University of Virginia Library

previous sectionCHAP. III. How WALLACE past into Guienne. A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace
next section
232

CHAP. III. How WALLACE past into Guienne.

Three Weeks at Paris, Wallace did remain,
But longed much, to try the Wars again;
To march for Guyen, he esteem'd it best,
Because that Country English Men possest.
Then of the King took Leave, on's Knees did fall.
But took no French Men with him then at all.
Except Sir Thomas, and a warlike Crew
Of Valiant Scots, Nine Hundred stout and true;
233

VVho furiously with him to Guyen ride,
And Fire raise, thro' all that Country wide.
Forts and strong Castles, quickly they break down,
And put to Death many a Suthron Lown.
A warlike Town Scemen stood in that Land,
VVhich English Men, had under their Command.
The Town it stood upon a VVater-Side,
VVithin a Park, that was both long and wide.
Toward that Place, most valiantly then,
VVallace he march'd, with his Nine Hundred Men.
Four Hundred to himself took speedily.
The rest with Crawford caus'd in Ambush ly.
VVallace his Men, all gallantly array'd,
Before the Town their Banner there display'd.
The Lyon rampant, all in Gold did flee,
VVhich Sight before that Country ne'er did see.
The Park they range, great Booty drive away,
The War Men issued, to rescue the Prey.
But worthy Scots, have many English slain,
The rest fled back unto the Town again.
Fourty good Scots, pass'd with the Prey along,
Then ish'd again a Thousand English strong.
Wallace he caus'd his Men let go the Prey,
Then soon assembled all, in good Array.
A fierce Encounter there, you might have seen,
'Mongst those wight War-Men, in their Armour clean.
234

Vast Numbers lost their Lives on Suthron Side,
And yet the Rest most boldly did abide.
Some worthy Men there of the Scots they slew,
Then William Crawford who the Time well knew,
Out of the Park he made his Ambush fare,
Into the Field, where they all fighting were,
He at his Entry, many an one caus'd dye,
Yet English Men were very loath to fly.
But bravely fought, altho' they lost much Blood.
So few, so long, 'gainst Wallace never stood.
Yet at the last, were all oblig'd to fly,
Whom Wallace did pursue most furiously.
And never knew, till he amids the throng,
Was in the Town, his Suthron Foes among.
With him was Crawford, Richard, Longoveil,
Fifteen in all, and no more I wot well.
A cunning Porter, got upon the Wall,
Pull'd out the Pin, let the Portculzies fall.
Then cruelly the English on them set,
But to the Wall the Scots their Backs did get.
Cut down the Suthron, all their Force defy'd,
Then Richard Wallace, he the Porter spy'd:
Knock't out his Brains, with little Noise or Din,
Got up the Port, let all the Scotsmen in.
Who spared none, that they before them fand,
If they a Sword, or Weapon, had in Hand.
All other Lives most Christianly did spare,
But seiz'd the Goods, and Riches all were there.
235

The Town with French replenish'd quickly; then,
Wallace the Field takes briskly with his Men.
At which the King delay'd not very long,
But rais'd an Army Twenty Thousand Strong.
All faithfull Subjects of the Crown of France,
Led by his Brother, Duke of Orleance.
Thro' Guyen Land a speedy March they make.
At Burdeous do Wallace overtake.
Some said that Town did mightily incline
To fight good Wallace, but soon chang'd their Mind.
And sent Express to Piccardy by Post,
Telling of Wallace, and the new rais'd Host.
Glocester then Captain of Calais, went,
And told all to the English Parliament.
Some plainly said, Wallace had broke the Truce,
Others said Nay, that never was his use.
Lord Bewmont said, with Judgement most Profound,
VVallace for Scotland, not for France was Bound.
Yet Woodstock, from his Malice could not cease,
But still affirm'd, Wallace had broke the Peace.
And told the King, if he'd his Council take,
Now was the Time, on Scotland War to make.
What Woodstock said, all did conclude it right,
By Sea and Land, a Force they raise on Sight.
Glocester, he leads on the Army's Van,
Longcastle, does the middleward Command;
236

Then Sir John Psewart to the Sea was sent,
Who all the North-land perfectly well kent.
Vallange the Knight, before the Army went
Who all the Mischief did he could invent,
And made some Scots with his enticing Word,
Yield up their Castles, without stroke of Sword,
E'er the best Sort, knew it was War in plain.
In Bothwel Castle, he was set again.
And Sir John Peswart, who came by the Sea,
Soon got St. Johnstoun, by a Jeopardie,
Dundee they took, left not a Man on Life,
Then plundered; and soon possessed Fife.
And all the South, from Cheviot, to the Sea,
O barbarous, and cruel Enemy!
To Rauchry fled good Adam Wallace then,
And Robert Boyd to Bute, Two gallant Men.
Sir John the Graham, in Dundaff durst not bide;
But marched to the Forrest fair of Clyde.
Lundie from Fife he stole away by Night,
Eighteen with him that cliver were and tight.
And his young Son, then but of tender Age,
To Dundaff Moor, they all away do page.
Thinking to meet with good Sir John the Graham,
Who often made the Suthron fly with Shame.
Thomas of Thorn, took Lanerk the next Day,
Lundie and Hay, no longer there durst stay.
But to South-Tinto, quickly did repair,
And good Sir John, did gladly meet them there.
237

Vallange had order'd great Provisions then,
Under a Guard of Fourscore English Men.
For Bothwel Castle, but unto their Shame,
Were soon surpriz'd, by Lundie and by Graham.
Who with some hardy Scots, Fifty I trow,
Of Fourscore Suthron, Sixty there they slew.
Got Gold, and Goods, and all remain'd alive,
On the Scot's Side, excepting only Five
Then marched all away upon a Night,
Unto the Lennox, in their Armour bright.
Seatoun and Lyle they lodged in the Bass,
But Hugh the Hay, sent unto England was,
Then the North Country Lords do in the End,
The Squire Guthrie unto Wallace send.
At Aberbrothock Shipping took for Sea,
And safely at the Sluce soon landed he.
To Wallace went, and told in sorry Mood,
How sadly Matters now in Scotland stood.
Then Wallace said, O Suthron, all Mansworn,
For Perfidy, such Rogues were never born.
Their former Treachery, did we not feel,
Ev'n when the Truce was sign'd with their great Seal.
Who notwithstanding, most unchristianly,
Caus'd Eighteen Score of our brave Barrons dye.
To the great GOD, my Vow I here do make,
Peace with that King, hereafter nee'r to take.
238

He shall repent, that he this War began,
If it please GOD I be a living Man.
Then does Address the King for Liberty
To go for Scotland with his Company.
With much adoe the King did condescend,
With that Proviso when the War did end,
And he triumph'd had oe'r his Suthron Foes,
He should return to France, and no Time lose.
Which if he did, he freely might command,
At his Return, a Lordship of good Land.
Wallace takes leave, goes streight for Flanders then,
With good Sir Thomas, and his Country-Men.
The Squire Guthrie's Barge at Sluce lay still,
To Sea they went in Haste, with a good will.
Fair Wind, and Weather, nothing worse they fand,
Then at Montross, they safely all do land.
Good Sir John Ramsay, and the Ruthven true,
Barclay and Bisset, with Men not a few:
Do Wallace meet, all Canty, Keen, and Crouss,
And with Three Hundred, march to Ochter House.
previous sectionCHAP. III. How WALLACE past into Guienne. A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace
next section