BUKE SEWYND.

In Feueryher befell the sammyn cace,That Inglissmen tuk trewis with Wallace.This passyt our till Marche till end was socht.The Inglismen kest all the wayis thai mocht,With suttelté and wykkit illusione,5The worthi Scottis to put to confusioune.In Aperill the king off Ingland comeIn Cvmmyrland of Pumfrat fro his home;In to Carleill till a consell he yeid,Quhar off the Scottis mycht haiff full mekill dreid.10Mony captane that was off Ingland born,Fol. 44 aThidder thai past, and semblit thar king beforn;Na Scottis man to that consell thai cald,Bot Schyr Amer, that traytour was off ald.At him thai sperd, how thai suld tak on hand15The rychtwyss blud to scour out off Scotland.Schir Amer said; “Thair chyftayne can weill do,“Rycht wyss in wer, and has gret power to;“And now this trew gyffis thaim sic hardyment,“That to your faith thai will nocht all consent.20“Bot wald ye do rycht as I wald yow ler,“This pess to thaim it suld be sald full der.”Than demyt he, the fals Sotheroun amang,How thai best mycht the Scottis barownis hang.For gret bernys that tyme stud in till Ayr,25Wrocht for the king, quhen his lugyng wes thar;Byggyt about, that no man entir mycht,Bot ane at anys, nor haiff off othir sicht.Thar ordand thai thir lordis suld be slayne;A justice maid, quhilk wes of mekill mayne.30To lord Persye off this mattir thai laid.With sad awyss agayne to thaim he said;“Thai men to me has kepit treuth so lang,“Desaitfully I may nocht se thaim hang.“I am thar fa, and warn thaim will I nocht;35“Sa I be quytt, I rek nocht quhat yhe wrocht.“Fra thine I will, and towart Glaskow draw,“With our byschope to her off his new law.”Than chesyt thai a justice fers and fell,Quhilk Arnwlff hecht, as my auctour will tell,40Off South hantoun, that huge hie her and lord;He wndretuk to pyne thaim with the cord.Ane othir ayr in Glaskow ordand thai,For Cliddisdaill men, to stand that sammyn day:Syne chargyt thaim, in all wayis ernystfully,45Be no kyn meyne Wallace suld nocht chaip by.For weill thai wyst, and thai men war ourthrawin,Thai mycht at will bruk Scotland as thair awin.This band thai cloiss wndre thair seillis fast;Syne south our mur agayn king Edward past.50The new justice rasawit was in Ayr:The lord Persye can on to Glaskow fayr.This ayr was set in Jun the auchtand day,And playnly cryt, na fre man war away.The Scottis marweld, and pess tane in the land,55Quhy Inglissmen sic maistir tuk on hand.Schir Ranald set a day befor this ayr,At Monktoun kyrk; his freyndis mett him thar.Wilyham Wallace on to the tryst couth pass,Fol. 44 bFor he as than wardane off Scotland was.60This maistir Jhone a worthi clerk was thar;He chargyt his kyne for to byd fra that ayr.Rycht weill he wyst, fra Persey fled that land,Gret perell was till Scottis apperand.Wallace fra thaim [in] to the kyrk he yeid;65Pater Noster, Aue, he said, and Creid.Syne to the grece he lenyt him sobyrly;Apon a sleip he slaid full sodandly.Kneland folowed, and saw him fallyn on sleip;He maid na noyis, bot wysly couth him kepe.70In that slummir, cummand him thocht he sawAne agit man, fast towart him couth draw;Sone be the hand he hynt him haistelé,“I am,” he said, “in wiage chargit with the.”A suerd him gaiff off burly burnist steill;75“Gud sone,” he said, “this brand thou sall bruk weill.”Off topastone him thocht the plumat was;Baith hilt and hand all glitterand lik the glas.“Der sone,” he said, “we tary her to lang;“Thow sall go se quhar wrocht is mekill wrang.”80Than he him led till a montane on hycht;The warld him thocht he mycht se with a sicht.He left him thar, syne sone fra him he went.Tharoff Wallace studiit in his entent;Till se him mar he had still gret desyr.85Tharwith he saw begyne a felloune fyr,Quhilk braithly brynt on breid throu all the land,Scotland atour, fra Ross to Sulway sand.Than sone till him thar descendyt a qweyne,Inlumyt lycht, schynand full brycht and scheyne.90In hyr presens apperyt so mekill lycht,At all the fyr scho put out off his sycht;Gaiff him a wand off colour reid and greyne,With a saffyr sanyt his face and eyne.“Welcum,” scho said, “I cheiss the as my luff.95“Thow art grantyt, be the gret God abuff,“Till help pepill that sufferis mekill wrang:“With the as now I may nocht tary lang.“Thou sall return to thi awne oyss agayne;“Thi derrast kyne ar her in mekill payne.100“This rycht regioun thow mon redeme it all:“Thi last reward in erd sall be bot small.“Let nocht tharfor, tak redress off this myss:“To thi reward thou sall haiff lestand blyss.”Off hir rycht hand scho betaucht him a buk;105Humylly thus hyr leyff full sone scho tuk;On to the cloud ascendyt off his sycht.Wallace brak vp the buk in all his mycht.Fol. 45 aIn thre partis the buk weill writyn was;The fyrst writtyng was gross letteris off bras,110The secound gold, the thrid was siluer scheyne.Wallace merueld quhat this writyng suld meyne.To rede the buk he besyet him so fast,His spreit agayne to walkand mynd is past;And wp he raiss, syne sodandly furth went.115This clerk he fand, and tald him [his] ententOff this wisioun, as I haiff said befor,Completly throuch. Quhat nedis wordis mor?“Der sone,” he said, “my witt vnabill is“To runsik sic, for dreid I say off myss.120“Yeit I sall deyme, thocht my cunnyng be small:“God grant na chargis efftir my wordis fall!“Saynct Androw was, gaiff the that suerd in hand;“Off sanctis he is wowar off Scotland.“That montayne is, quhar he the had on hycht,125“Knawlage to haiff off wrang that [thow] mon rycht.“The fyr sall be fell tithingis, or ye part,“Quhilk will be tald in mony syndry art.“I can nocht witt quhat qweyn at it suld be,“Quhethir fortoun, or our lady so fre.130“Lykly it is, be the brychtnes scho brocht,“Modyr off him that all this warld has wrocht.“The prety wand, I trow be myn entent,“Assignes rewlle and cruell jugément.“The red colour, quha graithly wndrestud,135“Betaknes all to gret battaill and blud:“The greyn, curage that thow art now amang,“In strowbill wer thou sall conteyne full lang.“The saphyr stayne, scho blissit the with all,“Is lestand grace, will God, sall to the fall.140“The thrynfald buk is bot this brokyn land,“Thou mon rademe be worthines off hand.“The bras lettris betakynnys bot to this,“The gret oppress off wer and mekill myss,“The quhilk thow sall bryng to the rycht agayne;145“Bot thou tharfor mon suffer mekill payne.“The gold takynnis honour and worthinas,“Wictour in armys, that thou sall haiff be grace.“The siluer schawis cleyne lyff, and hewynys blyss;“To thi reward that myrth thou sall nocht myss.150“Dreid nocht tharfor, be out off all dispayr.“Forthir as now her off I can no mair.”

In Feueryher befell the sammyn cace,

That Inglissmen tuk trewis with Wallace.

This passyt our till Marche till end was socht.

The Inglismen kest all the wayis thai mocht,

With suttelté and wykkit illusione,5

The worthi Scottis to put to confusioune.

In Aperill the king off Ingland come

In Cvmmyrland of Pumfrat fro his home;

In to Carleill till a consell he yeid,

Quhar off the Scottis mycht haiff full mekill dreid.10

Mony captane that was off Ingland born,Fol. 44 a

Fol. 44 a

Thidder thai past, and semblit thar king beforn;

Na Scottis man to that consell thai cald,

Bot Schyr Amer, that traytour was off ald.

At him thai sperd, how thai suld tak on hand15

The rychtwyss blud to scour out off Scotland.

Schir Amer said; “Thair chyftayne can weill do,

“Rycht wyss in wer, and has gret power to;

“And now this trew gyffis thaim sic hardyment,

“That to your faith thai will nocht all consent.20

“Bot wald ye do rycht as I wald yow ler,

“This pess to thaim it suld be sald full der.”

Than demyt he, the fals Sotheroun amang,

How thai best mycht the Scottis barownis hang.

For gret bernys that tyme stud in till Ayr,25

Wrocht for the king, quhen his lugyng wes thar;

Byggyt about, that no man entir mycht,

Bot ane at anys, nor haiff off othir sicht.

Thar ordand thai thir lordis suld be slayne;

A justice maid, quhilk wes of mekill mayne.30

To lord Persye off this mattir thai laid.

With sad awyss agayne to thaim he said;

“Thai men to me has kepit treuth so lang,

“Desaitfully I may nocht se thaim hang.

“I am thar fa, and warn thaim will I nocht;35

“Sa I be quytt, I rek nocht quhat yhe wrocht.

“Fra thine I will, and towart Glaskow draw,

“With our byschope to her off his new law.”

Than chesyt thai a justice fers and fell,

Quhilk Arnwlff hecht, as my auctour will tell,40

Off South hantoun, that huge hie her and lord;

He wndretuk to pyne thaim with the cord.

Ane othir ayr in Glaskow ordand thai,

For Cliddisdaill men, to stand that sammyn day:

Syne chargyt thaim, in all wayis ernystfully,45

Be no kyn meyne Wallace suld nocht chaip by.

For weill thai wyst, and thai men war ourthrawin,

Thai mycht at will bruk Scotland as thair awin.

This band thai cloiss wndre thair seillis fast;

Syne south our mur agayn king Edward past.50

The new justice rasawit was in Ayr:

The lord Persye can on to Glaskow fayr.

This ayr was set in Jun the auchtand day,

And playnly cryt, na fre man war away.

The Scottis marweld, and pess tane in the land,55

Quhy Inglissmen sic maistir tuk on hand.

Schir Ranald set a day befor this ayr,

At Monktoun kyrk; his freyndis mett him thar.

Wilyham Wallace on to the tryst couth pass,Fol. 44 b

Fol. 44 b

For he as than wardane off Scotland was.60

This maistir Jhone a worthi clerk was thar;

He chargyt his kyne for to byd fra that ayr.

Rycht weill he wyst, fra Persey fled that land,

Gret perell was till Scottis apperand.

Wallace fra thaim [in] to the kyrk he yeid;65

Pater Noster, Aue, he said, and Creid.

Syne to the grece he lenyt him sobyrly;

Apon a sleip he slaid full sodandly.

Kneland folowed, and saw him fallyn on sleip;

He maid na noyis, bot wysly couth him kepe.70

In that slummir, cummand him thocht he saw

Ane agit man, fast towart him couth draw;

Sone be the hand he hynt him haistelé,

“I am,” he said, “in wiage chargit with the.”

A suerd him gaiff off burly burnist steill;75

“Gud sone,” he said, “this brand thou sall bruk weill.”

Off topastone him thocht the plumat was;

Baith hilt and hand all glitterand lik the glas.

“Der sone,” he said, “we tary her to lang;

“Thow sall go se quhar wrocht is mekill wrang.”80

Than he him led till a montane on hycht;

The warld him thocht he mycht se with a sicht.

He left him thar, syne sone fra him he went.

Tharoff Wallace studiit in his entent;

Till se him mar he had still gret desyr.85

Tharwith he saw begyne a felloune fyr,

Quhilk braithly brynt on breid throu all the land,

Scotland atour, fra Ross to Sulway sand.

Than sone till him thar descendyt a qweyne,

Inlumyt lycht, schynand full brycht and scheyne.90

In hyr presens apperyt so mekill lycht,

At all the fyr scho put out off his sycht;

Gaiff him a wand off colour reid and greyne,

With a saffyr sanyt his face and eyne.

“Welcum,” scho said, “I cheiss the as my luff.95

“Thow art grantyt, be the gret God abuff,

“Till help pepill that sufferis mekill wrang:

“With the as now I may nocht tary lang.

“Thou sall return to thi awne oyss agayne;

“Thi derrast kyne ar her in mekill payne.100

“This rycht regioun thow mon redeme it all:

“Thi last reward in erd sall be bot small.

“Let nocht tharfor, tak redress off this myss:

“To thi reward thou sall haiff lestand blyss.”

Off hir rycht hand scho betaucht him a buk;105

Humylly thus hyr leyff full sone scho tuk;

On to the cloud ascendyt off his sycht.

Wallace brak vp the buk in all his mycht.Fol. 45 a

Fol. 45 a

In thre partis the buk weill writyn was;

The fyrst writtyng was gross letteris off bras,110

The secound gold, the thrid was siluer scheyne.

Wallace merueld quhat this writyng suld meyne.

To rede the buk he besyet him so fast,

His spreit agayne to walkand mynd is past;

And wp he raiss, syne sodandly furth went.115

This clerk he fand, and tald him [his] entent

Off this wisioun, as I haiff said befor,

Completly throuch. Quhat nedis wordis mor?

“Der sone,” he said, “my witt vnabill is

“To runsik sic, for dreid I say off myss.120

“Yeit I sall deyme, thocht my cunnyng be small:

“God grant na chargis efftir my wordis fall!

“Saynct Androw was, gaiff the that suerd in hand;

“Off sanctis he is wowar off Scotland.

“That montayne is, quhar he the had on hycht,125

“Knawlage to haiff off wrang that [thow] mon rycht.

“The fyr sall be fell tithingis, or ye part,

“Quhilk will be tald in mony syndry art.

“I can nocht witt quhat qweyn at it suld be,

“Quhethir fortoun, or our lady so fre.130

“Lykly it is, be the brychtnes scho brocht,

“Modyr off him that all this warld has wrocht.

“The prety wand, I trow be myn entent,

“Assignes rewlle and cruell jugément.

“The red colour, quha graithly wndrestud,135

“Betaknes all to gret battaill and blud:

“The greyn, curage that thow art now amang,

“In strowbill wer thou sall conteyne full lang.

“The saphyr stayne, scho blissit the with all,

“Is lestand grace, will God, sall to the fall.140

“The thrynfald buk is bot this brokyn land,

“Thou mon rademe be worthines off hand.

“The bras lettris betakynnys bot to this,

“The gret oppress off wer and mekill myss,

“The quhilk thow sall bryng to the rycht agayne;145

“Bot thou tharfor mon suffer mekill payne.

“The gold takynnis honour and worthinas,

“Wictour in armys, that thou sall haiff be grace.

“The siluer schawis cleyne lyff, and hewynys blyss;

“To thi reward that myrth thou sall nocht myss.150

“Dreid nocht tharfor, be out off all dispayr.

“Forthir as now her off I can no mair.”

He thankit hym, and thus his leyff has tayne;Till Corsbé syne with his wncle raid hayme.Fol. 45 bWith myrthis thus all nycht thai soiornyt thar.155Apon the morn thai graith thaim to the ar;And furth thai ryd, quhill thai come to Kingace.With dreidfull hart thus sperit wicht WallaceAt Schyr Ranald, for the charter off pees.“Neuo,” he said, “thir wordis ar nocht les.160“It is lewyt at Corsbé, in the kyst“Quhar thou it laid; tharoff na othyr wist.”Wallace ansuerd; ‘Had we it her to schaw,‘And thai be falss, we suld nocht entir awe.’“Der sone,” he said, “I pray the pass agayne;165“Thocht thou wald send, that trawaill war in wayne:“Bot thou, or I, can nane it bryng this tid.”Gret grace it was maid him agayne to ryd.Wallace raturnd, and tuk with him bot thre;Nane off thaim knew this endentour bot he.170Wnhap him led, for bid him couth he nocht;Off fals dissayt this gud knycht had na thocht.Schir Ranald raid but restyng to the town,Wittand na thing off all this falss tresown.That wykked syng so rewled the planait;175Saturn was than in till his heast stait.Aboune Juno in his malancoly,Jupiter, Mars, ay cruell off inwy,Saturn as than awansyt his natur.Off terandry he power had and cur;180Rebell renkis in mony seir regioun;Trubbill weddyr makis schippis to droune,His drychyn is with Pluto in the se;As off the land, full off iniquité,He waknys wer, waxyng off pestilence,185Fallyng off wallis with cruell wiolence,Pusoun is ryff, amang thir othir thingis;Sodeyn slauchter off empriouris and kingis.Quhen Sampsone powed to grond the gret piller,Saturn was than in till the heast sper.190At Thebes als off his power thai tell,Quhen Phiorax sank throuch the erd till hell.Off the Troianis he had full mekill cur,Quhen Achilles at Troy slew gud Ectur,Burdeous schent, and mony citeis mo;195His power yeit it has na hap to ho.In braid Brytane feill wengeance has beyne seyne;Off this and mar, ye wait weill quhat I meyn.Bot to this hous, that stalwart wes and strang,Schir Ranald come, and mycht nocht tary lang.200A bawk was knyt all full of rapys keyne;Fol. 46 aSic a towboth sen syn was neuir seyne.Stern men was set the entré for to hald;Nayne mycht pass in, bot ay as thai war cald.Schir Ranald fyrst, to mak fewté for his land,205The knycht, went in, and wald na langar stand:A rynnand cord thai slewyt our his hed,Hard to the bawk, and hangyt him to ded.Schyr Bryss the Blayr next with hys eyme in past;On to the ded thai haistyt him full fast,210Be he entrit, hys hed was in the swar;Tytt to the bawk, hangyt to ded rycht thar.The third entrit, that peté was for thy,A gentill knycht, Schyr Neill off Mungumry;And othir feill off landit men about.215Mony yeid in, bot na Scottis com out.Off Wallace part, thai putt to that derff deid,Mony Craufurd sa endyt in that steid.Off Carrik men Kennadyss slew thai alss;And kynd Cambellis, that neuir had beyne falss.220Thir rabellit nocht contrar thair rychtwiss croun;Sotheroun for thi thaim putt to confusioun;Berklais, Boidis, and Stuartis off gud kyn:Na Scott chapyt that tyme that entrit in.Vpon the bawk thai hangit mony par,225Be sid thaim ded in the nuk kest thaim thar.Sen the fyrst tyme that ony wer wes wrocht,To sic a dede so mony sic yeid nochtVpon a day, throuch curssit Saxons seid:Vengeance off this throuch out that kynrik yeid.230Grantyt wes fra God in the gret hewyn,Sa ordand he that law suld be thair stewyn.To falss Saxons, for thair fell jugément,Thar wykkydnes our all the land is went.Yhe nobill men, that ar off Scottis kind,235Thar petous dede yhe kepe in to your mynd;And ws rawenge, quhen we ar set in thrang.Dolour it is her on to tary lang.Thus auchtene scor to that derff dede thai dycht,Off barronis bald, and mony worthi knycht.240Quhen thai had slayne the worthiast that was thar,For waik peple thai wald na langar spar:In till a garth kest thaim out off that sted,As thai war born, dispulyeit, bar, and ded.Gud Robert Boid on till a tawern yeid,245With twenty men that douchty war in deid,Off Wallace houss, full cruell off entent;He gouernyt thaim quhen Wallace was absent.Kerlé turnyt with his mastir agayne,Kneland and Byrd, that mekill war off mayne.250Fol. 46 bStewyn off Irland went furth; apon the streitA trew woman full sone with him couth meit.He speryt at hir, quhat hapnyt in the ayr.“Sorou,” scho said, “is nothing ellis thar.”Ferdly scho ast, “Allace! quhar is Wallace?”255‘Fra ws agayne he passit at Kingace.’“Go warn his folk, and haist thaim off the toun;“To kepe him selff I sall be reddy boun.”With hir as than no mar tary he maid;Till his falowis he went with outyn baid.260And to thaim tald off all this gret mysfair.To Laglane wood thai bownyt with outyn mar.Be this Wallace wes cummand wondir fast;For his freyndis he was full sar agast.On to the bern sadly he couth persew265Till entir in, for he na perell knew.This woman than apon him loud can call;“O fers Wallace, feill tempest is befall.“Our men ar slayne, that peté is to se,“As bestiall houndis hangit our a tre;270“Our trew barrounis be twa and twa past in.”Wallace wepyt for gret loss off his kyne.Than with wness apon his horss he baid;Mair for to sper to this woman he raid.‘Der nece,’ he said, ‘the trewth giff thow can tell,275‘Is my eyme dede, or hou the cace befell?’“Out off yon bern,” scho said, “I saw him borne,“Nakit, laid law on cald erd, me beforn.“His frosty mouth I kissit in that sted;“Rycht now manlik, now bar, and brocht to ded.280“And with a claith I couerit his licaym;“For in his lyff he did neuir woman schayme.“His systir sone thou art, worthi and wicht;“Rawenge thar dede, for Goddis saik, at thi mycht:“Als I sall help, as I am woman trew.”285‘Der wicht,’ he said, ‘der God, sen at thou knew‘Gud Robert Boid, quhar at thou can him se;‘Wilyham Crawfurd als giff he lyffand be.‘Adam Wallace wald help me in this striff,‘I pray to God send me [thaim] all in liff;290‘For Marys saik bid thaim sone cum to me.‘The justice innys thow spy for cheryté;‘And in quhat feir that thai thair lugyne mak.‘Son efftir that we will our purposs tak‘In to Laglane, quhilk has my succour beyne.295‘Adew market, and welcum woddis greyne!’Her off as than till hir he spak no mair;His brydill turnyt, and fra hir can he fair:Sic murnyng maid for his der worthi kyn,Him thocht for baill his breyst ner bryst in twyn.300Fol. 47 aAs he thus raid in gret angyr and teyne,Off Inglissmen thar folowed him fyfteyn,Wicht, wallyt men, at towart him couth draw,With a maser, to tach him to the law.Wallace raturnd in greiff and matelent;305With his suerd drawyn amang thaim sone he went.The myddyll off ane he mankit ner in twa;Ane othir thar apon the hed can ta;The thrid he straik, and throuch the cost him claiff;The ferd to ground rycht derffly ded doun he draiff;310The fyft he hit with gret ire in that sted;With out reskew dreidles he left thaim ded.Than his thre men had slayn the tothir fyve.Fra thaim the laiff eschapit in to lyff;Fled to thair lord, and tald him off this cass.315To Laglane wode than ridis wicht Wallas.The Sotheroun said, quhat ane that he hit rycht,With out mercye, dredles, to ded wes dycht.Merwell thai had sic strenth in ane suld be;Ane off thair men at ilk straik he gert de.320Than demyt thai, it suld be Wallace wicht.To thar langage maid ansuer ane ald knycht;“Forsuth,” he said, “be he chapyt this ayr,“All your new deid is eking off our cair.”The justice said, quhen thar sic murmur raiss;325‘Yhe wald be ferd, and thar come mony faiss,‘That for a man me think yow lik to fle,‘And wait nocht yeit in deid gyff it be he.‘And thocht it be, I cownt him bot full lycht;‘Quha bidis her, ilk gentill man sall be knycht:330‘I think to deill thair landis haill to morn‘To yow about, that ar off Ingland born.’

He thankit hym, and thus his leyff has tayne;

Till Corsbé syne with his wncle raid hayme.Fol. 45 b

Fol. 45 b

With myrthis thus all nycht thai soiornyt thar.155

Apon the morn thai graith thaim to the ar;

And furth thai ryd, quhill thai come to Kingace.

With dreidfull hart thus sperit wicht Wallace

At Schyr Ranald, for the charter off pees.

“Neuo,” he said, “thir wordis ar nocht les.160

“It is lewyt at Corsbé, in the kyst

“Quhar thou it laid; tharoff na othyr wist.”

Wallace ansuerd; ‘Had we it her to schaw,

‘And thai be falss, we suld nocht entir awe.’

“Der sone,” he said, “I pray the pass agayne;165

“Thocht thou wald send, that trawaill war in wayne:

“Bot thou, or I, can nane it bryng this tid.”

Gret grace it was maid him agayne to ryd.

Wallace raturnd, and tuk with him bot thre;

Nane off thaim knew this endentour bot he.170

Wnhap him led, for bid him couth he nocht;

Off fals dissayt this gud knycht had na thocht.

Schir Ranald raid but restyng to the town,

Wittand na thing off all this falss tresown.

That wykked syng so rewled the planait;175

Saturn was than in till his heast stait.

Aboune Juno in his malancoly,

Jupiter, Mars, ay cruell off inwy,

Saturn as than awansyt his natur.

Off terandry he power had and cur;180

Rebell renkis in mony seir regioun;

Trubbill weddyr makis schippis to droune,

His drychyn is with Pluto in the se;

As off the land, full off iniquité,

He waknys wer, waxyng off pestilence,185

Fallyng off wallis with cruell wiolence,

Pusoun is ryff, amang thir othir thingis;

Sodeyn slauchter off empriouris and kingis.

Quhen Sampsone powed to grond the gret piller,

Saturn was than in till the heast sper.190

At Thebes als off his power thai tell,

Quhen Phiorax sank throuch the erd till hell.

Off the Troianis he had full mekill cur,

Quhen Achilles at Troy slew gud Ectur,

Burdeous schent, and mony citeis mo;195

His power yeit it has na hap to ho.

In braid Brytane feill wengeance has beyne seyne;

Off this and mar, ye wait weill quhat I meyn.

Bot to this hous, that stalwart wes and strang,

Schir Ranald come, and mycht nocht tary lang.200

A bawk was knyt all full of rapys keyne;Fol. 46 a

Fol. 46 a

Sic a towboth sen syn was neuir seyne.

Stern men was set the entré for to hald;

Nayne mycht pass in, bot ay as thai war cald.

Schir Ranald fyrst, to mak fewté for his land,205

The knycht, went in, and wald na langar stand:

A rynnand cord thai slewyt our his hed,

Hard to the bawk, and hangyt him to ded.

Schyr Bryss the Blayr next with hys eyme in past;

On to the ded thai haistyt him full fast,210

Be he entrit, hys hed was in the swar;

Tytt to the bawk, hangyt to ded rycht thar.

The third entrit, that peté was for thy,

A gentill knycht, Schyr Neill off Mungumry;

And othir feill off landit men about.215

Mony yeid in, bot na Scottis com out.

Off Wallace part, thai putt to that derff deid,

Mony Craufurd sa endyt in that steid.

Off Carrik men Kennadyss slew thai alss;

And kynd Cambellis, that neuir had beyne falss.220

Thir rabellit nocht contrar thair rychtwiss croun;

Sotheroun for thi thaim putt to confusioun;

Berklais, Boidis, and Stuartis off gud kyn:

Na Scott chapyt that tyme that entrit in.

Vpon the bawk thai hangit mony par,225

Be sid thaim ded in the nuk kest thaim thar.

Sen the fyrst tyme that ony wer wes wrocht,

To sic a dede so mony sic yeid nocht

Vpon a day, throuch curssit Saxons seid:

Vengeance off this throuch out that kynrik yeid.230

Grantyt wes fra God in the gret hewyn,

Sa ordand he that law suld be thair stewyn.

To falss Saxons, for thair fell jugément,

Thar wykkydnes our all the land is went.

Yhe nobill men, that ar off Scottis kind,235

Thar petous dede yhe kepe in to your mynd;

And ws rawenge, quhen we ar set in thrang.

Dolour it is her on to tary lang.

Thus auchtene scor to that derff dede thai dycht,

Off barronis bald, and mony worthi knycht.240

Quhen thai had slayne the worthiast that was thar,

For waik peple thai wald na langar spar:

In till a garth kest thaim out off that sted,

As thai war born, dispulyeit, bar, and ded.

Gud Robert Boid on till a tawern yeid,245

With twenty men that douchty war in deid,

Off Wallace houss, full cruell off entent;

He gouernyt thaim quhen Wallace was absent.

Kerlé turnyt with his mastir agayne,

Kneland and Byrd, that mekill war off mayne.250Fol. 46 b

Fol. 46 b

Stewyn off Irland went furth; apon the streit

A trew woman full sone with him couth meit.

He speryt at hir, quhat hapnyt in the ayr.

“Sorou,” scho said, “is nothing ellis thar.”

Ferdly scho ast, “Allace! quhar is Wallace?”255

‘Fra ws agayne he passit at Kingace.’

“Go warn his folk, and haist thaim off the toun;

“To kepe him selff I sall be reddy boun.”

With hir as than no mar tary he maid;

Till his falowis he went with outyn baid.260

And to thaim tald off all this gret mysfair.

To Laglane wood thai bownyt with outyn mar.

Be this Wallace wes cummand wondir fast;

For his freyndis he was full sar agast.

On to the bern sadly he couth persew265

Till entir in, for he na perell knew.

This woman than apon him loud can call;

“O fers Wallace, feill tempest is befall.

“Our men ar slayne, that peté is to se,

“As bestiall houndis hangit our a tre;270

“Our trew barrounis be twa and twa past in.”

Wallace wepyt for gret loss off his kyne.

Than with wness apon his horss he baid;

Mair for to sper to this woman he raid.

‘Der nece,’ he said, ‘the trewth giff thow can tell,275

‘Is my eyme dede, or hou the cace befell?’

“Out off yon bern,” scho said, “I saw him borne,

“Nakit, laid law on cald erd, me beforn.

“His frosty mouth I kissit in that sted;

“Rycht now manlik, now bar, and brocht to ded.280

“And with a claith I couerit his licaym;

“For in his lyff he did neuir woman schayme.

“His systir sone thou art, worthi and wicht;

“Rawenge thar dede, for Goddis saik, at thi mycht:

“Als I sall help, as I am woman trew.”285

‘Der wicht,’ he said, ‘der God, sen at thou knew

‘Gud Robert Boid, quhar at thou can him se;

‘Wilyham Crawfurd als giff he lyffand be.

‘Adam Wallace wald help me in this striff,

‘I pray to God send me [thaim] all in liff;290

‘For Marys saik bid thaim sone cum to me.

‘The justice innys thow spy for cheryté;

‘And in quhat feir that thai thair lugyne mak.

‘Son efftir that we will our purposs tak

‘In to Laglane, quhilk has my succour beyne.295

‘Adew market, and welcum woddis greyne!’

Her off as than till hir he spak no mair;

His brydill turnyt, and fra hir can he fair:

Sic murnyng maid for his der worthi kyn,

Him thocht for baill his breyst ner bryst in twyn.300Fol. 47 a

Fol. 47 a

As he thus raid in gret angyr and teyne,

Off Inglissmen thar folowed him fyfteyn,

Wicht, wallyt men, at towart him couth draw,

With a maser, to tach him to the law.

Wallace raturnd in greiff and matelent;305

With his suerd drawyn amang thaim sone he went.

The myddyll off ane he mankit ner in twa;

Ane othir thar apon the hed can ta;

The thrid he straik, and throuch the cost him claiff;

The ferd to ground rycht derffly ded doun he draiff;310

The fyft he hit with gret ire in that sted;

With out reskew dreidles he left thaim ded.

Than his thre men had slayn the tothir fyve.

Fra thaim the laiff eschapit in to lyff;

Fled to thair lord, and tald him off this cass.315

To Laglane wode than ridis wicht Wallas.

The Sotheroun said, quhat ane that he hit rycht,

With out mercye, dredles, to ded wes dycht.

Merwell thai had sic strenth in ane suld be;

Ane off thair men at ilk straik he gert de.320

Than demyt thai, it suld be Wallace wicht.

To thar langage maid ansuer ane ald knycht;

“Forsuth,” he said, “be he chapyt this ayr,

“All your new deid is eking off our cair.”

The justice said, quhen thar sic murmur raiss;325

‘Yhe wald be ferd, and thar come mony faiss,

‘That for a man me think yow lik to fle,

‘And wait nocht yeit in deid gyff it be he.

‘And thocht it be, I cownt him bot full lycht;

‘Quha bidis her, ilk gentill man sall be knycht:330

‘I think to deill thair landis haill to morn

‘To yow about, that ar off Ingland born.’

The Sotheron drew to thar lugyng but mar;Four thousand haill that nycht was in till Ayr.In gret bernyss, biggyt with out the toun,335The justice lay, with mony bald barroun.Than he gert cry about thai waynys wide,Na Scottis born amang thaim thar suld bid.To the castell he wald nocht pass for eyss,Bot soiornd thar with thing that mycht him pleyss.340Gret purwians be se to thaim was bocht,With Irland ayle, the mychteast couth be wrocht.Na wach wes set, be caus thai had na doutOff Scottis men that leiffand was with out.Lawberand in mynd thai had beyne all that day,345Off ayle and wyne yneuch chosyne haiff thai:As bestly folk tuk off thaim selff no keip;In thair brawnys sone slaid the sleuthfull sleip;Throuch full gluttré in swarff swappyt lik swyn.Thar chyftayne than was gret Bachus off wyn.350Fol. 47 bThis wyss woman besy amang thaim was;Feill men scho warnd and gart to Laglayne pass,Hyr selff formest, quhill thai with Wallace met.Sum comfort than in till his mynd was set;Quhen he thaim saw, he thankit God off micht.355Tithandis he ast; the woman tald him rycht;“Slepand as swyn ar all yone fals menyhe;“Na Scottis man is in that cumpané.”Than Wallace said; ‘Giff thai all droukyn be,‘I call it best with fyr sor thaim to se.’360Off gud men than thre hundreth till him socht;The woman had tald thre trew burges, at brochtOut off the toun, with nobill aile and breid,And othir stuff, als mekill as thai mycht leid.Thai eit and drank, the Scottis men at mocht.365The noblis than Jop has to Wallace brocht.Sadly he said; “Der freyndis, now you se,“Our kyn ar slayne, tharoff is gret peté;“Throuch feill murthyr, the gret dispite is mor;“Now sum rameid I wald we set tharfor.370“Supposs that I was maid wardane to be,“Part ar away sic chargis put to me;“And ye ar her, cummyn off als gud blud,“Als rychtwis born be awentur, and als gud,“Alss forthwart, fair, and als likly off persoun,375“As euir was I; tharfor till conclusioun,“Latt ws cheyss fyve off this gud cumpany;“Syne caflis cast quha sall our master be.”Wallace and Boyd, and Craufurd off renoun,And Adam als than lord off Ricardtoun;380His fadyr than wes wesyed with seknes,God had him tayne in till his lestand grace;The fyft Awchinlek, in wer a nobill man;Caflis to cast about thir fyve began.It wald on him, for ocht thai cuth dewyss,385Continualy, quhill thai had castyn thryss.Than Wallace raiss, and out a suerd can draw;He said, “I wow to the Makar off aw,“And till Mary, his modyr wirgyne cler,“My wnclis dede now sall be sauld full der,390“With mony ma off our der worthi kyn.“Fyrst, or I eit or drynk, we sall begyn;“For sleuth nor sleip sall nayne remayne in me,“Off this tempest till I a wengeance se.”Than all inclynd rycht humyll off accord,395And him resawit as chyftayne and thair lord.Wallace a lord he may be clepyt weyll,Thocht ruryk folk tharoff haff litill feill;Na deyme na lord, bot landis be thair part.Had he the warld, and be wrachit off hart,400Fol. 48 aHe is no lord as to the worthines;It can nocht be, but fredome, lordlyknes.At the Roddis thai mak full mony ane,Quhilk worthy ar, thocht landis haiff thai nane.This discussyng I leiff herroldis till end;405On my mater now brieffly will I wend.Wallace commaunde a burgess for to getFyne cawk eneuch, that his der nece mycht setOn ilk yeit, quhar Sotheroun wer on raw.Than twenty men he gert fast wetheis thraw,410Ilk man a pair, and on thair arme thaim threw;Than to the toune full fast thai cuth persew.The woman past befor thaim suttelly;Cawkit ilk yett, that thai neid nocht gang by.Than festnyt thai with wetheis duris fast,415To stapill and hesp, with mony sekyr cast.Wallace gert Boid ner hand the castell ga,With fyfté men, a jeperté to ma.Gyff ony ischet, the fyr quhen that thai saw,Fast to [the] yett he ordand thaim to draw.420The laiff with him about the bernys yheid.This trew woman thaim seruit weill in deid,With lynt and fyr, that haistely kendill wald;In euir ilk nuk thai festnyt blesis bald.Wallace commaund till all his men about,425Na Sotheron man at thai suld lat brek out:Quhat euir he be, reskewis off that kynFra the rede fyr, him selff sall pass tharin.The lemand low sone lanssyt apon hycht.“Forsuth,” he said, “this is a plessand sycht;430“Till our hartis it suld be sum radress:“War thir away, thar power war the less.”On to the justice him selff loud can caw;“Lat ws to borch our men fra your fals law,“At leyffand ar, that chapyt fra your ayr.435“Deyll nocht thar land, the wnlaw is our sayr.“Thou had no rycht, that sall be on the seyne.”The rewmour raiss with cairfull cry and keyne.The bryme fyr brynt rycht braithly apon loft;Till slepand men that walkand was nocht soft.440The sycht with out was awfull for to se:In all the warld na grettar payne mycht be,Than thai with in, insufferit sor to duell,That euir was wrocht, bot purgatory or hell.A payne off hell weill ner it mycht be cauld,445Mad folk with fyr hampryt in mony hauld.Feill byggyns brynt, that worthi war and wicht;Gat nane away, knaiff, capitane, nor knycht.Quhen brundis fell off raftreis thaim amang,Sum rudly raiss in byttir paynys strang;450Fol. 48 bSum nakyt brynt, bot beltless all away;Sum neuir raiss, bot smoryt quhar thai lay;Sum ruschyt fast, till Ayr gyff thai mycht wyn,Blyndyt in fyr, thar deidis war full dym.The reik mellyt with fylth off carioune,455Amang the fyr, rycht foull off offensioune.The peple beryt lyk wyld bestis in that tyd,Within the wallis, rampand on athir sid;Rewmyd in reuth, with mony grysly grayne;Sum grymly gret, quhill thar lyff dayis war gayne.460Sum durris socht the entré for to get;Bot Scottis men so wysly thaim beset,Gyff ony brak, be awntur, off that steid,With suerdis sone bertnyt thai war to dede;Or ellys agayne beforce drewyn in the fyr:465Thar chapyt nayne bot brynt wp bayne and lyr.The stynk scalyt off ded bodyis sa wyde,The Scottis abhord ner hand for to byd;Yeid to the wynd, and leit thaim ewyn allayne,Quhill the rede fyr had that fals blude ourgayne.470A frer Drumlay was priour than off Ayr;Sewyn scor with him that nycht tuk herbry thar,In his innys; for he mycht nocht thaim let.Till ner mydnycht a wach on thaim he set;Him selff wouk weyll quhill he the fyr saw ryss:475Sum mendis he thocht to tak off that suppryss.Hys brethir sewyn till harnes sone thai yeid,Hym selff chyftayne the ramanand to leid.The best thai waill off armour and gud ger;Syne wapynnys tak, rycht awfull in affer.480Thir aucht freris in four partis thai ga,With suerdis drawyn, till ilk houss yeid twa.Sone entrit thai quhar Sotheroune slepand war,Apon thaim sett with strakis sad and sar.Feill frekis thar thai freris dang to dede,485Sum nakit fled, and gat out off that sted,The wattir socht, abaissit out off slepe.In the furd weill, that was bath wan and depe,Feyll off thaim fell, that brak out off that place,Dowkit to grounde, and deit with outyn grace.490Drownyt and slayne war all that herbryt thar,Men callis it yeit, “The Freris blyssyng off Ayr.”Few folk off waill was lewyt apon caceIn the castell; lord Persye fra that place,Befor the ayr, fra thine to Glaskow drew;495Off men and stuff it was to purwa new.Yeit thai within, saw the fyr byrnand stout,With schort awiss ischet, and had na dout.The buschement than, as weryouris wyss and wicht,Leit thaim allayne, and to the houss past rycht.500Boyd wan the port, entryt and all his men;Fol. 49 aKeparis in it was left bot nyne or ten.The formast sone hym selff sesyt in hand,Maid quyt off hym, syne slew all at thai fand.Off purwyaunce in that castell was nayne;505Schort tyme befor Persye was fra it gayne.The erll Arnulff had rasawit that hauld,Quhilk in the toune was brynt to powder cauld.Boyd gert ramayn off his men twenty still,Him selff past furth to witt off Wallace will,510Kepand the toune, quhill nocht was lewyt marBot the woode fyr, and beyldis brynt full bar.Off lykly men, that born was in Ingland,Be suerd and fyr, that nycht deit fyve thousand.

The Sotheron drew to thar lugyng but mar;

Four thousand haill that nycht was in till Ayr.

In gret bernyss, biggyt with out the toun,335

The justice lay, with mony bald barroun.

Than he gert cry about thai waynys wide,

Na Scottis born amang thaim thar suld bid.

To the castell he wald nocht pass for eyss,

Bot soiornd thar with thing that mycht him pleyss.340

Gret purwians be se to thaim was bocht,

With Irland ayle, the mychteast couth be wrocht.

Na wach wes set, be caus thai had na dout

Off Scottis men that leiffand was with out.

Lawberand in mynd thai had beyne all that day,345

Off ayle and wyne yneuch chosyne haiff thai:

As bestly folk tuk off thaim selff no keip;

In thair brawnys sone slaid the sleuthfull sleip;

Throuch full gluttré in swarff swappyt lik swyn.

Thar chyftayne than was gret Bachus off wyn.350Fol. 47 b

Fol. 47 b

This wyss woman besy amang thaim was;

Feill men scho warnd and gart to Laglayne pass,

Hyr selff formest, quhill thai with Wallace met.

Sum comfort than in till his mynd was set;

Quhen he thaim saw, he thankit God off micht.355

Tithandis he ast; the woman tald him rycht;

“Slepand as swyn ar all yone fals menyhe;

“Na Scottis man is in that cumpané.”

Than Wallace said; ‘Giff thai all droukyn be,

‘I call it best with fyr sor thaim to se.’360

Off gud men than thre hundreth till him socht;

The woman had tald thre trew burges, at brocht

Out off the toun, with nobill aile and breid,

And othir stuff, als mekill as thai mycht leid.

Thai eit and drank, the Scottis men at mocht.365

The noblis than Jop has to Wallace brocht.

Sadly he said; “Der freyndis, now you se,

“Our kyn ar slayne, tharoff is gret peté;

“Throuch feill murthyr, the gret dispite is mor;

“Now sum rameid I wald we set tharfor.370

“Supposs that I was maid wardane to be,

“Part ar away sic chargis put to me;

“And ye ar her, cummyn off als gud blud,

“Als rychtwis born be awentur, and als gud,

“Alss forthwart, fair, and als likly off persoun,375

“As euir was I; tharfor till conclusioun,

“Latt ws cheyss fyve off this gud cumpany;

“Syne caflis cast quha sall our master be.”

Wallace and Boyd, and Craufurd off renoun,

And Adam als than lord off Ricardtoun;380

His fadyr than wes wesyed with seknes,

God had him tayne in till his lestand grace;

The fyft Awchinlek, in wer a nobill man;

Caflis to cast about thir fyve began.

It wald on him, for ocht thai cuth dewyss,385

Continualy, quhill thai had castyn thryss.

Than Wallace raiss, and out a suerd can draw;

He said, “I wow to the Makar off aw,

“And till Mary, his modyr wirgyne cler,

“My wnclis dede now sall be sauld full der,390

“With mony ma off our der worthi kyn.

“Fyrst, or I eit or drynk, we sall begyn;

“For sleuth nor sleip sall nayne remayne in me,

“Off this tempest till I a wengeance se.”

Than all inclynd rycht humyll off accord,395

And him resawit as chyftayne and thair lord.

Wallace a lord he may be clepyt weyll,

Thocht ruryk folk tharoff haff litill feill;

Na deyme na lord, bot landis be thair part.

Had he the warld, and be wrachit off hart,400Fol. 48 a

Fol. 48 a

He is no lord as to the worthines;

It can nocht be, but fredome, lordlyknes.

At the Roddis thai mak full mony ane,

Quhilk worthy ar, thocht landis haiff thai nane.

This discussyng I leiff herroldis till end;405

On my mater now brieffly will I wend.

Wallace commaunde a burgess for to get

Fyne cawk eneuch, that his der nece mycht set

On ilk yeit, quhar Sotheroun wer on raw.

Than twenty men he gert fast wetheis thraw,410

Ilk man a pair, and on thair arme thaim threw;

Than to the toune full fast thai cuth persew.

The woman past befor thaim suttelly;

Cawkit ilk yett, that thai neid nocht gang by.

Than festnyt thai with wetheis duris fast,415

To stapill and hesp, with mony sekyr cast.

Wallace gert Boid ner hand the castell ga,

With fyfté men, a jeperté to ma.

Gyff ony ischet, the fyr quhen that thai saw,

Fast to [the] yett he ordand thaim to draw.420

The laiff with him about the bernys yheid.

This trew woman thaim seruit weill in deid,

With lynt and fyr, that haistely kendill wald;

In euir ilk nuk thai festnyt blesis bald.

Wallace commaund till all his men about,425

Na Sotheron man at thai suld lat brek out:

Quhat euir he be, reskewis off that kyn

Fra the rede fyr, him selff sall pass tharin.

The lemand low sone lanssyt apon hycht.

“Forsuth,” he said, “this is a plessand sycht;430

“Till our hartis it suld be sum radress:

“War thir away, thar power war the less.”

On to the justice him selff loud can caw;

“Lat ws to borch our men fra your fals law,

“At leyffand ar, that chapyt fra your ayr.435

“Deyll nocht thar land, the wnlaw is our sayr.

“Thou had no rycht, that sall be on the seyne.”

The rewmour raiss with cairfull cry and keyne.

The bryme fyr brynt rycht braithly apon loft;

Till slepand men that walkand was nocht soft.440

The sycht with out was awfull for to se:

In all the warld na grettar payne mycht be,

Than thai with in, insufferit sor to duell,

That euir was wrocht, bot purgatory or hell.

A payne off hell weill ner it mycht be cauld,445

Mad folk with fyr hampryt in mony hauld.

Feill byggyns brynt, that worthi war and wicht;

Gat nane away, knaiff, capitane, nor knycht.

Quhen brundis fell off raftreis thaim amang,

Sum rudly raiss in byttir paynys strang;450Fol. 48 b

Fol. 48 b

Sum nakyt brynt, bot beltless all away;

Sum neuir raiss, bot smoryt quhar thai lay;

Sum ruschyt fast, till Ayr gyff thai mycht wyn,

Blyndyt in fyr, thar deidis war full dym.

The reik mellyt with fylth off carioune,455

Amang the fyr, rycht foull off offensioune.

The peple beryt lyk wyld bestis in that tyd,

Within the wallis, rampand on athir sid;

Rewmyd in reuth, with mony grysly grayne;

Sum grymly gret, quhill thar lyff dayis war gayne.460

Sum durris socht the entré for to get;

Bot Scottis men so wysly thaim beset,

Gyff ony brak, be awntur, off that steid,

With suerdis sone bertnyt thai war to dede;

Or ellys agayne beforce drewyn in the fyr:465

Thar chapyt nayne bot brynt wp bayne and lyr.

The stynk scalyt off ded bodyis sa wyde,

The Scottis abhord ner hand for to byd;

Yeid to the wynd, and leit thaim ewyn allayne,

Quhill the rede fyr had that fals blude ourgayne.470

A frer Drumlay was priour than off Ayr;

Sewyn scor with him that nycht tuk herbry thar,

In his innys; for he mycht nocht thaim let.

Till ner mydnycht a wach on thaim he set;

Him selff wouk weyll quhill he the fyr saw ryss:475

Sum mendis he thocht to tak off that suppryss.

Hys brethir sewyn till harnes sone thai yeid,

Hym selff chyftayne the ramanand to leid.

The best thai waill off armour and gud ger;

Syne wapynnys tak, rycht awfull in affer.480

Thir aucht freris in four partis thai ga,

With suerdis drawyn, till ilk houss yeid twa.

Sone entrit thai quhar Sotheroune slepand war,

Apon thaim sett with strakis sad and sar.

Feill frekis thar thai freris dang to dede,485

Sum nakit fled, and gat out off that sted,

The wattir socht, abaissit out off slepe.

In the furd weill, that was bath wan and depe,

Feyll off thaim fell, that brak out off that place,

Dowkit to grounde, and deit with outyn grace.490

Drownyt and slayne war all that herbryt thar,

Men callis it yeit, “The Freris blyssyng off Ayr.”

Few folk off waill was lewyt apon cace

In the castell; lord Persye fra that place,

Befor the ayr, fra thine to Glaskow drew;495

Off men and stuff it was to purwa new.

Yeit thai within, saw the fyr byrnand stout,

With schort awiss ischet, and had na dout.

The buschement than, as weryouris wyss and wicht,

Leit thaim allayne, and to the houss past rycht.500

Boyd wan the port, entryt and all his men;Fol. 49 a

Fol. 49 a

Keparis in it was left bot nyne or ten.

The formast sone hym selff sesyt in hand,

Maid quyt off hym, syne slew all at thai fand.

Off purwyaunce in that castell was nayne;505

Schort tyme befor Persye was fra it gayne.

The erll Arnulff had rasawit that hauld,

Quhilk in the toune was brynt to powder cauld.

Boyd gert ramayn off his men twenty still,

Him selff past furth to witt off Wallace will,510

Kepand the toune, quhill nocht was lewyt mar

Bot the woode fyr, and beyldis brynt full bar.

Off lykly men, that born was in Ingland,

Be suerd and fyr, that nycht deit fyve thousand.

Quhen Wallace men was weill to gydder met,515“Gud freyndis,” he sayd, “ye knaw that thar wes set“Sic law as this now in to Glaskow toune,“Be byschope Beik, and Persye off renoun.“Tharfor I will in haist we thidder fair;“Off our gud kyn [sum] part ar lossyt thair.”520He gert full sone the burges till him caw,And gaiff commaund in generall to thaim aw.In kepyng thai suld tak the houss off Ayr,And “hald it haill quhill tyme that we her mayr;“To byd our king castellys I wald we had;525“Cast we doun all, we mycht be demyt our rad.”Thai gart meit cum, for thai had fastyt lang;Litill he tuk, syne bownyt thaim to gang.Horsis thai cheyss, that Sotheroun had brocht thar,Anew at will; and off the toune can fair.530Thre hundreth haill was in his cumpany.Rycht wondir fast raid this gud chewalryTo Glaskow bryg, that byggyt was off tre;Weyll passit our or Sotheroun mycht thaim se.Lorde Persye wycht, that besy wes in wer,535Semblyt his men fell awfull in affer.Than demyt thai that it was wicht Wallace,He had befor chapyt throw mony cace.The byschope Beik, and Persye that was wicht,A thousand led off men in armyss brycht.540Wallace saw weill quhat nowmyr semblit thar,He maid his men in twa partis to fair;Graithit thaim weill without the townys end.He callit Awchinlek, for he the passage kend.“Wncle,” he said, “be besy in to wer.545“Quhethir will yhe the byschoppys taill wpber,“Or pass befor, and tak his benysone?”He ansuerd hym, with rycht schort provision,‘Wnbyschoppyt yeit, for suth I trow ye be;‘Your selff sall fyrst his blyssyng tak for me:550‘For sekyrly ye seruit it best the nycht.Fol. 49 b‘To ber his taill we sall in all our mycht.’Wallace ansuerd; “Sen we mon sindry gang,“Perell thar is and ye bid fra ws lang;“For yone ar men will nocht sone be agast.555“Fra tyme we meit, for Goddis [saik] haist yow fast.“Our disseueryng I wald na Sotheroune saw;“Behynd thaim cum, in [throw] the Northeast raw.“Gud men off wer ar all Northummyrland.”Thai partand thus tuk othir be the hand.560Awchinlek said; ‘We sall do at we may;‘We wald ilk ill to byd oucht lang away.‘A boustous staill betwix ws sone mon be;‘Bot to the rycht all mychty God haiff E!’Adam Wallace and Awchinlek was boune,565Sewyn scor with thaim, on the baksid the toune.Rycht fast thai yeid, quhill thai war out off sycht:The tothir part arrayit thaim full rycht.Wallace and Boid the playne streyt wp can ga.Sotheroun marweld be causs thai saw na ma;570Thar senyhe cryit vpon the Persys syde,With byschop Beik that bauldly durst abide.A sayr semlay was at that metyng seyne,As fyr on flynt it ferryt thaim betweyne.The hardy Scottis rycht awfully thaim abaid;575Brocht feill to grounde throuch weid that weill was maid;Perssyt plattis with poyntis stiff off steill;Befors off hand gert mony cruell kneill.The strang stour raiss, as reik, vpon thaim fast,Or myst, throuch sone, vp to the clowdis past.580To help thaim selff ilkayne had mekill neid.The worthy Scottis stud in fellone dreid;Yeit forthwart ay thai pressit for to be,And thai on thaim, gret wondyr was to se.The Perseis men, in wer was oysit weill,585Rycht fersly faucht, and sonyeit nocht adeill.Adam Wallace and Awchinlek com in,And partyt Sotheron rycht sodeynly in twyn;Raturnd to thaim as noble men in wer.The Scottis gat rowme, and mony doun thai ber;590The new cowntir assailyeit thaim sa fast,Throuch Inglissmen maid sloppys at the last.Than Wallace selff, in to that felloune thrang,With his gud swerd, that hewy was and lang,At Perseis face with a gud will he bar;595Bath bayne and brayne the forgyt steill throw schair.Four hundreth men, quhen lord Persie was dede,Out off the gait the byschope Beik thai lede,For than thaim thocht it was no tyme to bid,By the Frer kyrk, till a wode fast besyd.600In that forest forsuth thai taryit nocht;On fresche horss to Bothwell sone thai socht.Fol. 50 aWallace folowed with worthi men and wicht;Forfouchtyn thai war and trawald all the nycht.Yeit feill thai slew in to the chace that day;605The byschope selff and gud men gat away.Amar Wallang reskewit him in that place;That knycht full oft did gret harme to Wallace.Wallace began off nycht ten houris in Ayr;On day be nyne in Glaskow semlyt thair;610Be ane our nowne at Bothwell yeit he was,Repreiffit Wallang or he wald forthir pass;Syne turnd agayne, as weyll witnes the buk;Till Dundaff raid, and thar restyng he tuk;Tald gud Schyr Jhon off thir tithandis in Ayr:615Gret mayne he maid he was nocht with him thar.Wallace soiornd in Dundaff at his will,Fyve dayis out, quhill tithandis come him till,Out off the hycht, quhar gud men was forlorn;For Bouchane raiss, Adell, Menteth, and Lorn,620Apon Argyll a fellone wer thai mak;For Eduuardis saik thus can thai wndirtak.

Quhen Wallace men was weill to gydder met,515

“Gud freyndis,” he sayd, “ye knaw that thar wes set

“Sic law as this now in to Glaskow toune,

“Be byschope Beik, and Persye off renoun.

“Tharfor I will in haist we thidder fair;

“Off our gud kyn [sum] part ar lossyt thair.”520

He gert full sone the burges till him caw,

And gaiff commaund in generall to thaim aw.

In kepyng thai suld tak the houss off Ayr,

And “hald it haill quhill tyme that we her mayr;

“To byd our king castellys I wald we had;525

“Cast we doun all, we mycht be demyt our rad.”

Thai gart meit cum, for thai had fastyt lang;

Litill he tuk, syne bownyt thaim to gang.

Horsis thai cheyss, that Sotheroun had brocht thar,

Anew at will; and off the toune can fair.530

Thre hundreth haill was in his cumpany.

Rycht wondir fast raid this gud chewalry

To Glaskow bryg, that byggyt was off tre;

Weyll passit our or Sotheroun mycht thaim se.

Lorde Persye wycht, that besy wes in wer,535

Semblyt his men fell awfull in affer.

Than demyt thai that it was wicht Wallace,

He had befor chapyt throw mony cace.

The byschope Beik, and Persye that was wicht,

A thousand led off men in armyss brycht.540

Wallace saw weill quhat nowmyr semblit thar,

He maid his men in twa partis to fair;

Graithit thaim weill without the townys end.

He callit Awchinlek, for he the passage kend.

“Wncle,” he said, “be besy in to wer.545

“Quhethir will yhe the byschoppys taill wpber,

“Or pass befor, and tak his benysone?”

He ansuerd hym, with rycht schort provision,

‘Wnbyschoppyt yeit, for suth I trow ye be;

‘Your selff sall fyrst his blyssyng tak for me:550

‘For sekyrly ye seruit it best the nycht.Fol. 49 b

Fol. 49 b

‘To ber his taill we sall in all our mycht.’

Wallace ansuerd; “Sen we mon sindry gang,

“Perell thar is and ye bid fra ws lang;

“For yone ar men will nocht sone be agast.555

“Fra tyme we meit, for Goddis [saik] haist yow fast.

“Our disseueryng I wald na Sotheroune saw;

“Behynd thaim cum, in [throw] the Northeast raw.

“Gud men off wer ar all Northummyrland.”

Thai partand thus tuk othir be the hand.560

Awchinlek said; ‘We sall do at we may;

‘We wald ilk ill to byd oucht lang away.

‘A boustous staill betwix ws sone mon be;

‘Bot to the rycht all mychty God haiff E!’

Adam Wallace and Awchinlek was boune,565

Sewyn scor with thaim, on the baksid the toune.

Rycht fast thai yeid, quhill thai war out off sycht:

The tothir part arrayit thaim full rycht.

Wallace and Boid the playne streyt wp can ga.

Sotheroun marweld be causs thai saw na ma;570

Thar senyhe cryit vpon the Persys syde,

With byschop Beik that bauldly durst abide.

A sayr semlay was at that metyng seyne,

As fyr on flynt it ferryt thaim betweyne.

The hardy Scottis rycht awfully thaim abaid;575

Brocht feill to grounde throuch weid that weill was maid;

Perssyt plattis with poyntis stiff off steill;

Befors off hand gert mony cruell kneill.

The strang stour raiss, as reik, vpon thaim fast,

Or myst, throuch sone, vp to the clowdis past.580

To help thaim selff ilkayne had mekill neid.

The worthy Scottis stud in fellone dreid;

Yeit forthwart ay thai pressit for to be,

And thai on thaim, gret wondyr was to se.

The Perseis men, in wer was oysit weill,585

Rycht fersly faucht, and sonyeit nocht adeill.

Adam Wallace and Awchinlek com in,

And partyt Sotheron rycht sodeynly in twyn;

Raturnd to thaim as noble men in wer.

The Scottis gat rowme, and mony doun thai ber;590

The new cowntir assailyeit thaim sa fast,

Throuch Inglissmen maid sloppys at the last.

Than Wallace selff, in to that felloune thrang,

With his gud swerd, that hewy was and lang,

At Perseis face with a gud will he bar;595

Bath bayne and brayne the forgyt steill throw schair.

Four hundreth men, quhen lord Persie was dede,

Out off the gait the byschope Beik thai lede,

For than thaim thocht it was no tyme to bid,

By the Frer kyrk, till a wode fast besyd.600

In that forest forsuth thai taryit nocht;

On fresche horss to Bothwell sone thai socht.Fol. 50 a

Fol. 50 a

Wallace folowed with worthi men and wicht;

Forfouchtyn thai war and trawald all the nycht.

Yeit feill thai slew in to the chace that day;605

The byschope selff and gud men gat away.

Amar Wallang reskewit him in that place;

That knycht full oft did gret harme to Wallace.

Wallace began off nycht ten houris in Ayr;

On day be nyne in Glaskow semlyt thair;610

Be ane our nowne at Bothwell yeit he was,

Repreiffit Wallang or he wald forthir pass;

Syne turnd agayne, as weyll witnes the buk;

Till Dundaff raid, and thar restyng he tuk;

Tald gud Schyr Jhon off thir tithandis in Ayr:615

Gret mayne he maid he was nocht with him thar.

Wallace soiornd in Dundaff at his will,

Fyve dayis out, quhill tithandis come him till,

Out off the hycht, quhar gud men was forlorn;

For Bouchane raiss, Adell, Menteth, and Lorn,620

Apon Argyll a fellone wer thai mak;

For Eduuardis saik thus can thai wndirtak.

The knycht Cambell in Argyll than wes still,With his gud men, agayne king Eduuardis will;And kepyt fre Lowchow his heretage:625Bot Makfadyan than did him gret owtrage.This Makfadyan till Inglissmen was suorn;Eduuard gaiff him bath Argill and Lorn.Falss Jhon off Lorn to that gyft can concord;In Ingland than he was new maid [ane] lord.630Thus falssly he gaiff our his heretage,And tuk at London off Eduuard grettar wage.Dunkan off Lorn yeit for the landis straiff,Quhill Makfadyan ourset him with the laiff;Put him off force to gud Cambell the knycht,635Quhilk in to wer was wyss, worthi, and wicht.Thus Makfadyan was entrit in to Scotland,And marwalusly that tyrand tuk on hand,With his power, the quhilk I spak off ayr.Thai four lordschippis all semlyt till him thair.640Fyftene thousand off curssyt folk in deid,Off all gaddryn, in ost he had to leid:And mony off thaim was out off Irland brocht,Barnyss nor wyff thai peple sparyt nocht;Waistyt the land als fer as thai mycht ga;645Thai bestly folk couth nocht bot byrn and sla.In to Louchow he entryt sodeynly.The knycht Cambell maid gud defens for thi;Till Crage Vuyn with thre hundir he yeid;That strenth he held, for all his cruell deid;650Syne brak the bryg, quhar thai mycht nocht out pass,Fol. 50 bBot throuch a furd, quhar narow passage was.Abandounly Cambell agayne thaim baid,Fast vpon Aviss that was bathe depe and braid.Makfadyane was apon the tothir syd,655And thar on force behuffit him for to byd;For at the furde he durst nocht entir out,For gud Cambell mycht set him than in dout.Makfadyane socht, and a small passage fand;Had he lasar, thai mycht pass off that land,660Betuix a roch and the gret wattir sid,Bot four in front; na ma mycht gang nor rid.In till Louchow wes bestis gret plenté;A quhill he thocht thar with his ost to be,And othir stuff that thai had with thaim brocht.665Bot all his crafft awailyeit him rycht nocht.Dunkane off Lorn has seyne the sodeyne cace;Fra gud Cambell he went to seik Wallace,Sum help to get off thar turment and teyne.To gydder before in Dundé thai had beyne,670Lerand at scule in to thair tendyr age.He thocht to slaik Makfadyanys hie curage.Gylmychell than with Dunkan furth him dycht;Agyd he was, and fute man wondyr wicht.Sone can thai witt quhar Wallace lugyt was;675With thair complaynt till his presence thai pass.Erll Malcom als the Lennox held at ess;With his gud men to Wallace can he press.Till him thar come gud Rychard off Lundy;In till Dundaff he wald no langar ly.680Schir Jhon the Graym als bownyt him to ryd.Makfadyanis wer so grewit thaim that tid,At Wallace thocht his gret power to se,In quhat aray he reullyt that cuntré.The Rukbé than he kepit with gret wrang685Stirlyng castell, that stalwart wes and strang.Quhen Wallace come be sowth it in a waill,Till erll Malcome he said he wald assaill.In diuerss partis he gert seuer thar men,Off thair power that Sotheroun suld nocht ken.690Erll Malcome baid in buschement out off sicht.Wallace with him tuk gud Schyr Jhone the knycht,And a hundreth off wyss wer men but dout;Throuch Stirlyng raid, gyff ony wald ysche out.Towart ye bryg the gaynest way thai pass.695Quhen Rukbé saw quhat at thair power was,He tuk sewyn scor off gud archaris was thar,Wpon Wallace thai folowed wondyr sayr;At fell bykkyr thai did thaim mekill der.Wallace in hand gryppyt a nobill sper;700Fol. 51 aAgayne raturnd and has the formast slayne.Schir Jhon the Grayme, that mekill was off mayne,Amang thaim raid with a gud sper in hand.The fyrst he slew that he befor him fand;Apon a nothir his sper in sowndyr yeid;705A suerd he drew quhilk helpyt him in neid.Yngliss archaris apon thaim can ranew,That his gud horss with arrowis sone thai slew;On fute he was. Quhen Wallace has it seyne,He lychtyt sone, with men off armys keyne,710Amang the rout fechtand full wondyr fast.The Inglissmen raturnyt at the last.At the castell thai wald haiff [beyne] full fayne;Bot erll Malcome, with men off mekill mayne,Betuix the Sotheroun and the yettis yeid;715Mony thai slew that douchty wes in deid.In the gret press Wallace and Rukbé met;With his gud suerd a straik apon him set;Derffly to dede the ald Rukbé he draiffHis twa sonnys chapyt amang the laiff.720In the castell be awentur thai yeid,With twenty men; na ma chapyt that dreid.The Lennox men, with thair gud lord at was,Fra the castell thai said thai wald nocht pass:For weill thai wyst it mycht nocht haldyn be,725On na lang tyme; forthi thus ordand he.Erll Malcom tuk the houss, and kepyt that tyd.Wallace wald nocht fra his fyrst purpos bid;Instance he maid to this gud lord and wyss,Fra thine to pass he suld on nakyn wyss,730Quhill he had tane Stirlyng the castell strang;Trew men him tald he mycht nocht hald it lang.Than Wallace thocht was maist on Makfadyane;Off Scottis men he had slayne mony ane.Wallace awowide, that he suld wrokyn be735On that rebald, or ellis tharfor to de.Off tyrandry king Eduuard thocht him gud;Law born he was, and off law simpill blud.Thus Wallace was sar grewyt in his entent;To this jornay rycht ernystfully he went.740At Stirlyng bryg assemlyt till hym rychtTwa thowsand men, that worthi war and wycht.Towart Argyll he bownyt him to ryd;Dunkan off Lorn was thair trew sekyr gid.Off ald Rukbé, the quhilk we spak off ayr,745Twa sonnys on lyff in Stirlyng lewit thair:Quhen thai brethir consawit weill the rycht,This houss to hald that thai na langar mycht,Fol. 51 bFor causs quhi thai wantyt men and meit,With erll Malcome thai kest thaim for to treit.750Grace off thair lyff, and thai that with thaim [was];Gaiff our the houss, syne couth in Ingland pass,On the thrid day that Wallace fra thaim raid.With king Eduuard full mony yer thai baid;In Brucis wer agayne come in Scotland;755Stirlyng to kepe the toune off thaim tuk on hand.Mencione off Bruce is oft in Wallace buk;To fend his rycht full mekill payne he tuk.Quhar to suld I her off tary ma?To Wallace furth now schortlye will I ga.760

The knycht Cambell in Argyll than wes still,

With his gud men, agayne king Eduuardis will;

And kepyt fre Lowchow his heretage:625

Bot Makfadyan than did him gret owtrage.

This Makfadyan till Inglissmen was suorn;

Eduuard gaiff him bath Argill and Lorn.

Falss Jhon off Lorn to that gyft can concord;

In Ingland than he was new maid [ane] lord.630

Thus falssly he gaiff our his heretage,

And tuk at London off Eduuard grettar wage.

Dunkan off Lorn yeit for the landis straiff,

Quhill Makfadyan ourset him with the laiff;

Put him off force to gud Cambell the knycht,635

Quhilk in to wer was wyss, worthi, and wicht.

Thus Makfadyan was entrit in to Scotland,

And marwalusly that tyrand tuk on hand,

With his power, the quhilk I spak off ayr.

Thai four lordschippis all semlyt till him thair.640

Fyftene thousand off curssyt folk in deid,

Off all gaddryn, in ost he had to leid:

And mony off thaim was out off Irland brocht,

Barnyss nor wyff thai peple sparyt nocht;

Waistyt the land als fer as thai mycht ga;645

Thai bestly folk couth nocht bot byrn and sla.

In to Louchow he entryt sodeynly.

The knycht Cambell maid gud defens for thi;

Till Crage Vuyn with thre hundir he yeid;

That strenth he held, for all his cruell deid;650

Syne brak the bryg, quhar thai mycht nocht out pass,Fol. 50 b

Fol. 50 b

Bot throuch a furd, quhar narow passage was.

Abandounly Cambell agayne thaim baid,

Fast vpon Aviss that was bathe depe and braid.

Makfadyane was apon the tothir syd,655

And thar on force behuffit him for to byd;

For at the furde he durst nocht entir out,

For gud Cambell mycht set him than in dout.

Makfadyane socht, and a small passage fand;

Had he lasar, thai mycht pass off that land,660

Betuix a roch and the gret wattir sid,

Bot four in front; na ma mycht gang nor rid.

In till Louchow wes bestis gret plenté;

A quhill he thocht thar with his ost to be,

And othir stuff that thai had with thaim brocht.665

Bot all his crafft awailyeit him rycht nocht.

Dunkane off Lorn has seyne the sodeyne cace;

Fra gud Cambell he went to seik Wallace,

Sum help to get off thar turment and teyne.

To gydder before in Dundé thai had beyne,670

Lerand at scule in to thair tendyr age.

He thocht to slaik Makfadyanys hie curage.

Gylmychell than with Dunkan furth him dycht;

Agyd he was, and fute man wondyr wicht.

Sone can thai witt quhar Wallace lugyt was;675

With thair complaynt till his presence thai pass.

Erll Malcom als the Lennox held at ess;

With his gud men to Wallace can he press.

Till him thar come gud Rychard off Lundy;

In till Dundaff he wald no langar ly.680

Schir Jhon the Graym als bownyt him to ryd.

Makfadyanis wer so grewit thaim that tid,

At Wallace thocht his gret power to se,

In quhat aray he reullyt that cuntré.

The Rukbé than he kepit with gret wrang685

Stirlyng castell, that stalwart wes and strang.

Quhen Wallace come be sowth it in a waill,

Till erll Malcome he said he wald assaill.

In diuerss partis he gert seuer thar men,

Off thair power that Sotheroun suld nocht ken.690

Erll Malcome baid in buschement out off sicht.

Wallace with him tuk gud Schyr Jhone the knycht,

And a hundreth off wyss wer men but dout;

Throuch Stirlyng raid, gyff ony wald ysche out.

Towart ye bryg the gaynest way thai pass.695

Quhen Rukbé saw quhat at thair power was,

He tuk sewyn scor off gud archaris was thar,

Wpon Wallace thai folowed wondyr sayr;

At fell bykkyr thai did thaim mekill der.

Wallace in hand gryppyt a nobill sper;700Fol. 51 a

Fol. 51 a

Agayne raturnd and has the formast slayne.

Schir Jhon the Grayme, that mekill was off mayne,

Amang thaim raid with a gud sper in hand.

The fyrst he slew that he befor him fand;

Apon a nothir his sper in sowndyr yeid;705

A suerd he drew quhilk helpyt him in neid.

Yngliss archaris apon thaim can ranew,

That his gud horss with arrowis sone thai slew;

On fute he was. Quhen Wallace has it seyne,

He lychtyt sone, with men off armys keyne,710

Amang the rout fechtand full wondyr fast.

The Inglissmen raturnyt at the last.

At the castell thai wald haiff [beyne] full fayne;

Bot erll Malcome, with men off mekill mayne,

Betuix the Sotheroun and the yettis yeid;715

Mony thai slew that douchty wes in deid.

In the gret press Wallace and Rukbé met;

With his gud suerd a straik apon him set;

Derffly to dede the ald Rukbé he draiff

His twa sonnys chapyt amang the laiff.720

In the castell be awentur thai yeid,

With twenty men; na ma chapyt that dreid.

The Lennox men, with thair gud lord at was,

Fra the castell thai said thai wald nocht pass:

For weill thai wyst it mycht nocht haldyn be,725

On na lang tyme; forthi thus ordand he.

Erll Malcom tuk the houss, and kepyt that tyd.

Wallace wald nocht fra his fyrst purpos bid;

Instance he maid to this gud lord and wyss,

Fra thine to pass he suld on nakyn wyss,730

Quhill he had tane Stirlyng the castell strang;

Trew men him tald he mycht nocht hald it lang.

Than Wallace thocht was maist on Makfadyane;

Off Scottis men he had slayne mony ane.

Wallace awowide, that he suld wrokyn be735

On that rebald, or ellis tharfor to de.

Off tyrandry king Eduuard thocht him gud;

Law born he was, and off law simpill blud.

Thus Wallace was sar grewyt in his entent;

To this jornay rycht ernystfully he went.740

At Stirlyng bryg assemlyt till hym rycht

Twa thowsand men, that worthi war and wycht.

Towart Argyll he bownyt him to ryd;

Dunkan off Lorn was thair trew sekyr gid.

Off ald Rukbé, the quhilk we spak off ayr,745

Twa sonnys on lyff in Stirlyng lewit thair:

Quhen thai brethir consawit weill the rycht,

This houss to hald that thai na langar mycht,Fol. 51 b

Fol. 51 b

For causs quhi thai wantyt men and meit,

With erll Malcome thai kest thaim for to treit.750

Grace off thair lyff, and thai that with thaim [was];

Gaiff our the houss, syne couth in Ingland pass,

On the thrid day that Wallace fra thaim raid.

With king Eduuard full mony yer thai baid;

In Brucis wer agayne come in Scotland;755

Stirlyng to kepe the toune off thaim tuk on hand.

Mencione off Bruce is oft in Wallace buk;

To fend his rycht full mekill payne he tuk.

Quhar to suld I her off tary ma?

To Wallace furth now schortlye will I ga.760

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