Chapter II: Part 2

His modyr graithit hir in pilgrame weid;
Hym[selff] disgysyt syne glaidlye with hir yeid;
A schort swerd wndyr his weid priualé.
In all that land full mony fays had he. 280
Baith on thar fute, with thaim may tuk thai nocht.
Quha sperd, scho said to Sanct Margret thai socht,
Quha serwit hir. Full gret frendschipe thai fand
With Sothroun folk: for scho was of Ingland.
Besyd Landoris the ferrye our thai past 285
Syn throw the Ochell sped thaim wondyr fast.
In Dunfermlyn thai lugyt all that nycht.
Apon the morn, quhen that the day was brycht,
With gentill wemen hapnyt thaim to pass,
Off Ingland born, in Lithquhow wounnand was. 290
The captans wiff, in pilgramage had beyne,
Fra scho thaim mett, and had yong Wallace sene,
Gud cher thaim maid; for he was wondyr fayr,
Nocht large of tong, weille taucht and debonayr.
Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht, 295
Quhill south our Forth with hyr son scho thaim brocht.
In to Lithkow thai wald nocht tary lang;
Thar leyff thai tuk, to Dunypace couth gang.
Thar duelt his eyme, a man of gret richess.
This mychty persone, hecht to name Wallas, 300
Maid thaim gud cher, and was a full kynd man,
Welcummyt thaim fair, and to thaim tald he than,
Dide him to witt, the land was all on ster;
Trettyt thaim weyle, and said; “My sone so der,
“Thi modyr and thow rycht heir with me sall bide, 305
“Quhill better be, for chance at may betyde.”
Wallace ansuerd, said; ‘Westermar we will: Fol. 4 a
‘Our kyne ar slayne, and that me likis ill;
‘And othir worthi mony in that art:
‘Will God I leiffe, we sall ws wreke on part.’ 310
The persone sicht, and said; “My sone so fre,
“I cannot witt how that radress may be.”
Quhat suld I spek of frustir? as this tyd,
For gyft of gud with him he wald nocht bide.
His modyr and he till Elrislé thai went. 315
Vpon the morn scho for hir brothyr sent,
In Corsby duelt and schirreff was of Ayr.
Hyr fadyr was dede, a lang tyme leyffyt had thar;
Hyr husband als at Lowdoun-hill was slayn.
Hyr eldest sone, that mekill was of mayn, 320
Schir Malcom Wallas was his nayme but less,
His houch senons thai cuttyt in that press;
On kneis he faucht, felle Inglismen he slew;
Till hym thar socht may fechtaris than anew;
On athyr side with speris bar him doun; 325
Thar stekit thai that gud knycht of renoun.
On to my taile I left. At Elrislé
Schir Ranald come son till his sistyr fre,
Welcummyt thaim hayme, and sperd of hir entent.
Scho prayde he wald to the lord Persye went, 330
So yrk of wer scho couth no forthir fle,
To purchess pes, in rest at scho mycht be.
Schyr Ranald had the Perseys protectioune,
As for all part to tak the remissioune.
He gert wrytt ane till his systir that tyde. 335
In that respyt Wallas wald nocht abyde:
Hys modyr kyst, scho wepyt with hart sar,
His leyff he tuk, syne with his eyme couth far.
Yonge he was, and to Sothroun rycht sauage;
Gret rowme thai had, dispitfull and wtrage. 340
Schir Ranald weylle durst nocht hald Wallas thar;
For gret perell he wyst apperand war:
For thai had haile the strenthis of Scotland;
Quhat thai wald do durst few agayne thaim stand.
Schyrreff he was, and wsyt thaim amang; 345
Full sar he dred or Wallas suld tak wrang:
For he and thai couth neuir weyle accord.
He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord,
That proferryt him ony lychtlynes;
Bot thai raparyt our mekill to that place. 350
Als Ingliss clerkis in prophecyss thai fand,
How a Wallace suld putt thaim of Scotland.
Schir Ranald knew weill a mar quiet sted,
Quhar Wilyham mycht be bettir fra thair fede,
With his wncle Wallas of Ricardtoun, 355
Schir Richard hecht, that gud knycht off renoun.
Thai landis hayle than was his heretage, Fol. 4 b
Bot blynd he was, (so hapnyt throw curage,
Be Ingliss men that dois ws mekill der;
In his rysyng he worthi was in wer.) 360
Throuch hurt of waynys, and mystyrit of blud.
Yeit he was wiss, and of his conseil gud.
In Feuiryer Wallas was to him send;
In Aperill fra him he bownd to wend.
Bot gud serwice he dide him with plesance, 365
As in that place was worthi to awance.

So on a tym he desyrit to play.
In Aperill the thre and twenty day,
Till Erewyn wattir fysche to tak he went;
Sic fantasye fell in his entent. 370
To leide his net, a child furth with him yeid;
But he, or nowne, was in a fellowne dreid.
His suerd he left, so did he neuir agayne;
It dide him gud, supposs he sufferyt payne.
Off that labour as than he was nocht sle: 375
Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanlé.
Or of the day ten houris our couth pass,
Ridand thar come, ner by quhar Wallace wass,
The lorde Persye, was captane than off Ayr;
Fra thine he turnde and couth to Glaskow fair. 380
Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne,
Till him raid fyve cled in to ganand greyne,
And said sone; “Scot, Martyns fysche we wald hawe.”
Wallace meklye agayne ansuer him gawe;
‘It war resone, me think, yhe suld haif part: 385
‘Waith suld be delt, in all place, with fre hart.’
He bad his child, “Gyff thaim of our waithyng.”
The Sothroun said; ‘As now of thi delyng
‘We will nocht tak, thow wald giff ws our small.’
He lychtyt doun, and fra the child tuk all. 390
Wallas said than; “Gentill men gif ye be,
“Leiff ws sum part, we pray for cheryté.
“Ane agyt knycht serwis our lady to day;
“Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away.”
‘Thow sall haiff leiff to fysche, and tak the ma, 395
‘All this forsuth sall in our flyttyng ga.
‘We serff a lord; thir fysche sall till him gang.’
Wallace ansuerd, said; “Thow art in the wrang.”
‘Quham thowis thow, Scot? in faith thow serwis a blaw.’
Till him he ran, and out a suerd can draw. 400
Willyham was wa he had na wappynis thar,
Bot the poutstaff, the quhilk in hand he bar.
Wallas with it fast on the cheik him tuk
Wyth so gud will, quhill of his feit he schuk.
The suerd flaw fra him a fur breid on the land. 405
Wallas was glad, and hynt it sone in hand;
And with the swerd awkwart he him gawe
Wndyr the hat, his crage in sondre drawe.
Be that the layff lychtyt about Wallas; Fol. 5 a
He had no helpe, only bot Goddis grace. 410
On athir side full fast on him thai dange;
Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang.
Apone the hede in gret ire he strak ane;
The scherand suerd glaid to the colar bane.
Ane othir on the arme he hitt so hardely, 415
Quhill hand and suerd bathe on the feld can ly.
The tothir twa fled to thar hors agayne;
He stekit him was last apon the playne.
Thre slew he thar, twa fled with all thair mycht
Eftir thar lord; bot he was out of sycht, 420
Takand the mure, or he and thai couth twyne.
Till him thai raid onon, or thai wald blyne,
And cryit; “Lord, abide; your men ar martyrit doun
“Rycht cruelly, her in this fals regioun.
“Fyve of our court her at the wattir baid, 425
“Fysche for to bryng, thocht it na profyt maid.
“We ar chapyt, bot in feyld slayne are thre.”
The lord speryt; ‘How mony mycht thai be?’
“We saw bot ane that has discumfyst ws all.”
Than leuch he lowde, and said; ‘Foule mot yow fall; 430
‘Sen ane yow all has putt to confusioun.
‘Quha menys it maist, the dewyll of hell him droun;
‘This day for me, in faith, he beis nocht socht.’
Quhen Wallas thus this worthi werk had wrocht,
Thar horss he tuk, and ger that lewyt was thar; 435
Gaif our that crafft, he yeid to fysche no mar;
Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this dede.
And he for wo weyle ner worthit to weide;
And said; “Sone, thir tythingis syttis me sor;
“And be it knawin, thow may tak scaith tharfor.” 440
‘Wncle,’ he said, ‘I will no langar byde;
‘Thir Southland horss latt se gif I can ride.’
Than bot a child, him serwice for to mak,
Hys emys sonnys he wald nocht with him tak.
This gude knycht said; “Deyr cusyng, pray I the, 445
“Quhen thow wanttis gud, cum fech ynewch fra me.”
Syluir and gold he gert on to him geyff.
Wallace inclynys, and gudely tuk his leyff.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS,
ET INCIPIT SECUNDUS.

BUKE SECUND.

Yong Wallace fulfillit of hie curage;
In pryss of armys desirous and sauage;
Thi waslage may neuir be forlorn,
Thi deidis are knawin, thocht that the warld had suorn:
For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes, 5
Was set in wer, and werray rychtwisnes;
And felloune loss of thi deyr worthi kyn.
The rancour more remaynde thi mynd with in. Fol. 5 b
It was his lyff, and maist part of his fude,
To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude. 10
Till Auchincruff with outyn mar he raid,
And bot schort tyme in pess at he thar baid.
Thar duelt a Wallas, welcummyt him full weill;
Thocht Ingliss men thar of had litill feille.
Bathe meite and drynk at his wille he had thar. 15
In Laglyne wode, quhen that he maid repayr,
This gentill man was full oft his resett;
With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett.
So he desirit the toune of Air to se,
His child with him; as than na man had he. 20
Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his horss;
Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat corss.
The Persye was in the castell of Ayr
With Ingliss men, gret nowmber and repayr:
Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wiss, 25
Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppriss.
Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid;
The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid.
A churll thai had, that felloune byrdyngis bar;
Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar 30
Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand;
And als be wss a sport he tuk in hand:
He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille:
On his braid bak of ony wald he thoile,
Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw. 35
Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw,
He likyt weill at that mercat to be,
And for a strak he bad him grottis thre.
The churll grantyt, of that proferr was fayn.
To pay the siluer Wallas was full bayne. 40
Wallas that steing tuk wp in till his hand;
Full sturdely he coud befor him stand,
Wallace, with that, apon the bak him gaif,
Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif.
The carll was dede: of him I spek no mar. 45
The Ingliss men semblit on Wallace thair,
Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast;
He vnabasyt, and nocht gretlie agast,
Vpon the hed ane with the steing hitt he,
Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle. 50
Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille,
The tre to raiff and fruschit euiredeille.
His steyng was tynt, the Ingliss man was dede;
For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede.
He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide, 55
Throuch oute the thikest of the press he yeid;
And at his horss full fayne he wald haif beyne.
Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne.
Wallace raturnd as man of mekyll mayne;
And at a straik the formast has he slayne. 60 Fol. 6 a
The tothir fled, and durst him nocht abide;
Bot a rycht straik Wallace him gat that tid:
In at the guschet brymly he him bar;
The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar.
Fyve slew he thar, or that he left the toune: 65
He gat his horss, to Laglyne maid him boune,
Kepyt his child, and leyt him nocht abide;
In saufté thus on to the wod can ride.
Feille folowit him on hors, and eik on futte,
To tak Wallace: bot than it was no butte; 70
Couert of treis sawit him full weille.
Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeille
Gud ordinance, that serd for his estate,
His cusyng maid at all tyme, ayr and late,
The Squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was; 75
Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pass,
As for that tyme that he remanyt thar;
Bot sar he langit to [se] the toune of Ayr.
Thedyr he past apon the mercate day;
Gret God gif he as than had beyne away! 80

His emys serwand to buy him fysche was send,
Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend.
Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht,
The Perseys stwart sadly till him socht,
And said; “Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?” 85
‘To the schirreff,’ he said. “Be hewynnys king,
“My lord sall haiff it; and syne go seke the mar.”
Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar:
Till him he yeid, and said; ‘Gud freynd, pray I the,
‘The schirreffis serwand thow wald lat him be.’ 90
A hetfull man the stwart was of blude;
And thoucht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude.
“Go hens, the Scot, the mekill dewill the speid;
“At thi shrewed wss thow wenys me to leid.”
A huntyn staff in till his hand he bar; 95
Thar with he smat on Willyham Wallace thair.
Bot for his tre litill sonyhé he maid,
Bot be the coler claucht him with outyn baid.
A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he;
Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé: 100
Catour sen syne he was, but weyr, no mar.
Men of armess on Wallace semblit thar,
Four scor was sett in armyss buskyt boune,
On the merket day, for Scottis to kepe the toune.
Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer, 105
In to the byrneis the formast can he ber,
Throuch out the body stekit him to dede;
And syndry ma, or he past of that stede.
Ane othir awkwart a large straik tuk [he] thar,
Abown the kne, the bayne in sondir schar. 110
The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile.
The crag in twa; no weidis mycht him waill.
Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun. Fol. 6 b
Than Inglissmen, that war in bargane, boune
To kepe the gait with speris rud and lang; 115
For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang.
Wallace was harnest on his body weyle;
Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle,
And fra his strenth enwerounde him about;
Bot throu the press on a side he went out, 120
On till a wall that stude by the se syde;
For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide.
And off thar speris in pecis part he schar.
Than fra the castell othir help come mar.
Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side, 125
Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde.
Than wist he nocht of no help, bot to de;
To wenge his dede amang thaim louss yeid he,
On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast.
Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt at the last, 130
Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw;
He wyst na wayne, bot out his knyff can draw.
The fyrst he slew, that him in hand has hynt;
And othir twa he stekit with his dynt.
The remanand with speris to him socht, 135
Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht.
The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla;
To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ta.
Thus in thar armyss, supposs that he had suorne,
Out off the garth befors thai haff him borne. 140
Thus gud Wallace with Inglissmen was tane,
In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne:
He coud nocht cheyss, sic curage so hym bar,
Frewill fortoun thus broucht him in the snar;
And falss Inwye, ay contrar rychtwisnes, 145
That wiolent god full of doubilnes.
Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace neuir knew:
Gret rychtwisness him ay to mercy drew.
His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing,
Mycht thai hawe payit the ransoune of a king. 150
The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne.
Off thar best men that day sewyn has he slayne.
Thai gert set him in till a presoune fell;
Off his turment gret payne it war to tell.
Ill meyt and drynk thai gert on till hym gyff, 155
Gret merwaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff:
And ek thar to he was in presoune law,
Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law.
Leyff I him thar in to that paynfull sted.
Gret God abowe till him send sum ramede! 160
The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng!
The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng!
The tormentyng of euery creatur!
“Alas,” thai said, “how suld our lyff endur?
“Be fortoun armess has left him in thrillage: 165
“The flour of youth in till his tendir age. Fol. 7 a
“Lefand as now a chiftane had we nane,
“Durst tak on hand, bot yong Wallace alayne.
“This land is lost; he caucht is in the swar,
“The Apersé of Scotland left in cayr!” 170

Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe,
Quhar he was set in to that vgly cawe.
Sic fude for him was febill to commend.
Than said he thus; ‘All weildand God, resawe
‘My petows spreit and sawle amang the law! 175
‘My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend.
‘Our few Sothroune on to the dede I drawe.
‘Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend;
‘Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end.
‘Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de; 180
‘Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in the,
‘At thin awn will full worthely was wrocht?
‘Bot thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me,
‘Gastlye Fadyr, that deit apon the tre,
‘Fra hellis presoune with thi blud ws bocht; 185
‘Quhi will thow giff thi handéwark for nocht;
‘And mony worthy in to gret payne we se?
‘For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht.
‘O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew,
‘Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw: 190
‘And Inglissmen our litill harm has tayne.
‘Off ws thai haiff wndoyne may than ynew;
‘My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew,
‘My brothir als, and gud men mony ane.
‘Is this thi dait, sall thai our cum ilkane? 195
‘On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will thow rew;
‘Sen my pouer thus sodandlye is gane.
‘All worthi Scottis, almychty God yow leid,
‘Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid!
‘In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff. 200
‘Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide,
‘Thi natioune all standis in a felloun dreid.
‘Off wardlynes all thus I tak my leiff.
‘Off thir paynys God lat you neuir preiff,
‘Thocht I for wo all out off witt suld weid! 205
‘Now othir gyft I may none to you gyff.’
O der Wallace, wmquhill was stark and stur,
Thow most o neide in presoune till endur.
Thi worthi kyn may nocht the saiff for sold.
Ladyis wepyt, that was bathe mylde and mur, 210
In fureous payne, the modyr that the bur:
For thou till hir was fer derer than gold.
Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold.
In wardlynes quhi suld ony ensur?
For thow was formyt forsye on the feld. 215 Fol. 7 b
Compleyn, Sanctis thus, as your sedull tellis;
Compleyn to hewyn with wordis that nocht faillis:
Compleyne your woice wnto the God abuffe;
Compleyne for him in to that sitfull sell is;
Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis; 220
In langour lyis, for losyng of thar luff,
Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff.
Compleyne also, yhe birdis, blyth as bellis,
Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff.
Compleyne, lordys, compleyne, yhe ladyis brycht, 225
Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht,
Off Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der.
Compleyne for him was thus in presone dicht
And for na causs, bot, Scotland, for thi rycht.
Compleyne also, yhe worthi men of wer, 230
Compleyne for hym that was your aspresper;
And to the dede fell Sothroun yeit he dicht:
Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber.
Celimus was maist his geyeler now.
In Inglissmen, allace, quhi suld we trow, 235
Our worthy kyn has payned on this wyss?
Sic reulle be rycht is litill [till] allow:
Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bow
At our power, and so we do feill syss.
Off thar danger God mak ws for to ryss,
That weill has wrocht befor thir termyss, and now! 240
For thai wyrk ay to wayt ws with suppryss.
Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell;
The flux he tuk in to thar presoune fell?
Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe. 245
Thai chergyt the geyler nocht on him to duell,
Bot bryng him wp out of that vgly sell
To jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law.
This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw,
As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell; 250
Syn said to thaim, “He has payit at he aw.”
Quhen thai presumyt he suld be werray ded,
Thai gart serwandys, with outyn langer pleid,
With schort awiss on to the wall him bar:
Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid, 255
Off him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede,
In a draff myddyn, quhar he remannyt thar.
His fyrst noryss, of the Newtoun of Ayr,
Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid,
And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr. 260
In to gret ire thai grantyt hir to go.
Scho tuk him wp with outyn wordis mo,
And on a caar wnlikly him thai cast:
Atour the wattir led him with gret woo,
Till hyr awin houss with outyn ony hoo. 265
Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fast
His body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past.
His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro, Fol. 8 a
Als his twa eyne he kest wp at the last.
His fostyr modyr, lowed him our the laiff, 270
Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff;
And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth.
Hyr dochtir had of twelf wokkis ald a knayff;
Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff.
The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth: 275
Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth.
Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff,
Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht.
In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide;
Scho gart graith wp a burd be the houss side, 280
Wyth carpettis cled, and honowryt with gret lycht:
And for the woice in euiry place suld bide,
At he was ded, out throuch the land so wide,
In presence ay scho wepyt wndyr slycht;
Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht. 285
And so befel in to that sammyn tid,
Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht.
Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than,
With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man:
He wsyt offt to that religiouss place. 290
The peple demyt of witt mekill he can;
And so he told, thocht at thai bliss or ban,
Quhilk hapnyt suth in many diuerss cace,
I can nocht say, be wrang or rychtwisnas,
In rewlle of wer, quhethir thai tynt or wan; 295
It may be demyt be diuisioun of grace.
Thar man that day had in the merket bene,
On Wallace knew this cairfull cass so kene.
His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw.
This man ansuerd; “Of litill hard I meyn.” 300
The mynister said; ‘It has bene seildyn seyn,
‘Quhar Scottis and Ingliss semblit bene on raw,
‘Was neuir yit, als fer as we coud knaw,
‘Bot othir a Scott wald do a Sothroun teyne,
‘Or he till him, for awentur mycht faw.’ 305
“Wallas,” he said, “ye wist tayne in that steid;
“Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide,
“In presoune famyst for fawt of fude.”
The mynister said, ‘with hart hewy as leid;
‘Sic deid to thaim, me think, suld foster feid; 310
For he was wicht, and cummyn of gentill blud.’
Thomas ansuerd; “Thir tythingis ar noucht gud;
“And that be suth, my self sall neuir eit breid,
“For all my witt her schortlye I conclud.”
‘A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr, 315
‘Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar;
‘And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht,
‘To purchess leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr.
‘In lychtlyness tyll hyr thai grant it thair. Fol. 8 b
‘Our the wattyr on till hir houss him brocht, 320
To beryss him als gudlye as scho mocht.’
Yhit Thomas said; “Than sall I leiff na mar,
“Giff that be trow, be God, that all has wrocht.”
The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne.
He chargyt him than; ‘Go, speid the fast agayne 325
‘To that sammyn houss, and werraly aspye.’
The man went furth, at byddyng was full bayne;
To the Newtoun to pass he did his payn,
To that ilk houss; and went in sodanlye.
About he blent on to the burd him bye. 330
This woman raiss, in hart scho was [nocht] fayn.
Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny.
“Wallace,” scho said, “that full worthy has beyne.”
Than wepyt scho, that peté was to seyne.
The man thar to gret credens gaif he nocht: 335
Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne.
On kneis scho felle, and cryit; ‘For Marye scheyne,
‘Let sklandyr be, and flemyt out of your thocht.’
This man hir suour; “Be him that all has wrocht,
“Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn, 340
“He suld be saiff, thocht Ingland had hym socht.”
Scho had him wp to Wallace by the dess;
He spak with him, syne fast agayne can press
With glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend.
He told to thaim the first tithingis was less. 345
Than Thomas said; ‘Forsuth, or he decess,
‘Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end.
‘Off this regioun he sall the Sothroun send;
‘And Scotland thriss he sall bryng to the pess:
‘So gud off hand agayne sall neuir be kend.’ 350
All worthi men, that has gud witt to waille,
Be war that yhe with myss deyme nocht my taille.
Perchance ye say, that Bruce he was none sik.
He was als gud, quhat deid was to assaill,
As off his handis, and bauldar in battaill. 355
Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr off this kynrik;
For he had rycht, we call no man him lik.
Bot Wallace thriss this kynrik conquest haile,
In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.

I will ratorn to my mater agayne. 360
Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne,
The contré demyd haile that he was dede;
His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede.
Bot haile he was, likly to gang and ryd.
In to that place he wald na langar byde. 365
His trew kepar he send to Elrislé;
Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat hyr be:
Hir dochtir, als thar serwand, and hir child,
He gart thaim pass on to his modyr myld.
Quhen thai war gayne, na wapynnys thar he saw 370 Fol. 9 a
To helpe him with, quhat auentur mycht befaw.
A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand,
With outyn belt, but boss, bukler, or band.
Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid;
Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede. 375
He drew the blaid, he fand it wald bitt weill;
Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll.
“God helpis his man; for thou sall go with me,
“Quhill bettir cum; will God full sone may be!”
To Schyr Ranald as than he wald nocht fair; 380
In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar.
At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald hawe beyne,
To get him horss and part of armour scheyne.
On thedyrwart as he bownyt to fair,
Thre Inglissmen he met ridand till Ayr, 385
In thair wiage at Glaskow furth had beyne;
Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne,
A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa.
Wallace drew by, and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga.
Till him he raid, and said dispitfully; 390
“Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy;
“Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald the hid.”
Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis, that tid;
‘Schir, I am seik, for Goddis luff latt me ga!’
Langcastell said; “Forsuth it beis nocht sa. 395
“A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair;
“Quhill men the knaw, thow sall with me till Ayr.”
Hynt out his suerd, that was of nobill hew,
Wallace with that, at hys lychtyn, him drew;
Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne; 400
Throw brayne and seyne in sondyr straik the bayne.
Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun;
To wenge his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun.
The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff,
The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff. 405
The tothir fled, and durst no langer bide;
With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide.
Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he,
Quhill leuir and lounggis men mycht all redy se.
Thar horss he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour; 410
Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour.
Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne,
Him to support; for spendyng had he nayne.
In to gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun,
A blyth semblay was at his lychtyn doun. 415
Quhen Wallace mett with Schyr Richart the knycht,
For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht.
His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne;
Thai held him lost, yit God him sawth agayne.
His eyme, Schyr Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast; 420
The wemen, told, by Corsby as thai past,
Off Wallace eschaipe, syne thar wiage yeid.
Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid: Fol. 9 b
Quhill he him saw, in hart he thocht full lang;
Than sodanlye in armys he couth him fang. 425
He mycht nocht spek, but kyst him tendyrlye;
The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye,
The blyth teris tho bryst for his eyne two;
Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so:
And at the last rycht freindfully said he; 430
“Welcum, neuo, welcum deir sone to me.
“Thankit be he that all this warld has wrocht,
“Thus fairlye the has out of presoune brocht.”
His modyr come, and othir freyndis enew,
With full glaid will, to feill thai tithingis true. 435
Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht,
Wald nocht thaim trew, quhill he him saw with sycht.
Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun.
Feille worthi folk, that war of gret renoun.
Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blyss and plesance, 440
Thankand gret God off his fre happy chance.

EXPLICIT LIBER SECUNDUS,
ET INCIPIT TERCIUS.

BUKE THRYD.

In joyowss Julii, quhen the flouris suete,
Degesteable, engenered throu the heet,
Baith erbe and froyte, busk and bewis, braid
Haboundandlye in euery slonk and slaid;
Als bestiall, thar rycht courss till endur, 5
Weyle helpyt ar be wyrkyn off natur,
On fute and weynge ascendand to the hycht,
Conserwed weill be the Makar of mycht;
Fyscheis in flude refeckit rialye
Till mannys fude, the warld suld occupye. 10
Bot Scotland sa was waistit mony day,
Throw wer sic skaith, at labour was away.
Wictaill worth scant or August coud apper,
Throu all the land, that fude was hapnyt der:
Bot Inglissmen, that richess wantyt nayne, 15
Be caryage brocht thair wictaill full gud wayne;
Stuffit houssis with wyn and gud wernage;
Demaynde this land as thair awne heretage;
The kynryk haile thai rewllyt at thar will.
Messyngeris than sic tithingis brocht thaim till; 20
And tald Persye, that Wallace leffand war,
Off his eschaip fra thar presoune in Ayr.
Thai trowit rycht weill he passit was that steid;
For Longcastell and his twa men was deid.
He trowit the chance that Wallace so was past. 25
In ilka part thai war gretly agast,
Throw prophesye that thai had herd befor.
Lord Persye said; “Quhat nedis wordis mor?
“Bot he be cest he sall do gret merwaill.
“It was the best for king Eduuardis awaill, 30
“Mycht he him get to be his steidfast man,
“For gold or land; his conquest mycht lest than.
“Me think beforce he may nocht gottyn be; Fol. 10 a
“Wyssmen the suth be his eschaip may se.”
Thus deyme [thai] him in mony diuerss cass. 35
We leiff thaim her, and spek furth of Wallass.
In Rycardtoun he wald no langer byde,
For freindis consaill, nor thing that mycht betide.
And quhen thai saw that it awaillit nocht,
His purposs was to wenge him, at he mocht, 40
On Sothron blud, quhilk has his eldris slayne.
Thai latt him wyrk his awn will in to playne.
Schir Richart had thre sonnys, as I yow tald.
Adam, Rychart, and Symont that was bald.
Adam, eldest, was growand in curage; 45
Forthward, rycht fayr, auchtene yer of age;
Large off persone; bath wiss, worthi and wicht:
Gude king Robert in his tyme maid him knycht.
Lang tyme eftir in Brucis weris he baid,
On Inglissmen moné gud iorné maid. 50
This gud squier with Wallace bound to ryd;
And Robert Boid, quhilk wald no langar bide
Vndir thrillage of segis of Ingland.
To that falss king he had neuir maid band.
Kneland was thar, ner cusyng to Wallace, 55
Syne baid with him in mony peralouss place;
And Eduuard Litill, his sistir sone so der;
Full weill graithit in till thar armour cler.

With thar serwandis fra Ricardtoun thai raid
To Mawchtlyne mur, and schort tyme thar abaid; 60
For freindis thaim tauld, was bound wndir trewage,
That Fenweik was for Perseys caryage:
With in schort tyme he will bryng it till Ayr
Out off Carleile; he had resawyt it thair.
That plesyt Wallace in his hart gretumlye; 65
Wytt yhe thai war a full glaid cumpanye.
Towart Lowdoun thai bownyt thaim to ride;
And in a schaw, a litill thar besyde,
Thai lugyt thaim, for it was nere the nycht,
To wache the way als besyly as thai mycht. 70
A trew Scot, quhilk hosteler houss thair held,
Wnder Lowdon, as myn autor me teld,
He saw thar come, syne went to thaim in hye;
Baithe meite and drynk he brocht full priwalye:
And to thaim tald the cariage in to playn; 75
Thair forrydar was past till Ayr agayne,
Left thaim to cum with pouer of gret waille,
Thai trowit be than thai war in Awendaille.
Wallace than said, we will nocht soiorne her,
Nor change no weid, bot our ilk dayis ger. 80
At Corssentoun the gait was spilt that tide;
For thi that way behowid thaim for to ride.
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 cuir; 85
For sodeyn stryff, fra it he wald nocht seuir.
A habergione vndyr his goune he war, Fol. 10 b
A steylle capleyne in his bonet but mar;
His glowis of plait in claith war couerit weill,
In his doublet a closs coler of steyle; 90
His face he kepit, for it was euir bar,
With his twa handis, the quhilk full worthi war,
In to his weid, and he come in a thrang:
Was na man than on fute mycht with him gang.
So growane in pith, off pouer stark and stur, 95
His terryble dyntis war awfull till endur.
Thai trast mar in Wallace him allane,
Than in a hundreth mycht be off Ingland tayne.
The worthi Scottis maid thar no soiornyng,
To Lowdoun hill past in [the] gray dawyng; 100
Dewysyt the place, and putt thair horss thaim fra;
And thocht to wyn, or neuir thin to ga:
Send twa skowrrouris to wesy weyll the playne;
Bot thai rycht sone raturnde in agayne,
To Wallace tald that thai war cummand fast. 105
Than thai to grounde all kneland at the last,
With humyll hartis prayit with all thair mycht,
To God abowne to help thaim in thar rycht.
Than graithit thai thaim till harnes hastely
Thar sonyeit nane of that gud chewalrye. 110
Than Wallace said; “Her was my fadyr slayne;
“My brothyr als, quhilk dois me mekill payne;
“So sall my selff, or wengit be but dreid.
“The traytour is her, [the] causs was off that deid.”
Than hecht thai all to bide with hartlye will. 115
Be that the power was takand Lowdounhill.
The knycht Fenweik conwoide the caryage;
He had on Scottis maid mony schrewide wiage.
The sone was rysyne our landis schenand brycht.
The Inglissmen so thai come to the hycht; 120
Ner thaim he raid, and sone the Scottis saw.
He tald his men, and said to thaim on raw;
“Yhonne is Wallace, that chapit our presoune;
“He sall agayne be drawyn throu the toune.
“His hede mycht mar I wait, weill pless the king, 125
“Than gold, or land, or ony warldly thing.”
He gart serwandes bide with the cariage still;
Thai thocht to dawnt the Scottis at thar will.
Nyne scor he led in harnes burnyst brycht;
And fyfty was with Wallace in the rycht. 130
Vnraboytyt the Sothroun was in wer;
And fast thai cum, fell awfull in affer.
A maner dyk, off stanys thai had maid,
Narrowyt the way quhar throuch thai thikar raid.
The Scottis on fute tuk the feld thaim befor; 135
The Sothroun saw thar curage was the mor.
In prydefull ire thai thoucht our thaim to ryde;
Bot othyr wyss it hapnyt in that tide.
On athir side to giddyr fast thai glaid;
The Scottis on fute gret rowme about thaim maid, 140 Fol. 11 a
With ponyeand speris throuch platis prest of steylle;
The Inglissmen, that thoucht to weng thaim weylle,
On harnest horss about thaim rudely raide;
That with wness wpone thar feit thai baid.
Wallace the formast in the byrneis bar; 145
The grounden sper throuch his body schar.
The shafft to schonkit off the fruschand tre;
Dewoydyde sone, sen na bettir mycht be.
Drew suerdis syne, bathe hewy, scharp and lang;
On athyr syd full cruelly thai dang. 150
Fechtand at anys in to that felloune dout,
Than Inglissmen enverond thaim about;
Beforce etlyt throuch out thaim for to ryde.
The Scottis, on fute that baldly couth abyde,
With suerdis schar throuch habergeons full gude, 155
Vpon the flouris schot the schonkan blude,
Fra horss and men throw harness burnyst beyne.
A sair sailyie forsuth thair mycht be seyne:
Thai traistyt na lyff bot the lettir end.
Off sa few folk gret nobilness was kend, 160
To gydder baid defendand thaim full fast;
Durst nane seuer quhill the maist press was past.
The Inglissmen, that besye was in wer,
Beforss ordand in sondyr thaim to ber.
Thair cheyff chyftan feryt als ferss as fyr, 165
Throw matelent, and werray propyr ire;
On a gret horss, in till his glitterand ger,
In fewtir kest a fellone aspre sper
The knycht Fenweik, that cruell was and keyne;
He had at dede off Wallace fadyr beyne, 170
And his brodyr that douchty was and der.
Quhen Wallace saw that falss knycht was so ner,
His corage grew in ire as a lyoune.
Till him he ran, and fell frekis bar he doune;
As he glaid by, aukwart he couth hym ta, 175
The and arson in sondyr gart he ga.
Fra the coursour he fell on the fer syd;
With a staff suerd Boyd stekit him that tyde.
Or he was dede, the gret press come so fast,
Our him to grounde thai bur Boyd at the last. 180
Wallace was ner, and ratornde agayne
Hym to reskew, till that he raiss off payne;
Wichtly him wor, quhill he a suerd had tayne.
Throu out the stour thir twa in feyr ar gayne.
The ramanand apon thaim folowit fast; 185
In thar passage fell Sothron maid agast.
Adam Wallace, the ayr off Ricardtoun,
Straik ane Bewmound, a squier of renoun,
On the pyssan, with his hand burnyst bar,
The thrusande blaid his halss in sonder schayr. 190
The Inglissmen, thocht thar chyftayn was slayne,
Bauldly thai baid, as men mekill off mayn. Fol. 11 b
Reth horss repende rouschede frekis wndir feit;
The Scottis on fute gert mony loiss the suete.
Wicht men lichtyt thaim selff for to defend; 195
Quhar Wallace come thar deide was litill kend.
The Sothroune part so frusched was that tide,
That in the stour thai mycht no langar bide.
Wallace in deide he wrocht so worthely,
The squier Boid, and all thair chewalry, 200
Litill, Kneland, gert off thair enemyss de.
The Inglissmen tuk playnly part to fle;
On horsis some, to strenthis part, can found
To socour thaim, with mony werkand wound.
A hundreth dede in feild was lewyt thar, 205
And thre yemen that Wallace menyde fer mar;
Twa was off Kyle, and ane of Conyngayme,
With Robert Boide to Wallace com fra hayme.
Four scor fled, that chapyt on the south syde.
The Scottis, in place that bauldly couth abyde, 210
Spoilyed the feld, gat gold and othir ger,
Harnes and horss, quhilk thai mysteryt in wer.
The Ingliss knawis thai gart thar caryage leid
To Clidis forest: quhen thai war out off dreid,
Thai band thaim fast with wedeis sad and sar, 215
On bowand treis hangyt thaim rycht thar.
He sparyt nane that abill was to wer;
Bot wemen and preystis he gart thaim ay forber.
Quhen this was doyne, to thar dyner thai went,
Off stuff and wyne that God had to thaim sent. 220
Ten scor thai wan of horss that cariage bure;
With flour and wyne als mekill as thai mycht fur,
And othir stuff that thai off Carleile led.

The Sothron part out off the feild that fled,
With sorow socht to the castell off Ayr, 225
Befor the lord, and tauld him off thair cair;
Quhat gud thai lost, and quha in feild was slayne,
Throw wicht Wallace that was mekill off mayne;
And how he had gart all thar serwandis hang.
The Persye said; “And that squier lest lang, 230
“He sall ws exille out off this contré cleyne;
“Sa dispitfull in wer was neuir seyne.
“In our presoune her last quhen that he was,
“Our slouthfully our keparis leit him pass.
“Thus stuff our land, I fynde may nocht weill be; 235
“We mon ger bryng our wittaill be the se.
“Bot loss our men, it helpis ws rycht nocht;
“Thar kyne may ban that euir we hydder socht.”
Lat I thaim thus, blamand thar sory chance,
And mar to sper of Scottis mennys gouernance. 240
Quhen Wallace had weyle wenquist to the playne
The falss terand that had his fadyr slayne;
His brothyr als, quhilk was a gentill knycht, Fol. 12 a
Othir gud men befor to dede thai dycht;
He gert dewyss, and prowide thar wictaille; 245
Baith stuff and horss that was of gret awaille,
To freyndis about preualye thai send,
The ramanand full glaidlye thar thai spend.
In Clydis wode thai soiornyt twenty dayis,
Na Sothren that tyme was persawyt in thai wais, 250
Bot he tholyt dede that come in thar danger:
The worde of him walkit baith fer and ner.
Wallace was knawin on lyff leyffand in playne,
Thocht Inglissmen tharoff had gret payne.
The erle Persye to Glaskow couth he fair, 255
With wyss lordis, and held a consell thair.
Quhen thai war mett, weylle ma na ten thousand,
Na chyftane was that tyme durst tak on hand,
To leide the range on Wallace to assaill.
He speryt about, quhat was the best consaill. 260
Schir Amar Wallange, a falss traytour strange,
In Bothwell duelt, and thar was thaim amange.
He said; “My lorde, my consaill will I giff;
“Bot ye do it, fra scaith ye may nocht scheyff.
“Yhe mon tak pess, with out mar tarying, 265
“As for a tyme we may send to the king.”
The Persye said; ‘Of owr trewis he will nane.
‘Ane awfull chyftane trewly he is ane;
‘He will do mair, in faith, or that he blyne:
‘Sothroun to sla he thinkis it na syne.’ 270
Schir Amar said; “Trewis it wordis tak;
“Quhill eft for him prowisioune we may mak.
“I knaw he will do mekill for his kyne;
“Gentryss and trewtht ay restis him within.
“His wncle Schyr Ranald may mak this band. 275
“Gyff he will nocht, racunnyss all his land
“On to the tym that he this werk haiff wrocht.”
Schir Ranald was sone to that consell brocht;
Thai chargyt him to mak Wallace at pess,
Or he suld pass to Londone with outyn less. 280
Schir Ranald said; “Lordis, yhe knaw this weill,
“At my commande he will nocht do a deill.
“His worthi kyn dispitously ye slew,
“In presone syne ner to the dede him threw.
“He is at large, and will nocht do for me, 285
“Thocht ye tharfor rycht now suld ger me de.”
Schir Amar said; ‘Thir lordis sone sall send
‘On to the king, and mak a finall end
‘Off his conquest, forsuth he will it haiff.
‘Wallace na thou ma nocht this kynrik saiff. 290
‘Mycht Eduuard king get him, for gold or land,
‘To be his man, than suld he bruk Scotland.’
The lordis bad cess; “Thow excedis to that knycht Fol. 12 b
“Fer mair be treuth than it is ony rycht.
“The wrang conquest our king desiris ay; 295
“On hym or vs it sall be seyne some day.
“Wallace has rycht, bathe force and fair fortoun:
“Ye hard how he eschapyt our presoune.”
Thus said that lord, syne prayit Schyr Ranald fair
To mak this pess; “Thou schirreff art of Ayr. 300
“As for a tyme we may awisit be:
“Vndyr my seylle I sall be bound to the
“For Inglissmen, that thai sall do him nocht,
“Nor to no Scottis, less it be on thaim socht.”
Schir Ranald wist he mycht thaim nocht ganestand; 305
Off lord Persye he has resauit this band.
Perseys war trew, and ay off full gret waill,
Sobyr in pess, and cruell in battaill.
Schir Ranald bownyde vpon the morne but baid,
Wallace to seke in Clydis forest braid. 310
So he him fand bownand to his dyner.
Quhen thai had seyne this gud knycht was so ner,
Weyle he him knew, and tauld thaim quhat he was;
Meruaille he had quhat gart him hiddyr pass,
Maide him gud cheyr of meyttis fresche and fyne. 315
King Eduuardis self could nocht get bettir wyn
Than thai had thar, warnage and wenysoune
Off bestiall in to full gret fusioun.
Syn eftir mett, he schew thaim of hys deide,
How he had beyne in to so mekill dreid. 320
“Now,” he said, “wyrk part of my consaill;
“Tak pess a quhill, as for the mair awaill.
“Bot thou do so, forsuth thou dois gret syne,
“For thai ar set till wndo all thi kyn.”
Than Wallace said till gud men him about; 325
‘I will no pess for all this felloune dout,
‘Bot gif it pless bettir to yow than me.’
The squier Boide him ansuerd sobyrlé;
“I gif conseill, or this gud knycht be slayne,
“Tak pess a quhill, supposs it do ws payne.” 330
So said Adam the ayr of Rycardtoune;
And Kneland als grantyt to thair opynyoun.
With thair consent Wallace this pess has tayne,
As his eyme wrocht, till ten moneth war gayne.
Thar leyff thai tuk, with conforde into playn; 335
Sanct Jhone to borch thai suld meyt haill agayn,
Boyde and Kneland past to thar placis hayme;
Adam Wallace to Ricardtoun by nayme;
And Wilyham furth till Schir Ranald can ride,
And his houshald, in Corsby for to bide. 340
This peess was cryede in August moneth myld:
Yhet god of battaill furius and wild,
Mars, and Juno ay dois thair besynes, Fol. 13 a
Causer of wer, wyrkar of wykitnes;
And Venus als the goddess of luff, 345
Wytht ald Saturn, his coursis till appruff.
Thir four scansyte of diuerss complexioun,
Bataill debaite, inwy and destructioun,
I can nocht deyme for thar malancoly.
Bot Wallace weille coude nocht in Corsby ly, 350
Hym had leuir in trauaill for to be;
Rycht sar he langyt the toune of Ayr to se.