A Ballad of Welcome
Welcome, O Souveraine! Welcome, O natyve Quene!
Welcome to us your subiects great and small!
Welcome, I say, even from the verie splene,1
To Edinburgh your syttie principall.
Whereas your people with harts both one and all
Doth here{in} offer to your excellence
Two proper volumes2 in memoriall
As gyfte most gainand3 to a godlie prince.
Wherein your Grace may reade to understande
The perfett waye unto the hevennes hie,
And how to Rule your subiects and your land,
And how your kingdom stablished shalbe,
Judgment and wysdome therein shall ye see.
Here shall you find your God his due commande,
And who the contrarie does wilfullie,
How them he threatens with his scurge and wand.
Ane gyfte more precious cold4 we none present
Nor yet more needefull to your Excellence,
Qwylk5 is Gode’s lawes his words and testament
Trewlie translate with frutefull diligence,
Qwylk to accepte with humble reverence
The Provist present most hartelie you exorte
With the hole subiects due obedience,
Together with the keyes of their porte.
In signe that they6 and all that they possess
Bodie and good shall ever reddie be
To serve you as their souveraine hie mistress
Both daye and {night} after thair bound dutie:
Besechinge7 your Grace in this necessitie
Thair {too} shorte tyme and {their} godwill8 consether9
Accepte their harts and take it pacientlie
That may be done, seing all is yours together.
A TOLERANT PROCLAMATION