BUKE FYRST.

WALLACE.BUKE FYRST.

WALLACE.

Our antecessowris, that we suld of reide,And hald in mynde thar nobille worthi deid,We lat ourslide, throw werray sleuthfulnes;And castis ws euir till vthir besynes.Till honour ennymys is our haile entent,5It has beyne seyne in thir tymys bywent;Our ald ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud,That neuyr yeit to Scotland wald do gud,Bot euir on fors, and contrar haile thair will,Quhow gret kyndnes thar has beyne kyth thaim till.10It is weyle knawyne on mony diuerss syde,How thai haff wrocht in to thair mychty pryde,To hald Scotlande at wndyr euirmar.Bot God abuff has maid thar mycht to par:Yhit we suld thynk one our bearis befor.15Of thair parablyss as now I say no mor.

Our antecessowris, that we suld of reide,

And hald in mynde thar nobille worthi deid,

We lat ourslide, throw werray sleuthfulnes;

And castis ws euir till vthir besynes.

Till honour ennymys is our haile entent,5

It has beyne seyne in thir tymys bywent;

Our ald ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud,

That neuyr yeit to Scotland wald do gud,

Bot euir on fors, and contrar haile thair will,

Quhow gret kyndnes thar has beyne kyth thaim till.10

It is weyle knawyne on mony diuerss syde,

How thai haff wrocht in to thair mychty pryde,

To hald Scotlande at wndyr euirmar.

Bot God abuff has maid thar mycht to par:

Yhit we suld thynk one our bearis befor.15

Of thair parablyss as now I say no mor.

We reide of ane rycht famouss of renowne,Of worthi blude that ryngis in this regioune:And hensfurth I will my process haldOf Wilyham Wallas yhe haf hard beyne tald.20His forbearis quha likis till wndrestand,Of hale lynage, and trew lyne of Scotland,Schir Ranald Crawfurd, rycht schirreff of Ayr:So in hys tyme he had a dochter fayr,And yonge Schir Ranald schirreff of that toune,25His systir fair, off gud fame and ranoune:Malcom Wallas hir gat in mariage,That Elrislé than had in heretage,Auchinbothe, and othir syndry place;The secund O he was of gud Wallace:30The quhilk Wallas fully worthely at wrocht,Quhen Waltyr hyr of Waillis fra Warayn socht.Quha likis till haif mar knawlage in that part,Go reid the rycht lyne of the fyrst Stewart.Bot Malcom gat wpon this lady brycht35Schir Malcom Wallas, a full gentill knycht,And Wilyame als, as Conus cornykle beris on hand;Quhilk eftir was the reskew of Scotland.Quhen it was lost with tresoune and falsness,Our set be fais, he fred it weyle throu grace.40

We reide of ane rycht famouss of renowne,

Of worthi blude that ryngis in this regioune:

And hensfurth I will my process hald

Of Wilyham Wallas yhe haf hard beyne tald.20

His forbearis quha likis till wndrestand,

Of hale lynage, and trew lyne of Scotland,

Schir Ranald Crawfurd, rycht schirreff of Ayr:

So in hys tyme he had a dochter fayr,

And yonge Schir Ranald schirreff of that toune,25

His systir fair, off gud fame and ranoune:

Malcom Wallas hir gat in mariage,

That Elrislé than had in heretage,

Auchinbothe, and othir syndry place;

The secund O he was of gud Wallace:30

The quhilk Wallas fully worthely at wrocht,

Quhen Waltyr hyr of Waillis fra Warayn socht.

Quha likis till haif mar knawlage in that part,

Go reid the rycht lyne of the fyrst Stewart.

Bot Malcom gat wpon this lady brycht35

Schir Malcom Wallas, a full gentill knycht,

And Wilyame als, as Conus cornykle beris on hand;

Quhilk eftir was the reskew of Scotland.

Quhen it was lost with tresoune and falsness,

Our set be fais, he fred it weyle throu grace.40

Quhen Alexander our worthi king had lorn,Be awentur, his liff besid Kyngorn,Thre yer in pess the realm stude desolate;Quharfor thair raiss a full grewous debate.Our prynce Dawy, the erle of Huntyntoun,45Thre dochtrys had that war of gret ranoun;Off quhilk thre com Bruce, Balyoune, and Hastyng:Twa of the thre desyryt to be kyng.Balyoune clamyt of fyrst gre lynialy;And Bruce fyrst male of the secund gre by.50To Paryss than, and in Ingland thai send,Fol. 1 bOff this gret striff how thai suld haif ane end.Foly it was, forsuth it happynnyt sa,Succour to sek of thar alde mortale fa.Eduuarde Langschankis had new begune hys wer55Apon Gaskone, fell awfull in effer:Thai landis thane he clamde as heretage.Fra tyme that he had semblit his barnage,And herd tell weyle Scotland stude in sic cace,He thocht till hym to mak it playn conquace.60Till Noram kirk he come with outyn mar,The consell than of Scotland meit hym thar.Full sutailly he chargit thaim in bandoune,As thar our lord,till hald of hym the croun.Byschope Robert, in his tyme full worthi,65Off Glaskow lord, he said that “we deny“Ony our lord, bot the gret God abuff.”The king was wrath, and maid hym to ramuff.Couatus Balyoune folowid on hym fast:Till hald of hym he grantyt at the last.70In contrar rycht, a king he maid hym thar;Quhar throuch Scotland rapentyt syne full sar.To Balyoune yhit our lordis wald nocht consent.Eduuard past south, and gert set his parliment:He callyt Balyoune till ansuer for Scotland.75The wyss lordis gert hym sone brek that band.Ane abbot past, and gaif our this legiance.King Eduuard than it tuk in gret greuance.His ost he rasd, and come to Werk on Twede;Bot for to fecht, as than he had gret drede.80To Corspatryk of Dunbar sone he send,His consell ast, for he [the] contré kend:And he was brocht in presence to the king.Be suttale band thai cordyt of this thing.

Quhen Alexander our worthi king had lorn,

Be awentur, his liff besid Kyngorn,

Thre yer in pess the realm stude desolate;

Quharfor thair raiss a full grewous debate.

Our prynce Dawy, the erle of Huntyntoun,45

Thre dochtrys had that war of gret ranoun;

Off quhilk thre com Bruce, Balyoune, and Hastyng:

Twa of the thre desyryt to be kyng.

Balyoune clamyt of fyrst gre lynialy;

And Bruce fyrst male of the secund gre by.50

To Paryss than, and in Ingland thai send,Fol. 1 b

Fol. 1 b

Off this gret striff how thai suld haif ane end.

Foly it was, forsuth it happynnyt sa,

Succour to sek of thar alde mortale fa.

Eduuarde Langschankis had new begune hys wer55

Apon Gaskone, fell awfull in effer:

Thai landis thane he clamde as heretage.

Fra tyme that he had semblit his barnage,

And herd tell weyle Scotland stude in sic cace,

He thocht till hym to mak it playn conquace.60

Till Noram kirk he come with outyn mar,

The consell than of Scotland meit hym thar.

Full sutailly he chargit thaim in bandoune,

As thar our lord,till hald of hym the croun.

Byschope Robert, in his tyme full worthi,65

Off Glaskow lord, he said that “we deny

“Ony our lord, bot the gret God abuff.”

The king was wrath, and maid hym to ramuff.

Couatus Balyoune folowid on hym fast:

Till hald of hym he grantyt at the last.70

In contrar rycht, a king he maid hym thar;

Quhar throuch Scotland rapentyt syne full sar.

To Balyoune yhit our lordis wald nocht consent.

Eduuard past south, and gert set his parliment:

He callyt Balyoune till ansuer for Scotland.75

The wyss lordis gert hym sone brek that band.

Ane abbot past, and gaif our this legiance.

King Eduuard than it tuk in gret greuance.

His ost he rasd, and come to Werk on Twede;

Bot for to fecht, as than he had gret drede.80

To Corspatryk of Dunbar sone he send,

His consell ast, for he [the] contré kend:

And he was brocht in presence to the king.

Be suttale band thai cordyt of this thing.

Erle Patrik than till Berweik couth persew;85Ressawide he was and trastyt werray trew.The king folowid with his host of ranoun;Eftir mydnycht at rest wes all the toun.Corspatryk raiss, the keyis weile he knew,Leit breggis doun, and portculess thai drew;90Set wp yettis syne, couth his baner schaw;The ost was war, and towart hym thai draw.Eduuard entrit, and gert sla hastely,Of man and wiff, sewyn thousand and fyfty,And barnys als: be this fals awentur,95Of trew Scottis chapyt na creatur.A captayne thair this fals Eduuard maid:Towart Dunbar, without restyng thai raid;Quhar gaderyt was gret power of Scotland,Agayne Eduuard in bataill thocht to stand.100Thir four erllis was entrit in that place,Of Mar, Menteith, Adell, Ross, wpon cace.In that castell the erle gert hald thaim in,Fol. 2 aAt to thar men with out thai mycht nocht wyn;Na thai to thaim supplëyng for to ma.105The battaillis than to giddyr fast thai ga.Full gret slauchtyr, at pitté was to se,Off trew Scottis oursett with sutelté.Erle Patrik than, quhen fechtyng was fellast,Till our fa turnd, and harmyng did ws mast.110Is nayne in warld, at scaithis ma do mar,Than weile trastyt in borne familiar.Our men was slayne with outyn redemptioune;Throuch thar dedis all tynt was this regioune.King Eduuard past and Corspatrik to Scwne;115And thar he gat homage of Scotland swne:For nane was left the realme for to defend.For Jhon the Balyoune to Munross than he send,And putt hym doune for euir of this kynrik:Than Eduuarde self was callit a roy full ryk.120The croune he tuk apon that sammyne staneAt Gadalos send with his sone fra Spane,Quhen Iber Scot fyrst in till Irland come.At Canemor syne king Fergus has it nome;Brocht it till Scwne, and stapill maid it thar,125Quhar kingis was cround aucht hundyr yer and thar,Befor the tyme at king Eduuard it fand.This jowell he gert turss in till Ingland;In Lwnd it sett till witness of this thing;Be conquest than of Scotland cald hym king.130Quhar that stayne is, Scottis suld mastir be:God chess the tyme Margretis ayr till see!Sewyn scor thai led off the gretast that thai fandOff ayris with thaim,and Bruce, out of Scotland.Eduuard gayf hym his faderis heretage;135Bot he thocht ay till hald hym in thrillage.Baith Blatok Mur was his and Huntyntoun;Till erle Patrik thai gaif full gret gardoun.For the frendschipe king Eduuard with hym fand,Protector haile he maid hym of Scotland.140That office than he brukyt bot schort tyme.I may nocht now putt all thair deid in ryme;Off cornikle quhat suld I tary lang?To Wallace agayne now breiffly will I gange.Scotland was lost quhen he was bot a child,145And our set throuch with our ennemyss wilde.His fadyr Malcom in the Lennox fled;His eldest sone thedir he with hym led.Hys modyr fled with him fra Elrislé,Till Gowry past, and duelt in Kilspyndé.150The knycht hir fadyr thedyr he thaim sentTill his wncle, that with full gud ententIn Gowry duelt, and had gud lewyng thar;Ane agyt man, the quhilk resawyt thaim far.In till Dundé Wallace to scule thai send,155Quhill he of witt full worthely was kend.Fol. 2 bThus he conteynde in till hys tendyr age;In armys syne did mony hie waslage,Quhen Saxons blude into this realm cummyng,Wyrkand the will of Eduuard that fals king,160Mony gret wrang thai wrocht in this regioune,Distroyed our lordys, and brak thar byggynnys doun.Both wiffis, wedowis, thai tuk all at thair will,Nonnys, madyns, quham thai likit to spill.King Herodis part thai playit in to Scotland,165Off yong childer that thai befor thaim fand.The byschoprykis, that war of gretast waile,Thai tuk in hand of thar archbyschops haile:No for the Pape thai wald no kyrkis forber,Bot gryppyt all be wiolence of wer.170Glaskow thai gaif, as it our weile was kend,To dyocye in Duram to commend.Small benifice that wald thai nocht persew,And for the richt full worthy clerkis thai slew;Hangitt barrownnys and wroucht full mekill cayr:175It was weylle knawyn, in the Bernys of Ayr,Auchtene score putt to that dispitfull dede:Bot God abowyn has send ws sum ramede.The remembrance is forthir in the taile.I will folow apon my process haile.180

Erle Patrik than till Berweik couth persew;85

Ressawide he was and trastyt werray trew.

The king folowid with his host of ranoun;

Eftir mydnycht at rest wes all the toun.

Corspatryk raiss, the keyis weile he knew,

Leit breggis doun, and portculess thai drew;90

Set wp yettis syne, couth his baner schaw;

The ost was war, and towart hym thai draw.

Eduuard entrit, and gert sla hastely,

Of man and wiff, sewyn thousand and fyfty,

And barnys als: be this fals awentur,95

Of trew Scottis chapyt na creatur.

A captayne thair this fals Eduuard maid:

Towart Dunbar, without restyng thai raid;

Quhar gaderyt was gret power of Scotland,

Agayne Eduuard in bataill thocht to stand.100

Thir four erllis was entrit in that place,

Of Mar, Menteith, Adell, Ross, wpon cace.

In that castell the erle gert hald thaim in,Fol. 2 a

Fol. 2 a

At to thar men with out thai mycht nocht wyn;

Na thai to thaim supplëyng for to ma.105

The battaillis than to giddyr fast thai ga.

Full gret slauchtyr, at pitté was to se,

Off trew Scottis oursett with sutelté.

Erle Patrik than, quhen fechtyng was fellast,

Till our fa turnd, and harmyng did ws mast.110

Is nayne in warld, at scaithis ma do mar,

Than weile trastyt in borne familiar.

Our men was slayne with outyn redemptioune;

Throuch thar dedis all tynt was this regioune.

King Eduuard past and Corspatrik to Scwne;115

And thar he gat homage of Scotland swne:

For nane was left the realme for to defend.

For Jhon the Balyoune to Munross than he send,

And putt hym doune for euir of this kynrik:

Than Eduuarde self was callit a roy full ryk.120

The croune he tuk apon that sammyne stane

At Gadalos send with his sone fra Spane,

Quhen Iber Scot fyrst in till Irland come.

At Canemor syne king Fergus has it nome;

Brocht it till Scwne, and stapill maid it thar,125

Quhar kingis was cround aucht hundyr yer and thar,

Befor the tyme at king Eduuard it fand.

This jowell he gert turss in till Ingland;

In Lwnd it sett till witness of this thing;

Be conquest than of Scotland cald hym king.130

Quhar that stayne is, Scottis suld mastir be:

God chess the tyme Margretis ayr till see!

Sewyn scor thai led off the gretast that thai fand

Off ayris with thaim,and Bruce, out of Scotland.

Eduuard gayf hym his faderis heretage;135

Bot he thocht ay till hald hym in thrillage.

Baith Blatok Mur was his and Huntyntoun;

Till erle Patrik thai gaif full gret gardoun.

For the frendschipe king Eduuard with hym fand,

Protector haile he maid hym of Scotland.140

That office than he brukyt bot schort tyme.

I may nocht now putt all thair deid in ryme;

Off cornikle quhat suld I tary lang?

To Wallace agayne now breiffly will I gange.

Scotland was lost quhen he was bot a child,145

And our set throuch with our ennemyss wilde.

His fadyr Malcom in the Lennox fled;

His eldest sone thedir he with hym led.

Hys modyr fled with him fra Elrislé,

Till Gowry past, and duelt in Kilspyndé.150

The knycht hir fadyr thedyr he thaim sent

Till his wncle, that with full gud entent

In Gowry duelt, and had gud lewyng thar;

Ane agyt man, the quhilk resawyt thaim far.

In till Dundé Wallace to scule thai send,155

Quhill he of witt full worthely was kend.Fol. 2 b

Fol. 2 b

Thus he conteynde in till hys tendyr age;

In armys syne did mony hie waslage,

Quhen Saxons blude into this realm cummyng,

Wyrkand the will of Eduuard that fals king,160

Mony gret wrang thai wrocht in this regioune,

Distroyed our lordys, and brak thar byggynnys doun.

Both wiffis, wedowis, thai tuk all at thair will,

Nonnys, madyns, quham thai likit to spill.

King Herodis part thai playit in to Scotland,165

Off yong childer that thai befor thaim fand.

The byschoprykis, that war of gretast waile,

Thai tuk in hand of thar archbyschops haile:

No for the Pape thai wald no kyrkis forber,

Bot gryppyt all be wiolence of wer.170

Glaskow thai gaif, as it our weile was kend,

To dyocye in Duram to commend.

Small benifice that wald thai nocht persew,

And for the richt full worthy clerkis thai slew;

Hangitt barrownnys and wroucht full mekill cayr:175

It was weylle knawyn, in the Bernys of Ayr,

Auchtene score putt to that dispitfull dede:

Bot God abowyn has send ws sum ramede.

The remembrance is forthir in the taile.

I will folow apon my process haile.180

Willyham Wallace, or he was man of armys,Gret pitté thocht that Scotland tuk sic harmys.Mekill dolour it did hym in hys mynde;For he was wyss, rycht worthy, wicht and kynd:In Gowry duelt still with this worthy man.185As he encressyt, and witt haboundyt than,In till hys hart he had full mekill cayr,He saw the Sothroun multipliand mayr;And to hym self offt wald he mak his mayne.Off his gud kyne thai had slane mony ane.190Yhit he was than semly, stark and bald;And he of age was bot auchtene yer auld.Wapynnys he bur, outhir gud suerd or knyff;For he with thaim hapnyt richt offt in stryff.Quhar he fand ane without the othir presance,195Eftir to Scottis that did no mor grewance;To cut his throit, or steik hym sodanlye,He wayndyt nocht, fand he thaim fawely.Syndry wayntyt, bot nane wyst be quhat way;For all to him thar couth na man thaim say.200Sad of contenance he was bathe auld and ying,Litill of spech, wyss, curtass and benyng.Wpon a day to Dundé he was send;Off cruelness full litill thai him kend.The constable a felloun man of wer,205That to the Scottis did full mekill der,Fol. 3 aSelbye he hecht, dispitfull and owtrage.A sone he had ner twenty yer of age:Into the toun he wsyt euerlik day;Thre men or four thar went with him to play;210A hely schrew, wanton in his entent.Wallace he saw, and towart him he went;Liklé he was, richt byge and weyle beseyne,In till a gyde of gudly ganand greyne.He callyt on hym, and said; “Thou Scot, abyde;215“Quha dewill the grathis in so gay a gyde?“Ane Ersche mantill it war thi kynd to wer;“A Scottis thewtill wndyr thi belt to ber;“Rouch rewlyngis apon thi harlot fete.“Gyff me thi knyff; quhat dois thi ger so mete?”220Till him he yeid, his knyff to tak him fra.Fast by the collar Wallace couth him ta;Wndyr his hand the knyff he bradit owt,For all his men that semblyt him about:Bot help him selff he wsyt of no remede;225With out reskew he stekyt him to dede.The squier fell: of him thar was na mar.His men folowid on Wallace wondyr sar:The press was thik, and cummerit thaim full fast.Wallace was spedy, and gretlye als agast;230The bludy knyff bar drawin in his hand,He sparyt nane that he befor him fand.He knew the hous his eyme had lugit in;Thedir he fled, for owt he mycht nocht wyn.The gude wyff than within the closs saw he;235And, “Help,” he cryit, “for him that deit on tre;“The yong captane has fallyn with me at stryff.”In at the dur he went with this gud wiff.A roussat goun of hir awn scho him gaifApon his weyd, at coueryt all the layff;240A soudly courche our hed and nek leit fall;A wowyn quhyt hatt scho brassit on with all;For thai suld nocht lang tary at that in;Gaiff him a rok, syn set him doun to spyn.The Sothroun socht quhar Wallace was in drede;245Thai wyst nocht weylle at quhat yett he in yeide.In that same houss thai socht him beselye;Bot he sat still, and span full conandly,As of his tym, for he nocht leryt lang.Thai left him swa, and furth thar gait can gang,250With hewy cheyr and sorowfull in thocht:Mar witt of him as than get couth thai nocht.The Inglis men, all thus in barrat boune,Bade byrne all Scottis that war in to that toun.Yhit this gud wiff held Wallace till the nycht,255Maid him gud cher, syne put hym out with slycht.Throw a dyrk garth scho gydyt him furth fast;Fol. 3 bIn cowart went and vp the wattyr past;Forbure the gate for wachis that war thar.His modyr bade in till a gret dispar.260Quhen scho him saw scho thankit hewynnis queyn,And said; “Der sone, this lang quhar has thow beyne?”He tald his modyr of his sodane cass.Than wepyt scho, and said full oft, ‘Allas!‘Or that thow cessis thow will be slayne with all.’265“Modyr,” he said, “God reuller is of all.“Unsouerable are thir pepille of Ingland;“Part of thar ire me think we suld gaynstand.”His eme wist weyle that he the squier slew;For dreid thar of in gret langour he grew.270This passit our, quhill diueris dayis war gane:That gud man dred or Wallace suld be tane:For Suthroun ar full sutaille euirilk man.A gret dyttay for Scottis thai ordand than;Be the lawdayis in Dundé set ane ayr:275Than Wallace wald na langar soiorne thar.

Willyham Wallace, or he was man of armys,

Gret pitté thocht that Scotland tuk sic harmys.

Mekill dolour it did hym in hys mynde;

For he was wyss, rycht worthy, wicht and kynd:

In Gowry duelt still with this worthy man.185

As he encressyt, and witt haboundyt than,

In till hys hart he had full mekill cayr,

He saw the Sothroun multipliand mayr;

And to hym self offt wald he mak his mayne.

Off his gud kyne thai had slane mony ane.190

Yhit he was than semly, stark and bald;

And he of age was bot auchtene yer auld.

Wapynnys he bur, outhir gud suerd or knyff;

For he with thaim hapnyt richt offt in stryff.

Quhar he fand ane without the othir presance,195

Eftir to Scottis that did no mor grewance;

To cut his throit, or steik hym sodanlye,

He wayndyt nocht, fand he thaim fawely.

Syndry wayntyt, bot nane wyst be quhat way;

For all to him thar couth na man thaim say.200

Sad of contenance he was bathe auld and ying,

Litill of spech, wyss, curtass and benyng.

Wpon a day to Dundé he was send;

Off cruelness full litill thai him kend.

The constable a felloun man of wer,205

That to the Scottis did full mekill der,Fol. 3 a

Fol. 3 a

Selbye he hecht, dispitfull and owtrage.

A sone he had ner twenty yer of age:

Into the toun he wsyt euerlik day;

Thre men or four thar went with him to play;210

A hely schrew, wanton in his entent.

Wallace he saw, and towart him he went;

Liklé he was, richt byge and weyle beseyne,

In till a gyde of gudly ganand greyne.

He callyt on hym, and said; “Thou Scot, abyde;215

“Quha dewill the grathis in so gay a gyde?

“Ane Ersche mantill it war thi kynd to wer;

“A Scottis thewtill wndyr thi belt to ber;

“Rouch rewlyngis apon thi harlot fete.

“Gyff me thi knyff; quhat dois thi ger so mete?”220

Till him he yeid, his knyff to tak him fra.

Fast by the collar Wallace couth him ta;

Wndyr his hand the knyff he bradit owt,

For all his men that semblyt him about:

Bot help him selff he wsyt of no remede;225

With out reskew he stekyt him to dede.

The squier fell: of him thar was na mar.

His men folowid on Wallace wondyr sar:

The press was thik, and cummerit thaim full fast.

Wallace was spedy, and gretlye als agast;230

The bludy knyff bar drawin in his hand,

He sparyt nane that he befor him fand.

He knew the hous his eyme had lugit in;

Thedir he fled, for owt he mycht nocht wyn.

The gude wyff than within the closs saw he;235

And, “Help,” he cryit, “for him that deit on tre;

“The yong captane has fallyn with me at stryff.”

In at the dur he went with this gud wiff.

A roussat goun of hir awn scho him gaif

Apon his weyd, at coueryt all the layff;240

A soudly courche our hed and nek leit fall;

A wowyn quhyt hatt scho brassit on with all;

For thai suld nocht lang tary at that in;

Gaiff him a rok, syn set him doun to spyn.

The Sothroun socht quhar Wallace was in drede;245

Thai wyst nocht weylle at quhat yett he in yeide.

In that same houss thai socht him beselye;

Bot he sat still, and span full conandly,

As of his tym, for he nocht leryt lang.

Thai left him swa, and furth thar gait can gang,250

With hewy cheyr and sorowfull in thocht:

Mar witt of him as than get couth thai nocht.

The Inglis men, all thus in barrat boune,

Bade byrne all Scottis that war in to that toun.

Yhit this gud wiff held Wallace till the nycht,255

Maid him gud cher, syne put hym out with slycht.

Throw a dyrk garth scho gydyt him furth fast;Fol. 3 b

Fol. 3 b

In cowart went and vp the wattyr past;

Forbure the gate for wachis that war thar.

His modyr bade in till a gret dispar.260

Quhen scho him saw scho thankit hewynnis queyn,

And said; “Der sone, this lang quhar has thow beyne?”

He tald his modyr of his sodane cass.

Than wepyt scho, and said full oft, ‘Allas!

‘Or that thow cessis thow will be slayne with all.’265

“Modyr,” he said, “God reuller is of all.

“Unsouerable are thir pepille of Ingland;

“Part of thar ire me think we suld gaynstand.”

His eme wist weyle that he the squier slew;

For dreid thar of in gret langour he grew.270

This passit our, quhill diueris dayis war gane:

That gud man dred or Wallace suld be tane:

For Suthroun ar full sutaille euirilk man.

A gret dyttay for Scottis thai ordand than;

Be the lawdayis in Dundé set ane ayr:275

Than Wallace wald na langar soiorne thar.

His modyr graithit hir in pilgrame weid;Hym[selff] disgysyt syne glaidlye with hir yeid;A schort swerd wndyr his weid priualé.In all that land full mony fays had he.280Baith on thar fute, with thaim may tuk thai nocht.Quha sperd, scho said to Sanct Margret thai socht,Quha serwit hir. Full gret frendschipe thai fandWith Sothroun folk: for scho was of Ingland.Besyd Landoris the ferrye our thai past285Syn throw the Ochell sped thaim wondyr fast.In Dunfermlyn thai lugyt all that nycht.Apon the morn, quhen that the day was brycht,With gentill wemen hapnyt thaim to pass,Off Ingland born, in Lithquhow wounnand was.290The captans wiff, in pilgramage had beyne,Fra scho thaim mett, and had yong Wallace sene,Gud cher thaim maid; for he was wondyr fayr,Nocht large of tong, weille taucht and debonayr.Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht,295Quhill south our Forth with hyr son scho thaim brocht.In to Lithkow thai wald nocht tary lang;Thar leyff thai tuk, to Dunypace couth gang.Thar duelt his eyme, a man of gret richess.This mychty persone, hecht to name Wallas,300Maid thaim gud cher, and was a full kynd man,Welcummyt thaim fair, and to thaim tald he than,Dide him to witt, the land was all on ster;Trettyt thaim weyle, and said; “My sone so der,“Thi modyr and thow rycht heir with me sall bide,305“Quhill better be, for chance at may betyde.”Wallace ansuerd, said; ‘Westermar we will:Fol. 4 a‘Our kyne ar slayne, and that me likis ill;‘And othir worthi mony in that art:‘Will God I leiffe, we sall ws wreke on part.’310The persone sicht, and said; “My sone so fre,“I cannot witt how that radress may be.”Quhat suld I spek of frustir? as this tyd,For gyft of gud with him he wald nocht bide.His modyr and he till Elrislé thai went.315Vpon the morn scho for hir brothyr sent,In Corsby duelt and schirreff was of Ayr.Hyr fadyr was dede, a lang tyme leyffyt had thar;Hyr husband als at Lowdoun-hill was slayn.Hyr eldest sone, that mekill was of mayn,320Schir Malcom Wallas was his nayme but less,His houch senons thai cuttyt in that press;On kneis he faucht, felle Inglismen he slew;Till hym thar socht may fechtaris than anew;On athyr side with speris bar him doun;325Thar stekit thai that gud knycht of renoun.On to my taile I left. At ElrisléSchir Ranald come son till his sistyr fre,Welcummyt thaim hayme, and sperd of hir entent.Scho prayde he wald to the lord Persye went,330So yrk of wer scho couth no forthir fle,To purchess pes, in rest at scho mycht be.Schyr Ranald had the Perseys protectioune,As for all part to tak the remissioune.He gert wrytt ane till his systir that tyde.335In that respyt Wallas wald nocht abyde:Hys modyr kyst, scho wepyt with hart sar,His leyff he tuk, syne with his eyme couth far.Yonge he was, and to Sothroun rycht sauage;Gret rowme thai had, dispitfull and wtrage.340Schir Ranald weylle durst nocht hald Wallas thar;For gret perell he wyst apperand war:For thai had haile the strenthis of Scotland;Quhat thai wald do durst few agayne thaim stand.Schyrreff he was, and wsyt thaim amang;345Full sar he dred or Wallas suld tak wrang:For he and thai couth neuir weyle accord.He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord,That proferryt him ony lychtlynes;Bot thai raparyt our mekill to that place.350Als Ingliss clerkis in prophecyss thai fand,How a Wallace suld putt thaim of Scotland.Schir Ranald knew weill a mar quiet sted,Quhar Wilyham mycht be bettir fra thair fede,With his wncle Wallas of Ricardtoun,355Schir Richard hecht, that gud knycht off renoun.Thai landis hayle than was his heretage,Fol. 4 bBot blynd he was, (so hapnyt throw curage,Be Ingliss men that dois ws mekill der;In his rysyng he worthi was in wer.)360Throuch hurt of waynys, and mystyrit of blud.Yeit he was wiss, and of his conseil gud.In Feuiryer Wallas was to him send;In Aperill fra him he bownd to wend.Bot gud serwice he dide him with plesance,365As in that place was worthi to awance.

His modyr graithit hir in pilgrame weid;

Hym[selff] disgysyt syne glaidlye with hir yeid;

A schort swerd wndyr his weid priualé.

In all that land full mony fays had he.280

Baith on thar fute, with thaim may tuk thai nocht.

Quha sperd, scho said to Sanct Margret thai socht,

Quha serwit hir. Full gret frendschipe thai fand

With Sothroun folk: for scho was of Ingland.

Besyd Landoris the ferrye our thai past285

Syn throw the Ochell sped thaim wondyr fast.

In Dunfermlyn thai lugyt all that nycht.

Apon the morn, quhen that the day was brycht,

With gentill wemen hapnyt thaim to pass,

Off Ingland born, in Lithquhow wounnand was.290

The captans wiff, in pilgramage had beyne,

Fra scho thaim mett, and had yong Wallace sene,

Gud cher thaim maid; for he was wondyr fayr,

Nocht large of tong, weille taucht and debonayr.

Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht,295

Quhill south our Forth with hyr son scho thaim brocht.

In to Lithkow thai wald nocht tary lang;

Thar leyff thai tuk, to Dunypace couth gang.

Thar duelt his eyme, a man of gret richess.

This mychty persone, hecht to name Wallas,300

Maid thaim gud cher, and was a full kynd man,

Welcummyt thaim fair, and to thaim tald he than,

Dide him to witt, the land was all on ster;

Trettyt thaim weyle, and said; “My sone so der,

“Thi modyr and thow rycht heir with me sall bide,305

“Quhill better be, for chance at may betyde.”

Wallace ansuerd, said; ‘Westermar we will:Fol. 4 a

Fol. 4 a

‘Our kyne ar slayne, and that me likis ill;

‘And othir worthi mony in that art:

‘Will God I leiffe, we sall ws wreke on part.’310

The persone sicht, and said; “My sone so fre,

“I cannot witt how that radress may be.”

Quhat suld I spek of frustir? as this tyd,

For gyft of gud with him he wald nocht bide.

His modyr and he till Elrislé thai went.315

Vpon the morn scho for hir brothyr sent,

In Corsby duelt and schirreff was of Ayr.

Hyr fadyr was dede, a lang tyme leyffyt had thar;

Hyr husband als at Lowdoun-hill was slayn.

Hyr eldest sone, that mekill was of mayn,320

Schir Malcom Wallas was his nayme but less,

His houch senons thai cuttyt in that press;

On kneis he faucht, felle Inglismen he slew;

Till hym thar socht may fechtaris than anew;

On athyr side with speris bar him doun;325

Thar stekit thai that gud knycht of renoun.

On to my taile I left. At Elrislé

Schir Ranald come son till his sistyr fre,

Welcummyt thaim hayme, and sperd of hir entent.

Scho prayde he wald to the lord Persye went,330

So yrk of wer scho couth no forthir fle,

To purchess pes, in rest at scho mycht be.

Schyr Ranald had the Perseys protectioune,

As for all part to tak the remissioune.

He gert wrytt ane till his systir that tyde.335

In that respyt Wallas wald nocht abyde:

Hys modyr kyst, scho wepyt with hart sar,

His leyff he tuk, syne with his eyme couth far.

Yonge he was, and to Sothroun rycht sauage;

Gret rowme thai had, dispitfull and wtrage.340

Schir Ranald weylle durst nocht hald Wallas thar;

For gret perell he wyst apperand war:

For thai had haile the strenthis of Scotland;

Quhat thai wald do durst few agayne thaim stand.

Schyrreff he was, and wsyt thaim amang;345

Full sar he dred or Wallas suld tak wrang:

For he and thai couth neuir weyle accord.

He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord,

That proferryt him ony lychtlynes;

Bot thai raparyt our mekill to that place.350

Als Ingliss clerkis in prophecyss thai fand,

How a Wallace suld putt thaim of Scotland.

Schir Ranald knew weill a mar quiet sted,

Quhar Wilyham mycht be bettir fra thair fede,

With his wncle Wallas of Ricardtoun,355

Schir Richard hecht, that gud knycht off renoun.

Thai landis hayle than was his heretage,Fol. 4 b

Fol. 4 b

Bot blynd he was, (so hapnyt throw curage,

Be Ingliss men that dois ws mekill der;

In his rysyng he worthi was in wer.)360

Throuch hurt of waynys, and mystyrit of blud.

Yeit he was wiss, and of his conseil gud.

In Feuiryer Wallas was to him send;

In Aperill fra him he bownd to wend.

Bot gud serwice he dide him with plesance,365

As in that place was worthi to awance.

So on a tym he desyrit to play.In Aperill the thre and twenty day,Till Erewyn wattir fysche to tak he went;Sic fantasye fell in his entent.370To leide his net, a child furth with him yeid;But he, or nowne, was in a fellowne dreid.His suerd he left, so did he neuir agayne;It dide him gud, supposs he sufferyt payne.Off that labour as than he was nocht sle:375Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanlé.Or of the day ten houris our couth pass,Ridand thar come, ner by quhar Wallace wass,The lorde Persye, was captane than off Ayr;Fra thine he turnde and couth to Glaskow fair.380Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne,Till him raid fyve cled in to ganand greyne,And said sone; “Scot, Martyns fysche we wald hawe.”Wallace meklye agayne ansuer him gawe;‘It war resone, me think, yhe suld haif part:385‘Waith suld be delt, in all place, with fre hart.’He bad his child, “Gyff thaim of our waithyng.”The Sothroun said; ‘As now of thi delyng‘We will nocht tak, thow wald giff ws our small.’He lychtyt doun, and fra the child tuk all.390Wallas said than; “Gentill men gif ye be,“Leiff ws sum part, we pray for cheryté.“Ane agyt knycht serwis our lady to day;“Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away.”‘Thow sall haiff leiff to fysche, and tak the ma,395‘All this forsuth sall in our flyttyng ga.‘We serff a lord; thir fysche sall till him gang.’Wallace ansuerd, said; “Thow art in the wrang.”‘Quham thowis thow, Scot? in faith thow serwis a blaw.’Till him he ran, and out a suerd can draw.400Willyham was wa he had na wappynis thar,Bot the poutstaff, the quhilk in hand he bar.Wallas with it fast on the cheik him tukWyth so gud will, quhill of his feit he schuk.The suerd flaw fra him a fur breid on the land.405Wallas was glad, and hynt it sone in hand;And with the swerd awkwart he him gaweWndyr the hat, his crage in sondre drawe.Be that the layff lychtyt about Wallas;Fol. 5 aHe had no helpe, only bot Goddis grace.410On athir side full fast on him thai dange;Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang.Apone the hede in gret ire he strak ane;The scherand suerd glaid to the colar bane.Ane othir on the arme he hitt so hardely,415Quhill hand and suerd bathe on the feld can ly.The tothir twa fled to thar hors agayne;He stekit him was last apon the playne.Thre slew he thar, twa fled with all thair mychtEftir thar lord; bot he was out of sycht,420Takand the mure, or he and thai couth twyne.Till him thai raid onon, or thai wald blyne,And cryit; “Lord, abide; your men ar martyrit doun“Rycht cruelly, her in this fals regioun.“Fyve of our court her at the wattir baid,425“Fysche for to bryng, thocht it na profyt maid.“We ar chapyt, bot in feyld slayne are thre.”The lord speryt; ‘How mony mycht thai be?’“We saw bot ane that has discumfyst ws all.”Than leuch he lowde, and said; ‘Foule mot yow fall;430‘Sen ane yow all has putt to confusioun.‘Quha menys it maist, the dewyll of hell him droun;‘This day for me, in faith, he beis nocht socht.’Quhen Wallas thus this worthi werk had wrocht,Thar horss he tuk, and ger that lewyt was thar;435Gaif our that crafft, he yeid to fysche no mar;Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this dede.And he for wo weyle ner worthit to weide;And said; “Sone, thir tythingis syttis me sor;“And be it knawin, thow may tak scaith tharfor.”440‘Wncle,’ he said, ‘I will no langar byde;‘Thir Southland horss latt se gif I can ride.’Than bot a child, him serwice for to mak,Hys emys sonnys he wald nocht with him tak.This gude knycht said; “Deyr cusyng, pray I the,445“Quhen thow wanttis gud, cum fech ynewch fra me.”Syluir and gold he gert on to him geyff.Wallace inclynys, and gudely tuk his leyff.

So on a tym he desyrit to play.

In Aperill the thre and twenty day,

Till Erewyn wattir fysche to tak he went;

Sic fantasye fell in his entent.370

To leide his net, a child furth with him yeid;

But he, or nowne, was in a fellowne dreid.

His suerd he left, so did he neuir agayne;

It dide him gud, supposs he sufferyt payne.

Off that labour as than he was nocht sle:375

Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanlé.

Or of the day ten houris our couth pass,

Ridand thar come, ner by quhar Wallace wass,

The lorde Persye, was captane than off Ayr;

Fra thine he turnde and couth to Glaskow fair.380

Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne,

Till him raid fyve cled in to ganand greyne,

And said sone; “Scot, Martyns fysche we wald hawe.”

Wallace meklye agayne ansuer him gawe;

‘It war resone, me think, yhe suld haif part:385

‘Waith suld be delt, in all place, with fre hart.’

He bad his child, “Gyff thaim of our waithyng.”

The Sothroun said; ‘As now of thi delyng

‘We will nocht tak, thow wald giff ws our small.’

He lychtyt doun, and fra the child tuk all.390

Wallas said than; “Gentill men gif ye be,

“Leiff ws sum part, we pray for cheryté.

“Ane agyt knycht serwis our lady to day;

“Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away.”

‘Thow sall haiff leiff to fysche, and tak the ma,395

‘All this forsuth sall in our flyttyng ga.

‘We serff a lord; thir fysche sall till him gang.’

Wallace ansuerd, said; “Thow art in the wrang.”

‘Quham thowis thow, Scot? in faith thow serwis a blaw.’

Till him he ran, and out a suerd can draw.400

Willyham was wa he had na wappynis thar,

Bot the poutstaff, the quhilk in hand he bar.

Wallas with it fast on the cheik him tuk

Wyth so gud will, quhill of his feit he schuk.

The suerd flaw fra him a fur breid on the land.405

Wallas was glad, and hynt it sone in hand;

And with the swerd awkwart he him gawe

Wndyr the hat, his crage in sondre drawe.

Be that the layff lychtyt about Wallas;Fol. 5 a

Fol. 5 a

He had no helpe, only bot Goddis grace.410

On athir side full fast on him thai dange;

Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang.

Apone the hede in gret ire he strak ane;

The scherand suerd glaid to the colar bane.

Ane othir on the arme he hitt so hardely,415

Quhill hand and suerd bathe on the feld can ly.

The tothir twa fled to thar hors agayne;

He stekit him was last apon the playne.

Thre slew he thar, twa fled with all thair mycht

Eftir thar lord; bot he was out of sycht,420

Takand the mure, or he and thai couth twyne.

Till him thai raid onon, or thai wald blyne,

And cryit; “Lord, abide; your men ar martyrit doun

“Rycht cruelly, her in this fals regioun.

“Fyve of our court her at the wattir baid,425

“Fysche for to bryng, thocht it na profyt maid.

“We ar chapyt, bot in feyld slayne are thre.”

The lord speryt; ‘How mony mycht thai be?’

“We saw bot ane that has discumfyst ws all.”

Than leuch he lowde, and said; ‘Foule mot yow fall;430

‘Sen ane yow all has putt to confusioun.

‘Quha menys it maist, the dewyll of hell him droun;

‘This day for me, in faith, he beis nocht socht.’

Quhen Wallas thus this worthi werk had wrocht,

Thar horss he tuk, and ger that lewyt was thar;435

Gaif our that crafft, he yeid to fysche no mar;

Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this dede.

And he for wo weyle ner worthit to weide;

And said; “Sone, thir tythingis syttis me sor;

“And be it knawin, thow may tak scaith tharfor.”440

‘Wncle,’ he said, ‘I will no langar byde;

‘Thir Southland horss latt se gif I can ride.’

Than bot a child, him serwice for to mak,

Hys emys sonnys he wald nocht with him tak.

This gude knycht said; “Deyr cusyng, pray I the,445

“Quhen thow wanttis gud, cum fech ynewch fra me.”

Syluir and gold he gert on to him geyff.

Wallace inclynys, and gudely tuk his leyff.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS,ET INCIPIT SECUNDUS.

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