blast or euer she wyst

Whylk brake the braunche, and blewe her sodeynly

Downe to the grounde with many a carefull crye

Upon a stub she lyght on her breest

The bloode russhed out, and she cryed for a preest

God wote yf than my hert was wo_begone

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To se that foule flytter amonge the floures

Whylk with great mournyng gan to make her mone

Now are come sayd she my fatale houres

Of bytter deth now must I suffre the shoures

O dame nature I pray the of thy grace

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Lende me leysure to speke a lytell space

For to complayne my fate infortunate

And bequeth my naturall gere or I departe

Seynge of all comfort I am desolate

Alone excepte the deth with his darte

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With awfull chere redy to perse my harte

And with that worde she toke a passion

Syne flatiynges fell and swapped in-to swowne

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With sory hert persed with compassion

And salt teres distelling from myne eyne

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To heare that birdis lamentation

I did approche vnder a hauthorne grene

Where I myght here and se, and not be sene

And when this bird had swowned twyse or thryse

She gan to speke sayeng on this wyse

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O false fortune why hast thou me begyled

This day at morne who knewe this carefull case

Uayne hope in the my reason hath exiled

Hauing lik trust in-to thy feyned face

That euer I was brought to the court alas

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Had I in forest flowne amonge my feres

I myght full well haue lyued many yeres.

Wyse and true counsell alas I dyd refuse

Agayne reason vsyng my appetite

Ambition did so my hert abuse

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That Eolus had me in great dispite

Poetis of me hath mater to indyte

Whylk clam so hye and wo is me therfore

Not doubtyng that deth durst me deuore.

This day at morne my forme and fetheren fayre

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Aboue the proude pecok were prece land

And nowe a caytyfe carion full of care

Bathing in blode downe from my hert distelland

And in my eare the bell of deth bene knelland

O false world fy on thy felicite

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Thy pryde, auarice, and immundicite.

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In the I se nothing bene permanent

Of thy short solace sorow is the ende

Thy false infortunate gyftes bene but lent

This day full proude the morne nothing to spend

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O ye that dothe pretende ay till ascend

My fatale end haue in remembraunce

And you defend frome sik vnhappy chaunce.

Whether I was stryken in extasy

Or through a stark ymagination

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But it appereth in my fantasy

I herd this dolent lamentation

Thus dulled in-to desolation

Me-thought this bird dyd discriue in hyr manere

Her counssall to the king as ye shall here.

¶Here begynnes the first Epistell of the papingo derect tyll hyr souerane lord king Iames the fift.

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PRepotent prince pereles of pulchritude

Glorie / honour / laude / triumphe / and victory

Be to thy hie excellent celsitude

With merciall dedis digne of memory

Seyng Atropos consumed has my glory

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And dolent deth alas muste vs depart

I bequeth to the my true vnfayned hart

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To_gidder with this cedull subsequent

With most reuerend recommendacyon

I grant thy grace gettis many a document

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By famouse faders predication

With many notable narracyon

Be pleasand poetis in stile heroycall

How thou sholde guyde thy seat imperiall.

Some doth deplore the great calamities

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Of diuers realmes transmutation

Some petiusly doth trete of tragedies

All for thy graces informacyon

So I intende without adulacyon

In my barbarous rusticall indite

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Among others syr, somthynge for to write

Souerayne conceyue this symple similitude

Of officeres seruing thy segnory

Who guydes them well gettis of thy grace great gud

Who bene iniust degraded ar of glory

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And cauncelled out of thy memory

Prouiding syne more pleasand in theyr place

Beleue, ryght so shall god do with thy grace

Considering well thou bene but officiare

And vassell to that kynge incomparable

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Haest the to please that puissant prynce preclare

Thy ryche rewarde shall be inestimable

Exalted hye in glory vnterminable

Aboue archangels vertus and potestates

Pleasantly placid among the principates.

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Of thy vertue poetes perpetually

Shall make mencyon vnto the worlde be ended

So thou exercyse thy office prudently

In heuen and erth thy grace shall be commended

Wherfore beware that he be not offended

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Whilk has exalted the to sik honour

Of his people to be a gouernour.

And in the erth hath made sik ordinance

Under thy fete all-thing terrestriall

Are subiect to thy pleasure and pastance

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Bothe foule and fishe and bestes pastorall

Men to thy seruice and wemen they bene thrall

Hawkyng / huntyng / iustyng / and laufull amour

Preordinate ar by god for thy pleasour.

Maysters of musik to recreate thy sprete

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With danted voyce and pleasant instrument

Thus may thou be of all pleasure replete

So that in thy office thou be diligent

But be thou founde sleuthfull or necligent

Or els iniust in thyne execution

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Thou shalt not fayle deuyne punycyon.

Wherfore seyng thou has sik capacite

To lerne to play so pleasantly and sing

Ryde horses / ryue speres with great audacite

Shote with handbow crossebow and culuering

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Among the rest, syr, lerne to be a kyng

Proue on that craf[t] thy pregnant freshe ingine craft] crafc 1538

Graunted to the by influence deuyne

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And seyng the diffinicion of a kyng

Is for to haue of people gouernaunce

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Adresse the, first aboue all other thyng

To put thy body to suche ordinaunce

That thy vertue thyne honour may auaunce

For how shulde pryncis gouerne great regions

That can not onely guyde theyr owne persons.

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And thy grace wolde lyue ryght pleasantly

Call thy counsell and cast on them the cure

Theyr iust decretis defend and fortefy

Without good counsell may no prince longe indure

Wyrke with counsell then shall thy werke be sure

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Chose thy counsell of the most sapient

Without regarde to blode, ryches or rent

Among all other pastyme and pleasure

Nowe in thy adolescent yeres yenge

Wolde thou euery day study but half an houre

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The regiment of princely gouernynge

To thy people it were a pleasaunt thynge

Theyr myght thou fynd thy owne vocation

How thou sholde vse thy scepture swerd and crown.

The cronicles to know I the exhort

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Whiche may be myrrour to thy maieste

There shalte thou fynd bothe good and euyll report

Of euery prince after his qualite

Thoughe they bene deed theyr dedes shall not dye

Trust will thou shalte be styled in that storye

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As thou deseruest put in memorye.

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Request that roy whiche rent was on the roode

The to defend frome dedes of defame

That no poete report of the but good

For princes dayes endures but a dreame

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Seyng fyrst kyng Fergus bare a diadeame

Thou arte the last kynge of fiue score and fiue

And all ar deed and none but thou on lyue.

Of whose nombre fyftye and fyue bene slayne

And most parte in theyr owne mysgouernaunce

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Wherfore I the beseche my souerayne

Consyder of theyr lyues the circumstaunce

And when thou knowest the cause of theyr myschaunce

Of vertue than exalte the sayles on hye

Trustynge to scape that fatall destenye

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Entreate euery true baron as he were thy brother

Whiche mon at nede the and thy realme defende

When sodeynly one dothe oppresse an-other

Let iustice myxed with mercy them amende

Haue thou theyr hertes, thou hast ynough to spende

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And by the contrary, thou art but kyng of bone

From tyme thyne heres hettes be from the gone.

I haue no leysure for to wryte at length

My hole entent vnto thyne excellence

Decreassed so I am in wyt and strenth

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My mortall wound doth me such violence

People of me may haue experience

Bycause alas I was incounsolable

Now mon I dye a caytyue miserable.

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¶Here begynneth the seconde epistle of the Papingo, dyrecte to her brether of the Court.

BRether of court with mynde precordiall

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To the great god hertely I commende you

Imprent my fall in your memoryall

Togyther with this cedull that I sende you

To preysse ouer_hye I pray you not pretend you

The vayne ascence of court who wyll consydder

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Who syttes most hye, shall fynde the seat most slydder

So ye that now bene lansing vp the ledder

Take tent in tyme holding your fyngers fast

Who clymmeth most hye, most dynt hath of the wedder

And leest defence agaynst the bytter blast

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Of fals fortune whylke takes neuer rest

But most redoubted dayly she downe thrynges

Not sparing papes, emperours, nor kynges.

Though ye bene mounted vp abo[u]e the skyes

And hath both kynge and court in gouernaunce

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Some was as hye whylk now ryg[ht] low lyes ryght] rygth 1538

Complaning sore the courtes variaunce

Theyr preterit tyme may be experience

Whylk through vayne hope of court dyd clyme so hye

Syne wanted whingis when they wend best to flye

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Seyng ylk court bene vntrust and transitorye

Chaungyng as oft as wethercocke in wynde

Some makynge glad and other som ryght sorye

Formest this day the morne may go behynde

Let not vayne hope of court your reason blynde

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Trust well some men wyll gyue you laude as lordes

Whylkes wolde be glad to se you hang in cordes

I durst declare the miserabilite

Of dyuers courtes were not my tyme to shorte

The dredfull chaunge vaynglory and vilite

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The paynefull pleasures as poetes doth report

Somtyme in hope somtyme in disconfort

And how som men doth spend theyr youthed all

In court, syne, endeth in the hospitall.

How som in court bene quiete counsalours

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Without regarde to commen-welth or kynges

Castynge theyr cure for to be conquerours

And when they bene hye raysed in theyr rynges

How chaunge of court them dolefully downe thrynges

And when they bene frome theyr estate deposed

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How many of theyr fall bene ryght well resioysed

And how fonde fayned fules and flatterars

For small seruice opteyneth great rewardes

Pandars pikthankes custrouns and clatterars

Loupes vp frome laddes, syne lyghtes among lordes

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Blasphematours braggars and common bardes

Somtyme in court hath more auctorite

Than well-lerned doctours in diuinite.

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How in some court be barnes of Beliall

Full of dissimuled paynted flattery

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Prouokynge by intoxicate counsall

Princes to hooredome and tyll hasardry

Who dothe in prynces prent syk harlotry

I say for me suche pert prouocatours

Sholde punissed be aboue all stronge traytours.

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What trauars, trouble, and calamite

Hath ben in court within this hundreth yeares

What mortall chaunges, what myserite

What noble men be brought vpon theyr beares

Trust well my frendes folow ye mon your feares

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So seynge in court is no tranquilite

Set not on it your hole felicite

The court chaungeth somtyme with sik outrage

That fewe or none may make resistence

And spareth not the prynce more than the page

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As well appereth by experyence

The duke of Rosey myght make no defence

Whylke was per_tenand roy of this region

But dulefully deuored in pryson

What drede, what dolour, had that noble kynge

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Robert the thyrde from tyme he knewe the case

Of his two sonnes the dolent departynge

Prynce Dauid deed, and Iames capityue alas

Tyll true scottes-men, whylk was a carefull case

Thus may ye knowe the court bene varyand

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When bloode ryall the chaunge myght not gaynstand.

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Who clam in court more hye and tryumphand

Nor duke Murdok, whyle that his dayes endured

Was he not great protectour of Scotland

Yet of the court he was not well assured

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It chaunged so his lange seruyce was smured

He and his sone fayre Walter without remeed

Forfalted were, and put to dulefull deed

Kynge Iames the fyrst, patrone of prudence

Gem of angyne, and perle of polecy

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Well of iustyce, and floode of eloquence

Whose vertue doth transcende my fantasy

For to discryue yet when he stode most hye

By false exhorbitant conspyracyoun

That prudent prynce was pituously put doun

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Als Iames the seconde, roy of great renoun

Beynge in his superexcellent glore

Through rechelesse shotyng of one great cannoun

The dolent deth alas dyd hym deuore

One thynge there is, of whylk I meruayle more

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That fortune had at hym syk mortall feed

Through fyfty thousande to wale hym by the heed

My hert is persed with paynes for to paunce

Or wryte that courtes variacyon

Of Iames the thyrde when he had gouernaunce

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The dolour, drede, and desolacyon

The chaunge of court and conspiracion

And how that cochrane with his company

That tyme in court clam so presumptuously

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It had ben good those barons had bene vnborne

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By whome that noble prynce was so abused

They grewe as dyd the wede aboue the corne

That prudent lordes counsell was refused

And helde hym quiet as he had bene inclused

Alas that prynce by theyr abusyon

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Was finally brought vnto confusyon

They clam so hye, and get suche audience

And with theyr prynce grewe so famylyar

His germane brother myght get no presence

The duke of Albane, nor the erle of Mar

390

Lyke banysshed men were holden at the bar

Tyll in the kynge there grewe syk mortall feed

He flemit the duke, and put the erle to deed

This cochrane with his caytyue companye

Forced them to fle, but yet they wanted fedders

395

Aboue the hye lyders of Libanye

They clam so hye tyll they lap ouer the ledders

On Lauder brig syne kepped were in tedders

Strangled to deth, they got none other grace

Theyr kynge captyue, whiche was a carefull case

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Tyll put in forme that fate infortunate

And mortall chaunge perturbeth myne ingyne

My wyttes ben weyke / my fyngers fatigate

To dyte or wryte the rancour ruyne

The ciuyll warre, the battall intestyne

405

How that the sone with banner brode displayed

Agayne the father in batayle came arayed

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Wolde god that prince had bene that day comfortid

With sapience of the prudent Salomone

And with the strengh of strong Sampsone supportid

410

With the bolde oste of great Agamemnone

What shuld I wishe remedy was there none

At morne a kynge with ceptour swerde and croun

At euen a deed deformed carioun

Alas where is that ryght redouted roy

415

That potent prynce gentill kynge Iames the ferd

I pray to Chryst his saule for to conuoy

One greater noble raygned not in erd

O Atropos wary we may thy werd

For he was myrrour of humilite

420

Lood-ster and lamp of liberalite

During his tyme so iustice did preuayle

The sauage ylis trubled for terrour

Eskdaile emsdaile liddisdaile and anuerdaile

Durst not rebell doutyng his dintis dour

425

And of his lordes had sik perfit fauour

So for to shawe that he fered no fone

Out through his realme he wold ride him alone.

And of his court through Ewrop sprang the fame

Of lusty lordes and lussome ladyes yeng

430

Triumphant tornays Iusting and knyghtly game

With all pastyme according for a kynge

He was the glory of pryncely gouernynge

Tyll through the ardent loue he had to Fraunce

Agaynst Ingland dyd moue his ordinaunce

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435

Of Flowdon felde the ruyne to reuolue

Of that most dolent daye for to deplore

I nyll, for drede that dolour you desolue

Shewe how that prynce in his tryumphant glore

Destroyed was, what nedes proces more

440

Not by vertue of the Englysshe ordinaunce

But by his owne wylfull mysgouernaunce

Alas that day had he ben consolable

He had opteyned laude, glory, and victory

Whose petuous proces bene so lamentable

445

I ne wyll, at length it put in memory

I neuer red in tragedye nor story

At one iourney so many nobles slayne

For the defence and loue of theyr souerayne

Now brether make in your remembraunce

450

A myrrour of theyr mutabilities

So may ye knowe the courtes inconstaunce

When prynces bene thus pulled from theyr sees

After whose deth whose straunge aduersitees

What great mysrule in-to this region rang

455

When our yonge prynce couth neyther speke nor gang

Durynge his tender youthe and innocence

What slouth, what stelth, what murther and myschaunce

There was nought elles but werkynge of vengence

In that courte there range syk varyaunce

460

Dyuers rulers, made dyuers ordinaunce

Somtyme our quene reygned in auctoritie

Somtyme the prudent duke of Albanie

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Somtyme the realme was ruled by regentes

Somtyme leeftenauntes ledars of the law

465

Than reygned so mony inobedientes

That few or none of an-other stode in awe

Oppression dyd so loude his bugle blawe

That none durst ride but in the feyr of weir

Iak_vpland that tyme dyd mysse his meir.

470

Who was more hye in honour eleuate

Nor was Margarete our hye and mi[c]hty prynces michty] mithty 1538

Such power was to her appropriate

Of kyng and realme she was gouernores

Yet came one chaunge within a short proces

475

That perle preclare that lusty pleasand quene

Long tyme durst not in the corut be sene

The archebisshop of saynt_Androus Iames_Beton

Chancellar and primate in power pastorall

Clam next the kyng / most hye in this region

480

The ledder shooke he lap and gat a fall

Auctoritie nor power spirituall

Riches frendiship myght not that tyme preuayle

When dame Curia began to stere her tayle.

His hygh prudence preuayled hym not a myte

485

That tyme the court bare hym syk mortal feed

As presoner they kepte hym in despite

And somtyme wyst not where to hide his heed

But disguysed lyke Iohnn the reif he raed

Had not bene hope that bare hym company

490

He had bene strangled by melancoly

sig: [C4]

What cummer and care was in the court of Fraunce

When kyng Francys was takin presonere

The duke of Bourbon and his ordinaunce

Deed at one stroke ryght balefully brought on bere

495

The court of Rome that tyme ran all arere

When pape Clement was put in strong preson

The noble citie put to confusion

In England who had greater gouernaunce

Nor theyr tryumphand courtly cardinall

500

The common-weale some sayes he dyd auaunce

By equall iustice both to great and small

There was no prelate to hym peregall

Englysshe men sayth, had he raygned long space

He had deposed saynt Peter of his place

505

His pryncely pompe, nor papale grauite

His palace royall ryche and radious

Nor yet the flude of superfluite

Of his ryches nor trauayle tedious

From tyme dame Curia held hym odious

510

Preuayled hym not nor prudence most profounde

The ledder brake and he fell to the grounde and] and and 1538

Where bene the doughty erles of douglas

Whylkes ryally in-to this region rang

Forfayt and slayne what nedeth more proces

515

The erle of Marche was marchelled them amang

Dame Curia them dolefully downe thrang

And now of late who clam more hye amang vs

Nor dyd archbald vmwhyle erle of angus.

sig: [C4v]

Who with his prynce was more familiar

520

Nor of his grace had more auctorite

Was he not great wardeyn and chauncellar

Yet whan he stode vpon the hyghest gre

Trustyng no thyng but perpetuite

Was sodaynly deposed from his place

525

Forfayt and flemit, he gat non other grace

Wherfore trust not in auctorite

My dere brethren I pray you hartely

Presume not in your vayne prosperite

Conferme your trust in god all hooly

530

Syne serue your prynce with entier hert truly

And when ye se the court bene at the best

I counsall you than draw you to your rest

Where bene the hye tryumphant court of troy

Of Alexandre with his twelue prudent peres

535

Or Iulius that ryght redoubted roy

Agamemnon most whorthy in his weres

To shew theyr fyne my frayed her efferes

Some murdred were, some poysoned petiously

Theyr carefull courtis disparsid dolefully

540

Trust well my frendes there is no constant court but one

Where Chryst is kynge whose tyme interminable

And hygh tryumphant glory is neuer gone

That quiete court mirthful and vmmutable

Without varyaunce standith ay ferme and stable

545

Dissimilance fla[t]ery nor fals report flatery] flarery 1538

In-to that court shall neuer get resort

sig: D[1]

Trust well my frendes this is no fayned fare

For who that bene in the extreme of deed

The verite without doubte they sholde declare.

550

Without regarde to fauour or to feed

Whyle ye haue tyme dere brether make remede

Adue for euer, of me ye get no more

Besekand god to brynge you to his glore

Adue Edinburgh, you hygh triumphant towne

555

Within whose boundes ryght blythfull haue I bene

Of true marchauntes the rote of this regiowne

Moost redy to receyue court kynge and quene

Thy polecye and iustyce maye be sene

Were deuotion wysdome and honeste

560

And credence tint, they myght be founde in the

Adue fayre Snadowne, with thy toures hye

Thy chappell, ryall, parke, and table rounde

Maye, Iune, Iuly, wolde I dwell in the

Were I a man to heare the byrdes sounde

565

Whylke doth agayne thy ryall rocke redounde

Adue Lythko, whose palayse of pleasaunce

Myght be a patron in Portingale or Fraunce

Farewell Falklande, the forteres of Fyfe of] of of 1538

Thy polyte parke vnder the lowmonde lawe

570

Somtyme in the, I led a lusty lyfe

The fallowe dere to se them reke on rawe

Court men to come to the, they stande great awe

Sayenge thy burgh ben of all burrowes bale

Because in the they neuer get good ale

sig: [D1v]

¶Here begynneth the commonynge betwyxte the Papingo and hyr Executours.

575

THe pye perceyued the Papingo in payne

He lyghted downe and feyned hym to grete

Syster sayd he alas who hath you slayne

I pray you make prouision for your sprete

Go test your gere and you confesse complete

580

I haue power by your contrition

Of all your mysse to gyue you full remission

I am sayth he a channon-regulare

And of my brether pryour pryncipall

My White rochet, my clene lyfe doth declare

585

The blake bene of the deth memoriall

Wherfore I thynke your goodes naturall

Shold be submytted hole in-to my cure

Ye know I am a ryght holy creature

The rauin came raupand when he herd the rare

590

So dyd the gledde with mony a petuous pew

And feynedly they counterfeyted great care

Syster sayd they, your retchlesnes we rew

Now best it is our iust counsell ensew

Seyng we pretend tyll hye promotion

595

Religious men of great deuotion

sig: D2

I am a blak monke sayd the rutland rauine

So sayd the gledde I am a cordilere

And hath power to bryng you quyk to heauin

It is well-knowen my conscience bene full clere

600

The blak bible prounce I shall perquere

So tyll our brether ye wyll gyue some good

God wate if we haue nede of lyues food

The Papingo sayd fader be the rood

Howbeit your rayment be religious lyke

605

Your conscience I suspect be not good

I did perceyue when preuely ye dyd pike

A chykyn from a hen vnder a dyke

I grant sayd he, that hen was my good frende

And I that ch[y]ckyn toke but for my teynde chyckyn] chckyn 1538

610

Ye know the fayth by vs men be susteynde

So by the kyrk it is preordinate

That sprituall men shold lyue vpon theyr teynde

But well wote I ye bene predestinate

In your extreme to be so fortunate

615

To haue syk holy consultation

Wherfore we make you exhortation

Sen dame nature has graunted you syk grace

Leysure to make confession generall

Showe forth your synne in haste whill ye haue space

620

Then of your gere make a memoriall

Whe thre shall make your feestes funerall

And with great blysse bury we shall your bones

Syne trentalles tuenty trattle all at ones

sig: [D2v]

The rukes shall rair that men shall on them rew

625

And crye commemoratio ammarum

We shall gar chyckens chepe, and geilynges pew

Suppose the gese and hennes shold crye alarum

And we shall serue secundum vsum Sarum

And make you safe we fynd saynt Blase to borgh

630

Cry and for you the carefull corynogh

And we shall syng aboute your sepulture

Saynt Mungoise matyns and the mekill creed

And syne deuoutly say I you assure

The olde placebo balswart and the beed

635

And we shall were for you the mournyng weed

And though your sprete with Pluto were profest

Deuoutly shall your dirige be adorest

¶Fader sayd she your facound wordes fayre

Full sore I dreed be contrary to your dedes

640

The wyues of the village cryes with care

When they perseyue you moue ouer theyr medes

Your fals consayt both ducke and drake sore dredes

I meruell shorthly ye be not ashamed

For your defaltes beyng so defamed.

645

It doth aborre my pore perturbed spryte

To make tyll you ony confession

I here men sayen ye be an ypocryte

Exempt from the syse and the session

To put my gere in your possession

650

That wyll I not so help me dame nature

Nor of my corps I wyll you gyue no cure

sig: D3

But had I here the noble nyghtyngale

The gentyll iaye, the merle / and turtour terwe

My obsequies and feestes funerale

655

Order they wold with notes of the newe

The pleasand paune most angelik of hewe

Wold god I were with hym this day confest

And my deuyse duly by hym addrest.

The mirthfull mauis with the gay gold spynke

660

The lusty larke wold god they ware present

My infortune forsoth they wold forthynke

And comfort me that is so impotent

The swyft swallow in practyk most prudent

I wote she wold my bledyng stent belyue

665

With hyr most vertuous stone restringitiue

¶Counte me the case vnder confession

The glede sayd proudly to the Papingo

And we shall swere by our profession

Counsell to kepe and shaw it to no mo

670

We the beseke or thou depart vs fro

Declare tyll vs some cause reasonable

Why we bene holden so abhominable.

By thy trauell thou hast experience

Fyrst beinge bred in-to the orient

675

Syne, by thy good seruice and diligence

To prynces made here in the occident

Thou knowest the vulgare peoples iugement

Where thou transcurred the hote meridionale

Syne, next the pole the plage septentrionale

sig: [D3v]

680

So by thy hygh ingyne superlatife

Of all countreys thou knowest the qualityes

Wherfore I the coniure by god of lyfe

The verite declare withoutin lyes

What thou hast herde be landes and by seis

685

Of vs kyrk-men both good and euill report

And how they iudge shawe vs we the exhort.

¶Fader sayd she I caytiue creature

Dare not presume with syk mater to mel

Of your cases ye know I haue no cure

690

Demande them, wilk in prudence doth precell

I may not pew my paynes bene so fell

And also perchaunce ye wyll not stand content

To know the vulgars peoples iugement

Yet wyll the deth alyte withdraw his dart

695

All that lyes in my memoriall

I shall declare with trew vnfeyned hart

And first I say to you in generall

The commone people says ye bene all

Degenerate from your holy primitiuis

700

As testifyes the proces of your liuis

Of your perelese prudent predecessours

The begynnyng I graunt was veray gude

Appostles, martyrs, virgyns, and confessours

The sounde of theyr excellent sanctitude

705

Was herd ouer all the world by land and flude

Planting the faith by predication

As Chryst had made to them narration

sig: [D4]

To fortefy the fayth they toke no fere

Afore princes prechyng full prudently

710

Of dolorus deth they doubted not the dere

The verite declaryng feruently

And materdome they suffered paciently

They toke no cure of land, ryches, nor rent

Doctrine and dede ware both equiuolent

715

To shewe at length theyr werkes were great wunder

Theyr myracles they were so many fest

In name of Chryst they heled many hunder

Raysyng the deed / and purgyng the posest

With peruest spretes whiche had bene opprest

720

The croked ran the blynde men gate theyr eyen

The defe men herd, the lyppres were made cleen

The prelates spoused were with pouerte

The dayes when so they florysshed in fame

And with hyr companed lady chastite

725

And dame deuotion notable of name

Humble they were semple and full of shame

Thus chastite and dame deuotion

Was principall cause of theyr promotion.

¶Thus they contynued in this life deuyne

730

Ay tyll there raygnyd in Romes great cite

A potent prynce whose name was Constantyne

Perceyued the kyrke had spoused pouerte

With good entent and moued of pite

Cause of dyuorse / he fand betwyxt them two

735

And parted them withouten wordes mo

sig: [D4v]

Syne shortly with a great solempnite

Withouten ony dispensacyon

The kyrke he spoused with dame properte

Whylke hastely by proclamacyon

740

To pouerte garte make narracyon

Under the payne of persynge of her eyne

That with the kyrke sholde no more be sene

Syluester that tyme was pape in Rome

Whiche fyrst consented to the maryage

745

Of properte the whylke began to blome

Takynge on her the cure with hye corage

Deuotion drewe her tyll an hermytage

When she consydered lady properte

So hyghe exalted in-to dignite

750

¶O Syluester where was thy discrecyon

Whylk Peter dyd renounce, thou dyd recayf

Androwe and Iohnn dyd leaue theyr possession

Theyr shyppes, theyr nettes, lynes and all the layf

Of temporall substaunce nothyng wolde they hayf

755

Contraryous to theyr contemplacyon

But soberly theyr sustentacyon

Iohnn_the_Baptyst went to the wyldernesse

Lazarus, Martha, and mary_Magdalaine

Lefte heritage and goodes more and lesse

760

Prudent saynt Paule, thought properte prophaine

From towne to towne he ran in wynde and rayne

Upon his fete, techynge the worde of grace

And neuer was subiecte to ryches

sig: E[1]

The gled sayd yet I heare nothynge but good

765

Procede shortly and thy mater auaunce

The Papingo sayd fader by the rood

It were to lang to shew the circumstaunce

How properte with her new alliaunce

Grew great with chylde as true men to me tolde

770

And bare two douthers goodly to beholde

The eldest doughter named was ryches

The seconde syster sensualite

Whiche dyd encreace within a short proces

Preplesaunt to the spiritualite

775

In great substaunce and excellent beaute

These ladyes two grewe so within few yeres

That in the worlde ware none myght be theyr peres

This ryall ryches and lady sensuall

From that tyme forth toke hole the gouernaunce

780

Of the most part of the state spirituall

And they agayne with humble obseruaunce

Amorously theyr wyttes dyd auaunce

As true louers theyr ladyes for to please

God wote gyf than theyr hertes were at ease

785

Soone they forgate to studye, pray, and preche

They grewe so subiect to dame sensuall

And thought it but payne pore people for to teche

Yet they decreed in theyr great counsall

They wolde no more to maryage be thrall

790

Trusting surely to obserue chastite

And albegyled quod sensualite

sig: [E1v]

Apperandly they dyd expell theyr wyues

That they myght lyue at large without bondage

At liberte to leade theyr lusty lyues

795

Thynkyng men thrall that bene in mariage

For new faces prouoketh new corage

Thus chastite they turne in-to delyte

Wantyng of wyues bene cause of appetyte

¶The banyshyng of chastite.

Dame chastite dyd steale away for shame

800

From tyme she dyd perceyue theyr puruyance

Dame sensuall one letter gart proclame

And her exiled Ytaly and Fraunce

In Englande coude she get none ordina[u]nce

Than to the kyng and court of Scotlande

805

She marked her wi[t]houtenletter broken more demande

Trustyng in-to that court to get comfort

She made her humble supplication

Shortly they sayd she shold get no support

But boosted her with blasphemation

810

To preestes go make you protestation

It is, sayd they, many an hundred yere

Sen chastite had ony enteres here

Tyred for trauell she to the preestes past

And to the rulars of religyon

815

Of her presens shortly they were agast

Sayeng they thought it but abusion

Her to receyue so with conclusion

With one aduyse decreed and gaue dome

They wolde receyue no rebell out of Rome

sig: E2

820

Sholde we receyue that Romains has refused

And banisshed England / Ytaly / and Fraunce

For your flattery than were we well abused

Passe hens sayd they and fast your way auaunce

Among the nunnes go seke your ordinaunce

825

For we haue made othe of fidelite

To dame ryches and sensualite

Than paciently she made progression

Toward the nunnes with herte syghyng full sore

They gaue her presens with procession

830

Receyued her with honour, laude, and glore

Purposyng to preserue her euermore

Of that nouelles came to dame properte

To ryches and so to sensualite

Whylkes sped them at the post ryght spedely

835

And set one syege proudly about the place

The selly nunnes dyd yelde them hastely

And humbly of theyr gylt asked grace

Syne gaue theyr bandes of perpetuall peace

Receyuand them they kept open wyckettes wyde

840

Than chastite wold no longer abyde

¶So for refuge fast to the freres she fled

Which sayd they wolde of ladyes take no cure

Where is she now than sayd the gredy gled

Not among you sayd she I you assure

845

I trust she bene vpon the burrow mure

By south Edynburgh and so full many menes

Profest among the systers of the senes

sig: [E2v]

There hath she founde her moder pouerte

And deuotion her owne syster cordiall

850

There hath she founde fayth, hoope, and charite

Togyther with the vertuous cardinall

There hath she founden one couent yet vnthrall

To Sensualite nor with ryches abused

So quietly those ladyes bene inclused.

855

The pyote sayd, I dreed, be they assayled

They wyll render them as dyd the holy nunnes

Doubt not sayd she for they bene so artayled

They purpose to defend them with theyr gunnes

Redy to shote they haue six great cannouns

860

Perseuerance, constance, and conscience,

Austerite, labour, and abstinence

Tyll resist, subtyll Sensualite

Strongly they bene armed feete and handes

By abstinence, and kepeth pouerte

865

Contrary ryches and all her false seruandes

They haue one bumbard brased vp in bandes

To kepe theyr port in myddes of theyr close

Whilk is called domine_custodi_nos.

Within whose shote, there dare no enemyes

870

Approche theyr place, for dreed of dyntes doure

But nyght and day, they warke lyke besy bees

For theyr defence reddy to stand in stoure

And hath syk watchis on theyr vtter toure

That Sensualite with siege dare not assayle

875

Nor come within the shot of theyr artayle

sig: E3

The pyote sayd wherto shold they presume

For to resyst swete sensualite

Or dame ryches wich rulers bene in Rome

Are they more constant in theyr qualite

880

Than the captayns of the spiritualte

Whylkes pleasandly withouten obstakle

Has them reseyued in theyr habitakle.

How longe trowe ye, those ladyes shall remayne

So solitary in suche perfection

885

The Papingo sayd brether in certayne

So long as they obey correction

Chosyng theyr heedes by election

Unthrall to ryches or to properte

But as requires theyr necessite

890

O prudent prelates where was your prescience

That toke on hande tyll obserue chastite

Without austere lyfe / labour / and abstinence

Perseyued ye not the great prosperite

Apperandly tyll come of properte

895

Ye knew good chere, great ease, and ydelnes

To lechery was moder and maystres

Thou raues vnroked the rauyn sayd by the roode

For to repreue ryches or properte

Abraham and Isaac / were ryche and ay good

900

Iacob and Ioseph had prosperite

The Papingo sayd, that is verite

Ryches I graunt is not to be refused

Prouydyng alwaye it be not abused.

sig: [E3v]

Than made the rauen a replicacion

905

Syne, sayd thy reason is not worth a myte

As I shall proue with protestacyon

That no man take my wordes in despyte

I say the temporall prynces has the wyte

That in the kyrk syk pastours doth drouyde

910

To gouerne soules that not them-selfe can guyde

Longe tyme after the kyrke toke properte

The prelates lyued in great perfection

Unthrall to ryches or Sensualite

Under the holy spretes protection

915

Orderly chosynge by election

As Gregore, Ierome, Ambrose,and Augustyne

Benedict, Bernard, Clement, Clete, and Lyne

Syk pacient prelates entred by the porte

Pleasynge the pepole by predication

920

Now dyke-lowpers, dothe in the kyrk resorte

By symonye and supplicacyon

Of patrons by theyr presentacyon

So sely soules that bene Chrystes shepe

Are gyuen to hungry gormond wolues to kepe

925

No meruayle is though we religious men

Degenerat be and in our lyues confused

But synge and drynke, none other crafte we ken

Our spirituall faders has vs so abused

Agayne our wyll they trukours bene intrused

930

Lay-men has now religious men in cures

Profest virgyns in kepynge of stronge hures

sig: [E4]

Prynces prynces, where bene your hye prudence

In disposition of your benefyces

The guerdonyng of your courticience

935

Is some cause of your great enormiteis

There is one sort waytand lyke hungry fleis

For spirituall cure though they be nothyng able

Whose gredy thrystes bene insaciable

Prynces I pray you be no more abused

940

To vertuous men hauyng so small regarde

Why sholde vertue through flattery be refused

That men for cunnyng can get no rewarde

Alas that euer a braggar or a barde

An hoore-mayster or a common hasature

945

Shold in the kyrk get ony kynde of cure

Were I a man worthy to were a crowne

Ay when there vaked ony benefyse

I shold gar call a congregation

Of principals of all the prelacyse

950

Most cunnyng clerkes of vniuersyties

Most famous faders of religion

With theyr aduyse make disposition

I shold dispone all offices pastorayles

Tyll doctours of diuinite or iure

955

And cause dame vertue pull vp all her sayles

When cunnyng men had in the kyrk most cure

Gar lordes send theyr sonnes I you assure

To seke science and famous scholes frequent

Syne, them promote that were most sapient

sig: [E4v]

960

Great plesure were to here a bysshop preche

A deane, or a doctour in diuinitie

An abbot whylk couth well his couent teche

A parsone flowyng in philosophie

I tyne my tyme tyll wyshe whylk wyll not be,

965

Were not the prechyng of certeyn beggyng freres

Tint were the fayth amange the seculeres.

¶As for theyr prechyng quod the Papingo

I them excuse for why they bene so thrall

Tyll properte and her dygne doughters two

970

Dame ryches and fayre lady sensuall

They may not vse no pastyme spirituall

And in theyr ha[b]ytes they take syk delyte habytes] hahytes 1538

They haue renounsed russat and course whye

Clekande to them scarlot and cramosie

975

With meneuer / martrik / grece, and ryche armyne

Theyr low hertes exalted are so hye

To se theyr papall pompe it is a pyne

More ryche arraye is now with frenges fyne

Apon the braudryng of a bysshopes mule

980

Nor euer had Paule or Peter agayne youle

Seyng fayre ladyes theyr cheyne may not escape

Sensualite so such seed has in them sawne

Lesse skathe it were with lycence of the Pape

That ylk prelate a wyfe had of his awne

985

Then se theyr bastardes throughout the contrey blawne

For as sone as they be comyn from the scules

They fall to werke as they were common bules

sig: F[1]

Pew quod the gled thou preches all in vayne

The secular folk has of our cases no cures

990

I graunt quod she yet men wyll speke agayne

How ye haue made an hundreth thousande hures

Whylkes neuer had bene were not your lychorus lures

And gyf I lye hertely I me repent

Was neuer byrd I wote more penitent

995

Than she shroue her with deuo[u]te countenaunce

To that false gled wylk feyned hym a frere

And after he had enioyned her penaunce

Full subtelly at her he gan inquere

Chose you sayd he, whylk of vs brethren here

1000

Shall haue of all your naturall gere the cures

Ye know none bene more holy creatures

I am content quod the pore Papingo

That ye frere gled and corby monke your brother

Haue cure of all my goodes and no mo

1005

Seyng at this tyme frendsshyp I fynd none other

We wyll be to you as true as tyll our mother

Quod they and sware to fulfyll her entent

Of that sayd she I take an instrument

The pyote sayd what shall my offyce be

1010

Ouerseer sayd she vnto the other two

She rowpand rauyn sayd swete syster lat se

Your hole entent for it is tyme to go

The gredy gled sayd brother do not so

We wyll remayne and holden vp her heed

1015

And neuer depart from hyr tyll she be deed

sig: [F1v]

The Papingo them thanked tenderly

And sayd seyng ye haue tane on you this cure

Depart my naturall goodes equally

That euer I had or hath of dame nature

1020

Fyrst to the howlot indegene and pure

Whilk on the day for shame dare not be sene

Tyll her I leaue my gay galbert of grene

My bryght depured eyen as cristall clere

Unto the bak ye shall them both present

1025

In Phebus presens whylk dare not appere

Of naturall syght she is so impotent

My burneshed beik I leaue with good entent

Unto the gentill petuous pellicane

Tyll help to perse her tender hert in twane

1030

I leaue the golk whylk has no songe but one

My musyk with my voyce angelicall

And to the guse ye gyue when I am gone

My eloquence and tonge rethoricall

And take and drye my bones great and small

1035

Syne, close them in a case of euour fyne

And them present vnto the fenix shyne

To burne with her when she her lyfe renewes

In Arabie ye shall her fynd without fere

And shall knowe her by her most heuenly hewes

1040

Gold, asure, gowles, purpour, and sinopere

Hyr date is for to lyue fyue hundreth yere

Make to that bird my commendation

And als I make you supplication

sig: F2

Seyng of my corps I haue you gyuen the cure

1045

Ye spede you to the court without tarying

And take my herte of perfyte portrature

And it prent vnto my souerayne kyng

I wote he wyll it close in-to a ryng

Commend me to his grace I you exhort

1050

And of my passion make hym true report

Ye thre my trypes shall haue for your trauell

With lyuer and lunge to part equall among you

Pray and Pluto the potent prynce of hell

Gyf ye fayle that in his fete he fang you

1055

Be to me true thoughe I nothyng belang you

Sore I suspect your conscience be to large

Doubt not sayd they we take it with the charge

Adue brether quod the pore Papingo

To talkyng more I haue no tyme to tary

1060

But sen my sprete mon from my body go

I recommende it to the quene of fary

Eternally in-to her court to tary

In wyldernes amonge thyr holtes hore

Than she included her heed and spake no more

1065

Plunged in-tyll her mortall passion

Full greuously she grypped to the grounde

It were to longe to make narracyon

Of syghes sore with many stauke and stounde

Out of her wounde the bloode so abounde

1070

A compace rounde was with her bloode made reed

Without remedy there was nothyng but deed

sig: [F2v]

And by she had in manus tuas sayd

Extincted were her naturall wyttes fyue

Her heed full softly on her shulder she layd

1075

Syne yeld the sprete with paynes pungitiue

The rauen begane rudely to roug and ryue

Full gormondlyk, his empty throte he fed

Eate softly brether sayd the gredy gled

Whyle she is hote depart her euen amonge vs

1080

Take you one halfe and reke to me an-other

In-tyll our ryght I wote no wyght dare wrang vs

The piot sayd the fynde receyue the sother

Why make ye me stepbarne and I your brother

Ye do me wrang syr gled I shrow your hart

1085

Take there sayd he the puddynges for thy part

Than wot ye well my hert was wonder sayre

For to beholde that dolent departyng

Her angell fedders fleyng in the ayre

Except the hart was left of her nothyng

1090

The piot sayd this perteynes to the kyng

Whylk tyll his grace I purpose to present

Thou quod the gled shall fayll of thyn entent

The rauyn sayd, god nor I rax in a rape

And thou get this other to kyng or duke

1095

The piot sayd playne I not to the pape

Than in one smedy I be smored with smuke

With that the gled the pece caught in his cluke

And fled his way the layfe with all theyr myght

Tyll chace the gled flew all out of my syght

sig: [F3]

1100

¶Now haue ye herde this lytle tragedye

The sore complaynt, the testament and myschaunce

Of this poore byrde, whylke dyd ascende so hye

Besekyng you excuse myne ignoraunce

And rude endyte, whylk is not to auaunce

1105

And to the queyre I gyue the commaundement

Make no repayre, where poetes bene present

Because you bene but rethoryk so rude

Be neuer sene besyde none other boke

With kyng nor quene, with lorde nor man of gude

1110

With cote vnclene, clayme kynred to some coke

Stele in a nuke, when men lyst on the loke

For smell of smuke men wyll abhorre to bere the

Here I mensuer the, wherfore to lurke go lere the.

¶Here endes the complaynt, and testament of the kynge of Scottes Papinpo, compyled by Dauid_Lyndesay of the mount, and finysshed the .xiiij. day of Decembre, in the yere of our lord .1530

¶Imprynted at London in Fletestrete, at the sygne of the Sonne, by Iohnn_Byddell. The yere of our lorde .M.D.xxxviij.

CVM PRIVILEGIO.