A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace General and Governour of Scotland. Wherein the Old obsolete Words are rendered more Intelligible; and adapted to the understanding of such who have not leisure to study the Meaning, and Import of such Phrases without the help of a Glossary |
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| 4. | The Fourth BOOK OF Sir William Wallace
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 | A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace |  |
The Fourth BOOK OF Sir William Wallace
CHAP. I. How WALLACE won the Peel of Gargunnock.
'Twas now September, crown'd with Fruits, and Corn.
For Sustenance of ev'ry Creature born
When many English Peers of high Renown
In Council did conveen in GLASGOW Town.
Behov'd Sir Rannald Crawford then be there;
For he of Right was Sheriff born of Air.
With him his Nephew William Wallace went,
And only Servants Three, that their Intent
Might not misconstru'd by proud South'rons stand,
And thereby bring new Mischiefs on the Land.
But long they on their Journey had not been,
Ere Piercy's Baggage passing by was seen.
Five Men, that were its Convoy, march'd beside
Of these, Two walk'd on Foot, and Three did ride.
With tedious Journey now their Horse were tir'd,
So they Sir Rannald's from his Men requir'd;
Which mildly when refus'd, with Might and Main
They rob'd these honest Scots upon the Plain.
This Wallace saw, and sorely griev'd was he
Such Mischief wrought upon his Men to see.
But mindful how his Uncle did engage
His Word, he now restrain'd his deadly Rage;
Yet from his Party presently withdrew
Burning with Anger and Revenge in View,
To lie in wait for the rapacious Breed,
Who thus had perpetrate this foul Misdeed.
Near to Cathcart did he them overtake,
And rudely straightway in among them brake.
A burnish'd Blade that Tide did he unsheath,
Which none provok'd, that e'er evited Death,
Their Foreman first with such good will he gave,
That Hat and Head together off he drave.
Syn on the Ground Two of his Comerades laid;
The others fled discomfit and afraid.
While Wallace seizing on their Gold and Gear,
And passing Clyde, got into Lennox clear.
For Sustenance of ev'ry Creature born
When many English Peers of high Renown
In Council did conveen in GLASGOW Town.
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For he of Right was Sheriff born of Air.
With him his Nephew William Wallace went,
And only Servants Three, that their Intent
Might not misconstru'd by proud South'rons stand,
And thereby bring new Mischiefs on the Land.
But long they on their Journey had not been,
Ere Piercy's Baggage passing by was seen.
Five Men, that were its Convoy, march'd beside
Of these, Two walk'd on Foot, and Three did ride.
With tedious Journey now their Horse were tir'd,
So they Sir Rannald's from his Men requir'd;
Which mildly when refus'd, with Might and Main
They rob'd these honest Scots upon the Plain.
This Wallace saw, and sorely griev'd was he
Such Mischief wrought upon his Men to see.
But mindful how his Uncle did engage
His Word, he now restrain'd his deadly Rage;
Yet from his Party presently withdrew
Burning with Anger and Revenge in View,
To lie in wait for the rapacious Breed,
Who thus had perpetrate this foul Misdeed.
Near to Cathcart did he them overtake,
And rudely straightway in among them brake.
A burnish'd Blade that Tide did he unsheath,
Which none provok'd, that e'er evited Death,
Their Foreman first with such good will he gave,
That Hat and Head together off he drave.
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The others fled discomfit and afraid.
While Wallace seizing on their Gold and Gear,
And passing Clyde, got into Lennox clear.
Leaving his Friends his Absence to lament,
With Wallace to pass on is our Intent.
To Malcom then of Lennox mighty Earl
His Way took this great Chief, the Scottish Pearl.
The Earl receiv'd him in a courteous Way,
And much intreated still with him to stay,
Off'ring, that he his Men should all command;
But Wallace, grieving for his Native Land,
Resolv'd what store of Men he might to raise,
To combat in the Field for Scotland's Praise.
Steven of Ireland, exil'd from his Home,
Did there into a League with Wallace come.
So did Fawdoun a Man of dreadful size,
Of threatning Aspect, and iniquous Eyes;
Seldom he smil'd, was gruesome to the Sight;
And Blood and Batt'ry was his sole Delight.
With these, and sixty more went Wallace forth,
Their valiant March directing to the North.
Full in their Way upon Gargunnock Hill
The South'ron Bands had fortify'd a Peil,
With Chambers meet, and Hall commodious built.
And Strength of Men, and store of Victual fill'd
Wallace this Piece determin'd to take in,
Could it be slily done withoutten Din.
Spies having sent, and finding all was right,
Resolv'd on th'Enterprize that very Night.
His hardy Men at Arms were sent before,
To break a Bar that held the outmost Door.
But they in vain to break it did Essay,
Till Wallace fretting at the long Delay,
Came on himself, and with a furious shock
The Bar and Steeple all in Flinders Broke,
Then open drave the Gate, and there withal
Came tumbling down three Ell-Breadth of the Wall.
Much marvel did his Men, who saw this Storm,
And him do more than Twenty could perform.
The Passage clear'd, into the House they rush'd,
And all that did oppose before them push'd.
A Watch-Man had a fellon Staff of Steel,
Wherewith he Wallace thought at once to kill;
But he recoiling, with a little Pains,
Soon reft it from him, then dang out his Brains,
The Captain syne he in the Throng did meet,
And with the Staff soon laid him at his Feet.
His Men pursuing, slaughter'd all the Lave;
No Men at Arms they order'd were to save.
Women and Bairns he would not doom to die,
But let them safely pass, unhurt and free.
The Gold and Wealth the Soldiers Prey became;
But Wallace sought for Scotland, and for Fame.
With Wallace to pass on is our Intent.
To Malcom then of Lennox mighty Earl
His Way took this great Chief, the Scottish Pearl.
The Earl receiv'd him in a courteous Way,
And much intreated still with him to stay,
Off'ring, that he his Men should all command;
But Wallace, grieving for his Native Land,
Resolv'd what store of Men he might to raise,
To combat in the Field for Scotland's Praise.
Steven of Ireland, exil'd from his Home,
Did there into a League with Wallace come.
So did Fawdoun a Man of dreadful size,
Of threatning Aspect, and iniquous Eyes;
Seldom he smil'd, was gruesome to the Sight;
And Blood and Batt'ry was his sole Delight.
With these, and sixty more went Wallace forth,
Their valiant March directing to the North.
Full in their Way upon Gargunnock Hill
The South'ron Bands had fortify'd a Peil,
With Chambers meet, and Hall commodious built.
And Strength of Men, and store of Victual fill'd
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Could it be slily done withoutten Din.
Spies having sent, and finding all was right,
Resolv'd on th'Enterprize that very Night.
His hardy Men at Arms were sent before,
To break a Bar that held the outmost Door.
But they in vain to break it did Essay,
Till Wallace fretting at the long Delay,
Came on himself, and with a furious shock
The Bar and Steeple all in Flinders Broke,
Then open drave the Gate, and there withal
Came tumbling down three Ell-Breadth of the Wall.
Much marvel did his Men, who saw this Storm,
And him do more than Twenty could perform.
The Passage clear'd, into the House they rush'd,
And all that did oppose before them push'd.
A Watch-Man had a fellon Staff of Steel,
Wherewith he Wallace thought at once to kill;
But he recoiling, with a little Pains,
Soon reft it from him, then dang out his Brains,
The Captain syne he in the Throng did meet,
And with the Staff soon laid him at his Feet.
His Men pursuing, slaughter'd all the Lave;
No Men at Arms they order'd were to save.
Women and Bairns he would not doom to die,
But let them safely pass, unhurt and free.
The Gold and Wealth the Soldiers Prey became;
But Wallace sought for Scotland, and for Fame.
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Sojourning here Four Days the val'rous Crew,
Upon the Fifth, Northward their March pursue.
The Teth they cross'd, and the clear-running Ern,
The Motions of their Southeron Foes to learn;
In Methwin Forrest chuse their next Retreat
And for the Hunting there had Store of Meat.
Wallace was pleas'd, he now a Place had found,
Where for his Men Provisions did abound;
Where now at Rest refresh themselves they might,
Nor more be forc'd at once to fast, and fight.
Yet for himself no dainty Fare he sought,
So did his Country's Cares possess his Thought;
But wet, or dry was still with him the same,
And Cold and Hunger welcome, if they came.
So did he grieve for Scotland's woful Case;
And such his Hatred to the Southeron Race.
Upon the Fifth, Northward their March pursue.
The Teth they cross'd, and the clear-running Ern,
The Motions of their Southeron Foes to learn;
In Methwin Forrest chuse their next Retreat
And for the Hunting there had Store of Meat.
Wallace was pleas'd, he now a Place had found,
Where for his Men Provisions did abound;
Where now at Rest refresh themselves they might,
Nor more be forc'd at once to fast, and fight.
Yet for himself no dainty Fare he sought,
So did his Country's Cares possess his Thought;
But wet, or dry was still with him the same,
And Cold and Hunger welcome, if they came.
So did he grieve for Scotland's woful Case;
And such his Hatred to the Southeron Race.
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CHAP. II. How WALLACE past to Saint-Johnstoun, slew the Captain, and won Kinclevin.
Now Wallace grieving idle thus to beResolv'd at length Saint-Johnstoun for to see.
Seven Men went with him graith'd in Armour clear;
The rest he left to Steen of Ireland's Care.
Changing his Name he Entrance soon obtain'd;
Oft heard himself miscall'd, and sore disdain'd.
But well dissembling his Intent, he chose
At a young Maiden's Mansion to live close;
A gentle loving Creature, mild and meek,
Who often squeez'd his Hand, and clap'd his Cheek.
From her he learn'd how Things with Southerons went;
For ay to do them Skaith his Will was bent.
Butler, he heard, an Aged cruel Knight,
Kinclevin kept, a Castle wondrous Wight.
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To Methwin Wood, among his Comerades there.
Syne drew them up, and march'd in good Array
Along the green and bonny Banks of Tay.
Approach'd the Castle silently and slow,
That of his coming Southerons might not know.
But they within, fearful of sudden Harms,
Were quickly all a stir, and up in Arms.
Then did a fierce and cruel Fight ensue,
As ever was maintain'd among so few.
But Wallace still the foremost of the Fray,
Soon gave the English Loons right Scots-Man's Play.
Oft did he pierce their Battel thro' and thro',
And at each Onset many hack'd and slew.
Butler himself came Wallace to withstand;
But who could grapple Wallace Hand to Hand?
Sore did the Knight the rash Adventure rue;
For with one Stroke his Head in sunder flew.
Their Chiftain slain, the Remnant English fled,
Behind them leaving Threescore Soldiers Dead.
The Castle yielding, after some short stay,
They set on Fire, then brought their Gear away.
Syne Wallace wisely all his Men withdraws;
And lodges safely in the Short-Wood Shaws.
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CHAP. III. SHORT-WOOD Shaws.
The English then that in Saint-Johnstoun lay,Soon hearing of this fierce and fatal Fray,
Vowing Revenge, a Thousand Men of War
Sent tow'rds the Wood, right awful in Effeir.
These partly Sir John Butler did command
A valiant Chief, as any in the Land,
Seeking on Wallace well aveng'd to be,
Who at Kinclevin caus'd his Father die.
The like sought Loran, who from Gowrie came;
For th'Umquhile Sir James Butler was his Eme.
Into the Shaw their Men came pouring in,
Archers, and Spearmen, with a dreadful Din.
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Best to defend themselves, for they were Few.
Then did a fell and bloody Stour begin,
As scarce before on Tay was ever seen.
Such Deeds were wrought, as truly 'twere a Crime,
Them to descrive in our unlearned Rhime.
How Arms met Arms, and Swords went clishy clash,
For rural Lays to sing would be too rash.
Of Wallace is my chief Intent to speak;
Much did he toil, and oft their Ranks did break.
Upon young Butler lighting at the length,
Against him sole he guided all his Strength;
A manful Stroke at him then letting flee,
Defended underneath a bowing Tree,
The Branch came down so weighty on his Head,
As in an Instant fell'd the Chiftain Dead.
Loran to see his Friend so fall was woe,
So flew on Wallace an enraged Foe.
But he, defending with his awful Blade,
Dead at his Feet the doughty Younker laid.
The worthy Scots did nobly all that Day,
And drove their Foes with Shame at length away.
Seven of their Number fell in Fight no more;
But of the Southeron Race at least Six-score.
Now fearing least their Foes should gather new
Recruits, and them with num'rous Bands pursue,
To Methwin Wood they went e're it was dark,
And thence retreated into Elchoke Park.
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CHAP. IV. How WALLACE was sold to the English-Men by his Leman.
Here while they tarry'd Wallace took a BeeInto his Head that Maiden for to see,
Of whom we spoke before; a Friar's Gown
He to disguise his Personage puts on;
Then hies him to Saint-Johnstoun might and main;
To meet the Dame he was so wondrous fain.
There having past a Night, in wanton Play,
He made a Tryst, to come another Day.
Mean Time the Southerons did corrupt the Maid
With Gold, to have him when he came, betray'd.
According to his Tryst, he came in haste,
Incontinent into her Chamber past.
What they did there, who reads, may rightly spell;
And certes 'twere unmeet for me to tell.
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To lose a Love so trusty and so kind.
With bitter Wailings then to him made known
The Case, and pray'd him quickly to be gone.
Her Crime he pardon'd with a loving Kiss,
Wip'd off her Tears, nor took her Fault amiss.
Then straight way putting on her Female Weed,
Betakes him to the Gate with utmost Speed.
Past unsuspect by all the Watch, but Twain,
Who wonder'd much at such a sturdy Queen.
Him they pursu'd till getting out of Cry,
He faces him about, their Strength to try;
Pulls out a Brand, was hid beneath his Weed,
And laid upon them, till they both were Dead.
Then hastes him to his Men he left behind,
Such Hazard is in trusting Woman-kind.
The End of the Fourth Book.
| A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace | |