Tidings from the Session

Ane mvrlandis man of vplandis mak
At hame thus to his nychtbour spak,
" Quhat tydingis gossep, peax or weir? "
The tother rownit in his eir,
" I tell ȝow this vndir confessioun,
Bot laitly lichtit of my meir,
I come of Edinburch fra the Sessioun."

" Quhat tythingis hard ȝe thair, I pray ȝow? "
The tother answerit, " I sall say ȝow,
Keip this all secreit, gentill brother ;
Is na man thair that trestis ane vther :
Ane commoun doar of transgressioun
Of innocent folkis prevenis a futher :
Sic tydingis hard I at the Sessioun."

Sum with his fallow rownis him to pleiss
That wald for invy byt of his neiss ;
His fa sum by the oxstar leidis ;
Sum patteris with his mowth on beidis,
That hes his mynd all on oppressioun ;
Sum beckis full law and schawis bair heidis,
Wald luke full heich war not the Sessioun.

Sum bydand the law layis land in wed ;
Sum super expendit gois to his bed;
Sum speidis, for he in court hes menis;
Sum of parcialitie complenis,
How feid and favour flemis discretioun ;
Sum speiks full fair, and falsly fenis :
Sic tythings hard I at the Sessioun.

Sum castis summondis, and sum exceptis ;
Sum standis besyd and skaild law keppis ;
Sum is continwit, sum wynnis, sum tynis ;
Sum makis him mirry at the wynis ;
Sum is put owt of his possessioun ;
Sum herreit, and on creddens dynis :
Sic tydingis hard I at the Sessioun.

Sum sweiris, and forsaikis God ;
Sum in ane lamb skin is ane tod ;
Sum in his toung his kyndnes tursis ;
Sum cuttis throttis, and sum pykis pursis ;
Sum gois to gallouss with processioun ;
Sum sanis the Sait, and sum thame cursis :
Sic tydings hard I at the Sessioun.

Religious men of diuerss placis
Cumis thair to wow and se fair facis ;
Baith Carmeleitis and Cordilleris
Cumis thair to genner and get ma freiris,
And ar vnmyndfull of thair professioun ;
The ȝungar at the eldar leiris :
Sic tydingis hard I at the Sessioun.

Thair cumis ȝung monkis of he complexioun,
Of devoit mynd, luve, and affectioun ;
And in the courte thair hait flesche dantis,
Full faderlyk, with pechis and pantis ;
Thay ar so humill of intercessioun,
All mercyfull wemen thair eirandis grantis :
Sic tydings hard I at the Sessioun.

Finis quod Dumbar.