Chapter XIII: Part 13

Wallang in haist, with blyth will and glaid hart,
Till London past, and schawit till king Eduuart. 850
Off this contrak he had a mar plesance,
Than of fyn gold had geyffyn, in ballance,
A grettar wecht na his ransoun mycht be.
Off Wallace furth sum thing spek will we,
At Sanct Jhonstoun was at the segeyng still. 855
In a mornyng Sotheroun, with egyr will,
Fyve hundreth men in harnas rycht juntly,
Thai wschet furth to mak a jeperty;
At the south port, apon Scot and Dundass,
Quhilk in that tym rycht wyss and worthy was. 860
Agayn thair fayis rycht scharply focht and sayr.
In that cowntyr sewyn scor to ded thai bayr.
Yeit Inglissmen, at cruell war and keyn,
Full ferely faucht, quhar douchty deid was seyn.
Fra the west yett drew all the Scottis haill 865
To the fechtaris; quhen Sotheroun saw na waill,
Bot in agayn full fast thai can thaim sped;
The knycht Dundass prewyt so douchty deid.
Our neyr the yett full bandounly he baid,
Wyth a gud suerd full gret maister he maid; 870 Fol. 119 a
Nocht wittandly his falowis was him fra.
In at the yett the Sotheroun can him ta,
On to the erll thai led him haistelé.
Quhen he him saw, he said he suld nocht de;
“To slay this ane it may ws litill rameid.” 875
He send him furth to Wallace in that steid.
On the north syd his bestials had he wrocht;
Quhill he him saw, off this he wyst rycht nocht;
Send to the erll, and thankit him largelé;
Hecht for to quyt quhen he sic cace mycht se. 880
Bot all her for souerance he wald nocht grant,
Thocht thai yoldin wald cum as recreant;
For gold na gud, he wald no trewbut tak.
A full strang salt than he begouth to mak.
The erll of Fyf duelt wndyr trewage lang 885
Off king Eduuard; and than him thocht it wrang,
At Wallace sa was segeand Sanct Jhonstoun,
Bot gyff he com in rycht help off the croun.
Till Inglissmen he wald nocht kep that band,
Than he come sone with gud men off the land. 890
And Jhon Wallang, was than schyreff off Fyff,
Till Wallace past, starkyt him in that stryff.
That erll was cummyn off trew haill nobill blud,
Fra the ald thane, quhilk in his tym was gud.
Than all about to Sanct Jhonstoun thai gang, 895
With felloun salt, was hydwyss scharp and strang.
Full feill fagaldys in to the dyk thai cast,
Hadyr and hay bond apon flakys fast;
Wyth treis and erd a gret passage thai maid;
Atour the wallis thai yeid with battaill braid. 900
The Sotheroun men maid gret defens agayn,
Quhill on the wallys thar was a thousand slayn.
Wallace yeid in, and his rayit battaill rycht;
All Sotheroun men derffly to ded thai dycht.
To sayff the erll Wallace the harrald send, 905
Gud Jop him selff, the quhilk befor him kend.
For Dundass saik thai said he suld nocht de;
Wallace him selff this ordand for to be.
A small haknay he gert till him be tak,
Siluer and gold his costis for to mak; 910
Set on his clok a takyn for to se,
The lyoun in wax that suld his condet be;
Conwoyit him furth, and na man him withall.
Wemen and barnys Wallace gert freith thaim all:
And syn gert cry trew Scottis men to thair awn; 915
Plenyst the land quhilk lang had been ourthrawn. Fol. 119 b
Than Wallace past the southland for to se.
Eduuard the Bruce, in his tym rycht worthé.
That yer befor he had in Irland ben,
And purchest thar off cruell men and keyn. 920
Fyfty in feyr, was off his modrys kyn,
At Kirkwbré on Galloway entryt in.
With thai fyfté he had vencust nyne scor,
And syn he past, withoutyn tary mor,
Till Wygtoun sone, and that castell has tayne; 925
Sotheroun was fled, and left [it] all allayne.
Wallace him met with trew men reuerently;
To Lowmabane went all that chewalry.
Thai maid Eduuard bath lord and ledar thar.
This conditioun Wallace him hecht but mar, 930
Bot a schort tym to bid Robert the king;
Gyff he come nocht in this regioun to ryng,
At Eduuard suld resaiff the croun but faill.
Thus hecht Wallace, and all the barnage haill.
In Louchmabane prynce Eduuard lewyt still; 935
And Wallace past in Cumno with blith will.
At the Blak Rok, quhar he was wont to be,
Apon that sted a ryall hous held he.
Ingliss wardans till London past but mar,
And tauld the king off all thair gret mysfar; 940
How Wallace coud Scotland fra thaim reduce,
And how he had resawyt Eduuard the Bruce.
The commouns suor thai suld cum neuir mar
Apon Scotland, and Wallace leiffand war.
Than Eduuard wrayt till Menteth prewalie, 945
Prayit him till haist; the tym was passit by
Off the promess the quhilk at he was bund.
Schyr Jhon Menteth in till his wit has fund,
How he suld best his purpos to fullfill.
His syster son in haist he cald him till, 950
And ordand him in duellyng with Wallace.
Ane ayth agayn he gert him mak on cace,
Quhat tym he wyst Wallace in quiet draw,
He suld him warne, for awentur mycht befaw.
This man grantyt at sic thing suld be done; 955
With Wallace thus he was in seruice sone.
As off tresoun Wallace had litill thocht;
His laubourous mynd on othir materis wrocht.
Thus Wallace thryss has maid all Scotland fre;
Than he desyryt in lestand peess to be. 960
For as off wer he was in sumpart yrk,
He purpost than to serue God and the kyrk,
And for to leyff wndyr hys rychtwyss king;
That he desyryt atour all erdly thing.

The harrold Jop in Ingland sone he send, 965
And wrayt to Bruce rycht hartlie this commend, Fol. 120 a
Besekand him to cum and tak his croun;
Nane suld gaynstand, clerk, burges, na barroun.
The harrald past; quhen Bruce saw his credans,
Tharoff he tuk a perfyt gret plesans; 970
With hys awn hand agayn wrayt to Wallace,
And thankyt him off lauta and kyndnas,
Besekand him this mater to conseill;
For he behuffyd owt off Ingland to steill;
For lang befor was kepyt the ragment, 975
Quhilk Cwmyn had, to byd the gret parlement
In to London; and gyff thai him accuss,
To cum fra thaim he suld mak sum excuss.
He prayit Wallace in Glaskow mur to walk
The fyrst nycht off Julii for his salk; 980
And bad he suld bot in to quiet be,
For he with him mycht bryng few chewalré.
Wallace was blyth quhen he this wrytyng saw;
His houshald sone he gert to Glaskow draw.
That moneth thar he ordand thaim to byd; 985
Kerlé he tuk ilk nycht with him to ryd;
And this yong man that Menteth till him send;
Wyst nane bot thir quhat way at Wallace wend;
The quhilk gart warn his eym the auchtand nycht.
Sexté full sone Schyr Jhone [Menteth] gert dycht 990
Off hys awn kyn, and off alya born;
To this tresoun he gert thaim all be suorn.
Fra Dunbertane he sped thaim haistely,
Ner Glaskow kyrk thai bownyt thaim priwaly.
Wallace past furth quhar at the tryst was set, 995
A spy thai maid, and folowed him but let
Till Robrastoun, was ner be the way syd,
And bot a howss quhar Wallace oysyt to byd.
He wouk on fut quhill passyt was myd nycht;
Kerlé and he than for a sleip thaim dycht. 1000
Thai bad this cuk, that he suld wach hys part,
And walkyn Wallace, com men fra ony art.
Quhen thai slepyt, this traytour tuk graith heid,
He met his eym, and bad him haiff no dreid:
“On sleip he is, and with him bot a man, 1005
“Ye may him haiff, for ony craft he can;
“With owt the houss thair wapynnys laid thaim fra.”
For weill thai wyst, gat Wallace one off tha,
And on his feyt, hys ransoun suld be sauld.
Thus semblyt thai about that febill hauld. 1010
This traytour wach fra Wallace than he stall
Bathe knyff and suerd, his bow and arowis all.
Eftyr mydnycht in handis thai haiff him tane,
Dyschowyll on sleipe, with him na man bot ane. Fol. 120 b
Kerlé thai tuk, and led him off that place, 1015
Dyd him to ded with outyn langar space.
Thai thocht to bynd Wallace throu strenthis strang;
On fute he gat the feill traytouris amang,
Grippyt about, bot no wapyn he fand.
Apon a syll he saw besyd him stand, 1020
The bak off ane he byrstyt in that thrang;
And off ane othir the harness out he dang.
Than alss mony as handis mycht on him lay,
Beforce hym hynt for till haiff him away.
Bot that power mycht nocht a fute him leid 1025
Owt off that houss, quhill thai or he war deid.
Schir Jhon saw weill beforce it coud nocht be;
Or he war tayne he thocht erar to de.
Menteth bad cess, and thus spak to Wallace;
Syn schawyt him furth a rycht sutell fals cace. 1030
“Yhe haiff so lang her oysyt yow allane,
“Quhill witt tharoff is in till Ingland gane.
“Tharfor her me, and sobyr your curage.
“The Inglissmen, with a full gret barnage,
“Are semblyt her, and set this hous about, 1035
“That ye, be force, on na wayis may wyn out.
“Supposs ye had the strenth off gud Ectour,
“Amang this ost ye may nocht lang endour.
“And thai you tak, in haist your ded is dycht.
“I haiff spokyn with lord Clyffurd that knycht, 1040
“Wyth thair chyftanys weill menyt for your lyff.
“Thai ask no mar bot be quyt off your stryff.
“To Dunbertane ye sall furth pass with me;
“At your awn houss ye may in saifté be.”
Sotheroun sic oyss with Menteth lang had thai, 1045
That Wallace trowyt sum part at he wald say.
Menteth said; “Schyr, lo, wappynnys nane we haiff;
“We com in trayst, your lyff gyff we mycht saiff.”
Wallace trowyt weill, and he his gossep twyss,
That he wald nocht, be no maner off wyss, 1050
Him to betrayss for all Scotland so wyd.
Ane ayth off him he askit in that tid.
Thar wantit wit; quhat suld his aythis mor?
Forsuorn till him he was lang tym befor.
The ayth he maid; Wallace com in his will; 1055
Rycht frawdfully all thus schawyt him till.
“Gossep,” he said, “as presoner thai mon yow se,
“Or thai throu force wyll ellis tak yow fra me.”
A courch with slycht apon his handys thai laid,
And wndyr syn with seuir cordys thai braid, 1060
Bath scharp and tewch, and fast to gyddyr drew.
Allace, the Bruce mycht sayr that byndyng rew,
Quhilk maid Scotland sone brokyn apon cace,
For Cumeinis ded, and loss off gud Wallace! Fol. 121 a
Thai led him furth in feyr amang thaim aw. 1065
Kerlé he myst, off na Sotheroun he saw:
Than wyst he weyll that he betraysyt was,
Towart the south with him quhen thai can pass.
Yeit thai him said, in trewth he suld nocht de;
King Eduuard wald kep him in gud saufté, 1070
For hie honour in wer at he had wrocht.
The sayr bandys so strowblyt all his thocht,
Credence tharto forsuth he coud nocht geyff;
He wyst full weyll thai wald nocht lat him leiff.
A falss foull causs, thai Menteth for, him tauld, 1075
Quhen on this wyss gud Wallace he had sauld.
Sum off thaim said, it was to saiff thair lord;
Thai leid all out that maid that fals racord.
At the Fawkyrk the gud Stewart was slayn,
Our corniclis reherss that in [to] playn, 1080
On Madelan day, that auchtand yer befor;
Comynis ded tharoff it wytness mor.
At Robrastoun Wallas was tresonabilly
Thus falsly stowyn fra his gud chewalry.
In Glaskow lay, and wyst nocht off this thing; 1085
Thus he was lost in byding off his king.
South thai him led, ay haldand the west land,
Delyuerit him in haist our Sullway sand.
The lord Clyffurd and Wallang tuk him thar;
To Carleyll toun full fast with him thai fayr; 1090
In presoun him stad, that was a gret dolour;
That houss efter was callyt “Wallace tour.”
Sum men sen syn said, that knew nocht weill the cass,
In Berweik thai to ded put gud Wallace.
Contrar is knawin, fyrst be this opinioun; 1095
For Scottis men than had haly Berweik toun,
And Scotland fre, quhill that Soullis it gaiff
For lord Cumyn till Ingland with the laiff.
Ane othir poynt is, the traytouris durst nocht pass,
At sauld him sa, quhar Scottis men maistris was. 1100
The thrid poynt is, the commouns off Ingland,
Quhat thai desyr, thai will nocht wndirstand
That thing be done, for wytness at may be,
Na credence geyff, forthyr than thai may se.
To se him de Eduuard had mar desyr, 1105
Than to be lord off all the gret empyr.
For thir caussis thai kepyt him sa lang,
Quhill the commouns mycht on to London gang.

Allace, Scotland, to quhom sall thow compleyn!
Allace, fra payn quha sall the now restreyn! 1110
Allace, thi help is fasslie brocht to ground,
Thi [best] chyftane in braith bandis is bound! Fol. 121 b
Allace, thow has now lost thi gyd off lycht!
Allace, quha sall defend the in thi rycht?
Allace, thi payn approchis wondyr ner, 1115
With sorow sone thow mon bene set in feyr!
Thi graciouss gyd, thi grettast gouernour,
Allace, our neir is cumyn his fatell hour!
Allace, quha sall the beit now off thi baill?
Allace, quhen sall off harmys thow be haill? 1120
Quha sall the defend? quha sall the now mak fre?
Allace, in wer quha sall thi helpar be?
Quha sall the help? quha sall the now radem?
Allace, quha sall the Saxons fra the flem?
I can no mar, bot besek God off grace 1125
The to restor in haist to rychtwysnace;
Sen gud Wallace may succour the no mar.
The loss off him encressit mekill cair.
Now off his men in Glaskow still at lay,
Quhat sorow raiss, quhen thai him myst away? 1130
The cruell payn, the wofull complenyng,
Tharoff to tell it war our hewy thing,
I will lat be, and spek off it no mar;
Litill riherss is our mekill off cair:
And principaly quhar redempcioun is nayn, 1135
It helpys nocht to tell thar petous mayn;
The deid tharoff is yeit in remembrance,
I will lat slaik off sorow the ballance.
Bot Longawell to Louchmabane couth pass,
And thar he hecht, quhar gud prince Eduuard was, 1140
Out off Scotland he suld pas neuirmor;
Loss off Wallace socht till his hart so sor.
The rewlm off France he wowit he suld neuir se,
Bot weng Wallace, or ellis tharfor to de.
Thar he remaynd, quhill cummyn off the king; 1145
With Bruce in wer this gud knycht furth can ryng.
Remembrance syn was in the Brucys buk;
Secound he was quhen thai Saynct Jhonstoun tuk;
Folowed the king at wynnyng off the toun;
The Bruce tharfor gaiff him full gret gardoun. 1150
All Charterys land the gud king till him gaiff;
Charterys sen syn off his kyn is the laiff.
Quhar to suld I [fer] in that story wend?
Bot off my buk to mak a fynaill end:
Robert the Bruce com hame on the ferd day 1155
In Scotland, eft Wallace was had away,
Till Louchmabane, quhar that he fand Eduuart,
Quharoff he was gretlie reiossyt in hart:
Bot fra he wyst Wallace away was led,
So mekill baill with in his breyst thar bred, 1160 Fol. 122 a
Ner out off wytt he worthit for to weyd.
Eduuard full sone than till hys brothir yeid.
A sodane chance this was in wo fra weill.
Gud Eduuard said; “This helpys nocht adell:
“Lat murnyng be, it may mak na remeid; 1165
“Ye haiff him tynt, ye suld rawenge his deid.
“Bot for your causs he tuk the wer on hand,
“In your defens; and thryss has fred Scotland,
“The quhilk was tynt fra ws and all our kyn:
“War nocht Wallace, we had neuir entryt in. 1170
“Merour he was off lauta and manheid:
“In wer the best that euir sall power leid.
“Had he likyt for till haiff tane your croun,
“Wald nane him let that was in this regioun.
“Had nocht beyne he, ye suld had na entress 1175
“In to this rewlm, for tresoun and falsnes.
“That sall ye se; the traytour that him sauld,
“Fra yow he thinkys Dunbertane for till hauld;
“Sum confort tak, and lat slaik off this sorou.”
The king chargyt Eduuard, apon the morou, 1180
Radress to tak off wrang that wrocht him was.
Till Dallswyntoun he ordand him to pas,
And men off armys; gyff thai fand Cumyn thar,
Put him to ded; for na deid thai suld spar.
Thai fand him nocht. The king him selff him slew 1185
In till Drumfress, quhar witnes was inew.
That hapnys wrang our gret haist in a king,
Till wyrk by law it may scaith mekill thing.
Me nedis heroff na forthyr for till schaw;
How that was done it was knawin to yow aw. 1190
Bot yong Douglace fyrst to the king can pas,
In all hys wer bath wicht and worthi was.
Nor how the king has tane on him the croun;
Off all that her I mak bot schort mencioun:
Nor how lord Soullis gaiff Berweik toun away; 1195
How eftyr syn sone tynt was Galloway;
How Jhon off Lorn agayn his rycht king raiss;
On athir sid how Bruce had mony fais;
How bauld Breichin contrar his king coud ryd,
Rycht few was than in wer with him to byd: 1200
Nor how the north was gyffyn fra the gud king,
Quhilk maid him lang in paynfull wer to ryng.
Ay trew till him was Jamys the gud Douglace,
For Brucis rycht baid weill in mony place;
Wndyr the king he was the best chyftayn. 1205
Bot Wallace raiss as chyftane him allayn;
Tharfor till him is no comparisoun,
As off a man, sauff reuerence off the croun.
Bot sa mony as off Douglace has beyn
Gud off a kyn, was neuir in Scotland seyn: 1210 Fol. 122 b
Comparisounys that can I nocht weill declar.
Off Brucis buk as now I spek no mar.
Master Barbour, quhilk was a worthi clerk,
He said the Bruce amang his othir werk.
In this mater prolixit I am almaist; 1215
To my purpos breiffly I will me haist,
How gud Wallace was set amang his fayis.
To London with him Clyfford and Wallang gais;
Quhar king Eduuard was rycht fayn off that fang.
Thai [haiff] him stad in till a presone strang. 1220
Off Wallace end my selff wald leiff, for dredis
To say the werst; bot rychtwysnes me ledis.
We fynd his lyff all swa werray trew,
His fatell hour I will nocht fenye new.
Menteth was fals, and that our weill was knawin: 1225
Feill off that kyn, in Scotland than was sawyn,
Chargyt to byd wndyr the gret jugement,
At king Robert ackyt in his parlement.
Tharoff I mak no langar contenuans.
Bot Wallace end in warld was displesans; 1230
Tharfor I cess, and puttis it nocht in rym.
Scotland may thank the blyssyt happy tym
At he was born, be prynsuall poyntis two.
This is the fyrst, or that we forthyr go;
Scotland he fred, and brocht it off thrillage, 1235
And now in hewin he has his heretage;
As it prewyt be gud experians.
Wyss clerkyss yeit it kepis in remembrans,
How that a monk off Bery abbay than,
In to that tym a rycht religiouss man; 1240
A yong monk als with him in ordour stud,
Quhilk knew his lyff was clene, perfyt, and gud.
This fadyr monk was wesyd with seknace,
Out off the warld as he suld pass on cace.
His brothyr saw the spret lykly to pass; 1245
A band off him rycht ernystly he coud ass,
To cum agayn, and schaw him oft the meid,
At he suld haiff at God for his gud deid.
He grantyt him, at his prayer to preiff
To cum agayn, gyff God wald geiff him leiff. 1250
The spreyt, changyt out off this warldly payn,
In that sammyn hour cum to the monk agayn.
Sic thing has beyn, and is be woice and sycht.
Quhar he apperyt, thar schawyt sa mekill lycht,
Lyk till lawntryns it illumynyt so cler, 1255
At warldly lycht tharto mycht be no peyr.
A woice said thus; “God has me grantyt grace
“That I sall kep my promess in this place.” Fol. 123 a
The monk was blyth off this cler fygur fayr;
Bot a fyr brand in his forheid he bayr, 1260
And than him thocht it myslikyt all the lawe.
‘Quhar art thow, spreyt? ansuer, sa God the sawe.’
“In purgatory.” ‘How lang sall thow be thair?’
“Bot halff ane hour to com, and litill mair.
“Purgatory is, I do the weill to wit, 1265
“In ony place quhar God will it admyt.
“Ane hour of space I was demed thar to be;
“And that passis, supposs I spek with the.”
‘Quhy has thow that, and all the layff so haill?’
“For off science I thocht me maist awaill. 1270
“Quha pridys tharin, that laubour is in waist,
“For science cummys bot off the haly Gaist.”
‘Eftir thi hour, quhar is thi passage ewyn?’
“Quhen tym cummys,” he said, “to lestand hewin.”
‘Quhat tym is that? I pray the now declar.’ 1275
“Twa ar on lyff mon be befor me thar.”
‘Quhilk twa ar thai?’ “The verité thow may ken.
“The fyrst has bene a gret slaar off men.
“Now thai him kep to martyr in London toun
“On Wednyssday, befor king and commoun. 1280
“Is nayn on lyff at has sa mony slayn.”
‘Brodyr,’ he said, ‘that taill is bot in wayn;
‘For slauchtyr is to God abhominabill.’
Than said the spreyt; “Forsuth, this is no fabill.
“He is Wallace, defendour off Scotland, 1285
“For rychtwyss wer that he tuk apon hand.
“Thar rychtwysnes is lowyt our the lawe;
“Tharfor in hewyn he sall that honour hawe.
“Syn, a pure preyst, is mekill to commend;
“He tuk in thank quhat thing that God him send. 1290
“For dayly mess, and heryng off confessioun,
“Hewin he sall haiff to lestand warysoun.
“I am the thrid, grantyt throw Goddis grace.”
‘Brothir,’ he said, ‘tell I this in our place,
‘Thai wyll bot deym, I othir dreym or rawe.’ 1295
Than said the spreyt; “This wytness thow sall hawe.
“Your bellys sall ryng, for ocht at ye do may,
“Quhen thai hym sla, halff an hour off that day.”
And so thai did, the monk wyst quhat thaim alyt;
Throuch braid Bretane the woice tharoff was scalyt. 1300
The spreyt tuk leyff at Goddis will to be.
Off Wallace end to her it is peté:
And I wald nocht put men in gret dolour,
Bot lychtly pass atour his fatell hour.

On Wednysday the fals Sotheroun furth brocht, 1305
Till martyr him as thai befor had wrocht.
Rycht suth it is, a martyr was Wallace, Fol. 123 b
Als Osauold, Edmunt, Eduuard, and Thomas.
Off men in armes led him a full gret rout.
With a bauld spreit gud Wallace blent about: 1310
A preyst he askyt, for God at deit on tre.
King Eduuard than cummandyt his clergé,
And said; “I charge, apayn off loss off lywe,
“Nane be sa bauld yon tyrand for to schrywe.
“He has rong lang in contrar my hienace.” 1315
A blyst byschop sone, present in that place,
Off Canterbery he than was rychtwyss lord,
Agayn the king he maid this rycht record;
And [said]; ‘My selff sall her his confessioun,
‘Gyff I haiff mycht, in contrar off thi croun. 1320
‘And thou throu force will stop me off this thing,
‘I wow to God, quhilk is my rychtwyss king,
‘That all Ingland I sall her enterdyt,
‘And mak it knawin thou art ane herretyk.
‘The sacrement off kyrk I sall him geiff; 1325
‘Syn tak thi chos, to sterwe or lat him leiff.
‘It war mar waill, in worschip off thi croun,
‘To kepe sic ane in lyff in thi bandoun,
‘Than all the land and gud at thow has refyd.
‘Bot cowatice the ay fra honour drefyd. 1330
‘Thow has [thi] lyff rongyn in wrangwis deid;
‘That sall be seyn on the, or on thi seid.’
The king gert charge thai suld the byschop ta;
Bot sad lordys consellyt to lat him ga.
All Inglissmen said, at his desyr was rycht; 1335
To Wallace than he rakyt in thar sicht.
And sadly hard his confessioun till ane end.
Hvmbly to God his spreyt he thar comend;
Lawly him serwyt with hartlye deuocioun
Apon his kneis, and said ane orysoun. 1340
His leyff he tuk, and to West monastyr raid.
The lokmen than thai bur Wallace but baid
On till a place, his martyrdom to tak;
For till his ded he wald na forthyr mak.
Fra the fyrst nycht he was tane in Scotland, 1345
Thai kepyt him in to that sammyn band.
Na thing he had at suld haiff doyn him gud;
Bot Inglissmen him seruit off carnaill fud.
Hys warldly lyff desyrd the sustenance,
Thocht he it gat in contrar off plesance. 1350
Thai thretty dayis his band thai durst nocht slaik,
Quhill he was bundyn on a skamyll off ayk,
With irn chenyeis that was bath stark and keyn.
A clerk thai set to her quhat he wald meyn.
“Thow Scot,” he said, “that gret wrangis has don, 1355
“Thi fatell hour, thow seis, approchis son.
“Thow suld in mynd remembyr thi mysdeid,
“At clerkis may, quhen thai thair psalmis reid
“For Crystyn saullis, that makis thaim to pray,
“In thair nowmyr thow may be ane off thai; 1360
“For now thow seis on fors thou mon decess.” Fol. 124 a
Than Wallace said; ‘For all thi roid rahress,
‘Thow has na charge, supposs at I did myss;
‘Yon blyst byschop has hecht I sall haiff blis;
‘And trew [I] weill, that God sall it admyt: 1365
‘Thi febyll wordis sall nocht my conscience smyt.
‘Conford I haiff off way that I suld gang,
‘Maist payn I feill at I bid her our lang.’
Than said this clerk; “Our king oft send the till;
“Thow mycht haiff had all Scotland at thi will, 1370
“To hald off him, and cessyt off thi stryff;
“So as a lord rongyn furth all thi lyff.”
Than Wallace said; ‘Thou spekis off mychty thing.
‘Had I lestyt, and gottyn my rychtwyss king,
‘Fra worthi Bruce had rasauit his croun, 1375
‘I thocht haiff maid Ingland at his bandoun.
‘So wttraly it suld beyn at his will,
‘Quhat plessyt him, to sauff thi king or spill.’
“Weill,” said this clerk, “than thow repentis nocht:
“Off wykkydness thow has a felloun thocht. 1380
“Is nayn in warld at has sa mony slane;
“Tharfor till ask, me think thow suld be bane,
“Grace off our king, and syn at his barnage.”
Than Wallace smyld [a] litill at his langage.
‘I grant,’ he said, ‘part Inglissmen I slew 1385
‘In my quarrel, me thocht nocht halff enew.
‘I mowyt na wer bot for to win our awin;
‘To God and man the rycht full weill is knawin.
‘Thi frustyr wordis dois nocht bot taris me,
‘I the commaund, on Goddis halff, lat me be.’ 1390
A schyrray gart this clerk sone fra him pass;
Rycht as thai durst, thai grant quhat he wald ass.
A Psaltyr buk Wallace had on him euir;
Fra his childeid fra it wald nocht deseuir.
Bettyr he trowit in wiage for to speid. 1395
Bot than he was dispalyeid off his weid.
This grace he ast at lord Clyffurd that knycht,
To lat him haiff his Psaltyr buk in sycht.
He gert a preyst it oppyn befor him hauld,
Quhill thai till him had done all at thai wauld. 1400
Stedfast he red, for ocht thai did him thar:
Feyll Sotheroun said, at Wallace feld na sayr.
Gud deuocioun sa was his begynnyng,
Conteynd tharwith, and fair was his endyng;
Quhill spech and spreyt at anys all can fayr 1405
To lestand blyss, we trow, for euirmayr.
I will nocht tell how he dewydyt was
In fyve partis, and ordand for to pass;
Bot thus his spreit be liklynes was weill.
Off Wallace lyff quha has a forthar feill, 1410
May schaw furth mair with wit and eloquence;
For I to this haiff don my diligence,
Eftyr the pruff geyffyn fra the Latyn buk,
Quhilk Maister Blayr in his tym wndyrtuk,
In fayr Latyn compild it till ane end; 1415
With thir witnes the mar is to commend.
Byschop Synclar than lord was off Dunkell,
He gat this buk, and confermd it him sell Fol. 124 b
For werray trew; thar off he had no dreid,
Himselff had seyn gret part off Wallace deid. 1420
His purpos was till haue send it to Rom,
Our fadyr off kyrk tharon to gyff his dom.
Bot Maistir Blayr, and als Schir Thomas Gray,
Eftir Wallace thai lestit mony day,
Thir twa knew best off gud Schir Wilyhamys deid, 1425
Fra sexteyn yer quhill nyne and twenty yeid.
Fourty and fyve off age Wallace was cauld,
That tym that he was to [the] Southeroun sauld.
Thocht this mater be nocht till all plesance,
His suthfast deid was worthi till awance. 1430
All worthi men at redys this rurall dyt,
Blaym nocht the buk, set I be wnperfyt.
I suld hawe thank, sen I nocht trawaill spard;
For my laubour na man hecht me reward;
Na charge I had off king nor othir lord; 1435
Gret harm I thocht his gud deid suld be smord.
I haiff said her ner as the process gais;
And fenyeid nocht for frendschip nor for fais.
Costis herfor was no man bond to me;
In this sentence I had na will to be, 1440
Bot in als mekill as I rahersit nocht
Sa worthely as nobill Wallace wrocht.
Bot in a poynt, I grant, I said amyss,
Thir twa knychtis suld blamyt be for this,
The knycht Wallas, off Craggé rychtwyss lord, 1445
And Liddaill als, gert me mak [wrang] record.
On Allyrtoun mur the croun he tuk a day,
To get battaill, as myn autour will say.
Thir twa gert me say that ane othir wyss;
Till Maister Blayr we did sumpart off dispyss. 1450

Go nobill buk, fulfillyt off gud sentens,
Supposs thow be baran off eloquens.
Go worthi buk, fullfillit off suthfast deid;
Bot in langage off help thow has gret neid.
Quhen gud makaris rang weill in to Scotland, 1455
Gret harm was it that nane off thaim ye fand.
Yeit thar is part that can the weill awance;
Now byd thi tym, and be a remembrance.
I yow besek, off your beneuolence,
Quha will nocht low, lak nocht my eloquence; 1460
(It is weill knawin I am a bural man,)
For her is said as gudly as I can:
My spreyt felis na termys asperans.
Now besek God, that gyffar is off grace,
Maide hell and erd, and set the hewyn abuff, 1465
That he ws grant off his der lestand luff.

EXPLICIT VITA NOBILISSIMI DEFENSORIS SCOTIE, VIDELICET WILLIELMI
WALLACE MILITIS, PER ME JHOANNEM RAMSAY, ANNO DOMINI MILLESIMO
QUADRINGENTESIMO OCTUAGESIMO OCTAVO.[A]

[A] Two or three words, apparently eucharistic, which have been added here, are mutilated in the MS.

NOTES ON WALLACE.

NOTES ON THE FIRST BOOK.

_His forbearis, quha likis till wndrestand,_
_Of_ hale _lynage, and trew lyne of Scotland_, &c.--V. 21.

Of _auld_ linnage, &c. Edit. 1594; _olde_, 1620; _old_, 1648, 1673, and 1714.

_Go reid the_ fyrst _rycht lyne of the fyrst Stewart._ MS.--V. 34.

But both the rhyme and sense point out the word in Roman characters as an error of the copier. It also disagrees with all the copies I have seen, except that of 1714.

_Till hald of hym the_ toun.--V. 64. MS.

This is obviously another error, and opposed to all the copies.

_And thar he gat_ ymage _of Scotland swne._ MS.--V. 116.

It is _homage_ in all the copies, except that of Perth.

_And Bruce, out of Scotland._--V. 134.

All the copies before that of 1714 connect this with v. 140;--

That office than he brukyt bot schort tyme.

The editor of the first edition I have seen might have overlooked the six intervening lines, by fixing his eye on the conclusion of v. 134, which closes with the same words as that of v. 140--_of Scotland_. But the sense requires these lines; as no _office_ was given to Bruce, but merely his heritage.

_Schir Ranald knew weill a mar quiet sted,_
_Quhar Wilyham mycht he bettir fra thair fede,_
_With his wncle Wallas of_ Ricardtoun,
_Schir Richard hecht, that gud knycht off renoun._--V. 353.

“Riccartoun is evidently a corruption of Richardtoun. It is generally supposed to have been so called from a Sir Richard Wallace, who lived in the vicinity of the village, and who is said to have been uncle to the celebrated patriot, Sir William Wallace. Of his house no vestige now remains; the place, however, where it stood is well known. The village of Riccartoun is within one English mile of the market-place of Kilmarnock.” V. Riccartoun, Stat. Acc. V. 117.

_And with the swerd_ awkwart _he him gawe._--V. 407.

In Edit. 1594,--ane _ackwart_ straik him gaif.

This is followed by subsequent editions. The line, as it stands in MS., is both clumsy and nonsensical. But perhaps Blind Harry used this for athwart; as it occurs in the same sense, II. 109.

_Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this_ drede. MS.--V. 437.

Of the _deid_, Edit. 1594. Of the _deed_, Edit. 1620.

This is more in character, than to suppose that Wallace, after so chivalrous an achievement, should run to his uncle, and tell him in what terror he was for the vengeance of the English. The term here used, indeed, seems to reduplicate on the phrase which occurs v. 434, “this worthi werk.”

NOTES ON THE SECOND BOOK.

Aboundandely _Wallace amang thaim yeid;_
_The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid._--V. 27.

This is most probably for _abandounly_; signifying, “without regard to danger,” as it is indeed explained in the following line. In Edit. 1594, it is rendered,--All but _abaissing_; 1620 and 1648, _abasing_.

_He bar a_ sasteing _in a boustous poille._--V. 33.

A _sting_ signifies a pole; but this _sasteing_ must have been something fixed in a larger _poille_ or pole. Norw. _sjaastang_ is explained, “a pole wherewith skins are taken off or laid on smoky vents.” _Sjaa_ itself signifies the skin taken from the stomachs of animals, of which parchment is made. V. Hallager Ordsamling. But as Scottish _say_ signifies a water bucket, this may refer to the pole used for carrying it. The following definition might seem to throw light on this singular term. “_So_ or _soa_, a tub with two ears to carry on a _stang_.” Ray’s Collection of North Country Words. The term was most probably pronounced _saysting_; as _a_, in our old writers, must often have been sounded _ai_.

_The Aperse of Scotland left in cayr._--V. 170.

In MS. it is,--_Prophesye out_ Scotland is left, &c.

As this has no meaning, I have altered it, according to the reading of Edit. 1594, 1620, and 1648:

The _Apersie_ of Scotland is in greit cair.

Celimus _was maist his geyeler now._--V. 234.

In editions _Cellinus_. In MS. the initial letter is wanting, as is generally the case in MSS. which were afterwards to be illuminated. But from the copies it appears probable that it was _C_. This name is certainly given figuratively, or in reference to some jailor, celebrated in the romances then in vogue. Or could the Minstrel allude to _Celaeno_, one of the fabled harpies? If so, _Cellinus_ would perhaps be the original reading.

_Thomas Rimour in to the_ Faile _was than,_
_With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:_
_He wsyt offt to that religiouss place._--V. 288.

This passage has been strangely misunderstood. So early as 1594 it had been made to bear quite a different meaning:--

Thomas Rymour _withouttin faill_ was than
With the minister, &c.

This error has been followed in subsequent editions. In Edit. Perth, 1790, it is, _in to the ayle_; although it had been properly given, _in to the Faile_, Edit. 1714.

This was a cell or priory of the Cluniacenses in Kyle, Ayrshire, depending on Paisley. Spottiswoode writes it _Feale_. “Our history,” he says, “only remarks, that the prior of this place was one of those who hindred the castle of Dumbarton from being surrendered to the English, anno 1544, in opposition to the Earl of Lenox, then governor of it.” But besides this curious passage, which shows that it was an ancient foundation; it may be added, that “the right of the patronage of the kirk of _Fale_, in the county of Ayr,” is given to James de Lindsay, apparently the ancestor of the Earls of Crawford, in a charter by Robert II. Registr. Mag. Sigill. p. 172. N. 13. The miln of _Faill_, and the crofthead of _Fail_, in the lordship of _Fail_furd, are mentioned in a retour regarding William Wallace, heir of William Wallace, minister of Failfurd, A. 1617. Inquis. Retour. Ayr, N. 162.

Thar _man that day had in the merket bene._--V. 297.

In Edit. 1594, 1620, 1714, and Perth, it is _that_ man; in 1648 and 1673, _this_ man; either of which would immediately refer to Thomas of Ercildon. But _thar_, i.e. _their_ man, respects the servant of the religious fraternity of Faile, as appears from v. 299, which cannot respect True Thomas;

His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.

NOTES ON THE THIRD BOOK.

_And fra the tyme that he of presoune four,_
_Gude_ souir _weide dayly on him he wour:_
_Gude lycht harness, fra that tyme, wsyt he euir._--V. 83.

Instead of _And_ fra the tyme, read, _Ay_ fra the tyme, as in MS.

It is remarkable that in all the copies, without exception, as far as I know, it is _somer_ or _summer weid_, or _weed_. Of what use could this have been to Wallace, when in “sodeyn stryff?” The term is the same with E. _sure_, i.e. secure armour, although light.

_His face he kepit, for it was euir bar,--_
_In to his weid, and he come in a thrang._--V. 91.

I have pointed this passage according to what seems the sense. Having so many enemies, when he was accidentally “in a crowd, he muffled up his face,” that his features might not be recognised. Hamilton of Gilbertfield, although in many instances he has given an air of ridicule to this ancient poem, by the grossness of his phraseology, seems to have hit the true sense here, which is totally lost by the mode of punctuation in most of the editions. He renders it;--

His face, when he came in among strange folk,
He held it best to hide within his cloak.--P. 42.

_Send twa_ skowrrouris _to wesy weyll the playn._--V. 103.

_Scurriours_, Edit. 1620. In that of Perth, _thowrrouris_; but in MS. it may be read _tkowrrouris_, _t_ or _c_ being put for _s_. We have _skouriouris_, IV. 431.

_The knycht_ Fenweik _conwoide the caryage._--V. 117.
--_The knycht_ Fenweik, _that cruell was and keyne;_
_He had at dede off Wallace fadyr beyne._--V. 169.

“Among other antiquities there may be mentioned, a place called _Beg_, above Allinton, where the brave Wallace lay in a species of rude fortification with only fifty of his friends, yet obtained a complete victory over an English officer of the name of _Fenwick_, who had two hundred men under his command. This gallant hero, it is well known, had several places of retirement towards the head of this parish and in the neighbourhood, some of which retain his name unto this day; _Wallace-hill_ in particular, an eminence near the Galla-law, and a place called _Wallace-Gill_, in the parish of Loudoun, a hollow glen, to which he probably retired for shelter when pursued by his enemies.” P. of Galston. Stat. Acc. II. 74.

_Schir Amar Wallange, a falss traytour strange_, &c.--V. 261.

The Minstrel, it has been said by Lord Hailes, “always speaks of Aymer de Valloins, Earl of Pembroke, as _a false Scottish knight_.” Annals, I. 245. But, as Kerr has observed, although he designs him “a false traitor,” &c. his country is no where mentioned; unless this should be viewed as implied in what is said, B. VII. 1097, concerning his forsaking “_his awne land_ for euirmar.” Kerr views this, however, as referable to his quitting Bothwell, the heritage of Moray, which had been given to Valloins. V. Hist. Bruce, I. 115.

NOTES ON THE FOURTH BOOK.

_So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw_
_The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was._--V. 26.

In MS. _that_ Hesilden; but I have followed the judicious alteration made in Edit. 1714. In that of 1594 it is completely changed:

Sa suddainlie that time himself he saw, &c.

This is adopted by Hart, Edit. 1620.

_Hesilden_ is evidently a local name, and must be the same place that is now called _Hezilton-head_, a farm, situated on high ground, in the parish of Mearns, on the direct road from Ayr to Glasgow, about nine miles to the south-west of the latter. This appears unquestionable, from the necessity under which Sir Ranald Crawfurd was laid, in consequence of his sumpter-horse being carried off by the English, of sleeping that night at Mearns, v. 70.

Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent;
And said, “I will byde at the _Mernys_ all nycht.”

_Schir Ranald said_, ‘_That is bot litill_ der.’--V. 60.

In MS. _her_, which is followed by Edit. 1714. But I prefer _der_ or _deir_, the reading of 1594, signifying “injury, loss.” In Edit. 1620, _deare_.

_Befor Persye_ than seir men _brocht war thai:_
_Thai_ folowit _him of felouny that was wrocht._--V. 122.

Befoir the Persie _and his men_ brocht were thai.--Edit. 1594.

It is the same as given by Hart.

The phrase “_folowit_ him of,” signifies, pursued him for. It frequently occurs in this sense in our old statutes.

_For thai war_ strang: _yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid._--V. 179.

_Strang_ here signifies, “strange; persons with whom he was not acquainted.”

_Thocht_ they were _strangers_, &c. Edit. 1594. _Though_ they were _strangers_, 1620.

_A bown_ Lekle, _&c._ MS.--V. 211.

It is _Lekkie_ in all the editions; which is still the name of the place, (V. Stat. Acc. XVIII. 98. 116.) and was so in the time of Robert Bruce. Robertson’s Ind. 8, 90.

_On_ Gargownno _was byggyt a small_ peill, &c.--V. 213.

“A little southward of the village there is a conical height called the Kier-hill, which is evidently artificial, and seems to have been a military work. There are remains of a ditch or rampart of a circular form, which proves that it is not of Roman origin. It is probably of later date, and appears to have been the place from which Sir William Wallace sallied forth on the night when he took by surprise the _Peel_ of _Gargunnock_.” Stat. Acc. XVIII. 116, 117.

_Wallace with hyr in_ secré _maid him glaid._--V. 403.

I have retained the word as in MS. although it is _secret_ in all the copies. Perhaps it might be from O. Fr. _en secré_.

_Wemen and preistis_ wpon the wall _can wepe._--V. 480.

In MS. _wpon Wallace_. But the reading of Edit. 1594 is preferable; especially as they did not then know that their enemy was Wallace. Perhaps it might originally be, “wpon the _wallis_,” whence the blunder might easily be made, as the word would be read as two syllables.

_No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht_ draw.--V. 550.

In MS. we find _all_ as the last word in the preceding line, and _drall_ here. But the error has arisen from the resemblance of _w_ to _ll_.

_To Cargyll wood thai went that samyn nycht._--V. 677.

In MS. _Gargyll_. But it is _Cargill_, Edit. 1594; and this must be the true reading, Shortwoodshaw being in the parish of Cargill. V. Stat. Acc. XIII. 532. This is evidently spoken of as the same with Cargyll-wood.

NOTES ON THE FIFTH BOOK.

_In_ Gyllisland _thar was that brachell brede.--_
_So was scho vsyt on Esk and on Ledaill;_
_Quhill scho gat blude no flëyng mycht awail._--V. 25.

_Gilderland_, Edit. 1594; _Gelderland_, 1620, 1648, 1673, &c., also 1714. But this must be _Gillesland_ or _Gilsland_, a barony in Cumberland. The Minstrel having said that the hound was _bred_ here, immediately speaks of her being used to track in Esk and Liddisdale, in the vicinity of Cumberland. So late as the reign of James I. of England, there is an order dated A. 1616, that no less than nine bloodhounds should be kept on the Border, upon Esk, and other places mentioned. V. Pennant’s Tour, 1772; I. 77, II. 397.

Bellenden, after Boece, gives a particular description of these bloodhounds, which agrees with the facts mentioned above, and has considerable interest.

“The thrid kynd is mair than ony rache. Red hewit or ellis blak with small spraingis of spottis, and ar callit be the peple sleuthhundis. Thir doggis hes sa meruellous wit, that thai serche theuis, and followis on thaym allanerlie be sent of the guddis that ar tane away. And nocht allanerlie fyndis the theif, bot inuadis hym with gret cruelté. And thocht the theuis oftymes cors the watter, quhair thai pas, to caus the hound to tyne the sent of thaym and the guddis, yit he serchis heir and thair with sic deligence, that be his fut he fyndis baith the trace of the theiff and the guddis. The meruellous nature of thir houndis wil haue na faith with vncouth peple. Howbeit the samyn ar rycht frequent and ryfe on the bordouris of Ingland and Scotland. Attour it is statute be the lawis of the bordouris, he that denyis entres to the sleuthound in tyme of chace and serching of guddis, sal be haldin participant with the cryme and thift committit.” Discription of Albion, chap. XI.

This extract throws light on a passage in _The Bruce_, where the king is made to refer to the vulgar idea as to the means necessary for making the blood-hound lose his scent; although the statement given by Boece opposes the opinion which had been generally received.

Bot Ik haiff herd oftymys say,
That quha endland a watter ay
Wald waid a bowdraucht, he suld ger
Bathe the slouth hund, and his leder,
Tyne the sleuth men gert hym ta.

THE BRUCE, B. v. 317.

John Hardyng has given a curious account of the means used by Edward I. for taking Bruce, similar to that here said to have been employed against Wallace.

The king Edward with hornes and _houndes_ him soght,
With menne on fote, through marris, mosse, and myre,
Through wodes also and mountens [wher they fought]
And euer the kyng Edward hight men greate hyre,
Hym for to take and by might conquere;
But thei might hym not gette by force ne by train,
He satte by the fyre when thei [went] in the rain.

In the stanza immediately following he indeed ascribes the death of Edward to his disappointment, in never being able to get our king into his hands:--

The kyng Edward _for anger_ fell in accesse,
And homeward came full sycke and sore annoyed.--
At Burgh vpon the sande he died anone, &c.

_Chronicle_, p. 303, 304.

_Kerlé beheld on to the bauld_ Heroun,
_Vpon Fawdoun as he was lukand doune._--V. 145.

This appears to have been the head of the ancient family of Heron, who held Ford Castle in Northumberland. In the reign of Henry III. it was in possession of Sir William Heron, who was governor of the castles of Bamborough, Pickering, and Scarborough, lord warden of the forests north of Trent, and sheriff of Northumberland for eleven successive years. V. Hutchinson’s Northumb. II. 19. This castle has attracted much attention, as having been the scene of the enchantments of its fair mistress, by means of which our infatuated James IV. was disarmed before the fatal battle of Flodden; and it has acquired additional celebrity from the no less bewitching Muse of the author of Marmion.

_To_ Dawryoch _he knew the_ forss _full weill._--V. 265.

This is _Dalreoch_, on the south bank of the Earn, four or five miles west from Forteviot. A bridge across the Earn is called that of Dalreoch. By the _forss_ seems to be meant _ford_. V. Etym. Dict. in vo.

_Our thwort the Kerss to the_ Torwode _he yeide.--_
_The rone wes thik that Wallace slepyt in._--V. 319–357.

“In Dunipace parish is the famous Torwood, in the middle of which there are the remains of Wallace’s Tree, an oak which, according to a measurement, when entire, was said to be about twelve feet diameter. To this wood Wallace is said to have fled, and secreted himself in the body of that tree, then hollow, after his defeat in the north.” Stat. Acc. III. 336.

This “is still dignified by the name of _Wallace’s Tree_. It stands in the middle of a swampy moss, having a causeway round its ruins; and its destruction has been much precipitated by the veneration in which the Scottish hero has been long held, numerous pieces having been carried off, to [be] convert[ed] into various memorials of the champion of Scotland.” Kerr’s Hist. Bruce, I. 127.

_Throuch the Oychall thai had gayne all that nycht,_
_Till_ Airth _ferry, or that the day was brycht._--V. 411.

In MS. it is _Qwenys_ ferry; but the word first written has been scraped out, and _Qwenys_ substituted on the head margent above it. The term deleted seems to have been _erd_; most probably written by mistake for _Airth_, in a copy which may have been taken from recitation. The term _Qwenys_ indeed is apparently in the same hand with the rest of the MS.; but the transcriber, thinking only of _erd_ as signifying the earth, had indulged the idea that it must be an error. As the companions of Wallace were on their way to Dunipace in quest of him, to have gone from Gask to Queensferry would have been to take a very circuitous course without any apparent necessity. _Airth_ is the reading of editions 1594, 1620, 1648, and 1673. In Edit. 1714 it is _Queens-ferry_, as would seem on the authority of the MS.

_In_ Dundaff _mur that sammyn nycht he raid._
_Schir Jhone the_ Grayme, _quhilk lord wes of that land,_
_Ane agyt knycht had maid nane othir band;_
_Bot purchest pess in rest he mycht bide still_, &c.--V. 436.

The castle of _Dundaff_, of which there are still some remains, was situated in Stirlingshire, near the source of Carron. This old knight, by some called David, by others John, was proprietor not only of Dundaff, but of the lands of Strathblane and Strathcarron. V. Nimmo’s Stirlingshire, p. 358. A fabulous antiquity has been ascribed to this family; it having been asserted that the wall of Antonine vulgarly received the name of _Graham’s Dike_, because in a very early period of our history it was penetrated by a valorous chief, from whom those of this celebrated name had their origin. We have no written evidence of the existence of this family before the reign of David I., when William de Grahame appears as witness to the charter of the foundation of Holyrood-house. Sir J. Dalrymple’s Coll. p. 397. From it originated many distinguished families, as that of Montrose, Menteith, Fintry, Balgowan, &c. It was the son of this “agyt knycht” who was the faithful friend of Wallace, and who fell at the battle of Falkirk.

“_Quhat worth of him? I pray you graithlye tell._”--V. 498.

By misapprehension, in all the printed copies, _word_; as if the question were, “What intelligence is there concerning him?” But the meaning is, “What _became_ of him?”

_Bot weyle I wait, quhar gret ernyst is in thocht,_
_It lattis wer in the wysest wys be wrocht._--V. 642.

i. e. “Where there is great anxiety of mind, it prevents the carrying on of war in the wisest” or “most proper manner.”

The meaning is lost in Edit. 1594,--

It lettis weir that in wise men is wrocht.

Edit. 1620.

It letteth war, that in wise men is wrought.

_The trewth I knaw off this, and hyr lynage;_
_I knew nocht hyr, tharfor I lost a gage._--V. 654.

That is, “I know the character and descent of _this_ lady; but being a stranger to my _former_ sweetheart, at Perth, I lost my stake.” _Hyr_ in v. 655 is opposed to _this_ in the preceding line.

_To the_ Corhed _with out restyng he raid._--V. 724.
_At the_ Corheid _full fayne thai wald haif beyne._--V. 816.

I prefer this to _Torhed_, Edit. 1714 and Perth. It agrees equally well with the MS.; and it is that of 1594 and of the other old editions. Besides, I find _Corheid_ given as the name of a property in Annandale, belonging to the Johnstouns, Inquis. Retorn. A. 1608, N. 63; but no such place as _Torheid_ in Dumfries-shire.

_In the_ Knok wood _he lewyt all bot thre._--V. 735.