BUKE SECUND.
Yong Wallace fulfillit of hie curage;In pryss of armys desirous and sauage;Thi waslage may neuir be forlorn,Thi deidis are knawin, thocht that the warld had suorn:For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes,5Was set in wer, and werray rychtwisnes;And felloune loss of thi deyr worthi kyn.The rancour more remaynde thi mynd with in.Fol. 5 bIt was his lyff, and maist part of his fude,To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude.10Till Auchincruff with outyn mar he raid,And bot schort tyme in pess at he thar baid.Thar duelt a Wallas, welcummyt him full weill;Thocht Ingliss men thar of had litill feille.Bathe meite and drynk at his wille he had thar.15In Laglyne wode, quhen that he maid repayr,This gentill man was full oft his resett;With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett.So he desirit the toune of Air to se,His child with him; as than na man had he.20Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his horss;Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat corss.The Persye was in the castell of AyrWith Ingliss men, gret nowmber and repayr:Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wiss,25Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppriss.Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.A churll thai had, that felloune byrdyngis bar;Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar30Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand;And als be wss a sport he tuk in hand:He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille:On his braid bak of ony wald he thoile,Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw.35Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw,He likyt weill at that mercat to be,And for a strak he bad him grottis thre.The churll grantyt, of that proferr was fayn.To pay the siluer Wallas was full bayne.40Wallas that steing tuk wp in till his hand;Full sturdely he coud befor him stand,Wallace, with that, apon the bak him gaif,Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif.The carll was dede: of him I spek no mar.45The Ingliss men semblit on Wallace thair,Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast;He vnabasyt, and nocht gretlie agast,Vpon the hed ane with the steing hitt he,Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle.50Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille,The tre to raiff and fruschit euiredeille.His steyng was tynt, the Ingliss man was dede;For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede.He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide,55Throuch oute the thikest of the press he yeid;And at his horss full fayne he wald haif beyne.Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne.Wallace raturnd as man of mekyll mayne;And at a straik the formast has he slayne.60Fol. 6 aThe tothir fled, and durst him nocht abide;Bot a rycht straik Wallace him gat that tid:In at the guschet brymly he him bar;The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar.Fyve slew he thar, or that he left the toune:65He gat his horss, to Laglyne maid him boune,Kepyt his child, and leyt him nocht abide;In saufté thus on to the wod can ride.Feille folowit him on hors, and eik on futte,To tak Wallace: bot than it was no butte;70Couert of treis sawit him full weille.Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeilleGud ordinance, that serd for his estate,His cusyng maid at all tyme, ayr and late,The Squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was;75Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pass,As for that tyme that he remanyt thar;Bot sar he langit to [se] the toune of Ayr.Thedyr he past apon the mercate day;Gret God gif he as than had beyne away!80
Yong Wallace fulfillit of hie curage;In pryss of armys desirous and sauage;Thi waslage may neuir be forlorn,Thi deidis are knawin, thocht that the warld had suorn:For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes,5Was set in wer, and werray rychtwisnes;And felloune loss of thi deyr worthi kyn.The rancour more remaynde thi mynd with in.Fol. 5 bIt was his lyff, and maist part of his fude,To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude.10Till Auchincruff with outyn mar he raid,And bot schort tyme in pess at he thar baid.Thar duelt a Wallas, welcummyt him full weill;Thocht Ingliss men thar of had litill feille.Bathe meite and drynk at his wille he had thar.15In Laglyne wode, quhen that he maid repayr,This gentill man was full oft his resett;With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett.So he desirit the toune of Air to se,His child with him; as than na man had he.20Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his horss;Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat corss.The Persye was in the castell of AyrWith Ingliss men, gret nowmber and repayr:Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wiss,25Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppriss.Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.A churll thai had, that felloune byrdyngis bar;Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar30Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand;And als be wss a sport he tuk in hand:He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille:On his braid bak of ony wald he thoile,Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw.35Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw,He likyt weill at that mercat to be,And for a strak he bad him grottis thre.The churll grantyt, of that proferr was fayn.To pay the siluer Wallas was full bayne.40Wallas that steing tuk wp in till his hand;Full sturdely he coud befor him stand,Wallace, with that, apon the bak him gaif,Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif.The carll was dede: of him I spek no mar.45The Ingliss men semblit on Wallace thair,Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast;He vnabasyt, and nocht gretlie agast,Vpon the hed ane with the steing hitt he,Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle.50Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille,The tre to raiff and fruschit euiredeille.His steyng was tynt, the Ingliss man was dede;For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede.He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide,55Throuch oute the thikest of the press he yeid;And at his horss full fayne he wald haif beyne.Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne.Wallace raturnd as man of mekyll mayne;And at a straik the formast has he slayne.60Fol. 6 aThe tothir fled, and durst him nocht abide;Bot a rycht straik Wallace him gat that tid:In at the guschet brymly he him bar;The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar.Fyve slew he thar, or that he left the toune:65He gat his horss, to Laglyne maid him boune,Kepyt his child, and leyt him nocht abide;In saufté thus on to the wod can ride.Feille folowit him on hors, and eik on futte,To tak Wallace: bot than it was no butte;70Couert of treis sawit him full weille.Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeilleGud ordinance, that serd for his estate,His cusyng maid at all tyme, ayr and late,The Squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was;75Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pass,As for that tyme that he remanyt thar;Bot sar he langit to [se] the toune of Ayr.Thedyr he past apon the mercate day;Gret God gif he as than had beyne away!80
Yong Wallace fulfillit of hie curage;In pryss of armys desirous and sauage;Thi waslage may neuir be forlorn,Thi deidis are knawin, thocht that the warld had suorn:For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes,5Was set in wer, and werray rychtwisnes;And felloune loss of thi deyr worthi kyn.The rancour more remaynde thi mynd with in.Fol. 5 bIt was his lyff, and maist part of his fude,To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude.10Till Auchincruff with outyn mar he raid,And bot schort tyme in pess at he thar baid.Thar duelt a Wallas, welcummyt him full weill;Thocht Ingliss men thar of had litill feille.Bathe meite and drynk at his wille he had thar.15In Laglyne wode, quhen that he maid repayr,This gentill man was full oft his resett;With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett.So he desirit the toune of Air to se,His child with him; as than na man had he.20Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his horss;Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat corss.The Persye was in the castell of AyrWith Ingliss men, gret nowmber and repayr:Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wiss,25Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppriss.Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.A churll thai had, that felloune byrdyngis bar;Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar30Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand;And als be wss a sport he tuk in hand:He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille:On his braid bak of ony wald he thoile,Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw.35Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw,He likyt weill at that mercat to be,And for a strak he bad him grottis thre.The churll grantyt, of that proferr was fayn.To pay the siluer Wallas was full bayne.40Wallas that steing tuk wp in till his hand;Full sturdely he coud befor him stand,Wallace, with that, apon the bak him gaif,Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif.The carll was dede: of him I spek no mar.45The Ingliss men semblit on Wallace thair,Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast;He vnabasyt, and nocht gretlie agast,Vpon the hed ane with the steing hitt he,Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle.50Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille,The tre to raiff and fruschit euiredeille.His steyng was tynt, the Ingliss man was dede;For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede.He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide,55Throuch oute the thikest of the press he yeid;And at his horss full fayne he wald haif beyne.Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne.Wallace raturnd as man of mekyll mayne;And at a straik the formast has he slayne.60Fol. 6 aThe tothir fled, and durst him nocht abide;Bot a rycht straik Wallace him gat that tid:In at the guschet brymly he him bar;The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar.Fyve slew he thar, or that he left the toune:65He gat his horss, to Laglyne maid him boune,Kepyt his child, and leyt him nocht abide;In saufté thus on to the wod can ride.Feille folowit him on hors, and eik on futte,To tak Wallace: bot than it was no butte;70Couert of treis sawit him full weille.Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeilleGud ordinance, that serd for his estate,His cusyng maid at all tyme, ayr and late,The Squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was;75Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pass,As for that tyme that he remanyt thar;Bot sar he langit to [se] the toune of Ayr.Thedyr he past apon the mercate day;Gret God gif he as than had beyne away!80
Yong Wallace fulfillit of hie curage;
In pryss of armys desirous and sauage;
Thi waslage may neuir be forlorn,
Thi deidis are knawin, thocht that the warld had suorn:
For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes,5
Was set in wer, and werray rychtwisnes;
And felloune loss of thi deyr worthi kyn.
The rancour more remaynde thi mynd with in.Fol. 5 b
Fol. 5 b
It was his lyff, and maist part of his fude,
To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude.10
Till Auchincruff with outyn mar he raid,
And bot schort tyme in pess at he thar baid.
Thar duelt a Wallas, welcummyt him full weill;
Thocht Ingliss men thar of had litill feille.
Bathe meite and drynk at his wille he had thar.15
In Laglyne wode, quhen that he maid repayr,
This gentill man was full oft his resett;
With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett.
So he desirit the toune of Air to se,
His child with him; as than na man had he.20
Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his horss;
Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat corss.
The Persye was in the castell of Ayr
With Ingliss men, gret nowmber and repayr:
Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wiss,25
Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppriss.
Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;
The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.
A churll thai had, that felloune byrdyngis bar;
Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar30
Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand;
And als be wss a sport he tuk in hand:
He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille:
On his braid bak of ony wald he thoile,
Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw.35
Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw,
He likyt weill at that mercat to be,
And for a strak he bad him grottis thre.
The churll grantyt, of that proferr was fayn.
To pay the siluer Wallas was full bayne.40
Wallas that steing tuk wp in till his hand;
Full sturdely he coud befor him stand,
Wallace, with that, apon the bak him gaif,
Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif.
The carll was dede: of him I spek no mar.45
The Ingliss men semblit on Wallace thair,
Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast;
He vnabasyt, and nocht gretlie agast,
Vpon the hed ane with the steing hitt he,
Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle.50
Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille,
The tre to raiff and fruschit euiredeille.
His steyng was tynt, the Ingliss man was dede;
For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede.
He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide,55
Throuch oute the thikest of the press he yeid;
And at his horss full fayne he wald haif beyne.
Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne.
Wallace raturnd as man of mekyll mayne;
And at a straik the formast has he slayne.60Fol. 6 a
Fol. 6 a
The tothir fled, and durst him nocht abide;
Bot a rycht straik Wallace him gat that tid:
In at the guschet brymly he him bar;
The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar.
Fyve slew he thar, or that he left the toune:65
He gat his horss, to Laglyne maid him boune,
Kepyt his child, and leyt him nocht abide;
In saufté thus on to the wod can ride.
Feille folowit him on hors, and eik on futte,
To tak Wallace: bot than it was no butte;70
Couert of treis sawit him full weille.
Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeille
Gud ordinance, that serd for his estate,
His cusyng maid at all tyme, ayr and late,
The Squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was;75
Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pass,
As for that tyme that he remanyt thar;
Bot sar he langit to [se] the toune of Ayr.
Thedyr he past apon the mercate day;
Gret God gif he as than had beyne away!80
His emys serwand to buy him fysche was send,Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend.Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht,The Perseys stwart sadly till him socht,And said; “Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?”85‘To the schirreff,’ he said. “Be hewynnys king,“My lord sall haiff it; and syne go seke the mar.”Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar:Till him he yeid, and said; ‘Gud freynd, pray I the,‘The schirreffis serwand thow wald lat him be.’90A hetfull man the stwart was of blude;And thoucht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude.“Go hens, the Scot, the mekill dewill the speid;“At thi shrewed wss thow wenys me to leid.”A huntyn staff in till his hand he bar;95Thar with he smat on Willyham Wallace thair.Bot for his tre litill sonyhé he maid,Bot be the coler claucht him with outyn baid.A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he;Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé:100Catour sen syne he was, but weyr, no mar.Men of armess on Wallace semblit thar,Four scor was sett in armyss buskyt boune,On the merket day, for Scottis to kepe the toune.Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer,105In to the byrneis the formast can he ber,Throuch out the body stekit him to dede;And syndry ma, or he past of that stede.Ane othir awkwart a large straik tuk [he] thar,Abown the kne, the bayne in sondir schar.110The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile.The crag in twa; no weidis mycht him waill.Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun.Fol. 6 bThan Inglissmen, that war in bargane, bouneTo kepe the gait with speris rud and lang;115For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang.Wallace was harnest on his body weyle;Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle,And fra his strenth enwerounde him about;Bot throu the press on a side he went out,120On till a wall that stude by the se syde;For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide.And off thar speris in pecis part he schar.Than fra the castell othir help come mar.Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side,125Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde.Than wist he nocht of no help, bot to de;To wenge his dede amang thaim louss yeid he,On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast.Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt at the last,130Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw;He wyst na wayne, bot out his knyff can draw.The fyrst he slew, that him in hand has hynt;And othir twa he stekit with his dynt.The remanand with speris to him socht,135Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht.The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla;To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ta.Thus in thar armyss, supposs that he had suorne,Out off the garth befors thai haff him borne.140Thus gud Wallace with Inglissmen was tane,In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne:He coud nocht cheyss, sic curage so hym bar,Frewill fortoun thus broucht him in the snar;And falss Inwye, ay contrar rychtwisnes,145That wiolent god full of doubilnes.Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace neuir knew:Gret rychtwisness him ay to mercy drew.His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing,Mycht thai hawe payit the ransoune of a king.150The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne.Off thar best men that day sewyn has he slayne.Thai gert set him in till a presoune fell;Off his turment gret payne it war to tell.Ill meyt and drynk thai gert on till hym gyff,155Gret merwaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff:And ek thar to he was in presoune law,Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law.Leyff I him thar in to that paynfull sted.Gret God abowe till him send sum ramede!160The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng!The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng!The tormentyng of euery creatur!“Alas,” thai said, “how suld our lyff endur?“Be fortoun armess has left him in thrillage:165“The flour of youth in till his tendir age.Fol. 7 a“Lefand as now a chiftane had we nane,“Durst tak on hand, bot yong Wallace alayne.“This land is lost; he caucht is in the swar,“The Apersé of Scotland left in cayr!”170
His emys serwand to buy him fysche was send,Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend.Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht,The Perseys stwart sadly till him socht,And said; “Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?”85‘To the schirreff,’ he said. “Be hewynnys king,“My lord sall haiff it; and syne go seke the mar.”Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar:Till him he yeid, and said; ‘Gud freynd, pray I the,‘The schirreffis serwand thow wald lat him be.’90A hetfull man the stwart was of blude;And thoucht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude.“Go hens, the Scot, the mekill dewill the speid;“At thi shrewed wss thow wenys me to leid.”A huntyn staff in till his hand he bar;95Thar with he smat on Willyham Wallace thair.Bot for his tre litill sonyhé he maid,Bot be the coler claucht him with outyn baid.A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he;Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé:100Catour sen syne he was, but weyr, no mar.Men of armess on Wallace semblit thar,Four scor was sett in armyss buskyt boune,On the merket day, for Scottis to kepe the toune.Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer,105In to the byrneis the formast can he ber,Throuch out the body stekit him to dede;And syndry ma, or he past of that stede.Ane othir awkwart a large straik tuk [he] thar,Abown the kne, the bayne in sondir schar.110The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile.The crag in twa; no weidis mycht him waill.Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun.Fol. 6 bThan Inglissmen, that war in bargane, bouneTo kepe the gait with speris rud and lang;115For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang.Wallace was harnest on his body weyle;Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle,And fra his strenth enwerounde him about;Bot throu the press on a side he went out,120On till a wall that stude by the se syde;For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide.And off thar speris in pecis part he schar.Than fra the castell othir help come mar.Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side,125Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde.Than wist he nocht of no help, bot to de;To wenge his dede amang thaim louss yeid he,On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast.Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt at the last,130Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw;He wyst na wayne, bot out his knyff can draw.The fyrst he slew, that him in hand has hynt;And othir twa he stekit with his dynt.The remanand with speris to him socht,135Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht.The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla;To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ta.Thus in thar armyss, supposs that he had suorne,Out off the garth befors thai haff him borne.140Thus gud Wallace with Inglissmen was tane,In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne:He coud nocht cheyss, sic curage so hym bar,Frewill fortoun thus broucht him in the snar;And falss Inwye, ay contrar rychtwisnes,145That wiolent god full of doubilnes.Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace neuir knew:Gret rychtwisness him ay to mercy drew.His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing,Mycht thai hawe payit the ransoune of a king.150The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne.Off thar best men that day sewyn has he slayne.Thai gert set him in till a presoune fell;Off his turment gret payne it war to tell.Ill meyt and drynk thai gert on till hym gyff,155Gret merwaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff:And ek thar to he was in presoune law,Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law.Leyff I him thar in to that paynfull sted.Gret God abowe till him send sum ramede!160The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng!The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng!The tormentyng of euery creatur!“Alas,” thai said, “how suld our lyff endur?“Be fortoun armess has left him in thrillage:165“The flour of youth in till his tendir age.Fol. 7 a“Lefand as now a chiftane had we nane,“Durst tak on hand, bot yong Wallace alayne.“This land is lost; he caucht is in the swar,“The Apersé of Scotland left in cayr!”170
His emys serwand to buy him fysche was send,Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend.Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht,The Perseys stwart sadly till him socht,And said; “Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?”85‘To the schirreff,’ he said. “Be hewynnys king,“My lord sall haiff it; and syne go seke the mar.”Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar:Till him he yeid, and said; ‘Gud freynd, pray I the,‘The schirreffis serwand thow wald lat him be.’90A hetfull man the stwart was of blude;And thoucht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude.“Go hens, the Scot, the mekill dewill the speid;“At thi shrewed wss thow wenys me to leid.”A huntyn staff in till his hand he bar;95Thar with he smat on Willyham Wallace thair.Bot for his tre litill sonyhé he maid,Bot be the coler claucht him with outyn baid.A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he;Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé:100Catour sen syne he was, but weyr, no mar.Men of armess on Wallace semblit thar,Four scor was sett in armyss buskyt boune,On the merket day, for Scottis to kepe the toune.Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer,105In to the byrneis the formast can he ber,Throuch out the body stekit him to dede;And syndry ma, or he past of that stede.Ane othir awkwart a large straik tuk [he] thar,Abown the kne, the bayne in sondir schar.110The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile.The crag in twa; no weidis mycht him waill.Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun.Fol. 6 bThan Inglissmen, that war in bargane, bouneTo kepe the gait with speris rud and lang;115For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang.Wallace was harnest on his body weyle;Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle,And fra his strenth enwerounde him about;Bot throu the press on a side he went out,120On till a wall that stude by the se syde;For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide.And off thar speris in pecis part he schar.Than fra the castell othir help come mar.Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side,125Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde.Than wist he nocht of no help, bot to de;To wenge his dede amang thaim louss yeid he,On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast.Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt at the last,130Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw;He wyst na wayne, bot out his knyff can draw.The fyrst he slew, that him in hand has hynt;And othir twa he stekit with his dynt.The remanand with speris to him socht,135Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht.The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla;To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ta.Thus in thar armyss, supposs that he had suorne,Out off the garth befors thai haff him borne.140Thus gud Wallace with Inglissmen was tane,In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne:He coud nocht cheyss, sic curage so hym bar,Frewill fortoun thus broucht him in the snar;And falss Inwye, ay contrar rychtwisnes,145That wiolent god full of doubilnes.Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace neuir knew:Gret rychtwisness him ay to mercy drew.His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing,Mycht thai hawe payit the ransoune of a king.150The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne.Off thar best men that day sewyn has he slayne.Thai gert set him in till a presoune fell;Off his turment gret payne it war to tell.Ill meyt and drynk thai gert on till hym gyff,155Gret merwaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff:And ek thar to he was in presoune law,Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law.Leyff I him thar in to that paynfull sted.Gret God abowe till him send sum ramede!160The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng!The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng!The tormentyng of euery creatur!“Alas,” thai said, “how suld our lyff endur?“Be fortoun armess has left him in thrillage:165“The flour of youth in till his tendir age.Fol. 7 a“Lefand as now a chiftane had we nane,“Durst tak on hand, bot yong Wallace alayne.“This land is lost; he caucht is in the swar,“The Apersé of Scotland left in cayr!”170
His emys serwand to buy him fysche was send,
Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend.
Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht,
The Perseys stwart sadly till him socht,
And said; “Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?”85
‘To the schirreff,’ he said. “Be hewynnys king,
“My lord sall haiff it; and syne go seke the mar.”
Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar:
Till him he yeid, and said; ‘Gud freynd, pray I the,
‘The schirreffis serwand thow wald lat him be.’90
A hetfull man the stwart was of blude;
And thoucht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude.
“Go hens, the Scot, the mekill dewill the speid;
“At thi shrewed wss thow wenys me to leid.”
A huntyn staff in till his hand he bar;95
Thar with he smat on Willyham Wallace thair.
Bot for his tre litill sonyhé he maid,
Bot be the coler claucht him with outyn baid.
A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he;
Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé:100
Catour sen syne he was, but weyr, no mar.
Men of armess on Wallace semblit thar,
Four scor was sett in armyss buskyt boune,
On the merket day, for Scottis to kepe the toune.
Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer,105
In to the byrneis the formast can he ber,
Throuch out the body stekit him to dede;
And syndry ma, or he past of that stede.
Ane othir awkwart a large straik tuk [he] thar,
Abown the kne, the bayne in sondir schar.110
The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile.
The crag in twa; no weidis mycht him waill.
Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun.Fol. 6 b
Fol. 6 b
Than Inglissmen, that war in bargane, boune
To kepe the gait with speris rud and lang;115
For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang.
Wallace was harnest on his body weyle;
Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle,
And fra his strenth enwerounde him about;
Bot throu the press on a side he went out,120
On till a wall that stude by the se syde;
For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide.
And off thar speris in pecis part he schar.
Than fra the castell othir help come mar.
Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side,125
Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde.
Than wist he nocht of no help, bot to de;
To wenge his dede amang thaim louss yeid he,
On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast.
Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt at the last,130
Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw;
He wyst na wayne, bot out his knyff can draw.
The fyrst he slew, that him in hand has hynt;
And othir twa he stekit with his dynt.
The remanand with speris to him socht,135
Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht.
The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla;
To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ta.
Thus in thar armyss, supposs that he had suorne,
Out off the garth befors thai haff him borne.140
Thus gud Wallace with Inglissmen was tane,
In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne:
He coud nocht cheyss, sic curage so hym bar,
Frewill fortoun thus broucht him in the snar;
And falss Inwye, ay contrar rychtwisnes,145
That wiolent god full of doubilnes.
Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace neuir knew:
Gret rychtwisness him ay to mercy drew.
His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing,
Mycht thai hawe payit the ransoune of a king.150
The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne.
Off thar best men that day sewyn has he slayne.
Thai gert set him in till a presoune fell;
Off his turment gret payne it war to tell.
Ill meyt and drynk thai gert on till hym gyff,155
Gret merwaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff:
And ek thar to he was in presoune law,
Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law.
Leyff I him thar in to that paynfull sted.
Gret God abowe till him send sum ramede!160
The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng!
The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng!
The tormentyng of euery creatur!
“Alas,” thai said, “how suld our lyff endur?
“Be fortoun armess has left him in thrillage:165
“The flour of youth in till his tendir age.Fol. 7 a
Fol. 7 a
“Lefand as now a chiftane had we nane,
“Durst tak on hand, bot yong Wallace alayne.
“This land is lost; he caucht is in the swar,
“The Apersé of Scotland left in cayr!”170
Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe,Quhar he was set in to that vgly cawe.Sic fude for him was febill to commend.Than said he thus; ‘All weildand God, resawe‘My petows spreit and sawle amang the law!175‘My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend.‘Our few Sothroune on to the dede I drawe.‘Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend;‘Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end.‘Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de;180‘Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in the,‘At thin awn will full worthely was wrocht?‘Bot thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me,‘Gastlye Fadyr, that deit apon the tre,‘Fra hellis presoune with thi blud ws bocht;185‘Quhi will thow giff thi handéwark for nocht;‘And mony worthy in to gret payne we se?‘For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht.‘O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew,‘Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw:190‘And Inglissmen our litill harm has tayne.‘Off ws thai haiff wndoyne may than ynew;‘My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew,‘My brothir als, and gud men mony ane.‘Is this thi dait, sall thai our cum ilkane?195‘On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will thow rew;‘Sen my pouer thus sodandlye is gane.‘All worthi Scottis, almychty God yow leid,‘Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid!‘In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff.200‘Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide,‘Thi natioune all standis in a felloun dreid.‘Off wardlynes all thus I tak my leiff.‘Off thir paynys God lat you neuir preiff,‘Thocht I for wo all out off witt suld weid!205‘Now othir gyft I may none to you gyff.’O der Wallace, wmquhill was stark and stur,Thow most o neide in presoune till endur.Thi worthi kyn may nocht the saiff for sold.Ladyis wepyt, that was bathe mylde and mur,210In fureous payne, the modyr that the bur:For thou till hir was fer derer than gold.Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold.In wardlynes quhi suld ony ensur?For thow was formyt forsye on the feld.215Fol. 7 bCompleyn, Sanctis thus, as your sedull tellis;Compleyn to hewyn with wordis that nocht faillis:Compleyne your woice wnto the God abuffe;Compleyne for him in to that sitfull sell is;Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis;220In langour lyis, for losyng of thar luff,Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff.Compleyne also, yhe birdis, blyth as bellis,Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff.Compleyne, lordys, compleyne, yhe ladyis brycht,225Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht,Off Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der.Compleyne for him was thus in presone dichtAnd for na causs, bot, Scotland, for thi rycht.Compleyne also, yhe worthi men of wer,230Compleyne for hym that was your aspresper;And to the dede fell Sothroun yeit he dicht:Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber.Celimus was maist his geyeler now.In Inglissmen, allace, quhi suld we trow,235Our worthy kyn has payned on this wyss?Sic reulle be rycht is litill [till] allow:Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bowAt our power, and so we do feill syss.Off thar danger God mak ws for to ryss,That weill has wrocht befor thir termyss, and now!240For thai wyrk ay to wayt ws with suppryss.Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell;The flux he tuk in to thar presoune fell?Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe.245Thai chergyt the geyler nocht on him to duell,Bot bryng him wp out of that vgly sellTo jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law.This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw,As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell;250Syn said to thaim, “He has payit at he aw.”Quhen thai presumyt he suld be werray ded,Thai gart serwandys, with outyn langer pleid,With schort awiss on to the wall him bar:Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid,255Off him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede,In a draff myddyn, quhar he remannyt thar.His fyrst noryss, of the Newtoun of Ayr,Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid,And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr.260In to gret ire thai grantyt hir to go.Scho tuk him wp with outyn wordis mo,And on a caar wnlikly him thai cast:Atour the wattir led him with gret woo,Till hyr awin houss with outyn ony hoo.265Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fastHis body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past.His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro,Fol. 8 aAls his twa eyne he kest wp at the last.His fostyr modyr, lowed him our the laiff,270Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff;And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth.Hyr dochtir had of twelf wokkis ald a knayff;Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff.The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth:275Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth.Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff,Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht.In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide;Scho gart graith wp a burd be the houss side,280Wyth carpettis cled, and honowryt with gret lycht:And for the woice in euiry place suld bide,At he was ded, out throuch the land so wide,In presence ay scho wepyt wndyr slycht;Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht.285And so befel in to that sammyn tid,Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht.Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than,With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:He wsyt offt to that religiouss place.290The peple demyt of witt mekill he can;And so he told, thocht at thai bliss or ban,Quhilk hapnyt suth in many diuerss cace,I can nocht say, be wrang or rychtwisnas,In rewlle of wer, quhethir thai tynt or wan;295It may be demyt be diuisioun of grace.Thar man that day had in the merket bene,On Wallace knew this cairfull cass so kene.His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.This man ansuerd; “Of litill hard I meyn.”300The mynister said; ‘It has bene seildyn seyn,‘Quhar Scottis and Ingliss semblit bene on raw,‘Was neuir yit, als fer as we coud knaw,‘Bot othir a Scott wald do a Sothroun teyne,‘Or he till him, for awentur mycht faw.’305“Wallas,” he said, “ye wist tayne in that steid;“Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide,“In presoune famyst for fawt of fude.”The mynister said, ‘with hart hewy as leid;‘Sic deid to thaim, me think, suld foster feid;310For he was wicht, and cummyn of gentill blud.’Thomas ansuerd; “Thir tythingis ar noucht gud;“And that be suth, my self sall neuir eit breid,“For all my witt her schortlye I conclud.”‘A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr,315‘Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar;‘And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht,‘To purchess leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr.‘In lychtlyness tyll hyr thai grant it thair.Fol. 8 b‘Our the wattyr on till hir houss him brocht,320To beryss him als gudlye as scho mocht.’Yhit Thomas said; “Than sall I leiff na mar,“Giff that be trow, be God, that all has wrocht.”The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne.He chargyt him than; ‘Go, speid the fast agayne325‘To that sammyn houss, and werraly aspye.’The man went furth, at byddyng was full bayne;To the Newtoun to pass he did his payn,To that ilk houss; and went in sodanlye.About he blent on to the burd him bye.330This woman raiss, in hart scho was [nocht] fayn.Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny.“Wallace,” scho said, “that full worthy has beyne.”Than wepyt scho, that peté was to seyne.The man thar to gret credens gaif he nocht:335Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne.On kneis scho felle, and cryit; ‘For Marye scheyne,‘Let sklandyr be, and flemyt out of your thocht.’This man hir suour; “Be him that all has wrocht,“Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn,340“He suld be saiff, thocht Ingland had hym socht.”Scho had him wp to Wallace by the dess;He spak with him, syne fast agayne can pressWith glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend.He told to thaim the first tithingis was less.345Than Thomas said; ‘Forsuth, or he decess,‘Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end.‘Off this regioun he sall the Sothroun send;‘And Scotland thriss he sall bryng to the pess:‘So gud off hand agayne sall neuir be kend.’350All worthi men, that has gud witt to waille,Be war that yhe with myss deyme nocht my taille.Perchance ye say, that Bruce he was none sik.He was als gud, quhat deid was to assaill,As off his handis, and bauldar in battaill.355Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr off this kynrik;For he had rycht, we call no man him lik.Bot Wallace thriss this kynrik conquest haile,In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.
Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe,Quhar he was set in to that vgly cawe.Sic fude for him was febill to commend.Than said he thus; ‘All weildand God, resawe‘My petows spreit and sawle amang the law!175‘My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend.‘Our few Sothroune on to the dede I drawe.‘Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend;‘Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end.‘Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de;180‘Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in the,‘At thin awn will full worthely was wrocht?‘Bot thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me,‘Gastlye Fadyr, that deit apon the tre,‘Fra hellis presoune with thi blud ws bocht;185‘Quhi will thow giff thi handéwark for nocht;‘And mony worthy in to gret payne we se?‘For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht.‘O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew,‘Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw:190‘And Inglissmen our litill harm has tayne.‘Off ws thai haiff wndoyne may than ynew;‘My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew,‘My brothir als, and gud men mony ane.‘Is this thi dait, sall thai our cum ilkane?195‘On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will thow rew;‘Sen my pouer thus sodandlye is gane.‘All worthi Scottis, almychty God yow leid,‘Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid!‘In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff.200‘Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide,‘Thi natioune all standis in a felloun dreid.‘Off wardlynes all thus I tak my leiff.‘Off thir paynys God lat you neuir preiff,‘Thocht I for wo all out off witt suld weid!205‘Now othir gyft I may none to you gyff.’O der Wallace, wmquhill was stark and stur,Thow most o neide in presoune till endur.Thi worthi kyn may nocht the saiff for sold.Ladyis wepyt, that was bathe mylde and mur,210In fureous payne, the modyr that the bur:For thou till hir was fer derer than gold.Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold.In wardlynes quhi suld ony ensur?For thow was formyt forsye on the feld.215Fol. 7 bCompleyn, Sanctis thus, as your sedull tellis;Compleyn to hewyn with wordis that nocht faillis:Compleyne your woice wnto the God abuffe;Compleyne for him in to that sitfull sell is;Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis;220In langour lyis, for losyng of thar luff,Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff.Compleyne also, yhe birdis, blyth as bellis,Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff.Compleyne, lordys, compleyne, yhe ladyis brycht,225Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht,Off Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der.Compleyne for him was thus in presone dichtAnd for na causs, bot, Scotland, for thi rycht.Compleyne also, yhe worthi men of wer,230Compleyne for hym that was your aspresper;And to the dede fell Sothroun yeit he dicht:Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber.Celimus was maist his geyeler now.In Inglissmen, allace, quhi suld we trow,235Our worthy kyn has payned on this wyss?Sic reulle be rycht is litill [till] allow:Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bowAt our power, and so we do feill syss.Off thar danger God mak ws for to ryss,That weill has wrocht befor thir termyss, and now!240For thai wyrk ay to wayt ws with suppryss.Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell;The flux he tuk in to thar presoune fell?Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe.245Thai chergyt the geyler nocht on him to duell,Bot bryng him wp out of that vgly sellTo jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law.This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw,As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell;250Syn said to thaim, “He has payit at he aw.”Quhen thai presumyt he suld be werray ded,Thai gart serwandys, with outyn langer pleid,With schort awiss on to the wall him bar:Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid,255Off him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede,In a draff myddyn, quhar he remannyt thar.His fyrst noryss, of the Newtoun of Ayr,Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid,And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr.260In to gret ire thai grantyt hir to go.Scho tuk him wp with outyn wordis mo,And on a caar wnlikly him thai cast:Atour the wattir led him with gret woo,Till hyr awin houss with outyn ony hoo.265Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fastHis body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past.His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro,Fol. 8 aAls his twa eyne he kest wp at the last.His fostyr modyr, lowed him our the laiff,270Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff;And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth.Hyr dochtir had of twelf wokkis ald a knayff;Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff.The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth:275Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth.Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff,Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht.In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide;Scho gart graith wp a burd be the houss side,280Wyth carpettis cled, and honowryt with gret lycht:And for the woice in euiry place suld bide,At he was ded, out throuch the land so wide,In presence ay scho wepyt wndyr slycht;Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht.285And so befel in to that sammyn tid,Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht.Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than,With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:He wsyt offt to that religiouss place.290The peple demyt of witt mekill he can;And so he told, thocht at thai bliss or ban,Quhilk hapnyt suth in many diuerss cace,I can nocht say, be wrang or rychtwisnas,In rewlle of wer, quhethir thai tynt or wan;295It may be demyt be diuisioun of grace.Thar man that day had in the merket bene,On Wallace knew this cairfull cass so kene.His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.This man ansuerd; “Of litill hard I meyn.”300The mynister said; ‘It has bene seildyn seyn,‘Quhar Scottis and Ingliss semblit bene on raw,‘Was neuir yit, als fer as we coud knaw,‘Bot othir a Scott wald do a Sothroun teyne,‘Or he till him, for awentur mycht faw.’305“Wallas,” he said, “ye wist tayne in that steid;“Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide,“In presoune famyst for fawt of fude.”The mynister said, ‘with hart hewy as leid;‘Sic deid to thaim, me think, suld foster feid;310For he was wicht, and cummyn of gentill blud.’Thomas ansuerd; “Thir tythingis ar noucht gud;“And that be suth, my self sall neuir eit breid,“For all my witt her schortlye I conclud.”‘A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr,315‘Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar;‘And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht,‘To purchess leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr.‘In lychtlyness tyll hyr thai grant it thair.Fol. 8 b‘Our the wattyr on till hir houss him brocht,320To beryss him als gudlye as scho mocht.’Yhit Thomas said; “Than sall I leiff na mar,“Giff that be trow, be God, that all has wrocht.”The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne.He chargyt him than; ‘Go, speid the fast agayne325‘To that sammyn houss, and werraly aspye.’The man went furth, at byddyng was full bayne;To the Newtoun to pass he did his payn,To that ilk houss; and went in sodanlye.About he blent on to the burd him bye.330This woman raiss, in hart scho was [nocht] fayn.Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny.“Wallace,” scho said, “that full worthy has beyne.”Than wepyt scho, that peté was to seyne.The man thar to gret credens gaif he nocht:335Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne.On kneis scho felle, and cryit; ‘For Marye scheyne,‘Let sklandyr be, and flemyt out of your thocht.’This man hir suour; “Be him that all has wrocht,“Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn,340“He suld be saiff, thocht Ingland had hym socht.”Scho had him wp to Wallace by the dess;He spak with him, syne fast agayne can pressWith glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend.He told to thaim the first tithingis was less.345Than Thomas said; ‘Forsuth, or he decess,‘Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end.‘Off this regioun he sall the Sothroun send;‘And Scotland thriss he sall bryng to the pess:‘So gud off hand agayne sall neuir be kend.’350All worthi men, that has gud witt to waille,Be war that yhe with myss deyme nocht my taille.Perchance ye say, that Bruce he was none sik.He was als gud, quhat deid was to assaill,As off his handis, and bauldar in battaill.355Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr off this kynrik;For he had rycht, we call no man him lik.Bot Wallace thriss this kynrik conquest haile,In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.
Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe,Quhar he was set in to that vgly cawe.Sic fude for him was febill to commend.Than said he thus; ‘All weildand God, resawe‘My petows spreit and sawle amang the law!175‘My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend.‘Our few Sothroune on to the dede I drawe.‘Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend;‘Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end.‘Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de;180‘Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in the,‘At thin awn will full worthely was wrocht?‘Bot thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me,‘Gastlye Fadyr, that deit apon the tre,‘Fra hellis presoune with thi blud ws bocht;185‘Quhi will thow giff thi handéwark for nocht;‘And mony worthy in to gret payne we se?‘For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht.‘O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew,‘Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw:190‘And Inglissmen our litill harm has tayne.‘Off ws thai haiff wndoyne may than ynew;‘My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew,‘My brothir als, and gud men mony ane.‘Is this thi dait, sall thai our cum ilkane?195‘On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will thow rew;‘Sen my pouer thus sodandlye is gane.‘All worthi Scottis, almychty God yow leid,‘Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid!‘In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff.200‘Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide,‘Thi natioune all standis in a felloun dreid.‘Off wardlynes all thus I tak my leiff.‘Off thir paynys God lat you neuir preiff,‘Thocht I for wo all out off witt suld weid!205‘Now othir gyft I may none to you gyff.’O der Wallace, wmquhill was stark and stur,Thow most o neide in presoune till endur.Thi worthi kyn may nocht the saiff for sold.Ladyis wepyt, that was bathe mylde and mur,210In fureous payne, the modyr that the bur:For thou till hir was fer derer than gold.Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold.In wardlynes quhi suld ony ensur?For thow was formyt forsye on the feld.215Fol. 7 bCompleyn, Sanctis thus, as your sedull tellis;Compleyn to hewyn with wordis that nocht faillis:Compleyne your woice wnto the God abuffe;Compleyne for him in to that sitfull sell is;Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis;220In langour lyis, for losyng of thar luff,Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff.Compleyne also, yhe birdis, blyth as bellis,Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff.Compleyne, lordys, compleyne, yhe ladyis brycht,225Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht,Off Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der.Compleyne for him was thus in presone dichtAnd for na causs, bot, Scotland, for thi rycht.Compleyne also, yhe worthi men of wer,230Compleyne for hym that was your aspresper;And to the dede fell Sothroun yeit he dicht:Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber.Celimus was maist his geyeler now.In Inglissmen, allace, quhi suld we trow,235Our worthy kyn has payned on this wyss?Sic reulle be rycht is litill [till] allow:Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bowAt our power, and so we do feill syss.Off thar danger God mak ws for to ryss,That weill has wrocht befor thir termyss, and now!240For thai wyrk ay to wayt ws with suppryss.Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell;The flux he tuk in to thar presoune fell?Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe.245Thai chergyt the geyler nocht on him to duell,Bot bryng him wp out of that vgly sellTo jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law.This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw,As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell;250Syn said to thaim, “He has payit at he aw.”Quhen thai presumyt he suld be werray ded,Thai gart serwandys, with outyn langer pleid,With schort awiss on to the wall him bar:Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid,255Off him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede,In a draff myddyn, quhar he remannyt thar.His fyrst noryss, of the Newtoun of Ayr,Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid,And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr.260In to gret ire thai grantyt hir to go.Scho tuk him wp with outyn wordis mo,And on a caar wnlikly him thai cast:Atour the wattir led him with gret woo,Till hyr awin houss with outyn ony hoo.265Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fastHis body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past.His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro,Fol. 8 aAls his twa eyne he kest wp at the last.His fostyr modyr, lowed him our the laiff,270Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff;And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth.Hyr dochtir had of twelf wokkis ald a knayff;Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff.The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth:275Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth.Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff,Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht.In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide;Scho gart graith wp a burd be the houss side,280Wyth carpettis cled, and honowryt with gret lycht:And for the woice in euiry place suld bide,At he was ded, out throuch the land so wide,In presence ay scho wepyt wndyr slycht;Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht.285And so befel in to that sammyn tid,Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht.Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than,With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:He wsyt offt to that religiouss place.290The peple demyt of witt mekill he can;And so he told, thocht at thai bliss or ban,Quhilk hapnyt suth in many diuerss cace,I can nocht say, be wrang or rychtwisnas,In rewlle of wer, quhethir thai tynt or wan;295It may be demyt be diuisioun of grace.Thar man that day had in the merket bene,On Wallace knew this cairfull cass so kene.His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.This man ansuerd; “Of litill hard I meyn.”300The mynister said; ‘It has bene seildyn seyn,‘Quhar Scottis and Ingliss semblit bene on raw,‘Was neuir yit, als fer as we coud knaw,‘Bot othir a Scott wald do a Sothroun teyne,‘Or he till him, for awentur mycht faw.’305“Wallas,” he said, “ye wist tayne in that steid;“Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide,“In presoune famyst for fawt of fude.”The mynister said, ‘with hart hewy as leid;‘Sic deid to thaim, me think, suld foster feid;310For he was wicht, and cummyn of gentill blud.’Thomas ansuerd; “Thir tythingis ar noucht gud;“And that be suth, my self sall neuir eit breid,“For all my witt her schortlye I conclud.”‘A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr,315‘Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar;‘And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht,‘To purchess leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr.‘In lychtlyness tyll hyr thai grant it thair.Fol. 8 b‘Our the wattyr on till hir houss him brocht,320To beryss him als gudlye as scho mocht.’Yhit Thomas said; “Than sall I leiff na mar,“Giff that be trow, be God, that all has wrocht.”The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne.He chargyt him than; ‘Go, speid the fast agayne325‘To that sammyn houss, and werraly aspye.’The man went furth, at byddyng was full bayne;To the Newtoun to pass he did his payn,To that ilk houss; and went in sodanlye.About he blent on to the burd him bye.330This woman raiss, in hart scho was [nocht] fayn.Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny.“Wallace,” scho said, “that full worthy has beyne.”Than wepyt scho, that peté was to seyne.The man thar to gret credens gaif he nocht:335Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne.On kneis scho felle, and cryit; ‘For Marye scheyne,‘Let sklandyr be, and flemyt out of your thocht.’This man hir suour; “Be him that all has wrocht,“Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn,340“He suld be saiff, thocht Ingland had hym socht.”Scho had him wp to Wallace by the dess;He spak with him, syne fast agayne can pressWith glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend.He told to thaim the first tithingis was less.345Than Thomas said; ‘Forsuth, or he decess,‘Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end.‘Off this regioun he sall the Sothroun send;‘And Scotland thriss he sall bryng to the pess:‘So gud off hand agayne sall neuir be kend.’350All worthi men, that has gud witt to waille,Be war that yhe with myss deyme nocht my taille.Perchance ye say, that Bruce he was none sik.He was als gud, quhat deid was to assaill,As off his handis, and bauldar in battaill.355Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr off this kynrik;For he had rycht, we call no man him lik.Bot Wallace thriss this kynrik conquest haile,In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.
Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe,
Quhar he was set in to that vgly cawe.
Sic fude for him was febill to commend.
Than said he thus; ‘All weildand God, resawe
‘My petows spreit and sawle amang the law!175
‘My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend.
‘Our few Sothroune on to the dede I drawe.
‘Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend;
‘Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end.
‘Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de;180
‘Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in the,
‘At thin awn will full worthely was wrocht?
‘Bot thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me,
‘Gastlye Fadyr, that deit apon the tre,
‘Fra hellis presoune with thi blud ws bocht;185
‘Quhi will thow giff thi handéwark for nocht;
‘And mony worthy in to gret payne we se?
‘For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht.
‘O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew,
‘Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw:190
‘And Inglissmen our litill harm has tayne.
‘Off ws thai haiff wndoyne may than ynew;
‘My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew,
‘My brothir als, and gud men mony ane.
‘Is this thi dait, sall thai our cum ilkane?195
‘On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will thow rew;
‘Sen my pouer thus sodandlye is gane.
‘All worthi Scottis, almychty God yow leid,
‘Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid!
‘In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff.200
‘Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide,
‘Thi natioune all standis in a felloun dreid.
‘Off wardlynes all thus I tak my leiff.
‘Off thir paynys God lat you neuir preiff,
‘Thocht I for wo all out off witt suld weid!205
‘Now othir gyft I may none to you gyff.’
O der Wallace, wmquhill was stark and stur,
Thow most o neide in presoune till endur.
Thi worthi kyn may nocht the saiff for sold.
Ladyis wepyt, that was bathe mylde and mur,210
In fureous payne, the modyr that the bur:
For thou till hir was fer derer than gold.
Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold.
In wardlynes quhi suld ony ensur?
For thow was formyt forsye on the feld.215Fol. 7 b
Fol. 7 b
Compleyn, Sanctis thus, as your sedull tellis;
Compleyn to hewyn with wordis that nocht faillis:
Compleyne your woice wnto the God abuffe;
Compleyne for him in to that sitfull sell is;
Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis;220
In langour lyis, for losyng of thar luff,
Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff.
Compleyne also, yhe birdis, blyth as bellis,
Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff.
Compleyne, lordys, compleyne, yhe ladyis brycht,225
Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht,
Off Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der.
Compleyne for him was thus in presone dicht
And for na causs, bot, Scotland, for thi rycht.
Compleyne also, yhe worthi men of wer,230
Compleyne for hym that was your aspresper;
And to the dede fell Sothroun yeit he dicht:
Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber.
Celimus was maist his geyeler now.
In Inglissmen, allace, quhi suld we trow,235
Our worthy kyn has payned on this wyss?
Sic reulle be rycht is litill [till] allow:
Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bow
At our power, and so we do feill syss.
Off thar danger God mak ws for to ryss,
That weill has wrocht befor thir termyss, and now!240
For thai wyrk ay to wayt ws with suppryss.
Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell;
The flux he tuk in to thar presoune fell?
Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe.245
Thai chergyt the geyler nocht on him to duell,
Bot bryng him wp out of that vgly sell
To jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law.
This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw,
As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell;250
Syn said to thaim, “He has payit at he aw.”
Quhen thai presumyt he suld be werray ded,
Thai gart serwandys, with outyn langer pleid,
With schort awiss on to the wall him bar:
Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid,255
Off him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede,
In a draff myddyn, quhar he remannyt thar.
His fyrst noryss, of the Newtoun of Ayr,
Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid,
And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr.260
In to gret ire thai grantyt hir to go.
Scho tuk him wp with outyn wordis mo,
And on a caar wnlikly him thai cast:
Atour the wattir led him with gret woo,
Till hyr awin houss with outyn ony hoo.265
Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fast
His body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past.
His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro,Fol. 8 a
Fol. 8 a
Als his twa eyne he kest wp at the last.
His fostyr modyr, lowed him our the laiff,270
Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff;
And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth.
Hyr dochtir had of twelf wokkis ald a knayff;
Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff.
The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth:275
Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth.
Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff,
Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht.
In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide;
Scho gart graith wp a burd be the houss side,280
Wyth carpettis cled, and honowryt with gret lycht:
And for the woice in euiry place suld bide,
At he was ded, out throuch the land so wide,
In presence ay scho wepyt wndyr slycht;
Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht.285
And so befel in to that sammyn tid,
Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht.
Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than,
With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:
He wsyt offt to that religiouss place.290
The peple demyt of witt mekill he can;
And so he told, thocht at thai bliss or ban,
Quhilk hapnyt suth in many diuerss cace,
I can nocht say, be wrang or rychtwisnas,
In rewlle of wer, quhethir thai tynt or wan;295
It may be demyt be diuisioun of grace.
Thar man that day had in the merket bene,
On Wallace knew this cairfull cass so kene.
His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.
This man ansuerd; “Of litill hard I meyn.”300
The mynister said; ‘It has bene seildyn seyn,
‘Quhar Scottis and Ingliss semblit bene on raw,
‘Was neuir yit, als fer as we coud knaw,
‘Bot othir a Scott wald do a Sothroun teyne,
‘Or he till him, for awentur mycht faw.’305
“Wallas,” he said, “ye wist tayne in that steid;
“Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide,
“In presoune famyst for fawt of fude.”
The mynister said, ‘with hart hewy as leid;
‘Sic deid to thaim, me think, suld foster feid;310
For he was wicht, and cummyn of gentill blud.’
Thomas ansuerd; “Thir tythingis ar noucht gud;
“And that be suth, my self sall neuir eit breid,
“For all my witt her schortlye I conclud.”
‘A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr,315
‘Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar;
‘And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht,
‘To purchess leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr.
‘In lychtlyness tyll hyr thai grant it thair.Fol. 8 b
Fol. 8 b
‘Our the wattyr on till hir houss him brocht,320
To beryss him als gudlye as scho mocht.’
Yhit Thomas said; “Than sall I leiff na mar,
“Giff that be trow, be God, that all has wrocht.”
The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne.
He chargyt him than; ‘Go, speid the fast agayne325
‘To that sammyn houss, and werraly aspye.’
The man went furth, at byddyng was full bayne;
To the Newtoun to pass he did his payn,
To that ilk houss; and went in sodanlye.
About he blent on to the burd him bye.330
This woman raiss, in hart scho was [nocht] fayn.
Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny.
“Wallace,” scho said, “that full worthy has beyne.”
Than wepyt scho, that peté was to seyne.
The man thar to gret credens gaif he nocht:335
Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne.
On kneis scho felle, and cryit; ‘For Marye scheyne,
‘Let sklandyr be, and flemyt out of your thocht.’
This man hir suour; “Be him that all has wrocht,
“Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn,340
“He suld be saiff, thocht Ingland had hym socht.”
Scho had him wp to Wallace by the dess;
He spak with him, syne fast agayne can press
With glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend.
He told to thaim the first tithingis was less.345
Than Thomas said; ‘Forsuth, or he decess,
‘Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end.
‘Off this regioun he sall the Sothroun send;
‘And Scotland thriss he sall bryng to the pess:
‘So gud off hand agayne sall neuir be kend.’350
All worthi men, that has gud witt to waille,
Be war that yhe with myss deyme nocht my taille.
Perchance ye say, that Bruce he was none sik.
He was als gud, quhat deid was to assaill,
As off his handis, and bauldar in battaill.355
Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr off this kynrik;
For he had rycht, we call no man him lik.
Bot Wallace thriss this kynrik conquest haile,
In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.
I will ratorn to my mater agayne.360Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne,The contré demyd haile that he was dede;His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede.Bot haile he was, likly to gang and ryd.In to that place he wald na langar byde.365His trew kepar he send to Elrislé;Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat hyr be:Hir dochtir, als thar serwand, and hir child,He gart thaim pass on to his modyr myld.Quhen thai war gayne, na wapynnys thar he saw370Fol. 9 aTo helpe him with, quhat auentur mycht befaw.A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand,With outyn belt, but boss, bukler, or band.Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid;Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede.375He drew the blaid, he fand it wald bitt weill;Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll.“God helpis his man; for thou sall go with me,“Quhill bettir cum; will God full sone may be!”To Schyr Ranald as than he wald nocht fair;380In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar.At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald hawe beyne,To get him horss and part of armour scheyne.On thedyrwart as he bownyt to fair,Thre Inglissmen he met ridand till Ayr,385In thair wiage at Glaskow furth had beyne;Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne,A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa.Wallace drew by, and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga.Till him he raid, and said dispitfully;390“Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy;“Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald the hid.”Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis, that tid;‘Schir, I am seik, for Goddis luff latt me ga!’Langcastell said; “Forsuth it beis nocht sa.395“A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair;“Quhill men the knaw, thow sall with me till Ayr.”Hynt out his suerd, that was of nobill hew,Wallace with that, at hys lychtyn, him drew;Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne;400Throw brayne and seyne in sondyr straik the bayne.Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun;To wenge his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun.The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff,The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff.405The tothir fled, and durst no langer bide;With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide.Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he,Quhill leuir and lounggis men mycht all redy se.Thar horss he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour;410Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour.Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne,Him to support; for spendyng had he nayne.In to gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun,A blyth semblay was at his lychtyn doun.415Quhen Wallace mett with Schyr Richart the knycht,For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht.His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne;Thai held him lost, yit God him sawth agayne.His eyme, Schyr Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast;420The wemen, told, by Corsby as thai past,Off Wallace eschaipe, syne thar wiage yeid.Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid:Fol. 9 bQuhill he him saw, in hart he thocht full lang;Than sodanlye in armys he couth him fang.425He mycht nocht spek, but kyst him tendyrlye;The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye,The blyth teris tho bryst for his eyne two;Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so:And at the last rycht freindfully said he;430“Welcum, neuo, welcum deir sone to me.“Thankit be he that all this warld has wrocht,“Thus fairlye the has out of presoune brocht.”His modyr come, and othir freyndis enew,With full glaid will, to feill thai tithingis true.435Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht,Wald nocht thaim trew, quhill he him saw with sycht.Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun.Feille worthi folk, that war of gret renoun.Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blyss and plesance,440Thankand gret God off his fre happy chance.
I will ratorn to my mater agayne.360Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne,The contré demyd haile that he was dede;His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede.Bot haile he was, likly to gang and ryd.In to that place he wald na langar byde.365His trew kepar he send to Elrislé;Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat hyr be:Hir dochtir, als thar serwand, and hir child,He gart thaim pass on to his modyr myld.Quhen thai war gayne, na wapynnys thar he saw370Fol. 9 aTo helpe him with, quhat auentur mycht befaw.A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand,With outyn belt, but boss, bukler, or band.Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid;Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede.375He drew the blaid, he fand it wald bitt weill;Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll.“God helpis his man; for thou sall go with me,“Quhill bettir cum; will God full sone may be!”To Schyr Ranald as than he wald nocht fair;380In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar.At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald hawe beyne,To get him horss and part of armour scheyne.On thedyrwart as he bownyt to fair,Thre Inglissmen he met ridand till Ayr,385In thair wiage at Glaskow furth had beyne;Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne,A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa.Wallace drew by, and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga.Till him he raid, and said dispitfully;390“Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy;“Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald the hid.”Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis, that tid;‘Schir, I am seik, for Goddis luff latt me ga!’Langcastell said; “Forsuth it beis nocht sa.395“A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair;“Quhill men the knaw, thow sall with me till Ayr.”Hynt out his suerd, that was of nobill hew,Wallace with that, at hys lychtyn, him drew;Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne;400Throw brayne and seyne in sondyr straik the bayne.Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun;To wenge his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun.The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff,The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff.405The tothir fled, and durst no langer bide;With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide.Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he,Quhill leuir and lounggis men mycht all redy se.Thar horss he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour;410Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour.Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne,Him to support; for spendyng had he nayne.In to gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun,A blyth semblay was at his lychtyn doun.415Quhen Wallace mett with Schyr Richart the knycht,For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht.His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne;Thai held him lost, yit God him sawth agayne.His eyme, Schyr Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast;420The wemen, told, by Corsby as thai past,Off Wallace eschaipe, syne thar wiage yeid.Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid:Fol. 9 bQuhill he him saw, in hart he thocht full lang;Than sodanlye in armys he couth him fang.425He mycht nocht spek, but kyst him tendyrlye;The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye,The blyth teris tho bryst for his eyne two;Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so:And at the last rycht freindfully said he;430“Welcum, neuo, welcum deir sone to me.“Thankit be he that all this warld has wrocht,“Thus fairlye the has out of presoune brocht.”His modyr come, and othir freyndis enew,With full glaid will, to feill thai tithingis true.435Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht,Wald nocht thaim trew, quhill he him saw with sycht.Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun.Feille worthi folk, that war of gret renoun.Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blyss and plesance,440Thankand gret God off his fre happy chance.
I will ratorn to my mater agayne.360Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne,The contré demyd haile that he was dede;His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede.Bot haile he was, likly to gang and ryd.In to that place he wald na langar byde.365His trew kepar he send to Elrislé;Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat hyr be:Hir dochtir, als thar serwand, and hir child,He gart thaim pass on to his modyr myld.Quhen thai war gayne, na wapynnys thar he saw370Fol. 9 aTo helpe him with, quhat auentur mycht befaw.A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand,With outyn belt, but boss, bukler, or band.Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid;Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede.375He drew the blaid, he fand it wald bitt weill;Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll.“God helpis his man; for thou sall go with me,“Quhill bettir cum; will God full sone may be!”To Schyr Ranald as than he wald nocht fair;380In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar.At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald hawe beyne,To get him horss and part of armour scheyne.On thedyrwart as he bownyt to fair,Thre Inglissmen he met ridand till Ayr,385In thair wiage at Glaskow furth had beyne;Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne,A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa.Wallace drew by, and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga.Till him he raid, and said dispitfully;390“Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy;“Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald the hid.”Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis, that tid;‘Schir, I am seik, for Goddis luff latt me ga!’Langcastell said; “Forsuth it beis nocht sa.395“A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair;“Quhill men the knaw, thow sall with me till Ayr.”Hynt out his suerd, that was of nobill hew,Wallace with that, at hys lychtyn, him drew;Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne;400Throw brayne and seyne in sondyr straik the bayne.Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun;To wenge his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun.The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff,The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff.405The tothir fled, and durst no langer bide;With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide.Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he,Quhill leuir and lounggis men mycht all redy se.Thar horss he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour;410Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour.Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne,Him to support; for spendyng had he nayne.In to gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun,A blyth semblay was at his lychtyn doun.415Quhen Wallace mett with Schyr Richart the knycht,For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht.His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne;Thai held him lost, yit God him sawth agayne.His eyme, Schyr Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast;420The wemen, told, by Corsby as thai past,Off Wallace eschaipe, syne thar wiage yeid.Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid:Fol. 9 bQuhill he him saw, in hart he thocht full lang;Than sodanlye in armys he couth him fang.425He mycht nocht spek, but kyst him tendyrlye;The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye,The blyth teris tho bryst for his eyne two;Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so:And at the last rycht freindfully said he;430“Welcum, neuo, welcum deir sone to me.“Thankit be he that all this warld has wrocht,“Thus fairlye the has out of presoune brocht.”His modyr come, and othir freyndis enew,With full glaid will, to feill thai tithingis true.435Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht,Wald nocht thaim trew, quhill he him saw with sycht.Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun.Feille worthi folk, that war of gret renoun.Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blyss and plesance,440Thankand gret God off his fre happy chance.
I will ratorn to my mater agayne.360
Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne,
The contré demyd haile that he was dede;
His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede.
Bot haile he was, likly to gang and ryd.
In to that place he wald na langar byde.365
His trew kepar he send to Elrislé;
Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat hyr be:
Hir dochtir, als thar serwand, and hir child,
He gart thaim pass on to his modyr myld.
Quhen thai war gayne, na wapynnys thar he saw370Fol. 9 a
Fol. 9 a
To helpe him with, quhat auentur mycht befaw.
A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand,
With outyn belt, but boss, bukler, or band.
Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid;
Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede.375
He drew the blaid, he fand it wald bitt weill;
Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll.
“God helpis his man; for thou sall go with me,
“Quhill bettir cum; will God full sone may be!”
To Schyr Ranald as than he wald nocht fair;380
In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar.
At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald hawe beyne,
To get him horss and part of armour scheyne.
On thedyrwart as he bownyt to fair,
Thre Inglissmen he met ridand till Ayr,385
In thair wiage at Glaskow furth had beyne;
Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne,
A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa.
Wallace drew by, and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga.
Till him he raid, and said dispitfully;390
“Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy;
“Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald the hid.”
Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis, that tid;
‘Schir, I am seik, for Goddis luff latt me ga!’
Langcastell said; “Forsuth it beis nocht sa.395
“A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair;
“Quhill men the knaw, thow sall with me till Ayr.”
Hynt out his suerd, that was of nobill hew,
Wallace with that, at hys lychtyn, him drew;
Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne;400
Throw brayne and seyne in sondyr straik the bayne.
Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun;
To wenge his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun.
The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff,
The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff.405
The tothir fled, and durst no langer bide;
With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide.
Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he,
Quhill leuir and lounggis men mycht all redy se.
Thar horss he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour;410
Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour.
Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne,
Him to support; for spendyng had he nayne.
In to gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun,
A blyth semblay was at his lychtyn doun.415
Quhen Wallace mett with Schyr Richart the knycht,
For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht.
His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne;
Thai held him lost, yit God him sawth agayne.
His eyme, Schyr Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast;420
The wemen, told, by Corsby as thai past,
Off Wallace eschaipe, syne thar wiage yeid.
Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid:Fol. 9 b
Fol. 9 b
Quhill he him saw, in hart he thocht full lang;
Than sodanlye in armys he couth him fang.425
He mycht nocht spek, but kyst him tendyrlye;
The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye,
The blyth teris tho bryst for his eyne two;
Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so:
And at the last rycht freindfully said he;430
“Welcum, neuo, welcum deir sone to me.
“Thankit be he that all this warld has wrocht,
“Thus fairlye the has out of presoune brocht.”
His modyr come, and othir freyndis enew,
With full glaid will, to feill thai tithingis true.435
Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht,
Wald nocht thaim trew, quhill he him saw with sycht.
Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun.
Feille worthi folk, that war of gret renoun.
Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blyss and plesance,440
Thankand gret God off his fre happy chance.
EXPLICIT LIBER SECUNDUS,ET INCIPIT TERCIUS.