BUKE FYFTE.

The dyrk regioun apperand wondyr fast,In Nouember, quhen October was past,The day faillit, throu the rycht courss worthit schort;Till banyst men that is no gret comfort,With thair power in pethis worthis gang;5Hewy thai think quhen at the nycht is lang.Thus Wallas saw the nychtis messynger;Phebus had lost his fyry bemyss cler.Out of the wood thai durst nocht turn that tyd,For aduersouris that in thair way wald byde.10Wallace thaim tauld that new wer wes on hand;The Inglissmen was off the toune cummande.The dure thai brak, quhar thai trowyt Wallace wass;Quhen thai him myst, thai bownyt thaim to pass.In this gret noyis the woman gat away,15But to quhat steide I can nocht graithlye say.The Sothroun socht rycht sadlye fra that stedeThrou the South Ynch, and fand thair twa men dede.Thai knew be that Wallace was in the strenth.About the park thai set on breid and lenth,20Fol. 22 aWith sex hundreth weill graithit in thar armess,All likly men, to wrek thaim of thair harmess.A hundreth men chargit, in armes strang,To kepe a hunde that thai had thaim amang;In Gyllisland thar was that brachell brede,25Sekyr off sent to folow thaim at flede.So was scho vsyt on Esk and on Ledaill;Quhill scho gat blude no flëyng mycht awaill.Than said thai all, Wallace mycht nocht away,He suld be tharis for ocht at he do may.30The ost thai delt in diuerss part that tyde.Schyr Garrat Herroun in the staill can abide;Schyr Jhon Butler the range he tuk him till,With thre hundre quhilk war of hardy will;In to the woode apon Wallace thai yeid.35The worthi Scottis that wer in mekill dreid,Socht till a place for till haiff yschet out,And saw the staill enwerounyt thaim about.Agayne thai went with hydwyss strakis strang,Gret noyiss and dyne was rayssit thaim amang.40Thar cruell deide rycht merwaluss to ken,Quhen fourtie macht agayne thre hundyr men.Wallace so weill apon him tuk that tide,Throw the gret preyss he maid a way full wide;Helpand the Scottis with his der worthi hand:45Fell faymen he left fey vpon the land.Yheit Wallas lost fyfteyn in to that steid;And fourtie men of Sothroun part war dede.The Butleris folk so fruschit was in deid,The hardy Scottis to the strenthis throw thaim yeide.50On to Tay side thai hastyt thaim full fast,In will thai war the wattir till haiff past.Halff couth nocht swym that than with Wallas wass;And he wald nocht leiff ane, and fra thaim pass.Bettir him thocht in perell for to be55Wpon the land, than willfully to seHis men to droun, quhar reskew mycht be nayne.Agayne in ire to the feild ar thai gayne.Butler be than had putt his men in ray,On thaim he sett with ane awfull hard assay,60On athir side with wapynnys stiff off steill.Wallace agayne no frendschipe lett thaim feill.Bot do or de, thai wist no mor socour;Thus fend thai lang in to that stalwart stour.The Scottis chyftayne was yong, and in a rage,65Vsyt in wer, and fechtis with curage.He saw his men off Sothroun tak gret wrang,Thaim to raweng all dreidles can he gang:Fol. 22 bFor mony off thaim war bledand wondyr sar.He couth nocht se no help apperand thar,70Bot thair chyftayne war putt out off thair gait;The bryme Butler so bauldlye maid debait.Throu the gret preyss Wallace to him socht:His awful deid he eschewit as he mocht.Vndyr ane ayk, wyth men about him set:75Wallace mycht nocht a graith straik on him gett:Yeit schede he thaim, a full royd slope was maid.The Scottis went out, no langar thar abaid.Stewyn off Irland, quhilk hardy was and wicht,To helpe Wallace he did gret preyss and mycht;80With trew Kerlé, douchty in mony deid;Wpon the grounde feill Sothroun gert thai bleid.Sexty war slayne of Inglissmen in that place,And nyne off Scottis thair tynt was throuch that cace.Butleris men so stroyit war that tide,85In to the stour he wald no langar bide.To get supple he socht on to the staill:Thus lost he thar a hundreth of gret waill.As thai war best arayand Butleris rout,Betuex parteys than Wallace ischit out;90Sexteyn with him, thai graithit thaim to ga;Off all his men he had lewyt no ma.The Inglissmen has myssyt hym; in hyThe hund thai tuk, and folowit haistely.At the Gask woode full fayne he wald haiff beyne;95Bot this sloth brache, quhilk sekyr was and keyne,On Wallace fute folowit so felloune fast,Quhill in thar sicht thai prochit at the last.Thar horss war wicht, had soiorned weill and langTo the next woode twa myil thai had to gang,100Off vpwith erde; thai yeid with all thair mycht;Gud hope thai had for it was ner the nycht.Fawdoun tyryt, and said, he mycht nocht gang.Wallace was wa to leyff him in that thrang.He bade him ga, and said the strenth was ner;105Bot he tharfor wald nocht fastir him ster.Wallace in ire on the crag can him taWith his gud suerd, and strak the hed him fra.Dreidless to ground derfly he duschit dede.Fra him he lap, and left him in that stede.110Sum demys it to ill, and othyr sum to gud;And I say her, into thir termyss rude,Bettir it was he did, as thinkis me.Fyrst, to the hunde it mycht gret stoppyn be.Als Fawdoun was haldyn at [gret] suspicioun;115For he was haldyn of brokill complexioun.Rycht stark he was, and had bot litill gayne.Thus Wallace wist: had he beyne left allayne,Fol. 23 aAnd he war fals, to enemyss he wald ga;Gyff he war trew, the Sothroun wald him sla.120Mycht he do ocht bot tyne him as it was?Fra this questioun now schortlye will I pass.Deyme as yhe lest, ye that best can and may;I bott raherss as my autour will say.

The dyrk regioun apperand wondyr fast,

In Nouember, quhen October was past,

The day faillit, throu the rycht courss worthit schort;

Till banyst men that is no gret comfort,

With thair power in pethis worthis gang;5

Hewy thai think quhen at the nycht is lang.

Thus Wallas saw the nychtis messynger;

Phebus had lost his fyry bemyss cler.

Out of the wood thai durst nocht turn that tyd,

For aduersouris that in thair way wald byde.10

Wallace thaim tauld that new wer wes on hand;

The Inglissmen was off the toune cummande.

The dure thai brak, quhar thai trowyt Wallace wass;

Quhen thai him myst, thai bownyt thaim to pass.

In this gret noyis the woman gat away,15

But to quhat steide I can nocht graithlye say.

The Sothroun socht rycht sadlye fra that stede

Throu the South Ynch, and fand thair twa men dede.

Thai knew be that Wallace was in the strenth.

About the park thai set on breid and lenth,20Fol. 22 a

Fol. 22 a

With sex hundreth weill graithit in thar armess,

All likly men, to wrek thaim of thair harmess.

A hundreth men chargit, in armes strang,

To kepe a hunde that thai had thaim amang;

In Gyllisland thar was that brachell brede,25

Sekyr off sent to folow thaim at flede.

So was scho vsyt on Esk and on Ledaill;

Quhill scho gat blude no flëyng mycht awaill.

Than said thai all, Wallace mycht nocht away,

He suld be tharis for ocht at he do may.30

The ost thai delt in diuerss part that tyde.

Schyr Garrat Herroun in the staill can abide;

Schyr Jhon Butler the range he tuk him till,

With thre hundre quhilk war of hardy will;

In to the woode apon Wallace thai yeid.35

The worthi Scottis that wer in mekill dreid,

Socht till a place for till haiff yschet out,

And saw the staill enwerounyt thaim about.

Agayne thai went with hydwyss strakis strang,

Gret noyiss and dyne was rayssit thaim amang.40

Thar cruell deide rycht merwaluss to ken,

Quhen fourtie macht agayne thre hundyr men.

Wallace so weill apon him tuk that tide,

Throw the gret preyss he maid a way full wide;

Helpand the Scottis with his der worthi hand:45

Fell faymen he left fey vpon the land.

Yheit Wallas lost fyfteyn in to that steid;

And fourtie men of Sothroun part war dede.

The Butleris folk so fruschit was in deid,

The hardy Scottis to the strenthis throw thaim yeide.50

On to Tay side thai hastyt thaim full fast,

In will thai war the wattir till haiff past.

Halff couth nocht swym that than with Wallas wass;

And he wald nocht leiff ane, and fra thaim pass.

Bettir him thocht in perell for to be55

Wpon the land, than willfully to se

His men to droun, quhar reskew mycht be nayne.

Agayne in ire to the feild ar thai gayne.

Butler be than had putt his men in ray,

On thaim he sett with ane awfull hard assay,60

On athir side with wapynnys stiff off steill.

Wallace agayne no frendschipe lett thaim feill.

Bot do or de, thai wist no mor socour;

Thus fend thai lang in to that stalwart stour.

The Scottis chyftayne was yong, and in a rage,65

Vsyt in wer, and fechtis with curage.

He saw his men off Sothroun tak gret wrang,

Thaim to raweng all dreidles can he gang:Fol. 22 b

Fol. 22 b

For mony off thaim war bledand wondyr sar.

He couth nocht se no help apperand thar,70

Bot thair chyftayne war putt out off thair gait;

The bryme Butler so bauldlye maid debait.

Throu the gret preyss Wallace to him socht:

His awful deid he eschewit as he mocht.

Vndyr ane ayk, wyth men about him set:75

Wallace mycht nocht a graith straik on him gett:

Yeit schede he thaim, a full royd slope was maid.

The Scottis went out, no langar thar abaid.

Stewyn off Irland, quhilk hardy was and wicht,

To helpe Wallace he did gret preyss and mycht;80

With trew Kerlé, douchty in mony deid;

Wpon the grounde feill Sothroun gert thai bleid.

Sexty war slayne of Inglissmen in that place,

And nyne off Scottis thair tynt was throuch that cace.

Butleris men so stroyit war that tide,85

In to the stour he wald no langar bide.

To get supple he socht on to the staill:

Thus lost he thar a hundreth of gret waill.

As thai war best arayand Butleris rout,

Betuex parteys than Wallace ischit out;90

Sexteyn with him, thai graithit thaim to ga;

Off all his men he had lewyt no ma.

The Inglissmen has myssyt hym; in hy

The hund thai tuk, and folowit haistely.

At the Gask woode full fayne he wald haiff beyne;95

Bot this sloth brache, quhilk sekyr was and keyne,

On Wallace fute folowit so felloune fast,

Quhill in thar sicht thai prochit at the last.

Thar horss war wicht, had soiorned weill and lang

To the next woode twa myil thai had to gang,100

Off vpwith erde; thai yeid with all thair mycht;

Gud hope thai had for it was ner the nycht.

Fawdoun tyryt, and said, he mycht nocht gang.

Wallace was wa to leyff him in that thrang.

He bade him ga, and said the strenth was ner;105

Bot he tharfor wald nocht fastir him ster.

Wallace in ire on the crag can him ta

With his gud suerd, and strak the hed him fra.

Dreidless to ground derfly he duschit dede.

Fra him he lap, and left him in that stede.110

Sum demys it to ill, and othyr sum to gud;

And I say her, into thir termyss rude,

Bettir it was he did, as thinkis me.

Fyrst, to the hunde it mycht gret stoppyn be.

Als Fawdoun was haldyn at [gret] suspicioun;115

For he was haldyn of brokill complexioun.

Rycht stark he was, and had bot litill gayne.

Thus Wallace wist: had he beyne left allayne,Fol. 23 a

Fol. 23 a

And he war fals, to enemyss he wald ga;

Gyff he war trew, the Sothroun wald him sla.120

Mycht he do ocht bot tyne him as it was?

Fra this questioun now schortlye will I pass.

Deyme as yhe lest, ye that best can and may;

I bott raherss as my autour will say.

Sternys, be than, began for till apper,125The Inglissmen was cummand wondyr ner;Fyve hundreth haill was in thair chewalry:To the next strenth than Wallace couth him hy.Stewyn off Irland, wnwitting of Wallas,And gud Kerlé, baid still ner hand that place,130At the mur syde, in till a scrogghy slaid,Be est Dipplyne quhar thai this tary maid.Fawdoun was left besid thaim on the land;The power come, and sodeynly him fand:For thair sloith hund the graith gait till him yeid,135Off othir trade scho tuk as than no heid.The sloith stoppyt, at Fawdoune still scho stude;Nor forthir scho wald, fra tyme scho fand the blud.Inglissmen dempt, for ellis thai couth nocht tell,Bot at the Scottis had fochtyn amang thaim sell.140Rycht wa thai war that losyt was thair sent.Wallace twa men amang the ost in went;Dissemblit weylle, that no man suld thaim ken,Rycht in affer, as thai war Inglissmen.Kerlé beheld on to the bauld Heroun,145Vpon Fawdoun as he was lukand doune,A suttell straik wpwart him tuk that tide,Wndir the chokkeis the grounden suerd gart glid,By the gude mayle bathe halss and his crag bayneIn sondyr straik; thus endyt that cheftayne.150To grounde he fell, feile folk about him thrang,Tresoune! thai criyt, traytouris was thaim amang.Kerlye with that fled out sone at a side;His falow Stewyn than thocht no tyme to bide.The fray was gret, and fast away thai yeid,155Lawch towart Ern; thus chapyt thai of dreid.Butler for woo off wepyng mycht nocht stynt.Thus raklesly this gud knycht [haiff] thai tynt.Thai demyt all that it was Wallace men,Or ellis him self, thocht thai couth nocht him ken.160“He is rycht ner, we sall him haif but faill;“This febill woode may him litill awaill.”Fourtie thar past agayne to Sanct Jhonstoun,With this dede corss, to berysing maid it boune.Partyt thar men, syne diuerss wayis raid;165A gret power at Dipplyn still thar baid.Till Dawryoch the Butler past but let;Fol. 23 bAt syndry furdis the gait thai wmbeset;To kepe the wode quhill it was day [thai] thocht.As Wallace thus in the thik forrest socht,170For his twa men in mynd he had gret payne;He wist nocht weill giff thai war tayne or slayne,Or chapyt haile be ony jeperté.Threttene war left with him, no ma had he.In the Gask hall thair lugyng haif thai tayne;175Fyr gat thai sone, bot meyt than had thai nane.Twa scheipe thai tuk besid thaim of a fauld,Ordanyt to soupe in to that sembly hauld;Graithit in haist sum fude for thaim to dycht:So hard thai blaw rude hornyss wpon hycht.180Twa sende he furth to luk quhat it mycht be;Thai baid rycht lang, and no tithingis herd he,Bot boustouss noyis so brymly blew and fast:So othir twa in to the woode furth past.Nane come agayne, bot boustously can blaw.185In to gret ire he send thaim furth on raw.Quhen he allayne Wallace was lewyt thar,The awfull blast aboundyt mekill mayr.Than trowit he weill thai had his lugyng seyne;His suerd he drew of nobill mettall keyne,190Syn furth he went quhar at he hard the horne.With out the dur Fawdoun was him beforn,As till his sycht, his awne hed in his hand;A croyss he maid, quhen he saw him so standAt Wallace in the hed he swaket thar;195And he in haist sone hynt [it] by the hair,Syne out agayne at him he couth it cast;In till his hart he was gretlye agast.Rycht weill he trowit that was no spreit of man;It was sum dewill, at sic malice began.200He wyst no waill thar langar for to bide,Vp throuch the hall thus wicht Wallace can glid,Till a closs stair; the burdis raiff in twyne,Fyftene fute large he lap out of that in.Wp the wattir sodeynlye he couth fair;205Agayne he blent quhat perance he sawe thair.Him thocht he saw Faudoun that hugly syr;That haill hall he had set in a fyr;A gret raftre he had in till his hand.Wallace as than no langar walde he stand,210Off his gud men full gret meruaill had he,How thai war tynt throuch his feyle fantasé.Traistis rycht weill all this was suth in deide,Supposs that it no poynt be of the creide.Power thai had witht Lucifer that fell,215The tyme quhen he partyt fra hewyn to hell.Be sic myscheiff giff his men mycht be lost,Fol. 24 aDrownyt or slayne amang the Ingliss ost;Or quhat it was in liknes of Faudoun,Quhilk brocht his men to suddand confusioun;220Or gif the man endyt in ewill entent,Sum wikkit spreit agayne for him present;I can nocht spek of sic diuinité,To clerkis I will lat all sic materis be:Bot of Wallace, furth I will yow tell.225Quhen he wes went of that perell fell,Yeit glaid wes he that he had chapyt swa:Bot for his men gret murnyng can he ma;Flayt by him self to the Maker off buffe,Quhy he sufferyt he suld sic paynys pruff.230He wyst nocht weill giff it wes Goddis will,Rycht or wrang his fortoun to fullfill:Hade he plesd God, he trowit it mycht nocht beHe suld him thoill in sic perplexité.Bot gret curage in his mynd euir draiff,235Off Inglissmen thinkand amendis to haiff.

Sternys, be than, began for till apper,125

The Inglissmen was cummand wondyr ner;

Fyve hundreth haill was in thair chewalry:

To the next strenth than Wallace couth him hy.

Stewyn off Irland, wnwitting of Wallas,

And gud Kerlé, baid still ner hand that place,130

At the mur syde, in till a scrogghy slaid,

Be est Dipplyne quhar thai this tary maid.

Fawdoun was left besid thaim on the land;

The power come, and sodeynly him fand:

For thair sloith hund the graith gait till him yeid,135

Off othir trade scho tuk as than no heid.

The sloith stoppyt, at Fawdoune still scho stude;

Nor forthir scho wald, fra tyme scho fand the blud.

Inglissmen dempt, for ellis thai couth nocht tell,

Bot at the Scottis had fochtyn amang thaim sell.140

Rycht wa thai war that losyt was thair sent.

Wallace twa men amang the ost in went;

Dissemblit weylle, that no man suld thaim ken,

Rycht in affer, as thai war Inglissmen.

Kerlé beheld on to the bauld Heroun,145

Vpon Fawdoun as he was lukand doune,

A suttell straik wpwart him tuk that tide,

Wndir the chokkeis the grounden suerd gart glid,

By the gude mayle bathe halss and his crag bayne

In sondyr straik; thus endyt that cheftayne.150

To grounde he fell, feile folk about him thrang,

Tresoune! thai criyt, traytouris was thaim amang.

Kerlye with that fled out sone at a side;

His falow Stewyn than thocht no tyme to bide.

The fray was gret, and fast away thai yeid,155

Lawch towart Ern; thus chapyt thai of dreid.

Butler for woo off wepyng mycht nocht stynt.

Thus raklesly this gud knycht [haiff] thai tynt.

Thai demyt all that it was Wallace men,

Or ellis him self, thocht thai couth nocht him ken.160

“He is rycht ner, we sall him haif but faill;

“This febill woode may him litill awaill.”

Fourtie thar past agayne to Sanct Jhonstoun,

With this dede corss, to berysing maid it boune.

Partyt thar men, syne diuerss wayis raid;165

A gret power at Dipplyn still thar baid.

Till Dawryoch the Butler past but let;Fol. 23 b

Fol. 23 b

At syndry furdis the gait thai wmbeset;

To kepe the wode quhill it was day [thai] thocht.

As Wallace thus in the thik forrest socht,170

For his twa men in mynd he had gret payne;

He wist nocht weill giff thai war tayne or slayne,

Or chapyt haile be ony jeperté.

Threttene war left with him, no ma had he.

In the Gask hall thair lugyng haif thai tayne;175

Fyr gat thai sone, bot meyt than had thai nane.

Twa scheipe thai tuk besid thaim of a fauld,

Ordanyt to soupe in to that sembly hauld;

Graithit in haist sum fude for thaim to dycht:

So hard thai blaw rude hornyss wpon hycht.180

Twa sende he furth to luk quhat it mycht be;

Thai baid rycht lang, and no tithingis herd he,

Bot boustouss noyis so brymly blew and fast:

So othir twa in to the woode furth past.

Nane come agayne, bot boustously can blaw.185

In to gret ire he send thaim furth on raw.

Quhen he allayne Wallace was lewyt thar,

The awfull blast aboundyt mekill mayr.

Than trowit he weill thai had his lugyng seyne;

His suerd he drew of nobill mettall keyne,190

Syn furth he went quhar at he hard the horne.

With out the dur Fawdoun was him beforn,

As till his sycht, his awne hed in his hand;

A croyss he maid, quhen he saw him so stand

At Wallace in the hed he swaket thar;195

And he in haist sone hynt [it] by the hair,

Syne out agayne at him he couth it cast;

In till his hart he was gretlye agast.

Rycht weill he trowit that was no spreit of man;

It was sum dewill, at sic malice began.200

He wyst no waill thar langar for to bide,

Vp throuch the hall thus wicht Wallace can glid,

Till a closs stair; the burdis raiff in twyne,

Fyftene fute large he lap out of that in.

Wp the wattir sodeynlye he couth fair;205

Agayne he blent quhat perance he sawe thair.

Him thocht he saw Faudoun that hugly syr;

That haill hall he had set in a fyr;

A gret raftre he had in till his hand.

Wallace as than no langar walde he stand,210

Off his gud men full gret meruaill had he,

How thai war tynt throuch his feyle fantasé.

Traistis rycht weill all this was suth in deide,

Supposs that it no poynt be of the creide.

Power thai had witht Lucifer that fell,215

The tyme quhen he partyt fra hewyn to hell.

Be sic myscheiff giff his men mycht be lost,Fol. 24 a

Fol. 24 a

Drownyt or slayne amang the Ingliss ost;

Or quhat it was in liknes of Faudoun,

Quhilk brocht his men to suddand confusioun;220

Or gif the man endyt in ewill entent,

Sum wikkit spreit agayne for him present;

I can nocht spek of sic diuinité,

To clerkis I will lat all sic materis be:

Bot of Wallace, furth I will yow tell.225

Quhen he wes went of that perell fell,

Yeit glaid wes he that he had chapyt swa:

Bot for his men gret murnyng can he ma;

Flayt by him self to the Maker off buffe,

Quhy he sufferyt he suld sic paynys pruff.230

He wyst nocht weill giff it wes Goddis will,

Rycht or wrang his fortoun to fullfill:

Hade he plesd God, he trowit it mycht nocht be

He suld him thoill in sic perplexité.

Bot gret curage in his mynd euir draiff,235

Off Inglissmen thinkand amendis to haiff.

As he was thus walkand be him allayneApon Ern side, makand a pytuouss mayne,Schyr Jhone Butler, to wache the furdis rycht,Out fra his men of Wallace had a sicht.240The myst wes went to the montanys agayne;Till him he raid; quhar at he maid his mayneOn loude he sperde; “Quhat art thow walkis that gait?”‘A trew man, Schyr, thocht my wiagis be layt;‘Erandis I pass fra Doun to my lord,245‘Schir Jhon Sewart; the rycht for [till] record,‘In Doune is now, new cummyn fra the king.’Than Butler said; “This is a selcouth thing.“Thou leid all out, thow has beyne with Wallace;“I sall the knaw, or thou cum of this place.”250Till him he stert the courser wondyr wicht,Drew out a suerd, so maid [hym] for to lycht.Abowne the kne gud Wallas has him tayne,Throw the and brawn in sondyr straik the bayne;Derffly to dede the knycht fell on the land.255Wallace the horss sone sesyt in his hand,Ane awkwart straik syne tuk him in the sted,His crag in twa; thus was the Butler dede.Ane Inglissman saw thair chiftayne wes slayn;A sper in reyst he kest with all his mayne,260On Wallace draiff, fra the horss him to ber.Warly he wrocht, as worthi man in wer:The sper he wan with outyn mor abaid;On horss he lap, and throw a gret rout raid.Fol. 24 bTo Dawryoch he knew the forss full weill.265Befor him come feyll stuffyt in fyne steill:He straik the fyrst but baid in the blasoune.Quhill horss and man bathe flet the wattir doune.Ane othir sone doune fra his horss he bar,Stampyt to grounde, and drownyt with outyn mar.270The thrid he hyt in his harness of steyll,Throw out the cost; the sper to brak sumdeyll.The gret power than efftir him can ryd:He saw na waill no langar thar to byd.His burnyst brand braithly in hand he bar.275Quham he hytt rycht, thai folowit him no mar.To stuff the chass feyll frekis folowit fast;Bot Wallace maid the gayast ay agast.The mur he tuk, and throw thair power yeid;The horss was gud, bot yeit he had gret dreid280For failyeing or he wan to a strenth.The chass was gret, scalyt our breid and lenth;Throw strang danger thai had him ay in sycht.At the Blakfurd thar Wallace doune can lycht;His horss stuffyt, for the way was depe and lang;285A large gret myile wichtly on fute couth gang.Or he was horst, rydaris about him kest;He saw full weyll lang swa he mycht nocht lest.Sad men in deid wpon him can renew;With retornyng that nycht twenty he slew.290The forseast ay rudely rabutyt he,Kepyt hys horss, and rycht wysely can fle;Quhill that he cum the myrkest mur amang.His horss gaiff our, and wald no forthyr gang.Wallace on fute tuk him with gud entent:295The horss he straik, or that he fra him went;His houch sennownnis he cuttyt all atanyss,And left him thus besyde the standand stanys;For Sotheron men no gud suld off him wyn.In heich haddyr Wallace and thai can twyn.300Throuch that doun with to Forth sadly he soucht.Bot sodandly thar come in till his thocht,Gret power wok at Stirlyng bryg off tre.Seychand he said; “No passage is for me.“For want off fude, and I haiff fochtyn lang,305“On wer men now me thynk no tyme to gang.“At Kamyskynnett I sall the wattir till;“Lat God abowne do with me quhat he will!“In to this land lang[er] I may nocht byd.”Tary he maid sum part on Forthis syd;310Tuk off his weid, and graithit him but mar;Hys swerd he band, that wondyr scharply schar,Amang his ger, be his schuldrys on loft.Thus in he went, to gret God prayand oft,Fol. 25 aOff his hye grace the causs to tak on hand.315Our the wattyr he swame to the south land;Arayede him sone; the sessone was rycht cauld,For Piscis was in tyll his dayis of auld.

As he was thus walkand be him allayne

Apon Ern side, makand a pytuouss mayne,

Schyr Jhone Butler, to wache the furdis rycht,

Out fra his men of Wallace had a sicht.240

The myst wes went to the montanys agayne;

Till him he raid; quhar at he maid his mayne

On loude he sperde; “Quhat art thow walkis that gait?”

‘A trew man, Schyr, thocht my wiagis be layt;

‘Erandis I pass fra Doun to my lord,245

‘Schir Jhon Sewart; the rycht for [till] record,

‘In Doune is now, new cummyn fra the king.’

Than Butler said; “This is a selcouth thing.

“Thou leid all out, thow has beyne with Wallace;

“I sall the knaw, or thou cum of this place.”250

Till him he stert the courser wondyr wicht,

Drew out a suerd, so maid [hym] for to lycht.

Abowne the kne gud Wallas has him tayne,

Throw the and brawn in sondyr straik the bayne;

Derffly to dede the knycht fell on the land.255

Wallace the horss sone sesyt in his hand,

Ane awkwart straik syne tuk him in the sted,

His crag in twa; thus was the Butler dede.

Ane Inglissman saw thair chiftayne wes slayn;

A sper in reyst he kest with all his mayne,260

On Wallace draiff, fra the horss him to ber.

Warly he wrocht, as worthi man in wer:

The sper he wan with outyn mor abaid;

On horss he lap, and throw a gret rout raid.Fol. 24 b

Fol. 24 b

To Dawryoch he knew the forss full weill.265

Befor him come feyll stuffyt in fyne steill:

He straik the fyrst but baid in the blasoune.

Quhill horss and man bathe flet the wattir doune.

Ane othir sone doune fra his horss he bar,

Stampyt to grounde, and drownyt with outyn mar.270

The thrid he hyt in his harness of steyll,

Throw out the cost; the sper to brak sumdeyll.

The gret power than efftir him can ryd:

He saw na waill no langar thar to byd.

His burnyst brand braithly in hand he bar.275

Quham he hytt rycht, thai folowit him no mar.

To stuff the chass feyll frekis folowit fast;

Bot Wallace maid the gayast ay agast.

The mur he tuk, and throw thair power yeid;

The horss was gud, bot yeit he had gret dreid280

For failyeing or he wan to a strenth.

The chass was gret, scalyt our breid and lenth;

Throw strang danger thai had him ay in sycht.

At the Blakfurd thar Wallace doune can lycht;

His horss stuffyt, for the way was depe and lang;285

A large gret myile wichtly on fute couth gang.

Or he was horst, rydaris about him kest;

He saw full weyll lang swa he mycht nocht lest.

Sad men in deid wpon him can renew;

With retornyng that nycht twenty he slew.290

The forseast ay rudely rabutyt he,

Kepyt hys horss, and rycht wysely can fle;

Quhill that he cum the myrkest mur amang.

His horss gaiff our, and wald no forthyr gang.

Wallace on fute tuk him with gud entent:295

The horss he straik, or that he fra him went;

His houch sennownnis he cuttyt all atanyss,

And left him thus besyde the standand stanys;

For Sotheron men no gud suld off him wyn.

In heich haddyr Wallace and thai can twyn.300

Throuch that doun with to Forth sadly he soucht.

Bot sodandly thar come in till his thocht,

Gret power wok at Stirlyng bryg off tre.

Seychand he said; “No passage is for me.

“For want off fude, and I haiff fochtyn lang,305

“On wer men now me thynk no tyme to gang.

“At Kamyskynnett I sall the wattir till;

“Lat God abowne do with me quhat he will!

“In to this land lang[er] I may nocht byd.”

Tary he maid sum part on Forthis syd;310

Tuk off his weid, and graithit him but mar;

Hys swerd he band, that wondyr scharply schar,

Amang his ger, be his schuldrys on loft.

Thus in he went, to gret God prayand oft,Fol. 25 a

Fol. 25 a

Off his hye grace the causs to tak on hand.315

Our the wattyr he swame to the south land;

Arayede him sone; the sessone was rycht cauld,

For Piscis was in tyll his dayis of auld.

Our thwort the Kerss to the Torwode he yeide;A wedow thar duelt that helpyt him in neid.320Thiddyr he come or day begouth to daw,Till a wyndow, and prewaly couth caw.Thai sperd his nayme; bot tell thaim wald he nocht,Quhill scho hir selff ner till his langage socht.Fra tyme scho wist at it was wicht Wallace,325Reiossyt scho wes, and thankit God off his grace.Scho sperd sone, quhy he was him allayne.Murnand, he said; “As now may haiff I nane.”Scho askyt him, quhar at his men suld be.“Feyr deyme,” he said, “go get sum meit for me;330“I haiff fastyt syne yhisterday at morn:“I dreid full sar that my men be forlorn.“Gret part off thaim to the dede I saw dycht.”Scho gat him meyt in all the haist scho mycht.A woman he cald, and als with hyr a child;335Syne bade thaim pass agayne thai wayis wild,To the Gask-hall, tithingis for to sper,Giff part war left of his men in to fer;And scho suld fynd a horss sone in hir gait.He bad thaim se giff that place stud in stait:340Tharoff to her he had full gret desyr,Be causs he thocht that it was all in fyr.Thai passyt furth with outyn tary mar.Him for to rest, Wallace ramaynit thar.Refreschit he wes with meyte, drynk, and with heit;345Quhilk causyt him throuch naturall courss to weitQuhar he suld sleipe, in sekyrnes to be.The wedow had off hyr awne sonnys thre.Fyrst twa off thaim scho send to kepe Wallace;And gert the thrid go sone to Dwnypace;350And tald his eyme, that he was hapnyt thar.The persone yeid to se of his weyllfar.Wallace to sleipe [was] laid in the wood syde;The twa yong men with out hym ner couth byd.The persone come ner, and thar maner saw;355Thai beknyt him to quhat stede he suld draw.The rone wes thik that Wallace slepyt in;About he yeid, and maid bot litill dyn.So at the last of him he had a sycht,Full prewalye how that his bed was dycht.360He him beheld, and said syne to him sell;“Her is merwaill, quha likis it to tell;“That a persone, be worthines of hand,Fol. 25 b“Trowys to stop the powér of Ingland.“Now falss fortoune, the myswyrkar of all,365“Be awentur has gyffyn him a fall,“At he is left with out supple of ma;“A cruell wyff with wapynnys mycht him sla.”Wallace him herd, quhen his slepe ouerpast;Fersly he rayss, and said till him als fast;370‘Thou leid, falss preyst, war thow a fa to me,‘I wald nocht dreid sic othir ten as the.‘I haiff had mar syne yhistirday at morn,‘Than syk sexty war semblyt me beforn.’His eyme him tuk, and went furth with Wallace:375He tald till him off all his paynfull cace.‘This nycht,’ he said, ‘I was left me allayne,‘In feyle debait with enemyss mony ane.‘God at his will my liff did ay to kepe:‘Our Forth I swame, that awfull is and depe.380‘Quhat I haiff had in wer befor this day,‘Presoune and payne, to this nycht was bot play;‘So bett I am with strakis sad and sar;‘The cheyle wattir vrned me mekill mar;‘Eftir gret blud throu heit in cauld was brocht,385‘That off my lyff almost no thing I roucht.‘I meyn fer mar the tynsell off my men,‘Na for my selff, mycht I suffir sic ten.’The persone said; “Der sone, thow may se weyll,“Langar to stryff it helpis nocht adeyll,390“Thi men ar lost, and nayne will with the ryss;“For Goddis [saik,] wyrk as I sall dewyss.“Tak a lordschipe, quhar on at thow may liff;“King Eduuard wald gret landis to the giff.”‘Wncle,’ he said, ‘off sic wordis no mar;395‘This is no thing bot eking off my car.‘I lik bettir to se the Sothren de,‘Than gold or land that thai can giff to me.‘Trastis, rycht weyll of wer I will nocht cess,‘Quhill tyme that I bryng Scotland in to pess,400‘Or de tharfor, in playne to wndrestand.’So come Kerlé, and gud Stewyn of Irland;The wedowis sone to Wallace he thaim broucht.Fra thai him saw, of na sadnes thai roucht;For perfyt joy thai wepe with all thair eyne;405To ground thai fell, and thankit hewynnys queyn.Als he was glaid for reskew off thaim twa;Off thair feris leyffand was left no ma.Thai tald him that Schyr Garrat wes dede;How thai had weyll eschapyt of that stede.410Throuch the Oychall thai had gayne all that nycht,Till Quenysferry, or that the day was brycht;Fol. 26 aHow a trew Scot, for kyndnes off Wallace,Brocht thaim sone oure, syne kend thaim to that place:Als Kerlé wyst, gyff Wallace leyffand war,415Nere Dwnypace that he suld fynd him thar.The persone gart gud purwiance for thaim dycht.In the Torwode thai lugyt all that nycht;Quhill the woman, that Wallace north had send,Retornd agayne, and tald him till ane end,420Quhat Inglissmen in the way scho fand dede:Feyll was fallyn fey in mony syndry stede.The horss scho saw that Wallace had berefft,And the Gask hall standand as it was left,With out harme, nocht sterd off it a stane;425Bot off his men gud tithingis scho gat nane.Tharoff he grewyt gretlye in that tyd:In the forrest he wald no langar bid.The wedow him gaiff part off siluer brycht;Twa of hyr sonnys, that worthi war and wycht.430The thrid scho held becauss he lakit age,In wer as than mycht nocht wyn wesselage.The persone than gat thaim gud horss and ger:Bot wa he was, his mynd was all in wer.

Our thwort the Kerss to the Torwode he yeide;

A wedow thar duelt that helpyt him in neid.320

Thiddyr he come or day begouth to daw,

Till a wyndow, and prewaly couth caw.

Thai sperd his nayme; bot tell thaim wald he nocht,

Quhill scho hir selff ner till his langage socht.

Fra tyme scho wist at it was wicht Wallace,325

Reiossyt scho wes, and thankit God off his grace.

Scho sperd sone, quhy he was him allayne.

Murnand, he said; “As now may haiff I nane.”

Scho askyt him, quhar at his men suld be.

“Feyr deyme,” he said, “go get sum meit for me;330

“I haiff fastyt syne yhisterday at morn:

“I dreid full sar that my men be forlorn.

“Gret part off thaim to the dede I saw dycht.”

Scho gat him meyt in all the haist scho mycht.

A woman he cald, and als with hyr a child;335

Syne bade thaim pass agayne thai wayis wild,

To the Gask-hall, tithingis for to sper,

Giff part war left of his men in to fer;

And scho suld fynd a horss sone in hir gait.

He bad thaim se giff that place stud in stait:340

Tharoff to her he had full gret desyr,

Be causs he thocht that it was all in fyr.

Thai passyt furth with outyn tary mar.

Him for to rest, Wallace ramaynit thar.

Refreschit he wes with meyte, drynk, and with heit;345

Quhilk causyt him throuch naturall courss to weit

Quhar he suld sleipe, in sekyrnes to be.

The wedow had off hyr awne sonnys thre.

Fyrst twa off thaim scho send to kepe Wallace;

And gert the thrid go sone to Dwnypace;350

And tald his eyme, that he was hapnyt thar.

The persone yeid to se of his weyllfar.

Wallace to sleipe [was] laid in the wood syde;

The twa yong men with out hym ner couth byd.

The persone come ner, and thar maner saw;355

Thai beknyt him to quhat stede he suld draw.

The rone wes thik that Wallace slepyt in;

About he yeid, and maid bot litill dyn.

So at the last of him he had a sycht,

Full prewalye how that his bed was dycht.360

He him beheld, and said syne to him sell;

“Her is merwaill, quha likis it to tell;

“That a persone, be worthines of hand,Fol. 25 b

Fol. 25 b

“Trowys to stop the powér of Ingland.

“Now falss fortoune, the myswyrkar of all,365

“Be awentur has gyffyn him a fall,

“At he is left with out supple of ma;

“A cruell wyff with wapynnys mycht him sla.”

Wallace him herd, quhen his slepe ouerpast;

Fersly he rayss, and said till him als fast;370

‘Thou leid, falss preyst, war thow a fa to me,

‘I wald nocht dreid sic othir ten as the.

‘I haiff had mar syne yhistirday at morn,

‘Than syk sexty war semblyt me beforn.’

His eyme him tuk, and went furth with Wallace:375

He tald till him off all his paynfull cace.

‘This nycht,’ he said, ‘I was left me allayne,

‘In feyle debait with enemyss mony ane.

‘God at his will my liff did ay to kepe:

‘Our Forth I swame, that awfull is and depe.380

‘Quhat I haiff had in wer befor this day,

‘Presoune and payne, to this nycht was bot play;

‘So bett I am with strakis sad and sar;

‘The cheyle wattir vrned me mekill mar;

‘Eftir gret blud throu heit in cauld was brocht,385

‘That off my lyff almost no thing I roucht.

‘I meyn fer mar the tynsell off my men,

‘Na for my selff, mycht I suffir sic ten.’

The persone said; “Der sone, thow may se weyll,

“Langar to stryff it helpis nocht adeyll,390

“Thi men ar lost, and nayne will with the ryss;

“For Goddis [saik,] wyrk as I sall dewyss.

“Tak a lordschipe, quhar on at thow may liff;

“King Eduuard wald gret landis to the giff.”

‘Wncle,’ he said, ‘off sic wordis no mar;395

‘This is no thing bot eking off my car.

‘I lik bettir to se the Sothren de,

‘Than gold or land that thai can giff to me.

‘Trastis, rycht weyll of wer I will nocht cess,

‘Quhill tyme that I bryng Scotland in to pess,400

‘Or de tharfor, in playne to wndrestand.’

So come Kerlé, and gud Stewyn of Irland;

The wedowis sone to Wallace he thaim broucht.

Fra thai him saw, of na sadnes thai roucht;

For perfyt joy thai wepe with all thair eyne;405

To ground thai fell, and thankit hewynnys queyn.

Als he was glaid for reskew off thaim twa;

Off thair feris leyffand was left no ma.

Thai tald him that Schyr Garrat wes dede;

How thai had weyll eschapyt of that stede.410

Throuch the Oychall thai had gayne all that nycht,

Till Quenysferry, or that the day was brycht;Fol. 26 a

Fol. 26 a

How a trew Scot, for kyndnes off Wallace,

Brocht thaim sone oure, syne kend thaim to that place:

Als Kerlé wyst, gyff Wallace leyffand war,415

Nere Dwnypace that he suld fynd him thar.

The persone gart gud purwiance for thaim dycht.

In the Torwode thai lugyt all that nycht;

Quhill the woman, that Wallace north had send,

Retornd agayne, and tald him till ane end,420

Quhat Inglissmen in the way scho fand dede:

Feyll was fallyn fey in mony syndry stede.

The horss scho saw that Wallace had berefft,

And the Gask hall standand as it was left,

With out harme, nocht sterd off it a stane;425

Bot off his men gud tithingis scho gat nane.

Tharoff he grewyt gretlye in that tyd:

In the forrest he wald no langar bid.

The wedow him gaiff part off siluer brycht;

Twa of hyr sonnys, that worthi war and wycht.430

The thrid scho held becauss he lakit age,

In wer as than mycht nocht wyn wesselage.

The persone than gat thaim gud horss and ger:

Bot wa he was, his mynd was all in wer.

Thus tuk he leyff with owtyn langar abaid:435In Dundaff mur that sammyn nycht he raid.Schir Jhone the Grayme, quhilk lord wes of that land,Ane agyt knycht had made nane othir band;Bot purchest pess in rest he mycht bide still,Tribute payit full sore agayne his will.440A sone he had, bathe wyss, worthi and wicht;Alexander the ferss at Berweik maid him knycht,Quhar schawyn wes off battaill till haif beyne,Betuex Scottis and the bauld Persie keyne.This yong Schyr Jhone rycht nobill wes in wer445On a braid scheyld his fadyr gert him swer,He suld be trew till Wallace in all thing,And he till him, quhill lyff mycht in thaim ryng.Thre nychtis thar Wallace baid out off dreid;Restyt him weill, swa had he mekill neid.450On the ferd day he wald no langar bide:Schir Jhone the Grayme bownyt with him to ryd;And he said; nay, as than it suld nocht be:“A playne part yeit I will nocht tak on me.“I haiff tynt men throw my [ouer] rakless deid:455“A brynt child mayr sayr the fyr will dreid.“Freyndis haiff I sum part in Clyddysdaill;“I will go se quhat may thai me awaill.”Schir Jhon ansuerd; ‘I will your consaill do;‘Quhen yhe se tyme, send priwalé me to:460Fol. 26 b‘Than I sall cum with my powér in haist.’He him betuk on to the haly Gaist,Saynct Jhone to borch, thai suld meite haill and sound.Out off Dundaff he and thir four couth found;In Bothwell mur that nycht remaynyt he,465With ane Craufurd that lugyt him preualé.Wpon the morn to the Gilbank he went;Rasauit was with mony glaid entent:For his deyr eyme, yong Auchinlek, duelt thar,Brothyr he was to the schirreff off Ayr.470Quhen auld Schyr Ranald till his dede wes dycht,Than Auchinlek weddyt that lady brycht,And childyr gat, as storyess will record,Off Lesmahago, for he held off that lord.Bot he wes slayne, gret peté wes the mar,475With Perseys men, in [to] the toun of Ayr.His sone duelt still, than nynetene yeris off age,And brokit haille his fadris heretage.Tribute he payit for all his landis braid,To lord Persie, as hys brodyr had maid.480

Thus tuk he leyff with owtyn langar abaid:435

In Dundaff mur that sammyn nycht he raid.

Schir Jhone the Grayme, quhilk lord wes of that land,

Ane agyt knycht had made nane othir band;

Bot purchest pess in rest he mycht bide still,

Tribute payit full sore agayne his will.440

A sone he had, bathe wyss, worthi and wicht;

Alexander the ferss at Berweik maid him knycht,

Quhar schawyn wes off battaill till haif beyne,

Betuex Scottis and the bauld Persie keyne.

This yong Schyr Jhone rycht nobill wes in wer445

On a braid scheyld his fadyr gert him swer,

He suld be trew till Wallace in all thing,

And he till him, quhill lyff mycht in thaim ryng.

Thre nychtis thar Wallace baid out off dreid;

Restyt him weill, swa had he mekill neid.450

On the ferd day he wald no langar bide:

Schir Jhone the Grayme bownyt with him to ryd;

And he said; nay, as than it suld nocht be:

“A playne part yeit I will nocht tak on me.

“I haiff tynt men throw my [ouer] rakless deid:455

“A brynt child mayr sayr the fyr will dreid.

“Freyndis haiff I sum part in Clyddysdaill;

“I will go se quhat may thai me awaill.”

Schir Jhon ansuerd; ‘I will your consaill do;

‘Quhen yhe se tyme, send priwalé me to:460Fol. 26 b

Fol. 26 b

‘Than I sall cum with my powér in haist.’

He him betuk on to the haly Gaist,

Saynct Jhone to borch, thai suld meite haill and sound.

Out off Dundaff he and thir four couth found;

In Bothwell mur that nycht remaynyt he,465

With ane Craufurd that lugyt him preualé.

Wpon the morn to the Gilbank he went;

Rasauit was with mony glaid entent:

For his deyr eyme, yong Auchinlek, duelt thar,

Brothyr he was to the schirreff off Ayr.470

Quhen auld Schyr Ranald till his dede wes dycht,

Than Auchinlek weddyt that lady brycht,

And childyr gat, as storyess will record,

Off Lesmahago, for he held off that lord.

Bot he wes slayne, gret peté wes the mar,475

With Perseys men, in [to] the toun of Ayr.

His sone duelt still, than nynetene yeris off age,

And brokit haille his fadris heretage.

Tribute he payit for all his landis braid,

To lord Persie, as hys brodyr had maid.480

I leyff Wallace, with his der wncle still;Off Inglissmen yeit sum thing spek I will.A messynger sone throw the contré yeid,To lord Persie thai tald this fellone deid;Kynclewyn was brynt, brokyn, and castyn doun,485The captayn dede off it and Saynt Jhonstoun;The Loran als, at Schortwod schawis scheyn;In to that land, gret sorow has beyne seynThrouch wicht Wallace, that all this deid has done;“The toune he spyit, and that forthocht we sone.490“Butler is slayne, with douchty men and deyr.”In aspre spech the Persye than can speyr;“Quhat worth of him? I pray you graithlye tell.”‘My lord,’ he said, ‘rycht thus the case befell.‘We knaw for treuth he was left him allayne;500‘And, as he fled, he slew full mony ayne.‘The horss we fand, that him that gait couth ber;‘Bot of hym self no othyr word we her.‘At Styrlyng bryg we wait he passit nocht;‘To dede in Forth he may for vs be brocht.’505Lorde Persye said; “Now suthlye that war syne;“So gud of hand is nayne this warld within.“Had he tayne pess, and beyne our kingis man,“The haill empyr he mycht haiff conquest than.“Gret harme it is, our knychtis that ar ded;510“We mon ger se for othir in thair sted.“I trow nocht yeit at Wallace losyt be:“Our clerkys sayis, he sall ger mony de.”Fol. 27 aThe messynger said; ‘All that suth has beyne;‘Mony hundreth, that cruell war and keyne,515‘Sene he begane, ar lost with out ramede.’The Persye said; “Forsuth he is nocht ded;“The crukis off Forth he knawis wondyr weylle;“He is on lyff, that sall our natioune feill.“Quhen he is strest, than can he swym at will;520“Gret strenth he has, bathe wyt and grace thartill.”A messynger the lord chargyt to wend;And this commaunde in wryt with him he send.Schir Jhone Sewart gret schirreff than he maidOff Sanct Jhonstoun, and all thai landis braid.525In till Kynclewyn thar duelt nane agayne;Thar wes left nocht bot brokyn wallis in playne.Leiff I thaim thus reulland the landis thar;And spek I will off Wallace glaid weillfar.He send Kerlé to Schyr Ranald the knycht,530Till Boyd and Blayr that worthi war and wicht,And Adam als, his cusyng, gud Wallace;To thaim declarde of all this paynfull cass.Off his eschaipe out off that cumpany,Rycht wondyr glaid was this gud chewalry:535Fra tyme thai wyst that Wallace leiffand was,Gude expensis till him thai maid to pass.Maister Jhone Blayr was offt in that message,A worthy clerk, bath wyss and rycht sawage.Lewyt he was befor in Paryss toune.540Amang maistris in science and renoune.Wallace and he at hayme in scule had beyne;Sone eftirwart, as verité is seyne,He was the man that pryncipall wndirtuk,That fyrst compild in dyt the Latyne buk545Off Wallace lyff, rycht famouss of renoune;And Thomas Gray persone off Libertoune.With him thai war, and put in story all,Offt ane or bath, mekill of his trauaill;And tharfor her I mak off thaim mencioune.550Master Jhone Blayr to Wallace maid him boune;To se his heyle his comfort was the mor,As thai full oft togyddyr war befor.Syluer and gold thai gaiff him for to spend;Sa dyde he thaim frely, quhen God it send.555Of gud weylfayr as than he wantyt nane.Inglissmen wyst he was left him allane.Quhar he suld be was nayne off thaim couth say,Drownyt or slayne, or eschapyt away:Tharfor off him thai tuk bot litill heid;560Thai knew him nocht, the less he was in dreid.All trew Scottis gret fauour till him gaiff,Fol. 27 bQuhat gude thai had he mysterit nocht to craiff.

I leyff Wallace, with his der wncle still;

Off Inglissmen yeit sum thing spek I will.

A messynger sone throw the contré yeid,

To lord Persie thai tald this fellone deid;

Kynclewyn was brynt, brokyn, and castyn doun,485

The captayn dede off it and Saynt Jhonstoun;

The Loran als, at Schortwod schawis scheyn;

In to that land, gret sorow has beyne seyn

Throuch wicht Wallace, that all this deid has done;

“The toune he spyit, and that forthocht we sone.490

“Butler is slayne, with douchty men and deyr.”

In aspre spech the Persye than can speyr;

“Quhat worth of him? I pray you graithlye tell.”

‘My lord,’ he said, ‘rycht thus the case befell.

‘We knaw for treuth he was left him allayne;500

‘And, as he fled, he slew full mony ayne.

‘The horss we fand, that him that gait couth ber;

‘Bot of hym self no othyr word we her.

‘At Styrlyng bryg we wait he passit nocht;

‘To dede in Forth he may for vs be brocht.’505

Lorde Persye said; “Now suthlye that war syne;

“So gud of hand is nayne this warld within.

“Had he tayne pess, and beyne our kingis man,

“The haill empyr he mycht haiff conquest than.

“Gret harme it is, our knychtis that ar ded;510

“We mon ger se for othir in thair sted.

“I trow nocht yeit at Wallace losyt be:

“Our clerkys sayis, he sall ger mony de.”Fol. 27 a

Fol. 27 a

The messynger said; ‘All that suth has beyne;

‘Mony hundreth, that cruell war and keyne,515

‘Sene he begane, ar lost with out ramede.’

The Persye said; “Forsuth he is nocht ded;

“The crukis off Forth he knawis wondyr weylle;

“He is on lyff, that sall our natioune feill.

“Quhen he is strest, than can he swym at will;520

“Gret strenth he has, bathe wyt and grace thartill.”

A messynger the lord chargyt to wend;

And this commaunde in wryt with him he send.

Schir Jhone Sewart gret schirreff than he maid

Off Sanct Jhonstoun, and all thai landis braid.525

In till Kynclewyn thar duelt nane agayne;

Thar wes left nocht bot brokyn wallis in playne.

Leiff I thaim thus reulland the landis thar;

And spek I will off Wallace glaid weillfar.

He send Kerlé to Schyr Ranald the knycht,530

Till Boyd and Blayr that worthi war and wicht,

And Adam als, his cusyng, gud Wallace;

To thaim declarde of all this paynfull cass.

Off his eschaipe out off that cumpany,

Rycht wondyr glaid was this gud chewalry:535

Fra tyme thai wyst that Wallace leiffand was,

Gude expensis till him thai maid to pass.

Maister Jhone Blayr was offt in that message,

A worthy clerk, bath wyss and rycht sawage.

Lewyt he was befor in Paryss toune.540

Amang maistris in science and renoune.

Wallace and he at hayme in scule had beyne;

Sone eftirwart, as verité is seyne,

He was the man that pryncipall wndirtuk,

That fyrst compild in dyt the Latyne buk545

Off Wallace lyff, rycht famouss of renoune;

And Thomas Gray persone off Libertoune.

With him thai war, and put in story all,

Offt ane or bath, mekill of his trauaill;

And tharfor her I mak off thaim mencioune.550

Master Jhone Blayr to Wallace maid him boune;

To se his heyle his comfort was the mor,

As thai full oft togyddyr war befor.

Syluer and gold thai gaiff him for to spend;

Sa dyde he thaim frely, quhen God it send.555

Of gud weylfayr as than he wantyt nane.

Inglissmen wyst he was left him allane.

Quhar he suld be was nayne off thaim couth say,

Drownyt or slayne, or eschapyt away:

Tharfor off him thai tuk bot litill heid;560

Thai knew him nocht, the less he was in dreid.

All trew Scottis gret fauour till him gaiff,Fol. 27 b

Fol. 27 b

Quhat gude thai had he mysterit nocht to craiff.

The pess lestyt, that Schyr Ranald had tayne;Thai four monethis it suld nocht be out gane.565This Chrystismess Wallace ramaynyt thar,In Laynrik oft till sport he maid repair.Quhan that he went fra Gilbank to the toune,And he fand men that was off that falss nacioune,To Scotland thai dyde neuir grewance mar;570Sum stekyt thai, sum throttis in sondyr schar.Feill war sone dede, bot nane wyst quha it was;Quham he handlyt he leyt no forthir pass.Thar Hesylryg duelt, that curssyt knycht to waill:Schyrreff he was off all the landis haill,575Felloune, owtrage, dispitfull in his deid;Mony off him tharfor had mekill dreid.Merwaill he thocht quha durst his peple sla,With out the toune he gert gret nowmir ga.Quhen Wallace saw that thai war ma than he,580Than did he nocht but salust curtaslé.All his four men bar thaim quietlik,Na Sotheron couth deme thaim myss, pur no rik.In Lanryk duelt a gentill woman thar,A madyn myld, as my buk will declar,585Off auchteyn yeris ald or litill mor off age;Alss born scho was till part off heretage.Hyr fadyr was off worschipe and renoune,And Hew Braidfute he hecht of Lammyngtoune,As feylle othyr was in the contré calld;590Befor tyme thai gentill men war off ald.Bot this gud man, and als his wiff wes ded.The madyn than wyst off no othyr rede,Bot still scho duelt on trewbute in the toune,And purchest had king Eduuardis protectioune;595Serwandys with hyr, off freyndis at hyr will.Thus leyffyt scho without desyr off ill;A quiet houss, as scho mycht hald in wer,For Hesylryg had done hyr mekill der;Slayne hyr brodyr, quhilk eldast wes and ayr.600All sufferyt scho, and rycht lawly hyr bar;Amyabill, so benyng, war, and wyss,Curtass and swete, fulfillyt of gentryss,Weyll rewllyt off tong, rycht haill of contenance,Off wertuouss scho was worthi till awance;605Hummylly hyr led, and purchest a gud name,Off ilkyn wicht scho kepyt her fra blame.Trew rychtwyss folk a gret fauour hir lent.Fol. 28 aApon a day, to the kyrk as scho went,Wallace hyr saw, as he his eyne can cast.610The prent off luff him punyeit at the last,So asprely, throuch bewté off that brycht,With gret wness in presence bid he mycht.He knew full weyll hyr kynrent and hyr blud,And how scho was in honest oyss and gud.615Quhill wald he think to luff hyr our the laiff,And othir quhill he thocht on his dissaiff,How that hys men was brocht to confusioun,Throw his last luff he had in Saynct Jhonstoun.Than wald he think to leiff and lat our slyd:620Bot that thocht lang in hys mynd mycht nocht byd.He tauld Kerlé off his new lusty baille,Syne askit hym off his trew best consaill.“Maister,” he said, “as fer as I haiff feyll,“Off lyklynes it may be wondyr weill.625“Sen ye sa luff, tak hir in mariage;“Gudlye scho is, and als has heretage.“Supposs at yhe in luffyng feill amyss,“Gret God forbede it suld be so with this.”‘To mary thus I can nocht yeit attend:630‘I wald of wer fyrst se a finaill end.‘I will no mor allayne to my luff gang;‘Tak tent to me, or dreid we suffer wrang.‘To proffer [luff] thus sone I wald nocht preffe;‘Mycht I leyff off, in wer I lik to leyff.635‘Quhat is this luff? no thing bot folychnes;‘It may reiff men bathe witt and stedfastnes.’Than said he thus; ‘This will nocht graithly be,‘Amors and wer at anys to ryng in me.‘Rycht suth it is, stude I in blis off luffe,640‘Quhar dedis war I suld the bettir pruff.‘Bot weyle I wait, quhar gret ernyst is in thocht,‘It lattis wer in the wysest wys be wrocht;‘Less gyf it be, bot only till a deid:‘Than he that thinkis on his luff to speid,‘He may do weill, haiff he fortoun and grace.645‘Bot this standis all in ane othir cass;‘A gret kynryk with feill fayis our set,‘Rycht hard it is amendis for to get‘At anys of thaim, and wyrk the obserwance650‘Quhilk langis luff, and all his frewill chance.‘Sampill I haif; this me forthinkis sar:‘I trow to God it sall be so no mar.‘The trewth I knaw off this, and hyr lynage;‘I knew nocht hyr, tharfor I lost a gage.’655Fol. 28 b

The pess lestyt, that Schyr Ranald had tayne;

Thai four monethis it suld nocht be out gane.565

This Chrystismess Wallace ramaynyt thar,

In Laynrik oft till sport he maid repair.

Quhan that he went fra Gilbank to the toune,

And he fand men that was off that falss nacioune,

To Scotland thai dyde neuir grewance mar;570

Sum stekyt thai, sum throttis in sondyr schar.

Feill war sone dede, bot nane wyst quha it was;

Quham he handlyt he leyt no forthir pass.

Thar Hesylryg duelt, that curssyt knycht to waill:

Schyrreff he was off all the landis haill,575

Felloune, owtrage, dispitfull in his deid;

Mony off him tharfor had mekill dreid.

Merwaill he thocht quha durst his peple sla,

With out the toune he gert gret nowmir ga.

Quhen Wallace saw that thai war ma than he,580

Than did he nocht but salust curtaslé.

All his four men bar thaim quietlik,

Na Sotheron couth deme thaim myss, pur no rik.

In Lanryk duelt a gentill woman thar,

A madyn myld, as my buk will declar,585

Off auchteyn yeris ald or litill mor off age;

Alss born scho was till part off heretage.

Hyr fadyr was off worschipe and renoune,

And Hew Braidfute he hecht of Lammyngtoune,

As feylle othyr was in the contré calld;590

Befor tyme thai gentill men war off ald.

Bot this gud man, and als his wiff wes ded.

The madyn than wyst off no othyr rede,

Bot still scho duelt on trewbute in the toune,

And purchest had king Eduuardis protectioune;595

Serwandys with hyr, off freyndis at hyr will.

Thus leyffyt scho without desyr off ill;

A quiet houss, as scho mycht hald in wer,

For Hesylryg had done hyr mekill der;

Slayne hyr brodyr, quhilk eldast wes and ayr.600

All sufferyt scho, and rycht lawly hyr bar;

Amyabill, so benyng, war, and wyss,

Curtass and swete, fulfillyt of gentryss,

Weyll rewllyt off tong, rycht haill of contenance,

Off wertuouss scho was worthi till awance;605

Hummylly hyr led, and purchest a gud name,

Off ilkyn wicht scho kepyt her fra blame.

Trew rychtwyss folk a gret fauour hir lent.Fol. 28 a

Fol. 28 a

Apon a day, to the kyrk as scho went,

Wallace hyr saw, as he his eyne can cast.610

The prent off luff him punyeit at the last,

So asprely, throuch bewté off that brycht,

With gret wness in presence bid he mycht.

He knew full weyll hyr kynrent and hyr blud,

And how scho was in honest oyss and gud.615

Quhill wald he think to luff hyr our the laiff,

And othir quhill he thocht on his dissaiff,

How that hys men was brocht to confusioun,

Throw his last luff he had in Saynct Jhonstoun.

Than wald he think to leiff and lat our slyd:620

Bot that thocht lang in hys mynd mycht nocht byd.

He tauld Kerlé off his new lusty baille,

Syne askit hym off his trew best consaill.

“Maister,” he said, “as fer as I haiff feyll,

“Off lyklynes it may be wondyr weill.625

“Sen ye sa luff, tak hir in mariage;

“Gudlye scho is, and als has heretage.

“Supposs at yhe in luffyng feill amyss,

“Gret God forbede it suld be so with this.”

‘To mary thus I can nocht yeit attend:630

‘I wald of wer fyrst se a finaill end.

‘I will no mor allayne to my luff gang;

‘Tak tent to me, or dreid we suffer wrang.

‘To proffer [luff] thus sone I wald nocht preffe;

‘Mycht I leyff off, in wer I lik to leyff.635

‘Quhat is this luff? no thing bot folychnes;

‘It may reiff men bathe witt and stedfastnes.’

Than said he thus; ‘This will nocht graithly be,

‘Amors and wer at anys to ryng in me.

‘Rycht suth it is, stude I in blis off luffe,640

‘Quhar dedis war I suld the bettir pruff.

‘Bot weyle I wait, quhar gret ernyst is in thocht,

‘It lattis wer in the wysest wys be wrocht;

‘Less gyf it be, bot only till a deid:

‘Than he that thinkis on his luff to speid,

‘He may do weill, haiff he fortoun and grace.645

‘Bot this standis all in ane othir cass;

‘A gret kynryk with feill fayis our set,

‘Rycht hard it is amendis for to get

‘At anys of thaim, and wyrk the obserwance650

‘Quhilk langis luff, and all his frewill chance.

‘Sampill I haif; this me forthinkis sar:

‘I trow to God it sall be so no mar.

‘The trewth I knaw off this, and hyr lynage;

‘I knew nocht hyr, tharfor I lost a gage.’655Fol. 28 b

Fol. 28 b

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