Notes. This short, undated poem may refer to rumours of a gold mine north of the border. The libel’s depiction of Scottish poverty is entirely commonplace—and essential to the charge that the Scots who had accompanied James VI into England had come to plunder English wealth.

A Myene of Gold some say their’s found

In Scotland; that’s a wonder.

To see noe money above ground

And yett to fynde some under.

Source. Bodleian MS Malone 23, p. 120

Other known sources. Bodleian MS Douce f.5, fol. 34v; BL Add. MS 22118, fol. 9v; Folger MS V.a.319, fol. 26r

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