Chapter XI: Part 11

This Wodstok raid in to the north gud speid;
Off Scottis as than he had bot litill dreid;
For weyll he trowyt for to reskew Dundé;
Thar schippys com to Tay in be the se.
His gydys said, thai suld him gyd in by 5
Saynct Jhonstoun, quhar passage was playnly.
The hycht thai tuk, and lukit thaim about,
So war thai war off Wallace and his rout.
In sum part than he remordyt his thocht,
The kingis commaund becauss he kepyt nocht: 10
Bot quhen he saw thai war fewar than he,
He wald thaim byd, and othir do or de.
Schyr Jhon Ramsay formest his power saw,
He said; “Yon is, that yhe se hydder draw,
“Othir Sotheroun, that cummys sa cruellye, 15
“Or ellis erll Malcom to sek yow for supplé.”
Than Wallace smyld, and said; ‘Ingliss thai ar;
‘Ye may thaim ken rycht weyll, quhar euir thai far.’
On Schyrreff mur Wallace the feild has tane,
With aucht thousand, that worthy was in wane. 20
The Sotheroun was rycht douchty in thair deid,
To gydder straik, weyll stuffyt in steyll weid.
Than speris sone all in to splendrys sprent.
The hardy Scottis throw out the Sotheroun went;
In reddy battaill sewyn thowsand doun thai bar, 25
Dede on the bent, that recoueryt neuir mar.
With fell fechtyng off wapynnys groundyn keyn, Fol. 97 a
Blud fra byrneis was bruschyt on the greyn.
The felloun stour, that awfull was and strang,
The worthy Scottis so felloun on thaim dang, 30
At all was dede within a litill stound;
Nane off that place had power for to found.
Yong Wodstok has bathe land and lyff forlorn.
The Scottis spulyeit off gud ger thaim beforn,
Quhat thaim thocht best, off fyn harnes thai waill, 35
Bath gold and gud, and horss that mycht thaim waill.
To Sterlyng bryg, with out restyng, thai raid,
Or ma suld com; Wallace this ordinans maid;
Past our the bryg; Wallace gert wrychtis call,
Hewyt trastis; wndyd the passage all. 40
Sa tha sam folk he send to the dep furd,
Ger set the ground with scharp spykis off burd.
Bot nyne or ten he kest a gait befor,
Langis the schauld, maid it bath dep and schor.
Than Wallace said; “On a sid we sall be, 45
“Yon king and I, bot gyff he southwart fle.”
He send Lawder, quhilk had in hand the Bass,
Langis the cost, quhar ony weschell wass,
And men with him, that bysily couth luk;
Off ilka boyt a burd or twa out tuk. 50
Schippys thai brynt off strangearis that was thar,
Cetoun and he; to Wallace thus thai fayr,
In Sterlyng lay apon his purpos still,
For Inglissmen to se quhat way thai will.
The erll Malcom Sterlyng in kepyng had; 55
Till him he com with men off armes sad,
Thre hundreth haill, that sekyr war and trew,
Off Lennox folk, thair power to renew.
Schir John the Graym, fra Dundaff prewaly,
Till Wallace com with a gud chewalry; 60
Tithandis him brocht, the Sotheroun com at hand,
In Torfychan king Eduuard was lugeand;
Stroyand the place off purwiance that was thar;
Sanct Jhonys gud for thaim thai wald nocht spar.
The gud Stewart of But com to the land, 65
With him he ledys weill ma than twelf thowsand;
Till Cumyn past, was than in Cummyrnald.
Apon the morn bownyt the Stewart bald
Sone till aray, with men off armes brycht;
Twenty thowsand than semblyt to thair sycht. 70
The lord Stewart and Cumyn furth thai rid
To the Fawkyrk, and thar hecht to abid.
The Scottis chyftane than owt off Sterlyng past; Fol. 97 b
To the Fawkyrk he sped his ost full fast.
Wallace and his than till aray he yeid, 75
With ten thousand off douchty men in deid.
Quha couth behald thair awfull lordly wult,
So weill beseyn, so forthwart, stern, and stult;
So gud chyftanys, as with sa few thar beyn,
With out a king, was neuir in Scotland seyn. 80
Wallace him selff, and erll Malcom that lord,
Schir Jhon the Graym, and Ramsay at accord,
Cetoun, Lawder, and Lundy that was wicht,
Adam Wallace to that jornay him dycht,
And mony gud, quhilk prewyt weill in press; 85
Thar namys all I may nocht her rehress.
Sotheroun or than off Torfychan fur,
Thar passage maid in to Slamanan mur;
In till a playn set tentis and palyon,
South hald Fawkyrk, a litill abon the ton. 90
And Jop him selff jugit thaim, be his sycht,
In haill nowmyr a hundyr thousand rycht.
Off Wallace com the Scottis sic confort tuk.
Quhen thai him saw, all raddour thai forsuk;
For off inwy was few thar at it wyst; 95
Tresonable folk thair mater wyrkis throu lyst.
Poyson sen syn at the Fawkyrk is cald,
Throu treson and corruption off ald.
Lord Cumyn had inwy at gud Wallace,
Fer erll Patrik that hapnyt vpon cace. 100
Cunttas off Merch was Cumyns sister der;
Wndyr colour he wroucht in this maner,
In to the ost had ordand Wallace dede,
And maid Stewart with him to fall in pled;
He said that lord, at Wallace had no rycht 105
Power to leid, and he present in sycht.
He bad him tak the wantgard for to gy;
So wyst he weyll that thai suld stryff forthi.
Lord Stewart ast at Wallace his consaill,
Said; “Schyr, ye knaw quhat may ws maist awaill; 110
“Yon felloun king is awfull for to bid.”
Rycht wnabasyt Wallace ansuerd that tyd;
‘And I haiff seyn may twyss in to Scotland,
‘With yon ilk king, quhen Scottismen tuk on hand
‘With fewar men than now ar hydder socht, 115
‘This realm agayn to full gud purpos brocht.
‘Schyr, we will fecht, for we haiff men inew,
‘As for a day; sa that we be all trew.’
The Stewart said, he wald the wantgard haiff.
Wallace ansuerd, and said; “Sa God me saiff, 120
“That sall ye nocht, as lang as I may ryng; Fol. 98 a
“Nor no man ellis, quhill I se my rycht king.
“Gyff he will cum, and tak on him the croun,
“At his commaund I sall be reddy boun.
“Throw Goddis grace I reskewed Scotland twyss; 125
“I war to mad to leyff [it] on sic wyss,
“To tyn for bost that I haiff gowernd lang.”
Thus halff in wraith frawart him can he gang.
Stewart tharwith all bolynt in to baill.
‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘be the I tell a taill.’ 130
“Say furth,” quoth he, “off the farrest ye can.”
Wnhappyly his taill thus he began.
‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘thow takis the mekill cur;
‘So feryt it, be wyrkyng off natur,
‘How a howlat complend off his fethrame, 135
‘Quhill deym natur tuk off ilk byrd, but blame,
‘A fayr fethyr, and to the howlat gaiff;
‘Than he throuch pryd reboytyt all the laiff.
‘Quhar off suld thow thi senye schaw so he?
‘Thow thinkis nan her at suld thi falow be. 140
‘This makis it, thow art cled with our men,
‘Had we our awn, thin war bot few to ken.’
At thir wordis gud Wallace brynt as fyr;
Our haistely he ansuerd him in ire:
“Thow leid,” he said; “the suth full oft has ben, 145
“Thar haiff I baid, quhar thow durst nocht be seyn
“Contrar enemys, na mar, for Scotlandis rycht,
“Than dar the howlat quhen that the day is brycht.
“That taill full meit thow has tauld be thi sell;
“To thi desyr thow sall me nocht compell. 150
“Cwmyn it is has gyffyn this consaill;
“Will God, ye sall off your fyrst purpos faill.
“That fals traytour, that I off danger brocht,
“Is wondyr lyk till bryng this realm till nocht.
“For thi ogart othir thow sall de, 155
“Or in presoun byd, or cowart lik to fle.
“Reskew off me thow sall get nane this day.”
Tharwith he turnd, and fra thaim raid his way.
Ten thousand haill fra thaim with Wallace raid;
Nan was bettyr in all this warld so braid, 160
As off sic men, at leiffand was in lyff.
Allace, gret harm fell Scotland throucht that stryff!

Past till a wod fra the Fawkyrk be est,
He wald nocht byd for commaund na request;
For charge off nan, bot it had ben his king, 165
At mycht that tym bryng him fra his etlyng.
The tothir Scottis, that saw this discensioun,
For disconford to leiff the feild was boun; Fol. 98 b
Bot at thai men, was natyff till Stwart,
Principaill off But, tuk hardement in hart. 170
Lord Stewart was at Cumyn grewyt thar,
Hecht, and he leiffd, he suld repent full sar
The gret trespace, that he, throw raklesnace,
Had gert him mak to Wallace in that place.
For thair debait it was a gret peté; 175
For Inglissmen than mycht na treté be,
Haistyt sa fast a bataill to the feild,
Thretty thowsand that weill coud wapynnys weild.
Erll off Harfurd was chosyn thair chyftane.
The gud Stewart than till aray is gane; 180
The feild he tuk, as trew and worthy knycht.
The Inglissmen come on with full gret mycht.
Thar fell metyng was awfull for to se,
At that countour thai gert feill Sotheroun de.
Quhen speris was spilt, hynt owt with suerdis son; 185
On athir sid full douchty deid was don.
Feill on the ground was fellyt in that place:
Stewart and his can on his enemys race;
Blud byrstyt out throuch maill and byrneis brycht.
Twenty thowsand, with dredfull wapynnys dycht, 190
Off Sotheroun men derffly to ded thai dyng;
The remanand agayn fled to thair king.
Ten thousand thar, that fra the ded eschewyt,
With thair chyftane in to the ost relewyt.
Agayn to ray the hardy Stwart yeid. 195
Quhen Wallace saw this nobill worthi deid,
Held wp his handys, with humyll prayer prest,
To God he said; “Gyff yon lord grace to lest,
“And power haiff his worschip till attend,
“To wyn thir folk, and tak the haill commend. 200
“Gret harm it war at he suld be ourset;
“With new power thai will on him rebet.”
Be that the Bruce ane awfull battaill baid,
And Byschop Beik, quhilk oft had been assayd,
Fourty thowsand, apon the Scottis to fair, 205
With fell affer; thai raissit wp rycht thair
The Bruce baner, in gold off gowlis cler.
Quhen Wallace saw battallis approchyt ner,
The rycht lyon agayn his awn kynryk,
“Allace,” he said, “the warld is contrar lik! 210
“This land suld be yon tyrandis heretage,
“That cummys thus to stroy his awn barnage.
“Sa I war fre off it that I said ayr,
“I wald forswer Scotland for euirmair;
“Contrar the Bruce I suld reskew thaim now, 215 Fol. 99 a
“Or de tharfor, to God I mak a wow.”
The gret debait in Wallace wit can waid,
Betwix kyndnes and wyllfull wow he maid.
Kyndness him bad reskew thaim fra thair fa.
Than Wyll said; ‘Nay, quhy, fuyll, wald thow do sa? 220
‘Thow has na wyt with rycht thi selff to leid;
‘Suld thow help thaim that wald put the to deid?’
Kyndnes said; “Yha, thai ar gud Scottis men.”
Than Will said; ‘Nay; weryté thow may ken;
‘Had thai bene gud, all anys we had ben. 225
‘Be reson heyr the contrar now is seyn;
‘For thai me hayt ma na Sotheroun leid.’
Kyndnes said; “Nay, that schaw thai nocht in deid.
“Thocht ane off thaim be fals in till his saw,
“For causs off him thow suld nocht loss thaim aw. 230
“Thai haiff done weill in to yon felloun stour;
“Reskew thaim now, and tak a hye honour.”
Wyll said; ‘Thai wald haiff reft fra me my lyff;
‘I baid for thaim in mony stalwart stryff.’
Kyndnes said; “Help, thair power is at nocht; 235
“Syn wreik on hym that all the malice wrocht.”
Wyll said; ‘This day thai sall nocht helpyt be;
‘That I haiff said, sall ay be said for me
‘Thai ar bot dede; God grant thaim off his blys!
‘Inwy lang syn has done gret harme but this.’ 240
Wallace tharwith turnyt for ire in teyn,
Braith teris for baill byrst out fra bathe his eyn.
Schyr Jhon the Graym, and mony worthi wicht,
Wepyt in wo for sorow off that sycht.
Quhen Bruce his battaill apon the Scottis straik, 245
Thair cruell com maid cowardis for to quaik;
Lord Cwmyn fled to Cummyrnauld away.
About the Scottis the Sotheroun lappyt thay.
The men off But befor thair lord thai stud,
Defendand him, quhen fell stremys off blud 250
Wer thaim about in flothis quhar thai yeid.
Bathid in blud was Bruce suerd and his weid,
Throw fell slauchtyr off trew men off his awn.
Son to the dede the Scottis was ourthrawn;
Syn slew the lord, for he wald nocht be tayn. 255
Quhen Wallace saw quhen thir gud men was gayn,
“Lordis,” he said, “quhat now is your consaill?
“Twa choyss thar is, the best I rede ws waill.
“Yondyr the king this ost abandonand;
“Heyr Bruce and Beyk, in yon battaill to stand. 260
“Yon king in wer has wyss and felloun beyn; Fol. 99 b
“Thar capdans als full cruell ar and keyn;
“Bettyr off hand is nocht leiffand, I wyss,
“In tyrandry; ye trow me weill off this.
“Than Bruce and Beik to quhat part thai be set, 265
“We haiff a choiss, quhilk is full hard but let.
“And we turn est, for strenth in Lowthiane land,
“Thai stuff a chass rycht scharp, I dar warrand.
“Tak we the mur, yon king is ws befor.
“Thar is bot this, with outyn wordis mor; 270
“To the Torwod; for our succour is thar.
“Throuch Brucis ost forsuth fyrst mon we far;
“Amang ws now thar nedis no debayt,
“Yon men ar dede, we will nocht stryff for stayt.”
Thai consent haill to wyrk rycht as he will; 275
Quhat him thocht best thai grantyt to fullfill.
Gud Wallace than, that stoutly couth thaim ster,
Befor thaim raid in till his armour cler,
Rewellyt speris all in a nowmyr round;
“And we hawe grace for to pass throw thaim sound, 280
“And few be lost, till our strenth we will ryd.
“Want we mony, in faith we sall all byd.”
Thai hardnyt horss fast on the gret ost raid;
The rerd at rayss, quhen sperys in sondyr glaid,
Duschyt in gloss, dewyt with speris dynt. 285
Fra forgyt steyll the fyr flew out but stynt.
The felloun thrang, quhen horss and men remowyt,
Wp drayff the dust quhar thai thair pichtis prowyt.
The tothir ost mycht nocht no deidis se,
For stour at raiss, quhill thai disseuyrit be. 290
The worthy Scottis aucht thousand doun thai ber;
Few war at erd at gud Wallace brocht thar.
The king cryt horss apon thaim for to ryd;
Bot this wyss lord gaiff him consaill to bid,
The erll off York, said; “Schyr, ye wyrk amyss. 295
“To brek aray; yon men quyt throucht thaim is.
“Thai ken the land, and will to strenthis draw;
“Tak we the playn, we ar in perell aw.”
The king consawyt at his consaill was rycht,
Rewllyt his ost, and baid still in thair sycht. 300
Or Bruce and Beik mycht retorn thair battaill,
The Scottis was throucht, and had a great awaill.

Wallace commaund the ost suld pass thair way
To the Tor wod, in all the haist thai may;
Hym selff and Graym, and Lawdir, turnyt in 305
Betwex battaillys, pryss [and] prowys for to wyn;
And with thaim baid in that place hundrys thre
Off westland men was oysyt in jeperté.
Apon wycht horss that weselé coud ryd.
A slop thai maid, quhar thai set on a syd; 310 Fol. 100 a
Na speris thai had, bot suerdys off gud steyll;
Thar with in stour thai leit thair enemyss feill,
How thai full oft had prewyt beyn in press;
Off Inglissmen thai maid feill to decess.
Or Bruce tharoff mycht weill persawyng haiff, 315
Thre hundreth thar was graithit to thair graiff.
The hardy Bruce ane ost abandownyt;
Twenty thowsand he rewllyt be force and wit,
Wpon the Scottis men for to reskew:
Serwyt thai war with gud speris enew; 320
And byschop Beik a stuff till him to be.
Quhen gud Wallace thair ordinans coud se;
“Allace!” he said, “yon man has mekill mycht,
“And our gud will till wndo his awn rycht.”
He bad his men towart his ost in ryd, 325
Thaim for to sayff he wald behynd thaim byd.
Mekill he trowys in God, and his awn weid;
Till sayff his men he did full douchty deid.
Wpon him selff mekill trawaill he tais;
The gret battaill compleit apon him gais. 330
In the forbreyst he retornyt full oft:
Quham euir he hyt, thair sawchnyng was wnsoft.
That day in warld knawin was nocht his maik;
A Sotheroun man he slew ay at a straik.
Bot his a strenth mycht nocht agayn thaim be: 335
Towart his ost behwffyd for to fle.
The Bruce him hurt at the returnyng thair,
Wndyr the halss a deip wound and a sayr.
Blude byrstyt owt braithly at speris lenth;
Fra the gret ost he fled towart his strenth. 340
Sic a flear befor was neuir seyn;
Nocht at Gadderis, off Gawdyfer the keyn,
Quhen Alexander reskewed the foryouris,
Mycht till him be comperd in tha houris,
The fell turnyng on folowaris that he maid, 345
How bandounly befor the ost he raid:
Nor how gud Graym wyth cruell hardement,
Na how Lawder, amang thair fayis went:
How thaim allayn in to that stour thai stud,
Quhill Wallace was in stanchyng off his blud. 350
Be than he had stemmyt full weill his wound,
With thre hundreth in to the feild can found,
To reskew Graym and Lawder that was wicht.
Bot byschop Beik com with sic force and slycht,
The worthy Scottis weryt fer on bak. 355
Sewyn akyrbreid, in turnyng off thair bak. Fol. 100 b
Yeit Wallace has thir twa delyueryt weill
Be his awn strenth and his gud suerd off steill.
The awfull Bruce amang thaim with gret mayn,
At the reskew, thre Scottismen has he slayn: 360
Quham he hyt rycht, ay at a straik was ded.
Wallace preyst in tharfor to set ramied.
With a gud sper the Bruce was serwyt but baid:
With gret inwy to Wallace fast he raid;
And he till him assonyeit nocht for thi. 365
The Bruce him myssyt as Wallace passyt by,
Awkwart he straik with his scharp groundyn glawe,
Sper and horsscrag in till sondyr he drave;
Bruce was at erd or Wallace turned about.
The gret battaill off thousandis stern and stout, 370
Thai horssyt Bruce with men off gret walour.
Wallace allayn was in that stalwart stour.
Graym pressyt in, and straik ane Ingliss knycht,
Befor the Bruce, apon the basnet brycht.
That seruall stuff, and all his othir weid, 375
Bathe bayn and brayn, the nobill suerd throuch yeid.
The knycht was dede; gud Graym retornet tyte.
A suttell knycht tharat had gret despyt,
Folowyt at wait, and has persawyt weill
Gramys byrny was to narow sumdeill, 380
Be neth the waist, that closs it mycht nocht be.
On the fyllat full sternly straik that sle,
Persyt the bak, in the bowalys him bar,
Wyth a scharp sper, that he mycht leiff no mar.
Graym turnd tharwith, and smate that knycht in teyn, 385
Towart the wesar, a litill be neth the eyn.
Dede off that dynt, to ground he duschyt doun.
Schyr Jhon the Graym swonyt on his arsoun.
Or he our com, till pass till his party,
Feill Sotheroun men, that was on fute him by, 390
Stekit his horss, that he no forthir yeid;
Graym yauld to God his gud speryt, and his deid.
Quhen Wallace saw this knycht to dede was wrocht,
The pytuouss payn so sor thryllyt his thocht,
All out off kynd at alteryt his curage; 395
Hys wyt in wer was than bot a wod rage.
Hys horss him bur in feild quhar so him lyst;
For off him selff as than litill he wyst.
Lik a wyld best that war fra reson rent,
As wytlace wy in to the ost he went, 400
Dingand on hard; quhat Sotheroun he rycht hyt,
Straucht apon horss agayn mycht neuir syt.
In to that rage full feill folk he dang doun;
All hym about was reddyt a gret rowm. Fol. 101 a
Quhen Bruce persawyt with Wallace it stud sa, 405
He chargyt men lang sperys for to ta,
And sla hys horss, sa he suld nocht eschaip.
Feyll Sotheroun than to Wallace fast can schaip,
Persyt hys hors with sperys on athir syd;
Woundys thai maid that was bathe deip and wyd. 410
Off schafftis part Wallace in sondyr schayr,
Bot fell hedys in till his horss left thair.
Sum wytt agayn to Wallace can radoun,
In hys awn mynd so rewllyt him resoun;
Sa for to de him thocht it no waslage. 415
Than for to fle he tuk no taryage;
Spuryt the horss, quhilk ran in a gud randoun
Till his awn folk was bydand at Carroun.
The sey was in, at thai stoppyt and stud;
On loud he cryt and bad thaim tak the flud; 420
“To gyddyr byd, ye may nocht loss a man.”
At his commaund the watter thai tuk than.
Hym returned, the entré for to kepe,
Quhill all his ost was passyt our the depe;
Syn passyt our, and dred his horss suld faill, 425
Hym selff hewy cled in to plait off maill.
Set he couth swom, he trowit he mycht nocht weill.
The cler watter culyt the horss sumdeill;
Atour the flud he bur him to the land,
Syn fell doun dede, and mycht no langar stand. 430
Kerlé full son a cursour till him brocht;
Than wp he lap, amang the ost he socht.
Graym was away, and fyftene othir wicht;
On Magdaleyn day thir folk to ded was dycht.
Thretty thousand off Ingliss men, for trew, 435
The worthy Scottis vpon that day thai slew.
Quhat be Stwart, and syn be wicht Wallace,
For all his pryss, king Eduuard rewyt that race.

To the Torwod he bad the ost suld ryd;
Kerlé and he past wpon Caroun syd, 440
Behaldand our wpon the south party.
Bruce formast com, and can on Wallace cry.
“Quhat art thow thar?” ‘A man,’ Wallace can say.
The Bruce ansuerd, “That has thow prewyt to day.
“Abyd,” he said, “thow nedis nocht now to fle.” 445
Wallace ansuerd; ‘I eschew nocht for the.
‘Bot that power has thi awn ner fordon;
‘Amendis off this, will God, we sall haiff son.’
“Langage off the,” the Bruce said, “I desyr.”
‘Say furth,’ quoth he; ‘thow may for litill hyr. 450
‘Ryd fra that ost, and gar thaim bid with Beik. Fol. 101 b
‘I wald fayn her quhat thow likis to speik.’
The ost baid styll, the Bruce passyt thaim fra;
He tuk wyth him bot a Scot that hecht Ra.
Quhen that the Bruce out off thair heryng wer, 455
He turned in, and this question can sper:
“Quhy wyrkis thow thus, and mycht in gud pess be?”
Than Wallace said; ‘Bot in defawt off the.
‘Throuch thi falsheid thin awn wyt has myskend.
‘I cleym no rycht, bot wald this land defend, 460
‘At thow wndoys throu thi fals cruell deid.
‘Thow has tynt twa had beyn worth fer mair meid,
‘On this ilk day, with a gud king to found,
‘Na fyve mylyon off fynest gold so round,
‘That euir was wrocht in werk or ymage brycht. 465
‘I trow in warld was nocht a bettir knycht,
‘Than was the gud Graym off trewth and hardement.’
Teris tharwith fra Wallace eyn doun went.
Bruce said; “Fer ma on this day we haiff losyt.”
Wallace ansuerd; ‘Allace, thai war ewill cosyt, 470
‘Throuch thi tresson, that suld be our rycht king,
‘That willfully dystroyis thin awne off spryng.’
The Bruce askyt; “Will thow do my dewyss?”
Wallace said; ‘Nay; thow leyffis in sic wyss.
‘Thow wald me mak at Eduuardis will to be; 475
‘Yeit had I leuir to morn be hyngyt hye.’
“Yeit sall I say, as I wald consaill geyff;
“Than, as a lord, thow mycht at liking leiff,
“At thin awn will in Scotland for to ryng,
“To be in pece, and hald off Eduuard king.” 480
‘Off that fals king I think neuir wage to tak,
‘Bot contrar him with my power to mak.
‘I cleym no thing as be titill off rycht;
‘Thocht I mycht reiff, sen God has lent me mycht,
‘Fra the thi crowne off this regioun to wer; 485
‘Bot I will nocht sic a charge on me ber.
‘Gret God wait best, quhat wer I tak on hand
‘For till kep fre that thow art gaynstandand,
‘It mycht beyn said, off lang gone her off forn,
‘In cursyt tym thow was for Scotland born. 490
‘Schamys thow nocht, that thow neuir yeit did gud,
‘Thou renygat deuorar off thi blud?
‘I wow to God, ma I thi maistyr be
‘In ony feild, thow sall fer werthar de
‘Than sall a Turk, for thi fals cruell wer. 495
‘Pagans till ws dois nocht so mekill der.’
Than lewch the Bruce at Wallace ernystfulnas,
And said; “Thow seis at thus standis the cass. Fol. 102 a
“This day thow art with our power our set,
“Agayn yon king warrand thow may nocht get.” 500
Than Wallace said; ‘We ar, be mekill thing,
‘Starkar this day in contrar off yon king,
‘Than at Beggar, quhar he left mony off his,
‘And als the feild; so sall he do with this,
‘Or de thar for, for all hys mekill mycht. 505
‘We haiff nocht losyt in this feild bot a knycht:
‘And Scotland now in sic perell is stad,
‘To leyff it thus my selff mycht be full mad.’
“Wallace,” he said, “it prochys ner the nycht,
“Wald thow to morn, quhen that the day is lycht, 510
“Or nyn off bell, meit me at this chapell,
“Be Dunypass, I wald haiff your consell.”
Wallace said; ‘Nay; or that ilk tyme be went
‘War all the men, hyn till [the] orient,
‘In till a will with Eduuard, quha had suorn, 515
‘We sall bargane be nyne houris to morn;
‘And for hys wrang reyff othir he sall think schaym,
‘Or de tharfor, or fle in Ingland haym.
‘Bot and thow will, son be the hour off thre,
‘At that ilk tryst, will God, thow sall se me. 520
‘Quhill I may lest, this realme sall nocht forfar.’
Bruce promest hym with twelf Scottis to be thar;
And Wallace said; ‘Stud thow rychtwyss to me,
‘Cownter palyss I suld nocht be to the.
‘I sall bryng ten, and, for thi nowmer ma, 525
‘I gyff no force thocht thow be freynd or fa.’
Thus thai depertyt; the Bruce past his way,
Till Lithqwo raid, quhar that king Eduuard lay,
The feild had left, and lugyt a south the toun,
To souper set; as Bruce at the palyoun 530
So entryt in, and saw wacand his seit.
No wattir he tuk, bot maid him to the meit.
Fastand he was, and had beyn in gret dreid;
Bludyt was all his wapynnys and his weid.
Sotheroun lordys scornyt him in termys rud, 535
And said; “Behald, yon Scot ettis his awn blud.”
The king thocht ill thai maid sic derisioun,
He bad haiff watter to Bruce off Huntyntoun.
Thai bad him wesche; he said, that wald he nocht:
“This blud is myn, that hurtis most my thocht.” 540
Sadly the Bruce than in his mynd remordyt
Thai wordis suth that Wallace had him recordyt.
Than rewyt he sar, fra resoun had him knawin,
At blud and land suld all lik beyn his awin. Fol. 102 b
With thaim he was lang or he couth get away; 545
Bot contrar Scottis he faucht nocht fra that day.
Lat I the Bruce sayr mowyt in his entent:
Gud Wallace sone agane to the ost went,
In the Torwod quhilk had thair lugyng maid.
Fyris thai bett, that was bath brycht and braid; 550
Off nolt and scheip thai tuk at sufficiens,
Tharoff full sone that get thaim sustinens.
Wallace slepyt bot a schort quhill and raiss;
To rewll the ost on a gud mak he gais
Till erll Malcom, Ramsay, and Lundy wicht; 555
With fyve thousand in a battaill thaim dycht.
Wallace, Lawder, and Crystell off Cetoun,
Fyve thousand led, and Wallace off Ricardtoun,
Full weyll arayit in till thair armour clen,
Past to the feild quhar that the chass had ben; 560
Amang the ded men sekand the worthiast,
The corss off Graym, for quham he murned mast.
Quhen thai him fand, and gud Wallace him saw,
He lychtyt doun, and hynt him fra thaim aw
In armyss vp; behaldand his paill face, 565
He kyssyt him, and cryt full oft; “Allace!
“My best brothir in warld that euir I had!
“My afald freynd quhen I was hardest stad!
“My hop, my heill, thow was in maist honour!
“My faith, my help, my strenthiast in stour! 570
“In the was wyt, fredom, and hardines;
“In the was treuth, manheid, and nobilnes;
“In the was rewll, in the was gouernans;
“In the was wertu with outyn warians;
“In the lawté, in the was gret largnas; 575
“In the gentrice, in the was stedfastnas.
“Thow was gret causs off wynnyng off Scotland;
“Thocht I began, and tuk the wer on hand.
“I wow to God, that has the warld in wauld,
“Thi dede sall be to Sotheroun full der sauld. 580
“Martyr thow art for Scotlandis rycht and me;
“I sall the wenge, or ellis tharfor de.”
Was na man thar fra wepyng mycht hym rafreyn
For loss off him, quhen thai hard Wallace pleyn.
Thai caryit him with worschip and dolour; 585
In the Fawkyrk graithit him in sepultour.

Wallace commaundyt his ost tharfor to byd;
Hys ten he tuk, for to meit Bruce thai ryd.
Sowthwest he past, quhar at the tryst was set;
The Bruce full son and gud Wallace is met. 590 Fol. 103 a
For loss off Graym, and als for propyr teyn,
He grewyt in ire, quhen he the Bruce had seyn.
Thar salusyng was bot boustous and thrawin.
“Rewis thow,” he said, “thow art contrar thin awin?”
‘Wallace,’ said Bruce, ‘rabut me now no mar; 595
‘Myn awin dedis has bet me wondyr sayr.’
Quhen Wallace hard with Bruce that it stud sua,
On kneis he fell, far contenans can him ma.
In armes son the Bruce has Wallace tane;
Out fra thair men in consalle ar thai gane. 600
I can nocht tell perfytly thair langage;
Bot this was it thair men had off knawlage:
Wallace him prayit; “Cum fra yon Sotheroun king.”
The Bruce said; ‘Nay, thar lattis me a thing.
‘I am so boundyn with wytnes to be leill, 605
‘For all Ingland I wald nocht fals my seill.
‘Bot off a thing, I hecht to God and the,
‘That contrar Scottis agayn I sall nocht be;
‘In till a feild, with wapynnys that I ber,
‘In thi purpos I sall the neuir der. 610
‘Gyff God grantis off ws ourhand till haiff,
‘I will bot fle myn awin selff for to saiff;
‘And Eduuard chaip, I pass with him agayn,
‘Bot I throu force be othir tane or slayn.
‘Brek he on me; quhen that my terme is out, 615
‘I cum to the, may I chaip fra that dout.’
Off thair consaill I can tell yow no mar.
The Bruce tuk leyff, and can till Eduuard fayr,
Rycht sad in mynd for Scottis men that war lost.
Wallace in haist prouidyt son his ost. 620
He maid Crawfurd the erll Malcom to gid,
The lauch way till Enrawyn thai ryd;
For thar wachis [than] suld thaim nocht aspy.
The tothir ost him selff led haistely
Be south Manwell, quhilk that thai war betweyn; 625
Off the out watch thus chapyt thai wnseyn.
The erll Malcom on Lithquow entris in;
Our haistely a stryff thai can begyn.
Wallace was nocht all to the battaill boun,
Quhen that thai hard the scry raiss in the toun. 630
On Eduuardis ost thai set full sodandly:
Wallace and his maid litill noyis or cry,
Bot occupyd with wapynnys in that stour;
Feill fallen war ded that was with out armour.
All dysarayit the Inglis ost was than; 635 Fol. 103 b
Amang palyounis the Scottis, quhar mony man
Cuttyt cordys, gart mony tentis fall.
Nayn sonyeid than; at anys fechtand was all,
Bath Wallace ost, and erll Malcom, wyth mycht.
King Eduuard than, with awfull fer on hycht, 640
Cryit till aray, on Bruce, so stern and stout,
Twentye thousand in armys him about,
In to harness had biddyn all that nycht.
Bot frayit folk so dulfully was dycht,
On ilk sid thai fled for ferdnes off thar deid; 645
Wallace and his so rudly throw thaim yeid,
Towart the king, and fellyt feill to grounde:
Quha baid thaim thair, rycht fell fechtyng has found.
That awfull king rycht manfully abaid;
Till all his folk [a] gret conford he maid. 650
The worthy Scottis, agayn him in that stour,
Feill Sotheroun slew in to thair fyn armour;
So forthwartlye thai pressyt in the thrang,
Befor the king maid sloppis thaim amang.
Ingliss commounis than fled on athir sid; 655
Bot noble men nane other durst abid.
The Bruce as than to Scottis did no grewans;
A juge he was with fenyeid contenans:
Sa did he neuir in na battaill ayr,
Nothyr yeit eftir, sic deid as he schew thar. 660
The erll Malcom be than in to the toun,
The erle Herfurd to fle thai had maid boun.
The Lennox men set thar lugyng in fyr;
Then ferdly fled full mony Sotheroun syr.
The king Eduuard, that yeit was fechtand still, 665
Has seyn thaim fle; that likit him full ill.
The worthi Scottis fast towart him thai press;
Hys brydyll ner assayit or thai wald cess.
His banerman Wallace slew in that place;
And sone to ground the baner doun he race. 670
The erll off York consaillyt the king to fle;
Than he ratornd, sen na succour thai se.
The Ingliss men has seyn thair banner fall;
Without confort, to fle thai purpost all.
Elewyn thousand in toun and feild was ded 675
Off Eduuardis folk, or his selff left the sted.
Twentye thousand away to giddyr raid;
King and chyftans na langar tary maid.
The Scottis in haist than to thair horss thai yeid,
To stuff the chass with worthi men in weid. 680
The Lennox folk, that wantyt horss and ger, Fol. 104 a
Tuk thaim at will, to help thaim in that wer;
At stragyll raid quhat Scot mycht formest pas,
Off Sotheroun men quhar off gret slauchtyr was.
Wallace has seyn the Scottis wnordourly 685
Folow the chass, he maid chyftanis in hy
Thaim for to rewll, and all to gyddyr ryd;
Comaundyt thaim ilk ane suld othir bid.
“In to fleyng the Sotheroun suttaill ar,
“Se thai the tym thai wyll syt on ws sar; 690
“Feill scalyt folk to thaim will son ranew,
“For ye se weyll that thai ar men enew.”
The folowaris was rewllyt weill with skill;
In gud aray thai raid all at his will,
And slew doun fast; quhat Sotheroun thai ourtak, 695
Contrar the Scottis com neuir maistrice to mak.
In to the chaiss thai haistyt thaim so ner,
Na Inglissman out fra the ost durst ster.
The frayit folk, at stragill that was fleand,
Drew to the king weill ma than ten thousand. 700
Thretty thousand in nowmyr than war thai;
In till aray to gyddyr passyt away.
Feill Scottis horss was drewyn in to trawaill,
Forrown that day so irkyt can defaill.
The Sotheroun was with horss serwyt full weill; 705
Off Wallace chaiss the lordis had gret feill:
Off horss thai war purwaide in gret wayn;
The king changyt on syndry horss off Spayn.
Than Wallace said; “Lordis, ye may weill se,
“Yon folk ar now all that yon king may be. 710
“For falt off stuff we loiss our mekill thing,
“War we wyth horss to pass befor this king,
“We suld mak end off all this lang debait.
“Yeit sum off thaim sall handelyt be full hayt.
“Part off our horss ar haldyn fresche and wicht; 715
“Set on thaim sar quhill we ar in this mycht.”
Tharwith the Scottis so hard amang thaim drew,
Off the outward thre thousand thair thai slew.
In Crawfurd mur mony man was slayn,
Eduuard gart call the Bruce mekill off mayn, 720
Than said he thus; ‘Gud erll off Huntyntoun,
‘Ye se the Scottis puttis feill to confusioun,
‘Wald ye wyth men agayn on thaim raleiff,
‘And mer thaim anys, I sall, quhill I may leiff,
‘Low yow fer mar than ony othir knycht; 725 Fol. 104 b
‘And for all this sall put yow to your rycht.’
Than said the Bruce; “Schyr, loss me off my band;
“Than I sall turn, I hecht yow be my hand.”
The king full son consideryt in his mynd,
Quhen he hard Bruce ansuer him in sic kynd, 730
Fra Inglissmen the Brucis hart set is.
Than kest he thus, how he suld mend that myss;
And so he dyd, in Ingland at his will
Na Scottis man he leit with Bruce bid still;
Bot quhar he past held him in subiectioun 735
Off Inglissmen, held him in gret bandoun.
He turned nocht, na na mar langage maid;
In raid battaill the king to Sulway raid,
With mekill payn, fast vpon Ingland cost,
Fyfty thousand in that trawaill he lost. 740

Quhen Wallace saw he chapyt was away,
Vpon Annand agayn returnyt thai
Till Edynburch, with outyn tary mor;
Put in Crawfurd that captane was befor;
Off heretage he had in Mannuell land. 745
Wallace commaund, ilk man suld hald in hand
Thair awin office, as thai befor had had.
Thus in gud pece Scotland with rycht he stad.
On the tent day to Sanct Jhonstoun he went,
Semblyt lordis, syn schawyt thaim his entent. 750
Scrymgeour com, at than had woun Dundé;
Wallace commaund that tym weill kepyt he.
He sailyeid so, quhill strang hungyr thaim draiff;
Sa feblyst war, the hous till him thai gaiff.
The wageourss sone he put to confusioun; 755
Syn brocht Mortoun, to mak a conclusion,
Befor Wallace; and son fra he him saw,
He gert hyng hym, for all king Eduuardis aw.
Masons, minouris, with Scrymgeour furth he send,
Kest down Dundé, and tharoff maid ane end. 760
Wallace, sadly quhen thir dedis war don,
The lordis he cald, and his will schawit thaim son.
“Gud men,” he said, “I was your gouernour;
“My mynd was set to do yow ay honour,
“And for to bryng this realme to rychtwysnes; 765
“For it I passit in mony paynfull place.
“To wyn our awin my selff I neuir spard,
“At the Fawkyrk thai ordand me reward.
“Off that reward ye her no mor throu me; Fol. 105 a
“To sic gyftis God will full weill haiff E. 770
“Now ye ar fre, throu the Makar off mycht;
“He grant yow grace weill to defend your rycht!
“Als I preswme, gyff harm be ordand me,
“Thai ar Scottis men at suld the wyrkaris be.
“I haiff enewch off our ald enemys stryff; 775
“Me think our awin suld nocht inwy my lyff.
“My office our her playnly I resing;
“I think no mar to tak on me sic thing.
“In France I will, to wyn my leffyng thar,
“As now awysd, and her to cum no mar.” 780
Lordis gaynstud, bot all that helpyt nocht;
For ony thar he did as him best thocht.
Byschop Synclar was wesyd with seknas
In till Dunkell; and syn throu Goddis grace
He recoueryt, quhen Wallace past away; 785
Eftir the Bruce he lestyt mony day.
Gud Wallace thus tuk leiff in Sanct Jhonstoun.
Auchtene with him, till Dundé maid him boun.
Longaweill past, that douchty was indeid,
The barrounyss sone off Breichyn with him yeid. 790
Twa brethir als with thair wncle thaim dycht,
Symon Wallace, and Richard that was wicht.
Schir Thomas Gray, this preist can wyth thaim fair,
Eduuard Litill, gud Jop, and maister Blayr.
Amang merchandis gud Wallace tuk the se; 795
Pray we to God, that he thair ledar be!

Thai saylyt furth by part off Ingland schor.
Till Hwmbyr mowth quhen at thai com befor,
Out off the south a gret rede saile thai se,
Into thar top the leopardis standand hye. 800
The merchandis than, that senye quhen thai saw
Cummand so neir, thai war discumfyt aw;
For weill thai wyst, that it was Jhon off Lyn,
Scottis to slay, he said, it was no syn.
Thir frayit folk yeid son to confessioun. 805
Than Wallace said; “Off sic deuotioun
“Yeit saw I neuir in no place quhar I past.
“For this a schip me think yow all agast,
“Yon wood cattis sall do ws litill der;
“We saw thaim faill twyss in a grettar wer, 810
“On a fair feild; so sall thai on the se:
“Dispyt it is to se thaim stand so hye.” Fol. 105 b
The ster man said; ‘Schyr, will ye wndirstand,
‘He saiffis nane that is born off Scotland.
‘We may nocht fle fra yon barge wait I weill, 815
‘Weyll stuff thai ar with gwn ganye off steill.
‘Apon the se yon rewar lang has beyn;
‘Till rychtwyss men he dois full mekill teyn.
‘Mycht we be saiff, it forst nocht off our gud.
‘This wyss he has, in schort, for to conclud; 820
‘A flud he beris apon his cot armour,
‘Ay drownand folk, so payntyt in figour.
‘Supposs we murn, ye suld haiff no merwaill.’
Than Wallace said; “Her is men off mar waill
“To saill thi schip; tharfor in holl thow ga, 825
“And thi feris. Na mar cummyr ws ma.”
Wallace and his than sone till harnes yeid.
Quhan thai war graithit in to thair worthi weid,
Him selff and Blayr, and the knycht Longaweill,
Thir thre has tane to kepe the myd schip weill. 830
Befor ws sewyn, and sex be eft ws kend;
Syn twa he chesd the top for to defend;
And Gray he maid thair sterman for to be.
The merchandis than saw thaim sa manfullé
To fend thaim selff; be causs thai had no weid, 835
Out off the howll thai tuk skynnys gud speid,
Ay betwix two stufft woll as thai mycht best,
Agayn the straik at thai suld sum part lest.
Than Wallace lewch, and commendyt thaim aw;
Off sic harness befor he neuir saw. 840
Be than the barge com on thaim wondyr fast,
Sewyn scor in hyr, that was no thing agast.
Quhen Jhon off Lyn saw thaim in armour brycht,
He lewch, and said thir haltyn words on hycht;
‘Yon glakyt Scottis can ws nocht wndyrstand; 845
‘Fulys thai ar, is new cummyn off the land.’
He cryit, ‘Stryk;’ bot no ansuer thai maid.
Blayr with a bow schot fast with outyn baid;
Or thai clyppyt, he schot bot arowis thre,
And at ilk schot he gert a rewar de. 850
The brygandis than thai bykerit wondyr fast,
Amang the Scottis with schot and gownnys cast;
And thai agayn with speris hedyt weill,
Feill woundis maid throuch plattis off fyne steill.
Athir othir festynyt with clippys keyn; 855
A cruell cowntyr thar was on schipburd seyn. Fol. 106 a
The derff schot, draiff as thik as a haill schour,
Contende tharwith the space ner off ane hour.
Quhen schot was gayn, the Scottis gret confort had;
At hand strakys thai war sekyr and sad. 860
The merchandis als, with sic thing as thai mycht,
Prewyt full weill in defens off thair rycht.
Wallace and his, at ner strakis quhen thai be,
With scharp swerdys thai gert fell brygandis de;
Thai in the top so worthi wrocht with hand, 865
In the south top thar mycht no rewar stand.
All the mydschip off rewers was maid waist,
That to geiff our thai war in poynt almaist.
Than Jhon off Lyn was rycht gretly agast,
He saw his folk failyie about him fast: 870
With egyr will he wald haiff beyn away,
Bad wynd the saill in all the haist thai may;
Bot fra the Scottis thai mycht nocht than off skey
The clyp so sar on athir burd thai wey.
Thai saw nothing that mycht be to thaim ess; 875
Crawfurd on loft thair saill brynt in a bless.
Or Jhon off Lyn schup for to leyff that sted,
Off his best men saxté was brocht to ded.
Thar schip by owris a burd was mar off hycht.
Wallace lap in amang thai rewaris wycht; 880
A man he straik our burd in to the se;
On the our loft he slew son othir thre.
Longaweill entryt, and als the maistir Blair;
Thai gaiff no gyrth to frek at thai fand thar.
Wallas him self with Jhon off Lyn was met; 885
At his coler a felloun straik he set;
Bathe helm and hed fra the schuldris he draiff;
Blayr our burd in the se kest the layff
Off his body; and all the remaynand
Entryt, and slew the brygandis at thai fand. 890
The schip thai tuk, gret gold and othir ger
At thai reiffaris had gaderyt lang in wer;
Bot maister Blayr spak nothing off himsell,
In deid off armes quhat awentur he fell.
Schir Thomas Gray, was than preyst to Wallace, 895
Put in the buk how than hapnyt this cace
At Blayr was in, [and] mony worthi deid,
Off quhilk him selff had no plesance to reid. Fol. 106 b
Wallace rewllyt the schip with his awin men;
And saillyt furth the rycht courss for to ken. 900
In the Sloice hawyn quhill that thai entryt be,
The merchandis weill he kepyt in sawfté;
Off gold and ger he tuk part at thai fand,
Gaiff thaim the schip, syn passyt to the land;
Throuch Flandrys raid vpon a gudly wyss, 905
Entryt in France, and socht vp to Paryss.
The glaid tithing at to the king was brocht
Off Wallace com, it conford all thair thocht.
Thai trowyt be him to get redress off wrang
The Sotheroun had in Gyane wrocht so lang. 910
The peryss off France was still at thair parlement;
The king commaund with trew and haill entent,
Thai suld forsé a lordschip to Wallace.
The lordis all than demyt off this cace;
For Gyane was all haill owt off thair hand, 915
Thai thocht it best for to geyff him that land.
For weill thai trowyt he had so wrocht befor,
He suld it wyn, or ellis de tharfor;
Alsua off it thai mycht no profyt haiff.
This was the causs to Wallace thai it gaiff. 920
This decret son thai schawit to the king:
Displessyd he was thai maid him sic a thing.
Off Gyane, thus, quhen Wallace hard a feill,
“No land,” he said, “likit him halff so weill.
“My chance is thus for to be ay in wer; 925
“And Inglissmen has done our realme most der.
“It was weill knawin my defens rychtwyss thar;
“Rycht haiff I her, my confort is the mar.
“I thank your lordis, maid sic reward to me;
“Thar purposs is I sall nocht ydill be.” 930
The king bad him be duk off Gyan land:
To that commaund Wallace was gaynstandand,
Becauss that land, was haly [to] conquace,
He thocht to wyn erar throw Goddis grace:
Bot neuyrtheless the king had maid him knycht, 935
And gaiff him gold for to maynteme his mycht;
Syn gaiff playn charge till his wermen off France,
Thai suld be haill at Wallace ordinaunce;
And als off him he bad him armes tak. Fol. 107 a
Wallace forsuk sic changyng for to mak: 940
“Sen I began, I bar the reid lyoun;
“And thinkis to be ay trew man to that croun.
“I thank yow, schyr, off this mychty reward;
“Your gyft herfor sall nocht rycht lang be spard.
“I think to quyt sum part ye kith on me 945
“In your seruice, or ellis tharfor to de.”
Gud Wallace thocht, his tym he wald nocht waist;
On to the wer he graithit him in haist.
All Scottismen, that was in to that land,
Till him thai socht with thair fewté and band. 950
Langaweill als a gret power can rass;
In Wallace help this gud knycht glaidly gais.
Ten thowsand haill off nobill men thai war,
The braid baner off Scotland displayed thar.
Thir wermen sone apon Gyane thai fwr, 955
Brak byggyngs doun quhilk had bene stark and stur.
Sotheroun thai slew, agayn thaim maid debait;
Braithly on breid thai rasyt fyris hait.
Schynnoun thai tuk, at Wallace fyrst had woun,
And slew all men off Sotheroun was thar foun. 960
In to that toun Wallace his duellyng maid;
All thar about he wan the contré braid.
The worthy duk, off Orliance was lord,
Semblyt his folk in till a gud accord.
Twelf thousand than he had in armour brycht, 965
And thocht to help gud Wallace in his rycht.
Leyff I thaim thus, the duk and Wallace baithe,
And spek sum part how Scotland tuk gret scaithe.