Their kindness' is so contrar clean :2 Now comis age where youth has been, And true love rises fro the spleen.

June;"

That ye have neither wit nor will, To win yourself a better name!

VII.

Your burgh of beggars is ane nest,
To shout they swenyours' will not rest;
All honest folk they do molest,
Sae piteously they cry and rame ;"
Think ye not shame,

That for the poor has nothing drest,3
In hurt and slander of your name!

VIII.

Your profit daily does increase,
Your godly workis less and less ;
Through streetis nane may make pro-

gress

For cry of crookèd,4 blind, and lame;
Think ye not shame,

That ye sic substance does possess,
And will not win a better name!

IX.

The great repair of this region
Is in your burgh, therefore be boun
To mend all faults that are to blame
And eschew shame;

Gif they pass to ane other town
Ye will decay, and your great name !

X.

Therefore strangers and lieges treat, Take not oure meikle for their meat, And gar your merchants be discreet, That nae extortions be proclaim,

Awffrand 7 ane shame ;

Keep order, and poor neighbours beit, That ye may get a better name!

XI.

Singular 8 profits so does you blind,
The common profit goes behind;
I pray that God remeid may înd,

13 Packed together as

I Sturdy beggars. 2 Roar, importune.

3 Provided.

a honey-comb.

4 Deformed.

5 The Supreme Courts. 6 Too much.

7 Offering, causing.

8 Individual, personal.

TO THE KING.

THE PETITION OF THE GRAY HORSE,
AULD DUNBAR.

Now lovers come with largess1 loud,
Why should not palfreys then be proud,
When gillets will be schomd and schroud, 3
That ridden are baith with lord and lad?
Sir, let it never in town be tald,
That I should be ane Yulis yald !4

When I was young and into ply,5
And wald cast gambols to the sky,
I had been bought in realms by,
Had I consented to be sald.

Sir, let it never in town be tald,
That I should be-ane Yulis yald!

With gentle horse when I wald nip,
Then is there laid on me ane whip,
To colleveris 7 then maun I skip,
That scabbit are, has cruik and cald.
Sir, let it never in town be tald,
That I should be ane Yulis yald!

Though in the stall I be not clapped,
As coursers that in silk been trapped,
With ane new house I wald be happed,
Agains this Christmas for the cald.

Sir, let it never in town be tald,
That I should be ane Yulis yald!

6 Your possession.

7 Shoemakers.

8 Meaning obscure.

9 Over-ridden.

10 Trappings.

II Every joint.