University of Virginia Library

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.