Hary's Wallace (vita nobilissimi defensoris scotie Wilelmi Wallace militis): Edited by Matthew P. McDiarmid |
 | I, II. |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. | BOOK X |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | Hary's Wallace |  |
1
BOOK X
The later day off August fell this cace.For the reskew thus ordanyt wicht Wallace
Off Sanct Ihonstoun that Sothroun occupyit.
Fast towart Tay thai passyt and aspyit,
Or it was day wndyr Kynnowll thaim laid.
Out off the toun as Scottis men till hym said,
That serwandys oysyt with cartis hay to leid,
So was it suth and hapnyt in-to deid.
Saxsum thar com and brocht bot cartis thre.
Quhen thai off hay was ladand most bysse,
Guthre with ten in handys has thaim tayn,
Put thaim to dede, off thaim he sawyt nayn.
Wallace gert tak in haist thar humest weid
And sic-lik men thai waillyt weill gud speid.
Four was rycht rud. Wallace hym selff tuk ane,
A rwsset clok; and with him gud Ruwane,
Guthre, Besat, and als gud ȝemen twa,
In that ilk soit thai graithit thaim to ga.
Xv thai tuk off men in armes wicht;
In ilk cart v thai ordanyt owt off sycht.
Full sutelly thai coueryt thaim with hay,
Syne to the toun thai went the gaynest way.
Thir cartaris, had schort suerdis off gud steill
Wndyr thar weidis, callyt furth the cartis weill.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay baid with a buschement still,
Quhen myster war to help thaim with gud will.
Thir trew cartaris past on with-outyn let
A-tour the bryg and entryt throu the ȝet;
2
Gud Wallace than the mayster portar can ta
Wpon the ned, quhill dede he has him left,
Syn othir twa the lyff fra thaim has reft.
Guthre, Besat, did rycht weyll in the toun
And Ruwan als dang off thar famen doun.
The armyt men, was in the cartis brocht,
Rais wp and weill thar dawern has wrocht.
Apon the gait thai gert feill Sothroun de.
The Ramsais spy has seyn thaim get entre;
The buschement brak, bathe bryg and port has won.
Into the toun gret stryff thar was begon.
Twentie and ane, or Ramsay come in playn,
Within the toun had saxte Sotheroun slayn.
The Inglismen on till aray was gayn.
The Scottis as than layser leit thaim get nayn.
Fra gud Ramsay with his men entryt In
Thai sawit nayn was born off Inglis kyn.
Als Longaweill, the wicht knycht schir Thomas,
Prewyt weill than and in mony othir place.
Agayn his dynt few Inglismen mycht stand.
Wallace with him gret faith and kyndnes fand.
The Sotheroun part saw weill the toun was tynt;
Freschly thai ferd as fyr dois out off flynt.
Sum fled, sum fell in-to draw dykis deip,
Sum to the kyrk thar lywys giff thai mycht keip;
Sum fled to Tay and in small weschell ȝeid,
Sum derffly deit and drownyt in that steid.
Schir Ihon Sewart at the west port owt past;
Till Meffen wod he sped him wondyr fast.
A hundreth men the kyrk tuk for succour
Bot Wallace wald no grace grant in that hour;
3
Said thai had to Sanct Ihonstoun Enemys beyn.
Four hundreth men in-to the toun war ded.
Sewyn scor with lyff chapyt out off that sted.
Wyffis and barnys thai maid thaim fre to ga;
With Wallace wyll he wald sla nayn off tha.
Riches thai fand that Inglismen had brocht new,
Syn plenyst the toun with worthi Scottis trew.
Schyr Ihon Sewart left Meffen forest strang,
Went to the Gask with feyll Sotheroun amang
And syn in Fyff quhar Wallang schirreff was;
Send currowris sone out throw the land to pas
And gaderyt men, a stalwart cumpany.
Till Ardargan he drew him prewaly,
Ordand thaim in bargan reddy boun.
Agayn he thocht to sailȝe Sanct Ihonstoun,
Quhar Wallace lay and wald no langar rest,
Rewllyt the toun as that him likyt best.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay gret captane ordand he,
Ruwan schirreff, at ane accord for to be.
This charge he gaiff, gyff men thaim warnyng maid
To cum till him with-outyn mor abaid,
And so thai did quhen tithingis was thaim brocht.
With a hundreth Wallace furth fra thaim socht.
To Fyfe he past to wesy that cuntre,
Bot wrangwarnyt off Inglismen was he.
Schyr Ihon Sewart, quhen thai war passyt by,
Fra the Ochell he sped him haistely,
Vpon Wallace folowit in all his mycht,
In Abyrnethy tuk lugyng that fyrst nycht.
Apon the morn with xv hundreth men
Till Blak Irnsyde his gydys couth thaim ken.
4
Till Sanct Ihonstoun, to mak this Iornay kend,
For Inglismen that full sutell has beyn
Gart wachis walk that nayn mycht pas betweyn.
Than Wallace said, “This mater payis nocht me.”
He cald till him the squier gud Guthre
And Beset als, that knew full weyll the land,
And ast at thaim quhat deid was best on hand,
“Message to mak our pouer for to get.
With Sotheroun sone we sall be wmbeset;
And wykked Scottis that knawis this forest best,
Thai ar the caus that we may haiff no rest.
I dreid fer mar Wallang that is thar gyd
Than all the layff that cummys on that syd.”
Than Guthre said, “Mycht we get ane or tway
To Saynct Iohnstoun, it war the gaynest way,
And warn Ramsay, we wald get succour sone.
Our suth it is it can nocht now be don.
Rycht weyll I wait weschell is lewyt nayn
Fra the Wood hawyn to the ferry cald Aran.”
Than Wallace said, “The water awfull is.
My selff can swym, I trow, and fall na mys,
Bot currours oys, that gaynis nocht for me;
And leyff ȝow her ȝet had I leuir de.
Throw goddis grace we sall bettir eschew.
The strenth is stark, als we haiff men Inew.
In Elchoch park bot fourty thar war we
For sewyn hundreth and gert feill Sothron de,
And chapyt weill in mony wnlikly place;
So sall we her throw help off goddis grace.
Quhill men may fast thir woddis we may hauld still.
Forthi ilk man be off trew hardy will,
5
Off ws be found no lak eftir to reid.
The rycht is ouris, we suld mor ardent be.
I think to freith this land or ellis de.”
His waillyt spech, with wit and hardyment,
Maid all the layff so cruell off entent
Sum bad take feyld and gyff battaill in playn.
Wallace said, “Nay, thai wordys are in wayn.
We will nocht leyff that may be our wantage.
The wod till ws is worth a ȝeris wage.”
Off hewyn temyr in haist he gert thaim tak,
Syllys off ayk, and a stark barres mak
At a foyr frount, fast in the forest syd,
A full gret strenth quhar thai purpost to bid;
Stellyt thaim fast till treis that growand was
That thai mycht weyll in fra the barres pas,
And so weill graithit on athir sid about
Syn com agayn, quhen thai saw thaim in dout.
Be that the strenth arayit was at rycht
The Inglis ost approchyt to thair sycht.
Than Sewart com that way for till haiff wend
As thai war wount, so his gydis thaim kend.
At that entre thai thocht till haiff passage
But sone thai fand that maid thaim gret stoppage.
A thousand he led off men in armes strang.
With v hundreth he gert Ihon Wallang gang
With-out the wod that nayn suld pas thaim fra.
Wallace with him had fourty archarys thra;
The layff was speris, full nobill in a neid.
On thar Enemys thai bykkyr with gud speid.
A cruell cwntyr was at the barres seyn.
The Scottis defens so sykkyr was and keyn
Sotheroun stud aw to enter thaim amang.
Feill to the ground thai our-threw in that thrang.
6
Quha entrit In agayn ȝeid neuirmar.
Fourty thai slew that formast wald haiff past.
All dysarayit the ost was and agast,
And part off hors, throw schot to dede was brocht,
Brak to a playn. The Sotheroun fra them socht.
The Sewart said, “Allace, how may this be
And do no harm? Our gret rabut haiff we.”
He cald Wallang and askyt his consaill:
“Schyrreff thow art. Quhat may be our awaill?
Bot few thai ar that makis this gret debait.”
Iohn Wallang said, “This is the best I wait,
To ces her-off and remayn her besyd,
For thai may nocht lang in this forest byd.
For fawt off fud thai mon in the cuntre.
Than war mar tym to mak on thaim melle.
Or thai be won befors in-to this stryff
Feyll at ȝe leid sall erar los the lyff.”
Than Sewart said, “This reid I will nocht tak.
And Scottis be warnyt reskew sone will thai mak.
Off this dispyt amendys I think to haiff,
Or de thar-for in nowmyr with the laiff.
In-till a rang myselff on fut will fayr.”
Viii hundreth he tuk off liklyest that was thair,
Syn bad the layff bid at the barres still
With Ihon Wallang to rewyll thaim at this will.
“Wallang,” he said, “be forthwart in this cace.
In sic a swar we couth nocht get Wallace.
Tak hym or sla, I promes the be my lyff
That king Edwart sall mak the Erll off Fyff.
At ȝon est part we think to enter in.
I bid no mar. Mycht ȝe this barres wyn,
Fra thai be closyt graithly amang ws sa,
7
Assailȝe sayr quhen ȝe wit we cum ner.
On athir sid we sall hald thaim on ster.”
Thus semlyt thai apon ane awfull wys.
Wallace has seyn quhat was thair haill dewys.
“Gud men,” he said, “wndirstud ȝe this deid?
Forsuth thai ar rycht mekill for to dreid.
Ȝon Sewart is a nobill, worthy knycht,
Forthwart in wer, rycht hardy, wys and wicht.
His assailȝe he ordannys wondyr sayr.
Ws for to harm no mannys wyt can do mar.
Plesand it is to se a chyftane ga
So chyftanlyk; it suld recomfort ma
Till his awn men, and thai of worschip be,
Than for to se x thousand cowartis fle.
Sen we are stad with Enemys on Ilk syd
And her on fors mon in this forest bid,
Than fray the fyrst for goddis saik cruellye,
That all the layff off ws abayssyt be.”
Crawfurd he left and Longaweill the knycht,
Fourty with thaim, to kepe the barres wicht.
With him saxte off worthy men in weid
To meit Sewart with hardy will thai ȝeid.
A maner dyk in-to that wod wes maid
Off thuortour rys, quhar bauldly thai abaid.
A doun-with waill the Sothroun to thaim had.
Son semblyt thai with strakis sar and sad.
Scharp sperys fast duschand on athir sid
Throw byrnys brycht maid woundis deip and wid.
This wantage was, the Scottis thaim dantyt swa,
Nayn Inglisman durst fra his feris ga
To brek aray, or formast entyr in.
8
For wrangwis caus, and has beyn mony day.
Feyll Inglismen in the dyk deid thai lay.
Speris full sone all in-to splendrys sprang.
With scharp suerdys thai hew on in that thrang.
Blud byrstyt out throw fyn harnes off maill.
Ihon Wallang als full scharply can assaill
Apon Crawfurd and the knycht Longaweill,
At thar power kepyt the barres weill,
Maid gud defens be wyt, manheid and mycht.
At the entre feyll men to dede thai dycht.
Thus all at-anys assailȝeit in that place,
Nayn that was thar durst turn fra the barrace
To help Wallace, nor none of his durst pas
To reskew thaim, so feyll the fechtyng was.
At athir ward thai handelyt thaim full hayt.
Bot do or de na succour ellis thai wayt.
Wallace wes stad in-to that stalwart stour,
Guthre, Besat, with men off gret walour,
Rychard Wallace that worthi was off hand.
Sewart merweillyt that contrar thaim mycht stand,
That euyr so few mycht byd in battaill place
Agaynys thaim and metyng face for face.
He thocht hym selff to end that mater weill,
Fast pressyt in with a gud suerd off steill.
In-to the dyk a Scottis man gert he de.
Wallace tharoff in hart had gret pyte.
Amendis till haiff he followit on him fast,
Bot Inglismen so thik betwex thaim past
That apon him a strak get mycht he nocht.
Wthyr worthy derffly to dede he brocht.
Sloppys thai maid throu all that chewalry.
The hardy Scottis thai wrocht so worthely.
9
Langar to bid thai thocht it nocht the best.
Four scor was slayn or thai wald leyff that steid
And fyfty als was at the barrace deid.
A trumpet blew and fra the wod thai draw.
Wallang left off, that sycht fra that he saw.
To sailȝe mar thaim thocht it was no speid.
Withowt the wod to consaill son thai ȝeid.
The worthy Scottis to rest thaim was full fayn.
Feyll hurtis had bot few off thaim was slayn.
Wallace thaim bad of all gud comfort be:
“Thankit be god, the fayrer part haiff we.
Ȝon knycht Sewart has at gret Iornay beyn.
So sair assay I haiff bot seildyn seyn.
I had leuir off Wallang wrokyn be
Than ony man that is off ȝon menȝhe.”
The Scottis all on to the barres ȝeid,
Stanchit woundis that couth full braithly bleid.
Part Scottis men had bled full mekill blud.
For faut off drynk and als wantyng off fud
Sum feblyt fast that had feill hurtis thar.
Wallace tharfor sichit with hart full sar.
A hat he hynt, to get water is gayn.
Othir refut as than he wyst off nayn.
A litill strand he fand that ran hym by.
Off cler watter he brocht haboundandly,
And drank him selff, syn said with sobyr mud,
“The wyn off Frans me thocht nocht halff so gud.”
Than off the day three quartaris was went.
Schir Ihon Sewart has castyn in his entent:
To sailȝe mar as than he couth nocht preiff,
Quhill on the morn that mar men couth raleiff
And kep thaim in, quhill thai for hungyr sor
10
“Wallange,” he said, “I charge the for to bid
And kep thaim In. I will to Coupar rid.
Thow sall remayn with v hundreth at thi will,
And I the morn sall cum with power the till.”
Ihon Wallange said, “This charg her I forsaik.
Eftir this day all nycht I may nocht waik;
For trastis weill, thai will ische to the playn,
Thocht ȝe bid als, or ellis de in the payn.”
Sewart bad byd or undyrly the blaym:
“I the commaund on gud king Eduuardis naym,
Or thar to god a vow I mak beforn,
And thai brek out, to hyng the heych to-morn!”
Off that commaund Ihon Wallang had gret dreid.
Sewart went fra thaim with ix scor in-to deid.
Next hand the wod and his gud men off Fyff,
That with him baid in all term off thar lyff,
Wallace drew ner, his tym quhen that he saw,
To the wod syd and couth on Wallang caw:
“Ȝon knycht to-morn has hecht to hyng the hie.
Cum in-till ws. I sall thi warrand be
In-contrar him and all king Eduuardis mycht.
Tak we him quyk I sall him hyng on hycht,
And gud lordschip I sall gyff the hereft
In this ilk land, that thi brothir has left.”
Wallange was wys, full sone couth wndyrstand
Be lyklynes Wallace suld wyn the land,
And better him war in-to the rycht to bid
Than be in wer apon the Sotheroun sid.
Wyth schort wysment to Wallace in thai socht.
Than Sewart criyt and said, “That beis for nocht,
And fals off kynd thow art in heretage.
Eduuard on the has waryt ewill gret wage.
11
Othir to de or haiff the at my will.”
For all his spech to pas he wald nocht spar.
Wyth full glaid hart Wallace resawyt thaim thar.
Be that Ruwan and Ramsay off renown,
Be a trew Scot that past to Sanct Ihonstoun,
Thaim warnyng maid that Sewart folowit fast
Apon Wallace, than war thai sayr agast;
Owt off the toun thai wschit with all thar mycht,
With thre hundreth that worthi war and wicht,
Till Blak Irnsid assemblyt in that place
As Wallang was gayn in to gud Wallace.
The knycht Sewart has weill thar cummyng seyn,
A fayr playn feild he chesyt thaim betweyn.
Xi hundreth and four scor than had he.
The Scottis men war v hundreth and saxte;
Thai war bot few a playn feild for to tak.
Out of the wod gud Wallace can him mak.
He wyst no thing off thaim that cummyn was;
Mar hardement was fra the strenth to pas.
Bot quhen thai hard Ruwan and Ramsay cry,
Off Ochtyrhous, blyth was that chewalry.
Mycht thai off gold haiff brocht a kingis rent,
To gud Wallace mycht nocht so weyll content.
Than till aray thai ȝeid on athir sid
In cruell Ire, in battaill bown to byd.
Worthiar men than Sewart semblyt thar
In all his tym Eduuard had neuirmar.
Bot Sewart saw his nowmyr was fer ma;
Hys power sone he gart dewyd in twa.
To fecht at-anys rycht knychtlik he thaim kend,
In that Iornay othir to wyn or end.
The worthi Scottis ruschyt on thaim in gret Ire
12
Wallace and his, als Sotheroun that was thar
Few speris had for feyll fechtyng and sar
In-to the wod at sailȝe all the day,
Bot new cummyn men weill waillyt speris had thai.
In-to the stour thai gart feill Sotheroun de.
Thar cruell deid gret merweill was to se.
Thai worthi Scottis that fyrst amang thaim baid
Full gret slauchtir on Inglismen thai maid;
In-to the wod befor had prewyt weill,
Than on the playn thai sonȝeit nocht adeill
In curage grew as thai war new begon.
Schort rest thai had fra ryssyng off the son.
Be that Ramsay and with him gud Ruwar
Throw-owt the thykkest off the pres is gan.
Sloppis thai maid amang the Inglismen,
Deseueryt thaim be twenty and by ten;
Quhen sperys war gayn, with suerdys off metall cler
Till Inglismen thar cummyng sauld full der.
Wallace and his be worthines off hand
Feyll Sotheroun blud gart licht wpon the land.
The twa feildys togiddyr relyt than.
Schyr Ihon Sewart, with mony nobill man
To help thair lord, with thre hundreth in place
About hym stud and did thair besinas,
Defendand him with mony awfull dynt,
Quhill all the owtwart off the feild was tynt.
Off comowns part in to the forest fled,
Succour to sek thar men had thaim so led.
The Scottis has seyn so mony in a rout
With Sewart stand, na warrand thaim about;
Apon all syd assailȝeit wondyr sayr,
13
The Sotheroun maid defens full cruelly.
All occupyit was this gud chewalry.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay wald thai had ȝoldyn beyn.
Wallace said, “Nay, it is all wrang ȝe meyn.
Ranson to mak we can nocht now begyn.
On sic awys this land we may nocht wyn.
Ȝon knycht off lang our auld Enemy has beyn.
So fell till ws off thaim I haiff nocht seyn.
Now he sall de; with help off goddis grace
He com to pay his Ranson in this place.”
The Sotheroun wyst all playnly for to de,
Reskew was nayn suppos at thai wald fle.
Freschlye thai faucht as thai war entryt new.
Apon our sid part worthy men thai slew.
Than Sewart said, “Alace, throw wrangwis thing
Our lywys we los, throu desyr off our king.”
The felloun knycht dowtyt his dede rycht nocht.
Amang the Scottis full manfully he wrocht.
Besat he straik to dede with-outyn mar.
Wallace prest in with his suerd burnyst bar.
At Sewartis hals he etlyt in gret Ire,
Throu pissanis stuff in sondyr strak the swyr.
Dede to the ground he duschit for all his mycht.
Off Wallace hand thus endyt this gud knycht.
The ramaynand with-out mercy thai sla.
For gud Besat the Scottis was wondyr wa.
In handis sum thai straik with-out remed.
Na Sotheroun past with lyff out off that sted.
Than to the wod, for thaim that left the feild,
A rang thai set, thus thai may get na beild.
14
Gud Ruwan past agayn to Sanct Ihonstoun.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay to Coupar castell raid.
That hous he tuk, for defens nayn was maid.
Wallace, Crawfurd, and with thaim gud Guthre,
Rychard Wallace had lang beyn in melle,
And Longaweill, in-to Lundoris baid still.
Fastyt thai had to lang agayn thar will.
Wallange thai maid thar stwart for to be.
Off meit and drynk thai fand aboundandle.
The priour fled and durst na reknyng bid;
He was befor apon the tothir syd.
Apon the morn to Sanct Androwis thai past,
Owt off the toun that byschop turnyt fast.
The kyng off Ingland had him hydder send;
The rent at will he gaiff hym in commend.
His kingis charge as than he durst nocht hald.
A wrangwys pape that tyrand mycht be cald.
Few fled with him and gat away be see.
For all Scotland he wald nocht Wallace se.
As than off him he maid bot lycht record,
Gert restor him that thar was rychtwys lord.
The worthy knycht that in-to Coupar lay
Gart spulȝe it apon the secund day,
Syn ordand men, at the commaund off Wallace,
But mar proces for to cast doun that place.
Mynouris sone thai gert pers throw the wall,
Syn pounciouns fyryt and to the ground kest all.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay syne to the kyrk can fayr.
Sotheroun was fled and left bot wallis bayr.
Eftir Sewart thai durst nocht tary lang.
The Scottis at large out throu all Fyff thai rang,
Off Inglismen nayn left in that cuntre;
15
Apon that Inch, in a small hous thai dycht,
Castell was nayn, bot wallyt with water wicht.
Besyd Carraill thai semblyt Wallace beforn.
His purpos was for till assay Kyngorn.
A knycht hecht Gray, than Captane in It was,
Be schort awys purpos he tuk to pas.
Erar he wald bid chalans off his king
Than with Wallace to rakyn for sic a thing.
That hous thai tuk and litill tary maid.
Apon the morn with-outyn mar abaid
Atour the mur, quhar thai a tryst had set,
Ner Scotlande Well thair lugyng tuk but let.
Eftir souper Wallace bad thaim ga rest:
“My selff will walk. Me think it may be best.”
As he commaundyt but gruching thai haiff don.
In-to thar slep Wallace him graithit son,
Past to Lochlewyn as it was ner mydnycht,
Xviii with him at he had warnyt rycht.
Thir men wend weill he come to wesy it.
“Falows,” he said, “I do ȝow weill to wyt;
Considyr weill this place and wndirstand
That it may do ful gret scaith to Scotland.
Out off the south and power cum thaim till
Thai may tak In and kepyt at thair awn will.
Apon ȝon Inche rycht mony men may be
And syn wsche out thar tym quhen at thai se.
To bid lang her we may nocht wpon chans.
Ȝon folk has fud, trast weill, at sufficians.
Wattir fra thaim forsuth can nocht be set.
Sum wthyr wyill ws worthis for to get.
Ȝhe sall remayn her at this port all still
And I my selff the boit sall bryng ȝow till.”
Thair-with in haist his weid off castis he,
16
Held on his sark and tuk his suerd so gud,
Band on his nek, and syn lap in the flud
And our he swam, for lattyng fand he nocht.
The boit he tuk and till hys men it brocht,
Arayit him weill and wald no langar bid,
Bot passyt In, rowit to the tothir sid.
The Inch thai tuk with suerdis drawyn in hand
And sparyt nayn that thai befor thaim fand,
Strak duris wp, stekyt men quhar thai lay.
Apon the Sothroun thus sadly semblyt thai.
Xxxty thai slew that was in that Samyn place.
To mak defens the Inglismen had no space.
Thar women v Wallace send off that sted.
Woman nor barn he gart neuir put to dede.
The gud thai tuk as it had beyn thar awyn.
Than Wallace said, “Falowis, I mak ȝow knawin,
The purwyance that is with-in thir wanys
We will nocht tyne. Ger sembyll all at-anys.
Gar warn Ramsay and our gud men Ilkan.
I will remayn quhill this warnstor be gan.”
Send furth a man, thar horsis put to kep,
Drew wp the boit, syne beddys tuk to sleip.
Wallace power, quhilk Scotland Well ner lay,
Befor the son thai myssyt him away.
Sum menyng maid and merweillyt off that cace.
Ramsay bad, “Ces, and murn nocht for Wallace.
It is for gud at he is fra us went.
It sall ȝe se, trast weill in werrament,
My hed to wed Lochlewyn he past to se.
Bot that is thar, no Inglisman knaw we
17
Tithandis off hym ȝe sall se son hereft.”
As thai about was talkand on this wys
A message com and chargyt thaim to rys.
“My lord,” he said, “to dyner has ȝow cald
In-till Lochlewyn, quhilk is a ryoll hald.
Ȝe sall fair weyll, tharfor put off all sorow.”
Thai graithit thaim rycht ayrly on the morow
And thidder past off Wallace will to wytt.
Thus semblyt thai in a full blyth falowschip.
Thai lugyt thar till viii dayis was at end.
Off meit and drynk thai had Inewch to spend;
Turssyt furth ger that Sothroun had brocht thar,
Gert byrn the boit, till Sanct Ihonstoun thai fair.
Byschop Synclar, that worthy was and wys,
Till Wallace com and tald him his awys.
Thus he desyryt Wallace suld with him ryd
And in Dunkell soiorn that wynter tyd.
Bot he said, “Nay, that hald I nocht the best.
And Scotland thus, in pes we can nocht rest.”
The byschop said, “Playnly ȝe may nocht wend.
In-to the north for men I rede ȝow send.”
“I grant,” quod he, and cheissit a messynger,
The worthi Iop, was with the byschop ther;
And maister Blair to Wallace com bot baid
With that gud lord, that nobill cher thaim maid.
Wallace send Blayr, in-to his preistis weid,
To warn the west, quhar freyndys had gret dreid
How they suld pas or to gud Wallace wyn;
For Inglismen, thai held thaim lang in twyn.
Adam Wallace and Lyndsay that was wycht,
Rawchle thai left and went away be nycht;
Throu-out the land to the Lennox thai cair
18
Maister Ihon Blair was blith off that semble.
Gud Graym was thair and Richard off Lunde,
Als Robert Boid that out off But thaim socht.
Had thai Wallace off no thing ellis thai roucht,
Bot Inglismen betuix thaim was so strang
That thai in playn mycht nocht weyll to him gang.
Iop past north, for leiching wald nocht let.
Gret power thar as than he couth nocht get.
The lord Cwmyn, that Erll off Bouchane was,
For auld Inwy he wald lat na man pas
That he mycht let, in gud Wallace supple.
For Erll Patrik a playn feild kepyt he.
Ȝeit pur men com and prewyt all thair mycht
To help Wallace, in fens off Scotlandis rycht.
The gud Randell, in tendyr age was kend,
Part off gud men out off Murray he send.
Iop past agayn and com in presens sone
Befor Wallace and tauld how he had don;
Bot maister Blayr so gud tithingis him brocht
That off Cwmyn Wallace full litill rocht.
Als Inglismen had than full mekill dreid;
Fra Fyff was tynt the war thai trowyt to speid.
The duk and Erll that in Scotland thaim led
Captanys thai maid, In Ingland syn thaim sped.
Wallace hym bownyt, qwhen he thocht tym suld be,
Off Sanct Ihonstoun and with him tuk fyfte.
Stewin off Irland and Kerle that was wicht,
For Inglismen thai had haldyn the hycht
In wathman lyff, and fayndyt thaim rycht weill.
Till gud Wallace thai war als trew as steill;
To folow him thai twa thocht neuyr lang.
Throuch the Ochell thai maid thaim for to gang.
19
To keip the land he gert the laiff abid.
To Styrlyng bryg as than he wald nocht pas
For strang power of Inglismen thar was.
Till Erth ferry thai passit prewaly
And buschit thaim in a dern sted thar by.
A cruell Captane in-till Erth duelt thar,
In Ingland born and hecht Thomlyn off Wayr.
A hundreth men was at his ledyng still.
To bruk that land thai did power and will.
A Scottis fyschar quhilk thai had tayn beforn,
Contrar his will gert him be to thaim suorn,
In thar seruice thai held him day and nycht.
Befor the son Wallace gart Iop him dycht
And send him furth the passage for to spy.
On that fyschar he hapnyt sodandly,
All him allayn bot a boy that was thar.
Iop hynt hym son, and for no dreid wald spar,
Be the collar, and owt a knyff pullit he.
“For goddis saik,” this man askit, “merce!”
Iop sperd sone, “Off quhat nacioun art thow?”
“A Scot,” he said, “bot Sothroun gart me vow
In thar seruice, agayn my will full sayr;
Bot for my lyff that I remaynit thair.
To sek fysch I com on this north sid.
Be ȝe a Scot I wald fayn with ȝow bid.”
Than he him brocht in presens to Wallace.
The Scottis was blyth quhen thai haiff seyn this cace,
For with his boit thai mycht weill passage hawe.
For fery craft na fraucht he thocht to crawe.
Apon that syd langar thai taryed nocht.
Till the south land with glaid hartis thai socht,
Syn brak the boit quhen thai war landyt thayr.
20
Than throuch the mos thai passit full gud speid.
Till the Torwod this man with thaim thai leid.
The wedow thar brocht tithandis to Wallace
Off his trew Eyme that duelt at Dunypace.
Thomlyn off Wayr in presoun had him set
For mar tresour na he befor mycht get.
Wallace said, “Deym, he sall weill lowsyt be
Be none to-morn, or ma tharfor sall de.”
Scho gat thaim meit and in quiet thai baid
Quhill it was nycht, syn redy sone thaim maid,
Towart Arth hall rycht sodeynly thaim drew.
A strenth thar was that weyll the fyschar knew,
Off draw dykis and full off watter wan.
Wysly tharoff has warnyt thaim this man.
On the baksid he led thaim prewale,
Fra the watter as wont to cum was he.
Our a small bryg gud Wallace entryt In.
In-to the hall hym selff thocht to begyn.
Fra the sowper as thai war bown to rys
He salust thaim apon ane awfull wys.
His men hym folowit sodanly at-anys.
Haisty sorow was rassyt in thai wanys;
With scherand suerdis scharply about thaim dang.
Feyll on the flur was fellyt thaim amang.
With Thomlyn Wayr Wallace hym selff has met,
A felloun strak sadly apon him set,
Throuch hede and swyr all throuch the cost him claiff.
The worthy Scottis fast stekit off the layff,
Kepyt duris and dulfully thaim dycht.
To chaip away the Sotheroun had no mycht.
Sum wyndowys socht for till haiff brokyn out,
Bot all for nocht, full fey was maid that rout.
Aboue the fyr bruschit the blud so red.
21
Than Wallace socht quhar his wncle suld be.
In a dyrk cawe he was set dulfulle,
Quhar watter stud, and he in yrnys strang.
Wallace full sone the brasis wp he dang,
Off that myrk holl brocht him with strenth and lyst.
Bot noyis he hard, off no thing ellis he wyst.
So blyth befor in warld he had nocht beyn
As thar with sycht quhen he had Wallace seyn.
In dykys owt the dede bodyis thai kest,
Graithyt the place as at thaim likyt best,
Maid still gud cher and wys wachis gert set.
Quhill ner the day thai slepe with-outyn let;
Quhen thai had lycht spulȝeid the place in hy,
Fand gaynand ger, baithe gold and Iowelry;
Our all that day in quiet held thaim still.
Quhat Sothroun come thai rasawyt with gud will.
In that laubour the Scottis was full bayn:
Inglismen com bot nayn ȝeid owt agayn,
Women and barnys put in the presonys cawe
So thai mycht mak no warnyng to the lawe.
Stewyn off Irland and Kerle that wes wicht
Kepyt the port. Apon the secund nycht,
Befor the day, the worthy Scottis rays,
Turssyt gud ger and to the Torwod gays;
Remaynyt thar quhill nycht was cummyn on hand,
Syn bownyt thaim in quiet throuch the land.
The wedow sone, fra thai had passit dout,
A serwand send and leit the women out
To pas fra Arth, quhar at thaim likit best.
Now spek off thaim that went in-to the west.
Wallace hym selff was sekyr gyd that nycht.
Till Dunbertane the way he chesyt rycht.
22
On to the toun full prewaly thai gang.
Mekill off it Inglismen occupyit.
Gud Wallace sone throu a dyrk garth him hyit
And till a hous, quhar he was wont to ken
A wedow duelt, was frendfull till our men.
Abone hyr bed, on the baksid, was maid
A dern wyndow, was nothir lang nor braid;
Thar Wallace cauld, and sone fra scho him knew
In haist scho rays, and prewaly thaim In drew
Till a clos bern quhar thai mycht kepyt be.
Baith meit and drynk scho brocht in gret plente.
A gudly gyft to Wallace als scho gaiff,
A hundreth pownd and mar atour the layff.
Ix sonnys scho had, was lykly men and wicht,
Ane ayth till him scho gart thaim swer full rycht.
In pees thai duelt, in trubyll that had beyn,
And trewbut payit till Inglis capdanis keyn.
Schir Ihon Menteth the castell had in hand,
Bot sum men said thar was a prewa band
Till Sotheroun maid, be menys off that knycht,
In thar supple to be in all his mycht.
Tharoff as now I will no proces mak.
Wallace that day a schort purpos can tak.
Quhen it was nycht he bad the wedow pas,
Merk all the duris quhar Sotheroun duelland was;
Syn efftir this he and his chewalry
Graithyt thaim weill and wapynnys tuk in hy,
Went on the gayt quhen Sotheroun was on slep.
A gret oystre our Scottis tuk to kep.
Ane Inglis captane was sittand wp so lait
Quhill he and his with drynk was maid full mait.
Nyn men was thar now set in hye curage:
23
Sum wald haiff bound schir Ihon the Grayme throuch strenth,
Sum wald haiff had Boyd at the suerdis lenth,
Sum wyst Lundy that chapyt was off Fyff,
Sum wychtar was na Cetoun in-to stryff.
Quhen Wallace hard the Sotheroun maid sic dyn
He gart all byd and hym allayn went In.
The layff remaynyt to her off thar tithans.
He salust thaim with sturdy contenance.
“Falowis,” he said, “sen I com last fra haym
In trawaill I was our land and wncouth fame.
Fra south Irland I com in this cuntre
The new conquest off Scotland for to se.
Part off ȝour drynk or sum gud I wald haiff.”
The Captane than a schrewed ansuer him gaiff:
“Thow semys a Scot wnlikly, ws to spy.
Thow may be ane off Wallace cumpany.
Contrar our king he is ryssyn agane.
The land off Fyff he has rademyt in plane.
Thou sall her byd quhill we wyt how it be.
Be thow off his thou sall be hyngyt hye.”
Wallace than thocht it was na tym to stand.
His nobill suerd he gryppyt son in hand,
Aukwart the face drew that captane in teyn,
Straik all away that stud abowne his Eyn,
And othir braithly in the breyst he bar.
Baith brawn and bayn the burly blaid throuch schar.
The layff ruschyt wp to Wallace in gret Ire.
The thryd he feld full fersly in the fyr.
Stewyn off Irland and Kerle in that thrang
Kepyt na charge bot entryt thaim amang,
And othir ma that to the dure can pres.
Quhill thai him saw thar coud no thing thaim ces.
The Sotheroun men full sone was brocht to ded.
24
Wallace said, “Nay, till we haiff laysar mar.
To be our gyd thow sall befor ws fayr
And begyn fyr quhar at the Sotheroun lyis.”
The hostellar son apon a hasty wys
Hynt fyr in hand and till a gret hous ȝeid,
Quhar Inglismen was in full mekill dreid,
For thai wyst nocht quhill that the rud low rais;
As wood bestis amang the fyr than gays,
With paynis fell ruschyt full sorowfully.
The layff with-out off our gud chewalry,
At Ilka hous quhar the hostillar began
Kepyt the duris; fra thaim chapyt na man
For all thar mycht, thocht king Eduuard had suorn.
Gat nayn away that was off Ingland born,
Bot othir brynt or but reskew was slayn,
And sum throuch force drywyn in the fyr agayn.
Part Scottis folk in seruice thaim amang
Fra ony payn frely thai leit thaim gang.
Thre hundreth men was to Dunbertan send
To kep the land, as thair lordis thaim kend.
Skaithles off thaim for ay was this regioun.
Wallace or day maid him out off the toun;
On to the coyff off Dunbertane thai ȝeid
And all that day thar soiornd out off dreid.
Baith meit and drynk the hostillar gert be brocht.
Quhen nycht was cummyn in all the haist thai mocht
Towart Rosneth full ernystfully thai gang,
For Inglismen was in that castell strang.
On the Garlouch thai purpost thaim to bid
Betwix the kyrk that ner was thar besyd,
And to the castell full prewaly thai draw.
Wndyr a bray thai buschyt thaim rycht law,
Lang the wattyr, quhar common oys had thai,
25
A maryage als that day was to begyn.
All wschyt owt and left na man with-in
At fens mycht mak, bot serwandis in that place.
Thus to that tryst thai passyt wpon cace.
Wallace and his drew thaim full prewaly
Nerhand the place, quhen thai war passyt by,
With-in the hauld, and thocht to kep that steid
Fra Sotheroun men or ellys tharfor be deid,
Compleit was maid the mariage in-to playn;
On-to Rosneth thai raturnyt agayn.
Four scor and ma was in that cumpany
Bot nocht arayit as was our chewalry.
To the castell thai weynd to pas but let.
The worthy Scottis so hardly on thaim set
Xlty at-anys derffly to ground thai bar.
The ramaynand affrayit was so sayr,
Langar in feild thai had no mycht to bid
Bot fersly fled fra thaim on athir sid.
The Scottis thar has weyll the entre woun
And slew the layff that in that hous was foun;
Syn on the flearis folowid wondyr fast,
Na Inglisman thar fra thaim with lyff at past.
The wemen sone thai seysyt in-to hand,
Kepyt thaim clos for warnyng off the land.
The dede bodyes all out off sycht thai kest.
Than at gud es thai maid thaim for to rest.
Off purwians vii dayis thai lugyt thar;
At rud costis to spend thai wald nocht spar.
Quhat Sotheroun come thai tuk all glaidly In,
Bot out agayn thai leit Nane off that kyn.
Quha tithandis send to the Captane off that steid,
Thar seruitouris the Scottis put to ded;
26
Brak wallis doun and maid that byggyng bar.
Quhen thai had spilt off stayne werk at thai mocht
Syn kendillyt fyr and fra Rosneth thai socht.
Quhen thai had brynt all tre werk in that place
Wallace gert freith the wemen off his grace.
To do thaim harm neuir his purpos was.
Than to Faslan the worthy Scottis can pas,
Quhar Erll Malcom was bidand at defence.
Rycht glaid he was off Wallace gud presence.
Than he fand thar a nobill cumpany:
Schir Ihon the Graym and Richard off Lundy,
Adam Wallace that worthy was and wys,
Berklay and Boid, with men mekill to prys.
At Cristinmes thar Wallace soiornyt still.
Off his modyr tithandis was brocht him till
That, tym befor, scho had left Elrisle.
For Inglismen In it scho durst nocht be.
Fra thine dysgyst scho past in pilgrame weid;
Sum gyrth to sek to Dunfermlyn scho ȝeid.
Seknes hyr had so socht in-to that sted
Decest scho was, god tuk hir spreit to leid.
Quhen Wallace hard at that tithandis was trew,
How sadnes so in Ilka sid can persew,
In thank he tuk be-caus it was naturaill.
He lowyt god with sekyr hart and haill.
Bettyr him thocht that It was hapnyt sa;
Na Sotheroun suld hyr put till othir wa.
He ordand Iop and als the maister Blayr
Thiddyr to pas and for no costis spayr,
Bot honour do the corp till sepultur.
At his commaund thai seruit Ilka hour,
Doand thar-to as dede askis till haw.
27
Agayn thai turnyt and schawit him off hir end.
He thankit god quhat grace that euir he send;
He seis the warld so full of fantasie.
Confort he tuk and leit all murnyng be.
His most desyr was for to freith Scotland.
Now will I tell quhat new cas com on hand.
Schyr Wilȝam lang, off Douglacedaill was lord,
Off his fyrst wyff, as rycht was to record,
Decest or than out off this warldly cair,
Twa sonnys he had with hyr that leyffyt thair
Quhilk likly war and abill in curage,
To sculle was send in-to thar tendre age.
Iames and Hev, so hecht thir brethyr twa.
And eftir sone thar wncle couth thaim ta;
Gud Robert Keth had thaim fra Glaskow toun,
Atour the se in Frans he maid thaim boun.
At study syn he left thaim in-to Parys
With a maister that worthy was and wys.
The king Eduuard tuk thar fadyr that knycht
And held him thar thocht he was neuir so wicht,
Quhill tym he had assentit till his will.
A mariage als thai gert ordand him till,
The lady Fers, off power and hye blud,
Bot tharoff com till his lyff litill gud.
Twa sonnys he gat on this lady but mar.
With Eduuardis will he tuk his leiff to far,
In Scotland com and brocht hys wyff on pes,
In Douglas duelt, forsuth this is no les.
Kyng Eduuard trowyt that he had stedfast beyn,
Fast to thar faith, bot the contrar was seyn.
Ay Scottis blud remaynyt in-to Douglace;
Agayn Ingland he prewyt in mony place.
28
Ane Inglis Capdane that dyd feyll Scottis wrang
In-till It duelt and Bewffurd he was cauld,
That held all waist fra thine to Douglace hauld.
Rycht ner off kyn was Douglace wiff and he,
Tharfor he trowyt in pes off hym to be.
Schyr Wylȝham saw at Wallace rais agayn
And rycht likly to freyth Scotland off payn.
Till help him part in-till hys mynd he kest,
For in that lyff rycht lang he coud nocht lest.
He thocht na charge to brek apon Ingland;
It was throuch force that euir he maid thaim band.
A ȝong man than that hardy was and bauld,
Born till him selff and Thom Dycson was cauld,
“Der freynd,” he said, “I wald preyff at my mycht
And mak a fray to fals Bewfurd the knycht,
In Sawchar duellys and dois full gret owtrage.”
Than Dycson said, “My selff in that wiage
Sall for ȝow pas with Anderson to spek;
Cusyng to me, frendschip he will nocht brek.
For that Ilk man thar wod ledys thaim till,
Throuch help off him purpos ȝe may fullfill.”
Schyr Wilȝham than in all the haist he mycht
Xxxty trew men in this wiage he dycht,
And tauld his wyff till Drumfres he wald fayr.
A tryst he said off Ingland he had thair.
Thus passyt he quhar that na Sotheroun wyst,
With thir xxxty throw waist land at his lyst.
Quhill nycht was cummyn he buschit thaim full law
In-tyll a clewch ner the wattyr off Craw.
To the Sauchar Dykson allayn he send
And he son maid with Anderson this end,
29
Be it was day a drawcht off wod to leid.
Agayn he past and tauld the gud Dowglace,
Quhilk drew him sone In-till a preway place.
Anderson tauld quhat stuff that was tharin
Till Thom Dicson, that was ner off his kyn:
“Xl thai ar off men off mekill waill.
Be thai on fute thai will ȝow sayr assayll.
Gyff thow hapnys the entre for to get
On thy rycht hand a stalwart ax is set.
Thar-with thow may defend the in a thrang.
Be Douglace wys he bydis nocht fra the lang.”
Anderson ȝeid to the buschement in hy.
Ner the castell he drew thaim prewaly
In-till a schaw Sotheroun mystraistyt nocht.
To the next wode wyth Dycson syn he socht,
Graithyt him a drawcht on a braid slyp and law,
Changyt a hors and to the hous can caw.
Arayit he was in Andersonnis weid
And bad haiff In. The portar com gud speid.
“This hour,” he said, “thow mycht haiff beyn away.
Wntymys thow art, for it is scantly day.”
The ȝet ȝeid wp. Dicson gat In but mar.
A thourtour bande that all the drawcht wpbar,
He cuttyt it; to ground the slyp can ga,
Cumryt the ȝet, stekyng thai mycht nocht ma.
The portar son he hynt in-to that stryff.
Twys throuch the hede he stekit him with a knyff.
The ax he gat that Anderson off spak,
A bekyn maid, tharwith the buschement brak.
Douglace him selff was formest in that pres,
In our the wod enteryt or thai wald ces.
30
With-in the clos the Scottis son thaim slew.
Or ony scry was raissyt in that stour
Douglace had tane the ȝet off the gret tour,
Rane wp a grece quhar at the capdane lay.
On fut he gat and wald haiff beyn away.
Our lait it was. Dowglace strak up the dur.
Bewfurd he fand in-to the chawmyr flour.
With a styff suerd to dede he has him dycht.
His men folowit that worthy was and wycht.
The men thai slew that was in-to thai wanys;
Syn in the clos thai semblit all at-anys.
The hous thai tuk and Sotheroun put to ded.
Gat nane bot ane with lyff out off that sted;
For that the ȝet so lang wnstekit was,
This spy he fled, till Dursder can pas,
Tauld that captane that thai had hapnyt sa.
Ane other he gert in-to the Enoch ga.
In Tybris mur was warnyt off this cas,
And Louchmaban all semblyt to that place.
The cuntre rais quhen thai herd off sic thing
To sege Dowglace, and hecht thai suld him hyng.
Quhen Douglace wyst na wayis fra thaim chaip,
To sailȝe him he trowyt thai wald thaim schaip.
Dicson he send apon a cursour wycht
To warn Wallace in all the haist he mycht.
Off the Lewynhous Wallace had tayn in playn
Witht thre hundreth gud men off mekill mayn.
Kynsith, a castell, he thocht to wesy it;
Ane Rawynsdaill held, bot trew men leit him wyt
That he was out that tym off Cummyrnauld.
Lord Cumyn duelt on trewbut in that hauld.
31
With ii hundreth in a buschement ner by,
To kep the hous that nayn till it suld fayr.
He tuk the layff and in the wod ner thar
A scurrour he set, to warn quhen he saw ocht.
Son Rawynsdaill com; off thaim he had na thocht.
Quhen he was cummyn the twa buschementis betweyn
The scurrour warnd the cruell men and keyn.
Than Wallace brak and folowit on thaim fast.
The Sotheroun fled, for thai war sar agast.
Rawynsdaill had as than bot [L] men.
Amang the Scottis thar deidis was litill to ken.
Quhen Erll Malcom had bard thaim fra the place,
Na Sotheroun ȝeid with lyff; thai did that grace.
Part Lennox men thai left the hous to ta.
On spulȝeyng than thai wald na tary ma.
To sege the hous than Wallace coud nocht bid.
Throu-out the land in awfull feyr thai ryd.
Than Lithquow toun thai brynt in-to thar gayt;
Quhar Sotheroun duelt thai maid thar byggyngis hayt.
The peyll thai tuk and slew that was tharin;
Off Sotheroun blud thai Scottis thocht na syn;
Syn on the morn brynt Dawketh in a gleid,
Than till a strenth in Newbottyl wod thai ȝeid;
Be that Lawder and Crystall off Cetoun
Com fra the Bas and brynt North Berweik toun,
For Inglismen suld thar na succour get.
Quham thai ourtuk thai slew with-outyn let.
To meit Wallace thai past with all thar mycht,
A hundreth with thaim off men in armes brycht.
A blyth metyng that tym was thaim betweyn,
Quhen Erll Malcom and Wallace has thaim seyn.
32
Quhilk grantyt sone for to Reskew Douglace.
“Dicson,” he said, “‘wait thow thar multiple?”
“Iii thowsand men thar power mycht nocht be.”
Erll Malcom said, “Thocht thai war thousandys v
For this accioun me think that we suld stryff.”
Than Hew the Hay, that duelt wndyr trewage,
Off Inglismen son he gaiff our the wage;
Mar for to pay as than he likyt nocht.
With fyfte men with Wallace furth he socht,
To Peblis past, bot no Sotheroun thar baid.
Thar at the croice a playn crya thai maid.
Wallace commaund, quha wald cum to his pes
And byd tharat reward suld haiff but les.
Gud Ruthirfurd, that euir trew has beyn,
In Atryk wode agayn the Sotheroun keyn
Bydyn he had and done thaim mekill der.
Saxte he led off nobill men in wer.
Wallace welcummyt quha com in his supple.
With lordly feyr and chyftaynlik was he.
Thaim till aray thai ȝeid with-out the toun.
Thar nowmyr was vi hundreth off renoun,
In byrneis brycht, all men off mekill waill.
With glaid hartis thai past in Clyddisdaill.
The sege be than was to the Sauchar set.
Sic tithingis com quhilk maid tharin a let;
Quhen Sotheroun hard that Wallace was so ner
Throw haisty fray the ost was all on ster.
Na man was thar wald for ane othir byd.
Purpos thai tuk in Ingland for to ryd.
The chyftane said, sen thar king had befor
Fra Wallace fled the causis was the mor.
33
Douglace as than was thus quyt off thar scaith.
In Crawfurd mur be than was gud Wallace.
Quhen men him tauld that Sotheroun apon cace
Was fled away and durst nocht him abid,
Thre hundreth than he chessyt with him to rid
In lycht harnes and hors at thai wald waill.
The Erll Malcom he bad byd with the staill
To follow thaim, a bakgard for to be.
To stuff a chace in all haist bownyt he.
Throw Dursder he tuk the gaynest gayt.
Rycht fayn he wald with Sotheroun mak debait.
The playnest way abone Mortoun thai hald,
Kepand the hycht gyff that the Sotheroun wald
Hous to persew or turn to Lochmaban,
Bot tent thar-to the Inglismen tuk nan.
Doune Neth thai held; graith gydys can thaim leyr.
Abon Closbarn Wallace approchyt ner.
In Ire he grew quhen thai war in his sycht.
To thaim thai sped with wyll and all thar mycht.
On a out part the Scottis set in that tyd.
Sewyn scor at erd thai had sone at a syd.
The Sotheroun saw that it was hapnyt sa,
Turnyt in agayn sum reskew for to ma.
Quhen thai trowyt best agayn Scotland to stand
Erll Malcom com than rycht ner at thar hand.
The hayll power tuk playn purpos to fle.
Quha was at erd Wallace gert lat thaim be,
Apon the formest folowit in all his mycht.
The Erll and his apon the layff can lycht,
Dyd all to ded wnhorssyt was that tyd.
Feyll men was slayn apon the Sotheroun sid;
V hundreth larg, or thai past Dawswyntoun,
34
The Scottis hors, mony began to tyr,
Suppos thaim selff was cruell, fers as fyr.
The flearis left bathe wode and watterys haill;
To tak the playn thai thocht it most awaill.
In gret battaill away full fast thai raid.
In-to strenthtis thai thocht to mak na baid.
Ner Louchmaban and Lochyrmos thai went.
Besyd Chrochmaid, quhar feyll Sotheroun was schent,
Rycht mony hors at ronnyng had so lang
And trawalyt sayr, thai mycht no forthir gang.
Schyr Ihon the Graym apon his fut was set.
Than Wallace als lychtyt with-outyn let.
Thir twa on fute amang thar enemys ȝeid.
Was nayn but hors mycht fra thaim pas throw speid.
On Inglismen so cruelly thai socht,
Quhom thai ourtuk agayn harmyt ws nocht.
To Wallace com a part off power new
On restyt hors, that pertly couth persew.
Adam Corre with gud men off gret waill,
And Ihonstoun als that duelt in-to Housdaill,
And Kyrkepatrik, was in that cumpany,
And Halyday quhilk semblyt sturdely.
Quhar thai entryt the sailȝe was so sayr
Dede to the ground feill frekis doun thai bayr.
Vii scor, was haill off new cummyn men in deid,
The south party off thaim had mekill dreid.
Wallace was horssyt apon a cursour wicht
At gud Corre had brocht in-to thar sycht.
To stuff the chas with his new chewalry,
He commaundyt Graym and all his men forthi
To-gydder byd and folow as thai mycht.
35
That restyt hors so wondyr weill him bayr.
Quhom he our-tuk agayn rais neuir mar.
Raithly he raid and maid full mony wound.
Thir thre Capdanis he stekit in that stound,
Off Dursdeyr, Enoch and Tybyr mur.
Lord Clyffurdis Eym away to Clyffurd fur,
The quhilk befor that kepyt Lowchmaban.
Na landyt man chapyt with him bot ane,
For Maxwell als out off Carlauerok com,
On to the Sotheroun the gaynest wayis nom.
In-to the chas so wysely thai rid
Few gat away that come apon that sid.
Besyd Cokpull full feyll fechtyng thai fand.
Sum drownyt was, sum slayn wpon the sand.
Quha chapyt was in Ingland fled away.
Wallace raturnd. Na presoner tuk thai.
In Carlauerok restyng that nycht thai maid,
Apon the morn tyll Drumfres blythly raid.
Thar Wallace cryid quha wald cum till his pes
Agayn Sotheroun thar malice for to ces.
Till trew Scottis he ordand warysoun;
Quha fawtyt had he grantyt remissioun.
In Drumfres than he wald no langar byd.
The Sotheroun fled off Scotland on Ilk sid,
Be sey and land, with-out langar abaid.
Off castellys, tounys, than Wallace chyftanys maid,
Rewlyt the land and put It to gud rest
With trew keparys the quhilk he traistyt best.
The trew Douglace, that I ȝow tauld off ayr,
Kepar was maid fra Drumlanryk till Ayr,
Becaus he had on Sotheroun sic thing wrocht.
Hys wyff was wraith, bot It scho schawit nocht,
36
As a serpent watis hyr tym to byt.
Till Dowglace eft scho wrocht full mekill cayr.
Off that as now I leyff quhill forthirmar.
Bot Sotheroun men durst her no castell hald,
Bot left Scotland, befor as I ȝow tald,
Saiff ane Morton, a capdane fers and fell
That held Dunde. Thar Wallace wald nocht duell;
Thiddyr he past and lappyt It about.
Quhen Morton saw that he was in sic dout
He askyt leyff with thar lywys to ga.
Wallace denyit and said, “It beis nocht sa.
The last Capdane off Ingland that her was,
I gayff him leyff with his men for to pas.
Thow sall forthink sic maistre for to mak.
All Ingland sall of the exemple tak.
Sic men I wend fra-thine for to haiff worn.
Thow sall be hangyt, suppos thi king had suorn.”
He gert commaund na Scottis suld to thaim spek:
“Conferme the sege and so we sall ws wrek
On Inglismen, has sic will off Dunde.
Scrymiour he maid thar constable for to be.
A ballingar off Ingland that was thar
Past out of Tay and come to Quhitbe far;
To London send and tauld off all this cace,
Till hyng Morton wowyt had Wallace.
Befor this tym Eduuard with power ȝeid
To wer on Frans, for than he had no dreid.
Befor he trowyt Scotland suld be his awn.
Quhen thai him warnyt how his men was ourthrawn,
Agayn he turnyt till Ingland haistely
37
Gascone, he clemyt as in-to heretage,
He left it thus for all his gret barnage;
And Flandris als he thocht till tak on hand,
And thir he left and come to reyff Scotland.
Quhen that this king in Ingland was cummyn hame,
Sowmoundis thai maid and chargyt Bruce be nayme
And all wthir that leyffyt wndir his croun,
Byschop, barroun, to cum at thar sowmoun.
Quhen Wallace twys throw grace had fred Scotland
This tyran king tuk playnly wpon hand.
For sic desyr that he mycht haiff no rest
He thocht till hym of It to mak conquest,
In cowatice he had rongyng so lang.
Chyftanis he maid; at thai suld nocht pas wrang
Gydis thai chessyt fra strenthis thaim to ghy.
Thai thocht no mor to byd at Iuperty.
In playn battaill and thai mycht Wallace wyn
He trowyt off wer thai wald no mor begyn.
Lat I this king makand his ordinans;
My purpos is to spek sum thing off Frans.
The Inglismen, that Ghyan held at wer,
Till Franch folk thai did full mekill der.
King and consaill sone in thar wyttis kest;
To get Wallace thai thocht it was the best.
For Gyan land the Inglismen had thai
Thai schup thaim thus in all the haist thai may;
For thai traistyt and Scotland war weill stad
Wallace wald cum, as he thaim promyst had.
The sammyn harrald befor in Scotland was,
Thai him commaundyt and ordand he suld pas
38
Out off the Slus als gudly as he may.
Redy he was, in schip he went on cace.
In Tayis mowth the hawyn but baid he has,
Quhar Wallace was than at the saylȝe still,
And he rasawyt the harrold with gud will.
Thar wryt he red and said him on this wys,
Ane ansuer sone he couth thaim nocht dewys.
Till honest In the harrold than he send
On Wallace cost rycht boundandly to spend,
Quhyll tym he saw how othir materis ȝeid.
Ane ansuer he suld hawe with-outyn dreid.
The wyt off Frans thocht Wallace to commend.
In-to Scotland with this harrold thai send
Part off his deid, and als the discripcioune
Off him tane thar be men off discrecioun,
Clerkis, knychtis and harroldys that him saw,
Bot I heroff can nocht rehers thaim aw.
Wallace statur, off gretnes and off hycht,
Was Iugyt thus be discrecioun off rycht,
That saw him bath dischevill and in weid.
Ix quartaris large he was in lenth indeid.
Thryd part that lenth in schuldrys braid was he,
Rycht sembly, strang and lusty for to se;
Hys lymmys gret, with stalwart pais and sound,
Hys brawnys hard, his armes lang and round;
His handis maid rycht lik till a pawmer,
Off manlik mak, with nales gret and cler.
Proporcionyt lang and fair was his wesage,
Rycht sad off spech and abill in curage;
Braid breyst and heych, with sturdy crag and gret;
39
Bowand bron haryt on browis and breis lycht,
Cler aspre Eyn lik dyamondis brycht.
Wndyr the chyn, on the left sid, was seyn
Be hurt a wain; his colour was sangweyn.
Woundis he had in mony diuers place,
Bot fair and weill kepyt was his face.
Off Ryches he kepyt no propyr thing,
Gaiff as he wan, lik Alexander the king.
In tym off pes mek as a maid was he;
Quhar wer approchyt the rycht Ector was he.
To Scottis men a gret credens he gaiff,
Bot knawin Enemys, thai couth him nocht disayff.
Thir properteys was knawin in-to Frans
Off him to be a gud Remembrans.
Maister Ihon Blayr that patron couth rasaiff,
In Wallace buk brewyt It with the layff.
Bot he her-off as than tuk litill heid,
His lauborous mynd was all on othir deid.
At Dunde sege thus ernystfully thai lay.
Tithandis to him Iop brocht apon a day,
How Eduuard king with likly men to waill,
A hundyr thowsand, com for to assaill;
Than Scotland ground thai had tane apon cace.
In-to sum-part It grewyt gud Wallace.
He maid Scrymiour still at the hous to ly
With ii thousand and chargyt him forthi,
That nayn suld chaip with lyff out off that sted
At Sotheroun war, bot do thaim all to ded.
Scrymgeour grantyt rycht faithfully to bid.
40
To Sanct Ihonstoun; iiii dayis he graithit him thar,
With sad awys towart the south can fayr;
For king Eduuard that tym ordand had
X thousand haill to pas, at was full glad,
With ȝong Wodstok, a lord off mekill mycht.
At Sterlyng bryg he ordand thaim full rycht
And thar to byd the entre for to wer.
Off Wallace than he trowit to haiff no der.
Thar leyff thai laucht and past but delay,
Rycht saraly and in a gud aray;
To Sterlyng com and wald nocht thar abid.
To se the northland furth than can he ryd,
Sic new curage so fell in his entent,
Quhilk maid Sotheroun full sar for to repent.
| Hary's Wallace | |