Popular Songs.
Reading edition
[The stanzas which follow are selected from the popular songs of the period. They date from a year or two before Mary's arrival in Scotland, but will serve to illustrate the extreme difficulty experienced by a Roman Catholic queen in dealing with such a people.]
The Gude and Godly Ballates. Reprint of 1868, p. 153.
The hunt is up, the hunt is up,[10] It is now perfect day, Jesus, our King, is gone in hunting, Who likes to speed, they may. A cursed fox lay hid in rocks This long and many a day, Devouring sheep, while he might creep, None might him scare away. It did him good to lap the blood Of young and tender lambs; None could he miss, for all was his, The young ones with their dams. The hunter is Christ, that huntis in haste, The hounds are Peter and Paul; The Pope is the fox, Rome is the rocks, That rubs us on the gall.
THE POPE, THAT PAGAN FULL OF PRIDE
Ibid.
The Pope, that pagan full of pride, He has us blinded long; For where the blind the blind does guide, No wonder they go wrong; Like prince and king, he led the ring Of all iniquity; "Hay trix, tryme go trix," Under the greenwood tree. But his abomination The Lord has brought to light; His Popish pride, and threefold crown, Almost have lost their might. His plack pardons are but lardouns[11] Of new found vanity; "Hay trix, tryme go trix," Under the greenwood tree. Of late I saw these limmers[12] stand Like mad men at mischief, Thinking to get the upper hand, They look after relief; But all in vain, go tell them plain That day will never be; "Hay trix, tryme go trix," Under the greenwood tree. O Jesus! if they thought great glee To see God's word down smorit,[13] The Congregation made to flee, Hypocrisy restorit; With masses sung, and bellis rung, To their idolatry; Marry, God thank you, we shall gar brank[14] you, Before that time truly.
MURRAY, LETHINGTON, AND KNOX