kyth most skilfull and most pleasant game While to the lands of Loncartie we came Then thus quod I Good Gall I pray thee show For cleerly all antiquities yee know What meane these skonses and these hollow trenches Throughout these fellow-fields and yonder inches And these great heaps of stones like Pyramids Doubtlesse all these yee know that so much reads These trenches be Gall answering did reply Where these two armies Scots and Danes did ly Incamped and these heaps the trophae's be Rear'd in memoriall of that victorie Admir'd unlook't for conquest in that day Be th' only vertue of a Hynds-man Hay And his two sons from whence immortall praise He gain'd and glory of his name did raise To all succeeding ages as is said Of Briareus an hundreth hands who had Wherewith he fought or rather as we see A valiant Sampson whose activitie With his asse-bone kills thousands or a Shangar With his oxe-goad kills hundreths in his anger Even so this war-like wight with oxens yoak Beats squadrons down by his undaunted stroke And did regain the victorie neere lost Vnto the Scots by his new gathered host Of fearfull fleers in a wofull plight By his incouragements infusing might Into their nerves new spirits in their arters To make them fight in bloud unto the garters Against their hatefull foes who for to be Did fight more than for price or victorie Such cruelties their bloudie hearts possest To have old quarrells on us Scots redrest For utterly quail'd Pights and for their own Armies by us so often overthrown This worthie chieftains happie enterprise Which sav'd this countrie from the tyrannies Of cruell Danes and his two Mars-like sons Do for all ages wear the quernall crowns Like Thrasibulus ever bluming bayes Do adde much splendour to these worthie Hayes And alwayes since they for their weapons weild Three rubrick targets in a silver shield Which shield the soaring falcon doth sustaine To signifie these three men did obteine The publick safetie and the falcons flight By mounting shews their worth by lighting right Unto their lands for honours high regard Which in all ages should have due reward Like shall all finde who loyall to the state And countries well do prove though small or great Men shall them praise God shall preserve their stemmes Immortall fame shall canonize their names Thence forward went we unto Campsie-lin From whence the river falling makes such din As Nilus Catadups There so we sported It is impossible for to report it Whither we walk't or did we sit or stand Quiver was ty'd to side and bow in hand So that none thought us to be mortall wights But either Phoebus or fair Phoebe's Knights There we admir'd to see the Salmond leap And overreach the waters mightie heap Which from a mountain falls so high and steep And tumbling down devals into the deep Making the boyling waters to rebound Like these great surges neere by Greenland found Yet these small fish ov'rcome these watrie mountains And kindely take them to their mother fountains With what affection everie creature tenders The native soile Hence comes great Iove remembers His cradell Creet and worthie more than he Let th' idle Cretians at their pleasure ly Even these most worthie Kings of mightie race Come of great Fergus long to see the face Of their deare Caledonia whose soyle Doth make their kindelie hearts within them boyle To view these fields where Martiall men of armes Great monuments have rear'd with loud alarmes Of thundring trumpets by a hundreth Kings And seven one Queen what auncient Poet sings The like descent of Princes who their crowns And scepters have bestow'd upon their sons Or neerest kinsmen Neither is it so That this continued line had never fo To interrupt the same witnesse these standers That bear the Romane Eagle great commanders Of most part of the glob and cruell Danes Victorious elsewhere but not in our plaines Pights and old Britans more than these to tell Who in the compasse of this Iland dwell But praisde be God Britaine is now combinde In faith and truth one God one King one minde Let scoffers say that neither wyne nor oyle Whose want stay'd conquest growes within this soyle Yet if gold pearle or silver better be As most men them account it doth supplee Yea things more needfull for mans use it yeelds Heards flocks and cornes abound heere in our fields Wilde beasts in forrests of all kindes in plentie Rare fowls fruits fishes and what else is daintie Perpetuall fire to speak it in a word The like no where is found it doth afford Thus providence divine hath it ordained That humane commerce may be intertained All soyls should have yet none brings all things forth Yea grounds most barren oft have greatest worth Contained in their bowels this to tell us Non omnia producit omnis tellus Hence comes that men their gold for yron change And so far from there native countries rainge Their softest silk for coursest canvasse give Because by commerce men do better live Then by such things their native grounds forth measure By traffike they do finde more gaine and pleasure Yea things more simple much more usefull are And for mans well more profitable far Thus yron serves for all brave arts much more Then gold let Midas heap it up in store And canvasse serves for ventrous navigation Where silks are only for cloths green seek fashion And though wyne glad the heart yet stirres it strife But graine the staffe is which sustaines our life So humane fellowship to intertaine Our fishes and our corners bring oile and wyne But above all our soile throughout all parts Beares bravest Chiftans with couragious hearts These be the bar of conquest and the wall Which our most hatefull foes could never scall Would you behold one Hanniball o'returne Fourscore of thousands looke to Bannokburne Or would you see Xerxes his overthrow And flight by boat Edward the second know Or Carthaginian towres with all their mights Destroy'd view Camelon with faithlesse Pights Or would yee know great Castriot whose bones Could Martiall vertue give dig'd from the stones Where he did buried ly take for that part The Brusse and Douglas carrying his heart Through many lands intending it to have Solemnly buried in the Holy-grave This heart though dead within their hearts begetting Brave hearts 'gainst dangers their bold breasts outsetting VVould you a King for zeale unto Gods house Like Israels David Our Saint David chuse Or know King Iames the first like Iulius Caesar Or Gregorie like Alexander these are VVith many more the vvorthies vvhose renovvn By martiall deeds have keeped close this crown Yea more to speak of such heroick themes VVho knoweth not the worthie great King Iames Of Britains union first whose vertues great VVere more than equall to his royall seat VVhose matchlesse wisedome and most learned quill Did nectar and ambrosia distill And ravisht with amazements all who heard him But most for active prudence
afterwards all Britaine did command Monsier said Gall I sweare you had good reason Most glad to be that day for you of treason Assoylied was of your unhappie chief Pray thee good Gall quod I move not my grief Said Gall Monsier That point I will not touch They 'l tine their coales that burnes you for a witch A witch good Gall quod I I will be sworne VVitchcraft's the thing that I could never learne Yea Master Gall I swear that I had rather Ten thousand Chiefs been kill'd or had my Father The King is Pater patriae a chief Oft times is borne for all his kinnes mischief And more I know was never heart nor hand Did prosper which that King did ev'r vvithstand Therefore good Gall I pray thee let that passe That happie King knew well what man I was While we thus talk our boat drawes nie the shoare Our fellowes all for joy begin to roare When they us see and lowdly thus gan call Welcome good Monsier welcome Master Gall Come come a land and let us merrie be For as your boat most happilie we did see Incontinent we bargaind to and fro Some said It was your Berge and some said No But we have gaind the prise and pleadges all Therefore come Monsier come good Master Gall And let us merrie be while these may last Till all be spent we think to take no rest And so it was no sleep came in our head Till fair Aurora left Tithonus bed Above all things so was good Gals desire VVho of good companie could never tire VVhich when I call to minde it makes me cry Gall sweetest Gall what ailed thee to die The seventh Muse. UP springs the Sun the day is cleer and fair Etesiae sweetlie breathing cools the air Then coming to my Cabin in a band Each man of us a Gabion hints in hand Where me their Sergeant Major they elected At my command that day to be directed What prettie captaine's yone so said some wenches Ladies quoth I Men are not met by inches The Macedonian Monarch was call'd great Not from his Bodies quantitie but state And Martiall prowesse good Ladies then to heart you You shall well know that talenesse is no vertue Thus merche we all alongs unto Moncreiff Where dwells that worthie Knight the famous chief Of all that auncient name And passing by Three trees sprung of one root we did espy Which when we did behold said Master Gall. Monsier behold these trees so great and tall Sprung of one root which all Men Brethren name The symbole which true concord doth proclame O happie presage where such trees do grow These Brethren three the threefold Gerion show Invincible remaining in one minde Three hearts as in one Body fast combinde Scilurus bundell knit doth whole abide But easily is broke when once unty'd So these three trees do symbolize most cleerly The amitie of hearts and mindes inteirly Kythes in that happie race and doth presage To it more happinesse in after age Loves sweetest knot which three in one doth bring That budding gemme shall make more flourishing Fair Brethren Trees and sith so is your Name Be still the badge of concord and proclaime All health and wealth unto that happie race Where grace and vertue mutually embrace To Moncrief easterne then to Wallace-town To Fingask of Dundas thence passing down Unto the Rynd as Martiall Men we faire What life Mans heart could wish more void of care Passing the river Earne on th' other side Dreilling our Sojours Vulgars were affraide Thence to the Pights great Metropolitan Where stands a steeple the like in all Britaine Not to be found againe a work of wonder So tall and round in frame a just cylinder Built by the Pights in honour of their King That of the Scots none should attempt such thing As over his bellie big to walk or ride But this strong hold should make him to abide Unlesse on Pegasus that he would flee Or on Ioves bird should soare into the skye As rode Bellerophon and Ganymede But mounted so must ride no giddie head From thence we merch't directlie unto Dron And from that stead past to the Rocking stone Accompanied with Infantrie a band Each of us had a hunting staffe in hand With whistles shrile the fleeing fowles to charme And fowlers nets upon our other arme But as for me about my neck vvas borne To sound the chace a mightie hunting horne And as I blevv vvith all my might and maine The hollovv rocks did ansvvere make againe Then everie man in this cleare companie Who best should vvinde the horne began to try Among the rest a fellovv in the rout Boldly began to boast and brave it out That he vvould vvind the horne in such a vvise That easelie he vvould obtaine the prise But to record vvhat chance there follovved after Gladly I vvould but grief forbiddeth laughter For so it vvas the merrie man vvas mard Both tongue and teeth I vvot vvere tightly tard Then no more stay Fellovv good night quod vve Th' old proverb sayes that Dirt partes Companie By this vve vvere just at the Rocking stone Amongst the vvorlds great vvonders it is one Most rare It is a Phaenix in its kinde The like in all the vvorld yee shall not finde A stone so neicely set upon its kernels Not artificiall but naturall chernels So huge so grave that if you please to prove it A hundred yoak of oxen vvill not move it Yet touch it vvith your fingers smallest knocking Incontinent it vvill fall to a rocking And shake and shiver as if obedient More by request than by commandement Then up I clame this rock as I vvas vvonted And like Aegeon on Whales back I mounted And vvith Etites raâ—ling stone I knocked And as it ratled even so vvas I rocked So fair a cradle and rare was never seene Oh if my Cabinet could it conteine Next at the bridge of Earne we made our Station And there we took some little recreation VVhere in Heroicks Gall fell to declaring All circumstances of that dayes wayfairing And there so merrielie we sung and chanted Happie were they our companie who haunted VVhich when I call to minde it makes me cry Gall svveetest Gall what ailed thee to die The eight Muse. WHat blooming banks sweet Earne or fairest Tay Or Amond doth embrace these many a day We haunted where our pleasant pastorals VVe sweetly sung and merrie madrigals Sometimes bold Mars and sometimes Venus fair And sometimes Phoebus love we did declare Sometimes on pleasant plaines sometimes on mountains And sometimes sweetlie sung beside the fountains But in these banks where flowes Saint Conils VVell The which Thessalian tempe doth excell Whose name and matchlesse fame for to declare In this most dolefull dittey must I spare Yet thus dar say that in the World again No place more meet for Muses to remain For shadowing walks where silver brooks do spring And smelling arbors where
Hath brought upon that town The many closters VVhere fed there was so many idle fosters Monks Priests and Friers and multitude of Patrons Erected in their queires th' old wifes and matrons Gave great head to these things which they did say And made their horned husbands to obey And mortifie so much unto this Saint And unto that though they themselves should want Yea twentie Saincts about one tenement Each one of them to have an yeerlie rent And all to pray for one poore wretched soul VVhich Purgatorie fire so fierce should thole So these annuities yeerelie taxations Are causes of these wofull desolations VVhich we behold The ground of all these evils VVhat to these Saincts they gave was given to Divels God made them Saincts men set them in Gods stead Gave them Gods honour so them idols made Thus Satan served is what men allow On idols in his Name to him they do And now these Friers destroyers may be seene And wracks of that cities the cause have been For none dare buy the smallest peace of ground So many annuel rents thereon are found And if he build thereon doubtlesse he shall Spend in long suits of Law his moyen all If some good salve cure not this sore I fear It shall be said some time a town was there Good Gall said I some melancholious fit Molests your Joviall sprite and pregnat vvit I vvould some Venus-heir might cure your sadnesse Repell your sorrovves and repleage your gladnesse Therefore I 'le quickelie go a herbarising To cure that melancholik mood by snising Herevvith vve turne our pace and dovvn againe Passe by the Windie gowle unto the plaine And herbarising there a prettie vvhile Galls lustie face blithly began to smile Guesse then hovv blith vvas I if I had found I vvould not been so blith a thousand pound Thus recreat to boat againe vve go And dovvn the river smothly do vve rovv Neerby Kinfaunes vvhich famous Longoveil Sometime did hold vvhose auncient svvord of steele Remaines unto this day and of that land Is chiefest evident on th' other hand Elcho and Elcho park vvhere Wallace haunted A sure refuge vvhen Englishmen he daunted And Elcho nunrie vvhere the holy sisters Suppli'd vvere by the Fratres in their misters By Sleeplesse Isle vve rovv vvhich our good Kings Gave to our tovvn vvith many better things Before there vvas in that neere neighbouring station Or Frier or Nun to set there their foundation On th' other side vve lookt unto Balthyok VVhere many peacock cals upon his mayok Megeance fair place and Errols pleasant seat VVith many more vvhich long vvere to relate Right over against is that vvood Earnside And fort vvhere Wallace ofttimes did reside While vve beheld all these the tide did flovv A lie the rudder goes about vve rovv Up to the tovvn again vve make our course Svveetly convoy'd vvith Tayes reflovving source There vve beheld vvhere Wallace ship vvas drovvnd VVhich he brought out of France vvhose bottome found VVas not long since by Master Dickesons art That rare ingeniour skild in everie part Of Mathemathick Quoth I Master Gall I marvell our records nothing at all Do mention Wallace going into France Hovv that can be forgote I greatlie scance For vvell I knovv all Gasconie and Guien Do hold that Wallace vvas a mightie Gian Even to this day in Rochel likevvise found A Tovvre from Wallace name greatly renovvnd Yea Longoveils antiquities vvhich there We do behold this truely do declare That Wallace was in France for after that The publick place of government he quat Were full four yeeres and more before he shed His dearest bloud ah dearest truelie said And think you then that such a martiall heart Yeelding his place would sojourne in this part And lazely ly loytring in some hole That any so should think I hardlie thole Therefore I grieve our men should have forgotten Themselves and left so brave a point unwritten Or should it contradict there being so many Good reasons for this truth as is for any Monsier said he that 's not a thing to grieve at For they did write his publick life not privat For sure it is after his publick charge Grief made him go to France his spirit t' enlarge His noble Sprite that thraldome suffered never For he to libertie aspired ever And turning home his ship causde sunken be To stop the rivers passage that from sea No English ship should come Perth to releave For any chance of war Fortune could give But now this ship which so long time before In waters lay is fairlie haild a shoare What cannot skill by Mathematick move As would appeare things Natures reach above Up by the Willow gate we make our way With flowing waters pleasant then was Tay. The town appeares the great and strong Spey towre And Monks towre builded round a wall of power Extending twixt the two thence goeth a snout Of great squair stones which turnes the streames about Two ports with double wals on either hand Are fowsies deep where gorged waters stand And flow even as you list but over all The Palace kythes may nam'd be Perths Whithall With orchards like these of Hesperides But who shall shew the Ephemerides Of these things which sometimes adornd that Citie That they should all be lost it were great pitie Whose antique monuments are a great deale more Than any inward riches pomp or store And priviledges would you truely know Far more indeed than I can truelie show Such were our Kings good wills for to declare What pleasure and contentment they had there But of all priviledges this is the bravest King Iames the Sixth was Burges made and Provest And gave his Burges oath and did inrole With his own hand within the Burges scrole And Gildrie Book his deare and worthie Name Which doth remaine to Perths perpetuall fame And that Kings glorie thus was his gratious pleasure Of his most loving heart to shew the treasure Writing beneath his Name these words most nervous Parcere subjectis debellare superbos That is It is the Lyons great renown To spare the humble and proudlings pester down Which extant with his own hand you may see And as inspir'd thus did he prophesie VVhat will you say if this shall come to hand Perths Provest Londons Major shall command VVhich words when we did hear we much admir'd And everie one of us often inquir'd What these could meane Some said he meand such one That London yea all England like had none Some said he mindes his dignitie and place Others his gifts of Nature and of Grace All which were true indeed yet none could say He mean'd that Englands scepter he should swey Till that it came to passe some few yeeres after Then hearts with joy and mouths were fild with laughter Happie King Iames the sixth so may I say For I a man most Joviall was that day And had good reason when I kist that hand VVhich
all admir'd him Happie in all his life whose worthie name A peaceable Augustus did proclaime VVho conquered more by wit than by the sword And made all Europe muuh regard his word And good King Charles the son of such a Father Thrise happie by thy Virgine Crovvn yea rather More happie if more happinesse can be In earthly things by thy high pedegrie But most of all by Heaven vvhich hath appointed This maiden crovvn for thee the Lords Anointed The man of his right hand and for thy seed VVhich God mot blesse and all vvho shall proceed Forth of thy loines and stablish in thy place So long as Sun and Moone shall run their race Then reigne great Charles our nostrels svveetest breath Long may thou reigne Defender of the Faith Inthron'd among these vvorthie peerlesse pearles And let all say God save our good King Charles And deeply in his heart imprint that zeale To make the lavv supreame the peoples vvell VVhat shall vve speak of Martiall Chiftans more Of Gideons and of Sampsons vve have store VVhom God did raise for to defend our state Miraculously in times most desperate VVhat braver Hector or more brave Achilles In Greece or Phrygia than Sir William Wallace And Iohn the Grahame his mate and brother svvorn VVhose living fame his name doth much adorn And if vve list this subject more to handle What Governour like good Earle Thomas Randall Or doughtie Douglas vvith couragious heart Whose name vvrought dreadfull terrour in each part But this heroick theme so passing great Impossible it is all to relate Our worthie rulers even unto thir dayes They do not want their own deserved praise Nor shall they for my part want due renown Vertue t' advance and vice to trample down These be the wall of Gods own work and framing Against our foes and of his own maintaining Wherefore we blesse his holy Name that made us And pray that never forraine scepter lead us T' impose hard lawes and tributaries make us To chastise us with scorpions and to rake us And likewise pray that Ajax-like we would not Undo our selves which all our enemies could not But O dear Caledonia What desire Have all men who have heard thy fame t' admire Thy monuments How much more these who be Thy sons desire thy maiden soile to see Thy maiden castle and fair Maiden burgh The stately winged Citie which is through All ages much renow'nd with streets so fair And palaces so mounted in the air That if the deepnesse of imagination Could limme a landskape by deep meditation Scarce could it match where bravest youths abound And gravest counsellours are alwayes found Where Justice joineth hand with true Religion And golden vertue keep the middle region As register where these acts are enrold Better than in Corinthian brasse or gold Let Poetaster-parasits who fain And fawn and crouch and coutch and creep for gain And where no hope of gain is huffe and hur And bark against the Moone as doth a Cur Let such base curs who nought but gobbets smell Wish the disgrac'd and deeply sunk in hell Whether themselves do go yet shalt thou stand And see them ruin'd all that thee withstand God shall be-friend thy friends and shall all those Aray with shame that causelesse be thy foes Thou art this ancient Kingdomes bravest part For wit and worth thou art its hand and heart And who the Kingdomes compend brave would see Needs do no more but survey take of thee Hence these desires fair Caledonias soile To view where bravest stratagems with toile Have acted beene hence comes these kindly wishes To see these fields even like these kindly fishes Which we behold ov'rcome this mightie lin And seeke the fountaines where they did begin The third Muse. THus as wee did behold the Salmond sporting Wee spyed some Countrie clowns to us resorting Who striken were with suddain admiration To see us graithed in such antique fashion Their stairing eyes grew blinde their tongues were dumb A chilling cold their senses did benumme Said we What moves you Ghosts to look so griesly They scarcely muttering answered and not wisely Oft have we heard of such strange wights as yee But to this time we did them never see If yee be men or not scarce can we tell Yee looke like men yet none such heere do dwell Then said good Gall Monsier these fellowes stupid Doubtlesse take me for Mars and you for Cupid Therefore let us be gone we will not tarie Yon clownes will swear that they have seene the Farie When they come home at night and by the fire Will tell such uncouth tales all will admire Both man and wife the laddes and all the lasses For be yee sure such clownes are verie asses Thence downe the river bank as we did walk And mirrielie began to chant and talk A prettie boat with two oares we espy'd Fleeting upon the waters then we cry'd HOW boatman come two fisher men neerby Thus answered us againe And who doth cry Said we Good friends to favour us delay not The day is verie hot and walk we may not Therefore your kindly courtesie implores To let us have these little pair of oares For down the river we would make our way And land at Perth With all our heart said they For we likewise at Perth would gladly be Only we want such companie as yee All men were glad of us none did refuse What ever thing it pleasde us ask or chuse Then we inbarked with two boyes in train Who recollect our shafts and these two men As down the river did we softlie slide The banks most sweetly smyld on other side To see the flowres our hearts did much rejoice The banwort dazie and the fragrant rose Favonius in our faces sweetlie blew His breath which did our fainting sprits renew Then with Sicilian Muse can we dissemble Our secret flammes making our voices tremble While as we sweetlie sung kinde Amaryllis And did complaine of sowre-sweet lovely Phyllis So sadly that the Nymphs of woods and mountains And these which haunt the plains and crystall fountains Bare-legged to the brawns armes bare and brest Like whitest evorie bare unto the waste The lillies and the roses of their faces Running more pleasant made their waveing tresses VVell curled with the winde all these drew nye The waters brink in song to keep reply Treading the flowres VVhen Gall them so espy'd O! how he cast his eyes on either side And wish't t' have smeld one flovvr vvhere they had traced Judge vvhat he vvould have given to have embraced But chiefly Echo fettred vvas in love At everie vvord vve spoke her tongue did move Then did vve call Svveet Nymph pray thee dravv nye She ansvveering us most vvillingly said I Dravv neere said Gall for gladlie vvould I please thee Do not deny to heare me She said ease thee Then comesvveet Nymph thy face faine vvould I knovv She quickly ansvvering him againe said No. Why so said he Heere
is there no Narcissus To this her old loves Name did answer kisse us Kisse us said he with all my heart againe This is the thing I would she answered Gaine Gaine such a gaine said he I crave alway No countenance she shews yet answers ay And bashfuly obscures her blushing face Lest from Cephisus son she finde disgrace But if that she had known Gals tender minde She had not prov'd so bashfull and unkinde When ended were our songs with perfite close We thought it best to merrie be in prose Then seriously and truely to discourse Of diverse maters grave we fell by course But chiefly of this blinde worlds practice bad Preferring unto learning any trade For these evill times hold not in such account Men learned as the former ages wont But if the worth of learning well they knew Good Gall quoth I they would make much of you In Poetrie so skild and so well red In all antiquitie what can be said Whereof you fluently can not discourse Even like the current of this rivers course Things absent you can present make appear And things far distant as if they were near Things senselesse unto them give sense can yee And make them touch taste smell and heare and see What can not Poets do They life can give And after fatall stroke can make men live And if they please to change their tune or note They 'le mak mens names on earth to stink and rote Who did fixe Hercules amongst the stars And Diomedes for his wit in wars Made equall to the gods But odious For vice Thersites vile and Sisyphus These were th' immortall muses who do sing As vice and vertue do their subjects bring Therefore this counsell wisedome doth impart you Flee filthie vice and intertaine fair vertue Yet 't is not so that everie spirit fell Whose wicked tongue is set on fire of Hell Nor everie Momus nor Archilochus Whose mouths do vomite venome poysonous Hath inspiration of the sacred Muses Such wickednesse th' Aonian band refuses But he who vice most gravely censure can And vertues praise advance in any man With perfect numbers such one is a Poet But in thir dayes alace few men do know it Like my dear Gall who gravely did reply A good Mecaenas lets not Poets die Poets make men on gold wing'd fame to flie When lands with losse life chang'd with death shall be As we thus talk'd our berge did sweetly passe By Scones fair pallace sometimes Abbay was Strange change indeed yet is it no new guyse Both spirituall lands and more to temporise But pallace fair which doth so richly stand Where gardens orchards parks on either hand VVhere flovvres and fruits the hart and fallovv deere For smell for taste for venison and cheere The nose the mouth and palate vvhich may please For gardine chambers for delight and ease Damask't with porphyrie and alabaster Thou art not subject for each Poetaster But for a Poet Master in his art VVhich thee could vvhole descrive and everie part So to the life as t'vvere in perspective As readers that they see thee might beleeve Meane vvhile our boat doth vvith the river slide The countrie Nymphs vvho in these parts abide VVith many a shout moving both head and hand Did us invite that vve vvould come a land Not novv said vve and think it not disdaine For vve do promise for to come againe And view where some time stood your Cathedrall And mount which Omnis terra you do call Just by this time we see the bridge of Tay O happie sight indeed was it that day A bridge so stately with elleven great arches Joining the south and north and commoun march is Unto them both a bridge of squared stone So great and fair which when I think upon How in these dayes it did so proudly stand Ov'rlooking both the river and the land So fair so high a bridge for many ages Most famous But alace now through the rages Of furious swelling waters thrown in deep Mine heart for sorrow sobs mine eyes do weep And if my tongue should cease to cry and speak Undoubtedlie my grief-swoln heart would break But courage Monsier my good Genius sayes Remember yee not how Gall in those dayes Did you comfort lest melancholious fits Had you opprest your spleen so neerelie sits And told you in the yeer threescore thirteene The first down-fall this Bridge did ere sustaine By ruine of three arches nixt the town Yet were rebuilt Thereafter were thrown down Five arches in the yeer fourescore and two Reedified likewise and who doth know Monsier but ah mine heart can scarcelie sober Even that great fall the fourteenth of October Six hundred twentie one repaird may bee And I do wish the same that I might see For Britaines Monarch vvill it sure repair Courage therefore Monsier do not despare Is 't credible to bee believ'd or told That these our Kings who did possesse of old Scotland alone should such a work erect And Britaines mightie Monarch it neglect Absurd it is to think much more to speak it Therefore good Monsier yee do far mistake it For never had yee King vvas more inclinde To do great vvorks nor of a braver minde Providing he can have due information His vvord vvill prove of powerfull operation For Kings are Gods on Earth and all their actions Do represent th' Almighties great perfections Thus Gals sweet words often do me comfort And my good Genius truely doth report Them unto me else sure my splene should wholly Be overcome with fits of melancholie Therefore I courage take and hope to see A bridge yet built although I aged be More stately firme more sumptuous and more fair Then any former age could yet compare Thus Gall assured me it would be so And my good Genius truely doth it know For what we do presage is not in grosse For we be brethren of the Rosie Crosse VVe have the Mason word and second sight Things for to come we can foretell aright And shall we show what mysterie we meane In fair acrosticks CAROLUS REX is seene Describ'd upon that bridge in perfect gold By skilfull art this cleerelie we behold With all the Scutcheon of great Britaines King Which unto Perth most joyfull news shall bring Loath would we be this mysterie to unfold But for King Charles his honour we are bold And as our Boat most pleasantly did passe Upon the cristall river clear as glasse My dearest Gall quoth I long time I spend Revolving from beginning to the end All our records yet searching can not finde First when this bridge was built therefore thy minde Faine would I know for I am verie sorie Such things should be omitted in our storie Monsier said Gall things many of that kinde To be omitted often do vve finde Yea time hath also greatest vvorks destroyed Wherein the learn'dest pennes have beene imployed But if that I should tell what I do knovv An ancient storie I could to you
Balmerinoch Dumfermling Saint Androes And Aberbrotok who these works did frame For merite and for honour of their name Such zeale had they though blinde ah now a-dayes Much knowledge is profest but zeale decayes Thus was the citie strongly fortified Till Robert the first Stuart first assayed With foure great armies yet by force repell'd And after three months sage with grief compell'd To sound retreat Douglas meane while in Tay Most happ'ly did arrive then they assay To reinforce the charge and with munition For batterie new prepard and demolition Most furiously assault a month and more Yet nothing could availe their endevoure Untill the Earle of Rosse with new supplie Did fortifie the leaguer and drew by The water which the wall did compasse round By secret conduits and made dry the ground Then after sharp assault and much bloud spended Bravely pursued and no lesse well defended Finding themselves too weak who were within More to resist to parlie they begin And treat of peace both parties jump in one With bag and baggage that they should be gone And so it was The citie they surrender No English since hath been thereof commander Read George Buchanane Boëce Master Mair These histories they word for word declare After this seige the wals some part thrown down But were not wholly razde to keep the town In some good sort readie for peace or war If not a bulwark yet some kinde of bar Thus did they stand untill these heighland men Amidst their furie kil'd a Citizen A Citizen to kill an odious thing It then was thought no sacrifice condigne Could expiat the same though now each knave Dar to account a citizen a slave No such conceat in all the World againe As proudlie-poor such fondlings do maintaine This suddaine slaughter made a great commotion The Burgesses without further devotion As men with war inur'd to armes do flie Upon these Heigh-land men aveng'd to be Which they performe chaffed in minde as beares And do persue them unto Hoghmansstaires In memorie of this fight it hath the name For many men lay there some dead some lame On which occasion they gan fortifie And build these walls againe as now we see Though not so brav'ly as they were before For that did far surpasse their endevour Yet some resemblance they do keep and fashion For they be builded neere the old foundation These are the wals Monsier as I have shown Which often have beene built ofttimes down thrown With stratagems of war fame hath renownd them And if not Mars yet martiall men did found them But now good Monsier needs none more at all Them to destroy they of themselves will fall So said good Gall and humbly begged leave For that offence so rashly he did give Oh! if he were on life to say much more For so he was disposde some times to roare The fifth Muse. YEt bold attempt and dangerous said I Upon these kinde of men such chance to try By nature inhumaine much given to blood Wilde fierce and cruell in a disperat mood But no such danger answer'd Master Gall As fearfullie you deeme was there at all For Perth was then a citie made for war Her men were souldiers all and bold to dar Such motion attempt a souldier keene The smallest outrage hardly can susteene Many such stratagems declare I might Which Perth hath acted in defence of right How Ruthvens place and Duplins in one day Were burn'd or battell of the bridge of Tay With manly courage fought where kil'd were many Vpon the day sacred to Magdalené Five hundreth fourtie foure for which she mournes And many times her cristall teares she turnes In flouds of woes remembring how these men Were justly by their own ambition slaine Thinking to sack a town some through despaire Did overleap the bridge and perish there Some borne on spears by chance did swim a land And some lay swelting in the slykie sand Agruif lay some others with eyes to skyes These yeelding dying sobs these mournfull cryes Some by their fall were fixed on their spears Some swatring in the floud the streame down bears By chance some got a boat What needs more words They make them oars of their two handed swords Some doubting what to do to leap or stay Were trampled under foot as mirie clay Confusedly to fight and flee they thrimble The shifring spears thurst through their bodies tremble And strongly brangled in splents do quicklie flee The glistring sword is changed in crimson dye To wrak they go even as the raging thunder Rumbling and rolling roundly breaks asunder A thick and dampish cloud making a showre Of crystall gems on Earths dry bosome powre So broken was that cloud the purpure bloud In drops distilling rather as a floud The dry and dustie ground doth warmely draine And dying bodies in their own blood staine Or as the comets or such meteors driven Or stars which do appear to fall from heaven So tumbling headlong spears in hand they traile As firie dragons seeme to have a taile Or Phaëton or some sulphureous ball So from the bridge in river do they fall I pray the Gall quoth I that storie shovv Some things I heard of it and more vvould knovv Tell it I pray No no Gall did reply Lest I offend our neighbour tovvn neerby When they shall hear hovv malice did provoke them Ambition them guide and avarice choak them Thinking upon our spoyles triumph to make And on th' occasion given our tovvn to vvrak With full commission purchast for the same T'intrude a Provest else vvith svvord and flame All to destroy given by the Cardinall At vvhose devotion then vvas govern'd all So in that morning soon by break of day The tovvn all silent did beset then they To clim the bridge begin and port to skall The chaines they break and let the dravvbridge fall The little gate of purpose vvas left patent And all our Citizens in lanes vvere latent None durst be seene the enemies to allure Their ovvn destruction justlie to procure Thus entring thâ—ough vvell straitly one did call All is our ovvne Come fellovv-souldiers all Advance your Lordlie pace take and destroy Build up your Fortunes O vvith vvhat great joy These vvords vvere heard Then did they proudly step As men advanc'd on stilts and cock their cap. With roulling eyes they looke and hand in side Throwing their noses snuffe and with great pride Selflooking set their brawnes themselves admire And doubting at their own hearts closely speare If it be they thus wondering do they pause A prettie while anone they quickly loose With swifter pace and turning round they move If there be any gazer to approve Their great conceat thus inly fil'd with glie They wish their wife or mistres might them see Scorning Alcides they his strength would try And in their braine the World they do defie With such brave thoughts they throng in through the port Thinking the play of Fortune
sheepheards from the hyrelings voice Which as they did foretell did come to passe Some sixteene yeeres or thereby more or lesse Thus with cleare signes by Gods own Sprit exprest In full assurance of heavens blesse they rest Meane while Saint Catharins Chaplan standing by Wringing his eyes and hands did often cry Alace alace for this unhappie turn I feare for it one day we shall all mourn And that by all it shall be plainlie said That we blind guides the blinded long have led Some Churchmen there bad pack him heretick Else certainelie they should cause burne him quicke This done friends take their bodies and with mourning Do carie them towards the town returning With heavie hearts them to this chappell bring But no Soule Masse nor Dirigé durst sing Yet this good Priest did lay them on the altar And all night read the pistle and the psalter With heart devote and sad from th' evening vapers Placing upon the altar burning tapers Unto the dawning exequies thus ended Their bodies to the Earth are recommended This Chapell some time stood by our theater Where I my self sprinkled with holie water After these dayes did often heare the Messe Albeit I knew not what it did expresse But this I saw a man with a shaven crown Raz'd beard and lips who look't like a baboun Perfum'd with odours and in Priestlie vestures Did act this mimik toy with thousand gestures A misterie indeed nor which no fable Acted on stage to make you laugh more able After these innocents were martyred thus As you have heard Churchmen were odious And when occasion serv'd so did they finde For so soone as did blow a contrare winde The houre was come and then our Knox did sound Pull down their idols throw them to the ground The multitude even as a spear did rush then In poulder beat and cald them all Nehushtan Our blak Friers Church and place white friers and gray Prophan'd and cast to ground were in one day The Charterhouse like a Citadale did hold Some tvvo dayes more untill these nevves vvere told We should be raz'd and sackt and brought to ground Not so much as a footstep should be found Where vvas such citie neither sexe nor age Should saved be untill the cruell rage Of fire and svvord should satiat that moud Quenching the fire vvith Citizens ovvne bloud And vvith destructions besome svveep from station And savv vvith sault perpetuall desolation To signifie These nevves made great commotion The fearfull people ran to their devotion Doctrine and prayers done chief men advise To take in hand first vvhat great enterprise Said one This place hard by our tovvn doth stand A mightie strength vvhich easely may command And vvrake our citie therefore let us go In time and to the ground it overthrovv For sure our Enemies vvill possesse the same And us from thence destroy vvith svvord and flame Even at their pleasure Then they all conclude In armes to rise and rushing as a floud VVhich overflovves the banks and headlongs hurles The strongest bulvvarks vvith devouring vvhirles Svvallovving the mightie ships them overvvhelme Nothing availes his skill that guides the helme Even so the multitude in armes arise VVith noise confusde of mirth and mourning cryes For that fair Palace then sexscore nine yeeres VVhich had continued turning of the spheres The fatall period brought to ground it must And all its pomp and riches turne to dust Even as these Martyrs truelie did foretell In everie point the judgement so befell Towres fall to ground Monks flee to hide their heads Nothing availe their rosaries and beads Then all men cry'd Raze raze the time is come Avenge the guiltlesse bloud and give the doome Courage to give was mightilie then blown Saint Iohnstons huntsup since most famous known By all Musitians when they sweetlie sing With heavenly voice and well concording string O how they bend their backs and fingers tirle Moving their quivering heads their brains do whirle With diverse moods and as with uncouth rapture Transported so doth shake their bodies structure Their eyes do reele heads armes and shoulders move Feet legs and hands and all their parts approve That heavenlie harmonie while as they threw Their browes O mightie straine that 's brave they shew Great phantasie quivering a brief some while With full consent they close then give a smile With bowing bodie and with bending knee Me think I heare God save the Companie But harmonie which heavens and earth doth please Could not our Enemies furious rage appease Cruell Erinnis reignes destruction shoring Ten thousand souldiours like vvilde Lyons roaring Against our tovvn do merch fame desolation Proclaimes the church then nam'd the Congregation Makes for defence But ah the Burghs distractions Papists and Protestants make diverse factions The town to hold impossible they finde The fields to take they purpose in their minde Factions within munition victuall scarce Hardly to hold eight dayes they finde by search Amids these doubts these valiant fellowes come In armes aray'd and beatting of the drum With coards about their necks Come come they cry We be the men who are resolv'd to die First in this quarrell we to death will fight So long as courage will afford us might And who so yeeldes alive this tow portends Streight must he hing where did our dearest friends Who suffered for the truth nothing we skunner This certainlie we count our chiefest honour Thus as Manasses half tribe Ruben Gad Do leave their cattell and mount Gilead Before their brethren over Iordan go In armes to fight against their cursed fo So these three hundred do abandon quite Their citie houses goods and chief delite Resolv'd to die all for the Gospels light Armed before their brethren merch to fight And having gain'd a place meet to abide Their enemies to resist courage they cride Be merrie fellowes all leave sad complaints Dine cheerefullie for sup we shall with Saints Fame spreads the brave attempt all martiall hearts Inflam'd with divine zeale flock to these parts From places most remote in armes they rise T' assist the matchlesse happie enterprise God giveth hearts to Men and mightiest things By weakest meanes he to confusion brings Our enemies ears are fild that all our feare Was into courage turned from despare Their fierie rage is quencht their hearts do faile Where God forsakes nought doth mans strength availe Then what their open force could not work out By sleight they endevour to bring about They treat of peace peace flees with joyfull wings But under it was hatcht most lewd designes When time should serve But he whose thought doth rule This Worlds great frame their madnesse did controule And gratiouslie through his aboundant pitie Preserv'd our Innocents and sav'd our citie ded When by small means they found themselves confoun Even to their verie heart roots were they wounded Then they began to raile and shew their passion Saying Such riband's meet for such profession And in contempt when any rogue
thy see They say Saint Iohnstouns Ribands meet for thee Or any fellow resolute in minde For some great act this riband fit they finde For such a one Thus time made all men use This word and ignorance through time t' abuse For everie bad conceat which for Religion VVas stoutlie undertaken in thsi region VVhich I did see and heare and well do know And for your life the paralel me show In all the World except Leonidas The rest without a third I overpasse Thus our Saint Iohnstons riband took the name Whereof we have no reason to think shame Our Shipper heerwith cald HOW turn aback The waters flow and tide doth quickly make Therefore of this to speak more was no leasure For winde and tide you know stay no mans pleasure With post haste to our bearge we make our way The day far spent longer we might not stay Our ship now fairlie fleeting comes a land Two skilfull rowers take the oares in hand We reembarked down the river slide Which was most pleasant with the flowing tide The bridge drawes nigh where contrare streams do run Take heed shipper said we these dangers shun The whirling streame will make our boat to cowp Therefore let 's passe the bridge by Wallace loup Which when we did behold 'mongst other things We much admir'd who lent his feet such wings Empedocles may leap in Aetna burning In Tiber leap may Cocles home returning The one burnes in flame th' other falls in flood But Wallace overleaping makes all good When we these Heaven-like arches had survey'd VVe admird in th' air these hinging stones what stay'd Then thus said Gall these on their centers stay As on their bases fixt and all their sway They presse toward the same a wondrous thing Albeit the Center in the air doth hing Yea diverse circles sections diverse wayes Tend to their proper centers as their stayes So these two sections do conjoine in one To make the arch and finisht in a cone As everie peace these bowing arches bends It rightlie pointing to the center tends So heavens respect the earth and all their powers Together in her bosome strongly powres VVhich is their center roote and sure pedestall The stedfast base whereon this VVorld doth rest all Thus mans ingine Gods works doth imitate And skilfull Art doth nature emulat As Archimedes in a sphere of glasse The worlds great fabrick lively did expresse VVith all the stars fixt in the azure heaven And all the motions of the wandring seven Moving about a fixed point or center Observing houres dayes months summer and winter Even so the arches of this bridge proclaime And shew the building of the starrie frame But now all lost needs Archimedes skill Oh if it were supplied by Master Mylne Thus having past the bridge our oares we bend To shore so this day voyage made an end The sixth Muse. AS we arrived at our Ladies steps Incontinent all men reverst their capes Bidding us welcome home and joining hand They ask from whence we came and from what land Said we Some curious catching everie winde Do run through sea and land to either Inde And compassing the glob in circuit role Some new found lands to search beneath each pole Or Memphis wonders or the Pharian tower Or walls which shew the Babylonian power Or hung in th' air the Mausolean frame Or statelie ' temple of the Trivian dame The Rhodian Colossus and the grove Where stood the statue of Olympian Iove With endlesse toile and labour passe to see Or if in all this world more wonders be They search the same and so they stoutlie boast Yet both themselves and paines are oft times lost For going men if they return perhaps Strange change in swine transformed are their shaps Albeit some though rare who go from hence Returne like him of Ithaca was Prince But we more safely passing all alongs Are not bewitched with such Syren songs In little much well traveld in short ground Do search what wonders in the world are found Treading these mountains and these pleasant valleyes Elisian fields had never braver allies Then we imagine and for wonders rare More than the Carian tombe which hings in air Do we conceave Of travels let them talk We in the works of learned men do walk And painfully their learned paths do tread For sure he 's traveld far who is well read Yea who so views my Cabinets rich store Is traveld through the world and some part more Let this suffice we travell to content us And of our travels think nev'r to repent us Yea in our Muses we do travell more Than they that coast and sound the Indian shore Yet think not so brave travels we condemne If with safe conscience we may use the same Nor do we speak voide of experience For both of us have traveld been in France And France for all and if that will not ease you We think then all this world will never please you Then went we home to get some recreation But by and by befell a new tentation Our neighbour archers our good sport envying A challenge to us sent our patience trying And did provoke us if we shut for gold Or honours praise betimes to morrow would Or for our mistres if we had a minde Doubtlesse said Gall thereto vve are inclinde But for the present vve have taken in hand To vievv our fields by river and by land Boast not therefore for nothing vvill disheart us Nor from our present progresse vvill divert us But of our journey having made an end Our lives in such brave quarrell vvill vve spend This ansvvere vvhen they heard they did compeer VVith ardent hearts some further nevves to speer And vvhat brave sport vve found vvhat pastime rare Forthvvith in loftie verse Gall to declare Began his breast vvhen Phoebus once did vvarme Their ears and hearts his heavenly voice did charme And I to keep a consort vvith full voice As fell by turn did make them all rejoice VVith svveetest rimes for both of us inclinde Even as Democritus did truely minde Of Poets all vvhen once that sacred fire VVith divine furie did our breasts inspire And thus vvith heavenlie rapture as transported That vvhole dayes journey Gall to them reported Till Hesperus appeard and in despight Of heavens vvhich hearkned forc'd to bid good night VVhich vvhen I call to minde it makes me cry Gall svveetest Gall vvhat ailed the to die The night vvas short Phoebus did touch the line VVhere cruked Cancer makes him to decline No sleep could close mine eyes but wake must I Till fair Aurora did inlight the sky Then up I got and where good Gall did ly With mightie voice and chanting did I cry Good Master Gall arise you sleep too long With Hey the day now dawnes so was my song The day now dawnes Arise good Master Gall Who answering said Monsier I heare you call And up he got Then to our bearge we go To answer us our