Works of David Lyndesey, Part 3: The Historie of ane Nobil And Wailyeand Squyer William Meldrum

59 Pages·1868·2.011 MB·English

by  David Lyndesay (David Lindsey), Fitzedward Hall (ed.)

318
Gentyll redaris, I wyll aduerteis 30w, that
thare is of thirBukis Imprentit in France,
The quhilkis ar verray fals, And
wantis the tane half, and all
wrang spelit, and left out
heirane lyne, and thar
twa wordis.
To Conclude, thay ar all fals, and wan-
tis mekle that this buke hes, as may be
sene. Quhalystetylllukethamebaith
ouer, thay sall fynd mysayingis
verray trew, and wors nor I
dosay. Preueand se; than
3ewyllgeue mecredence:
thay ar nocht worthe
ane plake.
Lyndesay's Squier Meldrum.
Early English Text Society.
Original Series, No. 35.
1868(reprinted 1924).
Price 2s.

The Historie
OF ANE NOBIL AND WAIL3EAND SQVYER,
William Meldrum,
VMQVHYLE LAIRD OF CLEISCHE AND BYNNIS.
COMPYLIT BE
Sir Dauid Lyndesay of the Mont,
ALIAS,
Lyoun King of Armes.
H C
The Testament
OF THE SAID
Williame Meldrum, Squyer,
COMPYLITALSWA BE
Sir Dauid Eyndesay, &c.
Cicero, Philip. 14.
Propriumsapientisestgrataeorumvirtutemmemoriaprosequi,quiproPatriavitamprofuderunt
Ovid, 2.Fast.
Etmemoremfamam,quibenegessithabet.
IMPRENTIT AT EDINBVRGH,
BE HENRIE CHARTERIS.
ANNO M.D.XCIII.
CumPriuilegioRegali.
C
1
Original Series, 35.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARDCLAY & Sons, LIMITED
BUNGAY, SUFFOLK,
321
The Historie
OFANE NOBIL AND WAILZEAND SQVYER,
William Meldrum,
VMQVHYLE LAIRD OF CLEISCHEAND BYNNIS.
COMPYLITBE
Sir Dauid Lyndesayofthe Mont,
ALIAS,
youn KingofArmes.
H C
QVHO that Antique Stories reidis Thefamousgests
Considder may thefamous deidis ofournoble
OfourNobill Progenitouris, forefathers
4 Quhilksuld, to vs, be richt mirrouris, instructusto
Thairverteous deidis to ensew, ensuevirtue
And vicious leuing to eschew. andtoshunvice.
Sic Men beneputin memorie, Suchmenare
8 That deith suld not confound thair glorie. justlymemorized,
Howbeitthair bodie bene absent, Theirgooddeeds
Thairverteous deidis bene present: survive;and
Poetis, thairhonour to auance, poetsremindus
12 Hes put thame in rememberance. ofthem.
Sum wryt ofpreclair Conquerouris ; Somepoetswrite
And sum, ofvailzeand Empriouris; ofconquerors;
Andsum, ofNobillMichtie Kingis, others,ofroyal
16 That Royallie didreullthairRingis; personages;
Andsum, ofCampiounis and ofKnichtis, others,of
championsand
Thatbauldlie did defend thair richtis, knights,
strenuousfor
Quhilkvailzeandlie did stand in stour, theirrightand
honour;
20 Forthedefence ofthair honour;
322 THE HISTORIE OF
others,of Andsum, ofSquyeris douchtie deidis,
doughtysquires; Thatwounderswrochtin weirlie weidis.
others,still,of Sum wryt ofdeidis amorous;
24 As Chauceir wrait ofTroilus,
thehistoryof
Howthat he luiffit Cressida.;;
lovers, OfIason and ofMedea.
Withtheaidof Withhelp ofCleo, I intend,
ClioandMinerva, 28 Sa Mineruewald me Sapience send,
Ipurposeto Ane Nobill Squyertodiscryfe,
descantofabold
Quhaisdouchtines, during his Lyfe,
squire,whom,
I knawmyself: thairofI wryte;
andhisprivate
history,Itellof 32 And allhis deidis I darindyte:
fromwhatI And secreitis, that I did not knaw,
know. That Nobill Squyerdid me schaw.
Hisyouthhe Sa I intend, the best I can,
spentinlove, 36 Descryuethe deidis and the Man;
pleasantlyand Quhaiszouth did occupiein lufe,
withoutreproof. Full plesantlie, without reprufe;
Also,hewasas Quhilkdid as monie douchtie deidis
valiantasmany 40 As monie anethatmen ofreidis,
anotherman Quhilkis Poetis puttis in Memorie,
sungbypoets. Forthe exalting ofthairglorie.
Heshouldnotbe Quhairfoir, I think,-sa God me saif!-
forgotten,looking 44 Hesuld haue place amangis the laif,
towhathe Thathis hie honour suld not smure,
sufferedforhis Consideringquhathe did indure,
lady'ssake. Ofttimes, for his Ladeis sake.
SirLauncelot 48 I wait, Sir Lancelote du lake,
Quhenhedid lufeKing Arthuris wyfe,
foughtnobetter,
Faucht neuerbetter, with swordnor knyfe,
andinaless
ForhisLadie, in no battell;
worthycause: 52 Norhad nothalfsojust querrell.
forhisladywas Theveritiequha list declair,
anadulteress;and His Lufe was ane Adulterair;
helovedinthe
dark,likean And durst not cum into hirsicht,
owl. 56 Bot, lyke ane Houlet, onthe nicht.
SQVYER MELDRVM. 323
Withthis Squyer it stude not so : OurSquire,
His Ladie luifithim, and no mo. contrariwise,
wasaloneloved
Husband nor Lemman had scho none ;
60 Andsohehad hirlufe alone. byhislady.
Ithinkitisno happielyfe, Unhappywas
Launcelot'slife;
Ane Mantojaip his Maisteris wyfe, andnogood
As did Lancelote: this I conclude, couldcomeof
intriguelikehis.
64 Ofsic amour culd cum nagude.
Nowtomypurpois will I pas, TheSquirewas
And shaw 30Whowthe Squyerwas: borninScotland;
AnegentilmanofScotland borne ; gentle,aswashis
68 Sowas his Fatherhim beforne ;
father,andas
OfNobilnes lineallie discendit,
werehisfathers.
Quhilks thairgudefamehes euer defendit.
GudeWilliame Meldrumhe was namit,- Hewascalled
William
72 Quhilkin hishonourwas neuerdefamit,- Meldrum;stout
Stalwartand stoutin eueriestryfe, inquarrel;
And borne withinthe Schyre ofFyfe, borninFifeshire;
ToCleische andBynnis richt Heritour, and,forlove,he
76 Quhilk stude, for Lufe, in monie stour. foughtoften.
Hewas bot twentie zeiris ofage, Hebeganlifeat
twenty,well-
Quhenhebeganhis Uassalage ;
Proportionatweill, ofmid stature, built,manly,
80 Feirie, and wicht, and micht indure; endurant,
Ouirsetwith trauell, both nichtand day; restless,
Richthardie baith in ernist and play ; hearty,
Blyithin countenance, richt fairofface, comely,
andever
84 Andstude weill, ay, in his Ladies grace :
Forhewas wounder amiabill, favouritewith
And, in all deidis, honorabill. hislady.
And ay his honourdid auance, Hegained
88 In Ingland first, and syne in France. repute.
And thairhis manheid did assaill, Hesignalizedhis
prowess,whenthe
Underthe Kingis greit Admirall, Scottishnavyset
Quhenthegreit Nauie of Scotland sailagainst
92 Passittothe sey, aganis Ingland. England.
324 THE HISTORIE OF
TheAdmiralof And, asthay passit be Ireland Coist,
thefleetsetfireto The Admirall gart land his Oist,
Craigfergus, And set Craigfergus into Fyre,
sparingnothing. 96 And saifit nouther Barne nor Byre.
Thepeoplewere Itwasgreit pietie forto heir
spoliated,and Ofthepepillthe bailfull cheir,
fairwomenwere And howthe Landfolkwerspuilzeit;
trampledon. 100 Fairwemenvnderfute werfuilzeit.
ButtheSquire Botthis 3oung Squyer, bauld and wicht,
savedwomen,
Sauit all wemen, quhairhe micht:
priests,and
friars. AllPreistis and Freiris hedid saue;
Atlast 104 Till, atthe last,hedid persaue,
heheard Behindane Gardingamiabill,
avoice; Anewomanis voce richt lamentabill;
hefollowedit; And on that voce he followit fast,
andhefounda 108 Tillhe did see hir, atthelast,
woman,stripped. Spuilzeit, naikit as scho was borne:
Twosoldiers Twamenofweirwerhir beforne,-
stoodpartingthe Quhilkwerricht cruellmen and kene,-
plunder. 112 Partandthe spuilzie thame betwene.
Shewasofthe Anefairerwomannor scho wes
fairest. Hehad notsene in onie place.
Sheimplored Befoirhimon hirkneis scho fell,
himtohelpher, 116 Sayand, forhimthat heryit Hell,
amaid. Help me, sweit Sir; Iamane Mayd.
Hebeggedthem Thansoftlietothemenhe said,
togivebackher
Ipray30wgiueagaine hir sark,
shift,andkeep
therest. 120 Andtakto 30wall vther wark.
Gorgeouswere Hir Kirtill was of Scarlot reid;
herkirtle, Ofgoldanegarland ofhirheid,
garland,belt,and Decoritwith Enamelyne;
brooches;and
124 Belt and Brochis ofsiluerfyne:
hershiftwasof
Of3allowTaftais weshir sark,
taffety,
ornamentedwith Begaryitall withbrowderit wark,
goldandsilk. Richt craftelie withgold and silk.
Thelady 128 Than said the Ladie, quhyteas milk,
SQVYER MELDRVM. 325
Except my sark, no thing I craue prayedforher
Letthamego hence, with all thelaue. sniftonly.
Quodthayto hir: be Sanct Fillane, Theyrefusedto
132 Ofthiszeget nathingagane. giveitup.
Thansaidthe Squyer, courteslie: TheSquire
.Gude Freindis, I pray 30w hartfullie, requested
Gif3ebeworthie Men ofWeir, them
136 Restoirto hir agane hirGeir; tocomply,
Or,begreit Godthat all heswrocht, andaddeda
That spuilzie salbefull deir bocht. threat.
Quodthaytohim: wethe defy, Theydefiedhim,
140 And drewthairswordis haistely, drewtheir
And straik at himwithsa greit Ire,
swords,andset,
Thatfrom his Harnes flewthefyre;
uponhimwith
With duntis sadarflie onhimdang,
144 Thathewas neuerinsic ane thrang. greatfury.
Bothehimmanfullie defendit, Hereturnedthe
And withane bolt on thame hebendit, charge,struck
And hattheanevpontheheid, oneofthemon
148 Thattotheground hefelldoun deid ; thehead,cleftit,
Fortotheteith he did him cleif, andfelledhimto
Lathimlythairwith ane mischeif. theground.
Than, withthe vther, hand forhand, Thenheturned
152 He beithim withhis birneist brand. totheother,a
Thevtherwasbaithstout and strang, powerful
Andonthe Squyerdarfliedang. ruffian,
Andthanthe Squyerwrochtgreit wonder, andhadahard
156 Ay, tillhis sword did shaikin sunder. figlit,
Thandrewhefurth ane sharp dagair, butdrewa
And did him cleikbetheCollair, dagger,plunged
And euinin atthe collerbane, itintohisneck,
160 Atthefirst straik, he hes him slane: andsenthim
Hefounderitfordward to the ground. reeling,slain.
3itwasthe Squyerhaill and sound; Himselfescaped
Forquhyhewas sa weill enarmit, unhurt,being
well-armed.
164 He did escaip fra thame vnharmit.