O Lady For Thy Constancie
Andrew Blackhall
written for Mary, Queen of Scots, and set to traditional Scottish melody: On the Banks of the Helicon, circa 1575

O lady, for thy constancie,
A faithfull servand sall I be,
Thyn honour to defend;
And I sall surlie,for they saik,
as doth the turtle for her maik (mate),
Love to my lyfis end.
No pene nor travell,feir nor dreid,
Sall caus me to desist.
Then,ay vhen ye this letter reid,
Remember hou we kist;
Embracing,with lacing,
With other teirus sueet.
Sik blissing in kissing
I quyt (repay) till we tua (two) meit.
Albeit my body be absent,
My faithful hairt is vigilent
To do you service true;
Bot,when I hant (visit) into the place
Quhair (where) I wes wont to sei that face,
My dolour (pain) does reneu.
Then all my plesur is bot pain,
My cairis they do incres;
Vntil I sie your face agane,
I live in hevynes.
Saire weeping, but (without) sleeping,
The nichts I ouerdryve (endure);
Quhlys murning (while mourning),
vhylis (sometimes) turning,
With thoghtis pensityve (heavy).