University of Virginia Library

HARY'S WALLACE

(VITA NOBILISSIMI DEFENSORIS SCOTIE WILELMI WALLACE MILITIS)

BOOK I

BOOK II

BOOK III

In Ioyows Iulii, quhen the flouris suete,
Degesteable engenered throu the heet,
Baith erbe and froyte, busk and bewis, braid
Haboundandlye in euiry slonk and slaid;
Als bestiall thar rycht cours till endur
Weyle helpyt ar be wyrkyn off natur,
On fute and weynge ascendand to the hycht,
Conserwed weill be the makar of mycht;
Fyscheis in flude refeckit realye
Till mannys fude the warld suld occupye;
Bot Scotland sa was waistit mony day,
Throw wer sic skaith at labour was away.
Wictaill worth scant or August could apper,
Throu all the land that fude was hapnyt der.
Bot Inglismen, that Riches wantyt nayne,
Be caryage brocht thar wictaill full gud wayne,
Stuffit housis with wyn and gud wernage,
Demaynde this land as thar awne heretage.
The kynryk haile thai rewllyt at thar will.
Messyngeris than sic tithingis brocht thaim till
And tald Persye that Wallace leffand war,
Off his eschaip fra thar presoune in Ayr.
Thai trowit rycht weill he passit was that steid,
For Longcastell and his twa men war deid.
Thai waryit the chance that Wallace so was past.
In Ilka part thai war gretlye agast
Throw prophesye that thai had herd befor.
Lord Persye said, “Quhat nedis wordis mor?
Bot he be cest he sall do gret merwaill.
It war the best for king Eduuardis awaill
Mycht he him get to be his steidfast man,
For gold or land; his conquest mycht lest than.
Me think beforce he may nocht gottyn be.
Wysmen the suth be his eschaip may se.”
Thus deyme thai him in mony diuers cas.
We leiff thaim her and spek furth off Wallas.
In Rycardtoun he wald no langar byde
For freindis consaill nor thing that mycht betide;
And quhen thai saw that it awaillit nocht,
His purpos was to wenge him at he mocht
On Sothron blud quhilk has his eldris slayne,
Thai latt him wyrk his awn will in-to playne.
Schir Richart had thre sonnys as I ȝow tald,
Adam, Rychart and Symont, that was bald.
Adam eldest was growand in curage,
Forthward, rycht fayr, xviii ȝer of age,
Large off persone, bathe wis, worthi and wicht.
Gude king Robert in his tyme maid him knycht.
Lang tyme eft in Brucis weris he baid,
On Inglismen mone gud Iorne maid.
This gud squier with Wallace bound to ryd,
And Robert Boid quhilk wald no langar bide
Undir thrillage of Segis of Ingland.
To that fals king he had neuir maid band.
Kneland was thar, ner cusyhg to Wallace,
Syne baid with him in mony peralous place,
And Eduuard Litill his sistir sone so der.
Full weill graithit in-till thar armour cler,
Wyth thar serwandis fra Ricardtoun thai raid
To Mawchtlyne mur and schort tyme thar abaid,
For freindis thaim tauld, was bound wndir trewage,
That Fenweik was for Perseys caryage:
With-in schort tyme he will bryng it till Ayr
Out of Carleile; he had resawyt it thair.
That plesyt Wallace in his hart gretumlye.
Wytt ȝhe, thai war a full glaid cumpanye.
Towart Lowdoun thai bownyt thaim to ride
And in a schaw a litill thar besyde
Thai lugyt thaim, for it was nere the nycht,
To wache the way als besyly as thai mycht.
A trew Scot quhilk hosteler hous thair held
Wndir Lowdoun, as myn autor me teld,
He saw thar come, syne went to thaim in hye.
Baithe meite and drynk he brocht full prewalye
And to thaim tald the cariage in-to playn.
Thair for-rydar was past till Ayr agayne,
Left thaim to cum with pouer of gret waille.
Thai trowit be than thai war in Awendaille.
Wallace than said, “We will nocht soiorne her,
Nor change no weid bot our ilk dayis ger.”
At Corssencon the gait was spilt that tide,
Forthi that way behowid thaim for to ride.
Ay fra the tyme that he of presoune four
Gude souir weide dayly on him he wour;
Gude lycht harnes fra that tyme wsyt he euir,
For sodeyn stryff fra it he wald nocht seuir.
A habergione undir his goune he war,
A steylle capleyne in his bonet but mar,
And glowis of plait in claith war couerit weill,
In his doublet a clos coler off steyle.
His face he kepit, for it was euir bar,
With his twa handis the quhilk full worthi war.
In-to his weid and he come in a thrang
Was na man than on fute mycht with him gang.
So growane in pith, off pouer stark and stur,
His terryble dyntis war awfull till endur.
Thai trastyt mar in Wallace him allane
Than in a hundreth mycht be off Ingland tane.
The worthi Scottis maid thar no soiornying,
To Lowdoun hill past in the gray dawyng,
Dewysyt the place and putt thar hors thaim fra
And thocht to wyn or neuir thin to ga;
Send twa skowrrouris to wesy weyll the playne,
Bot thai rycht sone raturnde in agayne,
To Wallace tald that thai war cummand fast.
Than thai to grounde all kneland at the last,
With humyll hartis prayit with all thar mycht
To god abowne, to help thaim in thar rycht.
Than graithit thai thaim till harnes hastely.
Thar sonȝeit nane of that gud chewalrye.
Than Wallace said, “Her was my fadir slayne,
My brothir als, quhilk dois me mekill payne;
So sall my selff, or wengit be but dreid.
The traytour is her, causer was off that deid.”
Than hecht thai all to bide with hartlye will.
Be that the power was takand Lowdoun hill.
The knycht Fenweik, conwoide the caryage,
He had on Scottis maid mony schrewide wiage.
The sone was rysyne our landis schenand brycht.
The Inglismen so thai come to the hycht
Ner thaim he raid and sone the Scottis saw.
He tald his men and said to thaim on raw,
“Ȝhonne is Wallace that chapit our presoune.
He sall agayne and be drawyn throu the toune.
His hede mycht mar, I wait weill, ples the king
Than gold or land or ony warldly thing.”
He gart serwandis bide with the cariage still.
Thai thocht to dawntyt the Scottis at thar will.
Nyne scor he led in harnes burnyst brycht,
And fyfty was with Wallace in the rycht.
Unraboytit the Sothroun was in wer
And fast thai come fell awfull in affer.
A maner dyk off stanys thai had maid
Narrowyt the way, quhar-throuch thai thikar raid.
The Scottis on fute tuke the feld thaim befor.
The Sothroun saw; thar curage was the mor.
In prydefull Ire thai thoucht our thaim to ryde,
Bot othir-wys it hapnyt in that tide.
On athir side to-giddyr fast thai glaid.
The Scottis on fute gret rowme about thaim maide,
With ponȝeand speris throuch platis prest of steylle.
The Inglismen that thocht to weng thaim weylle
The harnest hors about thaim rudely raide,
That with wnes wpone thar feit thai baid.
Wallace the formast in the birny bar.
The grounden sper throuch-out his body schar.
The schafft to-schonkit off the fruschand tre.
Dewoydyde sone sen na better mycht be,
Drew suerdis syne bathe hewy scharp and lang.
On athyr syd full cruelly thai dang,
Fechtand at anys in-to that felloune dout.
Than Inglismen enverounid thaim about,
Beforce etlyt throuch-out thaim for to ryde.
The Scottis on fute that baldly couth abyde
With suerdis schar throuch habergeons full gude.
Upon the flouris schot the schonkan blude
Fra hors and men throw harnes burnyst beyne.
A sayr sailȝe forsuth thar mycht be seyne.
Thai traistyt na liff bot the lettir end.
Off sa few folk gret nobilnes was kend,
To-gyddyr baid defendand thaim full fast.
Durst nane seuir quhill the maist pres was past.
The Inglismen that besye was in wer
Befors ordand in sondyr thaim to ber.
Thair cheyff chyftan feryt als fers as fyr
Throw matelent and werray propyr Ire;
On a gret hors in-till his glitterand ger
In fewtir kest a fellone aspre sper:
The knycht Fenweik that cruell was and keyne,
He had at dede off Wallace fadyr beyne
And his brodyr that douchty was and der.
Quhen Wallace saw that fals knycht was so ner
His corage grew in Ire as a lyoune.
Till him he ran and fell frekis bar he doune.
As he glaid by aukwart he couth him ta,
The gud arsone in sondir gart he ga.
Fra the coursour he fell on the fer syd.
With a staff suerd Boyd stekit him that tyde.
Or he was dede the gret pres come so fast
Our him to grounde thai bur Boyde at the last.
Wallace was ner and ratornde agayne
Him to reskew till that he rais off playne,
Wichtly him wor quhill he a suerd had tayne.
Throu-out the stour thir twa in feyr ar gayne.
The ramanand apon thaim folowit fast,
In thar passage fell Sothron maid agast.
Adam Wallace the ayr off Ricardtoun
Straik ane Bewmound a squier of renoun
On the pyssan with his brand burnyst bar.
The thrusande blaid his hals in sonder schayr.
The Inglismen, thocht thar chyftayn was slayne,
Bauldly thai baid as men mekill off mayn.
Reth hors repende rouschede frekis wndyr feit.
The Scottis on fute gert mony lois the suete.
Wicht men lichtyt thaim selff for to defend.
Quhar Wallace come thar deide was litill kend.
The Sothroune part so frusched was that tide
That in the stour thai mycht no langar bide.
Wallace in deide he wrocht so worthely,
The squier Boid and all thar chewalry.
Litill, Kneland, gert off thar ennymys de.
The Inglismen tuk playnly part to fle.
On hors sum-part to strenthis can thame found
To socour thaim, with mony werkand wound.
A hundreth dede in feild was lewyt thar,
And iii ȝemen that Wallace menyde fer mar;
Twa was off Kyle, and ane of Conyngayme
With Robert Boide, to Wallace com fra hayme.
Four scor fled that chapyt on the south syde.
The Scottis in place that bauldly couth abyde
Spoilȝeid the feld, gat gold and othir ger,
Harnes and hors quhilk thai mysteryt in wer.
The Inglis knawis thai gart thar caryage leid
To Clidis forest quhen thai war out off dreid.
Thai band thaim fast with wedeis sad and sar,
On bowand treis hangyt thaim rycht thar.
He sparyt nane that abill was to wer,
Bot wemen and preystis he gart thaim ay forber.
Quhen this was doyne to thar dyner thai went
Off stuff and wyne that god had to thaim sent.
X scor thai wan of hors that cariage bure,
With flour and wyne als mekill as thai mycht fur
And othir stuff that thai off Carleile led.
The Sothron part, out off the field at fled,
With sorow socht to the castell off Ayr
Befor the lord and tauld him off thar cair:
Quhat gud thai lost and quha in field was slayne
Throw wicht Wallace that was mekill off mayne,
And how he had gart all thar serwandis hang.
The Persye said, “And that squier lest lang
He sall ws exile out off this contre cleyne.
Sa dispitfull in wer was neuir seyne.
In our presoune her last quhen that he was
Our slouthfully our keparis lett him pas.
Thus stuff our-land I fynde may nocht weill be;
We mon ger bryng our wictaill be the se.
Bot los our men, it helpis ws rycht nocht.
Thar kyne may ban that euir we hyddir socht.”
Lat I thaim thus blamand thar sory chance,
And mar to sper of Scottis mennys gouernance.
Quhen Wallace had weyle wenquist into playne
The fals terand that had his fadyr slayne,
His brothyr als quhilk was a gentill knycht,
Othir gud men befor to dede thai dycht,
He gert dewys and prowide thar wictaille,
Baith stuff and hors that was of gret awaille.
To freyndis about richt preuayle thai send;
The ramanand full glaidlye thar thai spend.
In Clydis wode thai soiornyt xxti dayis.
Na Sothren was persawyt in thai wais
Bott he tholyt dede that come in thar danger.
The worde of him walkit baith fer and ner.
Wallace was knawin on lyff, leyffand in playne,
Thocht Inglismen tharoff had mekill payn.
The Erle Persye to Glaskow couth he fair
With wys lordis and held a consell thair.
Quhen thai war mett, weylle ma na x thousand,
Na chyftane was that tyme durst tak on hand
To leide the Range on Wallace to assaill.
He speryt about quhat was the best consaill.
Schir Amar Wallange, a fals traytour strange
In Bothwell duelt and that was thaim amange,
He said, “My lorde, my consaill will I giff.
Bot ȝe do it fra scaith ȝe may nocht scheyff.
Ȝhe mon tak pes with-out mar tarying,
As for a tyme we may send to the king.”
The Persye said, “Of our trewis he will nane.
Ane awfull chyftane trewly he is ane.
He will do mair in faith or that he blyne.
Sothroun to sla he thinkis it na syne.”
Schir Amar said, “Trewis it wordis tak
Quhill eft for him prowisioune we may mak.
I knaw he will do mekill for his kyne.
Gentrys ande trewtht ay restis him within.
His uncle may, schir Ranald, mak this band.
Gyff he will nocht, Racunnys all his land
On-to the tyme that he this werk haiff wrocht.”
Schir Ranald was sone to that consell brocht.
Thai chargyt him to mak Wallace at pes,
Or he suld pas to Londone with-outyn les.
Schir Ranald said, “Lordis, ȝhe knaw this weill,
At my commande he will nocht do adeill.
His worthi kyn dispitously ȝe slew,
In presone syne ner to the dede him threw.
He is at large and will nocht do for me,
Thocht ȝe tharfor rycht now suld ger me de.”
Schir Amar said, “Thir lordis sone sall send
On to the king and mak a finall end.
Off his conquest forsuth he will it haiff.
Wallace na thou ma nocht this kynrik saiff.
Mycht Eduuard king get him for gold or land
To be his man, than suld he bruk Scotland.”
The lorde bade ces: “Thow excedis to that knycht,
Fer mayr be treuth than it is ony rycht.
The wrang conquest our king desiris ay
On hym or us it sall be seyne some day.
Wallace has rycht, bathe force and fair fortoun.
Ȝe hard how he eschapyt our presoune.”
Thus said that lord, syne prayit schir Ranald fair
To mak this pes: “Thou schirreff ar of Ayr.
As for a tyme we may awisit be,
Undyr my seylle I sall be bound to the
For Inglismen that thai sall do him nocht,
Nor to no Scottis, les it be on thaim socht.”
Schir Ranald wist he mycht thaim nocht ganestand.
Off lord Persye he has Resauit this band.
Perseys war trew and ay off full gret waill,
Sobyr in pes and cruell in Battaill.
Schir Ranald bownyde upon the morn but baid
Wallace to seke in Clydis forest braid.
So he him fand bownand to his dyner.
Quhen thai had seyne this gud knycht was so ner
Weyle he him knew and tauld thaim quhat he was.
Meruaille he had quhat gart him hiddyr pas,
Maide him gud cheyr of meyttis fresche and fyne.
King Eduuardis self coud nocht get bettyr wyn
Than thai had thar, warnage and wenysoun,
Off bestiall in-to full gret fusioun.
Syn eftir mett he schew thaim of his deide,
How he had beyne in-to so mekill dreid.
“Newo,” he said, “wyrk part of my consaill.
Tak pes a quhill as for the mair awaill.
Bot thou do so forsuth thou dois gret syne,
For thai ar set till wndo all thi kyn.”
Than Wallace said till gud men him about,
“I will no pes for all this felloune dout
Bot gif it ples bettir to ȝow than me.”
The squier Boide him ansuerd sobyrle,
“I gif consell, or this gud knycht be slayne,
Tak pes a quhill, suppos it do ws payne.”
So said Adam the ayr of Rycardtoune,
And Kneland als grantyt to thar opynyoun.
With thair consent Wallace this pes has tayn,
As his Eyme wrocht, till x moneth war gayn.
Thar leyff thai tuk with comforde in-to playn,
Sanct Ihone to borch thai suld meyt haille agayn.
Boyde and Kneland past to thar placis hayme,
Adam Wallace to Ricardtoun be nayme,
And Wilȝham furth till schir Ranald can ride
And his houshald, in Corsby for to bide.
This pees was cryede in August moneth myld.
Ȝhet goddis of battaill, furius and wild,
Mars and Iuno, ay dois thar besynes,
Causer of wer, wyrkar of wykitnes,
And Venus als the goddes of luff
Wytht ald Saturn his coursis till appruff.
Thir iiii scansyte of diuers complexioun,
Bataill, debaite, Inwy and destruccioun.
I can nocht deyme for thar malancoly,
Bot Wallace weille coude nocht in Corsby ly.
Hym had leuir in trauaill for to be.
Rycht sar he langyt the toune of Ayr to se.
Schir Ranald past fra hame apon a day.
Fyfteyne he tuk and to the toune went thai,
Couerit his face that no man mycht him knaw.
No-thing him roucht how few ennymyis him saw;
In souir weide disgysit weill war thai.
Ane Inglisman on the gait saw he play
At the scrymmage, a bukler on his hand.
Wallace ner by in falouschipe couth stand.
Lychtly he sperde, “Quhi, Scot, dar thow nocht preiff?”
Wallace said, “Ȝa, sa thow wald gif me leiff.”
“Smyt on,” he said. “I defy thine accioune.”
Wallace thar-with has tane him on the croune.
Throuch bukler, hand and the harnpan also,
To the schuldyris the scharp suerd gert he go;
Lychtly raturnd till his awne men agayne.
The wemen cryede, “Our bukler player is slane!”
The man was dede, quhat nedis wordis mair?
Feille men of armys about him semblit thair,
Sewyn scor atanys agayne xvi war sett.
Bot Wallace sone weille with the formest mett,
With Ire and will on the hede has him tayne,
Throuch the brycht helm in sondir bryst the bane.
Ane othir braithly in the breyst he bar;
His burnyst blaid throuch-out the body schar.
Gret rowme he maid; his men war fechtand fast
And mony a growme thai maid full sair agast;
For thai war wicht and weill wsyt in wer
Off Inglismen rycht bauldly doun thai ber.
On thar Enemys gret martirdome thai mak,
Thar hardy chiftane so weill couth wndyrtak.
Quhat Inglisman that baid in-till his gait
Contrar Scotland maid neuir mar debait.
Felle frekis on fold war fellyt wndyr feit;
Off Sothroune blude lay stekit in the streit.
New pouer come fra the castell that tyde.
Than Wallace drede and drew towart a side;
With gude will he wald escheu a suppris,
For he in wer was besy, wicht and wis.
Harnes and hedis he hew in sonderys fast.
Beforce out off the thikest preys thai past.
Wallace raturnyde behynde his men agayne.
At the reskew feile Enemys has he slayne.
His men all samyn he out off perill brocht
Fra his Enymys for all the pouer thai mocht.
To thar horsis thai wan but mair abaide.
For danger syne to Laglyne wode thai raid.
xxti and ix thai left in-to that steide
Off Sothroun men that bertynit war to dede.
The Ramaynand agayne turnyt that tide,
For in the woode thai durst nocht him abyde.
Towart the toune thai drew with all thar mayn,
Cursand the pes thai tuk befor in playne.
The lord Persye in hart was gretlye grewyt.
His men supprisyt agayne to him relewyt,
And feille war dede in-to thar armour cler,
Thre of his kyne that war till him full deir.
Quhen he hard tell of thar gret grewance,
Thar selff was caus of this myschefull chance,
Murnyng he maid, thoucht few Scottis it kend.
A herald than to schir Ranald he send
And tald till him of all that sodeyne cas,
And chargyt him tak souirte of Wallas:
He suld him kepe fra merket, toune, or fair,
Quhar he mycht best be out of thar repair.
The Sothroun wist that it was wicht Wallace
Had thaim ourset in-to that sodand cas.
Thair trewis for this thai wald nocht brek adeill.
Quhen Wallace had this chance eschewit weill,
Vpon the nycht fra Lagleyne hayme he raid.
In chaumeris sone thair residence thai maid.
Vpon the morn quhen that the day was lycht
Witht Wallace furth went schir Ranald the knycht,
Schew him the wryt lord Persie had him sent.
“Deir sone,” he said, “this war my haile entent,
That thow wald grant, quhill thir trewis war worn,
Na scaith to do till Inglisman that is born,
Bot quhar I pas dayly thou bid with me.”
Wallace ansuerd, “Gud schir, that may nocht be.
Rycht laith I war, deyr wncle, ȝou to greiff.
I sall do nocht till tyme I tak my leyff,
And warn ȝou als or that I fra ȝou pas.”
His eyme and he thar weill accordyt was.
Wallace with him maid his continuance.
Ilk wicht was blyth to do till him plesance.
In Corsby thus he resyd thaim amang
Thai xvi dayis, suppos him thocht it lang.
Thocht thai mycht ples him as a prince or king
In his mynde ȝit remanyt ane othir thing:
He saw his Enemys maisteris in this regioune;
Mycht nocht him ples thocht he war king with croune.
Thus leyff I him with his der freyndis still.
Off Inglismen of sum-part spek I will.

BOOK IV

In September, the humyll moneth suette,
Quhen passyt by the hycht was off the hette,
Wictaill and froyte ar rypyt in aboundance
As god ordans to mannys gouernance.
Sagittarius with his aspre bow,
Be the Ilk syng weryte ȝe may know
The changing cours quhilk makis gret deference.
And lewys had lost thair colouris of plesence.
All warldly thing has nocht bot a sesoune,
Both erbe and froyte mon fra the hycht cum doun.
In this Ilk tyme a gret consell was sett
In-to Glaskow, quhar mony maisteris mett
Off Inglis lordis to statute this cuntre.
Than chargyt thai all schirreffis thar to be.
Schir Ranald Crawfurd behowide that tyme be thar
For he throw rycht was born schirreff of Ayr.
His der neuo that tyme with hym he tuk,
Willȝham Wallace, as witnes beris the buk,
For he na tyme suld far be fra his sicht.
He luffyt him with hart and all his mycht.
Thai graith thaim weill with-out langar abaid.
Wallace sum-part befor the court furth raid,
With him twa men that douchtye war in deid,
Our-tuk the child schir Ranaldis sowme couth leid.
Softlye thai raid quhill thai the court suld knaw.
So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw
The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was.
The hors was tyryt and mycht no forthir pas.
V men was chargit to keipe it weill all sid,
Twa was on fute, and thre on hors couth ride.
The maistir man at thar serwand can sper,
“Quha aw this sowme? The suth ȝou to me ler.”
The man ansuerd withoutyn wordis mar,
“My lordis,” he said, “quhilk schirreff is of Ayr.”
“Sen it is his this hors sall with ws gang
To serwe our lord, or ellis me think gret wrang.
Thocht a subiet in deid wald pas his lord,
It is nocht lewyt be na rychtwis racord.”
Thai cutt the brays and leyt the harnes faw.
Wallace was ner quhen he sic reuere saw.
He spak to thaim with manly contenance;
In fayr afforme he said but wariance,
“Ȝe do us wrang, and it in tyme of pes.
Off sic rubry war suffisance to ces.”
The Sothron schrew In Ire ansuerd him to,
“It sall be wrocht as thow may se ws do.
Thow gettis no mendis.” Quhat wald thou wordis mar?
Sadly awisit, Wallace Remembrith him thar
On the promys he maid his Eyme befor.
Resoun him rewllyt, as than he did no mor.
The hors thai tuk for awentur mycht befall,
Laid on thar sowme, syne furth the way couth call.
Thar tyryt sowmir so left thai in-to playne.
Wallace raturnd towart the court agayne.
On the mur syde sone with his eyme he mett
And tauld how thai the way for his man sett:
“And war noucht I was bonde in my legiance,
We partyt noucht thus for all the gold in France.
The hors thai reft quhilk suld ȝour harnes ber.”
Schir Ranald said, “That is bot litill der.
We may get hors and othir gud in playne.
And men be lost we get thaim neuir agayne.”
Wallace than said, “Als wisly god me sawe,
Off this gret mys I sall amendis hawe
And nothir latt for pes na ȝour plesance.
With witnes her I gif up my legiance,
For cowardly ȝe lik to tyne ȝour rycht.
Ȝour selff sone syne to dede thai think to dycht.”
In wraith thar-with away fra him he went.
Schyr Ranald was wis and kest in his entent,
And said, “I will byde at the Mernys all nycht;
So Inglismen may deyme ws no Wnrycht
Gyff ony be deide befor ws upon cas,
That we in law may bide the rychtwisnas.”
His luging tuk, still at the Mernys baid.
Full gret murnyng he for his neuo maid,
Bot all for nocht, quhat mycht it him awaill?
As in-till wer he wrocht nocht his consaill.
Wallace raid furth; with him twa ȝemen past.
The sowmir man he folowid wondyr fast.
Be est Cathcart he our-hyede thaim agayne.
Than knew thai weille that it was he in playne,
Be hors and weide, that argownd thaim befor.
The fyve to thaim retornde with-outyn mor.
Wallace to ground fra his courser can glide.
A burnyst brand he bradyt out that tyde.
The maistir man with sa gud will straik he
Bathe hatt and hede he gert in sondyr fle.
Ane othir fast apon the face he gaiff;
Till dede to ground but mercy he him draiff.
The thrid he hyt with gret Ire in that steid;
Fey on the feld he has him left for deid.
Wallace slew iii. Be that his ȝemen wicht
The tothir twa derfly to dede thai dycht.
Syne spoilȝeid thai the harnais or thai wend
Off siluir and gold aboundandlye to spend.
Iowellis thai tuk, the best was chosyn thar,
Gud hors and geyr, syne on thar wayis can fayr.
Than Wallace said, “At sum strenth wald I be.”
Our Glid that tyme thar was a bryg of tre;
Thiddir thai past in all thar gudlye mycht.
The day was gayne and cummyn was the nycht.
Thai durst nocht weylle ner Glaskow still abide.
In the Lennox he tuk purpos to ryde,
And so he dyde, syne lugyt thaim that nycht
As thai best mowcht, quhill that the day was brycht.
Till ane ostrye he went and soiorned thar
With trew Scottis quhilk at his freindis war.
The consaill mett rycht glaidly on the morn
Bot fell tithingis was brocht Persie beforn:
His men war slayne, his tresour als bereft
With fell Scottis and thaim na jowellis left.
Thai demede about off that derff, doutous cas.
The Sothren said, “Forsuth it is Wallas;
The schirreffis court was cumand to the toun,
And he as ane for Scot of most renoun.”
Thai gert go seik schir Ranald in that rage,
Bot he was than ȝeit still at herbryage.
Sum wis men said, “Heroff na thing he kend.
The men war slayne rycht at the townis end.”
Schir Ranald come by x houris of the day.
Befor Persye than seir men brocht war thai.
Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht.
The siys of this couth say to him rycht nocht.
Thai demede about of that fell sodeyne cas.
Befor the iuge thar he denyit Wallas,
And so he mycht, he wist nocht quhar he was.
Fra this consaill my purpos is to pas,
Off Wallace spek in wyldirnes so wyde.
The eterne god his gouernour be and gyde.
Styll at the place iiii days he soiorned haill
Quhill tithingis come till him fra thar consaill.
Than statute thai in ilk steide of the west
In thar boundis Wallace suld haiff no rest.
His der wncle gret ayth thai gert him suer
That he but leiff suld no freindschipe him ber.
And mony othir was full woo that day.
Robert the Boide stall of the toune his way,
And Kneland als, befor with him had beyne.
Thai had leuir haif seyne him with thar Eyne
Leyffand in lyff, as thai knew him befor,
Than of cler gold a fyne mylȝone and mor.
Boid wepyt sor, said, “Our leidar is gayne.
Amang our fays he is set him allayne.”
Than Kneland said, “Fals fortoun changis fast.
Gret god, sen we had euir with him past!”
Eduuard Litill in Annadyrdaill is went
And wait rycht nocht of this newe iugëment.
Adam Wallace baid still in Ricardtoun.
So fell it thus with Wallace of renoun,
He with power partyt merwalusly.
Be fortoun chance ourturnys doubilly.
Thar petuous mene as than couth nocht be bett.
Thai wyst no wyt quhar that thai suld him get.
He left the place quhilk he in lugyng lay.
Till Erle Malcome he went upon a day.
The Lennox haile he had still in his hand.
Till king Eduuard he had nocht than maid band.
That land is strait and maisterfull to wyn.
Gud men of armys that tyme was It within.
The lord was traist, the men sekyr and trew.
With waik power thai Durst him nocht persew.
Rycht glaid he was of Wallace cumpany,
Welcummyt him fayr with worschipe reuerandlye;
At this awne will desyryt gyff he walde
To byde thair still maistyr of his houshald,
Off all his men he suld haile chyftayne be.
Wallace ansuerd, “That war yneuch for me.
I can nocht byde, my mynde is sett in playne
Wrokyn to be or ellis de in the payne.
Our wast contre thar statute is so strang
In-to the north my purpos is to gang.”
Stewyn of Irland, than in the Lennox was,
With wicht Wallace he ordynyt him to pas,
And othir als that borne war off Argill.
Wallace still thair residence maid a quhill
Quhill men it wist and semblit sone him till.
He chargyt nayne bot at thar awne gud will.
For thai war strang, ȝeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid
Bot resawit all in weris thaim to leid.
Sum-part off tham was in-to Irland borne,
That Makfadȝan had exilde furth beforne.
King Eduuardis man he was, suorn of Ingland,
Off rycht law byrth suppos he tuk on hand.
To Wallace thar come ane that hecht Fawdoun.
Malancoly he was of complexioun,
Hewy of statur, dour in his contenance,
Soroufull, sadde, ay dreidfull, but plesance.
Wallace resawit quhat man wald cum him till.
The bodelye ayth thai maid him with gud will
Befor the erle, all with a gud accord,
And him resawyt as captane and thar lord.
His speciall men that come with him fra hame,
The tayne hecht Gray, the tothir Kerle be name,
In his seruice come fyrst with all thar mayne
To Lowdoun hill, quhar that Fenweik was slayne,
He thaim comandyt ay next him to persew,
For he thaim kend rycht hardye, wis and trew.
His leyff he tuk rycht on a fair maner.
The gud erlle than, he bad him gyftis ser.
Wallace wald nayne bot gaiff of his fell sys
To pour and rych vpon a gudlye wis.
Humyll he was, hardy, wis and fre;
As off Ryches he held na propyrte.
Off honour, worschipe, he was a merour kend.
Als he off gold had boundandlye to spend,
Wpon his fayis he wan it worthely.
Thus Wallace past and his gud chewalry.
Sexty he had off lykly men at wage.
Throuch the Lennox he led thaim with curage.
A-bown Lekke he lugyt thaim in a waille.
A strenth thar was quhilk thai thocht till assaill.
On Gargownno was byggyt a small peill
That warnyst was with men and wictaill weill,
Within a dyk bathe clos, chawmir and hall.
Capteyne tharoff to nayme he hecht Thrilwall.
Thai led Wallace quhar that this byggynge was.
He thocht to assaill it ferby or he wald pas.
Twa spyis he send to wesy all that land.
Rycht laith he was the thing to tak on hand
The quhilk beforce that suld gang hym agayne.
Leuir had he throw awentur be slayne.
Thir men went furth as it was large mydnycht;
About that hous thai spyit all at rycht.
The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe.
The bryg, was doun at that entre suld keipe,
The lauboreris latt rakleslye went In.
Thir men retornede with-outyn noyes or dyn
To thar maistir, told him as thai had seyne.
Than grathit sone thir men of armys keyne.
Sadlye on fute on to the hous thai socht
And entryt In, for lattyn fand thai nocht.
Wicht men assayede witht all thar besy cur
A loklate bar was drawyn ourthourth the dur,
Bot thai mycht nocht it brek out of the waw.
Wallace was grewyt quhen he sic tary saw.
Sumpart amowet wraithly till it he went;
Be fors off handis he raist out of the stent,
Thre ȝerde off breide als off the wall puld out.
Than merweld all his men that war about
How he dide mair than xxty off thaim mycht.
Syne with his fute the ȝett he straik wp rycht
Quhill brais and band to-byrstyt all at-anys.
Ferdely thai rais that war in-to thai wanys.
The wachman, had a felloune staff of steill,
At Wallace strake, bot he kepyt hym weill.
Rudely fra him he reft it in that thrang,
Dang out his harnys, syne in the dik him flang.
The remaynand be that was on thar feit.
Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite.
The staff he had, hewy and forgyt new,
With it Wallace wpon the hede him threw,
Quhill bayn and brayn all in-to sondir ȝeid.
His men entryt that worthy war in deid,
In handis hynt and stekit of the layff.
Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff.
Twenty and twa thai stekit in that steid.
Wemen and barnys, quhen at the men war deide,
He gert be tayn, in clos hous kepyt weill,
So thai wytht-out thar-off mycht haiff no feill.
The dede bodyes thai put sone out of sycht,
Tuk wp the bryg or that the day was lycht,
In that place baid iiii dayis or he wald pas.
Wist nane with-out how at this mater was.
Spoilȝeide that steid and tuk thaim ganand ger.
Iowellis and gold away with thaim thai ber.
Quhen him thocht tyme thai ischede on the nycht.
To the next woode thai went with all thar mycht;
The captenys wiff, wemen and childir thre
Pas quhar thai wald, for Wallas leit thaim be.
In that forest he likit nocht to bide.
Thai bownyt thaim atour Forth for to ride.
The mos was strang, to ryde thaim was no but,
Wallas was wicht and lychtyt on his fute.
Few hors thai had, litill thar-off thai roucht.
To sawe lywes feill strenthis oft thai socht.
Stewyn of Irland he was thar gyd that nycht
Towart Kyncardyn; syne restit thar at rycht
In a forest that was bathe lang and wide,
Rycht fra the mos grew to the wattir syde.
Eftir the sone Wallas walkit about
Vpon Tetht side, quhar he saw mony rout
Off wyld bestis wauerand in wode and playn.
Sone at a schot a gret hart has he slayn,
Slew fyr on flynt and graithit thaim at rycht.
Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht.
Wictaill thai had, bathe breid and wyn so cler,
With othir stuff yneuch at thar dyner.
His staff of steill he gaiff Kerly to kepe.
Syn passit thai our Tetht wattir so depe.
In-to Straithern thai entrit sodeynly,
In couert past or Sothren suld thaim spy.
Quhen at thai fand of Scotlandis aduersouris
With-out respyt cummyn was thar fatell houris.
Quham euir thai mett was at the Inglis fay
Thai slew all doun with-out langar delay.
Thai sparyt nane that was off Inglis blude;
To dede he ȝeid thocht he war neuir so gude.
Thai sawyt nothir knycht, squier nor knaiff;
This was the grace that Wallace to thaim gaiff,
But wastyt all be worthynes off wer
Off that party that mycht weild bow or sper.
Sumpart be slycht, sumpart throw force thai slew,
Bot Wallace thocht thai stroyit nocht half enew.
Siluir thai tuk and als gold at thai fand.
Othir gud ger full lychtly ȝeid be hand.
Cuttyt throttis and in-to cuwys thaim kest,
Put out of sycht for that him thocht was best.
At the Blakfurd as at thai suld pas our,
A squier come and with him bernys four
Till Doun suld ryde, and wend at thai had beyne
All Inglismen at he befor had seyne.
Tithingis to sper he howid thaim amang.
Wallace thar-with swyth with a suerd out swang.
Vpon the hede he straik with so gret Ire,
Throu bayne and brayn in sondir schar the swyr.
The tothir four in handis sone war hynt,
Derfly to dede stekit or thai wald stynt.
Thar hors thai tuk and quhat thaim likit best,
Spoilȝeid thaim bar, syne in the brook thaim kest.
Off this mater no mor tary thai maid
Bot furth thar way passit with-outyn baid.
Thir werlik Scottis all with one assent
Northt so our Ern throuch-out the land thai went,
In Meffan woode thar lugyng tuk that nycht.
Vpon the morn quhen it was dayis lycht
Wallace rais wp, went to the forest side,
Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide,
Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye.
Than Wallace said, “This contre likis me.
Wermen may do with fud at thai suld haiff,
Bot want thai meit thai rak nocht of the laiff.”
Off dyet fayr Wallace tuk neuir kepe
Bot as it come welcum was meit and sleip.
Sum-quhill he had gret sufficience within;
Now want, now has, now los, now can wyn;
Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill;
In haist, now hurt; now sorouffull, now haill;
Nowe weildand weyle, now calde weddyr, now heit;
Nowe moist, now drowth, now wauerand wynd, now weit.
So ferd with him for Scotlandis rycht full ewyn
In feyle debait vi ȝeris and monethis sewyn.
Quhen he wan pees and left Scotland in playne
The Inglismen maid new conquest agayne.
In frustyr termys I will nocht tary lang.
Wallace agayne wnto his men can gang
And said, “Her is a land of gret boundance,
Thankit be god of his hye purwyans!
Sewyn of ȝow feris graith sone and ga with me.
Rycht sor I long Sanct Ihonstoun for to se.
Stewyn of Irland, als god of hewyn the saiff,
Maister leiddar I mak the of the laiff.
Kepe weill my men, latt nane out of thi sycht
Quhill I agayn sall cum with all my mycht.
Byde me sewyn dayis in this forest strang.
Ȝhe may get fude, suppos I duell so lang.
Sumpart ȝhe haif and god will send ws mair.”
Thus turnyt he and to the toun couth fair.
The mar kepyt the port of that willage;
Wallace knew weill and send him his message.
The mar was brocht, saw him a gudlye man,
Rycht reuerandlye he has resawyt thaim than.
At him he speryt all Scottis gyff thai be.
Wallace said, “Ȝa, and it is pees, trow we.”
“I grant,” he said, “that likis ws wondyr weill.
Trew men of pees may ay sum frendschipe feill.
Quhat is ȝour nayme? I pray ȝow tell me it.”
“Will Malcomsone,” he said, “sen ȝe wald witt.
In Atryk forest has my wonnyng beyne.
Thar I was born amang the schawis scheyne.
Now I desyr this north land for to se,
Quhar I mycht find better duellyng for me.”
The mar said, “Schir, I sper nocht for nane Ille,
Bot feill tithingis oft-syis is brocht ws till
Off ane Wallace, was born in-to the west.
Our kingis men he haldis at gret wnrest,
Martyris thaim doun, gret pete is to se.
Out of the trewis forsuth we trow he be.”
Wallace than said, “I her spek of that man.
Tithingis off him to ȝou nane tell I can.”
For him he gert ane Innys graithit be
Quhar nane suld cum bot his awne men and he.
Hys stwart Kerlye brocht thaim in fusioun
Gude thing eneuch quhat was in-to the toun;
Als Inglismen to drynkyn wald him call
And commownly he delt nocht thar-withall.
In thar presence he spendyt resonably,
Ȝheit for him self he payit ay boundandlye.
On Scottismen he spendyt mekill gud
Bot nocht his thankis wpon the Sothren blud.
Son he consawyt in his witt prewalye
In-to that land quha was of maist party.
Schir Iamys Butler, ane agit cruell knycht,
Kepyt Kynclewyn, a castell wondyr wycht.
His sone schir Ihon than duelt in-to the toun,
Vndyr Capteyn to schir Garraid Heroun.
The wemen als he wysyt at the last,
And so on ane hys eyne he can to cast,
In the south gait, of fassoun fresche and fayr.
Wallace to hir maid preualye repair.
So fell it thus, of the toun or he past
At ane accorde thai hapnyt at the last.
Wallace with hyr in secre maid him glaid;
Sotheren wist nocht that he sic plesance haid.
Offt in the nycht he wald say to him sell,
“This is fer war than ony payn of hell,
At thus with wrang thir dewillis suld bruk our land
And we with force may nocht agayne thaim stand.
To tak this toun my pouer is to small.
Gret perell als apon my self may fall.
Set we it in fyr it will wndo my sell
Or los my men, thar is no mor to tell.
Ȝhettis ar clos, the dykis depe with-all.
Thocht I wald swyme forsuth so can nocht all.
This mater now her-for I will ourslyde,
Bot in this toun I may no langar byde.”
Als men tald him quhen the captayne wald pas
Hayme to Kynclewyn, quhar-off rycht glaid he was.
His leiff he tuk at heris of the toun,
To Meffane wode rycht glaidly maid him boun.
His horn he hynt and bauldly loud can blaw.
His men him hard and tharto sone couth draw.
Rycht blyth he was for thai war all in feyr.
Mony tithingis at him thai wald nocht speyr.
He thaim commaunde to mak thaim redy fast.
In gud array out of the woode thai past.
Towart Kynclewyn thai bownyt thaim that tid,
Syn in a waill that ner was thar besid,
Fast on to Tay, his buschement can he draw.
In a dern woode thai stellit thaim full law,
Set skouriouris furth the contre to aspye.
Be ane our nowne thre for-rydaris went bye.
The wach turned in to witt quhat was his will.
He thaim commaund in couert to bide still:
“And we call feyr the hous knawlage will haiff
And that may sone be warnying to the laiff.
Off fors in wer do nocht but gouernance.”
Wallace was few bot happy ordinance
Maid him fell syis his aduersouris to wyn.
Be that the court of Inglismen com In,
Four scoyr and x weill graithit in thar ger,
Harnest on hors, all likly men of wer.
Wallace saw weill thar nowmir was na ma;
He thankit god and syne the field couth ta.
The Inglismen merweild quhat thai suld be,
Bot fra thai saw thai maid thaim for melle.
In fewtir thai kest scharpe speris at that tide.
In Ire thai thoucht atour the Scottis to ryd.
Wallace and his went cruelly thaim agayne.
At the fyrst rusche feill Inglismen war slayne.
Wallace straik ane with his gude sper of steill
Throw-out the cost; the schafft to-brak Ilk deyll.
A burnyst brand in haist he hyntis out.
Thrys apon fute he thrang throuch all the rout.
Stern hors thai steik suld men of armys ber.
Sone wndir feit fulȝeid was men of wer.
Butler lychtyt him self for to defend
Witht men of armys quhilk war full worthi kend.
On athyr syde feill frekis war fechtand fast.
The captayne baid thocht he war sor agast.
Part of the Scottis be worthines thai slew;
Wallace was wa and towart him he drew.
His men dred for the Butler bauld and keyn.
On him he socht In Ire and propyr teyn,
Vpon the hed him straik in matelent.
The burnyst blaid throu-out his basnett went.
Bathe bayne and brayn he byrst throw all the weid.
Thus Wallace hand deliuerit thaim off dreid.
Ȝeitt feill on fold was fechtand cruelly;
Stewyn of Irland and all the cheualry
In-to the stour did cruelly and weill,
And Kerle als with his gud staff of steill.
The Inglismen, fra thar cheftayne was slayne,
Thai left the feild and fled in all thar mayn.
Thre scoyr war slayne or thai wald leif that steid.
The fleande folk that wist of no rameid
Bot to the hous, thai fled in all thar mycht.
The Scottis folowit, that worthi war and wycht.
Few men of fens was left that place to kepe.
Wemen and preistis wpon wallis can wepe,
For weill thai wend the flearis was thar lord.
To tak him in thai maid thaim redy ford,
Leit doun the bryg, kest wp the ȝettis wide.
The frayit folk entrit and durst nocht byde;
Gud Wallace euir he folowit thaim so fast
Quhill in the hous he entryt at the last.
The ȝett he wor quhill cumin was all the rout.
Of Inglis and Scottis he held no man thar-out.
The Inglismen that won war in that steid
With-outyn grace thai bertnyt thaim to deid.
The capteynis wiff, wemen and preistis twa
And ȝong childir, forsuth thai sawyt no ma;
Held thaim in clos eftir this sodeyn cas
Or Sothron men suld sege him in that place;
Tuk wp the bryg and closyt ȝettis fast.
The dede bodyes out of sicht he gart cast,
Baith in the hous and with-out at war dede.
V of hys awne to berynis he gart leid.
In that castell thar vii dayis baide he.
On Ilka nycht thai spoilȝeid besyle,
To Schortwode schaw leide wictaill and wyn wicht,
Houshald and ger, baithe gold and siluir brycht.
Wemen and thai that he had grantyt grace
Quhen him thoucht tyme thai put out of that place;
Quhen thai had tayne quhat he likit to haiff,
Straik doun the ȝettis and set in fyr the laiff.
Out of wyndowis stanssouris all thai drew,
Full gret Irn wark in-to the wattir threw.
Burdyn duris and lokis in thair Ire,
All werk of tre, thai brynt wp in a fyr,
Spylt at thai mycht, brak brig and bulwark doun.
To Schortwode schawe in haist thai maid thaim boun,
Chesyt a strenth quhar thai thar lugyng maid.
In gud affer a quhill thar still he baid.
Ȝit it in the toun no wit of this had thai.
The contre folk quhen it was lycht of day
Gret reik saw rys and to Kynclewyn thai socht.
Bot wallis and stane mar gud thar fand thai nocht.
The Captennis wiff to Sanct Ihonstoun scho ȝeid
And to schir Garrate tald this felloune deid,
Als till hyr son quhat hapnyt was be cas.
Than demyt thai all that it was wicht Wallas,
Off for-tyme thar he spyit had the toun.
Than chargyt thai all thai suld be redy boun,
Harnest on hors in-to thair armour cler.
To seik Wallace thai went all furth in feyr,
A thousand men weill garnest for the wer,
Towart the woode rycht awfull in affer,
To Schortwode schaw, and set it all about
Wytht v staillis that stalwart was and stout.
The sext thai maid a fellon range to leid
Quhar Wallace was, full worthi ay in deid.
The strenth he tuk and bade thaim hald it still
On ilka syde, assailȝe quha sa will.
Schir Ihon Butler in-to the forrest went
With ii hundreth, sor mowit in his entent;
His fadris dede to wenge him gif he mocht
To Wallace sone with men of armys socht.
A cleuch thar was, quharoff a strenth thai maid
With thuortour treis, bauldly thar abaid.
Fra the ta side thai mycht ische till a playne,
Syn throuch the wode to the strenth pas agayn.
Twenty he had that nobill archaris war
Agayne sewyn scoyr of Inglis bowmen sar.
Four scoyr of speris ner-hand thaim baid at rycht,
Giff Scottis Ischit to help thaim at thair mycht,
On Wallace sett a bykkyr bauld and keyn.
A bow he bair was byg and weyll beseyn
And arrous als bath lang and scharpe with-all.
No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht drall.
Rycht stark he was and in-to souir ger.
Bauldly he schott amang thai men of wer.
Ane angell hede to the hukis he drew
And at a schoyt the formast sone he slew.
Ynglis archaris that hardy war and wicht
Amang the Scottis bykkerit with all thar mycht.
That awfull schoyt was felloun for to byd.
Off Wallace men thai woundyt sor that tid.
Few off thaim was sekyr of archary;
Bettyr thai war and thai gat ewyn party
In feild to byde othir with suerd or speyr.
Wallace persauit his men tuk mekill deyr.
He gart thaim change and stand nocht in-to steid.
He kest all wayis to saiff thaim fra the dede.
Full gret trauaill vpon him self tuk he.
Off Sothron men feill archaris he gert de.
Off Longcaschyr bowmen was in that place;
A sar archar ay waytit on Wallace
At ane opyn quhar he vsyt to repair.
At him he drew a sekir schot and sar
Undyr the chyn throuch a coler of steill
On the left syde and hurt his hals sumdeill.
Astonaide he was bot nocht gretlye agast.
Out fra his men on him he folowit fast,
In the turnyng with gud will has him tayne
Vpon the crag, in sondyr straik the bayne.
Feill of thaim ma na freyndschip with him fand.
Fyfteyn that day he schot to dede of his hand.
Be that his arrous waistyt war and gayne
The Inglis archaris forsuth thai wantyt nayne.
With-out thai war thar power to ranew;
On Ilka side to thaim thai couth persew.
Wylȝham Loran com with a boustous staill
Out of Gowry on Wallace to assaill.
Neuo he was, as it was knawin in playn,
To the Butler befor that thai had slayn.
To wenge his eyme he come with all his mycht.
Thre hundreth he led of men in armys brycht.
To leide the range on fute he maid him ford.
Wallace to god his conscience fyrst remord,
Syne comfort thaim with manly contenance.
“Yhe se,” he said, “gud schiris, thar ordinance:
Her is no chos bot owdir do or de.
We haiff the rycht, the happyar may it be
That we sall chaipe with grace out of this land.”
The Loran be that was redy at his hand.
Be that it was eftir nown of the day
Feill men of witt to consaill sone ȝeid thai.
The Sothron kest scharply at Ilka side
And saw the wood was nothir lang no wide.
Lychtly thai thocht he suld hald it so lang.
Fywe hundreth maid throu it on fute to gang,
Sad men off armes that war off eggyr will.
Schir Garratis self with-out the woode baid still.
Schir Ihon Butler the ta sid chesyt he,
The tothir Loran with a fell menȝhe.
Than gud Wallace that of help had gret neid
Was fyfty men in all that felloun dreid.
Ane awfull salt the Sothren son began.
About the Scottis socht mony likly man
With bow and sper and swerdis stiff of steill.
On athir side no frendschip was to feill.
Wallace in Ire a burly brand can draw
Quhar feill Sothren war semblit vpon raw,
To fende his men with his deyr-worthi hand.
The folk was fey that he befor him fand.
Throw the thikkest of the gret preis he past,
Vpon his Enemys hewand wondyr fast.
Agayne his dynt na weidis mycht awaill,
Quham-so he hyt was dede with-outyn faill.
Off the fersest full braithly bair he doun
Befor the Scottis, that war of gret renoun.
To hald the strenth thai preist with all thar mycht.
The Inglismen that worthi war and wicht
Schir Ihon Butler relewit in agayne,
Swndryt the Scottis and did thaim mekill payn,
The Loran als that cruell was and keyn.
A sar assay forsuth thar mycht be seyn.
Than at the strenth thai mycht no langar bide,
The range so strang com wpon athir side.
In the thikkest woode thar maid thai felle defens
Agayn thar fayis so full of wiolens;
Ȝit feile Sothron left the lyff to wed.
Till a new strenth Wallace and his men fled.
On aduersouris thai maid full gret debait;
Bot help thaim self no socour ellis thai wait.
The Sothron als war sundryt than in twyn
Bot thai agayne to-giddir sone can wyn.
Full sutellye thar ordinance thai maid.
The rang agayne bownyt but mar abaid.
The Scottis war hurt and part of thaim war slayn.
Than Wallace said, “We laubour all in vane.
To slay commounis it helpis us richt nocht,
Bot thair Chiftanis that hes thame hidder brocht,
Micht we wirk swa that ane of thame war slane,
So sair assay thay couth nocht mak agayn.”
Be this the host approchand was full ner.
Thus wrandly thai held thaim wpon ster.
Quhen Wallace saw the Sothroune was at hand
Him thocht no tym than langar for to stand.
Rycht manfully he graithit has his ger,
Sadly he went agayne thai men of wer;
Throw-out the stour full fast fechtand he socht
With goddis grace to wenge him gif he mocht.
Vpon the Butler awfully straik he.
Saiffgarde he gat wndir a bowand tre.
The bowcht in twa he straik aboune his hede
Als to the ground and feld him in that stede.
The haill pouer wpon him com so fast
At thai beforce reskewit him at the last.
Loran was wa and thiddir fast can draw.
Wallas ratornd sa sodeynly him saw.
Out at a syde full fast till him he ȝeid;
He gat no gyrth for all his burnyst weid,
With Ire him straik on his gorgeat off steill.
The trensand blaid to-persyt euirydeill
Throu plaitt and stuff, mycht nocht agayn it stand.
Derffly to dede he left him on the land.
Hym haif thai lost, thocht Sotheren had it suorn,
For his crag bayne was all in sondyr schorn.
The worthy Scottis did nobilly that day
About Wallace till he was wonn away.
He tuk the strenth magre thar fayis will,
Abandonly in bargan baid thar still.
The scry sone rais, the bauld Loran was dede.
Schir Garrat Heroun tranontit to that stede
And all the host assemblit him about.
At the north side than Wallace Ischet owt,
With him his men, and bownyt him to ga,
Thankand gret god at thai war partyt sa.
To Gargyll wood thai went that sammyn nycht.
Sewyn of his men that day to dede was dycht;
In feld was left of the Sothren sex scoyr,
And Loran als, thar murnyng was the mor.
The rang in haist thai rayit sone agayne,
Bot quhen thai saw thar trauaill was in wayne
And he was past, full mekill mayne thai maid
To rype the wood, bath wala, slonk and slaid,
For Butleris gold Wallace tuk off befor;
Bot thai fand nocht, wald thai seke euirmor.
Hys hors thai gat and nocht ellis of thar ger.
With dulfull mayn retorned thir men of wer
To Sanct Ihonnston, in sorou and gret cayr.
Of Wallace furth me likis to spek mair.
The secunde nycht the Scottis couth thaim draw
Rycht prewaly agayne to Schortwod schaw,
Tuk wp thar gud quhilk was put owt of sicht,
Cleithing and stuff, bathe gold and siluir brycht;
Vpon thar fute, for horsis was thaim fra,
Or the son rais to Meffen wood can ga.
Thai twa dayis our thar lugyng still thai maid.
On the thrid nycht thai mowit but mar abaid,
Till Elkok park full sodeynly thai went.
Thar in that strentht to bide was his entent.
Than Wallas said he wald go to the toun,
Arayit him weill in-till a preistlik goun.
In Sanct Ihonstoun disgysyt can he fair
Till this woman the quhilk I spak of ayr.
Off his presence scho rycht reiosit was
And sor a-dred how he away suld pas.
He soiornyt thair fra nowne was of the day
Quhill ner the nycht or that he went away.
He trystyt hyr quhen he wald cum agayne.
On the thrid day than was scho wondyr fayne.
Ȝeitt he was seyn with Enemys as he ȝeid.
To schir Garraid thai tald off all his deid,
And to Butler that wald haiff wrokyn beyne.
Than thai gart tak that woman brycht and scheyne,
Accusyt hir sar of resset in that cas.
Feyll syis scho suor that scho knew nocht Wallas.
Than Butler said, “We wait weyle it was he,
And bot thou tell in bayle-fyr sall thou de.
Giff thou will help to bryng ȝon rebell doun
We sall the mak a lady off renoun.”
Thai gaiff till hyr baith gold and siluir brycht
And said scho suld be weddyt with ane knycht,
Quham scho desirit, that was but mariage.
Thus tempt thai hir throu consaill and gret wage,
That scho thaim tald quhat tyme he wald be thar.
Than war thai glaid, for thai desirit no mar
Off all Scotland bot Wallace at thar will.
Thus ordaynyt thai this poyntment to fullfill;
Feyle men off armes thai graithit hastelye
To kepe the ȝettis, wicht Wallas till aspye.
At the set trist he entrit in the toun,
Wittand no thing of all this fals tresoune.
Till hir chawmer he went but mair abaid.
Scho welcummyt him and full gret plesance maid.
Quhat at thai wrocht I can nocht graithly say,
Rycht wnperfyt I am of Venus play,
Bot hastelye he graithit him to gang.
Than scho him tuk and speryt giff he thocht lang.
Scho askit him that nycht with hir to bid.
Sone he said, “Nay, for chance that may betide.
My men ar left all at mysrewill for me.
I may nocht sleipe this nycht quhill I thaim se.”
Than wepyt scho and said full oft, “Allace!
That I was maide wa worthe the courssit cas!
Now haiff I lost the best man leiffand is.
O feble mynd to do so foul a mys!
O waryit witt, wykkyt and wariance,
That me has brocht in-to this myschefull chance!
Allace,” scho said, “in warld that I was wrocht!
Giff all this payne on my self mycht be brocht!
I haiff seruit to be brynt in a gleid.
Quhen Wallace saw scho ner of witt couth weid,
In his armes he caucht hir sobrely
And said, “Der hart, quha has mys-doyn ocht, I?
“Nay, I,” quod scho, “has falslye wrocht this trayn.
I haiff ȝou sald. Rycht now ȝhe will be slayn.
Scho tauld till him hir tresoun till ane end
As I haiff said, quhat nedis mair Legend?
At hir he speryt giff scho forthocht it sar.
“Wa, ȝa!” scho said, “and sall do euirmar.
My waryed werd in warld I mon fullfill.
To mend this mys I wald byrne on a hill.”
He comfort hir and baide hir haiff no dreide.
“I will,” he said, “haiff sumpart off thi weid.”
Hir goun he tuk on hym and courches als.
“Will god I sall eschape this tresoune fals.
I the forgyff with-outyn wordis mair.”
He kissyt hir, syne tuk his leiff to fayr.
Hys burly brand that helpyt him offt in neid
Rycht prewalye he hid it wndyr that weid.
To the south ȝett the gaynest way he drew,
Quhar that he fand off armyt men enew.
To thaim he tald, dissemblyt contenance,
To the chawmer quhar he was vpon chance,
“Speid fast,” he said, “Wallace is lokit In.”
Fra him thai socht with-outyn noyis or dyn.
To that sammyn hous about thai can thaim cast.
Out at the ȝett than Wallas gat full fast,
Rycht glaid in hart quhen that he was with-out.
Rycht fast he ȝeide, a stour pais and a stout.
Twa him beheld and said, “We will go se.
A stalwart queyne forsuth ȝon semys to be.”
Thai folowit him throwe the South Ynche thai twa.
Quhen Wallace saw with thaim thar come na ma
Agayne he turnede and has the formast slayn.
The tothir fled. Than Wallas with gret mayn
Vpon the hed with his suerd has him tayne;
Left thaim bathe dede, syne to the strenth is gayne.
His men he gat, rycht glaid quhen thai him saw.
Till thair defence in haist he gart thaim draw,
Deuoydyde him sone of the womannys weid.
Thus chapyt he out of that felloun dreid.

BOOK V

The dyrk regioun apperand wondyr fast,
In Nouember quhen October was past
The day faillit, throu the rycht cours worthit schort.
Till banyst men that is no gret comfort.
With thar power, in pethis worthis gang,
Hewy thai think quhen at the nycht is lang.
Thus Wallas saw the nychtis messynger,
Phebus, had lost his fyry bemys cler.
Out of the wood thai durst nocht turn that tyd
For aduersouris that in thair way wald byde.
Wallace thaim tauld that new wer wes on hand,
The Inglismen was off the toun cummande.
The dure thai brak quhar thai trowyt Wallace was;
Quhen thai him myst thai bownyt thaim to pas.
In this gret noyis the woman gat away,
Bot to quhat steide I can nocht graithlye say.
The Sothroun socht rycht sadly fra that stede
Throu the South Ynch and fand thir two men dede.
Thai knew be that Wallace was in the strenth.
About the park thai set on breid and lenth
With vi hundreth weill graithit in thar armes,
All likly men to wrek thaim of thar harmes;
A hundreth men chargit in armes strang
To kepe a hunde that thai had thaim amang.
In Gyllis-land thar was that brachell brede,
Sekyr off sent to folow thaim at flede.
So was scho vsyt on Esk and on Ledaill;
Quhill scho gat blude no fleyng mycht awaill.
Than said thai all Wallace mycht nocht away,
He suld be tharis for ocht at he do may.
The ost thai delt in diuers part that tyde.
Schir Garrat Herroun in the staill can abide.
Schir Ihon Butler the range he tuk him till
With thre hundyr quhilk war of hardy will;
In-to the woode apon Wallace thai ȝeid.
The worthi Scottis, that wer in mekill dreid,
Socht till a place for till haiff yschet out
And saw the staill enwerounyt thaim about.
Agayne thai went with hydwys strakis strang.
Gret noyis and dyne was rayssit thaim amang,
Thar cruell deide rycht merwalus to ken,
Quhen xl macht agayne thre hundyr men.
Wallace so weill apon him tuk that tide
Throw the gret preys he maid a way full wide;
Helpand the Scottis with his der-worthi hand
Fell faymen he left fey vpon the land.
Yheit Wallas lost xv in-to that steid,
And xl men of Sothroun part war dede.
The Butleris folk so fruschit was in deid
The hardy Scottis to the strenthis throw thaim ȝeide.
On to Tay side thai hastyt thaim full fast;
In will thai war the wattir till haiff past.
Halff couth nocht swym that than with Wallas was
And he wald nocht leiff ane and fra thaim pas.
Bettir him thocht in perell for to be
Wpon the land, than willfully to se
His men to droun quhar reskew mycht he nane.
Agayne In Ire to the feild ar thai gayne.
Butler be than had putt his men in ray;
On thaim he sett with ane awfull hard assay
On athir side with wapynnys stiff off steill.
Wallace agayne no frendschipe lett thaim feill.
Bot do or de thai wist no mor socour.
Thus fend thai lang in-to that stalwart stour.
The Scottis chyftayne was ȝong and in a rage,
Vsyt in wer and fechtis with curage.
He saw his men off Sothroun tak gret wrang.
Thaim to raweng all dreidles can he gang,
For mony off thaim war bledand wondyr sar.
He couth nocht se no help apperand thar
Bot thar chyaftyne war putt out off thair gait,
The bryme Butler, so bauldlye maid debait.
Throu the gret preys Wallace to him socht.
His awfull deid he eschewit as he mocht.
Vndyr ane ayk wyth men about him set,
Wallace mycht nocht a graith straik on him get.
Ȝeit schede he thaim; a full royd slope was maid.
The Scottis went out, no langar thar abaid.
Stewyn off Irland, quhilk hardy was and wicht,
To helpe Wallace he did gret preys and mycht,
With trew Kerle douchty in mony deid.
Wpon the grounde feill Sothroun gert thai bleid.
Sexty war slayne off Inglismen in that place,
And ix off Scottis thair tynt was throuch that cace.
Butleris men so stroyit war that tide
In-to the stour he wald no langar bide.
To get supple he socht on to the staill.
Thus lost he thar a hundreth off gret waill.
As thai war best arayand Butleris rout.
Betuex parteys than Wallace ischit out.
Xvi with him thai graithit thaim to ga.
Off all his men he had lewyt no ma.
The Inglismen, has myssyt hym, in hy
The hund thai tuk and folowit haistely.
At the Gask woode full fayne he wald haiff beyne,
Bot this sloth brache, quhilk sekyr was and keyne,
On Wallace fute folowit so felloune fast,
Quhill in thar sicht that prochit at the last.
Thar hors war wicht, had soiorned weill and lang.
To the next woode, twa myil thai had to gang
Off vpwith erde, thai ȝeid with all thar mycht.
Gud hope thai had for it was ner the nycht.
Fawdoun tyryt and said he mycht nocht gang.
Wallace was wa to leyff him in that thrang.
He bade him ga, and said the strenth was ner,
Bot he tharfor wald nocht fastir him ster.
Wallace in Ire on the crag can him ta
With his gud suerd and strak the hed him fra.
Dreidles to ground derfly he duschit dede.
Fra him he lap and left him in that stede.
Sum demys it to ill and othir-sum to gud,
And I say her in-to thir termys rude,
Bettir it was he did, as thinkis me.
Fyrst to the hunde it mycht gret stoppyn be;
Als Fawdoun was haldyn at suspicioun
For he was knawin of brokill complexioun.
Rycht stark he was and had bot litill gayne.
Thus Wallace wist had he beyne left allayne,
And he war fals to Enemys he wald ga,
Gyff he war trew the Sothroun wald him sla.
Mycht he do ocht bot tyne him as it was?
Fra this questioun now schortlye will I pas.
Deyme as ȝhe lest, ȝe that best can and may,
I bott rahers as my autour will say.
Sternys be than began for till apper.
The Inglismen was cummand wondyr ner.
V hundreth haill was in thar chewalry.
To the next strenth than Wallace couth him hy.
Stewyn off Irland, wnwitting of Wallas,
And gud Kerle, baid still ner-hand that place,
At the mur syde in-till a scrogghy slaid
Be est Dipplyne quhar thai this tary maid.
Fawdoun was left besid thaim on the land.
The power come and sodeynly him fand,
For thair sloith hund the graith gait till him ȝeid.
Off othir trade scho tuk as than no heid.
The sloith stoppyt, at Fawdoun still scho stude.
No forthir scho wald fra tyme scho fand the blud.
Inglismen dempt, for ellis thai couth nocht tell,
Bot at the Scottis had fochtyn amang thaim sell.
Rycht wa thai war that losyt was thar sent.
Wallace twa men amang the ost in went,
Dissemlit weylle that no man suld thaim ken,
Rycht in affer as thai war Inglismen.
Kerle beheld on to the bauld Heroun
Vpon Fawdoun as he was lukand doun,
A suttell straik wp-wart him tuk that tide;
Wndir the chokkeis the grounden suerd gart glid
By the gude mayle, bathe hals and his crag bayne
In sondyr straik. Thus endyt that cheftayne.
To grounde he fell, feile folk about him thrang.
“Tresoune!”, thai criyt, traytouris was thaim amang.
Kerlye with that fled out sone at a side.
His falow Stewyn than thocht no tyme to bide.
The fray was gret and fast away thai ȝeid,
Lawch towart Ern. Thus chapyt thai of dreid.
Butler for woo off wepyng mycht nocht stynt.
Thus raklesly this gud knycht haiff thai tynt.
Thai demyt all that it was Wallace men
Or ellis him self, thocht thai couth nocht him ken:
“He is rycht ner, we sall him haif but faill.
This febill woode may him litill awaill.”
Xl thar past agayne to Sanct Ihonstoun
With this dede cors, to berysing maid it boun,
Partyt thar men, syne diuers wayis raid.
A gret power at Dipplyn still thar baid.
Till Dawryoch the Butler past but let.
At syndry furdis the gait thai wmbeset;
To kepe the wode quhill it was day thai thocht.
As Wallace thus in the thik forrest socht,
For his twa men in mynd he had gret payne;
He wist nocht weill giff thai war tayne or slayne,
Or chapyt haile be ony ieperte.
Xiii war left with him, no ma had he.
In the Gask hall thair lugyng haif thai tayne.
Fyr gat thai sone, bot meyt than had thai nayne.
Twa scheipe thai tuk besid thaim of a fauld,
Ordanyt to soupe in-to that sembly hauld,
Graithit in haist sum fude for thaim to dycht.
So hard thai blaw rude hornys wpon hycht.
Twa sende he furth to luk quhat it mycht be.
Thai baid rycht lang and no tithingis herd he,
Bot boustous noyis so brymly blew and fast.
So othir twa in-to the woode furth past;
Nane come agayne, bot boustously can blaw.
In-to gret Ire he send thaim furth on raw.
Quhen him allayne Wallace was lewyt thar
The awfull blast aboundyt mekill mayr.
Than trowit he weill thai had his lugyng seyne.
His suerd he drew of nobill mettall keyne,
Syn furth he went quhar at he hard the horne.
With-out the dur Fawdoun was him beforn,
As till his sycht his awne hed in his hand.
A croys he maid quhen he saw him so stand.
At Wallace in the hed he swaket thar,
And he in haist sone hynt it by the hair,
Syne out agayne at him he couth it cast.
In-till his hart he was gretlye agast.
Rycht weill he trowit that was no spreit of man,
It was sum dewill at sic malice began.
He wyst no waill thar langar for to bide.
Vp throuch the hall thus wicht Wallace can glid
Till a clos stair, the burdis raiff in twyne;
Xv fute large he lap out of that In.
Wp the wattir sodeynlye he couth fair.
Agayne he blent quhat perance he sawe thar;
Him thocht he saw Fawdoun that hugly Syr,
That haill hall he had set in a fyr,
A gret raftre he had in-till his hand.
Wallace as than no langar walde he stand.
Off his gud men full gret meruaill had he,
How thai war tynt throuch his feyle fantase.
Traistis rycht weill, all this was suth in deide,
Suppos that it no poynt be of the creide.
Power thai had witht Lucifer that fell
The tyme quhen he partyt fra hewyn to hell.
Be sic myscheiff giff his men mycht be lost,
Drownyt or slayne amang the Inglis ost;
Or quhat it was in liknes of Faudoun,
Quhilk brocht his men to suddand confusioun;
Or gif the man endyt in ewill entent,
Sum wikkit spreit agayne for him present;
I can nocht spek of sic diuinite,
To clerkis I will let all sic materis be.
Bot of Wallace furth I will ȝow tell.
Quhen he wes went of that perrell fell
Ȝeit glaid wes he that he had chapyt swa,
Bot for his men gret murnyng can he ma,
Flayt by him self to the makar off buffe
Quhy he sufferyt he suld sic paynys pruff.
He wyst nocht weill giff it wes goddis will,
Rycht or wrang his fortoun to fullfill.
Hade he plesd god, he trowit it mycht nocht be
He suld him thoill in sic perplexite;
Bot gret curage in his mynd euir draiff,
Off Inglismen thinkand amendis to haiff.
As he was thus walkand be him allayne,
Apon Ern side makand a pytuous mayne,
Schyr Ihone Butler to wache the furdis rycht,
Out fra his men, of Wallace had a sicht.
The myst wes went to the montanys agayne.
Till him he raid quhar at he maid his mayne.
On loude he sperd, “Quhat art thow walkis that gait?”
“A trew man schir, thocht my wiage be layt.
Erandis I pas fra Doun on to my lord.
Schir Ihon Sewart, the rycht for to record,
In Doune is now new cummyn fra the king.”
Than Butler said, “This is a selcouth thing.
Thou leid all out, thow has beyne with Wallace.
I sall the knaw or thou cum of this place.”
Till him he stert the courser wondyr wicht,
Drew out a suerd, so maid hym for to lycht.
Abowne the kne gud Wallas has him tayne,
Throw the and brawn in sondyr straik the bayne.
Derffly to dede the knycht fell on the land.
Wallace the hors sone sesyt in his hand,
Ane awkwart straik syne tuk him in that sted.
His crag in twa, thus was the Butler dede.
Ane Inglisman saw thar chiftayne wes slayn;
A sper in reyst he kest with all his mayne,
On Wallace draiff fra the hors him to ber.
Warly he wrocht as worthi man in wer;
The sper he wan, with-outyn mor abaid
On hors he lap and throw a gret rout raid
Till Dawryoch; he knew the ford full weill.
Befor him come feyll stuffyt in fyne steill.
He straik the fyrst but baid in the blasoune,
Quhill hors and man bathe flet the wattir doune.
Ane othir sone doun fra his hors he bar,
Stampyt to grounde and drownyt with-outyn mar.
The thrid he hyt in his harness of steyll
Throw-out the cost; the sper to-brak sumdeyll.
The gret power than efftir him can ryd.
He saw na waill no langar thar to byd.
His burnyst brand braithly in hand he bar.
Quham he hyt rycht thai folowit him no mar.
To stuff the chas feyll frekis folowit fast
Bot Wallace maid the ganast ay agast.
The mur he tuk and throw thar power ȝeid.
The hors was gud, bot ȝeit he had greit dreid
For failȝeing or he wan to a strenth.
The chas was gret, scalyt our breid and lenth.
Throw strang danger thai had him ay in sycht.
At the Blakfurd thar Wallace doune can lycht.
His hors stuffyt for the way was depe and lang;
A large gret myile wichtly on fute couth gang.
Or he was horst ridaris about him kest.
He saw full weyll lang swa he mycht nocht lest.
Sad men in deid wpon him can renew.
With retornyng that nycht xxty he slew.
The forseast ay rudly rabutyt he,
Kepyt his hors and rycht wysly can fle
Quhill that he come the myrkest mur amang.
His hors gaiff our and wald no forthyr gang.
Wallace on fute tuk him with gude entent.
The hors he straik or that he fra him went;
His houch sennownnis he cuttyt all atanys
And left him thus besyde the standand stanys,
For Sotheron men no gud suld off him wyn.
In heich haddyr Wallace and thai can twyn.
Throuch that doun-with to Forth sadly he soucht,
Bot sodandly than come in-till his thocht
Gret power wok at Stirlyng bryg off tre.
Seychand he said, “No passage is for me.
For want off fude, and I haiff fochtyn lang,
On wer-men now me thynk no tyme to gang.
At Kamyskynnett I sall the wattir till.
Lat god abowne do with me quhat he will.
In-to this land langar I may nocht byd.”
Tary he maid sum part on Forthis syd,
Tuk off his weid and graithit him but mar.
Hys swerd he band, that wondyr scharply schar,
Amang his ger be his schuldris on loft.
Thus In he went, to gret god prayand oft
Off his hye grace the caus to tak on hand.
Our the wattyr he swame to the south land;
Arayede him sone, the sessone was rycht cauld,
For Piscis was in-tyll his dayis of auld.
Our-thwert the Kers to the Torwode he ȝeide.
A wedow thar duelt that helpyt him in neid.
Hiddyr he come or day begouth to daw
Till a wyndow and prewaly couth caw.
Thai sperd his nayme bot tell thaim wald he nocht
Quhill scho hir selff ner till his langage socht.
Fra tyme scho wist at it was wicht Wallace
Reiossyt scho wes and thankit god off his grace.
Scho sperd sone quhy he was him allayne.
Murnand he said, “As now may haiff I nane.”
Scho askyt him quhar at his men suld be.
“Fayr deyme,” he said, “go get sum meit for me.
I haiff fastyt syne ȝhisterday at morn.
I dreid full sar that my men be forlorn.
Gret part of thaim to the dede I saw dycht.”
Scho gat him meyt in all the haist scho mycht.
A woman he cald and als with hyr a child,
Syne bade thaim pas agayne thai wayis wild
To the Gask hall, tithingis for to sper
Giff part war left of his men in-to fer,
And scho suld fynd a hors sone in hir gait.
He bad thaim se giff that place stud in stait.
Tharoff to her he had full gret desyr
Becaus he thocht that it was all in fyr.
Thai passyt furth with-outyn tary mar.
Him for to rest Wallace ramaynit thar.
Refreschit he wes with meyte, drynk and with heit,
Quhilk causyt him throuch naturall cours to weit
Quhar he suld sleipe in sekyrnes to be.
The wedow had off hyr awne sonnys thre.
Fyrst twa off thaim scho send to kepe Wallace,
And gert the thrid go sone to Dwnypace
And tald his Eyme that he was hapnyt thar.
The persone ȝeid to se of his weyllfar.
Wallace to sleipe was laid in the wood syde.
The twa ȝonge men with-out hym ner couth byd.
The persone come ner and thar maner saw.
Thai beknyt him to quhat stede he suld draw.
The Rone wes thik that Wallace slepyt In;
About he ȝeid and maid bot litill dyn,
So at the last of him he had a sycht
Full prewalye, how that his bed was dycht.
He him beheld and said syne to him sell,
“Her is merwaill, quha likis it to tell.
This a persone be worthines of hand
Trowys to stop the power of Ingland.
Now fals fortoune, the myswyrkar of all,
Be awentur has gyffyn him a fall,
At he is left with-out supple of ma.
A cruel wyff with wapynnys mycht him sla.”
Wallace him herd quhen his slepe our-past;
Fersly he rays and said till him als fast,
“Thou leid fals preyst. War thow a fa to me
I wald nocht dreid sic othir x as the.
I haiff had mar syne ȝhisterday at morn
Than syk sexty war semblyt me beforn.”
His Eyme him tuk and went furth with Wallace.
He tald till hym off all his paynfull cace:
“This nycht,” he said, “I was left me allayne,
In feyle debait with enemys mony ane.
God at his will my liff did ay to kepe.
Our Forth I swame, that awfull is and depe.
Quhat I haiff had in wer befor this day,
Presoune and payne, to this nycht was bot play,
So bett I am with strakis sad and sar.
The cheyle wattir vrned me mekill mar,
Eftir gret blud throu heit in cauld was brocht,
That off my lyff almost no thing I roucht.
I meyn fer mar the tynsell off my men
Na for my selff, mycht I suffir sic ten.
The persone said, “Der sone, thow may se weyll
Langar to stryff it helpis nocht adeyll.
Thi men ar lost and nayne will with the rys.
For goddis saik wyrk as I sall dewys,
Tak a lordschipe quhar on at thow may liff.
King Eduuard wald gret landis to the giff.”
“Wncle,” he said, “off sic wordis no mar.
This is no thing bot eking off my car.
I lik bettir to se the Sothren de
Than gold or land that thai can giff to me.
Trastis rycht weyll, of wer I will nocht ces
Quhill tyme that I bryng Scotland in-to pes,
Or de tharfor, in playne to wndyrstand.”
So come Kerle and gud Stewyn of Irland.
The wedowis sone to Wallace he thaim brocht.
Fra thai him saw of na sadnes thai roucht,
For perfyt Ioy thai wepe with all thar Eyne.
To ground thai fell and thankit hewynnys queyn.
Als he was glaid for reskew off thaim twa.
Off thair feris leyffand was left no ma.
Thai tald till him that schir Garrat was dede,
How thai had weyll eschapyt of that stede;
Throuch the Oychall thai had gayne all that nycht
Till Erth ferry or that the day was brycht;
How a trew Scot for kyndnes off Wallace
Brocht thaim sone oure, syne kend thaim to that place.
Als Kerle wyst gyff Wallace leyffand war
Nere Dwnypace that he suld fynd him thar.
The persone gart gud purwiance for thaim dycht.
In the Torwode thai lugyt all that nycht,
Quhill the woman that Wallace north had send
Retornd agayne and tald him till ane end
Quhat Inglismen in the way scho fand dede.
Feyll was fallyn fey in mony syndry sted.
The hors scho saw that Wallace had berefft
And the Gask hall standand as it was left,
With-out harme, nocht sterd off it a stane,
Bot off his men gud tithingis scho gat nane.
Tharoff he grewyt gretlye in that tyd.
In the forrest he wald no langar bid.
The wedow him gaiff part off siluir brycht,
Twa of hyr sonnys that worthi war and wycht;
The thrid scho held becaus he lakit age,
In wer as than mycht nocht wyn wesselage.
The persone than gat thaim gud hors and ger,
Bot wa he was his mynd wes all in wer.
Thus tuk he leyff with-owtyn langar abaid.
In Dundaff mur that sammyn nycht he raid.
Schir Ihone the Grayme quhilk lord wes of that land,
Ane agyt knycht, had maid nane othir band
Bot purchest pes in rest he mycht bide still,
Tribute payit full sor agayne his will.
A sone he had bathe wys, worthi and wicht.
Alexandyr the fers at Berweik maid him knycht,
Quhar schawyn wes off battaill till haif beyne
Betuex Scottis and the bauld Persie keyne.
This ȝong schir Ihone rycht nobill wes in wer.
On a braid scheyld his fadyr gert him swer
He suld be trew till Wallace in all thing
And he till him quhill lyff mycht in thaim ryng.
Thre nychtis thar Wallace baid out off dreid,
Restyt him weill, swa had he mekill neid.
On the ferd day he wald no langar bide.
Schir Ihone the Grayme bownyt with him to ryd,
And he said nay, as than it suld nocht be:
“A playne part ȝeit I will nocht tak on me.
I haiff tynt men throw my our rakles deid.
A brynt child mayr sayr the fyr will dreid.
Freyndis haiff I sumpart in Clyddysdaill;
I will go se quhat may thai me awaill.”
Schir Ihon ansuerd, “I will ȝour consaill do.
Quhen ȝhe se tyme send prewale me to.
Than I sall cum with my power in haist.”
He him be-tuk on-to the haly gaist,
Saynct Ihone to borch, thai suld meite haill and sound.
Out off Dundaff he and thir four couth found.
In Bothwell mur that nycht remaynyt he
With ane Craufurd that lugyt him preuale.
Wpon the morn to the Gilbank he went,
Rasauit was with mony glaid entent,
For his der eyme ȝong Auchinlek duelt thar.
Brothyr he was to the schirreff off Ayr.
Quhen auld schir Ranald till his dede wes dycht.
Than Awchinlek weddyt that lady brycht
And childyr gat, as storyes will record,
Off Lesmahago, for he held off that lord.
Bot he was slayne, gret pete wes the mar,
With Perseys men in-to the toun of Ayr.
His sone duelt still, than xix ȝeris off age,
And brokit haille his fadris heretage.
Tribute he payit for all his landis braid
To lord Persie, as his brodyr had maid.
I leyff Wallace with his der wncle still.
Off Inglismen ȝeit sum thing spek I will.
A messynger sone throw the contre ȝeid.
To lord Persie thai tald this fellone deid;
Kynclewyn was brynt, brokyn and castyn doun,
The Captayn dede off it and Saynt Ihonstoun,
The Loran als at Schortwod schawis scheyn:
“In-to that land gret sorow has beyne seyn
Throuch wicht Wallace that all this deid has done.
The toune he spyit, and that forthocht we sone.
Butler is slayne, with douchty men and deyr.”
In aspre spech the Persye than can speyr,
“Quhat worth of him, I pray ȝou graithlye tell”.
“My lord,” he said, “rycht thus the cas befell.
We knaw for treuth he was left him allayne,
And as he fled he slew full mony ayne.
The hors we fand that him that gait couth ber,
Bot of hym self no othir word we her.
At Stirlyng bryg we wait he passit nocht.
To dede in Forth he may for vs be brocht.”
Lord Persye said, “Now suthlye that war syne.
So gud of hand is nayne this warld within.
Had he tayne pes and beyne our kingis man
The haill empyr he mycht haiff conquest than.
Gret harme it is, our knychtis that ar ded.
We mon ger se for othir in that sted.
I trow nocht ȝeit at Wallace losyt be.
Our clerkys sayis he sall ger mony de.”
The messynger said, “All that suth has beyne.
Mony hundreth that cruell war and keyne
Sene he begane ar lost with-out ramede.”
The Persye said, “Forsuth he is nocht ded.
The crukis off Forth he knawis wondyr weylle.
He is on lyff, that sall our nacioune feill.
Quhen he is strest than can he swym at will.
Gret strenth he has, bathe wyt and grace thartill.”
A messynger the lord chargyt to wend
And this commaunde in wryt with him he send:
Schir Ihone Sewart gret schirreff than he maid
Off Sanct Ihonstoun and all thai landis braid.
In-till Kynclewyn thar duelt nayne agayne.
Thar was left nocht bot brokyn wallis in playne.
Leiff I thaim thus reulland the landis thar
And spek I will off Wallace glaid weillfar.
He send Kerle to schir Ranald the knycht,
Till Boyd and Blayr that worthi war and wicht
And Adam als his cusyng gud Wallace;
To thaim declarde off all this paynfull cas,
Off his eschaipe out off that cumpany.
Rycht wondyr glaid was this gud chewalry
Fra tyme thai wyst that Wallace leiffand was.
Gude expensis till him thai maid to pas.
Maister Ihone Blayr was offt in that message,
A worthy clerk, bath wys and rycht sawage.
Lewyt he was befor in Parys toune
Amang maisteris in science and renoune.
Wallace and he at hayme in scule had beyne.
Sone eftirwart, as verite is seyne,
He was the man that pryncipall wndirtuk,
That fyrst compild in dyt the Latyne buk
Off Wallace lyff, rycht famous of renoun,
And Thomas Gray persone off Libertoune.
With him thai war and put in storyall,
Offt ane or bath, mekilll of his trauaill,
And tharfor her I mak off thaim mencioune.
Master Ihone Blayr to Wallace maid him boune.
To se his heyle his comfort was the mor,
As thai full oft togyddyr war befor.
Syluir and gold thai gaiff him for to spend.
Sa dyde he thaim frely quhen god it send.
Off gud weylfayr as than he wantyt nane.
Inglismen wyst he was left him allane.
Quhar he suld be was nayne off thaim couth say,
Drownyt or slayne, or eschapyt away,
Tharfor off him thai tuk bot litill heid.
Thai knew him nocht, the les he was in dreid.
All trew Scottis gret fauour till him gaiff,
Quhat gude thai had he mysterit nocht to craiff.
The pes lestyt that schir Ranald had tayne.
Thai iiii monethis it suld nocht be out gane.
This crystismes Wallace ramaynyt thar.
In Laynrik oft till sport he maid repair.
Quhen that he went fra Gilbank to the toune,
And he fand men was off that fals nacioune
To Scotland thai dyde neuir grewance mar.
Sum stekyt thai, sum throttis in sondir schar.
Feill war sone dede bot nane wyst quha it was.
Quham he handlyt he leyt no forthir pas.
Thar Hesylryg duelt, that curssyt knycht to waill.
Schyrreff he was off all the landis haill,
Felloune, owtrage, dispitfull in his deid;
Mony off him tharfor had mekill dreid.
Merwell he thocht quha durst his peple sla.
With-out the toune he gert gret nowmir ga.
Quhen Wallace saw that thai war ma than he,
Than did he nocht but salust curtasle.
All his four men bar thaim quietlik.
Na Sotheron couth deme thaim mys, pur no rik.
In Lanryk duelt a gentill woman thar,
A madyn myld, as my buk will declar,
Off xviii ȝeris ald or litill mor off age.
Als born scho was till part off heretage.
Hyr fadyr was off worschipe and renoune
And Hew Braidfute he hecht of Lammyngtoune,
As feylle othir was in the contre cald.
Befor-tyme thai gentill men war off ald.
Bot this gud man and als his wiff wes ded.
The madyn than wyst off no othyr rede,
Bot still scho duelt on trewbute in the toune
And purchest had king Eduuardis proteccioune.
Serwandys with hyr, off freyndis at hyr will,
Thus leyffyt scho with-out desyr off ill;
A quiet hous as scho mycht hald in wer,
For Hesylryg had done hyr mekill der,
Slayne hyr brodyr quhilk eldast wes and ayr.
All sufferyt scho and rycht lawly hyr bar.
Amyabill, so benyng, war and wys,
Curtas and swete, fulfillyt of gentrys,
Weyll rewllyt off tong, rycht haill of contenance,
Off wertuous scho was worthy till awance,
Hummylly hyr led and purchest a gud name.
Off Ilkyn wicht scho kepyt hyr fra blame.
Trew rychtwys folk a gret fauour hir lent.
Apon a day to the kyrk as scho went
Wallace hyr saw as he his eyne can cast.
The prent off luff him punȝeit at the last
So asprely, throuch bewte off that brycht,
With gret wnes in presence bid he mycht.
He knew full weyll hyr kynrent and hyr blud
And how scho was in honest oys and gud.
Quhill wald he think to luff hyr our the laiff
And othir quhill he thocht on his dissaiff,
How that hys men was brocht to confusioun
Throw his last luff he had in Saynct Ihonstoun.
Than wald he think to leiff and lat our-slyd,
Bot that thocht lang in hys mynd mycht nocht byd.
He tauld Kerle off his new lusty baille,
Syne askit him off his trew best consaill.
“Maister,” he said, “as fer as I haiff feyll,
Off lyklynes it may be wondir weill.
Sen ȝe sa luff, tak hir in mariage.
Gudlye scho is and als has heretage.
Suppos at ȝhe in luffyng feill amys
Gret god forbede it suld be so with this!”
“To mary thus I can nocht ȝeit attend.
I wald of wer fyrst se a finaill end.
I will no mor allayne to my luff gang.
Tak tent to me or dreid we suffer wrang.
To proffer luff thus sone I wald nocht preffe.
Mycht I leyff off, in wer I lik to leyff.
Quhat is this luff? No thing bot folychnes.
It may reiff men bathe witt and stedfastnes.”
Than said he thus, “This will nocht graithly be,
Amors and wer at anys to ryng in me.
Rycht suth it is, stude I in blis off luffe,
Quhar dedis war I suld the bettir pruff,
Bot weyle I wait, quhar gret ernyst is in thocht
It lattis wer in the wysest wys be wrocht,
Les gyf it be bot only till a deid;
Than he that thinkis on his luff to speid,
He may do weill, haiff he fortoun and grace.
Bot this standis all in ane othir cas,
A gret kynryk with feill fayis ourset.
Rycht hard it is amendis for to get
At anys off thaim and wyrk the obserwance,
Quhilk langis luff and all his frewill chance.
Sampill I haif; this me forthinkis sar.
I trow to god it sall be so no mar.
The trewth I knaw off this and hyr lynage.
I knew nocht hyr, tharfor I lost a gage.”
To Kerle he thus argownd in this kynd,
Bot gret desyr remaynt in-till his mynd
For to behald that frely off fassoun.
A quhill he left and come nocht in the toun.
On othir thing he maid his witt to walk,
Prefand giff he mycht off that languor slalk.
Quhen Kerle saw he sufferit payne for-thi,
“Der schir,” he said, “Ȝe leiff in slogardy.
Go se ȝoure luf, than sall ȝhe get comfort.”
At his consaill he walkit for to sport
On to the kyrke quhar scho maid residence.
Scho knew him weill bot as of eloquence
Scho durst nocht weill in presens till him kyth.
Full sor scho dred or Sotheron wald him myth,
For Hesilryg had a mater new begone
And hyr desirde in mariage till his sone.
With hir madyn thus Wallace scho besocht
To dyne with hyr, and prewaly hym brocht
Throuch a garden scho had gart wyrk of new,
So Inglismen nocht off thar metyng knew.
Than kissit he this gudle with plesance,
Syne hyr besocht rycht hartly of quentance.
Scho ansuerd hym with humyll wordis wise:
“War my quentance rycht worthi for till pryse
Ȝhe sall it haiff, als god me saiff in saille,
Bot Inglismen gerris our power faill
Throuch violence of thaim and thar barnage,
At has weill ner destroyt our lynage.”
Quhen Wallace hard hyr plenȝe petously
Agrewit he was in hart rycht gretumly.
Bathe Ire and luff him set in-till a rage
Bot nocht-forthi he soberyt his curage.
Off his mater he tald as I said ayr
To that gudlye, how luff him strenȝeit sar.
Scho ansuerd him rycht resonably agayne,
And said, “I sall to ȝour seruice be bayne
With all plesance in honest causis haill;
And I trast ȝhe wald nocht set till assaill,
For ȝhoure worschipe, to do me dyshonour,
And I a maid and standis in mony stour
Fra Inglismen to saiff my womanheid,
And cost has maid to kepe me fra thar dreid.
With my gud wyll I wyll no lemman be
To no man born; tharfor me think suld ȝhe
Desyr me nocht bot in-till gudlynas.
Perchance ȝe think I war to law purchas
For tyll attend to be your rychtwys wyff.
In ȝour seruice I wald oys all my lyff.
Her I beseik, for ȝour worschipe in armys,
Ȝhe charge me nocht with no wngudly harmys,
Bot me defend for worschipe off ȝour blude.”
Quhen Wallace weyll hyr trew tayll wnderstud,
As in a part hym thocht it was resoun
Off hyr desir, tharfor till conclusioun
He thankit hyr, and said, “Gif it mycht be
Throuch goddis will that our kynryk war fre,
I wald ȝow wed with all hartlie plesance,
Bot as this tym I may nocht tak sic chance,
And for this caus, none othir, now I crayff.
A man in wer may nocht all plesance haiff.”
Off thar talk than I can tell ȝow no mar,
To my purpos, quhat band that thai maid thar.
Conclud thai thus and syne to dyner went.
The sayr grewans remaynyt in his entent,
Los off his men and lusty payne off luff.
His leiff he tuk at that tyme to ramuff,
Syne to Gilbank he past or it was nycht.
Apon the morn with his iiii men him dycht,
To the Corhed with-out restyng he raid;
Quhar his nevo Thom Haliday him baid,
And Litill als, Eduuard his cusyng der,
Quhilk was full blyth quhen he wyst him so ner,
Thankand gret god that send him saiff agayne,
For mony demyt he was in Strathern slayn.
Gud cher thai maid all out thai dayis thre.
Than Wallace said that he desirde to se
Lowmaban toun and Ynglismen that was thar.
On the ferd day thai bownyt thaim to far.
Xvi he was of gudle chewalre.
In the Knokwood he lewyt all bot thre.
Thom Halyday went with him to the toun;
Eduuard Litill and Kerle maid thaim boun.
Till ane ostrye Thom Halyday led thaim rycht
And gaiff commaund thar dyner suld be dycht.
Till her a mes in gud entent thai ȝeid.
Off Inglismen thai trowit thar was no dreid.
Ane Clyffurd come, was emys sone to the lord,
And four with him, the trewth for to record.
Quha awcht thai hors in gret heithing he ast.
He was full sle and ek had mony cast.
The gud wyff said, till applessyt him best,
“Four gentill men is cummyn owt off the west.”
“Quha dewill thaim maid so galy for to ryd?
In faith with me a wed thar most abide.
Thir lewit Scottis has leryt litill gud.
Lo, all thar hors ar schent for faut off blud.”
In-to gret scorn with outyn wordis mayr
The taillis all off thai iiii hors thai schayr.
The gud wyff cryede and petuously couth gret.
So Wallace come and couth the captayne mete.
A woman tald how thai his hors had schent.
For propyr Ire he grew in matelent.
He folowid fast and said, “Gud freynd, abid
Seruice to tak for thi craft in this tyde.
Marschell thou art with-out commaund off me.
Reward agayne me think I suld pay the.
Sen I off laitt now come owt off the west
In this cuntre, a barbour off the best
To cutt and schaiff, and that a wondir gude,
Now thow sall feyll how I oys to lat blude.”
With his gud suerd the captayn has he tayn
Quhill hors agayne he marscheld neuir nayn;
A nothir sone apon the hed strak he
Quhill chaftis and cheyk vpon the gait can fle.
Be that his men the tothir twa had slayne.
Thar hors thai tuk and graithit thaim full bayne
Out off the toun; for dyner baid thai nayne.
The wyff he payit that maid so petuous mayne.
Than Inglismen fra that chyftayne wes dede
To Wallace socht fra mony syndry stede.
Off the castell come cruell men and keyne.
Quhen Wallace has thar sodand semle seyne
Towart sum strenth he bownyt him to ryd,
For than him thocht it was no tyme to byd.
Thar hors bled fast, that gert him dredyng haiff.
Off his gud men he wald haif had the laiff.
To the Knokwoode with-outyn mor thai raid,
Bot in-till it no soiornyng he maid;
That wood as than was nothir thik no lang.
His men he gat, syn lychtyt for to gang
Towart a hicht and led thar hors a quhill.
The Inglismen was than within a myill,
On fresche hors rydand full hastely.
Sewyn scor and ma was in thar chewalry.
The Scottis lap on quhen thai thar power saw.
Frawart the south thaim thocht it best to draw.
Than Wallace said, “It is no witt in wer
With our power to byd thaim bargane her.
Ȝon are gud men, thar-for I rede that we
Euirmar seik quhill god send sum supple.”
Halyday said, “We sall do ȝour consaille,
Bot sayr I dreid or thir hurt hors will fayll.”
The Inglismen in burnyst armour cler
Be than to thaim approchyt wondir ner.
Horssyt archaris schot fast and wald nocht spar.
Off Wallace men thai woundyt twa full sar.
In Ir he grew quhen that he saw thaim bleid.
Him self retornde and on thaim sone he ȝeid,
Xvi with him that worthi was in wer.
Off the formast rycht freschly doun thai ber.
At that retorn xv in feild war slayne.
The laiff fled fast to thar power agayne.
Wallace folowid with his gud chewalrye.
Thom Halyday in wer was full besye,
A buschement saw that cruell was to ken,
Twa hundreth haill off weill gerit Inglismen.
“Wncle,” he said, “our power is to smaw.
Off this playne feild I consaill ȝow to draw.
To few we ar agayne ȝon fellone staill.”
Wallace relewit full sone at his consaill.
At the Corheid full fayne thai wald haif beyne,
Bot Inglismen weyll has thar purpos seyne.
In playne battaill thai folowid hardely;
In danger thus thai held thaim awfully.
Hew off Morland on Wallace folowid fast.
He had befor maid mony Scottis agast;
Haldyn he was off wer the worthiast man
In north Ingland, with thaim was leiffand than.
In his armour weill forgyt off fyne steill
A nobill cursour bur him bath fast and weill.
Wallace retorned besyd a burly ayk
And on him set a fellone sekyr straik;
Baith cannell bayne and schuldir blaid in twa,
Throuch the myd cost the gud suerd gert he ga.
His speyr he wan and als the coursour wicht,
Syne left his awn for he had lost his mycht;
For lak off blud he mycht no forthir gang.
Wallace on hors the Sotheron men amang,
His men relewit, that douchty was in deid,
Him to reskew out off that felloune dreid.
Cruell strakis forsuth thar mycht be seyne
On athir side quhill blud ran on the greyne.
Rycht peralous the semlay was to se;
Hardy and hat contenyt the fell melle,
Skew and reskew off Scottis and Inglis als.
Sum kerwyt bran in sondir, sum the hals,
Sum hurt, sum hynt, sum derffly dong to dede;
The hardy Scottis so steryt in that sted.
With Halyday on fute bauldly that baid,
Amang Sotheron a full gret rowme thai maid.
Wallas on hors, in hand a nobill sper,
Out throuch thaim raid as gud chyftayne in wer.
Thre slew he thar or that his sper was gayn.
Than his gud suerd in hand sone has he tayne,
Hewyt on hard with dyntis sad and sar.
Quhat ane he hyt grewyt the Scottis no mar.
Fra Sotheron men be naturall resone knew
How with a straik a man euir he slew,
Than merwald thai he was so mekill off mayne;
For thar best man in that kynd he had slayne,
That his gret strenth agayne him helpyt nocht,
Nor nane othir in-contrar Wallace socht.
Than said thai all, “Lest he in strenth wntayne,
This haill kynryk he wyll wyn him allayne.”
Thai left the feild, syne to thar power fled
And tald thar lord how ewill the formest sped;
Quhilk Graystok hecht, was new cummyn in the land,
Tharfor he trowit nane durst agayne him stand.
Wondir him thocht quhen that he saw that sicht,
Quhy his gud men for sa few tuk the flycht.
At that retorn xxti in feild was tynt,
And Morland als; tharfor he wald nocht stynt
Bot folowed fast with iii C but dreid,
And swour he suld be wengit on that deid.
The Scottis wan hors becaus thar awne couth faill,
In fleyng syne chesd thaim the maist awaill.
Owt off that feild thus wicht Wallas is gayn.
Off his gud men he had nocht losyt ayne.
V woundyt wes ȝeit blythly furth thai raid.
Wallace a space behynd thaim ay he baid,
And Halyday prewyt weill in mony place.
Sib sistir sone he wes to gud Wallace.
Warly thai raid and held thar hors in aynd,
For thai trowide weyll Sotheron wald afaynd
With haill power at-anys on thaim to sett.
Bot Wallace kest thar power for to let;
To brek thar ray he besyit hym full fast.
Than Inglismen so gretly wes agast
That nane off thaim durst rusch out off the staill,
All in a ray held thaim to-giddir haill.
The Sotheron saw how that so bandounly
Wallace abaid ner hand thar chewalry.
Be Morlandis hors thai knew him wondyr weill,
Past to thar Lord and tauld him euirilkdeill.
“Lo schir,” thai said, “forsuth ȝon sammyn is he
That with his hand gerris so mony de.
Haiff his hors grace apon his feyt to bid
He dredis nocht throw v thousand to ryd.
We rede ȝe ces and folow him no mar,
For drede that we repent it syn full sar.”
He blamyt thaim and said, “Men weyll may se
Cowartis ȝe ar, that for so few wald fle.”
For thar consaill ȝeit leiff thaim wald he nocht.
In gret Ire he apon thaim sadly socht,
Wailland a place quhar he mycht bargane mak.
Wallace was wa apon him for to tak,
And he so few, to bid thaim on a playne.
At Quenysbery he wald haiff beyne full fayne.
Apon him self he tuk full gret trawaill
To fend his men gyff that mycht ocht awaill.
A suerd he drew rycht manlik him to wer,
Ay wayttand fast gyff he mycht get a sper,
Now her, now thar, befor thaim to and fra.
His hors gaiff our and mycht no forthir ga.
Rycht at the skyrt off Quenysbery befell,
Bot wpon grace as my autour will tell,
Schir Ihone the Grayme that worthi wes and wicht,
To the Corhed come on the tothir nycht,
Xxxti with him off nobill men at wage.
The fyrst dochtyr he had in mariage
Off Halyday, was nevo to Wallace.
Tithandis to sper schir Ihone past off that place
With men to spek quhar thai a tryst had set,
Rycht ner the steid quhar Scottis and Ynglis mete.
Ane Kyrk-patryk that cruell was and keyne
In Esdaill wood that half ȝer he had beyne.
With Inglis men he couth nocht weyll accord.
Off Torthorowald he barron was and lord.
Off kyn he was and Wallace modyr ner;
Off Craufurd syd that mydward had to ster.
Twenty he had off worthi men and wicht.
Be than Wallace approchit to thar sicht.
Schir Ihon the Grayme quhen he the cowntir saw,
On thaim he raid and stud bot litill aw;
His gud-fadyr he knew rycht wondyr weyll,
Kest doun his sper and sonȝeit nocht adeyll,
Kyrk-patryk als with worthi men in wer.
Fyfty in fronte at-anys doun thai ber.
Throuch the thikkest off thre hundreth thai raid.
On Sotheron men full gret slauchtyr thai maid,
Thaim to reskew that was in fellone thrang.
Wallace, on fute the gret power amang,
Gud rowme he gat throuch help off goddis grace.
The Sotheren fled and left thaim in that place.
Horsis thai wan to stuff the chas gud spede,
Wallace and his that douchty wes in dede.
Graystok tuk flycht. On stern horsis and stout
A hundreth held to-gyddir in a rout.
Wallace on thaim full sadly couth persew.
The fleyng weyll off Inglis-men he knew,
At ay the best wald pas with thar chyftayne.
Befor him he fand gud schir Ihone the Grayme
Ay strykand doun quham euir he mycht ourhy.
Than Wallace said, “This is bot waist foly,
Comons to slay quhar chyftayns gayis away.
Ȝour hors is fresche, tharfor do as I say.
Gud men ȝhe haiff ar ȝeit in nobill stait.
To ȝon gret rout for goddis luff hald ȝour gait.
Sowndyr thaim sone. We sall cum at ȝour hand.”
Quhen schir Ihon had his tayll weyll wndirstand,
Off nane othir fra thine-furth tuk he heid.
To the formast he folowid weill gud speid.
Kyrk-patryk als considiryt thar consaill.
Than chargyt thar men, “All folow on the stayll.”
At his command full sone with hym thay met,
Sad straikys and sayr apone thaym sadly set.
Schyr Ihone the Grayme to Graystok fast he socht;
Hys prys pissan than helpyt him rycht nocht,
Vpon the crage a graith straik gat him rycht.
The burly blaide, was braid and burnyst brycht,
In sonder kerwyt the mailȝeis off fyne steyll.
Throwch bayne and brawne it prochyt euirilkdeill,
Dede with that dynt to the erd doun him draiff.
Be that Wallace was semland with the laiff.
Derfly to dede feyle frekys thar he dycht.
Rays neuir agayne quhat ane at he hyt rycht.
Kyrk-patryk than, Thom Halyday and thar men,
Thar douchty deid was nobill for to ken.
At the Knokheid the bauld Graystok was slayne
And mony man quhilk wes off mekill mayne.
To saiff thar lyff part in the wood is past.
The Scottismen than relewit to-giddir fast.
Quhen that Wallace with schir Ihone Grayme wes met
Rycht gudlye he with humylnes him gret.
Pardown he ast off the repreiff befor
In-to the chas, and said he suld no mor
Formacioune mak off him that was so gud.
Quhen that schir Ihon Wallace weyll wndirstud,
“Do way”, he said, “tharoff as now no mar.
Ȝhe dyd full rycht. It was for our weylfar.
Wysar in weyr ȝe ar all out than I.
Fadir in armes ȝe ar to me forthi.”
Kyrk-patryk syne that wes his cusyng der,
He thankit hym rycht on a gud maner.
Nocht ane was lost off all thar chewalry.
Schir Ihone the Grayme to thaim come happely.
The day was downe and prochand wes the nycht;
At Wallace thai askit his consaill rycht.
He ansuerd thus, “I spek bot with ȝour leiff.
Rycht laith I war ony gud man to greyff,
Bot thus I say in termes schort for me:
I wald sailȝe, gyff ȝe think it may be,
Lowmaban hous quhilk now is left allayne,
For weyll I wait, power in it is lewyt nayne.
Carlauerok als ȝeit Maxwell has in hand.
And we had this thai mycht be bath a wand
Agayne Sotheroune that now has our cuntre.
Say quhat ȝe will, this is the best think me.”
Schir Ihone the Grayme gaiff fyrst his gud consent,
Syne all the layff rycht with a haill entent.
To Lowmaban rycht haistely thai ryd.
Quhen thai cum ner, nocht half a myill besid,
The nycht was myrk, to consaill ar thai gayne.
Off mwne nor stern gret perans was thar nayne.
Than Wallace said, “Me think the land at rest.
Thom Haliday, thow knawis this cuntre best.
I her no noyis of feyll folk her about.
Tharfor I trow we ar the les in doubt.”
Haliday said, “I will tak ane with me
And ryde befor the maner for to se.”
Watsone he callit: “With me thow mak the boun.
With thaim thow was a nychtbour off this toun.”
“I grant I was with thaim, agayne my will.
Myn entent is euir to do tham Ill.”
Onto the ȝeitt thir twa pertly furth raid.
The portar come with-owt langar abaid.
At Ihone Watsone sone tythandis he couth as.
Opyn he bad, the Captayne cummand was.
The ȝett but mayr wnwysly he wp drew.
Thom Haliday sone be the craig him threw
And with a knyff he stekit him to dede,
In a dyrk holl kest him doun in that sted.
Ihone Watsone syne has hynt the keyis in hand.
The power than with Wallace wes cummand.
Thai entryt In, befor thaim fand no ma
Excep wemen, and sympill serwandis twa
In the kyching scudleris lang tyme had beyne.
Sone thai war slayne. Quhen the Lady had thaim seyne,
“Grace,” scho cryit, “for hym that deit on tre.”
Than Wallace said, “Mademe, ȝour noyis lat be.
To wemen ȝeit we do bot litill Ill,
Na ȝong childir we lik nocht for to spill.
I wald haiff meit. Haliday, quhat sayis thow?
For fastand folk to dyne gud tym war now.”
Gret purwiance was ordand thaim befor,
Bath breid and aylle, gud wyne and othir stor.
To meyt thai bownyt for thai had fastyt lang;
Gud men off armes in-to the clos gert gang.
Part fleand folk on fute that fra thaim glaid
On the Knok-heid, quhar gret melle was maid,
Ay as thai come Ihon Watsone leit thaim in
And donn to dede with-outyn noyis or dyn.
Na man left thar that was off Ingland born.
The castell weyll thai wesyt on the morn,
For Ihonstoun send, a man off gud degre.
Secund dochtir forsuth weddyt had he
Off Halidays, nere neuo to Wallace.
Gret captayne thai made him off that place.
Thai leyffit him thar in-till a gud aray,
Syne wsched furth wpon the secund day.
Women had leyff in Ingland for to fayr.
Schyr Ihon the Grayme and gud Wallace couth cair
To the Corhed and lugyt all that nycht.
Wpon the morn the sone wes at the hycht;
Eftir dyner thai wald no langer byde,
Thar purpos tuk in Craufurd mur to ryd,
Schyr Jhon the Grayme with Wallace that was wycht.
Thom Haliday agayne retorned rycht
To the Cor hall and thar remanyt but dred.
Na Sotheroun wyst prynsuall quha did this dede.
Kyrk-patrik past in Aisdaill woddis wyd.
In saufte thar he thoucht he suld abid.
Schyr Jhone the Grayme and gud Wallace in feir,
With thaim xl off men in armes cleir,
Throuch Craufurd mur as that thai tuk the way
On Inglismen thar mynd ramaynit ay.
Fra Crawfurd Ihon the wattir doune thai ryd.
Ner-hand the nycht thai lychtyt apon Clyd,
Thar purpos tuk in-till a quiet waill.
Than Wallace said, “I wald we mycht assaill
Craufurd castell with sum gud ieperte.
Schir Ihon the Grayme, how say ȝhe best may be?”
This gud knycht said, “And the men war with-out,
To tak the hous thar is bot litill dout.”
A squier than rewllyt that lordschip haill,
Off Cummyrland borne, his name was Martyndaill.
Than Wallace said, “My selff will pas in feyr
And ane with me off herbre for to speyr.
Folow on dreich giff that we mystir ocht.”
Edward Litill with his mastir furth socht
Till ane oystry and with a woman met.
Scho tald to thaim that Sothroune thar was set.
“And ȝe be Scottis I consaill ȝow pas by,
For and thai may ȝhe will get ewill herbry.
At drynk thai ar, so haiff thai bene rycht lang.
Gret worde thar is of Wallace thaim amang.
Thai trow that he has found his men agayne.
At Lowchmaban feyll Inglismen ar slayne.
That hous is tynt; that gerris thaim be full wa.
I trow to god that thai sall swne tyne ma.”
Wallace sperd of Scotland giff scho be.
Scho said him, “Ȝa, and thinkis ȝet to Se
Sorou on thaim throw help off goddis grace.”
He askit hyr quha was in-to the place.
“Na man of fens is left that hous within.
Xxti is her makand gret noyis and dyn.
Allace”, scho said, “giff I mycht anys Se
The worthy Scottis maist maister In it to be!”
With this woman he wald no langar stand.
A bekyn he maid; schir Ihon come at his hand.
Wallace went in and bad bendicite.
The Capteyne speryt, “Quhat bellamy may thow be
That cummys so grym? Sum tithandis till vs tell.
Thou art a Scot. The dewill thi nacioune quell!”
Wallace braid out his suerd with-outyn mar;
In-to the breyst the bryme Captayne he bar
Throuch-out the cost and stekit him to ded.
Ane othir he hyt awkwart vpon the hed.
Quham euir he strak he brystyt bayne and lyr.
Feill off thaim dede fell thwortour in the fyr.
Haisty payment he maid thaim on the flur,
And Eduuard Litill kepyt weill the dur.
Schir Ihon the Graym full fayne wald haiff beyne In.
Eduuard him bad, “At the castell begyne,
For off thir folk we haiff bot litill dreid.”
Schir Ihon the Grayme fast to the castell ȝeid.
Wallace rudly sic routis to thaim gaiff
Thai twenty men derffly to dede thai draiff.
Xv he straik and xv has he slayne.
Edward slew v quhilk was off mekill mayne.
To the castell Wallace had gret desyr.
Be that Schir Ihone had set the ȝett in fyr.
Nane wes tharin at gret defens couth ma,
Bot wemen fast sar wepand in-to wa.
With-out the place ane ald bulwark was maid.
Wallace ȝeid our with-out langar abaid.
The wemen swne he sauffyt fra the dede;
Waik folk he put and barnys off that stede.
Off purwiaunce thai fand litill or nane;
Befor that tyme thar wictaill was all gayne.
Ȝeit in that place thai lugyt still that nycht,
Fra oystre brocht sic gudis as thai mycht.
Wpon the morn the hous thai spoilȝe fast.
All thing that doucht out off that place thai cast.
Tre-wark thai brynt that was in-to tha wanys,
Wallis brak doun that stalwart war off stanys,
Spylt at thai mycht, syne wald no langar bid.
On till Dundaff that sammyn nycht thai ryde
And lugit thar with myrthis and plesance,
Thankand gret god that lent thaim sic a chance.

BOOK VI

BOOK VII

In Feuerȝher befell the sammyn cace,
That Inglismen tuk trewis with Wallace.
This passyt our till Marche till end was socht.
The Inglismen kest all the wayis thai mocht,
With suttelte and wykkit illusione
The worthi Scottis to put to confusione.
In Aperill the king off Ingland come
In Cvmyrland, of Pumfrat, fro his home.
In-to Carleill till a consell he ȝeid,
Quhar-off the Scottis mycht haiff full mekill dreid.
Mony Captane that was off Ingland born
Thidder thai past and semblit thar king beforn.
Na Scottis man to that consell thai cald
Bot schir Amer that traytour was off ald.
At him thai sperd how thai suld tak on hand
The rychtwys blud to scour out off Scotland.
Schir Amer said, “Thar chyftayne can weill do,
Rycht wys in wer and has gret power to,
And now this trew gyffis thaim sic hardyment
That to ȝour faith thai will nocht all consent;
Bot wald ȝe do rycht as I wald ȝow ler,
This pes to thaim it suld be sald full der”.
Than demyt he the fals Sotheroun amang
How thai best mycht the Scottis barownis hang.
For gret bernys that tyme stud in-till Ayr,
Wrocht for the king quhen his lugyng wes thar,
Byggyt about that no man entir mycht
Bot ane at anys nor haiff off othir sicht,
Thar ordand thai thir lordis suld be slayne,
A Iustice maid quhilk wes off mekill mayne.
To lord Persye off this mater thai laid.
With sad awys agayne to thaim he said,
“Thai men to me has kepit treuth so lang
Desaitfully I may nocht se thaim hang.
I am thar fa and warn thaim will I nocht.
Sa I be quytt I rek nocht quhat ȝhe wrocht.
Fra thine I will and towart Glaskow draw
With our byschope to her off his new law”.
Than chesyt thai a Iustice fers and fell
Quhilk Arnwlff hecht, as my auctour will tell,
Off South Hantoun, that huge hie her and lord.
He wndirtuk to pyne thaim with the cord.
Ane othir ayr in Glaskow ordand thai
For Cliddisdaill men to stand that sammyn day;
Syne chargyt thaim in all wayis ernystfully
Be no kyn meyne Wallace suld nocht chaip by,
For weill thai wyst and thai men war ourthrawin
Thai mycht at will bruk Scotland as thar awin.
This band thai clois wndir thar seillis fast.
Syne south our mur agayn king Edward past.
The new Iustice rasawit was in Ayr.
The lord Persye can on to Glaskow fayr.
This ayr was set In Iun the auchtand day
And playnly criyt na fre man war away.
The Scottis merweld, and pes tane in the land,
Quhy Inglismen sic maistre tuk on hand.
Schir Ranald set a day befor this ayr;
At Monktoun kyrk his freyndis mett him thar.
Wilȝham Wallace on to that tryst couth pas,
For he as than wardane off Scotland was.
This maister Ihone, a worthi clerk, was thar.
He chargyt his kyne for to byd fra that ayr;
Rycht weyll he wyst, fra Persey fled that land
Gret perell was till Scottis apperand.
Wallace fra thaim in to the kyrk he ȝeid.
Pater noster, Aue he said and Creid,
Syne to the grece he lenyt him sobyrly.
Apon a sleip he slaid full sodandly.
Kneland folowed and saw him fallyn on sleip.
He maid na noyis bot wysly couth him kepe.
In that slummir cummand him thocht he saw
Ane agit man, fast towart him couth draw.
Sone be the hand he hynt him haistele.
“I am,” he said, “in wiage chargit with the”;
A suerd him gaiff off burly burnist steill.
“Gud sone,” he said, “this brand thou sall bruk weill.”
Off topaston him thocht the plumat was,
Baith hilt and hand all gliterand lik the glas.
“Der sone,” he said, “we tary her to lang.
Thow sall go se quhar wrocht is mekill wrang.”
Than he him led till a montane on hycht.
The warld him thocht he mycht se with a sicht.
He left him thar, syne sone fra him he went.
Tharoff Wallace studiit in his entent.
Till se him mar he had full gret desyr.
Tharwith he saw begyne a felloune fyr
Quhilk braithly brynt on breid throu all the land,
Scotland atour fra Ros to Sulway sand.
Than sone till him descendyt thar a qweyne,
Inlumyt lycht, schynand full brycht and scheyne.
In hyr presens apperyt so mekill lycht
At all the fyr scho put out off his sicht;
Gaiff him a wand of colour reid and greyne,
With a saffyr sanyt his face and eyne.
“Welcum”, scho said. “I cheis the as my luff.
Thow art grantyt be the gret god abuff
Till help pepill that sufferis mekill wrang.
With the as now I may nocht tary lang.
Thou sall return to thi awne oys agayne.
Thi derrast kyne ar her in mekill payne.
This rycht regioun thow mon redeme it all.
Thi last reward in erd sall be bot small.
Let nocht tharfor tak redres off this mys,
To thi reward thou sall haiff lestand blys”.
Off hir rycht hand scho betaucht him a buk.
Humylly thus hyr leyff full sone scho tuk,
On to the cloud ascendyt off his sycht.
Wallace brak vp the buk in all his mycht.
In iii partis the buk weill writyn was.
The fyrst writtyng was gross letter off bras,
The secound gold, the thrid was siluir scheyne.
Wallace merueld quhat this writyng suld meyne.
To rede the buk he besyet him so fast,
His spreit agayne to walkand mynd is past,
And wp he rays, syne sowdandly furth went.
This clerk he fand and tald him his entent
Off this wisioun, as I haiff said befor,
Completly throuch. Quhat nedis wordis mor?
“Der sone”, he said, “my witt vnabill is
To runsik sic for dreid I say off mys.
Ȝeit I sall deyme, thocht my cunnyng be small.
God grant na charge efftir my wordis fall.
Saynct Androw was, gaiff the that suerd in hand.
Off Sanctis he is wowar off Scotland.
That montayne is, quhar he the had on hycht,
Knawlage to haiff off wrang that thow mon rycht.
The fyr sal be fell tithingis or ȝe part
Quhilk will be tald in mony syndry art.
I can nocht witt quhat qweyn at it suld be,
Quhethir fortoun or our lady so fre.
Lykly it is be the brychtnes scho brocht,
Modyr off him that all this warld has wrocht.
The party wand, I trow be myn entent,
Assignes rewlle and cruell Iugëment.
The red colour, quha graithly wndirstud,
Betaknes all to gret battaill and blud;
The greyn, curage that thou art now amang.
In strowbill wer thou sall conteyne full lang.
The saphyr stayne scho blissit the with-all
Is lestand grace, will god sall to the fall.
The thrynfald buk is bot this brokyn land
Thou mon rademe be worthines off hand.
The bras letteris betakynnys bot to this,
The gret oppres off wer and mekill mys
The quhilk thow sall bryng to the rycht agayne,
Bot thou tharfor mon suffer mekill payne.
The gold takynnis honour and worthinas,
Wictour in armys that thou sall haiff be grace.
The Siluir schawis cleyne lyff and hewynnys blys.
To thi reward that myrth thou sall nocht mys.
Dreid nocht tharfor, be out off all dispayr.
Forthir as now her-off I can no mair”.
He thankit hym and thus his leyff has tayne,
Till Corsbe syne with his wncle raid hayme.
With myrthis thus all nycht thai soiornyt thar.
Apon the morn thai graith thaim to the ar
And furth thai ryd quhill thai come to Kingace.
With dreidfull hart thus sperit wicht Wallace
At schir Ranald for the charter off pees.
“Neuo”, he said, “thir wordis ar nocht les.
It is lewyt at Corsbe in the kyst,
Quhar thou it laid. Tharoff na othir wist”.
Wallace ansuerd, “Had we it her to schaw!
And thai be fals we suld nocht entir awe.”.
“Der sone”, he said, “I pray the pas agayne.
Thocht thou wald send, that trawaill war in wayne.
Bot thou or I can nane it bryng this tid”.
Gret grace it was maid him agayne to ryd.
Wallace raturnd and tuk with him bot thre.
Nane off thaim knew this endentour bot he.
Wnhap him led, for bid him couth he nocht;
Off fals dissayt this gud knycht had na thocht.
Schir Ranald raid but restyng to the town,
Wittand na thing off all this fals tresown.
That wykked syng so rewled the planait,
Saturn, was than in-till his heast stait;
Aboun Iuno in his malancoly,
Iupiter, Mars, ay cruell off Inwy
Saturn as than awanyst his natur.
Off terandry he power had and cur,
Rebell renkis in mony seir regioun,
Trubbill weddyr makes schippis to droun.
His drychyn is with Pluto, in the se
As off the land full off Iniquite.
He waknys wer, waxing off pestilence,
Fallyng off wallis with cruell wiolence.
Pusoun is ryff amang thir othir thingis,
Sodeyn slauchter off Emperouris and kingis.
Quhen Sampsone powed to grond the gret piller
Saturn was than in-till the heast sper.
At Thebes als off his power thai tell,
Quhen Phiorax sank throuch the erd till hell;
Off the Troians he had full mekill cur
Quhen Achilles at Troy slew gud Ectur;
Burdeous schent and mony citeis mo.
His power ȝeit it has na hap to ho.
In braid Brytane feill wengeance has beyne seyne.
Off this and mar ȝe wait weill quhat I meyn.
Bot to this hous that stalwart wes and strang
Schir Ranald come and mycht nocht tary lang.
A bauk was knyt all full of rapys keyne.
Sic a towboth sen syne wes neuir seyne.
Stern men was set the entre for to hald.
Nayne mycht pas in bot ay as thai war cald,
Schir Ranald fyrst, to mak fewte for his land.
The knycht went in and wald na langar stand.
A rynnand cord thai slewyt our his hed
Hard to the bauk and hangyt him to ded.
Schyr Brys the Blayr next with hys Eyme in past.
On to the ded thai haistyt him full fast.
Be he entrit his hed was in the swar,
Tytt to the bawk, hangyt to ded rycht thar.
The thrid entrit, that pete was for-thy,
A gentill knycht, schir Neill of Mungumry,
And othir feill off landit men about.
Mony ȝeid in bot na Scottis com out.
Off Wallace part thai putt to that derff deid;
Mony Craufurd sa endyt in that steid.
Off Carrik men Kennadys slew thai als,
And kynd Cambellis that neuir had beyne fals.
Thir rabellit nocht contrar thar richtwis croun.
Sotheroun for-thi thaim putt to confusioun.
Berklais, Boidis and Stuartis off gud kyn;
Na Scot chapyt that tyme that entrit in.
Vpon the bawk thai hangit mony par;
Besid thaim ded in the nuk kest thaim thar.
Sen the fyrst tyme that ony wer wes wrocht,
To sic a dede so mony sic ȝeid nocht
Vpon a day, throuch curssit Saxons seid.
Vengeance off this throuch-out that kynrik ȝeid,
Grantyt wes fra god in the gret hewyn;
Sa ordand he that law suld be thar stewyn,
To fals Saxons for thar fell Iugëment.
Thar wykkydnes our all the land is went.
Ȝhe nobill men that ar off Scottis kind,
Thar petous dede ȝhe kepe in-to ȝour mynd
And ws rawenge quhen we ar set in thrang.
Dolour it is her-on to tary lang.
Thus xviii scor to that derff dede thai dycht
Off barronis bald and mony worthi knycht.
Quhen thai had slayne the worthiast that was thar,
For waik peple thai wald na langar spar,
In-till a garth kest thaim out off that sted
As thai war born, dispulȝeit bar and ded.
Gud Robert Boid on till a tawern ȝeid
With xxti men that douchty war in deid,
Off Wallace hous, full cruell off entent.
He gouernyt thaim quhen Wallace was absent.
Kerle turnyt with his master agayne,
Kneland and Byrd that mekill war off mayn.
Stewyn off Irland went furth apon the streit.
A trew woman full sone with him couth meit.
He speryt at hir quhat hapnyt in the ayr.
“Sorou”, scho said, “is nothing ellis thar”.
Ferdly scho ast, “Allace, quhar is Wallace?”
“Fra ws agayne he passit at Kingace”.
“Go warn his folk and haist thaim off the toun.
To kepe him selff I sall be reddy boun”.
With hir as than no mar tary he maid.
Till his falowis he went with-outyn baid
And to thaim tald off all this gret mysfair.
To Laglane wood thai bownyt with-outyn mar.
Be this Wallace wes cummand wondir fast;
For his freyndis he was full sar agast.
On to the bern sadly he couth persew
Till entir in, for he na perell knew.
This woman than apon him loud can call,
“O fers Wallace, feill tempest is befall.
Our men ar slayne that pete is to se,
As bestiall houndis hangit our a tre.
Our trew barrouns be twa and twa past In”.
Wallace wepyt for gret los off his kyne,
That with wnes apon his hors he baid.
Mair for to sper to this woman he raid.
“Der nece”, he said, “the treuth giff thow can tell,
Is my Eyme dede, or hou the cace befell?”
“Out off ȝon bern”, scho said, “I saw him born,
Nakit, laid law on cald erd me beforn.
His frosty mouth I kissit in that sted,
Rycht now manlik, now bar and brocht to ded!
And with a claith I couerit his licaym,
For in his lyff he did neuir woman schayme.
His systir sone thou art, worthi and wicht.
Rawenge thar dede for goddis saik at thi mycht.
Als I sall help as I am woman trew!”
“Der wicht”, he said, “der god sen at thou knew
Gud Robert Boid, quhar at thou can him se,
Wilȝham Crawfurd als, giff he lyffand be,
Adam Wallace, wald help me in this striff!
I pray to god send me thaim all in liff.
For Marys saik bid thaim sone cum to me.
The Iustice Innys thow spy for cheryte
And in quhat feir that thai thar lugyne mak.
Son efftir that we will our purpos tak
In-to Laglane, quhilk has my succour beyne.
Adew merket and welcum woddis greyne!”
Her-off as than till hir he spak no mair,
His brydill turnyt and fra hir can he fair;
Sic murnyng maid for his der-worthi kyn
Him thocht for baill his breyst ner bryst in twyn.
As he thus raid in gret angyr and teyne,
Off Inglismen thar folowed him fyfteyn
Wicht wallyt men, at towart him couth draw
With a maser to tach him to the law.
Wallace raturnd in greiff and matelent.
With his suerd drawyn amang thaim sone he went.
The myddyll off ane he mankit ner in twa,
Ane othir thar apon the hed can ta.
The thrid he straik and throuch the cost him claiff.
The ferd to ground rycht derffly doun he draiff.
The fyft he hit with gret Ire in that sted.
With-out reskew dreidles he left thaim ded.
Than his thre men had slayne the tothir v.
Fra thaim the laiff eschapit in-to lyff,
Fled to thar lord and tald him off this cas.
To Laglane wode than ridis wicht Wallas.
The Sotheroun said quhat ane that he hit rycht
With-out mercye dredles to ded wes dycht.
Merwell thai had sic strenth in ane suld be,
Ane off thar men at ilk straik he gert de.
Than demyt thai it suld be Wallace wicht.
To thar langage maid ansuer ane ald knycht:
“Forsuth”, he said, “be he chapyt this ayr
All ȝour new deid is eking off our cair”.
The Iustice said, quhen thar sic murmur rais,
“Ȝhe wald be ferd and thar come mony fais,
That for a man me think ȝow lik to fle
And wait nocht ȝeit in deid gyff it be he!
And thocht it be I cownt him bot full lycht.
Quha bidis her ilk gentill man sall be knycht.
I think to deill thar landis haill to-morn
To ȝow about that ar off Ingland born”.
The Sotheron drew to thar lugyng but mar.
Four thousand haill that nycht was in-till Ayr.
In gret bernys biggyt with-out the toun
The Iustice lay with mony bald barroun.
Than he gert cry about thai waynys wide
Na Scottis born amang thaim thar suld bid.
To the castell he wald nocht pas for eys
Bot soiornd thar with thing that mycht him pleys.
Gret purwians be se to thaim was brocht,
With Irland ayle the mychteast couth be wrocht.
Na wach wes set becaus thai had na dout
Off Scottis men that leiffand was with-out.
Lawberand in mynd thai had beyne all that day;
Off ayle and wyne yneuch chosyne haiff thai,
As bestly folk tuk off thaim selff no keip.
In thar brawnys sone slaid the sleuthfull sleip,
Throuch full gluttre in swarff swappyt lik swyn.
Thar chyftayne than was gret Bachus off wyn.
This wys woman besy amang thaim was.
Feill men scho warnd and gart to Laglayne pas,
Hyr self formest, quhill thai with Wallace met.
Sum comfort than in-till his mynd was set.
Quhen he thaim saw he thankit god off mycht.
Tithandis he ast. The woman tald him rycht:
“Slepand as swyn ar all ȝone fals menȝhe.
Na Scottisman is in that cumpane”.
Than Wallace said, “Giff thai all dronkyn be
I call it best with fyr for thaim to se”.
Off gud men than thre hundreth till him socht.
The woman had tald iii trew burges, at brocht
Out off the toun with nobill aile and breid
And othir stuff, als mekill as thai mycht leid.
Thai eit and drank, the Scottismen at mocht.
The noblis than Iop has to Wallace brocht.
Sadly he said, “Der freyndis, now ȝe se
Our kyn ar slayn tharoff is gret pete,
Throuch feill murthyr, the gret dispite is mor.
Now sum rameid I wald we set tharfor.
Suppos that I was maid wardane to be
Part ar away sic chargis put to me,
And ȝe ar her cummyn off als gud blud,
Als rychtwis born be awentur and als gud,
Als forthwart, fair and als likly off persoun,
As euir was I; tharfor, till conclusioun,
Latt ws cheys v off this gud cumpanye,
Syne caflis cast quha sall our master be”.
Wallace and Boid and Craufurd off renoun
And Adam als than lord off Ricardtoun—
His fadyr than wes wesyed with seknes;
God had him tayne in-till his lestand grace—
The fyft Awchinlek, in wer a nobill man,
Caflis to cast about thir v began.
It wald on him, for ocht thai cuth dewys,
Continualy quhill thai had castyn thrys.
Than Wallace rais and out a suerd can draw.
He said, “I wow to the makar off aw
And till Mary his modyr, wirgyne cler,
My wnclis dede now sall be sauld full der,
With mony ma off our der-worthi kyn.
Fyrst or I eit or drynk we sall begyn,
For sleuth nor sleip sall nayne remayne in me
Off this tempest till I a wengeance se”.
Than all Inclynd rycht humyll off accord
And him resawit as chyftayne and thar lord.
Wallace a lord he may be clepyt weyll,
Thocht ruryk folk tharoff haff litill feill
Na deyme na lord bot landis be thar part.
Had he the warld and be wrachit off hart
He is no lord as to the worthines.
It can nocht be but fredome, lordlyknes.
At the Roddis thai mak full mony ane
Quhilk worthy ar, thocht landis haiff thai nane.
This disscussyng I leiff herroldis till end.
On my mater now brieffly will I wend.
Wallace commaunde a burges for to get
Fyne cawk eneuch, that his der nece mycht set
On Ilk ȝeit quhar Sotheroun wer on raw.
Than xxty men he gert fast wetheis thraw,
Ilk man a pair, and on thar arme thaim threw.
Than to the toune full fast thai cuth persew.
The woman past befor thaim suttelly,
Cawkit ilk ȝett that thai neid nocht gang by.
Than festnyt thai with wetheis duris fast,
To stapill and hesp with mony sekyr cast.
Wallace gert Boid ner-hand the castell ga
With fyfte men a Ieperte to ma.
Gyff ony ischet, the fyr quhen that thai saw,
Fast to the ȝett he ordand thaim to draw.
The laiff with him about the bernys ȝheid.
This trew woman thaim seruit weill in deid
With lynt and fyr that haistely kendill wald.
In euir-ilk nuk thai festnyt blesis bald.
Wallace commaund till all his men about,
Na Sotheron man at thai suld lat brek out:
“Quhat euir he be reskewis off that kyn
Fra the rede fyr, him selff sall pas tharin”.
The lemand low sone lanssyt apon hycht.
“Forsuth”, he said, “this is a plessand sicht.
Till our hartis it suld be sum radres.
War thir away thar power war the les”.
On-to the Justice him selff loud can caw:
“Lat ws to-borch our men fra ȝour fals law
At leyffand ar, that chapyt fra ȝour ayr.
Deyll nocht thar land, the wnlaw is our sayr.
Thou had no rycht. That sall be on the seyne”.
The Rewmour rais with cairfull cry and keyne.
The bryme fyr brynt rycht braithly apon loft.
Till slepand men that walkning was nocht soft.
The sycht with-out was awfull for to se.
In all the warld na grettar payne mycht be
Than thai with-in insufferit sor to duell,
That euir was wrocht bot purgatory or hell:
A payne off hell weill ner it mycht be cauld,
Mad folk with fyr hampryt in mony hauld.
Feill byggyns brynt that worthi war and wicht;
Gat nane away, knaiff, Captane nor knycht.
Quhen brundis fell off ruftreis thaim amang
Sum rudly rais in byttir paynys strang;
Sum nakyt brynt bot belches all away;
Sum neuir rais bot smoryt quhar thai lay;
Sum ruschit fast till ayr gyff thai mycht wyn.
Blyndyt in fyr thar deidis war full dym.
The reik mellyt with fylth off carioune
Amang the fyr, rycht foull off offensioune.
The peple beryt lyk wyld bestis in that tyd,
Within the wallis rampand on athir sid,
Rewmyd in reuth with mony grysly grayne.
Sum grymly gret quhill thar lyff dayis war gayne.
Sum durris socht the entre for to get,
Bot Scottismen so wysly thaim beset,
Gyff ony brak be awnter off that steid
With suerdis sone bertnyt thai war to dede,
Or ellys agayne beforce drewyn in the fyr.
Thar chapyt nayne, bot brynt wp bayne and lyr.
The stynk scalyt off ded bodyis sa wyde
The Scottis abhord ner-hand thaim for to byd,
Ȝeid to the wynd and leit thaim ewyn allayne
Quhill the rede fyr had that fals blude ourgayne.
A frer Drumlay, was priour than off Ayr,
Sewyn scor with him that nycht tuk herbry thar
In his Innys, for he mycht nocht thaim let.
Till ner mydnycht a wach on thaim he set;
Him selff wouk weyll quhill he the fyr saw rys.
Sum mendis he thocht to tak off that supprys.
Hys brethir sewyn till harnes sone thai ȝeid,
Hym selff chyftayne the ramanand to leid.
The best thai waill off armour and gud ger,
Syne wapynnys tuk, rycht awfull in affer.
Thir viii freris, in four partis thai ga.
With suerdis drawyn till ilk hous ȝeid twa.
Sone entrit thai quhar Sotheroune slepand war,
Apon thaim set with strakis sad and sar.
Feill frekis thar thai freris dang to dede.
Sum nakit fled and gat out off that sted,
The wattir socht, abaissit out off slepe.
In the furd weill that was bath wan and depe
Feyll off thaim fell that brak out off that place,
Dowkit to grounde and deit with-outyn grace.
Drownyt and slayne was all that herbryt thar.
Men callis it ȝeit ‘the freris blyssyng off Ayr’.
Few folk off waill was lewyt apon cace
In the castell; lord Persye fra that place
Befor the ayr fra thine to Glaskow drew.
Off men and stuff it was to purwa new.
Ȝeit thai with-in saw the fyr byrnand stout,
With schort awis ischet and had no dout.
The buschement than, as weryouris wys and wicht,
Leit thaim allayne and to the hous past rycht.
Boyd wan the port, entryt and all his men.
Keparis in it was left bot ix or ten.
The formast sone hym selff sesyt in hand,
Maid quyt off hym, syne slew all at thai fand.
Off purwyaunce in that castell was nayne.
Schort tyme befor Persye was fra it gayne.
The Erll Arnulff had rasawit that hauld,
Quhilk in the toune was brynt to powder cauld.
Boyd gert ramayn off his men xxty still.
Hym selff past furth to witt off Wallace will,
Kepand the toun quhill nocht was lewyt mar
Bot the wode fyr and beyldis brynt full bar.
Off lykly men that born was in Ingland
Be suerd and fyr that nycht deit v thousand.
Quhen Wallace men was weill to-gydder met,
“Gud freyndis”, he said, “ȝe knaw that thar wes set
Sic law as this now in-to Glaskow toun
Be byschope Beik and Persye off renoun.
Tharfor I will in haist we thidder fair.
Off our gud kyn sum-part ar lossyt thair”.
He gert full sone the burges till him caw
And gaiff commaund in generall to thaim aw,
In kepyng thai suld tak the hous off Ayr:
“And hald it haill quhill tyme that we her mayr.
To byd our king castellys I wald we had.
Cast we doun all we mycht be demyt our rad”.
Thai gart meit cum for thai had fastyt lang.
Litill he tuk, syne bownyt thaim to gang.
Horsis thai cheys that Sotheroun had brocht thar,
Anew at will, and off the toune can fair.
Thre hundreth haill was in his cumpany.
Richt wondir fast raid this gud chewalry
To Glaskow bryg, that byggyt was off tre,
Weyll passit our or Sotheroun mycht thaim se.
Lorde Persye wyst, that besy wes in wer,
Semblyt his men fell awfull in affer.
Than demyt thai that it was wicht Wallace;
He had befor chapyt throw mony cace.
The byschope Beik and Persye that was wicht
A thousand led off men in armys brycht.
Wallace saw weill quhat nowmyr semblit thar.
He maid his men In twa partis to fair,
Graithit thaim weill with-out the townys end.
He callit Awchinlek for he the passage kend.
“Wncle”, he said, “be besy in-to wer.
Quhethir will ȝhe the byschoppys taill wpber,
Or pas befor and tak his benysone?”
He ansuerd hym with rycht schort provision,
“Wnbyschoppyt ȝeit forsuth I trow ȝe be.
Ȝour selff sall fyrst his blyssyng tak for me,
For sekyrly ȝe seruit it best the nycht.
To ber his taill we sall in all our mycht”.
Wallace ansuerd, “Sen we mon sindry gang
Perell thar is and ȝe bid fra ws lang,
For ȝone ar men will nocht sone be agast.
Fra tyme we meit for goddis saik haist ȝow fast.
Our disseueryng I wald na Sotheroune saw.
Behynd thaim cum and in the Northast Raw.
Gud men off wer ar all Northummyrland”.
Thai partand thus tuk othir be the hand.
Awchinlek said, “We sall do at we may.
We wald lik ill to byd oucht lang away.
A boustous staill betwix ws sone mon be,
Bot to the rycht allmychty god haiff E”.
Adam Wallace and Awchinlek was boune,
Sewyn scor with thaim on the baksid the toune.
Rycht fast thai ȝeid quhill thai war out off sycht.
The tothir part arrayit thaim full rycht.
Wallace and Boid the playne streyt wp can ga.
Sotheroun merweld becaus thai saw na ma;
Thar senȝhe cryit vpon the Persys syde,
With byschop Beik that bauldly durst abide.
A sayr semlay was at that metyng seyne.
As fyr on flynt it feyrryt thaim betweyne.
The hardy Scottis rycht awfully thaim abaid,
Brocht feill to grounde throuch weid that weill was maid,
Perssyt plattis with poyntis stiff off steill,
Befors off hand gert mony cruell kneill.
The strang stour rais as reik vpon thaim fast,
Or myst throuch sone vp to the clowdis past.
To help thaim selff Ilkayne had mekill neid.
The worthy Scottis stud in fellone dreid,
Ȝeit forthwart ay thai pressit for to be
And thai on thaim, gret wondyr was to se.
The Perseis men in wer was oysit weill,
Rycht fersly faucht and sonȝeit nocht a-deill.
Adam Wallace and Awchinlek com In
And partyt Sotheron rycht sodeynly in twyn,
Raturnd to thaim as noble men in wer.
The Scottis gat rowme and mony doun thai ber.
The new cowntir assailȝeit thaim sa fast,
Throuch Inglismen maid sloppys at the last.
Than Wallace selff in-to that felloune thrang
With his gud swerd that hewy was and lang
At Perseis face witht a gud will he bar.
Bath bayne and brayne the forgyt steill throw schair.
Four hundreth men quhen lord Persie was dede
Out off the gait the byschop Beik thai lede,
For than thaim thocht it was no tyme to bid,
By the Frer kyrk till a wode fast besyd.
In that forest forsuth thai taryit nocht,
On fresch horsis to Bothwell sone thai socht.
Wallace folowed with worthi men and wicht.
Forfouchtyn thai war and trawald all the nycht,
Ȝeit feill thai slew in-to the chace that day.
The byschope selff and gud men gat away.
Amar Wallang Reskewit him in that place.
That knycht full oft did gret harme to Wallace.
Wallace began off nycht x houris in Ayr,
On day be ix in Glaskow semlyt thair.
Be ane our nowne at Bothwell ȝeit he was,
Repreiffit Wallang or he wald forthir pas,
Syne turnd agayne, as weyll witnes the buk,
Till Dundaff raid and thar restyng he tuk,
Tald gud schir Ihon off thir tithandis in Ayr.
Gret mayne he maid he was nocht with him thar.
Wallace soiornd in Dundaff at his will
V dayis out, quhill tithandis come him till
Out off the hycht quhar gud men was forlorn,
For Bouchane rais, Adell, Menteth and Lorn.
Apon Argyll a fellone wer thai mak.
For Eduuardis saik thus can thai wndirtak.
The knycht Cambell in Argyll than wes still
With his gud men agayne king Eduuardis will
And kepyt fre Lowchow his heretage,
Bot Makfadȝan than did him gret owtrage.
This Makfadȝan till Inglismen was suorn.
Eduuard gaiff him bath Argill and Lorn.
Fals Ihon off Lorn to that gyft can concord.
In Ingland than he was new maid a lord.
Thus falsly he gaiff our his heretage
And tuk at London off Eduuard grettar wage.
Dunkan off Lorn ȝeit for the landis straiff
Quhill Makfadȝan our-set him with the laiff,
Put him off force to gud Cambell the knycht,
Quhilk in-to wer was wys, worthi and wicht.
Thus Makfadȝan was entrit in-to Scotland,
And merwalusly that tyrand tuk on hand
With his power, the quhilk I spak off ayr.
Thai iiii lordschippis all semlyt till him thair.
Xv thousand off curssyt folk in deid
Off all gaddryn in ost he had to leid,
And mony off thaim was out off Irland brocht.
Barnys nor wyff thai peple sparyt nocht,
Waistyt the land als fer as thai mycht ga.
Thai bestly folk couth nocht bot byrn and sla.
In-to Louchow he entryt sodeynly.
The knycht Cambell maid gud defens forthi.
Till Crage Vnyn with thre hundir he ȝeid.
That strenth he held for all his cruell deid,
Syne brak the bryg that thai mycht nocht out pas
Bot throuch a furd quhar narow passage was.
Abandounly Cambell agayne thaim baid,
Fast vpon Ave that was bathe depe and braid.
Makfadȝane was apon the tothir sid
And thar on force behuffit him for to byd,
For at the furde he durst nocht entir out
For gud Cambell mycht set him than in dout.
Makfadȝane socht and a small passage fand;
Had he lasar, thai mycht pas off that land
Betuix a Roch and the gret wattir sid.
Bot iiii in front na ma mycht gang nor rid.
In-till Louchow wes bestis gret plente.
A quhill he thocht thar with his ost to be
And othir stuff that thai had with thaim brocht,
Bot all his crafft awailȝeit him rycht nocht.
Dunkane off Lorn has seyne the sodeyne cace.
Fra gud Cambell he went to seik Wallace,
Sum help to get off thar turment and teyne.
To-gydder befor in Dunde thai had beyne,
Lerand at scule in-to thar tendyr age.
He thocht to slaik Makfadȝanys hie curage.
Gylmychell than with Dunkan furth him dycht;
A gyd he was and fute man wondyr wicht.
Sone can thai witt quhar Wallace lugyt was.
With thar complaynt till his presence thai pas.
Erll Malcom als, the Lennox held at es,
With his gud men to Wallace can he pres.
Till him thar come gud Rychard off Lundy;
In-till Dundaff he wald no langar ly.
Schir Ihon the Graym als bownyt him to ryd.
Makfadȝanis wer so grewit thaim that tid
At Wallace thocht his gret power to se,
In quhat aray he reullyt that cuntre.
The Rukbe than he kepit with gret wrang
Stirlyng castell that stalwart wes and strang.
Quhen Wallace come be-sowth it in a waill
Till erll Malcome he said he wald assaill.
In diuers partis he gert seuir thar men,
Off thar power that Sotheroun suld nocht ken.
Erll Malcome baid in buschement out off sicht.
Wallace with him tuk gud schir Ihone the knycht
And a hundreth off wys wer-men but dout,
Throuch Stirlyng raid gyff ony wald ysche out.
Towart the bryg the gaynest way thai pas.
Quhen Rukbe saw quhat at thar power was
He tuk sewyn scor off gud archaris was thar.
Wpon Wallace thai folowed wondyr sayr.
At fell bykkyr thai did thaim mekill der.
Wallace in hand gryppyt a nobill sper,
Agayne raturnd and has the formast slayne.
Schir Ihon the Grayme that mekill was off mayn
Amang thaim raid with a gud sper in hand.
The fyrst he slew that he befor him fand.
Apon a nothir his sper in sowndyr ȝeid.
A suerd he drew quhilk helpyt him in neid.
Ynglis archaris apon thaim can ranew,
That his gud hors with arrowis sone thai slew.
On fute he was; quhen Wallace has it seyne
He lychtyt sone with men off armys keyne,
Amang the Rout fechtand full wondyr fast.
The Inglismen raturnyt at the last.
At the castell thai wald haiff beyne full fayne,
Bot erll Malcome with men off mekill mayne
Betuix the Sotheroun and the ȝettis ȝeid.
Mony thai slew that douchty wes in deid.
In the gret pres Wallace and Rukbe met,
With his gud suerd a straik apon him set.
Derffly to dede the ald Rukbe he draiff.
His twa sonnys chapyt amang the laiff.
In the castell be awentur thai ȝeid
With xxty men; na ma chapyt that dreid.
The Lennox men with thar gud lord at was,
Fra the castell thai said thai wald nocht pas,
For weill thai wyst it mycht nocht haldyn be
On na lang tyme; forthi thus ordand he,
Erll Malcom tuk the hous and kepyt that tyd.
Wallace wald nocht fra his fyrst purpos bid.
Instance he maid to this gud lord and wys,
Fra thine to pas he suld on nakyn wys
Quhill he had tane Stirlyng the castell strang.
Trew men him tald thai mycht nocht hald it lang.
Than Wallace thocht was maist on Makfadȝane;
Off Scottis men he had slayne mony ane.
Wallace awowide that he suld wrokyn be
On that rebald or ellis tharfor to de.
Off tyrandry king Eduuard thocht him gud.
Law born he was and off law simpill blud.
Thus Wallace was sar grewyt in his entent;
To this Iornay rycht ernystfully he went.
At Stirlyng bryg assemlyt till hym rycht
Twa thowsand men that worthi war and wycht.
Towart Argyll he bownyt him to ryd.
Dunkan off Lorn was thar trew sekyr gid.
Off ald Rukbe the quhilk we spak off ayr
Twa sonnys on lyff in Stirlyng lewit thair.
Quhen thai brethir consawit weill the rycht,
This hous to hald that thai na langar mycht
For caus quhi thai wantyt men and meit,
With Erll Malcome thai kest thaim for to treit
Grace off thar lyff and thai that with thaim was;
Gaiff our the hous, syne couth in Ingland pas
On the thrid day that Wallace fra thaim raid.
With king Eduuard full mony ȝer thai baid,
In Brucis wer agayne come in Scotland.
Stirlyng to kepe the tonne off thaim tuk on hand.
Mencione off Bruce is oft in Wallace buk.
To fend his rycht full mekill payne he tuk.
Quhar-to suld I her-off tary ma?
To Wallace furth now schortlye will I ga.
Dunkan off Lorne Gilmychall fra thaim send
A spy to be for he the contre kend.
Be our party was passit Straith Fulan
The small fute folk began to Irk Ilkane
And hors off fors behuffyt for to faill.
Than Wallace thocht that cumpany to waill.
“Gud men,” he said, “this is nocht meit for ws;
In brokyn ray and we cum on thaim thus
We may tak scaith and harme our fayis bot small.
To thaim in-lik we may nocht semble all.
Tary we lang a playne feild thai will get.
Apon thaim sone sa weill we may nocht set.
Part we mon leiff ws folowand for to be.
With me sall pas our power in-to thre.”
V hundyr fyrst till him selff he has tayne
Off westland men, was worthi knawin ilkane.
To schir Ihon Grayme als mony ordand he
And v hundreth to Rychard off Lundy.
In that part was Wallace off Ricardtoun.
In all gud deid he was ay redy boun.
V hundreth left that mycht nocht with thaim ga,
Suppos at thai to byd was wondyr wa.
Thus Wallace ost began to tak the hicht,
Our a montayne sone passit off thar sicht.
In Glendowchar thair spy mett thaim agayn,
With lord Cambell; than was our folk rycht fayn.
At that metyng gret blithnes mycht be seyn.
Thre hundreth he led that cruell was and keyn.
He comford thaim and bad thaim haiff no dreid:
“Ȝon bestly folk wantis wapynnys and weid.
Swne thai will fle, scharply and we persew.”
Be Louchdouchyr full sodeynly thaim drew.
Than Wallace said, “A lyff all sall we ta,
For her is nayne will fra his falow ga.”
The spy he send the entre for to se.
Apon the mos a scurrour sone fand he.
To scour the land Makfadȝane had him send.
Out off Cragmor that day he thocht to wend.
Gylmychall fast apon him folowed thar;
With a gud suerd that weill and scharply schar
Maid quyt off him, at tithandis tald he nayne.
The out spy thus was lost fra Makfadȝhane.
Than Wallace ost apon thar fute thai lycht.
Thar hors thai left thocht thai war neuir so wicht,
For mos and crag thai mycht no langar dre.
Than Wallace said, “Quha gangis best lat se.”
Throuch-out the mos delyuerly thai ȝeid,
Syne tuk the hals, quharoff thai had most dreid.
Endlang the schoir ay iiii in frownt thai past
Quhill thai with-in assemblit at the last.
Lord Cambell said, “We haiff chewyst this hauld.
I trow to god thar wakyning sall be cauld.
Her is na gait to fle ȝone peple can
Bot Rochis heich and wattir depe and wan.”
Xviii hundreth off douchty men in deid,
On the gret ost but mar process thai ȝeid
Fechtand in frownt and mekill maistry maid;
On the frayt folk buskyt with outyn baid.
Rudly till ray thai ruschit thaim agayne.
Gret part off thaim wes men off mekill mayne.
Gud Wallace men sa stowtly can thaim ster
The battaill on bak v akyr breid thai ber.
In-to the stour feill tyrandis gert thai kneill.
Wallace in hand had a gud staff off steyll;
Quhom euir he hyt to ground brymly thaim bar,
Romde him about a largë rude and mar.
Schir Iohn the Grayme in deid was rycht worthy,
Gud Cambell als and Rychard off Lundy,
Adam Wallace and Robert Boid in feyr
Amang thar fais quhar deidis was sald full der.
The felloun stour was awfull for to se.
Makfadȝane than so gret debait maid he
With Yrage men hardy and curageous;
The stalwart stryff rycht hard and peralous,
Boundance of blud fra woundis wid and wan,
Stekit to deid on ground lay mony man.
The fersast thar ynewch off fechtyn fand.
Twa houris large in-to the stour thai stand,
At Iop him selff weill wyst nocht quha suld wyn.
Bot Wallace men wald nocht in sowndyr twyn.
Till help thaim selff thai war off hardy will.
Off Yrage blud full hardely thai spill,
With feyll fechtyn maid sloppys throuch the thrang.
On the fals part our wicht wer-men sa dang
That thai to byd mycht haiff no langar mycht.
The Irland folk than maid thaim for the flycht,
In craggis clam and sum in wattir flett,
Twa thousand thar drownyt with-outyn lett.
Born Scottis men baid still in-to the feild,
Kest wappynnys thaim fra and on thar kneis kneild.
With petous woice thai criyt apon Wallace
For goddis saik to tak thaim in his grace.
Grewyt he was bot rewth off thaim he had,
Rasauit thaim fair with contenance full sad.
“Off our awne blud we suld haiff gret pete
Luk ȝhe sla nane off Scottis will ȝoldyn be.
Off outland men lat nane chaip with the liff.”
Makfadȝane fled for all his felloun stryff.
On till a cave with-in a clyfft off stayne
Wndyr Cragmor with xv is he gayne.
Dunkan off Lorn his leyff at Wallace ast;
On Makfadȝane with worthi men he past.
He grantyt him to put thaim all to ded.
Thai left nane quyk, syne brocht Wallace his hed,
Apon a sper throuch-out the feild it bar.
The lord Cambell syne hynt it by the har;
Heich in Cragmor he maid it for to stand,
Steild on a stayne for honour off Irland.
The blessit men that was off Scotland born,
Fwnde at his faith, Wallace gert thaim be sworn,
Restorit thaim to thar landis but les.
He leit sla nayne that wald cum till his pes.
Efftir this deid In Lorn syne couth he fayr,
Reullyt the land had beyne In mekill cayr.
In Archatan a consell he gert cry,
Quhar mony man socht till his senȝory.
All Lorn he gaiff till Duncan at was wicht
And bad him: “Hald in Scotland with the rycht
And thow sall weill bruk this in heretage.
Thi brothir sone at London has grettar wage,
ȝeit will he cum he sall his landis haiff.
I wald tyne nayne that rychtwisnes mycht saiff.”
Mony trew Scot to Wallace couth persew.
At Archatan fra feill strenthis thai drew.
A gud knycht come and with him men sexte.
He had beyne oft in mony strang Ieperte
With Inglismen and sonȝeid nocht a-deill.
Ay fra thar faith he fendyt him full weill,
Kepyt him fre, thocht king Eduuard had sworn;
Schir Ihon Ramsay, that Rychtwys ayr was born,
Off Ouchterhous and othir landis was lord,
And schirreff als as my buk will record,
Off nobill blud and als haill ancrase
Contenyt weill with worthi chewalre.
In-till Straithern that lang tyme he had beyne
At gret debait agaynys his Enemys keyne,
Rycht wichtly wan his lewing in-to wer.
Till him and his Sotheroun did mekill der.
Weill he eschewit and sufferyt gret distress.
His sone was cald the flour of courtlyness,
As witnes weill in-to the schort tretty
Eftir the Bruce, quha redis in that story.
He rewllit weill bathe in-to wer and pes.
Alexander Ramsay to nayme he hecht but les.
Quhen it wes wer till armes he him kest.
Wndir the croun he wes ane off the best.
In tyme off pees till courtlynes he ȝeid.
Bot to gentrice he tuk nayne othir heid.
Quhat gentill man had nocht with Ramsay beyne
Off courtlynes thai cownt him nocht a preyne.
Fredome and treuth he had as men wald as.
Sen he begane na bettyr squier was.
Roxburch hauld he wan full manfully,
Syne held it lang, quhill tratouris tresonably
Causit his dede, I can nocht tell ȝow how.
Off sic thingis I will ga by as now.
I haiff had blayme, to say the suthfastnes,
Tharfor I will bot lychtly ryn that cace,
Bot it be thing that playnly sclanderit is.
For sic, I trew, thai suld deyme me no mys.
Off gud Alexander as now I spek no mar.
His fadyr come as I tald off befor.
Wallace off hym rycht full gud comford hais
For weill he coud do harmyng till his fais.
In wer he was rycht mekill for to prys,
Besy and trew, bath sobyr, wicht and wys.
A gud prelat als to Archatan socht.
Off his lordschip as than he brukyt nocht.
This worthi clerk, cummyn off hie lynage,
Off Synclar blude, nocht xl ȝer off age,
Chosyne he was be the Papis consent,
Off Dunkell lord him maid with gud entent;
Bot Inglismen that Scotland gryppit all
Off benyfice thai leit him bruk bot small.
Quhen he saw weill tharfor he mycht nocht mwte,
To saiff his lyff thre ȝer he duelt in But;
Leifyde as he mycht and kepyt ay gud part
Wndir saifte off Iamys than lord Stewart,
Till gud Wallace, quhilk Scotland wan with payne,
Restord this lord till his leyffing agayne.
And mony ma that lang had beyne ourthrawin,
Wallace thaim put rychtwisly to thar awin.
The small ost als, the quhilk I spak off ayr,
In-to the hycht that Wallace lewyt thar,
Come to the feild quhar Makfadȝane had beyne,
Tuk at was left, baithe weid and wapynnys scheyne,
Throw Lorn syne past als gudly as thai can.
Off thar nowmyr thai had nocht lost a man.
On the fyft day thai wan till Archatan,
Quhar Wallace baid with gud men mony ane.
He welcummyt thaim apon a gudly wys
And said thai war rycht mekill for to prys.
All trew Scottis he honourit in-to wer,
Gaiff that he wan, hym selff kepyt no ger.
Quhen Wallace wald no langar soiorn thar,
Fra Archatan throu-out the land thai far
Towart Dunkell, with gud men off renoun.
His maist thocht than was haill on Sanct Ihonstoun.
He cald Ramsai, that gud knycht off gret waill,
Sadly awysyt besocht him off consaill:
“Off Saynct Ihonstoun now haiff I in remembrance.
Thar I haiff beyne and lost men apon chance,
Bot ay for ane we gert x off thaim de,
And ȝeit me think that is no mendis to me.
I wald assay off this land or we gang
And lat thaim witt thai occupy her with wrang.”
Than Ramsay said, “That toune thai may nocht kep.
The wallis ar laych suppos the dyk be depe.
Ȝe haiff enewch that sall thaim cummyr sa.
Fyll wp the dyk that we may playnly ga
In haill battaill, a thowsand our at anys.
Fra this power thai sall nocht hald ȝon wanys.”
Wallace was glaid that he sic comfort maid.
Furth talkand thus on to Dunkell thai raid.
Iiii dayis thar thai lugyt with plesance
Quhill tyme thai had forseyne thar ordinance.
Ramsay gert byg strang bestials off tre
Be gud wrychtis, the best in that cuntre;
Quhen thai war wrocht betaucht thaim men to leid
The wattir doun quhill thai come to that steid.
Schir Ihon Ramsay rycht gudly was thar gid,
Rewllyt tham weill at his will for to bid.
The gret ost than about the willage past.
With erd and stayne thai fillit dykis fast.
Flaikis thai laid on temyr lang and wicht,
A rowme passage to the wallis thaim dycht.
Feill bestials rycht starkly wp thai rais.
Gud men of armys sone till assailȝe gais.
Schir Ihon the Grayme and Ramsay that was wicht
The Turat bryg segyt with all thar mycht,
And Wallace selff at mydsid off the toun
With men of armys that was to bargane bown.
The Sotheron men maid gret defence that tid
With artailȝe that felloune was to bid.
With awblaster, gaynȝe and stanys fast
And hand gunnys, rycht brymly out thai cast.
Pwnȝeid with speris men off armys scheyn.
The worthi Scottis that cruell war and keyne,
At hand strakis fra thai to-gidder met,
With Sotheroun blud thar wapynnys sone thai wet.
Ȝeit Inglismen that worthi war in wer
In-to the stour rycht bauldly can thaim ber;
Bot all for nocht awailȝeid thaim thar deid,
The Scottis throw force apon thaim in thai ȝeid.
A thousand men our wallis ȝeid hastely.
In-to the toun rais hidwis noyis and cry.
Ramsay and Graym the Turat ȝet has wown
And entrit In, quhar gret striff has begown.
A trew squier quhilk Rwan hecht be nayme
Come to the salt with gud schir Ihon the Grayme,
Xxxty with him off men that prewit weill
Amang thar fais with wapynnys stiff off steill.
Quhen at the Scottis semblit on athir sid
Na Sotheroun was that mycht thar dynt abid.
Twa thousand sone, was fulȝied vndyr feit,
Off Sotheroun blud lay stekit in the streit.
Schir Ihon Sewart saw weill the toun was tynt,
Tuk him to flycht and wald no langar stynt;
In a lycht barge and with him men sexte
The water doun socht succour at Dunde.
Wallace baid still quhill the ferd day at morn
And left nane thar that war off Ingland born.
Riches thai gat off gold and othir gud,
Plenyst the toun agayne with Scottis blud.
Rwan he left thar Capteyn for to be,
In heretage gaiff him office to fee
Off all Straithern, and schirreiff off the toun.
Syne in the north gud Wallace maid him boun.
In Abyrdeyn he gert a consaill cry,
Trew Scottis men suld semble hastely.
Till Cowper he raid to wesy that abbay.
The Inglis abbot fra-thine was fled away.
Bischop Synclar with-out langar abaid
Met thaim at Glammys, syne furth with thaim he raid.
In-till Breichyn thai lugyt all that nycht.
Syne on the morn Wallace gert graith thaim rycht,
Displayed on breid the baner off Scotland
In gud aray with noble men at hand;
Gert playnly cry that sawfte suld be nayne
Off Sotheroun blud quhar thai mycht be ourtayn.
In playne battaill throuch-out the Mernys thai rid.
The Inglismen, at durst thaim nocht abid,
Befor the ost full ferdly furth thai fle
Till Dwnottar, a snuk with-in the se.
Na ferrar thai mycht wyn out off the land.
Thai semblit thar quhill thai war iiii thousand,
To the kyrk rane, wend gyrth for till haiff tayne.
The laiff Ramaynd apon the Roch off stayne.
The byschope than began tretty to ma,
Thar lyffis to get, out off the land to ga,
Bot thai war rad and durst nocht weill affy.
Wallace in fyr gert set all haistely,
Brynt wp the kyrk and all that was tharin.
Atour the Roch the laiff ran with gret dyn.
Sum hang on craggis rycht dulfully to de.
Sum lap, sum fell, sum floteryt in the se.
Na Sotheroun on lyff was lewyt in that hauld
And thaim with-in thai brynt in powdir cauld.
Quhen this was done feill fell on kneis doun,
At the byschop askit absolucioun.
Than Wallace lewch, said, “I forgiff ȝow all.
Ar ȝe wer-men, rapentis for sa small?
Thai rewid nocht ws in-to the toun off Ayr,
Our trew barrowns quhen that thai hangit thar.”
Till Abyrdeyn than haistely thai pas,
Quhar Inglismen besyly flittand was.
A hundreth schippys that Ruthyr bur and ayr,
To turs thair gud, in hawyn was lyand thar,
Bot Wallace ost come on thaim sodeynlye.
Thar chapyt nane off all that gret menȝhe.
Bot feill serwandis in thaim lewyt nane.
At ane eb se the Scottis is on thaim gayn,
Tuk out the ger, syne set the schippys in fyr.
The men on land thai bertynyt bayne and lyr.
Ȝeid nane away bot preistis, wyffis and barnys.
Maid thai debait thai chapyt nocht but harmys.
In-to Bowchane Wallace maid him to ryd,
Quhar lord Bewmound was ordand for to bid.
Erll he was maid bot off schort tyme befor.
He brukit nocht for all his bustous schor.
Quhen he wyst weill that Wallace cummand was,
He left the land and couth to Slanys pas
And syne be schip in Ingland fled agayne.
Wallace raid throw the north-land in-to playne.
At Crummade feill Inglismen thai slew.
The worthi Scottis till him thus couth persew;
Raturnd agayne and come till Abirdeyn
With his blith ost apon the Lammes ewyn;
Stablyt the land as him thocht best suld be,
Syne with ane ost he passit to Dunde,
Gert set a sege about the castell strang.
I leyff thaim thar and forthir we will gang.
Schir Amar Wallang haistit him full fast,
In-till Ingland with his haill houshald past.
Bothwell he left, was Murrays heretage,
And tuk him than bot till King Eduuardis wage,
Thus his awne land forsuk for euirmar.
Off Wallace deid gret tithandis tald he thar.
Als Inglismen sair murnyt in thar mude,
Had lossyt her bathe lyff, landis and gud.
Eduuard as than couth nocht in Scotland fair,
Bot Kercyingame that was his tresorair,
With him a lord than Erll was off Waran,
He chargyt thaim with nowmeris mony ane
Rycht weill beseyn in Scotland for to ryd.
At Stirlyng still he ordand thaim to bid
Quhill he mycht cum with ordinance off Ingland.
Scotland agayne he thocht to tak in hand.
This ost past furth and had bot litill dreid.
The Erle Patrik rasauit thaim at Tweid.
Malice he had at gud Wallace befor,
Lang tyme by past and than Incressyt mor,
Bot throuch a cas that hapnyt off his wyff:
Dunbar scho held fra him in-to thar striff
Throuch the supple off Wallace in-to playne;
Bot he be meyne gat his castell agayne
Lang tyme or than, and ȝeit he couth nocht ces.
Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony pres,
With Inglismen suppleit thaim at his mycht.
Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht.
Thar mustir than was awfull for to se,
Off fechtand men thousandis thai war sexte;
To Stirlyng past or thai likit to bid.
To Erll Malcome a sege thai laid that tid
And thocht to kep the commaund off thar king,
Bot gud Wallace wrocht for ane othir thing.
Dunde he left and maid a gud chyftane
With twa thousand to kepe that hous off Stayne,
Off Angwis men and duellaris off Dunde.
The sammyn nycht till Sanct Ihonstoun went he.
Apon the morn till Schirreff mur he raid
And thar a quhill in gud aray thai baid.
Schir Ihon the Grayme and Ramsay that was wicht,
He said to thaim, “This is my purpos rycht.
Our mekill it is to proffer thaim battaill
Apon a playne feild bot we haiff sum awaill.”
Schir Ihon the Grayme said, “We haiff wndirtayn
With les power sic thing that weill is gayn.”
Than Wallace said, “Quhar sic thing cummys off neid
We suld thank god that makis ws for to speid,
Bot ner the bryg my purpos is to be
And wyrk for thaim sum suttell ieperte.”
Ramsay ansuerd, “The brig we may kepe weill.
Off way about Sotheroun has litill feill.”
Wallace sent Iop the battaill for to set,
The Twysday next to fecht with-outyn let.
On Setterday on to the bryg thai raid,
Off gud playne burd was weill and Iunctly maid;
Gert wachis wait that nane suld fra thaim pas.
A wricht he tuk, the suttellast at thar was,
And ordand him to saw the burd in twa,
Be the myd trest, that nayne mycht our it ga;
On charnaill bandis nald it full fast and sone,
Syne fyld with clay as na thing had beyne done.
The tothir end he ordand for to be,
How it suld stand on thre rowaris off tre,
Quhen ane war out that the laiff doun suld fall.
Him selff wndyr he ordand thar-with-all,
Bownd on the trest, in a Creddill to sit,
To lous the pyne quhen Wallace leit him witt
Bot with a horn quhen it was tyme to be.
In all the ost suld no man blaw bot he.
The day approchit off the gret battaill.
The Inglismen for power wald nocht faill.
Ay sex thai war agayne ane off Wallace.
Fyfty thousand maid thaim to battaill place.
The Ramaynand baid at the castell still.
Baithe feild and hous thai thocht to tak at will.
The worthi Scottis apon the tothir side
The playne feild tuk, on fute maid thaim to bid.
Hew Kercyngayme the wantgard ledis he
With xxty thousand off likly men to se.
Xxxty thousand the Erll off Waran had,
Bot he did than as the wysman him bad,
All the fyrst ost befor him our was send.
Sum Scottismen, that weill the maner kend,
Bade Wallace blaw and said thai war enew.
He haistyt nocht bot sadly couth persew
Quhill Warans ost thik on the bryg he saw.
Fra Iop the horn he hynt and couth it blaw
Sa asprely and warned gud Ihon wricht.
The Rowar out he straik with gret slycht.
The laiff ȝeid doun quhen the pynnys out gais.
A hidwys cry amang the peple rais.
Bathe hors and men in-to the wattir fell.
The hardy Scottis that wald na langar duell
Set on the laiff with strakis sad and sar.
Off thaim thar-our as than souerit thai war.
At the for-breist thai prewit hardely,
Wallace and Grayme, Boid, Ramsay and Lundy,
All in the stour, fast fechtand face to face.
The Sotheron ost bak rerit off that place
At thai fyrst tuk v akyr breid and mar.
Wallace on fute a gret scharp sper he bar.
Amang the thikest off the pres he gais.
On Kercyngaym a strak chosyn he hais.
In the byrnes that polyst was full brycht
The punȝeand hed the plattis persyt rycht,
Throuch the body stekit him but reskew.
Derffly to dede that chyftane was adew.
Baithe man and hors at that strak he bar doun.
The Inglis ost, quhilk war in battaill boun,
Comfort thai lost quhen thar chyftayne was slayn
And mony ane to fle began in playne.
Ȝeit worthi men baid still in-to the sted
Quhill x thousand was brocht on-to thar dede.
Than fled the laiff and mycht no langar bid.
Succour thai socht on mony diuers sid,
Sum est, sum west, and sum fled to the north.
Vii thousand large at-anys flottryt in Forth,
Plungyt in depe and drownd with-out mercye,
Nayne left on lyff off all that feill menȝhe.
Off Wallace ost na man was slayne off waill
Bot Andrew Murray in-to that strang battaill.
The south part than saw at thar men was tynt,
Als fersly fled as fyr dois off the flynt.
The place thai left, castell and Stirlyng toun,
Towart Dunbar in gret haist maid thaim boun.
Quhen Wallace ost had won that feild throuch mycht,
Tuk wp the brig and loussit gud Ihon wricht,
On the flearis syne folowed wondyr fast.
Erll Malcom als out off the castell past
With Lennox men to stuff the chace gud speid.
Ay be the way thai gert feill Sotheroun bleid.
In the Torwod thai gert full mony de.
The Erll off Waran that can full fersly fle,
With Corspatrik that graithly was his gyd,
On changit hors throuch-out the land thai rid
Strawcht to Dunbar, bot few with thaim thai led.
Mony was slayne our sleuthfully at fled.
The Scottis hors that had rown wondyr lang,
Mony gaiff our that mycht no forthyr gang.
Wallace and Grayme euir to-giddyr baid.
At Hathyntoun full gret slauchtir thai maid
Off Inglismen quhen thair hors tyryt had.
Quhen Ramsay come gud Wallace was full glad.
With him was Boid and Richard off Lundy,
Thre thousand haill, was off gud chewalry;
And Adam als Wallace off Ricardtoun,
With Erll Malcome, thai fand at Hathyntoun.
The Scottis men on slauchtir taryt was,
Quhill to Dunbar the twa chyftanys coud pas
Full sitfully for thar gret contrar cas.
Wallace folowed till thai gat in that place.
Off thar best men, and Karcyngaym off renoun,
Twenti thousand was dede but redempcioun.
Besyd Beltoun Wallace raturnd agayn.
To folow mar as than was bot in wayn.
In Hathyntoun lugyng thai maid that nycht,
Apon the morn to Stirling passit rycht.
Assumpcioun day off Marye fell this cas.
Ay lowyt be our lady off hir grace!
Conuoyar offt scho was to gud Wallace
And helpyt him in mony syndry place.
Wallace in haist, sone efftir this battaill,
A gret aith tuk off all the barrons haill
That with gud will wald cum till his presens.
He hecht thaim als to bid at thar defens.
Schir Ihon Menteth, was than off Aran lord,
Till Wallace come and maid a playne record.
With witnes thar be his ayth he him band
Lauta to kep to Wallace and Scotland.
Quha with fre will till rycht wald nocht apply
Wallace with force pwnyst rygorusly,
Part put to dede, part set in prysone strang.
Gret word off him throuch bathe thir regions rang.
Dunde thai gat sone be a schort trete,
Bot for thar lywes thai fled away be se.
Inglis capdans that hous had in-to hand
Left castellis fre and fled out off the land.
With-in ten dayis efftir this tyme was gayne
Inglis captanys in Scotland left was nane,
Except Berweik and Roxburch castell wicht.
Ȝeit Wallace thocht to bryng thai to the rycht.
That tyme thar was a worthi, trew barroun,
To nayme he hecht gud Cristall off Cetoun.
In Iedwort wod for saiffgard he had beyne.
Agayne Sotheroun full weill he couth opteyn.
In wtlaw oys he lewit thar but let.
Eduuard couth nocht fra Scottis faith him get.
Herbottell fled fra Iedwort castell wycht
Towart Ingland, thar Cetoun met him rycht.
With xlti men Cristall in bargane baid
Agayne viii scor and mekill mastre maid,
Slew that captane and mony cruell man.
Full gret ryches in that Iornay he wan,
Houshald and gold as thai suld pas away,
The quhilk befor thai kepit mony day.
Iedwort thai tuk; ane Ruwan lewit he,
At Wallace will captane off it to be.
Bauld Cetoun syne to Lothiane maid repair.
In this storye ȝe ma her off him mair,
And in-to Bruce quha likis for to rede;
He was with him in mony cruell deid.
Gud Wallace than full sadly can dewys
To rewill the land with worthi men and wys.
Captans he maid and schirreffis that was gud,
Part off his kyn and off trew othir blud.
His der cusyng in Edynburgh ordand he,
The trew Crawfurd that ay was full worthe,
Kepar off it with noble men at wage;
In Mannuell than he had gud heretage.
Scotland was fre that lang in baill had beyne,
Throw Wallace won fra our fals enemys keyn.
Gret gouernour in Scotland he couth ryng,
Wayttand a tyme to get his rychtwis king
Fra Inglismen, that held him in bandoun,
Lang, wrangwysly, fra his awn rychtwis croun.

BOOK VIII

Fywe monethis thus Scotland stud in gud rest.
A consell cryit, thaim thocht it wes the best
In Sanct Ihonstoun at it suld haldyn be.
Assemblit thar clerk, barown and bowrugie,
Bot Corspatrik wald nocht cum at thar call,
Baid in Dunbar and maid scorn at thaim all.
Thai spak off him feill wordis in that parlyment.
Than Wallace said: “Will ȝe her-to consent,
For-gyff him fre all thing that is bypast
Sa he will cum and grant he has trespast,
Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croun?”
Thai grant tharto, clerk, burges and barroun,
With haill consent that writyng till him send.
Richt lawly thus till him thai thaim commend,
Besocht him fair as a peyr off the land
To cum and tak sum gouernaill on hand.
Lychtly he lowch, in scorn as it had beyn,
And said he had sic message seyldyn seyne:
“That Wallace now as gouernowr sall ryng,
Her is gret faute off a gud prince or kyng.
That king off Kyll I can nocht wndirstand.
Off him I held neuir a fur off land.
That bachiller trowis, for fortoun schawis hyr quhell
Thar-with to lest. It sall nocht lang be weill.
Bot to ȝow lordis, and ȝe will wndirstand,
I mak ȝow wys, I aw to mak na band.
Als fre I am in this regioun to ryng
Lord off myn awne, as euir was prince or king.
In Ingland als gret part off land I haiff;
Manrent tharoff thar will no man me craiff.
Quhat will ȝe mar? I warne ȝow I am fre.
For ȝour somoundis ȝe get no mar off me.”
Till Saynct Ihonstone this wryt he send agayne,
Befor the lordis was manifest in playne.
Quhen Wallace herd the erll sic ansuer mais
A gret hate Ire throu curage than he tais;
For weyll he wyst thar suld be bot a king
Off this regioun at-anys for to ryng;
A ‘king off Kyll’ for that he callyt Wallace.
“Lordis,” he said, “this is ane wncouth cace.
Be he sufferyt we haiff war than it was.”
Thus rais he wp and maid him for to pas:
“God has ws tholyt to do so for the laiff.
In lyff or dede in faith him sall we haiff,
Or ger him grant quhom he haldis for his lord,
Or ellis war schaym in story to racord.
I wow to god with eys he sall nocht be
In-to this Realm bot ane off ws sall de,
Les than he cum and knaw his rychtwis king!
In this regioun weill bathe we sall nocht ryng.
His lychtly scorn he sall rapent full sor,
Bot power faill or I sall end tharfor,
Sen in this erd is ordand me no rest.
Now god be Iuge, the rycht he kennys best.”
At that consaill langar he taryt nocht,
With ii hundreth fra Sanct Ihonston he socht;
To the consaill maid Insians or he ȝeid,
Thai suld conteyn and off him haiff no dreid:
“I am bot ane and for gud caus I ga.”
Towart Kyngorn the gaynest way thai ta.
Apon the morn atour Forth south thai past.
On his wyage thai haistit wondyr fast.
Robert Lauder at Mussilburgh met Wallace.
Fra Inglismen he kepyt weill his place;
Couth nayne him trete, knycht, squier nor lord,
With king Eduuard to be at ane accord.
On Erll Patrik to pas he was full glaid;
Sum said befor the Bas he wald haiff haid.
Gude men come als with Crystell off Cetoun.
Than Wallace was four hundreth off renoun.
A squier Lyll, that weill that cuntre knew,
With xxty men to Wallace couth persew
Besyd Lyntoun, and to thaim tald he than
The Erll Patrik, with mony likly man,
At Coburns peth he had his gaderyng maid
And to Dunbar wald cum with-outyn baid.
Than Lawder said, “It war the best think me
Faster to pas, in Dunbar or he be.”
Wallace ansuerd, “We may at laysar ryd.
With ȝon power he thinkis bargane to bid;
And off a thing ȝe sall weill wndirstand,
A hardyar lord is nocht in-to Scotland.
Mycht he be maid trew, stedfast, till a king,
Be wit and force he can do mekill thing,
Bot willfully he likis to tyne him sell.”
Thus raid thai furth and wald na langar duell,
Be est Dunbar, quhar men him tald on cas
How erll Patrik was warnyt off Wallace,
Ner Enerweik chesyt a feild at waill
With ix hundreth off likly men to waill.
Four hundreth was with Wallace in the rycht
And sone onon approchit to thar sicht.
Gret fawte thar was off gud trety betweyn
To mak concord and that full sone was seyne.
With-out rahers off accioun in that tid
On athir part to-gydder fast thai rid.
The stour was strang and wondyr peralous,
Contenyt lang with dedis chewalrous.
Mony thar deit off cruell Scottis blud.
Off this trety the mater is nocht gud,
Tharfor I ces to tell the destruccioun.
Pete it was, and all off a nacioun.
Bot erll Patrik the feild left at the last;
Rycht few with him to Coburns peth thai past,
Agrewit sar that his men thus were tynt.
Wallace raturnd and wald no langar stynt
Towart Dunbar, quhar suthfast men him tald
Na purweance was left in-to that hald,
Nor men off fens, all had beyne with thar lord.
Quhen Wallace hard the sekyr trew record
Dunbar he tuk all haill at his bandown,
Gaiff it to kepe to Crystell off Cetoun,
Quhilk stuffit it weill with men and gud wictall.
Apon the morn Wallace, that wald nocht faill,
With iii hundreth to Coburns peth he socht.
Erll Patrik wschyt, for bid him wald he nocht.
Sone to the park Wallace a range has set.
Till Bonkill wood Corspatrik fled but let
And out off it till Noram passit he.
Quhen Wallace saw it mycht na bettir be
Till Caudstreym went and lugit him on Tweid.
Erll Patrik than in all haist can him speid
And passit by or Wallace power rais,
With-out restyng in Atrik forrest gais.
Wallace folowed bot he wald nocht assaill.
A rang to mak as than it mycht nocht waill;
Our few he had, the strenth was thik and strang,
Vii myill on breid and tharto twys so lang.
In-till Gorkhelm Erll Patrik leiffit at rest.
For mar power Wallace past in the west.
Erll Patrik than him graithit hastelye,
In Ingland past to get him thar supplye;
Out throuch the land rycht ernystfully couth pas
Till Anton Beik that lord of Durame was.
Wallace him put out off Glaskow befor
And slew Persye, thar malice was the mor.
The byschope Beik gert sone gret power rys,
Northummyrland apon ane awfull wys.
Than ordand Bruce in Scotland for to pas
To wyn his awne, bot ill dissauit he was;
Thai gert him trow that Wallace was rabell
And thocht to tak the kynryk to hym sel.
Full fals thai war and euir ȝeit has beyn.
Lawta and trouth was ay in Wallace seyn;
To fend the rycht all that he tuk on hand,
And thocht to bryng the Bruce fre till his land.
Off this mater as now I tary nocht.
With strang power Sotheroun to-gidder socht,
Fra Owys watter assemblit haill to Tweid.
Thar land ost was xxxty thousand in deid;
Off Tynnys mouth send schippis be the se
To kep Dunbar at nayne suld thaim supple.
Erll Patrik with xxty thousand but lett
Befor Dunbar a stalwart sege he sett.
The byschope Beik and Robert Bruce baid still
With x thousand at Noram at thar will.
Wallace be this, that fast was lauborand,
In Lothyane com witht gud men v thowsand,
Rycht weill beseyn, all in-to armys brycht,
Thocht to reskew the Cetoun bauld and wicht.
Undyr Ȝhester that fyrst nycht lugit he.
Hay com till him with a gud chewalre.
In Duns forest all that tyme he had beyne;
The cummyng thar off Sotheroun he had seyne.
L he had off besy men in wer.
Thai tald Wallace off Patrikis gret affer.
Hay said, “Forsuth and ȝe mycht him our-set
Power agayne rycht sone he mycht nocht get.
My consaill is that we giff him battaill.”
He thankit him off comfort and consaill
And said, “Freynd Hay, in this caus that I wend,
Sa that we wyn I rek nocht for till end.
Rycht suth it is that anys we mon de.
In-to the rycht quha suld in terrour be?”
Erll Patrik than a messynger gert pas,
Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.
Off this tithingis the byschope was full glaid,
Amendis off him full fayne he wald haiff haid.
Bot mar prolong throuch Lammermur thai raid.
Ner the Spot mur in buschement still he baid,
As erll Patrik thaim ordand for to be.
Wallace off Beik wnwarnyt than was he;
Ȝeit he befor was nocht haisty in deid,
Bot than he put bathe him and his in dreid.
Apon swyft horsis scurrouris past betweyn.
The cummyng than off Erll Patrik was seyn.
The hous he left and to the mur is gayn.
A playne feild thar with his ost he has tayn.
Gud Cetoun syne wschet with few menȝhe,
Part off his men in-till Dunbar left he,
To Wallace raid, was on the rychtwys sid.
In gud aray to the Spot mur thai ryd.
Sum Scottis dred, the Erll sa mony was,
Twenty thousand agayn sa few to pas.
Quhen Iop persauit, he bad Wallace suld bid:
“Tyne nocht thir men bot to sum strenth ȝe ryd
And I sall pas to get ȝow power mar.
Thir are our gud thus lychtly for to war.”
Than Wallace said, “In trewth I will nocht fle
For iii off his ay ane quhill I may be.
We are our ner sic purpos for to tak;
A danger chace thai mycht vpon ws mak.
Her is twenty with this power to-day
Wald him assay suppos I war away.
Mony thai ar; for goddis luff, be we strang
Ȝon Sotheron folk in stour will nocht bid lang.”
The brym battaill braithly on athir sid!
Gret rerd thar rais all sammyn quhar thai ryd.
The sayr semble quhen thai to-gidder met!
Feyll strakis thar sadly on athir set.
Punȝeand speris throuch plattis persit fast,
Mony off hors to the ground doun thai cast.
Saidlys thai teym off hors bot maistris thar.
Off the south sid v thousand doun thai bar.
Gud Wallace ost the formast kumraid sa
Quhill the laiff was in will away to ga.
Erll Patrik baid sa cruell off entent
At all his ost tuk off him hardiment.
Agayne Wallace in mony stour was he.
Wallace knew weill that his men wald nocht fle
For na power that leiffand was in lyff,
Quhill thai in heill mycht ay be ane for fyfe.
In that gret stryff mony was handlyt hate.
The feill dyntis, the cruell hard debait,
The fers steking, maid mony grewous wound,
Apon the erd the blud did till abound.
All Wallace ost in-till a cumpais baid;
Quhar sa thai turnd full gret slauchtyr thai maid.
Wallace and Grayme and Ramsay full worthi,
The bauld Cetoun and Richard off Lundy,
And Adam als Wallace off Ricardtoun,
Bathe Hay and Lyll with gud men off renoun,
Boyde, Bercla, Byrd and Lauder that was wycht,
Feill Inglismen derffly to ded thai dycht.
Bot erll Patrik full fersly faucht agayn.
Throuch his awin hand he put mony to payn.
Our men on him thrang forthwart in-to thra,
Maide throuch his ost feill sloppis to and fra.
The Inglismen began playnly to fle.
Than byschope Beik full sodeynly thai se,
And Robert Bruce contrar his natiff men.
Wallace was wa fra tyme he couth him ken.
Off Brucis deid he was agrewit far mar
Than all the laiff that day at semblit thar.
The gret buschement at anys brak on breid,
X thousand haill that douchty war in deid.
The flearis than with Erll Patrik relefd
To fecht agayn, quhar mony war myscheifd.
Quhen Wallace knew the buschement brokyn was,
Out off the feild on hors thai thocht to pas,
Bot he saw weill his ost sownd in thar weid.
He thocht to fray the formast or thai ȝeid.
The new cummyn ost befor thaim semblit thar,
On athir sid with strakis sad and sar.
The worthi Scottis sa fersly faucht agayne
Off Antonys men rycht mony haiff thai slayne;
Bot that terand so wsit was in wer
On Wallace ost thai did full mekill der,
And the bauld Bruce so cruelly wrocht he
Throuch strenth off hand feill Scottis he gert de.
To resist Bruce Wallace him pressit fast,
Bot Inglismen so thik betuixt thaim past;
And Erll Patrik in all the haist he moucht
Throuch-out the stour to Wallace sone he socht,
On the the-pes a felloun strak him gaiff,
Kerwit the plait with his scharp groundyn glaiff
Throuch all the stuff and woundyt him sumdeill.
Bot Wallace thocht he suld be wengit weill,
Folowed on him and a straik etlyt fast.
Than ane Mawthland rakless betwix thaim past.
Apon the heid gud Wallace has him tane,
Throuch hat and brawn in sondyr bryst the bane,
Dede at that straik doun to the ground him drawe.
Thus Wallace was disseuirit fra the lawe
Off hys gud men, amang thaim him allane.
About him socht feill Enemys mony ane;
Stekit his hors, to ground behufid him lycht
To fend him selff als wysly as he mycht.
The worthy Scottis that mycht no langar bid
With sair hartis out off the feild thai ryd.
With thaim in feyr thai wend Wallace had beyn.
On fute he was amang hys Enemys keyn,
And rowme he maid about him in-to breid
With his gud suerd that helpyt him in neid.
Was nayne sa strang that gat off him a strak
Eftir agayne maid neuir a Scot to waik.
Erll Patrik than, that had gret crafft in wer,
With speris ordand gud Wallace doun to ber.
A-new they tuk was haill in-to the feild,
Til him thai ȝeid, thocht he suld haiff no beild,
On athir sid fast poyntand at his ger.
He hewid off hedys and wysly coud him wer.
The worthy Scottis off this full litill wyst,
Socht to gud Graym quhen thai thar chyftane myst.
Lauder and Lyle and Hay that was full wicht
And bauld Ramsay quhilk was a worthy knycht,
Lundy and Boid and Crystell of Cetoun
With v hundreth that war in bargan boun,
Him to reskew full rudly in thai raid.
About Wallace a largë rowme thai maid.
The byschop Beik was braithly born till erd.
At the reskew thar was a glamrous rerd.
Or he gat wp full feill Sotheroun thai slew.
Out off the pres Wallace thai couth raskew,
Sone horsit him apon a coursour wicht,
Towart a strenth ridis in all thar mycht,
Rycht wysly fled, Reskewand mony man.
The Erll Patrik to stuff the chace began.
On the flearis litill harm than he wrocht.
Gud Wallace folk away to-giddyr socht.
Thir v hundreth the quhilk I spak off ayr
Sa awfully abawndownd thaim and sar
Na folowar durst out fra his falow ga,
The gud flearis sic raturnyng thai ma.
Iiii thousand haill had tane the strenth befor
Off Wallace ost, his comfort was the mor;
Off Glaskadane that forrest thocht till hauld.
Erll Patrik twrnd, thocht he was neuir sa bauld,
Agayne to Beik, quhen chapyt was Wallace,
Curssand fortoun off his myschansit cace.
The feild he wan and vii thowsand thai lost
Dede on that day for all the byschoppis bost.
Off Wallace men v hundreth war slayne I ges,
Bot na chyftayne, his murnyng was the les.
Ner ewyn it was bot Beik wald nocht abid.
In Lammermur thai tranuntyt that tid,
Thar lugyng tuk quhar him thocht maist awaill,
For weyll he trowit the Scottis wald assaill
Apon the feild quhar thai gaiff battaill last.
The contre men to Wallace gaderyt fast.
Off Edynburch wyth Crawfurd that was wicht
Thre hundreth come in-till thar armour brycht,
Till Wallace raid be his lugeyng was tayne.
Fra Tawydaill come gud men mony ane
Out off Iedwart with Ruwane at that tyd,
To-giddyr socht fra mony diuers sid.
Schir Wilȝham lang, that lord was off Douglas,
With him iiii scor that nycht come to Wallace.
Xxty hundreth off new men met that nycht
Apon thair fais to weng thaim at thair mycht.
At the fyrst feild thire gud men had nocht beyn.
Wallace wachis thair aduersouris had seyn,
In-to quhat wis thai had thair lugeyng maid.
Wallace bownyt eftir soupper but baid,
In Lammermur thai passit hastely.
Sone till aray ȝheid this gud chewalry.
Wallace thaim maid in twa partis to be.
Schir Ihon the Graym and Cetoun ordand he,
Lawder and Hay, with thre thousand to ryd;
Hym selff the layff tuk wysly for to gid,
With him Lundy, bathe Ramsay and Douglace,
Berkla and Boid and Adam gud Wallace.
Be this the day approchit wondyr neir
And brycht Titan in presens can apper.
The Scottis ostis sone semblit in-to sycht
Off thar Enemys, that was nocht redy dycht.
Owt off aray feill off the Sotheroun was.
Rycht aufully Wallace can on thaim pas.
At this entray the Scottis so weill thaim bar
Feill off thar fais to dede was bertnyt thar.
Redles thai rais and mony fled away.
Sum on the ground war smoryt quhar thai lay.
Gret noyis and cry was raissit thaim amang.
Gud Grayme come in that stalwart was and strang.
For Wallace men was weill to-gyddyr met,
On the South part sa aufully thai set
In-contrar thaim the frayt folk mycht nocht stand.
At-anys thar fled off Sotheroun v thousand.
The worthi Scottis wrocht apon sic wys
Iop said hym selff thai war mekill to prys.
Ȝeit byschope Beik, that felloun tyrand strang,
Baid in the stour rycht awfully and lang.
A knycht Skelton that cruell was and keyn
Befor him stud in-till his armour scheyn.
To fend his lord full worthely he wrocht.
Lundy him saw and sadly on him socht,
With his gud suerd ane aukwart straik him gaiff,
Throuch pesan stuff his crag in sondyr draiff,
Quhar-off the layff astunyt in that sted.
The bauld Skelton off Lundyis hand is dede.
Than fled thai all and mycht no langar bid.
Patrik and Beik away with Bruce thai ryd.
V thousand held in-till a slop away
Till Noram hous in all the haist thai may.
Our men folowed, that worthi war and wicht.
Mony flear derffly to dede thai dycht.
The iii lordis on to the castell socht.
Full feill thai left that was off Ingland brocht.
At this Iornay xxty thousand thai tynt,
Drownyt and slayn be sper and suerdis dynt.
The Scottis at Tweid than hastyt thaim sa fast
Feill Sotheroun men in-to wrang furdis past.
Wallace raturnd, in Noram quhen thai war.
For worthi Bruce his hart was wondyr sar;
He had leuer haiff had him at his large,
Fre till our croun, than off fyne gold to carge
Mar than in Troy was fund at Grekis wan.
Wallace than passit with mony aufull man
On Patrikis land and waistit wondyr fast,
Tuk out gudis and placis doun thai cast.
His stedis vii that mete hamys was cauld,
Wallace gert brek thai burly byggyngis bauld,
Baithe in the Mers and als in Lothiane.
Except Dunbar standand he lewit nane.
Till Edynburgh apon the auchtand day,
Apon the morn, Wallace with-out delay
Till Pert he passit quhar the consell was set.
To the barrowns he schawit with-outyn let
How his gret wow rycht weill eschewyt was.
Till a maister he gert Erll Patrik pas
Becaus he said off Scotland he held nocht.
Till king Eduuard to get supple he socht.
The lordis war blyth and welcummyt weill Wallas,
Thankand gret God off this fair happy chas.
Wallace tuk state to gowern all Scotland.
The barnage haill maid him ane oppyn band.
Than delt he land till gud men him about,
For Scotlandis rycht had set thar lyff in dout.
Stantoun he gaiff to Lauder in his wage;
The knycht Wallang aucht it in heretage.
Than Birgeme cruk he gaiff Lyle that was wicht.
Till Scrymgeour als full gud reward he dycht,
Syne Wallace-toun and othir landis thar-till.
To worthi men he delt with nobill will.
Till his awne kyn heretage nayne gaiff he
Bot office haill, at euerilk man mycht se
For cowatice thar couth no wicht him blayme.
He baid reward quhill the king suld cum hayme.
Off all he dyd he thocht to bid the law
Befor his king, master quhen he him saw.
Scotland was blyth, in dolour had beyne lang.
In Ilka part to gud laubour thai gang.
Be this the tyme off October was past;
Ner Nouember approchit wondyr fast.
Tithandis than come, king Eduuard grewit was,
With his power in Scotland thocht to pas,
For Erll Patrik had gyffyn hym sic consaill.
Wallace gat wit and semblit power haill.
Xl thousand on Roslyn mur thar met.
“Lordis,” he said, “thus is King Eduuard set
In-contrar rycht to sek ws in our land.
I hecht to god and to ȝow be my hand,
I sall him meit for all his gret barnage
With-in Ingland to fend our heretage.
His fals desyr sall on him selff be seyn.
He sall ws fynd in-contrar off his Eyn.
Sen he with wrang has ryddyn this regioun
We sall pas now in-contrar off his crown.
I will nocht bid gret lordis with ws fayr,
For myn entent I will playnly declar,
Our purpos is othir to wyn or de.
Quha ȝeildis him sall neuir ransownd be.”
The barrons than him ansuerd worthely
And said thai wald pas with thar chewalry.
Him selff and Iop prowidyt that menȝhe.
Xxty thousand off waillit men tuk he;
Harnes and hors he gert amang thaim waill,
Wapynnys enew at mycht thaim weill awaill,
Grathyt thar men that cruell wes and keyn.
Bettir in wer in warld coud nocht be seyn.
He bad the laiff on laubour for to bid.
In gud aray fra Roslyn mur thai ryd.
At thar muster gud Wallace couth thaim as
Quhat mysteryt ma in a power to pas:
“All off a will, as I trow set ar we,
In playne battaill can nocht weill scumfit be.
Our rewme is pur, waistit be Sotheroun blud.
Go wyn on thaim tresour and othir gud.”
The ost Inclynd all in-till humyll will
And said thai suld his commandment fulfill.
The Erll Malcome with thir gud men is gayne,
Bot nayme off rewill on him he wald tak nayne.
Wallace him knew a lord and full worthi.
At his consaill he wrocht full stedfastly.
Starkar he was gyff thai suld battaill seyn,
For he befor had in gud Iornays beyn.
A man off strenth that has gud wit with-all
A haill regioune may comfort at his call,
As manly Ectour wrocht in-till his wer;
Agayn a hundreth cowntyt was his sper,
Bot that was nocht throuch his strenth anerly,
Sic rewill he led off worthi chewalry.
Thir ensampyllis war noble for to ken.
Ectour I leiff and spek furth off our men.
The knycht Cambell maid hime to that wiage,
Off Louchow cheiff that was his heretage.
The gud Ramsay furth to that Iornay went.
Schir Ihone the Grayme forthwart in his entent,
Wallace cusyng Adam, full worthi was,
And Robert Boid, full blythly furth thai pas;
Baith Awchynlek and Richard off Lundy,
Lawder and Hay and Cetoun full worthy.
This Ryall ost but restyng furth thai rid
Till Browis feild and thar a quhill thai bid.
Than Wallace tuk with him xl but les,
Till Roxburgh ȝett raid sone or he wald ces.
Sotheroun merueld giff it suld be Wallace,
With-out souerance come to persew that place.
Off Schyr Rawff Gray sone presence couth he as
And warnd him thus forthwart he wald pas:
“Our purpos is in Ingland for to ryd.
No teyme we haiff off segyn now to bid.
Tak tent and her off our cummyng agayne.
Gyff our the hous, send me the keyis in playn.
Thus I commaund befor this witnes large;
Gyff thow will nocht, ramayne with all the charge.
Bot this be done, throuch force and I tak the
Out our the wall thow sall be hyngit hye.”
With that he turnd and till his ost can wend.
This Ilk commaund to Berweik sone he send
With gud Ramsay that was a worthi knycht.
The ost but mar full awfully he dycht,
Began at Tweid and spard nocht at thai fand,
Bot brynt befor throuch all Northummyrland.
All Duram toun thai brynt wp in a gleid.
Abbays thai spard and kyrkis quhar thai ȝeid.
To Ȝork thai went but baid or thai wald blyn.
To byrn and sla off thaim he had na syne.
Na syn thai thocht, the sammyn thai leit ws feill,
Bot Wilȝam Wallace quyt our quarell weill.
Fortrace thai wan and small castellis kest doun,
With aspre wapynnys payit thar ransoune.
Off presonaris thai likit nocht to kep.
Quhom thai our-tuk thai maid thar freyndis to wepe.
Thai sawft na Sotheroun for thar gret Riches;
Off sic koffre he callit bot wretchitnes.
On to the ȝettis and Faboris off the toun
Braithly thai brynt and brak thar byggyngis doun;
At the wallys assayed xv dayis,
Till king Eduuard send to thaim in this wayis
A knycht, a clerk and a squier of pes,
And prayit him fayr off byrnyng for to ces,
And hecht battaill or xl dayis war past,
Souerance so lang gyff him likit till ast.
And als he sperd quhy Wallace tuk on hand
The felloun stryff in defens off Scotland,
And said he merweld on his wyt for-thy,
Agayn Inglande, was off so gret party:
“Sen ȝe haiff maid mekill off Scotland fre
It war gret tym for to lat malice be.”
Wallace has herd the message say thar will;
With manly wytt rycht thus he said thaim till:
“Ȝhe may knaw weill that rycht ynewch we haiff.
Off his souerance I kepe nocht for to craiff.
Becaus I am a natyff Scottis man
It is my dett to do all that I can
To fend our kynrik out off dangeryng.
Till his desyr we will grant to sum thing.
Our ost sall ces, for chans that may betid,
Thir xl dayis bargane for till bid.
We sall do nocht les than it mowe in ȝow.
In his respyt my selff couth neuir trow.”
King Eduuardis wrytt wndir his seill thai gaiff,
Be fourty dayis that thai suld battaill haiff.
Wallace thaim gaiff his credence off this thing.
Thair leyff thai tuk, syne passit to the king
And tauld him haill how Wallace leit thaim feill:
“Off ȝour souerance he rekis nocht adeill.
Sic rewllyt men, sa awfull off affer,
Ar nocht crystynyt than he ledis in wer.”
The king ansuerd and said, “It suld be kend,
It cummys off witt enemys to commend.
Thai ar to dreid rycht gretly in certane.
Sadly thai think off harmys thai haiff tane.”
Leyff I thaim thus at consell with thar king
And off the Scottis agayne to spek sum thing.
Wallace tranountyt on the secund day.
Fra Ȝork thai passyt rycht in a gud aray.
North-west thai past in battaill buskyt boun,
Thar lugeyng tuk besyd Northallyrtoun
And cryit his pes, thar merket for till stand
Thai fourty dayis for pepill off Ingland,
Quha that likyt ony wyctaill till sell.
Off all thar fer was mekill for to tell.
Schyr Rawff Rymunt, Captane off Maltoun was,
With gret power ordand be nycht to pas
On Wallace ost to mak sum Ieperte.
Feyll Scottis men that duelt in that cuntre
Wyst off this thing and gaderyt to Wallace.
Thai maid him wys off all that suttell cace.
Gud Lundy than till hym he callit thar
And Hew the Hay, off Louchowort was ayr,
With thre thousand that worthely had wrocht,
Syne prewaly out fra the ost he socht.
The men he tuk that come till hym off new
Gydys to be, for thai the contre knew.
The ost he maid in gud quyet to be.
A space fra thaim he buschyt prewale.
Schyr Rawff Rymunt with vii thousand com in
On Wallace ost a Ieperte to begyn.
The buschement brak or thai the ost come ner.
On Sotheroun men the worthi Scottis thai ster;
Thre thousand haill was braithly brocht to ground.
Iornay thai socht and sekyrly has found.
Schyr Rawff Rymunt was stekit on a sper,
Thre thousand slayn that worthi war in wer.
The Sotheroun wyst quhen thar chyftayn wes dede;
To Maltoun fast thai fled and left that sted.
Wallace folowed with his gud chewalry.
Amang Sotheroun thai entrit sodeynly,
Inglis and Scottis in-to the toun at anys.
Sotheroun men schot and braithly kest doun stanys.
Off thar awn men rycht feyll thair haiff thai slayn.
The Scottis about that war off mekill mayn
On grecis ran and cessyt all the toun.
Derffly to dede the Sotheroun was dongyn doun.
Gud Wallace thair has found full gret ryches,
Jowellis and gold, bathe wapynnys and harnes;
Spoulȝeid the toun off wyn and off wictaill,
Till his ost send with caryagis off gret waill.
Thre dayis still with-in the toun thai baid,
Syn brak doun werk that worthely was maid.
Wyffis and childer thai put owt off the toun.
Na man he sawft that was off that nacioun.
Quhen Scottis had tane to turss at thar desyr
Wallis thai brak, syn set the layff in fyr.
The temir werk thai brynt wp all in playn;
On the ferd day till his ost raid agayn;
Gert cast a dyk that mycht sum strynthyng be
To kepe the ost for sodeyn Ieperte.
Than Inglismen was rycht gretly agast.
Fra north and south in to thar king thai past,
At Pomfray lay and held a parlement.
To gyff battaill the lordis couth nocht consent
Les Wallace war off Scotland crownyt king.
Thar consaill fand it war a peralous thing,
For thocht thai wan thai wan bot as thai war,
And gyff thai tynt, Ingland for euirmar
A-payn war put in-to the Scottis hand;
And this decret thar wit amang thaim fand,
Gyff Wallace wald apon him tak the croun
To gyff battaill thai suld be redy boun.
The sammyn message till him thai send agayn
And thar entent thai tald him in-to playn.
Wallace thaim chargyt his presens till absent,
His consaill callyt and schawit thaim his entent.
He and his men desyrit battaill till haiff
Be ony wayis off Ingland our the laiff.
He said, “Fyrst, it war a our hie thing,
Agayne the faith to reyff my rychtwis king.
I am his man, born natiff of Scotland.
To wer the croun I will nocht tak on hand.
To fend the rewm it is my dett be skill.
Lat God abowe reward me as he will.”
Sum bad Wallace apon him tak the croun.
Wys men said, “Nay, it war bot derysioun
To croun him king but woice off the parlyment”;
For thai wyst nocht gyff Scotland wald consent.
Othir-sum said it was the wrangwis place.
Thus demyt thai on many diuers cace.
This knycht Cambell, off witt a worthi man,
As I said ayr was present with thaim than,
Herd and ansuerd quhen mony said thar will:
“This war the best, wald Wallace grant thar-till,
To croun him king solemply for a day,
To get ane end off all our lang delay.”
The gud Erll Malcome said that Wallace mycht
As for a day, in fens off Scotlandis rycht,
Thocht he refusyt it lestandly to ber,
Resawe the croun as in a fer off wer.
The pepill all till him gaiff thar consent.
Malcome off auld was lord off the parlyment.
Ȝeit Wallace tholyt and leit thaim say thar will.
Quhen thai had demyt be mony diuers skill
In his awn mynd he abhorryt with this thing.
The comouns cryit, “Mak Wallace crownyt king.”
Than smylyt he and said it suld nocht be:
“At termys schort, ȝe get no mar for me.
Wndyr colour we mon our ansuer mak,
Bot sic a thing I will nocht on me tak.
I suffer ȝow to say that it is sa.
It war a scorn the croun on me to ta.”
Thai wald nocht lat the message off Ingland
Cum thaim amang or thai suld wndirstand.
Twa knychtis passit to the message agayn,
Maid thaim to trow Wallace was crownyt in playn,
Gart thaim traist weill that this was suthfast thing.
Delyuerit thus thai passit to thar king,
To Pomfrait went and tald that thai had seyn
Wallace crownyt, quharoff the lordis was teyn,
In barrate wox in parlement quhar thai stud.
Than said thai all, “Thir tithingis ar nocht gud.
He did so weyll in-to thir tymys befor,
And now thar king he will do mekill mor.
A fortonyt man, no thing gois him agayn.
To geyff battaill we sall it rew apayn.”
And othir said, “And battaill will he haiff
Or stroy our land. Na tresour may ws saiff.
In his conquest, sen fyrst he coud begyn,
He sellis nocht bot takis at he may wyn.
For Inglismen he settis no doym bot ded.
Price off pennys may mak ws no ramed.”
Ane Wodstok said, “Ȝhe wyrk nocht as the wys,
Gyff that ȝe tak the awnter off supprice;
For thocht we wyn that ar in-till Ingland
The layff ar stark agaynys ws for to stand.
Be Wallace saiff, othir thai cownt bot small.
For-thi me think this war the best of all,
To kepe our strynth off castell and wall toun.
Swa sall we fend the fek off this regioun.
Thocht north be brynt, bettir off sufferans be
Than set all Ingland on a Ieperte.”
Thai grantyt all as Wodstok can thaim say,
And thus thai put the battaill on delay
And kest thaim haill for othir gouernance,
Agayn Wallace to wyrk sum ordinance.
Thus Wallace has in playn discumfyt haill
Agayn king Eduuard all his strang battaill;
For throcht falsheid and thar subtilite
Thai thocht he suld, for gret necessite
And faute off fude, to steyll out off the land.
And this decret thar wytt amang thaim fand:
Thai gert the king cry all thar merket doun
Fra Trent to Tweid off throchtfayr and fre toun;
That in thai boundis na men suld wictaill leid,
Sic stuff nor wyn, on na les payn bot deid.
This Ilk decret thai gaiff in thar parlement.
Off Scottis furth to spek is myn entent.
Wallace lay still quhill xl dayis was gayn
And fyve atour, bot perance saw he nayn
Battaill till haiff, as thair promys was maid.
He gert display agayne his baner braid,
Repreiffyt Eduuard rycht gretlye off this thing,
Bawchillyt his seyll, blew out on that fals king,
As a tyrand turnd bak and tuk his gait.
Than Wallace maid full mony byggyng hayt.
Thai rayssyt fyr, brynt wp Northallyrtoun,
Agayn throcht Ȝorkschyr bauldly maid thaim boun,
Dystroyed the land als fer as euir thai rid.
Sewyn myle about thai brynt on athir sid.
Palyce thai spylt, gret towris can confound,
Wrocht the Sotheroun mony werkand wound.
Wedowis wepyt with sorow in thar sang.
Madennys murnyt with gret menyng amang.
Thai sparyt nocht bot wemen and the kyrk.
Thir worthy Scottis off laubour wald nocht yrk.
Abbayis gaiff thaim rycht largly to thar fud.
Till all kyrk man thai did no thing bot gud.
The temperall land thai spoulȝeit at thar will.
Gud gardens gay and orchartis gret thai spill.
To Ȝork thai went, thir wermen off renoun;
A sege thai set rycht sadly to the toun.
For gret defens thai garnest thaim within.
A felloun salt with-out thai can begyn,
Gert woid the ost in four partis about,
With wachys feyll that no man suld wsche out.
Abowne the toun apon the southpart sid
Thar Wallace wald and gud Lundy abid.
Erll Malcom syne at the west ȝett abaid,
With him the Boid that gud Iornays had maid.
The knycht Cambell, off Louchow that was lord,
At the north ȝett, and Ramsay, maid thaim ford.
Schyr Ihon the Graym that worthy was in wer,
Awchinlek, Crawfurd, with full manlik affer
At the est part bauldly thai bowne to bid.
A thousand archaris apon the Scottis sid
Disseueryt thaim amang the iiii party.
Fyve thousand bowemen in the toun forthi
With-in the wallis arayit thaim full rycht.
Xii thousand and ma that sembly was to sycht.
Than said Wallace, “War ȝone apon a playn,
In feild to fecht me think we suld be bayn.”
Than sailȝeit thai rycht fast on Ilka sid,
The worthy Scottis that bauldly durst abid.
With sper and scheild, for gownnys had thai nayn,
With-in the dykys thai gert feill Sotheroun grayn.
Arowys thai schot als fers as ony fyr
Atour the wall, that flawmyt in gret Ire.
Throuch byrneis brycht, with hedys fyn off steyll.
The Sotheroun blud thai leyt no frendschip feyll;
Our schefferand harnes schot the blud so scheyn.
The Inglismen that cruell was and keyn
Kepyt thar toun and fendyt thaim full fast.
Fagaldys off fyr amang the ost thai cast.
Wp pyk and ter on feyll sowys thai lent.
Mony was hurt or thai fra wallys went.
Stanys off spryngaldis thai cast out so fast
And gaddys off Irne, maid mony goym agast.
Bot neuir-the-les the Scottis that was with-out,
The toun full oft thai set in-to gret dout,
Thar bulwerkis brynt rycht brymly off the toun,
Thar barmkyn wan and gret gerrettis kest doun.
Thus sailȝeit thai on Ilk sid with gret mycht.
The day was gayn and cummyn was the nycht;
The wery ost than drew thaim fra the toun,
Set owt wachis, for restyng maid thaim boun,
Wysche woundis with wyn off thaim that was wnsound.
For nayn wes dede in gret myrth thai abound.
Feyll men was hurt bot na murnyng thai maid,
Confermyt the sege and stedfastly abaid.
Quhen that the son on morow rais wp brycht,
Befor the chyftanys semblyt thai full rycht
And mendis thocht off the toun thai suld tak,
For all the fens that the Sotheroun mycht mak.
Arayit agayn as thai began a-for,
About the toun thai sailȝe wondyr sor,
With felloun schot atour the wall so scheyn.
Feill Inglismen that cruell was and keyn
With schot was slayn for all thar targis strang.
Byrstyt helmys, mony to erd thai dang.
Brycht byrnand fyr thai kest till euirilk ȝet.
The entres thus in perall oft thai set.
The defendouris, was off so fell defens,
Kepyt thar toun with strenth and excellens.
And thus the day thai dryff on to the nycht.
To palȝounnys bownyt mony wery wycht,
All yrk off wer; the toun was strang to wyn,
Off artailȝe and nobill men with gyn.
Quhen that thai trowyt the Scottis was all at rest
For ieperte the Inglismen thaim kest.
Schyr Ihon Nowrtoun, was knawyn worthy and wycht,
Schyr Wilȝham off Leis, graithit thaim that nycht
With v thowsand welle garnest and sawage.
Apon the Scottis thai thocht to mak scrymmage,
And at the ȝet wschyt owt haistely
On Erll Malcom and his gud chewalry.
To chak the wache Wallace and x had beyn
Rydand about and has thar cummyng seyn.
He gert ane blaw, was in his cumpany.
The redy men arayit thaim hastely.
Feill off the Scottis ilk nycht in harnes baid
Be ordinance, for thai sic rewll had maid.
With schort awys to-gyddyr ar thai went
Apon thair fais, quhar feill Sotheroun was schent.
Wallace knew weill the Erll to haisty was,
For-thi he sped him to the pres to pas.
A suerd off wer in-till his hand he bar.
The fyrst he hyt the crag in sondyr schar
And othir awkwart apon the face tuk he,
Wysar and frount bathe in the feild gert fle.
The hardy Erll before his men furth past
In-to the pres quhar feill war fechtand fast,
A scherand suerd bar drawyn in his hand.
The fyrst was fey that he befor him fand.
Quhen Wallace and he was to-gidder set
Thayr lestyt nayn agayn thaim that thai met,
Bot othir dede or ellis fled thaim fray.
Be this the ost all in a gud aray
With the gret scry assemblit thaim about.
Than stud the Sotheroun in a felloun dout.
Wallace knew weill the Inglismen wald fle,
For-thi he preyst in the thikkest to be,
Hewand full fast on quhat sege that he socht.
Agaynys hys dynt fyn steyll awailȝeit nocht.
Wallace off hand sen Arthour had na mak;
Quhom he hyt rycht was ay dede off a strak.
That was weyll knawin in mony place, and thar
Quhom Wallace hyt he deryt the Scottis no mar.
Als all his men did cruelly and weyll
At com to strak—that mycht the Sotheroun feill!
The Inglismen fled and left the feild playnly,
The worthy Scottis wrocht so hardely.
Schyr Ihon off Nourtoun in that place was dede
And xii hundreth with-outyn ony ramede.
Thir mony was left in-to the feild and slayn.
The layff raturnyt in-to the toun agayn
And rwyt full sar that euyr thai furth coud found.
Amang thaim was full mony werkand wound.
The ost agayn ilkane to thar ward raid,
Comaundyt wachis and no mayr noyis maid,
Bot restyt still quhill that the brycht day dew,
Agayne began the toun to sailȝe new.
All thus thai wrocht with full gud worthines,
Assailȝeit sayr with witt and hardines.
The ostis wictaill worth scant and failȝeit fast.
Thus lay thai thair quhill diuers dayis war past.
The land waistyt and meit was fer to wyn,
Bot that wyst nocht the stuff that was within.
Thai drede full sar for thar awn warnysoun.
For souerance prayed the power off the toun;
To spek with Wallace thai desyryt fast
And he aperyt and speryt quhat thai ast.
The mayr ansuerd, said, “We wald gyff Ransoun
To pas ȝour way and der no mayr the toun.
Gret schaym it war that we suld ȝoldyn be
And townys haldyn off les power than we.
Ȝhe may nocht wyn ws, suthlie, thocht ȝe bid.
We sal gyff gold and ȝhe will fra ws rid.
We may gyff battaill, durst we for our king;
Sen he has left, it war ane our hie thing
Till ws to do with-out his ordinance.
This toun off him we hald in gouernance.”
Wallace ansuerd, “Off your gold rek we nocht.
It is for battaill that we hydder socht.
We had leuir haiff battaill of Ingland,
Than all the gold that gud king Arthour fand
On the Mont Mychell, quhar he the gyand slew!
Gold may be gayn bot worship is ay new.
Ȝour king promyst that we suld battaill haiff.
His wrytt tharto wndyr his seyll he gaiff.
Letter nor band ȝe se may nocht awaill.
Ws for this toun he hecht to gyff battaill.
Me think we suld on his men wengit be;
Apon our kyn mony gret wrang wrocht he,
His dewyllyk deid, he did in-to Scotland.”
The mayr said, “Schyr, rycht thus we wndyrstand;
We haiff no charge quhat our king gerris ws do,
Bot in this kynd we sall be bundyn ȝow to,
Sum-part off gold to gyff ȝou with gud will
And nocht efftyr to wait ȝow with na Ill,
Be no-kyn meyn, the power off this toun,
Bot gyff our king mak him to battaill boun.”
In-to the ost was mony worthi man,
With Wallace ma than I now rekyn can.
Bettir it was for at his will thai wrocht.
Thocht he wes best no nothir lak we nocht.
All seruit thank to Scotland euirmar
For manheid, wit, the quhilk thai schawit thar.
The haill consaill thus demyt thaim amang,
The toun to sege thaim thocht it was to lang
And nocht a-payn to wyn it be no slycht.
The consaill fand it was the best thai mycht
Sum gold to tak, gyff that thai get no mar,
Syne furth thar way in thar wiage thai far.
Than Wallace said, “My selff will nocht consent
Bot gyff this toun mak ws this playne content:
Tak our baner and set it on the wall,
For thar power our rewme has ridyn all;
Ȝoldyn to be quhen we lik thaim to tak,
In-till Ingland residence gyff we mak.”
This ansuer sone thai send in to the mair.
Than thai consent, the Ramaynand that was thar,
The baner wp and set it in the toun,
To Scotland was hie honour and renoun.
That baner thar was fra viii houris to none.
Thar finance maid, delyuerit gold full sone.
V thousand pund, all gud gold off Ingland,
The ost rasawit with wictaill haboundand.
Baith breid and wyne richt gladly furth thai gaiff
And othir stuff at thai likit to haiff.
Xxty dais owt the ost Remaynit thar,
Bot want of wictaill gert thaim fra it far;
Ȝeit still off pees the ost lugyt all nycht
Quhill on the morn the sone was ryssyn on hycht.
In Aperill amang the schawis scheyn,
Quhen the paithment was cled in tendyr greyn,
Plesand war it till ony creatur
In lusty lyff that tym for till endur.
Thir gud wermen had fredome largëly,
Bot fude was scant, thai mycht get nayn to by,
Tursyt tentis and in the contre raid.
On Inglismen full gret herschipe thai maid,
Brynt and brak doun, byggyngis sparyt thai nocht,
Rycht worthi wallis full law to ground thai brocht.
All Mydlam land thai brynt wp in a fyr,
Brak parkis doun, distroyit all the schyr.
Wyld der thai slew for othir bestis was nayn.
Thir wermen tuk off venysoune gud wayn.
Towart the south thai turnyt at the last,
Maid byggyngis bar als fer as euir thai past.
The commons all to London ar thai went
Befor the king and tald him thar entent,
And said thai suld, bot he gert Wallace ces,
Forsaik thair faith and tak thaim till his pes.
Na herrald thar durst than to Wallace pas,
Quharoff the king gretly agrewit was.
Thus Eduuard left his pepill in-to baill.
Contrar Wallace he wald nocht giff battaill
Nor byd in feild, for nocht at thai mycht say,
Gayff our the caus, to London past his way.
At men off wit this questioun her I as,
Amang noblis gyff euir ony that was,
So lang throw force in Ingland lay on cas
Sen Brudus deid, but battaill, bot Wallace.
Gret Iulius, the Empyr had in hand,
Twys off force he was put off Ingland.
Wycht Arthour als off wer quhen that he prewit
Twys thai fawcht, suppos thai war myschewit.
Awfull Eduuard durst nocht Wallace abid
In playn battaill, for all Ingland so wid.
In London he lay and tuk him till his rest
And brak his vow. Quhilk hald ye for the best?
Rycht clayr it is to runsik this questioun.
Deyme as ȝe lest, gud men off discrecioun.
To my sentence now breyffly will I pas.
Quhen Wallace thus throw Ȝorkschyr Iowrnat was,
Wictaill as than was nayne left in the land
Bot in houssis quhar it mycht be warrand.
The ost heroff abaissit was to bid.
Fra fude scantyt na plesance was that tid.
Sum baid ryd haym, sum baid ryd forthermar.
Wallace callit Iop and said till him rycht thar,
“Thow knawis the land, quhar most aboundance is.
Be thow our gyd and than we sall nocht mys
Wictaill to fynd, that wait I wondir weill.
Thow has, I traist, off Ingland mekill feill.
The kyng and his to stark strenthis ar gayn.
Bot ieperte now perell haiff we nayn.”
Than Iop said, “Schir, be ȝe gydyt be me,
The bowndandest part off Ingland ȝe sall se.
Off wyn and quheyt thar is in Rychmwnt schyr
And othir stuff off fud that ȝe desyr,
Quharoff I trow ȝhe sall be weyll content.”
The ost was glaid and thiddyrwart thai went.
Mony trew Scot was semblyt in that land.
To Wallace com weill ma than ix thowsand;
Off presone part, sum had in lawbour wrocht,
Fra athir part full fast till him thai socht.
Wallace was blyth off our awn natiff kyn
That come till him off baill that thai war in,
And all the ost off comforde was the blythar
Fra thar awn folk was multipliand the mar.
In Richmwnt schyr thai fand a gret boundans,
Breid, ayll and wyn, with othir purweans;
Brak parkis doun, slew bestis mony ane,
Off wild and tayme forsuth thai sparyt nane.
Throuch-owt the land thai past in gud aray.
A semly place so fand thai in thar way,
Quhilk Ramswaith hecht, as Iop him selff thaim tald.
Fehew was lord and Captayne in that hald.
V hundreth men was semblit in that place
To sawe thaim selff and thar gud fra Wallace.
A ryoll sted fast by a forest sid,
With turrettis fayr and garrettis off gret prid
Beildyt about, rycht lykly to be wicht,
Awfull it was till ony mannis sicht;
Feill men abown on the wallis buskyt beyn
In gud armour that burnyst was full scheyn.
The ost past by and bot wesyt that place,
Ȝeit thai within on lowd defyit Wallace
And trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun.
Than Wallace said, “Had we ȝon gallandis doun
On the playn ground thai wald mor sobyr be.”
Than Iop said, “Schir, ȝe gart his brodyr de
In harrold weid, ȝe wait, on Tynto hill.”
Wallace ansuerd, “So wald I with gud will
Had I him selff, bot we may nocht thaim der.
Gud men mon thoill off harlottis scorn in wer.”
Schir Ihon the Graym wald at a bykkyr beyn,
Bot Wallace sone that gret perell has seyn,
Commaundit him to lat his seruice be:
“We haiff no men to waist in sic degre.
Wald ye thaim harm I knaw ane othir gait,
How we throuch fyr within sall mak thaim hait.
Fyr has beyn ay full felloun in-to wer.
On sic a place it ma do mekill der.
Thar auld bulwerk I se off wydderyt ayk.
War it in fyr thai mycht nocht stand a straik.
Housis and wod is her enewch plente.
Quha hewis best off this forest lat se.
Pow housis doun, we sall nocht want adeill.
The auld temyr will ger the greyn byrn weill.”
At his commaund full besyly thai wrocht.
Gret wod in haist about the hous thai brocht.
The bulwerk wan thir men off armys brycht;
To the barmkyn laid temyr apon hycht.
Than bowmen schot to kep thaim fra the cast.
The wall about had festnyt firis fast.
Women and barnys on Wallace loud thai cry.
On kneis thai fell and askit him mercy.
At a quartar quhar fyr had nocht ourtayn
Thai tuk thaim out fra that castell off stayn,
Syn bet the fyr with brwndys brym and bauld.
The rude low rais full heych abown that hauld.
Barrellis off pyk, for fence was hungyn thar,
All strak in fyr; the myscheiff was the mar.
Quhen the brym fyr atour the place was past
Than thai with-in mycht nothir schwt no cast.
Als bestiall as hors and nowt within
Amang the fyr thai maid a hidwys dyn.
The armyt men in harnes was so hait
Sum doun to ground duschit but mar debait.
Sum lap, sum fell in-to the felloun fyr,
Smoryt to dede and brynt bathe bayn and lyr.
The fyr brak in at all opynnys about.
Nayn baid on loft, so felloun was the dout.
Fehew him self lap rudly fra the hycht,
Throuch all the fyr can on the barmkyn lycht.
With a gud suerd Wallace strak off his hed.
Iop hynt It wp and turst it fra that sted.
V hundreth men that war in-to that place,
Gat nayne away bot dede with-outyn grace.
Wallace bade still with his power that nycht.
Apon the morn the fyr had failȝeit mycht.
Beffor the ȝett quhar it was brynt on breid
A red thai maid and to the castell ȝeid;
Strak doun the ȝett and tuk that thai mycht wyn,
Iowellys and gold, gret Riches was tharin;
Spulȝeit the place and left nocht ellis thar
Bot bestis brynt, bodyis and wallis bar.
Than tuk thai hyr that wyff was to Fehew,
Gaiff this commaund, as scho was woman trew,
To turs that hed to London to king Eduuard.
Scho it rasawyt with gret sorow in hart.
Wallace him selff thir chargis till hyr gaiff:
“Say to ȝour king, bot gyff I battaill haiff,
At London ȝettis we sall assailȝe sayr.
In this moneth we think for to be thair.
Trastis in treuth, will God, we sall nocht faill,
Bot I rasyst throw chargis off our consaill.
The southmaist part off Ingland we sall se
Bot he sek pes or ellis bargan with me.
Apon a tym he chargyt me on this wys,
Rycht boustously, to mak till him seruice.
Sic sall he haiff as he ws caus has maid.”
Than mowit thai with-out langer abaid.
Deliuerit scho was fra this gud chewalry.
Towart London scho socht rycht ernystfully.
On to the tour but mar proces scho went,
Quhar Eduuard lay sayr murnand in his entent.
His newois hede quhen he saw it was brocht,
So gret sorow sadly apon him socht
With gret wnes apon his feit he stud,
Wepand for wo for his der tendyr blud.
The consaill rais and prayit him for to ces,
“We los Ingland bot gyff ȝe purches pes.”
Than Wodstok said, “This is my best consaill,
Tak pees in tyme as for our awn awaill.
Or we tyne mar ȝeit slaik off our curage.
Erest ȝe may get help to ȝour barnage.”
The king grantyt and bad thaim message send.
Na man was thar that durst to Wallace wend.
The queyn apperyt and saw this gret distance.
Weill born scho was, off the rycht blud off France.
Scho trowit weill tharfor to speid the erar;
Hyr selff purpost in that message to far.
Als scho forthocht at the king tuk on hand
Agayn the rycht so oft to reyff Scotland.
And feill men said the wengeance hapnyt thar,
Off gret murthyr his men maid in-till Ayr.
Thus demyt thai, the consaill thaim amang.
To this effect the qweyn bownyt to gang.
Quhen scho has seyn Ilk man for-sak this thing
On kneis scho fell and askyt at the king:
“Souerane,” scho said, “gyff it ȝour willis be,
At I desyr ȝon chyftayn for to se.
For he is knawin bath hardy, wys and trew,
Perchance he will erar on wemen Rew
Than on ȝour men; ȝhe haiff don him sic der,
Quhen he thaim seis it mowis him ay to wer.
To help this land I wald mak my trawaill.
It ma nocht scaith suppos it do na waill.”
The lordis all off hir desir was fayn.
On-to the king thai maid instans in playn
That scho mycht pas. The king with aukwart will,
Halff in-to yr, has giffyn consent thar-till.
Sum off thaim said the queyn luffyt Wallace
For the gret woice off his hie nobilnas.
A hardy man that is lykly with-all,
Gret fawour will off fortoun till him fall
Anent wemen, is seyne in mony place.
So hapnyt it in his tyme with Wallace.
In his rysing he was a luffar trew
And chesyt ane, quhill Inglismen hir slew.
Ȝeit I say nocht the queyn wald on hir tak
All for his luff sic trawaill for to mak.
Now luff or leiff, or for help off thar land,
I mak rahers as I in scriptour fand.
Scho graithit hir apon a gudlye wis
With gold and ger and folk at hir dewis,
Ladyis with hir, nane othir wald thai send,
And ald preystis that weill the cuntre kend.
Lat I the queyn to message redy dycht
And spek furth mar off Wallace trawaill rycht.
The worthy Scottis amang thar Enemys raid.
Full gret distruccioun amang Sotheron thai maid,
Waistit about the land on athir sid.
Na wermen than durst in thar way abid.
Thai ransoun nane bot to the dede thaim dycht,
In mony steid maid fyris braid and brycht.
The ost was blith and in a gud estate,
Na power was at wald mak thaim debate;
Gret ryches wan off gold and gud thaim till,
Leyffyng enewch to tak at thar awn will.
In awfull fer thai trawaill throuch the land,
Maid byggynis bar that thai befor thaim fand,
Gret barmkynnys brak off stedis stark and strang.
Thir wicht wermen off trawaill thocht nocht lang.
South in the land rycht ernystfully thai socht
To Sanct Tawbawnys, bot harm thar did thai nocht.
The priour send thaim wyne and wenesoun,
Refreschyt the ost with fud in gret fusioun.
The nycht apperyt quhen thai war at the place.
Thai herbreyt thaim fra thine a litill space,
Chesyt a sted quhar thai suld bid all nycht;
Tentis on ground and palȝonis proudly pycht
In-till a waill be a small Rywer fayr,
On athir sid quhar wyld der maid Repayr;
Set wachis owt that wysly couth thaim kepe,
To souppar went and tymysly thai slepe.
Off meit and sleip thai ces with suffisiance.
The nycht was myrk, our drayff the dyrkfull chance;
The mery day sprang fra the oryent,
With bemys brycht enlumynyt the occident.
Eftir Titan, Phebus, wp rysyt fayr,
Heich in the sper the signes maid declayr.
Zepherus began his morow cours.
The swete wapour thus fra the ground resours.
The humyll breyth doun fra the hewyn awaill
In euery meide, bathe fyrth, forrest and daill.
The cler rede amang the Rochis rang
Throuch greyn branchis, quhar byrdis blythly sang
With Ioyus woice in hewynly armony.
Than Wallace thocht it was no tyme to ly.
He croyssit him, syne sodeynli wp rais;
To tak the ayr out off his palȝon gais.
Maister Ihon Blar was redy to Rawes,
In gud entent syne bownyt to the mes.
Quhen it was done Wallace can him aray
In his armour, quhilk gudly was and gay.
His schenand schoys that burnyst was full beyn,
His leg harnes, he clappyt on so clene.
Pullane greis he braissit on full fast,
A clos byrny with mony sekyr cast,
Breyst plait, brasaris, that worthy was in wer.
Besid him furth Iop couth his basnet ber;
His glytterand glowis grawin on athir sid.
He semyt weill in battaill till abid.
His gud gyrdyll and syne his burly brand,
A staff off steyll he gryppyt in his hand.
The ost him blyst and prayit god off his grace
Him to conwoy fra all mystymyt cace.
Adam Wallace and Boid furth with him ȝeid
By a reuir throw-out a floryst meid.
And as thai walk atour the feyldis greyn
Out off the south thai saw quhar at the queyn
Towart the ost come ridand sobyrly,
And fyfty ladyis, was in hyr cumpany,
Waillyt off wit and demyt off renoun;
Sum wedowis war and sum off Religioun;
And vii preistis that entrit war in age.
Wallace to sic did neuir gret owtrage
Bot gyff till him thai maid a gret offens.
Thus prochyt thai on towart thar presens.
At the palȝoun quhar thai the lyoun saw
To ground thai lycht and syne on kneis can faw;
Prayand for pece thai cry with petous cher.
Erll Malcom said, “Our chyftayn is nocht her.”
He bad hyr rys and said it was nocht rycht,
A queyn on kneis till ony lavar wycht.
Wp by the hand the gud Erll has hyr tayn.
Atour the bent to Wallace ar thai gayn.
Quhen scho him saw scho wald haiff knelyt doun.
In armys sone he caucht this queyn with croun
And kyssyt hyr with-outyn wordis mor.
Sa dyd he neuir to na Sotheron befor.
“Madem,” he said, “rycht welcum mot ȝe be.
How plesis ȝow our ostyng for to se?”
“Rycht weyll,” scho said, “off frendschip haiff we neid.
God grant ȝe wald off our nesis to speid.
Suffyr we mon suppos it lik ws ill,
Bot trastis weyll it is contrar our will.”
“Ȝe sall remayn. With this lord I mon gang.
Fra ȝour presens we sall nocht tary lang.”
The Erll and he on to the palȝon ȝeid
With gud awys to deym mar off this deid.
Till consell son Wallace gart call thaim to.
“Lordys,” he said, “ȝe wait quhat is a-do.
Off thar cummyng my selff has na plesance
And herfor mon we wyrk with ordinance.
Wemen may be contempnyng in-to wer
Amang fullis that can thaim nocht forber.
I say nocht this be thir nor ȝeit the queyn.
I trow it be bot gud that scho will meyn,
Bot sampyll tak off lang tym passit by.
At Rownsywaill the tresoun was playnly
Be wemen maid, that Ganȝelon with him brocht,
And Turke wyn; forber thaim couth thai nocht.
Lang ws in wer gert thaim desyr thar will,
Quhilk brocht Charlis to fellon los and Ill;
The flour off France withoutyn redempcioun
Throuch that foull deid was brocht to confusioun.
Commaund ȝour men tharfor in preway wys,
A-payn off lyff thai wyrk nocht on sic wys;
Nane spek with thaim bot wysmen off gret waill,
At Lordis ar and sworn to this consaill.”
Thir chargis thai did als wysly as thai mocht.
This ordynance throw all the ost was wrocht.
He and the Erll bathe to the queyn thai went,
Rasawyt hyr fayr and brocht hyr till a tent,
To dyner bownyt als gudly as thai can
And serwit was with mony likly man.
Gud purwyance the queyn had with hyr wrocht.
A say scho tuk off all thyng at thai brocht.
Wallace persawyt and said, “We haiff no dreid.
I can nocht trow ladyis wald do sic deid,
To poysoun men, for all Ingland to wyn.”
The queyn ansuerd, “Gyff poysoun be tharin,
Off ony thyng quhilk is brocht her with me,
Apon my selff fyrst sorow sall ȝe se.”
Sone eftir meit a marchell gart absent
Bot lordis and thai at suld to consaill went.
Ladyis apperyt in presens with the queyn.
Wallace askyt quhat hyr cummyng mycht meyn.
“For pes,” scho said, “at we haiff to ȝow socht.
This byrnand wer in baill has mony brocht.
Ȝe grant ws pees for him that deit on tre.”
Wallace ansuerd, “Madeym, that may nocht be.
Ingland has doyne sa gret harmys till ws
We may nocht pas and lychtly leiff it thus.”
“Ȝeis,” said the queyne, “for crystyn folk we ar,
For goddis saik, sen we desyr no mar,
We awcht haiff pes.” “Madeym, that I deny.
The perfyt caus I sall ȝow schaw, for quhy
Ȝe seke na pes bot for ȝour awn awaill.
Quhen ȝour fals king had Scotland gryppyt haill,
For nakyn thing that he befor him fand
He wald nocht thoill the rycht blud in our land,
Bot reft thar rent, syne put thaim selff to ded.
Ransoun off gold mycht mak ws na remed.
His fell fals wer sall on him selff be seyn.”
Than sobyrly till him ansuerd the queyn,
“Off thir wrangis amendis war most fair.”
“Madeym,” he said, “off him we ask no mar
Bot at he wald byd ws in-to battaill,
And god be Iuge, he kennys the maist haill.”
“Sic mendis,” scho said, “war nocht rycht gud, think me.
Pes now war best and it mycht purchest be.
Wald ȝhe grant pes and trwys with ws tak,
Throuch all Ingland we suld gar prayeris mak
For ȝow and thaim at in the wer war lost.”
Than Wallace said, “Quhar sic thing cummys throuch bost,
Prayer off fors, quhar-so at it be wrocht,
Till ws helpis litill or ellis nocht.”
Warly scho said, “Thus wysmen has ws kend,
Ay efftir wer pees is the finall end;
Quharfor ȝe suld off ȝour gret malice ces.
The end off wer is cheryte and pes.
Pees is in hewyn with blys and lestandnas.
We sall beseke the pape off his hie grace
Till commaund pes sen we may do na mar.”
“Madeym,” he said, “or ȝour purches cum thar
Mendys we think off Ingland for to haiff.”
“Quhat set ȝow thus,” scho said, “so god ȝow saiff,
Fra violent wer at ȝe lik nocht to duell?”
“Madem,” he said, “the suth I sall ȝow tell.
Eftir the dayt off Alexanderis ryng
Our land stud thre ȝer desolate, but king,
Kepyt full weyll at concord in gud stait.
Throuch ii clempt thar hapnyt gret debait,
So ernystfully, accord thaim nocht thai can.
Ȝour king thai ast for to be thar ourman.
Slely he slayd throuch strenthis off Scotland.
The kynryk syne he tuk in his awn hand.
He maid a kyng agayn our rychtwys law,
For he off him suld hald the Regioun aw.
Contrar this band was all the haill barnage,
For Scotland was ȝeit neuir in-to thrillage.
Gret Iulius that tribut gat off aw,
His wynnyng was in Scotland bot full smaw.
Than your fals king, wndyr colour but mar,
Throuch band he maid till Bruce that is our ayr,
Throuch all Scotland with gret power thai raid,
Wndid that king quhilk he befor had maid.
To Bruce sen syne he kepit na connand.
He said he wald nocht ga and conques land
Till othir men, and thus the cas befell.
Than Scotland throuch he demayned him sell,
Slew our elderis, gret pete was to se.
In presone syne lang tyme thai pynit me
Quhill I fra thaim was castyn out for ded.
Thankit be god, he send me sum Remed.
Wengyt to be I prewyt all my mycht.
Feyll off thar kyn to dede syn I haiff dycht.
The Rage off ȝouth gert me desyr a wyff.
That rewit I sayr and will do all my liff.
A tratour knycht but mercy gert hyr de,
Ane Hessilryg, bot for despit off me.
Than Rang I furth in cruell wer and payn
Quhill we redemyt part off our land agayn.
Than ȝour curst king desyryt off ws a trew,
Quhilk maid Scotland full rathly for to rew.
In-to that pes thai set a suttell ayr.
Than xviii scor to dede thai hangyt thair
At noblis war and worthi off Renoun,
Off cot armys eldest in that regioun.
Thar dede we think to weng in all our mycht.
The woman als that dulfully was dycht,
Out off my mynd that dede will neuir bid
Quhill god me tak fra this fals warld so wid!
Off Sotheroun syn I can no pete haiff.
Ȝour men in wer I think neuir mor to saiff.”
The breith teris, was gret payn to be-hald,
Bryst fra his Eyn be he his taill had tald.
The queyn wepyt for pete off Wallace.
“Allace,” scho said, “wa worth the curssyt cace!
In waryit tym that Hesilryg was born.
Mony worthi throuch his deid ar forlorn.
He suld haiff payn that saikles sic ane slewch.
Ingland sen syn has bocht it der enewch,
Thocht scho had beyn a queyn or a prynsace.”
“Madem,” he said, “as god giff me gud grace,
In-till hir tym scho was als der to me,
Prynsace or queyn, in quhat stait so thai be.”
“Wallace,” scho said, “off this talk we will ces.
The mendis heroff is gud prayer and pes.”
“I grant,” he said. “Off me as now na mayr.
This is rycht nocht bot ekyng off our cayr.”
The queyn fand weyll langage no thing hyr bet.
Scho trowit with gold that he mycht be ourset.
Thre thousand pound off fynest gold so red
Scho gert be brocht to Wallace in that sted.
“Madeym,” he said, “na sic tribut we craiff.
Anothir mendis we wald off Ingland haiff,
Or we raturn fra this regioun agayn,
Off ȝour fals blud that has our elderis slayn.
For all the gold and ryches ȝe in ryng
Ȝe get no pes bot desir off ȝour king.”
Quhen scho saw weill gold mycht hyr nocht releiff,
Sum-part in sport scho thocht him for to preiff.
“Wallace,” scho said, “yhe war clepyt my luff;
Mor baundounly I maid me for to pruff,
Traistand tharfor ȝour Rancour for to slak.
Me think ȝe suld do sum thing for my saik.”
Rycht wysly he maid ansuer to the queyn.
“Madem,” he said, “and verite war seyn
That ȝe me luffyt, I awcht ȝow luff agayn.
Thir wordis all ar no thing bot in wayn.
Sic luff as that is no-thing till awance,
To tak a lak and syne get no plesance.
In spech off luff suttell ȝe Sotheroun ar.
Ȝe can ws mok, suppos ȝe se no mar.”
“In London,” scho said, “for ȝow I sufferyt blaym.
Our consall als will lauch quhen we cum haym.
So may thai say, ‘wemen ar fers off thocht,
To seke frendschip and syne can get rycht nocht’.”
“Madam,” he said, “we wait how ȝe ar send.
Ȝhe trow we haiff bot litill for to spend.
Fyrst with ȝour gold, for ȝe ar rych and wys,
Ȝhe wald ws blynd, sen Scottis ar so nys;
Syn plesand wordis off ȝou and ladyis fair,
As quha suld dryff the byrdis till a swar
With the small pype, for it most fresche will call.
Madem, as ȝit ȝe ma nocht tempt ws all.
Gret part off gud is left amang our kyn.
In Ingland als we fynd enewch to wyn.”
Abayssyt scho was to mak ansuer him till,
“Der schyr,” scho said, “sen this is at ȝour will,
Wer or pes, quhat so ȝow likis best,
Lat ȝour hye witt and gud consaill degest.”
“Madem,” he said, “now sall ȝe wndirstand
The Resone quhy that I will mak na band.
With ȝow ladyis I can na trewis bynd,
For ȝour fals king her-eftir sone wald fynd,
Quhen he saw tyme, to brek it at his will
And playnly say he grantyt nocht thartill.
Than had we nayn bot ladyis to repruff.
That sall he nocht, be god that is abuff!
Vpon wemen I will no wer begyn.
On ȝou, in faith, no worschip is to wyn.
All the haill pas apon him selff he sall tak
Off pees or wer, quhat hapnyt we to mak.”
The qweyn grantyt his ansuer sufficient;
So dyd the layff in place that was present.
His delyuerance thai held off gret awaill
And stark enewch to schaw to thar consaill.
Wa was the qweyn hyr trawaill helpyt nocht.
The gold scho tuk that thai had with hyr brocht;
In-to the ost rycht frely scho it gayff
Till euirylk man that likyt for till haiff.
Till menstrallis, harraldis, scho delt haboundanle,
Besekand thaim hyr frend at that wald be.
Quhen Wallace saw the fredom off the queyn,
Sadly he said, “The suth weyll has beyn seyn,
Wemen may tempt the wysest at is wrocht.
Ȝour gret gentrice it sall neuir be for nocht.
We ȝow assuuer, our ost sall mwff na-thing
Quhyll tym ȝe may send message fra ȝour king.
Gyff it be sa at he accord and we,
Than for ȝour saik it sall the bettir be.
Ȝour harroldys als sal saiffly cum and ga.
For ȝour fredom we sall trowbill na ma.”
Scho thankit him off his grant mony sys
And all the ladyis apon a gudly wys.
Glaidly thai drank, the queyn and gud Wallace,
Thir ladyis als and lordis in that place.
Hyr leyff scho tuk with-out langar abaid,
V myile that nycht south till a nonry raid.
Apon the morn till London passit thai.
In Westmenster quhar at the consaill lay
Wallace ansuer scho gart schaw to the king.
It nedis nocht her rahers mar off this thing.
The gret commend that scho to Wallace gaiff
Befor the king, in presens off the laiff,
Till trew Scottis it suld gretly apples,
Thocht Inglismen tharoff had litill es.
Off worschip, wyt, manheid and gouernans,
Off fredom, trewth, key off Remembrans,
Scho callyt him thar in-to thar hye presens,
Thocht contrar thaim he stud at his defens.
“So chyftaynlik,” scho said, “as he is seyn
In-till Inglande I trow has neuir beyn.
Wald ȝe off gold gyff him this Rewmys rent
Fra honour he will nocht turn his entent.
Sufferyt we ar quhill ȝe may message mak.
Off wys lordis sumpart I reid ȝow tak
To purches pees with-outyn wordis mar,
For all Ingland may rew his raid full sayr.
Ȝour harroldys als to pas to him has leyff.
In all his ost thar sall no man thaim greiff.”
Than thankit thai the queyn for hir trawaill,
The king and lordis that was off his consaill.
Off hyr ansuer the king applessit was.
Than thre gret lordys thai ordand for to pas.
Thar consaill haill has fownd it was the best
Trewis to tak, or ellis thai get no rest.
A harrold went in all the haist he may
Till Tawbane waill quhar at the Scottis lay,
Condeyt till haiff quhill thai haiff said thar will.
The consaill sone a condeyt gaiff him till.
Agayn he past with souerance till his king.
Than chesyt thai thre lordis for this thing,
The keyn Clyffurd, was than thar warden haill,
Bewmont, Wodstok, all men off mekill waill.
Quhat thir thre wrocht the layff suld stand thar-till.
The kingis seyll was gyffyn thaim at thar will.
Sone thai war brocht to spekyng to Wallace.
Wodstok him schawit mony suttell cace.
Wallace, he herd the sophammis euire-deill.
“As ȝeit,” he said, “me think ȝe meyn bot weill.
In wrang ȝe hald, and dois ws gret owtrage,
Off housis part that is our heretage.
Owt off this pees in playn I mak thaim knawin,
Thaim for to wyn, sen that thai ar our awin,
Roxburch, Berweik, at ouris lang tym has beyn,
In-to the handis off ȝou fals Sotherone keyn.
We ask her als, be wertu off this band,
Our ayris, our king, be wrang led off Scotland.
We sall thaim haiff with-outyn wordis mar.”
Till his desyr the lordis grantis thair.
Rycht at his will thai haiff consentit haill,
For nakyn thing the pees thai wald nocht faill.
The ȝong Randell at than in London was,
The lord off Lorn, in this band he can as,
The Erll off Bowchane, bot than in tendyr age—
Eftir he grew a man off hycht, wys and large.
Cumyn and Soullis he gart deliuer als,
Quhilk eftir was till king Robert full fals.
Wallang fled our and durst nocht bid that mute;
In Pykardte till as him was na bute,
Bot Wallace wald erar haff had that fals knycht
Than x thousand off fynest gold so brycht.
The Bruce he askyt, bot he was had away
Befor that tym till Calys mony day.
King Eduuard prewyt that thai mycht nocht him get;
Off Glosestir his wncle had him fet,
At Calys than had haly in kepyng.
Wallace that tym gat nocht his rychtwys king.
The Erll Patrik fra London alsua send
Wyth Wallace to mak, as weill befor was kend,
Off his mater a fynaill gouernance;
Till king Eduuard he gaiff wp his legeance
And tuk till hald off Scotland euirmar.
With full glaid hart Wallace resauit him thar.
Thai honowryt him rycht reuerendly as lord.
The Scottis was all reiosyt off that conford.
A hundreth hors with ȝong lordis off Renoune
Till Wallace com, fred out off that presoune.
Wndyr his seill king Eduuard than gert send
For till gyff our and mak a fynaill end
Roxburch, Berweik, quhilk is off mekill waill
To Scottis men and all the boundis haill.
To fyve ȝer trew thai promyst be thar hand.
Than Wallace said, “We will pas ner Scotland
Or ocht be seld and tharfor mak ws boun.
Agayn we will besid Northallyrtoun,
Quhar king Eduuard fyrst battaill hecht to me.
As it began thar sall it endyt be.
Gret weyll ȝour queyn,” he chargyt the message.
“It is for hyr at we leyff our wiage.”
A day he set quhen thai suld meit him thar
And seill this pees with-outyn wordis mar.
Apon the morn the ost but mar awys
Tranountyt north apon a gudly wys.
To the set tryst that Wallace had thaim maid
The Inglis message com but mar abaid.
Thai seyllyt the pes with-out langar delay.
The message than apon the secund day
Till London went in all the haist thai can.
The worthi Scottis with mony gudly man
Till Bambwrch com with all the power haill,
Sexte thousand, all Scottis off gret waill.
X dayis befor All Halow Ewyn thai fur.
On Lammes day thai lycht on Caram mur.
Thar lugyt thai with plesance as thai mocht,
Quhill on the morn at preistis to thaim socht
In Caram kyrk, and sessyt in his hand
Roxburch keyis as thai had maid connand,
And Berweik als quhilk Sotheroun had so lang.
Thai frede the folk in Ingland for to gang,
For thar lyffis wschet off athir place.
Thai durst nocht weill bid rekynnyng off Wallace.
Capdane he maid in Berweik off Renoun
That worthy was, gud Crystell of Cetoun.
Kepar he left till Roxburch castell wicht
Schir Ihon Ramsay, a wys and worthi knycht.
Syn Wallace selff with Erll Patrik in playn
To Dunbar raid, and restoryt him agayn
In his castell and all that heretage,
With the consent off all the haill barnage.
Quhen Wallace was agreit and this lord,
To rewll the Rewm he maid him gudly ford.
Scotlande atour fra Ros till Soloway sand
He raid it thrys and statut all the land.
In the Leynhous a quhyll he maid repayr.
Schyr Ihon Menteth that tym was captane thar;
Twys befor he had his gossep beyn,
Bot na frendschip betwix thaim syn was seyn!
Twa monethis still he duelt in Dunbertane;
A hous he foundyt apon the Roch off stayne.
Men left he thar till byg it to the hycht,
Syn to the March agayn he rydis rycht.
In-to Roxburch thai chesyt him a place;
A gud tour thar he gert byg in schort space.
The kynrik stud in gud worschip and es.
Was nayn so gret durst his nychtbour disples.
The abill ground gert laubour thryftely.
Wictaill and froyte thar grew aboundandly.
Was neuir befor syn this was callyt Scotland
Sic welth and pes at-anys in the land.
He send Iop twys to Bruce in Huntyntoun,
Besekand him to cum and tak his croun.
Conseill he tuk at fals Saxionis allace.
He had neuir hap in lyff to get Wallace.
Thre ȝer as thus the Rewm stud in gud pes.
Off this saying me wordis for to ces,
And forthyr furth off Wallace I will tell
In-till his lyff quhat awentur ȝeit fell.

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.

BOOK X

The later day off August fell this cace.
For the reskew thus ordanyt wicht Wallace
Off Sanct Ihonstoun that Sothroun occupyit.
Fast towart Tay thai passyt and aspyit,
Or it was day wndyr Kynnowll thaim laid.
Out off the toun as Scottis men till hym said,
That serwandys oysyt with cartis hay to leid,
So was it suth and hapnyt in-to deid.
Saxsum thar com and brocht bot cartis thre.
Quhen thai off hay was ladand most bysse,
Guthre with ten in handys has thaim tayn,
Put thaim to dede, off thaim he sawyt nayn.
Wallace gert tak in haist thar humest weid
And sic-lik men thai waillyt weill gud speid.
Four was rycht rud. Wallace hym selff tuk ane,
A rwsset clok; and with him gud Ruwane,
Guthre, Besat, and als gud ȝemen twa,
In that ilk soit thai graithit thaim to ga.
Xv thai tuk off men in armes wicht;
In ilk cart v thai ordanyt owt off sycht.
Full sutelly thai coueryt thaim with hay,
Syne to the toun thai went the gaynest way.
Thir cartaris, had schort suerdis off gud steill
Wndyr thar weidis, callyt furth the cartis weill.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay baid with a buschement still,
Quhen myster war to help thaim with gud will.
Thir trew cartaris past on with-outyn let
A-tour the bryg and entryt throu the ȝet;
Quhen thai war in thar clokis kest thaim fra.
Gud Wallace than the mayster portar can ta
Wpon the ned, quhill dede he has him left,
Syn othir twa the lyff fra thaim has reft.
Guthre, Besat, did rycht weyll in the toun
And Ruwan als dang off thar famen doun.
The armyt men, was in the cartis brocht,
Rais wp and weill thar dawern has wrocht.
Apon the gait thai gert feill Sothroun de.
The Ramsais spy has seyn thaim get entre;
The buschement brak, bathe bryg and port has won.
Into the toun gret stryff thar was begon.
Twentie and ane, or Ramsay come in playn,
Within the toun had saxte Sotheroun slayn.
The Inglismen on till aray was gayn.
The Scottis as than layser leit thaim get nayn.
Fra gud Ramsay with his men entryt In
Thai sawit nayn was born off Inglis kyn.
Als Longaweill, the wicht knycht schir Thomas,
Prewyt weill than and in mony othir place.
Agayn his dynt few Inglismen mycht stand.
Wallace with him gret faith and kyndnes fand.
The Sotheroun part saw weill the toun was tynt;
Freschly thai ferd as fyr dois out off flynt.
Sum fled, sum fell in-to draw dykis deip,
Sum to the kyrk thar lywys giff thai mycht keip;
Sum fled to Tay and in small weschell ȝeid,
Sum derffly deit and drownyt in that steid.
Schir Ihon Sewart at the west port owt past;
Till Meffen wod he sped him wondyr fast.
A hundreth men the kyrk tuk for succour
Bot Wallace wald no grace grant in that hour;
He bad slay all off cruell Sotheroun keyn,
Said thai had to Sanct Ihonstoun Enemys beyn.
Four hundreth men in-to the toun war ded.
Sewyn scor with lyff chapyt out off that sted.
Wyffis and barnys thai maid thaim fre to ga;
With Wallace wyll he wald sla nayn off tha.
Riches thai fand that Inglismen had brocht new,
Syn plenyst the toun with worthi Scottis trew.
Schyr Ihon Sewart left Meffen forest strang,
Went to the Gask with feyll Sotheroun amang
And syn in Fyff quhar Wallang schirreff was;
Send currowris sone out throw the land to pas
And gaderyt men, a stalwart cumpany.
Till Ardargan he drew him prewaly,
Ordand thaim in bargan reddy boun.
Agayn he thocht to sailȝe Sanct Ihonstoun,
Quhar Wallace lay and wald no langar rest,
Rewllyt the toun as that him likyt best.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay gret captane ordand he,
Ruwan schirreff, at ane accord for to be.
This charge he gaiff, gyff men thaim warnyng maid
To cum till him with-outyn mor abaid,
And so thai did quhen tithingis was thaim brocht.
With a hundreth Wallace furth fra thaim socht.
To Fyfe he past to wesy that cuntre,
Bot wrangwarnyt off Inglismen was he.
Schyr Ihon Sewart, quhen thai war passyt by,
Fra the Ochell he sped him haistely,
Vpon Wallace folowit in all his mycht,
In Abyrnethy tuk lugyng that fyrst nycht.
Apon the morn with xv hundreth men
Till Blak Irnsyde his gydys couth thaim ken.
Thar Wallace was and mycht no message send
Till Sanct Ihonstoun, to mak this Iornay kend,
For Inglismen that full sutell has beyn
Gart wachis walk that nayn mycht pas betweyn.
Than Wallace said, “This mater payis nocht me.”
He cald till him the squier gud Guthre
And Beset als, that knew full weyll the land,
And ast at thaim quhat deid was best on hand,
“Message to mak our pouer for to get.
With Sotheroun sone we sall be wmbeset;
And wykked Scottis that knawis this forest best,
Thai ar the caus that we may haiff no rest.
I dreid fer mar Wallang that is thar gyd
Than all the layff that cummys on that syd.”
Than Guthre said, “Mycht we get ane or tway
To Saynct Iohnstoun, it war the gaynest way,
And warn Ramsay, we wald get succour sone.
Our suth it is it can nocht now be don.
Rycht weyll I wait weschell is lewyt nayn
Fra the Wood hawyn to the ferry cald Aran.”
Than Wallace said, “The water awfull is.
My selff can swym, I trow, and fall na mys,
Bot currours oys, that gaynis nocht for me;
And leyff ȝow her ȝet had I leuir de.
Throw goddis grace we sall bettir eschew.
The strenth is stark, als we haiff men Inew.
In Elchoch park bot fourty thar war we
For sewyn hundreth and gert feill Sothron de,
And chapyt weill in mony wnlikly place;
So sall we her throw help off goddis grace.
Quhill men may fast thir woddis we may hauld still.
Forthi ilk man be off trew hardy will,
And at we do so nobill in-to deid
Off ws be found no lak eftir to reid.
The rycht is ouris, we suld mor ardent be.
I think to freith this land or ellis de.”
His waillyt spech, with wit and hardyment,
Maid all the layff so cruell off entent
Sum bad take feyld and gyff battaill in playn.
Wallace said, “Nay, thai wordys are in wayn.
We will nocht leyff that may be our wantage.
The wod till ws is worth a ȝeris wage.”
Off hewyn temyr in haist he gert thaim tak,
Syllys off ayk, and a stark barres mak
At a foyr frount, fast in the forest syd,
A full gret strenth quhar thai purpost to bid;
Stellyt thaim fast till treis that growand was
That thai mycht weyll in fra the barres pas,
And so weill graithit on athir sid about
Syn com agayn, quhen thai saw thaim in dout.
Be that the strenth arayit was at rycht
The Inglis ost approchyt to thair sycht.
Than Sewart com that way for till haiff wend
As thai war wount, so his gydis thaim kend.
At that entre thai thocht till haiff passage
But sone thai fand that maid thaim gret stoppage.
A thousand he led off men in armes strang.
With v hundreth he gert Ihon Wallang gang
With-out the wod that nayn suld pas thaim fra.
Wallace with him had fourty archarys thra;
The layff was speris, full nobill in a neid.
On thar Enemys thai bykkyr with gud speid.
A cruell cwntyr was at the barres seyn.
The Scottis defens so sykkyr was and keyn
Sotheroun stud aw to enter thaim amang.
Feill to the ground thai our-threw in that thrang.
A rowm was left quhar part in frount mycht fayr.
Quha entrit In agayn ȝeid neuirmar.
Fourty thai slew that formast wald haiff past.
All dysarayit the ost was and agast,
And part off hors, throw schot to dede was brocht,
Brak to a playn. The Sotheroun fra them socht.
The Sewart said, “Allace, how may this be
And do no harm? Our gret rabut haiff we.”
He cald Wallang and askyt his consaill:
“Schyrreff thow art. Quhat may be our awaill?
Bot few thai ar that makis this gret debait.”
Iohn Wallang said, “This is the best I wait,
To ces her-off and remayn her besyd,
For thai may nocht lang in this forest byd.
For fawt off fud thai mon in the cuntre.
Than war mar tym to mak on thaim melle.
Or thai be won befors in-to this stryff
Feyll at ȝe leid sall erar los the lyff.”
Than Sewart said, “This reid I will nocht tak.
And Scottis be warnyt reskew sone will thai mak.
Off this dispyt amendys I think to haiff,
Or de thar-for in nowmyr with the laiff.
In-till a rang myselff on fut will fayr.”
Viii hundreth he tuk off liklyest that was thair,
Syn bad the layff bid at the barres still
With Ihon Wallang to rewyll thaim at this will.
“Wallang,” he said, “be forthwart in this cace.
In sic a swar we couth nocht get Wallace.
Tak hym or sla, I promes the be my lyff
That king Edwart sall mak the Erll off Fyff.
At ȝon est part we think to enter in.
I bid no mar. Mycht ȝe this barres wyn,
Fra thai be closyt graithly amang ws sa,
Bot merwell be, thai sall na ferrer ga.
Assailȝe sayr quhen ȝe wit we cum ner.
On athir sid we sall hald thaim on ster.”
Thus semlyt thai apon ane awfull wys.
Wallace has seyn quhat was thair haill dewys.
“Gud men,” he said, “wndirstud ȝe this deid?
Forsuth thai ar rycht mekill for to dreid.
Ȝon Sewart is a nobill, worthy knycht,
Forthwart in wer, rycht hardy, wys and wicht.
His assailȝe he ordannys wondyr sayr.
Ws for to harm no mannys wyt can do mar.
Plesand it is to se a chyftane ga
So chyftanlyk; it suld recomfort ma
Till his awn men, and thai of worschip be,
Than for to se x thousand cowartis fle.
Sen we are stad with Enemys on Ilk syd
And her on fors mon in this forest bid,
Than fray the fyrst for goddis saik cruellye,
That all the layff off ws abayssyt be.”
Crawfurd he left and Longaweill the knycht,
Fourty with thaim, to kepe the barres wicht.
With him saxte off worthy men in weid
To meit Sewart with hardy will thai ȝeid.
A maner dyk in-to that wod wes maid
Off thuortour rys, quhar bauldly thai abaid.
A doun-with waill the Sothroun to thaim had.
Son semblyt thai with strakis sar and sad.
Scharp sperys fast duschand on athir sid
Throw byrnys brycht maid woundis deip and wid.
This wantage was, the Scottis thaim dantyt swa,
Nayn Inglisman durst fra his feris ga
To brek aray, or formast entyr in.
Off crystin blud to se it was gret syn
For wrangwis caus, and has beyn mony day.
Feyll Inglismen in the dyk deid thai lay.
Speris full sone all in-to splendrys sprang.
With scharp suerdys thai hew on in that thrang.
Blud byrstyt out throw fyn harnes off maill.
Ihon Wallang als full scharply can assaill
Apon Crawfurd and the knycht Longaweill,
At thar power kepyt the barres weill,
Maid gud defens be wyt, manheid and mycht.
At the entre feyll men to dede thai dycht.
Thus all at-anys assailȝeit in that place,
Nayn that was thar durst turn fra the barrace
To help Wallace, nor none of his durst pas
To reskew thaim, so feyll the fechtyng was.
At athir ward thai handelyt thaim full hayt.
Bot do or de na succour ellis thai wayt.
Wallace wes stad in-to that stalwart stour,
Guthre, Besat, with men off gret walour,
Rychard Wallace that worthi was off hand.
Sewart merweillyt that contrar thaim mycht stand,
That euyr so few mycht byd in battaill place
Agaynys thaim and metyng face for face.
He thocht hym selff to end that mater weill,
Fast pressyt in with a gud suerd off steill.
In-to the dyk a Scottis man gert he de.
Wallace tharoff in hart had gret pyte.
Amendis till haiff he followit on him fast,
Bot Inglismen so thik betwex thaim past
That apon him a strak get mycht he nocht.
Wthyr worthy derffly to dede he brocht.
Sloppys thai maid throu all that chewalry.
The hardy Scottis thai wrocht so worthely.
Than Sothron saw off thar gud men so drest,
Langar to bid thai thocht it nocht the best.
Four scor was slayn or thai wald leyff that steid
And fyfty als was at the barrace deid.
A trumpet blew and fra the wod thai draw.
Wallang left off, that sycht fra that he saw.
To sailȝe mar thaim thocht it was no speid.
Withowt the wod to consaill son thai ȝeid.
The worthy Scottis to rest thaim was full fayn.
Feyll hurtis had bot few off thaim was slayn.
Wallace thaim bad of all gud comfort be:
“Thankit be god, the fayrer part haiff we.
Ȝon knycht Sewart has at gret Iornay beyn.
So sair assay I haiff bot seildyn seyn.
I had leuir off Wallang wrokyn be
Than ony man that is off ȝon menȝhe.”
The Scottis all on to the barres ȝeid,
Stanchit woundis that couth full braithly bleid.
Part Scottis men had bled full mekill blud.
For faut off drynk and als wantyng off fud
Sum feblyt fast that had feill hurtis thar.
Wallace tharfor sichit with hart full sar.
A hat he hynt, to get water is gayn.
Othir refut as than he wyst off nayn.
A litill strand he fand that ran hym by.
Off cler watter he brocht haboundandly,
And drank him selff, syn said with sobyr mud,
“The wyn off Frans me thocht nocht halff so gud.”
Than off the day three quartaris was went.
Schir Ihon Sewart has castyn in his entent:
To sailȝe mar as than he couth nocht preiff,
Quhill on the morn that mar men couth raleiff
And kep thaim in, quhill thai for hungyr sor
Cum in his will or ellis de tharfor.
“Wallange,” he said, “I charge the for to bid
And kep thaim In. I will to Coupar rid.
Thow sall remayn with v hundreth at thi will,
And I the morn sall cum with power the till.”
Ihon Wallange said, “This charg her I forsaik.
Eftir this day all nycht I may nocht waik;
For trastis weill, thai will ische to the playn,
Thocht ȝe bid als, or ellis de in the payn.”
Sewart bad byd or undyrly the blaym:
“I the commaund on gud king Eduuardis naym,
Or thar to god a vow I mak beforn,
And thai brek out, to hyng the heych to-morn!”
Off that commaund Ihon Wallang had gret dreid.
Sewart went fra thaim with ix scor in-to deid.
Next hand the wod and his gud men off Fyff,
That with him baid in all term off thar lyff,
Wallace drew ner, his tym quhen that he saw,
To the wod syd and couth on Wallang caw:
“Ȝon knycht to-morn has hecht to hyng the hie.
Cum in-till ws. I sall thi warrand be
In-contrar him and all king Eduuardis mycht.
Tak we him quyk I sall him hyng on hycht,
And gud lordschip I sall gyff the hereft
In this ilk land, that thi brothir has left.”
Wallange was wys, full sone couth wndyrstand
Be lyklynes Wallace suld wyn the land,
And better him war in-to the rycht to bid
Than be in wer apon the Sotheroun sid.
Wyth schort wysment to Wallace in thai socht.
Than Sewart criyt and said, “That beis for nocht,
And fals off kynd thow art in heretage.
Eduuard on the has waryt ewill gret wage.
Her I sall byd my purpos to fulfill,
Othir to de or haiff the at my will.”
For all his spech to pas he wald nocht spar.
Wyth full glaid hart Wallace resawyt thaim thar.
Be that Ruwan and Ramsay off renown,
Be a trew Scot that past to Sanct Ihonstoun,
Thaim warnyng maid that Sewart folowit fast
Apon Wallace, than war thai sayr agast;
Owt off the toun thai wschit with all thar mycht,
With thre hundreth that worthi war and wicht,
Till Blak Irnsid assemblyt in that place
As Wallang was gayn in to gud Wallace.
The knycht Sewart has weill thar cummyng seyn,
A fayr playn feild he chesyt thaim betweyn.
Xi hundreth and four scor than had he.
The Scottis men war v hundreth and saxte;
Thai war bot few a playn feild for to tak.
Out of the wod gud Wallace can him mak.
He wyst no thing off thaim that cummyn was;
Mar hardement was fra the strenth to pas.
Bot quhen thai hard Ruwan and Ramsay cry,
Off Ochtyrhous, blyth was that chewalry.
Mycht thai off gold haiff brocht a kingis rent,
To gud Wallace mycht nocht so weyll content.
Than till aray thai ȝeid on athir sid
In cruell Ire, in battaill bown to byd.
Worthiar men than Sewart semblyt thar
In all his tym Eduuard had neuirmar.
Bot Sewart saw his nowmyr was fer ma;
Hys power sone he gart dewyd in twa.
To fecht at-anys rycht knychtlik he thaim kend,
In that Iornay othir to wyn or end.
The worthi Scottis ruschyt on thaim in gret Ire
With cruell strakis that flawmyt fers as fyr.
Wallace and his, als Sotheroun that was thar
Few speris had for feyll fechtyng and sar
In-to the wod at sailȝe all the day,
Bot new cummyn men weill waillyt speris had thai.
In-to the stour thai gart feill Sotheroun de.
Thar cruell deid gret merweill was to se.
Thai worthi Scottis that fyrst amang thaim baid
Full gret slauchtir on Inglismen thai maid;
In-to the wod befor had prewyt weill,
Than on the playn thai sonȝeit nocht adeill
In curage grew as thai war new begon.
Schort rest thai had fra ryssyng off the son.
Be that Ramsay and with him gud Ruwar
Throw-owt the thykkest off the pres is gan.
Sloppis thai maid amang the Inglismen,
Deseueryt thaim be twenty and by ten;
Quhen sperys war gayn, with suerdys off metall cler
Till Inglismen thar cummyng sauld full der.
Wallace and his be worthines off hand
Feyll Sotheroun blud gart licht wpon the land.
The twa feildys togiddyr relyt than.
Schyr Ihon Sewart, with mony nobill man
To help thair lord, with thre hundreth in place
About hym stud and did thair besinas,
Defendand him with mony awfull dynt,
Quhill all the owtwart off the feild was tynt.
Off comowns part in to the forest fled,
Succour to sek thar men had thaim so led.
The Scottis has seyn so mony in a rout
With Sewart stand, na warrand thaim about;
Apon all syd assailȝeit wondyr sayr,
Throu polyt platis with poyntis persyt thair.
The Sotheroun maid defens full cruelly.
All occupyit was this gud chewalry.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay wald thai had ȝoldyn beyn.
Wallace said, “Nay, it is all wrang ȝe meyn.
Ranson to mak we can nocht now begyn.
On sic awys this land we may nocht wyn.
Ȝon knycht off lang our auld Enemy has beyn.
So fell till ws off thaim I haiff nocht seyn.
Now he sall de; with help off goddis grace
He com to pay his Ranson in this place.”
The Sotheroun wyst all playnly for to de,
Reskew was nayn suppos at thai wald fle.
Freschlye thai faucht as thai war entryt new.
Apon our sid part worthy men thai slew.
Than Sewart said, “Alace, throw wrangwis thing
Our lywys we los, throu desyr off our king.”
The felloun knycht dowtyt his dede rycht nocht.
Amang the Scottis full manfully he wrocht.
Besat he straik to dede with-outyn mar.
Wallace prest in with his suerd burnyst bar.
At Sewartis hals he etlyt in gret Ire,
Throu pissanis stuff in sondyr strak the swyr.
Dede to the ground he duschit for all his mycht.
Off Wallace hand thus endyt this gud knycht.
The ramaynand with-out mercy thai sla.
For gud Besat the Scottis was wondyr wa.
In handis sum thai straik with-out remed.
Na Sotheroun past with lyff out off that sted.
Than to the wod, for thaim that left the feild,
A rang thai set, thus thai may get na beild.
Ȝeid nayn away was contrar our punȝoun.
Gud Ruwan past agayn to Sanct Ihonstoun.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay to Coupar castell raid.
That hous he tuk, for defens nayn was maid.
Wallace, Crawfurd, and with thaim gud Guthre,
Rychard Wallace had lang beyn in melle,
And Longaweill, in-to Lundoris baid still.
Fastyt thai had to lang agayn thar will.
Wallange thai maid thar stwart for to be.
Off meit and drynk thai fand aboundandle.
The priour fled and durst na reknyng bid;
He was befor apon the tothir syd.
Apon the morn to Sanct Androwis thai past,
Owt off the toun that byschop turnyt fast.
The kyng off Ingland had him hydder send;
The rent at will he gaiff hym in commend.
His kingis charge as than he durst nocht hald.
A wrangwys pape that tyrand mycht be cald.
Few fled with him and gat away be see.
For all Scotland he wald nocht Wallace se.
As than off him he maid bot lycht record,
Gert restor him that thar was rychtwys lord.
The worthy knycht that in-to Coupar lay
Gart spulȝe it apon the secund day,
Syn ordand men, at the commaund off Wallace,
But mar proces for to cast doun that place.
Mynouris sone thai gert pers throw the wall,
Syn pounciouns fyryt and to the ground kest all.
Schyr Ihon Ramsay syne to the kyrk can fayr.
Sotheroun was fled and left bot wallis bayr.
Eftir Sewart thai durst nocht tary lang.
The Scottis at large out throu all Fyff thai rang,
Off Inglismen nayn left in that cuntre;
Bot in Lochlewyn thair lay a cumpane,
Apon that Inch, in a small hous thai dycht,
Castell was nayn, bot wallyt with water wicht.
Besyd Carraill thai semblyt Wallace beforn.
His purpos was for till assay Kyngorn.
A knycht hecht Gray, than Captane in It was,
Be schort awys purpos he tuk to pas.
Erar he wald bid chalans off his king
Than with Wallace to rakyn for sic a thing.
That hous thai tuk and litill tary maid.
Apon the morn with-outyn mar abaid
Atour the mur, quhar thai a tryst had set,
Ner Scotlande Well thair lugyng tuk but let.
Eftir souper Wallace bad thaim ga rest:
“My selff will walk. Me think it may be best.”
As he commaundyt but gruching thai haiff don.
In-to thar slep Wallace him graithit son,
Past to Lochlewyn as it was ner mydnycht,
Xviii with him at he had warnyt rycht.
Thir men wend weill he come to wesy it.
“Falows,” he said, “I do ȝow weill to wyt;
Considyr weill this place and wndirstand
That it may do ful gret scaith to Scotland.
Out off the south and power cum thaim till
Thai may tak In and kepyt at thair awn will.
Apon ȝon Inche rycht mony men may be
And syn wsche out thar tym quhen at thai se.
To bid lang her we may nocht wpon chans.
Ȝon folk has fud, trast weill, at sufficians.
Wattir fra thaim forsuth can nocht be set.
Sum wthyr wyill ws worthis for to get.
Ȝhe sall remayn her at this port all still
And I my selff the boit sall bryng ȝow till.”
Thair-with in haist his weid off castis he,
“Apon ȝon sid na wachman can I se”;
Held on his sark and tuk his suerd so gud,
Band on his nek, and syn lap in the flud
And our he swam, for lattyng fand he nocht.
The boit he tuk and till hys men it brocht,
Arayit him weill and wald no langar bid,
Bot passyt In, rowit to the tothir sid.
The Inch thai tuk with suerdis drawyn in hand
And sparyt nayn that thai befor thaim fand,
Strak duris wp, stekyt men quhar thai lay.
Apon the Sothroun thus sadly semblyt thai.
Xxxty thai slew that was in that Samyn place.
To mak defens the Inglismen had no space.
Thar women v Wallace send off that sted.
Woman nor barn he gart neuir put to dede.
The gud thai tuk as it had beyn thar awyn.
Than Wallace said, “Falowis, I mak ȝow knawin,
The purwyance that is with-in thir wanys
We will nocht tyne. Ger sembyll all at-anys.
Gar warn Ramsay and our gud men Ilkan.
I will remayn quhill this warnstor be gan.”
Send furth a man, thar horsis put to kep,
Drew wp the boit, syne beddys tuk to sleip.
Wallace power, quhilk Scotland Well ner lay,
Befor the son thai myssyt him away.
Sum menyng maid and merweillyt off that cace.
Ramsay bad, “Ces, and murn nocht for Wallace.
It is for gud at he is fra us went.
It sall ȝe se, trast weill in werrament,
My hed to wed Lochlewyn he past to se.
Bot that is thar, no Inglisman knaw we
In all this land betwix thir watteris left.
Tithandis off hym ȝe sall se son hereft.”
As thai about was talkand on this wys
A message com and chargyt thaim to rys.
“My lord,” he said, “to dyner has ȝow cald
In-till Lochlewyn, quhilk is a ryoll hald.
Ȝe sall fair weyll, tharfor put off all sorow.”
Thai graithit thaim rycht ayrly on the morow
And thidder past off Wallace will to wytt.
Thus semblyt thai in a full blyth falowschip.
Thai lugyt thar till viii dayis was at end.
Off meit and drynk thai had Inewch to spend;
Turssyt furth ger that Sothroun had brocht thar,
Gert byrn the boit, till Sanct Ihonstoun thai fair.
Byschop Synclar, that worthy was and wys,
Till Wallace com and tald him his awys.
Thus he desyryt Wallace suld with him ryd
And in Dunkell soiorn that wynter tyd.
Bot he said, “Nay, that hald I nocht the best.
And Scotland thus, in pes we can nocht rest.”
The byschop said, “Playnly ȝe may nocht wend.
In-to the north for men I rede ȝow send.”
“I grant,” quod he, and cheissit a messynger,
The worthi Iop, was with the byschop ther;
And maister Blair to Wallace com bot baid
With that gud lord, that nobill cher thaim maid.
Wallace send Blayr, in-to his preistis weid,
To warn the west, quhar freyndys had gret dreid
How they suld pas or to gud Wallace wyn;
For Inglismen, thai held thaim lang in twyn.
Adam Wallace and Lyndsay that was wycht,
Rawchle thai left and went away be nycht;
Throu-out the land to the Lennox thai cair
Till erll Malcom that welcummyt thaim full fair.
Maister Ihon Blair was blith off that semble.
Gud Graym was thair and Richard off Lunde,
Als Robert Boid that out off But thaim socht.
Had thai Wallace off no thing ellis thai roucht,
Bot Inglismen betuix thaim was so strang
That thai in playn mycht nocht weyll to him gang.
Iop past north, for leiching wald nocht let.
Gret power thar as than he couth nocht get.
The lord Cwmyn, that Erll off Bouchane was,
For auld Inwy he wald lat na man pas
That he mycht let, in gud Wallace supple.
For Erll Patrik a playn feild kepyt he.
Ȝeit pur men com and prewyt all thair mycht
To help Wallace, in fens off Scotlandis rycht.
The gud Randell, in tendyr age was kend,
Part off gud men out off Murray he send.
Iop past agayn and com in presens sone
Befor Wallace and tauld how he had don;
Bot maister Blayr so gud tithingis him brocht
That off Cwmyn Wallace full litill rocht.
Als Inglismen had than full mekill dreid;
Fra Fyff was tynt the war thai trowyt to speid.
The duk and Erll that in Scotland thaim led
Captanys thai maid, In Ingland syn thaim sped.
Wallace hym bownyt, qwhen he thocht tym suld be,
Off Sanct Ihonstoun and with him tuk fyfte.
Stewin off Irland and Kerle that was wicht,
For Inglismen thai had haldyn the hycht
In wathman lyff, and fayndyt thaim rycht weill.
Till gud Wallace thai war als trew as steill;
To folow him thai twa thocht neuyr lang.
Throuch the Ochell thai maid thaim for to gang.
Off mar power he taryt nocht that tyd.
To keip the land he gert the laiff abid.
To Styrlyng bryg as than he wald nocht pas
For strang power of Inglismen thar was.
Till Erth ferry thai passit prewaly
And buschit thaim in a dern sted thar by.
A cruell Captane in-till Erth duelt thar,
In Ingland born and hecht Thomlyn off Wayr.
A hundreth men was at his ledyng still.
To bruk that land thai did power and will.
A Scottis fyschar quhilk thai had tayn beforn,
Contrar his will gert him be to thaim suorn,
In thar seruice thai held him day and nycht.
Befor the son Wallace gart Iop him dycht
And send him furth the passage for to spy.
On that fyschar he hapnyt sodandly,
All him allayn bot a boy that was thar.
Iop hynt hym son, and for no dreid wald spar,
Be the collar, and owt a knyff pullit he.
“For goddis saik,” this man askit, “merce!”
Iop sperd sone, “Off quhat nacioun art thow?”
“A Scot,” he said, “bot Sothroun gart me vow
In thar seruice, agayn my will full sayr;
Bot for my lyff that I remaynit thair.
To sek fysch I com on this north sid.
Be ȝe a Scot I wald fayn with ȝow bid.”
Than he him brocht in presens to Wallace.
The Scottis was blyth quhen thai haiff seyn this cace,
For with his boit thai mycht weill passage hawe.
For fery craft na fraucht he thocht to crawe.
Apon that syd langar thai taryed nocht.
Till the south land with glaid hartis thai socht,
Syn brak the boit quhen thai war landyt thayr.
Serwice off it Sotheroun mycht haiff no mayr.
Than throuch the mos thai passit full gud speid.
Till the Torwod this man with thaim thai leid.
The wedow thar brocht tithandis to Wallace
Off his trew Eyme that duelt at Dunypace.
Thomlyn off Wayr in presoun had him set
For mar tresour na he befor mycht get.
Wallace said, “Deym, he sall weill lowsyt be
Be none to-morn, or ma tharfor sall de.”
Scho gat thaim meit and in quiet thai baid
Quhill it was nycht, syn redy sone thaim maid,
Towart Arth hall rycht sodeynly thaim drew.
A strenth thar was that weyll the fyschar knew,
Off draw dykis and full off watter wan.
Wysly tharoff has warnyt thaim this man.
On the baksid he led thaim prewale,
Fra the watter as wont to cum was he.
Our a small bryg gud Wallace entryt In.
In-to the hall hym selff thocht to begyn.
Fra the sowper as thai war bown to rys
He salust thaim apon ane awfull wys.
His men hym folowit sodanly at-anys.
Haisty sorow was rassyt in thai wanys;
With scherand suerdis scharply about thaim dang.
Feyll on the flur was fellyt thaim amang.
With Thomlyn Wayr Wallace hym selff has met,
A felloun strak sadly apon him set,
Throuch hede and swyr all throuch the cost him claiff.
The worthy Scottis fast stekit off the layff,
Kepyt duris and dulfully thaim dycht.
To chaip away the Sotheroun had no mycht.
Sum wyndowys socht for till haiff brokyn out,
Bot all for nocht, full fey was maid that rout.
Aboue the fyr bruschit the blud so red.
A hundreth men was slayn in-to that sted.
Than Wallace socht quhar his wncle suld be.
In a dyrk cawe he was set dulfulle,
Quhar watter stud, and he in yrnys strang.
Wallace full sone the brasis wp he dang,
Off that myrk holl brocht him with strenth and lyst.
Bot noyis he hard, off no thing ellis he wyst.
So blyth befor in warld he had nocht beyn
As thar with sycht quhen he had Wallace seyn.
In dykys owt the dede bodyis thai kest,
Graithyt the place as at thaim likyt best,
Maid still gud cher and wys wachis gert set.
Quhill ner the day thai slepe with-outyn let;
Quhen thai had lycht spulȝeid the place in hy,
Fand gaynand ger, baithe gold and Iowelry;
Our all that day in quiet held thaim still.
Quhat Sothroun come thai rasawyt with gud will.
In that laubour the Scottis was full bayn:
Inglismen com bot nayn ȝeid owt agayn,
Women and barnys put in the presonys cawe
So thai mycht mak no warnyng to the lawe.
Stewyn off Irland and Kerle that wes wicht
Kepyt the port. Apon the secund nycht,
Befor the day, the worthy Scottis rays,
Turssyt gud ger and to the Torwod gays;
Remaynyt thar quhill nycht was cummyn on hand,
Syn bownyt thaim in quiet throuch the land.
The wedow sone, fra thai had passit dout,
A serwand send and leit the women out
To pas fra Arth, quhar at thaim likit best.
Now spek off thaim that went in-to the west.
Wallace hym selff was sekyr gyd that nycht.
Till Dunbertane the way he chesyt rycht.
Or it was day, for than the nycht was lang,
On to the toun full prewaly thai gang.
Mekill off it Inglismen occupyit.
Gud Wallace sone throu a dyrk garth him hyit
And till a hous, quhar he was wont to ken
A wedow duelt, was frendfull till our men.
Abone hyr bed, on the baksid, was maid
A dern wyndow, was nothir lang nor braid;
Thar Wallace cauld, and sone fra scho him knew
In haist scho rays, and prewaly thaim In drew
Till a clos bern quhar thai mycht kepyt be.
Baith meit and drynk scho brocht in gret plente.
A gudly gyft to Wallace als scho gaiff,
A hundreth pownd and mar atour the layff.
Ix sonnys scho had, was lykly men and wicht,
Ane ayth till him scho gart thaim swer full rycht.
In pees thai duelt, in trubyll that had beyn,
And trewbut payit till Inglis capdanis keyn.
Schir Ihon Menteth the castell had in hand,
Bot sum men said thar was a prewa band
Till Sotheroun maid, be menys off that knycht,
In thar supple to be in all his mycht.
Tharoff as now I will no proces mak.
Wallace that day a schort purpos can tak.
Quhen it was nycht he bad the wedow pas,
Merk all the duris quhar Sotheroun duelland was;
Syn efftir this he and his chewalry
Graithyt thaim weill and wapynnys tuk in hy,
Went on the gayt quhen Sotheroun was on slep.
A gret oystre our Scottis tuk to kep.
Ane Inglis captane was sittand wp so lait
Quhill he and his with drynk was maid full mait.
Nyn men was thar now set in hye curage:
Sum wald haiff had gud Wallace in that rage,
Sum wald haiff bound schir Ihon the Grayme throuch strenth,
Sum wald haiff had Boyd at the suerdis lenth,
Sum wyst Lundy that chapyt was off Fyff,
Sum wychtar was na Cetoun in-to stryff.
Quhen Wallace hard the Sotheroun maid sic dyn
He gart all byd and hym allayn went In.
The layff remaynyt to her off thar tithans.
He salust thaim with sturdy contenance.
“Falowis,” he said, “sen I com last fra haym
In trawaill I was our land and wncouth fame.
Fra south Irland I com in this cuntre
The new conquest off Scotland for to se.
Part off ȝour drynk or sum gud I wald haiff.”
The Captane than a schrewed ansuer him gaiff:
“Thow semys a Scot wnlikly, ws to spy.
Thow may be ane off Wallace cumpany.
Contrar our king he is ryssyn agane.
The land off Fyff he has rademyt in plane.
Thou sall her byd quhill we wyt how it be.
Be thow off his thou sall be hyngyt hye.”
Wallace than thocht it was na tym to stand.
His nobill suerd he gryppyt son in hand,
Aukwart the face drew that captane in teyn,
Straik all away that stud abowne his Eyn,
And othir braithly in the breyst he bar.
Baith brawn and bayn the burly blaid throuch schar.
The layff ruschyt wp to Wallace in gret Ire.
The thryd he feld full fersly in the fyr.
Stewyn off Irland and Kerle in that thrang
Kepyt na charge bot entryt thaim amang,
And othir ma that to the dure can pres.
Quhill thai him saw thar coud no thing thaim ces.
The Sotheroun men full sone was brocht to ded.
The blyth hosteler bad thaim gud ayle and breid.
Wallace said, “Nay, till we haiff laysar mar.
To be our gyd thow sall befor ws fayr
And begyn fyr quhar at the Sotheroun lyis.”
The hostellar son apon a hasty wys
Hynt fyr in hand and till a gret hous ȝeid,
Quhar Inglismen was in full mekill dreid,
For thai wyst nocht quhill that the rud low rais;
As wood bestis amang the fyr than gays,
With paynis fell ruschyt full sorowfully.
The layff with-out off our gud chewalry,
At Ilka hous quhar the hostillar began
Kepyt the duris; fra thaim chapyt na man
For all thar mycht, thocht king Eduuard had suorn.
Gat nayn away that was off Ingland born,
Bot othir brynt or but reskew was slayn,
And sum throuch force drywyn in the fyr agayn.
Part Scottis folk in seruice thaim amang
Fra ony payn frely thai leit thaim gang.
Thre hundreth men was to Dunbertan send
To kep the land, as thair lordis thaim kend.
Skaithles off thaim for ay was this regioun.
Wallace or day maid him out off the toun;
On to the coyff off Dunbertane thai ȝeid
And all that day thar soiornd out off dreid.
Baith meit and drynk the hostillar gert be brocht.
Quhen nycht was cummyn in all the haist thai mocht
Towart Rosneth full ernystfully thai gang,
For Inglismen was in that castell strang.
On the Garlouch thai purpost thaim to bid
Betwix the kyrk that ner was thar besyd,
And to the castell full prewaly thai draw.
Wndyr a bray thai buschyt thaim rycht law,
Lang the wattyr, quhar common oys had thai,
The castellis stuff, on to the kyrk Ilk day.
A maryage als that day was to begyn.
All wschyt owt and left na man with-in
At fens mycht mak, bot serwandis in that place.
Thus to that tryst thai passyt wpon cace.
Wallace and his drew thaim full prewaly
Nerhand the place, quhen thai war passyt by,
With-in the hauld, and thocht to kep that steid
Fra Sotheroun men or ellys tharfor be deid,
Compleit was maid the mariage in-to playn;
On-to Rosneth thai raturnyt agayn.
Four scor and ma was in that cumpany
Bot nocht arayit as was our chewalry.
To the castell thai weynd to pas but let.
The worthy Scottis so hardly on thaim set
Xlty at-anys derffly to ground thai bar.
The ramaynand affrayit was so sayr,
Langar in feild thai had no mycht to bid
Bot fersly fled fra thaim on athir sid.
The Scottis thar has weyll the entre woun
And slew the layff that in that hous was foun;
Syn on the flearis folowid wondyr fast,
Na Inglisman thar fra thaim with lyff at past.
The wemen sone thai seysyt in-to hand,
Kepyt thaim clos for warnyng off the land.
The dede bodyes all out off sycht thai kest.
Than at gud es thai maid thaim for to rest.
Off purwians vii dayis thai lugyt thar;
At rud costis to spend thai wald nocht spar.
Quhat Sotheroun come thai tuk all glaidly In,
Bot out agayn thai leit Nane off that kyn.
Quha tithandis send to the Captane off that steid,
Thar seruitouris the Scottis put to ded;
Spulȝeid the place and left na gudis thar,
Brak wallis doun and maid that byggyng bar.
Quhen thai had spilt off stayne werk at thai mocht
Syn kendillyt fyr and fra Rosneth thai socht.
Quhen thai had brynt all tre werk in that place
Wallace gert freith the wemen off his grace.
To do thaim harm neuir his purpos was.
Than to Faslan the worthy Scottis can pas,
Quhar Erll Malcom was bidand at defence.
Rycht glaid he was off Wallace gud presence.
Than he fand thar a nobill cumpany:
Schir Ihon the Graym and Richard off Lundy,
Adam Wallace that worthy was and wys,
Berklay and Boid, with men mekill to prys.
At Cristinmes thar Wallace soiornyt still.
Off his modyr tithandis was brocht him till
That, tym befor, scho had left Elrisle.
For Inglismen In it scho durst nocht be.
Fra thine dysgyst scho past in pilgrame weid;
Sum gyrth to sek to Dunfermlyn scho ȝeid.
Seknes hyr had so socht in-to that sted
Decest scho was, god tuk hir spreit to leid.
Quhen Wallace hard at that tithandis was trew,
How sadnes so in Ilka sid can persew,
In thank he tuk be-caus it was naturaill.
He lowyt god with sekyr hart and haill.
Bettyr him thocht that It was hapnyt sa;
Na Sotheroun suld hyr put till othir wa.
He ordand Iop and als the maister Blayr
Thiddyr to pas and for no costis spayr,
Bot honour do the corp till sepultur.
At his commaund thai seruit Ilka hour,
Doand thar-to as dede askis till haw.
With worschip was the corp graithit in grawe.
Agayn thai turnyt and schawit him off hir end.
He thankit god quhat grace that euir he send;
He seis the warld so full of fantasie.
Confort he tuk and leit all murnyng be.
His most desyr was for to freith Scotland.
Now will I tell quhat new cas com on hand.
Schyr Wilȝam lang, off Douglacedaill was lord,
Off his fyrst wyff, as rycht was to record,
Decest or than out off this warldly cair,
Twa sonnys he had with hyr that leyffyt thair
Quhilk likly war and abill in curage,
To sculle was send in-to thar tendre age.
Iames and Hev, so hecht thir brethyr twa.
And eftir sone thar wncle couth thaim ta;
Gud Robert Keth had thaim fra Glaskow toun,
Atour the se in Frans he maid thaim boun.
At study syn he left thaim in-to Parys
With a maister that worthy was and wys.
The king Eduuard tuk thar fadyr that knycht
And held him thar thocht he was neuir so wicht,
Quhill tym he had assentit till his will.
A mariage als thai gert ordand him till,
The lady Fers, off power and hye blud,
Bot tharoff com till his lyff litill gud.
Twa sonnys he gat on this lady but mar.
With Eduuardis will he tuk his leiff to far,
In Scotland com and brocht hys wyff on pes,
In Douglas duelt, forsuth this is no les.
Kyng Eduuard trowyt that he had stedfast beyn,
Fast to thar faith, bot the contrar was seyn.
Ay Scottis blud remaynyt in-to Douglace;
Agayn Ingland he prewyt in mony place.
The Sawchar was a castell fayr and strang.
Ane Inglis Capdane that dyd feyll Scottis wrang
In-till It duelt and Bewffurd he was cauld,
That held all waist fra thine to Douglace hauld.
Rycht ner off kyn was Douglace wiff and he,
Tharfor he trowyt in pes off hym to be.
Schyr Wylȝham saw at Wallace rais agayn
And rycht likly to freyth Scotland off payn.
Till help him part in-till hys mynd he kest,
For in that lyff rycht lang he coud nocht lest.
He thocht na charge to brek apon Ingland;
It was throuch force that euir he maid thaim band.
A ȝong man than that hardy was and bauld,
Born till him selff and Thom Dycson was cauld,
“Der freynd,” he said, “I wald preyff at my mycht
And mak a fray to fals Bewfurd the knycht,
In Sawchar duellys and dois full gret owtrage.”
Than Dycson said, “My selff in that wiage
Sall for ȝow pas with Anderson to spek;
Cusyng to me, frendschip he will nocht brek.
For that Ilk man thar wod ledys thaim till,
Throuch help off him purpos ȝe may fullfill.”
Schyr Wilȝham than in all the haist he mycht
Xxxty trew men in this wiage he dycht,
And tauld his wyff till Drumfres he wald fayr.
A tryst he said off Ingland he had thair.
Thus passyt he quhar that na Sotheroun wyst,
With thir xxxty throw waist land at his lyst.
Quhill nycht was cummyn he buschit thaim full law
In-tyll a clewch ner the wattyr off Craw.
To the Sauchar Dykson allayn he send
And he son maid with Anderson this end,
Dicson suld tak bathe his hors and his weid
Be it was day a drawcht off wod to leid.
Agayn he past and tauld the gud Dowglace,
Quhilk drew him sone In-till a preway place.
Anderson tauld quhat stuff that was tharin
Till Thom Dicson, that was ner off his kyn:
“Xl thai ar off men off mekill waill.
Be thai on fute thai will ȝow sayr assayll.
Gyff thow hapnys the entre for to get
On thy rycht hand a stalwart ax is set.
Thar-with thow may defend the in a thrang.
Be Douglace wys he bydis nocht fra the lang.”
Anderson ȝeid to the buschement in hy.
Ner the castell he drew thaim prewaly
In-till a schaw Sotheroun mystraistyt nocht.
To the next wode wyth Dycson syn he socht,
Graithyt him a drawcht on a braid slyp and law,
Changyt a hors and to the hous can caw.
Arayit he was in Andersonnis weid
And bad haiff In. The portar com gud speid.
“This hour,” he said, “thow mycht haiff beyn away.
Wntymys thow art, for it is scantly day.”
The ȝet ȝeid wp. Dicson gat In but mar.
A thourtour bande that all the drawcht wpbar,
He cuttyt it; to ground the slyp can ga,
Cumryt the ȝet, stekyng thai mycht nocht ma.
The portar son he hynt in-to that stryff.
Twys throuch the hede he stekit him with a knyff.
The ax he gat that Anderson off spak,
A bekyn maid, tharwith the buschement brak.
Douglace him selff was formest in that pres,
In our the wod enteryt or thai wald ces.
Iii wachmen sa, off wallis was cummyn new,
With-in the clos the Scottis son thaim slew.
Or ony scry was raissyt in that stour
Douglace had tane the ȝet off the gret tour,
Rane wp a grece quhar at the capdane lay.
On fut he gat and wald haiff beyn away.
Our lait it was. Dowglace strak up the dur.
Bewfurd he fand in-to the chawmyr flour.
With a styff suerd to dede he has him dycht.
His men folowit that worthy was and wycht.
The men thai slew that was in-to thai wanys;
Syn in the clos thai semblit all at-anys.
The hous thai tuk and Sotheroun put to ded.
Gat nane bot ane with lyff out off that sted;
For that the ȝet so lang wnstekit was,
This spy he fled, till Dursder can pas,
Tauld that captane that thai had hapnyt sa.
Ane other he gert in-to the Enoch ga.
In Tybris mur was warnyt off this cas,
And Louchmaban all semblyt to that place.
The cuntre rais quhen thai herd off sic thing
To sege Dowglace, and hecht thai suld him hyng.
Quhen Douglace wyst na wayis fra thaim chaip,
To sailȝe him he trowyt thai wald thaim schaip.
Dicson he send apon a cursour wycht
To warn Wallace in all the haist he mycht.
Off the Lewynhous Wallace had tayn in playn
Witht thre hundreth gud men off mekill mayn.
Kynsith, a castell, he thocht to wesy it;
Ane Rawynsdaill held, bot trew men leit him wyt
That he was out that tym off Cummyrnauld.
Lord Cumyn duelt on trewbut in that hauld.
Quhen Wallace wyst, he gert Erll Malcom ly
With ii hundreth in a buschement ner by,
To kep the hous that nayn till it suld fayr.
He tuk the layff and in the wod ner thar
A scurrour he set, to warn quhen he saw ocht.
Son Rawynsdaill com; off thaim he had na thocht.
Quhen he was cummyn the twa buschementis betweyn
The scurrour warnd the cruell men and keyn.
Than Wallace brak and folowit on thaim fast.
The Sotheroun fled, for thai war sar agast.
Rawynsdaill had as than bot [L] men.
Amang the Scottis thar deidis was litill to ken.
Quhen Erll Malcom had bard thaim fra the place,
Na Sotheroun ȝeid with lyff; thai did that grace.
Part Lennox men thai left the hous to ta.
On spulȝeyng than thai wald na tary ma.
To sege the hous than Wallace coud nocht bid.
Throu-out the land in awfull feyr thai ryd.
Than Lithquow toun thai brynt in-to thar gayt;
Quhar Sotheroun duelt thai maid thar byggyngis hayt.
The peyll thai tuk and slew that was tharin;
Off Sotheroun blud thai Scottis thocht na syn;
Syn on the morn brynt Dawketh in a gleid,
Than till a strenth in Newbottyl wod thai ȝeid;
Be that Lawder and Crystall off Cetoun
Com fra the Bas and brynt North Berweik toun,
For Inglismen suld thar na succour get.
Quham thai ourtuk thai slew with-outyn let.
To meit Wallace thai past with all thar mycht,
A hundreth with thaim off men in armes brycht.
A blyth metyng that tym was thaim betweyn,
Quhen Erll Malcom and Wallace has thaim seyn.
Thom Dycson than was met with gud Wallace,
Quhilk grantyt sone for to Reskew Douglace.
“Dicson,” he said, “‘wait thow thar multiple?”
“Iii thowsand men thar power mycht nocht be.”
Erll Malcom said, “Thocht thai war thousandys v
For this accioun me think that we suld stryff.”
Than Hew the Hay, that duelt wndyr trewage,
Off Inglismen son he gaiff our the wage;
Mar for to pay as than he likyt nocht.
With fyfte men with Wallace furth he socht,
To Peblis past, bot no Sotheroun thar baid.
Thar at the croice a playn crya thai maid.
Wallace commaund, quha wald cum to his pes
And byd tharat reward suld haiff but les.
Gud Ruthirfurd, that euir trew has beyn,
In Atryk wode agayn the Sotheroun keyn
Bydyn he had and done thaim mekill der.
Saxte he led off nobill men in wer.
Wallace welcummyt quha com in his supple.
With lordly feyr and chyftaynlik was he.
Thaim till aray thai ȝeid with-out the toun.
Thar nowmyr was vi hundreth off renoun,
In byrneis brycht, all men off mekill waill.
With glaid hartis thai past in Clyddisdaill.
The sege be than was to the Sauchar set.
Sic tithingis com quhilk maid tharin a let;
Quhen Sotheroun hard that Wallace was so ner
Throw haisty fray the ost was all on ster.
Na man was thar wald for ane othir byd.
Purpos thai tuk in Ingland for to ryd.
The chyftane said, sen thar king had befor
Fra Wallace fled the causis was the mor.
Fast south thai went; to bid it was gret waith.
Douglace as than was thus quyt off thar scaith.
In Crawfurd mur be than was gud Wallace.
Quhen men him tauld that Sotheroun apon cace
Was fled away and durst nocht him abid,
Thre hundreth than he chessyt with him to rid
In lycht harnes and hors at thai wald waill.
The Erll Malcom he bad byd with the staill
To follow thaim, a bakgard for to be.
To stuff a chace in all haist bownyt he.
Throw Dursder he tuk the gaynest gayt.
Rycht fayn he wald with Sotheroun mak debait.
The playnest way abone Mortoun thai hald,
Kepand the hycht gyff that the Sotheroun wald
Hous to persew or turn to Lochmaban,
Bot tent thar-to the Inglismen tuk nan.
Doune Neth thai held; graith gydys can thaim leyr.
Abon Closbarn Wallace approchyt ner.
In Ire he grew quhen thai war in his sycht.
To thaim thai sped with wyll and all thar mycht.
On a out part the Scottis set in that tyd.
Sewyn scor at erd thai had sone at a syd.
The Sotheroun saw that it was hapnyt sa,
Turnyt in agayn sum reskew for to ma.
Quhen thai trowyt best agayn Scotland to stand
Erll Malcom com than rycht ner at thar hand.
The hayll power tuk playn purpos to fle.
Quha was at erd Wallace gert lat thaim be,
Apon the formest folowit in all his mycht.
The Erll and his apon the layff can lycht,
Dyd all to ded wnhorssyt was that tyd.
Feyll men was slayn apon the Sotheroun sid;
V hundreth larg, or thai past Dawswyntoun,
On Sotheroun sid to ded was brocht adoun.
The Scottis hors, mony began to tyr,
Suppos thaim selff was cruell, fers as fyr.
The flearis left bathe wode and watterys haill;
To tak the playn thai thocht it most awaill.
In gret battaill away full fast thai raid.
In-to strenthtis thai thocht to mak na baid.
Ner Louchmaban and Lochyrmos thai went.
Besyd Chrochmaid, quhar feyll Sotheroun was schent,
Rycht mony hors at ronnyng had so lang
And trawalyt sayr, thai mycht no forthir gang.
Schyr Ihon the Graym apon his fut was set.
Than Wallace als lychtyt with-outyn let.
Thir twa on fute amang thar enemys ȝeid.
Was nayn but hors mycht fra thaim pas throw speid.
On Inglismen so cruelly thai socht,
Quhom thai ourtuk agayn harmyt ws nocht.
To Wallace com a part off power new
On restyt hors, that pertly couth persew.
Adam Corre with gud men off gret waill,
And Ihonstoun als that duelt in-to Housdaill,
And Kyrkepatrik, was in that cumpany,
And Halyday quhilk semblyt sturdely.
Quhar thai entryt the sailȝe was so sayr
Dede to the ground feill frekis doun thai bayr.
Vii scor, was haill off new cummyn men in deid,
The south party off thaim had mekill dreid.
Wallace was horssyt apon a cursour wicht
At gud Corre had brocht in-to thar sycht.
To stuff the chas with his new chewalry,
He commaundyt Graym and all his men forthi
To-gydder byd and folow as thai mycht.
Thre capdanys thar full son to dede he dycht,
That restyt hors so wondyr weill him bayr.
Quhom he our-tuk agayn rais neuir mar.
Raithly he raid and maid full mony wound.
Thir thre Capdanis he stekit in that stound,
Off Dursdeyr, Enoch and Tybyr mur.
Lord Clyffurdis Eym away to Clyffurd fur,
The quhilk befor that kepyt Lowchmaban.
Na landyt man chapyt with him bot ane,
For Maxwell als out off Carlauerok com,
On to the Sotheroun the gaynest wayis nom.
In-to the chas so wysely thai rid
Few gat away that come apon that sid.
Besyd Cokpull full feyll fechtyng thai fand.
Sum drownyt was, sum slayn wpon the sand.
Quha chapyt was in Ingland fled away.
Wallace raturnd. Na presoner tuk thai.
In Carlauerok restyng that nycht thai maid,
Apon the morn tyll Drumfres blythly raid.
Thar Wallace cryid quha wald cum till his pes
Agayn Sotheroun thar malice for to ces.
Till trew Scottis he ordand warysoun;
Quha fawtyt had he grantyt remissioun.
In Drumfres than he wald no langar byd.
The Sotheroun fled off Scotland on Ilk sid,
Be sey and land, with-out langar abaid.
Off castellys, tounys, than Wallace chyftanys maid,
Rewlyt the land and put It to gud rest
With trew keparys the quhilk he traistyt best.
The trew Douglace, that I ȝow tauld off ayr,
Kepar was maid fra Drumlanryk till Ayr,
Becaus he had on Sotheroun sic thing wrocht.
Hys wyff was wraith, bot It scho schawit nocht,
Wndyr cowart hyr malice hid perfyt,
As a serpent watis hyr tym to byt.
Till Dowglace eft scho wrocht full mekill cayr.
Off that as now I leyff quhill forthirmar.
Bot Sotheroun men durst her no castell hald,
Bot left Scotland, befor as I ȝow tald,
Saiff ane Morton, a capdane fers and fell
That held Dunde. Thar Wallace wald nocht duell;
Thiddyr he past and lappyt It about.
Quhen Morton saw that he was in sic dout
He askyt leyff with thar lywys to ga.
Wallace denyit and said, “It beis nocht sa.
The last Capdane off Ingland that her was,
I gayff him leyff with his men for to pas.
Thow sall forthink sic maistre for to mak.
All Ingland sall of the exemple tak.
Sic men I wend fra-thine for to haiff worn.
Thow sall be hangyt, suppos thi king had suorn.”
He gert commaund na Scottis suld to thaim spek:
“Conferme the sege and so we sall ws wrek
On Inglismen, has sic will off Dunde.
Scrymiour he maid thar constable for to be.
A ballingar off Ingland that was thar
Past out of Tay and come to Quhitbe far;
To London send and tauld off all this cace,
Till hyng Morton wowyt had Wallace.
Befor this tym Eduuard with power ȝeid
To wer on Frans, for than he had no dreid.
Befor he trowyt Scotland suld be his awn.
Quhen thai him warnyt how his men was ourthrawn,
Agayn he turnyt till Ingland haistely
And left his deid all fykit in-to fy.
Gascone, he clemyt as in-to heretage,
He left it thus for all his gret barnage;
And Flandris als he thocht till tak on hand,
And thir he left and come to reyff Scotland.
Quhen that this king in Ingland was cummyn hame,
Sowmoundis thai maid and chargyt Bruce be nayme
And all wthir that leyffyt wndir his croun,
Byschop, barroun, to cum at thar sowmoun.
Quhen Wallace twys throw grace had fred Scotland
This tyran king tuk playnly wpon hand.
For sic desyr that he mycht haiff no rest
He thocht till hym of It to mak conquest,
In cowatice he had rongyng so lang.
Chyftanis he maid; at thai suld nocht pas wrang
Gydis thai chessyt fra strenthis thaim to ghy.
Thai thocht no mor to byd at Iuperty.
In playn battaill and thai mycht Wallace wyn
He trowyt off wer thai wald no mor begyn.
Lat I this king makand his ordinans;
My purpos is to spek sum thing off Frans.
The Inglismen, that Ghyan held at wer,
Till Franch folk thai did full mekill der.
King and consaill sone in thar wyttis kest;
To get Wallace thai thocht it was the best.
For Gyan land the Inglismen had thai
Thai schup thaim thus in all the haist thai may;
For thai traistyt and Scotland war weill stad
Wallace wald cum, as he thaim promyst had.
The sammyn harrald befor in Scotland was,
Thai him commaundyt and ordand he suld pas
In-to Scotland, with-out langar delay,
Out off the Slus als gudly as he may.
Redy he was, in schip he went on cace.
In Tayis mowth the hawyn but baid he has,
Quhar Wallace was than at the saylȝe still,
And he rasawyt the harrold with gud will.
Thar wryt he red and said him on this wys,
Ane ansuer sone he couth thaim nocht dewys.
Till honest In the harrold than he send
On Wallace cost rycht boundandly to spend,
Quhyll tym he saw how othir materis ȝeid.
Ane ansuer he suld hawe with-outyn dreid.
The wyt off Frans thocht Wallace to commend.
In-to Scotland with this harrold thai send
Part off his deid, and als the discripcioune
Off him tane thar be men off discrecioun,
Clerkis, knychtis and harroldys that him saw,
Bot I heroff can nocht rehers thaim aw.
Wallace statur, off gretnes and off hycht,
Was Iugyt thus be discrecioun off rycht,
That saw him bath dischevill and in weid.
Ix quartaris large he was in lenth indeid.
Thryd part that lenth in schuldrys braid was he,
Rycht sembly, strang and lusty for to se;
Hys lymmys gret, with stalwart pais and sound,
Hys brawnys hard, his armes lang and round;
His handis maid rycht lik till a pawmer,
Off manlik mak, with nales gret and cler.
Proporcionyt lang and fair was his wesage,
Rycht sad off spech and abill in curage;
Braid breyst and heych, with sturdy crag and gret;
His lyppys round, his noys was squar and tret;
Bowand bron haryt on browis and breis lycht,
Cler aspre Eyn lik dyamondis brycht.
Wndyr the chyn, on the left sid, was seyn
Be hurt a wain; his colour was sangweyn.
Woundis he had in mony diuers place,
Bot fair and weill kepyt was his face.
Off Ryches he kepyt no propyr thing,
Gaiff as he wan, lik Alexander the king.
In tym off pes mek as a maid was he;
Quhar wer approchyt the rycht Ector was he.
To Scottis men a gret credens he gaiff,
Bot knawin Enemys, thai couth him nocht disayff.
Thir properteys was knawin in-to Frans
Off him to be a gud Remembrans.
Maister Ihon Blayr that patron couth rasaiff,
In Wallace buk brewyt It with the layff.
Bot he her-off as than tuk litill heid,
His lauborous mynd was all on othir deid.
At Dunde sege thus ernystfully thai lay.
Tithandis to him Iop brocht apon a day,
How Eduuard king with likly men to waill,
A hundyr thowsand, com for to assaill;
Than Scotland ground thai had tane apon cace.
In-to sum-part It grewyt gud Wallace.
He maid Scrymiour still at the hous to ly
With ii thousand and chargyt him forthi,
That nayn suld chaip with lyff out off that sted
At Sotheroun war, bot do thaim all to ded.
Scrymgeour grantyt rycht faithfully to bid.
With viii thousand Wallace couth fra him ryd
To Sanct Ihonstoun; iiii dayis he graithit him thar,
With sad awys towart the south can fayr;
For king Eduuard that tym ordand had
X thousand haill to pas, at was full glad,
With ȝong Wodstok, a lord off mekill mycht.
At Sterlyng bryg he ordand thaim full rycht
And thar to byd the entre for to wer.
Off Wallace than he trowit to haiff no der.
Thar leyff thai laucht and past but delay,
Rycht saraly and in a gud aray;
To Sterlyng com and wald nocht thar abid.
To se the northland furth than can he ryd,
Sic new curage so fell in his entent,
Quhilk maid Sotheroun full sar for to repent.

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.

BOOK XII