ANE SATIRE OF THE THREE ESTAITIS: OPPRESSION BETRAYS THEFT by DAVID LYNDSAY

OPPRESSIOUN

HAVE I nocht made ane honest shift
That has betrasit Commoun Thift,
For thar is nocht under the lift
And curster corse.
I am richt sure that he and I
Within this half-year craftily
Has stolen ane thousand sheep and kye
By maris and hors.
Wald God that I were sound and haill,
Now liftit into Liddesdale,
The Merse suld find me beef and kale
Whatrack of bread.
Where I there liftit with my life,
The Devil suld stick me with a knife
And ever I come again in Fife
Whill I were deid:
Adew, I leave the Devil amang you
That in his fingaris he may fang you
With all leill men that dois belang you,
For I may rue
That evir I come into this land;
For why ye may weill understand
I gat na gear to turn mine hand
Yet anis adew.

THEFT

(@3Speaks from the gallows@1)

Allace, this is ane fellon rippat.
The widdefow wardens tuk my gear
And left me nowdir hors nor meir,
Nor erdly gude that me belangit,
Now wallaway I mon be hangit.
Repent your livis all plain oppressiouris
All murdressaris and strang transgressouris
Or ellis ga choose you gude confessouris,
And mak you ford:
For and ye tarry in this land
And come under correctiounis hand
Your grace sall be I understand
Ane gude sharp cord.
Adew, my brether commoun thievis
That helpit me in my mischievis
Adew Grossaris, Niksonis and Bellis,
Oft have we fairne out through the fellis;
Adew Robsonis, Hawis and Pylis
That in our craft has mony wylis;
Littillis, Trumbillis and Armestrangis
Adew, all thievis that me belangis,
Tailyouris, Erewynis and Elwandis,
Speedy of feet and slicht of handis,
The Scottis of Eskdale and the Grames
I have na time to tell your names,
With King Correctioun be ye fangit
Believe richt sure ye will be hangit.

FALSET
(@3After Theft is hanged@1)

Wae's me for good Commoun Thift
Was never man made more honest shift
His living for to win.
There was nocht in all Liddesdale
That kye more craftily could steal
Where thou hangs on that pin.

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