BUKE AUCHT.

Fywe monethis thus Scotland stud in gud rest;A consell cryit, thaim thocht it wes the bestIn Sanct Jhonstoun at it suld haldyn be;Assemblit thar clerk, barown, and bowrugie.Bot Corspatrik wald nocht cum at thair call,5Baid in Dunbar, and maid scorn at thaim all.Thai spak off him feill wordis in that parlyment.Than Wallace said; “Will ye her to consent,“Forgyff him fre all thing that is bypast;“Sa he will cum and grant he has trespast,10“Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croune?”Thai grant tharto, clerk, burgess, and barroune:With haill consent thar writyng till him send;Rycht lawly thus till him thai thaim commend;Besocht him fair, as a peyr off the land,15To cum and tak sum gouernaill on hand.Lychtly he lowch, in scorn as it had beyn,And said; “He had sic message seyldyn seyne,“That Wallace now as gouernowr sall ryng:“Her is gret faute off a gud prince or kyng.20“That king off Kyll I can nocht wndirstand;“Off him I held neuir a fur off land.“That bachiller trowis, for fortoun schawis hyr quhell,“Thar with to lest; it sall nocht lang be weill.“Bot to yow, lordis, and ye will wndirstand,25“I mak yow wyss, I aw to mak na band.“Als fre I am in this regioun to ryng,“Lord off myn awne, as euyr was prince or king.“In Ingland als gret part off land I haiff;“Manrent tharoff thar will no man me craiff.30“Quhat will ye mar? I warne yow, I am fre;“For your somoundis ye get no mar off me.”Till Sanct Jhonstone this wryt he send agayne,Befor the lordis was manifest in playne.Quhen Wallace herd the erll sic ansuer mais,35A gret hate ire throu curage than he tais;For weyll he wyst thar suld be bot a kingOff this regioun, at anys for to ryng;“A king off Kyll!” for that he callyt Wallace.“Lordis,” he said, “this is ane wncouth cace.40“Be he sufferyt, we haiff war than it was.”Thus raiss he wp, and maid him for to pass.“God has ws tholyt to do so for the laiff:“In lyff or dede, in faith, him sall we haiff,Fol. 58 a“Or ger him grant quhom he haldis for his lord;45“Or ellis war schaym in story to racord.“I wow to God, with eyss he sall nocht be“In to this realme, bot ane off ws sall de;“Less than he cum, and knaw his rychtwiss king.“In this regioun weill bathe we sall nocht ryng.50“His lychtly scorn he sall rapent full sor,“Bot power faill, or I sall end tharfor.“Sen in this erd is ordand me no rest,“Now God be juge, the rycht he kennys best.”At that consaill langar he tary nocht,55With twa hundreth fra Sanct Jhonston he socht;To the consaill maid instans or he yeid,Thai suld conteyn, and off him haiff na dreid.“I am bot ane, and for gud causs I ga.”Towart Kyngorn the gaynest way thai ta;60Apon the morn atour Forth south thai past;On this wyage thai haistit wondyr fast.Robert Lauder at Mussilburgh met Wallace,Fra Inglissmen he kepyt weill his place;Couth nayne him trete, knycht, squier, nor lord,65With king Eduuard to be at ane accord.On erll Patrik to pass he was full glaid;Sum said befor the Bass he wald haiff haid.Gud men come als with Crystell off Cetoun;Than Wallace was four hundreth off renoun.70A squier Lyll, that weill that cuntré knew,With twenty men to Wallace couth persew,Besyd Lyntoun; and to thaim tald he than.The erll Patrik, with mony likly man,At Coburns peth he had his gaderyng maid,75And to Dunbar wald cum with outyn baid.Than Lawder said, “It war the best, think me,“Faster to pass, in Dunbar or he be.”Wallace ansuerd; ‘We may at laysar ryd;‘With yon power he thinkis bargane to bid.80‘And off a thing ye sall weill wndrestand,‘A hardyar lord is nocht in to Scotland:‘Mycht he be maid trew stedfast till a king,‘Be wit and force he can do mekill thing:‘Bot willfully he likis to tyne him sell.’85Thus raid thai furth, and wald na langar duell,Be est Dunbar, quhar men him tald on cass,How erll Patrik was warnyt off Wallace:Ner Ennerweik chesyt a feild at waill,With nyne hundreth off likly men to waill.90Four hundreth was with Wallace in the rycht,And sone onon approchit to thair sicht.Gret fawte thar was of gud trety betweyn,To mak concord, and that full sone was seyne.Fol. 58 bWith out raherss off actioun in that tid,95On athir part to gydder fast thai rid.The stour was Strang, and wondyr peralous,Contenyt lang with dedis chewalrous;Mony thar deit off cruell Scottis blud.Off this trety the mater is nocht gud;100Tharfor I cess to tell the destructioune;Peté it was, and all off a natioune.Bot erll Patrik the feild left at the last,Rycht few with him; to Coburns peth thai past;Agrewit sar that his men thus were tynt.105

Fywe monethis thus Scotland stud in gud rest;

A consell cryit, thaim thocht it wes the best

In Sanct Jhonstoun at it suld haldyn be;

Assemblit thar clerk, barown, and bowrugie.

Bot Corspatrik wald nocht cum at thair call,5

Baid in Dunbar, and maid scorn at thaim all.

Thai spak off him feill wordis in that parlyment.

Than Wallace said; “Will ye her to consent,

“Forgyff him fre all thing that is bypast;

“Sa he will cum and grant he has trespast,10

“Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croune?”

Thai grant tharto, clerk, burgess, and barroune:

With haill consent thar writyng till him send;

Rycht lawly thus till him thai thaim commend;

Besocht him fair, as a peyr off the land,15

To cum and tak sum gouernaill on hand.

Lychtly he lowch, in scorn as it had beyn,

And said; “He had sic message seyldyn seyne,

“That Wallace now as gouernowr sall ryng:

“Her is gret faute off a gud prince or kyng.20

“That king off Kyll I can nocht wndirstand;

“Off him I held neuir a fur off land.

“That bachiller trowis, for fortoun schawis hyr quhell,

“Thar with to lest; it sall nocht lang be weill.

“Bot to yow, lordis, and ye will wndirstand,25

“I mak yow wyss, I aw to mak na band.

“Als fre I am in this regioun to ryng,

“Lord off myn awne, as euyr was prince or king.

“In Ingland als gret part off land I haiff;

“Manrent tharoff thar will no man me craiff.30

“Quhat will ye mar? I warne yow, I am fre;

“For your somoundis ye get no mar off me.”

Till Sanct Jhonstone this wryt he send agayne,

Befor the lordis was manifest in playne.

Quhen Wallace herd the erll sic ansuer mais,35

A gret hate ire throu curage than he tais;

For weyll he wyst thar suld be bot a king

Off this regioun, at anys for to ryng;

“A king off Kyll!” for that he callyt Wallace.

“Lordis,” he said, “this is ane wncouth cace.40

“Be he sufferyt, we haiff war than it was.”

Thus raiss he wp, and maid him for to pass.

“God has ws tholyt to do so for the laiff:

“In lyff or dede, in faith, him sall we haiff,Fol. 58 a

Fol. 58 a

“Or ger him grant quhom he haldis for his lord;45

“Or ellis war schaym in story to racord.

“I wow to God, with eyss he sall nocht be

“In to this realme, bot ane off ws sall de;

“Less than he cum, and knaw his rychtwiss king.

“In this regioun weill bathe we sall nocht ryng.50

“His lychtly scorn he sall rapent full sor,

“Bot power faill, or I sall end tharfor.

“Sen in this erd is ordand me no rest,

“Now God be juge, the rycht he kennys best.”

At that consaill langar he tary nocht,55

With twa hundreth fra Sanct Jhonston he socht;

To the consaill maid instans or he yeid,

Thai suld conteyn, and off him haiff na dreid.

“I am bot ane, and for gud causs I ga.”

Towart Kyngorn the gaynest way thai ta;60

Apon the morn atour Forth south thai past;

On this wyage thai haistit wondyr fast.

Robert Lauder at Mussilburgh met Wallace,

Fra Inglissmen he kepyt weill his place;

Couth nayne him trete, knycht, squier, nor lord,65

With king Eduuard to be at ane accord.

On erll Patrik to pass he was full glaid;

Sum said befor the Bass he wald haiff haid.

Gud men come als with Crystell off Cetoun;

Than Wallace was four hundreth off renoun.70

A squier Lyll, that weill that cuntré knew,

With twenty men to Wallace couth persew,

Besyd Lyntoun; and to thaim tald he than.

The erll Patrik, with mony likly man,

At Coburns peth he had his gaderyng maid,75

And to Dunbar wald cum with outyn baid.

Than Lawder said, “It war the best, think me,

“Faster to pass, in Dunbar or he be.”

Wallace ansuerd; ‘We may at laysar ryd;

‘With yon power he thinkis bargane to bid.80

‘And off a thing ye sall weill wndrestand,

‘A hardyar lord is nocht in to Scotland:

‘Mycht he be maid trew stedfast till a king,

‘Be wit and force he can do mekill thing:

‘Bot willfully he likis to tyne him sell.’85

Thus raid thai furth, and wald na langar duell,

Be est Dunbar, quhar men him tald on cass,

How erll Patrik was warnyt off Wallace:

Ner Ennerweik chesyt a feild at waill,

With nyne hundreth off likly men to waill.90

Four hundreth was with Wallace in the rycht,

And sone onon approchit to thair sicht.

Gret fawte thar was of gud trety betweyn,

To mak concord, and that full sone was seyne.Fol. 58 b

Fol. 58 b

With out raherss off actioun in that tid,95

On athir part to gydder fast thai rid.

The stour was Strang, and wondyr peralous,

Contenyt lang with dedis chewalrous;

Mony thar deit off cruell Scottis blud.

Off this trety the mater is nocht gud;100

Tharfor I cess to tell the destructioune;

Peté it was, and all off a natioune.

Bot erll Patrik the feild left at the last,

Rycht few with him; to Coburns peth thai past;

Agrewit sar that his men thus were tynt.105

Wallace raturnd, and wald no langar stynt,Towart Dunbar, quhar suthfast men him tald,Na purweance was left in to that hald.Nor men off fens; all had beyne with thair lord.Quhen Wallace hard the sekyr trew record,110Dunbar he tuk all haill at his bandown;Gaiff it to kepe to Crystell off Cetoun,Quhilk stuffit it weill with men and gud wictall.Apon the morn, Wallace that wald nocht faill,With thre hundreth, to Coburns peth he socht:115Erll Patrik wschyt, for bid him wald he nocht.Sone to the park Wallace a range has set;Till Bonkill wood Corspatrik fled but let,And out off it till Noram passit he.Quhen Wallace saw it mycht na bettir be.120Till Caudstreym went and lugit him on Tweid.Erll Patrik than, in all haist can him speid,And passit by, or Wallace power raiss;With out restyng, in Atrik forrest gais.Wallace folowed, bot he wald nocht assaill;125A rang to mak as than it mycht nocht waill:Our few he had, the strenth was thik and strang,Sewyn myill on breid, and tharto twyss so lang.In till Gorkhelm erll Patrik leiffit at rest.For mar power Wallace past in the west.130Erll Patrik than him graithit hastelye,In Ingland past to get him thar supplye:Out throuch the land rycht ernystfully couth pass;Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.Wallace him put out off Glaskow befor,135And slew Persye; thair malice was the mor.The byschope Beik gert sone gret power ryss,Northummyrland apon ane awfull wyss.Than ordand Bruce in Scotland for to pass,To wyn his awne; bot ill dissauit he was:140Thai gart him trow that Wallace was rabell,And thocht to tak the kynryk to hym sel.Full fals thai war, and euir yeit has beyn;Fol. 59 aLawta and trouth was ay in Wallace seyn;To fend the rycht all that he tuk on hand,145And thocht to bryng the Bruce fre till his land.Off this mater as now I tary nocht.With Strang power Sotheroun to gidder socht;Fra Owys watter assemblit haill to Tweid.Thar land ost was thretty thousand in deid.150Off Tynnys mouth send schippis be the se,To kep Dunbar, at nayne suld thaim supplé.Erll Patrik, with twenty thousand but lett,Befor Dunbar a stalwart sege he sett.The bischope Beik and Robert Bruce baid still,155With ten thousand, at Noram at thair will.Wallace be this, that fast was lauborand,In Lothyane com witht gud men fyve thowsand,Rycht Weill beseyn, all in to armyss brycht;Thocht to reskew the Cetoun bauld and wycht.160Undyr Yhester that fyrst nycht lugit he.Hay com till him with a gud chewalré;In Duns forest all that tyme he had beyne;The cummyng thar off Sotheroun he had seyne.Fyfty he had off besy men in wer;165Thai tald Wallace off Patrikis gret affer.Hay said; “Forsuth, and ye mycht him our set,“Power agayne rycht sone he mycht nocht get,“My consaill is, that we giff him battaill.”He thankit him off comfort and consaill,170And said; ‘Freynd Hay, in this causs that I wend,‘Sa that we wyn, I rek nocht for till end.‘Rycht suth it is that anys we mon de:‘In to the rycht quha suld in terrour be?’Erll Patrik than a messynger gert pass,175Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.Off this tithingis the byschope was full glaid,Amendis off him full fayne he wald haiff haid.But mar prolong throuch Lammermur thai raid,Ner the Spot mur in buschement still he baid;180As erll Patrik thaim ordand for to be.Wallace off Beik wnwarnyt than was he.Yeit he befor was nocht haisty in deid;Bot than he put bathe him and his in dreid.Apon swyft hors scurrouris past betweyn.185The cummyng than off erll Patrik was seyn:The houss he left, and to the mur is gayn,A playne feild thar with hiss ost he has tayn.Gud Cetoun syne wschet with few menyhe;Fol. 59 bPart off his men in till Dunbar left he;190To Wallace raid, was on the rychtwyss sid;In gud aray to the Spot mur thai ryd.Sum Scottis dred, the erll sa mony wass,Twenty thousand agayn sa few, to pass.Quhen Jop persauit, he bad Wallace suld bid:195“Tyne nocht thir men, bot to sum strenth ye ryd,“And I sall pass to get yow power mar;“Thir ar our gud thus lychtly for to war.”Than Wallace said; ‘In trewth I will nocht fle‘For four off his, ay ane quhill I may be.200‘We ar our ner, sic purpos for to tak;‘A danger chace thai mycht vpon ws mak.‘Her is twenty, with this power, to day,‘Wald him assay, supposs I war away.‘Mony thai ar, for Goddis luff be we strang;205‘Yon Sotheron folk in stour will nocht bid lang.’

Wallace raturnd, and wald no langar stynt,

Towart Dunbar, quhar suthfast men him tald,

Na purweance was left in to that hald.

Nor men off fens; all had beyne with thair lord.

Quhen Wallace hard the sekyr trew record,110

Dunbar he tuk all haill at his bandown;

Gaiff it to kepe to Crystell off Cetoun,

Quhilk stuffit it weill with men and gud wictall.

Apon the morn, Wallace that wald nocht faill,

With thre hundreth, to Coburns peth he socht:115

Erll Patrik wschyt, for bid him wald he nocht.

Sone to the park Wallace a range has set;

Till Bonkill wood Corspatrik fled but let,

And out off it till Noram passit he.

Quhen Wallace saw it mycht na bettir be.120

Till Caudstreym went and lugit him on Tweid.

Erll Patrik than, in all haist can him speid,

And passit by, or Wallace power raiss;

With out restyng, in Atrik forrest gais.

Wallace folowed, bot he wald nocht assaill;125

A rang to mak as than it mycht nocht waill:

Our few he had, the strenth was thik and strang,

Sewyn myill on breid, and tharto twyss so lang.

In till Gorkhelm erll Patrik leiffit at rest.

For mar power Wallace past in the west.130

Erll Patrik than him graithit hastelye,

In Ingland past to get him thar supplye:

Out throuch the land rycht ernystfully couth pass;

Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.

Wallace him put out off Glaskow befor,135

And slew Persye; thair malice was the mor.

The byschope Beik gert sone gret power ryss,

Northummyrland apon ane awfull wyss.

Than ordand Bruce in Scotland for to pass,

To wyn his awne; bot ill dissauit he was:140

Thai gart him trow that Wallace was rabell,

And thocht to tak the kynryk to hym sel.

Full fals thai war, and euir yeit has beyn;Fol. 59 a

Fol. 59 a

Lawta and trouth was ay in Wallace seyn;

To fend the rycht all that he tuk on hand,145

And thocht to bryng the Bruce fre till his land.

Off this mater as now I tary nocht.

With Strang power Sotheroun to gidder socht;

Fra Owys watter assemblit haill to Tweid.

Thar land ost was thretty thousand in deid.150

Off Tynnys mouth send schippis be the se,

To kep Dunbar, at nayne suld thaim supplé.

Erll Patrik, with twenty thousand but lett,

Befor Dunbar a stalwart sege he sett.

The bischope Beik and Robert Bruce baid still,155

With ten thousand, at Noram at thair will.

Wallace be this, that fast was lauborand,

In Lothyane com witht gud men fyve thowsand,

Rycht Weill beseyn, all in to armyss brycht;

Thocht to reskew the Cetoun bauld and wycht.160

Undyr Yhester that fyrst nycht lugit he.

Hay com till him with a gud chewalré;

In Duns forest all that tyme he had beyne;

The cummyng thar off Sotheroun he had seyne.

Fyfty he had off besy men in wer;165

Thai tald Wallace off Patrikis gret affer.

Hay said; “Forsuth, and ye mycht him our set,

“Power agayne rycht sone he mycht nocht get,

“My consaill is, that we giff him battaill.”

He thankit him off comfort and consaill,170

And said; ‘Freynd Hay, in this causs that I wend,

‘Sa that we wyn, I rek nocht for till end.

‘Rycht suth it is that anys we mon de:

‘In to the rycht quha suld in terrour be?’

Erll Patrik than a messynger gert pass,175

Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.

Off this tithingis the byschope was full glaid,

Amendis off him full fayne he wald haiff haid.

But mar prolong throuch Lammermur thai raid,

Ner the Spot mur in buschement still he baid;180

As erll Patrik thaim ordand for to be.

Wallace off Beik wnwarnyt than was he.

Yeit he befor was nocht haisty in deid;

Bot than he put bathe him and his in dreid.

Apon swyft hors scurrouris past betweyn.185

The cummyng than off erll Patrik was seyn:

The houss he left, and to the mur is gayn,

A playne feild thar with hiss ost he has tayn.

Gud Cetoun syne wschet with few menyhe;Fol. 59 b

Fol. 59 b

Part off his men in till Dunbar left he;190

To Wallace raid, was on the rychtwyss sid;

In gud aray to the Spot mur thai ryd.

Sum Scottis dred, the erll sa mony wass,

Twenty thousand agayn sa few, to pass.

Quhen Jop persauit, he bad Wallace suld bid:195

“Tyne nocht thir men, bot to sum strenth ye ryd,

“And I sall pass to get yow power mar;

“Thir ar our gud thus lychtly for to war.”

Than Wallace said; ‘In trewth I will nocht fle

‘For four off his, ay ane quhill I may be.200

‘We ar our ner, sic purpos for to tak;

‘A danger chace thai mycht vpon ws mak.

‘Her is twenty, with this power, to day,

‘Wald him assay, supposs I war away.

‘Mony thai ar, for Goddis luff be we strang;205

‘Yon Sotheron folk in stour will nocht bid lang.’

The brym battaill, braithly on athir sid,Gret rerd thar raiss all sammyn quhar thai ryd.The sayr semblé, quhen thai to gidder met,Feill strakis thar sadly on athir set.210Punyeand speris throuch plattis persit fast;Mony off hors to the ground doun thai cast;Saidlys thai teym off horss bot maistris, thar;Off the south sid fyve thousand doun thai bar.Gud Wallace ost the formast kumraid sa,215Quhill the laiff was in will away to ga.Erll Patrik baid, sa cruell off entent,At all his ost tuk off him hardiment.Agayne Wallace in mony stour was he.Wallace knew weill, that his men wald nocht fle220For na power that leiffand was in lyff,Quhill thai in heill mycht ay be ane for fyfe.In that gret stryff mony was handlyt hate;The feill dyntis, the cruell hard debait,The fers steking, maid mony grewous wound,225Apon the erd the blud did till abound.All Wallace ost in till a cumpaiss baid;Quhar sa thai turnd full gret slauchtyr thai maid.Wallace and Grayme, and Ramsay full worthi,The bauld Cetoun, and Richard off Lundy,230[And] Adam, als Wallace, off Ricardtoun,Bathe Hay and Lyll, with gud men off renoun,Boyde, Bercla, Byrd, and Lauder, that was wycht,Feill Inglissmen derffly to ded thai dycht.Bot erll Patrik full fersly faucht agayn;235Throuch his awin hand he put mony to payn.Fol. 60 aOur men on him thrang forthwart in to thra.Maide throuch his ost feill sloppis to and fra.The Inglissmen began playnly to fle;Than byschope Beik full sodeynly thai se;240And Robert Bruce, contrar his natiff men:Wallace was wa, fra tyme he couth him ken.Off Brucis deid he was agrewit far marThan all the laiff that day at semblit thar.The gret buschement at anys brak on breid,245Ten thousand haill that douchty war in deid,The flearis than with erll Patrik relefdTo fecht agayn, quhar mony war myscheifd.Quhen Wallace knew the buschement brokyn was,Out off the feild on hors thai thocht to pass.250Bot he saw weill his ost sownd in thair weid;He thoucht to fray the formast or thai yeid.The new cummyn ost befor thaim semblit thar,On athir sid with strakis sad and sar.The worthi Scottis sa fersly faucht agayne,255Off Antonys men rycht mony haiff thai slayne:Bot that terand so wsit was in wer,On Wallace ost thai did full mekill der.And the bauld Bruce sa cruelly wrocht he,Throuch strenth off hand feill Scottis he gert de.260To resist Bruce Wallace him pressit fast,Bot Inglissmen so thik betuixt thaim past:And erll Patrik, in all the haist he moucht,Throuch out the stour to Wallace sone he socht;On the thé pess a felloun strak him gaiff,265Kerwit the plait, with his scharp groundyn glaiff,Throuch all the stuff, and woundyt him sumdeill.Bot Wallace thocht he suld be wengit weill,Folowed on him, and a straik etlyt fast.Than ane Mawthland rakless betwix thaim past:270Apon the heid gud Wallace has him tane,Throuch hat and brawn in sondyr bryst the bane;Dede at that straik doun to the ground him drawe.Thus Wallace was disseuiryt fra the laweOff hys gud men, amang thaim him allane.275About him socht feill enemyss mony ane,Stekit his horss; to ground behufid him lycht,To fend him selff as wysly as he mycht.The worthy Scottis, that mycht na langar bid,With sair hartis out off the feild thai ryd.280With thaim in feyr thai wend Wallace had beyne,On fute he was amang his enemyss keyn.Gud rowme he maid about him in to breid;Fol. 60 bWith his gud suerd that helpyt him in neid.Was nayne sa strang, that gat off him a strak,285Eftir agayne maid neuir a Scot to waik.Erll Patrik than, that had gret crafft in wer,With speris ordand gud Wallace doun to ber.Anew thai tuk was haill in to the feild;Till him thai yeid, thocht he suld haiff no beild;290On athir sid fast poyntand at his ger.He hewid off hedys, and wysly coud him wer.The worthy Scottis off this full litill wyst;Socht to gud Graym quhen thai thair chyftane myst.Lauder, and Lyle, and Hay, that was full wicht,295And bauld Ramsay, quhilk was a worthy knycht;Lundy, and Boid, and Crystell off Cetoun,With fyve hundreth, that war in bargane boun,Him to reskew full rudly in thai raid,About Wallace a large rowme thai maid.300The byschop Beik was braithly born till erd;At the reskew thar was a glamrous rerd.Or he gat wp, feill Sotheroun thai slew.Out off the press Wallace thai couth raskew;Sone horssit him apon a coursour wicht;305Towart a strenth ridis in all thair mycht,Rycht wysly fled, reskewand mony man.The erll Patrik to stuff the chace began.On the flearis litill harm than he wrocht:Gud Wallace folk away to giddyr socht.310Thir fyve hundreth, the quhilk I spak off ayr,Sa awfully abawndownd thaim sa sar,Na folowar durst out fra his falow ga;The gud flearis sic raturnyng thai ma.Four thousand haill had tane the strenth befor,315Off Wallace ost, his comfort was the mor;Off Glaskadane that forrest thocht till hauld.Erll Patrik twrnd, thocht he was neir sa bauld,Agayne to Beik, quhen chapyt was Wallace,Curssand fortoun off his myschansit cace.320The feild he wan, and sewyn thowsand thai lost,Dede on that day, for all the byschoppis bost.Off Wallace men fyve hundreth war slayne, I gess;Bot na chyftayne, his murnyng was the less.

The brym battaill, braithly on athir sid,

Gret rerd thar raiss all sammyn quhar thai ryd.

The sayr semblé, quhen thai to gidder met,

Feill strakis thar sadly on athir set.210

Punyeand speris throuch plattis persit fast;

Mony off hors to the ground doun thai cast;

Saidlys thai teym off horss bot maistris, thar;

Off the south sid fyve thousand doun thai bar.

Gud Wallace ost the formast kumraid sa,215

Quhill the laiff was in will away to ga.

Erll Patrik baid, sa cruell off entent,

At all his ost tuk off him hardiment.

Agayne Wallace in mony stour was he.

Wallace knew weill, that his men wald nocht fle220

For na power that leiffand was in lyff,

Quhill thai in heill mycht ay be ane for fyfe.

In that gret stryff mony was handlyt hate;

The feill dyntis, the cruell hard debait,

The fers steking, maid mony grewous wound,225

Apon the erd the blud did till abound.

All Wallace ost in till a cumpaiss baid;

Quhar sa thai turnd full gret slauchtyr thai maid.

Wallace and Grayme, and Ramsay full worthi,

The bauld Cetoun, and Richard off Lundy,230

[And] Adam, als Wallace, off Ricardtoun,

Bathe Hay and Lyll, with gud men off renoun,

Boyde, Bercla, Byrd, and Lauder, that was wycht,

Feill Inglissmen derffly to ded thai dycht.

Bot erll Patrik full fersly faucht agayn;235

Throuch his awin hand he put mony to payn.Fol. 60 a

Fol. 60 a

Our men on him thrang forthwart in to thra.

Maide throuch his ost feill sloppis to and fra.

The Inglissmen began playnly to fle;

Than byschope Beik full sodeynly thai se;240

And Robert Bruce, contrar his natiff men:

Wallace was wa, fra tyme he couth him ken.

Off Brucis deid he was agrewit far mar

Than all the laiff that day at semblit thar.

The gret buschement at anys brak on breid,245

Ten thousand haill that douchty war in deid,

The flearis than with erll Patrik relefd

To fecht agayn, quhar mony war myscheifd.

Quhen Wallace knew the buschement brokyn was,

Out off the feild on hors thai thocht to pass.250

Bot he saw weill his ost sownd in thair weid;

He thoucht to fray the formast or thai yeid.

The new cummyn ost befor thaim semblit thar,

On athir sid with strakis sad and sar.

The worthi Scottis sa fersly faucht agayne,255

Off Antonys men rycht mony haiff thai slayne:

Bot that terand so wsit was in wer,

On Wallace ost thai did full mekill der.

And the bauld Bruce sa cruelly wrocht he,

Throuch strenth off hand feill Scottis he gert de.260

To resist Bruce Wallace him pressit fast,

Bot Inglissmen so thik betuixt thaim past:

And erll Patrik, in all the haist he moucht,

Throuch out the stour to Wallace sone he socht;

On the thé pess a felloun strak him gaiff,265

Kerwit the plait, with his scharp groundyn glaiff,

Throuch all the stuff, and woundyt him sumdeill.

Bot Wallace thocht he suld be wengit weill,

Folowed on him, and a straik etlyt fast.

Than ane Mawthland rakless betwix thaim past:270

Apon the heid gud Wallace has him tane,

Throuch hat and brawn in sondyr bryst the bane;

Dede at that straik doun to the ground him drawe.

Thus Wallace was disseuiryt fra the lawe

Off hys gud men, amang thaim him allane.275

About him socht feill enemyss mony ane,

Stekit his horss; to ground behufid him lycht,

To fend him selff as wysly as he mycht.

The worthy Scottis, that mycht na langar bid,

With sair hartis out off the feild thai ryd.280

With thaim in feyr thai wend Wallace had beyne,

On fute he was amang his enemyss keyn.

Gud rowme he maid about him in to breid;Fol. 60 b

Fol. 60 b

With his gud suerd that helpyt him in neid.

Was nayne sa strang, that gat off him a strak,285

Eftir agayne maid neuir a Scot to waik.

Erll Patrik than, that had gret crafft in wer,

With speris ordand gud Wallace doun to ber.

Anew thai tuk was haill in to the feild;

Till him thai yeid, thocht he suld haiff no beild;290

On athir sid fast poyntand at his ger.

He hewid off hedys, and wysly coud him wer.

The worthy Scottis off this full litill wyst;

Socht to gud Graym quhen thai thair chyftane myst.

Lauder, and Lyle, and Hay, that was full wicht,295

And bauld Ramsay, quhilk was a worthy knycht;

Lundy, and Boid, and Crystell off Cetoun,

With fyve hundreth, that war in bargane boun,

Him to reskew full rudly in thai raid,

About Wallace a large rowme thai maid.300

The byschop Beik was braithly born till erd;

At the reskew thar was a glamrous rerd.

Or he gat wp, feill Sotheroun thai slew.

Out off the press Wallace thai couth raskew;

Sone horssit him apon a coursour wicht;305

Towart a strenth ridis in all thair mycht,

Rycht wysly fled, reskewand mony man.

The erll Patrik to stuff the chace began.

On the flearis litill harm than he wrocht:

Gud Wallace folk away to giddyr socht.310

Thir fyve hundreth, the quhilk I spak off ayr,

Sa awfully abawndownd thaim sa sar,

Na folowar durst out fra his falow ga;

The gud flearis sic raturnyng thai ma.

Four thousand haill had tane the strenth befor,315

Off Wallace ost, his comfort was the mor;

Off Glaskadane that forrest thocht till hauld.

Erll Patrik twrnd, thocht he was neir sa bauld,

Agayne to Beik, quhen chapyt was Wallace,

Curssand fortoun off his myschansit cace.320

The feild he wan, and sewyn thowsand thai lost,

Dede on that day, for all the byschoppis bost.

Off Wallace men fyve hundreth war slayne, I gess;

Bot na chyftayne, his murnyng was the less.

Ner ewyn it was, bot Beik wald nocht abid;325In Lammermur thai trauuentyt that tid;Thair lugyng tuk quhar him thocht maist awaill;For weyll he trowit the Scottis wald assaill.Apon the feild, quhar thai gaiff battaill last,The contré men to Wallace gaderyt fast.330Off Edynburch, with Crawfurd that was wicht,Fol. 61 aThre hundreth come in till thar armour brycht.Till Wallace raid, be his lugeyng was tayne.Fra Tawydaill come gud men mony ane,Out off Jedwart, with Ruwane, at that tyd335To giddyr socht fra mony diuerss sid.Schir Wilyham Lang, that lord was off Douglas,With him four scor that nycht come to Wallace.Twenty hundreth off new men met that nycht,Apon thair fais to weng thaim at thair mycht.340At the fyrst feild thir gud men had nocht beyn.Wallace wachis thair aduersouris had seyn,In to quhat wiss thai had thair lugeyng maid.Wallace bownyt eftir soupper, but baid,In Lammermur thai passit hastely;345Sone till aray yheid this gud chewalry.Wallace thaim maid in twa partis to be.Schir Jhon the Graym and Cetoun ordand he,Lawder and Hay, with thre thousand to ryd;Hym selff the layff tuk wysly for to gid;350With him Lundy, bathe Ramsay and Douglace,Berkla and Boid, and Adam gud Wallace.Be this the day approchit wondyr neir,And brycht Titan in presens can apper.The Scottis ostis sone semblit in to sycht355Off thair enemyss, that was nocht redy dycht;Owt oft aray feill off the Sotheroun was.Rycht awfully Wallace can on thaim pas.At this entray the Scottis so weill thaim bar,Feill off thair fais to dede was bertnyt thar.360Redles thai raiss, and mony fled away;Sum on the ground war smoryt quhar thai lay.Gret noyis and cry was raissit thaim amang.Gud Grayme come in, that stalwart was and strang:For Wallace men was weill to gyddyr met.365On the south part sa aufully thai set,In contrar thaim the frayt folk mycht nocht stand;At anys thar fled off Sotheroun fyve thousand.The worthi Scottis wrocht apon sic wyss,Jop said hym selff, thai war mekill to pryss.370Yeit byschope Beik, that felloun tyrand strang,Baid in the stour rycht awfully and lang.A knycht Skelton, that cruell was and keyn,Befor him stud in till his armour scheyn,To fend his lord full worthely he wrocht.375Lundy him saw, and sadly on him socht;With his gud suerd an awkwart straik him gaiff,Throuch pesan stuff his crag in sondyr draiff;Quhar off the layff astunyt in that sted,The bauld Skelton off Lundyis hand is dede.380Fol. 61 bThan fled thai all, and mycht no langar bid;Patrik and Beik away with Bruce thai ryd.Fyve thousand held in till a slop awayTill Noram houss, in all the haist thai may.Our men folowed, that worthi war and wicht;385Mony flear derffly to dede thai dycht.The thre lordis on to the castell socht;Full feill thai left, that was off Ingland brocht.At this jornay twenty thousand thai tynt,Drownyt and slayn be sper and suerdis dynt.390The Scottis at Tweid haistyt thaim sa fast,Feill Sotheroun men in to wrang furdis past.Wallace raturnd, in Noram quhen thai war;For worthi Bruce his hart was wondyr sar;He had leuer haiff had him at his large,395Fre till our croun, than off fyne gold to carge,Mar than in Troy was fund, at Grekis wan.Wallace than passit, with mony awfull man,On Patrikis land, and waistit wondyr fast;Tuk out gudis, and placis doun thai cast.400His stedis sewyn, that mete hamys was cauld,Wallace gert brek thai burly byggyngis bauld,Baithe in the Merss, and als in Lothiane;Except Dunbar, standand he lewit nane.Till Edynburgh apon the auchtand day;405Apon the morn, Wallace with out delayTill Pert he passit, quhar the consaill was set;To the barrownis he schawit with outyn let,How his gret wow rycht weill eschewyt was.Till a maister he gert erll Patrik pass,410Be causs he said off Scotland he held nocht:Till king Eduuard, to get supplé, he socht.The lordis was blyth, and welcummyt weill Wallas,Thankand gret God off this fair happy chass.Wallace tuk state to gowern all Scotland;415The barnage haill maid him ane oppyn band.Than delt he land till gud men him about,For Scotlandis rycht had set their lyff in dout.Stantoun he gaiff to Lauder in his wage;The knycht Wallang aucht it in heretage.420Than Birgeane cruk he gaiff Lyle that was wicht;Till Scrymgeour als full gud reward he dycht.Syne Wallace toun, and othir landis thartill,To worthi men he delt with nobill will.Till hys awne kyn heretage nayne gaiff he,425Bot office haill, at [euer] ilk man mycht se,For cowatice thar couth na wicht him blayme;He baid reward quhill the king suld cum hayme.Off all he dyd, he thoucht to bid the lawFol. 62 aBe for his king, master quhen he him saw.430Scotland was blyth, in dolour had beyne lang:In ilka part to gud laubour thai gang.

Ner ewyn it was, bot Beik wald nocht abid;325

In Lammermur thai trauuentyt that tid;

Thair lugyng tuk quhar him thocht maist awaill;

For weyll he trowit the Scottis wald assaill.

Apon the feild, quhar thai gaiff battaill last,

The contré men to Wallace gaderyt fast.330

Off Edynburch, with Crawfurd that was wicht,Fol. 61 a

Fol. 61 a

Thre hundreth come in till thar armour brycht.

Till Wallace raid, be his lugeyng was tayne.

Fra Tawydaill come gud men mony ane,

Out off Jedwart, with Ruwane, at that tyd335

To giddyr socht fra mony diuerss sid.

Schir Wilyham Lang, that lord was off Douglas,

With him four scor that nycht come to Wallace.

Twenty hundreth off new men met that nycht,

Apon thair fais to weng thaim at thair mycht.340

At the fyrst feild thir gud men had nocht beyn.

Wallace wachis thair aduersouris had seyn,

In to quhat wiss thai had thair lugeyng maid.

Wallace bownyt eftir soupper, but baid,

In Lammermur thai passit hastely;345

Sone till aray yheid this gud chewalry.

Wallace thaim maid in twa partis to be.

Schir Jhon the Graym and Cetoun ordand he,

Lawder and Hay, with thre thousand to ryd;

Hym selff the layff tuk wysly for to gid;350

With him Lundy, bathe Ramsay and Douglace,

Berkla and Boid, and Adam gud Wallace.

Be this the day approchit wondyr neir,

And brycht Titan in presens can apper.

The Scottis ostis sone semblit in to sycht355

Off thair enemyss, that was nocht redy dycht;

Owt oft aray feill off the Sotheroun was.

Rycht awfully Wallace can on thaim pas.

At this entray the Scottis so weill thaim bar,

Feill off thair fais to dede was bertnyt thar.360

Redles thai raiss, and mony fled away;

Sum on the ground war smoryt quhar thai lay.

Gret noyis and cry was raissit thaim amang.

Gud Grayme come in, that stalwart was and strang:

For Wallace men was weill to gyddyr met.365

On the south part sa aufully thai set,

In contrar thaim the frayt folk mycht nocht stand;

At anys thar fled off Sotheroun fyve thousand.

The worthi Scottis wrocht apon sic wyss,

Jop said hym selff, thai war mekill to pryss.370

Yeit byschope Beik, that felloun tyrand strang,

Baid in the stour rycht awfully and lang.

A knycht Skelton, that cruell was and keyn,

Befor him stud in till his armour scheyn,

To fend his lord full worthely he wrocht.375

Lundy him saw, and sadly on him socht;

With his gud suerd an awkwart straik him gaiff,

Throuch pesan stuff his crag in sondyr draiff;

Quhar off the layff astunyt in that sted,

The bauld Skelton off Lundyis hand is dede.380Fol. 61 b

Fol. 61 b

Than fled thai all, and mycht no langar bid;

Patrik and Beik away with Bruce thai ryd.

Fyve thousand held in till a slop away

Till Noram houss, in all the haist thai may.

Our men folowed, that worthi war and wicht;385

Mony flear derffly to dede thai dycht.

The thre lordis on to the castell socht;

Full feill thai left, that was off Ingland brocht.

At this jornay twenty thousand thai tynt,

Drownyt and slayn be sper and suerdis dynt.390

The Scottis at Tweid haistyt thaim sa fast,

Feill Sotheroun men in to wrang furdis past.

Wallace raturnd, in Noram quhen thai war;

For worthi Bruce his hart was wondyr sar;

He had leuer haiff had him at his large,395

Fre till our croun, than off fyne gold to carge,

Mar than in Troy was fund, at Grekis wan.

Wallace than passit, with mony awfull man,

On Patrikis land, and waistit wondyr fast;

Tuk out gudis, and placis doun thai cast.400

His stedis sewyn, that mete hamys was cauld,

Wallace gert brek thai burly byggyngis bauld,

Baithe in the Merss, and als in Lothiane;

Except Dunbar, standand he lewit nane.

Till Edynburgh apon the auchtand day;405

Apon the morn, Wallace with out delay

Till Pert he passit, quhar the consaill was set;

To the barrownis he schawit with outyn let,

How his gret wow rycht weill eschewyt was.

Till a maister he gert erll Patrik pass,410

Be causs he said off Scotland he held nocht:

Till king Eduuard, to get supplé, he socht.

The lordis was blyth, and welcummyt weill Wallas,

Thankand gret God off this fair happy chass.

Wallace tuk state to gowern all Scotland;415

The barnage haill maid him ane oppyn band.

Than delt he land till gud men him about,

For Scotlandis rycht had set their lyff in dout.

Stantoun he gaiff to Lauder in his wage;

The knycht Wallang aucht it in heretage.420

Than Birgeane cruk he gaiff Lyle that was wicht;

Till Scrymgeour als full gud reward he dycht.

Syne Wallace toun, and othir landis thartill,

To worthi men he delt with nobill will.

Till hys awne kyn heretage nayne gaiff he,425

Bot office haill, at [euer] ilk man mycht se,

For cowatice thar couth na wicht him blayme;

He baid reward quhill the king suld cum hayme.

Off all he dyd, he thoucht to bid the lawFol. 62 a

Fol. 62 a

Be for his king, master quhen he him saw.430

Scotland was blyth, in dolour had beyne lang:

In ilka part to gud laubour thai gang.

Be this the tyme off October was past;Ner Nouember approchit wondyr fast.Tithandis than come, king Eduuard grewit was,435With his power in Scotland thocht to pass;For erll Patrik had gyffyn hym sic consaill.Wallace gat wit, and semblit power haill,Fourty thousand on Roslyn mur thar met.“Lordis,” he said, “thus is King Eduuard set,440“In contrar rycht to sek ws in our land.“I hecht to God, and to yow, be my hand,“I sall him meit, for all his gret barnage,“With in Ingland, to fend our heretage.“His falss desyr sall on him selff be seyn;445“He sall ws fynd in contrar off his eyn.“Sen he with wrang has ryddyn this regioun,“We sall pass now in contrar off his crown.“I will nocht bid gret lordis with ws fayr;“For myn entent I will playnly declar.450“Our purposs is othir to wyn or de;“Quha yeildis him, sall neuir ransownd be.”The barrons than him ansuerd worthely,And said, thai wald pass with thair chewalry.Him selff and Jop prowidyt that menyhé;455Twenty thousand off waillit men tuk he,Harnes and hors he gert amang thaim waill;Wappynnys enew, at mycht thaim weill awaill;Grathyt thar men, that cruell wes and keyn;Bettir in wer in warld coud nocht be seyn.460He bad the laiff on laubour for to bid.In gud aray fra Roslyn mur thai ryd.At thair muster gud Wallace couth thaim ass,Quhat mysteryt ma in a power to pass?“All off a will, as I trow, set ar we,465“In playne battaill can nocht weill scumfit be.“Our rewme is pur, waistit be Sotheroun blud;“Go wyn on thaim tresour, and othir gud.”The ost inclynd all in till humyll will,And said, thai suld his commandment fulfill.470The erll Malcome with thir gud men is gayne;Bot nayme off rewill on him he wald tak nayne.Wallace him knew a lord and full worthi;At his consaill he wrocht full stedfastly.Starkar he was, gyff thai had battaill seyn;475For he befor had in gud jornays beyn.A man off strenth, that has gud wit with all,A haill regioune may comfort at his call:Fol. 62 bAs manly Ectour wrocht in till his wer;Agayn a hundreth cowntyt was his sper.480Bot that was nocht throuch his strenth anerly;Sic rewill he led off worthi chewalry.Thir ensampyllis war noble for to ken.Ectour I leiff, and spek furth off our men.The knycht Cambell maid hime to that wiage,485Off Louchow cheiff, that was his heretage.The gud Ramsay furth to that jornay went;Schir Jhone the Grayme, forthwart in his entent;Wallace cusyng, Adam, full worthi was,And Robert Boid; full blythly furth thai pass.490Baith Awchynlek, and Richard off Lundy,Lawder and Hay, and Cetoun full worthy.This ryall ost, but restyng, furth thai rid,Till Browis feild, and thar a quhill thai bid.Than Wallace tuk with him fourty, but less,495Till Roxburgh yett raid sone, or he wald cess.Sotheroun marueld giff it suld be Wallace,With out souerance come to persew that place.Off Schyr Rawff Gray sone presence couth he ass;And warnd him thus, forthwart [or] he wald pass.500“Our purposs is in Ingland for to ryd;“No teyme we haiff off segyng now to bid.“Tak tent and her off our cummyng agayne;“Gyff our the houss, send me the keyis in playn.“Thus I commaund befor this witnes large,505“Gyff thow will nocht, ramayne with all the charge.“Bot this be done, throuch force and I tak the,“Out our the wall thow sall be hyngit hye.”With that he turnd, and till his ost can wend.This ilk commaund to Berweik sone he send,510With gud Ramsay, that was a worthi knycht.The ost but mar full awfully he dycht;Began at Tweid, and spard nocht at thai fand;Bot brynt befor throuch all Northummyrland.All Duram toun thai brynt wp in a gleid.515Abbays thai spard, and kyrkis quhar thai yeid.To York thai went but baid, or thai wald blyn;To byrn and sla off thaim he had na syne.Na syn thai thocht, the samyn thai leit ws feill;Bot Wilyam Wallace quyt our quarell weill.520Fortrace thai wan, and small castellis kest doun;With aspre wapynnys payit thair ransoune.Off presonaris thai likit nocht to kep;Quhom thai our tuk, thai maid thair freyndis to wepe.Thai sawft na Sotheroun for thair gret riches;525Off sic koffre he callit bot wretchitnes.On to the yettis and faboris off the tounFol. 63 aBraithly thai brynt, and brak thair byggyngis doun;At the wallys assayed fyfetene dayis;Till king Eduuard send to thaim, in this wayis,530A knycht, a clerk, and a squier of pes;And prayit him fayr off byrnyng [for] to cess;And hecht battaill, or fourty dayis war past,Souerance so lang, gyff him likit, till ass.And als he sperd, quhy Wallace tuk on hand535The felloun stryff, in defens off Scotland.And said, he merweld on his wyt for thy,Agayn Inglande was off so gret party;“Sen ye haiff maid mekill off Scotland fre.“It war gret tym for to lat malice be.”540Wallace has herd the message say thair will;With manly wytt rycht thus he said thaim till:‘Yhe may knaw weill that rycht ynewch we haiff;‘Off his souerance I kep nocht for to craiff.‘Be causs I am a natyff Scottis man,545‘It is my dett to do all that I can‘To fend our kynrik out off dangeryng.‘Till his desyr we will grant to sum thing;‘Our ost sall cess, for chans that may betid,‘Thir fourty dayis, bargane for till bid.550‘We sall do nocht, less than it mowe in yow;‘In his respyt my selff couth neuir trow.’King Eduuardis wrytt wndir his seill thai gaiff,Be fourty dayis that thai suld battaill haiff.Wallace thaim gaiff his credence off this thing.555Thair leyff thai tuk, syne passit to the king,And tauld him haill how Wallace leit thaim feill,“Off your souerance he rekis nocht adeill;“Sic rewllyt men, sa awfull off affer,“Ar nocht crystynyt, than he ledis in wer.”560The king ansuerd, and said; ‘It suld be kend,‘It cummys off witt enemyss to commend.‘Thai ar to dreid rycht gretly in certane;‘Sadly thai think off harmys thai haiff tane.’Leyff I thaim thus at consell with thair king,565And off the Scottis agayne to spek sum thing.

Be this the tyme off October was past;

Ner Nouember approchit wondyr fast.

Tithandis than come, king Eduuard grewit was,435

With his power in Scotland thocht to pass;

For erll Patrik had gyffyn hym sic consaill.

Wallace gat wit, and semblit power haill,

Fourty thousand on Roslyn mur thar met.

“Lordis,” he said, “thus is King Eduuard set,440

“In contrar rycht to sek ws in our land.

“I hecht to God, and to yow, be my hand,

“I sall him meit, for all his gret barnage,

“With in Ingland, to fend our heretage.

“His falss desyr sall on him selff be seyn;445

“He sall ws fynd in contrar off his eyn.

“Sen he with wrang has ryddyn this regioun,

“We sall pass now in contrar off his crown.

“I will nocht bid gret lordis with ws fayr;

“For myn entent I will playnly declar.450

“Our purposs is othir to wyn or de;

“Quha yeildis him, sall neuir ransownd be.”

The barrons than him ansuerd worthely,

And said, thai wald pass with thair chewalry.

Him selff and Jop prowidyt that menyhé;455

Twenty thousand off waillit men tuk he,

Harnes and hors he gert amang thaim waill;

Wappynnys enew, at mycht thaim weill awaill;

Grathyt thar men, that cruell wes and keyn;

Bettir in wer in warld coud nocht be seyn.460

He bad the laiff on laubour for to bid.

In gud aray fra Roslyn mur thai ryd.

At thair muster gud Wallace couth thaim ass,

Quhat mysteryt ma in a power to pass?

“All off a will, as I trow, set ar we,465

“In playne battaill can nocht weill scumfit be.

“Our rewme is pur, waistit be Sotheroun blud;

“Go wyn on thaim tresour, and othir gud.”

The ost inclynd all in till humyll will,

And said, thai suld his commandment fulfill.470

The erll Malcome with thir gud men is gayne;

Bot nayme off rewill on him he wald tak nayne.

Wallace him knew a lord and full worthi;

At his consaill he wrocht full stedfastly.

Starkar he was, gyff thai had battaill seyn;475

For he befor had in gud jornays beyn.

A man off strenth, that has gud wit with all,

A haill regioune may comfort at his call:Fol. 62 b

Fol. 62 b

As manly Ectour wrocht in till his wer;

Agayn a hundreth cowntyt was his sper.480

Bot that was nocht throuch his strenth anerly;

Sic rewill he led off worthi chewalry.

Thir ensampyllis war noble for to ken.

Ectour I leiff, and spek furth off our men.

The knycht Cambell maid hime to that wiage,485

Off Louchow cheiff, that was his heretage.

The gud Ramsay furth to that jornay went;

Schir Jhone the Grayme, forthwart in his entent;

Wallace cusyng, Adam, full worthi was,

And Robert Boid; full blythly furth thai pass.490

Baith Awchynlek, and Richard off Lundy,

Lawder and Hay, and Cetoun full worthy.

This ryall ost, but restyng, furth thai rid,

Till Browis feild, and thar a quhill thai bid.

Than Wallace tuk with him fourty, but less,495

Till Roxburgh yett raid sone, or he wald cess.

Sotheroun marueld giff it suld be Wallace,

With out souerance come to persew that place.

Off Schyr Rawff Gray sone presence couth he ass;

And warnd him thus, forthwart [or] he wald pass.500

“Our purposs is in Ingland for to ryd;

“No teyme we haiff off segyng now to bid.

“Tak tent and her off our cummyng agayne;

“Gyff our the houss, send me the keyis in playn.

“Thus I commaund befor this witnes large,505

“Gyff thow will nocht, ramayne with all the charge.

“Bot this be done, throuch force and I tak the,

“Out our the wall thow sall be hyngit hye.”

With that he turnd, and till his ost can wend.

This ilk commaund to Berweik sone he send,510

With gud Ramsay, that was a worthi knycht.

The ost but mar full awfully he dycht;

Began at Tweid, and spard nocht at thai fand;

Bot brynt befor throuch all Northummyrland.

All Duram toun thai brynt wp in a gleid.515

Abbays thai spard, and kyrkis quhar thai yeid.

To York thai went but baid, or thai wald blyn;

To byrn and sla off thaim he had na syne.

Na syn thai thocht, the samyn thai leit ws feill;

Bot Wilyam Wallace quyt our quarell weill.520

Fortrace thai wan, and small castellis kest doun;

With aspre wapynnys payit thair ransoune.

Off presonaris thai likit nocht to kep;

Quhom thai our tuk, thai maid thair freyndis to wepe.

Thai sawft na Sotheroun for thair gret riches;525

Off sic koffre he callit bot wretchitnes.

On to the yettis and faboris off the tounFol. 63 a

Fol. 63 a

Braithly thai brynt, and brak thair byggyngis doun;

At the wallys assayed fyfetene dayis;

Till king Eduuard send to thaim, in this wayis,530

A knycht, a clerk, and a squier of pes;

And prayit him fayr off byrnyng [for] to cess;

And hecht battaill, or fourty dayis war past,

Souerance so lang, gyff him likit, till ass.

And als he sperd, quhy Wallace tuk on hand535

The felloun stryff, in defens off Scotland.

And said, he merweld on his wyt for thy,

Agayn Inglande was off so gret party;

“Sen ye haiff maid mekill off Scotland fre.

“It war gret tym for to lat malice be.”540

Wallace has herd the message say thair will;

With manly wytt rycht thus he said thaim till:

‘Yhe may knaw weill that rycht ynewch we haiff;

‘Off his souerance I kep nocht for to craiff.

‘Be causs I am a natyff Scottis man,545

‘It is my dett to do all that I can

‘To fend our kynrik out off dangeryng.

‘Till his desyr we will grant to sum thing;

‘Our ost sall cess, for chans that may betid,

‘Thir fourty dayis, bargane for till bid.550

‘We sall do nocht, less than it mowe in yow;

‘In his respyt my selff couth neuir trow.’

King Eduuardis wrytt wndir his seill thai gaiff,

Be fourty dayis that thai suld battaill haiff.

Wallace thaim gaiff his credence off this thing.555

Thair leyff thai tuk, syne passit to the king,

And tauld him haill how Wallace leit thaim feill,

“Off your souerance he rekis nocht adeill;

“Sic rewllyt men, sa awfull off affer,

“Ar nocht crystynyt, than he ledis in wer.”560

The king ansuerd, and said; ‘It suld be kend,

‘It cummys off witt enemyss to commend.

‘Thai ar to dreid rycht gretly in certane;

‘Sadly thai think off harmys thai haiff tane.’

Leyff I thaim thus at consell with thair king,565

And off the Scottis agayne to spek sum thing.

Wallace tranountyt on the secund day;Fra York thai passyt rycht in a gud aray.Northwest thai past in battaill buskyt boun,Thar lugeyng tuk besyd Northallyrtoun,570And cryit his pess, thar market for till stand,Thai fourty dayis, for pepill off Ingland,Quha that likyt ony wyttaill till sell.Off all thair fer was mekill for to tell.Schyr Rawff Rymunt, captane off Maltoun was,575Fol. 63 bWith gret power ordand he nycht to passOn Wallace ost, to mak sum jeperté.Feyll Scottis men, that duelt in that cuntré,Wyst off this thing, and gaderyt to Wallace;Thai maid him wyss off all that suttell cace.580Gud Lundy than till hym he callit thar,And Hew the Hay, off Louchowort was ayr.With thre thousand that worthely had wrocht,Syne prewaly out fra the ost he socht.The men he tuk, that come till hym off new,585Gydys to be, for thai the contré knew.The ost he maid in gud quyet to be;A space fra thaim he buschyt prewalé.Schyr Rawff Rymunt with sewyn thousand com in,On Wallace ost a jeperté to begyn.590The buschement brak, or thai the ost come ner;On Sotheroun men the worthi Scottis thai ster.Thre thousand haill was braithly brocht to ground;Jornay thai socht, and sekyrly has found.Schyr Rawff Rymunt was stekit on a sper;595Thre thousand slayn, that worthi war in wer.The Sotheroun wyst quhen thair chyftayn wes dede;To Maltoun fast thai fled, and left that sted.Wallace folowed with his gud chewalry;Amang Sotheroun thai entrit sodeynly,600Ingliss and Scottis in to the toun at anys.Sotheroun men schot, and braithly kest doun stanys,Off thar awn rycht feyll thair haiff thai slayn.The Scottis about, that war off mekill mayn,On grecis ran, and cessyt all the toun.605Derffly to dede the Sotheroun was dongyn doun.Gud Wallace thair has found full gud ryches,Jowellis and gold, bathe wapynnys and harnes;Spoulyeid the toun off wyn, and off wittaill;All off send with caryagis off gret waill.610Thre dayis still with in the toun thai baid;Syn brak doun werk that worthely was maid.Wyffis and childre thai put owt off the toun;Na man he sawft that was off that nacioun.Quhen Scottis had tane to turss at thair desyr,615Wallis thai brak, syn set the layff in fyr,The temir werk thai brynt wp all in playn,On the ferd day till his ost raid agayn,Gert cast a dyk that mycht sum strynthyng be,To kepe the ost fra sodeyn jeperté.620Than Inglissmen was rycht gretly agast,Fra north and south in to thair king thai past,At Pomfray lay, and held a parlement.Fol. 64 aTo gyff battaill the lordis couth nocht consent,Less Wallace war off Scotland crownyt king.625Thar consaill fand it war a peralous thing:For thocht thai wan, thai wan bot as thai war;And gyff thai tynt, thai lossyt Ingland for euirmar,A payn war put in to the Scottis hand.And this decret thar wit amang thaim fand;630Gyff Wallace wald apon him tak the croun,To gyff battaill thai suld be redy boun.The sammyn message till him thai send agayn;And thar entent thai tald him in to playn.Wallace thaim chargyt his presens till absent;635His consaill callyt, and schawit thaim his entent.He and his men desyrit battaill till haiff,Be ony wayis, off Ingland our the laiff.He said; “Fyrst, it war a our hie thing,“Agayne the faith to reyff my rychtwis king.640“I am his man, born natiff of Scotland;“To wer the croun I will nocht tak on hand.“To fend the rewm it is my dett be skill;“Lat God abowe reward me as he will.”Sum bad Wallace apon him tak the croun.645Wyss men said; ‘Nay, it war bot derysioun,‘To croun him king bot woice off the parlyment:’For thai wyst nocht gyff Scotland wald consent.Othir sum said, it was the wrangwis place.Thus demyt thai on mony diuerss cace.650This knycht Cambell, off witt a worthi man,As I said ayr, was present with thaim than,Herd and ansuerd, quhen mony said thair will;“This war the best, wald Wallace grant thar till,“To croun him king solemply for a day,655“To get ane end off all our lang delay.”The gud erll Malcome said, that Wallace mycht.As for a day, in fens off Scotlandis rycht,Thocht he refusyt it lestandly to ber,Resawe the croun, as in a fer off wer.660The pepill all till him gaiff thar consent:Malcome off auld was lord off the parlyment.Yeit Wallace tholyt, and leit thaim say thair will.Quhen thai had demyt be mony diuerss skill,In his awne mynd he abhorryt with this thing.665The commounis cryit, ‘Mak Wallace crownyt king.’Than smylyt he, and said; “It suld nocht be:“At termys schort, ye get no mar for me.“Wndyr colour we mon our ansuer mak;“Bot sic a thing I will nocht on me tak.670“I suffer yow to say that it is sa.Fol. 64 b“It war a scorn the croun on me to ta.”Thai wald nocht lat the message off InglandCum thaim amang, or thai suld wndirstand.Twa knychtis passit to the message agayn,675Maid thaim to trow Wallace was crownyt in playn;Gart thaim traist weill that this was suthfast thing.Delyuyrit thus, thai passit to thair king;To Pomfrait went, and tald that thai had seynWallace crownyt, quharoff the lordis was teyn,680In barrate wox, in parlement quhar thai stud.Than said thai all; “Thir tithingis ar nocht gud.“He did so weyll in to thir tymys befor,“And now thair king, he will do mekill mor.“A fortonyt man, no thing gois him agayn.685“To gyff battaill we sall it rew apayn.”And othir said; ‘And battaill will he haiff,‘Or stroy our land; na tresour may ws saiff.‘In his conquest, sen fyrst he coud begyn,‘He sellis nocht, bot takis at he may wyn.690‘For Inglissmen he settis no doym bot ded;‘Pryce off pennys may mak ws no ramed.’And Wodstok said; “Yhe wyrk nocht as the wyss,“Gyff that ye tak the awnter, off supprice:“For thocht we wyn that ar in till Ingland,695“The laiff ar stark agaynys ws for to stand.“Be Wallace saiff, othir thai cownt bot small.“For thi me think this war the best off all,“To kepe our strynth off castell and off wall toun,“Swa sall we fend the fek off this regioun.700“Thocht north be brynt, bettir off sufferans be,“Than set all Ingland on a jeperté.”Thai grantyt all, as Wodstok can thaim say;And thus thai put the battaill on delay;And kest thaim haill for othir gouernance,705Agayn Wallace to wyrk sum ordinance.Thus Wallace has in playn discumfyt haill,Agayn king Eduuard, all his strang battaill;For throucht falsheid, and thar subtilité,Thai thocht he suld, for gret necessité,710And faute off fude, to steyll out off the land.And this decret thair wytt amang thaim fand;Thai gert the king cry all thar merket doun,Fra Trent to Tweid off throchtfayr and fre toun,That in thai boundis na man suld wittaill leid,715Sic stuff, nor wyn, on na less payn bot deid.This ilk decret thai gaiff in thar parlement.Off Scottis forsuth to spek is myne entent.Wallace lay still, quhill fourty dayis was gayn,And fyve atour; bot perance saw he nayn720Fol. 65 aBattaill till haiff, as thair promyss was maid.He gert display agayne his baner braid;Rapreiffyt Eduuard rycht gretlye off this thing;Bawchillyt his seyll, blew out on that fals king,As a tyrand; turnd bak, and tuk his gait.725Than Wallace maid full mony byggyng hayt.Thai rassyt fyr, brynt wp Northallyrtoun,Agayn throucht Yorkschyr bauldly maid thaim boun;Dystroyed the land, als fer as euir thai rid;Sewyn myle about thai brynt on athir sid.730Palyce thai spylt, gret towris can confound;Wrocht the Sotheroun mony werkand wound.Wedowis wepyt with sorow in thar sang;Madennys murnyt with gret menyng amang.Thai sparyt nocht bot wemen and the kyrk.735Thir worthy Scottis off laubour wald nocht yrk.Abbayis gaiff thaim rycht largly to thair fud;Till all kyrk man thai did no thing bot gud.The temporall land thai spoulyeit at thair will,Gud gardens gay, and orchartis gret thai spill.740

Wallace tranountyt on the secund day;

Fra York thai passyt rycht in a gud aray.

Northwest thai past in battaill buskyt boun,

Thar lugeyng tuk besyd Northallyrtoun,570

And cryit his pess, thar market for till stand,

Thai fourty dayis, for pepill off Ingland,

Quha that likyt ony wyttaill till sell.

Off all thair fer was mekill for to tell.

Schyr Rawff Rymunt, captane off Maltoun was,575Fol. 63 b

Fol. 63 b

With gret power ordand he nycht to pass

On Wallace ost, to mak sum jeperté.

Feyll Scottis men, that duelt in that cuntré,

Wyst off this thing, and gaderyt to Wallace;

Thai maid him wyss off all that suttell cace.580

Gud Lundy than till hym he callit thar,

And Hew the Hay, off Louchowort was ayr.

With thre thousand that worthely had wrocht,

Syne prewaly out fra the ost he socht.

The men he tuk, that come till hym off new,585

Gydys to be, for thai the contré knew.

The ost he maid in gud quyet to be;

A space fra thaim he buschyt prewalé.

Schyr Rawff Rymunt with sewyn thousand com in,

On Wallace ost a jeperté to begyn.590

The buschement brak, or thai the ost come ner;

On Sotheroun men the worthi Scottis thai ster.

Thre thousand haill was braithly brocht to ground;

Jornay thai socht, and sekyrly has found.

Schyr Rawff Rymunt was stekit on a sper;595

Thre thousand slayn, that worthi war in wer.

The Sotheroun wyst quhen thair chyftayn wes dede;

To Maltoun fast thai fled, and left that sted.

Wallace folowed with his gud chewalry;

Amang Sotheroun thai entrit sodeynly,600

Ingliss and Scottis in to the toun at anys.

Sotheroun men schot, and braithly kest doun stanys,

Off thar awn rycht feyll thair haiff thai slayn.

The Scottis about, that war off mekill mayn,

On grecis ran, and cessyt all the toun.605

Derffly to dede the Sotheroun was dongyn doun.

Gud Wallace thair has found full gud ryches,

Jowellis and gold, bathe wapynnys and harnes;

Spoulyeid the toun off wyn, and off wittaill;

All off send with caryagis off gret waill.610

Thre dayis still with in the toun thai baid;

Syn brak doun werk that worthely was maid.

Wyffis and childre thai put owt off the toun;

Na man he sawft that was off that nacioun.

Quhen Scottis had tane to turss at thair desyr,615

Wallis thai brak, syn set the layff in fyr,

The temir werk thai brynt wp all in playn,

On the ferd day till his ost raid agayn,

Gert cast a dyk that mycht sum strynthyng be,

To kepe the ost fra sodeyn jeperté.620

Than Inglissmen was rycht gretly agast,

Fra north and south in to thair king thai past,

At Pomfray lay, and held a parlement.Fol. 64 a

Fol. 64 a

To gyff battaill the lordis couth nocht consent,

Less Wallace war off Scotland crownyt king.625

Thar consaill fand it war a peralous thing:

For thocht thai wan, thai wan bot as thai war;

And gyff thai tynt, thai lossyt Ingland for euirmar,

A payn war put in to the Scottis hand.

And this decret thar wit amang thaim fand;630

Gyff Wallace wald apon him tak the croun,

To gyff battaill thai suld be redy boun.

The sammyn message till him thai send agayn;

And thar entent thai tald him in to playn.

Wallace thaim chargyt his presens till absent;635

His consaill callyt, and schawit thaim his entent.

He and his men desyrit battaill till haiff,

Be ony wayis, off Ingland our the laiff.

He said; “Fyrst, it war a our hie thing,

“Agayne the faith to reyff my rychtwis king.640

“I am his man, born natiff of Scotland;

“To wer the croun I will nocht tak on hand.

“To fend the rewm it is my dett be skill;

“Lat God abowe reward me as he will.”

Sum bad Wallace apon him tak the croun.645

Wyss men said; ‘Nay, it war bot derysioun,

‘To croun him king bot woice off the parlyment:’

For thai wyst nocht gyff Scotland wald consent.

Othir sum said, it was the wrangwis place.

Thus demyt thai on mony diuerss cace.650

This knycht Cambell, off witt a worthi man,

As I said ayr, was present with thaim than,

Herd and ansuerd, quhen mony said thair will;

“This war the best, wald Wallace grant thar till,

“To croun him king solemply for a day,655

“To get ane end off all our lang delay.”

The gud erll Malcome said, that Wallace mycht.

As for a day, in fens off Scotlandis rycht,

Thocht he refusyt it lestandly to ber,

Resawe the croun, as in a fer off wer.660

The pepill all till him gaiff thar consent:

Malcome off auld was lord off the parlyment.

Yeit Wallace tholyt, and leit thaim say thair will.

Quhen thai had demyt be mony diuerss skill,

In his awne mynd he abhorryt with this thing.665

The commounis cryit, ‘Mak Wallace crownyt king.’

Than smylyt he, and said; “It suld nocht be:

“At termys schort, ye get no mar for me.

“Wndyr colour we mon our ansuer mak;

“Bot sic a thing I will nocht on me tak.670

“I suffer yow to say that it is sa.Fol. 64 b

Fol. 64 b

“It war a scorn the croun on me to ta.”

Thai wald nocht lat the message off Ingland

Cum thaim amang, or thai suld wndirstand.

Twa knychtis passit to the message agayn,675

Maid thaim to trow Wallace was crownyt in playn;

Gart thaim traist weill that this was suthfast thing.

Delyuyrit thus, thai passit to thair king;

To Pomfrait went, and tald that thai had seyn

Wallace crownyt, quharoff the lordis was teyn,680

In barrate wox, in parlement quhar thai stud.

Than said thai all; “Thir tithingis ar nocht gud.

“He did so weyll in to thir tymys befor,

“And now thair king, he will do mekill mor.

“A fortonyt man, no thing gois him agayn.685

“To gyff battaill we sall it rew apayn.”

And othir said; ‘And battaill will he haiff,

‘Or stroy our land; na tresour may ws saiff.

‘In his conquest, sen fyrst he coud begyn,

‘He sellis nocht, bot takis at he may wyn.690

‘For Inglissmen he settis no doym bot ded;

‘Pryce off pennys may mak ws no ramed.’

And Wodstok said; “Yhe wyrk nocht as the wyss,

“Gyff that ye tak the awnter, off supprice:

“For thocht we wyn that ar in till Ingland,695

“The laiff ar stark agaynys ws for to stand.

“Be Wallace saiff, othir thai cownt bot small.

“For thi me think this war the best off all,

“To kepe our strynth off castell and off wall toun,

“Swa sall we fend the fek off this regioun.700

“Thocht north be brynt, bettir off sufferans be,

“Than set all Ingland on a jeperté.”

Thai grantyt all, as Wodstok can thaim say;

And thus thai put the battaill on delay;

And kest thaim haill for othir gouernance,705

Agayn Wallace to wyrk sum ordinance.

Thus Wallace has in playn discumfyt haill,

Agayn king Eduuard, all his strang battaill;

For throucht falsheid, and thar subtilité,

Thai thocht he suld, for gret necessité,710

And faute off fude, to steyll out off the land.

And this decret thair wytt amang thaim fand;

Thai gert the king cry all thar merket doun,

Fra Trent to Tweid off throchtfayr and fre toun,

That in thai boundis na man suld wittaill leid,715

Sic stuff, nor wyn, on na less payn bot deid.

This ilk decret thai gaiff in thar parlement.

Off Scottis forsuth to spek is myne entent.

Wallace lay still, quhill fourty dayis was gayn,

And fyve atour; bot perance saw he nayn720Fol. 65 a

Fol. 65 a

Battaill till haiff, as thair promyss was maid.

He gert display agayne his baner braid;

Rapreiffyt Eduuard rycht gretlye off this thing;

Bawchillyt his seyll, blew out on that fals king,

As a tyrand; turnd bak, and tuk his gait.725

Than Wallace maid full mony byggyng hayt.

Thai rassyt fyr, brynt wp Northallyrtoun,

Agayn throucht Yorkschyr bauldly maid thaim boun;

Dystroyed the land, als fer as euir thai rid;

Sewyn myle about thai brynt on athir sid.730

Palyce thai spylt, gret towris can confound;

Wrocht the Sotheroun mony werkand wound.

Wedowis wepyt with sorow in thar sang;

Madennys murnyt with gret menyng amang.

Thai sparyt nocht bot wemen and the kyrk.735

Thir worthy Scottis off laubour wald nocht yrk.

Abbayis gaiff thaim rycht largly to thair fud;

Till all kyrk man thai did no thing bot gud.

The temporall land thai spoulyeit at thair will,

Gud gardens gay, and orchartis gret thai spill.740

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