III.

Your stinkand style1 that standis dirk, Haldis the light frae your parish kirk ;2 Your fore stairs 3 makis your houses mirk, Like nae country but here at hame;

Think ye not shame,

Sae little policy to work

In hurt and slander of your name!

IV.

At your high cross 4 where gold and silk Should be, there is but curds and milk; And at your trone 5 but cockle and wilk, Pansches, puddings of Jock and Jame ;7 Think ye not shame,

Sen as the world sayis that ilk

In hurt and slander of your name!

V.

Your common minstrel has no tune
But "Now the Day Daws," and "Into

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 ;2
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 crooked,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,
Awffrand7 ane shame;

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

TO THE KING.

THE PETITION OF THE GRAY HORSE,
AULD DUNBAR.

Now lovers come with largess' 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? 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!

Suppose I were an auld yaid aver,9
Shot forth oure cleuchs to pull the claver, 10
And had the strength of all Stranaver,"
I wald at Yule be housed and stalled.
Sir, let it never in town be tald,
That I should be ane Yulis yald!

I am ane auld horse, as ye knaw,
That ever in dule does dring and draw;

6 Your possession.

7 Shoemakers.

8 Meaning obscure.

9 Over-ridden.

10 Trappings.

11 Every joint.