Of Discretioun in Taking

Eftir geving I speik of taking,
Bot littill of ony gud forsaiking :
Sum takkis our littill awtoritie,
And sum our mekle, and that is glaiking :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

The clerkis takis beneficis with brawlis,
Sum of Sanct Petir, and sum of Sanct Pawlis ;
Tak he the rentis, no cair hes he,
Suppois the diuill tak all thair sawlis :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Barronis takis fra the tennentis peure
All fruct that growis on the feure,
In mailis and gersomes rasit ouir hie,
And garris thame beg fra dur to dure :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Thir merchantis takis vnlesum win,
Quhilk makis thair pakkis oftymes full thin,
Be thair successioun ȝe may see
That ill-won geir riches not the kin :
In taking suld discretioun be.

Sum takis vthir menis takkis,
And on the peure oppressioun makkis,
And nevir remembris that he mon die,
Quhill that the gallowis gar him rax :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Sum takis be sie and be land,
And nevir fra taking can hald thair hand,
Quhill he be tit vp to ane tre ;
And syne thay gar him vndirstand
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Sum wald tak all his nychbouris geir,
Had he of man als littill feir
As he hes dreid that God him see ;
To tak than sowld he nevir forbeir :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Sum wald tak all this warldis breid,
And ȝit not satisfeit of thair neid,
Throw hairt vnsatiable and gredie ;
Sum wald tak littill, and can not speid :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Grit men for taking and oppressioun
Ar sett full famous at the Sessioun,
And peur takaris ar hangit hie,
Schamit for evir and thair successioun :
In taking sowld discretioun be.

Finis quod Dumbar.