SUPPLEMENT. THE first Poem inserted in the Supplement is so exceedingly rare, that the copy from which I have printed is supposed to be unique. It is valuable, as the principal events in our Reformer's life are commemorated in it, and the leading features of his character delineated, by the pen of one who was personally acquainted with him. The serious reader will be pleased in tracing the vein of piety which runs through rhymes which must appear to him rude, and sometimes almost unintelligible. As a curious specimen of the Scottish language and versification at the period in which it was composed, the old orthography has been carefully retained. --Its author, John Davidson, was a professor in the University of St Andrews, and afterwards minister, first of Libberton, and then of Salt-Preston, now called Prestonpans. I have already referred to several of his other writings. Vol. i. p. 352. Vol. ii. p. 341, 344. In 1602 he published a Catechism, entitled "Some Helpes for Young Scholiers in Christianity," printed at Edinburgh by Robert Waldegrave. And he died about 1608. Note subjoined to Jameson's edition of his Catechism, 1708. The Latin Poems which follow are taken from a MS. in the Advocates Library. They exhibit traits in the characters of the principal Scottish Martyrs and Reformers, and contain allusions to several events in their lives which I have not met with elsewhere. On this account, and also as a specimen of Scottish literature, I have published a selection from the MS. which appears to have been written about the beginning of the seventeenth century. From the corrections with which it abounds there is reason to think that the copy in the Library had belonged to the author. It likewise contains Latin Poems, entitled "Icones Regum Judæ et Israelis.”—The author, John Johnston, was a professor of the New College in the University of St Andrews, at the close of the sixteenth and commencement of the seventeenth century. He was the intimate friend and associate of Andrew Melville, the learned principal of that College. He published, "Heroes ex omni Historia Scotica lectissimi. Lugduni Batavorum, 1603." 4to. And also "Inscriptiones Heroica Regum Scotorum," which were reprinted in "Delicia Poetarum Scotorum." His Verses on Buchanan are inserted in "Poetarum Scotorum Musæ Saræ,” Tom. ii. p. 500. It is said that he also published a book on the gov ernment of the church by Bishops; but this I have not seen. ANE BREIF COM MENDATIOVN OF V PRICHTnes, in respect of the surenes of the same, to all that walk in it, amplifyit cheifly be that notabill document of Goddis michtie protectioun, in preseruing his maist vpright seruand, and feruent Messinger of Christis Euangell, Iohne Knox. Set furth in Inglis meter be M. Iohne Dauidsone, Regent in S. Leonards College. ¶ Quhairunto is addit in the end ane schort discurs of the Estaitis quha hes caus to deploir the deith of this Excellent seruand of God. TPSALME. XXXVII. Mark the vpricht man, and behauld the Iust, for the end. of that man is peace. TIM PRENTIT AT SANCTAN- TO THE MAIST GODLIE, ANCIENT, AND WORTHIE CONSIDDERING with my self (maist worthie Knicht) the greit frailtie and vnsureness of all strenthis eirthly quhatsueuer, quharin ma leifing god, vsis to put his traist on the ane part, and the sure fortres and saifgaird of vprichtnes, howbeit destitute of all aide warldly on the vther part: I culd not withhald my pen frō vttering of that praise and commendatioun of vprichtnes, quhilk in my mynde I had consauit of the same. Being chiefly mouit heirunto be the Miraculous (as I may weill call it) and maist wonderfull preseruatioun of that maist notabill seruand of God, and sinceir Preicheour of Christis Euangell, Iohne Knox. Quha being bot of small estimatioun befoir the eyis of the warld (zit greit befoir God) was hatit vnto the deith. And that euin be Kingis, Queenis, Princes, and greit men of the warld, and finally be all the rabill of Sathanis suddartis (a), in Scotland, Ingland, and France. Zea, not only was he hatit, and raillit on, bot also persecutit maist scharply, and buntit from place to place as ane vnworthie of ony societie with man. And althocht thay wer michtie and potent, zea, and wantit na euill will, and he on the vther syde ane pure man, alane, and oft tymes without help, or assistance of ye warld, zit was he michtely preseruit, and as in a maist sure saifgard (all the wickits attentis quha thristit nathing mair nor his blude being frustrat) conducted to ane maist quyet, peaciabill and happy end, to the greit aduancement of Goddis glorie, and singulare comfort of his Kirk, and to the confusioun of Sathan and discōfort of all his wickit instrumētis. Thairfoir that this sa notabil and euidēt ane documēt of the louing cair of our god towardis his seruāds suld not with him be buryit bot (4) soldiers. abyde recent in memorie till all the inhabitantis of this Realme in all ages to cum." "Thaue preissit (6) schortly in this lytill paper to mak, as it wer, ane memoriall of the same, and yat in that lāguage quhilk is maist cōmoun to this hail Realme, to the intent that asweill vnleitnit as leirnit may be partakeirs of the same. Not that I think my self abill to handill sa worthie ane mater wörthelie in ony toung, bot that partly I may schaw my gude will” in this mater, and partly to gif occasioun to vtheris, that baith hes mair dexteritie in sic thingis, and greiter opportunitie of tyme, to intreit the same at greiter lenth. That be calling to mynd this notabill exepill of Godis louing cair towardis vs, we in all thir feirfull dayis (quhairin he that seis not tryall approching neir is destitute of Iudgement) may be strenthnit and encourageit to ga ford wart vprichtly, euerie ane in our awin vocatioun, without declyning outher to the richt hand or to the left. And principally that our watche men faint not, nor begin to iouk (c), or flatter with the world for feir of Tyrānis, bot that thay may haue brasin faces, and foirheidis of Iron aganis the threitnings of the wickit, codempning impietie of all persounis in plane termis, following the ensāpill of this maist zelous seruad of God, of quhōe heirtofoir we haue maid mentioun, and that being assurit gif sa thay walk vprichtly in dischargeing of thair office, that thay ar in ye protectioun of the Almichtie. And this small frute of my sober trauellis, I haue thocht gude to offer and present to zow (maist worthie Knicht) not sa mekill for that, that I thocht it worthie to be presentit til ony: as that I wald let my gude will and grate (d) mynd, be the same appeir towardis zow, throw quhais procurement I obtenit the benefite of that godly and faithfull (thocht mockit and falsly traducit of the warld) societie, quhairof presently I am participant. For the quhilk I acknawledge me, and my humbill seruice alwayis addettit to zour honour. And howbeit (as I mon confes) nathing can proceid of me that may in ony wayis correspond to zour (b) pressed, endeavoured. (c) shift. (d) grateful meritis towardis me: zit sal the thankfulnes of mynd at na tyme (God willing) be deficient. Quhilk is to be acceptit, quhair vther thingis are lacking, in place of greit rewaird. And the rather haue I takin bauldness to dedicat this lytill Treateis vnto zour honour, baith becaus I vnderstude, zow euer to haue bene sen zour Chyldheid, ane vnfenzeit fauourar, and mantenar to zour power of vprichtnes, quhais praise in this lytill Volume is intreatit. And also, that this notabill seruand of God (quhais michtie preseruatioun, notwithstanding the wickitis rage, to ane quyet end, chiefly mufit me to this busines) was maist belufit of zow quhile he leuit, and yat for yat greit vprichtnes quhilk ze saw from tyme to tyme maist viuely expres the self in him. And finally, that your honour may be mufit heirby, as ze haue begunne and continewit to this day ane zelous professour of Goddis word, manténar of the samin, and lufer of his seruandis: sa ze may perseueir to the end of zour lyfe, without sclander to zour professioun, euer approuing the treuth, and haitting impietie in all persounis, not leaning to warldly wisdome, nor louking for the pleasure of greit men in the warld: Sen nane of thir thingis, bot only vprichtnes can outher mak ane plesand to God, or zit sure in this warld. And sa traisting that zour honour will accept this my sober offer (till God grant better occasioun of greter) intill gude part. I commit zow to the protectioun of the Almichtie, that quhen it sall pleis God to tak zow furth of this miserie, ze may end zour lyfe in the sanctificatioun of his haly name. To quhome be praise and Glorie, for euer. Amen. From Sanct androis the XVIII. of February. |