BUKE ELEUENTH.

The sayr trawaill, the ernystfull besynes,The feill labour had in mony place,To wyn the land at the gud king him gaiff,In till his ryng he wald no Sotheroun saiff.In Gyan land Wallace was still at wer;5Off Scotlandis loss it did his hart gret der;Off trew Scottis in mynd he had peté,He thocht to help quhen he his tym mycht se.Off set battaillis fyve he dyscumfyt haill,But jeperté and mony strang assaill.10Syn thai forsuk, and durst him nocht abid;The Sotheroun fled fra him on athir sidTo Burdeouss, in gret multiplye;Than com thai stufft with wictaill be the se.All Gyan land Wallace brocht till his peess;15To Burdeouss yit he past or he wald cess.On out byggyngis full gret maister thai maid;Still saxté dayis at sar sailyie thai baid.Fortrace, and werk that was with out the toun,Thai brak, and brynt, and put to confusioun:20Hagis, alais, be laubour that was thar,Fulyeit and spilt; thai wald no froitis spar.The Inglissmen maid gret defens agaynWith schot and cast, for thai war mekill off mayn.Off gownnys thai war, and ganyies, stuffyt weill,25All artailye and wapynnys off fyn steill;With men and meit within war buskit beyn;Thair gret capdane was wyss, cruell and keyn.Off Glosyster that huge lord and her,This erll had beyn weill vsyt in to wer,30Kepyt his men be wit and hardement;With out the toun thar durst nane fra him went.Fol. 110 aThe landis with out wer ner waistyt away,Wermen so lang in to the contré lay.In Wallace ost so scantyt the wictaill,35Thai mycht nocht bid [na] langar till assaill.Than this wiss lord, the duk off Orlyance,To Wallace said; “Schyr, ye suld knaw this chance.“It standis our weill with this fals Sotheroun blud;“For on no wayis we can nocht stop thair fud.40“The hawin thai haiff and schippis at thair will;“Off Ingland cummys enewch off wittaill thaim till.“This land is purd off fud that suld ws beild;“And ye se weill als thai forsaik the feild.“Thai will nocht fecht, thocht we all yher suld bid;45“Ye may off pess plenyss thir landis wid.“My consaill is in playn, anent this thing,“At ye wald pass with worschip to the king.“Be his assent, ye may at lasar waill“With prouisioun agayn for till assaill.”50Wallace inclynd, and thankit this wyss lord.Than thai tranontyt all in a gud concord;Past wp in France with honour to the king,And schawit him haill the verité off this thing;And he tharoff in hart was wondyr glad.55Franch men befor that hundreth yer nocht haidOff Gyan halff sa mekill in to thair hand.Wrytting be than was new cumyn off Scotland,Fra part off lordis and byschop gud Synclar,Besocht the king in [to] thair termys fair,60Off his gentrice, and off his gudlye grace,For thair supplé, to consaill gude WallaceTo cum agayne, and bring thaim off bandoun,And tak to wer the croun off that regioun.This wrytt as than he wald nocht till him schaw;65Rycht laith he war for frendschip, feik, or aw,Wallace suld pass sa son fra his presens:To duelling place he tuk to residens.In Schynnown still Wallace his duelling maid,And held about rycht likand landis braid.70A keyn capdane than clemyt in heretageOffice off it, and gret landis in wage;Tharfor he thocht gud Wallace for to sla.Wndyr colour sic maistrie for to ma,Lang tym he socht to get a day and place;75Said he desyrd in seruice to Wallace.Fol. 110 bA tryst thai set with sexteyn on the sid;Fyfty thar by he gert in buschement bydOff men in armys. Quhen he with Wallace met,Rycht awfully he bad thaim on him set.80Na armour had Wallace men in to that place,Bot suerd and knyff thai bur on thaim throw grace.Parteis beyn met ner a fayr forest sid,Rycht boustously this capdane said that tyd,At Wallace held off his landis vnrycht.85Rycht sobyrly he said to that Franch knycht;“I haiff no land bot quhilk the king gaiff me;“My lyff tharfor has beyne in jeperté.”The knycht ansuerd; ‘Thi lyff thow sall forlorn,‘Or ellis that land, the contrar quha had suorn.’90On bak he lap, and owt his suerd he drew;The buschement brak, quhen he that takyn schew,Gud Wallace thocht that mater stud nocht weill.He gryppyt sone a scherand suerd off steill,And at a straik the knycht to ded he draiff;95About sexteyn sone lappyt all the layff.Wallace and his so worthely thai wrocht,Full feill thai slew that sarest on them socht.The knychtis brodyr rycht stalwart was and strang;And thocht he suld be wengyt or thai gang.100Off Wallace men sum part thai woundyt sair.Mawand thar was in till a medow fairNyne stout carllis, all serwandis to that knycht;Sythis thai hynt, and ran in all thair mychtTo the fechtaris. Or thai com ner that place,105Off thaim persawyt rycht weill was gud Wallace.Sa awfull thing off sic he neuir saw;Thaim to rasyst him selff can to thaim draw,In to the stour left his men fechtand still,To meit thai carllis that com with egyr will.110The fyrst leit draw at Wallace with his sith;Deliuer he was, and heich our lappyt swyth,And awkwart straik that churl apon the hed;Derffly on ground he has him left for ded.The tothir he met, our lap his syth so keyn,115On the schuldir als straik him in that teyn;Throuch all the cost the noble suerd doun schair.The thrid he met, with a rycht awfull fayrThe groundyn syth at Wallace he leit draw.This gud chyftan cleynly our lap thaim aw.120With his gud suerd he maid a hidwyss wound,Fol. 111 aLeft thaim for ded, syne on the ferd can found;On the wan bayn with gret ire can him ta,Cleyffyt the cost rycht cruelly in twa.Thre formast sythis thus gud Wallace our lap,125And four he slew; thai saw sic was his hap;[For] a man ay he slew at euirilk straik.The layff fled fast; thus can the power slaik.Wallace folowed, and sone the fyrst our tais;Straik him to ded, that na forthyr he gais;130Syn sped him fast till his awn men agayn.Be than thai had the knychtis brothyr slayn.Sexté and sex sexteyn to ded has dycht,Bot saiff sewyn men at fled out off thair sycht;Fyve malwaris als, that Wallace selff with met.135To Franch men syn na sic trystis he set,Be causs that thai him brocht to sic a cace.The king hard tell weill chapyt was Wallace;Send for him sone, and prayit him for to beOff his housshald, so leyff in gud saufté.140For weill he saw thai had him at inwye;Still with him selff he gert him bid forthi.Twa yeris thus with myrth Wallace abaidStill in to Frans, and mony gud jornay maid.The king him plessed in all his gudly mane,145Fra him he thocht he suld nocht part agayn.Lordys and ladiis honoryd him reuerently,Wrechys and schrewis ay had him at inwy.

The sayr trawaill, the ernystfull besynes,

The feill labour had in mony place,

To wyn the land at the gud king him gaiff,

In till his ryng he wald no Sotheroun saiff.

In Gyan land Wallace was still at wer;5

Off Scotlandis loss it did his hart gret der;

Off trew Scottis in mynd he had peté,

He thocht to help quhen he his tym mycht se.

Off set battaillis fyve he dyscumfyt haill,

But jeperté and mony strang assaill.10

Syn thai forsuk, and durst him nocht abid;

The Sotheroun fled fra him on athir sid

To Burdeouss, in gret multiplye;

Than com thai stufft with wictaill be the se.

All Gyan land Wallace brocht till his peess;15

To Burdeouss yit he past or he wald cess.

On out byggyngis full gret maister thai maid;

Still saxté dayis at sar sailyie thai baid.

Fortrace, and werk that was with out the toun,

Thai brak, and brynt, and put to confusioun:20

Hagis, alais, be laubour that was thar,

Fulyeit and spilt; thai wald no froitis spar.

The Inglissmen maid gret defens agayn

With schot and cast, for thai war mekill off mayn.

Off gownnys thai war, and ganyies, stuffyt weill,25

All artailye and wapynnys off fyn steill;

With men and meit within war buskit beyn;

Thair gret capdane was wyss, cruell and keyn.

Off Glosyster that huge lord and her,

This erll had beyn weill vsyt in to wer,30

Kepyt his men be wit and hardement;

With out the toun thar durst nane fra him went.Fol. 110 a

Fol. 110 a

The landis with out wer ner waistyt away,

Wermen so lang in to the contré lay.

In Wallace ost so scantyt the wictaill,35

Thai mycht nocht bid [na] langar till assaill.

Than this wiss lord, the duk off Orlyance,

To Wallace said; “Schyr, ye suld knaw this chance.

“It standis our weill with this fals Sotheroun blud;

“For on no wayis we can nocht stop thair fud.40

“The hawin thai haiff and schippis at thair will;

“Off Ingland cummys enewch off wittaill thaim till.

“This land is purd off fud that suld ws beild;

“And ye se weill als thai forsaik the feild.

“Thai will nocht fecht, thocht we all yher suld bid;45

“Ye may off pess plenyss thir landis wid.

“My consaill is in playn, anent this thing,

“At ye wald pass with worschip to the king.

“Be his assent, ye may at lasar waill

“With prouisioun agayn for till assaill.”50

Wallace inclynd, and thankit this wyss lord.

Than thai tranontyt all in a gud concord;

Past wp in France with honour to the king,

And schawit him haill the verité off this thing;

And he tharoff in hart was wondyr glad.55

Franch men befor that hundreth yer nocht haid

Off Gyan halff sa mekill in to thair hand.

Wrytting be than was new cumyn off Scotland,

Fra part off lordis and byschop gud Synclar,

Besocht the king in [to] thair termys fair,60

Off his gentrice, and off his gudlye grace,

For thair supplé, to consaill gude Wallace

To cum agayne, and bring thaim off bandoun,

And tak to wer the croun off that regioun.

This wrytt as than he wald nocht till him schaw;65

Rycht laith he war for frendschip, feik, or aw,

Wallace suld pass sa son fra his presens:

To duelling place he tuk to residens.

In Schynnown still Wallace his duelling maid,

And held about rycht likand landis braid.70

A keyn capdane than clemyt in heretage

Office off it, and gret landis in wage;

Tharfor he thocht gud Wallace for to sla.

Wndyr colour sic maistrie for to ma,

Lang tym he socht to get a day and place;75

Said he desyrd in seruice to Wallace.Fol. 110 b

Fol. 110 b

A tryst thai set with sexteyn on the sid;

Fyfty thar by he gert in buschement byd

Off men in armys. Quhen he with Wallace met,

Rycht awfully he bad thaim on him set.80

Na armour had Wallace men in to that place,

Bot suerd and knyff thai bur on thaim throw grace.

Parteis beyn met ner a fayr forest sid,

Rycht boustously this capdane said that tyd,

At Wallace held off his landis vnrycht.85

Rycht sobyrly he said to that Franch knycht;

“I haiff no land bot quhilk the king gaiff me;

“My lyff tharfor has beyne in jeperté.”

The knycht ansuerd; ‘Thi lyff thow sall forlorn,

‘Or ellis that land, the contrar quha had suorn.’90

On bak he lap, and owt his suerd he drew;

The buschement brak, quhen he that takyn schew,

Gud Wallace thocht that mater stud nocht weill.

He gryppyt sone a scherand suerd off steill,

And at a straik the knycht to ded he draiff;95

About sexteyn sone lappyt all the layff.

Wallace and his so worthely thai wrocht,

Full feill thai slew that sarest on them socht.

The knychtis brodyr rycht stalwart was and strang;

And thocht he suld be wengyt or thai gang.100

Off Wallace men sum part thai woundyt sair.

Mawand thar was in till a medow fair

Nyne stout carllis, all serwandis to that knycht;

Sythis thai hynt, and ran in all thair mycht

To the fechtaris. Or thai com ner that place,105

Off thaim persawyt rycht weill was gud Wallace.

Sa awfull thing off sic he neuir saw;

Thaim to rasyst him selff can to thaim draw,

In to the stour left his men fechtand still,

To meit thai carllis that com with egyr will.110

The fyrst leit draw at Wallace with his sith;

Deliuer he was, and heich our lappyt swyth,

And awkwart straik that churl apon the hed;

Derffly on ground he has him left for ded.

The tothir he met, our lap his syth so keyn,115

On the schuldir als straik him in that teyn;

Throuch all the cost the noble suerd doun schair.

The thrid he met, with a rycht awfull fayr

The groundyn syth at Wallace he leit draw.

This gud chyftan cleynly our lap thaim aw.120

With his gud suerd he maid a hidwyss wound,Fol. 111 a

Fol. 111 a

Left thaim for ded, syne on the ferd can found;

On the wan bayn with gret ire can him ta,

Cleyffyt the cost rycht cruelly in twa.

Thre formast sythis thus gud Wallace our lap,125

And four he slew; thai saw sic was his hap;

[For] a man ay he slew at euirilk straik.

The layff fled fast; thus can the power slaik.

Wallace folowed, and sone the fyrst our tais;

Straik him to ded, that na forthyr he gais;130

Syn sped him fast till his awn men agayn.

Be than thai had the knychtis brothyr slayn.

Sexté and sex sexteyn to ded has dycht,

Bot saiff sewyn men at fled out off thair sycht;

Fyve malwaris als, that Wallace selff with met.135

To Franch men syn na sic trystis he set,

Be causs that thai him brocht to sic a cace.

The king hard tell weill chapyt was Wallace;

Send for him sone, and prayit him for to be

Off his housshald, so leyff in gud saufté.140

For weill he saw thai had him at inwye;

Still with him selff he gert him bid forthi.

Twa yeris thus with myrth Wallace abaid

Still in to Frans, and mony gud jornay maid.

The king him plessed in all his gudly mane,145

Fra him he thocht he suld nocht part agayn.

Lordys and ladiis honoryd him reuerently,

Wrechys and schrewis ay had him at inwy.

Twa campiowns that tyme duelt with the king,Had gret despyt at Wallace in all thing.150To giddyr ay yeid thir twa campiowns,Off felloun fors and frawart attenciouns.Rycht gret despyt thai spak oft off Scotland;Quhill on a day it hapnyt apon hand,Wallace and thai was lewit all thaim allayn,155Be awentur, in till a hous off stayne.Thai oysyt to ber na wapynnys in that hall,Thai trowyt thar for a myss thai mycht nocht fall.Thar commownd thai off Scotland scornfully.Than Wallace said; “Ye wrang ws owtragely,160“Sen we ar bownd in frendschip to your kyng;“And he off ws is plessed in all thing.“Als Scottis men has helpyt this realme off dreid.“Me think ye suld geyff gud word for gud deid.“Quhat may ye spek off your enemys bot ill?”165In lychtlynes thai maid ansuer him till;Fol. 111 bAnd him dispysyt in thar langage als;‘Ye Scottis,’ thai said, ‘has euir yeit beyne fals.’Wallace tuk ane on the face in his teynWith his gud hand, quhill ness, mouth, and eyn,170Throuch the braith blaw, all byrstyt owt off blud;Butless to ground he smat him quhar he stud.The tothir hynt to Wallace in that sted;For weill he wend his falow had beyne ded.And he agayn in greiff him grippyt sayr,175Quhill spretis failyeid ner; he mycht do no mayr.The fyrst frek raiss, and smat on Wallace fast;Bathe to the ded he brocht thaim at the last.Apon a pillar thair harnys owt he dang,Bot with his handis, syn owt at the dur thaim flang;180And said; “Quhat dewyll mowyt yon churllys at me?“Lang tyme in France I wald haiff lattyn thaim be.”Traistis for trewth, thus war thai ded in deid;Thocht Franchmen [now] likis it nocht to reid.Als I will cess and put it nocht in rym:185Bettir tharis quha rycht can luk in tym.Mony gret lord was displessyd in Frans,Bot the gud king, that knew all haill the chans.Oft gret dispyt off Scotland spokyn had thai.This passyt our, quhill eftir a nothir day.190Was nayn off thaim that durst it wndirtakHe had done wrang, nor tharfor battaill mak.This ryoll roy a hie worschip him gaiff;As conquerour him honowryd our the layff.A fell lyoun the king has gert be brocht195With in a barrace, for gret harm that he wrocht,Terlyst in yrn, na mar power him gaiff.Off wodness he excedyt all the layff;Bot he was fayr, and rycht felloun in deid.In that strang strenth the king gert men him feid;200Kepyt him closs fra folk and bestiall.In the court duelt twa squieris off gret waill,At cusyngis war on to thir campiounis twa,The quhilk befor Wallace hapnyt to sla.A band thai maid in prewa illusioun,205At thair power to wyrk his confusioun,Be ony meyn, throw frawd or sutelté;Eftir, tharfor, thai roucht nocht for to de,To ded or schaym sa that thai mycht him bryng.Fol. 112 aApon a tym thai went on to the king;210“This man,” thai said, “at ye sa welthfull mak,“He seis nocht her bot he wald wndyrtak,“Be his gret fors, to put to confusioun.“Now he desyris to fecht on your lyoun;“And bad ws ask at yow this battaill strang,215“Ye grant him leyff in that barrace to gang.”Sadly agayn to thaim ansuerd the king;‘Sayr me forthinkis at he desiris sic thing;‘Bot I will nothir for greyff, nor gret plesance,‘Deny Wallace quhat he desiris off France.’220Than went thai furth, and sone met with Wallace;A fygourd taill thai tald hym off this cace.“Wallace,” thai said, “the king desiris that ye“Doren battaill sa cruell be to se,“And chargis you to fecht on this lioun.”225Wallace ansuerd in haisty conclusioun,And said; ‘I sall, quhat be the kingis will,‘At my power rycht glaidly to fullfill.’Than passit he on to the king but mair.A lord off court, quhen he approchyt thar,230Wnwisytly sperd, with outyn prouisioun;“Wallace, dar ye go fecht on our lioun?”And he said; ‘Ya, so the king suffyr me;‘Or on your selff, gyff ye ocht bettyr be.’Quhat will ye mar? this thing amittyt was,235That Wallace suld on to the lyoun pas.The king thaim chargyt to bryng him gud harnas:And he said; “Nay, God scheild me fra sic cass.“I wald tak weid, suld I fecht with a man;“Bot [for] a dog, that nocht off armes can,240“I will haiff nayn, bot synglar as I ga.”A gret manteill about his hand can ta,And his gud suerd; with him he tuk na mar;Abandounly in barrace entryt thar.Gret chenys was wrocht in the yet with a gyn,245And puld it to quhen Wallace was tharin.The wod lyoun, on Wallace quhar he stud,Rampand he braid, for he desyryt blud;With his rude pollis in the mantill rocht sa.Aukwart the bak than Wallace can him ta,250With his gud suerd, that was off burnyst steill,His body in twa it thruschyt euirilkdeill.Syn to the king he raykyt in gret ire,Fol. 112 bAnd said on lowd; “Was this all your desyr,“To wayr a Scot thus lychtly in to wayn?255“Is thar ma doggis at ye wald yeit haiff slayne?“Go, bryng thaim furth, sen I mon doggis qwell,“To do byddyng, quhill that I with yow duell.“It gaynd full weill I graithit me to Scotland;“For grettar deidis thair men has apon hand,260“Than with a dog in battaill to escheiff.“At you in France for euir I tak my leiff.”The king persawyt Wallace agrewyt was,So ernystfully he askyt leiff to pass;Rewid in his mynd at it was hapnyt sa,265Sa lewd a deid to lat him wndyrta.Knawand the worschip, and the gret nobilnaceOff him, quhilk sprang that tym in mony place,Hwmblely he said; ‘Ye suld displess you nocht;‘This ye desyryt, it mowyt neuir in my thocht.270‘And, be the faith I aw the croun off France,‘I thocht neuyr to charge you with sic chance‘Bot men off waill, at askyt it for yow.’Wallace ansuerd; “To God I mak awow,“I likyt neuir sic battaill to be in;275“Apon a dog na worschip is to wyn.”The king consawyt how this falsheid was wrocht.The squiers bath, was till his presens brocht,Coud nocht deny quhen thai com him befor;All thair trespas thai tald with outyn mor.280The king commaundyt thai suld be don to ded;Smat off thair hedys with out ony rameid.The campiounis, lo, for inwy causlace,To sodand dede Wallace brocht thaim throu cace;The squiers als, fra thair falsheid was kend,285Inwy thaim brocht bathe till a sodand end.Lordis, behald, inwy the wyle dragoun,In cruell fyr he byrnys this regioun.For he is nocht, that bonde is in inwy;To sum myscheiff it bryngis hym haistely.290Forsaik inwy, thow sall the bettir speid.Heroff as now I will no forthir reid;Bot in my mater, as I off for began,I sall conteyn als playnly as I can.

Twa campiowns that tyme duelt with the king,

Had gret despyt at Wallace in all thing.150

To giddyr ay yeid thir twa campiowns,

Off felloun fors and frawart attenciouns.

Rycht gret despyt thai spak oft off Scotland;

Quhill on a day it hapnyt apon hand,

Wallace and thai was lewit all thaim allayn,155

Be awentur, in till a hous off stayne.

Thai oysyt to ber na wapynnys in that hall,

Thai trowyt thar for a myss thai mycht nocht fall.

Thar commownd thai off Scotland scornfully.

Than Wallace said; “Ye wrang ws owtragely,160

“Sen we ar bownd in frendschip to your kyng;

“And he off ws is plessed in all thing.

“Als Scottis men has helpyt this realme off dreid.

“Me think ye suld geyff gud word for gud deid.

“Quhat may ye spek off your enemys bot ill?”165

In lychtlynes thai maid ansuer him till;Fol. 111 b

Fol. 111 b

And him dispysyt in thar langage als;

‘Ye Scottis,’ thai said, ‘has euir yeit beyne fals.’

Wallace tuk ane on the face in his teyn

With his gud hand, quhill ness, mouth, and eyn,170

Throuch the braith blaw, all byrstyt owt off blud;

Butless to ground he smat him quhar he stud.

The tothir hynt to Wallace in that sted;

For weill he wend his falow had beyne ded.

And he agayn in greiff him grippyt sayr,175

Quhill spretis failyeid ner; he mycht do no mayr.

The fyrst frek raiss, and smat on Wallace fast;

Bathe to the ded he brocht thaim at the last.

Apon a pillar thair harnys owt he dang,

Bot with his handis, syn owt at the dur thaim flang;180

And said; “Quhat dewyll mowyt yon churllys at me?

“Lang tyme in France I wald haiff lattyn thaim be.”

Traistis for trewth, thus war thai ded in deid;

Thocht Franchmen [now] likis it nocht to reid.

Als I will cess and put it nocht in rym:185

Bettir tharis quha rycht can luk in tym.

Mony gret lord was displessyd in Frans,

Bot the gud king, that knew all haill the chans.

Oft gret dispyt off Scotland spokyn had thai.

This passyt our, quhill eftir a nothir day.190

Was nayn off thaim that durst it wndirtak

He had done wrang, nor tharfor battaill mak.

This ryoll roy a hie worschip him gaiff;

As conquerour him honowryd our the layff.

A fell lyoun the king has gert be brocht195

With in a barrace, for gret harm that he wrocht,

Terlyst in yrn, na mar power him gaiff.

Off wodness he excedyt all the layff;

Bot he was fayr, and rycht felloun in deid.

In that strang strenth the king gert men him feid;200

Kepyt him closs fra folk and bestiall.

In the court duelt twa squieris off gret waill,

At cusyngis war on to thir campiounis twa,

The quhilk befor Wallace hapnyt to sla.

A band thai maid in prewa illusioun,205

At thair power to wyrk his confusioun,

Be ony meyn, throw frawd or sutelté;

Eftir, tharfor, thai roucht nocht for to de,

To ded or schaym sa that thai mycht him bryng.Fol. 112 a

Fol. 112 a

Apon a tym thai went on to the king;210

“This man,” thai said, “at ye sa welthfull mak,

“He seis nocht her bot he wald wndyrtak,

“Be his gret fors, to put to confusioun.

“Now he desyris to fecht on your lyoun;

“And bad ws ask at yow this battaill strang,215

“Ye grant him leyff in that barrace to gang.”

Sadly agayn to thaim ansuerd the king;

‘Sayr me forthinkis at he desiris sic thing;

‘Bot I will nothir for greyff, nor gret plesance,

‘Deny Wallace quhat he desiris off France.’220

Than went thai furth, and sone met with Wallace;

A fygourd taill thai tald hym off this cace.

“Wallace,” thai said, “the king desiris that ye

“Doren battaill sa cruell be to se,

“And chargis you to fecht on this lioun.”225

Wallace ansuerd in haisty conclusioun,

And said; ‘I sall, quhat be the kingis will,

‘At my power rycht glaidly to fullfill.’

Than passit he on to the king but mair.

A lord off court, quhen he approchyt thar,230

Wnwisytly sperd, with outyn prouisioun;

“Wallace, dar ye go fecht on our lioun?”

And he said; ‘Ya, so the king suffyr me;

‘Or on your selff, gyff ye ocht bettyr be.’

Quhat will ye mar? this thing amittyt was,235

That Wallace suld on to the lyoun pas.

The king thaim chargyt to bryng him gud harnas:

And he said; “Nay, God scheild me fra sic cass.

“I wald tak weid, suld I fecht with a man;

“Bot [for] a dog, that nocht off armes can,240

“I will haiff nayn, bot synglar as I ga.”

A gret manteill about his hand can ta,

And his gud suerd; with him he tuk na mar;

Abandounly in barrace entryt thar.

Gret chenys was wrocht in the yet with a gyn,245

And puld it to quhen Wallace was tharin.

The wod lyoun, on Wallace quhar he stud,

Rampand he braid, for he desyryt blud;

With his rude pollis in the mantill rocht sa.

Aukwart the bak than Wallace can him ta,250

With his gud suerd, that was off burnyst steill,

His body in twa it thruschyt euirilkdeill.

Syn to the king he raykyt in gret ire,Fol. 112 b

Fol. 112 b

And said on lowd; “Was this all your desyr,

“To wayr a Scot thus lychtly in to wayn?255

“Is thar ma doggis at ye wald yeit haiff slayne?

“Go, bryng thaim furth, sen I mon doggis qwell,

“To do byddyng, quhill that I with yow duell.

“It gaynd full weill I graithit me to Scotland;

“For grettar deidis thair men has apon hand,260

“Than with a dog in battaill to escheiff.

“At you in France for euir I tak my leiff.”

The king persawyt Wallace agrewyt was,

So ernystfully he askyt leiff to pass;

Rewid in his mynd at it was hapnyt sa,265

Sa lewd a deid to lat him wndyrta.

Knawand the worschip, and the gret nobilnace

Off him, quhilk sprang that tym in mony place,

Hwmblely he said; ‘Ye suld displess you nocht;

‘This ye desyryt, it mowyt neuir in my thocht.270

‘And, be the faith I aw the croun off France,

‘I thocht neuyr to charge you with sic chance

‘Bot men off waill, at askyt it for yow.’

Wallace ansuerd; “To God I mak awow,

“I likyt neuir sic battaill to be in;275

“Apon a dog na worschip is to wyn.”

The king consawyt how this falsheid was wrocht.

The squiers bath, was till his presens brocht,

Coud nocht deny quhen thai com him befor;

All thair trespas thai tald with outyn mor.280

The king commaundyt thai suld be don to ded;

Smat off thair hedys with out ony rameid.

The campiounis, lo, for inwy causlace,

To sodand dede Wallace brocht thaim throu cace;

The squiers als, fra thair falsheid was kend,285

Inwy thaim brocht bathe till a sodand end.

Lordis, behald, inwy the wyle dragoun,

In cruell fyr he byrnys this regioun.

For he is nocht, that bonde is in inwy;

To sum myscheiff it bryngis hym haistely.290

Forsaik inwy, thow sall the bettir speid.

Heroff as now I will no forthir reid;

Bot in my mater, as I off for began,

I sall conteyn als playnly as I can.

Quhen Wallace saw thai had him at inwy,295Langar to byd he coud than nocht apply.Bettir him thocht in Scotland for to be,And awntur tak othir to leiff or de.Till help his awn he had a mar plesance,Fol. 113 aThan thar to byd with all the welth off France.300Thus his haill mynd, manheid, and hye curage.Was playnly set to wyn out off bondageScotland agayn fra payn and felloun sor;He woude he suld, or ellis de tharfor.The king has seyn how gud Wallace was set;305The lettir than him gaiff with outyn let,The quhilk off lait fra Scotland was him send.Wallace it saw, and weill thair harmys kend;Be the fyrst wryt tharto accordiall,Thaim to supplé he thocht he wald nocht faill.310Quhar to suld I her off lang process mak?Wallace off France a gudly leiff can tak.The kyng, has seyn it wald nocht ellis be,To chawmyr went, and mycht nocht on him se;Gret languor tuk quhen Wallace can ramuff:315That king till him kepit kyndnes and luff.Jowallis and gold, his worschip for to saiff,He bad thaim geyff, als mekill as he wald haiff.Lordys and ladyis wepyt wondyr fast,Quhen Wallace thar so tuk his leyff, and past.320Na men he tuk bot quhilk he hydder brocht;Agayn with him gud Longaweill furth socht:For payn nor blyss that gud knycht left him neuir.For cace befell, quhill ded maid thaim deseuyr.Towart the Sluce in gudly fer past he;325A weschell gat, and maid him to the se.Aucht schipmen feit, and gudly wage thaim gaiff;To Scotland fur; the Fyrth off Tay thai haiff.Apon a nycht Wallace the land has taneAt Ernyss mouth, and is till Elchok gane.330He gert the schip in cowert saill away;So out off sycht thai war or it was day.At Elchok duelt ane, Wallace cusyng der,At Craufurd hecht; quhen thai the houss com ner,On the baksyd Wallace a window fand,335And in he cald. Sone Craufurd com at hand,Fra tym he wyst that it was gud Wallace.In till his bern he ordand thaim a place;A mow off corn he bygit thaim about,And closyt weill, nane mycht persawe without,340Bot at a place, quhar meit he to thaim brocht,And bedyn to, als gudly as he mocht.A dern holl furth, on the north syd, thai hadTo the watter, quhar off Wallace was glad.Four dayis or fyve in rest thai soiornd thar,345Fol. 113 bQuhill meit was gayn; than Craufurd bownd for marTill Sanct Jhonstoun, thar purwyance for to by.Inglissmen thocht he tuk mar boundandlyThan he was wount at ony tym befor;Thai haiff him tane, put him in presone sor.350Quhat gestis he had, to tell thai mak raquest.He said, it was bot till a kyrkyn fest.Yeit thai preiff sone the cumyng off Wallace;Knawlage to get thai kest a sutell cace.Thai latt him pass with thing that he had bocht;355Syn eftir sone, in all the haist thai mocht,To harnes yeid the power off the toun.Aucht hundreth men with Butler maid thaim boun,Folowed on dreich, quhill at this man com hame.Wallace him saw, and said, he serwit blame.360“In my sleping a fell visioun me tauld,“Till Inglissmen that thow suld me haiff sauld.”Craufurd him said, he had bene turment sairWith Inglissmen, that had him in dispair;‘Tharfor ryss wp, and for sum succour se,365‘I dreid full sair, thai set wachis on me.’The worthi Scottis thai graithit thaim in gud weid;Thar wapynnys tuk, syn off that houss furth yeid.Thus sodandly the fell Sotheroun thai saw;To few thai war to bid agayn thaim aw,370At keynly com with yong Butler the knycht.Than Wallace said; “A playn feild is nocht rycht;“Bot Elchok park is ner hand her besid,“The fyrst sailyie we think thar to abid.”Nynetene thai war, and Craufurd, with gud will,375The twentyd man, the nowmer to fullfill.The park thai tuk; Wallace a place has seynOff gret holyns, that grew bathe heych and greyn.With thuortour treis a maner strenth maid he;Or that war wone, thai trowit to gar feill de.380The wod was thyk, bot litill off breid or lenth;Had thai had meit, thai thocht to hald that strenth.The Inglissmen passyt to Craufurdys place,Fand in the bern the lugeyng off Wallace;Than Crawfurdis wyff in handys haiff thai tayne,385And ast at hyr quhat way the Scottis war gayne.“Rycht weill thai trowyt at Wallace suld thar be;“Off France in Tay he was cumyn be the se.”Scho wald nocht tell, for bost, nor yeit reward.Than Butler said; ‘Our lang thow has beyn spard?’390Thar with he grew in matelent and ire,And gert thaim byg a bailfull braid brym fyr.The Sotheroun suor tharin scho suld brynt be.Than Wallace said; “Scho sall nocht end for me;“Gret syn it war yon saikless wicht to sla.395Fol. 114 a“Or scho suld end, in faith thar sall de ma.”He left the strenth, and the playn feild can ta;On lowd he cryt, and said; “Lo, her I ga.“Thinkis thow no schaym for to turment a wyff?“Cum fyrst to me, and mak end off our stryff.”400Fra Butler had apon gud Wallace seyn,Throuch auld malice he wox ner wod for teyn;Apon the Scottis schup thaim all with gret mayn:Bot Wallace son the strenth he tuk agayn.A fell bykkyr the Inglissmen began,405Assailyeid sayr with mony cruell man:Bot thai with in, war nobill at defens,Maid gret debait be force and wiolens.At the entra fyftene thai brocht to ded;Than all the lawe, ramowit fra that sted,410Yeid till aray agayn to sailye new.Wallace beheld, quhilk weill in weir him knew:“Falowis,” he said, “agayn all at this place“Thai will nocht saill: but thus standis the cace;“Yon knycht thinkis for to dewid his men415“In seir partis, the suth ye sall weill ken,“Agayn on ws to preiff how it may be.“Ws worthis now sum wayis for thaim to se,“Contrar thair mycht a gud defens to mak.“Now, Longaweill, thow sall sex with the tak,420“Wilyam my eym, als mony sall with yow ga,“And fyve with me; as now we haiff no ma.”Knycht Butler than partyt his men in thre.Wallace wesyd quhar Butler schup to be;Thidder he past that entré for to wer:425On ilka syd thai sailye with gret fer.Wallace leit part in the entré begyn;Bot nane yeid out that on the Scottis com in.Sewyn formast was, quhilk in the forest yeid,Wallace fyve men, quhilk douchty was in deid,430Ilkane slew ane, and Wallace gert twa de.Butler was next, and said; ‘This will nocht be.’On bak he drew, and leit his curage slaik:The worthi Scottis prewyt weill for Scotlandis saik.Gud Longaweill his cowntyr maid sa sar,435And Craufurd als, thai sailyeid than no mar.Rycht ner be than approchyt to the nycht;And sternys wp peyr began in to thair sycht.Sotheroun set wach, and to thair souper went.The Butler was sayr grewyt in his entent;440Yeit fur thai weill off stuff, wyn, aill, and breid.Wallace and his thai wyst off no rameidBot cauld watter, that ran throu owt a strand;In that lugeyng nane othir fud thai fand.Fol. 114 bThan Wallace said; “Gud falowis, think nocht lang;445“Will God, we sall be sone out off this thrang.“Supposs we fast a day our, and a nycht,“Tak all in thank this payn for Scotlandis rycht.”The erll off York, was in Sanct Jhonstoun still,To Butler send, and bad him byd at will;450Till him full sone thar suld cum new power,And als him selff; thus tald the messynger.Butler wald fayn Wallace had yoldyn beynOr the erll com: for thir causis was seyn;His grant schyr bathe and his fadyr he slew.455This knycht thar with towart the park him drew;Quhat cher thai maid, apon the Scottis cald;Than Wallace said; “Fer bettyr than thow wald.”The Butler said; ‘I wald fayn spek with the.’Wallace ansuerd; “Thow may for litill fe.”460‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘thow has done me gret scaith;‘My rycht fadyr and grant schyr thow slew baith.’Than Wallace said; “For stait at thow art in,“It war my det for till wndo thi kyn.“I think als, sa God off hewin me saiff!465“At my twa handis sall graith the to thi graiff.”The Butler said; ‘That is nocht likly now:‘In my credence and thow will fermly trow,‘Off this I ask and thow will mak me grant,‘Quhat I the hecht, that thing thow sall nocht want.’470“Sa furth,” quoth he, “be thi desyr resonable,“I sall it grant with outyn ony fable.”The Butler said; ‘Wallace thow knawis rycht,‘Thow may nocht chaip for power nor for slycht.‘And sen thou seis it may no bettir be;475‘For thi gentrice, thow will yeild the to me.’Than Wallace said; “Thi will wnskillfull is;“Thow wald I did quhilk is our hie a myss.“Yoldin I am to bettir, I can pruff;“To mychty God, that Makar is, abuff.480“For euir ilk day, sen I had wit off man,“Befor my werk, to yeild me I began;“And als at ewyn, quhen that I failyeid lycht,“I me be tuk to the Makar off mycht.”The Butler said; ‘Me think thow has done weill,485‘Yeit off a thing, I pray the, lat me feill.‘For thi manheid this forthwart to me fest‘Quhen that thow seis thow may no langer lest‘On this ilk place, quhilk I haiff tane to wer,‘At thow cum furth, and all othir forber.’490Than Wallace leuch at his cruell desyr;And said; “I sall, thocht thow war wod as fyr,“And all Ingland contrar tharoff had suorn,“I sall cum out at that ilk place to morn,“Or ellys to nycht; traist weill quhat I the say;495Fol. 115 a“I byd nocht her quhill nyne houris off the day.”Butler send furth the chak wache on ilka syd;In that ilk place bauldly he bownyt to bid.Thus still thai baid quhill day began to peyr;A thyk myst fell, the planet was nocht cleyr.500Wallace assayd at all placis about,Leit as he wald at ony place brek out;Quhill Butleris men sum part fra him can gaTo helpe the lawe, quhen thai saw it was sa.Wallace and his fast sped thaim to that sted505Quhar Butler baid; feill men thai draiff to ded.The worthy Scottis sone past throucht that mellé:Craufurd, thar oyst, was sayr hurt on the kne,At erd he was; gud Wallace turnd agayn,And at a straik he has the Butler slayn;510Hynt wp that man wndyr his arm sa strang,Defendand him out off that felloun thrang,Gud rowm he maid amang thaim quhar he gais,With his rycht hand he slew fyve off thair fais;Bur furth Crawfurd, be force off his persoun,515Nyne akyrbreid, or euir he set him doun.The Sotheroun fand at thair capdane was ded,All him about; bot than was no rameid.Thretty with him off the wychtast thai brocht,Ded at that place quhar at the Scottis furth socht.520Wallace and his be than was off thair sycht;Sotheroun baid still for sor loss off that knycht.The myst wes myrk; that Wallace likit weill;Him selff was gyd, and said to Longaweill;“At Meffan wood is my desyr to be,525“On bestiall thar, for meit, that we may se.”Be than thai war weill cumyn to the hicht,The myst scalyt, the son schawyt fayr and brycht.Son war thai war, a litill space thaim by,Four and twenty was in a cumpany.530Than Wallace said; “Be yon men freynd or fa,“We will to thaim, sen at thai ar na ma.”Quhen thai com ner, a nobill knycht it was,The quhilk to name hecht Elyss off Dundass;And Schyr Jhon Scot ek, a worthi knycht,535In to Straithern a man off mekill mycht:For thar he had gret part of heretage;Dundass syster he had in mariage.Passand thai war, and mycht no langar lest,Till Inglissmen, thair fewté for to fest.540Lord off Breichyn sic connand had thaim maid,Off Eduuard thai suld hald thair landys braid;Bot fra thai saw that it was wicht Wallace,Fol. 115 bHeyffyt wp thar handis, and thankit God off grace,Off his gret help quhilk he had sende thaim thair.545To Meffen wod with ane assent thai far,Sone gat thaim meit off bestiall at thai fand;Restyt that day; quhen nycht was cumyn on hand,To Byrnane wode, but restyng, ar thai gayne,Quhar thai found the squier gud Ruwayn.550In vtlaw oyss he had lang lewyt thairOn bestiall, quhill he mycht get no mair.Thai taryit nocht, bot in till Adell yeid,Quhar mete was scant; than Wallace had gret dreid,Past in till Lorn, and rycht litill fand thair:555Off wyld and taym that contré was maid bair.Bot in strenthis, thar fud was lewyt nayn;The worthi Scottis than maid a petouss mayn.Schir Jhon Scot said, he had fer leuir deIn till gud naym, and leyff his ayris fre,560Than for till byd as bond in subiectioun.Quhen Wallace saw thir gud men off renounWith hungyr stad, almast mycht leiff no mar,Wyt ye, for thaim he sichit wondyr sar.“Gud men,” he said, “I am the causs off this;565“At your desyr I sall amend this myss,“Or leyff you fre sum chewysans for to ma.”All him allayn he bownyt fra thaim to ga;Prayit thaim to byd quhill he mycht cum agayn.Atour a hill he passit till a playn.570

Quhen Wallace saw thai had him at inwy,295

Langar to byd he coud than nocht apply.

Bettir him thocht in Scotland for to be,

And awntur tak othir to leiff or de.

Till help his awn he had a mar plesance,Fol. 113 a

Fol. 113 a

Than thar to byd with all the welth off France.300

Thus his haill mynd, manheid, and hye curage.

Was playnly set to wyn out off bondage

Scotland agayn fra payn and felloun sor;

He woude he suld, or ellis de tharfor.

The king has seyn how gud Wallace was set;305

The lettir than him gaiff with outyn let,

The quhilk off lait fra Scotland was him send.

Wallace it saw, and weill thair harmys kend;

Be the fyrst wryt tharto accordiall,

Thaim to supplé he thocht he wald nocht faill.310

Quhar to suld I her off lang process mak?

Wallace off France a gudly leiff can tak.

The kyng, has seyn it wald nocht ellis be,

To chawmyr went, and mycht nocht on him se;

Gret languor tuk quhen Wallace can ramuff:315

That king till him kepit kyndnes and luff.

Jowallis and gold, his worschip for to saiff,

He bad thaim geyff, als mekill as he wald haiff.

Lordys and ladyis wepyt wondyr fast,

Quhen Wallace thar so tuk his leyff, and past.320

Na men he tuk bot quhilk he hydder brocht;

Agayn with him gud Longaweill furth socht:

For payn nor blyss that gud knycht left him neuir.

For cace befell, quhill ded maid thaim deseuyr.

Towart the Sluce in gudly fer past he;325

A weschell gat, and maid him to the se.

Aucht schipmen feit, and gudly wage thaim gaiff;

To Scotland fur; the Fyrth off Tay thai haiff.

Apon a nycht Wallace the land has tane

At Ernyss mouth, and is till Elchok gane.330

He gert the schip in cowert saill away;

So out off sycht thai war or it was day.

At Elchok duelt ane, Wallace cusyng der,

At Craufurd hecht; quhen thai the houss com ner,

On the baksyd Wallace a window fand,335

And in he cald. Sone Craufurd com at hand,

Fra tym he wyst that it was gud Wallace.

In till his bern he ordand thaim a place;

A mow off corn he bygit thaim about,

And closyt weill, nane mycht persawe without,340

Bot at a place, quhar meit he to thaim brocht,

And bedyn to, als gudly as he mocht.

A dern holl furth, on the north syd, thai had

To the watter, quhar off Wallace was glad.

Four dayis or fyve in rest thai soiornd thar,345Fol. 113 b

Fol. 113 b

Quhill meit was gayn; than Craufurd bownd for mar

Till Sanct Jhonstoun, thar purwyance for to by.

Inglissmen thocht he tuk mar boundandly

Than he was wount at ony tym befor;

Thai haiff him tane, put him in presone sor.350

Quhat gestis he had, to tell thai mak raquest.

He said, it was bot till a kyrkyn fest.

Yeit thai preiff sone the cumyng off Wallace;

Knawlage to get thai kest a sutell cace.

Thai latt him pass with thing that he had bocht;355

Syn eftir sone, in all the haist thai mocht,

To harnes yeid the power off the toun.

Aucht hundreth men with Butler maid thaim boun,

Folowed on dreich, quhill at this man com hame.

Wallace him saw, and said, he serwit blame.360

“In my sleping a fell visioun me tauld,

“Till Inglissmen that thow suld me haiff sauld.”

Craufurd him said, he had bene turment sair

With Inglissmen, that had him in dispair;

‘Tharfor ryss wp, and for sum succour se,365

‘I dreid full sair, thai set wachis on me.’

The worthi Scottis thai graithit thaim in gud weid;

Thar wapynnys tuk, syn off that houss furth yeid.

Thus sodandly the fell Sotheroun thai saw;

To few thai war to bid agayn thaim aw,370

At keynly com with yong Butler the knycht.

Than Wallace said; “A playn feild is nocht rycht;

“Bot Elchok park is ner hand her besid,

“The fyrst sailyie we think thar to abid.”

Nynetene thai war, and Craufurd, with gud will,375

The twentyd man, the nowmer to fullfill.

The park thai tuk; Wallace a place has seyn

Off gret holyns, that grew bathe heych and greyn.

With thuortour treis a maner strenth maid he;

Or that war wone, thai trowit to gar feill de.380

The wod was thyk, bot litill off breid or lenth;

Had thai had meit, thai thocht to hald that strenth.

The Inglissmen passyt to Craufurdys place,

Fand in the bern the lugeyng off Wallace;

Than Crawfurdis wyff in handys haiff thai tayne,385

And ast at hyr quhat way the Scottis war gayne.

“Rycht weill thai trowyt at Wallace suld thar be;

“Off France in Tay he was cumyn be the se.”

Scho wald nocht tell, for bost, nor yeit reward.

Than Butler said; ‘Our lang thow has beyn spard?’390

Thar with he grew in matelent and ire,

And gert thaim byg a bailfull braid brym fyr.

The Sotheroun suor tharin scho suld brynt be.

Than Wallace said; “Scho sall nocht end for me;

“Gret syn it war yon saikless wicht to sla.395Fol. 114 a

Fol. 114 a

“Or scho suld end, in faith thar sall de ma.”

He left the strenth, and the playn feild can ta;

On lowd he cryt, and said; “Lo, her I ga.

“Thinkis thow no schaym for to turment a wyff?

“Cum fyrst to me, and mak end off our stryff.”400

Fra Butler had apon gud Wallace seyn,

Throuch auld malice he wox ner wod for teyn;

Apon the Scottis schup thaim all with gret mayn:

Bot Wallace son the strenth he tuk agayn.

A fell bykkyr the Inglissmen began,405

Assailyeid sayr with mony cruell man:

Bot thai with in, war nobill at defens,

Maid gret debait be force and wiolens.

At the entra fyftene thai brocht to ded;

Than all the lawe, ramowit fra that sted,410

Yeid till aray agayn to sailye new.

Wallace beheld, quhilk weill in weir him knew:

“Falowis,” he said, “agayn all at this place

“Thai will nocht saill: but thus standis the cace;

“Yon knycht thinkis for to dewid his men415

“In seir partis, the suth ye sall weill ken,

“Agayn on ws to preiff how it may be.

“Ws worthis now sum wayis for thaim to se,

“Contrar thair mycht a gud defens to mak.

“Now, Longaweill, thow sall sex with the tak,420

“Wilyam my eym, als mony sall with yow ga,

“And fyve with me; as now we haiff no ma.”

Knycht Butler than partyt his men in thre.

Wallace wesyd quhar Butler schup to be;

Thidder he past that entré for to wer:425

On ilka syd thai sailye with gret fer.

Wallace leit part in the entré begyn;

Bot nane yeid out that on the Scottis com in.

Sewyn formast was, quhilk in the forest yeid,

Wallace fyve men, quhilk douchty was in deid,430

Ilkane slew ane, and Wallace gert twa de.

Butler was next, and said; ‘This will nocht be.’

On bak he drew, and leit his curage slaik:

The worthi Scottis prewyt weill for Scotlandis saik.

Gud Longaweill his cowntyr maid sa sar,435

And Craufurd als, thai sailyeid than no mar.

Rycht ner be than approchyt to the nycht;

And sternys wp peyr began in to thair sycht.

Sotheroun set wach, and to thair souper went.

The Butler was sayr grewyt in his entent;440

Yeit fur thai weill off stuff, wyn, aill, and breid.

Wallace and his thai wyst off no rameid

Bot cauld watter, that ran throu owt a strand;

In that lugeyng nane othir fud thai fand.Fol. 114 b

Fol. 114 b

Than Wallace said; “Gud falowis, think nocht lang;445

“Will God, we sall be sone out off this thrang.

“Supposs we fast a day our, and a nycht,

“Tak all in thank this payn for Scotlandis rycht.”

The erll off York, was in Sanct Jhonstoun still,

To Butler send, and bad him byd at will;450

Till him full sone thar suld cum new power,

And als him selff; thus tald the messynger.

Butler wald fayn Wallace had yoldyn beyn

Or the erll com: for thir causis was seyn;

His grant schyr bathe and his fadyr he slew.455

This knycht thar with towart the park him drew;

Quhat cher thai maid, apon the Scottis cald;

Than Wallace said; “Fer bettyr than thow wald.”

The Butler said; ‘I wald fayn spek with the.’

Wallace ansuerd; “Thow may for litill fe.”460

‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘thow has done me gret scaith;

‘My rycht fadyr and grant schyr thow slew baith.’

Than Wallace said; “For stait at thow art in,

“It war my det for till wndo thi kyn.

“I think als, sa God off hewin me saiff!465

“At my twa handis sall graith the to thi graiff.”

The Butler said; ‘That is nocht likly now:

‘In my credence and thow will fermly trow,

‘Off this I ask and thow will mak me grant,

‘Quhat I the hecht, that thing thow sall nocht want.’470

“Sa furth,” quoth he, “be thi desyr resonable,

“I sall it grant with outyn ony fable.”

The Butler said; ‘Wallace thow knawis rycht,

‘Thow may nocht chaip for power nor for slycht.

‘And sen thou seis it may no bettir be;475

‘For thi gentrice, thow will yeild the to me.’

Than Wallace said; “Thi will wnskillfull is;

“Thow wald I did quhilk is our hie a myss.

“Yoldin I am to bettir, I can pruff;

“To mychty God, that Makar is, abuff.480

“For euir ilk day, sen I had wit off man,

“Befor my werk, to yeild me I began;

“And als at ewyn, quhen that I failyeid lycht,

“I me be tuk to the Makar off mycht.”

The Butler said; ‘Me think thow has done weill,485

‘Yeit off a thing, I pray the, lat me feill.

‘For thi manheid this forthwart to me fest

‘Quhen that thow seis thow may no langer lest

‘On this ilk place, quhilk I haiff tane to wer,

‘At thow cum furth, and all othir forber.’490

Than Wallace leuch at his cruell desyr;

And said; “I sall, thocht thow war wod as fyr,

“And all Ingland contrar tharoff had suorn,

“I sall cum out at that ilk place to morn,

“Or ellys to nycht; traist weill quhat I the say;495Fol. 115 a

Fol. 115 a

“I byd nocht her quhill nyne houris off the day.”

Butler send furth the chak wache on ilka syd;

In that ilk place bauldly he bownyt to bid.

Thus still thai baid quhill day began to peyr;

A thyk myst fell, the planet was nocht cleyr.500

Wallace assayd at all placis about,

Leit as he wald at ony place brek out;

Quhill Butleris men sum part fra him can ga

To helpe the lawe, quhen thai saw it was sa.

Wallace and his fast sped thaim to that sted505

Quhar Butler baid; feill men thai draiff to ded.

The worthy Scottis sone past throucht that mellé:

Craufurd, thar oyst, was sayr hurt on the kne,

At erd he was; gud Wallace turnd agayn,

And at a straik he has the Butler slayn;510

Hynt wp that man wndyr his arm sa strang,

Defendand him out off that felloun thrang,

Gud rowm he maid amang thaim quhar he gais,

With his rycht hand he slew fyve off thair fais;

Bur furth Crawfurd, be force off his persoun,515

Nyne akyrbreid, or euir he set him doun.

The Sotheroun fand at thair capdane was ded,

All him about; bot than was no rameid.

Thretty with him off the wychtast thai brocht,

Ded at that place quhar at the Scottis furth socht.520

Wallace and his be than was off thair sycht;

Sotheroun baid still for sor loss off that knycht.

The myst wes myrk; that Wallace likit weill;

Him selff was gyd, and said to Longaweill;

“At Meffan wood is my desyr to be,525

“On bestiall thar, for meit, that we may se.”

Be than thai war weill cumyn to the hicht,

The myst scalyt, the son schawyt fayr and brycht.

Son war thai war, a litill space thaim by,

Four and twenty was in a cumpany.530

Than Wallace said; “Be yon men freynd or fa,

“We will to thaim, sen at thai ar na ma.”

Quhen thai com ner, a nobill knycht it was,

The quhilk to name hecht Elyss off Dundass;

And Schyr Jhon Scot ek, a worthi knycht,535

In to Straithern a man off mekill mycht:

For thar he had gret part of heretage;

Dundass syster he had in mariage.

Passand thai war, and mycht no langar lest,

Till Inglissmen, thair fewté for to fest.540

Lord off Breichyn sic connand had thaim maid,

Off Eduuard thai suld hald thair landys braid;

Bot fra thai saw that it was wicht Wallace,Fol. 115 b

Fol. 115 b

Heyffyt wp thar handis, and thankit God off grace,

Off his gret help quhilk he had sende thaim thair.545

To Meffen wod with ane assent thai far,

Sone gat thaim meit off bestiall at thai fand;

Restyt that day; quhen nycht was cumyn on hand,

To Byrnane wode, but restyng, ar thai gayne,

Quhar thai found the squier gud Ruwayn.550

In vtlaw oyss he had lang lewyt thair

On bestiall, quhill he mycht get no mair.

Thai taryit nocht, bot in till Adell yeid,

Quhar mete was scant; than Wallace had gret dreid,

Past in till Lorn, and rycht litill fand thair:555

Off wyld and taym that contré was maid bair.

Bot in strenthis, thar fud was lewyt nayn;

The worthi Scottis than maid a petouss mayn.

Schir Jhon Scot said, he had fer leuir de

In till gud naym, and leyff his ayris fre,560

Than for till byd as bond in subiectioun.

Quhen Wallace saw thir gud men off renoun

With hungyr stad, almast mycht leiff no mar,

Wyt ye, for thaim he sichit wondyr sar.

“Gud men,” he said, “I am the causs off this;565

“At your desyr I sall amend this myss,

“Or leyff you fre sum chewysans for to ma.”

All him allayn he bownyt fra thaim to ga;

Prayit thaim to byd quhill he mycht cum agayn.

Atour a hill he passit till a playn.570

Out off thair sycht, in till a forest syd,He sat him doun wndyr ane ayk to bid;His bow and suerd he lenyt till a tre,In angwyss greiff, on grouff so turned he.His petows mynd was for his men so wrocht,575That off him selff litill as than he roucht.“O wrech!” he said, “that neuir couth be content“Off our gret mycht that the gret God the lent;“Bot thi fers mynd, wylfull and wariable,“With gret lordschip thow coud nocht so byd stable;580“And wyllfull witt, for to mak Scotland fre;“God likis nocht that I haiff tane on me.“Fer worthyar off byrth than I was born,“Throuch my desyr wyth hungyr ar forlorn.“I ask at God thaim to restor agayn;585“I am the causs, I suld haiff all the payn.”Quhill studeand thus, quhill flitand with him sell,Quhill at the last apon slepyng he fell.Thre dayis befor thar had him folowed fyve,The quhilk was bound, or ellis to loss thair lyff:590Fol. 116 aThe erll off York bad thaim so gret gardoun,At thai be thyft hecht to put Wallace doun.Thre off thaim was all born men off Ingland,And twa was Scottis, that tuk this deid on hand;And sum men said, thar thrid brothir betraissed595Kyldromé eft, quhar gret sorow was raissed.A child thai had, quhilk helpyt to ber mettIn wildernes amang thai montans grett.Thai had all seyn disseuyryng off WallaceFra his gud men, and quhar he baid on cace;600Amang thyk wod in cowert held thaim law,Quhill thai persawyt he couth on sleping faw.And than thir fyve approchit Wallace neir;Quhat best to do, at othir can thai speir.A man said thus; ‘It war a hie renoun,605‘And we mycht qwyk leid him to Sanct Jhonstoun.‘Lo, how he lyis; we may our grippis waill;‘Off his wapynnys he sall get nane awaill.‘We sall him bynd in contrar off hys will;‘And leid him thus on baksyd off yon hill,610‘So that his men sall nothing off him knaw.’The tothir thre assentyt till his saw;And than thir fyve thus maid thaim to Wallace,And thocht throw force to bynd him in that place.Quhat, trowit thir fyve for to hald Wallace doun?615The manlyast man, the starkast off persoun,Leyffand he was; and als stud in sic rycht,We traist weill, God his dedis had in sycht.Thai grippyt him, than out off slepe he braid;“Quhat menys this?” rycht sodandly he said.620About he turnyt, and wp his armys thrang;On thai traytouris with knychtlik fer he dang.The starkast man in till his armys hynt he,And all his harnys he dang out on a tre.A sword he gat son eftyr at he rayss,625Campiounlik amang the four he gais;Euyr a man he gert de at a dynt.Quhen twa was ded, the tothir wald nocht stynt,Maid thaim to fle; bot than it was na but,Was nane leyffand mycht pass fra him on fut.630He folowed fast, and sone to ded thaim brocht;Than to the chyld sadly agayn he socht.“Quhat did thow her?” The child, with [ane] paill face,On kneis he fell, and askyt Wallace grace.‘With thaim I was, and knew no thing thair thocht;635Fol. 116 b‘In to seruice, as thai me bad, I wrocht.’“Quhat berys thow her?” ‘Bot meit, the child can say.’“Do, turss it wp, and pass with me away.“Meit in this tym is fer bettyr than gold.”Wallace and he furth foundyt our the fold.640Quha brocht Wallace fra his enemyss bauld?Quha, bot gret God, that has the warld in wauld?He was his help in mony felloun thrang.With glaid cheyr thus on till his men can gang.Bathe rostyt flesche thar was, als breid, and cheis,645To succour thaim that was in poynt to leiss.Than he it delt to four men and fyfté,Quhilk had befor fastyt our dayis thre;Syn tuk his part, he had fastyt als lang.Quhar herd ye euir ony in sic a thrang,650In hungyr so slepand, and wapynlass,So weill recouer as Wallace did this cass;Playnly befors vencust his enemyss fyve?Yhe men off wit, this questioun dyscryve:Wythoutyn gloiss I will tell furth my taill.655‘How com this meit?’ the falowschip askyt haill.To thar desyr Wallace nane ansuer yald;Quhar fyve was ded he led thaim furth, syn tauld.Gretly displessyd was all that chewalry:Till a chyftane, thai held it fantasy660To walk allayn. Wallace, with sobyr mud,Said; “As her off is no thing cummyn bot gud.”To the law land full fast agayn thai socht;Sperd at this child, gyff he couth wyss thaim ocht,Quhar thai mycht best off purviance for to wyn.665Off nane he said was that cuntré within;‘Nor all about, als fer as I can knaw,‘Quhill that ye cum down to the Ranoucht hawe.‘That lord has stuff, breid, aill, and gud warnage:‘Off king Eduuard he takis full mekill wage.’670Than Wallace said; “My selff sall be your gyd;“I knaw that sted about on athir syd.”Throuch the wyld land he gydyt thaim full rycht;To Ranouch hall thai com apon the nycht.A wach was owt, and that full sone thai ta;675For he was Scottis, that man thai wald nocht sla,Bot gert him tell the maner off that place.Thus entryt thai with in a litill space.The yett thai wan, for castell was thar nayn,Bot mudwall werk withoutyn lym or stayn.680Wallace in haist straik wp the chawmir durBot with his fut, that stalwart was and stur.Than thai within sa walknyt sodeynly;Fol. 117 aThe lord gat wp, and mercy can him cry.Fra tym he wyst that gud Wallace was thar,685He thankyt God, syn said thir wordis mar;‘Trow man I was, and woun agayn my will‘With Inglissmen, supposs I likit ill.‘All Scottis we ar that in this place is now;‘At your commaund all playnly we sall bow.’690Off our natioun gud Wallace had peté;Tuk aythis off thaim, [and] syne meit askyt he.Gud cheyr thai maid quhill lycht day on the morne.This trew man than sone semblit him beforneThre sonnys he had, that stalwart was and bauld,695And twenty men off his kyn in houshauld.Wallace was blyth thai maid him sic supplé,Said; “I thank God, that we thus multiplé.”All that day our in gud liking thai rest;Wachys thai waill to kep thaim, at coud best.700Apon the morn, the lycht day quhen thai saw,Than Wallace said; “Our power for to knaw,“We will tak feild, and wp our baner raiss“Off rycht Scotland, in contrar off our fais.“We will no mar now ws in couert hid;705“Power till ws will sembill on ilk syd.”Horsis thai gat, the best men at was thar;Towart Dunkell the gaynest way thai far.The byschope fled, and gat till Sanct JhonstounThe Scottis slew all was thar off that nacioun,710Baith pur and rych, and serwandis at thai fand;Left nane on lyff that born was off Ingland.The place thai tuk, and maid thaim weill to fayr,Off purwiance that byschop had brocht thair.Jowellis thai gat, bathe gold and syluer brycht;715With gud cheyr thar fyve dayis thai soiornd rycht.On the sext day Wallace to consaill went,Gert call the best, and schew thaim his entent:“Na men we haiff to sailye Sanct Jhonstoun;“In to the north tharfor lat mak ws boun.720“In Ross, ye knaw, gud men a strenth has maid;“Her thai off ws, thai cum with outyn baid.“Alss in to But the byschope gud Synclar,“[Fra he get wit, he cummis with outyn mar.]“Gud westland men off Aran and Rauchlé,725“Fra thai be warnd, thai will all cum to me.”This purpos tuk, and in the north thai rid;Nan Inglissman durst in thair way abid.Quham Wallace tuk, thai knew the ald ransoun;Fra he com haym, to fle thai mak thaim boun.730And Scottis men semblyt to Wallace fast;Fol. 117 bIn awfull feyr throuch owt the land thai past;Strenthis was left, witt ye, all desolate;Agayn thir folk thai durst mak no debate.In raid battaill thai raid till Abyrdeyn,735The haill nowmyr, sewyn thousand than was seyn.Bot Inglissmen had left that toun all waist;On ilka syd away thai can thaim haist;In all that land left nothir mar nor less.Lord Bewmond tuk the sey at Bowchan ness.740Throu Scotland than was manifest in playn,The lordis that past in hart was wondyr fayn.The knycht Climés off Ross com sodeynlyIn Murray land with thair gud chewalry.The houss off Narn that gud knycht weill has tayne,745Slew the capdane and strang men mony ane;Out off Murray in Bowchane land com thaiTo sek Bewmound, be he was past away;Than thir gud men to Wallace passyt rycht.Quhen Wallace saw Schyr Jhon Ramsay the knycht,750And othir gud at had bene fra him lang,Gret curag than was rasyt thaim amang.The land he reullyt as at him likit best;To Sanct Jhonstoun syn raid or thai wald rest.

Out off thair sycht, in till a forest syd,

He sat him doun wndyr ane ayk to bid;

His bow and suerd he lenyt till a tre,

In angwyss greiff, on grouff so turned he.

His petows mynd was for his men so wrocht,575

That off him selff litill as than he roucht.

“O wrech!” he said, “that neuir couth be content

“Off our gret mycht that the gret God the lent;

“Bot thi fers mynd, wylfull and wariable,

“With gret lordschip thow coud nocht so byd stable;580

“And wyllfull witt, for to mak Scotland fre;

“God likis nocht that I haiff tane on me.

“Fer worthyar off byrth than I was born,

“Throuch my desyr wyth hungyr ar forlorn.

“I ask at God thaim to restor agayn;585

“I am the causs, I suld haiff all the payn.”

Quhill studeand thus, quhill flitand with him sell,

Quhill at the last apon slepyng he fell.

Thre dayis befor thar had him folowed fyve,

The quhilk was bound, or ellis to loss thair lyff:590Fol. 116 a

Fol. 116 a

The erll off York bad thaim so gret gardoun,

At thai be thyft hecht to put Wallace doun.

Thre off thaim was all born men off Ingland,

And twa was Scottis, that tuk this deid on hand;

And sum men said, thar thrid brothir betraissed595

Kyldromé eft, quhar gret sorow was raissed.

A child thai had, quhilk helpyt to ber mett

In wildernes amang thai montans grett.

Thai had all seyn disseuyryng off Wallace

Fra his gud men, and quhar he baid on cace;600

Amang thyk wod in cowert held thaim law,

Quhill thai persawyt he couth on sleping faw.

And than thir fyve approchit Wallace neir;

Quhat best to do, at othir can thai speir.

A man said thus; ‘It war a hie renoun,605

‘And we mycht qwyk leid him to Sanct Jhonstoun.

‘Lo, how he lyis; we may our grippis waill;

‘Off his wapynnys he sall get nane awaill.

‘We sall him bynd in contrar off hys will;

‘And leid him thus on baksyd off yon hill,610

‘So that his men sall nothing off him knaw.’

The tothir thre assentyt till his saw;

And than thir fyve thus maid thaim to Wallace,

And thocht throw force to bynd him in that place.

Quhat, trowit thir fyve for to hald Wallace doun?615

The manlyast man, the starkast off persoun,

Leyffand he was; and als stud in sic rycht,

We traist weill, God his dedis had in sycht.

Thai grippyt him, than out off slepe he braid;

“Quhat menys this?” rycht sodandly he said.620

About he turnyt, and wp his armys thrang;

On thai traytouris with knychtlik fer he dang.

The starkast man in till his armys hynt he,

And all his harnys he dang out on a tre.

A sword he gat son eftyr at he rayss,625

Campiounlik amang the four he gais;

Euyr a man he gert de at a dynt.

Quhen twa was ded, the tothir wald nocht stynt,

Maid thaim to fle; bot than it was na but,

Was nane leyffand mycht pass fra him on fut.630

He folowed fast, and sone to ded thaim brocht;

Than to the chyld sadly agayn he socht.

“Quhat did thow her?” The child, with [ane] paill face,

On kneis he fell, and askyt Wallace grace.

‘With thaim I was, and knew no thing thair thocht;635Fol. 116 b

Fol. 116 b

‘In to seruice, as thai me bad, I wrocht.’

“Quhat berys thow her?” ‘Bot meit, the child can say.’

“Do, turss it wp, and pass with me away.

“Meit in this tym is fer bettyr than gold.”

Wallace and he furth foundyt our the fold.640

Quha brocht Wallace fra his enemyss bauld?

Quha, bot gret God, that has the warld in wauld?

He was his help in mony felloun thrang.

With glaid cheyr thus on till his men can gang.

Bathe rostyt flesche thar was, als breid, and cheis,645

To succour thaim that was in poynt to leiss.

Than he it delt to four men and fyfté,

Quhilk had befor fastyt our dayis thre;

Syn tuk his part, he had fastyt als lang.

Quhar herd ye euir ony in sic a thrang,650

In hungyr so slepand, and wapynlass,

So weill recouer as Wallace did this cass;

Playnly befors vencust his enemyss fyve?

Yhe men off wit, this questioun dyscryve:

Wythoutyn gloiss I will tell furth my taill.655

‘How com this meit?’ the falowschip askyt haill.

To thar desyr Wallace nane ansuer yald;

Quhar fyve was ded he led thaim furth, syn tauld.

Gretly displessyd was all that chewalry:

Till a chyftane, thai held it fantasy660

To walk allayn. Wallace, with sobyr mud,

Said; “As her off is no thing cummyn bot gud.”

To the law land full fast agayn thai socht;

Sperd at this child, gyff he couth wyss thaim ocht,

Quhar thai mycht best off purviance for to wyn.665

Off nane he said was that cuntré within;

‘Nor all about, als fer as I can knaw,

‘Quhill that ye cum down to the Ranoucht hawe.

‘That lord has stuff, breid, aill, and gud warnage:

‘Off king Eduuard he takis full mekill wage.’670

Than Wallace said; “My selff sall be your gyd;

“I knaw that sted about on athir syd.”

Throuch the wyld land he gydyt thaim full rycht;

To Ranouch hall thai com apon the nycht.

A wach was owt, and that full sone thai ta;675

For he was Scottis, that man thai wald nocht sla,

Bot gert him tell the maner off that place.

Thus entryt thai with in a litill space.

The yett thai wan, for castell was thar nayn,

Bot mudwall werk withoutyn lym or stayn.680

Wallace in haist straik wp the chawmir dur

Bot with his fut, that stalwart was and stur.

Than thai within sa walknyt sodeynly;Fol. 117 a

Fol. 117 a

The lord gat wp, and mercy can him cry.

Fra tym he wyst that gud Wallace was thar,685

He thankyt God, syn said thir wordis mar;

‘Trow man I was, and woun agayn my will

‘With Inglissmen, supposs I likit ill.

‘All Scottis we ar that in this place is now;

‘At your commaund all playnly we sall bow.’690

Off our natioun gud Wallace had peté;

Tuk aythis off thaim, [and] syne meit askyt he.

Gud cheyr thai maid quhill lycht day on the morne.

This trew man than sone semblit him beforne

Thre sonnys he had, that stalwart was and bauld,695

And twenty men off his kyn in houshauld.

Wallace was blyth thai maid him sic supplé,

Said; “I thank God, that we thus multiplé.”

All that day our in gud liking thai rest;

Wachys thai waill to kep thaim, at coud best.700

Apon the morn, the lycht day quhen thai saw,

Than Wallace said; “Our power for to knaw,

“We will tak feild, and wp our baner raiss

“Off rycht Scotland, in contrar off our fais.

“We will no mar now ws in couert hid;705

“Power till ws will sembill on ilk syd.”

Horsis thai gat, the best men at was thar;

Towart Dunkell the gaynest way thai far.

The byschope fled, and gat till Sanct Jhonstoun

The Scottis slew all was thar off that nacioun,710

Baith pur and rych, and serwandis at thai fand;

Left nane on lyff that born was off Ingland.

The place thai tuk, and maid thaim weill to fayr,

Off purwiance that byschop had brocht thair.

Jowellis thai gat, bathe gold and syluer brycht;715

With gud cheyr thar fyve dayis thai soiornd rycht.

On the sext day Wallace to consaill went,

Gert call the best, and schew thaim his entent:

“Na men we haiff to sailye Sanct Jhonstoun;

“In to the north tharfor lat mak ws boun.720

“In Ross, ye knaw, gud men a strenth has maid;

“Her thai off ws, thai cum with outyn baid.

“Alss in to But the byschope gud Synclar,

“[Fra he get wit, he cummis with outyn mar.]

“Gud westland men off Aran and Rauchlé,725

“Fra thai be warnd, thai will all cum to me.”

This purpos tuk, and in the north thai rid;

Nan Inglissman durst in thair way abid.

Quham Wallace tuk, thai knew the ald ransoun;

Fra he com haym, to fle thai mak thaim boun.730

And Scottis men semblyt to Wallace fast;Fol. 117 b

Fol. 117 b

In awfull feyr throuch owt the land thai past;

Strenthis was left, witt ye, all desolate;

Agayn thir folk thai durst mak no debate.

In raid battaill thai raid till Abyrdeyn,735

The haill nowmyr, sewyn thousand than was seyn.

Bot Inglissmen had left that toun all waist;

On ilka syd away thai can thaim haist;

In all that land left nothir mar nor less.

Lord Bewmond tuk the sey at Bowchan ness.740

Throu Scotland than was manifest in playn,

The lordis that past in hart was wondyr fayn.

The knycht Climés off Ross com sodeynly

In Murray land with thair gud chewalry.

The houss off Narn that gud knycht weill has tayne,745

Slew the capdane and strang men mony ane;

Out off Murray in Bowchane land com thai

To sek Bewmound, be he was past away;

Than thir gud men to Wallace passyt rycht.

Quhen Wallace saw Schyr Jhon Ramsay the knycht,750

And othir gud at had bene fra him lang,

Gret curag than was rasyt thaim amang.

The land he reullyt as at him likit best;

To Sanct Jhonstoun syn raid or thai wald rest.

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