AUG., 1327The Scots prepare to departAponthe morne, all prevaly,Thai turst harnas and maid reddy;Swa that, or evyn, all boun war thai.Thair fayis, that agane thame lay,720Gert haf thair men that thar wes dedIn cartis till ane haly sted.All that day caryand thai warWith cartis, men that slayne war thar.That thai war feill men mycht weill se,725That in carying so lang sud be.The hostis bath all that day werIn pes; and quhen the nycht wes ner,The Scottis folk, that lyand warIn-till the park, maid fest and far;730Andblew hornys and fyres maid,And gert thame bryn bath bricht and braid,Swa that thair fyres that nycht war mairThan ony tyme befor thai war.And quhenthe nycht wes fallynwele,735With all thair harnas ilke deillAll prevaly thai raid thair way.Soyn in a mos enterit ar thai,That had weill a lang myle on breid;[†]Out-our that moss on fut thai yheid,740And in thair hand thair hors led thai.It wes richt ane noyus way;[†]And nocht-for-thi all that thar werCom weill outour it, haill and fer,And tynt bot litill of thar ger,745Bot gif it war onysummerThat in the mos wes left liand.Quhen all, as I haf born on hand,Out-our the mos, that wes so braid,War cummyn, a gret gladschip thai had,750And raid furth hamwarde on thar way.And on the morn, quhen it wes day,The Inglis men saw the herbery,Quhar Scottis men war wount to ly,All voyd; thai wonderit gretly then,755And send furth syndry of thar menTo spy quhar thai war gane away,Quhill at the last thair tras fand thai,That till the mekill mos thame had,That wes so hidwis for till waid,760That aventur thame thar-to durst nane;Bot till thar host agane ar gane,And tald how that thai passit war,Quhar nevir man wes passit ar.Quhen Inglis men hard it wes swa,765In hytill consalecan thai ta,That thai wald follow thaim no mar.Thair host richt than thai scalit thar,And ilk man till his awn he raid.AUG., 1327King Robert sends a ReliefKyng Robert thanthat witteryng had770That his men in the park swa lay,And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai,Ana host assemblit he in hy.Andten thousandmen, wicht and hardy,[†]He send furth has with Erllis twa,775OfMarche and Angouswar thai,[†]The host in Wardale till releiff;And, gif thai mycht so weill escheiffThat sammyn nycht be thai and thai,Tha thoucht thair fayis till assay.780So fell it that, onthe sammyn dayThat the mos, as yhe herd me say,Wes passit, the discurrouris that tharRydand befor the hostis war,Of athir host has gottin sicht.785And thai, that worthy war and wicht,At tha metyng justit of wer.Ensenyheis hye thai cryit ther;And be thair cry persavit thai,That thai war frendis, and at a fay.790Than mycht men se thame glad and blith;And tald it to thair lordis swith.The hostis bath met sammyn syne;Thar wes richt hamly welcummyneMaid emang gret lordis thar;795Of thair metyng joyfull thai war.The Erll Patrik and his menyheHad vittale with thamegret plente,And thar-with weill relevit thaiThar frendis; for, the suth to say,800Quhill thai in Wardall liand war,Thai had defalt of met, bot tharThai war relevit with gret plente.Toward Scotland, with gammyn and gle,Thai went, and hame weill cummyn ar thai;805And scalit syne ilk man thar way.The lordis ar went on-to the King,That maid thame richt fair welcummyng.For of thar come richt glad wes he;And that thai sic perplexite.810For-out tynsale eschapit had.Thai war blith all and mery made.BOOK XX.How Good King Robert the Bruce crowned his Young Son David and Dame Johann, his Spouse.1327-28A Treaty of PeaceSoyneeftirthat the Erll ThomasFra Wardale thus reparit was,The King assemblit all his mycht,And left nane that wes worth to ficht.A gret hostthan assemblit he,5And delt his host in parties thre.A partto Norhamewent but let,And thair ane strat assege was set,And held thame in, richt at thar dik.The tothir part on toAwnwyk10Is went, and thar ane sege set thai;And quhill at thir assegis layAt the castellis, I spak of ar,Apert assaltis maid thai thar:Andmony fair gud chevelry15Eschevyt wes full douchtely.[†]The king at thai castellis liandLeft his folk, as I bare on hand,And with the thrid ost held his wayFra park to park, hym for to play,20Huntand as all his awn it war.And till thame that war with him tharThe landis of Northumbirland,That next Scotland thar wes liand,In fe and heritage gaf he,25And thai payit for the selys fee.On this wisraid he distroyand,Quhill that the Kyng of Ingland,Throu consell of the MortymerAnd his moder, at that tym wer30Ledaris of hym, that than yhoung wes,To Kyng Robert, till tret of pesSend messyngers, and swa sped thaiThat thai assentit on this way,Than a perpetuall pes to tak,35And thai a mariage suld makOf King Robertis sone, Davy,That than botfiff yheir had scarsly,And of dameJohane als of the Tour,That syne wes of full gret valour.40Sistir scho was to the yhoung King[†]That Ingland had in governyng,That than of eild hadsevin yher.Andmonymentis and lettrys ser,[†]That thai off Ingland that time had,45That oucht agayn Scotland maid,In till that tretys up thai gaff;Andall the clamethat thai mycht haffIn-till Scotland on ony maner.And King Robert, for scathes ser,50That he till thame of InglandHad done of weir, with stalward hand,Full twenty thousand pundsuld payOf sylvir in-to gude monay.Quhen men thir thyngis forspokin had,55And, with selys and athis, maidFesnyng of frendschip and of pes,That nevir for na chans suld ces;The maryage syne ordanit thaiTill be at Berwyk, and the day60Thai have set quhen that it suld be;Syne went ilk man till his cuntre.Thus maid wes pes quhar wer wes air,And syne the assegis rasit wair.The Kyng Robert ordanit till pay65The silvir, and, agane the day,He gert weillfor the mangeryOrdane, quhen that his sone DavySuld weddit be; and Erll Thomas,And the gud lord als of Douglas,70In-till his stede ordanit heDevysouris of that fest till be;For anemale-estuk hym so sare,That he on na wis mycht be thar.His mail-eis of ane fundyng75Begouth; for, throu his cald lying,Quhen in his gret myschef wes he,Him fell that herd perplexite.AtCardrosall that tym he lay;And quhen neir cummyne wes the day80That ordanit for the wedding wes,The Erll and the lord DowglasTo Berwikcome with mekill fair,And broucht yhoung Davy with thame thair.Andthe Queyne and Mortymer,85On othir party cummyn werWith gret affeir and rialte,The yhoung lady, of gret bewte,Thidder thai broucht with rich affeir.The wedding have thai maid richt ther90With gret fest and solempnite,Thair mycht men myrth and gladschip se:For full gret fest thai maid richt thar,And Inglis men and Scottis warTo-gidder in joy and in solas:95Na felloune spek betuix thame was.JULY12, 1328The Marriage of Prince DavidThe fest a weill lang tyme held thai;And quhen thai buskit till fair away,The queyn hes left hir douchter tharWith gret riches and ryall far.100I trow that lang quhill no ladyTo hous wes gevin so richly.The Erll and the Lord Dowglas,Hir in dante resavit has,As it wes worthy, sekyrly;105For scho wes syne the best ladyAnd the farest, that men mycht se.Eftir this gret solempnite,Quhen on bath halfis levis wes tane,The queyne till Ingland hame is gane,110And had with hir the Mortymer.The Erll and thai that levit wer,Quhen thai a quhile hir convoyit had,Toward Berwik agane thai raid,And syne, with all thar cumpany,115Toward the King thai went in hy,And had with thame the yhoung Davy,And als dame Johane the yhoung lady.The Kyng maid thame fair welcummyng,And eftir, but lang delaying,120He has gert set ane parliament,And thiddir with mony men is went.For he thoucht he wald, in his liff,Croune his yhoung sone and his wifAt that parliament, and swa did he;125With gret fair and solempnite,The kyng Davy wes crownyt thar,And all the lordis at thar war,[†]*127*And als of the comminite,*Maid hym manrent and fewte.And forouth that thai crownit war,*130The King Robert gert ordane thar,Gif it fell that his sone DavyDeit, but air male of his body130Gottyn, Robert Stewart suld be[†]Kyng, and bruk all the rialteThat his douchter bar, Marjory.And at this tailyhe suld lelely[†]Be haldin, all the lordis swar,135And it with selys affermyt thar.And gif it hapnyt Robert the KyngTo pass till God, quhill thai war yhyng,The gud Erle of Murref, Thomas,With the lord alsua of Dowglas,140Suld have thame in-to governyng,Quhill thai had wit to steir thar thing;And than the lordschip suld thai ta.Heir-till thar athis can thai ma.And all the lordis that wes thar145To thir twa wardanys athes swarTill obeis thame in-to lawte,Gif thame hapnyt wardanys to be.MAY-JUNE, 1329The Mission of the King’s HeartQuhenall this thing thus tretit wes,And affermyt with sekirnes,150The kingtill Cardross wentin hy;And thar hym tuk sa felonlyThe seknes, and him travalyt swa,That he wist him behufit maOf all this liff the commoune end,155That is the ded, quhen God will send.Tharfor his lettres soyne send heFor the lordisof his cuntre,And thai com as he biddyn had.His testament than has he maid,160Befor bath lordis and prelatis;And till religioune of seir statis,For heill of his saull, gaf heSilvir in-to gret quantite.He ordanit for his saull richt weill.165And quhen at this wes done ilk deill,“Lordingis,” he said, “swa is it gane“With me, that thar is nocht bot ane“That is, the ded, withouten dreid,“That ilk man mon thole on neid.170“And I thank God that has me sent“Spas in this liff me till repent.“For throu me and my warraying“Of blud thar has beyne gret spilling,“Quhar mony sakles men wes slayne;175“Tharfor this seknes and this payne“I tak in thank formy trespas.“Andmy hert fyschit fermly was,“Quhen I wes in prosperite,“Of my synnys till savit be180“To travell apon Goddis fayis.“And sen he now me till hym tais,“Thatthe body may on na wis“Fulfill that the hert can devis,“I wald the hert war thiddir sent,185“Quhar-in consavit wes that entent.“Tharfor I pray yhow evir-ilkane,“That yhe emang yhowcheis me ane“That be honest, wis, and wicht,“And of his hand ane nobill knycht,190“On Goddis fayismyne hert to bere“Quhen saull and cors disseverit er.“For I wald it war worthely“Broucht thar, sen God will nocht that I“Have power thiddirward till ga.”195Than war thair hertis all so wa,That nayne mycht hald hym fragreting.He bad thame leiff thair sorowyng;For it, he said, mycht nocht releif,And mycht thaimself gretly engreif.200And prayit thame in hy till doThe thyng that thai war chargit to.Than went thai furth with drery mude.And emang thame thai thoucht it gudeThat the worthy lord Dowglas205Quham in bath wit and worschip was[†]*206*Suld tak this travaill apon hand;*Heir-till thai war an accordand.*Syne till the Kyng that went in hy*And tald hym at thai thoucht trewly,That the douchty lord Dowglas*211Best schapen for that travell was.And quhen the King hard at thai swaHad ordanit hym his hert till ta,That he mast yharnit suld it haf,He said, “Sa God him-self me saff!210“I hald me richt weill payit that yhe“Has chosyn hym; forhis bounte,“And his worschip set my yharnyng,“Ay sen I thoucht till do this thyng,“That he it with hym thar suld ber.215“And sen yhe all assentit er,“It is the mar likand till me.“Lat se now quhat thar-till sayis he.”And quhen the gud lord of DowglasWist at the Kyng thus spokyn has,220He com and knelit to the Kyng,And on this wis maid him thanking.‘I thank yhow gretly, lorde,’ said he,‘Of mony large and gret bounte,‘That yhe haf done till me feill sis225‘Sen fyrst I come to yhour servis.‘Bot our all thing I mak thanking,‘That yhe so digne and worthy thing‘As yhour hert, that illumynyt wes‘Of all bounte and worthynes,230‘Will that I in my yheemsell tak.‘For yhow, Schir, will I blithly mak‘This travell, gif God will me gif‘Laser and space so lange till liff.’The Kyng him thankit tendirly.235Than wes nane in that cumpanyThat thai ne wepit for pite;Thair cher anoyus wes to se.Death of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland.JUNE, 1329The Sorrow for the King’s DeathQuhenthe Lord Dowglas, on this wis,Had undirtane so hye empris,240As the gud Kyngis hert till berOn Goddis fayis apon wer,Prisit for his enpris wes he.And the Kingis infermiteWoxe mair and mair, quhill at the last245The dulfull dede approchit fast.And quhen he had gert till hym doAll that gud Cristin man fell to,With werray repentans he gafThe gast, that God till hevin couth haf,250Emang his chosyn folk till beIn joy, solace, and angell gle.And fra his folk wisthe wes ded,The sorow rais fra sted to sted.Thair mycht men se men rif thar hare,255And cumly knychtis gret full sar,And thar nevis oft sammyn driff,And as wode men thair clathes rif,Regratand his worthy bounte,His wit, strynth, and his honeste;260And, our all, the gret cumpanyThat he oft maid thame curtesly.“All our defens,” thai said, “allas!“And he that all our confort was,“Our wit, and all our governyng,265“Is brought, allas! heir till ending.“His worschip and his mekill mycht“Maid all that war with him so wicht,“That thai mycht nevir abaysit be,“Quhill forouth thame thai mycht him se.270“Allas! quhat sall we do or say?“For in liff quhill he lestit ay,“With all our fais dred war we:[†]“And in-till mony fer cuntre“Of our worschip ran the renoune:275“And that wesall for his persoune.”With sic wordis thai maid thair mayne;And sekirly wonder wes nane:For better governour than heMycht in na cuntre fundyn be.280I hop that nane that is on lifThe lamentacioune suld discrifThat thai folk for thair lord maid.And quhen thai lang thus sorowit had,And he debowalit wes clenly,[†][293] 285Andbawlmyt eynefull richly,And the worthy lord Dowglas[295]His hert, as it forspokyn was,Has resavit in gret dantee,With gret fair and solempnite[298] 290Thai have him had till Dunfermlyne,[285]And hymsolempnly erdit syne,And in a fair towne in the queyr.Bischoppes and prelatis that thar weirAssolyheit hym, quhen the servis295Wes done as thai couth best devis;[290]And syne, apon the toder day,Sary and wa ar went thar way.[292]JULY-AUG., 1330Douglas reaches SpainQuhenat the gud King beriit was,The Erll of Murreff, Schir Thomas,300Tuk all the lande in governyng;All obeysit till his bidding.And the gud lord of Dowglas syneGert mak ane cas of silvir fyneAnamalyt throu subtilite:305Thar-in the Kyngis hert did he,And ay about his hals it bare,And fast him bownyt for his fare.His testament devisit he,And ordanit how his land suld be310Governit, quhill his agane-cummyng,Of frendis; and all othir thing,That till him partenit ony wis,With sa gude forsicht and sa wis,Or his furth-passyng, ordanit he,315That na thing mycht amendit be.And quhen that he his leif has tane,To schip till Berwikis he gane;And with ane nobill cumpanyOf knychtis and of squyary,320He put him thar in-to the se.A lang way furthwarde salyt he;Betuyx Cornwale and BretanyheHe salit, and leftthe Grunye of Spanyhe[†]On north half hym; and held thar way325Quhill tillSavill the Grauntcom thai.[†]Bot gretly war his men and heTravaled with tempest on the se;Bot, thouch thai gretly travalit war,Haill and feir thai cummyn ar.330Thai arivit at gret Savill;[†]And eftir, in a litill quhill,Thar hors to land thai drew ilkane,And in the toune has herbery tane.He hym contenyt richt richly;335For he hada fayr cumpany,And gold eneuch for till despend.The Kyngall soyne eftir hym send,And him richt weill resavit he,And profferit hym in gret plente340Gold and tresour, hors and armyng;Bot he wald tak thar-of na thyng;For, he said, he tuk that viageTo pass in-till his pilgrimageOn Goddis fais, that his travale345Micht eftir till his saull avale.And sen he wist that he had wereWith Sarazenis, he wald dwell ther,And help him at his mycht lely.The King him thankit curtesly,350And betaucht him gud men that wereWeill knawin of that landis wer,And the maner thar-of alsua.Syne till his innys can he ga.Quhen that the King him levit had,355A weill gret sojourne thar he mad.[†]Knychtis that com of fer cuntreCom in gret rowtis hym to se,And honorit him full gretumly.And our all men mast soveranly,360The Inglis knychtisthat war tharHonour and cumpany him bar.Emang thame wes ane strange knycht,That wes haldyn so woundir wicht,That for ane of the gude wes he365Prisit of all the Cristianite.Sa fast till-hewyn wes all his faceThat it our all neir wemmyt was.Or he the lord Dowglas had seyne,He wend his face had wemmyt beyne,370Bot nevir ane hurt in it had he.Quhen he unwemmyt can it se,He said that he had gret ferlyThat sic a knycht and sa worthy,And prisit of sa gret bounte,375Mycht in the face unwemmyt be.And he ansuerd thar-till mekly,And said, “Love God, all tym had I[†]“Handis myne hede for till were.”Quha wald tak tent to this ansuer[†]380Suld se in it undirstanding,That, and he that maid askyng,Had had handis to wer, his face,That, for defalt of fens so wasTo-fruschit into placis ser,385Suld haf, may fall, left haill and fer.The gud knychtis, that than war by,Prisit this ansuer gretumly;For it wes maid with meke speking,And had richt hye undirstanding.390AUG.25, 1330A Battle with the SaracensApon this maner still thai lay,Quhill throu the cuntre thai herd sayThat the hey King ofBalmeryne,[†]With mony a mudy Sarasyne,Wes enterit in the land off Spanyhe395All haill the cuntre till demanyhe.The Kyng of Spanyhe, on othir party,Gaderit his host delyverly,And delt thame in-to battellis thre.And to the lord Dowglas gaf he400The vawardfor to leid and steir;All haillthe strangeris with him weir,And the gretmastir of Saint JakThe tothir battell gert he tak.The reirward maid him-selvyn thar.405Thusgat devisit, furth thai warTo mete thair fayis, that in battaleArayit, reddy to assale,Com agane thame full sturdely.The Dowglas than, that wes worthy,410Quhen he to thame of his ledyngHad maid ane fair amonestyngTill do weill and na dede to dreid,For hevynnis blis suld be thair meid,Gif that thai deit in Goddis servis;415Than, as gud werriours and wis,With thame stoutly assemblit he.Thar mycht men felloune fechting se;For thai war all wicht and hardyThat war on the Cristyn party;420So fast thai faucht, with all thar mayne,[†]That of Sarasenys war mony slayne;The-quhethir, with mony fell fachoune,Mony Cristyn thai dang thar doune.
AUG., 1327The Scots prepare to departAponthe morne, all prevaly,Thai turst harnas and maid reddy;Swa that, or evyn, all boun war thai.Thair fayis, that agane thame lay,720Gert haf thair men that thar wes dedIn cartis till ane haly sted.All that day caryand thai warWith cartis, men that slayne war thar.That thai war feill men mycht weill se,725That in carying so lang sud be.The hostis bath all that day werIn pes; and quhen the nycht wes ner,The Scottis folk, that lyand warIn-till the park, maid fest and far;730Andblew hornys and fyres maid,And gert thame bryn bath bricht and braid,Swa that thair fyres that nycht war mairThan ony tyme befor thai war.And quhenthe nycht wes fallynwele,735With all thair harnas ilke deillAll prevaly thai raid thair way.Soyn in a mos enterit ar thai,That had weill a lang myle on breid;[†]Out-our that moss on fut thai yheid,740And in thair hand thair hors led thai.It wes richt ane noyus way;[†]And nocht-for-thi all that thar werCom weill outour it, haill and fer,And tynt bot litill of thar ger,745Bot gif it war onysummerThat in the mos wes left liand.Quhen all, as I haf born on hand,Out-our the mos, that wes so braid,War cummyn, a gret gladschip thai had,750And raid furth hamwarde on thar way.And on the morn, quhen it wes day,The Inglis men saw the herbery,Quhar Scottis men war wount to ly,All voyd; thai wonderit gretly then,755And send furth syndry of thar menTo spy quhar thai war gane away,Quhill at the last thair tras fand thai,That till the mekill mos thame had,That wes so hidwis for till waid,760That aventur thame thar-to durst nane;Bot till thar host agane ar gane,And tald how that thai passit war,Quhar nevir man wes passit ar.Quhen Inglis men hard it wes swa,765In hytill consalecan thai ta,That thai wald follow thaim no mar.Thair host richt than thai scalit thar,And ilk man till his awn he raid.AUG., 1327King Robert sends a ReliefKyng Robert thanthat witteryng had770That his men in the park swa lay,And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai,Ana host assemblit he in hy.Andten thousandmen, wicht and hardy,[†]He send furth has with Erllis twa,775OfMarche and Angouswar thai,[†]The host in Wardale till releiff;And, gif thai mycht so weill escheiffThat sammyn nycht be thai and thai,Tha thoucht thair fayis till assay.780So fell it that, onthe sammyn dayThat the mos, as yhe herd me say,Wes passit, the discurrouris that tharRydand befor the hostis war,Of athir host has gottin sicht.785And thai, that worthy war and wicht,At tha metyng justit of wer.Ensenyheis hye thai cryit ther;And be thair cry persavit thai,That thai war frendis, and at a fay.790Than mycht men se thame glad and blith;And tald it to thair lordis swith.The hostis bath met sammyn syne;Thar wes richt hamly welcummyneMaid emang gret lordis thar;795Of thair metyng joyfull thai war.The Erll Patrik and his menyheHad vittale with thamegret plente,And thar-with weill relevit thaiThar frendis; for, the suth to say,800Quhill thai in Wardall liand war,Thai had defalt of met, bot tharThai war relevit with gret plente.Toward Scotland, with gammyn and gle,Thai went, and hame weill cummyn ar thai;805And scalit syne ilk man thar way.The lordis ar went on-to the King,That maid thame richt fair welcummyng.For of thar come richt glad wes he;And that thai sic perplexite.810For-out tynsale eschapit had.Thai war blith all and mery made.BOOK XX.How Good King Robert the Bruce crowned his Young Son David and Dame Johann, his Spouse.1327-28A Treaty of PeaceSoyneeftirthat the Erll ThomasFra Wardale thus reparit was,The King assemblit all his mycht,And left nane that wes worth to ficht.A gret hostthan assemblit he,5And delt his host in parties thre.A partto Norhamewent but let,And thair ane strat assege was set,And held thame in, richt at thar dik.The tothir part on toAwnwyk10Is went, and thar ane sege set thai;And quhill at thir assegis layAt the castellis, I spak of ar,Apert assaltis maid thai thar:Andmony fair gud chevelry15Eschevyt wes full douchtely.[†]The king at thai castellis liandLeft his folk, as I bare on hand,And with the thrid ost held his wayFra park to park, hym for to play,20Huntand as all his awn it war.And till thame that war with him tharThe landis of Northumbirland,That next Scotland thar wes liand,In fe and heritage gaf he,25And thai payit for the selys fee.On this wisraid he distroyand,Quhill that the Kyng of Ingland,Throu consell of the MortymerAnd his moder, at that tym wer30Ledaris of hym, that than yhoung wes,To Kyng Robert, till tret of pesSend messyngers, and swa sped thaiThat thai assentit on this way,Than a perpetuall pes to tak,35And thai a mariage suld makOf King Robertis sone, Davy,That than botfiff yheir had scarsly,And of dameJohane als of the Tour,That syne wes of full gret valour.40Sistir scho was to the yhoung King[†]That Ingland had in governyng,That than of eild hadsevin yher.Andmonymentis and lettrys ser,[†]That thai off Ingland that time had,45That oucht agayn Scotland maid,In till that tretys up thai gaff;Andall the clamethat thai mycht haffIn-till Scotland on ony maner.And King Robert, for scathes ser,50That he till thame of InglandHad done of weir, with stalward hand,Full twenty thousand pundsuld payOf sylvir in-to gude monay.Quhen men thir thyngis forspokin had,55And, with selys and athis, maidFesnyng of frendschip and of pes,That nevir for na chans suld ces;The maryage syne ordanit thaiTill be at Berwyk, and the day60Thai have set quhen that it suld be;Syne went ilk man till his cuntre.Thus maid wes pes quhar wer wes air,And syne the assegis rasit wair.The Kyng Robert ordanit till pay65The silvir, and, agane the day,He gert weillfor the mangeryOrdane, quhen that his sone DavySuld weddit be; and Erll Thomas,And the gud lord als of Douglas,70In-till his stede ordanit heDevysouris of that fest till be;For anemale-estuk hym so sare,That he on na wis mycht be thar.His mail-eis of ane fundyng75Begouth; for, throu his cald lying,Quhen in his gret myschef wes he,Him fell that herd perplexite.AtCardrosall that tym he lay;And quhen neir cummyne wes the day80That ordanit for the wedding wes,The Erll and the lord DowglasTo Berwikcome with mekill fair,And broucht yhoung Davy with thame thair.Andthe Queyne and Mortymer,85On othir party cummyn werWith gret affeir and rialte,The yhoung lady, of gret bewte,Thidder thai broucht with rich affeir.The wedding have thai maid richt ther90With gret fest and solempnite,Thair mycht men myrth and gladschip se:For full gret fest thai maid richt thar,And Inglis men and Scottis warTo-gidder in joy and in solas:95Na felloune spek betuix thame was.JULY12, 1328The Marriage of Prince DavidThe fest a weill lang tyme held thai;And quhen thai buskit till fair away,The queyn hes left hir douchter tharWith gret riches and ryall far.100I trow that lang quhill no ladyTo hous wes gevin so richly.The Erll and the Lord Dowglas,Hir in dante resavit has,As it wes worthy, sekyrly;105For scho wes syne the best ladyAnd the farest, that men mycht se.Eftir this gret solempnite,Quhen on bath halfis levis wes tane,The queyne till Ingland hame is gane,110And had with hir the Mortymer.The Erll and thai that levit wer,Quhen thai a quhile hir convoyit had,Toward Berwik agane thai raid,And syne, with all thar cumpany,115Toward the King thai went in hy,And had with thame the yhoung Davy,And als dame Johane the yhoung lady.The Kyng maid thame fair welcummyng,And eftir, but lang delaying,120He has gert set ane parliament,And thiddir with mony men is went.For he thoucht he wald, in his liff,Croune his yhoung sone and his wifAt that parliament, and swa did he;125With gret fair and solempnite,The kyng Davy wes crownyt thar,And all the lordis at thar war,[†]*127*And als of the comminite,*Maid hym manrent and fewte.And forouth that thai crownit war,*130The King Robert gert ordane thar,Gif it fell that his sone DavyDeit, but air male of his body130Gottyn, Robert Stewart suld be[†]Kyng, and bruk all the rialteThat his douchter bar, Marjory.And at this tailyhe suld lelely[†]Be haldin, all the lordis swar,135And it with selys affermyt thar.And gif it hapnyt Robert the KyngTo pass till God, quhill thai war yhyng,The gud Erle of Murref, Thomas,With the lord alsua of Dowglas,140Suld have thame in-to governyng,Quhill thai had wit to steir thar thing;And than the lordschip suld thai ta.Heir-till thar athis can thai ma.And all the lordis that wes thar145To thir twa wardanys athes swarTill obeis thame in-to lawte,Gif thame hapnyt wardanys to be.MAY-JUNE, 1329The Mission of the King’s HeartQuhenall this thing thus tretit wes,And affermyt with sekirnes,150The kingtill Cardross wentin hy;And thar hym tuk sa felonlyThe seknes, and him travalyt swa,That he wist him behufit maOf all this liff the commoune end,155That is the ded, quhen God will send.Tharfor his lettres soyne send heFor the lordisof his cuntre,And thai com as he biddyn had.His testament than has he maid,160Befor bath lordis and prelatis;And till religioune of seir statis,For heill of his saull, gaf heSilvir in-to gret quantite.He ordanit for his saull richt weill.165And quhen at this wes done ilk deill,“Lordingis,” he said, “swa is it gane“With me, that thar is nocht bot ane“That is, the ded, withouten dreid,“That ilk man mon thole on neid.170“And I thank God that has me sent“Spas in this liff me till repent.“For throu me and my warraying“Of blud thar has beyne gret spilling,“Quhar mony sakles men wes slayne;175“Tharfor this seknes and this payne“I tak in thank formy trespas.“Andmy hert fyschit fermly was,“Quhen I wes in prosperite,“Of my synnys till savit be180“To travell apon Goddis fayis.“And sen he now me till hym tais,“Thatthe body may on na wis“Fulfill that the hert can devis,“I wald the hert war thiddir sent,185“Quhar-in consavit wes that entent.“Tharfor I pray yhow evir-ilkane,“That yhe emang yhowcheis me ane“That be honest, wis, and wicht,“And of his hand ane nobill knycht,190“On Goddis fayismyne hert to bere“Quhen saull and cors disseverit er.“For I wald it war worthely“Broucht thar, sen God will nocht that I“Have power thiddirward till ga.”195Than war thair hertis all so wa,That nayne mycht hald hym fragreting.He bad thame leiff thair sorowyng;For it, he said, mycht nocht releif,And mycht thaimself gretly engreif.200And prayit thame in hy till doThe thyng that thai war chargit to.Than went thai furth with drery mude.And emang thame thai thoucht it gudeThat the worthy lord Dowglas205Quham in bath wit and worschip was[†]*206*Suld tak this travaill apon hand;*Heir-till thai war an accordand.*Syne till the Kyng that went in hy*And tald hym at thai thoucht trewly,That the douchty lord Dowglas*211Best schapen for that travell was.And quhen the King hard at thai swaHad ordanit hym his hert till ta,That he mast yharnit suld it haf,He said, “Sa God him-self me saff!210“I hald me richt weill payit that yhe“Has chosyn hym; forhis bounte,“And his worschip set my yharnyng,“Ay sen I thoucht till do this thyng,“That he it with hym thar suld ber.215“And sen yhe all assentit er,“It is the mar likand till me.“Lat se now quhat thar-till sayis he.”And quhen the gud lord of DowglasWist at the Kyng thus spokyn has,220He com and knelit to the Kyng,And on this wis maid him thanking.‘I thank yhow gretly, lorde,’ said he,‘Of mony large and gret bounte,‘That yhe haf done till me feill sis225‘Sen fyrst I come to yhour servis.‘Bot our all thing I mak thanking,‘That yhe so digne and worthy thing‘As yhour hert, that illumynyt wes‘Of all bounte and worthynes,230‘Will that I in my yheemsell tak.‘For yhow, Schir, will I blithly mak‘This travell, gif God will me gif‘Laser and space so lange till liff.’The Kyng him thankit tendirly.235Than wes nane in that cumpanyThat thai ne wepit for pite;Thair cher anoyus wes to se.Death of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland.JUNE, 1329The Sorrow for the King’s DeathQuhenthe Lord Dowglas, on this wis,Had undirtane so hye empris,240As the gud Kyngis hert till berOn Goddis fayis apon wer,Prisit for his enpris wes he.And the Kingis infermiteWoxe mair and mair, quhill at the last245The dulfull dede approchit fast.And quhen he had gert till hym doAll that gud Cristin man fell to,With werray repentans he gafThe gast, that God till hevin couth haf,250Emang his chosyn folk till beIn joy, solace, and angell gle.And fra his folk wisthe wes ded,The sorow rais fra sted to sted.Thair mycht men se men rif thar hare,255And cumly knychtis gret full sar,And thar nevis oft sammyn driff,And as wode men thair clathes rif,Regratand his worthy bounte,His wit, strynth, and his honeste;260And, our all, the gret cumpanyThat he oft maid thame curtesly.“All our defens,” thai said, “allas!“And he that all our confort was,“Our wit, and all our governyng,265“Is brought, allas! heir till ending.“His worschip and his mekill mycht“Maid all that war with him so wicht,“That thai mycht nevir abaysit be,“Quhill forouth thame thai mycht him se.270“Allas! quhat sall we do or say?“For in liff quhill he lestit ay,“With all our fais dred war we:[†]“And in-till mony fer cuntre“Of our worschip ran the renoune:275“And that wesall for his persoune.”With sic wordis thai maid thair mayne;And sekirly wonder wes nane:For better governour than heMycht in na cuntre fundyn be.280I hop that nane that is on lifThe lamentacioune suld discrifThat thai folk for thair lord maid.And quhen thai lang thus sorowit had,And he debowalit wes clenly,[†][293] 285Andbawlmyt eynefull richly,And the worthy lord Dowglas[295]His hert, as it forspokyn was,Has resavit in gret dantee,With gret fair and solempnite[298] 290Thai have him had till Dunfermlyne,[285]And hymsolempnly erdit syne,And in a fair towne in the queyr.Bischoppes and prelatis that thar weirAssolyheit hym, quhen the servis295Wes done as thai couth best devis;[290]And syne, apon the toder day,Sary and wa ar went thar way.[292]JULY-AUG., 1330Douglas reaches SpainQuhenat the gud King beriit was,The Erll of Murreff, Schir Thomas,300Tuk all the lande in governyng;All obeysit till his bidding.And the gud lord of Dowglas syneGert mak ane cas of silvir fyneAnamalyt throu subtilite:305Thar-in the Kyngis hert did he,And ay about his hals it bare,And fast him bownyt for his fare.His testament devisit he,And ordanit how his land suld be310Governit, quhill his agane-cummyng,Of frendis; and all othir thing,That till him partenit ony wis,With sa gude forsicht and sa wis,Or his furth-passyng, ordanit he,315That na thing mycht amendit be.And quhen that he his leif has tane,To schip till Berwikis he gane;And with ane nobill cumpanyOf knychtis and of squyary,320He put him thar in-to the se.A lang way furthwarde salyt he;Betuyx Cornwale and BretanyheHe salit, and leftthe Grunye of Spanyhe[†]On north half hym; and held thar way325Quhill tillSavill the Grauntcom thai.[†]Bot gretly war his men and heTravaled with tempest on the se;Bot, thouch thai gretly travalit war,Haill and feir thai cummyn ar.330Thai arivit at gret Savill;[†]And eftir, in a litill quhill,Thar hors to land thai drew ilkane,And in the toune has herbery tane.He hym contenyt richt richly;335For he hada fayr cumpany,And gold eneuch for till despend.The Kyngall soyne eftir hym send,And him richt weill resavit he,And profferit hym in gret plente340Gold and tresour, hors and armyng;Bot he wald tak thar-of na thyng;For, he said, he tuk that viageTo pass in-till his pilgrimageOn Goddis fais, that his travale345Micht eftir till his saull avale.And sen he wist that he had wereWith Sarazenis, he wald dwell ther,And help him at his mycht lely.The King him thankit curtesly,350And betaucht him gud men that wereWeill knawin of that landis wer,And the maner thar-of alsua.Syne till his innys can he ga.Quhen that the King him levit had,355A weill gret sojourne thar he mad.[†]Knychtis that com of fer cuntreCom in gret rowtis hym to se,And honorit him full gretumly.And our all men mast soveranly,360The Inglis knychtisthat war tharHonour and cumpany him bar.Emang thame wes ane strange knycht,That wes haldyn so woundir wicht,That for ane of the gude wes he365Prisit of all the Cristianite.Sa fast till-hewyn wes all his faceThat it our all neir wemmyt was.Or he the lord Dowglas had seyne,He wend his face had wemmyt beyne,370Bot nevir ane hurt in it had he.Quhen he unwemmyt can it se,He said that he had gret ferlyThat sic a knycht and sa worthy,And prisit of sa gret bounte,375Mycht in the face unwemmyt be.And he ansuerd thar-till mekly,And said, “Love God, all tym had I[†]“Handis myne hede for till were.”Quha wald tak tent to this ansuer[†]380Suld se in it undirstanding,That, and he that maid askyng,Had had handis to wer, his face,That, for defalt of fens so wasTo-fruschit into placis ser,385Suld haf, may fall, left haill and fer.The gud knychtis, that than war by,Prisit this ansuer gretumly;For it wes maid with meke speking,And had richt hye undirstanding.390AUG.25, 1330A Battle with the SaracensApon this maner still thai lay,Quhill throu the cuntre thai herd sayThat the hey King ofBalmeryne,[†]With mony a mudy Sarasyne,Wes enterit in the land off Spanyhe395All haill the cuntre till demanyhe.The Kyng of Spanyhe, on othir party,Gaderit his host delyverly,And delt thame in-to battellis thre.And to the lord Dowglas gaf he400The vawardfor to leid and steir;All haillthe strangeris with him weir,And the gretmastir of Saint JakThe tothir battell gert he tak.The reirward maid him-selvyn thar.405Thusgat devisit, furth thai warTo mete thair fayis, that in battaleArayit, reddy to assale,Com agane thame full sturdely.The Dowglas than, that wes worthy,410Quhen he to thame of his ledyngHad maid ane fair amonestyngTill do weill and na dede to dreid,For hevynnis blis suld be thair meid,Gif that thai deit in Goddis servis;415Than, as gud werriours and wis,With thame stoutly assemblit he.Thar mycht men felloune fechting se;For thai war all wicht and hardyThat war on the Cristyn party;420So fast thai faucht, with all thar mayne,[†]That of Sarasenys war mony slayne;The-quhethir, with mony fell fachoune,Mony Cristyn thai dang thar doune.
AUG., 1327The Scots prepare to depart
Aponthe morne, all prevaly,Thai turst harnas and maid reddy;Swa that, or evyn, all boun war thai.Thair fayis, that agane thame lay,720Gert haf thair men that thar wes dedIn cartis till ane haly sted.All that day caryand thai warWith cartis, men that slayne war thar.That thai war feill men mycht weill se,725That in carying so lang sud be.The hostis bath all that day werIn pes; and quhen the nycht wes ner,The Scottis folk, that lyand warIn-till the park, maid fest and far;730Andblew hornys and fyres maid,And gert thame bryn bath bricht and braid,Swa that thair fyres that nycht war mairThan ony tyme befor thai war.And quhenthe nycht wes fallynwele,735With all thair harnas ilke deillAll prevaly thai raid thair way.Soyn in a mos enterit ar thai,That had weill a lang myle on breid;[†]Out-our that moss on fut thai yheid,740And in thair hand thair hors led thai.It wes richt ane noyus way;[†]And nocht-for-thi all that thar werCom weill outour it, haill and fer,And tynt bot litill of thar ger,745Bot gif it war onysummerThat in the mos wes left liand.Quhen all, as I haf born on hand,Out-our the mos, that wes so braid,War cummyn, a gret gladschip thai had,750And raid furth hamwarde on thar way.And on the morn, quhen it wes day,The Inglis men saw the herbery,Quhar Scottis men war wount to ly,All voyd; thai wonderit gretly then,755And send furth syndry of thar menTo spy quhar thai war gane away,Quhill at the last thair tras fand thai,That till the mekill mos thame had,That wes so hidwis for till waid,760That aventur thame thar-to durst nane;Bot till thar host agane ar gane,And tald how that thai passit war,Quhar nevir man wes passit ar.Quhen Inglis men hard it wes swa,765In hytill consalecan thai ta,That thai wald follow thaim no mar.Thair host richt than thai scalit thar,And ilk man till his awn he raid.AUG., 1327King Robert sends a ReliefKyng Robert thanthat witteryng had770That his men in the park swa lay,And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai,Ana host assemblit he in hy.Andten thousandmen, wicht and hardy,[†]He send furth has with Erllis twa,775OfMarche and Angouswar thai,[†]The host in Wardale till releiff;And, gif thai mycht so weill escheiffThat sammyn nycht be thai and thai,Tha thoucht thair fayis till assay.780
AUG., 1327King Robert sends a Relief
So fell it that, onthe sammyn dayThat the mos, as yhe herd me say,Wes passit, the discurrouris that tharRydand befor the hostis war,Of athir host has gottin sicht.785And thai, that worthy war and wicht,At tha metyng justit of wer.Ensenyheis hye thai cryit ther;And be thair cry persavit thai,That thai war frendis, and at a fay.790Than mycht men se thame glad and blith;And tald it to thair lordis swith.The hostis bath met sammyn syne;Thar wes richt hamly welcummyneMaid emang gret lordis thar;795Of thair metyng joyfull thai war.The Erll Patrik and his menyheHad vittale with thamegret plente,And thar-with weill relevit thaiThar frendis; for, the suth to say,800Quhill thai in Wardall liand war,Thai had defalt of met, bot tharThai war relevit with gret plente.Toward Scotland, with gammyn and gle,Thai went, and hame weill cummyn ar thai;805And scalit syne ilk man thar way.The lordis ar went on-to the King,That maid thame richt fair welcummyng.For of thar come richt glad wes he;And that thai sic perplexite.810For-out tynsale eschapit had.Thai war blith all and mery made.
1327-28A Treaty of Peace
Soyneeftirthat the Erll ThomasFra Wardale thus reparit was,The King assemblit all his mycht,And left nane that wes worth to ficht.A gret hostthan assemblit he,5And delt his host in parties thre.A partto Norhamewent but let,And thair ane strat assege was set,And held thame in, richt at thar dik.The tothir part on toAwnwyk10Is went, and thar ane sege set thai;And quhill at thir assegis layAt the castellis, I spak of ar,Apert assaltis maid thai thar:Andmony fair gud chevelry15Eschevyt wes full douchtely.[†]The king at thai castellis liandLeft his folk, as I bare on hand,And with the thrid ost held his wayFra park to park, hym for to play,20Huntand as all his awn it war.And till thame that war with him tharThe landis of Northumbirland,That next Scotland thar wes liand,In fe and heritage gaf he,25And thai payit for the selys fee.On this wisraid he distroyand,Quhill that the Kyng of Ingland,Throu consell of the MortymerAnd his moder, at that tym wer30Ledaris of hym, that than yhoung wes,To Kyng Robert, till tret of pesSend messyngers, and swa sped thaiThat thai assentit on this way,Than a perpetuall pes to tak,35And thai a mariage suld makOf King Robertis sone, Davy,That than botfiff yheir had scarsly,And of dameJohane als of the Tour,That syne wes of full gret valour.40Sistir scho was to the yhoung King[†]That Ingland had in governyng,That than of eild hadsevin yher.Andmonymentis and lettrys ser,[†]That thai off Ingland that time had,45That oucht agayn Scotland maid,In till that tretys up thai gaff;Andall the clamethat thai mycht haffIn-till Scotland on ony maner.And King Robert, for scathes ser,50That he till thame of InglandHad done of weir, with stalward hand,Full twenty thousand pundsuld payOf sylvir in-to gude monay.Quhen men thir thyngis forspokin had,55And, with selys and athis, maidFesnyng of frendschip and of pes,That nevir for na chans suld ces;The maryage syne ordanit thaiTill be at Berwyk, and the day60Thai have set quhen that it suld be;Syne went ilk man till his cuntre.
Thus maid wes pes quhar wer wes air,And syne the assegis rasit wair.The Kyng Robert ordanit till pay65The silvir, and, agane the day,He gert weillfor the mangeryOrdane, quhen that his sone DavySuld weddit be; and Erll Thomas,And the gud lord als of Douglas,70In-till his stede ordanit heDevysouris of that fest till be;For anemale-estuk hym so sare,That he on na wis mycht be thar.His mail-eis of ane fundyng75Begouth; for, throu his cald lying,Quhen in his gret myschef wes he,Him fell that herd perplexite.AtCardrosall that tym he lay;And quhen neir cummyne wes the day80That ordanit for the wedding wes,The Erll and the lord DowglasTo Berwikcome with mekill fair,And broucht yhoung Davy with thame thair.Andthe Queyne and Mortymer,85On othir party cummyn werWith gret affeir and rialte,The yhoung lady, of gret bewte,Thidder thai broucht with rich affeir.The wedding have thai maid richt ther90With gret fest and solempnite,Thair mycht men myrth and gladschip se:For full gret fest thai maid richt thar,And Inglis men and Scottis warTo-gidder in joy and in solas:95Na felloune spek betuix thame was.
JULY12, 1328The Marriage of Prince David
The fest a weill lang tyme held thai;And quhen thai buskit till fair away,The queyn hes left hir douchter tharWith gret riches and ryall far.100I trow that lang quhill no ladyTo hous wes gevin so richly.The Erll and the Lord Dowglas,Hir in dante resavit has,As it wes worthy, sekyrly;105For scho wes syne the best ladyAnd the farest, that men mycht se.Eftir this gret solempnite,Quhen on bath halfis levis wes tane,The queyne till Ingland hame is gane,110And had with hir the Mortymer.The Erll and thai that levit wer,Quhen thai a quhile hir convoyit had,Toward Berwik agane thai raid,And syne, with all thar cumpany,115Toward the King thai went in hy,And had with thame the yhoung Davy,And als dame Johane the yhoung lady.The Kyng maid thame fair welcummyng,And eftir, but lang delaying,120He has gert set ane parliament,And thiddir with mony men is went.For he thoucht he wald, in his liff,Croune his yhoung sone and his wifAt that parliament, and swa did he;125With gret fair and solempnite,The kyng Davy wes crownyt thar,And all the lordis at thar war,[†]*127*And als of the comminite,*Maid hym manrent and fewte.And forouth that thai crownit war,*130The King Robert gert ordane thar,Gif it fell that his sone DavyDeit, but air male of his body130Gottyn, Robert Stewart suld be[†]Kyng, and bruk all the rialteThat his douchter bar, Marjory.And at this tailyhe suld lelely[†]Be haldin, all the lordis swar,135And it with selys affermyt thar.And gif it hapnyt Robert the KyngTo pass till God, quhill thai war yhyng,The gud Erle of Murref, Thomas,With the lord alsua of Dowglas,140Suld have thame in-to governyng,Quhill thai had wit to steir thar thing;And than the lordschip suld thai ta.Heir-till thar athis can thai ma.And all the lordis that wes thar145To thir twa wardanys athes swarTill obeis thame in-to lawte,Gif thame hapnyt wardanys to be.
MAY-JUNE, 1329The Mission of the King’s Heart
Quhenall this thing thus tretit wes,And affermyt with sekirnes,150The kingtill Cardross wentin hy;And thar hym tuk sa felonlyThe seknes, and him travalyt swa,That he wist him behufit maOf all this liff the commoune end,155That is the ded, quhen God will send.Tharfor his lettres soyne send heFor the lordisof his cuntre,And thai com as he biddyn had.His testament than has he maid,160Befor bath lordis and prelatis;And till religioune of seir statis,For heill of his saull, gaf heSilvir in-to gret quantite.He ordanit for his saull richt weill.165And quhen at this wes done ilk deill,“Lordingis,” he said, “swa is it gane“With me, that thar is nocht bot ane“That is, the ded, withouten dreid,“That ilk man mon thole on neid.170“And I thank God that has me sent“Spas in this liff me till repent.“For throu me and my warraying“Of blud thar has beyne gret spilling,“Quhar mony sakles men wes slayne;175“Tharfor this seknes and this payne“I tak in thank formy trespas.“Andmy hert fyschit fermly was,“Quhen I wes in prosperite,“Of my synnys till savit be180“To travell apon Goddis fayis.“And sen he now me till hym tais,“Thatthe body may on na wis“Fulfill that the hert can devis,“I wald the hert war thiddir sent,185“Quhar-in consavit wes that entent.“Tharfor I pray yhow evir-ilkane,“That yhe emang yhowcheis me ane“That be honest, wis, and wicht,“And of his hand ane nobill knycht,190“On Goddis fayismyne hert to bere“Quhen saull and cors disseverit er.“For I wald it war worthely“Broucht thar, sen God will nocht that I“Have power thiddirward till ga.”195Than war thair hertis all so wa,That nayne mycht hald hym fragreting.He bad thame leiff thair sorowyng;For it, he said, mycht nocht releif,And mycht thaimself gretly engreif.200And prayit thame in hy till doThe thyng that thai war chargit to.Than went thai furth with drery mude.And emang thame thai thoucht it gudeThat the worthy lord Dowglas205Quham in bath wit and worschip was[†]*206*Suld tak this travaill apon hand;*Heir-till thai war an accordand.*Syne till the Kyng that went in hy*And tald hym at thai thoucht trewly,That the douchty lord Dowglas*211Best schapen for that travell was.And quhen the King hard at thai swaHad ordanit hym his hert till ta,That he mast yharnit suld it haf,He said, “Sa God him-self me saff!210“I hald me richt weill payit that yhe“Has chosyn hym; forhis bounte,“And his worschip set my yharnyng,“Ay sen I thoucht till do this thyng,“That he it with hym thar suld ber.215“And sen yhe all assentit er,“It is the mar likand till me.“Lat se now quhat thar-till sayis he.”And quhen the gud lord of DowglasWist at the Kyng thus spokyn has,220He com and knelit to the Kyng,And on this wis maid him thanking.‘I thank yhow gretly, lorde,’ said he,‘Of mony large and gret bounte,‘That yhe haf done till me feill sis225‘Sen fyrst I come to yhour servis.‘Bot our all thing I mak thanking,‘That yhe so digne and worthy thing‘As yhour hert, that illumynyt wes‘Of all bounte and worthynes,230‘Will that I in my yheemsell tak.‘For yhow, Schir, will I blithly mak‘This travell, gif God will me gif‘Laser and space so lange till liff.’The Kyng him thankit tendirly.235Than wes nane in that cumpanyThat thai ne wepit for pite;Thair cher anoyus wes to se.
JUNE, 1329The Sorrow for the King’s Death
Quhenthe Lord Dowglas, on this wis,Had undirtane so hye empris,240As the gud Kyngis hert till berOn Goddis fayis apon wer,Prisit for his enpris wes he.And the Kingis infermiteWoxe mair and mair, quhill at the last245The dulfull dede approchit fast.And quhen he had gert till hym doAll that gud Cristin man fell to,With werray repentans he gafThe gast, that God till hevin couth haf,250Emang his chosyn folk till beIn joy, solace, and angell gle.And fra his folk wisthe wes ded,The sorow rais fra sted to sted.Thair mycht men se men rif thar hare,255And cumly knychtis gret full sar,And thar nevis oft sammyn driff,And as wode men thair clathes rif,Regratand his worthy bounte,His wit, strynth, and his honeste;260And, our all, the gret cumpanyThat he oft maid thame curtesly.“All our defens,” thai said, “allas!“And he that all our confort was,“Our wit, and all our governyng,265“Is brought, allas! heir till ending.“His worschip and his mekill mycht“Maid all that war with him so wicht,“That thai mycht nevir abaysit be,“Quhill forouth thame thai mycht him se.270“Allas! quhat sall we do or say?“For in liff quhill he lestit ay,“With all our fais dred war we:[†]“And in-till mony fer cuntre“Of our worschip ran the renoune:275“And that wesall for his persoune.”With sic wordis thai maid thair mayne;And sekirly wonder wes nane:For better governour than heMycht in na cuntre fundyn be.280I hop that nane that is on lifThe lamentacioune suld discrifThat thai folk for thair lord maid.And quhen thai lang thus sorowit had,And he debowalit wes clenly,[†][293] 285Andbawlmyt eynefull richly,And the worthy lord Dowglas[295]His hert, as it forspokyn was,Has resavit in gret dantee,With gret fair and solempnite[298] 290Thai have him had till Dunfermlyne,[285]And hymsolempnly erdit syne,And in a fair towne in the queyr.Bischoppes and prelatis that thar weirAssolyheit hym, quhen the servis295Wes done as thai couth best devis;[290]And syne, apon the toder day,Sary and wa ar went thar way.[292]
JULY-AUG., 1330Douglas reaches Spain
Quhenat the gud King beriit was,The Erll of Murreff, Schir Thomas,300Tuk all the lande in governyng;All obeysit till his bidding.And the gud lord of Dowglas syneGert mak ane cas of silvir fyneAnamalyt throu subtilite:305Thar-in the Kyngis hert did he,And ay about his hals it bare,And fast him bownyt for his fare.His testament devisit he,And ordanit how his land suld be310Governit, quhill his agane-cummyng,Of frendis; and all othir thing,That till him partenit ony wis,With sa gude forsicht and sa wis,Or his furth-passyng, ordanit he,315That na thing mycht amendit be.And quhen that he his leif has tane,To schip till Berwikis he gane;And with ane nobill cumpanyOf knychtis and of squyary,320He put him thar in-to the se.A lang way furthwarde salyt he;Betuyx Cornwale and BretanyheHe salit, and leftthe Grunye of Spanyhe[†]On north half hym; and held thar way325Quhill tillSavill the Grauntcom thai.[†]Bot gretly war his men and heTravaled with tempest on the se;Bot, thouch thai gretly travalit war,Haill and feir thai cummyn ar.330Thai arivit at gret Savill;[†]And eftir, in a litill quhill,Thar hors to land thai drew ilkane,And in the toune has herbery tane.
He hym contenyt richt richly;335For he hada fayr cumpany,And gold eneuch for till despend.The Kyngall soyne eftir hym send,And him richt weill resavit he,And profferit hym in gret plente340Gold and tresour, hors and armyng;Bot he wald tak thar-of na thyng;For, he said, he tuk that viageTo pass in-till his pilgrimageOn Goddis fais, that his travale345Micht eftir till his saull avale.And sen he wist that he had wereWith Sarazenis, he wald dwell ther,And help him at his mycht lely.The King him thankit curtesly,350And betaucht him gud men that wereWeill knawin of that landis wer,And the maner thar-of alsua.Syne till his innys can he ga.
Quhen that the King him levit had,355A weill gret sojourne thar he mad.[†]Knychtis that com of fer cuntreCom in gret rowtis hym to se,And honorit him full gretumly.And our all men mast soveranly,360The Inglis knychtisthat war tharHonour and cumpany him bar.
Emang thame wes ane strange knycht,That wes haldyn so woundir wicht,That for ane of the gude wes he365Prisit of all the Cristianite.Sa fast till-hewyn wes all his faceThat it our all neir wemmyt was.Or he the lord Dowglas had seyne,He wend his face had wemmyt beyne,370Bot nevir ane hurt in it had he.Quhen he unwemmyt can it se,He said that he had gret ferlyThat sic a knycht and sa worthy,And prisit of sa gret bounte,375Mycht in the face unwemmyt be.And he ansuerd thar-till mekly,And said, “Love God, all tym had I[†]“Handis myne hede for till were.”Quha wald tak tent to this ansuer[†]380Suld se in it undirstanding,That, and he that maid askyng,Had had handis to wer, his face,That, for defalt of fens so wasTo-fruschit into placis ser,385Suld haf, may fall, left haill and fer.The gud knychtis, that than war by,Prisit this ansuer gretumly;For it wes maid with meke speking,And had richt hye undirstanding.390
AUG.25, 1330A Battle with the Saracens
Apon this maner still thai lay,Quhill throu the cuntre thai herd sayThat the hey King ofBalmeryne,[†]With mony a mudy Sarasyne,Wes enterit in the land off Spanyhe395All haill the cuntre till demanyhe.The Kyng of Spanyhe, on othir party,Gaderit his host delyverly,And delt thame in-to battellis thre.And to the lord Dowglas gaf he400The vawardfor to leid and steir;All haillthe strangeris with him weir,And the gretmastir of Saint JakThe tothir battell gert he tak.The reirward maid him-selvyn thar.405Thusgat devisit, furth thai warTo mete thair fayis, that in battaleArayit, reddy to assale,Com agane thame full sturdely.The Dowglas than, that wes worthy,410Quhen he to thame of his ledyngHad maid ane fair amonestyngTill do weill and na dede to dreid,For hevynnis blis suld be thair meid,Gif that thai deit in Goddis servis;415Than, as gud werriours and wis,With thame stoutly assemblit he.Thar mycht men felloune fechting se;For thai war all wicht and hardyThat war on the Cristyn party;420So fast thai faucht, with all thar mayne,[†]That of Sarasenys war mony slayne;The-quhethir, with mony fell fachoune,Mony Cristyn thai dang thar doune.