Thebarownys thus accordyt ar;[†]And that ilk nycht than writyn war[†]Thair endenturis, and aythis maidTo hald that thai forspokyn haid.Bot off all thing wa worth tresoun!515For thar is nothir duk ne baroun,Na erle, na prynce, na king off mycht,Thocht he be nevir sa wys na wycht,For wyt, worschip, price, na renoun,That evir may wauch hym with tresoune.520Wes nocht all Troy with tresoune tane,Quhen ten yheris of the wer wes gane?Then slayn wes mone thowsandOff thaim with-owt, throw strenth of hand;AsDaresin his buk he wrate,525And Dytis, that knew all thar state.Thai mycht nocht haiff beyn tane throw mycht,Bot tresoun tuk thaim throw hyr slycht.And Alexander the Conqueroure,That conqueryt Babilonys tour,530And all this warld off lenth and breid,In twelf yher, throw his douchty deid,Wes syne destroyitthrow pusoune,In his awyne hows, throw gret tresoune.Bot, or he deit, his land delt he:535To se his dede wes gret pite.Julius Cesar als, that wanBretane and Fraunce, as dowchty man,Affryk, Arrabe, Egipt, Surry,And all Europe halyly;540And for his worschip and valourOff Rome wesfryst maid emperour;Syne in hys capitole wes he,Throw thaim of his consaill prive,Slayne with punsoune, rycht to the ded:545And quhen he saw thair wes na rede,Hys eyn with his hand closit he,For to dey with mar honeste.Als Arthur, that throw chevalryMaid Bretane maistres and lady550Off twelf kinrykis that he wan;And alsua, as a noble man,He wan throw bataill Fraunce all fre;AndLucius Ybervencusyt he,That then of Rome was emperour:555Bot yheit, for all his gret valour,Modreyt his systir son him slew;And gud men als ma then inew,Throw tresoune and throw wikkitnes;The Broite beris tharoff wytnes.560Sa fell off this conand-making:For the Cumyn raid to the KingOff Ingland, and tald all this cas;Bot, I trow, nocht all as it was.Bot the endentur till him gaf he,565That soune schawyt the iniquite:Quharfor syne he tholyt ded;Than he couth set tharfor na rede.1306Edward sends for BruceQuhen the King saw the endentur,He wes angry out of mesur,570And swour that he suld vengeance taOff that Bruys, that presumyt swaAganys him to brawle or rys,Or to conspyr on sic a wys.And to Schyr Jhon Cumyn said he,575That he suld, for his leawte,Be rewardyt, and that hely:And he him thankit humyly.Than thocht he to have the ledingOff all Scotland, but gane-saying,580Fra at the Bruce to dede war brocht.Bot oft failyheis the fulis thocht;And wys mennys etlingCummys nocht ay to that endingThat thai think it sall cum to;585For God wate weill quhat is to do.Off hys etlyng rycht swa it fell,As I sall efterwartis tell.He tuk his leve, and hame is went;And the King a parlyament590Gert set thareftir hastely;And thidder somownys he in hyThe barownys of his reawte.And to the lord the Bruce send heBydding to come to that gadryng.595And he that had na persavyngOff the tresoun, na the falset,Raid to the King but langir let;And in Lundon hym herberyd heThe fyrst day off thar assemble;600Syn on the morn to court he went.The Kyng sat into parleament;And forouch hys consaile prive,The lord the Bruce than callyt he,[†]And schawyt hym the endentur.605He wes in full gret aventurTo tyne his lyff; bot God of mychtPreservyt him till hyer hycht,That wald nocht that he swa war dede.The King betaucht hym in that steid610The endentur, the seile to se,The askyt, gyff it enselyt he?He lukyit the seyle ententily,And answeryt till hym humyly,And sayd; “How that I sympill be,615“My seyle is nocht all tyme with me;“Ik have ane othir it to ber.“Tharfor giff that yhour willis wer,“Ic ask yhow respyt for to se“This lettir, and avysit be,[†]620“Till to morn that yhe be set:“And then, for-owtyn langir let,“This lettir sall I entyr heyr,“Befor all yhour consaill planer;“And thair-tillin-to bourchdraw I[†]625“Myn herytage all halily.”The King thocht he wes traist inewch,Sen he in bowrch hys landis drewch;And let hym with the lettir passe,Till entyr it, as for-spokin was.630BOOK II.How the Bruce avoided King Edward’s Deceit.JAN.1306Bruce and the Clerk EscapeTheBruys went till his innys swyth;Bot, wyt yhe weile, he wes full blyth,That he had gottyn that respyt.He callit his marschall till him tyt,And bad him luk on all maner,5That he ma till his men gud cher;For he wald in his chambre beA weill gret quhile in private,With him a clerk for-owtyn ma.The marschell till the hall gan ga,10And did hys lordys commanding.The lord the Bruce, but mar letting,Gert prively bryng stedys twa.He and the clerk, for-owtyn ma,Lap on, for-owtyn persavyng:15And day and nycht, but sojournyng,Thai raid; quhill,on the fyften day,Cummyn tillLouchmabanar thai.Hys brodyr Edward thar thai fand,That thocht ferly, Ic tak on hand,20That thai come hame sa prively:He tauld hys brodyr halyly,How that he thar soucht was,[†]And how he chapyt wes throw cas.Here John Comyn and Others are Slain in the Friars’ Kirk.Sa fell it in the samyn tid,25That at Dumfres, rycht thar besid,Schir Jhone the Cumyn sojornyng maid;The Brus lap on and thiddir raid;And thocht, for-owtyn mar letting,For to quyt hym his discoveryng.30Thiddir he raid, but langir let,And withSchyr Jhone the Cumynmet,In the Freris, at the hye awter,And schawyt him,with lauchand cher,[†]The endentur; syne with a knyff,35Rycht in that sted,hym reft the lyff.Schyr Edmund Cumynals wes slayn,And othir mony off mekill mayn.[†]Nocht-for-thi yheit sum men sayis,[†]Atthat debat fell othir wayis;40But quhat sa evyr maid the debate,Thar-throuch he deyt, weill I wat.He mysdyd thar gretly, but wer,That gave na gyrth to the awter.Tharfor sa hard myscheiff him fell,45That Ik herd nevir in romanys tellOff man sa hard frayit as wes he,That eftirwart com to sic bounte.[†]Here the King of England seeks for Robert Bruce, but does not find Him.Nowagayne to the King ga we,50That on the morn, with his barne,Sat in-till his parlement;And eftyr the lord the Bruys he sent,Rycht till his in, with knychtis kene.Quhen he oft tyme had callit bene,And his men eftir him askit thai,55Thai said that he, sen yhytirday,Duelt in his chambyr ythanly,With a clerk with him anerly.Than knokyt thai at his chamur thar;And quhen thai hard nane mak ansuar60Thai brak the dur; bot thai fand nocht,The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht.Thai tauld the King than hale the cas,And how that he eschapyt was.He wes off his eschap sary;65And swour in ire, full stalwartly,That he sulddrawyn and hangitbe.He manausyt as him thocht: bot heThoucht that suld pas ane othir way.Here Robert Bruce sends Letters for an Assembly.And quhen he, as ye hard me say,70In-till the kyrk Schyr Jhone haid slayn,Till Louchmabane he went agayne;And gert men, with his lettres, rydTo freyndis apon ilke sid,[†]That come to hym with thar mengyhe;75And his men als assemblit he:And thocht that he wald mak him king.Our all the land the word gan spryng,That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn;And, amang othir, lettres ar gayn80Tothe byschop off Androws towne,That tauld how slayn wes that baroun,The lettir tauld hym all the deid:And he till his men can it reid;[†]And sythyn said thaim; “Sekyrly85“I hop thatThomas prophecy[†]“Off Hersildoune sall veryfyd be[†]“In him; for, swa our Lord help me!“I haiff gret hop he sall be king,“And haiff this land all in leding.”90The Douglas meeting with King Robert.FEB.1306Douglas hears Bruce’s LetterJames off Dowglas, that ay-quharAll-wayisbefor the byschop schar,Had weill hard all the lettir red;And he tuk alsua full gud hedTo that the byschop had said.[†]95And quhenthe burdys doun war laid,Till chamyr went thai then in hy;And James off Dowglas privelySaid to the byschop; “Schyr, yhe se“How Inglis men, throw thair powste,100“Dysherysys me off my land;“And men has gert yhow undirstand,“Als that the Erle off Carryk“Clamys to govern the kynryk:“And, for yhon man that he has slayn,105“All Inglis men ar him agayn,“Andwald disheryshym blythly;“The-quhethir with him dwell wald I.“Tharfor, Schir, giff it war yhour will,“I wald tak with him gud and ill.110“Throw hym I trow my land to wyn,“Magrethe Clyffurdand his kyn.”The byschop hard, and had pite,And said; ‘Swet son, sa God help me!‘I wald blythly that thow war thar,115‘Bot at I nocht reprovyt war.‘On this maner weile wyrk thou may,‘Thow sall takFerrandmy palfray;‘And for thair na is hors in this land‘Sa wycht, na yheit sa weill at hand;120‘Tak him as off thine awyne heid,‘As I had gevyn thar-to na reid.‘And gyff his yhemar oucht gruchys,‘Luk that thow tak hym magre his;‘Swa sall I weill assonyheit be.125‘Almychty God, for his powste,‘Graunt that he thow passis to,‘And thow, sa weill all tyme may do,[†]‘That yhe yhow fra yhowr fayis defend!’He taucht him silver to dispend;130And syne gaiff him his benisoun.[†]And bad him pass his way off toun;For he na wald spek till he war gane.The Dowglas then his way has taneRycht to the hors, as he him bad:135Bot he, that him in yhemsell had,Than warnyt hym dispitously.Bot he, that wrethyt him encrely,Fellyt hym with a suerdys dynt.And syne, for-owtyn langir stynt,140The hors he sadylt hastely,And lap on him delyverly;And passyt furth but leve-taking.Der God, that is off hevyn king,Sawff hym, and scheld him fra his fayis!145All him alane the way he taisTowart the towne off Louchmabane;And, a litill fraAryk-stane,The Bruce with a gret rout he met,That raid to Scone, for to be set150In kingis stole, and to be king.MARCH1306Meeting of Bruce and DouglasAnd quhen Dowglas saw hys cummyng,He raid, and hailsyt hym in hy,And lowtyt him full curtasly;And tauld him haly all his state,155And quhat he was, and als how-gatThe Clyffurd held his heritage:And that he come to mak homageTill him as till his rychtwis king;And at he boune wes, in all thing,160To tak with him the gud and ill.And quhen the Bruce had herd his will,He resavyt him in gret daynte,And men and armys till him gaff he.He thoucht weile he suld be worthy;165For all his eldris war douchty.Thusgat maid thai thar aquentance,That nevir syne, for nakyn chance,Departyt quhill thai lyffand war.Thair frendschip woux ay mar and mar:170For he servyt ay lelely;And the tothir full wilfully,That was bath worthy, wycht, and wys,Rewardyt him weile his service.The Crowning of King Robert.Thelord of the Bruce to Glaskow raid,175And send about him, quhill he haidOff his freyndis a gret menyhe.And syne to Scone in hy raid he,Andwes maid kingbut langir let,And in the kingis stole wes set;180As in that tyme wes the maner.Bot off thar nobleis gret affer,Thar service, na thar realte,Yhe sall her na thing now for me;Owtane that he off the barnage185That thiddir come, tok homage;And synewent our all the land,Frendis and frendschip purchesand,To maynteym that he had begunnyn.He wyst, or all the land war wonnyn,190He suld fynd full hard barganyngWith him that wes off Ingland King:For thar wes nane off lyff sa fell,Sa pautener, na sa cruell.And quhen to King Edward wes tauld,195How at the Bruys, that wes sa bauld,Had brocht the Cumyn till ending,And how he syne had maid him king,Owt off his wyt he went weill ner;And callit till himSchir Amer200The Vallang, that wes wys and wycht,And off his hand a worthy knycht,And bad him men off armys ta,Andin all hytill Scotland ga,[†]And byrn, and slay, and rais dragoun:205And hycht all Fyfe in warysounTill him, that mycht othir ta or slaRobert the Bruce, that wes his fa.Schir Aymer did as he him bad,Gret chevalry with him he had;210With him wesPhilip the Mowbray,AndIngram the Umfravillperfay,That wes bath wys and averty,And full of gret chevalry;Andoff Scotland the maist party215Thai had in-till thar company.The First Speaking of King Robert with Sir Aymer.1306Valence occupies PerthFor yheit then mekill off the landWes in-till Inglis mennys hand.Till Perth then went thai in a rout,That then wes wallyt all about220With feile towris, rycht hey bataillyt,To defend giff it war assaylit.Thar-in duellyt Schir Amery,With all his gret chevalry.The King Robert wyst he wes thar,225And quhat-kyn chyftanys with him war,And assemblyt all his mengyhe.He had feyle off full gret bounte;Bot thar fayis war may then thai,Be fifteene hunder, as Ik herd say.230The-quhethir he had thar, at that ned,Full feill that war douchty off deid;And barownys that war bauld as bar.Twa erlis alsua with him war;OffLevynaxand Atholl war thai.235Edward the Brucewes thar alsua,Thomas Randell, and Hew de le Hay,And SchyrDavid the Berclay,Fresale, Somerveile, and Inchmertyn;James of Dowglas thar wes syne,240That yheyt than wes bot litill off mycht;And othir fele folk forsye in fycht:Bot I can nocht tell quhat thai hycht.[†]Thocht thai war qwheyn, thai war worthy,And full of gret chevalry.245And in bataill, in gud aray,BeforSanct Jhonystouncom thai,Andbad Schyr Amery isch to fycht;And he, that in the mekill mychtTraistyt off thaim that wes him by,250Bad his men arme thaim hastily.BotSchir Ingramthe UmfravillThocht it war all to gret perillIn playne bataill to thaim to ga,Or quhill thai war arayit sa:[†]255And till Schyr Amer then said he;[†]‘Schir, giff that yhe will trow to me,‘Yhe sall nocht ische thaim till assaile,‘Till thai ar purvayt in bataill.‘For thar ledar is wys and wycht,260‘And off his hand a noble knycht;‘And he has in his cumpany‘Mony a gud man and worthi,‘That sall be hard for till assay,‘While thai ar in sa gud aray.[†]265‘For it suld be full mekill mycht‘That now suld put thaim to the flycht:‘For quhen thai folk ar weill arayit,‘And for the bataill weill purvait,‘With-thi that thai all gud men be,270‘Thai sall fer mar be avise,‘And weill mar for to dreid, then thai‘War set sumdele out off aray.‘Thairfor yhe may, schir, say thaim till,‘That thai may this nycht, and thai will,275‘Gang herbery thaim and slep and rest;‘And at to morn, but langar frest,‘Yhe sall isch furth to the bataill,‘And fecht with thaimbot gyf thai faile.‘Sa till thar herbery wend sall thai,[†]280‘And sum sall wend to the forray;‘And thai that duellis at the logyng,‘Sen thai come owt off travelling,‘Sall in schort tyme unarmyt be.‘Then on our best maner may we,285‘With all our fayr chevalry,‘Ryd towart thaim rycht hardyly;‘And thai that wenys to rest all nycht‘Quhen thai se us arayit to fycht,‘Cummand on thaim sa sudanly,290‘Thai sall affrayit be gretumly.‘And or thai cummyn in bataill be,[†]‘We sall speid us swagat that we‘Sall be all redy till assembill.‘Sum man for erynes will trymbill,295‘Quhen he assayit is sodanly,‘That with avisement is douchty.’The Lodging of King Robert in the Park of Methven.JUNE26, 1306The Scots are SurprisedAshe avisyt now have thai done;And till thaim utouth send thai sone,And bad thaim herbery thaim that nycht,300Andon the morn cumto the fycht.Quhen thai saw thai mycht no mar,Towart Meffayn then gan thai far;And in the woud thaim logyt thai;The thrid partwent to the forray;305And the lave sone unarmyt war.And skalyt to loge thaim her and thar.Schyr Amer then, but mar abaid,With all the folk he with him haid,Ischyt in-forcelyto the fycht;310And raid, in-till a randoun rycht,The strawcht way towart Meffen.The King, thatwes unarmyt then,Saw thaim cum swa inforcely;Then till his men gan hely cry,315“Till armys swyth, and makys yhow yhar!“Her at our hand our fayis ar!”And thai did swa in full gret hy;Andon thair hors laphastily.The King displayit his baner,320Quhen that his folk assemblyt wer;And said, “Lordingis, now may yhe se“That yhone folk all, throw sutelte,“Schapis thaim to do with slycht,“That at thai drede to do with mycht.325“Now I persave he that will trew“His fa, it sall him sum tyme rew.“And nocht-for-thi, thocht thai be fele,“God may rycht weill our werdis dele;“For multitud mais na victory,330“As men has red in mony story,“That few folk has oft vencusyt ma.“Trow we that we sall do rycht sua.“Yhe are ilkan wycht and worthy,“And full of gret chevalry;335“And wate rycht weill quhat honour is.“Wyrk yhe then apon swylk wys,“That yhour honour be savyt ay.“And a thing will I to yow say,“That he that dois for his cuntre[†]340“Sall herbryit in-till hevyn be.”Quhen this wes said, thai saw cumandThar fayis ridand, ner at the hand,Arayit rycht avisely,Willful to do chevalry.345The Battle of Methven and the First Discomfiture of King Robert
Thebarownys thus accordyt ar;[†]And that ilk nycht than writyn war[†]Thair endenturis, and aythis maidTo hald that thai forspokyn haid.Bot off all thing wa worth tresoun!515For thar is nothir duk ne baroun,Na erle, na prynce, na king off mycht,Thocht he be nevir sa wys na wycht,For wyt, worschip, price, na renoun,That evir may wauch hym with tresoune.520Wes nocht all Troy with tresoune tane,Quhen ten yheris of the wer wes gane?Then slayn wes mone thowsandOff thaim with-owt, throw strenth of hand;AsDaresin his buk he wrate,525And Dytis, that knew all thar state.Thai mycht nocht haiff beyn tane throw mycht,Bot tresoun tuk thaim throw hyr slycht.And Alexander the Conqueroure,That conqueryt Babilonys tour,530And all this warld off lenth and breid,In twelf yher, throw his douchty deid,Wes syne destroyitthrow pusoune,In his awyne hows, throw gret tresoune.Bot, or he deit, his land delt he:535To se his dede wes gret pite.Julius Cesar als, that wanBretane and Fraunce, as dowchty man,Affryk, Arrabe, Egipt, Surry,And all Europe halyly;540And for his worschip and valourOff Rome wesfryst maid emperour;Syne in hys capitole wes he,Throw thaim of his consaill prive,Slayne with punsoune, rycht to the ded:545And quhen he saw thair wes na rede,Hys eyn with his hand closit he,For to dey with mar honeste.Als Arthur, that throw chevalryMaid Bretane maistres and lady550Off twelf kinrykis that he wan;And alsua, as a noble man,He wan throw bataill Fraunce all fre;AndLucius Ybervencusyt he,That then of Rome was emperour:555Bot yheit, for all his gret valour,Modreyt his systir son him slew;And gud men als ma then inew,Throw tresoune and throw wikkitnes;The Broite beris tharoff wytnes.560Sa fell off this conand-making:For the Cumyn raid to the KingOff Ingland, and tald all this cas;Bot, I trow, nocht all as it was.Bot the endentur till him gaf he,565That soune schawyt the iniquite:Quharfor syne he tholyt ded;Than he couth set tharfor na rede.1306Edward sends for BruceQuhen the King saw the endentur,He wes angry out of mesur,570And swour that he suld vengeance taOff that Bruys, that presumyt swaAganys him to brawle or rys,Or to conspyr on sic a wys.And to Schyr Jhon Cumyn said he,575That he suld, for his leawte,Be rewardyt, and that hely:And he him thankit humyly.Than thocht he to have the ledingOff all Scotland, but gane-saying,580Fra at the Bruce to dede war brocht.Bot oft failyheis the fulis thocht;And wys mennys etlingCummys nocht ay to that endingThat thai think it sall cum to;585For God wate weill quhat is to do.Off hys etlyng rycht swa it fell,As I sall efterwartis tell.He tuk his leve, and hame is went;And the King a parlyament590Gert set thareftir hastely;And thidder somownys he in hyThe barownys of his reawte.And to the lord the Bruce send heBydding to come to that gadryng.595And he that had na persavyngOff the tresoun, na the falset,Raid to the King but langir let;And in Lundon hym herberyd heThe fyrst day off thar assemble;600Syn on the morn to court he went.The Kyng sat into parleament;And forouch hys consaile prive,The lord the Bruce than callyt he,[†]And schawyt hym the endentur.605He wes in full gret aventurTo tyne his lyff; bot God of mychtPreservyt him till hyer hycht,That wald nocht that he swa war dede.The King betaucht hym in that steid610The endentur, the seile to se,The askyt, gyff it enselyt he?He lukyit the seyle ententily,And answeryt till hym humyly,And sayd; “How that I sympill be,615“My seyle is nocht all tyme with me;“Ik have ane othir it to ber.“Tharfor giff that yhour willis wer,“Ic ask yhow respyt for to se“This lettir, and avysit be,[†]620“Till to morn that yhe be set:“And then, for-owtyn langir let,“This lettir sall I entyr heyr,“Befor all yhour consaill planer;“And thair-tillin-to bourchdraw I[†]625“Myn herytage all halily.”The King thocht he wes traist inewch,Sen he in bowrch hys landis drewch;And let hym with the lettir passe,Till entyr it, as for-spokin was.630BOOK II.How the Bruce avoided King Edward’s Deceit.JAN.1306Bruce and the Clerk EscapeTheBruys went till his innys swyth;Bot, wyt yhe weile, he wes full blyth,That he had gottyn that respyt.He callit his marschall till him tyt,And bad him luk on all maner,5That he ma till his men gud cher;For he wald in his chambre beA weill gret quhile in private,With him a clerk for-owtyn ma.The marschell till the hall gan ga,10And did hys lordys commanding.The lord the Bruce, but mar letting,Gert prively bryng stedys twa.He and the clerk, for-owtyn ma,Lap on, for-owtyn persavyng:15And day and nycht, but sojournyng,Thai raid; quhill,on the fyften day,Cummyn tillLouchmabanar thai.Hys brodyr Edward thar thai fand,That thocht ferly, Ic tak on hand,20That thai come hame sa prively:He tauld hys brodyr halyly,How that he thar soucht was,[†]And how he chapyt wes throw cas.Here John Comyn and Others are Slain in the Friars’ Kirk.Sa fell it in the samyn tid,25That at Dumfres, rycht thar besid,Schir Jhone the Cumyn sojornyng maid;The Brus lap on and thiddir raid;And thocht, for-owtyn mar letting,For to quyt hym his discoveryng.30Thiddir he raid, but langir let,And withSchyr Jhone the Cumynmet,In the Freris, at the hye awter,And schawyt him,with lauchand cher,[†]The endentur; syne with a knyff,35Rycht in that sted,hym reft the lyff.Schyr Edmund Cumynals wes slayn,And othir mony off mekill mayn.[†]Nocht-for-thi yheit sum men sayis,[†]Atthat debat fell othir wayis;40But quhat sa evyr maid the debate,Thar-throuch he deyt, weill I wat.He mysdyd thar gretly, but wer,That gave na gyrth to the awter.Tharfor sa hard myscheiff him fell,45That Ik herd nevir in romanys tellOff man sa hard frayit as wes he,That eftirwart com to sic bounte.[†]Here the King of England seeks for Robert Bruce, but does not find Him.Nowagayne to the King ga we,50That on the morn, with his barne,Sat in-till his parlement;And eftyr the lord the Bruys he sent,Rycht till his in, with knychtis kene.Quhen he oft tyme had callit bene,And his men eftir him askit thai,55Thai said that he, sen yhytirday,Duelt in his chambyr ythanly,With a clerk with him anerly.Than knokyt thai at his chamur thar;And quhen thai hard nane mak ansuar60Thai brak the dur; bot thai fand nocht,The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht.Thai tauld the King than hale the cas,And how that he eschapyt was.He wes off his eschap sary;65And swour in ire, full stalwartly,That he sulddrawyn and hangitbe.He manausyt as him thocht: bot heThoucht that suld pas ane othir way.Here Robert Bruce sends Letters for an Assembly.And quhen he, as ye hard me say,70In-till the kyrk Schyr Jhone haid slayn,Till Louchmabane he went agayne;And gert men, with his lettres, rydTo freyndis apon ilke sid,[†]That come to hym with thar mengyhe;75And his men als assemblit he:And thocht that he wald mak him king.Our all the land the word gan spryng,That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn;And, amang othir, lettres ar gayn80Tothe byschop off Androws towne,That tauld how slayn wes that baroun,The lettir tauld hym all the deid:And he till his men can it reid;[†]And sythyn said thaim; “Sekyrly85“I hop thatThomas prophecy[†]“Off Hersildoune sall veryfyd be[†]“In him; for, swa our Lord help me!“I haiff gret hop he sall be king,“And haiff this land all in leding.”90The Douglas meeting with King Robert.FEB.1306Douglas hears Bruce’s LetterJames off Dowglas, that ay-quharAll-wayisbefor the byschop schar,Had weill hard all the lettir red;And he tuk alsua full gud hedTo that the byschop had said.[†]95And quhenthe burdys doun war laid,Till chamyr went thai then in hy;And James off Dowglas privelySaid to the byschop; “Schyr, yhe se“How Inglis men, throw thair powste,100“Dysherysys me off my land;“And men has gert yhow undirstand,“Als that the Erle off Carryk“Clamys to govern the kynryk:“And, for yhon man that he has slayn,105“All Inglis men ar him agayn,“Andwald disheryshym blythly;“The-quhethir with him dwell wald I.“Tharfor, Schir, giff it war yhour will,“I wald tak with him gud and ill.110“Throw hym I trow my land to wyn,“Magrethe Clyffurdand his kyn.”The byschop hard, and had pite,And said; ‘Swet son, sa God help me!‘I wald blythly that thow war thar,115‘Bot at I nocht reprovyt war.‘On this maner weile wyrk thou may,‘Thow sall takFerrandmy palfray;‘And for thair na is hors in this land‘Sa wycht, na yheit sa weill at hand;120‘Tak him as off thine awyne heid,‘As I had gevyn thar-to na reid.‘And gyff his yhemar oucht gruchys,‘Luk that thow tak hym magre his;‘Swa sall I weill assonyheit be.125‘Almychty God, for his powste,‘Graunt that he thow passis to,‘And thow, sa weill all tyme may do,[†]‘That yhe yhow fra yhowr fayis defend!’He taucht him silver to dispend;130And syne gaiff him his benisoun.[†]And bad him pass his way off toun;For he na wald spek till he war gane.The Dowglas then his way has taneRycht to the hors, as he him bad:135Bot he, that him in yhemsell had,Than warnyt hym dispitously.Bot he, that wrethyt him encrely,Fellyt hym with a suerdys dynt.And syne, for-owtyn langir stynt,140The hors he sadylt hastely,And lap on him delyverly;And passyt furth but leve-taking.Der God, that is off hevyn king,Sawff hym, and scheld him fra his fayis!145All him alane the way he taisTowart the towne off Louchmabane;And, a litill fraAryk-stane,The Bruce with a gret rout he met,That raid to Scone, for to be set150In kingis stole, and to be king.MARCH1306Meeting of Bruce and DouglasAnd quhen Dowglas saw hys cummyng,He raid, and hailsyt hym in hy,And lowtyt him full curtasly;And tauld him haly all his state,155And quhat he was, and als how-gatThe Clyffurd held his heritage:And that he come to mak homageTill him as till his rychtwis king;And at he boune wes, in all thing,160To tak with him the gud and ill.And quhen the Bruce had herd his will,He resavyt him in gret daynte,And men and armys till him gaff he.He thoucht weile he suld be worthy;165For all his eldris war douchty.Thusgat maid thai thar aquentance,That nevir syne, for nakyn chance,Departyt quhill thai lyffand war.Thair frendschip woux ay mar and mar:170For he servyt ay lelely;And the tothir full wilfully,That was bath worthy, wycht, and wys,Rewardyt him weile his service.The Crowning of King Robert.Thelord of the Bruce to Glaskow raid,175And send about him, quhill he haidOff his freyndis a gret menyhe.And syne to Scone in hy raid he,Andwes maid kingbut langir let,And in the kingis stole wes set;180As in that tyme wes the maner.Bot off thar nobleis gret affer,Thar service, na thar realte,Yhe sall her na thing now for me;Owtane that he off the barnage185That thiddir come, tok homage;And synewent our all the land,Frendis and frendschip purchesand,To maynteym that he had begunnyn.He wyst, or all the land war wonnyn,190He suld fynd full hard barganyngWith him that wes off Ingland King:For thar wes nane off lyff sa fell,Sa pautener, na sa cruell.And quhen to King Edward wes tauld,195How at the Bruys, that wes sa bauld,Had brocht the Cumyn till ending,And how he syne had maid him king,Owt off his wyt he went weill ner;And callit till himSchir Amer200The Vallang, that wes wys and wycht,And off his hand a worthy knycht,And bad him men off armys ta,Andin all hytill Scotland ga,[†]And byrn, and slay, and rais dragoun:205And hycht all Fyfe in warysounTill him, that mycht othir ta or slaRobert the Bruce, that wes his fa.Schir Aymer did as he him bad,Gret chevalry with him he had;210With him wesPhilip the Mowbray,AndIngram the Umfravillperfay,That wes bath wys and averty,And full of gret chevalry;Andoff Scotland the maist party215Thai had in-till thar company.The First Speaking of King Robert with Sir Aymer.1306Valence occupies PerthFor yheit then mekill off the landWes in-till Inglis mennys hand.Till Perth then went thai in a rout,That then wes wallyt all about220With feile towris, rycht hey bataillyt,To defend giff it war assaylit.Thar-in duellyt Schir Amery,With all his gret chevalry.The King Robert wyst he wes thar,225And quhat-kyn chyftanys with him war,And assemblyt all his mengyhe.He had feyle off full gret bounte;Bot thar fayis war may then thai,Be fifteene hunder, as Ik herd say.230The-quhethir he had thar, at that ned,Full feill that war douchty off deid;And barownys that war bauld as bar.Twa erlis alsua with him war;OffLevynaxand Atholl war thai.235Edward the Brucewes thar alsua,Thomas Randell, and Hew de le Hay,And SchyrDavid the Berclay,Fresale, Somerveile, and Inchmertyn;James of Dowglas thar wes syne,240That yheyt than wes bot litill off mycht;And othir fele folk forsye in fycht:Bot I can nocht tell quhat thai hycht.[†]Thocht thai war qwheyn, thai war worthy,And full of gret chevalry.245And in bataill, in gud aray,BeforSanct Jhonystouncom thai,Andbad Schyr Amery isch to fycht;And he, that in the mekill mychtTraistyt off thaim that wes him by,250Bad his men arme thaim hastily.BotSchir Ingramthe UmfravillThocht it war all to gret perillIn playne bataill to thaim to ga,Or quhill thai war arayit sa:[†]255And till Schyr Amer then said he;[†]‘Schir, giff that yhe will trow to me,‘Yhe sall nocht ische thaim till assaile,‘Till thai ar purvayt in bataill.‘For thar ledar is wys and wycht,260‘And off his hand a noble knycht;‘And he has in his cumpany‘Mony a gud man and worthi,‘That sall be hard for till assay,‘While thai ar in sa gud aray.[†]265‘For it suld be full mekill mycht‘That now suld put thaim to the flycht:‘For quhen thai folk ar weill arayit,‘And for the bataill weill purvait,‘With-thi that thai all gud men be,270‘Thai sall fer mar be avise,‘And weill mar for to dreid, then thai‘War set sumdele out off aray.‘Thairfor yhe may, schir, say thaim till,‘That thai may this nycht, and thai will,275‘Gang herbery thaim and slep and rest;‘And at to morn, but langar frest,‘Yhe sall isch furth to the bataill,‘And fecht with thaimbot gyf thai faile.‘Sa till thar herbery wend sall thai,[†]280‘And sum sall wend to the forray;‘And thai that duellis at the logyng,‘Sen thai come owt off travelling,‘Sall in schort tyme unarmyt be.‘Then on our best maner may we,285‘With all our fayr chevalry,‘Ryd towart thaim rycht hardyly;‘And thai that wenys to rest all nycht‘Quhen thai se us arayit to fycht,‘Cummand on thaim sa sudanly,290‘Thai sall affrayit be gretumly.‘And or thai cummyn in bataill be,[†]‘We sall speid us swagat that we‘Sall be all redy till assembill.‘Sum man for erynes will trymbill,295‘Quhen he assayit is sodanly,‘That with avisement is douchty.’The Lodging of King Robert in the Park of Methven.JUNE26, 1306The Scots are SurprisedAshe avisyt now have thai done;And till thaim utouth send thai sone,And bad thaim herbery thaim that nycht,300Andon the morn cumto the fycht.Quhen thai saw thai mycht no mar,Towart Meffayn then gan thai far;And in the woud thaim logyt thai;The thrid partwent to the forray;305And the lave sone unarmyt war.And skalyt to loge thaim her and thar.Schyr Amer then, but mar abaid,With all the folk he with him haid,Ischyt in-forcelyto the fycht;310And raid, in-till a randoun rycht,The strawcht way towart Meffen.The King, thatwes unarmyt then,Saw thaim cum swa inforcely;Then till his men gan hely cry,315“Till armys swyth, and makys yhow yhar!“Her at our hand our fayis ar!”And thai did swa in full gret hy;Andon thair hors laphastily.The King displayit his baner,320Quhen that his folk assemblyt wer;And said, “Lordingis, now may yhe se“That yhone folk all, throw sutelte,“Schapis thaim to do with slycht,“That at thai drede to do with mycht.325“Now I persave he that will trew“His fa, it sall him sum tyme rew.“And nocht-for-thi, thocht thai be fele,“God may rycht weill our werdis dele;“For multitud mais na victory,330“As men has red in mony story,“That few folk has oft vencusyt ma.“Trow we that we sall do rycht sua.“Yhe are ilkan wycht and worthy,“And full of gret chevalry;335“And wate rycht weill quhat honour is.“Wyrk yhe then apon swylk wys,“That yhour honour be savyt ay.“And a thing will I to yow say,“That he that dois for his cuntre[†]340“Sall herbryit in-till hevyn be.”Quhen this wes said, thai saw cumandThar fayis ridand, ner at the hand,Arayit rycht avisely,Willful to do chevalry.345The Battle of Methven and the First Discomfiture of King Robert
1306Edward sends for Bruce
BOOK II.How the Bruce avoided King Edward’s Deceit.
JAN.1306Bruce and the Clerk Escape
TheBruys went till his innys swyth;Bot, wyt yhe weile, he wes full blyth,That he had gottyn that respyt.He callit his marschall till him tyt,And bad him luk on all maner,5That he ma till his men gud cher;For he wald in his chambre beA weill gret quhile in private,With him a clerk for-owtyn ma.The marschell till the hall gan ga,10And did hys lordys commanding.The lord the Bruce, but mar letting,Gert prively bryng stedys twa.He and the clerk, for-owtyn ma,Lap on, for-owtyn persavyng:15And day and nycht, but sojournyng,Thai raid; quhill,on the fyften day,Cummyn tillLouchmabanar thai.Hys brodyr Edward thar thai fand,That thocht ferly, Ic tak on hand,20That thai come hame sa prively:He tauld hys brodyr halyly,How that he thar soucht was,[†]And how he chapyt wes throw cas.
Sa fell it in the samyn tid,25That at Dumfres, rycht thar besid,Schir Jhone the Cumyn sojornyng maid;The Brus lap on and thiddir raid;And thocht, for-owtyn mar letting,For to quyt hym his discoveryng.30Thiddir he raid, but langir let,And withSchyr Jhone the Cumynmet,In the Freris, at the hye awter,And schawyt him,with lauchand cher,[†]The endentur; syne with a knyff,35Rycht in that sted,hym reft the lyff.Schyr Edmund Cumynals wes slayn,And othir mony off mekill mayn.[†]Nocht-for-thi yheit sum men sayis,[†]Atthat debat fell othir wayis;40But quhat sa evyr maid the debate,Thar-throuch he deyt, weill I wat.He mysdyd thar gretly, but wer,That gave na gyrth to the awter.Tharfor sa hard myscheiff him fell,45That Ik herd nevir in romanys tellOff man sa hard frayit as wes he,That eftirwart com to sic bounte.[†]
Nowagayne to the King ga we,50That on the morn, with his barne,Sat in-till his parlement;And eftyr the lord the Bruys he sent,Rycht till his in, with knychtis kene.Quhen he oft tyme had callit bene,And his men eftir him askit thai,55Thai said that he, sen yhytirday,Duelt in his chambyr ythanly,With a clerk with him anerly.Than knokyt thai at his chamur thar;And quhen thai hard nane mak ansuar60Thai brak the dur; bot thai fand nocht,The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht.Thai tauld the King than hale the cas,And how that he eschapyt was.He wes off his eschap sary;65And swour in ire, full stalwartly,That he sulddrawyn and hangitbe.He manausyt as him thocht: bot heThoucht that suld pas ane othir way.
And quhen he, as ye hard me say,70In-till the kyrk Schyr Jhone haid slayn,Till Louchmabane he went agayne;And gert men, with his lettres, rydTo freyndis apon ilke sid,[†]That come to hym with thar mengyhe;75And his men als assemblit he:And thocht that he wald mak him king.Our all the land the word gan spryng,That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn;And, amang othir, lettres ar gayn80Tothe byschop off Androws towne,That tauld how slayn wes that baroun,The lettir tauld hym all the deid:And he till his men can it reid;[†]And sythyn said thaim; “Sekyrly85“I hop thatThomas prophecy[†]“Off Hersildoune sall veryfyd be[†]“In him; for, swa our Lord help me!“I haiff gret hop he sall be king,“And haiff this land all in leding.”90
FEB.1306Douglas hears Bruce’s Letter
James off Dowglas, that ay-quharAll-wayisbefor the byschop schar,Had weill hard all the lettir red;And he tuk alsua full gud hedTo that the byschop had said.[†]95And quhenthe burdys doun war laid,Till chamyr went thai then in hy;And James off Dowglas privelySaid to the byschop; “Schyr, yhe se“How Inglis men, throw thair powste,100“Dysherysys me off my land;“And men has gert yhow undirstand,“Als that the Erle off Carryk“Clamys to govern the kynryk:“And, for yhon man that he has slayn,105“All Inglis men ar him agayn,“Andwald disheryshym blythly;“The-quhethir with him dwell wald I.“Tharfor, Schir, giff it war yhour will,“I wald tak with him gud and ill.110“Throw hym I trow my land to wyn,“Magrethe Clyffurdand his kyn.”The byschop hard, and had pite,And said; ‘Swet son, sa God help me!‘I wald blythly that thow war thar,115‘Bot at I nocht reprovyt war.‘On this maner weile wyrk thou may,‘Thow sall takFerrandmy palfray;‘And for thair na is hors in this land‘Sa wycht, na yheit sa weill at hand;120‘Tak him as off thine awyne heid,‘As I had gevyn thar-to na reid.‘And gyff his yhemar oucht gruchys,‘Luk that thow tak hym magre his;‘Swa sall I weill assonyheit be.125‘Almychty God, for his powste,‘Graunt that he thow passis to,‘And thow, sa weill all tyme may do,[†]‘That yhe yhow fra yhowr fayis defend!’He taucht him silver to dispend;130And syne gaiff him his benisoun.[†]And bad him pass his way off toun;For he na wald spek till he war gane.The Dowglas then his way has taneRycht to the hors, as he him bad:135Bot he, that him in yhemsell had,Than warnyt hym dispitously.Bot he, that wrethyt him encrely,Fellyt hym with a suerdys dynt.And syne, for-owtyn langir stynt,140The hors he sadylt hastely,And lap on him delyverly;And passyt furth but leve-taking.Der God, that is off hevyn king,Sawff hym, and scheld him fra his fayis!145All him alane the way he taisTowart the towne off Louchmabane;And, a litill fraAryk-stane,The Bruce with a gret rout he met,That raid to Scone, for to be set150In kingis stole, and to be king.MARCH1306Meeting of Bruce and DouglasAnd quhen Dowglas saw hys cummyng,He raid, and hailsyt hym in hy,And lowtyt him full curtasly;And tauld him haly all his state,155And quhat he was, and als how-gatThe Clyffurd held his heritage:And that he come to mak homageTill him as till his rychtwis king;And at he boune wes, in all thing,160To tak with him the gud and ill.And quhen the Bruce had herd his will,He resavyt him in gret daynte,And men and armys till him gaff he.He thoucht weile he suld be worthy;165For all his eldris war douchty.Thusgat maid thai thar aquentance,That nevir syne, for nakyn chance,Departyt quhill thai lyffand war.Thair frendschip woux ay mar and mar:170For he servyt ay lelely;And the tothir full wilfully,That was bath worthy, wycht, and wys,Rewardyt him weile his service.
MARCH1306Meeting of Bruce and Douglas
Thelord of the Bruce to Glaskow raid,175And send about him, quhill he haidOff his freyndis a gret menyhe.And syne to Scone in hy raid he,Andwes maid kingbut langir let,And in the kingis stole wes set;180As in that tyme wes the maner.Bot off thar nobleis gret affer,Thar service, na thar realte,Yhe sall her na thing now for me;Owtane that he off the barnage185That thiddir come, tok homage;And synewent our all the land,Frendis and frendschip purchesand,To maynteym that he had begunnyn.He wyst, or all the land war wonnyn,190He suld fynd full hard barganyngWith him that wes off Ingland King:For thar wes nane off lyff sa fell,Sa pautener, na sa cruell.And quhen to King Edward wes tauld,195How at the Bruys, that wes sa bauld,Had brocht the Cumyn till ending,And how he syne had maid him king,Owt off his wyt he went weill ner;And callit till himSchir Amer200The Vallang, that wes wys and wycht,And off his hand a worthy knycht,And bad him men off armys ta,Andin all hytill Scotland ga,[†]And byrn, and slay, and rais dragoun:205And hycht all Fyfe in warysounTill him, that mycht othir ta or slaRobert the Bruce, that wes his fa.Schir Aymer did as he him bad,Gret chevalry with him he had;210With him wesPhilip the Mowbray,AndIngram the Umfravillperfay,That wes bath wys and averty,And full of gret chevalry;Andoff Scotland the maist party215Thai had in-till thar company.
1306Valence occupies Perth
For yheit then mekill off the landWes in-till Inglis mennys hand.Till Perth then went thai in a rout,That then wes wallyt all about220With feile towris, rycht hey bataillyt,To defend giff it war assaylit.Thar-in duellyt Schir Amery,With all his gret chevalry.The King Robert wyst he wes thar,225And quhat-kyn chyftanys with him war,And assemblyt all his mengyhe.He had feyle off full gret bounte;Bot thar fayis war may then thai,Be fifteene hunder, as Ik herd say.230The-quhethir he had thar, at that ned,Full feill that war douchty off deid;And barownys that war bauld as bar.Twa erlis alsua with him war;OffLevynaxand Atholl war thai.235Edward the Brucewes thar alsua,Thomas Randell, and Hew de le Hay,And SchyrDavid the Berclay,Fresale, Somerveile, and Inchmertyn;James of Dowglas thar wes syne,240That yheyt than wes bot litill off mycht;And othir fele folk forsye in fycht:Bot I can nocht tell quhat thai hycht.[†]Thocht thai war qwheyn, thai war worthy,And full of gret chevalry.245And in bataill, in gud aray,BeforSanct Jhonystouncom thai,Andbad Schyr Amery isch to fycht;And he, that in the mekill mychtTraistyt off thaim that wes him by,250Bad his men arme thaim hastily.BotSchir Ingramthe UmfravillThocht it war all to gret perillIn playne bataill to thaim to ga,Or quhill thai war arayit sa:[†]255And till Schyr Amer then said he;[†]‘Schir, giff that yhe will trow to me,‘Yhe sall nocht ische thaim till assaile,‘Till thai ar purvayt in bataill.‘For thar ledar is wys and wycht,260‘And off his hand a noble knycht;‘And he has in his cumpany‘Mony a gud man and worthi,‘That sall be hard for till assay,‘While thai ar in sa gud aray.[†]265‘For it suld be full mekill mycht‘That now suld put thaim to the flycht:‘For quhen thai folk ar weill arayit,‘And for the bataill weill purvait,‘With-thi that thai all gud men be,270‘Thai sall fer mar be avise,‘And weill mar for to dreid, then thai‘War set sumdele out off aray.‘Thairfor yhe may, schir, say thaim till,‘That thai may this nycht, and thai will,275‘Gang herbery thaim and slep and rest;‘And at to morn, but langar frest,‘Yhe sall isch furth to the bataill,‘And fecht with thaimbot gyf thai faile.‘Sa till thar herbery wend sall thai,[†]280‘And sum sall wend to the forray;‘And thai that duellis at the logyng,‘Sen thai come owt off travelling,‘Sall in schort tyme unarmyt be.‘Then on our best maner may we,285‘With all our fayr chevalry,‘Ryd towart thaim rycht hardyly;‘And thai that wenys to rest all nycht‘Quhen thai se us arayit to fycht,‘Cummand on thaim sa sudanly,290‘Thai sall affrayit be gretumly.‘And or thai cummyn in bataill be,[†]‘We sall speid us swagat that we‘Sall be all redy till assembill.‘Sum man for erynes will trymbill,295‘Quhen he assayit is sodanly,‘That with avisement is douchty.’
JUNE26, 1306The Scots are Surprised
Ashe avisyt now have thai done;And till thaim utouth send thai sone,And bad thaim herbery thaim that nycht,300Andon the morn cumto the fycht.Quhen thai saw thai mycht no mar,Towart Meffayn then gan thai far;And in the woud thaim logyt thai;The thrid partwent to the forray;305And the lave sone unarmyt war.And skalyt to loge thaim her and thar.Schyr Amer then, but mar abaid,With all the folk he with him haid,Ischyt in-forcelyto the fycht;310And raid, in-till a randoun rycht,The strawcht way towart Meffen.The King, thatwes unarmyt then,Saw thaim cum swa inforcely;Then till his men gan hely cry,315“Till armys swyth, and makys yhow yhar!“Her at our hand our fayis ar!”And thai did swa in full gret hy;Andon thair hors laphastily.The King displayit his baner,320Quhen that his folk assemblyt wer;And said, “Lordingis, now may yhe se“That yhone folk all, throw sutelte,“Schapis thaim to do with slycht,“That at thai drede to do with mycht.325“Now I persave he that will trew“His fa, it sall him sum tyme rew.“And nocht-for-thi, thocht thai be fele,“God may rycht weill our werdis dele;“For multitud mais na victory,330“As men has red in mony story,“That few folk has oft vencusyt ma.“Trow we that we sall do rycht sua.“Yhe are ilkan wycht and worthy,“And full of gret chevalry;335“And wate rycht weill quhat honour is.“Wyrk yhe then apon swylk wys,“That yhour honour be savyt ay.“And a thing will I to yow say,“That he that dois for his cuntre[†]340“Sall herbryit in-till hevyn be.”Quhen this wes said, thai saw cumandThar fayis ridand, ner at the hand,Arayit rycht avisely,Willful to do chevalry.345