BUKE FEYRD.

In September, the humyll moneth suette,Quhen passyt by the hycht was off the hette,Wictaill and froyte ar rypyt in aboundance,Fol. 14 aAs God ordans to mannys gouernance.Sagittarius with his aspre bow,5Be the ilk syng weryté ye may knowThe changing courss quhilk makis gret deference;And lewyss had lost thair colouris of plesence.All warldly thing has nocht bot a sesoune;Both erbe and froyte mon fra hewyn cum doun.10In this ilk tyme a gret consell was settIn to Glaskow quhar mony maistris mett,Off Ingliss lordis, to statute this cuntré.Than chargyt thai all schirreffis thar to be.Schir Ranald Crawfurd behowide that tyme be thar,15For he throw rycht was born schirreff of Ayr.His der neuo that tyme with hym he tuk,Willyham Wallace, as witness beris the buk;For he na time suld be fra hys sycht,He luffyt him with hart and all hys mycht.20Thai graith thaim weill with out langar abaid.Wallace sum part befor the court furth raid,With him twa men that douchtye war in deid;Our tuk the child Schyr Ranaldis sowme couth leid.Softlye thai raid quhill thai the court suld knaw.25So sodeynly at Hesilden he sawThe Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was;The horss was tyryt, and mycht no forthyr pass.Fyve men was chargit to keipe it weill all tid;Twa wass on fute, and thre on horss couth ride.30The maistir man at thair serwand can sper;“Quha aw this sowme? the suth thou to me ler.”The man ansuerd, with outyn wordis mair;‘My lordis,’ he said, ‘quhilk schirreff is of Ayr.’“Sen it is his, this horss sall with ws gang35“To serwe our lord, or ellis me think gret wrang;“Thocht a subiet in deid wald pass his lord,“It is nocht lewyt be na rychtwiss racord.”Thai cutt the brayss and leyt the harness faw.Wallace was ner; quhen he sic reueré saw,40He spak to thaim with manly contenance.In fayr afforme, he said, but wariance;‘Ye do vs wrang, and it in tyme of pess;‘Off sic rubry war suffisance to cess.’The Sothron schrew in ire ansuerd him to;45“It sall be wrocht as thow may se ws do.“Thow gettis no mendis; quhat wald thow wordis mar?”Sadly awisit Wallace remembrith him tharOn the promyss he maid his eyme befor:Resoun him rewllyt, as than he did no mor.50The horss thai tuk for awentur mycht befall,Laid on thar sowme, syne furth the way couth call.Thar tyryt sowmir so left thai in to playne.Wallace raturnd towart the court agayne;In the mursyde sone with his eyme he mett,55And tauld how thai the way for his man sett:Fol. 14 b“And war noucht I was bonde in my legiance,“We partyt noucht thus for all the gold in France.“The horss thai reft quhilk suld your harness ber.”Schir Ranald said; ‘That is bot litill der.60‘We may get horss and [vthir] gud in playne;‘And men be lost, we get neuir agayne.’Wallace than said; “Als wisly God me sawe,“Off this gret myss I sall amendis hawe;“And nothir latt for pess na your plesance.65“With witness her I gif vp my legiance:“For cowardly ye lik to tyne your rycht;“Your selff sone syne to dede thai think to dycht.”In wraith thar with away fra him he went.Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent;70And said I will byde at the Mernys all nycht:So Inglissmen may deyme ws no wnrycht,Gyff ony be deide befor ws vpon cass,That we in law may bide the rychtwisnass.His luging tuk; still at the Mernyss baid;75Full gret murnyng he for his neuo maid.Bot all for nocht; quhat mycht it him awaill?As in till wer he wrocht nocht his consaill.Wallace raid furth, with him twa yemen past;The sowmer man he folowid wondyr fast;80Be est Cathcart he our hyede thaim agayne.Than knew thai weille that it was he in playne,Be horss and weide, that argownd thaim befor.The fyve to thaim retornde with outyn mor.Wallace to ground fra his courser can glide;85A burnyst brand he bradyt out that tyde.The maistir man with sa gud will straik he,Bathe hatt and hede he gert in sondyr fle,Ane othir fast apon the face he gaiff,Till dede to ground, but mercy, he him draiff.90The thrid he hyt with gret ire in that steid;Fey on the feld he has him left for deid.Wallace slew thre; by that his yemen wicht,The tothir twa derfly to dede thai dycht.Syne spoilyeid thai the harnaiss or thai wend,95Off siluer and gold aboundandlye to spend.Jowellis thai tuk, the best was chosyn thar,Gud horss and geyr; syne on thair wayis can fayr.Than Wallace said; “At sum strenth wald I be.”Our Clid that tyme thar was a bryg of tre;100Thiddir thai past in all thair gudlye mycht:The day was gayne, and cummyn was the nycht.Thai durst nocht weylle ner Glaskow still abide;In the Lennox he tuk purposs to ryde.And so he dyde, syne lugyt thaim that nycht,105As thai best mowcht, quhill that the day was brycht.Till ane ostrye he went, and soiorned tharFol. 15 aWith trew Scottis, quhilk at his freindis war.The consaill mett rycht glaidly on the morn;Bot fell tithingis was brocht Persie beforne.110His men war slayne, his tresour als bereftWith fell Scottis, and thaim na jowellis left.Thai demede about off that derff doutouss cass;The Sothren said; “Forsuth, it is Wallas.”The schirreffis court was cumand to the toune,115And he as ane for Scot of most renoune.Thai gert go seik Schyr Ranald in that rage;Bot he was than yeit still at herbryage.Sum wiss men said; “Heroff na thing he kend:“The men war slayne rycht at the townis end.”120Schyr Ranald come by ten houris of the day.Befor Persye than seir men brocht war thai:Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht;The siyss of this couth say to him rycht nocht.Thai demede about of that feill sodeyne cass,125Befor the juge thar he denyit Wallas;And so he mycht, he wist nocht quhar he was.Fra this consaill my purposs is to pass,Off Wallace spek, in wyldirnes so wyde;The eterne God his gouernour be and gyde!130

In September, the humyll moneth suette,

Quhen passyt by the hycht was off the hette,

Wictaill and froyte ar rypyt in aboundance,Fol. 14 a

Fol. 14 a

As God ordans to mannys gouernance.

Sagittarius with his aspre bow,5

Be the ilk syng weryté ye may know

The changing courss quhilk makis gret deference;

And lewyss had lost thair colouris of plesence.

All warldly thing has nocht bot a sesoune;

Both erbe and froyte mon fra hewyn cum doun.10

In this ilk tyme a gret consell was sett

In to Glaskow quhar mony maistris mett,

Off Ingliss lordis, to statute this cuntré.

Than chargyt thai all schirreffis thar to be.

Schir Ranald Crawfurd behowide that tyme be thar,15

For he throw rycht was born schirreff of Ayr.

His der neuo that tyme with hym he tuk,

Willyham Wallace, as witness beris the buk;

For he na time suld be fra hys sycht,

He luffyt him with hart and all hys mycht.20

Thai graith thaim weill with out langar abaid.

Wallace sum part befor the court furth raid,

With him twa men that douchtye war in deid;

Our tuk the child Schyr Ranaldis sowme couth leid.

Softlye thai raid quhill thai the court suld knaw.25

So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw

The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was;

The horss was tyryt, and mycht no forthyr pass.

Fyve men was chargit to keipe it weill all tid;

Twa wass on fute, and thre on horss couth ride.30

The maistir man at thair serwand can sper;

“Quha aw this sowme? the suth thou to me ler.”

The man ansuerd, with outyn wordis mair;

‘My lordis,’ he said, ‘quhilk schirreff is of Ayr.’

“Sen it is his, this horss sall with ws gang35

“To serwe our lord, or ellis me think gret wrang;

“Thocht a subiet in deid wald pass his lord,

“It is nocht lewyt be na rychtwiss racord.”

Thai cutt the brayss and leyt the harness faw.

Wallace was ner; quhen he sic reueré saw,40

He spak to thaim with manly contenance.

In fayr afforme, he said, but wariance;

‘Ye do vs wrang, and it in tyme of pess;

‘Off sic rubry war suffisance to cess.’

The Sothron schrew in ire ansuerd him to;45

“It sall be wrocht as thow may se ws do.

“Thow gettis no mendis; quhat wald thow wordis mar?”

Sadly awisit Wallace remembrith him thar

On the promyss he maid his eyme befor:

Resoun him rewllyt, as than he did no mor.50

The horss thai tuk for awentur mycht befall,

Laid on thar sowme, syne furth the way couth call.

Thar tyryt sowmir so left thai in to playne.

Wallace raturnd towart the court agayne;

In the mursyde sone with his eyme he mett,55

And tauld how thai the way for his man sett:Fol. 14 b

Fol. 14 b

“And war noucht I was bonde in my legiance,

“We partyt noucht thus for all the gold in France.

“The horss thai reft quhilk suld your harness ber.”

Schir Ranald said; ‘That is bot litill der.60

‘We may get horss and [vthir] gud in playne;

‘And men be lost, we get neuir agayne.’

Wallace than said; “Als wisly God me sawe,

“Off this gret myss I sall amendis hawe;

“And nothir latt for pess na your plesance.65

“With witness her I gif vp my legiance:

“For cowardly ye lik to tyne your rycht;

“Your selff sone syne to dede thai think to dycht.”

In wraith thar with away fra him he went.

Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent;70

And said I will byde at the Mernys all nycht:

So Inglissmen may deyme ws no wnrycht,

Gyff ony be deide befor ws vpon cass,

That we in law may bide the rychtwisnass.

His luging tuk; still at the Mernyss baid;75

Full gret murnyng he for his neuo maid.

Bot all for nocht; quhat mycht it him awaill?

As in till wer he wrocht nocht his consaill.

Wallace raid furth, with him twa yemen past;

The sowmer man he folowid wondyr fast;80

Be est Cathcart he our hyede thaim agayne.

Than knew thai weille that it was he in playne,

Be horss and weide, that argownd thaim befor.

The fyve to thaim retornde with outyn mor.

Wallace to ground fra his courser can glide;85

A burnyst brand he bradyt out that tyde.

The maistir man with sa gud will straik he,

Bathe hatt and hede he gert in sondyr fle,

Ane othir fast apon the face he gaiff,

Till dede to ground, but mercy, he him draiff.90

The thrid he hyt with gret ire in that steid;

Fey on the feld he has him left for deid.

Wallace slew thre; by that his yemen wicht,

The tothir twa derfly to dede thai dycht.

Syne spoilyeid thai the harnaiss or thai wend,95

Off siluer and gold aboundandlye to spend.

Jowellis thai tuk, the best was chosyn thar,

Gud horss and geyr; syne on thair wayis can fayr.

Than Wallace said; “At sum strenth wald I be.”

Our Clid that tyme thar was a bryg of tre;100

Thiddir thai past in all thair gudlye mycht:

The day was gayne, and cummyn was the nycht.

Thai durst nocht weylle ner Glaskow still abide;

In the Lennox he tuk purposs to ryde.

And so he dyde, syne lugyt thaim that nycht,105

As thai best mowcht, quhill that the day was brycht.

Till ane ostrye he went, and soiorned tharFol. 15 a

Fol. 15 a

With trew Scottis, quhilk at his freindis war.

The consaill mett rycht glaidly on the morn;

Bot fell tithingis was brocht Persie beforne.110

His men war slayne, his tresour als bereft

With fell Scottis, and thaim na jowellis left.

Thai demede about off that derff doutouss cass;

The Sothren said; “Forsuth, it is Wallas.”

The schirreffis court was cumand to the toune,115

And he as ane for Scot of most renoune.

Thai gert go seik Schyr Ranald in that rage;

Bot he was than yeit still at herbryage.

Sum wiss men said; “Heroff na thing he kend:

“The men war slayne rycht at the townis end.”120

Schyr Ranald come by ten houris of the day.

Befor Persye than seir men brocht war thai:

Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht;

The siyss of this couth say to him rycht nocht.

Thai demede about of that feill sodeyne cass,125

Befor the juge thar he denyit Wallas;

And so he mycht, he wist nocht quhar he was.

Fra this consaill my purposs is to pass,

Off Wallace spek, in wyldirnes so wyde;

The eterne God his gouernour be and gyde!130

Styll at the place four dayis he soiorned haill,Quhill tithingis come till hym fra thair consaill.Than statute thai, in ilk steide of the west,In thar boundis Wallace suld haiff no rest.His der wncle gret ayth thai gert him suer,135That he, but leiff, suld no freindschipe him ber:And mony othir was full woo that day.Robert the Boide stall of the toune his way;And Kneland als, befor with him had beyne.Thai had leuir haif seyne him with thair eyne,140Leyffand in lyff, as thai knew him befor,Than of cler gold a fyne mylyone and mor.Boid wepyt sor, said; “Our leidar is gayne,“Amang our fays he is set him allayne.”Than Kneland said; ‘Fals fortoun changis fast;145‘Gret God sen we had euir with him past!’Edward Litill in Annadyrdaill is went,And wait rycht nocht of this newe jugément.Adam Wallace baid still in Ricardtoune.So fell [it] thus with Wallace of renoune;150He with power partyt merwalusly,Be fortoune chance ourturnys doubilly.Thar petuouss mene as than couth nocht be bett;Thai wyst no wyt quhar that thai suld him get.He left the place, quhair he in lugyng lay;155Till erle Malcome he went vpon a day.The Lennox haile he had still in his hand;Till king Eduuard he had nocht than maid band.Fol. 15 bThat land is strait, and maisterfull to wyn;Gud men of armyss that tyme was it within.160The lord was traist, the men sekyr and trew;With waik power thai durst him nocht persew.Rycht glaid he was of Wallace cumpany,Welcummyt him fayr with worschipe reuerandlye;At his awne will desyryt, gyff he walde165To byde thair still maistyr of his houshald;Off all his men he suld haile chyftayne be.Wallace ansuerd; “That war yneuch for me.“I can nocht byde, my mynde is sett in playne“Wrokyn to be, or ellis de in the payne.170“Our wast contré thar statute is so strang,“Into the north my purposs is to gang.”Stewyn of Irland than in the Lennox wasWith wicht Wallace; he ordynyt him to pass,And othir als that borne war off Argill.175Wallace still thair residence maid a quhill,Quhill men it wist, and semblit sone him till.He chargyt nayne bot at thair awne gud will;For thai war strang: yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid,Bot resawit all in weris thaim to leid.180Sum part off tham was in to Irland borne,That Makfadyan had exilde furth beforne:King Eduuardis man he was suorn, of Ingland,Off rycht law byrth, supposs he tuk on hand.To Wallace thar come ane that hecht Fawdoun;185Malancoly he was of complexioun,Hewy of statur, dour in his contenance,Soroufull, sadde, ay dreidfull but plesance.Wallace resawit quhat man wald cum him till;The bodelye ayth thai maid him with gud will190Before the erle, all with a gud accord;And him resawyt as captane and thair lord.His speciall men, that cum with him fra hayme,The tayne hecht Gray, the tothir Kerlé be nayme,In his seruice come fyrst with all thair mayne,195To Lowdoun hill quhar that Fenweik was slayne.He thaim comandyt ay next him to persew;For he thaim kend rycht hardye, wiss and trew.His leyff he tuk rycht on a fair maner.The gud erlle than he bad him gyftis ser:200Wallace wald nayne, bot gaiff of his fell syss,To pour and rych, vpon a gudlye wiss.Humyll he was, hardy, wiss and fre,As off rychess he held na propyrté.Off honour, worschipe, he was a merour kend;205Als he off gold had boundandlye to spend.Wpon his fayis he wan it worthely.Thus Wallace past, and his gud chewalry.Sexty he had off lykly men at wage;Throuch the Lennox he led thaim with curage.210Fol. 16 aAbown Lekkiehe lugyt thaim in a waille.A strenth thar was quhilk thai thocht till assaill.

Styll at the place four dayis he soiorned haill,

Quhill tithingis come till hym fra thair consaill.

Than statute thai, in ilk steide of the west,

In thar boundis Wallace suld haiff no rest.

His der wncle gret ayth thai gert him suer,135

That he, but leiff, suld no freindschipe him ber:

And mony othir was full woo that day.

Robert the Boide stall of the toune his way;

And Kneland als, befor with him had beyne.

Thai had leuir haif seyne him with thair eyne,140

Leyffand in lyff, as thai knew him befor,

Than of cler gold a fyne mylyone and mor.

Boid wepyt sor, said; “Our leidar is gayne,

“Amang our fays he is set him allayne.”

Than Kneland said; ‘Fals fortoun changis fast;145

‘Gret God sen we had euir with him past!’

Edward Litill in Annadyrdaill is went,

And wait rycht nocht of this newe jugément.

Adam Wallace baid still in Ricardtoune.

So fell [it] thus with Wallace of renoune;150

He with power partyt merwalusly,

Be fortoune chance ourturnys doubilly.

Thar petuouss mene as than couth nocht be bett;

Thai wyst no wyt quhar that thai suld him get.

He left the place, quhair he in lugyng lay;155

Till erle Malcome he went vpon a day.

The Lennox haile he had still in his hand;

Till king Eduuard he had nocht than maid band.Fol. 15 b

Fol. 15 b

That land is strait, and maisterfull to wyn;

Gud men of armyss that tyme was it within.160

The lord was traist, the men sekyr and trew;

With waik power thai durst him nocht persew.

Rycht glaid he was of Wallace cumpany,

Welcummyt him fayr with worschipe reuerandlye;

At his awne will desyryt, gyff he walde165

To byde thair still maistyr of his houshald;

Off all his men he suld haile chyftayne be.

Wallace ansuerd; “That war yneuch for me.

“I can nocht byde, my mynde is sett in playne

“Wrokyn to be, or ellis de in the payne.170

“Our wast contré thar statute is so strang,

“Into the north my purposs is to gang.”

Stewyn of Irland than in the Lennox was

With wicht Wallace; he ordynyt him to pass,

And othir als that borne war off Argill.175

Wallace still thair residence maid a quhill,

Quhill men it wist, and semblit sone him till.

He chargyt nayne bot at thair awne gud will;

For thai war strang: yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid,

Bot resawit all in weris thaim to leid.180

Sum part off tham was in to Irland borne,

That Makfadyan had exilde furth beforne:

King Eduuardis man he was suorn, of Ingland,

Off rycht law byrth, supposs he tuk on hand.

To Wallace thar come ane that hecht Fawdoun;185

Malancoly he was of complexioun,

Hewy of statur, dour in his contenance,

Soroufull, sadde, ay dreidfull but plesance.

Wallace resawit quhat man wald cum him till;

The bodelye ayth thai maid him with gud will190

Before the erle, all with a gud accord;

And him resawyt as captane and thair lord.

His speciall men, that cum with him fra hayme,

The tayne hecht Gray, the tothir Kerlé be nayme,

In his seruice come fyrst with all thair mayne,195

To Lowdoun hill quhar that Fenweik was slayne.

He thaim comandyt ay next him to persew;

For he thaim kend rycht hardye, wiss and trew.

His leyff he tuk rycht on a fair maner.

The gud erlle than he bad him gyftis ser:200

Wallace wald nayne, bot gaiff of his fell syss,

To pour and rych, vpon a gudlye wiss.

Humyll he was, hardy, wiss and fre,

As off rychess he held na propyrté.

Off honour, worschipe, he was a merour kend;205

Als he off gold had boundandlye to spend.

Wpon his fayis he wan it worthely.

Thus Wallace past, and his gud chewalry.

Sexty he had off lykly men at wage;

Throuch the Lennox he led thaim with curage.210Fol. 16 a

Fol. 16 a

Abown Lekkiehe lugyt thaim in a waille.

A strenth thar was quhilk thai thocht till assaill.

On Gargownno was byggyt a small peill,That warnyst was with men and wittaill weill,Within a dyk, bathe closs, chawmer, and hall;215Capteyne tharoff to nayme he hecht Thrilwall.Thai led Wallace quhar that this byggynge wass;He thocht to assaill it, ferby or he wald pass.Twa spyiss he send to wesy all that land:Rycht laith he was the thing to tak on hand,220The quhilk, beforce, that suld gang hym agayne;Leuir had he throw awentur be slayne.Thir men went furth as it was large mydnycht;About that houss thai spyit all at rycht.The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe;225The bryg was doun at that entré suld keipe;The lauboreris latt rakleslye went in.Thir men retornede, with outyn noyess or dyn,To thair maistir; told him as thai had seyne.Than grathit sone thir men of armyss keyne;230Sadlye on fute on to the houss thai socht,And entryt in, for lattyn fand thai nocht.Wicht men assayede, with all thair besy cur,A loklate bar, was drawyn ourthourth the dur;Bot thai mycht nocht it brek out of the waw.235Wallace was grewyt quhen he sic tary saw.Sumpart amowet, wraithly till it he went;Be forss off handis it raist out of the stent;Thre yerde off breide alss off the wall puld out.Than merweld all his men that war about,240How he dide mair than twenty off thaim mycht.Syne with his fute the yett he straik wp rycht,Quhill braiss and band to byrst all at anyss.Ferdely thai raiss, that war in to thai wanyss.The wachman had a felloune staff of steill,245At Wallace strake, bot he kepyt hym weill.Rudely fra him he reft it in that thrang,Dang out his harnyss, syne in the dik him flang.The remaynand be that was on thair feit;Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite.250That staff he had, hewy and forgyt new,With it Wallace wpon the hede him threw,Quhill bayn and brayn all in to sondyr yeid.His men entryt, that worthy war in deid,In handis hynt, and stekit of the layff.255Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff.Twenty and twa thai stekit in that steid.Wemen and barnyss, quhen that the men war deide,He gert be tayn, in closs houss kepyt weill,So thai wytht out thar off mycht haiff no feill.260The dede bodyes thai put sone out of sycht;Fol. 16 bTuk wp the bryg or that the day was lycht.In that place baid four dayis or he wald pass;Wist nane with out how at this mater wass:Spoilyeide that steid, and tuk thaim ganand ger;265Jowellis and gold away with thaim thai ber.Quhen him thocht tyme, thai ischede on the nycht;To the next woode thai went with all thair mycht.The captenys wiff, wemen, and childer thre,Pass quhar thai wald, for Wallas leit thaim be.270In that forest he likit nocht to bide:Thai bownyt thaim atour Forth for to ride.The moss was strang, to ryde it was no but:Wallas was wicht and lychtyt on his fute.Few horss thai had, litill thar off thai roucht:275To sawe thar lywes feill strenthis oft thai socht.Stewyn of Irland he was thair gyd that nychtTowart Kyncardyn, syne restit thar at rychtIn a forest, that was bathe lang and wide,Rycht fra the moss grew to the wattir syde.280Eftre the sone Wallas walkit aboutVpon Tetht side, quhar he saw mony routOff wyld bestis wauerand in wode and playne.Sone at a schot a gret hart hass he slayne;Slew fyr on flynt, and graithit thaim at rycht;285Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht.Wictaill thai had, bathe breid, and wyne so cler,With othir stuff yneuch at thair dyner.His staff of steill he gaiff Kerly to kepe;Syn passit [thai] our Tetht wattir so depe.290In to Straithern thai entrit sodeynly;In couert past, or Sothren suld thaim spy.Quhen at thai fand of Scotlandis aduersouris,With out respyt cummyn was thair fatell houris.Quham euir thai mett, was at the Ingliss fay,295Thai sparyt nane that was off Ingliss blude;To dede he yeid thocht he war neuir so gude.Thai sawyt nothir knycht, squier, nor knaiff;This was the grace that Wallace to thaim gaiff;300Bot wastyt all be worthynes off wer,Off that party that mycht weild bow or sper.Sumpart be slycht, sum throw force thai slew;Bot Wallace thocht thai stroyit nocht half enew.Siluer thai tuk, and als gold at thai fand,305Othir gud ger full lychtly yeid be hand;Cuttyt throttis, and in to cuwyss thaim kest,Put out of sycht, for that him thocht was best.At the Blakfurd, as at thai suld pass our,A squier come, and with him bernyss four,310Fol. 17 aTill Doun suld ryde; and wend at thai had beyneAll Inglissmen, at he befor had seyne.Tithingis to sper he howid thaim amang.Wallace thar with swyth out a [gude] suerd swang;Vpon the hede he straik with so gret ire,315Throu bayne and brayn in sondyr schar the swyr.The tothir four in handis sone war hynt,Derfly to dede stekit or thai wald stynt.Thar horss thai tuk, and quhat thaim likit best;Spoilyeid thaim bar, syne in the brook thaim kest.320Off this mater no mor tary thai maid,Bot furth thar way passit with outyn baid.Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent,Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went:In Meffan woode thair lugyng tuk that nycht.325Vpon the morn, quhen it was dayis lycht,Wallace raiss wp, went to the forest side,Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide,Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye.Than Wallace said; “This contré likis me.330“Wermen may do with fud at thai suld haiff;“Bot want thai meit, thai rak nocht of the laiff.”Off dyet fayr Wallace tuk neuir kepe;Bot as it come, welcum was meit and sleip.Sum quhill he had gret sufficience within;335Now want, now has; now losis, now can win;Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill;In haist, now hurt; now sorroufull, now haill;Nowe weildand weyle; now calde weddyr, now hett;Nowe moist, now drowth; now wauerand wynd, now weit.340So ferd with hym for Scotlandis rycht full ewyn,In feyle debait six yeris and monethis sewyn.Quhen he wan peess, and left Scotland in playne,The Inglissmen maid new conquest agayne.

On Gargownno was byggyt a small peill,

That warnyst was with men and wittaill weill,

Within a dyk, bathe closs, chawmer, and hall;215

Capteyne tharoff to nayme he hecht Thrilwall.

Thai led Wallace quhar that this byggynge wass;

He thocht to assaill it, ferby or he wald pass.

Twa spyiss he send to wesy all that land:

Rycht laith he was the thing to tak on hand,220

The quhilk, beforce, that suld gang hym agayne;

Leuir had he throw awentur be slayne.

Thir men went furth as it was large mydnycht;

About that houss thai spyit all at rycht.

The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe;225

The bryg was doun at that entré suld keipe;

The lauboreris latt rakleslye went in.

Thir men retornede, with outyn noyess or dyn,

To thair maistir; told him as thai had seyne.

Than grathit sone thir men of armyss keyne;230

Sadlye on fute on to the houss thai socht,

And entryt in, for lattyn fand thai nocht.

Wicht men assayede, with all thair besy cur,

A loklate bar, was drawyn ourthourth the dur;

Bot thai mycht nocht it brek out of the waw.235

Wallace was grewyt quhen he sic tary saw.

Sumpart amowet, wraithly till it he went;

Be forss off handis it raist out of the stent;

Thre yerde off breide alss off the wall puld out.

Than merweld all his men that war about,240

How he dide mair than twenty off thaim mycht.

Syne with his fute the yett he straik wp rycht,

Quhill braiss and band to byrst all at anyss.

Ferdely thai raiss, that war in to thai wanyss.

The wachman had a felloune staff of steill,245

At Wallace strake, bot he kepyt hym weill.

Rudely fra him he reft it in that thrang,

Dang out his harnyss, syne in the dik him flang.

The remaynand be that was on thair feit;

Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite.250

That staff he had, hewy and forgyt new,

With it Wallace wpon the hede him threw,

Quhill bayn and brayn all in to sondyr yeid.

His men entryt, that worthy war in deid,

In handis hynt, and stekit of the layff.255

Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff.

Twenty and twa thai stekit in that steid.

Wemen and barnyss, quhen that the men war deide,

He gert be tayn, in closs houss kepyt weill,

So thai wytht out thar off mycht haiff no feill.260

The dede bodyes thai put sone out of sycht;Fol. 16 b

Fol. 16 b

Tuk wp the bryg or that the day was lycht.

In that place baid four dayis or he wald pass;

Wist nane with out how at this mater wass:

Spoilyeide that steid, and tuk thaim ganand ger;265

Jowellis and gold away with thaim thai ber.

Quhen him thocht tyme, thai ischede on the nycht;

To the next woode thai went with all thair mycht.

The captenys wiff, wemen, and childer thre,

Pass quhar thai wald, for Wallas leit thaim be.270

In that forest he likit nocht to bide:

Thai bownyt thaim atour Forth for to ride.

The moss was strang, to ryde it was no but:

Wallas was wicht and lychtyt on his fute.

Few horss thai had, litill thar off thai roucht:275

To sawe thar lywes feill strenthis oft thai socht.

Stewyn of Irland he was thair gyd that nycht

Towart Kyncardyn, syne restit thar at rycht

In a forest, that was bathe lang and wide,

Rycht fra the moss grew to the wattir syde.280

Eftre the sone Wallas walkit about

Vpon Tetht side, quhar he saw mony rout

Off wyld bestis wauerand in wode and playne.

Sone at a schot a gret hart hass he slayne;

Slew fyr on flynt, and graithit thaim at rycht;285

Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht.

Wictaill thai had, bathe breid, and wyne so cler,

With othir stuff yneuch at thair dyner.

His staff of steill he gaiff Kerly to kepe;

Syn passit [thai] our Tetht wattir so depe.290

In to Straithern thai entrit sodeynly;

In couert past, or Sothren suld thaim spy.

Quhen at thai fand of Scotlandis aduersouris,

With out respyt cummyn was thair fatell houris.

Quham euir thai mett, was at the Ingliss fay,295

Thai sparyt nane that was off Ingliss blude;

To dede he yeid thocht he war neuir so gude.

Thai sawyt nothir knycht, squier, nor knaiff;

This was the grace that Wallace to thaim gaiff;300

Bot wastyt all be worthynes off wer,

Off that party that mycht weild bow or sper.

Sumpart be slycht, sum throw force thai slew;

Bot Wallace thocht thai stroyit nocht half enew.

Siluer thai tuk, and als gold at thai fand,305

Othir gud ger full lychtly yeid be hand;

Cuttyt throttis, and in to cuwyss thaim kest,

Put out of sycht, for that him thocht was best.

At the Blakfurd, as at thai suld pass our,

A squier come, and with him bernyss four,310Fol. 17 a

Fol. 17 a

Till Doun suld ryde; and wend at thai had beyne

All Inglissmen, at he befor had seyne.

Tithingis to sper he howid thaim amang.

Wallace thar with swyth out a [gude] suerd swang;

Vpon the hede he straik with so gret ire,315

Throu bayne and brayn in sondyr schar the swyr.

The tothir four in handis sone war hynt,

Derfly to dede stekit or thai wald stynt.

Thar horss thai tuk, and quhat thaim likit best;

Spoilyeid thaim bar, syne in the brook thaim kest.320

Off this mater no mor tary thai maid,

Bot furth thar way passit with outyn baid.

Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent,

Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went:

In Meffan woode thair lugyng tuk that nycht.325

Vpon the morn, quhen it was dayis lycht,

Wallace raiss wp, went to the forest side,

Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide,

Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye.

Than Wallace said; “This contré likis me.330

“Wermen may do with fud at thai suld haiff;

“Bot want thai meit, thai rak nocht of the laiff.”

Off dyet fayr Wallace tuk neuir kepe;

Bot as it come, welcum was meit and sleip.

Sum quhill he had gret sufficience within;335

Now want, now has; now losis, now can win;

Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill;

In haist, now hurt; now sorroufull, now haill;

Nowe weildand weyle; now calde weddyr, now hett;

Nowe moist, now drowth; now wauerand wynd, now weit.340

So ferd with hym for Scotlandis rycht full ewyn,

In feyle debait six yeris and monethis sewyn.

Quhen he wan peess, and left Scotland in playne,

The Inglissmen maid new conquest agayne.

In frustyr termys I will nocht tary lang.345Wallace agayne wnto his men can gang,And said; “Her is a land of gret boundance,“Thankit be God of his hye perwyans.“Sewyn of yow feris graith sone, and ga with me;“Rycht sor I long Sanct Jhonstoun for to se.350“Stewyn of Irland als, God of hewyn the saiff,“Maister leiddar I mak the of the laiff.“Kepe weill my men, latt nane out [of] thi sycht,“Quhill I agayn sall cum with all my mycht.“Byde me sewyn dayis in this forest strang:355“Yhe may get fude, supposs I duell so lang.“Sumpart yhe haif, and God will send ws mair.”Thus turnyt he, and to the toune couth fair.The mar, kepyt the port of that willage,Fol. 17 bWallace knew weill, and send him his message.360The mar was brocht, saw him a gudlye man;Rycht reuerandlye he has resawyt thaim than.At him he speryt, all Scottis gyff thai be.Wallace said; “Ya, and it is peess trow we.”‘I grant,’ he said, ‘that likis ws wondyr weill:365‘Trew men of peess may ay sum frendschipe feill.‘Quhat is your nayme? I pray yow tell me it.’“Will Malcomsone,” he said, “sen ye wald witt.“In Atryk forest has my wonnyng beyne:“Thar I was born amang the schawis scheyne.370“Now I desyr this north land for to se,“Quhar I mycht find bettyr duellyng for me.”The mar said; ‘Schyr, I sper nocht for nane ille;‘Bot feill tithingis oft syiss is brocht ws till‘Off ane Wallace, was born in to the west.375‘Our kingis men he haldis at gret wnrest,‘Martyris thaim doun, gret peté is to se:‘Out of the trewis, forsuth, we trow he be.’Wallace than said; “I her spek of that man;“Tithingis off him to you nane tell I can.”380For him he gert ane innys graithit be,Quhar nane suld cum bot his awne men and he.Hys stwart Kerlye brocht thaim in fusiounGude thing eneuch quhat was in to the toun.Alss Inglissmen to drynkyn wald him call,385And commownly he delt nocht thar withall.In thar presence he spendyt resonably,Yheit for him self he payit ay boundandlye.On Scottis men he spendyt mekill gud,Bot nocht his thankis wpon the Sothren blud.390Son he consawyt in his witt prewalye,In to that land quha wass of maist party.Schir Jamys Butler, ane agit cruell knycht,Kepyt Kynclewyn, a castell wondyr wycht.His sone Schyr Jhon than duelt in to the toune,395Vndyr capteyn to Schyr Garrard Heroune.The wemen alss he wysyt at the last;And so on ane hys eyne he can to cast,In the south gait, of fassoun fresche and fayr.Wallace to hir maid preualye repair.400So fell it thus, of the toun or he past,At ane accorde thai hapnyt at the last.Wallace with hyr in secré maid him glaid.Sotheren wist nocht that he sic plesance haid.Offt on the nycht he wald say to him sell;405“This is fer war than ony payn of hell,“At thus, with wrang, thir dewillis suld bruk our land,“And we with force may nocht agayne thaim stand.“To tak this toune my pouer is to small,Fol. 18 a“Gret perell als on my self may fall.410“Set we it in fyr, it will wndo my sell,“Or loss my men; thar is no mor to tell.“Yhettis ar closs, the dykis depe with all.“Thocht I wald swyme, forsuth so can nocht all.“This matir now herfor I will ourslyde;415“Bot in this toun I may no langar byde.”Alss men tald him quhen the captayne wald passHayme to Kynclewyn, quharoff glaid he wass.

In frustyr termys I will nocht tary lang.345

Wallace agayne wnto his men can gang,

And said; “Her is a land of gret boundance,

“Thankit be God of his hye perwyans.

“Sewyn of yow feris graith sone, and ga with me;

“Rycht sor I long Sanct Jhonstoun for to se.350

“Stewyn of Irland als, God of hewyn the saiff,

“Maister leiddar I mak the of the laiff.

“Kepe weill my men, latt nane out [of] thi sycht,

“Quhill I agayn sall cum with all my mycht.

“Byde me sewyn dayis in this forest strang:355

“Yhe may get fude, supposs I duell so lang.

“Sumpart yhe haif, and God will send ws mair.”

Thus turnyt he, and to the toune couth fair.

The mar, kepyt the port of that willage,Fol. 17 b

Fol. 17 b

Wallace knew weill, and send him his message.360

The mar was brocht, saw him a gudlye man;

Rycht reuerandlye he has resawyt thaim than.

At him he speryt, all Scottis gyff thai be.

Wallace said; “Ya, and it is peess trow we.”

‘I grant,’ he said, ‘that likis ws wondyr weill:365

‘Trew men of peess may ay sum frendschipe feill.

‘Quhat is your nayme? I pray yow tell me it.’

“Will Malcomsone,” he said, “sen ye wald witt.

“In Atryk forest has my wonnyng beyne:

“Thar I was born amang the schawis scheyne.370

“Now I desyr this north land for to se,

“Quhar I mycht find bettyr duellyng for me.”

The mar said; ‘Schyr, I sper nocht for nane ille;

‘Bot feill tithingis oft syiss is brocht ws till

‘Off ane Wallace, was born in to the west.375

‘Our kingis men he haldis at gret wnrest,

‘Martyris thaim doun, gret peté is to se:

‘Out of the trewis, forsuth, we trow he be.’

Wallace than said; “I her spek of that man;

“Tithingis off him to you nane tell I can.”380

For him he gert ane innys graithit be,

Quhar nane suld cum bot his awne men and he.

Hys stwart Kerlye brocht thaim in fusioun

Gude thing eneuch quhat was in to the toun.

Alss Inglissmen to drynkyn wald him call,385

And commownly he delt nocht thar withall.

In thar presence he spendyt resonably,

Yheit for him self he payit ay boundandlye.

On Scottis men he spendyt mekill gud,

Bot nocht his thankis wpon the Sothren blud.390

Son he consawyt in his witt prewalye,

In to that land quha wass of maist party.

Schir Jamys Butler, ane agit cruell knycht,

Kepyt Kynclewyn, a castell wondyr wycht.

His sone Schyr Jhon than duelt in to the toune,395

Vndyr capteyn to Schyr Garrard Heroune.

The wemen alss he wysyt at the last;

And so on ane hys eyne he can to cast,

In the south gait, of fassoun fresche and fayr.

Wallace to hir maid preualye repair.400

So fell it thus, of the toun or he past,

At ane accorde thai hapnyt at the last.

Wallace with hyr in secré maid him glaid.

Sotheren wist nocht that he sic plesance haid.

Offt on the nycht he wald say to him sell;405

“This is fer war than ony payn of hell,

“At thus, with wrang, thir dewillis suld bruk our land,

“And we with force may nocht agayne thaim stand.

“To tak this toune my pouer is to small,Fol. 18 a

Fol. 18 a

“Gret perell als on my self may fall.410

“Set we it in fyr, it will wndo my sell,

“Or loss my men; thar is no mor to tell.

“Yhettis ar closs, the dykis depe with all.

“Thocht I wald swyme, forsuth so can nocht all.

“This matir now herfor I will ourslyde;415

“Bot in this toun I may no langar byde.”

Alss men tald him quhen the captayne wald pass

Hayme to Kynclewyn, quharoff glaid he wass.

His leiff he tuk at heris of the toune;To Meffane wode rycht glaidly maid him boune.420Hiss horn he hynt, and bauldly loud can blaw,Hiss men him hard, and tharto sone couth draw.Rycht blyth he wass, for thai war all in feyr;Mony tithingis at him thai wald nocht speyr.He thaim commaunde to mak thaim redy fast.425In gud array out of the woode thai past;Towart Kynclewyn thai bownyt thaim that tid.Syn in a waill that ner was thar besid,Fast on to Tay his buschement can he draw.In a dern woode thai stellit thaim full law;430Set skouriouris furth the contré to aspye.Be ane our nowne thre for rydaris went bye.The wach turned in to witt quhat was his will;He thaim commaund in couert to bide still:“And we call, Feyr! the houss knawlege will haiff;435“And that may sone be warnyng to the laiff.“All forss in wer do nocht but gouernance.”Wallace was few; bot happy ordinanceMaid him fell syiss his aduersouris to wyn.Be that the court of Inglissmen com in,440Four scoyr and ten weill graithit in thar ger,Harnest on horss, all likly men of wer.Wallace saw weill his nowmir was na ma;He thankit God, and syne the feild couth ta.The Inglissmen merweild quhat thai suld be;445But fra thai saw thai maid [thaim] for mellé,In fewtir thai kest scharpe speris at that tide;In ire thai thoucht atour the Scottis to ryd.Wallace and his went cruelly thaim agayne.At the fyrst rusche feill Inglissmen war slayne.450Wallace straik ane, with hiss gud sper of steill,Throw out the cost; the shafft to brak ilk deyll.A burnyst brand in haist he hyntis out;Thryss apon fute he thrang throuch all the rout.Stern horss thai steik, suld men of armyss ber;455Sone wndir feit fulyeid was men of wer.Butler lychtyt him self for to defend,Witht men of armyss quhilk war full worthi kend.On athyr syde feill frekis war fectand fast.Fol. 18 bThe captayne baid, thocht he war sor agast.460Part of the Scottis be worthines thai slew:Wallace was wa, and towart him he drew.His men dred for the Butler bauld and keyn.On him he socht in ire and propyr teyn;Vpon the hed him straik in matelent:465The burnyst blaid throu his basnett went.Bathe bayne and brayn he byrst throw all the weid;Thus Wallace hand deliuerit thaim off dreid.Yeitt feill on fold was fechtand cruelly:Stewyn of Irland, and all the cheualry,470In to the stour did cruelly and weill;And Kerlé alss with his gud staff of steill.The Inglissmen, fra thar cheftayne was slayne,Thai left the feild and fled in all thair mayn.Thre scoyr war slayne or thai wald leif that steid.475The fleande folk, that wist of no rameid,Bot to the houss thai fled in all thair mycht;The Scottis folowit, that worthi war and wycht.Few men of fenss was left that place to kepe,Wemen and preistis wpon the wall can wepe:480For weill thai wend the flearis was thar lord;To tak him in thai maid thaim redy ford,Leit doun the bryg, kest wp the yettis wide.The frayit folk entrit, and durst nocht byde:Gud Wallace euir he folowit thaim so fast,485Quhill in the houss he entryt at the last;The yett he wor, quhill cumin was all the routOf Ingliss and Scottis; he held na man tharout.The Inglissmen, that won war in that steid,With outyn grace thai bertnyt thaim to deid.490The capteynis wiff, wemen, and preistis twa,And yong childer, forsuth thai sawyt no ma;Held thaim in closs eftir this sodeyn cass,Or Sothron men suld sege him in that place;Tuk wp the bryg, and closyt yettis fast.495The dede bodyes out of sicht he gart cast,Baith in the houss, and with out at war dede;Fyve of hys awne to beryniss he gart leid.

His leiff he tuk at heris of the toune;

To Meffane wode rycht glaidly maid him boune.420

Hiss horn he hynt, and bauldly loud can blaw,

Hiss men him hard, and tharto sone couth draw.

Rycht blyth he wass, for thai war all in feyr;

Mony tithingis at him thai wald nocht speyr.

He thaim commaunde to mak thaim redy fast.425

In gud array out of the woode thai past;

Towart Kynclewyn thai bownyt thaim that tid.

Syn in a waill that ner was thar besid,

Fast on to Tay his buschement can he draw.

In a dern woode thai stellit thaim full law;430

Set skouriouris furth the contré to aspye.

Be ane our nowne thre for rydaris went bye.

The wach turned in to witt quhat was his will;

He thaim commaund in couert to bide still:

“And we call, Feyr! the houss knawlege will haiff;435

“And that may sone be warnyng to the laiff.

“All forss in wer do nocht but gouernance.”

Wallace was few; bot happy ordinance

Maid him fell syiss his aduersouris to wyn.

Be that the court of Inglissmen com in,440

Four scoyr and ten weill graithit in thar ger,

Harnest on horss, all likly men of wer.

Wallace saw weill his nowmir was na ma;

He thankit God, and syne the feild couth ta.

The Inglissmen merweild quhat thai suld be;445

But fra thai saw thai maid [thaim] for mellé,

In fewtir thai kest scharpe speris at that tide;

In ire thai thoucht atour the Scottis to ryd.

Wallace and his went cruelly thaim agayne.

At the fyrst rusche feill Inglissmen war slayne.450

Wallace straik ane, with hiss gud sper of steill,

Throw out the cost; the shafft to brak ilk deyll.

A burnyst brand in haist he hyntis out;

Thryss apon fute he thrang throuch all the rout.

Stern horss thai steik, suld men of armyss ber;455

Sone wndir feit fulyeid was men of wer.

Butler lychtyt him self for to defend,

Witht men of armyss quhilk war full worthi kend.

On athyr syde feill frekis war fectand fast.Fol. 18 b

Fol. 18 b

The captayne baid, thocht he war sor agast.460

Part of the Scottis be worthines thai slew:

Wallace was wa, and towart him he drew.

His men dred for the Butler bauld and keyn.

On him he socht in ire and propyr teyn;

Vpon the hed him straik in matelent:465

The burnyst blaid throu his basnett went.

Bathe bayne and brayn he byrst throw all the weid;

Thus Wallace hand deliuerit thaim off dreid.

Yeitt feill on fold was fechtand cruelly:

Stewyn of Irland, and all the cheualry,470

In to the stour did cruelly and weill;

And Kerlé alss with his gud staff of steill.

The Inglissmen, fra thar cheftayne was slayne,

Thai left the feild and fled in all thair mayn.

Thre scoyr war slayne or thai wald leif that steid.475

The fleande folk, that wist of no rameid,

Bot to the houss thai fled in all thair mycht;

The Scottis folowit, that worthi war and wycht.

Few men of fenss was left that place to kepe,

Wemen and preistis wpon the wall can wepe:480

For weill thai wend the flearis was thar lord;

To tak him in thai maid thaim redy ford,

Leit doun the bryg, kest wp the yettis wide.

The frayit folk entrit, and durst nocht byde:

Gud Wallace euir he folowit thaim so fast,485

Quhill in the houss he entryt at the last;

The yett he wor, quhill cumin was all the rout

Of Ingliss and Scottis; he held na man tharout.

The Inglissmen, that won war in that steid,

With outyn grace thai bertnyt thaim to deid.490

The capteynis wiff, wemen, and preistis twa,

And yong childer, forsuth thai sawyt no ma;

Held thaim in closs eftir this sodeyn cass,

Or Sothron men suld sege him in that place;

Tuk wp the bryg, and closyt yettis fast.495

The dede bodyes out of sicht he gart cast,

Baith in the houss, and with out at war dede;

Fyve of hys awne to beryniss he gart leid.

In that castell thar sewyn dayis baide he;On ilka nycht thai spoilyeid besylé.500To Schortwode schaw leide wittaill and wyn wicht,And houshald ger, baithe gold and siluer brycht.Women, and thai that he had grantyt grace,Quhen him thoucht tyme, thai put out of that place.Quhen thai had tayne quhat he likit to haiff,505Straik doun the yettis and set in fyr the laiff;Out off wyndowis stanssouris all thai drew;Full gret irne wark in to the wattir threw;Burdyn duris and lokis, in thair ire,All werk of tre, thai brynt wp in a fyr:510Spylt at thai mycht, brak brig and bulwark doune.Fol. 19 aTo Schortwode schawe in haist thai maid thaim boune;Chesyt a strenth, quhar thai thar lugyng maid,In gud affer a quhill thar still be baid;Yit in the toune no wit of this had thai.515The contré folk, quhen it was lycht of day,Gret reik saw ryss, and to Kynclewyn thai socht:Bot wallis and stane, mar gud thar fand thai nocht.The captennis wiff to Sanct Jhonstoun scho yeid,And to Schyr Garrate scho tauld this felloune deid;520Alss till hyr son quhat hapnyt was be cass.Than demyt thai all that it wass wicht Wallas;Off for tyme thar he spyit had the toune.Than chargyt thai all, thai suld be redy boune.Harnest on horss in to thair armour cler,525To seik Wallace thai went all furth in feyr,A thousand men weill garnest for the wer,Towart the woode rycht awfull in affer,To Schortwode schaw, and set it all about,Wytht fyve staillis that stalwart was and stout;530The sext thai maid a fellon range to leid,Quhar Wallace was full worthi ay in deid.The strenth he tuk, and bade thaim hald it still,On ilka syde, assailye quha sa will.Schyr Jhon Butler in to the forrest went535With twa hundreth, sor mowit in his entent;His fadris dede to wenge him giff he mocht,To Wallace sone with men of armyss socht.A cleuch thar was, quharoff a strenth thai maidWith thuortour treis, [and] bauldly thar abaid.540Fra the ta side thai mycht ische till a playne,Syn throuch the wode to the strenth pass agayn.Twenty he had that nobill archaris war,Agayne sewyn scoyr of Ingliss bowmen sar.Four scoyr of speris ner hand thaim baid at rycht,545Giff Scottis ischit to help thaim at thair mycht.On Wallace sett a bykkyr bauld and keyn;A bow he bair was byg and weyll beseyn,And arrouss als, bath lang and scharpe with aw;No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht draw.550Rycht stark he was, and in to souir ger,Bauldly [he] schott amang thai men of wer.Ane angell hede to the hukis he drew,And at a schoyt the formast sone he sleu.Yngliss archaris, that hardy war and wicht,555Amang the Scottis bykkerit with all thair mycht;Thar awfull schoyt was felloun for to byd,Off Wallace men thai woundyt sor that tid.Few off thaim was sekyr of archary;Bettyr thai war, and thai gat ewyn party,560In feild to byde, othir with suerd or speyr.Fol. 19 bWallace persauit his men tuk mekill deyr:He gart thaim change, and stand nocht in to steid;He kest all wayis to saiff thaim fra the dede.Full gret trauaill vpon him self tuk he;565Off Sothron men feill archaris he gert de,Off Longcaschyr bowmen was in that place.A sar archar ay waytit on Wallace,At ane opyn, quhar he vsyt to repair:At him he drew a sekir schot and sar,570Undyr the chyn, throuch a coler of steill,On the left side, and hurt his halss sumdeill.Astonaide he was, bot nocht gretlye agast;Out fra his men on him he folowit fast;In the turnyng, with gud will hass him tayne575Vpon the crag, in sondyr straik the bayne.Feill of thaim ma na freyndschip with him fand;Fyfteyn that day he schot to dede of hys hand.Be that his arrous waistyt war and gayne;The Ingliss archaris forsuth thai wantyt nayne:580With out thai war thar power to ranew,On ilka side to thaim thai couth persew.Wylyham Loran com with a boustouss staill,Out of Gowry, on Wallace to assaill;Neuo he was, as it was knawin in playn,585To the Butler befor that thai had slayn;To wenge his eyme he come with all his mycht.Thre hundreth he led of men in armyss brycht;To leide the range on fute he maid him ford.Wallace to God his conscience fyrst remord,590Syne comfort thaim with manly contenance;“Yhe se,” he said, “gud schiris, thar ordinance;“Her is no choss, bot owdir do or de.“We haiff the rycht, the happyar may it be,“That we sall chaipe with grace out of this land.”595The Loran, by that, was redy at his hand.Be that it was eftir nown of the day,Feill men of witt to consaill sone yeid thai.The Sothron kest scharply at ilka side,And saw the wood was nothir lang no wide.600Lychtly thai thought he suld hald it so lang:Fywe hundreth maid throu it on fute to gang,Sad men off armess that war off eggyr will;Schyr Garratis self with out the woode baid still.Schyr Jhon Butler the ta sid chesyt he,605The tothyr Loran with a fell menyhe.Than gud Wallace, that of help had gret neid,Was fyfty men in all that felloun dreid.Ane awfull salt the Sothren son began,About the Scottis socht mony likly man,610With bow, and sper, and swerdis stiff of steill:On athir side no frendschip was to feill.Wallace in ire a burly brand can draw,Quhar feill Sothron war semblit vpon raw,Fol. 20 aTo fende his men with his deyr worthi hand:615The folk was fey that he befor him fand.Throw the thikkest of the gret preiss he past,Vpon his enemyss hewand wondyr fast.Agayne his dynt na weidis mycht awaill;Quham so he hyt was dede with outyn faill.620Off the fersest full braithly bair he doun,Befor the Scottis that war of gret renoun.To hald the strenth thai preist, with all thair mycht,The Inglissmen, that worthi war and wicht.Schir Jhon Butler relewit in agayne,625Swndryt the Scottis and did thaim mekill payn;The Loran alss that cruell was and keyn.A sar assay forsuth thar mycht be seyn.Than at the strenth thai mycht no langer bide,The range so strang come wpon athir syde.630In the thikkest woode thar maid thai felle defens,Agayn thair fayis so full of wiolens:Yit felle Sothron left the lyff to wed.

In that castell thar sewyn dayis baide he;

On ilka nycht thai spoilyeid besylé.500

To Schortwode schaw leide wittaill and wyn wicht,

And houshald ger, baithe gold and siluer brycht.

Women, and thai that he had grantyt grace,

Quhen him thoucht tyme, thai put out of that place.

Quhen thai had tayne quhat he likit to haiff,505

Straik doun the yettis and set in fyr the laiff;

Out off wyndowis stanssouris all thai drew;

Full gret irne wark in to the wattir threw;

Burdyn duris and lokis, in thair ire,

All werk of tre, thai brynt wp in a fyr:510

Spylt at thai mycht, brak brig and bulwark doune.Fol. 19 a

Fol. 19 a

To Schortwode schawe in haist thai maid thaim boune;

Chesyt a strenth, quhar thai thar lugyng maid,

In gud affer a quhill thar still be baid;

Yit in the toune no wit of this had thai.515

The contré folk, quhen it was lycht of day,

Gret reik saw ryss, and to Kynclewyn thai socht:

Bot wallis and stane, mar gud thar fand thai nocht.

The captennis wiff to Sanct Jhonstoun scho yeid,

And to Schyr Garrate scho tauld this felloune deid;520

Alss till hyr son quhat hapnyt was be cass.

Than demyt thai all that it wass wicht Wallas;

Off for tyme thar he spyit had the toune.

Than chargyt thai all, thai suld be redy boune.

Harnest on horss in to thair armour cler,525

To seik Wallace thai went all furth in feyr,

A thousand men weill garnest for the wer,

Towart the woode rycht awfull in affer,

To Schortwode schaw, and set it all about,

Wytht fyve staillis that stalwart was and stout;530

The sext thai maid a fellon range to leid,

Quhar Wallace was full worthi ay in deid.

The strenth he tuk, and bade thaim hald it still,

On ilka syde, assailye quha sa will.

Schyr Jhon Butler in to the forrest went535

With twa hundreth, sor mowit in his entent;

His fadris dede to wenge him giff he mocht,

To Wallace sone with men of armyss socht.

A cleuch thar was, quharoff a strenth thai maid

With thuortour treis, [and] bauldly thar abaid.540

Fra the ta side thai mycht ische till a playne,

Syn throuch the wode to the strenth pass agayn.

Twenty he had that nobill archaris war,

Agayne sewyn scoyr of Ingliss bowmen sar.

Four scoyr of speris ner hand thaim baid at rycht,545

Giff Scottis ischit to help thaim at thair mycht.

On Wallace sett a bykkyr bauld and keyn;

A bow he bair was byg and weyll beseyn,

And arrouss als, bath lang and scharpe with aw;

No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht draw.550

Rycht stark he was, and in to souir ger,

Bauldly [he] schott amang thai men of wer.

Ane angell hede to the hukis he drew,

And at a schoyt the formast sone he sleu.

Yngliss archaris, that hardy war and wicht,555

Amang the Scottis bykkerit with all thair mycht;

Thar awfull schoyt was felloun for to byd,

Off Wallace men thai woundyt sor that tid.

Few off thaim was sekyr of archary;

Bettyr thai war, and thai gat ewyn party,560

In feild to byde, othir with suerd or speyr.Fol. 19 b

Fol. 19 b

Wallace persauit his men tuk mekill deyr:

He gart thaim change, and stand nocht in to steid;

He kest all wayis to saiff thaim fra the dede.

Full gret trauaill vpon him self tuk he;565

Off Sothron men feill archaris he gert de,

Off Longcaschyr bowmen was in that place.

A sar archar ay waytit on Wallace,

At ane opyn, quhar he vsyt to repair:

At him he drew a sekir schot and sar,570

Undyr the chyn, throuch a coler of steill,

On the left side, and hurt his halss sumdeill.

Astonaide he was, bot nocht gretlye agast;

Out fra his men on him he folowit fast;

In the turnyng, with gud will hass him tayne575

Vpon the crag, in sondyr straik the bayne.

Feill of thaim ma na freyndschip with him fand;

Fyfteyn that day he schot to dede of hys hand.

Be that his arrous waistyt war and gayne;

The Ingliss archaris forsuth thai wantyt nayne:580

With out thai war thar power to ranew,

On ilka side to thaim thai couth persew.

Wylyham Loran com with a boustouss staill,

Out of Gowry, on Wallace to assaill;

Neuo he was, as it was knawin in playn,585

To the Butler befor that thai had slayn;

To wenge his eyme he come with all his mycht.

Thre hundreth he led of men in armyss brycht;

To leide the range on fute he maid him ford.

Wallace to God his conscience fyrst remord,590

Syne comfort thaim with manly contenance;

“Yhe se,” he said, “gud schiris, thar ordinance;

“Her is no choss, bot owdir do or de.

“We haiff the rycht, the happyar may it be,

“That we sall chaipe with grace out of this land.”595

The Loran, by that, was redy at his hand.

Be that it was eftir nown of the day,

Feill men of witt to consaill sone yeid thai.

The Sothron kest scharply at ilka side,

And saw the wood was nothir lang no wide.600

Lychtly thai thought he suld hald it so lang:

Fywe hundreth maid throu it on fute to gang,

Sad men off armess that war off eggyr will;

Schyr Garratis self with out the woode baid still.

Schyr Jhon Butler the ta sid chesyt he,605

The tothyr Loran with a fell menyhe.

Than gud Wallace, that of help had gret neid,

Was fyfty men in all that felloun dreid.

Ane awfull salt the Sothren son began,

About the Scottis socht mony likly man,610

With bow, and sper, and swerdis stiff of steill:

On athir side no frendschip was to feill.

Wallace in ire a burly brand can draw,

Quhar feill Sothron war semblit vpon raw,Fol. 20 a

Fol. 20 a

To fende his men with his deyr worthi hand:615

The folk was fey that he befor him fand.

Throw the thikkest of the gret preiss he past,

Vpon his enemyss hewand wondyr fast.

Agayne his dynt na weidis mycht awaill;

Quham so he hyt was dede with outyn faill.620

Off the fersest full braithly bair he doun,

Befor the Scottis that war of gret renoun.

To hald the strenth thai preist, with all thair mycht,

The Inglissmen, that worthi war and wicht.

Schir Jhon Butler relewit in agayne,625

Swndryt the Scottis and did thaim mekill payn;

The Loran alss that cruell was and keyn.

A sar assay forsuth thar mycht be seyn.

Than at the strenth thai mycht no langer bide,

The range so strang come wpon athir syde.630

In the thikkest woode thar maid thai felle defens,

Agayn thair fayis so full of wiolens:

Yit felle Sothron left the lyff to wed.

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