1

Dremand me thocht that I did heir
The commowne peiple bane and sweir,
Blasfeimand Godis maiestie,
The dewill ay rowndand in thair eir,
" Renunce your God and cum to me."

2

The marchand sweiris mony aithe,
That newer man saw better clayth,
Na fynnar silk cum owr the se.
" To sweir," quod Sathan, " be nocht layth,
To sell my geir I will hawe the."

3

The tailyour sayis, " In all this toun,
Be thair ane better schappin gown,
I gif me to the feind als fre."
" Grant mercy, taylyour," quod Mahowne,
" Renunce your God and cum to me."

4

The sowter sayis, in gwd effect,
The dewill mot hang him be the nek,
Gif better butis of ledder may be.
The feind sayis, " Fy, thow savris of blek,
Ga, wysche the weill, syn cum to me."

5

The bakstar sayis, " I forsak God,
And all his warkis, ewin and od,
That better breid did na man se."
The dewill said, and on him cowld nod,
" With thy licht lewis cum wnto me."

6

The fleschour sweiris be Godis woundis:
" Come newer sic beif into thir bowndis,
Na fattar mottoune can nocht be."
" Fals," quod the feind and till him rowndis,
" Renunce thy God and cum to me."

7

" Be Goddis blud," quod the tauernneir,
" Thair is sic wyine in my selleir,
Hes newer come in this cuntrie."
" Yit," quod the dewill, " thow sellis our deir.
With thy fals met cum downe to me."

8

The menstrall sayis, " That ewer I thryve,
Gif I do oucht bot drink and swyve."
The dewill sais than, " I counsall the,
Excers that craft in all thy lyve,
Syn cum and play ane spring to me."

9

The fiche wyfis flet and swore thair menis,
And to the feind gaif flesche and banis,
Sa did the hukstaris hailellie.
The dewill said, " Welcum all at anis,
Renunce your God and cum to me."

10

The rest of craftis grit ethis swair,
Thair wark and craft had na compair,
Ilk ane into thar qualitie.
The dewill sayis thane, withouttin mair,
" Renunce your God and cum to me."

11 [ cf B15]

The theif sayis, " That ewer I scaip!
Na ane stark widdie gar me gaip,
Bot I in hell for geir wald be."
The dewill sayis, " Welcum in a raip,
Renunce your God and cum to me."

12 [ cf B3]


The cowrt man did grit aithis sweir,
He wald serve Sathan for sewin yeir,
For fair claythis and gold plaintie.
The dewill said, " Thair is sum for geir,
Wald renunce God and duell with me."

13

To bane and sweir na staittis stud a,
Man or woman, grit or sma,
Ryche and pwr, nor the clargie.
The dewill said than, " Of commown la
All mensworne folk man cum to me."