Chapter X: Part 10

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. 1050 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 thing 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
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
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 we 1210
‘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 cald 1215
“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
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; 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. 1295 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
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.

Wallace hym selff was sekyr gyd that nycht; 1375
Till Dunbertane the way he chesyt rycht.
Or it was day, for than the nycht was lang,
On to the toun full prewaly thai gang.
Mekill off it Inglissmen occupyit.
Gud Wallace sone throu a dyrk garth hym hyit, 1380
And till a houss, quhar he was wont to ken,
A wedow duelt was frendfull till our men.
Abone hyr bed, on the baksid, was maid
A dern wyndow, was nothir lang nor braid;
Thar Wallace cauld, and son fra scho him knew, 1385
In haist scho rayss, and prewaly thaim in drew
Till a closs bern, quhar thai mycht kepyt be:
Baith meit and drynk scho brocht in gret plenté.
A gudly gyft to Wallace als scho gaiff,
A hundreth pownd and mar, atour the layff. 1390
Nyne sonnys scho had, was lykly men and wicht;
Ane ayth till him scho gart thaim swer full rycht.
In peess thai duelt, in trubyll that had beyn,
And trewbut payit till Ingliss capdanis keyn. Fol. 90 b
Schir Jhon Menteth the castell had in hand: 1395
Bot sum men said, thar was a prewa band
Till Sotheroun maid, be menys off that knycht,
In thar supplé to be in all his mycht.
Tharoff as now I will no process mak.
Wallace that day a schort purpos can tak; 1400
Quhen it was nycht he bad the wedow pass,
Merk all the duris quhar Sotheroun duelland was.
Syn efftir this, he and his chewalry
Graithyt thaim weill, and wapynnys tuk in hy;
Went on the gayt, quhen Sotheroun was on slep, 1405
A gret oystré our Scottis tuk to kep.
Ane Ingliss captane was sittand wp so lait,
Quhill he and his with drynk was maid full mait.
Nyn men was thar, now set in hye curage;
Sum wald haiff had gud Wallace in that rage; 1410
Sum wald haiff bound Schyr Jhone the Grayme throucht strenth;
Sum wald haiff had Boyd at the suerdis lenth;
Sum wyst Lundy, that chapyt was off Fyff;
Sum wychtar was na Cetoun in to stryff.
Quhen Wallace hard the Sotheroun maid sic dyn, 1415
He gart all byd, and hym allayn went in;
The layff remaynyt to her off thar tithans.
He salust thaim with sturdy contenance.
“Falowis,” he said, “sen I com last fra haym,
“In trawaill I was our land and wncouth fame. 1420
“Fra south Ireland I com in this cuntré,
“The [new] conquest off Scotland for to se.
“Part off your drynk, or sum gud I wald haiff.”
The captane [than] a schrewed ansuer him gaiff;
‘Thow semys a Scot wnlikly, ws to spy; 1425
‘Thow may be ane off Wallace cumpany:
‘Contrar our king he is ryssyn agane;
‘The land off Fyff he has rademyt in plane.
‘Thou sall her byd quhill we wyt how it be;
‘Be thow off his, thou sall be hyngyt hye.’ 1430
Wallace than thocht it was na tym to stand;
His nobill suerd he gryppyt son in hand;
Aukwart the face drew that captane in teyn,
Straik all away that stud abowne his eyn.
Ane othir braithly in the breyst he bar; 1435
Baith brawn and bayn the burly blaid throcht schar.
The layff ruschyt wp to Wallace in gret ire;
The thryd he feld full fersly in the fyr,
Stewyn off Irland, and Kerlé, in that thrang,
Kepyt na charge, bot entryt thaim amang; 1440 Fol. 91 a
And othir ma that to the dur can press;
Quhill thai him saw thar coud no thing thaim cess,
The Sotheroun men full sone was brocht to ded.
The blyth hosteler bad thaim gud ayle and breid.
Wallace said; “Nay, till we haiff laysar mar. 1445
“To be our gyd thow sall befor ws fayr;
“And begyn fyr quhar at the Sotheroun lyis.”
The hostellar son, apon a hasty wyss,
Hynt fyr in hand, and till a gret hous yeid,
Quhar Inglissmen was in full mekill dreid. 1450
For thai wyst nocht quhill that the rud low raiss;
As wood bestis amang the fyr than gays,
With paynis fell ruschyt full sorowfully.
The layff with out, off our gud chewalry,
At ilka houss, quhar the hostillar began, 1455
Kepyt the duris, fra thaim chapyt na man.
For all thair mycht, thocht king Eduuard had suorn,
Gat nayn away that was off Ingland born,
Bot othir brynt, or but reskew was slayn,
And sum throucht force drywyn in the fyr agayn. 1460
Part Scottis folk, in seruice thaim amang,
Fra ony payn frely thai let thaim gang.
Thre hundreth men was to Dunbertan send,
To kep the land, as thair lordis thaim kend;
Skaithless off thaim for ay was this regioun. 1465
Wallace or day maid him out off the toun;
On to the coyff off Dunbartane thai yeid;
And all that day [thar] soiornd out off dreid.
Baith meit and drynk the hostillar gert be brocht.
Quhen nycht was cummyn, in all the haist thai mocht, 1470
Towart Rossneth full ernystfully thai gang;
For Inglissmen was in that castell strang.
On the Garlouch thai purpost thaim to bid,
Betwix the kyrk, that ner was thar besyd;
And to the castell full prewaly thai draw. 1475
Wndyr a bray thai buschyt thaim rycht law,
Lang the wattyr, quhar comoun oyss had thai,
The castellis stuff, on to the kyrk ilk day.
A maryage als that day was to begyn.
All wschyt owt, and left na man with in, 1480
At fens mycht mak, bot serwandis in that place;
Thus to that tryst thai passyt wpon cace.
Wallace and his drew thaim full prewaly
Nerhand the place, quhen thai war passyt by,
With in the hauld; and thocht to kep that steid 1485
Fra Sotheroun men, or ellys tharfor be deid.
Compleit was maid the mariage in to playn; Fol. 91 b
On to Rossneth thai raturnyt agayn.
Four scor and ma was in that cumpany,
Bot nocht arayit as was our chewalry; 1490
To the castell thai weynd to pass but let.
The worthy Scottis so hardly on thaim set,
Fourtye at anys derffly to ground thai bar;
The ramaynand affrayit was so sayr,
Langar in feild thai had no mycht to bid, 1495
Bot fersly fled fra thaim on athir sid.
The Scottis thar has weyll the entré woun,
And slew the layff that in that houss was foun;
Syn on the flearis folowid wondyr fast,
Na Inglissman with lyff thar fra thaim past. 1500
The wemen sone thai seysyt in to hand,
Kepyt thaim closs, for warnyng off the land.
The dede bodyes all out off sycht thai kest:
Than at gud ess thai maid thaim for to rest.
Off purwians sewyn dayis thai lugyt thar 1505
At rud costis, to spend thai wald nocht spar.
Quhat Sotheroun come, thai tuk all glaidly in,
Bot owt agayn thai leit nane off that kyn.
Quha tithandis send to the captane off that steid,
Thai seruitouris the Scottis put to ded, 1510
Spulyeid the place, and left na gudis thar,
Brak wallis doun, and maid that byggyng bar.
Quhen thai had spilt off stayne werk at thai mocht,
Syn kendillyt fyr, and fra Rossneth thai socht.
Quhen thai had brynt all tre werk in that place, 1515
Wallace gert freith the wemen, off hys grace;
To do thaim harm neuir his purpos was
Than to Faslan the worthy Scottis can pass,
Quhar erll Malcom was bidand at defence;
Rycht glaid he was off Wallace gud presence. 1520
Than he fand thar a nobill cumpany,
Schir Jhon the Graym, and Richard off Lundy,
Adam Wallace, that worthy was and wyss,
Berklay and Boid, with men mekill to pryss.
At Cristinmess thar Wallace soiornyt still; 1525
Off his modyr tithandis was brocht him till,
That tym befor scho had left Elrislé;
For Inglissmen in it scho durst nocht be.
Fra thine dysgysyt scho past in pilgrame weid,
Sum gyrth to sek to Dunfermlyn scho yeid. 1530
Seknes hyr had so socht in to that sted,
Decest scho was, God tuk hir spreit to leid. Fol. 92 a
Quhen Wallace hard at that tithandis was trew,
How sadness so in ilk sid can persew;
In thank he tuk, be causs it was naturaill, 1535
He lowyt God with sekyr hart and haill.
Bettyr him thocht, that it was hapnyt sa,
Na Sotheroun suld hyr put till othir wa.
He ordand Jop, and als the maister Blayr,
Thiddyr to pass, and for no costis spayr, 1540
Bot honour do the corp till sepultur.
At his commaund thai seruit ilka hour,
Doand thar to as dede askis till haw:
With worschip was the corp graithit in grawe.
Agayn thai turnyt, and schawit him off hir end. 1545
He thankit God quhat grace that euir he send;
He seis the warld sa full off fantasie,
Confort he tuk, and leit all murnyng be;
His most desyr was for to freith Scotland.
Now will I tell quhat new cass com on hand. 1550

Schyr Wilyam lang off Douglace daill was lord;
Off his fyrst wyff, as rycht was to record,
Decest or than out off this warldly cair,
Twa sonnys he had with hyr, that leyffyt thar,
Quhilk likly war, and abill in curage, 1555
To sculle was send in to thair tendre age;
James and Hew, so hecht thir brethyr twa.
And eftir sone thar wncle couth thaim ta,
Gud Robert Keth, had thaim fra Glaskow toun;
Atour the se in Frans he maid thaim boun. 1560
At study syn he left thaim in to Parys,
With a maister that worthy was and wyss.
The king Eduuard tuk thair fadyr that knycht,
And held him thar, thocht he was neuir so wicht,
Till tym he had assentit till his will. 1565
A mariage als thai gert ordane him till,
The lady Ferss, off power and hye blud:
Bot tharoff com till his lyff litill gud.
Twa sonnys he gat on this lady but mar.
With Eduuardis will he tuk his leiff to far; 1570
In Scotland com, and broucht hys wyff on pes,
In Douglass duelt; forsuth this is no les.
Kyng Eduuard trowyt that he had stedfast beyn,
Fast to thair faith; bot the contrar was seyn:
Ay Scottis blud remaynyt in to Douglace, 1575
Agayn Ingland he prewyt in mony place.
The Sanchar was a castell fayr and strang; Fol. 92 b
Ane Ingliss capdane, that dyd feyll Scottis wrang,
In till it duelt, and Bewffurd he was cauld,
That held all waist fra thine to Douglace hauld. 1580
Rycht ner off kyn was Douglace wiff and he;
Tharfor he trowyt in pess off hym to be.
Schyr Wylyham saw at Wallace raiss agayn,
And rycht likly to freyth Scotland off payn.
Till help him part in till hys mynd he kest; 1585
For in that lyff rycht lang he coud nocht lest.
He thoucht na charge to brek apon Ingland;
It was throucht force that euir he maid thaim band.
A young man than, that hardy was and bauld,
Born till him selff, and Thom Dycson was cauld. 1590
“Der freynd,” he said, “I wald preyff at my mycht,
“And mak a fray to fals Bewfurd the knycht,
“In Sanchar duellys, and dois full gret owtrage.”
Than Dycson said; ‘My selff in that wiage
‘Sall for yow pass, with Anderson to spek, 1595
‘Cusyng to me; frendschip he will nocht brek.
‘For that ilk man thar wod ledys thaim till;
‘Throucht help off him purpos ye may fullfill.’
Schyr Wilyham than, in all the haist he mycht,
Thretty trew men in this wiage he dycht; 1600
And tauld his wyff till Drumfress he wald fayr,
A tryst, he said, off Ingland he had thair.
Thus passyt he quhar that na Sotheroun wyst,
With thir thretty throw waist land at his lyst.
Quhill nycht was cummyn, he buschit thaim full law 1605
In tyll a clewch ner the wattyr off Craw.
To the Sanchar Dykson allayn he send;
And he son maid with Anderson this end;
Dicson suld tak bathe his hors and his weid,
Be it was day, a drawcht off wod to leid. 1610
Agayn he past, and tauld the gud Dowglace,
Quhilk drew him sone in till a preway place.
Anderson tauld quhat stuff thar was tharin
Till Thom Dicson, that was ner off his kyn:
“Fourty thai ar off men off mekill waill; 1615
“Be thai on fute, thai will yow sayr assayll.
“Gyff thow hapnys the entré for to get,
“On thi rycht hand a stalwart ax is set,
“Thar with thow may defend the in a thrang;
“Be Douglace wyss he bydis nocht fra the lang.” 1620
Anderson yeid to the buschement in hy;
Ner the castell he drew thaim prewaly
In till a schaw; Sotheroun mystraystit nocht.
To the next wode, wyth Dycson, syn he socht, Fol. 93 a
Graithyt him a drawcht, on a braid slyp and law, 1625
Chargyt a horss, and to the houss can caw.
Arayit he was in Andersonnis weid,
And bad haiff in. The portar com gud speid;
“This hour,” he said, “thow mycht haiff beyn away;
“Wntymys thow art, for it is scantly day.” 1630
The yet yeid wp, Dicson gat in but mar;
A thourtour bande, that all the drawcht wpbar,
He cuttyt it; to ground the slyp can ga,
Cumryt the yet, stekyng thai mycht nocht ma.
The portar son he hynt in to that stryff, 1635
Twyss throuch the hede he stekit him with a knyff.
The ax he gat, that Anderson off spak;
A bekyn maid, tharwith the buschement brak.
Douglace him selff was formest in that press,
In our the wod entryt, or thai wald cess. 1640
Thre wachmen sa, off wallis was cummyn new,
With in the closs the Scottis son thaim slew.
Or ony scry was raissyt in that stour,
Douglace had tane the yet off the gret tour;
Rane wp a grece, quhar at the capdane lay. 1645
On fut he gat, and wald haiff beyn away.
Our lait it was; Dowglace strak up the dur,
Bewfurd he fand in to the chawmyr flour;
With a styff suerd to dede he has him dycht.
His men folowit, that worthy was and wycht. 1650
The men thai slew, that was in to thai wanys;
Syn in the closs thai semblit all at anys.
The hous thai tuk, and Sotheroun put to ded;
Gat nane, bot ane, with lyff out off that sted,
For that the yet so lang wnstekit was. 1655
This spy he fled, till Durisder can pass;
Tauld that captane, that thai had hapnyt sa.
Ane other he gert in to the Enoch ga;
And Tybris mur was warnyt off this cass;
And Louchmaban all semblyt to that place. 1660
The cuntré raiss, quhen thai herd off sic thing,
To sege Douglace, and hecht thai suld him hyng.
Quhen Douglace wyst na wayis fra thaim [to] chaip,
To sailye him he trowyt thai wald thaim schaip,
Dicson he send, apon a cursour wycht, 1665
To warn Wallace, in all the haist he mycht.
Off Lewynhouss Wallace had tayn in playn,
Witht thre hundreth gud men off mekill mayn;
Kylsith a castell, he thocht to wesy it,
Ane Rawynsdaill held; bot trew men leit him wyt, 1670
That he was out that tym off Cummyrnauld; Fol. 93 b
Lord Cumyn duelt on tribut in that hauld.
Quhen Wallace wyst, he gert erll Malcom ly
With twa hundreth in a buschement ner by,
To kep the houss, that nayn till it suld fayr; 1675
He tuk the layff, and in the wod ner thar
A scurrour set, to warn quhen he saw ocht.
Son Rawynsdaill com, off thaim he had na thocht.
Quhen he was cummyn the twa buschementis betweyn,
The scurrour warnd the cruell men and keyn; 1680
Than Wallace brak, and folowit on thaim fast.
The Sotheroun fled, for thai war sar agast.
Rawynsdaill had than bot fyftye men;
Amang the Scottis thar deidis was litill to ken.
Quhen erll Malcom had bard thaim fra the place, 1685
Na Sotheroun yeid with lyff that thai did grace.
Part Lennox men thai left the horss to ta;
On spulyeyng than thai wald na tary ma.
To sege the houss than Wallace coud nocht bid;
Throu out the land in awfull feyr thai ryd. 1690
Than Lithquow toun thai brynt in to thair gayt;
Quhar Sotheroun duelt, thai maid thair byggyngis hayt.
The peyll thai tuk, and slew that was tharin;
Off Sotheroun blud the Scottis thocht na syn.
Syn on the morn brynt Dawketh in a gleid; 1695
Than till a strenth in Newbottyll wod thai yeid.
Be that Lawder, and Crystall off Cetoun.
Com fra the Bass, and brynt Northallyrtoun;
For Inglissmen suld thar na succour get:
Quham thai ourtuk, thai slew with outyn let. 1700
To meit Wallace thai past with all thair mycht,
A hundreth with thaim off men in armes brycht.
A blyth metyng that tym was thaim betweyn,
Quhen erll Malcom and Wallace has thaim seyn.
Thom Dycson than was met with gud Wallace, 1705
Quhilk grantyt sone [for] to reskew Douglace,
“Dicson,” he said, “wait thow thair multiplé?”
‘Thre thousand men thair power mycht nocht be.’
Erll Malcom said; “Thoucht thai war thousandys fyffe,
“For this actioun me think that we suld stryff.” 1710
Than Hew the Hay, that duelt wndyr trewage,
Off Inglissmen son he gaiff our the wage;
Mar for to pay as than he likyt nocht.
With fyfté men with Wallace furth he socht;
To Peblis past, bot no Sotheroun thar baid, 1715
Thar at the croice a playn crya thai maid.
Wallace commaund, quha wald cum to his pess, Fol. 94 a
And byd tharat, reward suld haiff but les.
Gud Ruthirfurd, that euir trew has beyn,
In Atryk wode, agayn the Sotheroun keyn, 1720
Bydyn he had, and done thaim mekill der;
Saxté he led off nobill men in wer.
Wallace welcummyt quha com in his supplé
With lordly feyr, and chyftaynlik was he.
Thaim till aray thai yeid with out the toun; 1725
Thar nowmyr was sex hundreth off renoun,
In byrneis brycht, all men off mekill waill;
With glaid hartis thai past in Clyddisdaill.
The sege be than was to the Sanchar set;
Sic tithingis com, quhilk maid tharin a let. 1730
Quhen Sotheroun hard that Wallace was so ner,
Throw haisty fray the ost was all on ster;
Na man was thar wald for ane othir byd,
Purpos thai tuk in Ingland for to ryd.
The chyftane said, sen thair king had befor 1735
Fra Wallace fled, the causis was the mor.
Fast south thai went; to bid it was gret waith.
Douglace as than was quyt [thus] off thair scaith.
In Crawfurd mur be than was gud Wallace,
Quhen men him tauld, that Sotheroun apon cace 1740
Was fled away, and durst nocht him abid.
Thre hundreth than he chessyt with him to rid,
In lycht harnes, and hors at thai wald waill.
The erll Malcom he bad byd with the staill.
To folow thaim, a bakgard for to be, 1745
To stuff a chace in all haist bownyt he.
Throw Durisder he tuk the gaynest gayt;
Rycht fayn he wald with Sotheroun mak debait.
The playnest way abone Mortoun thai hald,
Kepand the hycht, gyff that the Sotheroun wald 1750
Houss to persew, or turn to Lochmaban.
Bot tent thar to the Inglissmen tuk nan;
Doune neth thai held, graith gydys can thaim leyr,
Abon Closburn Wallace approchyt ner.
In ire he grew, quhen thai war in his sycht; 1755
To thaim thai sped with wyll and all thair mycht.
On a out part the Scottis set in that tyd;
Sewyn scor at erd thai had sone at a syd.
The Sotheroun saw that it was hapnyt sa,
Turnyt in agayn [sum] reskew for to ma. 1760
Quhen thai trowyt best agayn Scotland to stand,
Erll Malcom com [than] rycht ner at thair hand.
The hayll power tuk playn purpos to fle. Fol. 94 b
Quha was at erd Wallace gert lat thaim be;
Apon the formest folowit in all his mycht. 1765
The erll and his apon the layff can lycht,
Dyd all to ded wnhorssyt was that tyd.
Feyll men was slayn apon the Sotheroun sid.
Fyve hundreth larg, or thai past Dawswyntoun,
On Sotheroun sid to ded was brocht adoun. 1770
The Scottis horss mony began to tyr,
Supposs thaim selff was cruell fers as fyr.
The flearis left bathe wode and watterys haill;
To tak the playn thai thocht it most awaill.
In gret battaill away full fast thai raid; 1775
In to strenthtis thai thocht to mak na baid.
Ner Louchmaban and Lochyrmos thai went,
Besyd Crouchmaid, quhar feyll Sotheroun was schent.
Rycht mony horss, at ronnyn had so lang,
And trawalyt sayr, thai mycht no forthir gang. 1780
Schyr Jhon the Graym apon his fut was set;
Than Wallace als lychtyt with outyn let.
Thir twa on fute amang the enemyss yeid;
Was nayn, but hors, mycht fra thaim [pas] throw speid.
On Inglissmen so cruelly thai socht, 1785
Quhom thai ourtuk agayn harmyt ws nocht.
To Wallace com a part off power new,
On restyt horss, that partly couth persew;
Adam Corré, with gud men off gret waill,
And Jhonstoun als, that duelt in [to] Housdaill; 1790
And Kyrkpatrik was in that cumpany,
And Halyday, quhilk semblyt sturdely.
Quhar thai entryt, the sailye was so sayr,
Dede to the ground feill frekis doun thai bayr.
Sewyn scor was haill off new cummyn men in deid; 1795
The south party off thaim had mekill dreid.
Wallace was horssyt apon a cursour wicht,
At gud Corré had brocht in to thair sycht,
To stuff the chas with his new chewalry.
He commaundyt Graym, and all his men for thi, 1800
To gydder byd, and folow as thai mycht.
Thre capdanys thar full son to dede he dycht.
That restyt horss so wondyr weill him bayr,
Quhom he our tuk agayn raiss neuir mar.
Raithly he raid, and maid full mony wound, 1805
Thir thre capdanis he stekit in that stound,
Off Durisdeyr, Enoch, and Tybyr mur.
Lord Clyffurdis eym away to Clyffurd fur,
The quhilk befor that kepyt Lowchmaban;
Na landyt man chapyt with him bot ane. 1810
For Maxwell als, out off Carlauerok com, Fol. 95 a
On to the Sotheroun the gaynest wayis nom.
In to the chass so wysly thai rid,
Few gat away that com apon that sid.
Besyd Cokpull full feyll fechtand thai fand; 1815
Sum drownyt was, sum slayn wpon the sand;
Quha chapyt was, in Ingland fled away.
Wallace returnd; na presoner tuk thai.
In Carlauerok restyng that nycht thai maid,
Apon the morn till Drumfres blythly raid. 1820
Thar Wallace cryid, quha wald cum to his pes,
Agayn Sotheroun, thar malice for to cess.
Till trew Scottis he ordand warysoun;
Quha fawtyt had, he grantyt remissioun.
In Drumfress than he wald no langer byd. 1825
The Sotheroun fled off Scotland on ilk sid,
Be sey and land, without langar abaid.
Off castellys, townys, than Wallace chyftanys maid
Rewlyt the land, and put it to the rest,
With trew keparys, the quhilk he traistyt best. 1830
The trew Douglace, that I yow tauld off ayr,
Kepar was maid fra Drumlanryk till Ayr.
Becauss he had on Sotheroun sic thing wrocht,
Hyss wyff was wraith; but it scho schawit nocht,
Wndyr cowart hyr malice hid perfyt, 1835
As a serpent watis hyr tym to byt.
Till Douglace eft scho wrocht full mekill cayr;
Off that as now I leyff quhill forthirmar.

Bot Sotheroun men durst her no castell hald,
Bot left Scotland, befor as I yow tald, 1840
Saiff ane Morton, a capdane fers and fell,
That held Dundé. Than Wallace wald nocht duell;
Thiddyr he past, and lappyt it about.
Quhen Morton saw, that he was in sic dout,
He askyt leyff with thar lywys to ga. 1845
Wallace denyit, and said; “It beis nocht sa;
“The last capdane off Ingland that her was,
“I gayff him leyff with his men for to pass.
“Thow sall forthink sic maister for to mak;
“All Ingland sall of the exemple tak. 1850
“Sic men [I wend] fra thine now to haiff worn;
“Thow sall be hangyt, supposs thi king had suorn.”
He gert commaund na Scottis suld to thaim spek;
“Conferme the sege, and so we sall ws wrek
“On Inglissmen, has sic will off Dundé.” 1855
Scrymiour he maid thar constable for to be.
A ballingar off Ingland, that was thar,
Past out off Tay, and com to Whitbé far,
Till London send, and tauld off all this cace; Fol. 95 b
Till hyng Morton wowyt had Wallace. 1860
Befor this tym Eduuard with power yeid
To wer on Frans, for than he had no dreid;
Before he trowyt Scotland suld be his awn.
Quhen thai him warnyt how his men was ourthrawn,
Agayn he turnyt till Ingland haistely, 1865
And left his deid all fykit in to fy.
Gascon he clemyt as in to heretage,
He left it thus, for all his gret barnage;
And Flandris als he thocht till tak on hand;
And thir he left, and come to reyff Scotland. 1870
Quhen that this king in Ingland was cummyn hayme,
Sowmoundis thai maid, and chargyt Bruce be nayme,
And all wthir, that leyffyt wndir his croun,
Byschop, barroun, to cum at thair sowmoun.
Quhen Wallace twyss, throw grace, had fred Scotland, 1875
This tyran king tuk playnly wpon hand,
For sic desyr that he mycht haiff no rest,
He thocht till hym of it to mak conquest.
In cowatice he had rongyn so lang,
Chyftanis he maid; at thai suld nocht pas wrang, 1880
Gydis thai chessyt, fra strenthis thaim to ghy,
Thai thocht no mor to byd at juperty.
In playn battaill, and thai mycht Wallace wyn,
He trowyt off wer thai wald no mor begyn.
Lat I this king makand hys ordinans; 1885
My purpos is to spek sum thing off Frans.
The Inglissmen, that Ghyan held at wer,
Till Franch folk thai did full mekill der.
King and consaill sone in thar wyttis kest,
To get Wallace thai thocht it was the best. 1890
For Gyan land the Inglissmen had thai;
Thai schup thaim thus in all the haist thai may:
For thai traistyt, and Scotland war weill stad,
Wallace wald cum, as he thaim promyst had.
The sammyn harrald, befor in Scotland was, 1895
Thai him commaundyt, and ordand he suld pas
In to Scotland, with out langar delay,
Out off the Slus, as gudly as he may.
Redy he was, in schip he went on cace,
In Tayis mowth the hawyn but baid he tais, 1900
Quhar Wallace was than at the saylye still;
And he rasawyt the harrold with gud will.
Thar wryt he raid, and said him on this wyss,
Ane ansuer sone he couth thaim nocht dewyss.
Till honest in the harrold than he send, 1905
On Wallace cost rycht boundandly to spend,
Quhyll tym he saw how [othir] materis yeid; Fol. 96 a
Ane ansuer he suld hawe with outyn dreid;
The wyt off Frans thocht Wallace to commend;
In to Scotland, with this harrold, thai send 1910
Part off his deid, and als the discriptioune
Off him tane thar, be men off discretioun,
Clerkis, knychtis, and harroldys, that him saw;
Bot I hereoff can nocht reherss thaim aw.
Wallace statur, off gretnes, and off hycht, 1915
Was jugyt thus, be discretioun off rycht,
That saw him bath dissembill and in weid;
Nyne quartaris large he was in lenth indeid;
Thryd part lenth in schuldrys braid was he,
Rycht sembly, strang, and lusty for to se; 1920
Hys lymmys gret, with stalwart paiss and sound,
Hys browys hard, his armes gret and round;
His handis maid rycht lik till a pawmer,
Off manlik mak, with naless gret and cler;
Proportionyt lang and fayr was his wesage; 1925
Rycht sad off spech, and abill in curage;
Braid breyst and heych, with sturdy crag and gret;
His lyppys round, his noyss was squar and tret;
Bowand bron haryt, on browis and breis lycht,
Cler aspre eyn, lik dyamondis brycht. 1930
Wndyr the chyn, on the left syd, was seyn,
Be hurt, a wain; his colour was sangweyn.
Woundis he had in mony diuerss place,
Bot fayr and weill kepyt was his face.
Off ryches he kepyt no propyr thing; 1935
Gaiff as he wan, lik Alexander the king.
In tym off pes, mek as a maid was he;
Quhar wer approchyt the rycht Ector was he.
To Scottis men a gret credens he gaiff;
Bot knawin enemyss thai couth him nocht disayff. 1940
Thir properteys was knawin in to Frans,
Off him to be in gud remembrans.
Maistir Jhon Blayr that patron couth rasaiff,
In Wallace buk brewyt it with the layff.
Bot he her off as than tuk litill heid, 1945
His lauborous mynd was all on othir deid.
At Dundé sege thus ernystfully thai lay;
Tithandis to him Jop brocht on a day,
How Eduuard king, with likly men to waill,
A hundyr thousand, com for to assail; 1950
Than Scotland ground thai had [tane] apon cace.
In to sum part it grewyt gud Wallace.
He maid Scrymiour still at the houss to ly,
With twa thousand; and chargyt him forthi,
That nayn suld chaip with lyff out off that sted, 1955 Fol. 96 b
At Sotheroun war, bot do thaim all to ded.
Scrymgeour grantyt rycht faithfully to bid;
With aucht thousand Wallace couth fra him ryd
To Sanct Jhonstoun; four dayis he graithit him thar;
With sad awyss towart the south can fayr. 1960
For king Eduuard that tym ordanit had
Ten thousand haill to pass, that was full glad,
With yong Wodstok, a lord off mekill mycht.
At Sterlyng bryg he ordand thaim full rycht,
And thar to byd, the entré for to wer; 1965
Off Wallace than he trowit to haiff no der.
Thar leyff thai laucht, and passit bot delay,
Rycht far alyand, in a gud aray;
To Sterlyng com, and wald nocht thar abyd;
To se the north furth than can he ryd. 1970
Sic new curage so fell in his entent,
Quhilk maid Sotheron full sar to rapent.

EXPLICIT LIBER NONUS,
ET INCIPIT DECIMUS.

BUKE TEND.