Chapter 16

To York thai went, thir wermen off renoun;A sege thai set rycht sadly to the toun.For gret defens thai garnest thaim within:A felloun salt with out thai can begyn;Gert woid the ost in four partis about,745With wachys feyll, that no man suld wsche out.Abowne the toune, apon the southpart sid,Thar Wallace wald, and gud Lundy, abid.Erll Malcom syne at the west yett abaid;With him the Boid, that gud jornays had maid.750The knycht Cambell, off Louchow [that] was lord,At the north yett, and Ramsay, maid thaim ford.Schyr Jhon the Graym, that worthy was in wer,Awchinlek, Crawfurd, with full manlik affer,At the est part bauldly thai bowne to bid.755A thousand archaris apon the Scottis sidDisseueryt thaim amang the four party.Fyve thousand bowemen in the toun forthi,With in the wallis, arayit thaim full rycht,Twelf thousand and ma that sembly was to sycht.760Than said Wallace; “Thar yond apon a playn,“In feild to fecht me think we suld be bayn.”Than sailyeit thai rycht fast on ilka sid.The worthy Scottis that bauldly durst abid,Fol. 65 bWith sper and scheild, for gownnys had thai nayn,765Within the dykys thai gert feill Sotheroun grayn.Arowys thai schot, als fers as ony fyr,Atour the wall, that flawmyt in gret ire,Throuch byrneis brycht, with hedys fyn off steyll.The Sotheroun blud thai leyt no frendschip feyll;770Our schefferand harnes schot the blud so scheyn.The Inglissmen, that cruell was and keyn,Kepyt thar toun, and fendyt thar full fast.Fagaldys off fyr amang the ost thai cast;Wp pyk and ter on feyll sowys thai lent;775Mony was hurt or thai fra wallys went.Stanys and spryngaldis thai cast out so fast,And gaddys off irne, maid mony goym agast:Bot neuirtheles, the Scottis that was with out,The toun full oft thai set in to gret dout;780Thar bulwerk brynt rycht brymly off the toun;Thar barmkyn wan, and gret gerrettis kest doun.Thus sailyeit thai, on ilk sid, with gret mycht.The day was gayn, and cummyn was the nycht.The wery ost than drew thaim fra the toun,785Set owt wachis, for restyng maid thaim boun;Wysche woundis with wyn, off thaim that was wnsound;For nayn wes dede; in gret myrth thai abound.Feyll men was hurt, bot na murnyng thai maid;Confermyt the sege, and stedfastly abaid.790Quhen that the son on morow raiss wp rycht,Befor the chyftanys semblyt thai full rycht;And mendis thocht off the toun thai suld tak,For all the fens that the Sotheroun mycht mak.Arayit agayn, as thai began afor,795About the toun thai sailye wondyr sor,With felloun schot atour the wall so scheyn.Feill Inglissmen, that cruell was and keyn,With schot was slayn, for all thar targis strang;Byrstyt helmys, mony to erd thai dang.800Brycht byrnand fyr thai kest till euirilk yet;The entress thus in perall oft thai set.The defendouris was off so fell defens,Kepyt thar toun with strenth and excellens.And thus the day thai dryff on to the nycht;805To palyounnys bownyt mony wery wycht.All yrk off wer; the toun was strang to wyn,Off artailye, and nobill men with gyn.Fol. 66 aQuhen that thai trowyt the Scottis was all at rest,For jeperté the Inglissmen thaim kest.810Schyr Jhon Nortoun was knawyn worthy and wycht,Schyr Wilyham off Leis, graithit thaim that nycht,With fyve thowsand welle garnest and sawage;Apon the Scottis thai thocht to mak scrymmage;And at [the] yet wschyt owt haistely815On erll Malcom, and his gud chewalry.To chak the wache Wallace and ten had beynRydand about, and has thair cummyng seyn.He gert ane blaw, was in his cumpany;The redy men arayit thaim hastely.820Feill off the Scottis ilk nycht in harnes baid,Be ordinance, for thai sic rewll had maid.With schort awyss to gyddyr ar thai went,Apon thair fais, quhar feill Sotheroun was schent.Wallace knew weill the erll to haisty was;825For thi he sped him to the press to pass.A suerd off wer in till his hand he bar;The fyrst he hyt, the crag in sondyr schar.Ane othir awkwart apon the face tuk he;Wysar and frount bathe in the feild gert fle.830The hardy erll befor his men furth past,In to the press, quhar feill war fechtand fast;A scherand suerd bar drawyn in his hand;The fyrst was fey that he befor him fand.Quhen Wallace and he was to gidder set,835Thayr lestyt nayn agayn thaim that thai met,Bot othir dede, or ellis fled thaim fray.Be this the ost, all in [a] gud aray,With the gret scry assemblit thaim about;Than stud the Sotheroun in a felloun dout.840Wallace knew weill the Inglissmen wald fle;For thi he preyst in the thikkest to be,Hewand full fast on quhat sege that he socht;Agaynys hys dynt fyn steyll awailyeit nocht.Wallace off hand, sen Arthour, had na mak;845Quhom he hyt rycht was ay dede off a strak.That was weyll knawin in mony place; and tharQuhom Wallace hyt he deryt the Scottis no mar.Als all his men did cruelly and weyll,At com to strak; that mycht the Sotheroun feill.850The Inglissmen fled, and left the feild playnly.The worthy Scottis wroucht so hardely,Schyr Jhon off Nourtoun in that place was dede,And twelf hundreth, with outyn ony ramede.Fol. 66 bThar mony was left in to the feild and slayn:855The layff raturnyt in to the toun agayn,And rwyt full sar that euyr thai furth coud found;Amang thaim was full mony werkand wound.The ost agayn ilkane to thar ward raid,Comaundyt wachis, and no mayr noyis maid,860Bot restyt still quhill that the brycht day dew.Agayne began the toun to sailye new.All thus thai wrocht with full gud worthines,Assailyeit sayr with witt and hardines.The ostis wictaill worth scant, and failyeit fast.865Thus lay thai thair, quhill diuerss dayis war past;The land waistyt, and meit was fer for to wyn:Bot that wyst nocht the stuff that was within;Thai dred full sar for thair awn warysoun.For souerance prayed the power off the toun,870To spek with Wallace thai desyryt fast;And he aperyt, and speryt quhat thai ast.The mayr ansuerd, said; “We wald gyff ransoun,“To pass your way, and der no mayr the toun.“Gret schaym it war that we suld yoldyn be,875“And townys haldyn off less power than we.“Yhe may nocht wyn ws suthlie, thocht ye bid;“We sall gyff gold, and yhe will fra ws rid.“We may gyff battaill, durst we for our king;“Sen he has left, it war ane our hie thing880“Till ws to do, with out his ordinance;“This toun off him we hald in gouernance.”Wallace ansuerd; ‘Off your gold rek we nocht;‘It is for battaill that we hydder socht.‘We had leuir haiff battaill off Ingland,885‘Than all the gold that gud king Arthour fand‘On the mont Mychell, quhar he the gyand slew.‘Gold may be gayn, bot worschip is ay new.‘Your king promyst that we suld battaill haiff;‘His wrytt tharto undyr his seyll he gaiff.890‘Lettir nor band, ye se, may nocht awaill‘Ws; for this tyme he hecht to gyff battaill.‘Me think we suld on his men wengit be;‘Apon our kyn mony gret wrang wrocht he:‘His dewyllyk deid he did in to Scotland.’895The mayr said; “Schyr, rycht thus we wndyrstand:“We haiff no charge quhat our king gerris ws do;“Bot in this kynd we sall be bundyn yow to,“Sum part off gold to gyff you with gud will,“And nocht efftyr to wait yow with na ill,900“Be no kyn meyn, the power off this town;Fol. 67 a“Bot gyff our king mak him to battaill boun.”Into the ost was mony worthi manWith Wallace, ma than I now rekyn can.Bettir it was, for at his will thai wrocht,905Thocht he wes best, no nothir lak we nocht;All seruit thank to Scotland euirmar,For manlyk wit, the quhilk thai schawit thar.The haill consaill thus demyt thaim amang,The toun to sege thaim thocht it was to lang;910And nocht a payn to wyn it be no slycht.The consaill fand it was the best thai mychtSum gold to tak, gyff that thai get no mar;Syne furth thar way in thar wiage thai far.Than Wallace said; “My selff will nocht consent;915“Bot gyff this toun mak us this playne content;“Tak our baner, and set it on the wall,“(For thar power our rewme has ridyn all,)“Yoldyn to be, quhen we lik thaim to tak,“In till Ingland residence gyff we mak.”920This ansuer sone thai send in to the mair.Than thai consent, the ramayn that was thar,The baner tuk, and set it in the toun,To Scotland was hie honour and renoun.That baner thar was fra aucht houris to none;925Thar finance maid, delyuerit gold full sone.Fyve thousand pund, all gud gold off Ingland,The ost rasawit, with wictaill haboundand.Baith breid and wyne rycht gladly furth thai gaiff,And othir stuff at thai likit to haiff.930Twenty dais owt the ost remaynit thar;Bot want off wictaill gert thaim fra it far.Yeit still off pees the ost lugyt all nycht,Quhill on the morn the sone was ryssyn on hycht.

To York thai went, thir wermen off renoun;

A sege thai set rycht sadly to the toun.

For gret defens thai garnest thaim within:

A felloun salt with out thai can begyn;

Gert woid the ost in four partis about,745

With wachys feyll, that no man suld wsche out.

Abowne the toune, apon the southpart sid,

Thar Wallace wald, and gud Lundy, abid.

Erll Malcom syne at the west yett abaid;

With him the Boid, that gud jornays had maid.750

The knycht Cambell, off Louchow [that] was lord,

At the north yett, and Ramsay, maid thaim ford.

Schyr Jhon the Graym, that worthy was in wer,

Awchinlek, Crawfurd, with full manlik affer,

At the est part bauldly thai bowne to bid.755

A thousand archaris apon the Scottis sid

Disseueryt thaim amang the four party.

Fyve thousand bowemen in the toun forthi,

With in the wallis, arayit thaim full rycht,

Twelf thousand and ma that sembly was to sycht.760

Than said Wallace; “Thar yond apon a playn,

“In feild to fecht me think we suld be bayn.”

Than sailyeit thai rycht fast on ilka sid.

The worthy Scottis that bauldly durst abid,Fol. 65 b

Fol. 65 b

With sper and scheild, for gownnys had thai nayn,765

Within the dykys thai gert feill Sotheroun grayn.

Arowys thai schot, als fers as ony fyr,

Atour the wall, that flawmyt in gret ire,

Throuch byrneis brycht, with hedys fyn off steyll.

The Sotheroun blud thai leyt no frendschip feyll;770

Our schefferand harnes schot the blud so scheyn.

The Inglissmen, that cruell was and keyn,

Kepyt thar toun, and fendyt thar full fast.

Fagaldys off fyr amang the ost thai cast;

Wp pyk and ter on feyll sowys thai lent;775

Mony was hurt or thai fra wallys went.

Stanys and spryngaldis thai cast out so fast,

And gaddys off irne, maid mony goym agast:

Bot neuirtheles, the Scottis that was with out,

The toun full oft thai set in to gret dout;780

Thar bulwerk brynt rycht brymly off the toun;

Thar barmkyn wan, and gret gerrettis kest doun.

Thus sailyeit thai, on ilk sid, with gret mycht.

The day was gayn, and cummyn was the nycht.

The wery ost than drew thaim fra the toun,785

Set owt wachis, for restyng maid thaim boun;

Wysche woundis with wyn, off thaim that was wnsound;

For nayn wes dede; in gret myrth thai abound.

Feyll men was hurt, bot na murnyng thai maid;

Confermyt the sege, and stedfastly abaid.790

Quhen that the son on morow raiss wp rycht,

Befor the chyftanys semblyt thai full rycht;

And mendis thocht off the toun thai suld tak,

For all the fens that the Sotheroun mycht mak.

Arayit agayn, as thai began afor,795

About the toun thai sailye wondyr sor,

With felloun schot atour the wall so scheyn.

Feill Inglissmen, that cruell was and keyn,

With schot was slayn, for all thar targis strang;

Byrstyt helmys, mony to erd thai dang.800

Brycht byrnand fyr thai kest till euirilk yet;

The entress thus in perall oft thai set.

The defendouris was off so fell defens,

Kepyt thar toun with strenth and excellens.

And thus the day thai dryff on to the nycht;805

To palyounnys bownyt mony wery wycht.

All yrk off wer; the toun was strang to wyn,

Off artailye, and nobill men with gyn.Fol. 66 a

Fol. 66 a

Quhen that thai trowyt the Scottis was all at rest,

For jeperté the Inglissmen thaim kest.810

Schyr Jhon Nortoun was knawyn worthy and wycht,

Schyr Wilyham off Leis, graithit thaim that nycht,

With fyve thowsand welle garnest and sawage;

Apon the Scottis thai thocht to mak scrymmage;

And at [the] yet wschyt owt haistely815

On erll Malcom, and his gud chewalry.

To chak the wache Wallace and ten had beyn

Rydand about, and has thair cummyng seyn.

He gert ane blaw, was in his cumpany;

The redy men arayit thaim hastely.820

Feill off the Scottis ilk nycht in harnes baid,

Be ordinance, for thai sic rewll had maid.

With schort awyss to gyddyr ar thai went,

Apon thair fais, quhar feill Sotheroun was schent.

Wallace knew weill the erll to haisty was;825

For thi he sped him to the press to pass.

A suerd off wer in till his hand he bar;

The fyrst he hyt, the crag in sondyr schar.

Ane othir awkwart apon the face tuk he;

Wysar and frount bathe in the feild gert fle.830

The hardy erll befor his men furth past,

In to the press, quhar feill war fechtand fast;

A scherand suerd bar drawyn in his hand;

The fyrst was fey that he befor him fand.

Quhen Wallace and he was to gidder set,835

Thayr lestyt nayn agayn thaim that thai met,

Bot othir dede, or ellis fled thaim fray.

Be this the ost, all in [a] gud aray,

With the gret scry assemblit thaim about;

Than stud the Sotheroun in a felloun dout.840

Wallace knew weill the Inglissmen wald fle;

For thi he preyst in the thikkest to be,

Hewand full fast on quhat sege that he socht;

Agaynys hys dynt fyn steyll awailyeit nocht.

Wallace off hand, sen Arthour, had na mak;845

Quhom he hyt rycht was ay dede off a strak.

That was weyll knawin in mony place; and thar

Quhom Wallace hyt he deryt the Scottis no mar.

Als all his men did cruelly and weyll,

At com to strak; that mycht the Sotheroun feill.850

The Inglissmen fled, and left the feild playnly.

The worthy Scottis wroucht so hardely,

Schyr Jhon off Nourtoun in that place was dede,

And twelf hundreth, with outyn ony ramede.Fol. 66 b

Fol. 66 b

Thar mony was left in to the feild and slayn:855

The layff raturnyt in to the toun agayn,

And rwyt full sar that euyr thai furth coud found;

Amang thaim was full mony werkand wound.

The ost agayn ilkane to thar ward raid,

Comaundyt wachis, and no mayr noyis maid,860

Bot restyt still quhill that the brycht day dew.

Agayne began the toun to sailye new.

All thus thai wrocht with full gud worthines,

Assailyeit sayr with witt and hardines.

The ostis wictaill worth scant, and failyeit fast.865

Thus lay thai thair, quhill diuerss dayis war past;

The land waistyt, and meit was fer for to wyn:

Bot that wyst nocht the stuff that was within;

Thai dred full sar for thair awn warysoun.

For souerance prayed the power off the toun,870

To spek with Wallace thai desyryt fast;

And he aperyt, and speryt quhat thai ast.

The mayr ansuerd, said; “We wald gyff ransoun,

“To pass your way, and der no mayr the toun.

“Gret schaym it war that we suld yoldyn be,875

“And townys haldyn off less power than we.

“Yhe may nocht wyn ws suthlie, thocht ye bid;

“We sall gyff gold, and yhe will fra ws rid.

“We may gyff battaill, durst we for our king;

“Sen he has left, it war ane our hie thing880

“Till ws to do, with out his ordinance;

“This toun off him we hald in gouernance.”

Wallace ansuerd; ‘Off your gold rek we nocht;

‘It is for battaill that we hydder socht.

‘We had leuir haiff battaill off Ingland,885

‘Than all the gold that gud king Arthour fand

‘On the mont Mychell, quhar he the gyand slew.

‘Gold may be gayn, bot worschip is ay new.

‘Your king promyst that we suld battaill haiff;

‘His wrytt tharto undyr his seyll he gaiff.890

‘Lettir nor band, ye se, may nocht awaill

‘Ws; for this tyme he hecht to gyff battaill.

‘Me think we suld on his men wengit be;

‘Apon our kyn mony gret wrang wrocht he:

‘His dewyllyk deid he did in to Scotland.’895

The mayr said; “Schyr, rycht thus we wndyrstand:

“We haiff no charge quhat our king gerris ws do;

“Bot in this kynd we sall be bundyn yow to,

“Sum part off gold to gyff you with gud will,

“And nocht efftyr to wait yow with na ill,900

“Be no kyn meyn, the power off this town;Fol. 67 a

Fol. 67 a

“Bot gyff our king mak him to battaill boun.”

Into the ost was mony worthi man

With Wallace, ma than I now rekyn can.

Bettir it was, for at his will thai wrocht,905

Thocht he wes best, no nothir lak we nocht;

All seruit thank to Scotland euirmar,

For manlyk wit, the quhilk thai schawit thar.

The haill consaill thus demyt thaim amang,

The toun to sege thaim thocht it was to lang;910

And nocht a payn to wyn it be no slycht.

The consaill fand it was the best thai mycht

Sum gold to tak, gyff that thai get no mar;

Syne furth thar way in thar wiage thai far.

Than Wallace said; “My selff will nocht consent;915

“Bot gyff this toun mak us this playne content;

“Tak our baner, and set it on the wall,

“(For thar power our rewme has ridyn all,)

“Yoldyn to be, quhen we lik thaim to tak,

“In till Ingland residence gyff we mak.”920

This ansuer sone thai send in to the mair.

Than thai consent, the ramayn that was thar,

The baner tuk, and set it in the toun,

To Scotland was hie honour and renoun.

That baner thar was fra aucht houris to none;925

Thar finance maid, delyuerit gold full sone.

Fyve thousand pund, all gud gold off Ingland,

The ost rasawit, with wictaill haboundand.

Baith breid and wyne rycht gladly furth thai gaiff,

And othir stuff at thai likit to haiff.930

Twenty dais owt the ost remaynit thar;

Bot want off wictaill gert thaim fra it far.

Yeit still off pees the ost lugyt all nycht,

Quhill on the morn the sone was ryssyn on hycht.

In Aperill amang the schawis scheyn,935Quhen the paithment was cled in tendyr greyn,Plesand war it till ony creatur,In lusty lyff that tym for till endur.Thir gud wermen had fredome largly;Bot fude was scant, thai mycht get nayn to by.940Tursyt tentis, and in the contré raid;On Inglissmen full gret herschipe thai maid;Brynt and brak doun byggyngis, sparyt thai nocht;Rycht worthi wallis full law to ground thai brocht.All Mydlame land thai brynt wp in a fyr,945Brak parkis doun, distroyit all the schyr;Wyld der thai slew, for othir bestis was nayn;Fol. 67 bThir wermen tuk off venysoune gud wayn.Towart the south thai turnyt at the last,Maid byggyngis bar als fer as euir thai past.950The commons all to London ar thai went,Befor the king, and tald him thar entent;And said, thai suld, bot he gert Wallace cess,Forsaik thair faith, and tak thaim till his pess.Na herrald thar durst than to Wallace pass,955Quharoff the king gretly agrewit was.Thus Eduuard left his pepill in to baill,Contrar Wallace he wald nocht giff battaill;Nor byd in feild for nocht that thai mycht say;Gayff our the causs, to London past his way.960At men off wit this questioun her I ass,Amang noblis gyff euyr ony thar was,So lang throw force in Ingland lay on cass,Sen Brudus deit, but battaill, bot Wallace.Gret Julius, the empyr had in hand,965Twyss off force he was put off Ingland.Wycht Arthour als, off wer quhen that he prewit,Twyss thai fawcht, supposs thai war myschewit.Awfull Eduuard durst nocht Wallace abidIn playn battaill, for all Ingland so wid.970In London he lay, and tuk him till his rest;And brak his vow. Quhilk hald ye for the best?Deyme as ye lest, gud men off discrecioun;Rycht clayr it is to ransek this questioun:To my sentence breyffly will I pass.975Quhen Wallace thus throw Yorkschyr jowrnat was,Wictaill as than was nayne left in the land,Bot in houssis quhar it mycht be warrand.The ost heroff abaissit was to bid;Fra fude scantyt na plesance was that tid.980Sum bald ryd haym, sum bald ryd forthermar:Wallace callit Jop, and said till him rycht thar;“Thow knawis the land, quhar most aboundance is,“Be thow our gyd, and than we sall nocht myss“Wictaill to fynd, that wait I wondir weill:985“Thow has, I traist, off Ingland mekill feill.“The kyng and his to stark strenthis ar gayn;“Bot jeperté, now perell haiff we nayn.”Than Jop said; ‘[Schir,] be ye gydyt be me,‘The bowndandest part off Ingland ye sall se.990‘Off wyn and quheyt thar is in Rychmwnt schyr,‘And othir stuff off fud that ye desyr;‘Quharoff I trow yhe sall be weyll content.’Fol. 68 aThe ost was glaid and thiddyrwart thai went.Mony trew Scot was semblyt in that land,995To Wallace com weill ma than nyne thowsand;Off presone part, sum had in lawbour wrocht,Fra athir part hill fast till him thai socht.Wallace was blyth off our awn natiff kyn,That come till him off baill that thai war in:1000And all the ost off comforde was the blythar,Fra thair awn folk was multipliand the mar.

In Aperill amang the schawis scheyn,935

Quhen the paithment was cled in tendyr greyn,

Plesand war it till ony creatur,

In lusty lyff that tym for till endur.

Thir gud wermen had fredome largly;

Bot fude was scant, thai mycht get nayn to by.940

Tursyt tentis, and in the contré raid;

On Inglissmen full gret herschipe thai maid;

Brynt and brak doun byggyngis, sparyt thai nocht;

Rycht worthi wallis full law to ground thai brocht.

All Mydlame land thai brynt wp in a fyr,945

Brak parkis doun, distroyit all the schyr;

Wyld der thai slew, for othir bestis was nayn;Fol. 67 b

Fol. 67 b

Thir wermen tuk off venysoune gud wayn.

Towart the south thai turnyt at the last,

Maid byggyngis bar als fer as euir thai past.950

The commons all to London ar thai went,

Befor the king, and tald him thar entent;

And said, thai suld, bot he gert Wallace cess,

Forsaik thair faith, and tak thaim till his pess.

Na herrald thar durst than to Wallace pass,955

Quharoff the king gretly agrewit was.

Thus Eduuard left his pepill in to baill,

Contrar Wallace he wald nocht giff battaill;

Nor byd in feild for nocht that thai mycht say;

Gayff our the causs, to London past his way.960

At men off wit this questioun her I ass,

Amang noblis gyff euyr ony thar was,

So lang throw force in Ingland lay on cass,

Sen Brudus deit, but battaill, bot Wallace.

Gret Julius, the empyr had in hand,965

Twyss off force he was put off Ingland.

Wycht Arthour als, off wer quhen that he prewit,

Twyss thai fawcht, supposs thai war myschewit.

Awfull Eduuard durst nocht Wallace abid

In playn battaill, for all Ingland so wid.970

In London he lay, and tuk him till his rest;

And brak his vow. Quhilk hald ye for the best?

Deyme as ye lest, gud men off discrecioun;

Rycht clayr it is to ransek this questioun:

To my sentence breyffly will I pass.975

Quhen Wallace thus throw Yorkschyr jowrnat was,

Wictaill as than was nayne left in the land,

Bot in houssis quhar it mycht be warrand.

The ost heroff abaissit was to bid;

Fra fude scantyt na plesance was that tid.980

Sum bald ryd haym, sum bald ryd forthermar:

Wallace callit Jop, and said till him rycht thar;

“Thow knawis the land, quhar most aboundance is,

“Be thow our gyd, and than we sall nocht myss

“Wictaill to fynd, that wait I wondir weill:985

“Thow has, I traist, off Ingland mekill feill.

“The kyng and his to stark strenthis ar gayn;

“Bot jeperté, now perell haiff we nayn.”

Than Jop said; ‘[Schir,] be ye gydyt be me,

‘The bowndandest part off Ingland ye sall se.990

‘Off wyn and quheyt thar is in Rychmwnt schyr,

‘And othir stuff off fud that ye desyr;

‘Quharoff I trow yhe sall be weyll content.’Fol. 68 a

Fol. 68 a

The ost was glaid and thiddyrwart thai went.

Mony trew Scot was semblyt in that land,995

To Wallace com weill ma than nyne thowsand;

Off presone part, sum had in lawbour wrocht,

Fra athir part hill fast till him thai socht.

Wallace was blyth off our awn natiff kyn,

That come till him off baill that thai war in:1000

And all the ost off comforde was the blythar,

Fra thair awn folk was multipliand the mar.

In Richmwnt schyr thai fand a gret boundans,Breid, ayll and wyn, with othir purweans;Brak parkis doun, slew bestis mony ane,1005Off wild and tayme, forsuth thai sparyt nane.Throuch owt the land thai past in gud aray;A sembly place so fand thai in thar way,Quhilk Ramswaith hecht, as Jop him selff thaim tald;Fehew was lord and captayne in that hald.1010A hundreth men was semblit in that place,To sawe thaim selff and thar gud fra Wallace;A ryoll sted, fast by a forest sid,With turrettis fayr, and garrettis off gret prid,Beildyt about, rycht lykly to be wicht,1015Awfull it was till ony mannis sicht;Feill men abown on the wallis buskyt beyn,In gud armour, that burnyst was full scheyn.The ost past by, and bot wesyt that place;Yeit thai within on lowd defyit Wallace,1020And trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun.Than Wallace said; “Had we yon gallandis doun,“On the playn ground, thai wald mor sobyr be.”Than Jop said; ‘Schyr, ye gart his brodyr de,‘In harrold weid, ye wait, on Tynto hill.’1025Wallace ansuerd; “So wald I with gud will,“Had I him selff; bot we may nocht thaim der;“Gud men mon thoill off harlottis scorn in wer.”Schir Jhon the Graym wald at a bykkyr beyn:Bot Wallace sone, that gret perell has seyn,1030Commaundit him to lat his seruice be.“We haiff no men to waist in sic degré.“Wald ye thaim harm, I knaw ane othir gait,“How we throuch fyr within sall mak thaim hait.“Fyr has beyn ay full felloun in to wer,1035“On sic a place it ma do mekill der.Fol. 68 b“Thar awld bulwerk I se off wydderyt ayk;“War it in fyr, thai mycht nocht stand a straik.“Houssis and wod is her enewch plenté;“Quha hewis best off this forest lat se.1040“Pow houssis doun, we sall nocht want adeill;“The auld temyr will ger the greyn byrn weill.”At his commaund full besyly thai wrocht,Gret wod in haist about the houss thai brocht.The bulwerk wan thir men off armys brycht,1045To the barmkyn had temyr apon hycht.Than bowmen schot to kep thaim fra the cast;The wall about had festnyt firis fast.Women and barnys on Wallace fast thai cry;On kneis thai fell, and askit him mercy.1050At a quartar, quhar fyr had nocht ourtayn,Thai tuk thaim out fra that castell off stayn;Syn bet the fyr with brwndys brym and bauld;The rude low raiss full heych abown that hauld.Barrellis off pyk for the defens was hungyn thar;1055All strak in fyr, the myscheiff was the mar.Quhen the brym fayr atour the place was past,Than thai with in mycht nothir schwt no cast.Als bestiall, as horss and nowt, within,Amang the fyr thai maid a hidwyss dyn.1060The armyt men in harnes was so hait,Sum doun to ground duschit but mar debait;Sum lap, sum fell in to the felloun fyr,Smoryt to dede, and brynt bathe bayn and lyr.The fyr brak in at all opynnys about;1065Nayn baid on loft, so felloun was the dout.Fehew him self lap rudly fra the hycht;Throuch all the fyr can on the barmkyn lycht.With a gud suerd Wallace strak off his hed,Jop hynt it wp, and turst [it] fra that sted.1070Fyve hundreth men, that war in to that place,Gat nayne away, bot dede with outyn grace.Wallace baid still with his power that nycht;Apon the morn the fyr had failyeit mycht.Beffor the yett, quhar it was brynt on breid,1075A red thai maid, and to the castell yeid,Strak doun the yett, and tuk that thai mycht wyn,Jowellys and gold, gret riches was tharin;Spulyeit the place, and left nocht ellis thar,Bot bestis, brynt bodyis, and wallis bar.1080Than tuk thai hyr, that wyff was to Fehew;Gaiff this commaund, as scho was women trew,To turss that hed to London to king Eduuard.Scho it rasawyt with gret sorow on hart.Fol. 69 aWallace him selff thir chargis till hyr gaiff;1085“Say to your king, bot gyff I battaill haiff,“At London yettis we sall assailyie sayr;“In this moneth we think for to be thair.“Trastis, in treuth, will God, we sall nocht faill;“Bot I rasyst throw chargis off our consaill.1090“The southmaist part off Ingland we sall se;“Bot he sek pess, or ellis bargan with me.“Apon a tym he chargyt me on this wyss,“Rycht boustously to mak till him seruice:“Sic sall he haiff, as he ws causs has maid.”1095Than mowit thai with out langer abaid.Deliuerit scho was fra this gud chewalry,Towart London scho socht rycht ernystfully;On to the tour, but mar process, scho went,Quhar Eduuard lay sayr murnand in his entent.1100His newois hede, quhen he saw it was brocht,Sa gret sorow sadly apon him socht,With gret wness apon his feit he stud,Wepand for wo for his der tendyr blud.The consaill raiss, and prayit him for to cess;1105“We loss Ingland, bot gyff ye purches pess.”Than Wodstok said; ‘This is my best consaill;‘Tak pees in tyme as for our awn awaill,‘Or we tyne mar, yeit slaik off our curage;‘Ereft ye may get help to your barnage.’1110The king grantyt, and bad thaim message send;Na man was thar that durst to Wallace wend.The queyn apperyt, and saw this gret distance;Weill born scho was off the rycht blud off France;Scho trowit weill tharfor to speid the erar,1115Hyr selff purpost in that message to far.Alss scho forthocht that the king tuk on hand,Agayn the rycht, so oft to reyff Scotland;And feill said, the wengeance hapnyt thar,Off gret murthyr his men maid in till Ayr.1120Thus demyt thai the consaill thaim amang.To this effect the queyn bownyt to gang.Quhen scho has seyn ilk man forsak this thing,On kneis scho fell, and askyt at the king;“Souerane,” scho said, “gyff it your willis be,1125“At I desyr yon chyftayn for to se.“For he is knawin bath hardy, wyss, and trew;“Perchance he will erar on wemen rew,“Than on your men; yhe haiff don him sic der,Fol. 69 b“Quhen he thaim seis, it mowis him ay to wer.1130“To help this land I wald mak my trawaill;“It ma nocht scaith, supposs it do na waill.”The lordis all off hir desir was fayn;On to the king thai maid instans in playn,That scho mycht pass. The king, with aukwart will,1135Halff in to yr, has [giffyn] consent thar till.Sum off thaim said, the queyn luffyt Wallace,For the gret woice off his hie nobilnes.A hardy man, that is lykly with all,Gret fawour will off fortoun till him fall,1140Anent wemen is seyne in mony place.So hapnyt it in his tyme with Wallace.In his rysyng he was a luffar trew,And chesyt ane, bot Inglissmen hir slew,Yeit I say nocht, the queyn wald on hir tak,1145All for his luff, sic trawaill for to mak.Now luff or leiff, or for help off the land,I mak raherss as I in scriptour fand.Scho graithit hir apon a gudlye wiss,With gold, and ger, and folk at hir dewiss;1150Ladyis with hir, nane othir wald thai send,And ald preystis, that weill the cuntré kend.Lat I the queyn to message redy dycht,And spek furth mar off Wallace trawaill rycht.The worthy Scottis amang thar enemyss raid;1155Full gret destructioun amang the Sotheron thai maid;Waistit about the land on athir sid:Na wer men than durst in thar way abid.Thai ransoun nane, bot to the dede thaim dycht;In mony steid maid fyris braid and brycht.1160The ost was blith, and in a gud estate,Na power was at wald mak thaim debate;Gret ryches wan off gold and gud thaim till,Leyffyng enewch to tak at thar awn will.In awfull fer thai trawaill throuch the land,1165Maid byggynis bar that thai befor thaim fand;Gret barmkynnys brak off stedis stark and strang;Thir wicht wermen off trawaill thocht nocht lang.South in the land rycht ernystfully thai socht,To Sanct Awbawnys; bot harm thar did thai nocht.1170The pryour send thaim wyn and wenesoun,Refreschyt the ost with gud in gret fusioun.The nycht apperyt quhen thai war at the place;Than herbreyt thaim fra thine a litill space;Chesyt a sted quhar thai suld bid all nycht,1175Tentis on ground, and palyonis proudly pycht;In till a waill, be a small rywer fayr,On athir sid quhar wyld der maid repayr;Set wachis owt, that wysly couth thaim kepe,To souppar went, and tymysly thai slepe.1180Fol. 70 a

In Richmwnt schyr thai fand a gret boundans,

Breid, ayll and wyn, with othir purweans;

Brak parkis doun, slew bestis mony ane,1005

Off wild and tayme, forsuth thai sparyt nane.

Throuch owt the land thai past in gud aray;

A sembly place so fand thai in thar way,

Quhilk Ramswaith hecht, as Jop him selff thaim tald;

Fehew was lord and captayne in that hald.1010

A hundreth men was semblit in that place,

To sawe thaim selff and thar gud fra Wallace;

A ryoll sted, fast by a forest sid,

With turrettis fayr, and garrettis off gret prid,

Beildyt about, rycht lykly to be wicht,1015

Awfull it was till ony mannis sicht;

Feill men abown on the wallis buskyt beyn,

In gud armour, that burnyst was full scheyn.

The ost past by, and bot wesyt that place;

Yeit thai within on lowd defyit Wallace,1020

And trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun.

Than Wallace said; “Had we yon gallandis doun,

“On the playn ground, thai wald mor sobyr be.”

Than Jop said; ‘Schyr, ye gart his brodyr de,

‘In harrold weid, ye wait, on Tynto hill.’1025

Wallace ansuerd; “So wald I with gud will,

“Had I him selff; bot we may nocht thaim der;

“Gud men mon thoill off harlottis scorn in wer.”

Schir Jhon the Graym wald at a bykkyr beyn:

Bot Wallace sone, that gret perell has seyn,1030

Commaundit him to lat his seruice be.

“We haiff no men to waist in sic degré.

“Wald ye thaim harm, I knaw ane othir gait,

“How we throuch fyr within sall mak thaim hait.

“Fyr has beyn ay full felloun in to wer,1035

“On sic a place it ma do mekill der.Fol. 68 b

Fol. 68 b

“Thar awld bulwerk I se off wydderyt ayk;

“War it in fyr, thai mycht nocht stand a straik.

“Houssis and wod is her enewch plenté;

“Quha hewis best off this forest lat se.1040

“Pow houssis doun, we sall nocht want adeill;

“The auld temyr will ger the greyn byrn weill.”

At his commaund full besyly thai wrocht,

Gret wod in haist about the houss thai brocht.

The bulwerk wan thir men off armys brycht,1045

To the barmkyn had temyr apon hycht.

Than bowmen schot to kep thaim fra the cast;

The wall about had festnyt firis fast.

Women and barnys on Wallace fast thai cry;

On kneis thai fell, and askit him mercy.1050

At a quartar, quhar fyr had nocht ourtayn,

Thai tuk thaim out fra that castell off stayn;

Syn bet the fyr with brwndys brym and bauld;

The rude low raiss full heych abown that hauld.

Barrellis off pyk for the defens was hungyn thar;1055

All strak in fyr, the myscheiff was the mar.

Quhen the brym fayr atour the place was past,

Than thai with in mycht nothir schwt no cast.

Als bestiall, as horss and nowt, within,

Amang the fyr thai maid a hidwyss dyn.1060

The armyt men in harnes was so hait,

Sum doun to ground duschit but mar debait;

Sum lap, sum fell in to the felloun fyr,

Smoryt to dede, and brynt bathe bayn and lyr.

The fyr brak in at all opynnys about;1065

Nayn baid on loft, so felloun was the dout.

Fehew him self lap rudly fra the hycht;

Throuch all the fyr can on the barmkyn lycht.

With a gud suerd Wallace strak off his hed,

Jop hynt it wp, and turst [it] fra that sted.1070

Fyve hundreth men, that war in to that place,

Gat nayne away, bot dede with outyn grace.

Wallace baid still with his power that nycht;

Apon the morn the fyr had failyeit mycht.

Beffor the yett, quhar it was brynt on breid,1075

A red thai maid, and to the castell yeid,

Strak doun the yett, and tuk that thai mycht wyn,

Jowellys and gold, gret riches was tharin;

Spulyeit the place, and left nocht ellis thar,

Bot bestis, brynt bodyis, and wallis bar.1080

Than tuk thai hyr, that wyff was to Fehew;

Gaiff this commaund, as scho was women trew,

To turss that hed to London to king Eduuard.

Scho it rasawyt with gret sorow on hart.Fol. 69 a

Fol. 69 a

Wallace him selff thir chargis till hyr gaiff;1085

“Say to your king, bot gyff I battaill haiff,

“At London yettis we sall assailyie sayr;

“In this moneth we think for to be thair.

“Trastis, in treuth, will God, we sall nocht faill;

“Bot I rasyst throw chargis off our consaill.1090

“The southmaist part off Ingland we sall se;

“Bot he sek pess, or ellis bargan with me.

“Apon a tym he chargyt me on this wyss,

“Rycht boustously to mak till him seruice:

“Sic sall he haiff, as he ws causs has maid.”1095

Than mowit thai with out langer abaid.

Deliuerit scho was fra this gud chewalry,

Towart London scho socht rycht ernystfully;

On to the tour, but mar process, scho went,

Quhar Eduuard lay sayr murnand in his entent.1100

His newois hede, quhen he saw it was brocht,

Sa gret sorow sadly apon him socht,

With gret wness apon his feit he stud,

Wepand for wo for his der tendyr blud.

The consaill raiss, and prayit him for to cess;1105

“We loss Ingland, bot gyff ye purches pess.”

Than Wodstok said; ‘This is my best consaill;

‘Tak pees in tyme as for our awn awaill,

‘Or we tyne mar, yeit slaik off our curage;

‘Ereft ye may get help to your barnage.’1110

The king grantyt, and bad thaim message send;

Na man was thar that durst to Wallace wend.

The queyn apperyt, and saw this gret distance;

Weill born scho was off the rycht blud off France;

Scho trowit weill tharfor to speid the erar,1115

Hyr selff purpost in that message to far.

Alss scho forthocht that the king tuk on hand,

Agayn the rycht, so oft to reyff Scotland;

And feill said, the wengeance hapnyt thar,

Off gret murthyr his men maid in till Ayr.1120

Thus demyt thai the consaill thaim amang.

To this effect the queyn bownyt to gang.

Quhen scho has seyn ilk man forsak this thing,

On kneis scho fell, and askyt at the king;

“Souerane,” scho said, “gyff it your willis be,1125

“At I desyr yon chyftayn for to se.

“For he is knawin bath hardy, wyss, and trew;

“Perchance he will erar on wemen rew,

“Than on your men; yhe haiff don him sic der,Fol. 69 b

Fol. 69 b

“Quhen he thaim seis, it mowis him ay to wer.1130

“To help this land I wald mak my trawaill;

“It ma nocht scaith, supposs it do na waill.”

The lordis all off hir desir was fayn;

On to the king thai maid instans in playn,

That scho mycht pass. The king, with aukwart will,1135

Halff in to yr, has [giffyn] consent thar till.

Sum off thaim said, the queyn luffyt Wallace,

For the gret woice off his hie nobilnes.

A hardy man, that is lykly with all,

Gret fawour will off fortoun till him fall,1140

Anent wemen is seyne in mony place.

So hapnyt it in his tyme with Wallace.

In his rysyng he was a luffar trew,

And chesyt ane, bot Inglissmen hir slew,

Yeit I say nocht, the queyn wald on hir tak,1145

All for his luff, sic trawaill for to mak.

Now luff or leiff, or for help off the land,

I mak raherss as I in scriptour fand.

Scho graithit hir apon a gudlye wiss,

With gold, and ger, and folk at hir dewiss;1150

Ladyis with hir, nane othir wald thai send,

And ald preystis, that weill the cuntré kend.

Lat I the queyn to message redy dycht,

And spek furth mar off Wallace trawaill rycht.

The worthy Scottis amang thar enemyss raid;1155

Full gret destructioun amang the Sotheron thai maid;

Waistit about the land on athir sid:

Na wer men than durst in thar way abid.

Thai ransoun nane, bot to the dede thaim dycht;

In mony steid maid fyris braid and brycht.1160

The ost was blith, and in a gud estate,

Na power was at wald mak thaim debate;

Gret ryches wan off gold and gud thaim till,

Leyffyng enewch to tak at thar awn will.

In awfull fer thai trawaill throuch the land,1165

Maid byggynis bar that thai befor thaim fand;

Gret barmkynnys brak off stedis stark and strang;

Thir wicht wermen off trawaill thocht nocht lang.

South in the land rycht ernystfully thai socht,

To Sanct Awbawnys; bot harm thar did thai nocht.1170

The pryour send thaim wyn and wenesoun,

Refreschyt the ost with gud in gret fusioun.

The nycht apperyt quhen thai war at the place;

Than herbreyt thaim fra thine a litill space;

Chesyt a sted quhar thai suld bid all nycht,1175

Tentis on ground, and palyonis proudly pycht;

In till a waill, be a small rywer fayr,

On athir sid quhar wyld der maid repayr;

Set wachis owt, that wysly couth thaim kepe,

To souppar went, and tymysly thai slepe.1180Fol. 70 a

Fol. 70 a

Off meit and sleip thai cess with suffisiance.The nycht was myrk, our drayff the dyrkfull chance.The mery day sprang fra the oryent,With bemys brycht enlumynyt the occident.Eftir Titan, Phebus wp rysyt fayr;1185Heich in the sper, the signes maid declayr.Zepherus began his morow courss,The swete wapour thus fra the ground resourss;The humyll breyth doun fra the hewyn awaill,In euery meide, bathe fyrth, forrest, and daill;1190The cler rede amang the rochis rang,Throuch greyn branchis quhar byrdis blythly sang,With joyus woice in hewynly armony.Than Wallace thocht it was no tyme to ly;He croyssit him, syne sodeynli wp raiss;1195To tak the ayr out off his palyon gais.Maister Jhon Blar was redy to rawess;In gud entent syne bownyt to the mess.Quhen it was done, Wallace can him aray,In his armour, quhilk gudly was and gay.1200His schenand schoys, that burnyst was full beyn,His leg harnes he clappyt on so clene;Pullane greis he braissit on full fast;A closs byrny, with mony sekyr clasp;Breyst plait, brasaris, that worthy was in wer;1205Besid him furth Jop couth his basnet ber;His glytterand glowis grawin on athir sid.He semyt weill in battaill till abid;His gud gyrdyll, and syne his burly brand;A staff off steyll he gryppyt in his hand.1210The ost him blyst, and prayit God, off his grace,Him to conwoy fra all mystymyt cace.Adam Wallace and Boid furth with him yeid,By a reuir, throu out a floryst meid.And as thai walk atour the feyldis greyn,1215Out off the south thai saw quhar at the queyn,Towart the ost, come ridand sobyrly;And fyfty ladyis was in hyr cumpany,Wallyt off wit, and demyt off renoun,Sum wedowis war, and sum off religioun;1220And sewyn preistis that entrit war in age.Wallace to sic did neuir gret owtrage,Bot gyff till him thai maid a gret offens.Thus prochyt thai on towart thar presens.At the palyoun, quhar thai the lyoun saw;1225To ground thai lycht, and syne on kneis can faw;Prayand for pece thai cry with petous cher.Erll Malcom said; “Our chyftayn is nocht her.”He bad hyr ryss, and said it was nocht rycht,Fol. 70 bA queyn on kneis till ony lavar wycht.1230Wp by the hand the gud erll has hyr tayn;Atour the bent to Wallace ar thai gayn.Quhen scho him saw, scho wald haiff knelyt doune;In armys sone he caucht this queyn with croun,And kyssyt hyr with outyn wordis mor;1235Sa dyd he neuir to na Sotheron befor.“Madem,” he said, “rycht welcum mot ye be;“How plessis yow our ostyng for to se?”‘Rycht weyll,’ scho said, ‘off frendschip haiff we neid;‘God grant ye wald off our nessis to speid.1240‘Suffyr we mon, supposs it lik ws ill;‘Bot trastis weyll, it is contrar our will.’“Ye sall remayn, with this lord I mon gang;“Fra your presens we sall nocht tary lang.”The erll and he on to the palzyon yeid,1245With gud awyss to deym mar off this deid.Till consell son Wallace gart call thaim to:“Lordys,” he said, “ye wait quhat is ado.“Off thar cummyng my selff has na plesance;“Herfor mon we wyrk with ordinance.1250“Wemen may be contempnyng in to wer,“Amang fullis that can thaim nocht forber.“I say nocht this be thir, nor yeit the queyn;“I trow it be bot gud that scho will meyn.“Bot sampyll tak off lang tym passit by;1255“At Rownsywaill the tresoun was playnly“Be wemen maid, that Ganyelon with him brocht,“And Turké wyn; forber thaim couth thai nocht.“Lang wss in wer gert thaim desyr thair will,“Quhilk brocht Charlis to fellon loss and ill.1260“The flour off France, withoutyn redempcioun,“Throuch that foull deid, was brocht to confusioun.“Commaund your men tharfor in priway wyss,“Apayn off lyff thai wyrk nocht on sic wyss;“Nane spek with thaim, bot wysmen off gret waill,1265“At lordis ar, and sworn to this consaill.”Thir chargis thai did als wysly as thai mocht;This ordynance throw all the ost was wrocht.

Off meit and sleip thai cess with suffisiance.

The nycht was myrk, our drayff the dyrkfull chance.

The mery day sprang fra the oryent,

With bemys brycht enlumynyt the occident.

Eftir Titan, Phebus wp rysyt fayr;1185

Heich in the sper, the signes maid declayr.

Zepherus began his morow courss,

The swete wapour thus fra the ground resourss;

The humyll breyth doun fra the hewyn awaill,

In euery meide, bathe fyrth, forrest, and daill;1190

The cler rede amang the rochis rang,

Throuch greyn branchis quhar byrdis blythly sang,

With joyus woice in hewynly armony.

Than Wallace thocht it was no tyme to ly;

He croyssit him, syne sodeynli wp raiss;1195

To tak the ayr out off his palyon gais.

Maister Jhon Blar was redy to rawess;

In gud entent syne bownyt to the mess.

Quhen it was done, Wallace can him aray,

In his armour, quhilk gudly was and gay.1200

His schenand schoys, that burnyst was full beyn,

His leg harnes he clappyt on so clene;

Pullane greis he braissit on full fast;

A closs byrny, with mony sekyr clasp;

Breyst plait, brasaris, that worthy was in wer;1205

Besid him furth Jop couth his basnet ber;

His glytterand glowis grawin on athir sid.

He semyt weill in battaill till abid;

His gud gyrdyll, and syne his burly brand;

A staff off steyll he gryppyt in his hand.1210

The ost him blyst, and prayit God, off his grace,

Him to conwoy fra all mystymyt cace.

Adam Wallace and Boid furth with him yeid,

By a reuir, throu out a floryst meid.

And as thai walk atour the feyldis greyn,1215

Out off the south thai saw quhar at the queyn,

Towart the ost, come ridand sobyrly;

And fyfty ladyis was in hyr cumpany,

Wallyt off wit, and demyt off renoun,

Sum wedowis war, and sum off religioun;1220

And sewyn preistis that entrit war in age.

Wallace to sic did neuir gret owtrage,

Bot gyff till him thai maid a gret offens.

Thus prochyt thai on towart thar presens.

At the palyoun, quhar thai the lyoun saw;1225

To ground thai lycht, and syne on kneis can faw;

Prayand for pece thai cry with petous cher.

Erll Malcom said; “Our chyftayn is nocht her.”

He bad hyr ryss, and said it was nocht rycht,Fol. 70 b

Fol. 70 b

A queyn on kneis till ony lavar wycht.1230

Wp by the hand the gud erll has hyr tayn;

Atour the bent to Wallace ar thai gayn.

Quhen scho him saw, scho wald haiff knelyt doune;

In armys sone he caucht this queyn with croun,

And kyssyt hyr with outyn wordis mor;1235

Sa dyd he neuir to na Sotheron befor.

“Madem,” he said, “rycht welcum mot ye be;

“How plessis yow our ostyng for to se?”

‘Rycht weyll,’ scho said, ‘off frendschip haiff we neid;

‘God grant ye wald off our nessis to speid.1240

‘Suffyr we mon, supposs it lik ws ill;

‘Bot trastis weyll, it is contrar our will.’

“Ye sall remayn, with this lord I mon gang;

“Fra your presens we sall nocht tary lang.”

The erll and he on to the palzyon yeid,1245

With gud awyss to deym mar off this deid.

Till consell son Wallace gart call thaim to:

“Lordys,” he said, “ye wait quhat is ado.

“Off thar cummyng my selff has na plesance;

“Herfor mon we wyrk with ordinance.1250

“Wemen may be contempnyng in to wer,

“Amang fullis that can thaim nocht forber.

“I say nocht this be thir, nor yeit the queyn;

“I trow it be bot gud that scho will meyn.

“Bot sampyll tak off lang tym passit by;1255

“At Rownsywaill the tresoun was playnly

“Be wemen maid, that Ganyelon with him brocht,

“And Turké wyn; forber thaim couth thai nocht.

“Lang wss in wer gert thaim desyr thair will,

“Quhilk brocht Charlis to fellon loss and ill.1260

“The flour off France, withoutyn redempcioun,

“Throuch that foull deid, was brocht to confusioun.

“Commaund your men tharfor in priway wyss,

“Apayn off lyff thai wyrk nocht on sic wyss;

“Nane spek with thaim, bot wysmen off gret waill,1265

“At lordis ar, and sworn to this consaill.”

Thir chargis thai did als wysly as thai mocht;

This ordynance throw all the ost was wrocht.

He and the erll bathe to the queyn thai went,Rasawyt hyr fayr, and brocht hyr till a tent;1270To dyner bownyt als gudly as thai can;And serwit was with mony likly man.Gud purwyance the queyn had with hyr wrocht;A say scho tuk off all thyng at thai brocht.Fol. 71 aWallace persawyt, and said; “We haiff no dreid:1275“I can nocht trow ladyis wald do sic deid,“To poysoun men, for all Ingland to wyn.”The queyn ansuerd; ‘Gyff poysoun be tharin,‘Off ony thyng quhilk is brocht her with me,‘Apon my selff fyrst sorow sall ye se.’1280Sone aftir meit, a marchell gart [all] absent,Bot lordis, and thai at suld to consaill went.Ladyis apperyt in presens with the queyn.Wallace askyt, quhat hyr cummyng mycht meyn.‘For pess,’ scho said, ‘at we haiff to yow socht;1285‘This byrnand wer in baill has mony brocht.‘Ye grant ws pees, for him that deit on tre.’Wallace ansuerd; “Madeym, that may nocht be.“Ingland has doyne sa gret harmys till ws,“We may nocht pass, and lychtly leiff it thus.”1290‘Yeiss,’ said the queyne, ‘for crystyn folk we ar.‘For Goddis saik, sen we desyr no mar,‘We awcht pess.’ “Madeym, that I deny.“The perfyt causs I sall yow schaw for quhy;“Ye seke na pess bot for your awn awaill.1295“Quhen your fals king had Scotland grippyt haill,“For nakyn thing that he befor him fand,“He wald nocht thoill the rycht blud in our land;“Bot reft thar rent, syn put thaim selff to ded:“Ransoun off gold mycht mak [us] na ramed.1300“His fell fals wer sall on him selff be seyn.”Than sobyrly till him ansuerd the queyn;‘Off thir wrangis amendis war most fair.’“Madeym,” he said, “off him we ask no mar,“Bot at he wald byd ws in to battaill;1305“And God be juge, he kennys the mater haill.”‘Sic mendis,’ scho said, ‘war nocht rycht gud, think me:‘Pess now war best, and it mycht purchest be.‘Wald yhe grant pess, and trwys with ws tak,‘Throuch all Ingland we suld gar prayeris mak1310‘For yow, and thaim at in the wer war lost.’Than Wallace said; “Quhar sic thing cummys throuch bost,“Prayer off fors, quhar so at it be wrocht,“Till ws helpis [othyr] litill, or ellis nocht.”Warly scho said; ‘Thus wyssmen has ws kend,1315‘Ay efftir wer pees is the finall end.‘Quharfor ye suld off your gret malice cess;‘The end off wer is cheryté and pess.‘Pees is in hewyn, with blyss and lestandnas.‘We sall beseke the Pape, off his hie grace,1320‘Till commaund pess, sen we may do na mar.’Fol. 71 b“Madeym,” he said, “or your purches cum thar,“Mendys we think off Ingland for to haiff.”‘Quhat set yow thus,’ scho said, ‘so God yow saiff,‘Fra violent wer at ye lik nocht to duell?’1325“Madem,” he said, “the suth I sall yow tell.“Eftir the dayt off Alexandris ryng,“Our land stud thre yer desolate but king,“Kepyt full weyll at concord in gud stait.“Throuch twa clemyt, thar hapnyt gret debait,1330“So ernystfully, accord thaim nocht thai can.“Your king thai ast for to be thair ourman.“Slely he slayd throuch strenthis off Scotland;“The kynryk syne he tuk in his awn hand.“He maid a kyng agayn our rychtwyss law;1335“For he off him suld hald the regioun aw.“Contrar this band was all the haill barnage,“For Scotland was yeit neuir in to thrillage.“Gret Julius, that tribut gat off aw,“His wynnyng was in Scotland bot full smaw.1340“Than your fals king, wndyr colour but mar,“Throuch band he maid till Bruce that is our ayr,“Throuch all Scotland with gret power thai raid,“Wndyr that king quhilk he befor had maid.“To Bruce sen syne he kepit na connand:1345“He said, he wald nocht ga and conquess land“Till othir men; and thus the cass befell.“Than Scotland throuch he demayned him sell;“Slew our elderis, gret peté was to se.“In presoune syne lang tyme thai pynit me,1350“Quhill I fra thaim was castyn out for ded.“Thankit be God he send me sum remed!“Wengyt to be I prewyt all my mycht;“Feyll off thair kyn to dede syn I haiff dycht.“The rage off youth gert me desyr a wyff;1355“That rewit I sayr, and will do all my liff.“A tratour knycht but mercy gert hyr de,“Ane Hessilryg bot for dispit off me.“Than rang I furth in cruell wer and payn,“Quhill we redemyt part off our land agayn.1360“Than your curst king desyryt off ws a trew;“Quhilk maid Scotland full rathly for to rew.“In to that pess thai set a suttell ayr,“Than auchtene scor to dede thai hangit thar,“At noblis war, and worthi off renoun;1365“Off cot armys eldest in that regioun.“Thar dede we think to weng in all our mycht.“The woman als, that dulfully was dycht,“Out off my mynd that dede will neuir bid,Fol. 72 a“Quhill God me tak fra this fals warld so wid.1370“Off Sotheroun syn I can no peté haiff;“Your men in wer I think neuir mor to saiff.”The breith teris, was gret payn to behald,Bryst fra his eyn, be he his taill had tald.The queyn wepyt for peté off Wallace.1375‘Allace,’ scho said, ‘wa worth the curssyt cace.’‘In waryit tym that Hesilryg was born!‘Mony worthi throuch his deid ar forlorn.‘He suld haiff payn, that saikles sic ane sleuch;‘Ingland sen syn has boucht it der enewch,1380‘Thocht scho had beyn a queyn or a prynsace.’“Madem,” he said, “as God giff me gud grace,“Prynsace or queyn, in quhat stait so thai be,“In till hir tym scho was als der to me.”‘Wallace,’ scho said, ‘off this talk we will cess;1385‘The mendis heroff is gud prayer and pess.’“I grant,” he said, “off me as now na mayr;“This is rycht nocht bot ekyng off our cayr.”

He and the erll bathe to the queyn thai went,

Rasawyt hyr fayr, and brocht hyr till a tent;1270

To dyner bownyt als gudly as thai can;

And serwit was with mony likly man.

Gud purwyance the queyn had with hyr wrocht;

A say scho tuk off all thyng at thai brocht.Fol. 71 a

Fol. 71 a

Wallace persawyt, and said; “We haiff no dreid:1275

“I can nocht trow ladyis wald do sic deid,

“To poysoun men, for all Ingland to wyn.”

The queyn ansuerd; ‘Gyff poysoun be tharin,

‘Off ony thyng quhilk is brocht her with me,

‘Apon my selff fyrst sorow sall ye se.’1280

Sone aftir meit, a marchell gart [all] absent,

Bot lordis, and thai at suld to consaill went.

Ladyis apperyt in presens with the queyn.

Wallace askyt, quhat hyr cummyng mycht meyn.

‘For pess,’ scho said, ‘at we haiff to yow socht;1285

‘This byrnand wer in baill has mony brocht.

‘Ye grant ws pees, for him that deit on tre.’

Wallace ansuerd; “Madeym, that may nocht be.

“Ingland has doyne sa gret harmys till ws,

“We may nocht pass, and lychtly leiff it thus.”1290

‘Yeiss,’ said the queyne, ‘for crystyn folk we ar.

‘For Goddis saik, sen we desyr no mar,

‘We awcht pess.’ “Madeym, that I deny.

“The perfyt causs I sall yow schaw for quhy;

“Ye seke na pess bot for your awn awaill.1295

“Quhen your fals king had Scotland grippyt haill,

“For nakyn thing that he befor him fand,

“He wald nocht thoill the rycht blud in our land;

“Bot reft thar rent, syn put thaim selff to ded:

“Ransoun off gold mycht mak [us] na ramed.1300

“His fell fals wer sall on him selff be seyn.”

Than sobyrly till him ansuerd the queyn;

‘Off thir wrangis amendis war most fair.’

“Madeym,” he said, “off him we ask no mar,

“Bot at he wald byd ws in to battaill;1305

“And God be juge, he kennys the mater haill.”

‘Sic mendis,’ scho said, ‘war nocht rycht gud, think me:

‘Pess now war best, and it mycht purchest be.

‘Wald yhe grant pess, and trwys with ws tak,

‘Throuch all Ingland we suld gar prayeris mak1310

‘For yow, and thaim at in the wer war lost.’

Than Wallace said; “Quhar sic thing cummys throuch bost,

“Prayer off fors, quhar so at it be wrocht,

“Till ws helpis [othyr] litill, or ellis nocht.”

Warly scho said; ‘Thus wyssmen has ws kend,1315

‘Ay efftir wer pees is the finall end.

‘Quharfor ye suld off your gret malice cess;

‘The end off wer is cheryté and pess.

‘Pees is in hewyn, with blyss and lestandnas.

‘We sall beseke the Pape, off his hie grace,1320

‘Till commaund pess, sen we may do na mar.’Fol. 71 b

Fol. 71 b

“Madeym,” he said, “or your purches cum thar,

“Mendys we think off Ingland for to haiff.”

‘Quhat set yow thus,’ scho said, ‘so God yow saiff,

‘Fra violent wer at ye lik nocht to duell?’1325

“Madem,” he said, “the suth I sall yow tell.

“Eftir the dayt off Alexandris ryng,

“Our land stud thre yer desolate but king,

“Kepyt full weyll at concord in gud stait.

“Throuch twa clemyt, thar hapnyt gret debait,1330

“So ernystfully, accord thaim nocht thai can.

“Your king thai ast for to be thair ourman.

“Slely he slayd throuch strenthis off Scotland;

“The kynryk syne he tuk in his awn hand.

“He maid a kyng agayn our rychtwyss law;1335

“For he off him suld hald the regioun aw.

“Contrar this band was all the haill barnage,

“For Scotland was yeit neuir in to thrillage.

“Gret Julius, that tribut gat off aw,

“His wynnyng was in Scotland bot full smaw.1340

“Than your fals king, wndyr colour but mar,

“Throuch band he maid till Bruce that is our ayr,

“Throuch all Scotland with gret power thai raid,

“Wndyr that king quhilk he befor had maid.

“To Bruce sen syne he kepit na connand:1345

“He said, he wald nocht ga and conquess land

“Till othir men; and thus the cass befell.

“Than Scotland throuch he demayned him sell;

“Slew our elderis, gret peté was to se.

“In presoune syne lang tyme thai pynit me,1350

“Quhill I fra thaim was castyn out for ded.

“Thankit be God he send me sum remed!

“Wengyt to be I prewyt all my mycht;

“Feyll off thair kyn to dede syn I haiff dycht.

“The rage off youth gert me desyr a wyff;1355

“That rewit I sayr, and will do all my liff.

“A tratour knycht but mercy gert hyr de,

“Ane Hessilryg bot for dispit off me.

“Than rang I furth in cruell wer and payn,

“Quhill we redemyt part off our land agayn.1360

“Than your curst king desyryt off ws a trew;

“Quhilk maid Scotland full rathly for to rew.

“In to that pess thai set a suttell ayr,

“Than auchtene scor to dede thai hangit thar,

“At noblis war, and worthi off renoun;1365

“Off cot armys eldest in that regioun.

“Thar dede we think to weng in all our mycht.

“The woman als, that dulfully was dycht,

“Out off my mynd that dede will neuir bid,Fol. 72 a

Fol. 72 a

“Quhill God me tak fra this fals warld so wid.1370

“Off Sotheroun syn I can no peté haiff;

“Your men in wer I think neuir mor to saiff.”

The breith teris, was gret payn to behald,

Bryst fra his eyn, be he his taill had tald.

The queyn wepyt for peté off Wallace.1375

‘Allace,’ scho said, ‘wa worth the curssyt cace.’

‘In waryit tym that Hesilryg was born!

‘Mony worthi throuch his deid ar forlorn.

‘He suld haiff payn, that saikles sic ane sleuch;

‘Ingland sen syn has boucht it der enewch,1380

‘Thocht scho had beyn a queyn or a prynsace.’

“Madem,” he said, “as God giff me gud grace,

“Prynsace or queyn, in quhat stait so thai be,

“In till hir tym scho was als der to me.”

‘Wallace,’ scho said, ‘off this talk we will cess;1385

‘The mendis heroff is gud prayer and pess.’

“I grant,” he said, “off me as now na mayr;

“This is rycht nocht bot ekyng off our cayr.”

Back to Index Next