University of Virginia Library

BOOK XI

This Wodstok raid in-to the north gud speid.
Off Scottis as than he had bot litill dreid,
For weyll he trowyt for to reskew Dunde.
Thar schippys com to Tay In be the se.
His gydys said thai suld him gyd in by
Saynct Ihonstoun, quhar passage was playnly.
The hycht thai tuk and lukit thaim about;
So war thai war off Wallace and his rout.
In sum-part than he remordyt his thocht,
The kingis commaund becaus he kepyt nocht,
Bot quhen he saw thai war fewar than he
He wald thaim byd and othir do or de.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay formest his power saw.
He said, “Ȝon is, that ȝhe se hydder draw,
Othir Sotheroun that cummys sa cruellye
Or ellis Erll Malcom to sek ȝow for supple.”
Than Wallace smyld and said, “Inglis thai ar,
Ȝe may thaim ken rycht weyll quhar euir thai far.”
On Schyrreff mur Wallace the feild has tane
With viii thousand that worthy was in wane.
The Sotheroun was rycht douchty in thar deid,
To-gydder straik, weyll stuffyt in steyll weid.
Than speris sone all in-to splendrys sprent.
The hardy Scottis throw-out the Sotheroun went.
In reddy battaill vii thowsand doun thai bar,
Dede on the bent, that recoueryt neuir mar.
Wyth fell fechtyng off wapynnys groundyn keyn
Blud fra byrneis was bruschyt on the greyn.
The felloun stour, that awfull was and strang!
The worthy Scottis so derfly on thaim dang
At all was dede within a litill stound.
Nane off that place had power for to found.
Ȝong Wodstok has bathe land and lyff forlorn.
The Scottis spulȝeit off gud ger thaim beforn.
Quhat thaim thocht best off fyn harnes thai waill,
Bath gold and gud and hors that mycht thaim waill.
To Styrlyng bryg with-out restyng thai raid.
Or ma suld com Wallace this ordinans maid.
Past our the bryg Wallace gert wrychtis call,
Hewyt trastis, wndyd the passage all.
Sa tha sam folk he send to the Drip furd,
Gert set the ground with scharp spykis off burd;
Bot ix or x he kest a gait befor,
Langis the schauld, maid it bath dep and schor.
Than Wallace said, “On a sid we sall be,
Ȝon king and I, bot gyff he southwart fle.”
He send Lawder, quhilk had in hand the Bas,
Langis the cost quhar ony weschell was,
And men with him that wysly couth luk
Off Ilka boyt a burd or two out tuk.
Schippys thai brynt off strangearis that was thar.
Cetoun and he to Wallace thus thai fayr,
In Styrlying lay apon his purpos still
For Inglismen to se quhat way thai will.
The Erll Malcom, Styrlyng in kepyng had,
Till him he com with men off armes sad,
Thre hundreth haill that sekyr war and trew
Off Lennox folk, thar power to renew.
Schir Iohn the Graym fra Dundaff prewaly
Till Wallace com with a gud chewalry,
Tithandis him brocht, the Sotheroun com at hand.
In Torfychan king Eduuard was lugeand,
Stroyand the place off purwiance that was thar.
Sanct Ihonys gud for thaim thai wald nocht spar.
The gud Stewart of But com to the land.
With him he ledys weill ma than xii thowsand,
Till Cumyn past, was than in Cummyrnald.
Apon the morn bownyt the Stewart bald
Sone till aray with men off armes brycht.
Xxty thowsand than semblyt to thar sycht.
The lord Stwart and Cumyn furth thai rid
To the Fawkyrk and thar hecht to abid.
The Scottis chyftane than owt off Styrlyng past.
To the Fawkyrk he sped his ost full fast.
Wallace and his than till aray he ȝeid
With x thousand off douchty men in deid.
Quha couth behald thar awfull, lordly wult,
So weill beseyn, so forthwart, stern and stult,
So gud chyftanys as with sa few thar beyn,
With-out a king was neuir in Scotland seyn:
Wallace him selff and Erll Malcom that lord,
Schir Ihon the Graym and Ramsay at accord,
Cetoun, Lawder and Lundy that was wicht,
Adam Wallace, to that Iornay him dycht,
And mony gud quhilk prewyt weill in pres.
Thar namys all I may nocht her rehres.
Sotheroun or than out off Torfychan fur,
Thar passage maid in-to Slamanan mur;
In-till a playn set tentis and palȝon,
South-hald Fawkyrk, a litill abon the ton.
Gud Iop him selff Iugit thaim be his sycht
In haill nowmyr a hundyr thousand rycht.
Off Wallace com the Scottis sic comfort tuk,
Quhen thai him saw all raddour thai forsuk,
For off Inwy was few thar at It wyst.
Tresonable folk thar mater wyrkis throu lyst
Poyson sen syn ‘at the Fawkyrk’ is cald,
Throu treson and corrupcion off ald.
Lord Cumyn had Inwy at gud Wallace.
For Erll Patrik that hapnyt apon cace;
Cunttas off Merch was Cumyns sistyr der.
Wndyr colour he wrocht in this maner,
In-to the ost had ordand Wallace dede
And maid Stewart with him to fall in pled.
He said that lord at Wallace had no rycht
Power to leid and he present in sycht.
He bad him tak the wantgard for to gy.
So wyst he weyll at thai suld stryff forthi.
Lord Stewart ast at Wallace his consaill,
Said, “Schir, ȝe knaw quhat may ws maist awaill.
Ȝon felloun king is awfull for to bid.”
Rycht wnabasyt Wallace ansuerd that tyd:
“And I haiff seyn may twys in-to Scotland
Wyth ȝon Ilk king, quhen Scottis men tuk on hand;
Wyth fewar men than now ar hydder socht
This Realm agayn to full gud purpos brocht.
Schyr, we will fecht, for we haiff men Inew
As for a day, sa that we be all trew.”
The Stewart said he wald the wantgard haiff.
Wallace ansuerd and said, “Sa god me saiff,
That sall ȝe nocht als lang as I may ryng,
Nor no man ellis quhill I se my rycht king.
Gyff he will cum and tak on him the croun
At his commaund I sall be reddy boun.
Throw goddis grace I reskewed Scotland twys.
I war to mad to leyff it on sic wys,
To tyn for bost that I haiff gowernd lang.”
Thus halff in wraith frawart him can he gang.
Stewart tharwith all bolnyt in-to baill.
“Wallace,” he said, “be the I tell a taill.”
“Say furth,” quod he, “off the fairest ȝe can.”
Wnhappyly his taill thus he began.
“Wallace,” he said, “thow takis the mekill cur.
So feryt it be wyrkyng off natur,
How a howlat complend off his fethrame,
Quhill Deym Natur tuk off ilk byrd but blame
A fayr fethyr and to the howlat gaiff.
Than he throuch pryd reboytyt all the layff.
Quhar-off suld thow thi senȝe schaw so he?
Thow thinkis nan her at suld thi falow be.
This makis it thow art cled with our men.
Had we our awn thin war bot few to ken.”
At thir wordis gud Wallace brynt as fyr.
Our haistely he ansuerd him in Ire.
“Thow leid,” he said. “The suth full oft has ben,
Thar haif I biddyn quhar thow durst nocht be seyn,
Contrar Enemys, na mar for Scotlandis rycht
Than dar the howlat quhen that the day is brycht!
That taill full meit thow has tauld be thi sell.
To thi desyr thow sall me nocht compell.
Cwmyn it is has gyffyn this consaill.
Will God, ȝe sall off ȝour fyrst purpos faill.
That fals traytour that I off danger brocht
Is wondyr lyk till bryng this Realm till nocht.
For thi ogart othir thow sall de,
Or in presoun byd, or cowart lik to fle.
Reskew off me thow sall get nane this day.”
Tharwith he turnd and fra thaim raid his way.
X thousand haill fra thaim with Wallace raid.
Nan was bettyr in all this warld so braid
As off sic men at leiffand was in lyff.
Allace, gret harm fell Scotland throuch that stryff!
Past till a wod fra the Fawkyrk be est.
He wald nocht byd for commaund na request,
For charge off nan bot It had ben his king,
At mycht that tym bryng him fra his etlyng.
The tothir Scottis that saw this discensioun
For dysconford to leiff the feild was boun,
Bot at thai men was natyff till Stwart,
Principaill off But, tuk hardement in hart.
Lord Stwart was at Cumyn grewyt thar,
Hecht and he leiffd, he suld repent full sar
The gret trespace that he throw raklesnace
Had gert him mak to Wallace in that place.
For thair debait it was a gret pete.
For Inglismen than mycht na trete be,
Haistyt sa fast a battaill to the feild,
Xxxty thowsand that weill coud wapynnys weild.
Erll off Harfurd was chosyn thar chyftane.
The gud Stewart than till aray is gane.
The feild he tuk as trew and worthy knycht.
The Inglismen come on wyth full gret mycht.
Thar fell metyng was awfull for to se.
At that countour thai gert feill Sotheroun de,
Quhen speris was spilt hynt owt with suerdis son.
On athir sid full douchty deid was don.
Feill on the ground was fellyt in that place.
Stewart and his can on his Enemys race.
Blud byrstyt out throuch maile and byrneis brycht.
Xxty thowsand with dredfull wapynnys dycht
Off Sotheroun men derffly to ded thai dyng.
The ramanand agayn fled to thar king.
X thousand thar that fra the ded eschewyt
With thar chyftane In-to the ost relewyt.
Agayn to ray the hardy Stwart ȝeid.
Quhen Wallace saw this nobill, worthi deid,
Held wp his handys with humyll prayer prest.
“O god,” he said, “gyff ȝon lord grace to lest,
And power haiff his worschip till attend,
To wyn thir folk and tak the haill commend.
Gret harm it war at he suld be ourset!
With new power thai will on him rebet.”
Be that the Bruce ane awfull battaill baid,
And Byschop Beik quhilk oft had been assayd,
Xl thowsand apon the Scottis to fair.
With fell affer thai raissit wp rycht thair
The Bruce baner, in gold off gowlis cler.
Quhen Wallace saw battallis approchyt ner,
The rycht lyon agayn his awn kynryk,
“Allace,” he said, “the warld is contrar-lik!
This land suld be ȝon tyrandis heretage,
That cummys thus to stroy his awn barnage.
Sa I war fre off it that I said ayr,
I wald forswer Scotland for euirmar!
Contrar the Bruce I suld reskew thaim now
Or de tharfor, to god I mak a wow.”
The gret debait in Wallace wit can waid
Betwix kyndnes and wyllfull wow he maid.
Kyndnes him bad reskew thaim fra thar fa.
Than wyll said, “Nay. Quhy, fuyll, wald thow do sa?
Thow has na wyt wyth rycht thi selff to leid.
Suld thow help thaim that wald put the to deid?”
Kyndnes said, “Ȝha, thai ar gud Scottis men.”
Than will said, “Nay, weryte thow may ken,
Had thai bene gud all anys we had ben;
Be reson heyr the contrar now is seyn,
For thai me hayt mar na the Sotheroun leid.”
Kyndnes said, “Nay, that schaw thai nocht in deid.
Thocht ane off thaim be fals in-till his saw,
For caus off him thow suld nocht los thaim aw.
Thai haiff done weill in-to ȝon felloun stour.
Reskew thaim now and tak a hye honour.”
Wyll said, “Thai wald haiff reft fra me my lyff.
I baid for thaim in mony stalwart stryff.”
Kyndnes said, “Help, thar power is at nocht;
Syn wreik on hym that all the malice wrocht.”
Wyll said, “This day thai sall nocht helpyt be.
That I haiff said sall ay be said for me!
Thai ar bot dede. God grant thaim off his blys.
Inwy lang syn has done gret harme bot this.”
Wallace tharwith turnyt for Ire in teyn,
Braith teris for baill byrst out fra bathe his Eyn.
Schyr Ihon the Graym and mony worthi wicht
Wepyt in wo for sorow off that sycht.
Quhen Bruce his battaill apon the Scottis straik,
Thar cruell com maid cowardis for to quaik.
Lord Cwmyn fled to Cummyrnauld away.
About the Scottis the Sotheroun lappyt thay.
The men off But befor thar lord thai stud
Defendand him, quhen fell stremys off blud
Wer thaim about in flothis quhar thai ȝeid.
Bathid in blud was Bruce suerd and his weid
Throw fell slauchtyr off trew men off his awn.
Son to the dede the Scottis was ourthrawn;
Syn slew the lord, for he wald nocht be tayn.
Quhen Wallace saw that thir gud men was gayn,
“Lordis,” he said, “quhat now is ȝour consaill?
Twa choys thar is, the best I rede ws waill:
Ȝondyr the king his ost abandonand,
Heyr Bruce and Beyk in ȝon battaill to stand.
Ȝon king in wer has wys and felloun beyn.
Thar Capdans als full cruell ar and keyn.
Bettyr off hand is nocht leiffand I-wys
In tyrandry, ȝe trow me weill off this,
Than Bruce and Beik, to quhat part thai be set.
We haiff a chois quhilk is full hard but let.
And we turn est for strenth in Lowtheane land
Thai stuff a chas rycht scharp, I dar warrand.
Tak we the mur, ȝon king is ws befor.
Thar is bot this, with-outyn wordis mor,
To the Tor wod, for our succour is thar.
Throuch Brucis ost forsuth fyrst mon we far.
Amang ws now thar nedis no debayt.
Ȝon men ar dede. We will nocht stryff for stayt.”
Thai consent haill to wyrk rycht as he will.
Quhat him thocht best thai grantyt to fullfill.
Gud Wallace than, that stoutly couth thaim ster,
Befor thaim raid in-till his armour cler,
Rewellyt speris all in a nowmyr round:
“And we hawe grace for to pas throw thaim sound,
And few be lost, till our strenth we will ryd.
Want we mony, in faith we sall all byd.”
Thai hardnyt hors fast on the gret ost raid.
The rerd at rays quhen sperys in sondyr glaid
Duschyt in glos, dewyt with speris dynt!
Fra forgyt steyll the fyr flew out but stynt.
The felloun thrang, quhen hors and men remowyt,
Wp drayff the dust quhar thai thar pithtis prowyt.
The tothir ost mycht nocht no deidis se,
For stour at rais, quhill thai disseuerit be.
The worthy Scottis viii thousand doun thai bar.
Few war at erd at gud Wallace brocht thar.
The king criyt hors apon thaim for to ryd,
Bot this wys lord gaiff him consaill to bid:
The Erll off Ȝork said, “Schir, ȝe wyrk amys
To brek aray. Ȝon men quyt throuch thaim is.
Thai ken the land and will to strenthis draw.
Tak we the playn we are in perell aw.”
The king consawyt at his consaill was rycht,
Rewllyt his ost and baid still in thar sycht.
Or Bruce and Beik mycht retorn thar battaill
The Scottis was throuch and had a gret awaill.
Wallace commaund the ost suld pas thar way
To the Tor wod in all the haist thai may.
Hym selff and Graym and Lawder turnyt In
Betwex battaillys prys prowys for to wyn;
And with thaim baid in that place hundrethis thre
Off westland men, was oysyt in ieperte,
Apon wycht hors that wesele coud ryd.
A slop thai maid quhar thai set on a syd.
Na speris thai had bot suerdys off gud steyll.
Tharwith in stour thai leit thar enemys feill
How thai full oft had prewyt beyn in pres.
Off Inglismen thai maid feill to deces.
Or Bruce tharoff mycht weill persawyng haiff
Thre hundreth thar was graithit to thar graiff.
The hardy Bruce ane ost abandownyt.
Xxty thowsand he rewllyt be force and wit
Wpon the Scottis his men for to reskew.
Serwyt thai war with gud speris enew,
And byschop Beik a stuff till him to be.
Quhen gud Wallace thar ordinans coud se,
“Allace,” he said, “ȝon man has mekill mycht
And our gud will till wndo his awn rycht.”
He bad his men towart his ost in rid;
Thaim for to sayff he wald behynd thaim byd.
Mekill he trowys in god and his awn weid.
Till sayff his men he did full douchty deid.
Wpon him selff mekill trawaill he tais.
The gret battaill compleit apon him gais.
In the forbreyst he retornyt full oft.
Quham euir he hyt thar sawchnyng was wnsoft.
That day in warld knawin was nocht his maik.
A Sotheroun man he slew ay at a straik.
Bot his a strenth mycht nocht agayn thaim be;
Towart his ost behwffyd for to fle.
The Bruce him hurt at the returnyng thair,
Wndyr the hals a deip wound and a sayr.
Blude byrstyt owt braithly at speris lenth.
Fra the gret ost he fled towart his strenth.
Sic a flear befor was neuir seyn!
Nocht at Gadderis off Gawdyfer the keyn
Quhen Alexander reskewed the foryouris,
Mycht tyll him be comperd in tha houris:
The fell turnyng on folowaris that he maid,
How bandounly befor the ost he raid;
Nor how gud Graym wyth cruell hardement,
Na how Lawder, amang thar fayis went;
How thaim allayn in-to that stour thai stud
Quhill Wallace was in stanchyng off his blud.
Be than he had stemmyt full weill his wound,
With three hundreth in-to the feild can found
To reskew Graym and Lawder that was wicht;
Bot byschop Beik com with sic force and slycht
The worthy Scottis reryt fer on bak,
Sewyn akyrbreid in turnyng off thar bak.
Ȝeit Wallace has thir twa delyueryt weill
Be his awn strenth and his gud suerd of steill.
The awfull Bruce amang thaim with gret mayn,
At the reskew iii Scottis men he has slayn.
Quham he hyt rycht ay at a straik was ded.
Wallace preyst In tharfor to set Rameid.
With a gud sper the Bruce was serwyt but baid.
With gret Inwy to Wallace fast he raid
And he till him assonȝeit nocht for-thi.
The Bruce him myssyt as Wallace passyt by.
Awkwart he straik with his scharp groundyn glawe;
Sper and horscrag in-till sondyr he drave.
Bruce was at erd or Wallace turned about.
The gret battaill off thousandis stern and stout,
Thai horssyt Bruce, with men off gret walour.
Wallace allayn was in that stalwart stour.
Graym pressyt in and straik ane Inglis knycht
Befor the Bruce apon the basnet brycht.
That seruall stuff and all his othir weid,
Bathe bayn and brayn, the nobill suerd throuch ȝeid.
The knycht was dede. Gud Graym retornet tyte.
A suttell knycht tharat had gret despyt,
Folowyt at wait and has persawyt weill
Gramys byrny was to narow sumdeill,
Be-neth the waist that clos it mycht nocht be.
On the fyllat full sternly straik that sle,
Persyt the bak, in the bowalys him bar
Wyth a scharp sper, that he mycht leiff no mar.
Graym turnd tharwith and smate that knycht in teyn
Towart the wesar, a litill be-neth the Eyn.
Dede of that dynt to ground he duschyt doun.
Schyr Ihon the Graym, that swonyt on his arsoun,
Or he our-com till pas till his party,
Feill Sotheroun men that was on fute him by
Stekit his hors, that he no forthyr ȝeid.
Graym ȝauld to god his gud speryt and his deid.
Quhen Wallace saw this knycht to dede was wrocht,
The pytuous payn so sor thyrllyt his thocht
All out off kynd it alteryt his curage.
His wyt in wer was than bot a wod rage.
Hys hors him bur in feild quhar-so him lyst,
For off him selff as than litill he wyst.
Lik a wyld best that war fra reson rent,
As wytlace wy, in-to the ost he went
Dingand on hard. Quhat Sotheroun he rycht hyt
Straucht apon hors agayn mycht neuir syt.
In-to that rage full feill folk he dang doun.
All hym about was reddyt a gret rowm.
Quhen Bruce persawyt with Wallace it stud sa,
He chargyt men lang sperys for to ta
And sla hys hors, sa he suld nocht eschaip.
Feyll Sotheroun than to Wallace fast can schaip,
Persyt hys hors wyth sperys on athir syd.
Woundys thai maid that was bathe deip and wyd.
Off schafftis part Wallace in sondyr schayr,
Bot fell hedys in-till his hors left thair.
Sum wytt agayn to Wallace can radoun.
In hys awn mynd so rewllyt him resoun,
Sa for to de him thocht it no waslage.
Than for to fle he tuk no taryage,
Spuryt the hors, quhilk ran in a gud randoun
Till his awn folk, was bydand on Carroun.
The sey was In, at thai stoppyt and stud.
On loud he criyt and bad thaim tak the flud,
“To-gydder byd, ȝe may nocht los a man.”
At his commaund the watter thai tuk than;
Hym returned the entre for to kepe,
Quhill all his ost was passyt our the depe;
Syn folowit fast and dred his hors suld faill,
Hym selff hewy, cled in-to plait off maill.
Set he couth swom he trowit he mycht nocht weill.
The cler watter culyt the hors sumdeill.
Atour the flud he bur him to the land,
Syn fell doun dede and mycht no langar stand.
Kerle full son a cursour till him brocht.
Than wp he lap, amang the ost he socht.
Graym was away and xv othir wicht.
On Magdaleyn day thir folk to ded was dycht.
Xxxty thousand off Inglismen for trew
The worthy Scottis apon that day thai slew,
Quhat be Stwart and syn be wicht Wallace.
For all his prys king Eduuard rewyt that race.
To the Tor wod he bad the ost suld ryd.
Kerle and he past wpon Caroun syd,
Behaldand our apon the south party.
Bruce formast com and can on Wallace cry,
“Quhat art thow thar?” “A man,” Wallace can say.
The Bruce ansuerd, “That has thow prewyt to-day.
Abyd,” he said, “thow nedis nocht now to fle.”
Wallace ansuerd, “I eschew nocht for the
Bot that power, has thi awn ner fordon.
Amendis off this, will god, we sall haiff son.”
“Langage off the,” the Bruce said, “I desyr.”
“Say furth,” quod he; “thow may for litill hyr.
Ryd fra that ost and gar thaim bid with Beik.
I wald fayn her quhat thow likis to speik.”
The ost baid styll, the Bruce passyt thaim fra.
He tuk wyth him bot a Scot that hecht Ra.
Quhen that the Bruce out off thar heryng wer,
He turned in and this question can sper,
“Quhy wyrkis thow thus and mycht in gud pes be?”
Than Wallace said, “Bot in defawt of the,
Throuch thi falsheid thin awn wyt has myskend.
I cleym no rycht bot wald this land defend,
At thow wndoys throu thi fals cruell deid.
Thow has tynt twa, had beyn worth fer mair meid
On this ilk day with a gud king to found,
Na v mylȝon off fynest gold so round
That euir was wrocht in werk or ymage brycht!
I trow in warld was nocht a bettir knycht
Than was the gud Graym off trewth and hardement.”
Teris tharwith fra Wallace eyn doun went.
Bruce said, “Fer ma on this day we haiff losyt.”
Wallace ansuerd, “Allace, thai war ewill cosyt,
Throuch thi tresson, that suld be our rycht king,
That willfully dystroyis thin awn off-spryng.”
The Bruce askyt, “Will thow do my dewys?”
Wallace said, “Nay, thow leyffis in sic wys
Thow wald me mak at Eduuardis will to be.
Ȝeit had I leuir to-morn be hyngyt hye!”
“Ȝeit sall I say as I wald consaill geyff,
Than as a lord thow mycht at liking leiff,
At thin awn will in Scotland for to Ryng
And be in pece and hald off Eduuard king.”
“Off that fals king I think neuir wage to tak
Bot contrar him with my power to mak.
I cleym no thing as be titill off rycht,
Thocht I mycht reiff, sen god has lent me mycht,
Fra the thi crowne off this regioun to wer,
Bot I will nocht sic a charge on me ber.
Gret god wait best quhat wer I tak on hand
For till kep fre that thow art gaynstandand.
It mycht beyn said off lang gone her off forn,
In cursyt tym thow was for Scotland born.
Schamys thow nocht that thow neuir ȝeit did gud,
Thow renygat deuorar off thi blud?
I wow to God, ma I thi maister be
In ony feild, thow sall fer werthar de
Than sall a Turk, for thi fals cruell wer.
Pagans till ws dois nocht so mekill der.”
Than lewch the Bruce at Wallace ernystfulnas
And said, “Thow seis at thus standis the cas,
This day thow art with our power our-set.
Agayn ȝon king warrand thow may mocht get.”
Than Wallace said, “We ar be mekill thing
Starkar this day in-contrar off ȝon king,
Than at Beggar, quhar he left mony off his
And als the feild. So sall he do with this
Or de thar-for, for all his mekill mycht.
We haiff nocht losyt in this feild bot a knycht,
And Scotland now in sic perell is stad
To leyff it thus my selff mycht be full mad.”
“Wallace,” he said, “it prochys ner the nycht.
Wald thow to-morn, quhen at the day is lycht,
Or nyn off bell, meit me at this chapell
Be Dunypas? I wald haiff ȝour consell.”
Wallace said, “Nay, or that Ilk tyme be went,
War all the men hyn till the orient
In-till a will with Eduuard, quha had suorn,
We sall bargane be ix houris to-morn;
And for his wrang reyff othir he sall think scham,
Or de tharfor, or fle in Ingland haym.
Bot and thow will, son be the hour off thre
At that Ilk tryst, will God, thow sall me se.
Quhill I may lest this Realm sall nocht forfar.”
Bruce promest hym with xii Scottis to be thar,
And Wallace said, “Stud thow rychtwys to me,
Cowntir-palys I suld nocht be to the.
I sall bryng x, and for thi nowmer ma
I gyff no force thocht thow be freynd or fa.”
Thus thai departyt. The Bruce past his way,
Till Lithqwo raid quhar that king Edduard lay,
The feild had left and lugyt be-south the toun,
To souper set as Bruce at the palȝoun
So entryt In and saw wacand his seit.
No wattir he tuk bot maid him to the meit.
Fastand he was and had beyn in gret dreid.
Bludyt was all his wapynnys and his weid.
Sotheroun lordys scornyt him in termys rud.
Ane said, “Behald, ȝon Scot ettis his awn blud.”
The king thocht Ill thai maid sic derisioun.
He bad haiff watter to Bruce off Huntyntoun.
Thai bad hym wesche. He said that wald he nocht:
“This blud is myn. That hurtis most my thocht.”
Sadly the Bruce than in his mind remordyt
Thai wordis suth Wallace had him recordyt.
Than rewyt he sar, fra resoun had him knawin
At blud and land suld all lik beyn his awin.
With thaim he was lang or he couth get away,
Bot contrar Scottis he faucht nocht fra that day.
Lat I the Bruce sayr mowyt in his entent.
Gud Wallace sone agane to the ost went,
In the Torwod quhilk had thar lugyng maid.
Fyris thai bett that was bath brycht and braid.
Off nolt and scheip thai tuk at sufficiens.
Tharoff full sone thai get thaim sustinens.
Wallace slepyt bot a schort quhill and rais.
To rewll the ost on a gud mak he gais.
Till Erll Malcom, Ramsay and Lundy wicht,
With v thousand in a battaill thaim dycht.
Wallace, Lawder and Crystell off Cetoun
V thousand led, and Wallace off Ricardtoun.
Full weyll arayit in-till thar armour clen
Past to the feild quhar that the chas had ben,
Amang the ded men sekand the worthiast,
The cors off Graym for quham he murned mast.
Quhen thai him fand and gud Wallace him saw,
He lychtyt doun and hynt him fra thaim aw,
In armys vp, behaldand his paill face.
He kyssyt him and criyt full oft, “Allace!
My best brothir in warld that euir I had,
My a-fald freynd quhen I was hardest stad,
My hop, my heill thow was, in maist honour,
My faith, my help, my strenthiast in stour.
In the was wyt, fredom and hardines.
In the was treuth, manheid and nobilnes.
In the was rewll, in the was gouernans.
In the was wertu with-outyn warians,
In the lawte, in the was gret largnas;
In the gentrice, in the was stedfastnas.
Thow was gret caus off wynnyng off Scotland,
Thocht I began and tuk the wer on hand.
I wow to God that has the warld in wauld,
Thi dede sall be to Sotheroun full der sauld!
Martyr thow art for Scotlandis rycht and me.
I sall the wenge or ellis tharfor to de.”
Was na man thar fra wepyng mycht hym rafreyn,
For los off him, quhen thai hard Wallace pleyn.
Thai caryit him with worschip and dolour,
In the Fawkyrk graithit him in sepultour.
Wallace commaundyt his ost thar for to byd.
Hys x he tuk, for to meit Bruce thai ryd.
Sowthwest he past quhar at the tryst was set.
The Bruce full sone and gud Wallace is met.
For los off Graym and als for propyr teyn
He grew In Ire quhen he the Bruce had seyn.
Thar salusyng was bot boustous and thrawin.
“Rewis thow,” he said, “thow art contrar thin awin?”
“Wallace,” said Bruce, “rabut me now no mar.
Myn awin dedis has bet me wondyr sar.”
Quhen Wallace hard with Bruce that It stud sua
On kneis he fell, far contenans can him ma.
In armes son the Bruce has Wallace tane.
Out fra thar men in consalle ar thai gane.
I can nocht tell perfytly thar langage,
Bot this was it thar men had off knawlage.
Wallace him prayt, “Cum fra ȝon Sotheroun king.”
The Bruce said, “Nay, thar lattis me a thing.
I am so boundyn with wytnes to be leill,
For all Ingland I wald nocht fals my seill.
Bot off a thing I hecht to god and the,
That contrar Scottis agayn I sall nocht be.
In-till a feild with wapynnys that I ber
In thi purpos I sall the neuir der.
Gyff god grantis off ws ourhand till haiff
I will bot fle myn awin selff for to saiff.
And Eduuard chaip I pas with him agayn,
Bot I throu force be othir tane or slayn.
Brek he on me quhen that my terme is out,
I cum to the. May I chaip fra that dout!”
Off thar consaill I can tell ȝow no mar.
The Bruce tuk leyff and can till Eduuard fayr,
Rycht sad in mynd for Scottis men that war lost.
Wallace in haist prouidyt son his ost.
He maid Crawfurd the Erll Malcom to gid.
The lauch way till Enrawyn thai ryd,
For thar wachis than suld thaim nocht aspy.
The tothir ost him selff led haistely
Be-south Manwell, quhilk that thai war betweyn.
Off the out wach thus chapyt thai wnseyn.
The Erll Malcom on Lithquow entris In.
Our haistely a stryff thai can begyn.
Wallace was nocht all to the battaill boun.
Quhen that thai hard the scry rais in the toun
On Eduuardis ost thai set full sodandly.
Wallace and his maid litill noyis or cry
Bot occupyd with wapynnys in that stour.
Feill fallen war ded that was with-out armour.
All dysarayit the Inglis ost was than;
Amang palȝounis the Scottis, quhar mony man
Cuttyt cordys, gart mony tentis fall.
Nan sonȝeid than, at-anys fechtand was all,
Gud Wallace ost and Erll Malcom wyth mycht.
King Eduuard than with aufull fer on hycht
Cryit till aray on Bruce so stern and stout.
Xxti M in armys him about
In-to harnes had biddyn all that nycht;
Bot frayt folk, so dulfully was dycht,
On Ilk sid fled for ferdnes off thar deid,
Wallace and his so rudly throw thaim ȝeid
Towart the king and fellyt feill to grounde.
Quha baid thaim thar rycht fell fechtyng has found.
That awfull kyng rycht manfully abaid.
Till all his folk a gret comford he maid.
The worthy Scottis agayn him in that stour
Feill Sotheroun slew in-to thar fyn armour;
So forthwartlye thai pressyt in the thrang,
Befor the king maid sloppis thaim amang.
Inglis commounis than fled on athir sid;
Bot noble men, nane othir durst abid.
The Bruce as than to Scottis did no grewans,
A Iuge he was with fenȝeid contenans;
Sa did he neuir into na battaill ayr,
Nothyr ȝeit eftir, sic deid as he schew thar.
The Erll Malcom be than in-to the toun
The Erll Herfurd to fle thai had maid boun;
The Lennox men set thar lugyng in fyr.
Then ferdly fled full mony Sotheroun syr.
The king Eduuard that ȝeit was fechtand still
Has seyn thaim fle; that likit him full Ill.
The worthi Scottis fast towart him thai pres,
Hys brydyll ner assayit ar thai wald ces.
His banerman Wallace slew in that place
And sone to ground the baner doun he race.
The Erll off Ȝork consaillyt the king to fle.
Than he ratornd, sen na succour thai se.
The Inglismen, has seyn thair banner fall,
With-out comfort to fle thai purpost all.
Xi M in toun and feild was ded
Off Eduuardis folk or his selff left the sted.
Xxty thousand away to-giddyr raid.
King and chyftans na langar tary maid.
The Scottis in haist than to thar hors thai ȝeid
To stuff the chas with worthi men in weid.
The Lennox folk that wantyt hors and ger
Tuk thaim at wyll to help thaim in that wer.
At stragyll raid quhat Scot mycht formest pas,
Off Sotheroun men quhar-off gret slauchtyr was.
Wallace has seyn the Scottis wnordourly
Folow the chas; he maid chyftanis in hy
Thaim for to rewll and all to-gyddyr ryd,
Comaundyt thaim Ilkane suld othir bid:
“In-to fleyng the Sotheroun suttaill ar.
Se thai the tym, thai wyll set on ws sar.
Feill scalyt folk to thaim will son Ranew,
For ȝe se weyll that thai ar men enew.”
The folowaris was rewllyt weill with skill.
In gud aray thai raid all at his will
And slew doun fast; quhat Sotheroun thai ourtak
Contrar the Scottis com neuir maistrice to mak.
In-to the chais thai haistyt thaim so ner
Na Inglisman out fra the ost durst ster.
The frayit folk at stragill that was fleand
Drew to the king, weill ma than x thousand.
Xxxty thousand in nowmyr than war thai,
In-till aray to-gyddyr passyt away.
Feill Scottis hors was drewyn in-to trawaill,
Forrown that day, so Irkyt can defaill.
The Sotheroun was with hors serwyt full weill.
Off Wallace chais the lordis had gret feill.
Off hors thai war purwaide in gret wayn.
The king changyt on syndry hors off Spayn.
Than Wallace said, “Lordis, ȝe may weill se
Ȝon folk ar now all at ȝon king may be.
For falt off stuff we lois our mekill thing.
And we wyth hors to pas befoir this king
We suld mak end off all this lang debait;
Ȝeit sum off thaim sall handelyt be full hayt.
Part off our hors ar haldyn fresch and wicht.
Set on thaim sar quhill we are in this mycht.”
Tharwith the Scottis so hard amang thaim drew
Off the outward thre thousand thair thai slew.
In Crawfurd mur mony man was slayn.
Eduuard gart call the Bruce mekill off mayn.
Than said he thus, “Gud Erll off Huntyntoun,
Ȝe se the Scottis puttis feill to confusioun.
Wald ȝe wyth men agayn on thaim raleiff
And mer thaim anys, I sall, quhill I may leiff,
Low ȝow fer mar than ony othir knycht,
And for all this sall put ȝow to ȝour rycht.”
Than said the Bruce, “Schyr, los me off my band.
Than I sall turn, I hecht ȝow be my hand.”
The king full son consideryt in his mynd,
Quhen he hard Bruce ansuer him in sic kynd,
Fra Inglismen that Brucis hart set is.
Than kest he thus how he suld mend that mys,
And so he dyd in Ingland at his will.
Na Scottis man he leit with Bruce bid still,
Bot quhar he past held him in subieccioun
Off Inglismen, wndyr a gret bandoun.
He turned nocht, na na mar langage maid.
In raid battaill the king to Sulway raid
With mekill payn, fast vpon Ingland cost.
L M in that trawaill he lost.
Quhen Wallace saw he chapyt was away,
Vpon Annand agayn returnyt thai
Till Edynburgh, with-outyn tary mor;
Put In Crawfurd that Captane was befor.
Off heretage he had in Mannuell land.
Wallace commaund Ilk man suld hald in hand
Thar awin office, as thai befor had had.
Thus in gud pece Scotland with rycht he stad.
On the x day to Sanct Ihonstoun he went,
Semblyt Lordis, syn schawyt thaim his entent.
Scrymgeour com, at than had woun Dunde.
Wallace commaund that tym weill kepyt he.
He sailȝeid so quhill strang hungyr thaim draiff;
Sa feblyst war, the hous till him thai gaiff.
Thai wageours sone he put to confusioun,
Syn brocht Mortoun to mak a conclusioun
Befor Wallace, and son fra he him saw
He gert hyng hym, for all king Eduuardis aw.
Masons, minouris, with Scrymgeour furth he send,
Kest doun Dunde and tharoff maid ane end.
Wallace sadly, quhen thir dedis war don,
The lordis he cald and his will schawit thaim son.
“Gud men,” he said, “I was ȝour gouernour.
My mynd was set to do ȝow ay honour
And for to bryng this Realm to rychtwysnas.
For It I passit in mony paynfull place.
To wyn our awin my selff I neuir spard.
At the Fawkyrk thai ordand me Reward.
Off that reward ȝe her no mor throu me.
To sic gyftis god will full weill haiff E.
Now ȝe ar fre throu the makar off mycht,
He grant ȝow grace weill to defend ȝour rycht.
Als I preswme, gyff harm be ordand me,
Thai ar Scottis men at suld the wyrkaris be.
I haiff Enewch off our ald Enemys stryff.
Me think our awin suld nocht Inwy my lyff.
My office our her playnly I resing.
I think no mar to tak on me sic thing.
In France I will to wyn my leffyng thar,
As now awysd, and her to cum no mar.”
Lordis gaynstud, bot all thai helpyt nocht.
For ony thar he did as him best thocht.
Byschop Synclar was wesyd with seknas
In-till Dunkell, and syn throu goddis grace
He recoueryt quhen Wallace past away.
Eftir the Bruce he lestyt mony day.
Gud Wallace thus tuk leiff in Sanct Ihonstoun,
Xviii with him, till Dunde maid him boun.
Longaweill past that douchty was in deid.
The barrounys sone off Brechyn with him ȝeid.
Twa brethir als with thar wncle thaim dycht,
Symon Wallace and Richard that was wicht.
Schir Thomas Gray, this preist, can wyth thaim fair,
Eduuard Litill, gud Iop and maister Blayr.
Gude Keirlie past, had bene with Wallace lang
And done full weill in mony felloun thrang.
This Keirlie than that couth with Wallace fair
Will Ker he hecht, myne autor makis declair.
Keirl[ie in Iris]ch is bot Ker litill cald.
In Ca[rrik he h]ad heretage of ald.
His f[oirbear], quhilk wourthy was of hand,
Sanc[t Dauid k]ing him brocht out of Irland.
Syne [at Dum]ore, quhair first the Norowais come in,
This [gude Ke]r maid grete discomfit of thair kyn;
With [seuin hun]dreth he vincust ix thousand,
[Sum drownit i]n Doune, sum sl[ane upon the land.
Thay landis h]ale the gude king gaif him till.
[How Wallace] past now forthir speke we will.
Amang merchandis gud Wallace tuk the se.
Pray we to god that he thar ledar be.
Thai saylyt furth by part off Ingland schor.
Till Hwmbyr mowth quhen at thai com befor
Out off the south a gret rede saile thai se,
In-to thar top the leopardis standand hye.
The merchandis than, that senȝe quhen thai saw
Cummand so neir, thai war discumfyt aw,
For weill thai wyst that It was Ihon off Lyn.
Scottis to slay he said it was no syn.
Thir frayit folk ȝeid son to confessioun.
Than Wallace said, “Off sic deuocioun
Ȝeit saw I neuir in no place quhar I past.
For this a schip me think ȝow all agast.
Ȝon wood cattis sall do ws litill der.
We saw thaim faill twys in a grettar wer,
On a fair feild, so sall thai on the se.
Dyspyt it Is to se thaim stand so hye.”
The ster man said, “Schir, will ȝe wndirstand,
He saiffis nane that is born off Scotland.
We may nocht fle fra ȝon barge, wait I weill.
Weyll stuft thai ar with gwn and ganȝe off steill.
Apon the se ȝon rewar lang has beyn.
Till rychtwys men he dois full mekill teyn.
Mycht we be saiff it forst nocht off our gud.
This wys he has, in schort for to conclud:
A flud he beris apon his cot armour,
Ay drownand folk, so payntyt in figour.
Suppos we murn ȝe suld haiff no merwaill.”
Than Wallace said, “Her is men off mar waill
To saill thi schip, tharfor in holl thow ga
And thi feris. Na mar cummyr ws ma.”
Wallace and his than sone till harnes ȝeid.
Quhen thai war graithit in-to thar worthi weid,
Him selff and Blayr and the knycht Longaweill,
Thir thre has tane to kepe the myd-schip weill.
Befor was vii and vi be-eft was kend,
Syn twa he chesd the top for to defend,
And Gray he maid thar sterman for to be.
The merchandis than, saw thaim sa manfulle
To fend thaim selff, be caus thai had no weid
Out off the holl thai tuk skynnys gud speid;
Ay betwix two stuft woll as thai mycht best,
Agayn the straik at thai suld sumpart lest.
Than Wallace lewch and commendyt thaim aw.
Off sic harnes befor he neuir saw.
Be than the barge com on thaim wondyr fast,
Vii scor in hyr that was no thing agast.
Quhen Ihon off Lyn saw thaim in armour brycht
He lewch and said thir haltyn wordis on hycht:
“Ȝon glakyt Scottis can ws nocht wndyrstand.
Fulys thai ar, is new cummyn off the land.”
He cryit, “Stryk!” bot no ansuer thai maid.
Blayr with a bow schot fast with-outyn baid.
Or thai clyppyt he schot bot arowis thre
And at Ilk schot he gert a rewar de.
The brygandis than, thai bykerit wondyr fast
Amang the Scottis with schot and gownnys cast,
And thai agayn with speris hedyt weill
Feill woundis maid throuch plattis off fyne steill.
Athir othir festnyt with clippys keyn.
A cruell cowntyr thar was on schipburd seyn.
The derff schot draiff as thik as a haill schour,
Contende tharwith the space ner off ane hour.
Quhen schot was gayn the Scottis gret comfort had.
At hand strakys thai war sekyr and sad.
The merchandis als, with sic thing as thai mycht,
Prewyt full weill in defens off thar rycht.
Wallace and his at ner strakis quhen thai be,
With scharp swerdys thai gert feill brygandis de.
Thai in the top so worthi wrocht with hand
In the south top thar mycht no rewar stand.
All the mydschip off rewers was maid waist,
That to geiff our thai war in poynt almaist.
Than Ihon off Lyn was rycht gretly agast.
He saw his folk failȝe about him fast.
With egyr will he wald haiff beyn away,
Bad wynd the saill in all the haist thai may,
Bot fra the Scottis thai mycht nocht than off skey,
The clyp so sar on athir burd thai wey.
Thai saw nothing that mycht be to thaim es.
Crawfurd on loft thar saill brynt in a bles.
Or Ihon off Lyn schup for to leyff that sted
Off his best men saxte was brocht to ded.
Thar schip by owris a burd was mar off hycht.
Wallace lap In amang thai rewaris wicht.
A man he straik our-burd in-to the Se.
On the our-loft he slew son othir thre.
Longaweill entryt and als the maister Blair;
Thai gaiff no gyrth to frek at thai fand thar.
Wallas him self with Ihon off Lyn was met.
At his coler a felloun straik he set;
Bathe helm and hed fra the schuldris he draiff.
Blayr our the burd in the se kest the layff
Off his body, and all the remaynand
Entryt and slew the brygandis at thai fand.
The schip thai tuk, gret gold and othir ger
At thai reiffaris had gaderyt lang in wer.
Bot maister Blayr spak nothing off himsell,
In deid off armes quhat awentur he fell.
Schir Thomas Gray, was than preyst to Wallace,
Put in the buk how than hapnyt this cace
At Blayr was in, and mony worthi deid
Off quhilk him selff had no plesance to reid.
Wallace rewllyt the schip with his awin men
And saillyt furth the rycht cours for to ken.
In the Sloice hawyn quhill that thai entryt be
The merchandys weill he kepyt in sawfte.
Off gold and ger he tuk part at thai fand,
Gaiff thaim the schip, syn passyt to the land;
Throuch Flandrys raid vpon a gudly wys,
Entryt in France and socht vp to Parys.
The glaid tithing at to the king was brocht
Off Wallace com, it comford all thar thocht.
Thai trowyt be him to get redres off wrang
The Sotheroun had in Gyane wrocht so lang.
The perys off France was still at thar parlement.
The king commaund, wyth trew and haill entent,
Thai suld forse a lordschip to Wallace.
The lordis all than dempt off this cace.
For Gyane was all haill owt off thar hand
Thai thocht It best for to geyff him that land.
For weill thai trowyt he had so wrocht befor
He suld it wyn or ellis de tharfor;
Alsua off it thai mycht no profyt haiff.
This was the caus to Wallace thai it gaiff.
This decret son thai schawit to the king.
Displessyd he was thai maid him sic a thing.
Off Gyane thus quhen Wallace had a feill,
No land, he said, likit him haiff so weill:
“My chance is thus for to be ay in wer
And Inglismen has done our Realm most der.
It was weill knawin, my defens rychtwys thar;
Rycht haiff I her, my comfort is the mar.
I thank ȝour lordis, maid sic reward to me.
Thar purpos is I sall nocht ydill be.”
The king bad him be duk off Gyan land.
To that commaund Wallace was gaynstandand
Be-caus that land was haly to conquace.
He thocht to wyn erar throw goddis grace.
Bot neuertheles the king had maid him knycht
And gaiff him gold for to maynteine his mycht,
Syn gaiff playn charge till his wermen off France
Thai suld be haill at Wallace ordinance.
And als off him he bad him armes tak.
Wallace forsuk sic changyng for to mak:
“Sen I began I bar the reid lyoun
And thinkis to be ay trew man to that croun.
I thank ȝow schir off this mychty reward.
Ȝour gyft herfor sall nocht rycht lang be spard.
I think to quyt sum part ȝe kith on me
In your seruice, or ellis tharfor to de.”
Gud Wallace thocht his tym he wald nocht waist,
On to the wer he graithit him in haist.
All Scottis men that was in-to that land,
Till him thai socht with thar fewte and band.
Langaweill als a gret power can rais.
In Wallace help this gud knycht glaidly gais.
Ten thowsand haill off nobill men thai war,
The braid baner off Scotland displayed thar.
Thir wermen sone apon Gyane thai fwr,
Brak byggyns doun quhilk had bene stark and stur.
Sotheroun thai slew, agayn thaim maid debait.
Braithly on breid thai rasyt fyris hait.
Schynnoun thai tuk at Wallace fyrst had woun
And slew all men off Sotheroun was thar foun.
In-to that toun Wallace his duellyng maid.
All thar about he wan the contre braid.
The worthy duk, off Orliance was lord,
Semblyt his folk in-till a gud accord.
Xii thousand than he had in armour brycht
And thocht to help gud Wallace in his rycht.
Leyff I thaim thus, the duk and Wallace baithe,
And spek sum-part how Scotland tuk gret scaithe.
The fals Inwy, the wicked fell tresoun,
Amang thaim selff brocht feill to confusioun.
The knycht Wallang in Scotland maid repair;
The fals Menteth, Schir Ihon, with-outyn mair
Betwix thai twa was maid a prewa band.
So on a day they met in-till Annand.
Off the Leynhous schir Ihon had gret desyr.
Schyr Amer hecht he suld it haiff in hyr
Till hald in fe, and othir landis mo,
Off king Eduuard, so he wald pas him to.
Thus cordyt thai and syn to London went.
Eduuard was glaid for to hald that poyntment.
Menteth was thar bound man to that fals king,
Till forthir him till Scotland in all thing;
Syn passyt haym, and Wallang with him fur
Quhill he was brocht agayn our Carleill mur.
King Eduuard than in Ire and fers owtrage
Be xxxty dayis raissit his barnage,
In Scotland past and thar na stoppyng fand,
Na chyftane thar that durst agayn him stand,
For Menteth tald thai thocht to mak Bruce king.
All trew Scottis wald be plessyd off that thing.
Ȝeit mony fled and durst nocht bid Eduuard;
Sum in-to Ros and in the Ilis past part.
The byschop Synclar agayn fled in-to But;
With that fals king he had no will to mut.
Thus, wyth-out straik, the castellis off Scotland
King Eduuard haill has tane in his awin hand;
Deuidyt syn to men that he wald lik
Strenthis and toun, to Ros throuch this kynrik.
Baith hycht and waill obeyed all till his will.
As he commaund thai purpos to fullfill.
The byschoprykis inclynyt till his croun,
Bathe temperalite and all the religioun.
The Roman bukis at than was in Scotland
He gart be brocht to scham quhar thai thaim fand
And but radem thai brynt thaim thar Ilkan.
Salysbery oys our clerkis than has tan.
The lordis he tuk that wald nocht off him hald,
In Ingland send full nobill blud off ald.
Schyr Wilȝam lang Douglace to Londe he send
In strang presoun, quhar throuch he maid his end.
The Erll Thomas that lord was off Murray
And lord Frysaill with him he send away,
Als Hew the Hay and othir ayris ma.
He gert Wallang with thaim in Ingland ga.
Na man was left all this mayn land within
Fra Eduuardis pees, was knawin off ony kyn.
Cetoun, Lawder, duelt still in-to the Bas,
With thaim Lundy and men that worthi was.
The Erll Malcom and Cambell past but let
In But, succour with Synclar for to get.
Schir Ihon Ramsay and Rowan than fled north
To thar Cusyng that lord was off Fyllorth,
Quhilk past with thaim throw Murray landis rycht.
So fand thai thar a gentill worthi knycht
At Climace hecht, full cruell ay had beyn
And fayndyt weill amang his Enemys keyn.
He thocht neuir at Eduuardis faith to be.
In-till his tym he gert feill Sotheroun de.
He led thir lordis in Ros with-outyn mar,
At the Stokfurd a stark strenth byggit thar,
Kepyt that land rycht worthely be wer.
Till thar Enemys thai did full mekill der.
Adam Wallace and Lyndsay off Cragge
Away thai fled be nycht apon the Se,
And Robert Boid quhilk was baith wys and wicht.
Arane thai tuk to fend thaim at thar mycht.
The Corspatrik in-to Dunbar baid still.
Fewte full sone he had maid Eduuard till.
Abyrnethe, lord Soullis and Cummyn als,
And Ihon off Lorn that lang had beyn full fals,
The lord Brechyn and mony othir, baid
At Eduuardis faith for gyftis he thaim maid.
Iusten off pees for xxty dayis set he
Off Inglismen in Lorn, at men mycht be
Playn to declayr, bot for this caus Iwys,
That all Scotland be conques than was his.
The lordis than and byschop gud Synclar
Sone out off But thai maid a ballingar
To gud Wallace, tald him thar turment haill.
Than wrait thai thus to get bwte off thar baill:
“Our help, our heill, our hop, our gouernour,
Our gudly gyd, our best chyftane in stour,
Our lord, our luff, our strenth, our rychtwysnas,
For goddis saik radeym ws anys to grace
And tak the croun, till ws It was kyndar,
To bruk for ay, or fals Eduuard it war.”
The wryt he gat, bot ȝeit suffer he wald
For gret falsheid that part him did off ald.
Mekill dolour it did him in his mynd
Off thar mysfayr, for trew he was and kynd.
He thocht to tak amendis off that wrang.
He ansuerd nocht but in his wer furth rang.
Off king Eduuard ȝeit mar furth will I meill,
In-to quhat wys that he couth Scotland deill.
In Sanct Ihonstoun the Erll off Ȝork he maid
Capdane to be off all thai landis braid
Fra Tay to Dee, and wndyr him Butlar.
His grantschyr had at Kynclewin endit thar,
His fadyr als, Wallace thaim bathe had slayn;
Eduuard tharfor maid him a man off mayn.
The lord Bewmound in-to the north he send.
Thai lordschippys all thai gaiff him in commend.
To Sterlyn syn fra Sanct Ihonstoun he went,
Thair to fulfill the layff off his entent.
The lord Clyffurd he gaiff than Douglace daill,
Rewllar to be off the south merchis haill.
All Galloway than he gaiff Cumyn in hand—
Wyst nayn bot god how lang that stait suld stand!
The gentill lord, gud byschop Lammyrtoun
Off Sanct Androws, had Douglace off Renoun.
Befor that tyme ȝong Iamys, wicht and wys,
Till him was cummyn fra scullis off Parys.
A prewa fawour the bischop till him bar,
Bot Inglismen was so gret maisteris thar
He durst nocht weill in playn schaw him kyndnes;
Quhill on a day he tuk sum hardines,
Douglace he cald and couth to Styrlyng fayr,
Quhar king Eduuard was deland landis thair.
He proferd him in-to the kingis seruice,
To bruk his awin. Fra he wist in this wys
Douglace he was, than he forsuk planle,
Swor, “Be Sanct George, he brukis na landis off me!
His fadyr was in-contrar off my crown.
Tharfor as now he bidis in our presoun.”
To the byschop nane othir grant he maid,
Bot as he plesd delt furth thai landis braid.
To the lord Soullis all haill the Mers gaiff he
And Captane als off Berweik for to be.
Olyfant than, that he in Sterlyng fand,
Quhen he him had he wald nocht kep his band,
The quhilk he maid or he him Sterlyng gaiff.
Desaitfully thus couth he him dissayff,
In-till Ingland send him till presoun strang.
In gret distres he lewyt thar full lang.
Quhen Eduuard king had delt all this Regioun
His leyff he tuk, in Ingland maid him boun.
Out off Stirlyng southward as thai couth ryd
Cumyn hapnyt ner-hand the Bruce to bid.
Thus said he, “Schir, and ȝhe couth keip consaill
I can schaw her quhilk may be ȝour awaill.”
The Bruce ansuerd, “Quhat euir ȝhe say to me
As for my part sall weill conseillyt be.”
Lord Cumyn said, “Schir, knaw ȝe nocht this thing,
That off this Realm ȝe suld be rychtwys king?”
Than said the Bruce, “Suppos I rychtwys be,
I se no tym to tak sic thing on me.
I am haldin in-to my Enemys hand
Wndyr gret ayth, quhen I com in Scotland
Nocht part fra him for profyt nor request,
Na for na strenth bot gyff ded me arest.
He hecht agayn to gyff this land to me.
Now fynd I weill It is bot sutelte,
For thus thow seis he delys myn heretage,
To Sotheroun part and sum to traytouris wage.”
Than Cumyn said, “Will ȝe her-to accord,
Off my landys and ȝe lik to be lord,
Ȝe sall thaim hawe for ȝour rycht off the croun;
Or and ȝe lik, schir, for my warisoun
I sall ȝow help with power at my mycht.”
The Bruce ansuerd, “I will nocht sell my rycht
Bot on this wys, quhat lordschip thou will craiff
For thi supple I hecht thou sall it haiff.”
“Cum fra ȝon king, schir, with sum ieperte.
Now Eduuard has all Galloway geyffyn to me.
My newo Soullis, that kepis Berweik toun,
At ȝour commaund his power sall be boun.
My newo als, a man off mekill mycht,
The lord off Lorn, has rowme in-to the hycht.
My thrid newo, a lord off gret renoun,
Will rys with ws, off Breichin the barroun.”
Than said the Bruce, “Fell thar sa far a chance
That we micht get agane Wallace of France,
Be witt and force he couth this kynryk wyn.
Allace, we haiff our lang beyn haldin in twyn.”
To that langage Cumyn maid na record,
Off ald deidis in-till his mynd remord.
The Bruce and he completyt furth thar bande,
Syn that sammyn nycht thai sellyt with thar hande.
This Ragment left the Bruce with Cumyn thar;
With king Eduuard haym In Ingland can far
And thar remaynyt quhill this ragment war knawin;
Thre ȝer and mar or Bruce persewyt his awin.
Sum men demys that Cwmyn that Ragment send.
Sum men tharfor agaynys makis defend.
Nayn may say weill Cumyn was saklasing
Becaus his wiff was Eduuardis ner Cusing.
He serwyt dede be rycht law off his king,
So raklesly myskepyt sic a thing.
Had Bruce past by but baid to Sanct Ihonstoun
Be haill assent he had rasawyt the croun.
On Cumyn syn he mycht haiff done the law.
He couth nocht thoill fra tym that he him saw,
Thus Scotland left in hard perplexite.
Off Wallace mar in sum-part spek will we.