The Petition of the Gray Horse, Auld Dunbar

Now lufferis cummis with largess lowd,
Quhy sould not palfrayis thane be prowd,
Quhen gillettis wilbe schomd and schroud,
That ridden ar baith with lord and lawd ?
Schir, lett it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

Quhen I was ȝoung and into ply,
And wald cast gammaldis to the sky,
I had beine bocht in realmes by,
Had I consentit to be sauld.
Schir, lett it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

With gentill horss quhen I wald knyp,
Thane is thair laid on me ane quhip,
To colleveris than man I skip,
That scabbit ar, hes cruik and cald.
Schir, lett it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

Thocht in the stall I be nocht clappit,
As cursouris that in silk beine trappit,
With ane new houss I wald be happit,
Aganis this Crysthinmes for the cald.
Schir, lett it nevir in town be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

Suppois I war ane ald ald aver,
Schott furth our clewch to pull the clever,
And had the strenthis off all Strenever,
I wald at ȝoull be housit and stald,
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I suld be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

I am ane auld horss, as ȝe knaw,
That evir in duill dois drug and draw ;
Great court horss puttis me fra the staw,
To fang the fog be firthe and fald.
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

I haif run lang furth in the feild,
On pastouris that ar plane and peild ;
I mycht be now tein in for eild,
My beikis ar spruning he and bauld.
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

My mane is turned in to quhyt,
And thairof ȝe haff all the wyt !
Quhen uther horss had bran to byt
I gat bot griss, cnype gif I wald.
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

I was nevir dautit into stabell,
My lyf hes bene so miserable,
My hyd to offer I am abill,
For evill schom strae that I reive wald.
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

And ȝit, suppois my thrift be thyne,
Gif that I die ȝour aucht within,
Latt nevir the soutteris have my skin,
With uglie gumes to be gnawin.
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

The court hes done my curage cuill,
And maid me ane forriddin muill;
Ȝett, to weir trappouris at this ȝuill,
I wald be spurrit at everie spald.
Schir, latt it nevir in toun be tald,
That I sould be ane ȝuillis ȝald !

Responsio Regis.

Eftir our wrettingis, thesaurer,
Tak in this gray horss, Auld Dunbar,
Quhilk in my aucht with schervice trew
In lyart changeit is in hew.
Gar howss him now aganis this ȝuill,
And busk him lyk ane beschopis muill,
For with my hand I have indost
To pay quhat euir his trappouris cost