University of Virginia Library

BOOK IX

A ryoll king, than Ryngyt in-to France,
Gret worschip herd off Wallace gouernance:
Off prowis, prys, and off his worthi deid,
And forthwart, fair, commendede off manheid,
Bathe humyll, leyll, and off his prewyt prys,
Off honour, trewth, and woid off cowatis.
The nobill king ryngand in Ryolte
Had gret delyte this Wallace for to se,
And knew rycht weill, schortly to wndyrstand,
The gret supprys and ourset off Ingland.
Als merueld he off Wallace small power,
That but a king tuk sic a rewm to ster
Agayn Ingland, and gert thar malice ces
Quhill thai desyryt with gud will to mak pes.
And rycht onon a herrold gert he call.
In schort termys he has rehersit him all
Off his entent completly till ane end.
Syn in Scotland he bad him for to wend.
And thus he wrait than in-till gret honour
To Wilȝam Wallace as a conquerour:
“O lowit leid, with worschip, wys and wicht,
Thow werray help in haldyn off the rycht;
Thou rycht restorer off thi natyff land,
With goddis grace agayn thi fais to stand;
In thi defens helpar of rychtwys blud;
O worthy byrth and blessyt be thi fud,
As it is red in prophecy beforn
In happy tym for Scotland thow was born.
I the besek with all humylite
My clos lettir thow wald consaiff and se;
As ȝour brodyr I crystyn king off France,
To the berer ȝe her and gyff credance.”
The herrold bownd him and to the schip is gone.
In Scotland sone he cummyn is onon,
Bot harrold lyk he sekis his presens.
On land he went and maid no residens
In ony steid; quhar he presumyt, thar
So on a day he fand him, in-to Ayr,
In gud affer and manlik cumpany.
The harrold than with honour reuerendly
Has salust him apon a gudly maner,
And he agayn with humyll, hamly cher
Rasauit him in-to rycht gudly wys.
The harrold than, with worschip to dewys,
Be-tuk till him the kingis wryt off France,
Wallace, on kne with lawly obeysance,
Rycht reuerendly for worschip off Scotland.
Quhen he it red and had it wndirstand,
At this herrold he askyt his credence
With aspre spech and manly contenence,
And he him tald as I haiff said befor
The kingis desyr, quhat nedis wordis mor:
“The hye honour and the gret nobilnas
Off ȝour manheid, weill knawin in mony place,
Him likis als weill ȝour worschip till awance
As ȝhe war born a liege man off France.
Sen his regioun is flour off rewmys seyn,
Als the gret band off kindnes ȝow betweyn,
It war worschip his presens for to se
Sen at this rewm standis in sic degre.”
Wallace consawit with-outyn tarying
The gret desyr off this gud nobill king,
Syn till him said, “As God off hewin me sawe,
Her-eftir sone ȝe sall ane ansuer hawe
Off ȝour desyr that ȝe hawe schawit me till.
Welcum ȝe ar with a fre hartly will.”
The harrold baid on-to the xxty day,
With Wallace still in gud weill-fayr and play
Contende the tyme with worschip and plesance.
Be gud awys maid his deliuerance,
With his awn hand he wrait on-to the king
All his entent as twyching to this thing.
Rycht rych reward he gaiff the harrold tho
And him conwoyde, quhen he had leyff to go,
Out off the toun with gudly cumpanye.
His leyff he tuk, syn went on-to the se.
Gud Wallace than has maid his prouidance;
His purpos was to se the king off France;
Erest in weyr to Sanct Ihonstoun couth fair.
A consaill than he had gert ordand thar.
In-till his sted he chesyt a gouernour
To kep the land, a man off gret walour,
Iamys gud lord, the Stewart off Scotland;
Quhilk fadyr was as storys beris on hand
Till gud Walter, that was off hye parage,
Mariory the Bruce syne gat in mariage.
Tharoff to spek as now I haiff no space;
It is weill knawin, thankit be goddis grace.
And to the harrold, with-outyn residens
How he approchit to the kingis presens.
Fra the Rochell the land sone has he tayn.
Atour the landis he graithit him to gayn,
Sekand the king als gudly as he may.
So to the court he passit on a day,
To Parys went, was peirles off renoun.
The king, that tym held palace in that toun,
Quhen he hym saw graithly has wndirstand.
He speryt tithingis and weyllfayr off Scotland.
The herrold said in-to thir termys schort
That all was gud; he had the mar comfort.
“Saw thow Wallace, the chyftayn off that land?”
And he said, “Ȝa, that I dar tak on hand,
A worthyar this day lyffand is nayn
In way off wer, als fer as I haiff gayn,
The hie worschip and the gret nobilnes,
The gud weillfair, plesance and worthines.
The Rych reward was mychty for to se
That for ȝour saik he kythyt apon me,
And his ansuer in wryt he has ȝow send.”
The king Rasauit it with a lycht attend,
This hie affect and dyt off his writyng:
“O ryoll roy and rychtwys crownyt king,
Ȝhe knaw this weill be othir ma than me,
How that our rewlm standis in perplexite.
The fals nacioun that we are nychtbouris to,
Quhen plesis thaim thai mak ws ay ado.
Thar may na band be maid so sufficians
Bot ay in it thai fynd a warians.
To wait a tym, will god at it may be,
With-in a ȝer I sall ȝour presens se.”
Off this ansuer weill plessyt was the king.
Leyff I him thus in Ryolte to ryng
And glaid comford, rycht as I haiff ȝow told.
Off Wallace furth I will my proces hold.
In Aperill, the one and twenty day,
The hie calend, thus Cancer, as we say,
The lusty tym off Mayus fresche cummyng
Celestiall gret blythnes in to bryng;
Pryncypaill moneth forsuth it may be seyn,
The hewynly hewis apon the tendyr greyn;
Quhen old Saturn his cloudy cours had gon,
The quhilk had beyn bath best and byrdis bon;
Zepherus ek with his suet vapour,
He comfort has, be wyrking off natour,
All fructuous thing in-till the erd adoun
At rewllyt is wndyr the hie Regioun;
Sobyr Luna in flowyng off the se;
Quhen brycht Phebus is in his chemage hie,
The Bulys cours so takin had his place;
And Iupiter was in the Crabbis face;
Quhen Aryet the hot syng coloryk,
In-to the Ram quhilk had his Rowmys Ryk,
He chosyn had his place and his mansuun
In Capricorn, the sygn off the lioun;
Gentill Iupiter with his myld ordinance
Bath Erb and tre reuertis in plesance,
And fresch Flora hir floury mantill spreid
In euery waill, bath hop, hycht, hill and meide—
This sammyn tym, for thus myn auctor sayis,
Wallace to pas off Scotland tuk his wayis.
Be schort awys he schup him to the se
And fyfty men tuk in his cumpane.
He leit no word than walk off his passage
Or Inglismen had stoppit him his wiage,
Nor tuk na leiff at the lordis off the parlement;
He wyst full weill thai wald nocht all consent
To suffer him out off the land to go.
For-thi onon with-outyn wordis mo
He gart forse and ordand weill his schip;
And thir war part past in his falowschip,
Twa Wallace, was his kynnys-men full ner,
Craufurd, Kneland, was haldyn till him der.
Off Kyrkcubre he purpost his passage.
Semen he feyt and gaiff thaim gudlye wage.
Thai wantyt nocht off wyn, wictaill nor ger,
A fair new barge, rycht worthi, wrocht for wer.
With that thai war a gudly cumpany
Off waillit men had wrocht full hardely;
Bonalais drank rycht glaidly in a morow,
Syn leiff thai tuk and with “Sanct Ihon to borow”
Bottis was schot and fra the Roch thaim sent.
With glaid hartis at-anys thai in went.
Wpon the schip thai rowit hastely.
The seymen than, walkand full besyly,
Ankyrs wand in wysly on athir syd,
Thair lynys kest and waytyt weyll the tyd,
Leyt salys fall and has thar cours ynom.
A gud gay wynd out off the rycht art com.
Frekis in forstame rewllit weill thar ger;
Ledys on luff burd with a lordlik fer
Lansys laid out to luk thar passage sound.
With full sayll thus fra Scotland furth thai found,
Salyt haill our the day and als the nycht.
Apon the morn quhen at the son rais brycht
The schip master on to the top he went.
Sowthest he saw that trublyt his entent,
Saxten salis arayit all on raw,
In colour reid, and towart him couth draw.
The gliterand son apon thaim schawit brycht,
The se about enlumynyt with the lycht.
This mannis spreit was in ane extasy.
Doun went he sone and said full sorowfully,
“Allace,” quod he, “the day that I was born!
With-out rameid our lywys ar forlorn.
In cursyt tym I tuk this cur on hand.
The best chyftayn and reskew off Scotland,
Our raklesly I haiff tayn vpon me
With waik power to bryng him throw the se.
It forsyt nocht, wald God I war torment,
So Wallace mycht with worschip chaip wnschent!”
Quhen Wallace saw and hard this mannys mon
To comfort him in gud will is he gon.
“Maister,” he said, “quhat has amowit the?”
“Nocht for my selff,” this man said petuisle,
“Bot off a thing I dar weill wndirtane,
Thocht all war heyr the schipis off braid Bertane
Part suld we los, set fortoun had it suorn.
The best wer-man in se is ws beforn
Leffand this day and king is off the se.”
Wallace sone sperd, “Wait thow quhat he may be?”
“The Rede Reffayr thai call him in his still.
That I him saw euyr waryt worth that quhill!
For myn awn lyff I wald no murnyng mak.
Is no man born that ȝon tyran wil tak.
He savis nayn for gold nor othir gud,
Bot slayis and drownys all derffly in the flud.
He gettis no grace thocht he war king or knycht.
This xvi ȝer he has doyn gret wnrycht.
The power is so strang he has to ster
May non eschaip that cummys in his danger.
Wald we him burd, na but is to begyn;
The lakest schip that is his flot within
May sayll ws doun on-to a dulfull ded.”
Than Wallace said, “Sen thow can no ramed
Tell me his feyr and how I sall him knaw,
Quhat is hys oys, and syn go luge the law.”
The schipman sayis, “Rycht weill ȝe may him ken
Throu graith takynnys, full clerly by his men.
His cot armour is seyn in mony steid,
Ay battaill boun, in Riwell ay off reid.
This formest schip that persewis ȝow so fast
Hym selff is in; he will nocht be agast.
He wyll ȝow hayll quhen that he cummys ȝow ner.
With-out tary than mon ȝhe stryk on ster.
Hym selff will entir fyrst full hardely.
Thir ar the syngys that ȝe sall knaw him by:
A bar off blew in-till his schenand scheild,
A bend off greyn desyren ay the feild.
The Rede betakynnys blud and hardyment,
The greyn curage encressand his entent;
The blew he beris becaus a crystyn man.”
Sadly agayn Wallace ansuerd than,
“Thocht he be crystynyt this war no godlyk deid.
Go wndyr loft. Sanct Androw mot ws speid!”
Bathe schip maistir and the ster-man also
In the holl but baid he gert thaim go.
His fyfty men with-outyn langar rest
Wallace gart ray in-to thar armour prest.
Fourty and aucht on luff burd laid thaim law.
Wylȝham Crawfurd than till him gert he caw
And said, “Thow can sumpart off schipman fair.
Thi oys has beyn oft in the toun off Ayr.
I pray the tak this doctryn off me.
Luk at thow stand strekly be this tre.
Quhen thai bid stryk, to seruice be thow bane.
Quhen I the warn, lat draw the saill agane.
Kneland, cusyng, cum tak the ster on hand.
Her on the waill ner by the I sall stand.
God gyd our schip; as now I say na mar.”
The barge began with a full werlik far;
Him selff on loft was with a drawyn suord
And bad his ster-man lay thaim langis the bourd.
On loude he cryit, “Stryk, doggis! Ȝe sall de!”
Crawfurd leit draw the saill a litill we.
The capdane sone lap in and wald nocht stynt.
Wallace in haist be the gorget him hynt,
On the our-loft kest him quhar he stud,
Quhill neys and mowth all ruschit out off blud.
A forgyt knyff but baid he bradis out.
The wer schippis was lappyt thaim about.
The mekill barge had nocht thaim clyppyt fast;
Crawfurd drew saill, skewyt by and off thaim past.
The reiffar criyt with petous woice and cler
Grace off hys lyff. “For him that bocht ȝow der,
Mercy,” he said; “for him that deit on rud,
Layser to mend. I haiff spilt mekill blud.
For my trespas I wald mak sum ramed.
Mony saikles I haue gart put to ded.”
Wallace wyst weyll, thocht he to ded war brocht,
Fra thaim to chaip on na wyse micht he nocht,
And off his lyff sum reskew mycht he mak.
A bettir purpos sone he can to tak,
And als he rewyt him for his lyff was ill.
In Latyn tong rycht thus he said him till:
“I tuk neuir man that enemy was to me.
For goddis saik thi lyff I grant to the.”
Bathe knyff and suerd he tuk fra him onon,
Wp be the hand as presoner has him ton
And on his suerd scharply he gert him suer,
Fra that day furth he suld him neuir der.
“Commaund thi men,” quod Wallace, “till our pes.”
Thar schot off gown, that was nocht eith to ces.
The cast it was rycht awfull on athir sid.
The Rede Reiffar commaundyt thaim to bid,
Held out a gluff in takyn off the trew.
His men beheld and weyll that senȝe knew,
Left off thar schot that sygn quhen that thai saw.
His grettast barge towart him can he caw:
“Lat be ȝour wer; thir ar our freyndis at ane.
I traist to god our werst dayis ar gane.”
He ast Wallace to do quhat was his will.
With schort awys rycht thus he said him till,
“To the Rochell I wald ȝe gert thaim saill.
For Inglismen I wait nocht quhat may aill.”
He thaim commaund forouttin wordis mair:
“Turne saill and wynd, towart the Rochell fair,
For thar, god will, is our purpos to be.
Skour weyll about for scoukaris in the se.”
His commaund thai did in all the haist thai can.
Wallace desyryt to talk mor with this man.
Sadly he sperd, “Off quhat land was thou born?”
“Off France,” quod he, “and my eldris beforn,
And thar we had sumpart off heretage;
Ȝet fers fortoun thus brocht me in a rage.”
Wallace sperd, “How com thow to this lyff?”
“Forsuth,” he said, “bot throw a sudan stryff.
So hapnyt me in-to the kingis presens
Our raklesly to do our gret offens,
A nobill man off gud fame and Renoun
That throw my deid was put to confusioun,
Dede off a straik. Quhat nedis wordis mor?
All helpyt nocht thocht I repentyt full sor.
Throw freyndys off the court I chapyt off that place
And neuir sen syn couth get the kingis grace.
For my saik mony off my kyn gert thai de;
And quhen I saw it mycht no bettir be,
Bot leyff the land that me behuffyt o neid,
Apon a day to Burdeous I ȝeid.
Ane Inglis schip so gat I on a nycht
For sey lawbour that ernystfully was dycht.
To me thar semblyt misdoaris and weill mo,
And in schort tym we multiplyit so
Wes few that micht contrair our power gang.
In tyranry thus haiff we Rongyn lang.
This sexten ȝer I haiff beyn on the se
And doyn gret harm, tharfor full wa is me.
I savit nayn for gold nor gret Ransoun
Bot slew and drownyt in-to the se adoun.
Fawour I did till folk off syndry land,
Bot Franchmen no frendschip with me fand;
Thai gat no grace als fer as I mycht ryng.
Als on the se I clypyt was a king.
Now se I weyll that my fortoun is went,
Vincust with ane; that gerris me sair rapent!
Quha wald haiff said this sammyn day at morn
I suld with ane thus lychtly doun be born!
In gret hething my men it wald haiff tane.
My selff trowit till machit mony ane,
Bot I haiff found the werray playn contrar.
Her I gyff our roubry for euirmar.
In sic mysrewll I sall neuir armes ber,
Bot gyff it be in honest oys to wer.
Now haiff I told ȝow part off my blys and payn.
For goddis saik sum kyndnes kyth agayn.
My hart will brek bot I wyt quhat thou be,
Thus outrageously that has rabutyt me;
For weill I wend that leyffand had beyn non
Be fors off strenth mycht me as presoner ton,
Except Wallace that has rademyt Scotland,
The best is callit this day beltyt with brand.
In-till his wer war worschip for to wak.
As now in warld I trow he has no mak.”
Tharat he smylit and said, “Friend, weill may be.
Scotland had mystir off mony sic as he.
Quhat is thi naym, tell me, so haiff thou seill.”
“Forsuth,” he said, “Thomas off Longaweill.”
“Weyll bruk thow it. All thus stentis our stryff.
Schaip to pleys god in mendyng off thi lyff.
Thi faithfull freynd my selff thinkis to be,
And als my name I sall sone tell to the.
For chans off wer thou suld no murnyng mak.
As werd will wyrk thi fortoun mon thou tak.
I am that man that thou awansis so hie,
And bot schort tym sen I come to the se.
Off Scotland born my rycht name is Wallace.”
On kneis he fell and thankit god off grace:
“I dar awow that ȝoldyn is my hand
To the best man that beltis him with brand.
Forsuth,” he said, “this blythis me mekill mor
Than off floryng ȝe gaiff me sexty scor.”
Wallace ansuerd, “Sen thou art her throw chance,
My purpos is be this wiage in France,
And to the king sen I am boun to pas
To my reward thi pees I think to as.”
“Pes I wald haiff fayn of my rychtwis king
And no langar in-to that Realm to ryng,
Thar to tak leyff and cum off it agayn.
In thi seruice I think for to Ramayn.”
“Seruice,” he said, “Thomas, that may nocht be,
Bot gud frendschip as I desir off the”;
Gart draw the wyn and Ilk man mery maid.
Be this the schippis was in the Rochell raid,
The rede blasonys thai had born in-to wer.
The toun was sone in-till a sudane fer.
The Rede Reiffar thai saw was at thar hand,
The quhilk throu strenth mycht nayn agayne him stand.
Sum schippis fled and sum the land has tayn.
Clariownys blew and trumpattis mony ane.
Quhen Wallace saw the pepill was on ster
He gaiff commaund na schip suld ner apper,
Bot his awin barge in-to the hawyn gart draw.
The folk was fayn quhen thai that senȝe saw.
Rycht weyll thai knew in gold the rede lioun,
Leit wp the port, rasauit him in the toun
And sufferyt thaim for all that he had brocht.
The rede nawyn in-to the hawyn thai socht;
On land thai went quhar thai likit to pas.
Rycht few thar wyst quhat Scottis man Wallace was,
Bot weyll thai thocht he was a gudly man
And honouryt him in all the craft thai can.
Bot iiii dayis still at Wallace remaynyt thar.
Thir men he callyt quhen he was bown to fair.
He thaim commaundyt apon that cost to bid
Quhill he thaim fred, for chans at mycht betid:
“Ber ȝow ewyn, quhat gud that euir ȝhe spend.
Leiff on ȝour awin quhill tithandis I ȝow send.
Ger sell thir schippis and mak ȝow men off pes.
It war gud tym off wykkitnes to ces.
Ȝour captane sall pas to the king with me.
Throu help off God I sall his warrand be.”
He gert graith him in soit with his awin men.
Was no man thar that mycht weill Thomas ken.
Lykly he was, manlik of contenance,
Lyk to the Scottis be mekill gouernance,
Saiff off his tong, for Inglis had he nane.
In Latyn weill he mycht suffice for ane.
Thus past his court in all the haist thai may.
To Paris toun thai went apon a day.
Tythingis was brocht off Wallace to the king.
So gret desyr he had off na-kyn thing
As in that tym quhill he had seyn Wallace.
To meyt him selff he waytit apon cace
In a gardyng quhar he gert thaim be brocht.
Till his presence with manly feyr thai socht,
Twa and fyfty at anys kneland doun
And salust him as ryoll off most renoun,
With rewllyt spech in so gudly awys
All France couth nocht mair nurtour tham dewys.
The queyn had leyff and com in hyr effer,
For mekill scho herd off Wallace deid in wer.
Quhat nedis mor off curtassy to tell?
Thai kepyt weill that to the Scottis befell.
Off kingis fer I dar mak no rahers;
My febill mynd my trublyt spreit rewers.
Off rich seruice quhat nedis wordis mor?
Mycht non be found bot it was present thor.
Sone eftir meit the king to parlour went
With gudly lordis, thar Wallace was present.
Than commound thai off mony syndry thing.
To spek with him gret desyr had the king.
At him he speryt off wer the gouernance.
He ansuerd him with manly contenance,
Till euery poynt als fer as he had feill,
In Latyn tong rycht naturaly and weill.
The king consauit sone throu his hie knawlage
Quhat wermen oysyt be reyff in thar passage.
In-till his mynd the Rede Reiffar than was.
Merwell he had how he leit Wallace pas.
Till him he said, “Ȝe war sum thing to blaym.
Ȝe mycht haiff send be our harrold fra haym
Eftir power to bryng ȝow throu the se.”
“God thank ȝow schir, tharoff ynewch had we.
Feill men may pas quhar thai fynd na perrell.
Rycht few may kep quhar nayn is to assaill.”
“Wallace,” he said, “tharoff merwell haiff I.
A tyran ryngis in Ire full cruelly,
Apon the se that gret sorow has wrocht.
Mycht we him get it suld nocht be for nocht.
Born off this land, a natyff man to me,
Tharfor on ws the grettar harme dois he.”
Than Thomas quok and changyt contenans.
He hard the king his ewill deidis disawans.
Wallace beheld and fenȝeit in a part.
“Forsuth,” he said, “we fand nane in that art
That proffryt ws sic wnkyndlynes.
Bot with ȝour leiff, I spek in haymlynes,
Trow ȝe be sycht ȝe couth that squier knaw?”
“To lang it war sen tym that I him saw,
Bot thir wordis off him ar bot in wayn.
Or he com her rycht gud men will be slayn.”
Than Wallace said, “Her I haiff brocht with me
Off likly men that was in our countre.
Quhilk off all thir wald ȝe call him most lik?”
Amang thaim blent that ryoll roy most ryk,
Wesyit thaim weill, bathe statur and curage,
Maner, makdome, thar fassoun and thar wesage.
Sadly he said, awysit sobyrly,
“That largest man quhilk standis next ȝow by
Wald I call him be makdome to dewice.
Thir ar no-thing bot wordis off office.”
Befor the king on kneis fell gud Wallace:
“O ryoll roy, off hie honour and grace,
With waist wordis I will nocht ȝow trawaill.
Now I will spek sum thing for myn awaill.
Our barnat land has beyn our-set with wer
With Saxonis blud that dois ws mekill der,
Slayn our eldris, distroyit our rychtwys blud,
Waistyt the Realm off gold and othir gud,
And ȝe ar her in mycht and ryolte.
Ȝe suld haiff ey till our aduersite,
And ws support throu kindnes off the band
Quhilk is conserwyt betuix ȝow and Scotland.
Als I am her at ȝour charge for plesance.
My lyflat is bot honest chewysance.
Flour off Realmys forsuth is this regioun.
To my reward I wald haiff gret gardoun.”
“Wallace,” he said, “now ask quhat ȝe wald haiff;
Gud, gold or land, sall nocht be lang to craiff.”
Wallace ansuerd, “So ȝe it grant to me,
Quhat I wald haiff it sall sone chosyn be.”
“Quhat euir ȝhe ask that is in this regioun
Ȝe sall it haiff, except my wyff and croun.”
He thankit hym off his gret kyndlynes:
“My reward all sall be askyng off grace,
Pees to this man I brocht with me throu chans.
Her I quytcleym all othir gyfftis in Frans.
This sammyn is he, gyff ȝe knaw him weill,
That we off spak, Thomas of Longaweill.
Be rygour ȝe desyryt he suld be slayn.
I him restor in-to ȝour grace agayn.
Rasaiff him fayr as liege man off ȝour land.”
The king merweld and couth in study stand,
Perfytly knew that it was Longaweill.
He him forgaiff his trespas euirilkdeill
Bot for his saik that had him hydder brocht.
For gold or land ellis he gat it nocht.
“Wallace,” he said, “I had leuir off gud land
Thre hundreth pund haiff sesyt in thi hand.
That I haiff said sall be grantyt in playn.
Her I restor Thomas to pes agayn,
Derer to me than euir he was befor,
All for ȝour sak, thocht it war mekill mor.
Bot I wald wyt how that merwell befell.”
Wallace ansuerd, “The trewth I sall ȝow tell.”
Than he rahersyt quhat hapnyt on that day
As ȝe befor in my autour hard say.
Quhen the gud king had herd this sudan cas
Apon the se, be forsicht off Wallace,
The king him held rycht worthi till awans.
He saw in hym manheid and gouernans;
So did the queyn and all thir othir lordis.
Ilk wicht off hym gret honour than recordis.
He purchest pes for all the power haill,
Fyfteyn hundreth was left in the Rochaill,
Gert cry thaim fre, trew serwandis to the king
And neuir agayn fautyt in sic thing.
Quhen Thomas was restoryt to his rycht
Off his awin hand the king has maid him knycht.
Eftir he gaiff stayt to his nerrest ayr
And maid him selff with Wallace for to fayr.
Thus he was brocht fra naym off reyff throu cace,
Be sudand chans off him and wicht Wallace.
Thus leyff I thaim in worschip and plesance,
At liking still with the gud king off France.
Thai xxxti dayis he lugyt in-to rest.
So to Ramayn he thocht it nocht the best;
Still in-to pes he couth nocht lang endur,
Wncorduall it was till his natur.
Rycht weyll he wyst that Inglismen occupyit
Gyane that tym, tharfor he has aspyit
Sum ieperte apon thaim for to mak.
A gudly leyff he at the kyng couth tak.
Off Franchmen he wald nayne with him call
At that fyrst tym, for auentur mycht fall,
Bot schir Thomas that seruice couth persew.
He wyst nocht weyll gyff all the layff was trew.
Off Scottis men thai semblyt hastely,
Ix hundyr-sum off worthi chewalry;
In Gyan land full haistely couth ryd,
Raissyt feill fyr and waistyt wonnyngis wid.
Fortras thai brak and stalwart byggyngis wan,
Derffly to dede brocht mony Sotheron man.
A werlik toun so fand thai in that land
Quhilk Schenown hecht, that Inglismen had in hand.
Towart that steid full sadly Wallace socht,
Be ony wys assailȝe gyff he mocht,
Bargane till haiff and he mycht get thaim out.
Gret strenth off wod that tym was thar about.
This toun stud als apon a wattir sid.
In-till a park that was bath lang and wyd
Thai buschit thaim quhill past was the nycht.
Quhen the sone rais four hundreth men he dycht.
The laiff he gert Craufurd in buschement tak,
Geyff thai mysterit a reskew for to mak.
Than Longaweill that ay was full sawage
With Wallace past as ane to that scrymmage.
Thir four hundreth rycht wondyr weyll arayit
Befor the toun the playn baner displayit,
Was nocht to thaim weill knawyn in that contre,
The lyoun in gold rycht awfull for to se,
A forray kest and sessit mekill gud.
Wermen with-in that playnly wndyrstud
Sone wschit furth the pray for to reskew.
The worthi Scottis feill Inglismen thai slew.
The laiff for dreid fled to the toun agayn.
The forray tuk the pray and past the playn
Towart the park, bot power off the toun
Wschyt agayn in awfull battaill boun,
A thousand hayle wyth men off armys strang.
Few baid tharin that mycht to bargane gang.
Than Wallace gert the forreouris leyff the pray,
Assemblyt sone in-till a gud aray.
A cruel conterans at that metyng was seyn
Off wicht wermen in-to thar armour cleyn.
Feyll lossyt thar lyff apon the Sotheroun sid,
Bot nocht-for-thi rycht bauldly thai abyd.
Off the Scottis part than worthi men thai slew.
Wylȝham Craufurd that weyll the perell knew,
Out off the park he gert the buschement pas
In to the field quhar feyll men fechtand was.
At thar entre thai gert full mony de.
The Inglismen was wondyr laith to fle.
Full worthely thai wrocht in-to that place.
Baid neuir sa few so lang agayn Wallace
Wyth sic power as he that day was thar;
On athir syd assailȝeit ferly sayr.
In-to the stour so fellonly thai wrocht
Rycht worthy men derffly to dede thai brocht,
Wyth poyntis persyt throuch platis burnyst brycht.
Wallace hym-selff and gud Thomas the knycht,
Quhom that thai hyt maid neuir mor debait.
The Sotheron part was handlyt thar full hayt.
In-to that place thai mycht no langar byd.
Out off the feyld with sar hartis thai ryd.
On to the toun thai fled full haistely.
Wallace folowit and his gud chewalry,
Fechtand so fast in-to the thykkest thrang
Quhill in the toun he enterit thaim amang,
With him Crawfurd and Longaweill off mycht
And Rychard als Wallace his cusyng wicht.
Fyfteyn thai war off Scottis cumpany.
Thus hapnyt thai amang the gret party.
A cruell portar gat apon the wall,
Powit out a pyn, the portculys leit fall.
Inglismen saw that entrit was na ma.
Apon the Scottis full hardely thai ga,
Bot tyll a wall thai haiff thar bakkis set,
Sad strakys and sayr bauldly about thaim bet.
Rychard Wallace the turn-greys weill has seyn.
He folowit fast apon the portar keyn,
A-tour the wall dede in the dyk him draiff,
Tuk wp the port and leit in all the layff.
Quhen Wallace men had thus the entre won
Full gret slauchtir agane thai haff begon.
Thai savit nayn apon the Sotheroun syd
That wapynnys bar or harnes in that tid.
Wemen and barnys, the gud thai tuk thaim fra,
Syn gaiff thaim leyff in-to the realm to ga,
And preystis als that war nocht in the feild,
Off agyt men quhilk mycht na wapynnis weild.
Thai slew nayn sic, so Wallace chargis was,
Bot maid thaim fre at thar largis to pas.
Ryches off gold thai gat in gret plente,
Harnes and hors that mycht thaim weill supple,
Wyth Franch folk plenyst the toun agayn.
On the x day the feyld thai tuk in playn.
The Riwer doun in-to the land thai socht.
On Sotheron men full mekill maistre thai wrocht.
Quhen to the king trew men had tald this taill,
Off Franchmen thai semblyt a battaill,
Xxti thousand off lele legis off Frans.
Hys brothir thaim led, was duk of Orlyans.
Throu Gyan land in rayid battaill thai raid
To folow Wallace, and maid but litill baid
For Frans supple to help thaim in thair rycht.
Ner Burdeous or thai our-tak him mycht
Gud Wallace was and chosyn had a playn,
For sum men tald that Burdeous with gret mayn
With-in schort tym thocht battaill for to geyff;
Bot fra thai wyst that Franch folk couth raleiff
Wyth gret power, for helpyng off Wallace,
Wthyr purpos thai tuk in-to schort space.
In Pykarte sone message thai couth send;
Off Wallace com thai tald it till ane end.
Off Glosister captane off Calys was
The hardy Erll, and maid him for to pas
In Ingland sone and syne to London went.
Off Wallace deid he tald in the parlement.
Sum playnly said that Wallace brak the pes.
Wysmen said “Nay,” and prayit thaim for to ces.
Lord Bowmont said, “He tuk bot for Scotland
And nocht for Frans, that sall ȝe wndyrstand.
Gyff our endentour spekis for ony mair
He has doyne wrang, the suth ȝe may declayr.”
Wodstok ansuerd, “Schir, ȝe haiff spokyn weill,
Bot contrar resone that taill is euirilkdeill.
Gyff ȝone be he that band for him and his
May na man say bot he has wrocht a mys,
For pryncipaly he band with ws the trew
And now agayn begynnys a malice new.
Schyr king,” he said, “gyff ȝe think euir to mak
On Scotland wer, on hand now ȝe sall tak
Quhill he is out, or ellis it helpis nocht.”
As Wodstok said the haill consaill has wrocht.
Power thai raissyt on Scotland for to ryd,
Be land and se; thai wald no langar byd.
Thar land ost thai rayit weyll in-deid.
Thar wantgard tuk the hardy Erll to leid
Off Glosister, that off wer had gret feill.
Off Longcastell the duk demanyt weill
The mydillward; on to the se thai send
Schyr Ihon Sewart that weyll the northland kend.
The knycht Wallang befor the ost in raid
And sic a way wyth ewyll Scottis men he maid,
Mony castellis he gert sone ȝoldin be
Till Inglismen with-outyn mar melle.
Or the best wyst that it was wer in playn
Entryt he was in-to Bothwell agane.
Schyr Ihon Sewart that com in be the se
Sanct Ihonstoun sone gat throw a ieperte.
Dunde thai tuk and putt Scottismen to dede.
In Fyff fra thaim was nocht kepyt a stede,
And all the south fra Cheuyet to the se.
In-to the west thar mycht na succour be.
The worthy lord that suld haiff gouernyt this
God had hym tayn we trow in lestand blys.
Hys son Walter, that bot a child than was,
Trew men him tuk and couth in Arrane pas.
Adam Wallace than wyst off no supple,
Till Rawchle went, and Lindsay off Cragge.
Gud Robert Boid in But maid residens.
For haisty desait thai tuk thaim to defens.
Schyr Ihon the Graym in Dundaff mycht nocht bid;
Succour he socht in-to the forest off Clid.
The knycht Sewart a schyrreff maid in Fyff,
Schir Ameris brothir, and gaiff for term off lyff
The landis haill that Wallang aucht befor.
Rychard Lundy had gret dreid off thar schoyr;
He likyt nocht for to cum to thar pes,
Forthi in Fyff thai wald nocht lat him ces.
To pas our Tay as than it mycht nocht be,
For Inglismen so rewllyt that cuntre.
Owt off the land he staw away be nycht,
Xviii with him that worthy war and wycht;
And als his sone that was off tendyr eild,
Bot eftir sone he couth weill wapynnys weild.
At Sterlyng bryg or that the wach wes set
Thar passyt he away with-outyn let.
In Dundaff mur schir Ihon the Graym he socht.
A woman tald as than befor was wrocht
And till a strenth he drew him on the morn;
Laynrik was tayn with ȝoung Thomas off Thorn,
So Lundy thair mycht mak no langar remayn.
Besouth Tynto lugis thai maid in playn.
Schyr Ihon the Graym gat wit that he was thar;
Till him he past with-outyn wordis mar.
Wallang gart bryng fra Carlele cariage
To stuff Bothwell with wyn and gud warnage.
Lundy and Graym gat wyt off that wictaill.
Rycht sudanly thai maid thaim till assaill.
Fyfty thai war off nobill chewalry
Agayn four scor off Inglis cumpany.
Ane Skelton than kepyt the careage;
All Brankstewat, that was his heretage.
Lundy and Graym met with that squier wicht.
Feill Inglismen to ded derffly thai dycht.
Sexte was slayn apon the tothir sid
And v off Scottis, so bauldly thai abid.
Gret gud thai wan, bath gold and othir ger,
Wictayll and hors that hapnyt in that wer.
Syn thai haiff seyn weyll lang thai mycht nocht lest
In-to that land, tharfor thai thocht it best
To seik sum place in strenth that thai mycht bid,
For Sotheron men had plenyst on Ilk sid.
Lundeis luge thai left apon a nycht.
In the Lennox the way thai passyt rycht
Till Erll Malcom, that kepyt that cuntre
Fra Inglismen, with help off thar supple.
Cetoun and Lyll in-to the Bas thai baid,
For Sotheroun folk so gret mastrys had maid
That all the south was tayn in-to thar hand.
Gud Hew the Hay was send in-to Ingland
And vthir ayris to presoune at thar will.
The northland lordis saw na help cum thaim till.
A squier Guthre amang thaim ordand thai
To warn Wallace in all the haist he may.
Out off Arbroth he passit to the se
And at the Slus land takyn son had he.
In Flandrys land no residens he maid;
In Frans he past, bot Wallace weill abaid
On his purpos, in Gyan at the wer.
On Sotheroun men he had doyn mekill der.
Quhill gud Guthre had gottyn his presens
He haistyt him sone and maid no residens.
He has him tald with Scotland how it stud.
Than Wallace said, “Thai tithingis ar nocht gud.
I had exampill off tym that is by-worn,
Trewys to bynd with thaim that was maynsuorn;
Bot I as than couth nocht think on sic thing
Be-caus that we tuk this pees with thar king.
Be thar chansler the tothir pees was bwn
And that full sair our forfadris has fwn.
Wndyr that trew xviii scor thai gart de
At noblis war, the best in our cuntre.
To the gret god my wow now her I mak,
Pes with that king I think neuir for to tak.
He sall repent that thai this wer began!”
Thus mowit he with mony ryoll man
On to the king and tauld him his entent.
Till lat him pas the king wald nocht consent
Quhill Wallace thar maid promys be his hand,
Gyff euir agayn he thocht to leyff Scotland
To cum till him. His gret seyll he him gaiff
Off quhat lordschip that he likit till haiff.
Thus at the king ane haisty leiff tuk he.
Na ma with him he brocht off that cuntre
Bot his awn men and schir Thomas the knycht.
In Flawndrys land thai past with all thar mycht.
Guthreis barg was at the Slus left styll.
To se thai went wyth ane full egyr wyll.
Bath Forth and Tay thai left and passyt by.
On the north cost gud Guthre was thar gy.
In Munros hawyn thai brocht hym to the land.
Till trew Scottis it was a blyth tithand.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay, that worthi was and wycht,
Fra Ochtyrhous the way he chesyt rycht
To meite Wallace, with men off armes strang.
Off his duellyng thai had thocht wondyr lang.
The trew Ruwan come als with-outyn baid;
In Barnan wod he had his lugyng maid.
Barklay, Besat, to Wallace semblyt fast.
With thre hundreth to Ochtyrhous he past.