A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace General and Governour of Scotland. Wherein the Old obsolete Words are rendered more Intelligible; and adapted to the understanding of such who have not leisure to study the Meaning, and Import of such Phrases without the help of a Glossary |
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| V. | CHAP. V. The Sige of St. JOHNSTOUN.
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 | CHAP. V. The Sige of St. JOHNSTOUN.
A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace |  |
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CHAP. V. The Sige of St. JOHNSTOUN.
Wallace the Town does here besiege in short,And keeps a sturdy Guard, at ev'ry Port.
Where Bishop Sinclar came to him on Sight,
With cliver Lads from Bute all young and tight.
Lindsay, and Boyd, who did him ne'er beguile,
From Arran came and from the Rauchly Isle,
As did the Barron bold of great Renown,
Brave Adam Wallace, then of Richartoun.
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Some fled away by Land and some by Sea.
Seaton, and Lauder, and good Lundie now,
Came in a Barge, to his Assistance too.
And in the Haven did their Anchors cast,
Where they Two English Ships secured fast.
The one they burnt, the other loadned well,
With Warlike stores and sturdy Men in Steel.
To watch the Port, they strictly were oblig'd,
That Men nor Victuals, pass to the besieg'd.
From South, to North, the flying Suthron mourn,
Some left their Lives, in Pledge they would return.
The Suthron Bishop that fled from Dunkel,
To London rode and told all that befel.
Edward he sends for Aymer Vallange now,
And asks at him what he thought best to do.
Who like a Traitor answered, and said,
Doubtless he by a Friend must be betray'd:
Or by some of his Bone-Companions sold,
Who have best liking to the English Gold.
For which I shall my self to Scotland go,
And try the Treason, whither Yea or No.
King Edward therefore sign'd to him a Band.
That he would ratify and and firmly stand,
To whatsoever Bargain he would make,
This Vallange does the Treason undertake,
To Scotland comes, at Bothwel did arrive
To execute the Plot he did contrive.
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To come and speak with him at Rutherglen.
Who when he came, disclosed all his Mind.
And laid before Sir John the whole Design.
I know said he that you no Stranger are,
Unto the News of this new bloody War.
Which, if it be not soon put to a Stand,
Will prove destructive to our native Land.
Nothing but Blood and Rapine, we can see,
Which will our great Misfortoune always be.
So long as Wallace lives, who late and air,
Insults King Edward boldly every where.
The Country thus harrass'd on every Hand,
There's neither Trade, nor Culture in our Land.
Now good Sir John, if you'll advised be,
To take a Wholsome Counsel once from me.
It's in your Power to be an Earl now,
And to do service to your Country too.
I know you are for certain one of those,
In whom Sir William Wallace does repose.
Great Trust and Confidence in each respect,
O would you then but grip him by the Neck.
As Lords and Earls we might live and reign,
Under King Edward our most gracious King.
Fy said Monteith, it were a mighty Shame,
Yea, you, and I, shall both be much to blame,
If we betray a Man, who late and soon,
To King and Country hath such service done.
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Both Governour, and Captain General.
For my part I declare, come Well or Wo,
I'll never condescend to treat him so.
Vallange reply'd if you but understood,
How great a shedder he's of Christian Blood.
You would not plead for him so much I'm sure,
But rather contribute to break his Pow'r.
Besides the King could he but end the Strife,
Has no Design to take away his Life,
But to confine him so as make him cease,
From War and not disturb the Common Peace.
This put Monteith unto a little stand,
Who wish'd that Wallace were in Edward's Hand
Providing always he his Life would spare,
And make all good that Vallange promis'd there.
When Vallange saw Monteith, thus in a muse,
Most cunningly his little Time did use,
Then in a Moment down he quickly told,
Three Thousand Pound of finest English Gold.
This you shall have, and Lennox at your Will,
If you the King's desire will now fulfill.
Then he who was brave Wallace Friend before,
The strong Temptation could resist no more,
But did resign his Honour, and himself,
To Act the Treason, for the love of Pelf.
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To carry Wallace safe to English Gound.
And there to put him in the Suthron's Hand;
For which he should be Lord of Lennox Land.
This Vallange promis'd to him without fail,
Sign'd and confirm'd it with King Edward's Seal.
Thus part the Villains, Wallace Mortal Foes,
And Aymer Vallange straight to London goes.
The cursed Tydings he did quickly bring,
Of his good Success to the English King.
The Contract shows, told every Thing that past
And did obtain his gracious Thanks at last,
Which Melancholy Story makes me mourn,
But to St. Johnstoun Siege I now return.
Where Wallace lay besieging all that Time,
Not dreaming of the Treasonable Crime
Mean Time Five Hundred Suthron bold and stout,
Early one Morning briskly sally out.
At the South Port, against Dundass and Scot.
Where they got a Reception mighty hot.
The English fought it for a While, but then,
Retir'd with no less Loss, then Fourscore Men.
Yet tho' they were at that Time soundly beat,
They took the Knight Dundass in the Retreat.
Presented him before the Earl York,
Which put an End unto that Morning's Work.
The Knight Dundass nothing at all did find,
But what was Civil, and exceeding kind.
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Most gen'rously dismiss'd and set him free.
For which the grateful Wallace by and by
Return'd him hearty Thanks most Courteously.
Assuring him upon his Honour, that,
He would his kindness soon retaliat.
The Earl now of Fife, who had a Truce,
With Edward, but an honest Heart to Bruce,
Perceiving Wallace like a faithfull Leige,
To carry on the War, came to the Siege.
With him John Vallange who was Sherriff then,
Of Fife, and a brave Train of goodly Men.
Into the Ditch Faggots put very fast,
Around the Stakes, Heather and Hay, they cast.
With Trees and Earth, they made a Passage clear,
Then o'er the Walls do march quite void of Fear
The Suthron they, briskly resist again,
While at the Wall a Thousand Men were slain.
Couragiously, Wallace his Men leads on,
And hew'd down all before him every Bone.
Of Suthron Foes did dreadful havock make,
But sav'd the Earl for Dundass's Sake.
In Wax a Lyon on his Cloak did set,
As a safe Conduct when with Scots he met.
Gold in Abundance there he told him down,
And safely caus'd convoy him out of Town.
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As still before his gen'rous Custom was.
Then all the Country liv'd in peace and rest,
And with true Scots the Town was re-possest.
Thus having vanquish'd his proud Suthron Foes,
With cheerfull Heart straight to the South he goes.
Edward the Bruce, who had in Ireland been
The Year before, is now in Scotland seen.
With Fifty of his Mother's noble Kin,
Attacks Kircudbright boldly enters in.
And with those Fifty, for he had no more,
Most gallantly he vanquished Nine Score.
To Wigtoun next he and his Men are gone;
The Castle took, for it was left alone.
Where Wallace and his Men did not neglect,
To meet him with all humble due Respect.
Unto Lochmabane then most chearfully;
Marched that brave, and gallant Company.
Where Wallace like a true and faithfull Scot,
Resign'd Command to Edward and why not.
And promis'd that if Robert Bruce the King,
Did not come Home in Person for to reign,
He should in that Case certainly and soon,
Have the Imperial ancient Scotish Crown.
Prince Edward in Lochmabane tarry'd still,
And Wallace went to Cumnock with good will.
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And with them drank a blyth and hearty Cog.
Unto King Edward News came reeking hot,
Of all the Victories that Wallace got,
And how he Scotland did again reduce,
And that he had received Edward Bruce.
The English Commons deeply swore and said,
That Scotland they would never more invade.
For that it was great Madness to go there,
If the Scots Champion Wallace living were.
Then to Monteith Edward wrote privily,
Told him the Time was now fast passing by.
Dispatch said he the Thing you took in Hand,
For which ye have my Gold and I your Band.
The false Monteith read o'er the Letter all,
And then in haste his Sister's Son did call.
To whom the Plot he did discover all,
And made him swear he would it not reveal.
On Wallace wait, said he, and frankly tell,
You would with him as a Domestick dwell.
Which if he grants, you must be very sure,
To watch him nicely and the very Hour
When all alone securely taking rest,
Give me a call, and then I'll do my best.
The Villain promis'd that it should be done,
Then gets himself in Wallace Service soon.
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Of what the false Monteith against him wrought,
And he who now had Scotland Thrice set free.
Nothing design'd but lasting Peace to be.
For much fatigu'd with a long tedious War.
He thought it more Eligible by far,
To serve GOD and his King in his old Days,
That he in Heaven, might sing eternal Praise.
| CHAP. V. The Sige of St. JOHNSTOUN.
A new edition of the life and heroick actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace | |