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Book 1
Our antecessowris that we suld of reide
And hald in mynde thar nobille worthi deid,
We lat ourslide throw verray sleuthfulnes,
And castis us evir till uthir besynes.
Till honour ennymyis is our haile entent:
It has beyne seyne in thir tymys bywent.
Our ald ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud,
That nevyr yeit to Scotland wald do gud
Bot evir on fors and contrar haile thar will,
Quhow gret kyndnes thar has beyne kyth thaim till.
It is weyle knawyne on mony divers syde
How thai haff wrocht into thar mychty pryde
To hald Scotlande at undyr evirmar,
Bot God abuff has maid thar mycht to par.
Yhit we suld thynk one our bearis befor;
Of thar parablys as now I say no mor.
We reide of ane rycht famous of renowne,
Of worthi blude that ryngis in this regioune,
And hensfurth I will my proces hald
Of Wilyham Wallas yhe haf hard beyne tald.
His forbearis, quha likis till understand,
Of hale lynage and trew lyne of Scotland,
Schir Ranald Crawfurd, rycht schirreff of Ayr,
So in hys tyme he had a dochtir fayr,
And yonge Schir Ranald, schirreff of that toune;
His systir fair of gud fame and ranoune,
Malcom Wallas hir gat in mariage,
That Elrisle than had in heretage,
Auchinbothe and othir syndry place;
The secund o he was of gud Wallace,
The quhilk Wallas full worthely at wrocht
Quhen Waltyr hyr of Waillis fra Warayn socht.
Quha likis till haif mar knawlage in that part
Go reid the rycht lyne of the fyrst Stewart.
Bot Malcom gat upon this lady brycht
Schir Malcom Wallas, a full gentill knycht,
And Wilyame als, as cornyklis beris on hand,
Quhilk efftir was the reskew of Scotland.
Quhen it was lost with tresoune and falsnas,
Ourset be fais, he fred it weyle throu grace.
Quhen Alexander our worthi king had lorn
Be aventur his liff besid Kyngorn.
Thre yer in pes the realm stude desolate.
Quharfor thair rais a full grevous debate.
Our Prynce Davy, the erle of Huntyntoun,
Thre dochtrys had that war of gret ranoun,
Of quhilk thre com Bruce, Balyoune, and Hastyng.
Twa of the thre desyryt to be kyng.
Balyoune clamyt of fyrst gre lynialy,
And Bruce fyrst male of the secund gre by.
To Paryse than and in Ingland thai send
Of this gret striff how thai suld haif ane end.
Foly it was forsuth it happynnyt sa,
Succour to sek of thar alde mortale fa.
Eduuarde Langschankis had new begune his wer
Apon Gaskone fell awfull in effer.
Thai landis thane he clamde as heretage
Fra tyme that he had semblit his barnage
And herd tell weyle Scotland stude in sic cace.
He thocht till hym to mak it playn conquace.
Till Noram kirk he come withoutyn mar;
The consell than of Scotland mett hym thar.
Full sutailly he chargit thaim in bandoune
As thar ourlord till hald of hym the croun.
Byschope Robert in his tyme full worthi
Of Glaskow lord, he said that we deny
Ony ourlord bot the gret God abuff.
The king was wrath and maid hym to ramuff.
Covatus Balyoune folowid on hym fast.
Till hald of hym he granttyt at the last.
In contrar rycht a king he maid hym thar
Quhar throuch Scotland rapentyt syne full sar.
To Balyoune yhit our lordis wald nocht consent.
Eduuard past south and gert sett his parliment.
He callyt Balyoune till ansuer for Scotland.
The wys lordis gert hym sone brek that band.
Ane abbot past and gaif our this legiance.
King Eduuard than it tuk in gret grevance.
His ost he rasd and come to Werk on Twede
Bot for to fecht as than he had gret drede.
To Corspatryk of Dunbar sone he send,
His consell ast for he the contré kend
And he was brocht in presence to the king.
Be sutalle band thai cordyt of this thing.
Erle Patrik than till Berweik couth persew;
Ressawide he was and trastyt verray trew.
The king folowid with his host of ranoun;
Efftir mydnycht at rest wes all the toun.
Corspatrik rais, the keyis weile he knew,
Leit breggis doun and portcules thai drew,
Sett up gettis, syne couth his baner schaw;
The ost was war and towart hym thai draw.
Eduuard entrit and gert sla hastely
Of man and wiff sevyn thousand and fyfty,
And barnys als, be this fals aventur
Of trew Scottis chapyt na creatur.
A captayne thair this fals Eduuard maid.
Towart Dunbar without restyng thai raid
Quhar gaderyt was gret power of Scotland,
Agayne Eduuard in bataill thocht to stand.
Thir four erllis was entrit in that place
Of Mar, Menteith, Adell, Ros upon cace.
In that castell the erle gert hald thaim in,
At to thar men without thai mycht nocht wyn,
Na thai to thaim suppleying for to ma.
The battaillis than togiddyr fast thai ga.
Full gret slauchtyr at pitté was to se
Of trew Scottis oursett with sutelté.
Erle Patrik than quhen fechtyng was fellast
Till our fa turnd and harmyng did us mast:
Is nayne in warld at scaithis ma do mar
Than weile trastyt in born familiar.
Our men was slayne withoutyn redempcioune;
Throuch thar dedis all tynt was this regioune.
King Eduuard past and Corspatrik to Scune
And thar he gat homage of Scotland sune,
For nane was left the realme for to defend.
For Jhon the Balyoune to Munros than he send
And putt hym doune forevir of this kynrik.
Than Eduuarde self was callit a roy full ryk.
The croune he tuk apon that sammyne stane
At Gadalos send with his sone fra Spane,
Quhen Iber Scot fyrst intill Irland come;
At Canmor syne King Fergus has it nome,
Brocht it till Scune and stapill maid it thar,
Quhar kingis was cround eight hundyr yer and mar
Befor the tyme at King Eduuard it fand.
This jowell he gert turs intill Ingland,
In Lund it sett till witnes of this thing,
Be conquest than of Scotland cald hym king.
Quhar that stayne is Scottis suld mastir be.
God ches the tyme Margretis ayr till see!
Sevyn scor thai led of the gretast that thai fand
Of ayris with thaim, and Bruce, out of Scotland.
Eduuard gayf hym his fadris heretage
Bot he thocht ay till hald hym in thrillage.
Baith Blacok Mur was his and Huntyntoun.
Till Erle Patrik thai gaif full gret gardoun.
For the frendschipe King Eduuard wyth hym fand,
Protector haile he maid hym of Scotland.
That office than he brukyt bot schort tyme.
I may nocht now putt all thar deid in ryme.
Of cornikle quhat suld I tary lang?
To Wallace agayne now breiffly will I gange.
Scotland was lost quhen he was bot a child
And ourset throuch with our ennemys wilde.
His fadyr Malcom in the Lennox fled;
His eldest sone thedir he with hym led.
His modyr fled wyth hym fra Elrisle,
Till Gowry past and duelt in Kilspynde.
The knycht hir fadir thedyr he thaim sent
Till his uncle that with full gud entent
In Gowry duelt and had gud levyng thar,
Ane agyt man the quhilk resavyt thaim far.
Intill Dundé Wallace to scule thai send
Quhill he of witt full worthely was kend.
Thus he conteynde intill his tendyr age,
In armys syne did mony hie vaslage
Quhen Saxons blud into this realm cummyng,
Wyrkand the will of Eduuard, that fals king.
Mony gret wrang thai wrocht in this regioune:
Distroyed our lordys and brak thar byggynys doun;
Both wiffis, wedowis thai tuk all at thar will,
Nonnys, madyns, quham thai likit to spill.
King Herodis part thai playit into Scotland
Of yong childyr that thai befor thaim fand.
The byschoprykis that war of gretast waile
Thai tuk in hand of thar archybyschops haile.
No for the pape thai wald no kyrkis forber
Bot gryppyt all be violence of wer.
Glaskow thai gaif, as it our weile was kend,
To dyocye in Duram to commend.
Small benifice that wald thai nocht persew.
And for the richt full worthy clerkis thai slew,
Hangitt barrownnys and wrocht full mekill cayr.
It was weylle knawyn in the bernys of Ayr,
Eighteen score putt to that dispitfull dede.
Bot God abowyn has send us sum ramede:
The remenbrance is forthir in the taile.
I will folow apon my proces haile.
Willyham Wallace or he was man of armys
Gret pitté thocht that Scotland tuk sic harmys.
Mekill dolour it did hym in hys mynd,
For he was wys, rycht worthy, wicht, and kynd.
In Gowry duelt still with this worthy man.
As he encressyt and witt haboundyt than
Intill his hart he had full mekill cayr.
He saw the Sothroun multipliand mayr,
And to hymself offt wald he mak his mayne.
Of his gud kyne thai had slane mony ane.
Yhit he was than semly, stark, and bauld,
And he of age was bot eighteen yer auld.
Wapynnys he bur, outhir gud suerd or knyff,
For he with thaim hapnyt rycht offt in stryff.
Quhar he fand ane withoutyn othir presance
Eftir to Scottis that did no mor grevance.
To cutt his thrott or steik hym sodanlye
He wayndyt nocht, fand he thaim savely.
Syndry wayntyt, bot nane wyst be quhat way,
For all to him thar couth na man thaim say.
Sad of contenance he was bathe auld and ying,
Litill of spech, wys, curtas, and benyng.
Upon a day to Dundé he was send;
Of cruelnes full litill thai him kend.
The constable, a felloun man of wer,
That to the Scottis he did full mekill der,
Selbye he hecht, dispitfull and owtrage.
A sone he had ner twenty yer of age,
Into the toun he usyt evirilk day.
Thre men or four thar went with him to play,
A hely schrew, wanton in his entent.
Wallace he saw and towart him he went.
Likle he was, rycht byge and weyle beseyne
Intill a gyde of gudly ganand greyne.
He callyt on hym and said, "Thow Scot, abyde.
Quha devill thee grathis in so gay a gyde?
Ane Ersche mantill it war thi kynd to wer,
A Scottis thewtill undyr thi belt to ber,
Rouch rewlyngis apon thi harlot fete.
Gyff me thi knyff. Quhat dois thi ger so mete?"
Till him he yeid his knyff to tak him fra.
Fast by the collar Wallace couth him ta.
Undyr his hand the knyff he bradit owt,
For all his men that semblyt him about,
Bot help himselff he wyst of no remede.
Without reskew he stekyt him to dede.
The squier fell, of him thar was na mar.
His men folowid on Wallace wondir sar.
The pres was thik and cummirit thaim full fast.
Wallace was spedy and gretlye als agast,
The bludy knyff bar drawin in his hand;
He sparyt nane that he befor him fand.
He knew the hous his eyme had lugit in;
Thedir he fled for owt he mycht nocht wyn.
The gude wyff than within the clos saw he
And "help!" he cryit, "for him that deit on Tre.
The yong captane has fallyn with me at stryff."
In at the dure he went with this gud wiff.
A roussat goun of hir awn scho him gaif
Apon his weyd at coveryt all the layff,
A soudly courche our hed and nek leit fall;
A wovyn quhyt hatt scho brassit on withall,
For thai suld nocht lang tary at that in;
Gaiff him a rok, syn set him doun to spyn.
The Sothroun socht quhar Wallace was in drede.
Thai wyst nocht weylle at quhat gett he in yeide.
In that same hous thai socht him beselye
Bot he sat still and span full conandly,
As of his tym, for he nocht leryt lang.
Thai left him swa and furth thar gait can gang
With hevy cheyr and sorowfull in thocht.
Mar witt of him as than get couth thai nocht.
The Inglismen all thus in barrat boune
Bade byrn all Scottis that war into that toun.
Yhit this gud wiff held Wallace till the nycht,
Maid him gud cher, syne put hym out with slycht.
Throw a dyrk garth scho gydyt him furth fast;
In covart went and up the watter past,
Forbure the gate for wachis that war thar.
His modyr bade intill a gret dispar.
Quhen scho him saw scho thankit hevynnis queyn
And said, "Der sone, this lang quhar has thow beyne?"
He tald his modyr of his sodane cas.
Than wepyt scho and said full oft, "Allas!
Or that thow cess thow will be slayne withall."
"Modyr," he said, "God reuller is of all.
Unsoverable ar thir pepille of Ingland.
Part of thar ire me think we suld gaynstand."
His eme wist weyle that he the squier slew;
For dreid tharof in gret languor he grew.
This passit our quhill divers dayis war gane.
That gud man dred or Wallace suld be tane,
For Suthroun ar full sutaille evirilk man.
A gret dyttay for Scottis thai ordand than.
Be the lawdayis in Dundé set ane ayr.
Than Wallace wald na langar sojorne thar.
His modyr graithit hir in pilgrame weid;
Hym disgysyt, syne glaidlye with hir yeid,
A schort swerd undyr his weid prevalé.
In all that land full mony fays had he.
Baith on thar fute, with thaim may tuk thai nocht.
Quha sperd, scho said to Sanct Margret thai socht:
Quha servit hir, full gret frendschipe thai fand
With Sothroun folk, for scho was of Ingland.
Besyd Landoris the ferrye our thai past,
Syn throw the Ochtell sped thaim wonder fast.
In Dunfermlyn thai lugyt all that nycht.
Apon the morn quhen that the day was brycht,
With gentill wemen hapnyt thaim to pas,
Of Ingland born, in Lithquhow wounnand was.
The captans wiff, in pilgramage had beyne,
Fra scho thaim mett and had yong Wallace sene,
Gud cher thaim maid, for he was wondyr fayr,
Nocht large of tong, weille taucht and debonayr.
Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht
Quhill south our Forth with hyr son scho thaim brocht,1
Into Lithkow. Thai wald nocht tary lang.
Thar leyff thai tuk, to Dunypace couth gang;
Thar duelt his eyme, a man of gret riches.
This mychty persone, hecht to name Wallas,
Maid thaim gud cher and was a full kynd man,
Welcummyt thaim fair and to thaim tald he than,
Dide him to witt, the land was all on ster;
Trettyt thaim weyle, and said, "My sone so der,
Thi modir and thow rycht heir with me sall bide
Quhill better be, for chance at may betyde."
Wallace ansuerd, said, "Westirmar we will.
Our kyne ar slayne and that me likis ill,
And othir worthi mony in that art.
Will God I leiffe, we sall us wreke on part."
The persone sicht and said, "My sone so fre,
I can nocht witt how that radres may be."
Quhat suld I spek of fruster? As this tid
For gyft of gud with him he wald nocht bide.
His modyr and he till Elrisle thai went.
Upon the morn scho for hir brothir sent,
In Corsby duelt and schirreff was of Ayr.
Hyr fadyr was dede, a lang tyme leyffyt had thar.
Hyr husband als at Lowdon Hill was slayn.
Hyr eldest son that mekill was of mayn,
Schir Malcom Wallas was his nayme but less,
His houch senons thai cuttyt in that press.
On kneis he faucht, felle Inglismen he slew.
Till hym thar socht may fechtaris than anew,
On athyr side with speris bar him doun.
Thar stekit thai that gud knycht of renoun.
On to my taile I left. At Elrisle
Schir Ranald come son till his sistir fre,
Welcummyt thaim hayme and sperd of hir entent.
Scho prayde he wald to the lord Persye went,
So yrk of wer scho couth no forthir fle
To purches pes in rest at scho mycht be.2
Schyr Ranald had the Perseys proteccioune,
As for all part to tak the remissioune.
He gert wrytt ane till his systir that tyde.
In that respyt Wallas wald nocht abyde;
Hys modyr kyst; scho wepyt with hart sar;
His leyff he tuk, syne with his eyme couth far.
Yonge he was and to Sothroun rycht savage.
Gret rowme thai had, dispitfull and owtrage.
Schir Ranald weylle durst nocht hald Wallas thar
For gret perell he wyst apperand war.
For thai had haile the strenthis of Scotland;
Quhat thai wald do durst few agayne thaim stand.
Schyrreff he was and usyt thaim amang.
Full sar he dred or Wallas suld tak wrang,
For he and thai couth nevir weyle accord.
He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord,
That profferyt him ony lychtlynes.
Bot thai raparyt our mekill to that place.
Als Inglis clerkis in prophecys thai fand
How a Wallace suld putt thaim of Scotland.
Schir Ranald knew weill a mar quiet sted
Quhar Wilyham mycht be better fra thar fede
With his uncle Wallas of Ricardtoun.
Schir Richart hecht that gud knycht of renoun;
Thai landis hayle than was his heretage.
Bot blynd he was - so hapnyt throw curage,
Be Inglismen that dois us mekill der;
In his rysyng he worthi was in wer -
Throuch hurt of vaynys and mystymit of blude;3
Yeit he was wis and of his conseill gud.
In Feviryer Wallas was to him send;
In Aperill fra him he bownd to wend.
Bot gud service he dide him with plesance
As in that place was worthi to avance.
So on a tym he desyrit to play.
In Aperill the twenty-third day
Till Erevyn Watter fysche to tak he went;
Sic fantasye fell in his entent.
To leide his net a child furth with him yeid,
Bot he or nowne was in a felloune dreid.
His suerd he left, so did he nevir agayne;
It dide him gud suppos he sufferyt payne.
Of that labour as than he was nocht sle;
Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanlé.
Or of the day ten houris our couth pas,
Ridand thar com ner by quhar Wallace was
The lorde Persye, was captane than of Ayr.
Fra thine he turnde and couth to Glaskow fair.
Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne.
Till him raid five cled into ganand greyne,
And said sone, "Scot, Martyns fysche we wald have."
Wallace meklye agayne ansuer him gave:
"It war resone me think yhe suld haif part.
Waith suld be delt in all place with fre hart."
He bade his child, "Gyff thaim of our waithyng."
The Sothroun said, "As now of thi delyng
We will nocht tak; thow wald giff us our small."
He lychtyt doun and fra the child tuk all.
Wallas said than, "Gentill men gif ye be,
Leiff us sum part, we pray, for cheryté.
Ane agyt knycht servis our lady today.
Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away."
"Thow sall haiff leiff to fysche and tak thee ma;
All this forsuth sall in our flytting ga.
We serff a lord. Thir fysche sall till him gang."
Wallace ansuerd, said, "Thow art in the wrang."
"Quham dowis thow Scot? In faith thow servis a blaw."
Till him he ran and out a suerd can draw.
Willyham was wa he had na wapynnis thar
Bot the poutstaff, the quhilk in hand he bar.
Wallas with it fast on the cheik him tuk
Wyth so gud will quhill of his feit he schuk.
The suerd flaw fra him a fur breid on the land.
Wallas was glaid and hynt it sone in hand,
And with the swerd ane awkwart straik him gave,
Undyr the hat his crage in sondir drave.
Be that the layff lychtyt about Wallas.
He had no helpe, only bot Goddis grace.
On athir side full fast on him thai dange;
Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang.
Apone the hede in gret ire he strak ane;
The scherand suerd glaid to the colar bane.
Ane othir on the arme he hitt so hardely
Quhill hand and suerd bathe on the feld can ly.
The tothir twa fled to thar hors agayne.
He stekit him was last apon the playne.
Thre slew he thar, twa fled with all thar mycht
Eftir thar lord, bot he was out of sicht
Takand the mure or he and thai couth twyne.
Till him thai raid onon or thai wald blyne
And cryit, "Lord abide, your men ar martirit doun
Rycht cruelly her in this fals regioun.
Five of our court her at the wattir baid
Fysche for to bryng, thocht it na profyt maid.
We ar chapyt, bot in feyld slayne ar thre."
The lord speryt, "How mony mycht thai be?"
"We saw bot ane that has discumfyst us all."
Than lewch he lowde and said, "Foule mot yow fall,4
Sen ane yow all has putt to confusioun.
Quha menys it maist the devyll of hell him droun!
This day for me in faith he beis nocht socht."
Quhen Wallace thus this worthi werk had wrocht,
Thar hors he tuk and ger that levyt was thar,
Gaif our that crafft, he yeid to fysche no mar;
Went till his eyme and tauld him of this drede,
And he for wo weyle ner worthit to weide;
And said, "Sone, thir tithingis syttis me sor,
And be it knawin thow may tak scaith tharfor."
"Uncle," he said, "I will no langar bide.
Thir southland hors latt se gif I can ride."
Than bot a child him service for to mak,
Hys emys sonnys he wald nocht with him tak.
This gud knycht said, "Deyr cusyng, pray I thee,
Quhen thow wanttis gud cum fech ynewch fra me."
Sylvir and gold he gert onto him geyff,
Wallace inclynys and gudely tuk his leyff.
Explicit liber primus
& Incipit secundus
Book 2
Yong Wallace, fulfillit of hie curage,
In prys of armys desyrous and savage,
Thi vaslage may nevir be forlorn,
Thi deidis ar knawin thocht that the warld had suorn;
For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes,
Was set in wer and verray rychtwisnes,
And felloune los of thi deyr worthi kyn.
The rancour more remaynde his mynd within.
It was his lyff and maist part of his fude,
To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude.
Till Auchincruff withoutyn mar he raid,
And bot schort tyme in pes at he thar baid.
Thar duelt a Wallas welcummyt him full weill,
Thocht Inglismen tharof had litill feille.
Bathe meite and drynk at his will he had thar,
In Laglyne Wode quhen that he maid repayr.
This gentill man was full oft his resett,
With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett.5
So he desirit the toune of Air to se.
His child with him as than na ma had he.
Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his hors,
Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat cors.
The Persye was in the castell of Ayr
With Inglismen, gret nowmer and repayr.
Our all the toune rewlyng on thar awne wis
Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppris.
Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid.
The rage of youth maid him to haif no dreid.
A churll thai had that felloune byrdyngis bar.
Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar
Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand,
And als be us a sport he tuk on hand.
He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille;
On his braid bak of ony wald he thoille
Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw.
Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw,
He likit weill at that mercat to be
And for a strak he bad him grottis thre.
The churll grantyt, of that proffir was fayn.
To pay the silvir Wallas was full bayne.
Wallas that steing tuk up intill his hand.
Full sturdely he coud befor him stand.
Wallace with that apon the bak him gaif
Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif.
The carll wes dede. Of him I spek no mar.
The Inglismen semblit on Wallace thair,
Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast,
He unabasyt and nocht gretlie agast.
Upon the hed ane with the steing hitt he,
Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle.
Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille
The tre toraiff and fruschit eviredeille.
His steyng was tynt, the Inglisman was dede,
For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede.
He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide.
Throuchoute the thikest of the pres he yeid
And at his hors full fayne he wald haif beyne.
Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne.
Wallace raturned as man of mekyll mayne
And at a straik the formast has he slayne.
The tothir fled and durst him nocht abide.
Bot a rycht straik Wallas him gat that tyd.
In at the guschet brymly he him bar;
The grounden suerd throuchout his cost it schar.
Five slew he thar or that he left the toune.
He gat his hors, to Laglyne maid him boune,
Kepyt his child and leyt him nocht abide.
In saufté thus onto the wod can ride,
Feille folowit him on hors and eik on futte
To tak Wallace, bot than it was no butte.
Covert of treis savit him full weille,
Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeille.
Gud ordinance that serd for his estate
His cusyng maid at all tyme ayr and late.
The squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was
Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pas
As for that tyme that he remanyt thar.
Bot sar he langit to se the toune of Ayr.
Thedyr he past apon the mercate day.
Gret God gif he as than had beyne away!
His emys servand to by him fysche was send,
Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend.
Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht,
The Perseys stuart sadly till him socht
And said, "Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?"
"To the schirreff," he said. "Be hevynnys king,
My lord sall haiff it and syne go seke thee mar."
Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar.
Till him he yeid and said, "Gud freynd, pray I thee,
The schireffis servand thow wald let him be."
A hetfull man the stuart was of blude
And thocht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude.
"Go hens, thow Scot, the mekill devill thee speid.
At thi schrewed us thow wenys me to leid."
A huntyn staff intill his hand he bar;
Thar with he smat on Willyam Wallace thair.
Bot for his tre litill sonyhe he maid,
Bot be the coler claucht him withoutyn baid
A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he,
Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé.
Catour sen syne he was but weyr no mar.6
Men of armes on Wallace semblit thar;
Four scor was sett in armys buskyt boun
On the merket day for Scottis to kepe the toun,
Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer.
Into the byrneis the formast can he ber,
Throuchout the body stekit him to dede
And syndry ma or he past of that stede.
Ane othir aukwart a sarye straik tuk thar,
Abown the kne the bayne in sondir schar.
The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile
The crag in twa, no weidis mycht him vaill.
Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun.
Than Inglismen that war in bargane boun
To kepe the gait with speris rud and lang,
For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang.
Wallace was harnest in his body weyle;
Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle
And fra his strenth enveronde him about.
Bot throu the pres on a side he went out
Intill a wall that stude by the se syde;
For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide,
And of thar speris in pecis part he schar.
Than fra the castell othir help come mar.
Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side,
Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde.
Than wist he nocht of no help bot to de.
To venge his dede amang thaim lous yeid he,
On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast.
Hys byrnyst brand to-byrstyt at the last,
Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw.
He wyst na wayne bot out his knyff can draw.
The fyrst he slew that him in hand has hynt
And othir twa he stekit with his dynt.
The ramanand with speris to him socht,
Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht.
The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla.
To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ga.
Thus in thar armys suppos that he had suorn,
Out of the garth be fors thai haff him born.
Thus gud Wallace with Inglismen was tane
In falt of helpe for he was him allayne.
He coud nocht cheys, sic curage so hym bar.
Frevill Fortoun thus brocht him in the suar,
And fals invye ay contrar rychtwisnes,
That violent god full of doubilnes,
Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace nevir knew.
Gret rychtwisnes him ay to mercy drew.
His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing,
Mycht thai have payit the ransoune of a king.
The more thai bad, the more it was in vayne.
Of thar best men that day sevyn has he slayne.
Thai gert set him intill a presoune fell,
Of his turment gret payne it war to tell.
Ill meyt and drynk thai gert ontill him giff.
Gret mervaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff;
And ek tharto he was in presoune law
Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law.
Leyff I him thar into that paynfull sted.
Gret God above till him send sum ramede!
The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng,
The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng,
The tormentyng of every creatur!
"Alas," thai said, "how suld our lyff endur?
The flour of youth intill his tendir age
Be fortoun armes has left him in thrillage,
Lefand as now a chifftane had we nane
Durst tak on hand bot young Wallace alane.
This land is lost, he caucht is in the swar.
Prophesye out, Scotland is lost in cayr."
Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gave
Quhar he was set into that ugly cave.
Sic fude for him was febill to comend.
Than said he thus, "All weildand God resave
My petows spreit and sawle amange the law.
My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend.
Our few Sothroune onto the dede I drawe.
Quhen so Thow will out of this warld I wend,
Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end.
Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de,
Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in Thee,
At Thin awn will full worthely was wrocht?
Bot Thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me.
Gastlye Fadyr that deit apon the Tre,
Fra hellis presoune with Thi blud us bocht,
Quhi will Thow giff Thi handewerk for nocht,
And mony worthy into gret payne we se,
For of my lyff ellys nothing I roucht?
O wareide suerd, of tempyr nevir trew!
Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw
And Inglismen our litill harme has tane.
Of us thai haiff undoyne may than ynew!
My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew,
My brothir als and gud men mony ane.
Is this thi dait? Sall thai ourcum ilk ane?
On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will Thow rew,
Sen my pouir thus sodandlye is gane?
All worthi Scottis, allmichty God yow leid,
Sen I no mor in vyage may you speid.
In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff.
Sely Scotland that of help has gret neide,
Thy nacioune all standis in a felloun dreid.
Of warldlynes all thus I tak my leiff.
Of thir paynys God lat yow nevir preiff,
Thocht for wo all out of witt suld weid.
Now othir gyft I may none to yow gyff."
O der Wallace, umquhill was stark and stur,
Thow most o neide in presoune till endur.
Thi worthi kyn may nocht thee saiff for sold.
Ladys wepyt that was bathe myld and mur,
In fureous payne the modyr that thee bur,
For thou till hir was fer derer than gold.
Hyr most desyr was to be undyr mold.
In warldlynes quhi suld ony ensur,
For thow was formyt forsye on the fold!
Compleyn, sanctis, thus as your sedull tellis;
Compleyn to hevyn with wordis that nocht fell is;
Compleyne your voice unto the God abuffe;
Compleyne for him into that sitfull sellis;
Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis,
In langour lyis for losyng of thar luff.
His fureous payne was felloune for to pruff.
Compleyne also yhe birdis blyth as bellis;
Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff.
Compleyne lordys, compleyne yhe ladyis brycht,
Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht,
Of Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der;
Compleyne for him was thus in presone dicht
And for na caus, bot Scotland for thi richt.
Compleyne also yhe worthi men of wer;
Compleyn for hym that was your aspersper
And to the dede fell Sothron yeit he dicht;
Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber.
Celinus was maist his geyeler now.
In Inglismen, allace, quhi suld we trow,
Our worthy kyn has payned on this wys?
Sic reulle be rycht is litill till allow.
Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bow
At our power, and so we do feill sys.7
Of thar danger God mak us for to rys,
That weill has wrocht befor thir termys and now,
For thai wyrk ay to wayt us with supprys.
Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell?
The flux he tuk into thar presoune fell.
Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe.
Thai chargyt the geyler nocht on him to duell,
Bot bryng him up out of that ugly sell
To jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law.
This man went doun and sodanlye he saw,
As to his sycht, dede had him swappyt snell,
Syn said to thaim, "He has payit at he aw."8
Quhen thai presumyt he suld be verray ded,
Thai gart servandys withoutyn langer pleid,
Wyth schort awis onto the wall him bar.
Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid -
Of him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede -
In a draff myddyn quhar he remainyt thar.
His fyrst norys, of the Newtoun of Ayr,
Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid,
And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr.
Into gret ire thai grantyt hir to go.
Scho tuk him up withoutin wordis mo
And on a caar unlikly thai him cast;
Atour the wattir led him with gret woo
Till hyr awn hous withoutyn ony hoo.
Scho warmyt wattir, and hir servandis fast
His body wousche quhill filth was of hym past.
His hart was wicht and flykeryt to and fro,
Also his twa eyne he kest up at the last.
His fostir modyr loved him our the laiff,
Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff,
And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth.
Hyr dochtir had of twelve wokkis ald a knayff:
Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff.9
The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth.
Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth,
Rycht covertly thai kepe him in that caiff,
Him for to save so secretlye thai mycht.
In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide.
Scho gert graith up a burd be the hous side
Wyth carpettis cled and honowryt with gret lycht;
And for the voice in eviry place suld bide
At he was ded, out throw the land so wide,
On presence ay scho wepyt undyr slycht.
Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht.
And so befell into that sammyn tid
Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht.
Thomas Rimour into the Faile was than
With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man.
He usyt offt to that religious place.
The peple demyt of witt mekill he can;
And so he told, thocht at thai blis or ban,
Quhilk hapnyt suth in mony divers cace,
I can nocht say be wrang or rychtwisnas,
In rewlle of wer quhethir thai tynt or wan.
It may be demyt be divisioun of grace.
Thar man that day had in the merket bene;
On Wallace knew this cairfull cas so kene.
His mastir speryt quhat tithingis at he saw.
This man ansuerd, "Of litill hard I meyn."
The mynister said, "It has bene seildyn seyn
Quhar Scottis and Inglis semblit bene on raw
Was nevir yit als fer as we coud knaw,
Bot othir a Scot wald do a Sothroun teyn
Or he till him, for aventur mycht faw."
"Wallas," he said, "ye wist tayne in that steid,
Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide,
In thar presoune famyst for fawt of fude."
The mynister said with hart hevy as leid,
"Sic deid to thaim me think suld foster feid,
For he was wicht and cummyn of gentill blud."
Thomas ansuerd, "Thir tithingis ar noucht gud.
And that be suth myself sall nevir eit breid,
For all my witt her schortlye I conclud."
"A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr
Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar
And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht
To purches leiff scho mycht thin with him fayr.
In lychtlynes tyll hyr thai grant to fayr.
Our the wattir ontill hir hous him brocht
To berys him als gudlye as scho mocht."
Yhit Thomas said, "Than sall I leiff na mar
Gyff that be trew, be God that all has wrocht!"
The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne.
He chargyt him, "Than go speid thee fast agayn
To that sammyn hous and verraly aspye."
The man went furth at byddyng was full bayn.
To the Newtoun to pas he did his payn
To that ilk hous and went in sodanlye.
About he blent onto the burd him bye.
This woman rais. In hart scho was nocht fayn.
"Quha aw this lik?" he bad hir nocht deny.
"Wallace," scho said, "that full worthy has beyne."
Than wepyt scho that peté was to seyne.
The man thartill gret credens gaif he nocht.
Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne.
On kneis scho felle and cryit, "For Marye scheyne
Lat sklandyr be and flemyt out of your thocht."
This man hir suour, "Be Hym that all has wrocht,
Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn
He suld be saiff thocht Ingland had him socht!"
Scho had him up to Wallace be the des.
He spak with him, syne fast agayne can pres
With glaid bodword thar myrthis till amend.
He told to thaim the fyrst tithingis was les.
Than Thomas said, "Forsuth, or he deces
Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end.
Of this regioune he sall the Sothroun send
And Scotlande thris he sall bryng to the pes;
So gud of hand agayne sall nevir be kend."
All worthi men that has gud witt to waille,
Bewar that yhe with mys deyme nocht my taille.
Perchance yhe say that Bruce he was none sik.
He was als gud quhat deid was to assaill
As of his handis and bauldar in battaill,
Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr of this kynrik;
For he had rycht we call no man him lik.
Bot Wallace thris this kynrik conquest haile,
In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.
I will ratorn to my mater agayne.
Quhen Wallace was ralesched of his payn,
The contré demyd haile at he was dede;
His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede
Bot haile he was likly to gang and ryd.
Into that place he wald no langar byde.
His trew kepar he send to Elrisle.
Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat thaim be.
Hir dochtir als, thar servand and hir child,
He gart thaim pas onto his modyr myld.
Quhen thai war gayne na wapynnys thar he saw
To helpe him with quhat aventur mycht befaw.
A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand
Withoutyn belt, but bos, bukler, or band.
Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid;
Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede.
He drew the blaid: he fand it wald bitt weill;
Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll.
"God helpis his man, for thou sall go with me
Quhill bettir cum, will God, full sone may be!"
To Schir Ranald as than he wald nocht fair.
In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar.
At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald have beyne
To get him hors and part of armour scheyne.
On thedirwart as he bownyt to fair
Thre Inglismen he met, ridand till Ayr,
In thair viage at Glaskow furth had beyne.
Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne,
A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa.
Wallace drew by and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga.
Till him he raid and said dispitfully,
"Thow Scot abide. I trow thow be sum spy,
Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald thee hid."
Than Wallace said with sobyr wordis that tid,
"Schir, I am seik. For Goddis luff latt me ga!"
Longcastell said, "Forsuth it beis nocht sa.
A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair.
Quhill men thee knaw thow sall with me till Ayr."10
Hynt out his suerd that was of nobill hew.
Wallace with that at his lychtyn him drew,
Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne,
Throw brayne and seyne in sondir straik the bayne.
Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun,
To veng his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun.
The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff,
The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff.
The tothir fled and durst no langar bide;
With a rud step Wallace coud eftir glide.
Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he,
Quhill levir and lounggis men mycht all redy se.
Thar hors he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour,
Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour.
Sylvir thai had, all with him has he tayne
Him to support, for spendyng had he nayne.
Into gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun.
A blyth semblay was at his lychtin doun
Quhen Wallace mett with Schir Richart the knicht,
For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht.
His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne;
Thai held him lost, yit God him savth agayne.
His eyme, Schir Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast;
The wemen told by Corsby as thai past
Of Wallace eschaipe, syne thar viage yeid.11
Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid:
Quhill he him saw in hart he thocht full lang;
Than sodanlye in armys he coud him thrang.
He mycht nocht spek, bot kyst him tendirlye;
The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye.
The blyth teris tho bryst fro his eyne two
Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so,
And at the last rycht freindfully said he,
"Welcum nevo, welcum, deir sone to me.
Thankit be He that all this warld has wrocht,
Thus fairlye thee has out of presoune brocht!"
His modyr come and othir freyndis enew
With full glaid will to feill thai tithingis trew.
Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht,
Wald nocht thaim trow quhill he him saw with sicht.
Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun,
Feille worthi folk that war of gret renoun.
Thus leiff I thaim in mirth, blys, and plesance,
Thankand gret God of his fre happy chance.
Explicit liber Secundus
Incipit Tertius
Book 3
In joyows Julii, quhen the flouris suete
Degesteable, engenered throu the heet,
Baith erbe and froyte, busk and bewis, braid
Haboundandlye in eviry slonk and slaid;
Als bestiall thar rycht cours till endur,
Weyle helpyt ar be wyrkyn of natur,
On fute and weynge ascendand to the hycht,
Conserved weill be the Makar of mycht
Fyscheis in flude refeckit rialye
Till mannys fude the warld suld occupye;
Bot Scotland sa was waistit mony day,
Throw wer sic skaith at labour was away.
Victaill worth scant or August coud apper,
Throu all the land that fude was hapnyt der.
Bot Inglismen, that riches wantyt nayne,
Be caryage brocht thar victaill full gud wayne;
Stuffit housis with wyn and gud wernage
Demaynde this land as thar awne heretage;
The kynryk haile thai rewllyt at thar will.
Messyngeris than sic tithingis brocht thaim till,
And tald Persye that Wallace leffand war,
Of his eschaip fra thar presoune in Ayr.
Thai trowit rycht weill he passit was that steid
For Longcastell and his twa men was deid.
Thai waryit the chance that Wallace so was past.
In ilka part thai war gretlye agast
Throw prophesye that thai had herd befor.
Lord Persye said, "Quhat nedis wordis mor?
Bot he be cest he sall do gret mervaill.
It war the best for King Eduuardis availl
Mycht he him get to be his steidfast man,
For gold or land his conquest mycht lest than.
Me think beforce he may nocht gottyn be.
Wys men the suth be his eschaip may se."
Thus deyme thai him in mony divers cas;
We leiff thaim her and spek furth of Wallas.
In Rycardtoun he wald no langar byde,
For freindis consaill nor thing that mycht betide;
And quhen thai saw that it availlit nocht,
His purpos was to venge him at he mocht
On Sothron blud quhilk has his eldris slayne,
Thai latt him wyrk his awn will into playne.
[Wallace, accompanied by Adam, the eldest of Sir Richard Wallace's sons, Robert Boyd, Kneland, and Edward Litill, leaves
Riccarton for "Mawchtlyne Mur" (line 60), which McDiarmid (2.150) renders as Mauchline Moor in Ayrshire, to await the reported
arrival of Fenwick with supplies for the English. (Lines 43-66)]
Towart Lowdoun thai bownyt thaim to ride
And in a schaw a litill thar besyde
Thai lugyt thaim, for it was nere the nycht,
To wache the way als besyly as thai mycht.
A trew Scot quhilk hosteler hous thair held
Under Lowdoun, as myn autor me teld,
He saw thar com, syne went to thaim in hye.
Baithe meite and drynk he brocht full prevalye
And to thaim tald the cariage into playn.
Thair for-rydar was past till Ayr agayne,
Left thaim to cum with pouer of gret vaille.
Thai trowit be than thai war in Awendaille.
Wallace than said, "We will nocht sojorne her,
Nor change no weid bot our ilk dayis ger."
At Corssencon the gait was spilt that tide,
Forthi that way behovid thaim for to ride.
Ay fra the tyme that he of presoune four
Gude sovir weide dayly on him he wour:
Gude lycht harnes fra that tyme usyt he evir,
For sodeyn stryff fra it he wald nocht sevir
A habergione undir his goune he war,
A steylle capleyne in his bonet but mar,
And glovis of plait in claith war coverit weill,12
In his doublet a clos coler of steyle.
His face he kepit for it was evir bar,
With his twa handis the quhilk full worthi war.
Into his weid and he come in a thrang
Was na man than on fute mycht with him gang.
So growane in pith, of pouer stark and stur,
His terryble dyntis war awfull till endur.
Thai trastyt mar in Wallace him allane
Than in a hundreth mycht be of Ingland tane.
The worthi Scottis maid thar no sojornyng,
To Lowdoun Hill past in the gray dawyng,
Devysyt the place and putt thair hors thaim fra
And thocht to wyn or nevir thin to ga:
Send twa skowrrouris to vesy weyll the playne,
Bot thai rycht sone raturnde in agayne,
To Wallace tald that thai war cummand fast.
Than thai to grounde all kneland at the last
With humyll hartis prayit with all thar mycht
To God abowne to help thaim in thar rycht.
Than graithit thai thaim till harnes hastely.
Thar sonyeit nane of that gud chevalrye.
Than Wallace said, "Her was my fadir slayne,
My brothir als, quhilk dois me mekill payne;
So sall myselff, or vengit be but dreid.
The traytour is her, caus was of that deid."
Than hecht thai all to bide with hartlye will.
Be that the power was takand Lowdoun Hill.13
The knycht Fenweik convoide the caryage;
He had on Scottis maid mony schrewide viage.
The sone was rysyne our landis schenand brycht.
The Inglismen so thai come to the hycht;
Ner thaim he raid and sone the Scottis saw.
He tald his men and said to thaim on raw,
"Yhonne is Wallace that chapit our presoune.
He sall agayne and be drawyn throu the toune.
His hede mycht mar, I wait, weill ples the king
Than gold or land or ony warldly thing."
He gart servandis bide with the cariage still.
Thai thocht to dawntyt the Scottis at thar will.
Nyne scor he led in harnes burnyst brycht,
And fyfty was with Wallace in the rycht.
Unraboytyt the Sothroun was in wer
And fast thai come, fell awfull in affer.
A maner dyk of stanys thai had maid,
Narrowyt the way quhar throuch thai thikar raid.
The Scottis on fute tuk the feld thaim befor;
The Sothroun saw: thar curage was the mor.
In prydefull ire thai thoucht our thaim to ryde,
Bot othirwys it hapnyt in that tide.
On athir side togidder fast thai glaid;
The Scottis on fute gret rowme about thaim maide,
With ponyeand speris throuch platis prest of steylle.
The Inglismen that thocht to veng thaim weylle,
The harnest hors about thaim rudely raide,
That with unes upone thar feit thai baid.
Wallace the formast in the byrney bar;
The grounden sper throuch his body schar.
The schafft to-schonkit offe the fruschand tre;
Devoydyde sone sen na better mycht be,
Drew suerdis syne, bathe hevy, scharp and lang.
On athyr syd full cruelly thai dang,
Fechtand at anys into that felloune dout.
Than Inglismen enveround thaim about,
Be force etlyt throuchout thaim for to ryde.
The Scottis on fute that baldly couth abyde
With suerdis schar throuch habergeons full gude,
Upon the flouris schot the schonkan blude
Fra hors and men throw harnes burnyst beyne.
A sayr sailye forsuth thar mycht be seyne.
Thai traistyt na liff bot the lettir end.
Of sa few folk gret nobilnes was kend,
Togydder baid defendand thaim full fast;
Durst nane sevir quhill the maist pres was past.14
The Inglismen that besye was in wer
Be fors ordand in sondir thaim to ber.
Thair cheyff chyftan feryt als fers as fyr,
Throw matelent and verray propyr ire,
On a gret hors intill his glitterand ger
In fewtir kest a fellone aspre sper.
The knycht Fenweik that cruell was and keyne,
He had at dede of Wallace fadir beyne,
And his brodyr, that douchty was and der.
Quhen Wallace saw that fals knycht was so ner
His corage grew in ire as a lyoune;
Till him he ran and fell frekis bar he doune.
As he glaid by aukwart he couth him ta,
The and arsone in sondir gart he ga.
Fra the coursour he fell on the fer syd.
With a staff suerd Boyd stekit him that tyde.
Or he was dede the gret pres come so fast
Our him to grounde thai bur Boyde at the last.
Wallace was ner and ratornde agayne
Him to reskew, till that he rais of payne,
Wichtly him wor quhill he a suerd had tayne.
Throuout the stour thir twa in feyr ar gayne.
The ramanand apon thaim folowit fast;
In thar passage fell Sothron maid agast.
Adam Wallace, the ayr of Ricardtoun,
Straik ane Bewmound, a squier of renoun,
On the pyssan with his brand burnyst bar.
The thrusande blaid his hals in sonder schayr.
The Inglismen, thocht thar chyftayn was slayne,
Bauldly thai baid as men mekill of mayn.
Reth hors repende rouschede frekis undir feit;
The Scottis on fute gert mony lois the suete.
Wicht men lichtyt thaimselff for to defend;
Quhar Wallace come thar deide was litill kend.
The Sothroune part so frusched was that tide
That in the stour thai mycht no langar bide.
Wallace in deide he wrocht so worthely,
The squier Boid and all thar chevalry,
Litill, Kneland, gert of thar ennymys de.
The Inglismen tuk playnly part to fle.
On hors sum part to strenthis can thame found
To socour thaim, with mony werkand wound.
A hundreth dede in feild was levyt thar,
And thre yemen that Wallace menyde fer mar;
Twa was of Kyle, and ane of Conyngayme
With Robert Boide to Wallace com fra hayme.
Four scor fled that chapyt on the south syde.
The Scottis in place that bauldly couth abyde
Spoilyeid the feld, gat gold and othir ger,
Harnes and hors, quhilk thai mysteryt in wer.
The Inglis knavis thai gart thar caryage leid15
To Clidis Forest; quhen thai war out of dreid
Thai band thaim fast with wedeis sad and sar,
On bowand treis hangyt thaim rycht thar.
He sparyt nane that abill was to wer,
Bot wemen and preystis he gart thaim ay forber.
Quhen this was doyne to thar dyner thai went
Of stuff and wyne that God had to thaim sent.
[The English flee to Ayr and report to Percy the losses incurred. Percy has cause to regret that Wallace escaped from
prison, and resolves that in future supplies will have to be brought in by sea. While Wallace enjoys the English setback,
Percy holds a council in Glasgow at which Sir Amer de Valence, incorrectly identified as a Scot and therefore a traitor,
counsels a truce and cleverly suggests that Sir Ranald be made the instrument for bringing this about, on pain of losing his |