Chapter 14

Dunkan off Lorne Gilmychall fra thaim send,A spy to be, for he the contré kend.Be our party was passit Straithfulan,The small fute folk began to irk ilkane;And horss, off fors, behuffyt for to faill.765Than Wallace thocht that cumpany to waill.“Gud men,” he said, “this is nocht meit for ws;“In brokyn ray and we cum on thaim thus,“We may tak scaith, and harme our fayis bot small;“To thaim in lik we may nocht semble all.770“Tary we lang, a playne feild thai will get;“Apon thaim sone sa weill we may nocht set.“Part we mon leiff ws folowand for to be;“With me sall pass our power in to thre.”A hundyr fyrst till him selff he has tayne,775Off westland men, was worthi knawin ilkane.To Schyr Jhon Grayme als mony ordand he,And fyve hundreth to Rychard off LundyeIn that part was Wallace off Ricardtoun;In all gud deid he was ay redy boun.780Fyve hundreth left, that mycht nocht with thaim ga,Supposs at thai to byd was wondyr wa.Thus Wallace ost began to tak the hicht;Our a montayne sone passit off thar sicht.In Glendowchar thair spy met thaim agayn,785With lord Cambell; than was our folk rycht fayn.At that metyng gret blithnes mycht be seyne;Thre hundreth he led that cruell was and keyne.He comford thaim, and bad thaim haiff no dreid:“Yon bestly folk wantis wapynnys and weid;790“Swne thai will fle, scharply and we persew.”Be Louchdouchyr full sodeynly thaim drew.Than Wallace said; “A lyff all sall we ta;“For her nayne will fra his falow ga.”The spy he send, the entré for to se;795Apon the moss a scurrour sone fand he.To scour the land Makfadyane had him send;Fol. 52 aOut off Cragmor that day he thocht to wend.Gylmychall fast apon him folowed thar,With a gud suerd, that weill and scharply schar;800Maid quyt off him, at tithandis tald he nane:The out spy thus was lost fra Makfadyhane.Than Wallace ost apon thair fute thai lycht;Thar horss thai left, thocht thai war neuir so wicht;For moss and crag thai mycht no langar dre.805Than Wallace said; “Quha gangis best lat se.”Throuch out the moss delyuerly thai yeid;Syne tuk the hals, quharoff thai had most dreid.Endlang the schoir ay four in frownt thai past,Quhill thai with in assemblit at the last.810Lord Cambell said; “We haiff chewyss this hauld;“I trow to God thair wakynning sall be cauld.“Her is na gait to fle yone peple can,“Bot rochis heich, and wattir depe and wan.”Auchtene hundreth off douchty men in deid815On the gret ost, but mar process, thai yeid,Fechtand in frount, and mekill maistry maid;On the frayt folk buskyt with outyn baid.Rudly till ray thai ruschit thaim agayne;Gret part off thaim wes men off mekill mayne.820Gud Wallace men sa stowtly can thaim ster,The battaill on bak fyve akyr breid thai ber;In to the stour feill tyrandis gert thai kneill.Wallace in hand had a gud staff off steyll;Quhom euir he hyt to ground brymly thaim bar;825Romde him about a large rude and mar.Schir Jhon the Grayme in deid was rycht worthy;Gud Cambell als, and Rychard off Lundy,Adam Wallace, and Robert Boid in feyr,Amang thair fayis, quhar deidis was sald full der.830The felloun stour was awfull for to se;Macfadyane than so gret debait maid he,With Yrage men, hardy and curageous,The stalwart stryff rycht hard and peralous;Boundance of blud fra woundis wid and wan;835Stekit to deid on ground lay mony man.The ferfast thar ynewch off fechtyn fand;Twa houris large into the stour thai stand,At Jop him selff weill wyst nocht quha suld wyn.Bot Wallace men wald nocht in sowndyr twyn;840Till help thaim selff thai war off hardy will;Off Yrage blud full hardely thai spill;With feyll fechtyn maid sloppys throuch the thrang.On the fals part our wicht wer men sa dang,Fol. 52 bThat thai to byd mycht haiff no langar mycht.845The Irland folk than maid thaim for the flycht;On craggis clam, and sum in wattir flett:Twa thousand thar drownyt with outyn lett.Born Scottis men baid still in to the feild;Kest wappynys [fra] thaim, and on thar kneis kneild:850With petouss woice thai cryt apon Wallace,For Goddis saik to tak thaim in his grace.Grewyt he was; bot rewth off thaim he had,Resauit thaim fair with contenance full sad.“Off our awne blud we suld haiff gret peté;855“Luk yhe sla nane off Scottis will yoldyn be.“Off outland men lat nane chaip with the liff.”Makfadyane fled, for all his felloun stryff,On till a cave, within a clyfft off stayne,Wndyr Cragmor, with fyftene is he gayne.860Dunkan off Lorn his leyff at Wallace ast;On Makfadyane with worthi men he past.He grantyt him to put thaim all to ded:Thai left nane quyk, syne brocht Wallace his hed;Apon a sper throuch out the feild it bar.865The lord Cambell syne hynt it by the har;Heich in Cragmor he maid it for to stand,Steild on a stayne for honour off Irland.The blessit men, that was off Scotland borne,Fwnde at his faith Wallace gert thaim be sworn;870Restorit thaim to thar landis, but less:He leit sla nayne that wald cum till his pes.Efftir this deid in Lorn syne couth he fayr;Reullyt the land had beyne in mekill cayr.

Dunkan off Lorne Gilmychall fra thaim send,

A spy to be, for he the contré kend.

Be our party was passit Straithfulan,

The small fute folk began to irk ilkane;

And horss, off fors, behuffyt for to faill.765

Than Wallace thocht that cumpany to waill.

“Gud men,” he said, “this is nocht meit for ws;

“In brokyn ray and we cum on thaim thus,

“We may tak scaith, and harme our fayis bot small;

“To thaim in lik we may nocht semble all.770

“Tary we lang, a playne feild thai will get;

“Apon thaim sone sa weill we may nocht set.

“Part we mon leiff ws folowand for to be;

“With me sall pass our power in to thre.”

A hundyr fyrst till him selff he has tayne,775

Off westland men, was worthi knawin ilkane.

To Schyr Jhon Grayme als mony ordand he,

And fyve hundreth to Rychard off Lundye

In that part was Wallace off Ricardtoun;

In all gud deid he was ay redy boun.780

Fyve hundreth left, that mycht nocht with thaim ga,

Supposs at thai to byd was wondyr wa.

Thus Wallace ost began to tak the hicht;

Our a montayne sone passit off thar sicht.

In Glendowchar thair spy met thaim agayn,785

With lord Cambell; than was our folk rycht fayn.

At that metyng gret blithnes mycht be seyne;

Thre hundreth he led that cruell was and keyne.

He comford thaim, and bad thaim haiff no dreid:

“Yon bestly folk wantis wapynnys and weid;790

“Swne thai will fle, scharply and we persew.”

Be Louchdouchyr full sodeynly thaim drew.

Than Wallace said; “A lyff all sall we ta;

“For her nayne will fra his falow ga.”

The spy he send, the entré for to se;795

Apon the moss a scurrour sone fand he.

To scour the land Makfadyane had him send;Fol. 52 a

Fol. 52 a

Out off Cragmor that day he thocht to wend.

Gylmychall fast apon him folowed thar,

With a gud suerd, that weill and scharply schar;800

Maid quyt off him, at tithandis tald he nane:

The out spy thus was lost fra Makfadyhane.

Than Wallace ost apon thair fute thai lycht;

Thar horss thai left, thocht thai war neuir so wicht;

For moss and crag thai mycht no langar dre.805

Than Wallace said; “Quha gangis best lat se.”

Throuch out the moss delyuerly thai yeid;

Syne tuk the hals, quharoff thai had most dreid.

Endlang the schoir ay four in frownt thai past,

Quhill thai with in assemblit at the last.810

Lord Cambell said; “We haiff chewyss this hauld;

“I trow to God thair wakynning sall be cauld.

“Her is na gait to fle yone peple can,

“Bot rochis heich, and wattir depe and wan.”

Auchtene hundreth off douchty men in deid815

On the gret ost, but mar process, thai yeid,

Fechtand in frount, and mekill maistry maid;

On the frayt folk buskyt with outyn baid.

Rudly till ray thai ruschit thaim agayne;

Gret part off thaim wes men off mekill mayne.820

Gud Wallace men sa stowtly can thaim ster,

The battaill on bak fyve akyr breid thai ber;

In to the stour feill tyrandis gert thai kneill.

Wallace in hand had a gud staff off steyll;

Quhom euir he hyt to ground brymly thaim bar;825

Romde him about a large rude and mar.

Schir Jhon the Grayme in deid was rycht worthy;

Gud Cambell als, and Rychard off Lundy,

Adam Wallace, and Robert Boid in feyr,

Amang thair fayis, quhar deidis was sald full der.830

The felloun stour was awfull for to se;

Macfadyane than so gret debait maid he,

With Yrage men, hardy and curageous,

The stalwart stryff rycht hard and peralous;

Boundance of blud fra woundis wid and wan;835

Stekit to deid on ground lay mony man.

The ferfast thar ynewch off fechtyn fand;

Twa houris large into the stour thai stand,

At Jop him selff weill wyst nocht quha suld wyn.

Bot Wallace men wald nocht in sowndyr twyn;840

Till help thaim selff thai war off hardy will;

Off Yrage blud full hardely thai spill;

With feyll fechtyn maid sloppys throuch the thrang.

On the fals part our wicht wer men sa dang,Fol. 52 b

Fol. 52 b

That thai to byd mycht haiff no langar mycht.845

The Irland folk than maid thaim for the flycht;

On craggis clam, and sum in wattir flett:

Twa thousand thar drownyt with outyn lett.

Born Scottis men baid still in to the feild;

Kest wappynys [fra] thaim, and on thar kneis kneild:850

With petouss woice thai cryt apon Wallace,

For Goddis saik to tak thaim in his grace.

Grewyt he was; bot rewth off thaim he had,

Resauit thaim fair with contenance full sad.

“Off our awne blud we suld haiff gret peté;855

“Luk yhe sla nane off Scottis will yoldyn be.

“Off outland men lat nane chaip with the liff.”

Makfadyane fled, for all his felloun stryff,

On till a cave, within a clyfft off stayne,

Wndyr Cragmor, with fyftene is he gayne.860

Dunkan off Lorn his leyff at Wallace ast;

On Makfadyane with worthi men he past.

He grantyt him to put thaim all to ded:

Thai left nane quyk, syne brocht Wallace his hed;

Apon a sper throuch out the feild it bar.865

The lord Cambell syne hynt it by the har;

Heich in Cragmor he maid it for to stand,

Steild on a stayne for honour off Irland.

The blessit men, that was off Scotland borne,

Fwnde at his faith Wallace gert thaim be sworn;870

Restorit thaim to thar landis, but less:

He leit sla nayne that wald cum till his pes.

Efftir this deid in Lorn syne couth he fayr;

Reullyt the land had beyne in mekill cayr.

In Archatan a consell he gert cry,875Quhar mony man socht till his senyory.All Lorn he gaiff till Duncan, at was wicht,And bad him hald [in] Scotland with the rycht:“And thow sall weill bruk this in heretage.“Thi brothir sone at London has grettar wage;880“Yeit will he cum, he sall his landis haiff.“I wald tyne nayne that rychtwisnes mycht saiff.”Mony trew Scot to Wallace couth persew;At Archatan fra feill strenthis thai drew.A gud knycht come, and with him men sexté;885He had beyn oft in mony strang jepertéWith Inglissmen, and sonyeid nocht adeill.Ay fra thar faith he fendyt him full weill;Kepyt him fre, thocht king Eduuard had suorne;Schir Jhon Ramsay, that rychtwyss ayr was borne890Fol. 53 aOff Ouchterhous, and othir landis was lord,And schirreff als, as my buk will record;Off nobill blud, and alss haill ancestré;Contenyt weill with worthi chewalré.In till Straithern that lang tyme he had beyne,895At gret debait agaynys his enemyss keyne;Rycht wichtly wan his lewing in to wer;Till him and his Sotheroun did mekill der;Weill eschewit, and sufferyt gret distress.His sone was calld the flour of courtlyness;900As witnes weill in to the schort trettyEftir the Bruce, quha redis in that story.He rewllit weill bathe in to wer and pess;Alexander Ramsay to nayme he hecht, but less.Quhen it wes wer, till armes he him kest;905Wndir the croun he wes ane off the best:In tyme off pees till courtlynes he yeid;Bot to gentrice he tuk nayne othir heid.Quhat gentill man had nocht with Ramsay beyne;Off courtlynes thai cownt him nocht a preyne.910Fredome and treuth he had as men would ass;Sen he begane na bettyr squier was.Roxburch hauld he wan full manfully;Syne held it lang, quhill tratouris tresonablyCausit his dede, I can nocht tell yow how;915Off sic thingis I will ga by as now.I haiff had blayme to say the suthfastnes;Tharfor I will bot lychtly ryn that cace,Bot it be thing that playnly sclanderit is;For sic I trew thai suld deyme me no myss.920Off gud Alexander as now I spek no mar.His fadyr come, as I tald off befor:Wallace off hym rycht full gud comford hais;For weill he coud do gret harmyng till his fais.In wer he was rycht mekill for to pryss;925Besy and trew, bath sobyr, wicht, and wyss.A gud prelat als to Archatan socht;Off his lordschip as than he brukyt nocht.This worthi clerk, cummyn off hie lynage,Off Synclar blude, nocht fourty yer off age,930Chosyne he was be the Papis consent;Off Dunkell lord was maid with gud entent.Bot Inglissmen, that Scotland gryppit all,Off benyfice thai leit him bruk bot small.Quhen he saw weill tharfor he mycht nocht mwte,935To saiff his lyff thre yer he duelt in But;Fol. 53 bLeifyde as he mycht, and kepyt ay gud part,Wndir saifté off Jamys than lord Stewart,Till gud Wallace, quhilk Scotland wan with payne,Restord this lord till his leyffing agayne;940And mony ma, that lang had beyne ourthrawin,Wallace thaim put rychtwisly to thair awin.The small ost alss, the quhilk I spak off ayr,In to the hycht that Wallace lewyt thar,Come to the feild quhar Makfadyane had beyne,945Tuk at was left, baithe weid and wapynnys scheyne;Throw Lorn syne past als gudly as thai can:Off thair nowmyr thai had nocht lost a man.On the fyft day thai wan till Archatan,Quhar Wallace baid with gud men mony ane.950He welcummyt thaim apon a gudly wyss,And said thai war rycht mekill for to pryss.All trew Scottis he honourit in to wer;Gaiff that he wan, hym selff kepyt no ger.

In Archatan a consell he gert cry,875

Quhar mony man socht till his senyory.

All Lorn he gaiff till Duncan, at was wicht,

And bad him hald [in] Scotland with the rycht:

“And thow sall weill bruk this in heretage.

“Thi brothir sone at London has grettar wage;880

“Yeit will he cum, he sall his landis haiff.

“I wald tyne nayne that rychtwisnes mycht saiff.”

Mony trew Scot to Wallace couth persew;

At Archatan fra feill strenthis thai drew.

A gud knycht come, and with him men sexté;885

He had beyn oft in mony strang jeperté

With Inglissmen, and sonyeid nocht adeill.

Ay fra thar faith he fendyt him full weill;

Kepyt him fre, thocht king Eduuard had suorne;

Schir Jhon Ramsay, that rychtwyss ayr was borne890Fol. 53 a

Fol. 53 a

Off Ouchterhous, and othir landis was lord,

And schirreff als, as my buk will record;

Off nobill blud, and alss haill ancestré;

Contenyt weill with worthi chewalré.

In till Straithern that lang tyme he had beyne,895

At gret debait agaynys his enemyss keyne;

Rycht wichtly wan his lewing in to wer;

Till him and his Sotheroun did mekill der;

Weill eschewit, and sufferyt gret distress.

His sone was calld the flour of courtlyness;900

As witnes weill in to the schort tretty

Eftir the Bruce, quha redis in that story.

He rewllit weill bathe in to wer and pess;

Alexander Ramsay to nayme he hecht, but less.

Quhen it wes wer, till armes he him kest;905

Wndir the croun he wes ane off the best:

In tyme off pees till courtlynes he yeid;

Bot to gentrice he tuk nayne othir heid.

Quhat gentill man had nocht with Ramsay beyne;

Off courtlynes thai cownt him nocht a preyne.910

Fredome and treuth he had as men would ass;

Sen he begane na bettyr squier was.

Roxburch hauld he wan full manfully;

Syne held it lang, quhill tratouris tresonably

Causit his dede, I can nocht tell yow how;915

Off sic thingis I will ga by as now.

I haiff had blayme to say the suthfastnes;

Tharfor I will bot lychtly ryn that cace,

Bot it be thing that playnly sclanderit is;

For sic I trew thai suld deyme me no myss.920

Off gud Alexander as now I spek no mar.

His fadyr come, as I tald off befor:

Wallace off hym rycht full gud comford hais;

For weill he coud do gret harmyng till his fais.

In wer he was rycht mekill for to pryss;925

Besy and trew, bath sobyr, wicht, and wyss.

A gud prelat als to Archatan socht;

Off his lordschip as than he brukyt nocht.

This worthi clerk, cummyn off hie lynage,

Off Synclar blude, nocht fourty yer off age,930

Chosyne he was be the Papis consent;

Off Dunkell lord was maid with gud entent.

Bot Inglissmen, that Scotland gryppit all,

Off benyfice thai leit him bruk bot small.

Quhen he saw weill tharfor he mycht nocht mwte,935

To saiff his lyff thre yer he duelt in But;Fol. 53 b

Fol. 53 b

Leifyde as he mycht, and kepyt ay gud part,

Wndir saifté off Jamys than lord Stewart,

Till gud Wallace, quhilk Scotland wan with payne,

Restord this lord till his leyffing agayne;940

And mony ma, that lang had beyne ourthrawin,

Wallace thaim put rychtwisly to thair awin.

The small ost alss, the quhilk I spak off ayr,

In to the hycht that Wallace lewyt thar,

Come to the feild quhar Makfadyane had beyne,945

Tuk at was left, baithe weid and wapynnys scheyne;

Throw Lorn syne past als gudly as thai can:

Off thair nowmyr thai had nocht lost a man.

On the fyft day thai wan till Archatan,

Quhar Wallace baid with gud men mony ane.950

He welcummyt thaim apon a gudly wyss,

And said thai war rycht mekill for to pryss.

All trew Scottis he honourit in to wer;

Gaiff that he wan, hym selff kepyt no ger.

Quhen Wallace wald no langar soiorn thar,955Fra Archattan throu out the land thai farTowart Dunkell, with gud men off renoun;His maist thocht than was haill on Sanct Jhonstoune.He calld Ramsai, that gud knycht off gret waill;Sadly awysyt, besocht him off consaill:960“Off Saynct Jhonstoun now haiff I in remembrance;“Thar I haiff beyne, and lost men apon chance:“Bot ay for ane we gert ten off thaim de.“And yeit me think that is no mendis to me;“I wald assay, off this land or we gang,965“And lat thaim witt thai occupy her with wrang.”Than Ramsay said; ‘That toune thai may nocht kep;‘The wallis ar laych, supposs the dyk be depe.‘Ye haiff enewch, that sall thaim cummyr sa;‘Fyll wp the dyk, that we may playnly ga970‘In haill battaill, a thowsand our at anys:‘Fra this power thai sall nocht hald yon wanys.’Wallace was glaid that he sic comfort maid;Furth talkand thus on to Dunkell thai raid.Four dayis thar thai lugyt with plesance,975Quhill tyme thai had forseyne thair ordinance.Ramsay gert byg strang bestials off tre,Be gud wrychtis the best in that cuntré:Quhan thai war wrocht, betaucht thaim men to leidThe wattir doun, quhill thai come to that steid.980Schir Jhon Ramsay rycht gudly was thair gid,Rewillyt thaim weill at his will for to bid.Fol. 54 aThe gret ost than about the willage past;With erd and stayne thai fillit dykis fast.Flaikis thai laid on temyr lang and wicht;985A rowme passage to the wallis thaim dycht.Feill bestials rycht starkly wp thai raiss;Gud men of armys sone till assailye gais.Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht.The turat bryg segyt with all thair mycht;990And Wallace selff, at mydsid off the toune,With men of armys thai was to bargane bown.The Sotheron men maid gret defens that tid,With artailye, that felloune was to bid.With awblaster, gaynye, and stanys fast,995And hand gunnys rycht brymly out thai cast;Pwnyeid with speris men off armys scheyn.The worthi Scotts, that cruell war and keyne,At hand strakis fra thai to gidder met,With Sotheroun blud thair wapynnys sone thai wet.1000Yeit Inglissmen, that worthi war in wer,In to the stour rycht bauldly can thaim ber.Bot all for nocht awailyeid thaim thar deid;The Scottis throw force apon thaim in thai yeid.A thousand men our wallis yeid hastely;1005In to the toun raiss hidwiss noyis and cry.Ramsay and Graym the turat yet has wown,And entrit in, quhar gret striff has begown.A trew squier, quhilk Rwan hecht be nayme,Come to the salt, with gud Schyr Jhon the Grayme;1010Thretty with him off men that prewit weill,Amang thair fais with wapynnys stiff off steill.Quhen at the Scottis semblyit on athir sid,Na Sotheroun was that mycht thair dynt abid.Twa thousand sone, was fulyied vnder feit,1015Off Sotheroun blud, lay stekit in the streit.Schir Jhon Sewart saw weill the toune was tynt;Tuk him to flycht, and wald no langar stynt;In a lycht barge, and with him men sexté,The water doun, socht succour at Dundé.1020Wallace baid still, quhill the ferd day at morn;And left nane thar that war off Ingland born.Riches thai gat off gold and othir gud;Plenyst the toun agayne with Scottis blud.Rwan he left thair capteyn for to be;1025Fol. 54 bIn heretage gaiff him office to feeOff all Straithern, and schirreiff off the toun;Syne in the north gud Wallace maid him boune.In Abyrdeyn he gert a consaill cry,Trew Scottis men suld semble hastely.1030Till Cowper he raid to wesy that abbay;The Ingliss abbot fra thine was fled away.Bischop Synclar, with out langar abaid,Met thaim at Glammyss, syne furth with thaim he raid.In till Breichyn thai lugyt all that nycht;1035Syne on the morn Wallace gert graith thaim rycht,Displayed on breid the baner off ScotlandIn gud aray, with noble men at hand;Gert playnly cry, that sawfté suld be nayneOff Sotheroun blud, quhar thai mycht be ourtayn.1040In playne battaill throuch out the Mernyss thai rid.The Inglissmen, at durst thaim nocht abid,Befor the ost full ferdly furth thai fleTill Dwnottar, a snuk within the se.Na ferrar thai mycht wyn out off the land.1045Thai semblit thar quhill thai war four thousand;To the kyrk rane, wend gyrth for till haiff tayne,The laiff ramaynd apon the roch off stayne.The byschope than began tretty to maThair lyffis to get, out off the land to ga.1050Bot thai war rad, and durst nocht weill affy;Wallace in fyr gert set all haistely,Brynt wp the kyrk, and all that was tharin,Atour the roch the laiff ran with gret dyn.Sum hang on craggis rycht dulfully to de,1055Sum lap, sum fell, sum floteryt in the se.Na Sotheroun on lyff was lewyt in that hauld,And thaim with in thai brynt in powdir cauld.Quhen this was done, feill fell on kneis doun,At the byschop askit absolutioun.1060Than Wallace lewch, said; “I forgiff yow all;“Ar ye wer men, rapentis for sa small?“Thai rewid nocht ws in to the toun off Ayr;“Our trew barrownis quhen that thai hangyt thar.”

Quhen Wallace wald no langar soiorn thar,955

Fra Archattan throu out the land thai far

Towart Dunkell, with gud men off renoun;

His maist thocht than was haill on Sanct Jhonstoune.

He calld Ramsai, that gud knycht off gret waill;

Sadly awysyt, besocht him off consaill:960

“Off Saynct Jhonstoun now haiff I in remembrance;

“Thar I haiff beyne, and lost men apon chance:

“Bot ay for ane we gert ten off thaim de.

“And yeit me think that is no mendis to me;

“I wald assay, off this land or we gang,965

“And lat thaim witt thai occupy her with wrang.”

Than Ramsay said; ‘That toune thai may nocht kep;

‘The wallis ar laych, supposs the dyk be depe.

‘Ye haiff enewch, that sall thaim cummyr sa;

‘Fyll wp the dyk, that we may playnly ga970

‘In haill battaill, a thowsand our at anys:

‘Fra this power thai sall nocht hald yon wanys.’

Wallace was glaid that he sic comfort maid;

Furth talkand thus on to Dunkell thai raid.

Four dayis thar thai lugyt with plesance,975

Quhill tyme thai had forseyne thair ordinance.

Ramsay gert byg strang bestials off tre,

Be gud wrychtis the best in that cuntré:

Quhan thai war wrocht, betaucht thaim men to leid

The wattir doun, quhill thai come to that steid.980

Schir Jhon Ramsay rycht gudly was thair gid,

Rewillyt thaim weill at his will for to bid.Fol. 54 a

Fol. 54 a

The gret ost than about the willage past;

With erd and stayne thai fillit dykis fast.

Flaikis thai laid on temyr lang and wicht;985

A rowme passage to the wallis thaim dycht.

Feill bestials rycht starkly wp thai raiss;

Gud men of armys sone till assailye gais.

Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht.

The turat bryg segyt with all thair mycht;990

And Wallace selff, at mydsid off the toune,

With men of armys thai was to bargane bown.

The Sotheron men maid gret defens that tid,

With artailye, that felloune was to bid.

With awblaster, gaynye, and stanys fast,995

And hand gunnys rycht brymly out thai cast;

Pwnyeid with speris men off armys scheyn.

The worthi Scotts, that cruell war and keyne,

At hand strakis fra thai to gidder met,

With Sotheroun blud thair wapynnys sone thai wet.1000

Yeit Inglissmen, that worthi war in wer,

In to the stour rycht bauldly can thaim ber.

Bot all for nocht awailyeid thaim thar deid;

The Scottis throw force apon thaim in thai yeid.

A thousand men our wallis yeid hastely;1005

In to the toun raiss hidwiss noyis and cry.

Ramsay and Graym the turat yet has wown,

And entrit in, quhar gret striff has begown.

A trew squier, quhilk Rwan hecht be nayme,

Come to the salt, with gud Schyr Jhon the Grayme;1010

Thretty with him off men that prewit weill,

Amang thair fais with wapynnys stiff off steill.

Quhen at the Scottis semblyit on athir sid,

Na Sotheroun was that mycht thair dynt abid.

Twa thousand sone, was fulyied vnder feit,1015

Off Sotheroun blud, lay stekit in the streit.

Schir Jhon Sewart saw weill the toune was tynt;

Tuk him to flycht, and wald no langar stynt;

In a lycht barge, and with him men sexté,

The water doun, socht succour at Dundé.1020

Wallace baid still, quhill the ferd day at morn;

And left nane thar that war off Ingland born.

Riches thai gat off gold and othir gud;

Plenyst the toun agayne with Scottis blud.

Rwan he left thair capteyn for to be;1025Fol. 54 b

Fol. 54 b

In heretage gaiff him office to fee

Off all Straithern, and schirreiff off the toun;

Syne in the north gud Wallace maid him boune.

In Abyrdeyn he gert a consaill cry,

Trew Scottis men suld semble hastely.1030

Till Cowper he raid to wesy that abbay;

The Ingliss abbot fra thine was fled away.

Bischop Synclar, with out langar abaid,

Met thaim at Glammyss, syne furth with thaim he raid.

In till Breichyn thai lugyt all that nycht;1035

Syne on the morn Wallace gert graith thaim rycht,

Displayed on breid the baner off Scotland

In gud aray, with noble men at hand;

Gert playnly cry, that sawfté suld be nayne

Off Sotheroun blud, quhar thai mycht be ourtayn.1040

In playne battaill throuch out the Mernyss thai rid.

The Inglissmen, at durst thaim nocht abid,

Befor the ost full ferdly furth thai fle

Till Dwnottar, a snuk within the se.

Na ferrar thai mycht wyn out off the land.1045

Thai semblit thar quhill thai war four thousand;

To the kyrk rane, wend gyrth for till haiff tayne,

The laiff ramaynd apon the roch off stayne.

The byschope than began tretty to ma

Thair lyffis to get, out off the land to ga.1050

Bot thai war rad, and durst nocht weill affy;

Wallace in fyr gert set all haistely,

Brynt wp the kyrk, and all that was tharin,

Atour the roch the laiff ran with gret dyn.

Sum hang on craggis rycht dulfully to de,1055

Sum lap, sum fell, sum floteryt in the se.

Na Sotheroun on lyff was lewyt in that hauld,

And thaim with in thai brynt in powdir cauld.

Quhen this was done, feill fell on kneis doun,

At the byschop askit absolutioun.1060

Than Wallace lewch, said; “I forgiff yow all;

“Ar ye wer men, rapentis for sa small?

“Thai rewid nocht ws in to the toun off Ayr;

“Our trew barrownis quhen that thai hangyt thar.”

Till Abyrdeyn than haistely thai pass,1065Quhar Inglissmen besyly flittand was.A hundreth schippis, that ruther bur and ayr,To turss thair gud, in hawyn was lyand thar.Bot Wallace ost come on thaim sodeynlye;Thar chapyt nane off all that gret menyhe;1070Bot feill serwandis, in thaim lewyt nane.At ane eb se the Scottis is on thaim gayne;Fol. 55 aTuk out the ger, syne set the schippys in fyr;The men on land thai bertynyt bayne and lyr.Yeid nane away bot preistis, wyffis and barnys;1075Maid thai debait, thai chapyt nocht but harmys.In to Bowchane Wallace maid him to ryd,Quhar lord Bewmound was ordand for to bid.Erll he was maid off bot schort tyme befor;He brukit [it] nocht for all his bustous schor.1080Quhen he wyst weill that Wallace cummand was,He left the land, and couth to Slanys pass;And syne be schip in Ingland fled agayne.Wallace raid throw the northland in to playne.At Crummadé feill Inglissmen thai slew.1085The worthi Scottis till hym thus couth persew.Raturnd agayne, and come till Abirdeyn,With his blith ost, apon the Lammess ewyn;Stablyt the land, as him thocht best suld be.Syne with ane ost he passit to Dundé,1090Gert set a sege about the castell strang.I leyff thaim thar, and forthir we will gang.

Till Abyrdeyn than haistely thai pass,1065

Quhar Inglissmen besyly flittand was.

A hundreth schippis, that ruther bur and ayr,

To turss thair gud, in hawyn was lyand thar.

Bot Wallace ost come on thaim sodeynlye;

Thar chapyt nane off all that gret menyhe;1070

Bot feill serwandis, in thaim lewyt nane.

At ane eb se the Scottis is on thaim gayne;Fol. 55 a

Fol. 55 a

Tuk out the ger, syne set the schippys in fyr;

The men on land thai bertynyt bayne and lyr.

Yeid nane away bot preistis, wyffis and barnys;1075

Maid thai debait, thai chapyt nocht but harmys.

In to Bowchane Wallace maid him to ryd,

Quhar lord Bewmound was ordand for to bid.

Erll he was maid off bot schort tyme befor;

He brukit [it] nocht for all his bustous schor.1080

Quhen he wyst weill that Wallace cummand was,

He left the land, and couth to Slanys pass;

And syne be schip in Ingland fled agayne.

Wallace raid throw the northland in to playne.

At Crummadé feill Inglissmen thai slew.1085

The worthi Scottis till hym thus couth persew.

Raturnd agayne, and come till Abirdeyn,

With his blith ost, apon the Lammess ewyn;

Stablyt the land, as him thocht best suld be.

Syne with ane ost he passit to Dundé,1090

Gert set a sege about the castell strang.

I leyff thaim thar, and forthir we will gang.

Schir Amar Wallang haistit him full fast,In till Ingland with his haill houshald past;Bothwell he left, was Murrays heretage,1095And tuk him than bot till King Eduuardis wage:Thus his awne land forsuk for euirmar;Off Wallace deid gret tithandis tald he thar.Alss Englissmen sair murnyt in thar mude,Had lossyt her bathe lyff, landis, and gud.1100Eduuard as than couth nocht in Scotland fair;Bot Kertyingame, that was his tresorair,With him a lord, than erll was off Waran,He chargyt thaim, with nowmeris mony aneRycht weill beseyn, in Scotland for to ryd.1105At Stirlyng still he ordand thaim to bid,Quhill he mycht cum with ordinance off Ingland:Scotland agayne he thocht to tak in hand.This ost past furth, and had bot litill dreid;The erle Patrik rasauit thaim at Tweid.1110Malice he had at gud Wallace beforLang tyme by past, and than incressyt mor:Bot throuch a cass that hapnyt off his wyff,Dunbar scho held fra him in to thair striff,Throuch the supplé off Wallace in to playne:1115Bot he be meyne gat his castell agayneLang tyme or than, and yeit he couth nocht cess;Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony press;With Inglissmen suppleit thaim at his mycht.Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht.1120Fol. 55 bThar mustir than was awfull for to se;Off fechtand men thousandis thai war sexté.To Stirlyng past, or thai likit to bid,To erll Malcome a sege thai laid that tid;And thocht to kep the commaund off thar king:1125Bot gud Wallace wrocht for ane othir thing.Dundé he left, and maid a gud chyftane,With twa thousand, to kepe that houss off stayne,Off Angwiss men, and duellaris off Dundé;The samyn nycht till Sanct Jhonstoun went he.1130Apon the morn till Schirreff mur he raid;And thar a quhill, in gud aray, thai baid.Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht,He said to thaim; “This is my purpos rycht;“Our mekill it is to proffer thaim battaill1135“Apon a playne feild, bot we haiff sum awaill.”Schir Jhon the Grayme said; ‘We haiff wndirtayn,‘With less power, sic thing that weill is gayn.’Than Wallace said; “Quhar sic thing cummys off neid,“We suld thank God that makis ws for to speid.1140“Bot ner the bryg my purposs is to be,“And wyrk for thaim sum suttell jeperté.”Ramsay ansuerd: ‘The brig we may kepe weill;‘Off way about Sotheroun has litill feill.’Wallace sent Jop the battaill for to set,1145The Twysday next to fetch with outyn let.On Setterday on to the bryg thai raid,Off gud playne burd was weill and junctly maid;Gert wachis wait that nane suld fra thaim pass.A wricht he tuk, the suttellast at thar was,1150And ordand him to saw the burd in twa,Be the myd streit, that nane mycht our it ga;On charnaill bandis nald it full fast and sone,Syne fyld with clay as na thing had beyne done.The tothir end he ordand for to be,1155How it suld stand on thre rowaris off tre,Quhen ane war out, that the laiff doun suld fall;Him selff wndyr he ordand thar with all,Bownd on the trest in a creddill to sit,To louss the pyne quhen Wallace leit him witt.1160Bot with a horn, quhen it was tyme to be,In all the ost suld no man blaw bot he.The day approchit off the gret battaill;The Inglissmen for power wald nocht faill.Ay sex thai war agayne ane off Wallace;1165Fyfty thousand maid thaim to battaill place.The ramaynand baid at the castell still;Fol. 56 aBaithe feild and houss thai thocht to tak at will.The worthi Scottis, apon the tothir side,The playne feild tuk, on fute maid thaim to bid.1170Hew Kertyngayme the wantgard ledis he,With twenty thousand off likly men to se.Thretty thousand the erll off Waran had;Bot he did than as the wyssman him bad;All the fyrst ost befor him our was send.1175Sum Scottis men, that weill the maner kend,Bade Wallace blaw, and said thai war enew.He haistyt nocht, bot sadly couth persew,Quhill Warans ost thik on the bryg he saw.Fra Jop the horn he hyntyt and couth blaw1180Sa asprely, and warned gud Jhon Wricht:The rowar out he straik with gret slycht;The laiff yeid doun, quhen the pynnys out gais.A hidwyss cry amang the peple raiss;Bathe horss and men in to the wattir fell.1185The hardy Scottis, that wald na langar duell,Set on the laiff with strakis sad and sar,Off thaim thar our as than souerit thai war.At the forbreist thai prewit hardely,Wallace and Grayme, Boid, Ramsay, and Lundy;1190All in the stour fast fechtand face to face.The Sotheron ost bak rerit off that placeAt thai fyrst tuk, fyve akyr breid and mar.Wallace on fute a gret scharp sper he bar;Amang the thikest off the press he gais.1195On Kertyngaym a straik chosyn he haisIn the byrnes, that polyst was full brycht.The punyeand hed the plattis persyt rycht,Throuch the body stekit him but reskew;Derffly to dede that chyftane was adew.1200Baithe man and horss at that strak he bar doun.The Ingliss ost, quhilk war in battaill boun,Comfort thai lost quhen thair chyftayne was slayn;And mony ane to fle began in playne.Yeit worthi men baid still in to the sted,1205Quhill ten thousand was brocht on to thair dede.Than fled the laiff, and mycht no langar bid;Succour thai socht on mony diuerss sid,Sum est, sum west, and sum fled to the north.Sewyn thousand large at anys flottryt in Forth,1210Plungyt the depe, and drownd with out mercy;Fol. 56 bNayne left on lyff off all that feill menyhe.Off Wallace ost na man was slayne off waill,Bot Androw Murray, in to that strang battaill.The south part than, saw at thar men was tynt,1215Als fersly fled as fyr dois off the flynt.The place thai left, castell, and Stirlyng toune;Towart Dunbar in gret haist maid thaim boune.Quhen Wallace ost had won that feild throuch mycht,Tuk wp the bryg, and loussit gud Jhone Wricht;1220On the flearis syne folowed wondyr fast.Erll Malcom als out off the castell past,With Lennox men, to stuff the chace gud speid.Ay be the way thai gert feill Sotheroun bleid;In the Torwod thai gert full mony de.1225The erll off Waran, that can full fersly fle,With Corspatrik, that graithly was his gyd,On changit horss throuch out the land thai rid,Strawcht to Dunbar, bot few with thaim thai led;Mony was slayne our sleuthfully at fled.1230The Scottis horss that had rown wondyr lang,Mony gaiff our, that mycht no forthyr gang.Wallace and Grayme euir to giddyr baid;At Hathyntoun full gret slauchtir thai maidOff Inglissmen, quhen thair horss tyryt had.1235Quhen Ramsay come, gud Wallace was full glad;With him was Boid, and Richard off Lundy,Thre thousand haill was off gud chewalry;And Adam als Wallace off Ricardtoune,With erll Malcome, thai fand at Hathyntoune.1240The Scottis men on slauchtir taryt was;Quhill to Dunbar the twa chyftanys couth pass,Full sitfully, for thar gret contrar cass.Wallace folowed till thai gat in that place.Off thair best men, and Kertyngaym off renoune,1245Twenty thousand was dede but redemptioune.Besyd Beltoun Wallace raturnd agayn,To folow mar as than was bot in wayn.

Schir Amar Wallang haistit him full fast,

In till Ingland with his haill houshald past;

Bothwell he left, was Murrays heretage,1095

And tuk him than bot till King Eduuardis wage:

Thus his awne land forsuk for euirmar;

Off Wallace deid gret tithandis tald he thar.

Alss Englissmen sair murnyt in thar mude,

Had lossyt her bathe lyff, landis, and gud.1100

Eduuard as than couth nocht in Scotland fair;

Bot Kertyingame, that was his tresorair,

With him a lord, than erll was off Waran,

He chargyt thaim, with nowmeris mony ane

Rycht weill beseyn, in Scotland for to ryd.1105

At Stirlyng still he ordand thaim to bid,

Quhill he mycht cum with ordinance off Ingland:

Scotland agayne he thocht to tak in hand.

This ost past furth, and had bot litill dreid;

The erle Patrik rasauit thaim at Tweid.1110

Malice he had at gud Wallace befor

Lang tyme by past, and than incressyt mor:

Bot throuch a cass that hapnyt off his wyff,

Dunbar scho held fra him in to thair striff,

Throuch the supplé off Wallace in to playne:1115

Bot he be meyne gat his castell agayne

Lang tyme or than, and yeit he couth nocht cess;

Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony press;

With Inglissmen suppleit thaim at his mycht.

Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht.1120Fol. 55 b

Fol. 55 b

Thar mustir than was awfull for to se;

Off fechtand men thousandis thai war sexté.

To Stirlyng past, or thai likit to bid,

To erll Malcome a sege thai laid that tid;

And thocht to kep the commaund off thar king:1125

Bot gud Wallace wrocht for ane othir thing.

Dundé he left, and maid a gud chyftane,

With twa thousand, to kepe that houss off stayne,

Off Angwiss men, and duellaris off Dundé;

The samyn nycht till Sanct Jhonstoun went he.1130

Apon the morn till Schirreff mur he raid;

And thar a quhill, in gud aray, thai baid.

Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht,

He said to thaim; “This is my purpos rycht;

“Our mekill it is to proffer thaim battaill1135

“Apon a playne feild, bot we haiff sum awaill.”

Schir Jhon the Grayme said; ‘We haiff wndirtayn,

‘With less power, sic thing that weill is gayn.’

Than Wallace said; “Quhar sic thing cummys off neid,

“We suld thank God that makis ws for to speid.1140

“Bot ner the bryg my purposs is to be,

“And wyrk for thaim sum suttell jeperté.”

Ramsay ansuerd: ‘The brig we may kepe weill;

‘Off way about Sotheroun has litill feill.’

Wallace sent Jop the battaill for to set,1145

The Twysday next to fetch with outyn let.

On Setterday on to the bryg thai raid,

Off gud playne burd was weill and junctly maid;

Gert wachis wait that nane suld fra thaim pass.

A wricht he tuk, the suttellast at thar was,1150

And ordand him to saw the burd in twa,

Be the myd streit, that nane mycht our it ga;

On charnaill bandis nald it full fast and sone,

Syne fyld with clay as na thing had beyne done.

The tothir end he ordand for to be,1155

How it suld stand on thre rowaris off tre,

Quhen ane war out, that the laiff doun suld fall;

Him selff wndyr he ordand thar with all,

Bownd on the trest in a creddill to sit,

To louss the pyne quhen Wallace leit him witt.1160

Bot with a horn, quhen it was tyme to be,

In all the ost suld no man blaw bot he.

The day approchit off the gret battaill;

The Inglissmen for power wald nocht faill.

Ay sex thai war agayne ane off Wallace;1165

Fyfty thousand maid thaim to battaill place.

The ramaynand baid at the castell still;Fol. 56 a

Fol. 56 a

Baithe feild and houss thai thocht to tak at will.

The worthi Scottis, apon the tothir side,

The playne feild tuk, on fute maid thaim to bid.1170

Hew Kertyngayme the wantgard ledis he,

With twenty thousand off likly men to se.

Thretty thousand the erll off Waran had;

Bot he did than as the wyssman him bad;

All the fyrst ost befor him our was send.1175

Sum Scottis men, that weill the maner kend,

Bade Wallace blaw, and said thai war enew.

He haistyt nocht, bot sadly couth persew,

Quhill Warans ost thik on the bryg he saw.

Fra Jop the horn he hyntyt and couth blaw1180

Sa asprely, and warned gud Jhon Wricht:

The rowar out he straik with gret slycht;

The laiff yeid doun, quhen the pynnys out gais.

A hidwyss cry amang the peple raiss;

Bathe horss and men in to the wattir fell.1185

The hardy Scottis, that wald na langar duell,

Set on the laiff with strakis sad and sar,

Off thaim thar our as than souerit thai war.

At the forbreist thai prewit hardely,

Wallace and Grayme, Boid, Ramsay, and Lundy;1190

All in the stour fast fechtand face to face.

The Sotheron ost bak rerit off that place

At thai fyrst tuk, fyve akyr breid and mar.

Wallace on fute a gret scharp sper he bar;

Amang the thikest off the press he gais.1195

On Kertyngaym a straik chosyn he hais

In the byrnes, that polyst was full brycht.

The punyeand hed the plattis persyt rycht,

Throuch the body stekit him but reskew;

Derffly to dede that chyftane was adew.1200

Baithe man and horss at that strak he bar doun.

The Ingliss ost, quhilk war in battaill boun,

Comfort thai lost quhen thair chyftayne was slayn;

And mony ane to fle began in playne.

Yeit worthi men baid still in to the sted,1205

Quhill ten thousand was brocht on to thair dede.

Than fled the laiff, and mycht no langar bid;

Succour thai socht on mony diuerss sid,

Sum est, sum west, and sum fled to the north.

Sewyn thousand large at anys flottryt in Forth,1210

Plungyt the depe, and drownd with out mercy;Fol. 56 b

Fol. 56 b

Nayne left on lyff off all that feill menyhe.

Off Wallace ost na man was slayne off waill,

Bot Androw Murray, in to that strang battaill.

The south part than, saw at thar men was tynt,1215

Als fersly fled as fyr dois off the flynt.

The place thai left, castell, and Stirlyng toune;

Towart Dunbar in gret haist maid thaim boune.

Quhen Wallace ost had won that feild throuch mycht,

Tuk wp the bryg, and loussit gud Jhone Wricht;1220

On the flearis syne folowed wondyr fast.

Erll Malcom als out off the castell past,

With Lennox men, to stuff the chace gud speid.

Ay be the way thai gert feill Sotheroun bleid;

In the Torwod thai gert full mony de.1225

The erll off Waran, that can full fersly fle,

With Corspatrik, that graithly was his gyd,

On changit horss throuch out the land thai rid,

Strawcht to Dunbar, bot few with thaim thai led;

Mony was slayne our sleuthfully at fled.1230

The Scottis horss that had rown wondyr lang,

Mony gaiff our, that mycht no forthyr gang.

Wallace and Grayme euir to giddyr baid;

At Hathyntoun full gret slauchtir thai maid

Off Inglissmen, quhen thair horss tyryt had.1235

Quhen Ramsay come, gud Wallace was full glad;

With him was Boid, and Richard off Lundy,

Thre thousand haill was off gud chewalry;

And Adam als Wallace off Ricardtoune,

With erll Malcome, thai fand at Hathyntoune.1240

The Scottis men on slauchtir taryt was;

Quhill to Dunbar the twa chyftanys couth pass,

Full sitfully, for thar gret contrar cass.

Wallace folowed till thai gat in that place.

Off thair best men, and Kertyngaym off renoune,1245

Twenty thousand was dede but redemptioune.

Besyd Beltoun Wallace raturnd agayn,

To folow mar as than was bot in wayn.

In Hathyntoun lugyng thai maid that nycht;Apon the morn to Stirling passit rycht.1250Assumptioun day off Marye fell this cass;Ay lowyt be our lady off hir grace!Conuoyar offt scho was to gud Wallace,And helpyt him in mony syndry place.Wallace in haist, sone efftir this battaill,1255A gret aith tuk off all the barrons haill,That with gud will wald cum till his presens;He hecht thaim als to bid at thar defens.Schir Jhon Menteth, was than off Aran lord,Fol. 57 aTill Wallace come, and maid a playne record;1260With witnes thar be his ayth he him band,Lauta to kep to Wallace and Scotland.Quha with fre will till rycht wald nocht apply,Wallace with force pwnyst [thaim] rygorusly;Part put to dede, part set in prysone strang;1265Gret word off him throuch bathe thir regiouns rang.Dundé thai gat sone be a schort treté,Bot for thar lywes, and fled away be se.Ingliss capdans, that houss had in to hand,Left castellis fre, and fled out off the land.1270Within ten dayis efftir this tyme was gayne,Ingliss captanys in Scotland left was nayne,Except Berweik, and Roxburch castell wicht;Yeit Wallace thocht to bryng thai to the rycht.That tyme thar was a worthi trew barroun,1275To nayme he hecht gud Cristall off Cetoun.In Jedwort wod for saiffgard he had beyne,Agayne Sotheroun full weill he couth opteyn.In wtlaw oyss he lewit thar but let;Eduuard couth nocht fra Scottis faith him get.1280Herbottell fled fra Jedwort castell wicht,Towart Ingland; thar Cetoun met him rycht.With fourty men Cristall in bargane baidAgayne aucht scor, and mekill mastir maid;Slew that captane, and mony cruell man;1285Full gret ryches in that jornay he wan,Houshald and gold, as thai suld pass away,The quhilk befor thai kepit mony day.Jedwort thai tuk; and Ruwan lewit he,At Wallace will captane off it to be.1290Bauld Cetoun syne to Lothiane made repair:In this storye ye ma her off him mair,And in to Bruce quha likis for to rede;He was with him in mony cruell deid.Gud Wallace than full sadly can dewyss1295To rewill the land with worthi men and wyss;Captans he maid, and schirreffis that was gud,Part off his kyn, and off trew othir blud.His der cusyng in Edynburgh ordand he,The trew Crawfurd, that ay was full worthé,1300Kepar off it, with noble men at wage;In Mannuell than he had gud heretage.Scotland was fre, that lang in baill had beyne,Throw Wallace won fra our fals enemys keyn.Gret gouernour in Scotland he couth ryng,1305Wayttand a tyme to get his rychtwiss kingFol. 57 bFra Ingliss men, that held him in bandoune,Lang wrangwysly fra his awn rychtwis croun.

In Hathyntoun lugyng thai maid that nycht;

Apon the morn to Stirling passit rycht.1250

Assumptioun day off Marye fell this cass;

Ay lowyt be our lady off hir grace!

Conuoyar offt scho was to gud Wallace,

And helpyt him in mony syndry place.

Wallace in haist, sone efftir this battaill,1255

A gret aith tuk off all the barrons haill,

That with gud will wald cum till his presens;

He hecht thaim als to bid at thar defens.

Schir Jhon Menteth, was than off Aran lord,Fol. 57 a

Fol. 57 a

Till Wallace come, and maid a playne record;1260

With witnes thar be his ayth he him band,

Lauta to kep to Wallace and Scotland.

Quha with fre will till rycht wald nocht apply,

Wallace with force pwnyst [thaim] rygorusly;

Part put to dede, part set in prysone strang;1265

Gret word off him throuch bathe thir regiouns rang.

Dundé thai gat sone be a schort treté,

Bot for thar lywes, and fled away be se.

Ingliss capdans, that houss had in to hand,

Left castellis fre, and fled out off the land.1270

Within ten dayis efftir this tyme was gayne,

Ingliss captanys in Scotland left was nayne,

Except Berweik, and Roxburch castell wicht;

Yeit Wallace thocht to bryng thai to the rycht.

That tyme thar was a worthi trew barroun,1275

To nayme he hecht gud Cristall off Cetoun.

In Jedwort wod for saiffgard he had beyne,

Agayne Sotheroun full weill he couth opteyn.

In wtlaw oyss he lewit thar but let;

Eduuard couth nocht fra Scottis faith him get.1280

Herbottell fled fra Jedwort castell wicht,

Towart Ingland; thar Cetoun met him rycht.

With fourty men Cristall in bargane baid

Agayne aucht scor, and mekill mastir maid;

Slew that captane, and mony cruell man;1285

Full gret ryches in that jornay he wan,

Houshald and gold, as thai suld pass away,

The quhilk befor thai kepit mony day.

Jedwort thai tuk; and Ruwan lewit he,

At Wallace will captane off it to be.1290

Bauld Cetoun syne to Lothiane made repair:

In this storye ye ma her off him mair,

And in to Bruce quha likis for to rede;

He was with him in mony cruell deid.

Gud Wallace than full sadly can dewyss1295

To rewill the land with worthi men and wyss;

Captans he maid, and schirreffis that was gud,

Part off his kyn, and off trew othir blud.

His der cusyng in Edynburgh ordand he,

The trew Crawfurd, that ay was full worthé,1300

Kepar off it, with noble men at wage;

In Mannuell than he had gud heretage.

Scotland was fre, that lang in baill had beyne,

Throw Wallace won fra our fals enemys keyn.

Gret gouernour in Scotland he couth ryng,1305

Wayttand a tyme to get his rychtwiss kingFol. 57 b

Fol. 57 b

Fra Ingliss men, that held him in bandoune,

Lang wrangwysly fra his awn rychtwis croun.

EXPLICIT LIBER SEPTIMUS,ET INCIPIT OCTAVUS.

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