DESCRIPTION OF SQUYRE MELDRUM.
He was bot1 twintie yeiris of age,
Quhen he began his vassalage:
Proportionat weill, of mid statùre:
Feirie and wicht5 and micht endure
Ovirset with travell both nicht and day,
Richt hardie baith in ernist and play:
Blyith in countenance, richt fair of face,
And stude7 weill ay in his ladies grace:
For he was wondir amiabill,
And in all deidis honourabill;
And ay his honour did advance,
In Ingland first and synes in France;
And thare his manheid did assail
Under the kingis greit admirall,
Quhen the greit navy of Scotland
Passit to the sea againis Ingland.
His Gallantry to an Irish Damsel.
And as thay passit be Ireland coist?
The admirall gart land his oist 10;
And set Craigfergus into fyre,
And saifit nouther barne nor byre 11:
But.-Years.-3 When.-4 Courageous.-5 Active.-- Could
endure excessive fatigue,-7 Stood,-8 Then.-9 Coast.-10 Host, army.
It was greit pitie for to heir1,
Of the pepill the bail-full cheir;
And how the landfolk were spulyeit3,
Fair women under fute were fuilyeit*.
But this young Squyer bauld and wicht
Savit all women quhair he micht;
All priestis and freyeris he did save;
Till at the last he did persave
Behind ane gardin amiabill7,
Ane woman's voces richt lamentabill;
And on that voce he followit fast,
Till he did see her at the last,
Spuilyeit, nakit 10 as scho 11 was born;
Twa men of weir 12 were hir beforne 13,
Quhilk 14 were richt cruel men and kene,
Partand 15 the spuilyie thame between.
Ane fairer woman nor sho wes 16
He had not sene in onie 17 place.
Befoir 18 him on hir kneis scho fell,
Sayand, "for him that heryeit 19 hell,
Help me sweit sir, I am ane maid;"
Than softlie to the men he said,
pray yow give againe hir sark 20,
And tak to yow all uther wark.
1 Hear.- People.—3 Spoilt.—4 Abused.—5 Where.—6 Perceive. -7 Beautiful.-8 Voice.-9 Spoiled.-10 Naked." She.12 War.-13 Before.-14 Who.-15 Parting.-16 Than she was.— 17 Any.-18 Before.-19 Means for him, viz. Christ, who conquered or plundered hell.-20 Shift.
Hir kirtill was of scarlot reid',
Of gold ane garland of hir heid,
Decorit with enameyline:
Belt and brochis of silver fyne.
Of yellow taftais" wes hir sark,
Begaryit all with browderit wark,
Richt craftilie with gold and silk.
Than, said the ladie, quhyte as milk,
Except my sark nothing I crave,
Let thame go hence with all the lave.
Quod they to hir be Janet Fillane
Of this ye get nathing agane.
Than, said the squyer courteslie,
Gude friendis I pray you hartfullie,
Gif ye be worthie men of weir,
Restoir5 to hir agane hir geir;
Or be greit God that all has wrocht,
That spuilyie sall be full dere bocht".
Quods they to him we thé defy,
And drew their swordis haistily,
And straik at him with sa greit ire,
That from his harness flew the fyre:
With duntis sa derfly 10 on him dang11,
That he was never in sic ane thrang 12:
Bot he him manfullie defendit,
And with ane bolt on thame he bendit.
Red.- Adorned.-3 Mr. Chalmers omits explaining this word in his glossary to Lyndsay.-4 White.-5 Restore.— Wrought. Bought.-8 Quoth.-9 Strokes.-10 Strongly.11 Drove.-12 Throng, trouble.
And when he saw thay wer baith slane,
He to that ladie past agane :
Quhare scho stude nakit on the bent',
And said, tak your abulzement.
And scho him thankit full humillie,
And put hir claithis on speedilie.
Than kissit he that ladie fair,
And tuiks his leif of hir but maira.
Be that the taburne and trumpet blew,
And every man to shipbord drew.
Meldrum's Duel with the English Champion
Talbart
Then clariouns and trumpets blew,
And weiriours many hither drew ;
On eviry side come mony man
To behald wha the battel wan.
The field was in the meadow green,
Quhare everie man micht weil be seen:
The heraldis put tham sa in order,
That na man past within the border,
Nor preissit to com within the green,
Bot heraldis and the campiouns keen;
The order and the circumstance
Wer lang to put in remembrance.
1 Grass, or field.—2 Dress, cloathing.-3 Took his leave. • Without more ado.-5 Warriors.-6 Came.-7 Press'd.
Quhen thir twa nobill men of weir
Wer weill accounterit in their geir,
And in thair handis strong burdounis',
Than trumpettis blew and clariounis,
And heraldis cryit hie on hicht,
Now let thame go-God shaw the richt.
Than trumpettis blew triumphantly,
And thay twa campiouns eagerlie,
They spurrit their hors with spier on breist,
Pertly to priefs their pith they preist+.
That round rink-room was at utterance,
Bot Talbart's hors with ane mischance
He outterit, and to run was laith7;
Quharof Talbart was wonder wraith.
The Squyer furth his rink he ran,
Commendit weill with every man,
And him discharget of his speir
Honestlie, like ane man of weir.
The trenchour 10 of the Squyreis speir
Stak still into Sir Talbart's geir;
Than everie man into that steid 11
Did all beleve that he was dede.
The Squyer lap richt haistillie
From his coursour 12 deliverlie,
And to Sir Talbart made support,
And humillie 13 did him comfort.
Spears. Shew.-3 Prove. Tried.-5 Course-room.
6 Swerved from the course.-7 Loth.8 Wroth.-9 Course.— 10 Head of the spear. In that situation.-12 Courser.13 Humbly.
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