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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| II. | CHAP. II. How WALLACE met with John of Lyn at Sea.
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 | CHAP. II. How WALLACE met with John of Lyn at Sea.
A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace |  |
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CHAP. II. How WALLACE met with John of Lyn at Sea.
Along the English Coast they steered South,Till opposite they came to Humber Mouth.
Then in the Sea a Ship did soon descry,
And on the Top Three Leopards standing High
Which when the Merchants narrowly did view,
Discourag'd were, and did their Voyage rue.
Knowing full well that it was John of Lyn,
Scots Blood to shed, who never thought it Sin.
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Of one poor single Ship why thus afraid.
Those Wood Cats fled us, and were frighted sore,
When Twice so many oftentimes before,
On a fair Field so shall they be at Sea,
If Suthron they and we true Scotsmen be.
That he's a Pyrat said the Steers-Men know,
And saves no Scotsman be he high or low.
A Flood he bears on his Armorial Coat,
First kills, then drowns, what Mischief does he not?
Wallace reply'd, since that the Case is so,
I'll sail the Ship, you Cowards get below.
Then his brave hardy valiant Men and he,
Array'd themselves in Harnish Cap a Pee.
Himself and Blair and the Knight Longoveil,
Command the Mid-Ship, and defend it well.
Before were Eight, Six he be-eft did send,
And Two he caus'd unto the Top ascend.
Gray Steers-Man was, which when the Merchants saw,
They Courage took altho' but Sogeors raw.
Some Skins with Wool they hastily did stuff,
This was their Harness, 'stead of Steel and Buff.
At which good Wallace very gently smiles
But does Commend their artificial VViles,
Then John of Lyne with Seven-score in his Barge,
Comes up and calls to Strike a hasty Charge.
At which Three Arrows Blair with a good will
Shot, and a Pirat at each Shot did kill.
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Before they clasp'd, Mischiev'd the Scots with Guns.
But when they clasped, this I wot right well,
The Scottish Spears did pierce their finest Steel.
The Pirat's Shot drove thick as a Hail Show'r,
Most furiously the space near of an Hour.
When Shot was gone, the Scots do Courage take.
And with stout Handy Blows great havock made
The Merchants in their Woollen Harness then,
Behav'd themselves also like gallant Men.
Wallace and his, with sharp Swords furiously,
Cut down the Rogues, and made them quickly die.
Then John of Lyn was very much agast,
To see his Men about him fall so fast.
With eager will he would have been away.
Bade teck the Ship in all the hast they may.
But all in vain, for now he plainly sees,
His Sails by Crawford set unto a Bleeze.
Burn'd down in Ashes, without all Remead,
And Sixty of his best Men lying dead.
Boarding the Pirat, Wallace in the Sea
Did throw a Rogue, then killed other Three.
Brave Longoveil the Knight and Mr. Blair,
No Quarters gave to any they found there.
Off John of Lyn Wallace the wight and brave,
The Head and Helmet from his Body drave
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That did so long the Seas before infest.
Then to the Sluys straightway did Wallace sail,
With a successful, and a prosp'rous Gale.
Took all the Gold and Silver that he fand,
The Merchants got the Ship, then he to Land
Thro' Flanders rode, soon passed o'er the same,
Then entered France, and unto Paris came,
Which Tidings came unto the King in haste,
To whom good Wallace was a welcome Guest.
Unto the Parliament the King did then,
For a good Lordship VVallace recommend.
Who, 'cause that Guyen was out of their Hand,
They thought it best to gift him all that Land.
For well they knew he bravely fought before,
And did the Suthron mortally abhor.
This Decreet soon they shew'd unto the King,
Who highly was displeased at the Thing.
But Wallace said, no Land pleas'd him so well,
And that the Suthron they should quickly feel.
Immediately the King he made him Knight,
And gave him Gold for to maintain his Right.
And order'd all the Army of that Land,
For to obey what Wallace did Command.
I thank you Sir said he, for this Reward,
Yon Suthron, Faith shall be no longer spar'd
And now my Time I will no longer waste,
But to the Wars I will prepare in haste.
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About him flock'd, and came with Heart and Hand.
With Longoveil a num'rous Force arose,
And to the Wars all with good Wallace goes.
Ten Thousand Men in Number then were they,
Who did the Scottish Banner soon display.
To Guyen marched all those good Men and true
Cast Castles down, and many Suthron slew.
They carry'd all before them in a Word,
None could, or durst resist their Fire and Sword.
Shemon which Wallace took before, they win,
And kill the Suthron all were found therein.
Into that Town Wallace made his Abode.
And did subdue all that whole Country broad.
The Duke of Orleans with Twelve Thousand bright,
Came to assist him and desend his Right.
Thus in his Town I leave him fairly fix'd,
And must speak something now of Scotland next.
| CHAP. II. How WALLACE met with John of Lyn at Sea.
A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace | |