BUKE NYNTE.

In Aperill the one and twenty day,The hie calend, thus Cancer, as we say,The lusty tym off Mayus fresche cummyng,Celestiall gret blythnes in to bryng;Fol. 76 aPryncypaill moneth forsuth it may be seyn,5The hewynly hewis apon the tendyr greyn,Quhen old Saturn his cloudy courss had gon,The quhilk had beyn bath best and byrdis bon:Zepherus ek, with his suet vapour,He comfort has, be wyrking off natour,10All fructuouss thing in till the erd adoun,At rewllyt is wndyr the hie regioun:Sobyr Luna, in flowyng off the se,Quhen brycht Phebus is in his chemagé,The Bulys courss so takin had his place,15And Jupiter was in the Crabbis face:Quhen conryet the hot syng coloryk,In to the Ram, quhilk had his rowmys ryk,He chosyn had his place and his mansioun,In Capricorn, the sygn off the Lioun:20Gentill [Jupiter,] with his myld ordinance,Bath erb and tre reuertis in plesance;And fresch Flora hir floury mantill spreid,In euery waill, bath hop, hycht, hill, and meide:This sammyn tym, for thus myn auctor sayis,25Wallace to pass off Scotland tuk his wayis.Be schort awyss he schup him to the se,And fyfty men tuk in his cumpané.He leit no word than walk off his passage,Or Inglissmen had stoppit him his wiage:30Nor tuk na leiff at the lordis off the parlement;He wyst full weill thai wald nocht all consentTo suffyr him out off the land to go.For thi onon, with outyn wordis mo,He gart forsé, and ordand weill his schip.35And thir war part past in his falowschip;Twa Wallace, was his kynnys men full ner,Craufurd, Kneland, was haldyn till him der.Off Kyrkcubré he purpost his passage;Semen he feyt, and gaiff thaim gudlye wage:40Thai wantyt nocht off wyn, wittaill nor ger;A fair new barge rycht worthi wrocht for wer.With that thai war a gudly cumpanyOff waillit men, had wrocht full hardely.Bonalais drank rycht glaidly in a morow,45Syn leiff thai tuk, and with Sanct Jhon to borow.Bottis was schot, and fra the roch thaim sent;With glaid hartis, at anys in thai went;Wpon the schip thai rowit hastely.The seymen than, walkand full besyly,50Ankyrs wand in wysly on athir syd;Fol. 76 bThair lynys kest, and waytyt weyll the tyd;Leyt salys fall, and has thair courss ynom:A gud gay wynd out off the rycht art com.Frekis in forstame, rewllit weill thar ger,55Ledys on luff burd, with a lordlik fer:Lansys laid out, to [luik] thar passage sound.With full sayll thus fra Scotland furth thai found;Salyt [haill] our the day and als the nycht.Apon the morn, quhen [that] the son raiss brycht,60The ship master on to the top he went;Sowthest he saw, that trublyt his entent,Sexten salis arayit all on raw,In colour reid, and towart him couth draw.The gliterand son apon thaim schawit brycht,65The se about enlumynyt with the lycht.This mannis spreit was in ane extasy,Doun went he sone, and said full sorowfully;“Allace,” quoth he, “the day that I was born!“With out rameid our lywys ar forlorn.70“In cursyt tym I tuk this cur on hand;“The best chyftayn, and reskew off Scotland,“Our raklesly I haiff tayn vpon me,“With waik power to bryng him throw the se.“It forsyt nocht, wald God I war torment,75“So Wallace mycht with worschip chaip wnschent.”Quhen Wallace saw, and hard this mannys mon,To comfort him in gud will is he gon.‘Maister,’ he said, ‘quhat has amowit the?’“Nocht for my selff, this man said petuislé.80“Bot off a thing I dar weill wndirtane,“Thocht all war heyr the schippis off braid Bertane,“Part suld we loss, set fortoun had it suorn.“The best wer man in se is ws beforn,“Leffand this day, and king is off the se.”85Wallace sone sperd, ‘Wait yow quhat he may be?’“The Red Reffayr thai call him in his still.“That I him saw euyr, waryt worth that quhill!“For myn awn lyff I wald no murnyng mak;“Is na man born that yon tyran will tak.90“He savis nayn, for gold, nor othir gud,“Bot slayis and drownys all derffly in the flud;“He gettis no grace, thocht he war king or knycht.“This sextene yer he has doyn gret wnrycht.“The power is so strang he has to ster,95“May non eschaip that cummys in his danger.“Wald we him burd, na but is to begyn;“The lakest schip, that is his flot within,“May sayll ws doun on to a dulfull ded.”Fol. 77 aThan Wallace said; ‘Sen yow can no ramed,100‘Tell me his feyr, and how I sall him knaw;‘Quhat is hys oyss; and syn go luge the law.’The schipman sayis; “Rycht weill ye may him ken,“Throu graith takynnys, full clerly by his men.“His cot armour is seyn in mony steid,105“Ay battaill boun, and riwell ay off reid.“This formest schip, that persewis yow so fast,“Hym selff is in, he will nocht be agast.“He wyll yow hayll, quhen that he cummys yow ner;“With out tary than mon yhe stryk on ster.110“Hym selff will entir fyrst full hardely.“Thir ar the syngnys that ye sall knaw him by;“A bar off blew in till his schenand scheild,“A bend off greyn desyren ay the feild.“The rede betakynnys blud and hardyment,115“The greyn, curage, encressand his entent;“The blew he beris, becauss he is a Crystyn man.”Sadly agayn Wallace ansuerd than;‘Thocht he be crystynyt, this war no godlyk deid.‘Go wndyr loft; Sanct Androw mot ws speid!’120Bathe schip maistir, and the ster man also,In the holl but baid, he gert thaim go.His fyfty men with outyn langar rest,Wallace gart ray in to thar armour prest;Fourty and aucht on luffburd laid thaim law.125Wylyham Crawfurd than till him gert he caw,And said; “Thow can sumpart off schipman fair;“Thi oyss has beyn oft in the toun off Ayr.“I pray the tak this doctryn [weill] off me;“Luk at thow stand strekly be this tre,130“Quhen I bid stryk, to seruice be thow bayne;“Quhen I the warn, lat draw the saill agayne.“Kneland, cusyng, cum tak the ster on hand;“Her on the waill ner by the I sall stand.“God gyd our schip! as now I say na mar.”135The barge, be that, with a full werlik far;Him selff on loft [was] with a drawyn suord,And bad his ster man lay thaim langis the bourd;On loude he cryit; ‘Stryk, doggis, ye sall de.’Crawfurd leit draw the saill a litill we,140The capdane sone lap in, and wald nocht stynt.Wallace in haist be the gorget him hynt,On the our loft kest him quhar he stud,Quhill neyss and mowth all ruschit out off blud.A forgyt knyff, but baid, he bradis out.145The wer schippis was lappyt thaim about.Fol. 77 bThe mekill barge had nocht thaim clyppyt fast;Crawfurd drew saill, skewyt by, and off thaim past.The Reiffar criyt, with petous woice and cler,Grace off hys lyff, “for him that boucht yow der!150“Mercy,” he said, “for him that deit on rud,“Layser to mend! I haiff spilt mekill blud.“For my trespas I wald mak sum ramed.”Wallace wyst weyll, thocht he war brocht to ded;And off his lyff sum reskew mycht he mak.155A bettir purpos sone he can to tak;And als he rewyt him, for his lyff was ill.In Latyn tong rycht thus he said him till;‘I tuk neuir man, that enemy was to me:‘For Goddis saik thi lyff I grant to the.’160Bathe knyff and suerd he tuk fra him onon;Wp be the hand, and as presoner, has him ton:And on his suerd scharply he gert him suer,Fra that day furth he suld him neuir der.‘Commaund thi men,’ quoth Wallace, ‘till our pess;165‘Thar schot off gown, that was nocht eith, to cess.’The cast it was rycht awfull on athir sid.The Rede Reiffar commaundyt thaim to bid;Held out a gluff, in takyn off the trew.His men beheld, and weyll that senye knew,170Left off thar schot, that sygn quhen that thai saw,His grettast barge towart him couth [he] draw.“Lat be your wer, thir ar our freyndis at ane;“I traist to God our werst dayis ar gane.”He ast Wallace to do quhat was his will.175With schort awyss rycht thus he said him till;‘To the Rochell I wald ye gert thaim saill;‘For Inglissmen I wait nocht quhat may aill.‘For thar, God will, is our purposs to be.‘Skour weyll about for scoukaris in the se.’180His commaund thai did in all the haist thai can.Wallace desyryt to talk mor with this man,Sadly he sperd; “Off quhat land was thou born?”‘Off France,’ quoth he, ‘and my eldris beforn;‘And thar we had sumpart off heretage:185‘Yet fers fortoun thus brocht me in a rage.’Wallace sperd; “How com thow to this lyff?”‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘bot throw a sudan stryff.‘So hapnyt me, in to the kingis presens,‘Our raklesly to do our gret offens.190‘A nobill man, off gud fame and renoun,‘That throw my deid was put to confusioun,‘Dede off a straik; quhat nedis wordis mor?Fol. 78 a‘All helpyt nocht, thocht I repentyt full sor.‘Throw freyndys off the court I chapyt off that place,195‘And neuir sen syn couth get the kingis grace:‘For my saik mony off my kyn gert thai de.‘And quhen I saw it mycht no bettir be,‘Bot leyff the land that me behuffyt o neid,‘Apon a day to Burdeous I yeid.200‘Ane Ingliss schip so gat I on a nycht,‘For sey lawbour that ernystfully was dycht.‘To me thar semblyt misdoaris, and weill mo;‘And in schort tym we multiplyit so,‘That thar wes few our power mycht withstand.205‘In tyranry thus haiff we rongyn lang.‘This sexten yer I haiff beyn on the se,‘And doyn gret harm; tharfor full wa is me.‘I savit nayn, for gold nor gret ransoun,‘Bot slew and drownyt in to the se adoun.210‘Fawour I did till folk off syndry land;‘Bot Franchmen no frendschip with me fand,‘Thai gat no grace als fer as I mycht ryng.‘Als on the se I clypyt was a king.‘Now se I weyll that my fortoun is went,215‘Vincust with ane; that gerris me sair rapent.‘Quha wald haiff said, this sammyn day at morn,‘I suld with ane thus lychtly doun be born,‘In gret hething my men it wald haiff tayne.‘My selff trowit till [haiff] machit mony ane:220‘Bot I haiff found the werray playn contrar.‘Her I gyff our roubry for euirmar;‘In sic mysrewll I sall neuir armes ber,‘Bot gyff it be in honest oyss to wer.‘Now haiff I told part off my blyss and payn;225‘For Goddis saik sum kyndnes kyth agayn.‘My hart will brek, bot I wyt quhat thou be,‘Thus outrageously that has rabutyt me.‘For weill I wend that leyffand had beyn non,‘Be fors off strenth mycht me as presoner ton,230‘Except Wallace, that has rademyt Scotland,‘The best is callyt this day beltyt with brand.‘In till his wer war worschip for to wak,‘As now in warld I trow he has no mak.’Tharat he smylit, and said; “Frend, weill may be,235“Scotland had mystir off mony sic as he.“Quhat is thi naym? tell me; so haiff thow seill!”‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘Thomas off Longaweill.’Fol. 78 b“Weyll bruk thow it! all thus stentis our stryff:“Schaip to pleyss God in mendyng off thi lyff.240“Thi faithfull freynd my selff thinkis to be;“And als my nayme I sall sone tell to the.“For chans off wer thou suld no murnyng mak;“As werd will wyrk, thi fortoun mon thou tak.“I am that man that you awanss so hie;245“And bot schort tym sen I come to the se:“Off Scotland born, my rycht name is Wallace.”On kneis he fell, and thankit God of grace;‘I dar awow, that yoldyn is my hand‘To the best man that beltis him with brand.250‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘this blythis me mekill mor,‘Than off floryng ye gaiff me sexty scor.’Wallace ansuerd; “Sen thou art her throw chance,“My purpos is, be this wiage, in France;“And to the king sen I am boun to pass,255“To my reward thi peess I think to ass.”‘Pess I wald haiff [fane] of my rychtwiss king;‘And no langar in to that realm to ryng,‘Than to tak leyff, and cum off it agayn.‘In thi seruice I think for to ramayn.’260“Seruice,” he said, “Thomas, that may nocht be,“Bot gud frendschip, as I desir off the:”Gart draw the wyn, and ilk man mery maid;Be this the schippis was in the Rochell raid.

In Aperill the one and twenty day,

The hie calend, thus Cancer, as we say,

The lusty tym off Mayus fresche cummyng,

Celestiall gret blythnes in to bryng;Fol. 76 a

Fol. 76 a

Pryncypaill moneth forsuth it may be seyn,5

The hewynly hewis apon the tendyr greyn,

Quhen old Saturn his cloudy courss had gon,

The quhilk had beyn bath best and byrdis bon:

Zepherus ek, with his suet vapour,

He comfort has, be wyrking off natour,10

All fructuouss thing in till the erd adoun,

At rewllyt is wndyr the hie regioun:

Sobyr Luna, in flowyng off the se,

Quhen brycht Phebus is in his chemagé,

The Bulys courss so takin had his place,15

And Jupiter was in the Crabbis face:

Quhen conryet the hot syng coloryk,

In to the Ram, quhilk had his rowmys ryk,

He chosyn had his place and his mansioun,

In Capricorn, the sygn off the Lioun:20

Gentill [Jupiter,] with his myld ordinance,

Bath erb and tre reuertis in plesance;

And fresch Flora hir floury mantill spreid,

In euery waill, bath hop, hycht, hill, and meide:

This sammyn tym, for thus myn auctor sayis,25

Wallace to pass off Scotland tuk his wayis.

Be schort awyss he schup him to the se,

And fyfty men tuk in his cumpané.

He leit no word than walk off his passage,

Or Inglissmen had stoppit him his wiage:30

Nor tuk na leiff at the lordis off the parlement;

He wyst full weill thai wald nocht all consent

To suffyr him out off the land to go.

For thi onon, with outyn wordis mo,

He gart forsé, and ordand weill his schip.35

And thir war part past in his falowschip;

Twa Wallace, was his kynnys men full ner,

Craufurd, Kneland, was haldyn till him der.

Off Kyrkcubré he purpost his passage;

Semen he feyt, and gaiff thaim gudlye wage:40

Thai wantyt nocht off wyn, wittaill nor ger;

A fair new barge rycht worthi wrocht for wer.

With that thai war a gudly cumpany

Off waillit men, had wrocht full hardely.

Bonalais drank rycht glaidly in a morow,45

Syn leiff thai tuk, and with Sanct Jhon to borow.

Bottis was schot, and fra the roch thaim sent;

With glaid hartis, at anys in thai went;

Wpon the schip thai rowit hastely.

The seymen than, walkand full besyly,50

Ankyrs wand in wysly on athir syd;Fol. 76 b

Fol. 76 b

Thair lynys kest, and waytyt weyll the tyd;

Leyt salys fall, and has thair courss ynom:

A gud gay wynd out off the rycht art com.

Frekis in forstame, rewllit weill thar ger,55

Ledys on luff burd, with a lordlik fer:

Lansys laid out, to [luik] thar passage sound.

With full sayll thus fra Scotland furth thai found;

Salyt [haill] our the day and als the nycht.

Apon the morn, quhen [that] the son raiss brycht,60

The ship master on to the top he went;

Sowthest he saw, that trublyt his entent,

Sexten salis arayit all on raw,

In colour reid, and towart him couth draw.

The gliterand son apon thaim schawit brycht,65

The se about enlumynyt with the lycht.

This mannis spreit was in ane extasy,

Doun went he sone, and said full sorowfully;

“Allace,” quoth he, “the day that I was born!

“With out rameid our lywys ar forlorn.70

“In cursyt tym I tuk this cur on hand;

“The best chyftayn, and reskew off Scotland,

“Our raklesly I haiff tayn vpon me,

“With waik power to bryng him throw the se.

“It forsyt nocht, wald God I war torment,75

“So Wallace mycht with worschip chaip wnschent.”

Quhen Wallace saw, and hard this mannys mon,

To comfort him in gud will is he gon.

‘Maister,’ he said, ‘quhat has amowit the?’

“Nocht for my selff, this man said petuislé.80

“Bot off a thing I dar weill wndirtane,

“Thocht all war heyr the schippis off braid Bertane,

“Part suld we loss, set fortoun had it suorn.

“The best wer man in se is ws beforn,

“Leffand this day, and king is off the se.”85

Wallace sone sperd, ‘Wait yow quhat he may be?’

“The Red Reffayr thai call him in his still.

“That I him saw euyr, waryt worth that quhill!

“For myn awn lyff I wald no murnyng mak;

“Is na man born that yon tyran will tak.90

“He savis nayn, for gold, nor othir gud,

“Bot slayis and drownys all derffly in the flud;

“He gettis no grace, thocht he war king or knycht.

“This sextene yer he has doyn gret wnrycht.

“The power is so strang he has to ster,95

“May non eschaip that cummys in his danger.

“Wald we him burd, na but is to begyn;

“The lakest schip, that is his flot within,

“May sayll ws doun on to a dulfull ded.”Fol. 77 a

Fol. 77 a

Than Wallace said; ‘Sen yow can no ramed,100

‘Tell me his feyr, and how I sall him knaw;

‘Quhat is hys oyss; and syn go luge the law.’

The schipman sayis; “Rycht weill ye may him ken,

“Throu graith takynnys, full clerly by his men.

“His cot armour is seyn in mony steid,105

“Ay battaill boun, and riwell ay off reid.

“This formest schip, that persewis yow so fast,

“Hym selff is in, he will nocht be agast.

“He wyll yow hayll, quhen that he cummys yow ner;

“With out tary than mon yhe stryk on ster.110

“Hym selff will entir fyrst full hardely.

“Thir ar the syngnys that ye sall knaw him by;

“A bar off blew in till his schenand scheild,

“A bend off greyn desyren ay the feild.

“The rede betakynnys blud and hardyment,115

“The greyn, curage, encressand his entent;

“The blew he beris, becauss he is a Crystyn man.”

Sadly agayn Wallace ansuerd than;

‘Thocht he be crystynyt, this war no godlyk deid.

‘Go wndyr loft; Sanct Androw mot ws speid!’120

Bathe schip maistir, and the ster man also,

In the holl but baid, he gert thaim go.

His fyfty men with outyn langar rest,

Wallace gart ray in to thar armour prest;

Fourty and aucht on luffburd laid thaim law.125

Wylyham Crawfurd than till him gert he caw,

And said; “Thow can sumpart off schipman fair;

“Thi oyss has beyn oft in the toun off Ayr.

“I pray the tak this doctryn [weill] off me;

“Luk at thow stand strekly be this tre,130

“Quhen I bid stryk, to seruice be thow bayne;

“Quhen I the warn, lat draw the saill agayne.

“Kneland, cusyng, cum tak the ster on hand;

“Her on the waill ner by the I sall stand.

“God gyd our schip! as now I say na mar.”135

The barge, be that, with a full werlik far;

Him selff on loft [was] with a drawyn suord,

And bad his ster man lay thaim langis the bourd;

On loude he cryit; ‘Stryk, doggis, ye sall de.’

Crawfurd leit draw the saill a litill we,140

The capdane sone lap in, and wald nocht stynt.

Wallace in haist be the gorget him hynt,

On the our loft kest him quhar he stud,

Quhill neyss and mowth all ruschit out off blud.

A forgyt knyff, but baid, he bradis out.145

The wer schippis was lappyt thaim about.Fol. 77 b

Fol. 77 b

The mekill barge had nocht thaim clyppyt fast;

Crawfurd drew saill, skewyt by, and off thaim past.

The Reiffar criyt, with petous woice and cler,

Grace off hys lyff, “for him that boucht yow der!150

“Mercy,” he said, “for him that deit on rud,

“Layser to mend! I haiff spilt mekill blud.

“For my trespas I wald mak sum ramed.”

Wallace wyst weyll, thocht he war brocht to ded;

And off his lyff sum reskew mycht he mak.155

A bettir purpos sone he can to tak;

And als he rewyt him, for his lyff was ill.

In Latyn tong rycht thus he said him till;

‘I tuk neuir man, that enemy was to me:

‘For Goddis saik thi lyff I grant to the.’160

Bathe knyff and suerd he tuk fra him onon;

Wp be the hand, and as presoner, has him ton:

And on his suerd scharply he gert him suer,

Fra that day furth he suld him neuir der.

‘Commaund thi men,’ quoth Wallace, ‘till our pess;165

‘Thar schot off gown, that was nocht eith, to cess.’

The cast it was rycht awfull on athir sid.

The Rede Reiffar commaundyt thaim to bid;

Held out a gluff, in takyn off the trew.

His men beheld, and weyll that senye knew,170

Left off thar schot, that sygn quhen that thai saw,

His grettast barge towart him couth [he] draw.

“Lat be your wer, thir ar our freyndis at ane;

“I traist to God our werst dayis ar gane.”

He ast Wallace to do quhat was his will.175

With schort awyss rycht thus he said him till;

‘To the Rochell I wald ye gert thaim saill;

‘For Inglissmen I wait nocht quhat may aill.

‘For thar, God will, is our purposs to be.

‘Skour weyll about for scoukaris in the se.’180

His commaund thai did in all the haist thai can.

Wallace desyryt to talk mor with this man,

Sadly he sperd; “Off quhat land was thou born?”

‘Off France,’ quoth he, ‘and my eldris beforn;

‘And thar we had sumpart off heretage:185

‘Yet fers fortoun thus brocht me in a rage.’

Wallace sperd; “How com thow to this lyff?”

‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘bot throw a sudan stryff.

‘So hapnyt me, in to the kingis presens,

‘Our raklesly to do our gret offens.190

‘A nobill man, off gud fame and renoun,

‘That throw my deid was put to confusioun,

‘Dede off a straik; quhat nedis wordis mor?Fol. 78 a

Fol. 78 a

‘All helpyt nocht, thocht I repentyt full sor.

‘Throw freyndys off the court I chapyt off that place,195

‘And neuir sen syn couth get the kingis grace:

‘For my saik mony off my kyn gert thai de.

‘And quhen I saw it mycht no bettir be,

‘Bot leyff the land that me behuffyt o neid,

‘Apon a day to Burdeous I yeid.200

‘Ane Ingliss schip so gat I on a nycht,

‘For sey lawbour that ernystfully was dycht.

‘To me thar semblyt misdoaris, and weill mo;

‘And in schort tym we multiplyit so,

‘That thar wes few our power mycht withstand.205

‘In tyranry thus haiff we rongyn lang.

‘This sexten yer I haiff beyn on the se,

‘And doyn gret harm; tharfor full wa is me.

‘I savit nayn, for gold nor gret ransoun,

‘Bot slew and drownyt in to the se adoun.210

‘Fawour I did till folk off syndry land;

‘Bot Franchmen no frendschip with me fand,

‘Thai gat no grace als fer as I mycht ryng.

‘Als on the se I clypyt was a king.

‘Now se I weyll that my fortoun is went,215

‘Vincust with ane; that gerris me sair rapent.

‘Quha wald haiff said, this sammyn day at morn,

‘I suld with ane thus lychtly doun be born,

‘In gret hething my men it wald haiff tayne.

‘My selff trowit till [haiff] machit mony ane:220

‘Bot I haiff found the werray playn contrar.

‘Her I gyff our roubry for euirmar;

‘In sic mysrewll I sall neuir armes ber,

‘Bot gyff it be in honest oyss to wer.

‘Now haiff I told part off my blyss and payn;225

‘For Goddis saik sum kyndnes kyth agayn.

‘My hart will brek, bot I wyt quhat thou be,

‘Thus outrageously that has rabutyt me.

‘For weill I wend that leyffand had beyn non,

‘Be fors off strenth mycht me as presoner ton,230

‘Except Wallace, that has rademyt Scotland,

‘The best is callyt this day beltyt with brand.

‘In till his wer war worschip for to wak,

‘As now in warld I trow he has no mak.’

Tharat he smylit, and said; “Frend, weill may be,235

“Scotland had mystir off mony sic as he.

“Quhat is thi naym? tell me; so haiff thow seill!”

‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘Thomas off Longaweill.’Fol. 78 b

Fol. 78 b

“Weyll bruk thow it! all thus stentis our stryff:

“Schaip to pleyss God in mendyng off thi lyff.240

“Thi faithfull freynd my selff thinkis to be;

“And als my nayme I sall sone tell to the.

“For chans off wer thou suld no murnyng mak;

“As werd will wyrk, thi fortoun mon thou tak.

“I am that man that you awanss so hie;245

“And bot schort tym sen I come to the se:

“Off Scotland born, my rycht name is Wallace.”

On kneis he fell, and thankit God of grace;

‘I dar awow, that yoldyn is my hand

‘To the best man that beltis him with brand.250

‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘this blythis me mekill mor,

‘Than off floryng ye gaiff me sexty scor.’

Wallace ansuerd; “Sen thou art her throw chance,

“My purpos is, be this wiage, in France;

“And to the king sen I am boun to pass,255

“To my reward thi peess I think to ass.”

‘Pess I wald haiff [fane] of my rychtwiss king;

‘And no langar in to that realm to ryng,

‘Than to tak leyff, and cum off it agayn.

‘In thi seruice I think for to ramayn.’260

“Seruice,” he said, “Thomas, that may nocht be,

“Bot gud frendschip, as I desir off the:”

Gart draw the wyn, and ilk man mery maid;

Be this the schippis was in the Rochell raid.

The rede blasonys thai had born in to wer;265The toun was sone in till a sudane fer.The Rede Reiffar thai saw was at thair hand,The quhilk throu strenth mycht nayn agayne him stand.Sum schippis fled, and sum the land has tayn,Clariownys blew, and trumpattis mony ane.270Quhen Wallace saw the pepill was on ster,He gaiff commaund na schip suld ner apper;Bot his awin barge in to the hawyn gart draw.The folk was fayn quhen thai that senye saw;Rycht weyll thai knew in gold the rede lioun,275Leit wp the port, rasauit him in the toun,And sufferyt thaim, for all that he had brocht.The rede nawyn in to the hawyn thai socht;On land thai went, quhar thai likit to pass.Rycht few thar wyst quhat Scottisman Wallace was;280Bot weyll thai thocht he was a gudly man,And honouryt him in all the craft thai can.Bot four dayis still Wallace ramaynyt thar;Thir men he callyt, quhen he was boun to fair.Fol. 79 aHe thaim commaundyt apon that cost to bid,285Quhill he thaim fred for chans at mycht betid.“Ber yow ewyn; quhat gud that euir yhe spend,“Leiff on your awin; quhill tithandis I yow send.“Ger sell thir schippis, and mak yow men off pes;“It war gud tym off wykkitness to cess.290“Your captane sall pass to the king with me,“Throu help off God I sall his warrand be.”He gert graith him in soit with his awin men;Was no man thar that mycht weill Thomas ken.Lykly he was, manlik off contenance,295Lik to the Scottis be mekill gouernance,Saiff off his tong, for Ingliss had he nane;In Latyn weill he mycht suffice for ane.Thus past his court in all the haste thai may.To Paris toun thai went apon a day.300Tythingis was brocht off Wallace to the king;So gret desyr he had off na kyn thing,As in that tym quhill he had seyn Wallace.To meyt him selff he waytit apon caceIn a gardyng, quhar he gart thaim be brocht.305Till his presence with manly feyr thai socht,Twa and fyfty at anys kneland doun,And salust him, as ryoll off most renoun,With rewllyt spech in so gudly awyss,All France couth nocht [mair] nurtour tham dewyss.310The queyn had leiff, and com in hyr effer;For mekill scho herd off Wallace deid in wer.Quhat nedis mor off curtassy to tell?Thai kepyt weill that to the Scottis befell.Off kingis fer I dar mak no rahers;315My febill mynd, my trublyt spreit rewers.Off rich seruice quhat nedis wordis mor?Mycht non be found bot it was present thor.Sone eftir meit the king to parlour went,With gudly lordis; thar Wallace was present.320Than commound thai off mony syndry thing;To spek with him gret desyr had the king.At hym he speryt off wer the gouernance.He ansuerd him, with manly contenance,Till euery poynt, als fer as he had feill,325In Latyn tong rycht naturaly and weill.The king consauit, sone throu his hie knawlage,Quhat wermen oysyt be reyff in thar passage.In till his mynd the Rede Reiffar than was;Merwell he had how he leit Wallace pass.330Fol. 79 bTill him he said; “Ye war sum thing to blaym;“Ye mycht haiff send, be our harrold fra haym,“Eftir power, to bryng yow throu the se.”‘God thank yow, schyr, ynewch tharoff had we.‘Feill men may pass, quhar thai fynd na perell;335‘Rycht few may kep, quhar nayn is to assaill.’“Wallace,” he said, “tharoff merwell haiff I;“A tyran ryngis, in ire full cruelly,“Apon the se, that gret sorow has wrocht;“Mycht we him get, it suld not be for nocht.340“Born off this land, a natyff man to me;“Tharfor on ws the grettar harme dois he.”Than Thomas quok, and changyt contenans;He hard the king his ewill deidis awans.Wallace beheld, and fenyeit in a part;345‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘we fand nane in that art,‘That proffryt ws sic wnkyndlynes.‘Bot with your leiff I spek in haymlynes,‘Trow ye be sycht ye couth that squier knaw?’“Full lang it war sen tym that I him saw.350“Bot thir wordis off him ar bot in wayn;“Or he com her, rycht gud men will be slayn.”Than Wallace said; ‘Her I haiff brocht with me,‘Off likly men that was in our countré:‘Quhilk off all thir wald ye call him most lik?’355Amang thaim blent that ryoll roy most ryk,Wesyit thaim weill, bathe statur and curage,Maner, makdome, thar fassoun and thar wesage.Sadly he said, awysit sobyrly;“That largest man, quhilk standis next yow by,360“Wald I call him, be makdome to dewice.“Thir ar no thing bot wordis off office.”Befor the king on kneis fell gud Wallace:‘O ryoll roy, off hie honour and grace,‘With waist wordis I will nocht yow trawaill;365‘Now I will spek sum thing for myn awaill.‘Our barnat land has beyn our set with wer,‘With Saxonis blud that dois ws mekill der,‘Slayn our eldris, distroyit our rychtwys blud,‘Waistyt our realm off gold and othir gud.370‘And ye ar her, in mycht and ryolté,‘Yow suld haiff ey till our aduersité,‘And ws support, throu kyndnes off the band,‘Quhilk is conserwyt betuix yow and Scotland.‘As I am her, at your charge, for plesance,375‘My lyflat is bot honest chewysance.‘Flour off realmys forsuth is this regioun;‘To my reward I wald haiff gret gardoun.’“Wallace,” he said, “now ask quhat ye wald haiff.Fol. 80 a“Gud gold or land sall nocht be lang to craiff.”380Wallace ansuerd; ‘So ye it grant to me,‘Quhat I wald haiff it sall sone chosyn be.’“Quhat euir yhe ask, that is in this regioun,“Ye sall it haiff, except my wyff and croun.”He thankit hym off his gret kyndlynes.385‘My reward all sall be askyng off grace,‘Pees to this man I broucht with me throu chans;‘Her I quytcleym all othir gyfftis in Frans;‘This samyn is he, gyff ye knaw him weill,‘That we off spak, Thomas off Longaweill;390‘Be rygour ye desyryt he suld be slayn;‘I him restor in to your grace agayn.‘Rasaiff him fayr, as liege man off your land.’The king marweld, and couth in study stand;Perfytly knew that it was Longaweill;395He him forgaiff his trespas euirilkdeill,Bot for his saik that had him hydder brocht;For gold or land ellis he gat it nocht.“Wallace,” he said, “I had leuir off gud land,“Thre hundreth pund haiff sesyt in thi hand.400“That I haiff said sall be grantyt in plain;“Her I restor Thomas to pes agayn,“Derer to me than euyr he was befor,“All for your saik, thocht it war mekill mor.“Bot I wald wyt how that merwell befell.”405Wallace ansuerd; ‘The trewth I sall yow tell.’Than he rahersyt quhat hapnyt on that day,As ye befor in my autor hard say.Quhen the gud king had herd this sudan cassApon the se, be forsicht off Wallace,410The king him held rycht worthi till awans;He saw in hym manheid and gouernans.So did the queyn, and all thir othir lordis;Ilk wicht off hym gret honour than recordis.He purchest pes, for all the power haill,415Fyfteyn hundreth was left in the Rochaill;Gert cry thaim fre, trew serwandis to the king,And neuir agayn fautyt in sic thing.Quhen Thomas was restoryt to his rycht,Off hys awin hand the king has maid him knycht.420Eftir he gaiff stayt to his nerrest ayr;And maid him selff with Wallace for to fayr.Thus he was brocht fra naym off reyff, throu cace,Be sudand chans off him and wicht Wallace.Thus leyff I thaim in worschip and plesance,425At liking still with the gud king off France.Thai thretty dayis he lugyt in to rest;So to ramayn he thocht it nocht the best.Fol. 80 bStill in to pes he couth nocht lang endur;Wncorduall it was till his natur.430Rycht weyll he wyst that Inglissmen occupyitGyane that tym; tharfor he has aspyitSum jeperté apon thaim for to mak.A gudly leyff he at the kyng couth tak.Off Franchmen he wald nayne with him call,435At that fyrst tym for auentur mycht fall;Bot Schyr Thomas that seruice couth persew,He wyst nocht weyll gyff all the layff was trew.Off Scottis men thai semblyt hastelyNyne hundyr sum off worthi chewalry;440In Gyan land full haistely couth ryd,Raissyt feill fyr, and waistyt wonnyngis wid:Fortrass thai brak, and stalwart byggyngis wan;Derffly to dede brocht mony Sotheron man.A werlik toun so fand thai in that land,445Quhilk Schenown hecht, that Inglissmen had in hand.Towart that steid full sadly Wallace wrocht,Be ony wyss assailye gyff he mocht,Bargane till haiff and he mycht get thaim out.Gret strenth off wod that tym was thar about;450This toun [stud] als apon a wattir sid.In till a park, that was bath lang and wyd,Thai buschit thaim, quhill passit was the nycht.Quhen the sone raiss, four hundreth men he dycht;The laiff he gert Craufurd in buschement tak,455Gyff thai myster, a reskew for to mak.Than Longaweill, that ay was full sawage,With Wallace past, as ane to that scrymmage.Thir four hundreth rycht wondyr weyll arayit,Befor the toun the playn baner displayit.460This was nocht to thaim weill knawyn in that contré,The lyoun in gold rycht awfull for to se;A forray kest, and sessit mekill gud.Wermen with in, that playnly wndrestud,Sone wschit forth the pray for to reskew.465The worthy Scottis feill Inglissmen thai slew;The laiff for dreid fled to the toun agayn.The forray tuk the pray, and past the playn,Towart the park; bot power off the tounWschyt agayn in awfull battaill boun,470A thousand hayle wyth men off armys strang;Few baid tharin that mycht to bargane gang.Than Wallace gert the forreouris leyff the pray;Assemblyt sone in till a gud aray.A cruell conterans at that metyng was seyn,475Off wicht wermen in to thair armour cleyn.Feyll lessyt thar lyff apon the Sotheroun sid,Bot nocht for thi rycht bauldly thai abyd.Off the Scottis part worthi men thai slew.Wylyham Craufurd, that weyll the perell knew,480Fol. 81 aOut off the park he gert the buschement pas,In to the feild quhar feyll men fechtand was.At thair entré thai gert full mony de.The Inglissmen was wondyr laith to fle;Full worthely thai wrocht in to that place.485Baid neuir sa few so lang agayn Wallace,Wyth sic power as he that day was thar.On athir syd assailyeit ferly sayr.In to the stour so fellonly thai wrocht,Rycht worthy men derffly to dede thai brocht;490Wyth poyntis persyt throuch platis burnyst brycht.Wallace hym selff, and gud Thomas [the] knycht,Quhom that thai hyt maid neuir mor debait.The Sotheron part was handlyt thar full hayt.In to that place thai mycht no langar byd;495Out off the feyld with sar hartis thai ryd:On to the toun thai fled full haistely.Wallace folowit, and his gud chewalry,Fechtand so fast in to that thykkest thrang,Quhill in the toun he enterit thaim amang;500With him Crawfurd, and Longaweill off mycht,And Rychard als, Wallace his cusyng wicht;Fyfteyn thai war off Scottis cumpany.Thus hapnyt thai amang the gret party.A cruell portar gat apon the wall,505Powit out a pyn, the portculys leit fall.Inglissmen saw that entrit was na ma;Apon the Scottis full hardely thai ga:Bot tyll a wall thai haiff thar bakkis set,Sad strakys and sayr bauldly about thaim bet.510Rychard Wallace the turngreys weill has seyn;He folowit fast apon the portar keyn,A tour the wall dede in the dyk him draiff,Tuk wp the port, and leit in all the layff.Quhen Wallace men had thus the entré won,515Full gret slauchtir agane thai haff begon;Thai savit nayn apon the Sotheroun syd,That wapynnys bar, or harnes in that tid.Wemen and barnys, the gud thai tuk thaim fra,Syn gaiff thaim leyff in to realm to ga;520And preystis als, that war nocht in the feild.Off agyt men, quhilk mycht na wapynnis weild,Thai slew nayn sic, so Wallace chargis was;Bot maid thaim fre, at thair largis to pass.Ryches off gold thai gat in gret plenté,525Harnes and horss, that mycht thaim weill supplé;Wyth Franch folk plenyst the toun agayn;On the tend day the feyld thai tuk in playn;The riwer doun in to the land thai socht,On Sotheron men full mekill maister thai wrocht.530Quhen to [the] king trew men had tald this taill,Off Franchmen thai semblyt a battaill;Fol. 81 bTwenty thousand [off] lele legis off France;Hys brothir thaim led, was duk of Orlyans.Throu Gyan land in rayid battaill thai raid,535To folow Wallace, and maid but litill baidFor Frans supplé, to help thaim in thair rycht.Ner Burdeous, or thai our tuk him mycht,Gud Wallace was, and Thomas had in playn;For sum men tald, that Burdeous, with gret mayn,540With in schort tym thocht battaill for to geyff.Bot fra thai wyst that Franch folk couth raleiff,Wyth gret power, with helpyng off Wallace,Wthyr purpos thai tuk in to schort space.

The rede blasonys thai had born in to wer;265

The toun was sone in till a sudane fer.

The Rede Reiffar thai saw was at thair hand,

The quhilk throu strenth mycht nayn agayne him stand.

Sum schippis fled, and sum the land has tayn,

Clariownys blew, and trumpattis mony ane.270

Quhen Wallace saw the pepill was on ster,

He gaiff commaund na schip suld ner apper;

Bot his awin barge in to the hawyn gart draw.

The folk was fayn quhen thai that senye saw;

Rycht weyll thai knew in gold the rede lioun,275

Leit wp the port, rasauit him in the toun,

And sufferyt thaim, for all that he had brocht.

The rede nawyn in to the hawyn thai socht;

On land thai went, quhar thai likit to pass.

Rycht few thar wyst quhat Scottisman Wallace was;280

Bot weyll thai thocht he was a gudly man,

And honouryt him in all the craft thai can.

Bot four dayis still Wallace ramaynyt thar;

Thir men he callyt, quhen he was boun to fair.Fol. 79 a

Fol. 79 a

He thaim commaundyt apon that cost to bid,285

Quhill he thaim fred for chans at mycht betid.

“Ber yow ewyn; quhat gud that euir yhe spend,

“Leiff on your awin; quhill tithandis I yow send.

“Ger sell thir schippis, and mak yow men off pes;

“It war gud tym off wykkitness to cess.290

“Your captane sall pass to the king with me,

“Throu help off God I sall his warrand be.”

He gert graith him in soit with his awin men;

Was no man thar that mycht weill Thomas ken.

Lykly he was, manlik off contenance,295

Lik to the Scottis be mekill gouernance,

Saiff off his tong, for Ingliss had he nane;

In Latyn weill he mycht suffice for ane.

Thus past his court in all the haste thai may.

To Paris toun thai went apon a day.300

Tythingis was brocht off Wallace to the king;

So gret desyr he had off na kyn thing,

As in that tym quhill he had seyn Wallace.

To meyt him selff he waytit apon cace

In a gardyng, quhar he gart thaim be brocht.305

Till his presence with manly feyr thai socht,

Twa and fyfty at anys kneland doun,

And salust him, as ryoll off most renoun,

With rewllyt spech in so gudly awyss,

All France couth nocht [mair] nurtour tham dewyss.310

The queyn had leiff, and com in hyr effer;

For mekill scho herd off Wallace deid in wer.

Quhat nedis mor off curtassy to tell?

Thai kepyt weill that to the Scottis befell.

Off kingis fer I dar mak no rahers;315

My febill mynd, my trublyt spreit rewers.

Off rich seruice quhat nedis wordis mor?

Mycht non be found bot it was present thor.

Sone eftir meit the king to parlour went,

With gudly lordis; thar Wallace was present.320

Than commound thai off mony syndry thing;

To spek with him gret desyr had the king.

At hym he speryt off wer the gouernance.

He ansuerd him, with manly contenance,

Till euery poynt, als fer as he had feill,325

In Latyn tong rycht naturaly and weill.

The king consauit, sone throu his hie knawlage,

Quhat wermen oysyt be reyff in thar passage.

In till his mynd the Rede Reiffar than was;

Merwell he had how he leit Wallace pass.330Fol. 79 b

Fol. 79 b

Till him he said; “Ye war sum thing to blaym;

“Ye mycht haiff send, be our harrold fra haym,

“Eftir power, to bryng yow throu the se.”

‘God thank yow, schyr, ynewch tharoff had we.

‘Feill men may pass, quhar thai fynd na perell;335

‘Rycht few may kep, quhar nayn is to assaill.’

“Wallace,” he said, “tharoff merwell haiff I;

“A tyran ryngis, in ire full cruelly,

“Apon the se, that gret sorow has wrocht;

“Mycht we him get, it suld not be for nocht.340

“Born off this land, a natyff man to me;

“Tharfor on ws the grettar harme dois he.”

Than Thomas quok, and changyt contenans;

He hard the king his ewill deidis awans.

Wallace beheld, and fenyeit in a part;345

‘Forsuth,’ he said, ‘we fand nane in that art,

‘That proffryt ws sic wnkyndlynes.

‘Bot with your leiff I spek in haymlynes,

‘Trow ye be sycht ye couth that squier knaw?’

“Full lang it war sen tym that I him saw.350

“Bot thir wordis off him ar bot in wayn;

“Or he com her, rycht gud men will be slayn.”

Than Wallace said; ‘Her I haiff brocht with me,

‘Off likly men that was in our countré:

‘Quhilk off all thir wald ye call him most lik?’355

Amang thaim blent that ryoll roy most ryk,

Wesyit thaim weill, bathe statur and curage,

Maner, makdome, thar fassoun and thar wesage.

Sadly he said, awysit sobyrly;

“That largest man, quhilk standis next yow by,360

“Wald I call him, be makdome to dewice.

“Thir ar no thing bot wordis off office.”

Befor the king on kneis fell gud Wallace:

‘O ryoll roy, off hie honour and grace,

‘With waist wordis I will nocht yow trawaill;365

‘Now I will spek sum thing for myn awaill.

‘Our barnat land has beyn our set with wer,

‘With Saxonis blud that dois ws mekill der,

‘Slayn our eldris, distroyit our rychtwys blud,

‘Waistyt our realm off gold and othir gud.370

‘And ye ar her, in mycht and ryolté,

‘Yow suld haiff ey till our aduersité,

‘And ws support, throu kyndnes off the band,

‘Quhilk is conserwyt betuix yow and Scotland.

‘As I am her, at your charge, for plesance,375

‘My lyflat is bot honest chewysance.

‘Flour off realmys forsuth is this regioun;

‘To my reward I wald haiff gret gardoun.’

“Wallace,” he said, “now ask quhat ye wald haiff.Fol. 80 a

Fol. 80 a

“Gud gold or land sall nocht be lang to craiff.”380

Wallace ansuerd; ‘So ye it grant to me,

‘Quhat I wald haiff it sall sone chosyn be.’

“Quhat euir yhe ask, that is in this regioun,

“Ye sall it haiff, except my wyff and croun.”

He thankit hym off his gret kyndlynes.385

‘My reward all sall be askyng off grace,

‘Pees to this man I broucht with me throu chans;

‘Her I quytcleym all othir gyfftis in Frans;

‘This samyn is he, gyff ye knaw him weill,

‘That we off spak, Thomas off Longaweill;390

‘Be rygour ye desyryt he suld be slayn;

‘I him restor in to your grace agayn.

‘Rasaiff him fayr, as liege man off your land.’

The king marweld, and couth in study stand;

Perfytly knew that it was Longaweill;395

He him forgaiff his trespas euirilkdeill,

Bot for his saik that had him hydder brocht;

For gold or land ellis he gat it nocht.

“Wallace,” he said, “I had leuir off gud land,

“Thre hundreth pund haiff sesyt in thi hand.400

“That I haiff said sall be grantyt in plain;

“Her I restor Thomas to pes agayn,

“Derer to me than euyr he was befor,

“All for your saik, thocht it war mekill mor.

“Bot I wald wyt how that merwell befell.”405

Wallace ansuerd; ‘The trewth I sall yow tell.’

Than he rahersyt quhat hapnyt on that day,

As ye befor in my autor hard say.

Quhen the gud king had herd this sudan cass

Apon the se, be forsicht off Wallace,410

The king him held rycht worthi till awans;

He saw in hym manheid and gouernans.

So did the queyn, and all thir othir lordis;

Ilk wicht off hym gret honour than recordis.

He purchest pes, for all the power haill,415

Fyfteyn hundreth was left in the Rochaill;

Gert cry thaim fre, trew serwandis to the king,

And neuir agayn fautyt in sic thing.

Quhen Thomas was restoryt to his rycht,

Off hys awin hand the king has maid him knycht.420

Eftir he gaiff stayt to his nerrest ayr;

And maid him selff with Wallace for to fayr.

Thus he was brocht fra naym off reyff, throu cace,

Be sudand chans off him and wicht Wallace.

Thus leyff I thaim in worschip and plesance,425

At liking still with the gud king off France.

Thai thretty dayis he lugyt in to rest;

So to ramayn he thocht it nocht the best.Fol. 80 b

Fol. 80 b

Still in to pes he couth nocht lang endur;

Wncorduall it was till his natur.430

Rycht weyll he wyst that Inglissmen occupyit

Gyane that tym; tharfor he has aspyit

Sum jeperté apon thaim for to mak.

A gudly leyff he at the kyng couth tak.

Off Franchmen he wald nayne with him call,435

At that fyrst tym for auentur mycht fall;

Bot Schyr Thomas that seruice couth persew,

He wyst nocht weyll gyff all the layff was trew.

Off Scottis men thai semblyt hastely

Nyne hundyr sum off worthi chewalry;440

In Gyan land full haistely couth ryd,

Raissyt feill fyr, and waistyt wonnyngis wid:

Fortrass thai brak, and stalwart byggyngis wan;

Derffly to dede brocht mony Sotheron man.

A werlik toun so fand thai in that land,445

Quhilk Schenown hecht, that Inglissmen had in hand.

Towart that steid full sadly Wallace wrocht,

Be ony wyss assailye gyff he mocht,

Bargane till haiff and he mycht get thaim out.

Gret strenth off wod that tym was thar about;450

This toun [stud] als apon a wattir sid.

In till a park, that was bath lang and wyd,

Thai buschit thaim, quhill passit was the nycht.

Quhen the sone raiss, four hundreth men he dycht;

The laiff he gert Craufurd in buschement tak,455

Gyff thai myster, a reskew for to mak.

Than Longaweill, that ay was full sawage,

With Wallace past, as ane to that scrymmage.

Thir four hundreth rycht wondyr weyll arayit,

Befor the toun the playn baner displayit.460

This was nocht to thaim weill knawyn in that contré,

The lyoun in gold rycht awfull for to se;

A forray kest, and sessit mekill gud.

Wermen with in, that playnly wndrestud,

Sone wschit forth the pray for to reskew.465

The worthy Scottis feill Inglissmen thai slew;

The laiff for dreid fled to the toun agayn.

The forray tuk the pray, and past the playn,

Towart the park; bot power off the toun

Wschyt agayn in awfull battaill boun,470

A thousand hayle wyth men off armys strang;

Few baid tharin that mycht to bargane gang.

Than Wallace gert the forreouris leyff the pray;

Assemblyt sone in till a gud aray.

A cruell conterans at that metyng was seyn,475

Off wicht wermen in to thair armour cleyn.

Feyll lessyt thar lyff apon the Sotheroun sid,

Bot nocht for thi rycht bauldly thai abyd.

Off the Scottis part worthi men thai slew.

Wylyham Craufurd, that weyll the perell knew,480Fol. 81 a

Fol. 81 a

Out off the park he gert the buschement pas,

In to the feild quhar feyll men fechtand was.

At thair entré thai gert full mony de.

The Inglissmen was wondyr laith to fle;

Full worthely thai wrocht in to that place.485

Baid neuir sa few so lang agayn Wallace,

Wyth sic power as he that day was thar.

On athir syd assailyeit ferly sayr.

In to the stour so fellonly thai wrocht,

Rycht worthy men derffly to dede thai brocht;490

Wyth poyntis persyt throuch platis burnyst brycht.

Wallace hym selff, and gud Thomas [the] knycht,

Quhom that thai hyt maid neuir mor debait.

The Sotheron part was handlyt thar full hayt.

In to that place thai mycht no langar byd;495

Out off the feyld with sar hartis thai ryd:

On to the toun thai fled full haistely.

Wallace folowit, and his gud chewalry,

Fechtand so fast in to that thykkest thrang,

Quhill in the toun he enterit thaim amang;500

With him Crawfurd, and Longaweill off mycht,

And Rychard als, Wallace his cusyng wicht;

Fyfteyn thai war off Scottis cumpany.

Thus hapnyt thai amang the gret party.

A cruell portar gat apon the wall,505

Powit out a pyn, the portculys leit fall.

Inglissmen saw that entrit was na ma;

Apon the Scottis full hardely thai ga:

Bot tyll a wall thai haiff thar bakkis set,

Sad strakys and sayr bauldly about thaim bet.510

Rychard Wallace the turngreys weill has seyn;

He folowit fast apon the portar keyn,

A tour the wall dede in the dyk him draiff,

Tuk wp the port, and leit in all the layff.

Quhen Wallace men had thus the entré won,515

Full gret slauchtir agane thai haff begon;

Thai savit nayn apon the Sotheroun syd,

That wapynnys bar, or harnes in that tid.

Wemen and barnys, the gud thai tuk thaim fra,

Syn gaiff thaim leyff in to realm to ga;520

And preystis als, that war nocht in the feild.

Off agyt men, quhilk mycht na wapynnis weild,

Thai slew nayn sic, so Wallace chargis was;

Bot maid thaim fre, at thair largis to pass.

Ryches off gold thai gat in gret plenté,525

Harnes and horss, that mycht thaim weill supplé;

Wyth Franch folk plenyst the toun agayn;

On the tend day the feyld thai tuk in playn;

The riwer doun in to the land thai socht,

On Sotheron men full mekill maister thai wrocht.530

Quhen to [the] king trew men had tald this taill,

Off Franchmen thai semblyt a battaill;Fol. 81 b

Fol. 81 b

Twenty thousand [off] lele legis off France;

Hys brothir thaim led, was duk of Orlyans.

Throu Gyan land in rayid battaill thai raid,535

To folow Wallace, and maid but litill baid

For Frans supplé, to help thaim in thair rycht.

Ner Burdeous, or thai our tuk him mycht,

Gud Wallace was, and Thomas had in playn;

For sum men tald, that Burdeous, with gret mayn,540

With in schort tym thocht battaill for to geyff.

Bot fra thai wyst that Franch folk couth raleiff,

Wyth gret power, with helpyng off Wallace,

Wthyr purpos thai tuk in to schort space.

In Pykarté sone message thai couth send;545Off Wallace com thai tald it till ane end.Off Glosister, captane off Calyss was,The hardy erll; and maid him for to passIn Ingland sone; and syne to London went.Off Wallace deid he tald in the parlement.550Sum playnly [said] that Wallace brak the pess.Wysmen said Nay, and prayit thaim for to cess.Lord Bowmont said; “He tuk bot for Scotland,“And nocht for Frans, that sall ye wndyrstand.“Gyff our endentour spekis for ony mair,555“He has doyne wrang, the suth ye may declar.”Wodstok ansuerd; ‘Schyr, ye haiff spokyn weill.‘Bot contrar resone that taill is euirilkdeill:‘Gyff yon be he that band for him and his,‘May na man say bot he has wrocht amyss.560‘For pryncipaly he band with ws the trew,‘And now agayn begynnys a malice new.‘Schyr king,’ he said, ‘gyff ye think euir to mak‘On Scotland wer, on hand now ye sall tak,‘Quhill he is out, or ellis it helpis nocht.’565As Wodstok said, the haill consaill has wrocht;Power thai raissyt on Scotland for to ryd,Be land and se; thai wald no langar byd.Thar land ost thai rayit weyll in deid;Thar wantgard tuk the hardy erll to leid570Off Glosister, that off wer had gret feill;Off Longcastell the duk demanyt weillThe mydillward; on to the se thai sendSchyr Jhon Sewart, that weyll the northland kend.The knycht Wallang befor the ost in raid;575In sic a way wyth ewyll Scottis men he maid,Mony castellis he gert sone yoldin beTill Inglissmen, with outyn mar mellé.Or the best wyst, that it was wer in playn,Entryt he was in to Bothwell agane.580Schyr Jhon Sewart, that com in be the se,Fol. 82 aSanct Jhonstoun sone gat throw a jeperté.Dundé thai tuk, and putt Scottismen to dede;In Fyff fra thaim was nocht kepyt a sted;And all the south, fra Cheuyot to the se.585In to the west thar mycht na succour be;The worthy lord, that suld haiff gouernyt this,God had hym tayn, we trow, in lestand blyss:Hys son Walter, that bot a child than was,Trew men him tuk, and couth in Arrane pass.590Adam Wallace than wyst off no supplé,Till Rawchlé went, and Lindsay off Craggé;Gud Robert Boid maid no residens;For haisty desait, thai tuk thaim to defens.Schyr Jhon the Graym in Dundaff mycht nocht bid,595Succour he socht in to the forest off Clid.The knycht Sewart, a schyrreff maid in FyffSchyr Amer Brim; and gaiff, for term off lyff,The landis haill that Wallang aucht befor.Rychard Lundy had gret dreid off thar schoyr;600He likyt nocht for to cum to thar pess,For thi in Fyff thai wald nocht lat him cess.To pass our Tay as than it mycht nocht be,For Inglissmen so rewllyt that cuntré.Owt off the land he staw away be nycht,605Auchtene with him that worthy war and wycht;And als his sone, that was off tendyr eild;Bot eftir sone he couth weill wapynnys weild.At Sterlyng bryg, quhar at the wach wes set,Thar passyt he away with outyn let.610In Dundaff mur Schyr Jhon the Graym he socht;A woman tald, as than befor was wrocht;And till a strenth he drew him on the morn.Laynrik was tayn with young Thomas off Thorn;So Lundy thair mycht mak no langar remayn:615Besouth Tynto lugis thai maid in playn.Schyr Jhon the Graym gat wit that he was thair;Till him he past with outyn wordis mar.Wallang gart bryng fra Carlele cariage,To stuff Bothwell with wyn and gud warnage.620Lundy and Graym gat wyt off that awaill,Rycht sudanly thai maid thaim till assaill:Fyfty thai war off nobill chewalry,Agayn four scor off Ingliss cumpany.Ane Skelton than kepyt the careage,625All Brankstewat that was his heretage.Lundy and Graym met with the squier wicht;Feill Inglissmen to ded derffly thai dycht.Sexté was slayn apon the tothir sid,And fyve off Scottis, so bauldly thai abid.630Gret gud thai wan, bath gold and othir ger,Wittayll and horss that hapnyt in that wer.Fol. 82 bSyn thai haiff seyn weyll lang thai mycht nocht lestIn to that land, tharfor thai thocht it bestTo seik sum place, in strenth that thai mycht bid,635For Sotheron men had plenyst on ilk sid.Lundeis luge thai left upon a nycht;In the Lennox the way thai passyt rychtTill erll Malcom, that kepyt that cuntréFra Inglissmen, with help off thar supplé.640Cetoun and Lyll in to the Bass thai baid;For Sotheroun folk so gret mastryss had maid,That all the south was tayn in to thar hand.Gud Hew the Hay was send in to Ingland,And vthir ayris, to presoune at thar will.645The northland lordis, saw na help cum thaim till,A squier Guthré amang thaim ordand thai,To warn Wallace in all the haist he may.Out off Arbroth he passit to the se.And at the Slus, land takyn son had he;650In Flandrys land no residens he maid;In Frans he past; bot Wallace weill abaidOn his purpos in Gyan at the wer:On Sotheroun men he had doyn mekill der.Quhill gud Guthré had gottyn his presens,655He haistyt him sone, and maid no residens;He has him tald, with Scotland how it stud.Than Wallace said; “Thai tithingis ar nocht gud.“I had exampill, off tym that is by worn,“Trewys to bynd with thaim that was maynsuorn:660“Bot I as than couth nocht think on sic thing,“Be causs that we tuk this pess with thar king.“Be thar chansler the tothir pess was bwn,“And that full sair our forfadris has fwn;“Wndyr that trew auchtene scor thai gart de,665“At noblis war, the best in our cuntré!“To the gret God my wow now her I mak,“Pess with that king I think neuir for to tak.“He sall repent, that thai this wer began.”Thus mowit he, with mony ryoll man,670On to the king, and tauld him his entent.Till lat him pass the king wald nocht consent.Quhill [Wallace] thar maid promyss be his hand,Gyff euir agayn he thocht to leyff Scotland,To cum till him; his gret seyll he him gaiff675Off quhat lordschip that he likit till haiff.Thus at the king haisty leiff tuk he.Na ma with him he brocht off that cuntré,Bot his awn men, and Schyr Thomas the knycht.In Flawndrys land thai past with all thar mycht.680Guthreis barg was at the Slus left styll;Fol. 83 aTo se thai went wyth ane full egyr wyll.Bath Forth and Tay thai left and passyt byOn the north cost, [gud] Guthré was thar gy.In Munross hawyn thai brocht hym to the land;685Till trew Scottis it was a blyth tithand.Schyr Jhon Ramsay, that worthi was and wycht,Fra Ochtyrhouss the way he chesyt rycht,To meite Wallace with men off armes strang;Off his duellyng thai had thocht wondyr lang.690The trew Ruwan come als with outyn baid;In Barnan wod he had his lugyng maid.Barklay be that to Wallace semblyt fast;With thre hundreth to Ochtyrhouss he past.

In Pykarté sone message thai couth send;545

Off Wallace com thai tald it till ane end.

Off Glosister, captane off Calyss was,

The hardy erll; and maid him for to pass

In Ingland sone; and syne to London went.

Off Wallace deid he tald in the parlement.550

Sum playnly [said] that Wallace brak the pess.

Wysmen said Nay, and prayit thaim for to cess.

Lord Bowmont said; “He tuk bot for Scotland,

“And nocht for Frans, that sall ye wndyrstand.

“Gyff our endentour spekis for ony mair,555

“He has doyne wrang, the suth ye may declar.”

Wodstok ansuerd; ‘Schyr, ye haiff spokyn weill.

‘Bot contrar resone that taill is euirilkdeill:

‘Gyff yon be he that band for him and his,

‘May na man say bot he has wrocht amyss.560

‘For pryncipaly he band with ws the trew,

‘And now agayn begynnys a malice new.

‘Schyr king,’ he said, ‘gyff ye think euir to mak

‘On Scotland wer, on hand now ye sall tak,

‘Quhill he is out, or ellis it helpis nocht.’565

As Wodstok said, the haill consaill has wrocht;

Power thai raissyt on Scotland for to ryd,

Be land and se; thai wald no langar byd.

Thar land ost thai rayit weyll in deid;

Thar wantgard tuk the hardy erll to leid570

Off Glosister, that off wer had gret feill;

Off Longcastell the duk demanyt weill

The mydillward; on to the se thai send

Schyr Jhon Sewart, that weyll the northland kend.

The knycht Wallang befor the ost in raid;575

In sic a way wyth ewyll Scottis men he maid,

Mony castellis he gert sone yoldin be

Till Inglissmen, with outyn mar mellé.

Or the best wyst, that it was wer in playn,

Entryt he was in to Bothwell agane.580

Schyr Jhon Sewart, that com in be the se,Fol. 82 a

Fol. 82 a

Sanct Jhonstoun sone gat throw a jeperté.

Dundé thai tuk, and putt Scottismen to dede;

In Fyff fra thaim was nocht kepyt a sted;

And all the south, fra Cheuyot to the se.585

In to the west thar mycht na succour be;

The worthy lord, that suld haiff gouernyt this,

God had hym tayn, we trow, in lestand blyss:

Hys son Walter, that bot a child than was,

Trew men him tuk, and couth in Arrane pass.590

Adam Wallace than wyst off no supplé,

Till Rawchlé went, and Lindsay off Craggé;

Gud Robert Boid maid no residens;

For haisty desait, thai tuk thaim to defens.

Schyr Jhon the Graym in Dundaff mycht nocht bid,595

Succour he socht in to the forest off Clid.

The knycht Sewart, a schyrreff maid in Fyff

Schyr Amer Brim; and gaiff, for term off lyff,

The landis haill that Wallang aucht befor.

Rychard Lundy had gret dreid off thar schoyr;600

He likyt nocht for to cum to thar pess,

For thi in Fyff thai wald nocht lat him cess.

To pass our Tay as than it mycht nocht be,

For Inglissmen so rewllyt that cuntré.

Owt off the land he staw away be nycht,605

Auchtene with him that worthy war and wycht;

And als his sone, that was off tendyr eild;

Bot eftir sone he couth weill wapynnys weild.

At Sterlyng bryg, quhar at the wach wes set,

Thar passyt he away with outyn let.610

In Dundaff mur Schyr Jhon the Graym he socht;

A woman tald, as than befor was wrocht;

And till a strenth he drew him on the morn.

Laynrik was tayn with young Thomas off Thorn;

So Lundy thair mycht mak no langar remayn:615

Besouth Tynto lugis thai maid in playn.

Schyr Jhon the Graym gat wit that he was thair;

Till him he past with outyn wordis mar.

Wallang gart bryng fra Carlele cariage,

To stuff Bothwell with wyn and gud warnage.620

Lundy and Graym gat wyt off that awaill,

Rycht sudanly thai maid thaim till assaill:

Fyfty thai war off nobill chewalry,

Agayn four scor off Ingliss cumpany.

Ane Skelton than kepyt the careage,625

All Brankstewat that was his heretage.

Lundy and Graym met with the squier wicht;

Feill Inglissmen to ded derffly thai dycht.

Sexté was slayn apon the tothir sid,

And fyve off Scottis, so bauldly thai abid.630

Gret gud thai wan, bath gold and othir ger,

Wittayll and horss that hapnyt in that wer.Fol. 82 b

Fol. 82 b

Syn thai haiff seyn weyll lang thai mycht nocht lest

In to that land, tharfor thai thocht it best

To seik sum place, in strenth that thai mycht bid,635

For Sotheron men had plenyst on ilk sid.

Lundeis luge thai left upon a nycht;

In the Lennox the way thai passyt rycht

Till erll Malcom, that kepyt that cuntré

Fra Inglissmen, with help off thar supplé.640

Cetoun and Lyll in to the Bass thai baid;

For Sotheroun folk so gret mastryss had maid,

That all the south was tayn in to thar hand.

Gud Hew the Hay was send in to Ingland,

And vthir ayris, to presoune at thar will.645

The northland lordis, saw na help cum thaim till,

A squier Guthré amang thaim ordand thai,

To warn Wallace in all the haist he may.

Out off Arbroth he passit to the se.

And at the Slus, land takyn son had he;650

In Flandrys land no residens he maid;

In Frans he past; bot Wallace weill abaid

On his purpos in Gyan at the wer:

On Sotheroun men he had doyn mekill der.

Quhill gud Guthré had gottyn his presens,655

He haistyt him sone, and maid no residens;

He has him tald, with Scotland how it stud.

Than Wallace said; “Thai tithingis ar nocht gud.

“I had exampill, off tym that is by worn,

“Trewys to bynd with thaim that was maynsuorn:660

“Bot I as than couth nocht think on sic thing,

“Be causs that we tuk this pess with thar king.

“Be thar chansler the tothir pess was bwn,

“And that full sair our forfadris has fwn;

“Wndyr that trew auchtene scor thai gart de,665

“At noblis war, the best in our cuntré!

“To the gret God my wow now her I mak,

“Pess with that king I think neuir for to tak.

“He sall repent, that thai this wer began.”

Thus mowit he, with mony ryoll man,670

On to the king, and tauld him his entent.

Till lat him pass the king wald nocht consent.

Quhill [Wallace] thar maid promyss be his hand,

Gyff euir agayn he thocht to leyff Scotland,

To cum till him; his gret seyll he him gaiff675

Off quhat lordschip that he likit till haiff.

Thus at the king haisty leiff tuk he.

Na ma with him he brocht off that cuntré,

Bot his awn men, and Schyr Thomas the knycht.

In Flawndrys land thai past with all thar mycht.680

Guthreis barg was at the Slus left styll;Fol. 83 a

Fol. 83 a

To se thai went wyth ane full egyr wyll.

Bath Forth and Tay thai left and passyt by

On the north cost, [gud] Guthré was thar gy.

In Munross hawyn thai brocht hym to the land;685

Till trew Scottis it was a blyth tithand.

Schyr Jhon Ramsay, that worthi was and wycht,

Fra Ochtyrhouss the way he chesyt rycht,

To meite Wallace with men off armes strang;

Off his duellyng thai had thocht wondyr lang.690

The trew Ruwan come als with outyn baid;

In Barnan wod he had his lugyng maid.

Barklay be that to Wallace semblyt fast;

With thre hundreth to Ochtyrhouss he past.

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