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Ane
monolog of the actor
Chap. VI
THE solist ande attentiue laubirs that i tuke to vrit
thir passagis befor rehersit, gart al my body be cum
imbecille ande verye, ande my spreit be cum sopit
in sadnes, throucht the lang conteneuatione of studie,
quhilk did fatigat my rason, ande gart al my membris
be cum impotent. than til eschaip the euyl accidentis
that succedis fra the onnatural dais sleip, as caterris,
hede verkis, ande indegestione, i thocht it necessair, til
excerse me vitht sum actyue recreatione, to hald my spretis
valkand fra dulnes.
<f30r> than to exsecute this purpose, i
past to the greene hoilsum feildis, situat maist comodiusly,
fra distemprit ayr ande corruppit infectione, to resaue
the sueit fragrant smel, of tendir gyrssis, ande of
hoilsum balmy flouris maist odoreferant. besyde the fut
of ane litil montane, there ran ane fresche reueir as cleir
as berial quhar i beheld the pretty fische vantounly
stertland vitht there rede vermeil fynnis, ande there
ssskalis lyik the brycht siluyr. on the tothir syde of that
reueir there vas ane grene banc ful of rammel grene
treis, quhar there vas mony smal birdis hoppand fra
busk to tuist, singand melodius reportis of natural music
in accordis of mesure of diapason prolations tripla ande
dyatesseron, that hauynly ermonyie aperit to be artificial
music. in this glaidful recreatione i conteneuit quhil
phebus vas discendit vndir the vest northt vest oblique
oriszone, quhilk vas entrit that samyn daye in the xxv
degre of the sing of gemini, distant fiue degreis, fra oure
symmyr solstice, callit the borial tropic of cancer the
quhilk be astrolog supputatione, accordis vitht the sext
daye of iune, there eftir i entrit in ane grene forrest to
contempil the tendir zong
<f30v> frutss of grene treis, be
cause the borial blastis of the thre borouing dais of
marche, hed chaissit the fragrant flureise of euyrie frute
tree, far athourt the feildis. of this sort i did spaceir vp
ande doune but sleipe, the maist part of the myrk
nycht. instantly there eftir i persauit the messengeiris
of the rede aurora, quhilkis throucht the mychtis of
titan, hed persit the crepusculyne lyne matutine of the
northt northt est orizone, quhilk vas occasione that the
sternis & planetis the dominotours of the nycht, absentit
them, ande durst nocht be sene, in oure hemispere
for dreddour of his auful goldin face. Ande als
fayr dyana the lantern of the nycht, be cam dym ande
pail quhen titan hed extinct the lycht of hyr lamp on
the cleir daye. for fra tyme that his lustrant beymis var
eleuat. iiii degres abufe oure oblique oriszone, euery
planeit of oure hemespeir be cam obscure, ande als al
corrupit humiditeis ande caliginus fumis & infekkit
vapours, that hed bene generit in the sycond regione of
the ayr quhen titan vas visiand antepodos, thai consumit
for sorrou quhen thai sau ane sycht of his goldin scheaip.
the grene feildis for grite droutht, drank vp the drops
of the
<f31r> fresche deu quhilk of befor hed maid dikis &
dailis verray donc. there eftir i herd the rumour of rammasche
foulis ande of beystis that maid grite beir
quhilk past besyde burnis & boggis on grene bankis to
seik ther sustentatione. there brutal sound did redond
to the hie skyis, quhil the depe hou cauernis of cleuchis
& rotche craggis ansuert vitht ane hie not of that samyn
sound as thay beystis hed blauen. it aperit be presumyng
& presuposing, that blaberand eccho hed beene hid
in ane houhole, cryand hyr half ansueir, quhen narcissus
rycht sorye socht for his saruandis, quhen he vas
in ane forrest, far fra ony folkis, & there eftir for loue
of eccho he drounit in ane drau vel. nou to tel treutht
of the beystis that maid sic beir & of the dyn that the
foulis did, ther syndry soundis hed nothir temperance
nor tune. for fyrst furtht on the fresche feildis, the nolt
maid noyis vitht mony loud lou. baytht horse & meyris
did fast nee, & the folis nechyr, the bullis began to
bullir quhen the scheip began to blait, be cause the
calfis began tyl mo, quhen the doggis berkit. than the
suyne began to quhryne quhen thai herd the asse tair,
quhilk gart the hennis
<f31v> kekkyl quhen the cokis creu,
the chekyns began to peu, quhen the gled quhissillit
the fox follouit the fed geise & gart them cry claik. the
gayslingis cryit quhilk quhilk, & the dukis cryit quaik.
the ropeen of the rauynis gart the crans crope the
huddit crauis cryit varrok varrok, quhen the suannis
murnit, be cause the gray goul mau pronosticat ane
storme. the turtil began for to greit quhen the cuschet
zoulit. the titlene follouit the goilk ande gart hyr sing
guk guk. the dou croutit hyr sad sang that soundit lyik
sorrou. robeen and the litil vran var hamely in vyntir.
the iargolyne of the suallou, gart the iay iangil than the
maueis maid myrtht, for to mok the merle. the lauerok
maid melody, vp hie in the skyis. the nychtingal al
the nycht sang sueit notis, the tuechitis cryit theuis
nek, quhen the piettis clattrit. the garruling of the stirlene
gart the sparrou cheip the lyntquhit sang cuntirpoint
quhen the oszil zelpit. the grene serene sang
sueit quhen the gold spynk chantit. the rede schank
cryit my fut, my fut, & the oxee cryit tueit. the herrons
gaif ane vyild skrech as the kyl hed bene in fyir, quhilk
gart the quhapis for fleyitnes fle far fra hame. than
eftir quhen
<f32r> this dyn vas dune, i dreu me doune
throucht mony grene dail. i beand sopit in sadnes, i
socht neir to the see syde. than vndir ane hingand
heuch i herd mony hurlis of stannirs & stanis that
tumlit doune vitht the land rusche quhilk maid ane
felloune sound. throcht virkyng of the suelland vallis of
the brym seye. than i sat doune to see the flouyng of
the fame. quhar that i leukyt far furtht on the salt
flude. there i beheld ane galiasse gayly grathit for the
veyr. lyand fast at ane ankir, and hyr salis in hou. i
herd mony vordis amang the marynalis bot i vist nocht
quhat thai menit. zit i sal reherse and report ther crying
and ther cals. in the fyrst, the master of the galiasse
gart the botis man pas vp to the top to leuk far furtht
gyf he culd see ony schips. than the botis man leukyt
sa lang quhil that he sau ane quhyt sail than he cryit
vitht ane skyrl, quod he, i see ane grit schip. than the
maister quhislit and bald the marynalis lay the cabil to
the cabilstok to veynde and veye. than the marynalis
began to veynd the cabil vitht mony loud cry. ande as
ane cryit, al the laif cryit in that samyn tune as it hed
bene ecco in ane hou heuch. and as it aperit to me thai
cryit
<f32v> thir vordis as eftir follouis. veyra veyra, veyra veyra
gentil gallandis, gentil gallandis. veynde i see hym, veynd
i see hym. pourbossa, pourbossa. hail al ande ane hail al
and ane. hail hym vp til vs, hail hym vp til vs. Than
quhen the ankyr vas halit vp abufe the vattir, ane marynel
cryit and al the laif follouit in that sam tune. caupon
caupona, caupon caupona. caupun hola ,caupun hola
caupun holt, caupon holt. sarrabossa, sarrabossa. than
thai maid fast the schank of the ankyr. And the maistir
quhislit and cryit. tua men abufe to the foir ra, cut the
raibandis and lat the foir sail fal, hail doune the steir
burde lufe harde a burde. hail eftir the foir sail scheit,
hail out the bollene. than the master quhislit ande cryit,
tua men abufe to the mane ra, cut the raibandis, and lat
the mane sail and top sail fal, hail doune the lufe close
aburde, hail eftir the mane sail scheit hail out the mane
sail boulene, than ane of the marynalis began to hail and
to cry and al the marynalis ansuert of that samyn sound.
hou, hou. pulpela, pulpela. boulena, boulena. darta, darta.
hard out steif, hard out steif. afoir the vynd, afoir the
vynd ,god send, god send. fayr vedthir,
<f33r> fayr vedthir.
mony pricis, mony pricis. god foir lend, god foir lend.
stou, stou. mak fast & belay. Than the master cryit
and bald renze ane bonet vire the trossis, nou heise.
than the marynalis began to heis vp the sail, cryand,
heisau, heisau. vorsa, vorsa .vou ,vou. ane lang draucht,
ane lang draucht. mair maucht, mair maucht. zong blude,
zong blude. mair mude, mair mude. false flasche, false
flasche. ly a bak, ly a bak. lang suak, lang suak. that
that. that that. thair thair, thair thair. zallou hayr,
zallou hayr. hips bayr, hips bayr. til hym al, til hym al.
viddefullis al. viddefuls al. grit and smal, grit and
smal. ane and al, ane and al. heisau heisau. nou
mak fast the theyrs. than the master cryit top zour
topinellis, hail on zour top sail scheitis vire zour
liftaris and zour top sail trossis, & heise the top sail
hiear, hail out the top sail boulene, heise the myszen
and change it ouer to leuart, hail the linche and the
scheitis, hail the trosse to the ra. than the master cryit
on the rudir man, mait keip ful and by, a luf cumna
hiear, holabar, arryua, steir clene vp the helme, this
and so. than quhen the schip vas taiklit, the master
cryit, boy to the top, schaik out the flag on the top
mast, tak in zour top salis,
<f33v> and thirl them, pul doune
the nok of the ra in daggar vyise, marynalis, stand be
zour geyr in taiklene of zour salis, euery quartar master
til his auen quartar, boitis man, bayr stanis & lyme
pottis ful of lyme in the craklene pokis to the top, and
paueis veil the top, vitht pauesis and mantillis, Gunnaris
cum heir & stand by zour artailzee euyrie gunnar
til his auen quartar. mak reddy zour cannons, culuerene
moyens, culuerene bastardis, falcons, saikyrs, half saikyrs,
and half falcons, slangis, & half slangis, quartar
slangis, hede stikkis, murdresaris, pasuolans, bersis,
doggis, doubil bersis, hagbutis of croche, half haggis,
culuerenis ande hail schot. ande ze soldartis & conpangzons
of veyr, mak reddy zour corsbollis, hand
bollis, fyir speyris, hail schot, lancis, pikkis, halbardis,
rondellis, tua handit sourdis and tairgis. than this gaye
galliasse beand in gude ordour sche follouit fast the
samyn schip that the botis man hed sene and for mair
speid the galliasse pat furtht hir stoytene salis, ande
ane hundretht aris on euerye syde the master gart al
his marynalis & men of veyr hald them quiet at rest, be
rason that the mouyng of the pepil vitht in ane schip,
stoppis hyr of
<f34r> hyr faird. of this sort the said galiasse
in schort tyme cam on vynduart of the tothir schip
than eftir that thai hed hailsit vthirs thai maid them
reddy for battel. than quhar i sat i hard the cannons
and gunnis mak mony hiddeus crak duf, duf, duf, duf,
duf, duf, the barsis and falcons cryit tirduf, tirduf, tirduf,
tirduf, tirduf, tirduf, than the smal artailze cryit,
tik tak tik tak tik tak tik tak. the reik smeuk and
the stink of the gun puldir fylit al the ayr maist lyik
as plutois paleis hed been birnand in ane bald fyir.
quhilk generit sik mirknes & myst that i culd nocht
see my lyntht about me, quhar for i rais and returnit to
the fresche feildis that i cam fra, quhar i beheld mony
hudit hirdis blauuand ther buc hornis and ther corne
pipis, calland and conuoyand mony fat floc to be fed
on the feildis, than the scheiphirdis pat there scheip on
bankis and brais and on dry hillis to get ther pastour
than i beheld the scheiphirdis vyuis and ther childir
that brocht there mornyng bracfast to the scheiphirdis
than the scheiphyrdis vyuis cuttit raschis and seggis
and gadrit mony fragrant grene meduart vitht the
quhilkis tha couurit the end of ane leye rig & syne sat
doune al to gyddir to tak there refectione,
<f34v> quhar thai
maid grit cheir of euyrie sort of mylk baytht of ky
mylk & zoue mylk, sueit mylk and sour mylk curdis
and quhaye, sourkittis, fresche buttir ande salt buttir,
reyme, flot quhaye, grene cheis kyrn mylk euyrie
scheiphird hed ane horne spune in the lug of there
bonet thai hed na breyd bot ry caikis and fustean
skonnis maid of flour than eftir there disiune tha began
to talk of grit myrrynes that vas rycht plesand to
be hard. in the fyrst the prencipal scheiphirde maid
ane orisone tyl al the laif of his conpangzons as eftir
follouis.
O ze my frendis that ar scheiphirdis, ve hef grit
cause to gyf thankis to god for the hie stait and dignite
that he hes promouit vs to posses, the quhilk stait, prefferris
al vthir faculte of this varld baytht in honour
and in profeit. for sen the varld vas creat scheiphirdis
prefferrit al vthir staitis quhar for the maist anciant
nobilis that hes bene in ald tymis, tha detestit vrbanite
and desirit to lyue in villagis and landuart tounis to be
scheiphirdis or to laubir rustic ocupation on the hoilsum
feildis, as diuerse historigraphours hes maid mentione.
for in ald tymis pastoral and rustical
<f35r> ocupatione, vas of ane excellent reputatione, for in thai dais quhe
the goldin varld rang kyngis and princis tuke mair
delyit on the feildis and forrestis to keip bestialite and
to manure corne landis nor thai did to remane in pretoral
palecis or in tryumphand citeis riche kyng amphion
vas verray solist to keip his scheip. and at euyn
quhen thai past to there faldis scheip cottis and
ludgens, he playt befor them on his harpe. Siklyik
kyng dauid hed mair affectione to play on his harpe
amang his flokkis of scheip, nor he hed to be gouuernour
of the pepil of Israel, ande appollo that the
poietis callis the god of sapiens he vas scheiphird to
keip kyng admetus scheip siklyik the nobil romans in
ald tymis var nocht eschamit to laubir and to manure
the baran feildis vitht there auen handis to gar the
eird becum fertil to bayr al sortis of corne eirbis gyrse
& spice as ve hef exempil of the prudent quintus
cincinatus, quha vas chosyn be the senat to be dictatur
of rome, at that samyn tyme he vas arand the land
vitht his auen hand at the pleuch siklyik the sapient
porcus cathon censor of rome vas verray solist on the
art of agreculture. Siklyik romulus the fyrst kyng of
rome
<f35v> set his hail felicite on the manuring of the feildis.
ande alse the tua vailzeant romans, fabricius and curius
dentatus var nocht eschamit til excerse them on the
culture of the feildis. Siklyik numa pompilius that
deuot kyng of rome statut that the senaturis of rome
suld keip there scheip, as is rehersit in ane verse that i
hef red of ane senatur pascebatque suas ipse senator
oues. Siklyik paris the thrid soune of kyng Priam of
troy vas ane scheiphird and kepit bestialite on montht
ydea. And alse the nobil Scipio quhilk vas vailzeant,
ande no les prudent he conqueist affrica and pat cartage
to sac and subdeuit numance and venqueist
Annibal and restorit the liberte of rome than in his
aige of lij zeir he left the toune of rome, ande past to
remane the residu of his dais, in ane landuart village
betuix pezole & capue in ytalie and there he set his
felicite on the manuring of the corne land & in the
keping of bestialite, Ande alse lucullus that prudent
consul of rome, quha hed conqueist diuerse battellis
contrar the parthiens than in his last daiis he left the
toune of rome and past to duel in ane village besyde
naples quhar that he excersit hym on rustic occupatione
ande on bestialite.
<f36r> Siklyik the nobil Empriour
dioclesian, eftir that he hed gouuernit the empire xviij
zeir, he left the tryumphand toune of rome & past til
ane village be syde florens and ther he vsit the lauboring
of the cornis and vynis & on bestialite. Ande alse
the prudent duc perecles, quha hed the gouuerning of
the comont veil of athenes xxxvj zeiris, zit in his aige
of lx zeiris, he left the glorius stait of athenes, & past
to remane in ane litil village quhar he set his felicite to
keip nolt and scheip. quhat sal be said of the patriarchis.
Abraam Isaac & Iacob ,and of the princis & prophetis
of Israel? var thai nocht hirdis & scheiphirdis for ther
prencipal vacatione vas on the neuresing of bestialite.
Ther for (O ze my companzons scheiphirdis and hirdis)
ve hef grit cause to gloir and to gyf thankis to god for
the grit dignite that ve posses. for ther is na faculte
stait nor vacatione in the vniuersal varld, that can be
conparit til oure stait. for al vthir staitis of al degreis,
baytht temporal and speritual that remanis in tryumphand
citeis and burroustounis ther ringis na thing amang
them bot auareis inuy hatrent dispyit discention &
mony vthir detestabil vicis and alse there bodeis
<f36v> ar subiect tyl al sortis of seiknes be rason of the corrupit
infectione and euyl ayr that is generit in ane cite quhar
maist confluens of pepil resortis quhilk causis pestilens
and diuerse vthir sortis of contagius maladeis & alse
casione that the maist part of them endis ther the intemperans
of ther moutht in eyting & drynkyng consumis
ther stomakis & al ther membris, quhilk is occasione
that the maist part of tham endis ther dais in
there green zouthed. bot it is nocht siclyik of vs that
ar scheiphirdis, for ve lyif on the fragrant feildis quhar
ve ar neureist vitht the maist delicius temperat ayr
and ther is nothir hatrent auareis nor discord amang
vs nor there is nothir detraction leysingis nor calumniations
amang vs ve hef cherite to god & loue tyl our
nychtbours and the maist part of vs hes gude hail in
our body quhil ve be ane hundretht zeir ande alse
quhou be it that the riche and opulent potestatis that
dueillis in citeis and burroustounis, reputis vs that ar
scheiphirdis, to be ignorant inciuil & rude of ingyne
zit nochtheles al the sciencis and knaulage that thai
ascribe and proffessis to be dotit in them hes fyrst procedit
fra our faculte, nocht alanerly in the
<f37r> inuentione
of natural mecanyc consaitis. bot as veil the speculatione
of supernatural thingis as of the firmament and of the
planetis, the quhilk knaulage ve hef prettikyt throucht
the lang contemplene of the motions and reuolutions of
the nyne hauynis. Siklyik phisic astronomye and
natural philosophie var fyrst prettikit and doctrinet be
vs that ar scheiphirdis for our faculte knauis the natur
and the vertu of the sternis and planetis of the spere
and of the circlis contenit in the samyn for throucht
the lang studie and contemplene of the sternis, ve can
gyf ane iugement of diuerse futur accedentis that ar
gude or euyl, necessair or domageabil for man or beyst
for it is manifest that scheiphirdis hes discriuit and
definit the circlis and the mouyng of the speris as i sal
reherse to zou that ar zong scheiphyrdis to that effect
that ze may hef speculatione of the samyn In the
fyrst ihosephus the historigraphour that treittis of the
antiquite of the ieuis rehersis in his fyrst beuk that
the childir of seth (quhilk vas the soune of Adam) var
the fyrst inuentours of the art of astronomie and inuestigatours
of the celest coursis & mouimentis, the
quhilk art thai grauit vitht
<f 37v>lettris, (for the vtilite of
there posterite) in tua tablis of stane,
vas of baikyn stane, and the tothir tabil of onbaykyn
stane the quhilk thing thai did be cause thai hed herd
ther father seth reherse, that his father Adam hed prophetyszit
that the varld sal end be vattir and be the
fyir and for that cause the baikyn stane vald thole the
fyir & the onbakyn stane vald thole the vattir and of
this sort, the art of astronomie suld ay remane onconsumit.
ande thai tua tablis hes bene regester and fundatione
til al them that hes studeit in cosmographie
geographie and in topographie. There for to mak ane
diffinitione of cosmaghraphie (as far as ve scheiphirdis
hes contemplit) it is ane vniuersal discriptione of the
varld, contenand in it, the four elementis, the eird ,the
vattir ,the ayr, and the fyir the sone and mune and al
the sternis: ther for ane man that desiris tyl hef ony
iugement of cosmaghraphie, he suld fyrst contempil and
considir the circlis of the spere celest. for be that distinctione
of the said circlis, it sal be facil to knau the
distance of diuerse cuntreis that lyis vndir the said
circlis baytht of there longitude and of ther latitude
and the proportione
<f38r> of the climatis, and the diuersite
of the dais & nychtis of the four quartars of the varld,
and it sal declair the mouyng eleuatione, and declinatione
of the sone mune, and of the sternis fixt and
sternis erratic. and it sal declair the eleuatione of the
polis, and the lynis parallelis, and the meridian circlis,
and diuerse vthir documentis and demonstrations mathematikis.
Nou fyrst to speik of the mouyng of the spere
and of the diuisione of the hauynis, ze sal knau that
the varld is diuidit in tua partis that is to say. the
fyrst part is the regione elementair quhilk is subiect
til alteratione and to corruptione. the nyxt part of the
varld is callit the regione celest (quhilk philosophours
callis quinta essentia) vitht in the concauite of the
quhilk, is closit the regione elementar this said regione
celest is nothir variabil nor corruptabil it is diuidit in
ten speris, and the gritest spere quhilk is the outuart
spere inclosis in it, the spere that is nyxt til it & sa be
progressione and ordur euyrie spere inclosis the spere
that is nerest tyl it. in the fyrst, the regione elementair
is inclosit vitht in the spere of the mune and nyxt it
is the spere of mercurius,
<f38v> and syne the spere of venus
and nyxt it is the spere of the sone, and abufe and
about it is the spere of mars. and syne the spere of
Iupiter and than the spere of Saturnus. and ilk ane of
thir speris hes bot ane sterne or planete that mouis in
the zodiac, contrar the muuyng of the fyrst mobil that
ve cal the tent spere. nyxt thir speris, is the firmament
quhilk is callit the hauyn or the spere of the sternis
and about it is the nynte spere callit the hauyn cristellyne,
be cause that there can nocht be na sternis seen
in it. Al thir nyne speris or hauynis ar inclosit vitht
in the tent spere quhilk is callit the fyrst mobil the
quhilk makkis reuolutione and course on the tua polis
fra day to daye in the space of xxiiij houris fra orient
til occident and returnis agane to the orient. bot the
mouyng of the tother nyne hauynis is fra the occident
to the orient, quhilk is contrar to the mouyng of the
tent spere callit the fyrst mobil. zit nochtheles the
mouyng of the fyrst mobil is of sic violens that it constrenzeis
the tothir nyne speris or hauynis to pas vitht
it fra orient tyl occident quhilk is contrar to there auen
natural mouyng there for the compulsit retrograid
mouyng is callit be astronomours
<f39r> motus raptus
accessus, & resessus stellarum fixarum. al the
thyng that circuitis this last tent hauyn or fyrst mobil
is immobil and mouis nocht, there for it is callit the
hauyn empire quhar the trone diuine standis, as effermis
the famous doctours of the kyrk Nou to proceid in
the discriptione of the speris of the hauynis. in the
fyrst, ze sal ymagyn ane lyne that passis throucht the
spere lyik til ane extree of ane cart callit axis spere,
quhilk is the rycht dyametre of the spere, on the quhilk
lyne or extre the speris & hauynis turnis on. than at
the endis of the said lyne ze sal ymagyne tua sternis
quhilk ar callit the tua polis of the firmament ane of
them standis at the northt quhilk is callit the pole
artic boreal or septemtrional, it aperis til vs in our
habitatione be rason that it is eleuat abufe our orizone,
the tothir sterne standis at the southt, and it is callit
the pole antartic austral or meridional it is ay hid fra
vs for it aperis neuyr in our hemispere be rason that it
is vndir our orizon. ze sal vndirstand that the sterne
quhilk the scheiphirdis and marynalis callis the north
sterne, that sterne is nocht the pole artic for the pole
artic is bot ane ymaginet point distant
<f39v> iiij degreis fra
that sterne that ve cal the northt sterne the quhilk
sterne is callit alrukaba, and alse ze sal vndirstand
that the southt sterne that is eleuat abufe the orizon
of them that duellis bezond the equinoctial it is callit
canapus, ther for it suld nocht be callit the pole
antartic for the pole antartic is bot ane ymaginet
point, quhilk standis iiij degreis fra the sterne that is
callit canapus. There is ane vthir circle callit orizone
the quhilk cuttis the spere in tua partis, there is tua
sortis of orizons ane is callit the rycht orizon the
tothir is callit the oblique orizone. thai that hes there
zenith in the equinoctial thai hef the rycht orizon
be rason that the tua polis ar in there orizon. ande thai
that hes ane oblique orizon, ane of the polis is eleuat
abufe ther orizon ande the tothir pole is hid vndir
there hemispeir and orizon. Ther is ane vthir circle in
the spere callit meridian the quhilk gais betuix the tua
polis rycht abufe our hede than quhen the sune
cummis fra the orient to that circle it is iust tuelf
houris of the daye & quhen the sune is in opposit til
our meridian vndir our orizon than it is mydnycht.
There is ane vthir circle of the spere callit, the circle
equinoctial the quhilk
<f40r> deuidis the spere in tua partis
it is of ane lyik distance fra the tua polis, it is callit
equinoctial, be cause that quhen the sune cummis til it,
than the day and the nycht ar of ane lyntht in euerye
part of the varld and that occurris tua tymis ilk zeir
that is to say, quhen the sune cummis in the fyrst
degre of aries quhilk is the xj daye of marche, & in the
fyrst degre of libra quhilk is the xiij day of september.
Ther is ane vthir grit circle in the spere callit the
zodiac the quhilk deuidis the circle equinoctial in tua
partis the zodiac is deuidit in tuelf partis and ilk part
is callit ane sing the quhilk zodiac extendis til tuelf
singnis callit Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo,
Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius
Pisces. Ande euyrie sing is diuidit in xxx
degreis. Ther is tua vthir circlis in the spere callit
colures ane of them passis be the zodiac in the begynnyng
of Aries and Libra quhilkis ar tua singnis equinoctialis
the tothir circle passis in the begynnyng of
Cancer and capricorn quhilk ar tua solstice singnis.
Ther ar four vthir litil circlis in the spere ane is callit
the tropic of Cancer quhilk is the solstice of symmyr
it is distant xxiij degreis xxx munetis
<f40v> fra the equinoctial
touart septemtrion, quhen the sune cumis til it
than it is the langest day of the zeir to them that
duellis betuix the pole artic and the equinoctial. The
circle of capricorne is callit the solstice of vyntir,
quhen the sune cummis til it passand touart the pol
antartic, than thai that duellis betuix the equinoctial
and the pole antartic hes ther langast day of the zeir
& than ve hef the schortest day of the zeir. The circle
artic is xxiij degreis xxx munitis fra the pole artic
siclyik the circle antartic is xxiij degreis xxx munitis
fra the pole antartic & alse the septemtrional solstice
callit the tropic of cancer is xxiij degreis xxx munitis
fra the equinoctial and the meridional solstice of capricorn
is xxiij degreis xxx munitis fra the equinoctial.
The point that is rycht abufe our hede is callit zenych
the quhilk is iiij scoir and ten degreis distant fra our
orizon ande as oft as ve change fra place to place, as
oft ve sal hef ane vthir zenycht, and the place that is
direct contrar til our zenych is callit antipodes, tha
that duellis in thai partis, thai hef ther solis direct
contrar til our solis ande thai hef the hauyn for ther
zenych as veil as ve, & quhen ve hef the langest day of
symyr,
<f41r> than thai hef the schortest day in vyntir
ande quhen thai hef symmyr than ve hef vyntir. zit
nochtheles lactantius firmien that famous doctor of the
holy kyrk, in his thrid beuk in the xxiiij cheptor he
scornis the mathematiciiens that effermis antipodos &
syklyik Sainct agustyne de ciuitate dei in the ix cheptour
of his seuynt beuk allegis mony freuol argumentis
contrar the antipodos quhar for it aperis veil that thir
tua doctours, agustin & lactantius var mair expert in
theologie nor thai var in cosmographie, considerand
that ther is sa mony probabil rasons that preuis that
the eird is round ande that the eird is the centir of the
ix hauynis and that the sune circuitis and gais about
the eird euyrie xxiiij houris for ve maye see be experiens
that quhen the sune rysis at our est orizon,
than it ascendis quhil it cum til our meridian, and ther
eftir it declynis and passis vndir our vest orizon quhilk
is ane manifest taikyn that the sune gais about al the
eird quhar for it aperis veil that ther is pepil duelland
vndir vs and alse ve hef ane vthir probabil sing
to preif that the eird and the vattir is rond for admittand
that sum man vald set ane stabil mark at the
<f41v> see
syde, and syne this man departand in ane schip fra that
mark ,sailand quhil he be furtht of the sycht of the said
mark than he beand in the body of the said schip
quhen he hes tynt the sycht of his mark than he
montis and passis vp to the top of the schip and than
he persauis his mark perfytly, the quhilk he culd nocht
persaue in the body of the schip quhou be it that the
body of the schip be nerar his mark nor is the top of
the schip this exempil makkis plane that the eird is
rond. Siklyik ane man beand on the hede of ane hil
he vil see ane schip farrar on the seye nor he vil see at
the fut of the hil quhou be it that the fut of the hil be
nerar the said schip nor is the hede of the hyl, i hef
rehersit thir vordis to gar obstinat ignorant men consaue
that ther is antipodos that is to say that there is pepil
that duellis vndir our feit. i suld hef rehersit of befor
quhou that thai, that hes the equinoctial for ther zenych
ande hes the tua polis in ther orizon thai hef tua symmyrs
and tua vintirs euyrie zeir for ther fyrst symmyr
is quhen the sune entris in the fyrst degre of aries
quhilk is in the xj day of marche and ther fyrst vintir
is quhen the sune entris in the fyrst degre of
<f42r> cancer
quhilk accordis vitht the xij.day of iune, and ther
sycond symmyr is quhen the sune entris in the fyrst
degre of libra quhilk accordis vitht the xiiij daye of
september & ther sycond vintir is quhen the sune
entris in the fyrst degre of capricorn quhilk accordis
vitht the xij day of december the tua vintirs that thai
hef ar nocht verray vehement cald bot ther tua symmyrs
ar vondir birnand heyt quhilk is occasione that the
pepil that duellis vndir the equinoctial ar blac of ther
cullour. And fra tyme that the sune be past the equinoctial
touart the meridian tropic of capricorn than
thai that dueillis vndir the northt pole thai hef ane
conteneual nycht and no day quhil on to the tyme
that the sune return & is entrit in the fyrst degre of
Aries the rason of thir lang nychtis is be cause that
the sune beand past the equinoctial touart the meridional
tropic than it is al that tyme vndir the orizon
of them that hes the northt pole for ther zenych.
Siklyik quhen the sone cummis fra the equinoctial
passand touart the septemtrional tropic of cancer than
thai that duellis vndir the meridional pole hes conteneual
nycht quhil the sone returne agane to the fyrst
degre
<f42v> of libra be rason that quhen the sone is northt
fra the equinoctial than it is vndir the orizon of them
that hes the meridional pole for ther zenych & sa be
this narratione, thai that duellis vndir the pole artic
hes ane conteneual nycht half ane zeir to gyddir and
the tothir halfzeir thai hef conteneual day and no
nycht half ane zeir to gyddir and it is of the samyn
sort to them that duellis vndir the pol antartic. And
nou sen i hef declarit the circlis of the spere i vil
speik of the reuolutions and of the nature of the vij
planetis. O ze scheiphirdis; ze sal contempil in the
firmament ane sterne callit saturn quhilk is hie abufe
al the laif of the planetis and for that cause it aperis
verray litil to mennis sycht it makkis reuolutione in
thretty zeir, and returnis to the samyn point that it
cam fra it makkis ane circle fra occident til orient
contrar the fyrst mobil it is of ane cald frosty natur.
Nyxt saturne standis the spere & hauyn of Iupiter
quhilk makkis the cours & circuit in tuelf zeiris it is
of ane temperat natur be cause it standis in the myd
vay betuix the caldnes of Saturn & the byrnand heyt
that Mars induris throucht the vicinite of sol ande
nyxt to iupiter standis
<f43r> the hauyn and spere of Mars
quhilk sum men callis Hercules it reuoluis in ane
circle in tua zeiris it is inflammit in ane feruent heyt
that ascendis fra the sone. Nyxt to Mars standis the
hauyn of the sone the quhilk makkis reuolutione in
thre hundretht thre scoir of degreis quhilk is the space
of ane zeir, the verteous heyt of it, temperatis al the
sternis of the firmament, Nyxt vndir the spere of the
soune standis the spere & hauyn of Venus quhilk is
ane grit sterne of ane meruelous lustir, in the mornyng
it aperis ane lang tyme or the soune ryise and gyffis
ane grit lycht at that tyme it is callit lucifer be cause
it auancis the day befor the crepusculine. and siclyik it
aperis verray haisty on fayr day lycht quhen the soune
discendis vndir the vest orizon, at that tyme it is callit
vesper be cause it prolongis the day ,sum men callis it
Iuno and sum callis it isis. al thing that the eird procreatis,
is confortit be it be rason of the vertu of the
fresche deu that discendis fra it, it makkis ane onstabil
reuolution in thre hundretht xlviij dais and ay it is
vitht in xlvj degreis fra the soune. Nyxt vndir the
spere of Venus, standis the spere & hauyn of Mercurius,
quhilk sum men callis appollo
<f43v> quhilk makkis reuolutione,
nyne dais mair haistiar nor dois venus. bot it
aperis nocht as grit as Venus, it is ay sene befor the
soune rysing and haisty eftir that the soune is cum to
the vest orizon & it is ay xxij degreis neir to the
soune. The last and the nerest planet quhilk is callit
the mune the quhilk is ane familiar frende to the eird,
the creator of al thingis ordand it to be ane remeid
contrar mirknes of the nycht it is the maist admirabil
sterne of the firmament the diuersite & the variance of
it hes trublit the vndirstanding of them that contemplit
it be rason that sum tyme it grouis & sum tyme it
decressis quhilk is contrar the natur of vthir sternis
for sum tyme it aperit neukyt heffand hornis and sum
tyme it vas al rond and sum tyme it as bot half rond
sum tyme it vald schau lycht half the nycht and sum
tyme it vald schau lycht al the nycht & sum tyme it
vald be thre dais to gyddir nocht sene & alse the
reuolutione & circuit of it maid as lang passage in xxvij
dais & viij houris as the planet saturn did in thretty
zeir. Nou i vil rehers the cause of the variance ande
the mutations of the cours of the Mune ze sal vndirstand,
that the mutatione and variance of the mune,
<f44r> in sa mony diuerse sortis, procedis as i sal reherse. The
mune is ane thik masse, round lyik ane boule or bal,
heffand no lycht of hyr self: for sche and al the vthir
sternis resauis ther lycht fra the soune, there for sa
mekil of the mune that hes hyr aspect touart the soune
hes lycht, bot the tothir half of the mune, that hes no
aspect to the soune, resauis no lycht. The cause quhy
that the mune schauis lycht one time, and is obscure
ane vthir tyme, is be rason that sche is moir suift in
hyr retrograid cours nor the soune is. for of hyr auen
propir mouyng fra occident til orient in the zodiac,
sche cummis euyrie xxvij dais viij houris vndir the
samyn degre that the sone is in til, at that tyme the
vulgaris sais that the mune is in the coniunctione vitht
the sone Sum tyme the mune is in oppositione, that
is quhen the mune & the soune ar in apposit degreis,
than ve see the maist part of the lycht that the mune
hes resauit fra the soune, the vulgaris sais at that
tyme, that the mune is ful. zit nochtheles the mune is
ay ful, as veil at the coniunction as at the appositione
bot quhen the mune is in the eclipis for in the tyme
of the eclipis the eird is betuix the mune and the
soune,
<f44v> quhilk is occasione that the mune resauis no
lycht fra the soune at that tyme. There is ane vthir
admiration of the variant course of the mune, for sche
resauis mair lycht in hyr oppositione fra the soune, nor
aperis tyl vs. The quhilk i sal preif be this rason.
Ane grit roundnes of lycht, sal gyf lycht to mair nor
the half of ane les roundnes be rason that the superfice
of ane grit roundnes hes ane largear aspect, touart ane
roundnes, of ane les quantite nor ane smal roundnes
can hef touart ane grit roundnes. There for sen the
soune is of ane gritar quantite, nor is the mune be that
cause, mair nor the half of the mune resauis lycht fra
the soune. bot zit ve see nocht sa mekil lycht in the
mune as sche hes resauit fra the soune in hyr appositione.
Ane parson that behaldis ane roundnes of ane
gritar quantite nor is the space betuix his tua een, that
parson sal nocht see sa mekil, as is the half of that
roundnes be rason that the superfice of that roundnes
is of mair quantite nor is the space or largenes that is
betuix his tua een.
Nou i vil reherse the cause of the eclipsis of the
soune and mune. ve may persaue manifestlye that the
eclips of the soune cummis
<f45r> be the interpositione of
the mune betuix vs and the soune, the quhilk empeschis
and obfusquis the beymis of the soune fra our sycht
Siklyik the mune is in eclips, be the obiectione of the
eird, the quhilk eird empeschis the soune to gyf lycht
to the mune ,of this sort the soune is maid obscure til
vs quhen it clips be cause the vmbre and schaddou of
the bak of the mune is betuix vs and the soune. And
alse the mune is maid obscure quhen it clips be rason
that the vmbre and schaddou of the eird empeschis hyr
to resaue lycht fra the soune, ther for i may efferme
that the myrk nycht is na vthir thyng bot quhen the
soune and mune ar vndir our orizon.
Nou to speik of the influens and constellation of
the soune and mune and of the sternis doutles, man &
beyst ande al vthir thyng that euyr vas procreat on
the eird, ar subiect to ther operatione & rasauis alteratione
throucht there influens. The speculatione and
contemplatione of mennis ingyne culd neuyr consaue
ane final determinatione of the soune mune and of
the sternis. fra ther operations and constellations, procedis
tempest stormis, fayr veddir foul veddir heyt,
cald pestilens conualescens
<f45v> rane frost and snau and
al vthir accidentis that cummis on the eird, and on man
and beyst bot zit at sum tyme god almychty be his
diuyne permissione mittigatis augmentis or dimuneuis
baytht the gude operations and euil operations of the
planetis efferand for the vertu and vice that ringis
amang the pepil ve ar veil experimentit that quhen
ther multipleis ane grit numir of sternis in the equinoctial
of Libra or in the solstice of capricorn ,at that
tyme ther occurris grit tempestis and tormentis of euyl
veddir. Ande alsa at that tyme, men and vemen of
ane tendir complexione ar in dangeir of diuers maladeis,
as of fluxis, caterris, collic, and gut and to diuers
vthir contagius seiknes. Sic lyik throucht the operatione
of the sternis, the oliue, the popil & the oszer
tree, changis the cullour and ther leyuis at ilk tyme
quhen the soune entris in the tropic of Cancer, sic
lyik the dry mynt that hingis in ane house, resauis
sum vertu of the eird, quhen the soune entris in the
fyrst degre of capricorne. Siklyik ther is ane eirb
callit helytropium the quhilk the vulgaris callis
soucye, it hes the leyuis appin as lang as the soune is
in our hemispere and it closis
<f46r> the leuyis quhen the
soune passis vndir our orizon. Siklyik oistirs and
mussillis & al vthir schel fysche grouis and incressis
in ther natural qualite, eftir the coniunctione of the
mune quhil on to the tyme of the appositione than
eftir the appositione, thai schel fische dimuneuis and
grouis les and of ane var qualite
Siklyik ther is ane sterne callit canis, the euyl
constellatione of it begynnis at the sext daye of iulye,
and endis at the xx daye of agust, the natur of it is
contrar tyl euyrie thyng that is procreat on the eird.
The tyme of the operatione of it in our hemespere is
callit be the vulgaris, the caniculair dais. the euyl natur
of it, inflammis the soune vitht ane onnatural vehement
heyt the quhilk oft tymis trublis and altris the vyne
in ane pipe, in the depe caue, ande alse it generis
pestilens feuyrs & mony vthir contagius seikness.
quhen it ringis in our hemispere, than dogis ar in
dangeir to ryn vod rather nor in ony vthir tyme of the
zeir, Siklyik ther is mony vthir euyl accidentis that
occurris throuch the euyl constellations of the planetis
and of the sternis ande alse sum of them erris and
altirs oft tymis fra ther auen natural course quhilk is
ane taikyn and sing of
<f46v> prodigeis precedent euyl accidentis
that ar tyl occur on princis or superiors of ane
realme the historigraphours rehersis that there vas
thre sonnis sene at one tyme in the lyft, befoir the
ciuil veyris that occurrit betuix anthonius and agustus
cesar, and alse ther vas thre munis sene in the lyft
quhen domitius caius and flauius lucius var consulis of
rome. Siklyik there is diuerse vthir sternis of ane
euyl constellation quhilk pronosticatis future euyl
accidentis ther is ane sterne that aperis nocht oft in
our hemispere callit ane comeit quhen it is sene,
ther occurris haistyly eftir it sum grit myscheif it
aperis oft in the northt it aperis oft in the quhyt circle
callit circulus lacteus the quhilk the marynalis callis,
vatlant streit sum tyme it vil apeir lyik lang bludy
hayr sum tyme lyik ane dart sum tyme lyik ane bludy
speyr it aperit in the lyft lyik ane sourd be for the
detht of iulius cesar and alse it aperit lyik ane trumpet
quhen the kyng of perse straik ane battel contrar the
grecians, sum tyme it hes aperit lyik tua gait buckis
iustand contrar vthirs Nou to speik of the generatione
of the rane. it is ane exalatione of humid vapours
generit in calme veddir abufe the vattirs on the
<f47r> eird
and syne ascendis in the sycond regione of the ayr
quhar that it coagulatis in ane thik clud than the
sternis of ane euyl constellatione brakkis that clud
than it fallis on diuerse partis of the eird in diuerse
sortis of schouris sum mair, sum les, sum be grit
vehemens and tempest and sum tyme in soft & varme
schouris. in the antiant dais there vas sene grit meruellis
in the rane, quhilkis signifeit prodigies of future euyl
accidentis. In the tyme that marcus actilius and cayus
portius var consulis of rome the lyft did rane mylk
and on the morne it ranit rede blude, siclyik quhen
lucius volumnius and sergius sulpitius var consulis in
rome the lyft did rane rau flasche. And alse quhen
the vailzeant roman marcus crassus vas slane be the
parthiens the lyft did rane yrn. Siklyik quhen lucius
paulus and cayus marcellus var consuls in rome the
lyft did rane grit quantite of vol. and alse quhen titus
annius nilo vas slane the lyft did rane tile stanis
Nou to speik of the generatione of the deu it is ane
humid vapour generit in the sycond regione of the ayr
in ane fair calme nycht & syne discendis in ane temperat
caldnes on the grene eirbis in smal droppis. The
hayr ryin
<f47v> is ane cald deu the quhilk fallis in mysty
vapours and syne it fresis on the eird. the myst it is
the excrement or the superfluite of the cluddis the
quhilk fallis fra the ayr in ane sueit rane, quhilk rane
can nocht be persauit be the sycht of men Hail stonis
is ane congelit rane quhilk fallis on the eird be grit
vehemens and it fallis rather on the day lycht nor on
the nycht. The snau is ane congelit rane frosyn and
congelit in the sycond regione of the ayr bot it is
nocht sa ferme and hard congelit as is the hail stonis
zit nochtheles it remanis langar onmeltit be rason that
it fallis aye in cald vedthir ande the hail stonis fallis
comontly in symmyr. The thoundir is ane corrupt
fume generit on the eird of vapours and syne it ascendis
in the sycond regione of the ayr, and congelis in
diuerse massife cluddis quhilk stoppis and empeschis
the operatione of the planetis to excerse ther natural
course, than the vehemens of the planetis brakkis thai
cluddis, fra the forse of the quhilk there cummis fyir
and ane grit sound quhilk is terribil to be hard & that
terribil sound is the thyng that ve cal the thondir bot
or ve heir the thondir, ve see fyrst the fyir quhou be it
that thai proceid at ane instant
<f48r> tyme, the cause that
ve see the fyire or ve heir the thoundir, is be rason
that the sycht and cleirnes of ony thing is mair suyft
touart vs nor is the sound. The euyl that the thondir
dois on the eird it is dune or ve heir the crak of it.
Oft tymis ve vil see fyir slaucht, quhou be it ther be
na thondir harde. The thondir slais mony beystis on
the feildis. & quhan it slais ane man that is sleipand,
he sal be fundin dede and his ene close, and quhen it
slais ane valkand man he sal be fundin dede and his
ene appin. The thoundir is maist dangerous for man
ande beyst quhen there cummis na rane vitht it. The
fyir slaucht vil consume the vyne vitht in ane pipe in
ane depe caue & the pipe vil resaue na skaytht. the fyir
slaucht sleu ane man on the feildis, and it meltit the
gold that vas in his bag and it meltit nocht the vax
of ane seyl that vas in that samyn bag In rome there
vas ane nobil princesse callit martia grit vitht child
sche vas on the feildis for hyr recreatione, quhar that
the fyir slaucht straik hyr, & sleu hyr nocht bot zit it
sleu the child in hyr voyme. There is thre thyngis
that ar neuyr in dangeir of thoundir nor fyir slaucht
that is to saye the laurye tree the sycond is the
<f48v> selcht quhilk sum men callis the see volue the
thrid thyng is the eyrn that fleis sa hie. The historigraphours
rehersis that tybereus cesar empriour of
rome hed euyr ane hat of laure tree on his hede, and
alse he gart mak his pailzons and tentis on the feildis,
of selcht skynnis, to that effect that he mycht be furtht
of the dangeir of the thoundir and fyir slaucht. The
best remeid contrar thoundir & fyir slaucht is to men
and vemen to pas in hou cauernis vndir the eird or in
depe cauis be cause the thoundir dois maist domage tyl
hie placis.
Nou, to speik of the cause and of the natur of
the vynd eftir the discriptione of the scheiphirdis and
hirdis of the antiant dais. ze sal undirstand that the
vynd is no vthir thyng bot ane vapour or exalatione
heyt and dry generit in the concauiteis and in the
bouellis of the eird. the quhilk ascendis and discendis
vp and doune betuix the eird and the sycond region of
the ayr. The marynalis at this present tyme hes set
furtht and discriuit thretty tua sortis of vyndis, bot ve
that ar scheiphirdis hes no iugement bot of viij sortis
of vyndis of the quhilk numir ther is iiij callit vyndis
cardinal and the tothir iiij, ar callit vyndis
<f49r> collateral.
the fyrst cardinal vynd is callit auster or meridional
vynd quhilk the vulgaris callis southyn vynd. it is
heyt and humid of natur it generis thondir, cluddis
and smal soft ranis ande alse it is the cause of pestilens
and of vthir contagius seiknes. The nyxt cardinal
vynd is callit subsolanus or oriental, quhilk
the vulgaris callis estin vynd, quhilk throucht the
vertu of the soune is heyt and dry of natur it is
hoilsum for man and beyst, and alse it nureseis al
thyng that the eird procreatis. The thrid cardinal
vynd is callit septemtrional or borial quhilk vulgaris
callis northin vynd. it is cald and dry of ane melancolic
natur, it is hoilsum for man and beyst that
ar kepit fra excessif caldnes bot it is verray contrar
& noysum to the frutis of the eird. The feyrd cardinal
vynd is callit fauonius or occidental, quhilk vulgaris
callis vestin vynd, it is cald and humid of ane flegmatic
natur it is neuresant for the frute of the eird. bot it is
contrar tyl tendir complexions that ar subiect tyl seiknes.
Nou to speik of the iiij collateral vyndis, the
fyrst is callit auster aphricus, quhilk is betuix auster
and fauonius, it is callit be the vulgaris southt vest.
it generis baytht humiditeis
<f49v> & maledeis. The nyxt
colateral vynd is callit furo auster quhilk is betuix
auster & subsolanus the vulgaris callis it southt est.
it is heyt and dry of natur and it generis cluddis and
maladeis. The thrid collateral vynd is callit aquilon
quhilk is betuix septemtrion and subsolanus, the vulgaris
callis it northest, it is cald and dry of natur it is
mair hoilsum tyl ane person nor it is pleysand, it is
contrar to the frutis fleureis and eirbis of the eird.
The feyrd collateral vynd is callit circius, quhilk is
betuix septemtrione and fauonius, the vulgaris callis it
nortuest, it is cald & dry of natur, it generis snau
tempest & vehement stormis it is verray noisum til al
them that occupeis baytht be see and land. Al thir
thingis befor rehersit of the circlis of the speir & of
the hauynis and planetis is said to gar zou considir
that man kynd is subiect to the planetis and to ther
influens ther for ve suld prepair and prouid to resist
ther euyl constellations. for quhou be it that thai ar the
instramentis of god zit nochtheles he of his gudnes
resistis there euyl influens fra tyme that ve be cum
obedient tyl his command.
ACTOR
<f50r> QUHEN the scheiphird hed endit his
prolixt
orison to the laif of the scheiphirdis i meruellit nocht
litil, quhen i herd ane rustic pastour of bestialite, distitut
of vrbanite and of speculatione of natural philosophe,
indoctryne his nychtbours as he hed studeit ptholome
auerois aristotel galien ypocrites or Cicero quhilk var
expert practicians in methamatic art. Than the scheiphirdis
vyf said my veil belouit hisband i pray the to
decist fra that tideus melancolic orison quhilk surpassis
thy ingyn be rason that it is nocht thy facultee to
disput in ane profund mater the quhilk thy capacite
can nocht comprehend ther for i thynk it best that
ve recreat our selfis vytht ioyus comonyng quhil on to
the tyme that ve return to the scheip fald vytht our
flokkis. and to begyn sic recreatione i thynk it best
that euyrie ane of vs tel ane gude tayl or fabil to pas
the tyme quhil euyn. Al the scheiphirdis ther vyuis
and saruandis var glaid of this propositione than the
eldest scheiphird began and al the laif follouit ane be
ane in ther auen place. it vil be ouer prolixt and noles
tideus to reherse them agane vord be vord bot i sal
reherse sum of ther namys that i herd.
<f50v> sum vas in
prose & sum vas in verse sum var storeis and sum
var flet taylis. Thir var the namis of them as eftir
follouis. the taylis of cantirberrye. Robert le dyabil
duc of Normandie, the tayl of, the volfe of the varldis
end, Ferrand erl of Flandris that mareit the deuyl, the
taiyl of the reyde eyttyn vitht the thre heydis, the tail
quhou perseus sauit andromada fra the cruel monstir,
the prophysie of merlyne, the tayl of the giantis that
eit quyk men, on fut by fortht as i culd found, vallace
the bruce, ypomedon, the tail of the thre futtit dog of
norrouay, the tayl quhou Hercules sleu the serpent
hidra that hed vij heydis, the tail quhou the kyng of
est mure land mareit the kyngis dochtir of vest mure
land, Skail gillenderson the kyngis sone of skellye, the
tayl of the four sonnis of aymon, the tail of the brig of
the mantribil, the tail of syr euan arthours knycht,
rauf collzear, the seige of millan, gauen and gollogras,
lancelot du lac, Arthour knycht he raid on nycht vitht
gyltin spur and candil lycht, the tail of floremond of
albanye that sleu the dragon be the see, the tail of syr
valtir the bald leslye, the tail of the pure tynt, claryades
and maliades, arthour of
<f51r> litil bertangze, robene hude
and litil ihone, the meruellis of mandiueil, the tayl of
the zong tamlene and of the bald braband, the ryng of
the roy Robert, syr egeir and syr gryme, beuis of southamtonn,
the goldin targe, the paleis of honour, the tayl
quhou acteon vas transformit in ane hart and syne
slane be his auen doggis the tayl of Pirramus and
tesbe, the tail of the amours of leander and hero, the
tail quhou Iupiter transformit his deir loue yo in ane
cou, the tail quhou that iason van the goldin fleice.
Opheus kyng of portingal, the tayl of the goldin appil,
the tail of the thre veird systirs, the tayl quhou that
dedalus maid the laborynth to keip the monstir minotaurus,
the tail quhou kyng midas gat tua asse luggis
on his hede be cause of his auereis.
Quhen thir
scheiphyrdis hed tald al thyr pleysand
storeis than thay and ther vyuis began to sing
sueit melodius sangis of natural music of the antiquite.
the foure marmadyns that sang quhen thetis vas mareit
on month pillion thai sang nocht sa sueit as did thir
scheiphyrdis quhilkis ar callit to name, parthenopie
leucolia, illigeatempora the feyrd callit legia, for thir
scheiphirdis excedit al thir foure
<f51v> marmadyns in melodius
music in gude accorddis and reportis of dyapason
prolations and dyatesseron. the musician amphion
quhilk sang sa dulce quhil that the stanis mouit and
alse the scheip and nolt and the foulis of the ayr pronuncit
there bestial voce to sing vitht hym zit nochtheles
his ermonius sang prefferrit nocht the sueit sangis
of thir foir said scheiphirdis. Nou i vil reherse sum of
the sueit sangis that i herd amang them as eftir follouis,
in the fyrst, pastance vitht gude companye, the
breir byndis me soir, Stil vndir the leyuis grene, Cou
thou me the raschis grene, allace i vyit zour tua fayr
ene, gode zou gude day vil boy, lady help zour presoneir,
kyng villzamis note, the lang nounenou, the
cheapel valk, faytht is there none, skald abellis nou.
The abirdenis nou brume brume on hil, allone i veip
in grit distres, trolee lolee lemmen dou, bille vil thou
cum by a lute and belt the in Sanct Francis cord, The
frog cam to the myl dur, the sang of gilquhiskar, rycht
soirly musing in my mynde, god sen the duc hed byddin
in France and delaubaute hed neuyr cum hame,
al musing of meruellis amys hef i gone, Mastres fayr ze
vil forfayr, o lusty maye vitht flora quene. O myne hart
hay this is my sang, the
<f52r> battel of the hayrlau, the
hunttis of cheuet, Sal i go vitht zou to rumbelo fayr,
Greuit is my sorrou, turne the sueit ville to me, My lufe
is lyand seik send hym ioy, send hym ioy, fayr luf
lent thou me thy mantil ioy, The perssee & the mongumrye
met that day that day that gentil day, my
luf is laid apon ane knycht, allace that samyn sueit
face, in ane myrthtful morou my hart is leiuit on the
land
Thir scheiphirdis
ande there vyuis sang mony
vthir molodius sangis the quhilkis i hef nocht in
memorie, than eftir this sueit celest armonye tha began
to dance in ane ring, euyrie ald scheiphyrd led his vyfe
be the hand and euyrie zong scheiphird led hyr quhome
he luffit best. Ther vas viij scheiphyrdis and ilk ane
of them hed ane syndry instrament to play to the laif.
the fyrst hed ane drone bag pipe, the nyxt hed ane
pipe maid of ane bleddir and of ane reid, the thrid
playit on ane trump, the feyrd on ane corne pipe, the
fyft playit on ane pipe maid of ane gait horne, the sext
playt on ane recordar the seuint plait on ane fiddil,
and the last plait on ane quhissil.. kyng amphion that
playit sa sueit on his harpe quhen he kepit his scheip
nor zit appollo the god of sapiens that kepit kyng admetus
scheip
<f52v> vitht his sueit menstralye none of thir
tua playit mayr cureouslye nor did thir viij scheiphyrdis
befor rehersit. nor zit al the scheiphirdis that virgil
makkis mention in his bucolikis thai culd nocht be
comparit to thir foir said scheiphyrdis nor orpheus
that playit sa sueit quhen he socht his vyf in hel his
playing prefferrit nocht thir foir said scheiphirdis, nor
zit the scheiphyrd pan that playt to the goddis on his
bag pype, nor mercurius that playit on ane sey reid,
none of them culd preffer thir foirsaid scheiphirdis, i
beheld neuyr ane mair dilectabil recreatione. for fyrst
thai began vitht tua bekkis and vitht a kysse, euripides,
iuuenal perseus horasse nor nane of the satiric poiettis
quhilkis mouit ther bodeis as thai hed bene dansand
quhen thai pronuncit ther tragiedeis none of them
kepit moir geomatrial mesure nor thir scheiphyrdis did
in ther dansing. Nor ludius that vas the fyrst dansar
of rome culd nocht hef bene comparit to thir scheiphirdis,
it vas ane celest recreation to behald ther lycht
lopene, galmouding stendling, bakuart & forduart,
dansand base dansis, pauuans, galzardis turdions,
braulis, and branglis, buffons vitht mony vthir lycht
dancis the quhilk ar ouer prolixt to be rehersit zit
nochtheles i sal rehers
<f53r> sa mony as my ingyne can put
in memorie in the fyrst thai dancit al cristyn mennis
dance, the northt of scotland, huntis vp, the comount
entray, lang plat fut of gariau, Robene hude, thom of
lyn, freris al, ennyrnes, the loch of slene, the gosseps
dance, leuis grene, makky, the speyde, the flail the
lammes vynde, soutra, cum kyttil me naykyt vantounly,
schayke leg, fut befor gossep Rank at the rute, baglap
and al, ihonne ermistrangis dance, the alman haye, the
bace of voragon, dangeir, the beye, the dede dance, the
dance of kylrynne, the vod and the val, schaik a trot,
than quhen this dansing vas dune, tha departit and
past to cal there scheip to ther scheip cottis thai bleu
vp there bagpipis than the bel veddir for blythtnes
bleyttit rycht fast and the rammis raschit there heydis
to gyddir than the laif of ther fat flokkis follouit on
the fellis baytht zouis and lammis kebbis and dailis,
gylmyrs and dilmondis, and mony herueist hog, than i
departit fra that companye and i entrit in ane onmauen
medou the quhilk abundit vitht al sortis of holisum
flouris gyrsis and eirbis maist conuenient for medycyn
in the fyrst i sau ane erb callit barba aaron quhilk vas
gude remeid for emoroyades of the fundament, i sau
virmet
<f53v> that vas gude for ane febil stomac, & sourakkis
that vas gude for the blac gulset, i sau mony grene
seggis that ar gude to prouoke the flouris of vemen. i
sau the vattir lille quhilk is ane remeid contrar gomoria,
i sau tansay that is gude to purge the neiris
and ennet seidis that consumis the ventositeis of the
stomac, i sau muguart that is gude for the suffocatione
of ane vomans bayrnis hed, i sau veyton the decoctione
of it is remeid for ane sair hede i sau betis that is
gude contrar constipatione, i sau borage that is gude
to confort the hart, i sau cammauyne quhilk is gude
for ane scabbit moutht, i sau hemp that coagulis the
flux of the sparme, i sau madyn hayr of the quhilk
ane sirop maid of it is remeid contrar the infectione of
the melt, i sau celidone that is gude to help the sycht
of the ene & cipresses that is gude for the fluxis of
the bellye, i sau corriandir that is gude for ane ald
hoste, i sau finkil that slais the virmis of the bellye i
sau fumeterre that tempris ane heyt lyuyr, i sau
brume that prouokis ane person to vome ald feume, i
sau raschis that prouokis men to sleip, i sau ysope
that is gude to purge congelit fleume of the lychtis,
i sau mony vthir eirbis on thai fresche fragrant feildis.
<f54r> ande als i sau mony landuart grumis pas to the corne
land to laubir there rustical ocupatione. al this be me
veil contemplit, ande beand contentit of that pleysand
nychtis recreatione, i maid me reddy to returne to the
toune that i cam fra to proceid in the compiling of my
beuk. Bot morpheus that slepye gode, assailzeit al my
membris, ande oppressit my dul melancolius nature
quhilk gart al my spreitis vital ande animal be cum
impotent & paralitic: quhar for on neid forse i vas
constrenzeit to be his sodiour, than in ane takyn of
obediens, i maid hym reuerens on my rycht syde on
the cald eird, ande i maid ane cod of ane gray stane.
than i purposit to preue ane prettic, i closit my een, to
see gyf i culd leuk throucht my ee liddis. bot my experiens
vas sune expirit for tua houris lang, baytht my
eene greu as fast to gyddir, as thai hed bene gleuit vitht
glar or vitht gleu i beand in this sad solitar soune
sopit in sleipe, ane hauy melancolius dreyme, perturbit
the foure quartaris of my dullit brane. the quhilk
dreyme i sal reherse in this gros dyit, as neir the verite
as my rememorance can declair to my rude ingyne,
<f54v> |
