Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, 1490-1555 > Volume 1, 1938

THE TESTAMENT OF THE PAPYNGO.
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Quhat cummer & cair wes in the court of france,
Quhen kyng francose wes takin presoneir.
The Duke of Burboun, amyd his ordinance, 565
Deit at ane straik, rycht bailfull brocht on beir.
The court of Rome, that tyme, rane all aureir,
Quhew Pape Clement wes put in strang presoun,
The nobyll Citie put to confusioun.
In Ingland, quho had greter gouemance 570
Nor thare tryumphand courtly Cardinal! ?
The commoun weill, sum sayis, he did auance
Be equale lustice, boith to gret and small;
Thare wes no Prelate to hym paregall.
Inglismen sayis, had he roung langer space 575
He had deposit Sanct Peter of his place.
His princely pompe, nor Papale grauitie,
His palyce ryall, ryche, and radious,
Nor, ^it, the flude of Superfluitie
Off his ryches, nor trauell tedious, 580
Frome tyme dame Curia held hym odious,
Preualit hym not, nor prudence moste profound :
The ledder braik, and he fell to the ground.
Quhare bene the douchty Erlis of Dowglas,
Quhilkis ryallie in to this regioun rang ? 585
Forfait and slane ; quhat nedith more proces ?
[B 5a] The Erie of Marche wes merschellit thzm amang,
Dame Curia thame dulefullie doun thrang ; 588
And, now of lait, quho clam more heych, amawg vs,
Nor did Archebalde, Umquhyle the Erie of Angous ?
Quho with his Prince wes more familiar, 591
Nor of his grace had more auctoritie ?
Was he nocht gret Wardane and chancellar ?
3it, quhen he stude vpon the heychest gre,
Traistyng no thyng bot perpetuitie, 595
Was suddanlie deposit frome his place,
Forfait, and flemit: he gat non vther grace.