III. Your stinkand style 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 June;" That ye have neither wit nor will, To win yourself a better name! VII. Your burgh of beggars is ane nest, That for the poor has nothing drest,3 VIII. Your profit daily does increase, gress For cry of crooked, 4 blind, and lame; That ye sic substance does possess, IX. Cunninger men maun serve saint clown, 10 Sen for the Court and the Session, 5 The great repair of this region Gif they pass to ane other town 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? ane shame ; Keep order, and poor neighbours beit, That ye may get a better name! narrow 7 Evidently passage near St Giles' Cathedral. 8 The same thing. musicians serve the common shows. Jesters. I St Giles' Cathedral. 9 Town pipers. 3 Stairs projecting in- 10 Better to the street. The cross, a central business point in " Old Edinburgh. 12 Shoemakers. XI. Singular profits so does you blind, The common profit goes behind; pray that God remeid may and, TO THE KING. THE PETITION OF THE GRAY HORSE, AULD DUNBAR. Now lovers come with largess' loud, When I was young and into ply,5 Sir, let it never in town be tald, Though in the stall I be not clapped, Sir, let it never in town be tald, "In Sutherlandshire(?) 5 Rive and eat. 6 Your possession. 7 Shoemakers. 8 Meaning obscure. 9 Over-ridden. 10 Trappings. 11 Every joint. |