Chapter 19

The later day off August fell this cace;695For the reskew, thus ordanyt wicht Wallace,Off Sanct Jhonstoun, that Sothroun occupyit.Fast towart Tay thai passyt and aspyit;Or it was day wndyr Kynnowll thaim laid.Out off the toun, as Scottis men till hym said,700That serwandys oysyt with cartis hay to leid;So was it suth, and hapnyt in to deid.Saxsum thar com, and brocht bot cartis thre.Quhen thai off hay was ladand most byssé,Guthré with ten in handys has thaim tayn,705Put thaim to dede, off thaim he sawyt nayn.Wallace gert tak in haist thar humest weid,And sic lik men thai waillyt, weill gud speid;Four was rycht rud, Wallace hym selff tuk ane,A rwssyt clok, and with him gud Ruwane.710Guthré with that, and als gud yemen twa,In that ilk soit thai graithit thaim to ga.Full sutelly thai coueryt thaim with hay,Syne to the toun thai went the gaynest way.Fyfteyn thai tuk off men in armes wicht,715In ilk cart fyve thai ordanyt owt off sycht.Thir cartaris had schort suerdis, off gud steill,Wndyr thar weidis, callyt furth the cartis weill.Schyr Jhon Ramsay baid with a buschement still,Quhen mystir war to help thaim with gud will.720Thir trew cartaris past with outyn lett,A tour the bryg, and entryt throu the yet;Quhen thai war in, thar clokis kest thaim fra,Gud Wallace than the mayster portar can taWpon the hed, quhill dede he has him left;725Syn othir twa the lyff fra thaim has reft.Guthré, be that, did rycht weyll in the toun;And Ruwan als dang off thar famen doune.Fol. 83 bThe armyt men, was in the cartis brocht,Raiss wp, and weill thar dawery has wrocht;730Apon the gait thai gert feill Sothroun de.The Ramsais spy, has seyn [thaim] get entré,The buschement brak, bathe bryg and port has won:Into the toun gret stryff thar was begon.Thai twenty men, or Ramsay come in playn,735Within the toun had saxté Sotheroun slayn.The Inglissmen on till aray was gayn;The Scottis as than layser lett them get nayn;Fra gud Ramsay with his men entryt in,Thai sawit nayn was born off Ingliss kyn.740Als Longaweill, the wycht knycht Schyr Thomas,Prewyt weill than, and in mony othir place.Agayn his dynt few Inglissmen mycht stand;Wallace with him gret faith and kyndnes fand.The Sotheroun part saw weill the toun was tynt,745Fersly thai fled, as fyr dois out off flynt.Sum fled, some fell in to draw dykis deip,Sum to the kyrk, thar lywys giff thai mycht keip;Sum fled to Tay, and in small weschell yeid;Sum derffly deit and drownyt in that steid,750Schir Jhon Sewart at the west port owt past;Till Meffen wod he sped him wondyr fast.A hundreth men the kyrk tuk for succour,Bot Wallace wald no grace grant in that hour.He slay bad all off cruell Sotheroun keyn;755And said thai had to Sanct Jhonstoun enemys beyn.Four hundreth men in to the toun war ded.Sewyn scor with lyff chapyt out off that sted.Wyffis and barnys thai maid thaim fre to ga;With Wallace wyll he wald sla nayn off tha.760Riches thai fand, that Inglissmen had brocht new,Syn plenyst the toun with worthi Scottis trew.Schyr Jhon Sewart left Meffen forest strang,Went to the Gask with feyll Sotheroun amang;And syn in Fyff, quhar Wallang schirreff was;765Send currowris sone out throw the land to pass,And gaderyt men, a stalwart cumpany.Till Ardargan he drew him prewaly;Ordand thaim in bargan reddy boune.Agayn he thocht to sailye Sanct Jhonstoun,770Quhar Wallace lay, and wald no langar rest,Rewllyt the toun as that him likyt best.Schyr Jhon Ramsay gret captane ordand he,Ruwan schirreff, at ane accord for to be.Fol. 84 aThis charge he gaiff, gyff men thaim warnyng maid,775To cum till him with outyn mor abaid:And so thai did, quhen tithingis was thaim brocht.With a hundreth Wallace furth fra thaim socht.

The later day off August fell this cace;695

For the reskew, thus ordanyt wicht Wallace,

Off Sanct Jhonstoun, that Sothroun occupyit.

Fast towart Tay thai passyt and aspyit;

Or it was day wndyr Kynnowll thaim laid.

Out off the toun, as Scottis men till hym said,700

That serwandys oysyt with cartis hay to leid;

So was it suth, and hapnyt in to deid.

Saxsum thar com, and brocht bot cartis thre.

Quhen thai off hay was ladand most byssé,

Guthré with ten in handys has thaim tayn,705

Put thaim to dede, off thaim he sawyt nayn.

Wallace gert tak in haist thar humest weid,

And sic lik men thai waillyt, weill gud speid;

Four was rycht rud, Wallace hym selff tuk ane,

A rwssyt clok, and with him gud Ruwane.710

Guthré with that, and als gud yemen twa,

In that ilk soit thai graithit thaim to ga.

Full sutelly thai coueryt thaim with hay,

Syne to the toun thai went the gaynest way.

Fyfteyn thai tuk off men in armes wicht,715

In ilk cart fyve thai ordanyt owt off sycht.

Thir cartaris had schort suerdis, off gud steill,

Wndyr thar weidis, callyt furth the cartis weill.

Schyr Jhon Ramsay baid with a buschement still,

Quhen mystir war to help thaim with gud will.720

Thir trew cartaris past with outyn lett,

A tour the bryg, and entryt throu the yet;

Quhen thai war in, thar clokis kest thaim fra,

Gud Wallace than the mayster portar can ta

Wpon the hed, quhill dede he has him left;725

Syn othir twa the lyff fra thaim has reft.

Guthré, be that, did rycht weyll in the toun;

And Ruwan als dang off thar famen doune.Fol. 83 b

Fol. 83 b

The armyt men, was in the cartis brocht,

Raiss wp, and weill thar dawery has wrocht;730

Apon the gait thai gert feill Sothroun de.

The Ramsais spy, has seyn [thaim] get entré,

The buschement brak, bathe bryg and port has won:

Into the toun gret stryff thar was begon.

Thai twenty men, or Ramsay come in playn,735

Within the toun had saxté Sotheroun slayn.

The Inglissmen on till aray was gayn;

The Scottis as than layser lett them get nayn;

Fra gud Ramsay with his men entryt in,

Thai sawit nayn was born off Ingliss kyn.740

Als Longaweill, the wycht knycht Schyr Thomas,

Prewyt weill than, and in mony othir place.

Agayn his dynt few Inglissmen mycht stand;

Wallace with him gret faith and kyndnes fand.

The Sotheroun part saw weill the toun was tynt,745

Fersly thai fled, as fyr dois out off flynt.

Sum fled, some fell in to draw dykis deip,

Sum to the kyrk, thar lywys giff thai mycht keip;

Sum fled to Tay, and in small weschell yeid;

Sum derffly deit and drownyt in that steid,750

Schir Jhon Sewart at the west port owt past;

Till Meffen wod he sped him wondyr fast.

A hundreth men the kyrk tuk for succour,

Bot Wallace wald no grace grant in that hour.

He slay bad all off cruell Sotheroun keyn;755

And said thai had to Sanct Jhonstoun enemys beyn.

Four hundreth men in to the toun war ded.

Sewyn scor with lyff chapyt out off that sted.

Wyffis and barnys thai maid thaim fre to ga;

With Wallace wyll he wald sla nayn off tha.760

Riches thai fand, that Inglissmen had brocht new,

Syn plenyst the toun with worthi Scottis trew.

Schyr Jhon Sewart left Meffen forest strang,

Went to the Gask with feyll Sotheroun amang;

And syn in Fyff, quhar Wallang schirreff was;765

Send currowris sone out throw the land to pass,

And gaderyt men, a stalwart cumpany.

Till Ardargan he drew him prewaly;

Ordand thaim in bargan reddy boune.

Agayn he thocht to sailye Sanct Jhonstoun,770

Quhar Wallace lay, and wald no langar rest,

Rewllyt the toun as that him likyt best.

Schyr Jhon Ramsay gret captane ordand he,

Ruwan schirreff, at ane accord for to be.Fol. 84 a

Fol. 84 a

This charge he gaiff, gyff men thaim warnyng maid,775

To cum till him with outyn mor abaid:

And so thai did, quhen tithingis was thaim brocht.

With a hundreth Wallace furth fra thaim socht.

To Fyfe he past, to wesy that cuntré,Bot wrangwarnyt off Inglissmen was he.780Schyr Jhon Sewart, quhen thai were passyt by,Fra the Ochell he sped him haistely;Vpon Wallace folowit in all his mycht,In Abyrnethy tuk lugyng that fyrst nycht.Apon the morn, with fyftene hundreth men,785Till Black Irnsyde his gydys couth them ken.Thar Wallace was, and mycht no message sendTill Sanct Jhonstoun, to mak this jornay kend;For Inglissmen, that full sutell has beyn,Gart wachis walk, that nayn mycht pass betweyn.790Than Wallace said, “This mater payis nocht me.”He cald till him the squier gud Guthré,And Beset als, that knew full weyll the land;And ast at thaim, quhat deid was best on hand,“Message to mak, our pouer for to get;795“With Sotheroun sone we sall be wndirset.“And wykked Scottis, that knawis this forest best,“Thai ar the causs that we may haiff no rest.“I dred fer mar Wallang, that is thair gyd,“Than all the layff that cummys on that syd.”800Than Guthré said; ‘Mycht we get ane or tway‘To Saynct Johnstoun, it war the gaynest way;‘And warn Ramsay, we wald get succour sone.‘Our suth it is, it can nocht now be don.‘Rycht weyll I wait, weschell is lewyt nayn,805‘Fra the Wood hawyn, to the ferry cald Aran.’Than Wallace said; “The water cald it is;“My selff can swym, I trow, and fall na myss.“But currours oyss, that gaynys nocht for me;“And I leyff yow her, yet had I leuir de.810“Throw Goddis grace we sall bettir eschew;“The strenth is stark, als we haiff men inew.“In Elchoch park, bot fourty thar war we,“For sewyn hundreth, and gert feill Sothron de;“And chapyt weill in mony wnlikly place;815“So sall we her, throw help off Goddis grace.“Quhill men may fast, thir woddis we may hauld still;“For thi, ilk man be off trew hardy will;“And at we do so nobill in to deid,“Off ws be found no lak eftir to reid.820“The rycht is ouris, we suld mor ardent be;Fol. 84 b“I think to freith this land, or ellis de.”His waillyt spech, with wit and hardyment,Maid all the layff so cruell off entent;Sum bad tak feild, and giff battaill in playn.825Wallace said; “Nay, thai wordis are in wayn:“We will nocht leyff that may be our wantage;“The wod till ws is worth a yeris wage.”Off hewyn temyr in haist he gert thaim takSyllys off ayk, and a stark barrés mak,830At a foyr frount, fast in the forest syd,A full gret strenth, quhar thai purpost to bid;Stellyt thaim fast till treis that growand was,That thai mycht weyll in fra the barrés pass;And so weill graithit on athir sid about;835Syn com agayn, quhen thai saw thaim in dout.Be that the strenth arayit was at rycht,The Inglis ost approchyt to thair sycht.Than Sewart com, that way for till haiff wend,As thai war wount; so his gydis thaim kend.840At that entré thai thocht till haiff passage;But sone thai fand that maid thaim gret stoppage.A thousand he led off men in armes strang,With fyve hundreth he gert Jhon Wallang gangWith out the wod, that nayn suld pass thaim fra.845Wallace with him had fourty archarys thra;The layff was speris, full nobill in a neid:On thair enemys thai bykkyr with gud speid.A cruell cwntyr was at the barrés seyn.The Scottis defens so sykkyr was and keyn,850Sotheroun stud aw to enter thaim amang;Feill to the ground thai our threw in that thrang.A rowm was left, quhar part in frount mycht fayr;Quha entrit in, agayn yeid neuirmar.Fourty thai slew, that formast wald haiff past.855All dysarayit the ost was, and agast;And part off hors throw schot to dede was brocht,Brak to a playn, the Sotheroun fra them socht.The Sewart said; “Allace, how [may] this be;“And do no harm? Our gret rabut haiff we.”860He tald Wallang, and askyt his consaill;“Schyrreff thou art, quhat may be our awaill?“But few thai ar that makis this gret debait.”John Wallang said; ‘This is the best I wait,‘To cess her off, and remayn her besyd;865‘For thai may nocht lang in this forest byd;‘For fawt off fud, thai mon in the cuntré;Fol. 85 a‘Than war mar tym on thaim to mak mellé.‘Or thai be won be fors, in to this stryff‘Feyll at ye leid sall erar loss the lyff.’870Than Sewart said; “This reid I will nocht tak:“And Scottis be warnyt, reskew sone will they mak.“Off this dispyt amendys I think to haiff,“Or de thar for in nowmyr with the laiff.“In till a rang myselff on fut will fayr.”875Aucht hundreth he tuk off liklyest that was thair;Syn bad the layff bid at the barrés stillWith Jhon Wallang, to rewyll thaim at his will.“Wallang,” he said, “be forthwart in this cace;“In sic a swar we couth nocht get Wallace.880“Tak hym or sla; I promess the be my lyff,“That king Edwart sall mak the erll off Fyff.“At yon est part we think to enter in;“I bid no mar, might ye this barress wyn.“Fra thai be closyt graithly amang ws sa,885“Bot merwell be, thai sall na ferrer ga.“Assailye sayr, quhen ye wit we cum ner;“On athir sid we sall hald thaim on ster.”Thus semlyt thai apon ane awfull wyss.Wallace has seyn quhat was thair haill dewyss.890“Gud men,” he said, “wndirstud ye this deid,“Forsuth thai ar rycht mekill for to dreid.“Yon Sewart is a nobill worthy knycht;“Forthwart in wer, rycht worthy, wyss and wicht.“His assailye he ordannys wondyr sayr895“Ws for to harm, no mannys wyt can do mar.“Plesand it is to se a chyftane ga“So chyftanlyk; it suld recomfort ma“Till his awn men, and thai of worschip be,“Than for to se ten thousand cowartis fle.900“Sen we ar stad with enemyss on ilk syd,“And her on fors mon in this forest bid,“Than fray the fyrst, for Goddis saik, cruellye,“That all the layff off ws abayssyt be.”

To Fyfe he past, to wesy that cuntré,

Bot wrangwarnyt off Inglissmen was he.780

Schyr Jhon Sewart, quhen thai were passyt by,

Fra the Ochell he sped him haistely;

Vpon Wallace folowit in all his mycht,

In Abyrnethy tuk lugyng that fyrst nycht.

Apon the morn, with fyftene hundreth men,785

Till Black Irnsyde his gydys couth them ken.

Thar Wallace was, and mycht no message send

Till Sanct Jhonstoun, to mak this jornay kend;

For Inglissmen, that full sutell has beyn,

Gart wachis walk, that nayn mycht pass betweyn.790

Than Wallace said, “This mater payis nocht me.”

He cald till him the squier gud Guthré,

And Beset als, that knew full weyll the land;

And ast at thaim, quhat deid was best on hand,

“Message to mak, our pouer for to get;795

“With Sotheroun sone we sall be wndirset.

“And wykked Scottis, that knawis this forest best,

“Thai ar the causs that we may haiff no rest.

“I dred fer mar Wallang, that is thair gyd,

“Than all the layff that cummys on that syd.”800

Than Guthré said; ‘Mycht we get ane or tway

‘To Saynct Johnstoun, it war the gaynest way;

‘And warn Ramsay, we wald get succour sone.

‘Our suth it is, it can nocht now be don.

‘Rycht weyll I wait, weschell is lewyt nayn,805

‘Fra the Wood hawyn, to the ferry cald Aran.’

Than Wallace said; “The water cald it is;

“My selff can swym, I trow, and fall na myss.

“But currours oyss, that gaynys nocht for me;

“And I leyff yow her, yet had I leuir de.810

“Throw Goddis grace we sall bettir eschew;

“The strenth is stark, als we haiff men inew.

“In Elchoch park, bot fourty thar war we,

“For sewyn hundreth, and gert feill Sothron de;

“And chapyt weill in mony wnlikly place;815

“So sall we her, throw help off Goddis grace.

“Quhill men may fast, thir woddis we may hauld still;

“For thi, ilk man be off trew hardy will;

“And at we do so nobill in to deid,

“Off ws be found no lak eftir to reid.820

“The rycht is ouris, we suld mor ardent be;Fol. 84 b

Fol. 84 b

“I think to freith this land, or ellis de.”

His waillyt spech, with wit and hardyment,

Maid all the layff so cruell off entent;

Sum bad tak feild, and giff battaill in playn.825

Wallace said; “Nay, thai wordis are in wayn:

“We will nocht leyff that may be our wantage;

“The wod till ws is worth a yeris wage.”

Off hewyn temyr in haist he gert thaim tak

Syllys off ayk, and a stark barrés mak,830

At a foyr frount, fast in the forest syd,

A full gret strenth, quhar thai purpost to bid;

Stellyt thaim fast till treis that growand was,

That thai mycht weyll in fra the barrés pass;

And so weill graithit on athir sid about;835

Syn com agayn, quhen thai saw thaim in dout.

Be that the strenth arayit was at rycht,

The Inglis ost approchyt to thair sycht.

Than Sewart com, that way for till haiff wend,

As thai war wount; so his gydis thaim kend.840

At that entré thai thocht till haiff passage;

But sone thai fand that maid thaim gret stoppage.

A thousand he led off men in armes strang,

With fyve hundreth he gert Jhon Wallang gang

With out the wod, that nayn suld pass thaim fra.845

Wallace with him had fourty archarys thra;

The layff was speris, full nobill in a neid:

On thair enemys thai bykkyr with gud speid.

A cruell cwntyr was at the barrés seyn.

The Scottis defens so sykkyr was and keyn,850

Sotheroun stud aw to enter thaim amang;

Feill to the ground thai our threw in that thrang.

A rowm was left, quhar part in frount mycht fayr;

Quha entrit in, agayn yeid neuirmar.

Fourty thai slew, that formast wald haiff past.855

All dysarayit the ost was, and agast;

And part off hors throw schot to dede was brocht,

Brak to a playn, the Sotheroun fra them socht.

The Sewart said; “Allace, how [may] this be;

“And do no harm? Our gret rabut haiff we.”860

He tald Wallang, and askyt his consaill;

“Schyrreff thou art, quhat may be our awaill?

“But few thai ar that makis this gret debait.”

John Wallang said; ‘This is the best I wait,

‘To cess her off, and remayn her besyd;865

‘For thai may nocht lang in this forest byd;

‘For fawt off fud, thai mon in the cuntré;Fol. 85 a

Fol. 85 a

‘Than war mar tym on thaim to mak mellé.

‘Or thai be won be fors, in to this stryff

‘Feyll at ye leid sall erar loss the lyff.’870

Than Sewart said; “This reid I will nocht tak:

“And Scottis be warnyt, reskew sone will they mak.

“Off this dispyt amendys I think to haiff,

“Or de thar for in nowmyr with the laiff.

“In till a rang myselff on fut will fayr.”875

Aucht hundreth he tuk off liklyest that was thair;

Syn bad the layff bid at the barrés still

With Jhon Wallang, to rewyll thaim at his will.

“Wallang,” he said, “be forthwart in this cace;

“In sic a swar we couth nocht get Wallace.880

“Tak hym or sla; I promess the be my lyff,

“That king Edwart sall mak the erll off Fyff.

“At yon est part we think to enter in;

“I bid no mar, might ye this barress wyn.

“Fra thai be closyt graithly amang ws sa,885

“Bot merwell be, thai sall na ferrer ga.

“Assailye sayr, quhen ye wit we cum ner;

“On athir sid we sall hald thaim on ster.”

Thus semlyt thai apon ane awfull wyss.

Wallace has seyn quhat was thair haill dewyss.890

“Gud men,” he said, “wndirstud ye this deid,

“Forsuth thai ar rycht mekill for to dreid.

“Yon Sewart is a nobill worthy knycht;

“Forthwart in wer, rycht worthy, wyss and wicht.

“His assailye he ordannys wondyr sayr895

“Ws for to harm, no mannys wyt can do mar.

“Plesand it is to se a chyftane ga

“So chyftanlyk; it suld recomfort ma

“Till his awn men, and thai of worschip be,

“Than for to se ten thousand cowartis fle.900

“Sen we ar stad with enemyss on ilk syd,

“And her on fors mon in this forest bid,

“Than fray the fyrst, for Goddis saik, cruellye,

“That all the layff off ws abayssyt be.”

Crawfurd he left, and Longaweill the knycht,905Fourty with thaim, to kepe the barrés wicht:With him saxté off worthy men in weid,To meit Sewart with hardy will thai yeid.A maner dyk in to that wod wes maid,Off thuortour ryss, quhar bauldly thai abaid;910A downwith waill the Sothroun to thaim had.Son semblyt thai with strakis sar and sad:Scharp sperys, fast duschand on athir sid,Fol. 85 bThrow byrnys brycht maid woundis deip and wid.This wantage was, the Scottis thaim dantyt swa,915Nayn Inglissman durst fra his feris ga,To brek aray, or formast entyr in.Off crystin blud to se it was gret syn,For wrangwis causs; and has beyn mony day.Feyll Inglissmen in the dyk deid thai lay.920Speris full sone all in to splendrys sprang;With scharp suerdys thai hew on in that thrang:Blud byrstyt out throw fyn harnes off maill.Jhon Wallang als full scharply can assaillApon Crawfurd, and the knycht Longaweill,925At thar power kepyt the barrés weill;Maid gud defens, be wyt, manheid, and mycht;At the entrê feyll men to dede thai dycht.Thus all at anys assailyeit in that place,Nayn that was thar durst turn fra the barrace930To help Wallace, nor none of his durst passTo reskew thaim, so feyll the fechtyng was.At athir ward thai handelyt thaim full hat;Bot do or de, na succour ellis thai wayt.Wallace wes stad in to that stalwart stour;935Guthré, Besat, with men off gret walour,Rychard Wallace, that worthi was off hand.Sewart merweillyt, that contrar thaim mycht stand,That euyr so few mycht byd in battaill place,Agaynys thaim, metyng face for face.940He thocht him selff to end that mater weill;Fast pressyt in with a gud suerd off steill;Into the dyk a Scottis man gert he de.Wallace tharoff in hart had gret pyté;Amendis till haiff he followit on him fast,945But Ingliss men so thick betwex thaim past,That apon him a strak get mycht he nocht:Wthyr worthy derffly to dede he brocht.Sloppys thai maid throu all that chewalry,The worthy Scottis thai wrocht so worthely.950Than Sothron saw off thar gud men so drest,Langar to bid thai thocht it nocht the best.Four scor was slayn, or thai wald leyff that steid,And fyfty als was at the barrace deid.A trumpet blew, and fra the wod thai draw;955Wallang left off, that sycht fra that he saw.To sailye mar thaim [thocht] it was no speid,Withowt the wod to consaill son thai yeid,The worthy Scottis to rest thaim was full fayn;Feyll hurtis had, bot few off thaim was slayn.960Fol. 86 aWallace thaim bad of all gud comfort be;“Thankit be God, the fayrer part haiff we!“Yon knycht Sewart has at gret jornay beyn;“So fair assay I haiff bot seildyn seyn.“I had leuir off Wallang wrokyn be,965“Than ony man that is off yon menyhe.”The Scottis all on to the barress yeid,Stanchit woundis that couth full braithly bleid.Part Scottis men had bled full mekill blud;For faut off drynk, and als wantyng off fud,970Sum feblyt fast, that had feill hurtis thar.Wallace tharfor sichit with hart full sar.A hat he hynt, to get water is gayn;Othir refut as than he wyst off nayn.A litill strand he fand, that ran hym by;975Off cler watter he brocht haboundandly,And drank him selff, syn said, with sobyr mud;“The wyn off Frans me thocht nocht halff so gud.”Than off the day thre quartaris was went.Schir Jhon Sewart has castyn in his entent,980To sailye mar as than he couth nocht preiff;Quhill on the morn that mar men couth raleiff;And kep thaim in, quhill tha, for hungyr sor,Cum in his will, or ellis de tharfor.“Wallange,” he said, “I charge the for to bid,985“And kep thaim in; I will to Coupar rid.“Thow sall remayn, with fyve hundreth at thi will,“And I the morn sall cum with power the till.”Jhon Wallange said; ‘This charg I [her] forsaik;‘Eftir this day all nycht I may nocht waik.990‘For, trastis weill, thai will ische to the playn,‘Thocht ye bid als, or ellis de in the payn.’Sewart bad him byd, or wndyrly the blaym;“I the commaund, on gud king Eduuardis naym.“Or thar to God a wow I mak beforn,995“And thai brek out, to hyng the heych to morn.”Off that commaund Jhon Wallang had gret dreid;Sewart went fra thaim with nyne scor in to deidNext hand the wod, and his gud men off Fyff,That with him baid in all term off thair lyff.1000Wallace drew ner, his tym quhen that he saw,To the wod syd, and couth on Wallang caw;“Yon knycht to morn has hecht to hyng the hie.Fol. 86 b“Cum in till ws, I sall thi warrand be“In contrar him, and all king Eduuardis mycht.1005“Tak we hym quyk, I sall him hyng on hycht;“And gud lordschip I sall gyff the hereft“In this ilk land, that thi brothir has left.”Wallange was wyss, full sone couth wndrestand,Be lyklynes Wallace suld wyn the land;1010And bettir him war in to the rycht to bid,Than be in wer apon the Sotheroun sid.With schort wysment to Wallace in thai socht.Than Sewart cryt, and said; ‘That beis for nocht;‘And fals off kynd thow art in heretage;1015‘Eduuard on the has waryt ewill gret wage.‘Her I sall byd, my purpos to fullfill,‘Othir to de, or haiff the at my will.”For all his spech, to pass he wald nocht spar;Wyth full glaid hart Wallace resawyt thaim thar.1020

Crawfurd he left, and Longaweill the knycht,905

Fourty with thaim, to kepe the barrés wicht:

With him saxté off worthy men in weid,

To meit Sewart with hardy will thai yeid.

A maner dyk in to that wod wes maid,

Off thuortour ryss, quhar bauldly thai abaid;910

A downwith waill the Sothroun to thaim had.

Son semblyt thai with strakis sar and sad:

Scharp sperys, fast duschand on athir sid,Fol. 85 b

Fol. 85 b

Throw byrnys brycht maid woundis deip and wid.

This wantage was, the Scottis thaim dantyt swa,915

Nayn Inglissman durst fra his feris ga,

To brek aray, or formast entyr in.

Off crystin blud to se it was gret syn,

For wrangwis causs; and has beyn mony day.

Feyll Inglissmen in the dyk deid thai lay.920

Speris full sone all in to splendrys sprang;

With scharp suerdys thai hew on in that thrang:

Blud byrstyt out throw fyn harnes off maill.

Jhon Wallang als full scharply can assaill

Apon Crawfurd, and the knycht Longaweill,925

At thar power kepyt the barrés weill;

Maid gud defens, be wyt, manheid, and mycht;

At the entrê feyll men to dede thai dycht.

Thus all at anys assailyeit in that place,

Nayn that was thar durst turn fra the barrace930

To help Wallace, nor none of his durst pass

To reskew thaim, so feyll the fechtyng was.

At athir ward thai handelyt thaim full hat;

Bot do or de, na succour ellis thai wayt.

Wallace wes stad in to that stalwart stour;935

Guthré, Besat, with men off gret walour,

Rychard Wallace, that worthi was off hand.

Sewart merweillyt, that contrar thaim mycht stand,

That euyr so few mycht byd in battaill place,

Agaynys thaim, metyng face for face.940

He thocht him selff to end that mater weill;

Fast pressyt in with a gud suerd off steill;

Into the dyk a Scottis man gert he de.

Wallace tharoff in hart had gret pyté;

Amendis till haiff he followit on him fast,945

But Ingliss men so thick betwex thaim past,

That apon him a strak get mycht he nocht:

Wthyr worthy derffly to dede he brocht.

Sloppys thai maid throu all that chewalry,

The worthy Scottis thai wrocht so worthely.950

Than Sothron saw off thar gud men so drest,

Langar to bid thai thocht it nocht the best.

Four scor was slayn, or thai wald leyff that steid,

And fyfty als was at the barrace deid.

A trumpet blew, and fra the wod thai draw;955

Wallang left off, that sycht fra that he saw.

To sailye mar thaim [thocht] it was no speid,

Withowt the wod to consaill son thai yeid,

The worthy Scottis to rest thaim was full fayn;

Feyll hurtis had, bot few off thaim was slayn.960Fol. 86 a

Fol. 86 a

Wallace thaim bad of all gud comfort be;

“Thankit be God, the fayrer part haiff we!

“Yon knycht Sewart has at gret jornay beyn;

“So fair assay I haiff bot seildyn seyn.

“I had leuir off Wallang wrokyn be,965

“Than ony man that is off yon menyhe.”

The Scottis all on to the barress yeid,

Stanchit woundis that couth full braithly bleid.

Part Scottis men had bled full mekill blud;

For faut off drynk, and als wantyng off fud,970

Sum feblyt fast, that had feill hurtis thar.

Wallace tharfor sichit with hart full sar.

A hat he hynt, to get water is gayn;

Othir refut as than he wyst off nayn.

A litill strand he fand, that ran hym by;975

Off cler watter he brocht haboundandly,

And drank him selff, syn said, with sobyr mud;

“The wyn off Frans me thocht nocht halff so gud.”

Than off the day thre quartaris was went.

Schir Jhon Sewart has castyn in his entent,980

To sailye mar as than he couth nocht preiff;

Quhill on the morn that mar men couth raleiff;

And kep thaim in, quhill tha, for hungyr sor,

Cum in his will, or ellis de tharfor.

“Wallange,” he said, “I charge the for to bid,985

“And kep thaim in; I will to Coupar rid.

“Thow sall remayn, with fyve hundreth at thi will,

“And I the morn sall cum with power the till.”

Jhon Wallange said; ‘This charg I [her] forsaik;

‘Eftir this day all nycht I may nocht waik.990

‘For, trastis weill, thai will ische to the playn,

‘Thocht ye bid als, or ellis de in the payn.’

Sewart bad him byd, or wndyrly the blaym;

“I the commaund, on gud king Eduuardis naym.

“Or thar to God a wow I mak beforn,995

“And thai brek out, to hyng the heych to morn.”

Off that commaund Jhon Wallang had gret dreid;

Sewart went fra thaim with nyne scor in to deid

Next hand the wod, and his gud men off Fyff,

That with him baid in all term off thair lyff.1000

Wallace drew ner, his tym quhen that he saw,

To the wod syd, and couth on Wallang caw;

“Yon knycht to morn has hecht to hyng the hie.Fol. 86 b

Fol. 86 b

“Cum in till ws, I sall thi warrand be

“In contrar him, and all king Eduuardis mycht.1005

“Tak we hym quyk, I sall him hyng on hycht;

“And gud lordschip I sall gyff the hereft

“In this ilk land, that thi brothir has left.”

Wallange was wyss, full sone couth wndrestand,

Be lyklynes Wallace suld wyn the land;1010

And bettir him war in to the rycht to bid,

Than be in wer apon the Sotheroun sid.

With schort wysment to Wallace in thai socht.

Than Sewart cryt, and said; ‘That beis for nocht;

‘And fals off kynd thow art in heretage;1015

‘Eduuard on the has waryt ewill gret wage.

‘Her I sall byd, my purpos to fullfill,

‘Othir to de, or haiff the at my will.”

For all his spech, to pass he wald nocht spar;

Wyth full glaid hart Wallace resawyt thaim thar.1020

Be that, Ruwan and Ramsay off renown,Be a trew Scot, that past to Sanct Jhonstoun,Thaim warnyng maid, that Sewart folowit fastApon Wallace; than war thai sayr agast.Owt off the toun thai wschit with all thair mycht,1025With thre hundreth, that worthi war and wicht;Till Black Irnsid assemblyt in that place,As Wallang was gayne in to gud Wallace.The knycht Sewart has weill thair cummyng seyn;A fayr playn feild he chesyt thaim betweyn.1030Elewyn hundreth and four scor than had he;The Scottismen war fyve hundreth and saxté.Thai war bot few, a playn feild for to tak.Out of the wod gud Wallace can thaim mak;He wyst no thing off thaim that cummyng was;1035Mar hardement was fra the strenth to pass.Bot quhen thai hard Ruwan and Ramsay cry,Off Ochtyrhous, blyth was that chewalry.Mycht thai off gold haiff brocht a kingis rent,To gud Wallace mycht nocht so weyll content.1040Than till aray thai yeid on athir sid,In cruell ire, in battaill bown to byd.Worthiar men than Sewart semblyt thar,In all his tym, Eduuard had neuirmar.Bot Sewart saw his nowmyr was fer ma;1045Hys power sone he gart dewyd in twa;To fecht at anys, rycht knychtlik he thaim kend,In that jornay othir to wyn or end.The worthi Scottis ruschyt on thaim, in gret ire,With cruell strakis, that flawmyt fers as fyr.1050Fol. 87 aWallace and his, als Sotheroun that was thar,Few speris had, for feyll fechtyng and sarIn to the wod at sailye all the day:Bot new cummyn men weill waillyt speris had thai.In to the stour thai gart feill Sotheroun de;1055Thar cruell deid gret merwell was to se.Thai worthi Scottis, that fyrst amang thaim baid,Full gret slauchtir on Inglissmen thai maid;In to the wod befor had prewyt weill,Than on the playn thai sonyeit nocht adeill;1060In curage grew, as thai war new begon;Schort rest thai had fra ryssyng off the son.Be that Ramsay, and with him gud Ruwan,Throw owt the thykkest off the pres is gan;Sloppis thai maid throw out the Inglissmen;1065Deseueryt thaim be twenty and by ten,Quhen speris war gayn, with suerdys off metall cler.Till Inglissmen thar cummyng was sauld full der.Wallace and his, be worthines off hand,Feyll Sotheroun blud gart [licht] wpon the land.1070The twa feildys togiddyr relyt thanSchyr Jhon Sewart, with mony nobill man,To help thair lord; thre hundreth in [a] placeAbout hym stud, and did thair besines;Defendand him, with mony awfull dynt,1075Quhill all the owtwart off the feild was tynt.Off comowns part into the forest fledSuccour to sek, thair men had thaim so led.The Scottis, has seyn so mony in a routWith Sewart stand, na warrand thaim about,1080Apon all syd assailyeit wondyr sayr;Throu polyt platis with poyntis persyt thair.The Sotheroun made defens full cruelly;All occupyit was this gud chewalry.Schyr Jhon Ramsay wald thai had yoldyn beyn.1085Wallace said; “Nay, it is all wrang ye meyn.“Ranson to mak we can nocht now begyn.“On sic awyss this land we may nocht wyn.“Yon knycht off auld our enemy has beyn.“So fell till ws off thaim I haiff nocht seyn.1090“Now he sall de, with help off Goddis grace;“He com to pay his ranson in this place.”The Sotheroun wyst all playnly for to de;Reskew was nayn, suppos at thai wald fle.Freschlye thai faucht as thai [had] entryt new;1095Apon our sid part worthy men thai slew.Than Sewart said; ‘Alace, throw wrangwis thingFol. 87 b‘Our lywys we loss, throu desyr off our king.’The felloun knycht dowtyt his dede rycht nocht;Amang the Scottis full manfully he wrocht;1100Besat he straik to dede with outyn mar.Wallace prest in, with his suerd burnyst bar,At Sewart hals he etlyt in gret ire,Throu pissanis stuff in sondyr strak the swyr;Dede to the ground he duschit for all his mycht:1105Off Wallace hand thus endyt this gud knycht.The ramaynand with out mercy thai sla;For gud Besat the Scottis was wondyr wa.In handis sum thai straik with out remed;Na Sotheroun past with lyff out off that sted.1110Than to the wod, for thaim that left the feild,A rang [thai] set; thus thai may get na beild.Yeid nayn away was contrar our punyoun.Gud Ruwan past agayn to Sanct Jhonstoun.Schyr Jhon Ramsay to Couper castell raid;1115That hous he tuk, for defens nayn was maid.Wallace, Crawfurd, and with thaim gud Guthré,Rychard Wallace had lang beyn in mellé,And Longaweill, in to Lundoris baid still;Fastyt thai had to lang agayn thar will.1120Wallange thai maid thair stwart for to be;Off meit and drynk thai fand aboundandlé.The priour fled, and durst na reknyng bid;He was befor apon the tothir syd.Apon the morn to Sanct Androwis thai past,1125Owt off the toun that byschop turnyt fast.The king off Ingland had him hydder send;The rent at will he gaiff hym in commend.His kingis charge as than he durst nocht hald:A wrangwys pape that tyrand mycht be cald.1130Few fled with him, and gat away be see;For all Scotland he wald nocht Wallace se.As than off him he maid bot lycht record.Gert restor him that thar was rychtwyss lord.The worthy knycht, that in to Coupar lay,1135Gart spulye it apon the secund day,Syn ordand men, at commaund off Wallace,But mar process, for to cast doun that place.Mynouris sone thai gert press throw the wall,Syn pounciounis fyryt, and to the ground kest all.1140Schyr Jhon Ramsay syne to the kyrk can fayr;Sotheroun was fled, and left bot wallis bayr:Efter Sewart thai durst nocht tary lang.The Scottis at large [out] throu all Fyff thai rang.Fol. 88 aOff Inglissmen nayn left in that cuntré.1145Bot in Lochlewyn thair lay a cumpané,Apon that inch, in a small hous thai dycht;Castell was nayn, bot wallyt with water wicht.Besyd Carraill thai semblyt Wallace beforn;His purposs was for till assay Kyngorn.1150A knycht, hecht Gray, than captane in it was;Be schort awyss purpos he tuk to pas.Erar he wald bid chalans off his king,Than with Wallace to rakyn for sic a thing.That houss thai tuk, and litill tary maid.1155Vpon the morn, with outyn mar abaid,Atour the mur, quhar thai a tryst had set,Ner Scotlandis Well thair lugyng tuk but let.Eftir souper Wallace bad thaim ga rest:“My selff will walk, me think it may be best.”1160As he commaundyt, but gruching thai haiff don.In to thar slep Wallace him graithit son,Past to Lochlewyn as it was ner mydnycht,Auchtene with him, at he hed warnyt rycht;Thir men wend weill he come to wesy it.1165“Falows,” he said, “I do yow weill to wyt;“Considyr weill this place, and wndirstand,“That it may do full gret scaith to Scotland.“Out off the south and power cum thaim till,“Thai may tak in, and kep it at thair awn will.1170“Apon yon inche rycht mony men may be,“And syn wsche out, thair tym quhen at thai se.“To bid lang her we may nocht wpon chans,“Yon folk has fud, trast weill, at sufficians.“Wattir fra thaim forsuth can nocht be set;1175“Sum wthyr wyill ws worthis for to get.“Yhe sall remayn her at this port all still,“And I my selff the boit sall bryng yow till.”Thair with in haist his weid off castis he:“Apon yon sid na wachman can I se;”1180Held on his sark, and tuk his suerd so gudBand on his nek, and syn lap in the flud,And our he swam; for lattyng fand he nocht.The boit he tuk, and till hys men it brocht;Arayit him weill, and wald no langar bid,1185Bot passyt in, rowit to the tothir sid.The inch thai tuk with suerdis drawyn in hand,And sparyt nayn that thai befor thaim fand;Strak duris wp, stekyt men quhar thai lay;Apon the Sothroun thus sadly semblyt thai.1190Thretty thai slew, that was in that samyn place;To mak defens the Inglissmen had no space.Thar women fyve Wallace send off that sted;Woman nor barne he gart neuir put to dede.Fol. 88 bThe gud thai tuk, as it had beyn thair awyn.1195Than Wallace said; “Falowis, I mak yow knawin,“The purwyance, that is with in this wanys,“We will nocht tyne; ger sembyll all at anys,“Gar warn Ramsay, and our gud men ilkane;“I will remayn quhill this warnstor be gane:”1200Send furth a man, thair horsis put to kep,Drew wp the boit, syne beddys tuk to sleip.Wallace power, quhilk Scotland Well ner lay,Befor the son thai myssyt him away.Sum menyng maid, and merweillyt off that cace.1205Ramsay bad, ‘Cess, and murn nocht for Wallace.‘It is for gud at he is fra us went;‘It sall ye se, trast weill, in werrament.‘My hed to wed, Lochlewyn he past to se:‘Bot that is thar, no Inglissman knaw we1210‘In all this land, betwix thir watters left;‘Tithandis off hym ye sall se son hereft.’As thai about was talkand on this wyss,A message com, and chargyt thaim to ryss.“My lord,” he said, “to dyner has yow cald1215“In till Lochlewyn, quhilk is a ryoll hald.“Ye sall fair weyll, tharfor put off all sorow.”Thai graithit thaim rycht ayrly on the morow;And thidder past, off Wallace will to wytt.Thus semblyt thai in a full blyth falowschip.1220Thai lugyt thar till aucht dayis was at end;Off meit and drynk thai had inewch to spend;Turssyt furth ger, that Sothroun had brocht thar;Gert byrn the boit, till Sanct Jhonstoun thai fair.Byschop Synclar, that worthy was and wyss,1225Till Wallace com, and tald him his awyss;Thus he desyryt Wallace suld with him ryd,And in Dunkell soiorn that wynter tyd.Bot he said; “Nay, that hald I nocht the best,“And Scotland thus; in pess we can nocht rest.”1230The byschop said, ‘Playnly ye may nocht wend;‘In to the north for men I rede yow send.’“I grant,” quoth he, “and cheissit a messynger.”The worthi Jop, was with the byschop ther;And maister Blair to Wallace cam bot baid,1235With that gud lord that nobill cher thaim maid.Wallace send Blayr, in [to] his priestis weid,To warn the west, quhar freyndys had gret dreidHow they suld pass, or to gud Wallace wyn,For Inglissmen that held thaim lang in twyn.1240Adam Wallace, and Lyndsay that was wycht,Rawchlé thai left, and went away be nycht.Throu out the land to the Lennox thai cair,Fol. 89 aTill erll Malcom, that welcummyt thaim full fair.Maister Jhon Blair was blith off that semblé;1245Gud Graym was thair, and Richard off Lunde;Als Robert Boid, that out off But thaim socht.Had thai Wallace, off no thing ellis thai roucht;Bot Inglissmen betuix thaim was so strang,That thai in playn mycht nocht weyll to him gang.1250Jop passit north, for leiching wald nocht let:Gret power thar as than he couth nocht get;The lord Cwmyn, that erll off Bouchane was,For auld inwy he wald [let] na man passThat he mycht let, in gud Wallace supplé;1255For erll Patrik a playn feild kepyt he.Yeit pur men com, and prewyt all thair mychtTo help Wallace, in fens off Scotlandis rycht.The gud Randell in tendyr age was kend,Part off men out off Murray he [did] send.1260Jop past agayn, and com in presens soneBefor Wallace, and tauld how he had don.Bot maister Blayr so gud tithingis him brocht,That off Cwmyn Wallace full litill roucht.Als Inglissmen had than full litill dreid;1265Fra Fyff was tynt, the war thai trowyt to sped.The duk and erll, that in Scotland thaim led,Captanys thai maid, in Ingland syn thaim sped.Wallace hym bownyt, qwhen he thocht tym suld be,Off Sanct Jhonstoun, and with him tuk fyfté.1270Stewin off Irland, and Kerlé that was wicht,For Inglissmen thai had haldyn the hychtIn wachman lyff, and fayndyt thaim rycht weill:Till gud Wallace thai war as trew as steill;To folow him thai twa thocht neuyr lang.1275Throucht the Ochell thai maid thaim for to gang.Off mar power he taryt nocht that tyd;To keip the land he gert the laiff abid.To Styrlyng bryg as than he wald nocht pass,For strang power of Inglissmen thar was.1280

Be that, Ruwan and Ramsay off renown,

Be a trew Scot, that past to Sanct Jhonstoun,

Thaim warnyng maid, that Sewart folowit fast

Apon Wallace; than war thai sayr agast.

Owt off the toun thai wschit with all thair mycht,1025

With thre hundreth, that worthi war and wicht;

Till Black Irnsid assemblyt in that place,

As Wallang was gayne in to gud Wallace.

The knycht Sewart has weill thair cummyng seyn;

A fayr playn feild he chesyt thaim betweyn.1030

Elewyn hundreth and four scor than had he;

The Scottismen war fyve hundreth and saxté.

Thai war bot few, a playn feild for to tak.

Out of the wod gud Wallace can thaim mak;

He wyst no thing off thaim that cummyng was;1035

Mar hardement was fra the strenth to pass.

Bot quhen thai hard Ruwan and Ramsay cry,

Off Ochtyrhous, blyth was that chewalry.

Mycht thai off gold haiff brocht a kingis rent,

To gud Wallace mycht nocht so weyll content.1040

Than till aray thai yeid on athir sid,

In cruell ire, in battaill bown to byd.

Worthiar men than Sewart semblyt thar,

In all his tym, Eduuard had neuirmar.

Bot Sewart saw his nowmyr was fer ma;1045

Hys power sone he gart dewyd in twa;

To fecht at anys, rycht knychtlik he thaim kend,

In that jornay othir to wyn or end.

The worthi Scottis ruschyt on thaim, in gret ire,

With cruell strakis, that flawmyt fers as fyr.1050Fol. 87 a

Fol. 87 a

Wallace and his, als Sotheroun that was thar,

Few speris had, for feyll fechtyng and sar

In to the wod at sailye all the day:

Bot new cummyn men weill waillyt speris had thai.

In to the stour thai gart feill Sotheroun de;1055

Thar cruell deid gret merwell was to se.

Thai worthi Scottis, that fyrst amang thaim baid,

Full gret slauchtir on Inglissmen thai maid;

In to the wod befor had prewyt weill,

Than on the playn thai sonyeit nocht adeill;1060

In curage grew, as thai war new begon;

Schort rest thai had fra ryssyng off the son.

Be that Ramsay, and with him gud Ruwan,

Throw owt the thykkest off the pres is gan;

Sloppis thai maid throw out the Inglissmen;1065

Deseueryt thaim be twenty and by ten,

Quhen speris war gayn, with suerdys off metall cler.

Till Inglissmen thar cummyng was sauld full der.

Wallace and his, be worthines off hand,

Feyll Sotheroun blud gart [licht] wpon the land.1070

The twa feildys togiddyr relyt than

Schyr Jhon Sewart, with mony nobill man,

To help thair lord; thre hundreth in [a] place

About hym stud, and did thair besines;

Defendand him, with mony awfull dynt,1075

Quhill all the owtwart off the feild was tynt.

Off comowns part into the forest fled

Succour to sek, thair men had thaim so led.

The Scottis, has seyn so mony in a rout

With Sewart stand, na warrand thaim about,1080

Apon all syd assailyeit wondyr sayr;

Throu polyt platis with poyntis persyt thair.

The Sotheroun made defens full cruelly;

All occupyit was this gud chewalry.

Schyr Jhon Ramsay wald thai had yoldyn beyn.1085

Wallace said; “Nay, it is all wrang ye meyn.

“Ranson to mak we can nocht now begyn.

“On sic awyss this land we may nocht wyn.

“Yon knycht off auld our enemy has beyn.

“So fell till ws off thaim I haiff nocht seyn.1090

“Now he sall de, with help off Goddis grace;

“He com to pay his ranson in this place.”

The Sotheroun wyst all playnly for to de;

Reskew was nayn, suppos at thai wald fle.

Freschlye thai faucht as thai [had] entryt new;1095

Apon our sid part worthy men thai slew.

Than Sewart said; ‘Alace, throw wrangwis thingFol. 87 b

Fol. 87 b

‘Our lywys we loss, throu desyr off our king.’

The felloun knycht dowtyt his dede rycht nocht;

Amang the Scottis full manfully he wrocht;1100

Besat he straik to dede with outyn mar.

Wallace prest in, with his suerd burnyst bar,

At Sewart hals he etlyt in gret ire,

Throu pissanis stuff in sondyr strak the swyr;

Dede to the ground he duschit for all his mycht:1105

Off Wallace hand thus endyt this gud knycht.

The ramaynand with out mercy thai sla;

For gud Besat the Scottis was wondyr wa.

In handis sum thai straik with out remed;

Na Sotheroun past with lyff out off that sted.1110

Than to the wod, for thaim that left the feild,

A rang [thai] set; thus thai may get na beild.

Yeid nayn away was contrar our punyoun.

Gud Ruwan past agayn to Sanct Jhonstoun.

Schyr Jhon Ramsay to Couper castell raid;1115

That hous he tuk, for defens nayn was maid.

Wallace, Crawfurd, and with thaim gud Guthré,

Rychard Wallace had lang beyn in mellé,

And Longaweill, in to Lundoris baid still;

Fastyt thai had to lang agayn thar will.1120

Wallange thai maid thair stwart for to be;

Off meit and drynk thai fand aboundandlé.

The priour fled, and durst na reknyng bid;

He was befor apon the tothir syd.

Apon the morn to Sanct Androwis thai past,1125

Owt off the toun that byschop turnyt fast.

The king off Ingland had him hydder send;

The rent at will he gaiff hym in commend.

His kingis charge as than he durst nocht hald:

A wrangwys pape that tyrand mycht be cald.1130

Few fled with him, and gat away be see;

For all Scotland he wald nocht Wallace se.

As than off him he maid bot lycht record.

Gert restor him that thar was rychtwyss lord.

The worthy knycht, that in to Coupar lay,1135

Gart spulye it apon the secund day,

Syn ordand men, at commaund off Wallace,

But mar process, for to cast doun that place.

Mynouris sone thai gert press throw the wall,

Syn pounciounis fyryt, and to the ground kest all.1140

Schyr Jhon Ramsay syne to the kyrk can fayr;

Sotheroun was fled, and left bot wallis bayr:

Efter Sewart thai durst nocht tary lang.

The Scottis at large [out] throu all Fyff thai rang.Fol. 88 a

Fol. 88 a

Off Inglissmen nayn left in that cuntré.1145

Bot in Lochlewyn thair lay a cumpané,

Apon that inch, in a small hous thai dycht;

Castell was nayn, bot wallyt with water wicht.

Besyd Carraill thai semblyt Wallace beforn;

His purposs was for till assay Kyngorn.1150

A knycht, hecht Gray, than captane in it was;

Be schort awyss purpos he tuk to pas.

Erar he wald bid chalans off his king,

Than with Wallace to rakyn for sic a thing.

That houss thai tuk, and litill tary maid.1155

Vpon the morn, with outyn mar abaid,

Atour the mur, quhar thai a tryst had set,

Ner Scotlandis Well thair lugyng tuk but let.

Eftir souper Wallace bad thaim ga rest:

“My selff will walk, me think it may be best.”1160

As he commaundyt, but gruching thai haiff don.

In to thar slep Wallace him graithit son,

Past to Lochlewyn as it was ner mydnycht,

Auchtene with him, at he hed warnyt rycht;

Thir men wend weill he come to wesy it.1165

“Falows,” he said, “I do yow weill to wyt;

“Considyr weill this place, and wndirstand,

“That it may do full gret scaith to Scotland.

“Out off the south and power cum thaim till,

“Thai may tak in, and kep it at thair awn will.1170

“Apon yon inche rycht mony men may be,

“And syn wsche out, thair tym quhen at thai se.

“To bid lang her we may nocht wpon chans,

“Yon folk has fud, trast weill, at sufficians.

“Wattir fra thaim forsuth can nocht be set;1175

“Sum wthyr wyill ws worthis for to get.

“Yhe sall remayn her at this port all still,

“And I my selff the boit sall bryng yow till.”

Thair with in haist his weid off castis he:

“Apon yon sid na wachman can I se;”1180

Held on his sark, and tuk his suerd so gud

Band on his nek, and syn lap in the flud,

And our he swam; for lattyng fand he nocht.

The boit he tuk, and till hys men it brocht;

Arayit him weill, and wald no langar bid,1185

Bot passyt in, rowit to the tothir sid.

The inch thai tuk with suerdis drawyn in hand,

And sparyt nayn that thai befor thaim fand;

Strak duris wp, stekyt men quhar thai lay;

Apon the Sothroun thus sadly semblyt thai.1190

Thretty thai slew, that was in that samyn place;

To mak defens the Inglissmen had no space.

Thar women fyve Wallace send off that sted;

Woman nor barne he gart neuir put to dede.Fol. 88 b

Fol. 88 b

The gud thai tuk, as it had beyn thair awyn.1195

Than Wallace said; “Falowis, I mak yow knawin,

“The purwyance, that is with in this wanys,

“We will nocht tyne; ger sembyll all at anys,

“Gar warn Ramsay, and our gud men ilkane;

“I will remayn quhill this warnstor be gane:”1200

Send furth a man, thair horsis put to kep,

Drew wp the boit, syne beddys tuk to sleip.

Wallace power, quhilk Scotland Well ner lay,

Befor the son thai myssyt him away.

Sum menyng maid, and merweillyt off that cace.1205

Ramsay bad, ‘Cess, and murn nocht for Wallace.

‘It is for gud at he is fra us went;

‘It sall ye se, trast weill, in werrament.

‘My hed to wed, Lochlewyn he past to se:

‘Bot that is thar, no Inglissman knaw we1210

‘In all this land, betwix thir watters left;

‘Tithandis off hym ye sall se son hereft.’

As thai about was talkand on this wyss,

A message com, and chargyt thaim to ryss.

“My lord,” he said, “to dyner has yow cald1215

“In till Lochlewyn, quhilk is a ryoll hald.

“Ye sall fair weyll, tharfor put off all sorow.”

Thai graithit thaim rycht ayrly on the morow;

And thidder past, off Wallace will to wytt.

Thus semblyt thai in a full blyth falowschip.1220

Thai lugyt thar till aucht dayis was at end;

Off meit and drynk thai had inewch to spend;

Turssyt furth ger, that Sothroun had brocht thar;

Gert byrn the boit, till Sanct Jhonstoun thai fair.

Byschop Synclar, that worthy was and wyss,1225

Till Wallace com, and tald him his awyss;

Thus he desyryt Wallace suld with him ryd,

And in Dunkell soiorn that wynter tyd.

Bot he said; “Nay, that hald I nocht the best,

“And Scotland thus; in pess we can nocht rest.”1230

The byschop said, ‘Playnly ye may nocht wend;

‘In to the north for men I rede yow send.’

“I grant,” quoth he, “and cheissit a messynger.”

The worthi Jop, was with the byschop ther;

And maister Blair to Wallace cam bot baid,1235

With that gud lord that nobill cher thaim maid.

Wallace send Blayr, in [to] his priestis weid,

To warn the west, quhar freyndys had gret dreid

How they suld pass, or to gud Wallace wyn,

For Inglissmen that held thaim lang in twyn.1240

Adam Wallace, and Lyndsay that was wycht,

Rawchlé thai left, and went away be nycht.

Throu out the land to the Lennox thai cair,Fol. 89 a

Fol. 89 a

Till erll Malcom, that welcummyt thaim full fair.

Maister Jhon Blair was blith off that semblé;1245

Gud Graym was thair, and Richard off Lunde;

Als Robert Boid, that out off But thaim socht.

Had thai Wallace, off no thing ellis thai roucht;

Bot Inglissmen betuix thaim was so strang,

That thai in playn mycht nocht weyll to him gang.1250

Jop passit north, for leiching wald nocht let:

Gret power thar as than he couth nocht get;

The lord Cwmyn, that erll off Bouchane was,

For auld inwy he wald [let] na man pass

That he mycht let, in gud Wallace supplé;1255

For erll Patrik a playn feild kepyt he.

Yeit pur men com, and prewyt all thair mycht

To help Wallace, in fens off Scotlandis rycht.

The gud Randell in tendyr age was kend,

Part off men out off Murray he [did] send.1260

Jop past agayn, and com in presens sone

Befor Wallace, and tauld how he had don.

Bot maister Blayr so gud tithingis him brocht,

That off Cwmyn Wallace full litill roucht.

Als Inglissmen had than full litill dreid;1265

Fra Fyff was tynt, the war thai trowyt to sped.

The duk and erll, that in Scotland thaim led,

Captanys thai maid, in Ingland syn thaim sped.

Wallace hym bownyt, qwhen he thocht tym suld be,

Off Sanct Jhonstoun, and with him tuk fyfté.1270

Stewin off Irland, and Kerlé that was wicht,

For Inglissmen thai had haldyn the hycht

In wachman lyff, and fayndyt thaim rycht weill:

Till gud Wallace thai war as trew as steill;

To folow him thai twa thocht neuyr lang.1275

Throucht the Ochell thai maid thaim for to gang.

Off mar power he taryt nocht that tyd;

To keip the land he gert the laiff abid.

To Styrlyng bryg as than he wald nocht pass,

For strang power of Inglissmen thar was.1280

Till Erth ferry thai passit prewaly;And buschit thaim in a dern sted tharby.A cruell captane intill Erth duelt thar,In Ingland born, and hecht Thomlyn off Wayr.A hundreth men was at his ledyng still;1285To bruk that land thai did power and will.A Scottis fyschar, quhilk thai had tayn beforn,Contrar his will gert him be to thaim suorn.In thar seruice thai held him day and nycht.Befor the son Wallace gart Jop him dycht,1290And send him furth the passage for to spy.On that fyschar he hapnyt sodandly,All him allayn, bot a boy that was thar;Jop hynt hym son, and for no dreid wald spar,Be the collar, and owt a knyff hynt he.1295Fol. 89 bFor Goddis saik this man askit mercé.Jop sperd sone; “Off quhat nacioun art thow?”‘A Scot,’ he said, ‘bot Sothroun gart me bow.‘In thair seruice, agayn my will full sayr,‘Bot for my lyff that I remaynit thair.1300‘To sek fysch I com on this north sid.‘Be ye a Scott, I wald fayn with yow bid.’Than he him brocht in presens to Wallace.The Scottis was blyth quhen thai haiff seyn this cace,For with his bait thai mycht weill passage hawe;1305For fery craft na fraucht he thocht to crawe.Apon that syd langar thai taryed nocht,Till the south land with glaid hartis thai socht;Syn brak the bait, quhen thai war landyt thair;Serwice off it Sotheroun mycht haiff no mayr.1310Than throuch the moss thai passit full gud speidTill the Torwod, this man with thaim thai leid.The wedow thar brocht tithandis to Wallace,Off his trew eyme that duelt at Dunypace.Thomlyn off Wayr in presoun had him set,1315For mar tresour na he befor mycht get.Wallace said; “Deym, he sall weill lowsyt be“Be none to morn, or ma tharfor sall de.”Scho gat thaim meit, and in quiet thai baidQuhill it was nycht, syn redy sone thaim maid;1320Towart Arth hall rycht sodeynly thaim drew.A strenth thar was, that weyll the fyschar knew,Off draw dykis, and full off watter wan;Wysly tharoff has warnyt thaim this man.On the baksid he led thaim prewalé,1325Fra the watter, as wont to cum was he,Our a small bryg. Gud Wallace entryt inIn to the hall, hym selff thocht to begyn;Fra the sowper as thai war bown to ryss,He salust thaim apon ane awfull wyss.1330His men hym folowit sodanly at anys,Haisty sorow was rassyt in thai wanys;With scherand suerdis scharply about thaim dang;Feyll on the flur was fellyt thaim amang.With Thomlyn Wayr Wallace hym selff has met;1335A felloun strak sadly apon him set,Throcht hede and swyr all throucht the cost him claiff.The worthy Scottis fast stekit off the layff;Kepyt duris, and dulfully thaim dycht;To chaip away the Sotheroun had no mycht.1340Sum wyndowys socht for till haiff brokyn out,Bot all for nocht, full fey was maid that rout.About the fyr bruschit the blud so red,A hundreth men was slayn in to that sted.Fol. 90 aThan Wallace socht quhar his wncle suld be;1345In a dyrk cawe he was set dulfullé,Quhar watter stud, and he in yrnyss strang.Wallace full sone the brassis wp he dang;Off that myrk holl brocht him with strenth and lyst.Bot noyis he hard, off no thing ellis he wyst;1350So blyth befor in warld he had nocht beyn,As thair with sycht, quhen he had Wallace seyn.In dykys owt the dede bodyis thai kest;Graithyt the place as at thaim likyt best;Maid still gud cher, and wyss wachis gert set;1355Quhill ner the day thai slepe with outyn let;Quhen thai had lycht, spulyeid the place in hy,Fand gaynand ger, baithe gold and jowelry:Our all that day in quiet held thaim still.Quhat Sothroun come, thai rasawyt with gud will;1360In that laubour the Scottis was full bayn:Inglissmen com, bot nayn yeid owt agayn.Women and barnys put in the presonys cawe;So thai mycht mak no warnyng to the lawe.Stewyn off Irland, and Kerlé, that wes wicht,1365Kepyt the port apon the secund nycht.Befor the day the worthy Scottis rayss,Turssyt gud ger, and to the Torwod gayss;Remaynyt thar quhill nycht was cummyn on hand,Syn bownyt thaim in quiet throuch the land.1370The wedowis son, fra thai had passit dout,A serwand send, and leit the women out,To pass fra Arth quhar at thaim likit best.Now spek off thaim that went in to the west.

Till Erth ferry thai passit prewaly;

And buschit thaim in a dern sted tharby.

A cruell captane intill Erth duelt thar,

In Ingland born, and hecht Thomlyn off Wayr.

A hundreth men was at his ledyng still;1285

To bruk that land thai did power and will.

A Scottis fyschar, quhilk thai had tayn beforn,

Contrar his will gert him be to thaim suorn.

In thar seruice thai held him day and nycht.

Befor the son Wallace gart Jop him dycht,1290

And send him furth the passage for to spy.

On that fyschar he hapnyt sodandly,

All him allayn, bot a boy that was thar;

Jop hynt hym son, and for no dreid wald spar,

Be the collar, and owt a knyff hynt he.1295Fol. 89 b

Fol. 89 b

For Goddis saik this man askit mercé.

Jop sperd sone; “Off quhat nacioun art thow?”

‘A Scot,’ he said, ‘bot Sothroun gart me bow.

‘In thair seruice, agayn my will full sayr,

‘Bot for my lyff that I remaynit thair.1300

‘To sek fysch I com on this north sid.

‘Be ye a Scott, I wald fayn with yow bid.’

Than he him brocht in presens to Wallace.

The Scottis was blyth quhen thai haiff seyn this cace,

For with his bait thai mycht weill passage hawe;1305

For fery craft na fraucht he thocht to crawe.

Apon that syd langar thai taryed nocht,

Till the south land with glaid hartis thai socht;

Syn brak the bait, quhen thai war landyt thair;

Serwice off it Sotheroun mycht haiff no mayr.1310

Than throuch the moss thai passit full gud speid

Till the Torwod, this man with thaim thai leid.

The wedow thar brocht tithandis to Wallace,

Off his trew eyme that duelt at Dunypace.

Thomlyn off Wayr in presoun had him set,1315

For mar tresour na he befor mycht get.

Wallace said; “Deym, he sall weill lowsyt be

“Be none to morn, or ma tharfor sall de.”

Scho gat thaim meit, and in quiet thai baid

Quhill it was nycht, syn redy sone thaim maid;1320

Towart Arth hall rycht sodeynly thaim drew.

A strenth thar was, that weyll the fyschar knew,

Off draw dykis, and full off watter wan;

Wysly tharoff has warnyt thaim this man.

On the baksid he led thaim prewalé,1325

Fra the watter, as wont to cum was he,

Our a small bryg. Gud Wallace entryt in

In to the hall, hym selff thocht to begyn;

Fra the sowper as thai war bown to ryss,

He salust thaim apon ane awfull wyss.1330

His men hym folowit sodanly at anys,

Haisty sorow was rassyt in thai wanys;

With scherand suerdis scharply about thaim dang;

Feyll on the flur was fellyt thaim amang.

With Thomlyn Wayr Wallace hym selff has met;1335

A felloun strak sadly apon him set,

Throcht hede and swyr all throucht the cost him claiff.

The worthy Scottis fast stekit off the layff;

Kepyt duris, and dulfully thaim dycht;

To chaip away the Sotheroun had no mycht.1340

Sum wyndowys socht for till haiff brokyn out,

Bot all for nocht, full fey was maid that rout.

About the fyr bruschit the blud so red,

A hundreth men was slayn in to that sted.Fol. 90 a

Fol. 90 a

Than Wallace socht quhar his wncle suld be;1345

In a dyrk cawe he was set dulfullé,

Quhar watter stud, and he in yrnyss strang.

Wallace full sone the brassis wp he dang;

Off that myrk holl brocht him with strenth and lyst.

Bot noyis he hard, off no thing ellis he wyst;1350

So blyth befor in warld he had nocht beyn,

As thair with sycht, quhen he had Wallace seyn.

In dykys owt the dede bodyis thai kest;

Graithyt the place as at thaim likyt best;

Maid still gud cher, and wyss wachis gert set;1355

Quhill ner the day thai slepe with outyn let;

Quhen thai had lycht, spulyeid the place in hy,

Fand gaynand ger, baithe gold and jowelry:

Our all that day in quiet held thaim still.

Quhat Sothroun come, thai rasawyt with gud will;1360

In that laubour the Scottis was full bayn:

Inglissmen com, bot nayn yeid owt agayn.

Women and barnys put in the presonys cawe;

So thai mycht mak no warnyng to the lawe.

Stewyn off Irland, and Kerlé, that wes wicht,1365

Kepyt the port apon the secund nycht.

Befor the day the worthy Scottis rayss,

Turssyt gud ger, and to the Torwod gayss;

Remaynyt thar quhill nycht was cummyn on hand,

Syn bownyt thaim in quiet throuch the land.1370

The wedowis son, fra thai had passit dout,

A serwand send, and leit the women out,

To pass fra Arth quhar at thaim likit best.

Now spek off thaim that went in to the west.

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